System for verifying a carpool operation

p0001The invention relates to a system for checking a car parked on a site giving a right of lien for carpooling, was actually the subject of a simultaneous use by two separate passengers in the period or above entitles the privilege.

p0002We talk about carpooling in the joint use and organized a generally piloted by its owner vehicle when accompanied by one or more third passenger in order to carry out a common path. This practice allows passengers to save fuel costs. The community benefits by reducing traffic congestion, pollution and road accidents. Carpooling is therefore strongly encouraged by the authorities especially during peak pollution and is more practiced when the price of fuel increases.

p0003To date, there are a multitude of sites and means of linking partners practicing carpooling and some measures "political" encouragement by granting privileges. We know the availability of a fast track highway open only to cars occupied by two passengers. automatic checking systems have been developed, one of them reveals an external monitoring device<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20080175438A"><text>US2008 / 0175438</text></patcit> while the other reveals an internal monitoring device to the vehicle <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US20060180377A"><text>US2006 / 0180377</text></patcit>.

p0004Some parking spaces are also reserved for carpool cars object. Some are located just off Highways and used to group covoiturés and others located in the cited and serve to encourage the use of carpooling. Monitoring the proper use of these car parks is only rarely practiced because rather difficult. When monitored, it is direct visual observation or with the help of cameras and image storage device for later analysis. Automatic monitoring of the number of passengers in a vehicle with the help of cameras is not yet able to ensure a sufficient success rate.

p0005In this document, it will often issue of AN (Digital Assistant). In fact, it may be PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or GSM mobile phone (GSM historically "Mobile Panel") associated with a carpool server, PDA usually with the device geo location based on GPS satellite positions (Global Positioning System) while the mobile phone aN type has more elements of communication (GSM, GPRS, UMTS, 3G and even 4G) a geolocation-based application triangulate coordinates of the link antennas. All these devices have means to store information and are able to process applications downloaded from a server.

p0006The invention relates more particularly to a system for verifying a carpool operation comprising a server, two digital assistants each equipped with a data acquisition means during a time interval corresponding to a movement of a wearer of the digital assistant and a communication network between the server and the two PDAs, the server being programmed to compare data from two PDAs to determine a carpool.

p0007A system for monitoring a carpool operation is known from <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO2009007752A"><text>WO2009 / 007752</text></patcit>. The goal is to calculate the price of a penetration tax known as urban center congestion charge. The system includes a computer, two PDAs as mobile phones and communications network at short distance between the computer and the two PDAs. The computer is programmed to compare the signals sent over the communication network by the two digital assistants, not only during a shift performed in the vehicle, but also during the phases in which the digital assistants carrier approaching the vehicle or leave. The relative positions of the two digital assistants draw figures approach, displacement and output of the vehicle that are used to verify that carpooling has been done by two different carriers. The short-range communication network requires board computer aboard carpool purpose vehicle.

p0008The document <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US20040049424A"><text>US 20040049424</text></patcit> discloses a system for monitoring a carpool operation according to the preamble recalled in the introduction. PDAs have the form of mobile phones equipped with a means of GPS-type geo-location "Global Positioning System" and the communication network is the Internet. Based on the positions acquired by means of geo-location of the two mobile phones, the server determines if two carriers together completed a shift, for example along a lane reserved for carpooling. To verify that the two PDAs were used by two different carriers, it is expected to contact the carrier and ask them confirmed undertaken carpooling.

p0009The document <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP1251475A"><text>EP 1251475</text></patcit> discloses an organization of carpooling also consistent with the preamble recalled introduction system. The movement of persons taking an carpooling is followed using PDAs equipped with a geo-location means. The positions of the two people are sent to a server programmed to compare and determine certain characteristics of carpooling as long as the positions are consistent. To detect the time of departure, when two people meet, the server is programmed to check the positions of carriers moving at the same speed and in the same direction, that is to say if the two digital assistants occupy same position at the same instant.

