JP4104308B2 - Seat designation system at ticket gate, method of assigning seat at ticket gate, and seat designation management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system that handles designation of seats and the like in transportation such as trains, and more particularly to a technology that handles designation of seats and the like that can handle designation and change of designation of seats at the ticket gate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in transportation such as railways, designated management of seats, sleepers, private rooms, etc. is prepared for each train and can be reserved in advance for seats, sleepers, private rooms, etc. (hereinafter simply referred to as designated seats). The management is performed by a database that links the operation schedule and accumulates the designated seat designation status and a computer that manages input / output to the database. These designated reception processes are handled at a ticketing window at a station, a travel agency window, or an automatic ticketing machine. For this reason, in order to receive a seat designation, the user needs to perform a predetermined procedure at a window, an automatic ticketing machine or the like.
[0003]
Recently, there is a ticket to which a right to receive seat designation is added to a ticket. In such a ticket, the boarding station and the getting-off station are fixed, but the boarding train is not specified. Accordingly, it is possible to receive designation of an available train at an arbitrary time, and it becomes possible to use a reserved seat for the earliest train at that time just before boarding. For this reason, it is used by busy business customers. Even if seats have been designated in advance, there may be cases where a change to a train with an earlier time is desired. In either case of receiving a seat designation or changing a seat designation, it is necessary to obtain a designated seat of the train from the ticketing window, automatic ticketing machine, etc. before boarding.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When receiving a seat assignment just before departure, there are actually the following problems. That is, the window and the automatic ticketing machine are not always in the immediate vicinity of the ticket gate. Moreover, it is crowded and may be kept waiting. Therefore, even if it is a non-reserved seat, even if it is possible to get on, if it is specified, it must be specified about the train at the departure time considering the need to have some time allowance. For customers who want to use the earliest trains, this point remains unsatisfactory. On the other hand, as a railroad company, filling the reserved seats with priority over the first train leaves more reserved seats in the later trains with enough time, increasing sales opportunities, It is preferable in terms of improving the utilization rate of reserved seats.
[0005]
Because of this situation, there is a demand for a means that can promptly specify a seat by a simple method until immediately before departure.
[0006]
By the way, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76352 as a system relating to a system in which details of the position of a seat are determined immediately before departure and assigned by an automatic ticket gate. However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76352, a train needs to be specified in advance. As described above, it is impossible to deal with a case where no designation is received or a case where the designation is desired to be changed.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables a train to receive a designation of the nearest train having a vacant seat at the ticket gate and to change the designation.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a seat designation system for designating a seat, a communication means for exchanging information with a designation processing device for designating a seat, and a means for detecting a use ticket including information relating to the use of a seat When the use ticket is detected, the information related to the use of the seat is read from the use ticket, transmitted to the designated processing device via the communication means, and the seat information is read from the designated processing device via the communication means. There is provided a seat designation system having ticket gate designation processing means for outputting information indicating designation of a seat when information indicating designation is obtained. Here, an automatic ticket gate may be provided in the seat designation system, and the automatic ticket gate may be provided with communication means, means for detecting a used ticket, and ticket ticket designation processing means.
[0009]
In addition, the seat designation system according to the present invention includes:
A seat assignment management system for managing seat assignments;
The seat designation or the seat designation that has the right to receive a seat designation change is received, the information read from the ticket piece is transmitted to the seat designation management system, and the seat designation received from the seat designation management system, or One or more automatic ticket gates that can change the seat designation of a specific train or change the seat designation by outputting information on the change of seat designation;
Seat designation that displays the specific train for which seat designation or seat designation is to be changed, and displays the automatic ticket gate that performs seat designation or seat designation change for the displayed specific train Possible train display board,
Can also be provided.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, it is assumed that a train having a reserved seat is operated and one or more automatic ticket gates are installed at a station where the train can be boarded. This embodiment is realized by one or more automatic ticket gates installed and a seat designation management system that manages seat designation. In this embodiment, a case where a paper piece having a magnetic recording medium function as a magnetic recording medium is used as the designated ticket will be described as an example. Of course, the designated ticket is not limited to this piece of paper. For example, as will be described later, an ID card or an IC card can be used as a designated ticket.
