Abstract:
In an access system and method for buses, a master card and respective slave cards for respective students are provided. The cards are read by a card reader to control access to the bus. A microprocessor and memory are provided together with an annunciator which determine whether a slave card annunciator code corresponds to an annunciator code on the master card, thus determining whether a respective student is boarding a bus which corresponds with his respective route.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Important administrative and safety considerations in the transportation of students on school buses are the assignment and tracking of students to specific, designated buses. From an economic perspective, many companies who contract transportation services to school districts are paid according to the number of students who actively ride their buses. As a matter of safety, it is imperative to ensure that students are boarding their assigned routes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a system and method which will ensure that students, when boarding school buses, are on the right school bus for the respective assigned routes. 
     According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided employing a master card and a slave card for respective students. A master card is assigned which uniquely corresponds to a given bus with an assigned route. A code identifier is encoded on the master card which is used as a reference for all succeeding slave cards as a means of validating whether students are on the correct bus. Each time a new master card is swiped by a card reader, a memory of the system is updated with the new master code. Thereafter, succeeding slave cards which are read by the card reader must match the master card code to receive a valid annunciation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the access system for buses according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the method steps performed by software in conjunction with a microprocessor in the system and method of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; and alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and method, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the access system and method for buses  10  containing the system generally shown at  11  employs a magnetic card reader  12  to control access to the bus  10 . A master card  16  is assigned an identifying code uniquely corresponding to a given bus number or route. The identifying code containing numbers, letters and/or other types of indicia is encoded on the master card and is used as a reference code for all succeeding slave cards  16   a - 16   c  as a means of validating students being on the correct bus. The master card  16  identifying code is identical to an identifying code on the slave cards  16   a - 16   c , but has an extra digit or letter, for example, that designates it as a master card. Each time a new master card  16  is swiped in the card reader  12 , a system non-volatile memory  14  is updated for the new “master” identifying code. A master card is under control of a transportation administrator or bus driver. 
     Thereafter, the codes on all succeeding slave cards  16   a - 16   c  (student cards) swiped must match the master code to receive a “valid” annunciation. Annunciations, valid or invalid, may comprise a beeper and/or an LED annunciator  15  that is specific to an identifiable valid or invalid state. 
     Thus, the system which operates according to the method of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 comprises the card reader  12 , the microprocessor  13 , the non-volatile memory  14 , and the annunciator  15 . When a master or slave card is swiped in a slot  12   a  in the card reader, its encoded identifier code is decoded by the attached microprocessor  13 . If the swiped card is a master card  16 , then the encoded identifier code of the card is stored in the non-volatile memory  14  as a reference code for succeeding card swipes. If the swiped card is a slave card  16   a - 16   c , then the encoded identifier code is compared against the previously stored master identifier code in memory for a match. If the slave identifier code matches the master identifier code, then the “valid” annunciation indicator is activated. Otherwise, the “invalid” annunciation is activated. 
     A software flowchart showing method steps of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  2 . Beginning at start block  17 , the program loops through the “card present” block at  18  through loop  9  until the card is detected as present. If a bad read has occurred in “valid card” block  19 , then the program annunciates an “invalid” state via the invalid annunciation block  27  and returns to loop for card presence through the feedback loop path  23 . 
     Upon detection of a valid card presence at the “valid card□ block  19 , the decoded card identifier code is examined at “master card” block  20  to determine if it is a master card. If it is, then the immediate card identifier number is stored as the new master (reference) identifier code—see the “store in non-volatile memory” block  21  and the “valid annunciation” block  22 . The program then loops through feedback loop path  23  to await the next card swipe. 
     If the valid card is not a master card, then it is a slave card. Its identifier code is compared with the stored master reference identifier code in the “match master” block  24 . If the card identifier codes do not match, then an “invalid” annunciation is invoked via block  26 , and the program returns to loop through feedback loop path  23  to loop for card presence. If the card identifier codes match, then a “valid” annunciation is invoked via “valid annunciation” block  25  and the program loops through feedback loop path  23  to await the next card swipe. 
     The present invention provides a simple, easily-installed and very cost-effective device that provides a tool for controlling and administrating student transportation. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment the card reader is shown as a magnetic card reader, other types of card readers may be employed such as optical or any other type appropriate for reading master and slave cards having magnetic, optical, bar code or any types of indicia. 
     Although the annunciator is preferably comprised of a beeper and an LED for audio and visual indications, any other type of annunciation may be provided including other types of lights and other types of sound producers. 
     Although a non-volatile memory  14  is provided, other types of memories may be employed with the microprocessor; and other variations may be provided in the software program flow evident to those skilled in the art. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only a preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.