p0010The invention is a verification of a carpool operation which guarantees participants a degree of vis-à-vis privacy of their displacement. It aims in addition to verify this in a different way than indication retrospectively by the holders of PDAs, but without installing a computer in every subject vehicle from a car pool.

p0011To this end, the invention relates to a system according to that indicated above, <b>characterized in that</b>In an effort to eliminate reconstitution of movement of the wearer, the acquisition means is configured to acquire data independent of carrier or the positions configured to acquire the Holder's positions and the server or PDA is programmed to convert them into data of these positions, the comparison between the two digital assistants being performed by the server on the basis of these independent data positions.

p0012The system allows treatment of confidentiality by car in when required.

p0013The acquisition means is configured preferably as an accelerometer for acquiring accelerations or electronic compass for acquiring direction.

p0014When the acquisition means is configured geo-location means the server or PDA is programmed to derive speeds positions, accelerations or rotations.

p0015Advantageously, the server or PDA is programmed to extract before converting a position acquired at a time corresponding to one end of the wearer's movement and the server is programmed to compare two such positions acquired by the two PDAs.

p0016These two positions and these two instants identical to uncertainty close are used by the server to consolidate the comparison made on the basis of data acquired during the time interval corresponding to the displacement of one or the other carrier of the digital assistant. Mere knowledge of the destination of the movement does not challenge the confidentiality guaranteed to participants.

p0017The system provides a digital surveillance assistant connected to the server to allow ASVP (Monitoring Agents of Public Highways) to verify that a vehicle parked on a prime location was actually the subject of carpooling in the period that preceded the start of the parking operation. The digital surveillance assistant is connected to carpool server directly or through a local management server parking. Privileges can take the form of a reduced or free rates, a space available in a specific park or better located or benefits associated as a public transport subscription or provision of facilities such as a shuttle bus or a bicycle. Moreover, instead of the system layout allows to know the characteristics of journeys made and so have a mass of highly valuable data to accelerate the expansion or generalization carpool.

p0018Preferably, the server includes a memory in which positions are stored for communication with parking spaces or access porticoes parking spaces reserved for carpooling and is programmed to compare the positions stored with the position of the PDA corresponding to the end of the movement of the wearer.

p0019Advantageously, a PDA is equipped with a biometric identification means and programmed to acquire data during the time interval during which the PDA acquires geolocation data, orientation or acceleration and server is programmed to compare both the geo-location data, orientation or acceleration and biometric identification data from the PDA with data from the other PDA to verify that carpooling has was done by two different people.

p0020While geo-location data, converted to derived data, the orientation data or the acceleration data allow the server to determine Holders PDAs conducted a joint movement, the biometric identification data can whether the two carriers were two different people. The acquisition during the same time interval data of both types ensures, for each digital assistant, the temporal coincidence between displacement and biometric identification. In other words, the server has the task of checking the time correspondence of the characteristics of the sectors flown. Moving in common may represent only the same common path section.

p0021Preferably, the digital assistant acquires the biometric data in the form of a voice wave sequence, a fingerprint or a photograph.

p0022The system further comprises a parking terminal connected to the server through the communication network and equipped with a means of reading the biometric identification data, and geo-location data, optionally converted to derived data, guidance data or acceleration data from the PDA. The same parking terminal can be split to form an access gate to parking privilege. It can also be associated in a gantry equipped parking terminal for a way to geo-location data reading, orientation or acceleration acquired by a PDA and a data detection means of biometric identification, such as a detecting means of the hand profile.

p0023The reading is obtained through an RFID reader type of radio (Radio Frequency Identification) capable of reading an identification card, subscription or content presented by the NA with the commonly named NFC close dialogue (Near Field Communication ). Thus, during the presentation of AN on the parking terminal, passenger route features or covoiturés trips are transferred to the control server. The latter is programmed to compare the data acquired by PDAs various carriers and whether there has been carpooling, then determine the characteristics of the trip such as length, duration or end point according to information gathered . The same server can also have the vehicle identification number that can be entered through a camera with automatic recognition or data taken from the AN, which data is then made available to the ASVP or porticoes access to privileged parking.