[0011]
Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a system including an automatic ticket gate 120 installed at a train using station and a seat designation management system 130 installed at a railway company on a route operated at a high operation density will be described as an example. To do. Here, the designation is for the seat. In the case of seat designation, the number of trains that can be used is large, and the number of seats is large, so when you want to ride, you can secure the seat and get the effect of the present invention Because it is convenient. Therefore, in the present specification, the designation “seat designation” is also used in the names of the systems and subsystems constituting this embodiment. However, it does not mean that a bed, a private room, etc. are excluded. The application of the present invention is also possible for these. In general, the seats have different grades. This is common in the concept of seat designation except when there is a change in grade, so in the following example, the grade of the seat will be described without distinction in order to simplify the explanation. Of course, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to receiving or changing the seat designation by changing the grade.
[0012]
In addition, in this specification, for convenience of explanation, in the description of the embodiment, a ticket having the right to receive seat designation, a ticket that has already been designated for seating, etc. Reserved tickets received, limited express tickets with seat designation, etc. Furthermore, reserved tickets that have the right to receive seat designation but are not designated for trains, express tickets that have the right to receive seat designation, etc. Are collectively referred to as a use ticket. In addition, the various use tickets mentioned above are illustrations, Comprising: It is not limited to them. The use ticket is issued at a station window, a travel agency window, an automatic ticketing machine installed at the station, or the like. Of course, it is not limited to this.
[0013]
In the present embodiment, one train that can be assigned a seat is assigned to the automatic ticket gate. With this configuration, it is possible to identify a train that the passenger wants to receive a seat designation depending on which automatic ticket gate the passenger has selected. Further, as described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a means for promptly specifying a seat by a simple method immediately before departure, so in this embodiment, a seat can be specified for an automatic ticket gate. A train is assigned to a predetermined time before the departure time of the train, for example, a time period from 30 minutes to 5 minutes before the departure time of the train. The time to start assignment can be determined from the seat assignment situation on the day, and the time to release assignment is, for example, the normal time required to get on the train after passing the ticket gate at that station Is set in advance.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows an overall image of a seat designation system in which the ticket designation seat designation system in this embodiment is used.
[0015]
The seat designation system in which this embodiment is used includes a seat sales system and a seat designation system 100 at a ticket gate that designates a seat or changes a seat just before the train departs. The seat sales system issues a use ticket, such as a window terminal 151, an automatic ticketing machine 152, a portable terminal 153, and the like. It comprises a seat designation management system 130 that performs management. The ticket designation system 100 at the ticket gate includes a seat designation management system 130, an automatic ticket gate 120, and a train display board 140 that can seat designation.
[0016]
Here, in the present embodiment, the same system is used as the seat management system used in the seat sales system and the seat designation management system 130 used in the ticket designation system 100 at the ticket gate. Considering that there is a request for designation of the remaining vacant seats at the ticket gates, it is preferable to use the same system in order to avoid redundant issuance. Of course, another system may be used as long as duplicate issue is avoided. For example, it can be dealt with by assigning beforehand a vacant seat for designation at the ticket gate and separating it from the designation request from the window.
[0017]
The ticket designation seat designation system 100 receives a use ticket 900, performs ticket examination, and designates one or more automatic ticket gates 120 that designate a seat for a specific train or change a seat designation, and a target for performing a designation processing service. And a seat assignable train display board 140 for displaying the automatic ticket gate 120 that performs the designation processing service for the displayed specific train. A plurality of automatic ticket gates 120 are set in this embodiment. Here, all the automatic ticket gates at the ticket gate can be the automatic ticket gate 120 of the present embodiment. In this case, all the automatic ticket gates 120 can perform the designated processing service. Also, some can be made to function as a normal ticket gate. Of course, a part of the automatic ticket gate group installed at the ticket gate can be the automatic ticket gate 120 of this embodiment.
[0018]
The seat designation management system 130 includes a seat information management file 132 in which seat information of each train is stored, a timetable database 133 in which the operation time and operation status of each train are stored, and a central processing unit 135. Prepare.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the automatic ticket gate 120 blocks a passenger's passage from the use ticket transport system 121 having a use ticket insertion port 121 a, a transport unit 121 b, and a return port 121 c provided in a normal automatic ticket gate. A control unit 122 that controls processing of the automatic ticket gate 120, and a data reading unit 124 that reads data from the inserted use ticket. The automatic ticket gate 120 includes a communication unit 123 that exchanges data with the seat designation management system 130, a data writing unit 125 that magnetically writes data related to seat designation transmitted from the seat management system to a use ticket, A data printing unit 126 that prints data relating to seat designation transmitted from the seat management system on a use ticket in a format that is easy for a passenger to view, and a data display unit 127 that displays data related to seat designation transmitted from the seat designation management system 130. And. The control unit 122 includes a CPU 122a and a memory 122b, and retains an automatic ticket gate ID that identifies the automatic ticket gate in the memory 122b.
