Railroad Route Determination Using Mobile Positional Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems require permission from railroad companies to access entry/exit information from automatic ticket checking systems, which is difficult to obtain, and vary between companies, making customization necessary, while GPS-based methods cannot accurately determine if transportation is by railroad, car, or bus.
Innovation Solution
A route determination system that calculates distances from positional information to railroad routes using a mobile communication terminal, identifies the closest route based on these calculations, and determines the route used by the user based on moving speed, reducing deviations and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automatic ticket checking system of railroad company is used, then route determination accuracy is improved, but system complexity and permission acquisition difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a determination server as an intermediary that receives positional information from mobile communication terminals and determines railroad routes without directly accessing the railroad company's automatic ticket checking system. This mediator approach allows route determination while avoiding the complexity and permission issues of direct system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/system-dependent approach of accessing automatic ticket checking systems with a GPS-based positional information system. By using mobile communication terminals to acquire positional information and a determination server to process this data, the system substitutes a simpler information-based approach for the complex ticket checking system integration.
2Device complexity
If GPS-based method is used, then system complexity is reduced, but route determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile communication terminal perform multiple functions: it serves as both the GPS receiver for acquiring positional information and the device for determining route usage. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining determination accuracy through proper processing of the positional data by the determination server.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination server continuously receives positional information from mobile communication terminals and determines whether the terminal is moving along a railroad route. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high determination accuracy by constantly monitoring positional data and comparing it with known railroad route information.
3Measurement precision
If customization for each railroad company is implemented, then route determination accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture and deployment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The determination server is designed with universal functionality to handle positional information from multiple railroad companies without requiring customization for each company. The server can process GPS data and determine routes for different railroad companies using the same core processing logic, eliminating the need for company-specific customization while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the route determination functionality from the railroad company-specific systems. By segmenting the determination server as an independent entity that receives standardized positional information, the system achieves ease of deployment across multiple companies while maintaining the ability to provide accurate route determination for each specific railroad network.
Data Source
AI summary
An object providing a route determination system that determines a railroad route used by a user, without using a system of a railroad company, includes a distance calculation processing unit, a route identification processing unit, a speed calculation processing unit, and a route determination processing unit. The distance calculation processing unit calculates a distance from each of a plurality of pieces of positional information acquired by a mobile communication terminal that is used by a user. The route identification processing unit identifies a closest route on the basis of the calculated distances. The speed calculation processing unit identifies the pieces of positional information of which the distance to the identified route is shorter than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and calculates a moving speed between positions in the identified route to which the identified pieces of positional information correspond.