Patent Application
20150066558
Current state of the art in command and control systems is to use historic or predictive data to identify the need for resources and create apriori schedules based on expected patterns of need to determine when to deliver the necessary resources to each location. A typical example of this is public transportation planning which creates fixed schedules for trains and/or buses and depends on the public to continue to demand the service in line with preplanned resources. This results in wasted use of resources if the situation changes and the command and control system does not adapt to these changes in how it supplies the resources.
One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout. It is emphasized that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry various features may not be drawn to scale and are used for illustration purposes only. In fact, the dimensions of the various features in the drawings may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the invention. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are examples and are not intended to be limiting.
To achieve greater efficiency in systems, a context aware capability is developed. Applying this to a public transportation system, relevant and informative data beyond historical ridership patterns is generated, exchanged, analyzed and acted upon to reschedule current train behaviours such as with real-time reschedule and real-time regulation of public transportation system operation, including changed train station dwell time, changed number of cars in a given train, scheduling additional stops, scheduling additional local and/or express trains, and adjusting/optimizing travel-time and headway in real-time to meet the demand and/or improve energy efficiency, etc. The relevant and informative data includes weather forecasts, traffic delays, large event schedules affecting public transportation use, such as popular sporting, musical and other events, and data reflecting real-time public transportation needs and use. The real time data is produced from a mobile telephone application that provides a two-way exchange of data between a mobile telephone user and mobile server. In some embodiments the mobile server supports cloud-based computing. This data is developed in conjunction with a mobile telephone application, received by the mobile server, and transmitted to a vehicle network control system to provide a context aware public transportation control system. In some embodiments the context aware public transportation control system is used to improve performance of an automated (driverless) train control system.
The context aware public transportation control system includes three main components; a vehicle network control system such as a train control system, a mobile server, and a mobile device application resident on a mobile device of a public transportation user or potential user. The vehicle network control system receives information from users using the mobile application executed on their mobile devices through one or more mobile servers. The information received from the mobile application includes the user's boarding station, destination station, ticketing information, special needs of the user and other relevant user specific information. The vehicle network control system also receives additional information, such as weather forecast, traffic delays, special events, e.g., sporting events, and other relevant non-user specific information. In some examples, the vehicle network control system also predicts special events based on passenger volume and destination information. In some examples, the additional information is received from the mobile application. In some examples, the additional information is received from external sources, such as venue calendars, traffic systems, meteorological data centers, etc. The vehicle network control system uses pattern recognition to analyze the collected information in combination with historical data to make a real time determination regarding operation of vehicles within a guideway network. The vehicle network control system also provides updates to the mobile application executed on the mobile device through the mobile server. The information provided to the application includes updated vehicle schedules, the number of passengers in a station, ticketing information, type of vehicle, e.g., local or express, alerts regarding service outages and other relevant information.
Data received by the mobile device server application 110 from the mobile application 108 is transmitted by the mobile device server application 110 to a user data collection point 112 within the train control system 106. Data received by the user data collection point 112 is transmitted to the data analysis engine 114. Data from the data analysis engine 114, such as a transportation parameter relating to current ridership or predicted future ridership is provided to a system management engine 116 for making corresponding changes to public transportation conveyances. (examples of system management engines are System Management Centre SMC & Automatic Train Supervision ATS) In some embodiments the public transportation conveyances are trains. Data from the system management engine 116 is transferred to a system data access point 118. Data received by the system access point 118 in the train control system 106 is transmitted to the mobile device server application 110 in the mobile device server 104. Data from the mobile device server application 110 in the mobile device server 104 is transmitted to the mobile application 108 in the mobile device 102. Thus data is exchanged bidirectionally between the mobile device server 104 and the mobile device 102.
Data transmitted from the mobile device server application 110 to the mobile application includes delays 222. Delays 222 describe deviations from published schedules for the public transportation system. Similar to passenger traffic load (feedback) 220, delays 222 enables passengers to more efficiently plan their journeys, improving individual passenger experience and overall efficiency of the public transportation system.