[0020]
The seat designation possible train display board 140 is an automatic ticket gate that can be boarded in time and information on trains for which seats can be designated because there are empty seats and seat designations for those trains. Information specifying the aircraft is received from the seat designation management system 130 in real time and displayed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the seat assignable train display board 140 includes a control unit 142 that controls display on the display board 140, a display panel 149 that displays information, and display data output from the control unit 142. The display drive device 148 that drives the display panel 149 to display information on the basis thereof, and the seat designation management system 130 and the communication unit 143 that exchanges data. The control unit 142 includes a CPU 142a and a memory 142b, and holds a display board ID for specifying the display board in the memory 142b. The display panel 149 can be constituted by, for example, an electric bulletin board in which light emitting elements are arranged. A panel display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display can also be used. Further, the dial can be rotated to have a rotating dial structure for displaying a target.
[0021]
The seat assignable train display board 140 is installed above the ticket gate. The display mode is substantially the same as that of a general ticket gate information board except that it includes a notation that identifies an automatic ticket gate that can receive a designated processing service and a notation that indicates a seat assignable range. is there. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a train name 149a, a destination 149b, a departure time 149c at the station, a departure number line 149d, a corresponding automatic ticket gate 149e, a stop station name and an arrival time 149f for each stop station, and a seat can be specified. The range 149g is displayed. The train name 149a is represented by a train number in the case of FIG. Of course, it is not limited to this. It is good also as displaying with the nickname of a train, displaying with a nickname and a train number. Here, the seat specifiable range shown in the seat specifiable range 149g is a section in which designation can be received from the station. In the example shown in Fig. 3, on the train from "Tokyo to Hakata" of No. 113, seats cannot be reserved for all sections from "Tokyo" to "Hakata", but from "Tokyo" to "Hiroshima" “Hiroshima” is displayed when you can receive a designation for a section. In addition, seats for all sections from “Tokyo” to “Hiroshima” cannot be accepted on the 115th train from “Tokyo to Hiroshima”, but seats are reserved for the section from “Tokyo” to “Shin-Osaka”. If possible, “Shin Osaka” is displayed. By checking the information displayed in the seat specifiable range 149g displayed on the display board 140, the passenger can know the trains for which seats can be specified and the information displayed on the automatic ticket gate 149e. By checking, you can know the automatic ticket gate that can receive the seat designation of the train.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 4, the central processing unit 135 of the seat designation management system 130 according to the present embodiment functions as a seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136, an automatic ticket gate management unit 137, and exchanges data with the outside. And a communication unit 138. Although not shown, the central processing unit 135 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and the like in order to realize these functions. Various functions are realized by executing the program loaded in the memory. In addition, a train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 is provided in the memory.
[0023]
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 requests the seat designation or the seat designation cancellation from the ticket issuing machine 150 and the automatic ticket gate 120 such as the window terminal 151, the automatic ticketing machine 152, and the portable terminal 153 via the communication unit 138. In response to this, the seat information management file 132 is searched, and processing for seat designation or seat designation cancellation is performed. The seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 also has a function of notifying the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 of all the seats that can be designated for the train as a result of performing the seat designation processing. The use ticket issuing machine 150 and the automatic ticket gate 120 and the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 are configured to exchange data in real time via the communication unit 138.
[0024]
The automatic ticket checker management unit 137 controls the assignment of trains to the automatic ticket checker 120 and the display of the seat assignable train display board 140. The automatic ticket gate management unit 137 reads the departure time data of each train from the timetable database 133, and when it becomes time to start assigning the train to the automatic ticket gate 120, the seat information management file 132 has a vacant seat for that train. Search for information. Here, the time for starting the allocation is set in advance in consideration of the operation status of the train, the number of automatic ticket gates, the seat availability, and the like. For example, it can be fixed according to the operation interval of the train, or can be dynamically determined according to the seat availability. If there is a vacant seat as a result of the search, the train is assigned to the automatic ticket gate 120 to which no train is assigned at that time, and the assigned information is displayed on the seat assignable train display board 140. Thereafter, when it is time to cancel the allocation, or when the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 receives notification that there are no more seats in the train, the allocation of the train to the automatic ticket gate 120 is canceled, The display on the train-assignable train display board 140 is updated.