p0024In this case also, as above, there are passengers through biometric characteristics.

p0025In addition, the automatic entry of data acquired by the digital assistants induced knowledge of carpools and storage on the server, the data is then available for other dedicated servers for example the analysis of mobility in to accelerate the introduction of carpooling.

p0026In other words, the invention allows to check the connection between the parking space subject to the lien, this vehicle at this location and "Carpoolers" by the establishment of distinction means of the moderator, when done use PDAs with acquisition of biometric identification data. NAs are then equipped with a biometric identification using the carrier in addition to the geo-location means associated with a periodic memory function geographic locations or information derived directly interact with the server through carpooling link type GSM, GPRS or UMTS to transfer all data acquired by digital assistants characterizing the routes driven.

p0027The invention extends to a computer program comprising instructions that enable a server or a personal digital assistant in which it is loaded and to which a system according to one of the preceding claims is carried out, of<ul><li>converting speed positions, accelerations or rotations,</li><li>compare signatures or speed profiles, acceleration, rotation, or orientation,</li><li>extract before conversion and compare two positions of two PDAs at two times each corresponding to one end of the displacement of one and the other carrying PDAs,</li><li>memorize positions for communication with parking spaces or access porticoes parking spaces reserved for carpooling and compare positions stored with the position of the PDA corresponding to the end of the movement of the wearer,</li><li>acquire within the same time interval, geo-location data, orientation or acceleration and biometric identification data and compare both the geo-location data, converted into independent data positions, data orientation or acceleration data and the biometric identification data from the PDA with data from another digital assistant to check that carpooling was done by two different people, each carrying a PDA .</li></ul>

p0028The figures below illustrate some embodiments of the invention.

p0029The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> presents a portico parking entrance with a left entrance ticket dispenser device and right verification terminal presence of a passenger.

p0030The <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> shows a similar input frame to that of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>The verification of the presence of passengers is however done by means of a measuring system of the hand profile.

p0031The <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> presents by car in route section giving access to three types of parking.

p0032The <figref idrefs="f0003">4</figref> This flow of information on the treatment of carpooling.

p0033The <figref idrefs="f0004">5</figref> This two speed profiles for two journeys in carpooling.

p0034The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> presents a portico of access to parking. It shows, on the left the distribution terminal of the access ticket 1, center the vehicle 2 and the right identification terminal passenger 3. ground under the vehicle, a detection loop is provided for presence of said vehicle 4.

p0035The <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> has an input device covoiturés improved in terms of perception. This gantry can be equipped with two terminals 5 and 6 similar to the left terminal 5 or of two similar terminals at the right terminal 6.

p0036Thus, in the first case, both terminals are equipped with biometric sensing means as the capture of fingerprints, analysis of hand profile 7 placed on a light surface or light 8 with profile input camera or by two ID card readers, driver's license or two players or subscription of or by car in carpool permit cards. These methods allow to identify air passengers to prevent the same person is accepted many times in a given period of time.

p0037In the second case, the two terminals 6 are fitted with a type of radio RFID reader 10 capable of reading an identification card or subscription or content presented by AN 9 with the commonly named NFC close dialogue . The AN 9 is equipped with a geo-location device associated with a function of periodic storage of the characteristics of geographic positions of the wearer.

p0038During the presentation of the AN, it is the passenger positions of features and the corresponding time are transferred to the porch of the control server, the latter being programmed to convert speeds positions, acceleration or rotation and compare to determine that there has been carpooling., and then to determine the duration. The same server can also dispose of the seized vehicle identification number or through a camera with automatic recognition of the registration number or resumed PDA data of the driver, which data is then made available to a server it -even putting all this data available to the ASVP or access portals to preferred parking.

p0039The <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> presents a stretch traveled by car with V1 position, the vehicle driver Driver-a1 from the point a in V2 position, the vehicle of a second passenger b1 from the b and having already parked in the car park P1 relay in position V3 the vehicle of a third passenger from the c c1 and going to park in P1. The three passengers continue together their way to a parking P2 or P3 or e or h section.

