ES2927912A1 - Urban information system (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Urban information system, which allows to indicate on a screen (22) of at least one fixed information unit (20), on two posts (5) walls or similar places, a whole series of information such as the position of one or more vehicles (1) that carry mobile units (10) with a geolocator and a communication system with a server (3). The information units (20) have short-range readers (11, 21) of identifiers (4) carried by users and are configured to modify the information displayed on the unit (10, 20), change the language... Likewise they can send warning messages of the user's position, require special assistance. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

urban information system

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present application refers to a real-time urban information system, which allows information to be transmitted from a central to a series of users or from users to other users through the central. For example, it can be applied to follow the passage of people through geographical points, immediate information on incidents in the route of vehicles, information on the positioning of vehicles, such as buses, that arrive at a stop, a warehouse... It is adaptable to any user and offers personalized information with language selection, routes of interest, use of audio, maps. to users with different needs. Likewise, it is a system applicable at low cost in any municipality or area without requiring large facilities.

STATE OF THE ART

In most bus, tram and other passenger transport vehicle stops, the stop lines and/or timetables are indicated statically, using one or more printed sheets, usually paper.

It is also known, especially in the metro, the presence of panels that indicate the different stations/stops and how long it will take for the next vehicle to arrive. To do this, geolocators mounted on buses and fleet vehicles are used, which allows knowing their situation and estimating the arrival time at a stop, at a warehouse. This implies that they also have to carry communication equipment, normally by GSM or another telephony standard.

However, the information displayed is often incomplete and/or not detailed enough for some users. Furthermore, the use of telephony standards means that this solution is not always applicable in towns or small cities. For example, in intercity buses the communication bandwidth can be lost or reduced.

In addition, it is interesting to define systems, independent of transport routes, that allow the user to mark his way through points, obtain local information... For example, to find out that a minor has arrived at school, at a sports center, or to be able to contact emergency services quickly.

The Applicant is not aware of any device that makes it possible to obtain these advantages in a similar way to the invention.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an urban information system according to the first claim and whose variants solve the problems of the state of the art.

It is an object of the invention to achieve an autonomous and real-time digital window, which also has technologies included in case the internet connection is lost, being able to give notice and service even without internet coverage in the area or at that time. To do this, you can use SIGFOX and/or LORA technologies and the system will be able to adapt future communication technologies without having to change the hardware, using modular equipment.

The system allows to indicate on a screen of an information unit, generally fixed on a post, arranged in a geographical point and connected to a server, any information uploaded or downloadable from a central server. For example, it can show the position of one or more vehicles in real time (buses, public taxis, community taxis, truck fleets...). In this case, the vehicles carry mobile units, each one with a geolocator and a communication system with the server. The information units have a short-range reader of identifiers carried by the users, for example RFID or NFC. This unit is configured to modify the information displayed on the unit (maps or other information on the geographical area, line of vehicles on which to display information, language...) and/or send user data collected from the identifier to the server, to be sent to mobile units and review by a vehicle driver, sending them to a caregiver or guardian of the user. It also allows the units to communicate with the user through loudspeakers.

For example, on a school bus it allows you to control which children have gotten on the vehicle. It also allows warning of the presence of a person with special needs (blind, wheelchairs.) at a stop. This system can be working autonomously from the vehicles. For example, the passage of a minor or disabled person can be marked at night, on holidays without transportation, or in areas far from vehicle routes. For example, in leisure areas, sports centers. The information unit has emergency buttons that are used to communicate with the emergency services or directly issue an SOS so that the police or an authorized security service can attend according to the current regulations of each city or country.

The information unit has a defined design against vandalism and totally waterproof, robust, etc. Includes temperature sensors that protect electronic components in case of excessive heat, turning them off, or alert emergency services if they consider there is a fire (excess or rapid increase in temperature not understandable in nature except for a fire), due to vandalism or another source, through the server. Vandalism can be detected by inclinometers or accelerometers. Thus it also allows detecting gusts of wind, accidents, earthquakes and notifying the central server so that it can act accordingly.

The preferred information units include batteries and can be recharged by photovoltaic panels, so that they are totally autonomous and installable without the need for work. For example, it can be attached directly to the pole of a bus stop, without the need to disassemble and discard all the equipment already present. It also can dock at the door of a school, a center for the elderly, a sports center...

The information unit preferably has vertically elongated screens to be able to display all the information for each vehicle or line of stops/stations, being able to rotate the information displayed at any time. For example, one of the rotating screens can show incidents on the road in real time, due to road closures, demonstrations, accidents, changes in routes. Likewise, it is possible to mark the entire route or route and modify it temporarily or permanently, automatically transmitting the information to all the information units and without wasting paper, without traveling, painting or personnel.

To ensure that the server is up to date, the mobile unit preferably has a communication system with the server with two or more standards. A preferred example of these standards is LoRa and/or SigFox.

For upgrading or maintenance of the units, they are preferably modular. In this way you can replace or improve any part of them.

Thanks to the most advanced version of the invention, it is possible to retransmit the information by audio to people with hearing disabilities, change the language or modify the information in the optimal way for the user.