[0025]
Assignment of trains to the automatic ticket checker 120 by the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 is performed by registration and deletion in the train / automatic ticket checker correspondence table 1370 that the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 has. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 has a structure in which an automatic ticket gate ID 1371 and a train name 1372 are associated with each other. When it becomes time to start assignment, and when it is found that there is an empty seat in the train, the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 searches the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 to find a ticket gate without an assigned train. By storing the train number of the train in the train name column, a train for newly performing the designated processing service is allocated to the automatic ticket gate. In addition, when the automatic ticket gate 120 starts the seat designation, it is time to cancel the allocation, or when the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 notifies that there is no vacant seat, the automatic ticket gate management unit 137. Searches the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 and deletes the train from the train name 1372 column of the automatic ticket gate column 1371 to which the train is assigned. Unassign trains for service.
[0026]
When the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 receives a seat designation request or a seat designation change request from the automatic ticket gate 120, the train / automatic ticket gate of the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 is based on the automatic ticket gate ID transmitted at the same time. By referring to the machine correspondence table 1370, it is possible to specify a train for which seat designation or seat designation is to be changed.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, the seat information management file 132 stores seat designation statuses of seats of all trains for which seat designation is possible. That is, the data stored in the seat information management file 132 has a structure in which the train name 132b is registered for each date 132a and the data of the boarding section 132c is registered for each train. In addition, equipment, vacant seat information, presence / absence of passing through an automatic ticket gate, etc. are registered for each boarding section. The vacant seat information includes data on the number of seats that can be designated (the number of vacant seats). The data stored in the seat information management file 132 stores vacant seat number data for each train for each driving date, and this vacant seat number data is stored every time seat designation processing is performed. Each time the seat designation cancellation process is performed, the number of seats for which the cancellation process has been performed is increased. Each time the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 performs seat designation or seat designation cancellation processing, the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 confirms the vacant seat number data. The management unit 137 is notified.
[0028]
Next, a rough processing flow of the ticketing seat designation system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0029]
First, the central processing unit 135 functions as an automatic ticket gate management unit 137, and performs automatic ticket gate allocation processing (step S71). The central processing unit 135 functions as a seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136, accepts a seat designation from the automatic ticket gate 120, and performs a seat designation process (step S72). Thereafter, the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 performs automatic ticket checker deallocation processing (step S73).
[0030]
The detailed flow of each process will be described below.
[0031]
Automatic ticket gate assignment processing by the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic ticket gate assignment process is started every time the above-mentioned assignment start time is reached. Here, the start time is checked by the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 by searching the timetable database 133. For example, it can be known by periodically checking whether a predetermined time, for example, 30 minutes before the time at each station.
[0032]
First, the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 searches the seat information management file 132 for the availability of a vacant seat for the train whose allocation start time is reached (step S81). If there is a vacant seat, the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 is searched, the train is assigned to the automatic ticket gate at the station to which no train is assigned, and the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 is updated (step S83). ). Thereafter, the assigned information is displayed on the train-designable train display board 140 together with the information of the timetable database 133 and the seat information management file 132 (step S84).
[0033]
In this way, after a train is assigned to the automatic ticket gate, the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 accepts a seat designation request from the automatic ticket gate 120 and automatically performs the process flow when performing the seat designation process. The process including the processing in the ticket gate 120 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0034]
The automatic ticket gate 120 prompts the passenger to insert the use ticket 900 from the insertion slot, and reads data recorded in the magnetic recording unit of the use ticket 900 inserted in the data reading unit 124 (steps S101 and S102). The control unit 122 of the automatic ticket checker 120 reads the data read from the used ticket together with the automatic ticket checker ID for identifying the automatic ticket checker 120 via the communication unit 123 of the central processing unit 135 of the seat designation management system 130. The data is transmitted as seat designation request data to the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 (step S103).
[0035]
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 determines whether or not the data of the used ticket that has been sent is valid (step S202). Here, a ticket gate process for information relating to a boarding ticket out of the data of the used ticket that has been sent and a process for determining whether the ticket is valid. Here, the validity of the voucher to be judged relates to whether information including the right to receive seat designation is included or whether information including the right to change seat designation is included. . The right to receive a seat designation change means, for example, that there is information indicating that the change has not yet been made when the change is possible only once. If ticket gate processing relating to the boarding ticket is performed and the data on the ticket used is valid, the process proceeds to step S203. If ticket gate processing related to the ticket is not performed, or one or both of the determination is made that the ticket data is not valid, the process proceeds to step S211 and the automatic ticket gate which has transmitted the seat designation request 120, data indicating that the seat cannot be specified is transmitted. Receiving the data, the automatic ticket gate 120 displays data indicating that the seat cannot be specified on the data display unit 127 and closes the gate 128 (step S105).
