DESC:BACKGROUND
Technical Field
An embodiments herein relates to a specialized ticketing machine and more particularly to a token machine and a method thereof which generates passenger queuing tickets after biometric authentication.

Description of the Related Art

Indian Railway plays a very important role in public transportation in India. One of the major roles in public transportation is a passenger trains. In major cities, the railway is being used by all the people whether in rural or urban areas, train is the only convenient and cheaper mode of transport. It is being observed during festive season passenger in and out flow is heavy. This makes it very difficult for the authorities to manage the crowd. For festive travels, the railway reservations are already booked and hardly there are any current bookings for long distance trains. Mainly in the metro cities, the passengers wanted to travel at any cost.

Current Scenario:

1. Passengers are unable to get the confirmed Seat even if the passengers having tickets, they are unable to get inside the train and lose their commitments. Eventually, it generates high level of frustration to the customers.

2. Surpass Train Capacity for number of passengers . All the passengers jump inside the train even if there are limited seats inside each bogey. Roughly, 800 seats are available for general bogeys i.e. 200 each. Surely, each bogey has its threshold limit. But if it exceeds the number of passengers inside the bogey, it will cause undesirable accidents.

3. Passengers without confirmed ticket, for example, general passenger bogeys are four in number for a single train. Each has 200 passenger capacity, and if passengers are present more than 1500 then they would try to get inside train and it creates high level of inconvenience to all the passengers in general. The mob would be difficult to control as well.

4. Crowed trains are susceptible to crime, criminal tendency people join the crowed and try to attempt the crime. It’s always been very difficult to control the crime. It is mainly due to lack of awareness and discipline in the passengers.
Gathered crowed try to catch seats in haphazard way which causes trouble to others passengers including ladies, children and senior citizens.

Large and heterogeneous crowed made it difficult to apprehend criminals and even offenders doing ACP (alarm chain pooling) and trespassing. Many history-sheeters taking advantage of this situation such as pickpocketing, chain snatching and so on at the time of departure of the train. Also there are many instances and complaints of RPL men, GRP staff, other railway staff, some agents, seaters and some anti-social elements taking bribe, exploiting poor and down trodden general passengers.

At the same time, there are some wrong practices in the security forces. In order to mitigate such situations and inconvenience to passengers as well as to railway dept, there is need for a solution to thwart away such issues faced by the public and stakeholders at large.

SUMMARY

The embodiments herein provides a biometric token machine which includes an enclosure defining a housing which has four sides, top and bottom, wherein the enclosure includes a screen safety door, a printer door with a slot which discharges token or tickets from the slot and a bottom door with cam locks to store battery and power circuits, a touch screen display with the screen safety door located on top of the housing such that only touch portion of the display is accessible to a user to initialize the machine, enter train details and passenger information or like, a finger print scanner, located suitably at any one side of the housing, and slotted to accept finger of the user, wherein the scanner scans and captures finger print information of the user or a passenger and sends the finger print information for authentication to a remote server, wherein the remote sever includes a database containing the user’s biometric information, a network establishing a communication link between the machine and the remote server, a camera located on top the housing such that to take picture of the user or passenger, wherein the picture information containing facial characteristic of user is sent to the remote server for authentication and storage in the database, and a token printer protected by the printer door, located at any one of the sides of the enclosure, prints a token or ticket after successful authentication of the user from the remote server.

In an embodiment, the screen safety door may be closed when the machine is not in use. In an embodiment, the machine includes a battery backup of minimum 30 minutes.

In an example embodiment, the user’s biometric information may be captured and stored in the database before authenticating the user credentials. The enclosure is made from a rigid material like steel, mild steel, hard plastics or like.

In an embodiment, the machine includes a camera to capture the users or passengers facial characteristics for verifying and authentication. The enclosure may also include a caster wheels with locking mechanism to ensure less vibration to the machine components.

A method to issue token or ticket through a biometric token machine is provided herein comprising of below steps of: initializing the machine by a user or passenger, entering train details and passenger information by the user or the passenger through a touch screen display, placing finger of the user on a slotted portion of a finger print scanner, scanning the placed finger of the user to extract finger print information, sending the finger print information to a remote server through a network, storing the finger print information in a database of the remote server, authenticating the users biometric information through the remote server and printing a token or a ticket after successful authentication of the users biometric information.

These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG 1 illustrates a biometric token machine according to the embodiments herein;

FIG 2 is a schematic block diagram of the biometric token machine according to the embodiments herein;

FIG 3 is a method of issuing a token or a ticket through the biometric token machine according to the embodiments herein;

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may not have been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a mechanism or technique which could mitigate the above mentioned situation for passenger management and inconvenience caused to the passengers as well as to railway dept. The solution to the same is herein provide by the biometric token machine with various embodiments mentioned here under.

The present embodiments herein provide a specialized ticketing machine and more particularly to a token machine and method to issue tickets which generates passenger queuing tickets after biometric authentication. Referring now to the figures, more particularly from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are shown.

FIG 1 illustrates a biometric token machine according to an embodiments mentioned herein. The top view of the biometric token machine provides view of the machine when the token is printed. The machine includes a display unit 103, a camera 104A finger print scanner 105 and a token 107 coming out from a slotted portion of an enclosure 102. Here the token includes information of seat number, que number, passenger name, contact details, train number, departure/ arrival timings etc. but not limited to the embodiments mentioned herein. The enclosure may be made from a rigid material like steel, mild steel, hard plastics or like.

