Methods of offline fare collection for open-loop and hybrid card systems

Abstract

Interconnected methods of card-based fare collection at computer-based service access validation terminals are disclosed. The first method is characterized by periodically propagating to the validation terminals card transaction data originated at other validation terminals. This method is most pertinent to the public transit fare systems utilizing open-loop payment cards and vehicle-installed terminals. The second method is characterized by actualizing the validation terminals' data by way of data broadcasting or multicasting. This method makes the first method practical and improves performance of open-loop and closed-loop card systems implementing offline validations.

1 . A system for mass transportation fare collection comprising:
 a computer system;   a plurality of moving fare terminals, each moving fare terminal enabled to interact with a plurality of payment instruments during fare transactions; and   data propagation system linked to the computer system and the plurality of moving fare terminals, the data propagation system configured to propagate data from the computer system to the plurality of moving fare terminals, the data comprises at least one of a list of payment instruments allowed to execute fare transactions, a list of payment instruments not allowed to execute fare transactions, instructions of loading funds to payment instruments, system topology data, route schedules and fare pricelists,   wherein the data propagation system comprises at least one of data broadcasting infrastructure and data multicasting infrastructure.   
     
     
         2 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the payment instrument comprises any one of: a smartcard, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, an integrated circuit chip, a magnetic stripe card, a transponder, a contactless card, an electronic pass, an electronic identity document, a barcode tag, a computer scannable graphic image, a computer scannable data storage device, a computer device enabled to communicate with fare terminals. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a fare transaction comprises at least one of the following: a fare payment, a validation of access to service, fare collection, registering start of service, registering end of service, registering changing routes, and fare inspection. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of moving fare terminals is divided into at least two subgroups of moving fare terminals and the data is propagated to the at least two subgroups of the moving fare terminals in order of priority. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the order of priority is determined by at least one of: payment instrument usage prediction within a given time interval, payment instrument usage prediction within a given subgroup of moving fare terminals, a payment instrument type, data stored on a payment instrument, a geographical location of a moving fare terminal, and a probability of a moving fare terminal being connected to the data propagation system at a given time. 
     
     
         16 . A computer implemented method for collecting fares for a transportation fare collection system comprising:
 propagating data to a plurality of moving fare terminals, wherein the data comprises at least one of a list of payment instruments allowed to execute fare transactions, a list of payment instruments not allowed to execute fare transactions, instructions of loading funds to payment instruments, system topology data, route schedules and fare pricelists, wherein propagating comprises at least one of broadcasting and multicasting.   
     
     
         17 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16  wherein the payment instrument comprises any one of: a smartcard, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, an integrated circuit chip, a magnetic stripe card, a transponder, a contactless card, an electronic pass, an electronic identity document, a barcode tag, a computer scannable graphic image, a computer scannable data storage device, a computer device enabled to communicate with moving fare terminals. 
     
     
         26 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16  wherein the fare transaction comprises at least one of the following: a fare payment, a validation of access to service, fare collection, registering start of service, registering end of service, registering changing routes, fare inspection. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of moving fare terminals is divided into at least two subgroups of moving fare terminals and the data is propagated to the at least two subgroups of the moving fare terminals in order of priority. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The computer implemented method of  claim 28  wherein the order of priority is determined by at least one of: payment instrument usage prediction within a given time interval, payment instrument usage prediction within a given subgroup of moving fare terminals, a payment instrument type, data stored on a payment instrument, a geographical location of a fare terminal, and a probability of a fare terminal being connected to a data propagation system at a given time.