[0036]
Next, the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 determines whether the transmitted use ticket has already received a seat designation (step S203). If no seat designation has been received, the process proceeds to step S207, seat designation processing is performed (step S207), and the process proceeds to step S208. If the seat designation has been received, it is determined whether or not the contents of the seat designation can be changed (step S204). Here, the seat designation that can be changed means seat designation for a train that follows the train assigned to the automatic ticket gate 120 that has transmitted this data. This is usually a measure in accordance with a promise that a change in seat designation will not be accepted if the departure time of a train that has undergone seat designation has already passed. On the other hand, if multiple automatic ticket gates are operating as automatic ticket gates that can be designated / changed seats, you may have already passed a ticket gate that provides a processing service for a later train, and has already assigned a seat. It also has the meaning of preventing a situation where the train is changed to a later train than the train being received. If it is not changeable seat designation, the process proceeds to step S211. If the seat designation is changeable, seat designation processing is performed (step S205), the original seat designation is canceled (step S206), and the process proceeds to step S208. In step S208, the vacant seat number data in the seat information management file 132 after the seat designation process is confirmed. When the vacant seat number data becomes 0, it is notified to the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 (step S209), and the process proceeds to step S210. If the number of vacant seats is 1 or more, the process proceeds to step S210 as it is, and the obtained data regarding seat designation is transmitted to the automatic ticket gate 120 that has transmitted the seat designation request.
[0037]
When the control unit 122 of the automatic ticket gate 120 receives data related to seat designation from the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 via the communication unit 123, the data writing unit 125 stores the data in the magnetic recording unit of the used ticket. The data printing unit 126 prints on the use ticket in a form that is easy for the passenger to see (step S107). Then, the use ticket is returned from the return port 121c (step S108). In the present embodiment, an example of a printing form of the use ticket at the time when the passenger passes the automatic ticket gate 120 and the seat designation is changed is shown in FIG.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 11, when the used ticket is a coupon ticket 910 that has already been designated, information 911 relating to the designation of the canceled train is clearly shown as being erased by a double line 913. In addition, information 912 regarding the designation of the newly designated train is printed again. Here, the old display for the boarding section is deleted and newly displayed. However, when the boarding section does not change, the boarding section may be left without being deleted. By doing so, it is possible to effectively use a small print area.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the gate 128 of the automatic ticket gate 120 is open during normal use. When the gate 128 of the automatic ticket checker 120 is closed during normal use, the gate is opened before returning the use ticket for which seat designation or seat designation change processing has been completed to the passenger in the above processing flow. It can be handled by adding the process.
[0040]
Next, automatic ticket gate assignment cancellation processing by the automatic ticket gate management unit 137 will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic ticket gate assignment release processing is performed in response to a predetermined time for releasing the assignment or a notification from the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 that the number of seats has become 0. To start. First, the gate 128 of the automatic ticket gate 120 is closed so that a passenger cannot pass (step S91). Next, the train is deleted from the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table 1370 (step S92), and the display of the seat assignable train display board 140 is updated (step S93).
[0041]
As described above, in the present embodiment, if a ticket that can be seated in advance is purchased, a desired train seat can be easily designated simply by passing through a predetermined automatic ticket gate. Or, the seat designation can be changed.
[0042]
In addition, when changing seat assignments, the seats of late trains that have been reserved in advance will be canceled, increasing the number of seats that can be reserved for late trains and securing reserved seats for passengers. Opportunities to increase will increase, and railway companies will have more opportunities to sell seats for late trains.
[0043]
An example using an ID card as a use ticket will be described below as a second embodiment. 2nd embodiment is an example at the time of using an ID card as a utilization ticket. The configuration diagram is shown in FIG.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, a personal management ID that identifies a passenger is registered in the ID card 980. The seat designation management system further includes a personal information management file 134 in addition to the first embodiment.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 13, the personal information management file 134 includes a personal management ID storage unit 134a for storing an ID for identifying an individual, a personal information storage unit 134b for storing personal information such as an address and a name, and a passenger. Includes a ticket information storage unit 134c in which information related to the purchased ticket and information related to the seat designation received are stored. The data stored in the personal information management file 134 includes personal information such as an address and name registered in the personal information storage unit 134b for each personal management ID, and a ticket purchased by the passenger after each passenger. The seat designation information is registered in the ticket information storage unit 134c. Thus, when an ID for specifying an individual is instructed, data relating to a use ticket corresponding to the ID can be obtained.
