Automated Ticketing Boarding Device Integrating Magnetic and Optical Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transition from magnetic stripe-based automated ticketing and boarding systems to optical machine-readable symbol systems is hindered by the high costs associated with updating the departure control systems, necessitating a solution that can seamlessly integrate both legacy and new technologies to reduce costs and enhance operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A printer and automatic ticketing and boarding system that includes a magnetic stripe reader, an optical reader, and a printer capable of printing machine-readable symbols, with a control subsystem that can operate in multiple modes to communicate with legacy systems, allowing for the conversion of magnetic stripe data into machine-readable symbol data and printing on smaller media formats, thereby facilitating the integration of new technologies with existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optical machine-readable symbol systems are adopted to replace magnetic stripe systems, then cost reduction and operational flexibility are achieved, but extensive updates to departure control systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a magnetic stripe reader as an intermediary device that can read both magnetic stripe data from legacy boarding passes and optical machine-readable symbols from new boarding passes. This intermediary capability allows the system to bridge between old and new technologies without requiring complete replacement of the departure control system, thereby reducing update costs while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The boarding pass printer is designed with multi-functionality to print both magnetic stripe boarding passes and optical machine-readable symbol boarding passes. The gate reader device similarly functions universally to read both types of boarding passes. This universality allows the system to support multiple technologies simultaneously, reducing the need for extensive system updates while achieving cost reduction
2Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic stripe readers are used in legacy systems, then compatibility with existing infrastructure is maintained, but cost savings from optical systems cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
The gate reader device incorporates dynamic capability to switch between reading magnetic stripe data and reading optical machine-readable symbols based on the type of boarding pass presented. The printer dynamically selects between printing magnetic stripe formats and optical symbol formats. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain compatibility with legacy systems while simultaneously realizing cost savings through optical system capabilities
3Area of moving object
If boarding passes are printed on smaller media formats, then compactness and portability are improved, but compatibility with legacy reading systems may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional magnetic stripe encoding to two-dimensional optical machine-readable symbol encoding. This dimensional change allows the same amount of information to be compressed into a smaller area on the boarding pass while maintaining readability. The optical symbols can encode the necessary data in a compact format that remains compatible with both new optical readers and can be read by legacy magnetic stripe readers through alternative data structures
Data Source
AI summary
An automated ticketing and boarding (ATB) device may replace both legacy boarding pass printers and gate readers, without reconfiguring existing departure control systems (DCSs). The replacement ATB device may create a virtual magnetic stripe in memory from the formatted flight and/or passenger information received from the DCS, and may extract portions of the virtual magnetic stripe to form a boarding pass with an optical machine-readable symbol instead of a magnetic stripe transparently to the DCS.