Dynamic Seat Allocation Method for Land Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for seat reservations in land vehicles, particularly rail vehicles, are inflexible and lead to disputes when changes in vehicle layout occur, resulting in delays and potential conflicts between passengers and staff.

Innovation Solution

A method that records seat reservation requests, assigns seats based on the actual vehicle layout, and communicates seat information using identifiers or electronic maps, ensuring flexible allocation and clear seat assignment even with changes in vehicle configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If seat reservations are assigned in advance based on a provisional vehicle layout, then passengers can secure their preferred seats earlier, but disputes arise when the actual vehicle layout differs from the provisional layout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat reservation processing efficiencyVSAvoidseat allocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary seat reservation assignments based on a provisional vehicle layout before the actual vehicle is determined. This allows passengers to secure their preferred seats in advance while the actual seat allocation is adjusted later when the real vehicle layout is known, resolving the conflict between early reservation processing and accurate seat allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The seat allocation system is designed to be dynamic, allowing the assigned seats to be adjusted from the provisional layout to the actual vehicle layout. The system maintains flexibility by not finalizing seat assignments until the actual vehicle configuration is confirmed, enabling adaptation to layout changes without causing disputes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If seat allocations are finalized before vehicle deployment, then operational planning is simplified, but flexibility is lost when vehicle changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational planning complexityVSAvoidseat allocation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic seat allocation that transitions from a provisional state to a final state. Initially, seats are allocated based on provisional layout information to simplify operational planning, but the system remains adaptable to adjust allocations when the actual vehicle and its layout are determined, thus maintaining both planning simplicity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of vehicle layout information from provisional to actual, triggering a re-allocation of seats if necessary. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain simplified planning with provisional data while adapting to actual conditions when available, balancing operational complexity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a fixed seat allocation method is used, then the allocation process is simple and quick, but it cannot accommodate changes in vehicle configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat allocation process simplicityVSAvoidaccommodation of vehicle changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The seat allocation method transitions from a static fixed assignment to a dynamic two-stage process. The first stage uses a simple fixed allocation based on provisional layout for ease of operation, while the second stage adjusts allocations based on actual vehicle configuration, thus maintaining simplicity while gaining adaptability to vehicle changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4046098B1Method for allocating seats in a land vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP4046098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4046098B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4046098B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a method for allocating seats in a land vehicle (1), said method comprising the steps of: A) capturing a request for a seat reservation for a person (P) in a planned transport in a land vehicle; B) assigning a seat reservation to the person; C) providing layout information, which is representative of the distribution of seats (2) in a land vehicle to be used for the planned transport; D) assigning a seat in the land vehicle to be used to the person according to the layout information and according to the seat reservation; E) outputting seat information, which is representative of what seat has been assigned to the person, step C) being carried out after step A).