Abstract:
A system and method for obtaining payment for a ticket for a transportation system from a wireless mobile terminal is disclosed. Upon entering of a wireless mobile terminal into a first coverage area of a transportation system at least one access unit establishes a first wireless connection with the wireless mobile terminal in order to obtain connection data for the wireless mobile terminal. The connection data is forwarded to at least one second access unit wherein responsive to the connection data and entry of the wireless mobile terminal into a second coverage area, a second connection is established with the at least one second access unit. Payment may then be obtained from the wireless mobile terminal via the second wireless connection.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to billing systems, and more particularly, to billing systems for use in public transportation facilities such as bus stations, train stations or subway stations. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The use of mobile terminals (mobile telephones, portable computers, PDA&#39;s, pagers, etc.) as payment tools is becoming an increasingly developed area in the wireless communications art. Mobile terminals can be used to pay for purchases within a store or for the payment of services. One area in which a mobile terminal would prove useful for the payment of services is in the public transportation area. A user could pay for a bus or train token at the bus or train station using their mobile terminal. 
   One problem with mobile terminal payment methodologies is the time that it takes for a user&#39;s mobile terminal to connect with a wireless system. A certain period of time is required to establish a wireless connection. This could potentially require a user to stand in one location for a period of time which is unacceptable. In order for a system of this type to prove effective, a user must be able to walk directly through the bus or train station without stopping for any period of time in order for their mobile terminal to connect with the wireless system. Therefore, a system is needed enabling a user to connect to a wireless unit within a train, subway or bus station in substantially real time such that no delays are required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with a system and method for obtaining payment for a ticket for a transportation system from a wireless mobile terminal. In a first embodiment, a wireless mobile terminal establishes a first connection with a first access unit upon entry of the mobile terminal into a first coverage area of the transportation system. Connection data for the wireless mobile terminal is obtained by the first access unit and forwarded to a second access unit. Responsive to the connection data and entry of the wireless mobile terminal into a second coverage area associated with the second access unit, a second wireless connection is established with the second access unit. Payment data is then obtained from the wireless mobile terminal by the second access unit via the second wireless connection. 
   In an alternative embodiment, a first connection is established between a first access unit and the wireless mobile terminal upon entry of the wireless mobile terminal into a first coverage area of the transportation system. The connection data is forwarded to a second access unit which responsive to the connection data and entry of the wireless mobile terminal into a second coverage area, establishes a second connection with the wireless mobile terminal. The second access unit forwards the connection data to a third access unit associated with the second access unit which establishes a third wireless connection upon entry of the wireless mobile terminal into a third coverage area. The third access unit obtains payment data from the wireless mobile terminal via the third wireless connection. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the ticket payment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the interconnections of the entrance units and gate units of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the ticket payment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the interconnection of the entrance units and the first and second stage gate units of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate the manner in which the entrance units and gate units may handoff data therebetween; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating a data transfer between an entrance unit and a gate unit configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 5   a;    
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the transfer of data between an entrance unit and a gate unit configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 5   b ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram generally illustrating the operation of the system of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a first embodiment of the ticket payment system of the present invention. While the present invention is described with respect to a ticket payment system, the invention may also be applied to other systems wherein data may be obtained from a mobile terminal via a short range wireless system such as Bluetooth (verification of ticket possession, verification of passport or other ID, etc.). The system comprises one or more entrance units  10  providing a coverage area  15  for monitoring the entrances  20  of a bus, train or subway (transportation) station. As the user passes through the coverage area  15  provided by the entrance units  10 , a mobile terminal  25  carried by a user establishes a wireless communication link  30  with one of the entrance units  10 . The mobile terminal  25  comprises a mobile telephone, portable computer, pager, PDA, etc. The coverage area  15  provided by the entrance units  10  is of large enough size such that sufficient time exists to establish a connection no matter at what speed the user may be traveling. 