[0046]
A passenger presents an ID card when purchasing a used ticket at a ticket issuing machine 150 such as a window or an automatic ticketing machine. The operator of the use ticket issuing machine 150 inputs information on the purchased use ticket and the personal management ID registered in the ID card from the input device. The input information is stored in the ticket information storage unit 134c corresponding to the personal management ID of the personal information management file 134.
[0047]
In the present embodiment, the automatic ticket gate 120 reads the personal management ID from the ID card 980 presented by the passenger, and transmits the read personal management ID to the seat designation management system 130. The seat designation management system 130 that has received the personal management ID searches the personal information management file 134 based on the personal management ID, and obtains passenger ticket information. The flow of processing after the seat designation management system 130 obtains the use ticket information is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, the results of performing the seat designation process, the seat designation cancellation process, and the like are transmitted to the automatic ticket gate 120 and stored in the ticket information storage unit 134c of the personal information management file 134.
[0048]
When the control unit 122 of the automatic ticket gate 120 receives the seat designation data transmitted from the seat designation management system 130, if the ID card 980 presented by the passenger has a print area that can be directly printed, the print area To print. When there is no printable print area, the automatic ticket checker 120 is provided with a printer function, and the received seat designation data is printed on a piece of paper and provided to the passenger.
[0049]
The processing in the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 of the seat designation management system 130 is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0050]
As a third embodiment, an example using an IC card as a use ticket will be described. FIG. 14 shows an overall configuration diagram of the third embodiment.
[0051]
Since the IC card 990 has a large storage capacity, information other than the personal management ID can be stored in the card itself. For this reason, in this embodiment, in the second embodiment, the information related to the personal information and the purchased ticket, etc. stored in the personal information management file 134 is stored in the IC card 990 itself.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 15, the data stored in the IC card 990 is related to a personal information storage unit 134d that stores personal information such as an ID for identifying an individual, an address, and a name, and a ticket purchased by a passenger. And a ticket information storage unit 134c that stores information on the received seat designation and the like. In the present embodiment, the seat designation management system 130 can also have a personal information management file 134 that stores data having the same contents as the information stored in the IC card.
[0053]
In this embodiment, a passenger presents the IC card 300 when purchasing a use ticket at a use ticket issuing machine 150 such as a window or an automatic ticketing machine. Here, data such as purchase information such as boarding tickets and coupon tickets and received seat designation information are stored in the IC card.
[0054]
In the present embodiment, the automatic ticket gate 120 reads the use ticket information from the IC card 990 presented by the passenger, and transmits the read information to the seat designation management system 130. The seat designation management system 130 that has received the use ticket information executes the processing described in the processing flow of FIG. 10 in the first embodiment. Further, the automatic ticket gate 120 writes the received information regarding seat designation to the IC card 990. The seat designation information written in the IC card 990 can be confirmed with an IC card viewer or the like. In this case, the automatic ticket checker 120 is provided with a printer function and is printed on a piece of paper so that the passenger can easily grasp the seat designation information received and written to the IC card 990 as in the second embodiment. You may make it do.
[0055]
The processing in the automatic ticket checker management unit 137 of the seat designation management system 130 in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.
[0056]
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
[0057]
In the present embodiment, the seat assignable train display board 140 and the automatic ticket gate 120 constitute a ticket gate system 110. The exchange between the ticket gate system 110 and the seat designation management system 130 is performed via a seat designation train display board 140. By configuring in this way, the seat designation management system 130 installed in the railway company and the ticket gate system 110 installed in the train use station exchange data via a single communication unit. Become. For this reason, processing for each station, for example, assignment and cancellation of automatic ticket gates, is handled by the control unit 142 of the seat assignable train display board 140 to reduce the load on the central processing unit of the seat assignment management system 130. can do. In this case, the data regarding the train departure time at the station, the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table, and the like are stored in the memory 142b of the control unit 142. The control unit 142 requests the seat designation management system 130 to search for the availability of seats in the train when it is time to start assigning automatic ticket gates to a specific train. In addition, the seat designation / cancellation processing unit 136 of the seat designation management system 130 notifies the control unit 142 of the information when there is no vacant seat on the train.