p0040that same <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> presents some cases privileges to covoiturés starting with the opening on a section reserved for buses and carpooling or a section of an end zone, it can be equipped with cameras 11 of the vehicle registration number entry, the latter being providing a server 12 "car pooling" to allow to verify the actual carpool then act otherwise. The entrance leads to a f P2 car park, part of which is reserved for covoiturés vehicles, access by a barrier 13 is given when the camera 11 associated with the server "Car pooling" 12 and then to the parking server 14 checks the right 'park there.

p0041<figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 4</figref>, Both servers 12 and 14 communicate with each other through a network 19 in a known manner, for example via the Internet. The g opens onto a pay parking P3 with a privileged area, shaded, reserved only for carpool vehicles object that can be free or at preferential rates. The entrance h has 20 parking spaces in the road that can benefit from either a reservation or simply a special rate. The fee may be paid by the AN 9 or a HD time clock that has a function "Carpooling for tariff", this function can be generated by a button. In the latter case, the control is done by ASVP 17 by a specific AN 15 which is related to the parking server 14, the PDA 15 informing, from the introduction of the registration number vehicle under control or on the basis of its current position given by its own location device, the right vehicle to park there or not depending on whether it was actually the subject of a carpool. Similarly, roads and parking in blue zone may also be used for "carpool" cars with a longer duration; in this case, the by car in judiciously will have a sticker in order to facilitate control.

p0042In the case of <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>, Each passenger al, b1, c1 has an AN 9 which was the subject of a charging function, that is to say of the "carpool". This function involves first prior registration to be forwarded to carpool server. The requested information related to the identity of individuals and their AN and the / s number / s identification of the vehicle or the driver of the vehicle when two people take turns their vehicle.

p0043The invention can respond to a request for confidentiality of a participant, denying that his path is traced and stored but accepting that only the velocity profile and the final destination is transferred to the server and then carpool eg erased after 48 hours .

p0044For a journey traveled by car. It is asked two people, the driver and passenger, launch function carpool when they leave their homes, even when they meet. Advantageously, there are two launch keys, one called "Start Driver" and the other called "Start passenger". These two keys are complemented by a third common key called "STOP". This key "STOP" may be combined with a second key "STOP PREMATURE" this only on the PDA passenger. He will press this button when out of the vehicle before the arrival on the parking space 20. During the time when the "carpooling" is active, the point coordinates the trips or information derived from these points are stored in the NA.

p0045One of algorithms possible treatment is to pass on the carpool server 12, the various points of contact for passengers a1, b1, c1 at the time of pressing the button "STOP" doing this when people leave the vehicle from its parking place.

p0046The first level involves placing files received by grouping them based parking spaces this after comparing the arrival coordinated with various sites or parking areas.

p0047The second level of analysis is to look at the arrival of a "passenger" file, its arrival time compared to the arrival times of the files "chauffeur" registered on the same site or parking area and not yet allocated to assign it to a driver that is to say a vehicle.

p0048It should be recalled, in conjunction with the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>, Is meant by digital assistant September 1 PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a mobile phone communicates with the server carpool. 12 by a network 18 of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, historically "Mobile Panel"), the PDA generally with the geo-location device based on satellite positions GPS (Global Positioning System) while the mobile phone type aN has more elements of communication (GSM, GPRS, UMTS, 3G and even 4G) a geo-location based application triangulation coordinates link antennas.

p0049As previously reported, to ensure privacy, the invention provides to process variables derived from locations without localizations. It is easy to handle speeds, the latter being obtained by calculating, non vectorized manner, the differences between the points of the route and then placing them in a table that corresponds to the "speed" course profile.

p0050<figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 5</figref>, A diagram shows both V1 and V2 speed profiles. X-axis the time t is indicated in seconds. As ordered, the speed V is indicated in km / h. The V1 profile is the journey made by the driver of the vehicle used. It has been calculated from the positions of the path acquired by the PDA of the first carrier and forwarded for processing to the server. V2 profile is the journey made by the passenger of the vehicle used. It has been calculated positions acquired by the digital assistant of the second carrier and forwarded for processing to the server. For each profile, the server has converted speeds positions, calculating the algebraic distance between two positions of the path acquired at two successive instants. The superposition of the two speed profiles allowed the server to establish a carpool between the driver and passenger during the time interval corresponding to the superposition of the two profiles.