   Once the wireless connection  30  has been established between the entrance unit  10  and the mobile terminal  25 , connection data (i.e., frequency hop scheme, device address, clock-offset, etc.) may be transferred to the gate units  35  via a backbone network or dedicated wireless channel  40  between the entrance units  10  and the gate units  35 . In a preferred embodiment, the entrance units  10  and gate units  35  of the present invention utilize the Bluetooth communications protocol in order to establish communications between the entrance unit  10 , gate units  35  and mobile terminals  25 . The communications between the entrance unit  10  and gate units  35  may also be via the Bluetooth protocol. By using the Bluetooth standard, multiple fixed entrance units  10  and gate units  35  may be interconnected via a central server as will be discussed more fully in moment. Each mobile terminal  25  can be connected to a single Bluetooth access unit and maintains that connection until the coverage area becomes too poor for communication. 
   The gate units  35  each have their own coverage area  45  located around a particular access gate  50  to the transportation system. Each of the gate units  35  searches for the mobile unit  25  using the Bluetooth Paging Procedure. Once one of the gate units  35  establishes a connection  55  with the mobile unit  25 , the other gate units  35  cease paging for the mobile unit  25 . Since an initial connection and synchronization with the mobile unit  25  need not be set up with the gate units  35  due to the connection information provided by the entrance units  10 , a much shorter connection establishment period is required, and transaction data  61  for purchasing a ticket may be quickly retrieved from the mobile unit  25 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the gates  50  are covered by a first stage of gate units  70  and a second stage of gate units  75 . As before, the entrance units  10  provide a first coverage area  15  for establishing an initial connection with a mobile terminal  25  once a user passes through an entrance  20  of a transportation station. The entrance unit  10  establishes a wireless connection  30  with the mobile unit  25  as was previously described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Once this connection  30  is established, the connection data (i.e., frequency hop scheme, device address, clock-offset) is forwarded to the first stage gate units  70  via the backbone network or wireless connection  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the entrance units  10  and gate units  35  of the present invention utilize the Bluetooth communications protocol in order to establish communications between the entrance unit  10 , gate units  35  and mobile terminals  25 . The communications between the entrance unit  10  and gate units  35  may also be via the Bluetooth protocol. By using the Bluetooth standard, multiple fixed entrance units  10  and gate units  35  may be interconnected via a central server as will be discussed more fully in moment. Each mobile terminal  25  can be connected to a single Bluetooth access unit and maintain that connection until the coverage area becomes too poor for communication. 
   The first stage gate units  70  page for the mobile terminal  25  until one of the gate units  70  establishes a connection. Once one of the gate units  70 , for example, gate unit  70   a , establishes a wireless connection  90  with the mobile terminal  25 , the mobile terminal  25  is removed from a wanted list, and the connection data is forwarded to the second stage gate  75   a  specifically associated with the first stage gate  70   a  that has detected the mobile unit  25 . The first stage gate units  70  then cease paging for the mobile terminal  25 . The second stage unit  75   a  establishes a wireless connection  95  with the mobile unit  25  using the provided connection data and obtains the transaction data  61  necessary to pay for a ticket or token on the bus, train or subway. 
   In yet a further embodiment of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each first stage gate unit  70  and second stage gate unit  75  may be co-located or closely located. The first stage unit  70  may comprise a 100 mW Bluetooth unit and the second stage unit  75  may comprise one or more 1 mW units. The 100 mW first stage unit  70  would search for new Bluetooth mobile terminal  25  and once a suitable terminal  25  was within range, the connection would be passed from the 100 mW to the 1 mW unit. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , there are illustrated first and second embodiments of the manner in which the interface between the entrance units  10  and gate units  35 ,  70 ,  75  may be controlled. In the first embodiment of  FIG. 5   a , the entrance units  10  and gate units  35 ,  70 ,  75  are interconnected with a central server  100  via the backbone network or wireless connection  40  discussed previously with respect to  FIGS. 1–4 . In this embodiment, the central server  100  controls the transmission of the connection data between the entrance units  10  and gate units  35 ,  70 ,  75 . The information may be transmitted via a wireline bus or using a dedicated Bluetooth channel or other type of wireless communications channel. Central server  100  acts as an information hub and controls the transfer of information between the access units via signals transmitted over the backbone network or dedicated communications channel  40 . The central server  100  may use implementations such as the Bluetooth Solution Provider Kit in order to provide communications between the access units. 
