Patent Description:
Some safety procedures implemented by operators of public transport infrastructures imply the need of constant monitoring of the loads supported by transportations vehicles. To facilitate those tasks, computer systems using stereoscopic cameras placed at doorways for counting passengers and data generated using air pressure measurements performed by equipment operating in relation to suspension means of the transportation vehicle have been implemented. However, if one wants to determine accurate loading data, stereoscopic cameras arranged at doorways are not enough. Indeed, putting aside the failure rate of stereoscopic cameras (between <NUM>-<NUM>%), such systems that use cameras placed only at doorways are not able to monitor the flow within a transportation vehicle, which, in the context of trains, clearly impacts the loading status (e.g. passengers' moves between cars or carriages). In addition, a major problem of relying also on data generated using equipment operating in relation to suspension means of the transportation vehicle is that such data is not always accurate and/or available in real time. In consequence, actual systems are not appropriate for accurately determining the load supported by a transportation vehicle, in particular if the transportation vehicle is a train or any vehicle in which a flow of passengers within the vehicle may occur.

A method and a system for monitoring occupancy of a seat arranged in a transportation vehicle are disclosed in <CIT>. The system for monitoring seat occupancy in a vehicle includes a detection device, such as pressure sensor, in the vehicle, within or near the seat, and a centralized occupancy management system located outside of the vehicle. An occupancy displaying unit provides information about seat occupancy. The passenger's mobile communication device is used by the system for locating the passenger inside the transportation vehicle, by means of device detection units, such as Bluetooth beacons, and as a way of providing pertinent information to the passenger, such as an itinerary to reach a booked seat. The centralized occupancy management system transmits data for a functioning mode of the display unit.

Accordingly, the goal of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages. Specifically, the goal of the invention is to provide a method and a system that facilitate determination of the load supported by a transportation vehicle, in particular if the transportation vehicle is a train composed of one or more cars or carriages.

These goals are achieved by a first object of the invention which concerns the method of claim <NUM>.

The method according to the invention thus relies on several distinct data sources and may thus allow loading data in connection with a load of a transportation vehicle to be more accurately determined.

The method according to the invention uses an additional source of data, namely data generated in relation to equipment operating in relation to suspension means of the transportation vehicle, for determining even more accurately loading data in connection with a load supported by the transportation vehicle.

According to specific embodiments of the invention, said mobile device may be configured to pair with a beacon arranged in said vehicle. Accordingly, the method according to invention may consider how the load supported by the transportation vehicle is impacted by passengers present in the transportation vehicle.

According to specific embodiments of the invention, said first detection device may comprise a stereoscopic camera and/or an infrared sensor.

According to specific embodiments of the invention, said second detection may comprise a pressure sensor arranged with respect to a seat placed in said vehicle.

Another object of the invention concerns a system as claimed in claim <NUM>.

According to specific embodiments of the invention, the system may comprise at least one computer and a data storage medium, in which at least one program for carrying out steps of the method carried out by the system is stored.

Another object of the invention concerns a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of a method as described above.

Another object of the invention concerns a medium which can be used in a computer and on which a program as described above is recorded.

Practicable embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the system <NUM> for determining loading data in connection with a load supported by a transportation vehicle according to the invention comprises an information processing unit <NUM>, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium <NUM>, input and output means <NUM> and, optionally, display means <NUM>. According to some embodiments, the system <NUM> comprises one or more computers, one or more servers, one or more supercomputers and/or any combination comprising one of these computer systems. Preferably, the information processing unit <NUM> consists of a computer or a server provided with one or more communication interfaces and one or more pieces of software specifically designed and configured for carrying out the tasks and the steps described below.

In relation to some steps of the method according to the invention, the system <NUM> interacts, via a communication channel <NUM> that preferably includes a mobile communication network (e.g. GSM, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), with a first type of detection means <NUM>. Preferably, the detection means <NUM> include at least one detection device, preferably a stereoscopic camera and/or an infrared sensor, and means for interpreting signals generated by such detection device and for generating data accordingly. Preferably, the detection means <NUM> are arranged in the transportation vehicle and communicate directly with the system <NUM> via the communication channel <NUM>. Alternatively, or cumulatively, the detection means <NUM> are connected to an intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle (not represented), for instance a computer, which includes the means for interpreting signals generated by the detection device, generates data when the detection device of the detection means <NUM> generates a signal and transmits the generated data to the system <NUM>. Alternatively, or cumulatively, data generated either by the detection means <NUM> or by the intermediate data processing system may be stored in a data storage medium arranged in the vehicle (not represented).

Similarly, in relation to other steps of the method according to the invention, the system <NUM> interacts, via the communication channel <NUM>, with a second type of detection means <NUM>. Preferably, the detection means <NUM> comprises a sensor, for instance a pressure sensor arranged with respect to a seat placed in the vehicle, and means for interpreting signals generated by the sensor and for generating data accordingly. Preferably, the detection means <NUM> are arranged in the transportation vehicle and communicate directly with the system <NUM> via the communication channel <NUM>. Alternatively, or cumulatively, the detection means <NUM> are also connected to the intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle (not represented), which includes the means for interpreting signals generated by the sensor, generates data when the sensor of the detection means <NUM> generates a signal and transmits the generated data to the system <NUM>. Alternatively, or cumulatively, data generated either by the detection means <NUM> or by the intermediate data processing system may also be stored in the data storage medium arranged in the vehicle (not represented).