[0058]
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a passenger with a seat designation for a train having a vacant seat to the passenger at the ticket gate until just before the departure time. Furthermore, when there is a vacant seat remaining, the vacant seat can be sold in the train using, for example, a portable terminal 153 carried by the conductor as follows.
[0059]
Next, with reference to FIG. 17, the flow of sales processing by the portable terminal 153 will be described.
[0060]
Upon receiving a request from the passenger, the terminal operator inputs information such as date, train name, boarding section, etc. of the train for which the seat is to be sold. The portable terminal 153 receives input of these information by the operator, and transmits these information to the seat designation management system 130 (step S171). Information on seats that can be sold is received from the seat designation management system 130 (step S172). If there are seats available for sale, the information is displayed to the operator. Then, according to the operator's instruction, the information is recorded on the use ticket (step S175).
[0061]
In the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, the automatic ticket gate is configured to assign one train that can be assigned a seat. However, it is also possible to assign a plurality of trains to one automatic ticket gate. is there. This is a case where the boarding train can be clearly distinguished by the ticket data recorded on the use ticket, for example, an up train and a down train. Moreover, it is also possible to make a configuration in which a plurality of trains are assigned to one automatic ticket gate by providing a mechanism that allows the passenger to select a train for which a seat is desired to be assigned to the automatic ticket gate.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to receive the designation of the nearest train having a vacant seat at the ticket gate, so that the utilization rate of the designated seat is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a seat designation system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of the automatic ticket gate of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of a train display board capable of seat selection according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a seat displayable train display board according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a central processing unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of a seat information management file according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the ticketing seat designation system according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of automatic ticket gate assignment processing according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of automatic ticket gate assignment release processing according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of seat designation / cancellation processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a printed example of a use ticket according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the second embodiment of the seat designation system of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data structure of a personal information management file according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the third embodiment of the seat designation system of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a data structure of an IC card according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the seat designation system of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sales process by the mobile terminal of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 ... Ticket designation system at ticket gate, 120 ... Automatic ticket gate, 121 ... Used ticket transport system, 121a ... Input slot, 121b ... Transport section, 121c ... Return slot, 122 ..Control unit, 122a ... CPU, 122b ... Memory, 123 ... Communication unit, 124 ... Data reading unit, 125 ... Data writing unit, 126 ... Data printing unit, 127 ... Data display section, 128 ... Gate, 130 ... Seat designation management system, 132 ... Seat information management file, 133 ... Timetable database, 134 ... Personal information management file, 135 ..Central processing unit, 136 ... Seat designation / cancellation processing unit, 137 ... Automatic ticket gate management unit, 1370 ... Train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table, 1371 ... Ticket gate ID, 1372 ...・ Train name, 138 ... Communication unit, 140 ... Train display version with seat designation, 142 ... Control unit, 142a ... CPU, 142b ... Memory 143: Communication unit, 148: Display drive device, 149: Display panel, 150 ... Used ticketing machine, 151 ... Window terminal, 152 ... Automatic ticketing machine, 153 ... -Mobile terminal, 134a ... personal management ID storage unit, 134b ... personal information storage unit, 134c ... boarding ticket information storage unit, 900 ... use ticket.

