Flexible Fare Bus Framework Reduces Bunching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bus bunching occurs when vehicles fail to maintain scheduled intervals, leading to unreliable service, overcrowding, and longer waiting times, despite various proposed solutions and advancements in computer science for forecasting.

Innovation Solution

A Flexible Fare Bus framework that uses sensor data to determine headways between buses and adjusts fares dynamically based on real-time location and passenger load data, implementing discounted fares to manage bus bunching by adjusting bus speed and passenger loading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If buses maintain scheduled intervals, then service reliability is improved, but bus bunching occurs when vehicles fail to keep up schedule

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidwaiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic fare adjustment based on real-time headway measurements. When the headway between buses falls below a threshold (indicating bunching), fares are automatically adjusted to influence passenger distribution. This dynamic response allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain service reliability while reducing waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors headway between buses and uses this feedback to trigger fare adjustments. The feedback loop measures actual bus intervals, compares them against thresholds, and automatically adjusts fares to correct bunching behavior, thereby improving service reliability and reducing passenger waiting time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If buses run evenly spaced, then passenger distribution is improved, but overcrowding occurs when buses bunch together

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger distributionVSAvoidovercrowding

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fare parameter dynamically based on headway measurements. When buses are evenly spaced, normal fares apply. When bunching is detected (headway below threshold), fares are adjusted to redistribute passengers, thereby preventing overcrowding while maintaining improved passenger distribution across the fleet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If traditional routing and scheduling are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but bus bunching problem persists despite extensive study

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational complexityVSAvoidbus bunching reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical routing and scheduling systems with an automated electronic fare adjustment system. Instead of relying on complex routing optimizations, the system uses real-time headway monitoring and automatic fare changes to address bunching, achieving better reliability with comparable operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9842375B2Flexible fare bus framework to reduce bus bunching

Publication Date: 2017.12.12 SAP SE

AI summary

Disclosed herein are technologies for implementing a Flexible Fare Bus framework to reduce bus bunching Particularly, the Flexible Fare Bus framework focuses on fixing a demand of passengers from passenger's side by dynamically adjusting a pre-determined headway-threshold throughout a pre-defined bus route. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.