Additionally, in relation to other steps of the method according to the invention, the system <NUM> interacts, via a communication channel <NUM>, with mobile devices <NUM>, for instance smartphones. The system <NUM> is thus able to send data to the mobile devices <NUM> and to receive data from them. This is particularly advantageous because some steps of the method according to the invention rely on data that is determined by means of functionalities implemented by additional components of the system <NUM> (not represented) bundled in an application which is hosted in each mobile device <NUM> and executed either punctually or continuously. Accordingly, when performing certain steps in accordance with these additional components, the mobile devices <NUM> interact with one or more beacons <NUM> arranged in the transportation vehicle by means of radiofrequency signals, preferably generated according to one of the Bluetooth standard protocols. Likewise, all beacons <NUM> are also compatible with the Bluetooth technology, that is they are all adapted for generating radiofrequency signals in accordance with one of the Bluetooth standard protocols. Preferably, the steps implemented by the mobile devices <NUM> in accordance with the additional components of the system <NUM> include at least a step of determining identification data of a closest beacon by performing measurements of the power of radiofrequency signals received from several beacons <NUM>, and a step of transmitting this identification data to the system <NUM>.

Moreover, in relation to other steps of the method according to particular embodiments of the invention, the system <NUM> interacts with a data storage facility <NUM>, local or remote, either directly or via the communication channel <NUM>. Accordingly, the system <NUM> may retrieve and extract data stored on the data storage facility <NUM>.

All the elements described above contribute to enable the system <NUM> to implement the method for determining loading data in connection with a load supported by a transportation vehicle, as described below in relation to <FIG>.

In a step <NUM>, the system <NUM> obtains, i.e. retrieves, extracts and/or determines, a first portion of processing data. Preferably, the first portion of processing data is generated when the detection device of the detection means <NUM> generates a signal. Then, it is stored on the data storage medium <NUM> upon receipt by the system <NUM>. As previously mentioned, data may be generated either by the detection means <NUM> themselves or by the intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle which interprets the signals generated by the detection device of the detection means <NUM> and generates data accordingly. Alternatively, the first portion of processing data is retrieved by the system <NUM> from the data storage medium arranged in the vehicle on which it is stored either by the detection means <NUM> or by the intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle.

In a step <NUM>, the system <NUM> obtains a second portion of processing data. Preferably, the second portion of processing data is generated when a detection device of the detection means <NUM> generates a signal. As previously mentioned, data may be generated either by the detection means <NUM> themselves or by the intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle which interprets the signals generated by the detection device of the detection means <NUM> and generates data accordingly. Alternatively, the first portion of processing data is retrieved by the system <NUM> from the data storage medium arranged in the vehicle on which it is stored either by the detection means <NUM> or by the intermediate data processing system arranged in the vehicle.

In a step <NUM>, the system <NUM> obtains a third portion of processing data. Preferably, a part of the third portion of processing data is generated by the system <NUM> when a radiofrequency signal transmitted by a mobile device <NUM> is received. As previously mentioned, data received from mobile devices <NUM> may include identification data of closest beacons. Alternatively, the third portion of processing data may be generated by the mobile devices <NUM> themselves and stored on the data storage medium <NUM> upon receipt by the system <NUM>.

In a step <NUM>, the system <NUM> determines said loading data by using the first portion of processing data, the second portion of processing data and the third portion of processing data. To this end, the system <NUM> implements at least a step of reviewing the portions of data and a step of determining elements which are relevant in relation to the loading status of the transportation vehicle.

The system <NUM> performs an additional step during which obtains a fourth portion of processing data. The fourth portion of processing data is stored in the data storage facility <NUM>. The fourth portion of processing data concerns elements which are also relevant with respect to the loading status of the transportation vehicle, More specifically, the fourth portion of processing data includes data generated in relation to equipment operating in relation to suspension means of the transportation vehicle. Then, the fourth portion of processing data is used by the system <NUM> to update the loading data that has been determined.

Claim 1:
A method for determining by a computer system (<NUM>) loading data in connection with a load supported by a transportation vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first portion of processing data, said first portion of processing data being generated when at least one first detection device of detection means of a first type (<NUM>) arranged in said vehicle generates a signal,
- obtaining a second portion of processing data, said second portion of processing data being generated when at least one second detection device of detection means of a second type (<NUM>) arranged in said vehicle generates a signal,
- obtaining a third portion of processing data, said third portion of processing data being generated when a radiofrequency signal transmitted by a mobile device (<NUM>) is received,
- determining said loading data by using said first portion of processing data, said second portion of processing data and said third portion of processing data,
- obtaining a fourth portion of processing data, said fourth portion of processing data being stored on a remote data storage facility (<NUM>), wherein the fourth portion of processing data includes data generated in relation to equipment operating in relation to suspension means of the transportation vehicle, and
- updating said loading data by using said fourth portion of processing data.