Claims (3)

A ticket-seat designation system comprising a plurality of automatic ticket gates, a seat designation management system, and a seat designation-enabled train display board ,
The seat designation management system includes:
And timetable data base that stores the departure time data of each train,
For each train, a seat information management file that stores , as vacant seat information , information that specifies whether there is a vacant seat for each seat, information that specifies the number of vacant seats for each train ,
Automatic ticket gate management department ,
The seat selection / cancellation processing department ,
A communication unit ,
The automatic ticket gate management unit
Whether or not there is a vacant seat in the one train by reading the departure time data of each train from the timetable database and searching for the vacant seat information of the one train before the departure time of the one train The process of searching for
If there is a seat vacant on the one train, the automatic ticket gate of a portion of the plurality of automatic ticket gate, the assignment of one train, and the train name for identifying the one of the train The ticket IDs of the some automatic ticket checkers are associated with each other and stored as a train / automatic ticket checker correspondence table;
Assigned information in which the train name for identifying the one train and the ticket gate IDs of the some automatic ticket gates are associated with each other are displayed on the seat-designable train display board via the communication unit. Process to send,
The seat assignable train display board performs a process of displaying the assigned information transmitted from the seat assigning system in a predetermined format,
The automatic ticket gate
When voucher is inserted, it performs a process of the read data stored in the voucher, transmits the data read from the voucher with ticket gate ID of itself in the seat reservation management system,
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit
A process for identifying the train name corresponding to the ticket gate ID transmitted from the automatic ticket gate from the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table;
A process of specifying the one seat of the seat is empty train specified by the identified train name from the seat information management file,
The data relating to the seat designation including the identified train name and seat is transmitted via the communication unit to the automatic ticket gate that has transmitted the data read from the use ticket together with the ticket gate ID ,
The automatic ticket gate performs a process of writing data relating to seat designation transmitted from the seat designation management system into the use ticket in a predetermined format. And timetable data base that stores departure time data for each train, each train, the seat information stored information specifying whether a vacant each seat, and information specifying the vacant number per train, as Vacancy A seat designation management system comprising a management file , an automatic ticket gate management unit , a seat designation / cancellation processing unit, and a communication unit ;
Multiple automatic ticket gates,
A seat designation system in a ticket designation seat designation system comprising a seat designation train display board ,
The automatic ticket gate management unit of the seat designation management system reads departure time data of each train from the timetable database, and searches for vacant seat information of the one train before the departure time of the one train, A process of searching for a vacant seat on the one train, and
The automatic ticket gate management unit of the seat reservation management system, when the there is a seat vacant in one train, part of the automatic ticket gate of the plurality of automatic ticket gate, the one of the train A process of assigning, associating the train name for identifying the one train with the ticket gate IDs of the some automatic ticket gates, and storing them as a train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table;
The automatic ticket gate management unit of the seat designation management system assigns information in which the train name for identifying the one train is associated with the ticket gate IDs of the some automatic ticket gates, A process of performing transmission to the seat assignable train display board via the communication unit ;
The process of displaying the assigned information transmitted from the seat designation system in a predetermined format, the seat designation possible train display board ,
The automatic ticket gate
When voucher is inserted, reads the data stored in the voucher, the data read from the voucher, a process in which with ticket gate ID of itself operates to send to the seat assignment management system,
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit of the seat designation management system performs a process of identifying a train name corresponding to the ticket gate ID transmitted from the automatic ticket gate from the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table,
A process in which seat assignment cancellation processing section of the seat reservation management system performs a process of specifying the one seat of the seat is empty train specified by the train name identified from the seat information management file,
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit of the seat designation management system transmits the seat designation data including the specified train name and seat together with the ticket gate ID to the automatic ticket gate that has transmitted the data read from the use ticket. A process of performing transmission through a section ,
The automatic ticket gate includes a process of writing data relating to seat designation transmitted from the seat designation management system into the use ticket in a predetermined format, and specifying a seat . And timetable data base, and the seat information management file, and the automatic ticket gate management unit, a seat reservation management system comprising a seat assignment cancellation processing unit, a communication unit, a
Timetable data base stores the departure time data for each train,
The seat information management file stores, as vacant seat information, information specifying whether or not there is a vacant seat for each seat, and information specifying the number of vacant seats for each train ,
The automatic ticket gate management unit
Or wherein from the timetable data based reads departure time data for each train, before departure time of one train, by searching a vacant seat information of the one train has seats vacant on the one train A process for searching whether or not,
If there is a seat vacant on the one train, the automatic ticket gate of a portion of the plurality of automatic ticket gate, the assignment of one train, and the train name for identifying the one of the train The ticket IDs of the some automatic ticket checkers are associated with each other and stored as a train / automatic ticket checker correspondence table;
The assigned information that associates the train name for identifying the one train with the ticket gate IDs of the some automatic ticket gates is transmitted to the seat-selectable train display board via the communication unit. And processing to
The seat designation / cancellation processing unit
Via the communication unit, the automatic ticket gate, a process of receiving the data, both read from Vouchers and ticket gate ID of its own, and
A process for identifying a train name corresponding to the ticket gate ID transmitted from the ticket gate from the train / automatic ticket gate correspondence table;
A process of specifying the one seat of the seat is empty train specified by the identified train name from the seat information management file,
A process of transmitting, via the communication unit , data relating to seat designation including the identified train name and seat to the automatic ticket gate that has transmitted the data read from the use ticket together with the ticket gate ID. A feature seat assignment management system.

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