p0051Similarly, we can proceed with the registration of the accelerations that can be obtained from the differential speeds or accelerometers or to rotations unsigned obtained from the differences of course points or an electronic compass. Similar profiles to those of the<figref idrefs="f0004">5</figref> are obtained for directions acquired by the acquisition means configured electronic compass or for acceleration acquired by the acquisition means configured accelerometer.

p0052All these devices are combined with biometric identification means for the confirmation that it is indeed different individuals. When the AN is a simple model as a mobile phone using SMS type short messages, it is wise to take into account that a signature of the trip such as time of ten of speed then check that five of them correspond to the information from the AN by car in the other.

p0053The confidentiality of the driver or owner of the vehicle can also be increased and facilitated controls by introducing a macaroon "sharing" that is placed behind the windshield of the vehicle and containing an identification number or an identification number parking spaces, as these numbers can be in the form of traditional or coded with bar code or similar characters. Thus, at the end of a journey, the driver enters the code that is on the button or on the parking space through its AN. It will be the same when tested by the ASVP 17.

p0054Among the possibilities for cheating, there are those which consist in associating false trips or simulated trips or deferred taking the characteristics of a journey traveled by car and by combining them with another vehicle or vice versa referring to the NA vehicle the other features covoiturés trips. To handle these cases, it is important to ensure, data encryption means, the veracity of data from positions or registration numbers and make sure the actual location where the vehicle is parked.

p0055Also in cheating, there is also the method of that the driver take two AN and it simulates the activity of a passenger. The invention provides to remedy this by introducing, in the "car" according to AN, demand biometric authentication such as voice recognition or fingerprints.

p0056Similarly, it may be considered a device based on a single AN, attached to the vehicle or the driver, a highly secure application with a biometric verification mechanism voice type fingerprints, facial or similar analysis, the treatment can take place on the PDA or be deported on carpooling server. A simple alternative is to enter the command "STOP" the voice, the voice wave sequences being sent to the same server along with other information, the server can then compare this sequence with that of the other or covoiturés and confirm whether or not the distinction between individuals. The word "STOP" may be followed by a number or other word displayed randomly by the NA in order to ensure the spontaneity of it and avoid imitations or copies of the vote.

p0057This same technology can also be used when the car is controlled by gates 13. In this case, it is within a few meters before the entrance of such a car that people throng the "STOP" button, the information being sent to the carpool server after checking will give the signal to release the input.

p0058The end point of the object Carpool vehicle can also be determined automatically. In this case, the NA has in memory or carpool server locations of parking spaces and the location determination comes from comparing the end point with the position of the 20 parking spaces.

p0059Depending on the chosen technology and especially when the passenger is landed before the parking location of the vehicle, it can also be asked the passenger to introduce its AN, traveled by car during the journey or at the time of arrest, the identity of partner or his vehicle by car in the object path. Wisely, this function is automatically initiated by the passenger AN and through local connections like Bluetooth or NSC or the infrared exchange of dialogue that allows the NA of the passenger to enter information linking the driver.

p0060All cases carpool followed by the system described above are stored, <figref idrefs="f0003">4</figref>In a memory 16 connected to the server 12. These are mainly independent data positions, acquired by digital assistants or resulting from the conversion performed by the server or PDAs, with possibly the end point, the time, any identities of the participants or the vehicle registration number, this information can then be made available to servers in order to edit maps for treating the various mobility services and thus promoting the generalization of this mode of transport. This information may also be made available to the 17 surveillance officers who have a mobile terminal 15 connected by radio or a PDA or mobile phone, this device allows the agent, after introducing the registration number or simply on the basis geo-localization of the agent, verify that the recipient of a privilege really made a journey traveled by car.