FIG 2 is a schematic block diagram of the biometric token machine 100 according to an embodiments mentioned herein. The machine includes an enclosure 102 defining a housing which has four sides, top and bottom. The enclosure may further include a screen safety door 104, a printer door 106 with a slot 106A which discharges token or tickets from the slot and a bottom door 108 with cam locks 108A to store battery and power circuits, a touch screen display 103 with the screen safety door located on top of the housing such that only touch portion of the display may be accessible to a user to initialize the machine, enter train details and passenger information or like, a finger print scanner 105, located suitably at any one side of the housing, and slotted to accept finger of the user

In an embodiment, the scanner scans and captures finger print information of the user or a passenger and sends the finger print information for authentication to a remote server. In an example embodiment, the remote sever includes a database 112 containing the user’s biometric information. In an embodiment, the camera 104A may be located on top the housing such that to take picture of the user or passenger, wherein the picture information containing facial characteristic of user is sent to the remote server for authentication and storage in the database 112;

The machine further includes a network 110 integration establishing a communication link between the machine and the remote server. Here a token printer is located at any one of the sides of the enclosure which prints a token or ticket 107 after successful authentication of the user from the remote server. The token printer may be secured and protected by the printer door 106.

In an embodiment, the screen safety door 104 may be closed when the machine is not in use. The machine may include battery backup of minimum 30 minutes. In one example embodiment, the user’s biometric information may be captured and stored in the database 112 before authenticating the user credentials.

FIG 3 is a method of issuing a token or a ticket through the biometric token machine according to the embodiments herein. The method includes following steps: In step 302, the machine 100 is initialized by a user or passenger. In step 304, the train details and passenger information is fed by the user in the machine 100 through a touch screen display 103.

In step 306, the user places his/her finger in a slotted portion of a finger print scanner 105. In step 308, the finger of the user or a passenger is scanned and to extract the finger print information of the user. In step 310, photo is taken to capture facial characteristic of the user. In step 312, the finger print information and facial characteristic information is sent to a remote server through a network 110.

In step 314, storing the finger print information and facial characteristic information in a database 112 of the remote server through the network 110.

In step 316, the users biometric information may be authenticated through the remote server. In step 318, after authenticating the users biometric information a token 107 or a ticket is printed. In an embodiment, the enclosure may be made from a rigid material like steel, mild steel, hard plastics or like.

In an example embodiment, the machine may include a camera 104A to capture the users or passengers facial characteristics for verifying and authentication. The enclosure may also include caster wheels 108B with locking mechanism to ensure less vibration to the machine components.
Advantages of Token Systems & observations:
1. Hurdle free access inside the bogey for passengers.
2. Less number of RPF Man-power needed to stream line the crowed
3. Ticket is stapled with TOKEN, due to which RPF guards are able to identify the expected passengers for the respective train.
4. Allowed capacity of the passengers are filled in so that Surpass Train Capacity for number of passengers is avoided. It will avoid undesirable accidents.
5. No passenger is able to enter the train without ticket.
Since it is tendency of the passengers to check the token of neighboring passengers and which will give clarity for all passengers to possess token.
6. Since the passengers are issued with token only when he/she possess valid ticket. Criminal tendency people like pick pocketers won’t be able to enter the queue.
7. Passengers feel comfortable and assured for their seats using this Token system.
8. queue management for passengers
9. multi-queue manage simultaneously
10. Biometric authentication to avoid multiple token.
11. Printed token clearly mentioned the train name, token issued time, token number etc.
12. Biometric Data Stored till 60 days and Can be retrieve to use by Rail Police Force.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, willingly modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A biometric token machine 100 comprising:

an enclosure 102 defining a housing which has four sides, top and bottom, wherein the enclosure includes a screen safety door 104, a printer door 106 with a slot 106A which discharges token or tickets from the slot and a bottom door 108 with cam locks 108A to store battery and power circuits;

a touch screen display 103 with the screen safety door located on top of the housing such that only touch portion of the display is accessible to a user to initialize the machine, enter train details and passenger information or like;

a finger print scanner 105, located suitably at any one side of the housing, and slotted to accept finger of the user, wherein the scanner scans and captures finger print information of the user or a passenger and sends the finger print information for authentication to a remote server, wherein the remote sever includes a database 112 containing the user’s biometric information;

a camera 104A located on top the housing such that to take picture of the user or passenger, wherein the picture information containing facial characteristic of user is sent to the remote server for authentication and storage in the database 112;

a network 110 establishing a communication link between the machine and the remote server; and

a token printer protected by the printer door, located at any one of the sides of the enclosure, prints a token or ticket 107 after successful authentication of the user from the remote server.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen safety door is closed when the machine is not in use.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine includes a battery backup of minimum 30 minutes.

4. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user’s biometric information is captured and stored in the database 112 before authenticating the user credentials.

5. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is made from a rigid material like steel, mild steel, hard plastics or like.

6. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine includes a camera 104A to capture the users or passengers facial characteristics for verifying and authentication.

7. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a caster wheels 108B with locking mechanism to ensure less vibration to the machine components.

8. A method to issue token or a ticket through a biometric token machine 100, said method comprising of below steps:
initializing the machine 100 by a user or passenger;

entering train details and passenger information by the user or the passenger through a touch screen display 103;

placing finger of the user on a slotted portion of a finger print scanner;

scanning the placed finger of the user to extract finger print information;

taking picture of the user to capture the users or passengers facial characteristics;

sending the finger print and facial characteristic information to a remote server through a network 110;

storing the finger print information and facial characteristic information in a database 112 of the remote server;

authenticating the users biometric information through the remote server; and

printing a token or a ticket after successful authentication of the users biometric information.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user’s biometric information is captured and stored in the database 112 before authenticating the user credentials.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the machine includes a camera 104A to capture the users or passengers facial characteristics for verifying and authentication.