Method and system for increasing the safety in the boarding area and for optimizing usage of the capacity in transport means which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016102490-A1
Application number	US-201514854291-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The boarding area (A, B, C) of a transport means ( 9 ) is divided into at least two gates ( 1, 2, 3 ), the maximum person capacity of which corresponds, respectively, to the maximum capacity of the largest transport means ( 9 ) that is accessible via the boarding area (A, B, C). Entrance into the gates ( 1, 2, 3 ) is effected via at least one separating device ( 4 ) connected with the control system ( 5 ) for the purpose of data communication. Entrance into a gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) is not possible once the number of persons in the gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) specified by the control system ( 5 ) for the current boarding operation is reached, or while the persons inside a gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) board a transport means. The number of persons in a gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) specified for the current boarding operation is determined by the control system ( 5 ) in dependence upon the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, provided intermediate stations are present, and of the free capacity of the arriving transport means ( 9 ). For the current boarding operation, the persons inside a gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) are assigned to an arriving transport means ( 9 ). When the number of persons inside the gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) specified for the current boarding operation has been reached, or when a specified timer which corresponds to a specified time window has expired and a transport means ( 9 ) arrives to which the persons currently in the gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) are assigned, the persons who are inside the gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) are requested to board and a counter for the number of persons in the gate ( 1, 2, 3 ) is set to zero.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding area, said method comprising the steps of:
dividing the boarding area (A, B, C) of a transport means into at least two gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), the maximum person capacity of which corresponds, respectively, to the maximum capacity of the largest transport means that can be accessed via the boarding area (A, B, C), wherein entrance into the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) is effected through at least one separating device that is coupled with a control system for the purpose of data communication and wherein entrance into a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) is blocked by the separating device once the number persons in the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) specified by the control system is reached or while the persons inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) board the transport means; determining the number of persons in a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) specified for the current boarding operation by means of the control system in dependence upon the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, if such intermediate stations are present, and of the free capacity of the arriving transport means; for the current boarding operation, assigning the persons inside a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) to an arriving transport means; detecting and forwarding to the control system the current number of persons inside a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) by means of the at least one separating device; and once the number of persons inside a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) specified for the current boarding operation is reached, or a specified timer corresponding to a specified time window has expired, and a transport means arrives to which the persons currently inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) are assigned, requesting the persons inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) to board and setting a counter for the number of persons inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) to zero.

2 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
evaluating the free capacity and arrival time of a transport means in the control system, by way of an identification number or other marking clearly visible to the persons in the boarding area (A, B, C) and the number of persons inside a transport means, ascertained based on data of the separating means of gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) for the boarding operation into the transport means; and determining a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and the specified number of persons therein for a current boarding operation in a boarding area (A, B, C) and assigning the persons in this gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) to an arriving transport means, in dependence upon the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, if such intermediate stations are present.

3 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
indicating in real time in the number of free spaces for the current boarding operation relative to the specified number of persons in a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) together with the status of the boarding operation on an display device, facing the persons seeking admission to the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and the persons inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), which is coupled with the control system for the purpose of data communication.

4 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 1 , wherein an intermediate station is present apart from a start station and an end station, further comprising the step of:
ascertaining the number of persons waiting at the various stations prior to reaching the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) by means of devices for ascertaining the number of persons waiting for transport in front of the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and which are coupled with the control system for the purpose of data communication, such that the transport demand in individual stations is known to the control system in real time.

5 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 4 , wherein the number persons waiting at the various stations is ascertained prior to reaching the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), by means of the devices for ascertaining the number of persons waiting for transport in front of the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), the number of persons arriving at the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and the number of persons detected by the separating devices of the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), which correspond to the number of persons already transported and about to be transported.

6 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 4 , wherein the number of persons waiting at the various stations is ascertained prior to reaching the gates by evaluating camera images.

7 . The method for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 4 , wherein the number of persons specified for the current boarding operation for each gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) of the boarding areas (A, B, C) is determined in dependence upon the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, if such intermediate stations are present, and of the free capacity of the arriving transport means, based upon criteria including at least one of (i) shortening the waiting time in one or in all intermediate stations, (ii) shortening the waiting time in the start station, and (iii) shortening the waiting time in the station with the majority of waiting persons.

8 . A system for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding area, said system comprising, in combination:
an electronic control system; at least two gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) per boarding area (A, B, C) of a transport means, through which entrance into the transport means is permitted, the maximum person capacity of which corresponds, respectively, to the maximum capacity of the largest transport means that is accessible via the boarding area (A, B, C), wherein the gates ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) respectively each include at least one separating device, coupled with the control system for the purpose of data communication, through which the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) is entered and by means of which the current number of persons inside a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) is detected and forwarded to the control system; wherein access to a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) is not possible, once the number of persons inside the gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) specified by the control system for the current boarding operation has been reached; and wherein each of the gates comprises a display device, coupled with the control system for the purpose of data communication, by means of which the number of free spaces specified for the current boarding operation relative to the specified number of persons in a gate ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and the status of the boarding operation are indicated.

9 . The system for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the capacity in transport means according to claim 8 , wherein the separating devices also serve as an access control devices for the transport means.

10 . The system for increasing safety in the boarding area (A, B, C) and for optimising usage of the

Assignees

• Skidata Ag

Inventors

• Kobler Richard
• Hulan Thomas

Classifications

• G07C9/10

  Movable barriers with registering means · CPC title

• B61B1/02 Primary

  General arrangement of stations and platforms including protection devices for the passengers {(B61B1/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B61B11/00

  Ski lift, sleigh lift or like trackless systems with guided towing cables only · CPC title

• B61B12/022

  Vehicle receiving and dispatching devices (acceleration or deceleration devices B61B12/105; cable grippers B61B12/12) · CPC title

• G07C9/00

  Individual registration on entry or exit · CPC title