It is also possible to mark the passage of users through the information units, thereby improving the safety of disabled or minor users. For example, for people with Alzheimer's, it is possible to schedule routes with schedules to find out if they stray from their usual path. You can also define a security alert protocol to notify family members if the user is unwell.

The information in the information unit is kept updated in real time, being able to change the information quickly in case of modifications due to works, incidents. either short or long term. I know You can apply to present advertising, which can be adapted to the last identified user, at least for a time after its passage.

Its greatest innovation is the real-time interaction between the user and an information provider generally selected by the metropolitan entity, such as public transport (highlighting the information on incidents on the route line in real time) and its operators or a tourist office.

Other variants are appreciated in the rest of the memory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included.

Figure 1: View of an embodiment example of the information unit.

Figure 2: View of an implementation scheme, showing two vehicles approaching an urban center with six information units at each point.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is briefly described below, as an illustrative and non-limiting example thereof. This example is designed with vehicle tracking, but it must be considered that this application is not essential.

Figure 2 shows an example of an embodiment equipped in a series of vehicles (1) and points (2) of the implantation territory (town, city, commonwealth...). Two bus routes can be seen (in dashed lines) and four points (2) close to them and two points (2) far away. In each vehicle (1) a mobile unit (10) is incorporated, which has a geolocator, a screen, usually a touch screen, and a communication system with a server (3), preferably LoRa or SigFox. Ideally, a communication system with several standards is available to ensure that the connection is not lost, being able to use one or the other depending on whether there is a connection or not. This ensures that the data transmission is not lost and that all incidents are transmitted to the server (3). The mobile unit (10) is powered from the vehicle battery (1) but may have emergency batteries for power outages. This way you can report the incident.

At each point (2) there is an information unit (20), with a screen (22), preferably electronic ink so that the information does not depend on the power supply and greatly reduce consumption. The information unit (20) also comprises means of communication (23) with the server (3), either directly or through interposed equipment. At bus stops, the information unit (20) is on a pole (5), similar to the static information (51) or accompanying it.

Figure 1 shows an example of an information unit (20) arranged on a pole (5) of a bus, taxi or any other type of vehicle stop. The pole can be topped with a photovoltaic panel to recharge a battery of the information unit (20), making the information unit (20) fully autonomous and does not require any installation other than fixing it to the pole (5) or to a wall. The dimensions, height of placement of the information unit (20) can be defined for each use, without having any physical limitation. Especially since the equipment arranged in the information unit (20) is low consumption and does not require a connection to the network if it has the aforementioned photovoltaic panel or another similar system. In other words, it is fully adaptable to the regulations of each municipality without the need for complex installations.

Both units (10,20) have respective short-range readers (11,21), for example for RFID cards, NFC devices, etc. This allows the user to act with the units (10,20), through a compatible identifier (4), to transmit data and receive more detailed information. The identifier (4) can form part of the transport pass, a tourist card, a school card or other similar element.

For example, if the user is a minor or a person with a disability, a message can be sent to their guardian or relative of the user's presence in the vehicle (1) or point (2). In the same way, the driver of the vehicle (1) can be notified that there is a person with special needs at the next stop (wheelchair, hearing or sight problems...). It is also possible that the screen (22) offers relevant information for the user: details about the next adapted vehicle, the bus line or similar that the user has marked on his identifier. You can also activate a loudspeaker in the unit (10,20) that transmits information to a visually impaired user.

In use, each mobile unit (10) sends continuously, or with a high frequency, the relevant information: position, speed, vehicle (1) or exterior temperature, estimated or measured number of passengers, vehicle identification (1). This information is stored in the server (3) to be sent, equally continuously or with high frequency, to the information units (20). Users can read the information on their screens (22) or request, by means of the reader (21) that relevant information be shown.

The mobile unit (10) will be easily configurable, for example arranging its different elements in interchangeable modules. Thus, it will be possible to change the communication system to another standard with few adjustments, replace damaged parts, etc.

The server (3) can be programmed to supply information specially prepared for an information unit (20). For example, on the door of a museum you could display its opening hours and temporary exhibitions. This information is stored locally and only variable information, identified as such by XML or another system, is updated.

Claims (1)

1- Urban information system, which allows information to be displayed on a screen (22) from one or more fixed information units (20) communicated with a communication system with a server (3), characterized in that each information unit (20 ) has a short-range reader (11,21) of identifiers (4) carried by users and is configured to modify the information displayed in the information unit (20). 2- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information unit (20) is configured to send user data collected from the identifier (4) to the server (3). 3- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information unit (20) has a communication system with the server (3) with two or more standards. 4- Urban information system, according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the standards is LoRa or SigFox. 5- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information unit (20) has an inclinometer or accelerometers. 6- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen (22) is electronic ink. 7- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information units (20) each have loudspeakers. 8- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more vehicles (1) carrying mobile units (10) with a geolocator and a communication system with the server (3). 9- Urban information system, according to claim 8, characterized in that the mobile unit (10) has a short-range reader (11,21) of the identifiers (4) carried by the users. 10- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information unit (20) comprises temperature sensors that protect electronic components in case of excessive heat or notify emergency services if they consider that there is a fire. 11- Urban information system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the information unit (20) comprises batteries and photovoltaic panels.