Multi-beam phased array antenna for transit access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10163178-B1
Application number	US-201815950025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2018
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

System, device, and method for enabling transit access using a multi-beam phased array antenna. One method may include repeatedly transmitting, by a location transmitter positioned within a transit location within a transit system, a location signal identifying the transit location. The method may include receiving, by a mobile communication device, the location signal, initiating a check-in process, and transmitting a device signal identifying the mobile communication device. The method may include receiving, by a gate receiver positioned within a gate within the transit location, the device signal and analyzing the received device signal to determine that a holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a multi-beam phased array antenna for enabling transit access, the method comprising:
repeatedly transmitting, by a location transmitter positioned within a transit location within a transit system, a location signal identifying the transit location;
receiving, by a mobile communication device, the location signal;
in response to receiving the location signal:
initiating, by the mobile communication device, a check-in process; and
transmitting, by the mobile communication device, a device signal identifying the mobile communication device;

receiving, by a gate receiver positioned within a gate within the transit location, the device signal, wherein the gate receiver includes the multi-beam phased array antenna;
analyzing, by the gate receiver, at least two received signal strength indicators (RSSI) corresponding to the received device signal to determine that a holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate; and
causing, by the mobile communication device, a completion of the check-in process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gate receiver comprises:
the multi-beam phased array antenna comprising:
a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a side-by-side configuration; and
at least two beam forming networks coupled to the plurality of antenna elements configured to produce at least two fan beams pointing in at least two directions; and

at least two decoders coupled to the at least two beam forming networks for generating the at least two RSSIs.

3. A method of using wireless radio-frequency (RF) signals for enabling transit access, the method comprising:
receiving, by a mobile communication device from a location transmitter positioned within a transit location within a transit system, a location signal identifying the transit location, wherein the location signal is repeatedly transmitted by the location transmitter;
in response to receiving the location signal:
initiating, by the mobile communication device, a check-in process; and
repeatedly transmitting, by the mobile communication device, a device signal identifying the mobile communication device; and

causing a completion of the check-in process in response to the device signal being received by a gate receiver, wherein the gate receiver is positioned within a gate within the transit location, and wherein the received device signal is analyzed to determined that a holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the location transmitter includes an omni-directional antenna.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gate receiver comprises:
a multi-beam phased array antenna comprising:
a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a side-by-side configuration; and
at least two beam forming networks coupled to the plurality of antenna elements configured to produce at least two fan beams pointing in at least two directions; and

at least two decoders coupled to the at least two beam forming networks for generating at least two received signal-strength indicators (RSSI) corresponding to the received device signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein analyzing the received device signal to determine that the holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate includes:
determining that a first maximum of a first RSSI of the at least two RSSIs is greater than a predetermined threshold;
determining that a second maximum of a second RSSI of the at least two RSSIs is greater than the predetermined threshold; and
determining whether a first time associated with the first maximum is greater or less than a second time associated with the second maximum.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein initiating, by the mobile communication device, the check-in process includes opening an application associated with the transit access on the mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein initiating, by the mobile communication device, the check-in process includes holding an amount as unavailable on an account associated with the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein transmitting the device signal identifying the mobile communication device includes repeatedly transmitting the device signal identifying the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein causing the completion of the check-in process includes:
causing the mobile communication device to stop transmitting the device signal; and
repeatedly receiving, by the mobile communication device, the location signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein communication between the location transmitter, the mobile communication device, and the gate receiver utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

12. A gate receiver for enabling transit access using wireless RF signals, the gate receiver comprising:
an antenna;
one or more processors communicatively coupled to the antenna, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform operations including:
receiving, using the antenna, a device signal identifying a mobile communication device, wherein:
the device signal is repeatedly transmitted by the mobile communication device in response to the mobile communication device receiving a location signal from a location transmitter positioned within a transit location within a transit system;
the location signal identifies the transit location and is repeatedly transmitted by the location transmitter; and
the mobile communication device initiates a check-in process in response to receiving the location signal;

analyzing the received device signal to determine that a holder of the mobile communication device is entering through a gate including the gate receiver; and
causing a completion of the check-in process.

13. The gate receiver of claim 12 , wherein the location transmitter includes an omni-directional antenna.

14. The gate receiver of claim 12 , wherein:
the antenna is a multi-beam phased array antenna comprising:
a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a side-by-side configuration; and
at least two beam forming networks coupled to the plurality of antenna elements configured to produce at least two fan beams pointing in at least two directions; and

the gate receiver further comprises at least two decoders coupled to the at least two beam forming networks for generating at least two received signal-strength indicators (RSSI) corresponding to the received device signal.

15. The gate receiver of claim 14 , wherein analyzing the received device signal to determine that the holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate includes:
determining that a first maximum of a first RSSI of the at least two RSSIs is greater than a predetermined threshold;
determining that a second maximum of a second RSSI of the at least two RSSIs is greater than the predetermined threshold; and
determining whether a first time associated with the first maximum is greater or less than a second time associated with the second maximum.

16. The gate receiver of claim 12 , wherein initiating, by the mobile communication device, the check-in process includes opening an application associated with the transit access on the mobile communication device.

17. The gate receiver of claim 12 , wherein initiating, by the mobile communication device, the check-in process includes holding an amount as unavailable on an account associated with the mobile communication device.

18. The gate receiver of claim 12 , wherein transmitting t

Assignees

• Cubic Corp

Inventors

• Sprogis Robert
• Paetzold Kay
• Busch-Sorensen Thomas
• Al-Mahdawi Tareef

Classifications

• G06Q20/204

  comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit · CPC title

• G06Q20/085

  involving remote charge determination or related payment systems · CPC title

• G07B15/063

  using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station (identification of vehicles G08G) · CPC title

• G07C9/28

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G06Q20/3278

  RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices · CPC title