GATE READER

Abstract: A Gate Reader consists of a mediums-insertion station/slot and an ejection opening (3), internal pathway means (4, 10) for control and transport of a data-carrying medium inserted into the insertion station/slot (2) towards the ejection opening (3), decoding and updating means (8, 17) in the path (4) for reading the data, and control means for control of the read data, as all means are connected to a computer as Processing Unit for delivery of information necessary for processing of medium-information, furthermore a graphical printing-mechanism (14) for visual print of information on the inserted medium or on a slip delivered from a hopper (12) in the Gate Reader, a slip-hopper (12), and delivery means of a slip from the hopper to the internal pathway means (4, 10), and a contro-mechanism for activating the slip-delivery means.

Description: GATE READER. The invention relates to a Gate Reader. Within civil aviation the exclusive language is English. There is therefore no Norwegian term for a "Gate Reader" nor is such a term aspired in the technical/professional sphere, as it would only contribute to confusion. Below therefore the device is referred to as a Gate Reader. Initially one understands this as an exit- reader or ticket-reader. The invention is especially developed in connection with such devices as are found at passenger gate-exits at airports, but is not limited to such exclusive use, as the invention is suitable within a broader aspect where one has exit-entry-points or control-points that require a form of advanced control of who, or at least how many, that shall pass, or pass the control- point. A Gate Reader is usually a device that consists of an insertion opening and an ejection opening for a ticket, internal pathway means for control and transport of the data-carrying ticket inserted into the insertion opening, towards the ejection opening, decoding and re-coding means in the path for reading of the data, and control means for control of the read data, as all means are connected to a computer as Processing Unit for delivery of information necessary for processing of ticket-data. If the decoded data is accepted, it means that the customer is permitted to pass. If the data is invalid, the customer must in today's environment make contact with or be contacted by a service-agent that assists with updating and/or re-issuing of a valid ticket. This occurs in a separate device connected to a Central Processing Unit. This personnel intensive service- operation takes a relatively long time, and requires interaction between customer and service-agent/operator and will often result in queues forming. Another problem with today's equipment is that even though the data stored on the magnetic-stripe usually is presented on the front-side of the ticket, in normal graphical print-characters, today's equipment is such that some of this data can be updated or revalidated at a later point in time than the actual issuance of the physical ticket, for instance in the Gate Reader. A good example could be seat-specification. Such an update can be performed by various known Gate Readers, which are connected to a Central Processing Unit, and the update will not present any major problem on the magnetic-stripe, but it is a chaotic disadvantage that such updating is not made visually available for the holder of the ticket, in the correct field on the tickets front-side. Based on this techniques current state it is therefore an objective of the invention to create a means by which the customer him/herself can perform or see to the performing of the necessary operations related to revalidation or updating, and that means are available to enable visual information of the performed alteration, in the correct field on the tickets front-side. This is achieved according to the invention by two clearly separate devices, whereof one until now has been agent/operator controlled, being united in one and the same device, which is a Gate Reader, explicitly so that in a Gate Reader is integrated a graphic printer for visual denoting of ticket- relevant information on the inserted slip or respectively for visual denoting on a from a hopper expedited slip, which then is delivered updated to the customer. This last mentioned option is usually only relevant if the customer has not identified him/herself with a ticket. With the invention one thereby achieves an improved boarding/exiting procedure where the customer him/herself is operator or user and the customer when the information is invalid, receives an updated ticket or control-slip, with visual information of the alterations. As long as the customer rightfully should pass, the customer will in other words not just be permitted to pass when the ticket-information is valid, but also when ticket-information initially is invalid! By rightfully is meant that the customer has identified him/herself by use of his/her ticket, but the new Gate Reader also makes possible a system where the customer or passenger does not necessarily have a ticket or control-slip. If he or she can identify him/herself by means of another medium, for instance a plastic card of some type, then the Gate Reader can be so disposed that it will interpret card information decoded by a connected or integrated card-reader and issue a control-slip or ticket with the necessary information. From US-PS 4,992,647 is known a system that includes a card-reader. That concerns an original-issue machine, and not a machine that is used to control an actual embarkation/exit-point. Based on the decoded standardized magnetic-stripe is determined whether or not there is space for updating of the manually supervised new data. If not, a new document is produced, which then replaces the previous. