Mobile Transaction Specialization for Public Transit Fare Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional public transportation systems face inefficiencies due to the need for substantial infrastructure investments and delays at busy stops, as well as issues with fare structures and payment methods, particularly for long-distance routes and special fare categories, where passengers may be charged incorrectly or not receive advance payment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables users to specialize transactions on mobile devices by downloading complementary modules and selecting transaction variables, such as destination and fare structures, using a transaction application that communicates with automatic ticketing validation devices to validate and process payments efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prepaid tickets are used in conventional public transportation systems, then travelers can verify payment, but substantial infrastructure investments are required including ticket readers, ticket dispensers, and recharging stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical tickets with digital copies stored on travelers' mobile devices. The ticket information is copied from the central server to the user's smartphone, eliminating the need for physical ticket dispensers and readers while maintaining payment verification capability through digital presentation of the ticket on the mobile device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical ticket validation systems with electronic mobile device-based systems. Instead of using physical tickets that require mechanical readers and dispensers, the system uses digital tickets on smartphones that can be validated through electronic communication with the central server, thereby eliminating complex infrastructure.
2Reliability
If prepaid tickets are used in conventional public transportation systems, then travelers can verify payment, but ticket scanning and change provision cause delays at busy stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables travelers to pre-purchase tickets and store them on their mobile devices before arriving at the stop. The ticket is already prepared and accessible on the device, eliminating the need for on-site ticket purchase or scanning delays. The user simply presents the pre-prepared digital ticket when boarding.
3Device complexity
If smart phone payment systems are used, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but passengers may be charged maximum fare if they forget to tap on alighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where the mobile device automatically performs the tapping action at both boarding and alighting without requiring manual user intervention. The device's proximity sensors or GPS automatically detect when the user boards and leaves the vehicle, eliminating forgetting to tap and ensuring accurate fare calculation based on actual travel distance.
4Device complexity
If centralized server invoicing is used, then transaction processing is simplified, but payment cannot be received in advance for long-distance routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows passengers to pre-purchase tickets and pay in advance for their journeys through the mobile application before boarding. The payment is processed and the ticket is issued to the user's device in advance, enabling the service provider to receive payment before the journey begins, which is particularly important for long-distance routes.
5Device complexity
If standard fare structures are used, then pricing is simple, but reduced rates for families, students, and other categories cannot be facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements differentiated fare structures by associating specific fare rules with different user categories stored in the mobile device. The system can identify the user's category (student, family, senior, etc.) and apply the appropriate local fare rules to that user's ticket, allowing reduced rates and specialized pricing for different groups while maintaining a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for enabling transactions on networks that deliver services to users includes communicating a transaction application and a respective user identifier to a mobile communication device via a wireless connection. A set of complementary modules is stored, remote from the mobile communication device. When one of the complementary module has been loaded on the user's mobile communication device, it enables the user of the device to specialize a transaction on at least one of the associated networks by selecting at least one variable of the transaction. Different complementary modules can be provided to the user's mobile communication device for specializing transactions on other service provider networks.