   The transmissions between the entrance units  10  and gate units ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) may, in one embodiment, be solved by solutions such as dedicated bluetooth server or other centralized techniques. In this configuration, the control server  100  acts as an information hub and controls the access units. A dedicated bluetooth server has a database and functionality to connect with several Bluetooth access units and external computer systems. In the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an entrance unit  10  sends at step  200  connection information to a control server  100 , which may be a dedicated bluetooth server, of the detected mobile terminal  25 . The control server  100  instructs at step  205  the gate units ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) to begin polling for the mobile terminal at step  205 . The gate units begin polling at step  210  for the mobile terminal  25 . A gate unit ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) detects at step  215  the mobile terminal  25  and reports this information back to control server  100 . The control server  100  removes at step  220  the detected mobile terminal  25  from a “wanted list” of mobile terminals which are being polled for and instructs at step  225  the gate units ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) to cease polling for the mobile terminal  45 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, the quality of connection between a mobile terminal  25  and a gate unit ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) may be utilized. When a gate unit ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) contacts a mobile terminal  25 , the gate unit ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) performs a short sequence of test communications to gather information on signal strength or error rate. One manner in which handovers between entrance units  10  and gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) may be controlled is by measuring the signal strength of radio signals between an access unit and a mobile terminal  25 . When radio signal strengths reach certain levels, handovers may then occur. However, it is not always convenient to have signal strength information communicated between different units within a system. An alternative method utilizes a record of retransmission packets (erroneous packets) over a wireless communications link and basing handoff decisions on this information. The signal strength or erroneous packet information is forwarded to the control server  100  and the connection between the connected gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) and the mobile terminal  25  is shut down. When a number of gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) report the information on signal strength or error rate to the control server  100  in a short time period, the control server  100  decides which gate unit ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) should serve the mobile terminal  25  and transmits the order to the determined gate unit ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ). 
   In the embodiment described in  FIG. 5   b , the entrance units  10  and gate units  35 ,  70 ,  75  further include control logic  105  enabling them to autonomously negotiate with each other about which access unit shall control a specific mobile unit  25 . Referring now also to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated the process wherein information is transmitted between the entrance unit  10  and gate units  35 ,  70 ,  75  when control logic  105  is implemented within each access unit as shown in  FIG. 5   b . When the entrance unit  10  is ready to hand over a mobile terminal  25 , entrance unit  10  sends at step  230  connection data to the gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ). When a gate unit ( 30 ,  70 ,  75 ) detects the mobile terminal  25 , this information is reported back to the entrance unit  10  at step  235 . The entrance unit  10  removes the mobile terminal  25  from a “wanted list” of mobile terminals and instructs the gate unit ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) at step  240  to connect with the mobile terminal  25 . The entrance unit  10  also instructs the remainder of the gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) to cease searching for the mobile terminal at step  245 . Alternatively, the quality of connection procedure described previously with respect to  FIG. 6  may also be used in transferring information between the entrance unit  10  and gates ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ). In this process, the entrance unit  10  would act as the control server  10  during the process. 
   Situations may occur where a mobile terminal  25  is dropped from its connection due to various events, for example, the user of the mobile terminal may travel to a gate unit other than the expected gate unit, the mobile terminal may lose coverage, the user may leave the transportation station, etc. The default behavior in these scenarios would be for the gate units ( 35 ,  70 ,  75 ) to report the loss of the mobile terminal  25  to the control server  100  or access unit containing control logic  105 . The entrance unit  10  would be able to reconnect with the mobile terminal  25  again when it enters its coverage area. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated a flow diagram describing the operation of the system of the present invention. Initially, a connection is established between the mobile terminal and the entrance unit at step  120 . Connection data is obtained at step  122  from the mobile terminal by the entrance unit. The entrance units transfer at step  125  the connection data to the gate units. The gate units begin searching at step  130  for the mobile terminal. Once the mobile terminal is located, a connection is established at step  145  with the mobile terminal, and the search may be ceased by the other gate units at step  150 . The transaction data is provided to the gate unit which has detected the mobile unit at step  155 , or alternatively, as described in the alternative embodiment of the invention, the connection data can be forwarded to an associated gate unit for completion of the transaction. 
   The previous description is of a preferred embodiment for implementing the invention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the present invention is instead defined by the following claims.