The mobile application 108 receives data about ticketing, e.g., the information received by a Presto Card, such as those employed in Toronto, Canada. The Presto Card is a contactless smart card fare payment system for public transit systems used in portions of Ontario, Canada. The information received includes a reduction of balance associated with payment of a fare for a ticket to use public transportation, such as a commuter train. (ticketing info could also be available through a direct interface with Presto System) Other information associated with ticketing 224 includes information about loyalty programs, public transportation transfers, shared fares between different public transportation modes, such as trains and buses, etc. The mobile application also receives data from the mobile device server application that includes train schedules 226 for personal route planning, train traffic 228 to explain and anticipate delays, system recommendations 230 regarding travel modes and corresponding schedules, and notice of system closure 232. This data 226, 228, 230, 232 allows the user to gain a more complete picture of the public transportation context and options available, allowing the user to adjust their travel plans and/or expectations, thereby improving user experience.
Data transmitted to the mobile device server application 110 from the mobile application includes boarding station 234, destination station 236 and journey 238 information. This data 234, 236, 238 is received by mobile device server application 110 and transmitted to the user data collection point 112 in the train control system 106. The train control system 106 analyzes the data 234, 236, 238 to provide enhanced public transportation options as described herein. Other data transmitted to the mobile device server application 110 from the mobile application includes passenger location 242 and passenger with special need 244 information. This data 242, 244 enables the train control system to gain a clearer picture of the demands to be placed on the public transportation system in order to make corresponding adjustments to the transportation operation, including the transportation schedule. In some embodiments, location 242 includes longitude and latitude coordinates provided by a global positioning system (GPS) functionality found in some mobile devices.
Data transmitted to the mobile device server application 110 from the mobile application also includes real-time bus arrival and departure 246 information and real-time social events information 250. The social events information 250 includes in some embodiments derived or received information of the mobile device 102 user's intention to attend a social event. Data 246, 250 is used in conjunction with published schedules of bus routes and social events to provide highly accurate, real-time information about occurrences likely to affect a public transportation system, e.g., a public transportation system that includes buses and trains in some embodiments.
In operation 370 the system management unit 116 modifies attributes of the transportation operation based at least in part on the transportation parameter received from the data analysis engine 114. The transportation parameters associated with the public transportation system 100 are used by the system management engine 116 to reschedule the public transportation system, including train station dwell time, number of cars in a given train, scheduling additional stops, scheduling additional local and/or express trains, and adjusting traveltimes and headway, etc. In a first instance the system management unit 116 increases the dwell time of a train at certain train stations to allow more passengers to board. In a second instance the system management unit 116 increases dwell time and couples additional cars to a train. In the third instance the system management unit schedules an additional train to run during a predicted peak passenger volume time to accommodate those baseball fans traveling by public transportation to attend (or from) the baseball game.
In operation 376, data from the mobile device server application 110 on the mobile device server 104 is transmitted to the mobile application 108 residing on the mobile device 102. In this example the user notes that there is system recommendation to consider a newly scheduled train as a possibly more efficient way for the user to be transported to the baseball game and elects to accept the system recommendation, ultimately saving an amount of time significant to the user, thereby improving that user's experience. In some other embodiments, train operation is adjusted based on passenger travel patterns not tied to any particular social event, for example, one or more passengers driving to a train station might be advanced or delayed for unknown reasons and the context aware public transportation control system 100 compensates in real-time for such actual passenger conditions.
In some embodiments, the processor 482 is a central processing unit (CPU), a multi-processor, a distributed processing system, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or a suitable processing unit.
In some embodiments, the computer readable storage medium 484 is an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, and/or a semiconductor system (or apparatus or device). For example, the computer readable storage medium 484 includes a semiconductor or solid-state memory, a magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk. In some embodiments using optical disks, the computer readable storage medium 484 includes a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), a digital video disc (DVD) and/or Blu-Ray Disk.
In some embodiments, the storage medium 484 stores the computer program code 486 configured to cause computer system 400 to perform the operations as described with respect to mobile device 102 (
In some embodiments, the storage medium 484 stores instructions 486 for interfacing with external components. The instructions 486 enable processor 482 to generate operating instructions readable by the external components to effectively implement the operations as described with respect to the context aware public transportation control system 100 and method 300.