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, where: Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a Gate Reader according to the invention, and Fig. 2 shows a schematic horizontal cross-section of the Gate Reader. According to the invention, the new Gate Reader comprises a housing 1 with an insertion opening 2 for a ticket and an ejection opening 3 where the customer receives the ticket or new ticket respectively returned or issued. Within the housing is a pathway via which the inserted ticket is controlled and transported. The pathway is indicated by line 4 within the housing shown in the fig. 1 cross-section. At a sorting station 5 the pathway 4 is split into an exit-path 6 towards the ejection opening 3 and into two or more paths 7 which go to storage bins (not shown). Pathway 4 is comprised of, seen from the insertion opening 2, a magnetic decode/coding mechanism 8, a sorting station/mechanism 9, directional pincer-rollers 10, a paper-cutting mechanism 1 1 , and then another sorting station/mechanism 5 (described above). In addition of course the Gate Reader consists of other mechanisms, including numerous directional pincer-rollers, but the here mentioned and shown means are those that are material towards understanding the invention. In the housing 1 is furthermore arranged a hopper 12 for blank tickets or control-slips, which can be fed as indicated by the stapled line to the sorting station/mechanism 9 and in that manner steered onto pathway 4. Furthermore there is with means 13 indicated operational electronics, fans, etc. What particularily characterizes the Gate Reader, in addition to the hopper 12, is the crucial graphic printing-module 14. such that the result is a Gate Reader Printer. The shown Gate Reader also has an LCD-screen 15. This screen can be rotated. An alternative connection point for the LCD-screen, for inverted gates/embarkation points, is indicated by 16 (fig. 2). When a customer arrives at the here shown and described device, the person inserts the ticket or control-slip into the opening 2. The ticket is automatically moved along pathway 4 by the directional pincer-rollers 10. During transport the data on the magnetic-stripe is decoded and if necessary updated magnetically, conditionally followed by a magnetic control decoding of the updated coding, whereupon the ticket or control/pass-slip passes the graphic printing-module 14 for conditional visible print-update. Thereafter the control/pass-slip continues forwards, cut if necessary (at 1 1 ), whereupon the part that the customer is to retain is directed via the sorting station/mechanism 5, to the ejection opening 3, while the part that is to be retained at the actual control/exit-point is directed via a separate path 7 to a not shown storage bin. If decoded data is invalid - the Gate Reader is connected to a Central Processing Unit - a signal is given to update the invalid data on the otherwise valid/rightful ticket, or it is possible to signal activation of the storage-hopper 12 so that an attached not shown mechanism ensures supply of a control-slip from storage-hopper 12 to pathway 4. From the Central Processing Unit comes a signal which activates a magnetic coding- mechanism 17. The original or new control-slip moves on to the graphic printing-module 14, where corresponding information is printed. The control-slip then moves on, and is delivered at the ejection opening 3. Upon re-issue the originally inserted ticket or control-slip can be forwarded to one of the mentioned, not shown storage bins via one of the paths 7, or be returned to the customer at the ejection opening 3 , almost simultaneously with the new slip. Positioning of a graphic printing-module, together with the hopper with blank control-slips, will in most cases solve the problem of interrupted passing of the exit/control-point due to outdated information on the control-slip. The Gate Reader can easily be modified or be connected so that if the person passing the exit/control-point is recognized as rightful in passing without beforehand holding a control/slip (the person has identified him/herself via, for instance, a connected credit-card reader (not shown)), a control-slip can be fed from the secured storage-hopper 12 and via a sorting-mechanism 9 be brought in position on the horizontal pathway 4, and be updated as if it had come from the insertion opening 2. A substantial improvement one achieves with the invention is also that passengers with "seat at gate" (possibly "standby") status, do not require extensive manual handling, but can just board as others, when their name (for instance) is called.

Claims: Patent Claims: Gate Reader consisting of a mediums-insertion opening (2) and an ejection opening (3). internal pathway means (4,10) for control and transport of a data-carrying medium inserted into the insertion opening (2) towards the ejection opening (3), decoding and updating means (8,17) in the path (4) for reading the data, and control means for control of the read data, as all means are connected to a computer as Processing Unit for delivery of information necessary for processing of medium-information, c haracterized by a graphical printing-mechanism (14) for visual print of information on the inserted medium or on a slip delivered from a hopper (12) in the Gate Reader, a slip-hopper (12). and delivery means of a slip from the hopper to the internal pathway means (4,10). and a control-mechanism for activating the slip-delivery means.

Inventors: KLEPPA HANS M, KLEPPA, HANS, M.
Applicants: KLEPPA HANS M, KLEPPA, HANS, M.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G07B11
IPC codes: G07B1, G07B11