Computer system 400 includes I/O interface 490. I/O interface 490 is coupled to external circuitry. In some embodiments, I/O interface 490 includes a keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, trackpad, and/or cursor direction keys for communicating information and commands to processor 482.
Computer system 400 also includes network interface 492 coupled to the processor 482. Network interface 492 allows computer system 400 to communicate with network 494, to which one or more other computer systems are connected. Network interface 492 includes wireless network interfaces such as BLUETOOTH, WIFI, WIMAX, GPRS, or WCDMA; or wired network interface such as ETHERNET, USB, or IEEE-1394. In some embodiments, the operations as described with respect to the context aware public transportation control system 100 and method 300 are implemented in two or more computer systems 400, and data representing passenger traffic load (feedback) 220, delays 222, ticketing (Presto), train schedules 226, train traffic 228, system recommendations 230, system closure 232, boarding station 234, destination station 236, journey 238, purchased ticket 240, location 242, passenger with special need 244, bus arrival and departure 246 and social events info 250 are exchanged between different computer systems 400 via network 494.
Computer system 400 also includes inductive loop interface 496 coupled to the processor 482. Inductive loop interface 496 allows computer system 400 to communicate with external devices, to which one or more other computer systems are connected. In some embodiments, the operations as described with respect to the context aware public transportation control system 100 and method 300 are implemented in two or more computer systems 400, and data representing passenger traffic load (feedback) 220, delays 222, ticketing (Presto), train schedules 226, train traffic 228, system recommendations 230, system closure 232, boarding station 234, destination station 236, journey 238, purchased ticket 240, location 242, passenger with special need 244, bus arrival and departure 246 and social events info 250 are exchanged between different computer systems 400 via inductive loop interface 415.
Computer system 400 is configured to receive information related to the instructions 486 through I/O interface 410. The information is transferred to processor 482 via bus 488 to determine corresponding adjustments to the transportation operation. The instructions are then stored in computer readable medium 484 as instructions 486. Computer system 400 is configured to receive data representing passenger traffic load (feedback) 220, delays 222, ticketing (Presto), train schedules 226, train traffic 228, system recommendations 230, system closure 232, boarding station 234, destination station 236, journey 238, purchased ticket 240, location 242, passenger with special need 244, bus arrival and departure 246 and social events info 250 through I/O interface 490.
Some embodiments include a context aware public transportation control system, the context aware public transportation control system configured to modify a transportation operation and configured to be communicatively coupled with a mobile device having a mobile device application. The context aware public transportation control system comprises a mobile device server and a train control system. The mobile device server has a mobile device server application. The mobile device server is configured to be communicatively coupled with the mobile device for exchanging data. The train control system is also configured to be communicatively coupled with the mobile device server for exchanging the data. The train control system has a data analysis engine and a system management engine. The data analysis engine is configured to derive a transportation parameter from the data through pattern recognition or other methods. The system management engine is configured to change the transportation operation based at least in part on the transportation parameter.
Some embodiments include a method for providing a context aware public transportation control system. The method includes receiving data from a mobile application with a mobile device server, transmitting the data from the mobile device server to a train control system, analyzing the data with the train control system to determine a transportation parameter and changing a train schedule based at least in part on the transportation parameter.
Some embodiments include a method controlling a guideway, the guideway associated with a passenger or potential passenger, the passenger or potential passenger having a mobile telecommunication device, the mobile telecommunication device having a mobile application. The method includes receiving data from the mobile application, receiving data from a public source about a upcoming social event, then based at least in part on data from the mobile application and data from the public source, predicting future guideway ridership associated with the upcoming social event, comparing future guideway ridership associated with the upcoming social event with a scheduled guideway vehicle configuration or capacity, and changing the scheduled guideway vehicle configuration to a different configuration correlating with the future guideway ridership. For example, the scheduled guideway vehicle configuration can be changed to include an additional car(s).
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the operations of method 300 are merely examples and additional operations are includable, describe operations are removable and an order of operations are adjustable without deviating from the scope of method 300.
It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed embodiments fulfill one or more of the advantages set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill will be able to affect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and various other embodiments as broadly disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
