Passenger guidance system for guidance of passengers within a public transportation
vehicle
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a passenger guidance system for guidance of passengers
within a public transportation vehicle, to a railway vehicle comprising such guidance system,
and to a process for guidance of passengers within a public transportation vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Public transportation vehicles, as for example subways and streetcars, are usually
confronted with a traffic congestion problem during rush hours. This congestion is mainly
caused by over-loading of passengers into the vehicles which exceeds the limits of
transportation capacity of the system. Train travel time delays and overcrowding of train
compartments during rush hours are a direct result of this over-loading. Several solutions
were proposed in the prior art to solve this problem. Following solutions suggest track side
regulation of passenger flow, using platform gates or platform indicators:
WO 98/24072 relates to a device for guiding flows of individuals in mass transportation
systems, containing at least the following components: A) a guidance system in embarking
and disembarking areas interacting with at least one of the following devices: a) a guidance
system in the means of transportation, b) a blocking device between the
embarking/disembarking areas and the means of transportation.
In US 5,176,082 a passenger detection loading and unloading control system is provided for
high volume passenger transporters such as subway trains and the like which electronically
counts the passengers in each passenger compartment and prepositions passengers that
intend to deboard at the next passenger loading and unloading platform and which
electronically counts and prepositions a number of passengers at the next platform for
boarding. The system further permits simultaneous loading and unloading of passengers
without interference with passenger flow. Passengers on the transporter are numerically
counted and those passengers intended to deboard the transporter at the next platform are
also counted. Signals representing these counted passengers are continuously transmitted
to a signal processing facility for processing. A predetermined time schedule for arrival and
departure is established for the high volume passenger transporter in relation to each
passenger loading and unloading platform. The processed passenger information from the
transporter is communicated to the platform and utilized for controlling maximum loading of
the transporter in compliance with the predetermined time schedule so that the transporter
system functions in its most efficient passenger handling manner and keeps all transporters
operating on the pre-established time schedule.
The system of DE 10 2007 046 285 A 1 has a calculation device for calculating a passenger
density of a transport unit, and assigning values of the calculated passenger density to
doors. A regulating and controlling device regulates display units. A data transmission device
transmits data between the regulating and controlling device and the display units. The
regulating and controlling device is equipped so that a signal is provided for display in the
display units based on the values of the calculated passenger density, where the values are
associated to the doors. An independent claim is also included for a method for guiding
passengers during boarding in a transport in a passenger control system.
A drawback of the systems referenced above is the effort in providing stations and platforms
with necessary means for the passenger control. One task of the present invention was to
provide with an improved passenger guidance system. The system should be easy to realize
and to install. Moreover, the system should be able to minimize uneven crowded cars within
one train set.
The invention provides with a passenger guidance system according to claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments are subject of dependent claims on the system.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides with a passenger guidance system for guidance of passengers within
a public transportation vehicle, comprising
- one or more visible signal indicators, placed in the interior of the vehicle and adapted
to guide passengers to free seats and/or free standing areas within the vehicle,
- a detecting means adapted to detect free seats and/or free standing areas,
- a control unit adapted to control the visible signal indicators,
- a data transmission means adapted to transmit data from the control unit to the
visible signal indicators,
wherein the control unit is adapted to act on the visible signal indicators in such a way that a
signal is shown that guides passengers to free seats and/or free standing areas.
The basic idea of the invention is to to control and influence passenger flow in the interior of
a vehicle in oder to reach a more even distribution of passengers within the vehicle. For
example, a more even spread of passengers across the train can be reached. The invention
is applicable to all passenger railway vehicles and buses, especially mass transit where
minimised boarding times are crucial. Examples for railway vehicles are long distance trains,
suburban trains, subway trains, streetcars. In railway vehicles boarding passengers can be
drawn away from overcrowded vestibules to other areas because the guidance system of the
invention guides passengers to free seats or standing places. The expression "to guide
passengers to free seats or free standing places" may mean that passengers are guided to
regions within the train where free seats or standing places may be found or that passengers
are directly guided to free seats or free standing places.
Detecting means that detect free seats and /or free standing places may be, for example,
means for detection of the load condition of seats or of a floor. Such means are preferably
located within the seat, below the surface of the seat or below the surface of a floor. Load
condition may be monitored by pressure detecting sensors that detect pressure caused by a
human body. For example, pressure from air springs may be detected. Further examples are
inductive sensors or capacitive sensors that detect presence of a human body.
Another means for detecting free seats and /or free standing places may be cameras, as for
example CCD cameras (CCD = Charge coupled device). Pictures of the camera may be
processed by known methods of image data processing. For example, a Closed-circuit
television (CCTV) system with corresponding CCTV data processing may be employed.
Passenger counting on doors by known methods may be used as a further method to obtain
information about a number of passengers that enter or leave the train. This information may
be used to check the number of free seats and free standing places within the train since the
total number of seats and standing places is known.
The one or more visible signal indicators may be adapted to indicate signals in written text, or
other optical means. A preferred guidance system is an optical guidance system. Optical
means preferred in accordance with the invention of this optical guidance system are
illuminated areas, preferably in different colors and configurations. The one or more visible
signal indicators are preferably in the form of a directional arrow and/or in the form of areas
of different color, as for example colored lights.The visible signal indicators may be adapted
to indicate signals in the form of illuminated areas, for example composed of a plurality of
individual light dots, which may change their coloration and making up illuminated areas so
that a variation of the light, luminosity and color of the individual light point may be produced
as geometrical figures, as for example arrows and indicating signs, and furthermore signs
and/or combinations thereof, preferably lettering and more particularly pictograms, which are
suitable to provide the guidance system with information about a dedication for guidance of
the individual streams.
In a preferred embodiment an optical guidance system may have areas changing in their
coloration, preferably denoting another direction of movement. Particular examples are
arrows. The optical guidance system may have light-pulsing areas.
In another preferred embodiment an optical guidance system mayincludechanging forms,
preferably denoting another direction of movement.
Preferred visible signal indicators may be, without restriction, LED lights, organic LED films
or solid state films.
Further preferred optical guidance systems in accordance with the invention are those of a
combination of illuminated, and preferably colored, areas and indicating arrows. The term
"indicating arrows" is to mean not only indicating signs in the form of arrows but also all signs
which are suitable for indicating the direction or generally for guidance of the individual
stream. Instead of indicating arrows it is however possible also to provide other signs and/or
combinations thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the one or more visible signal indicators are
particularly in the form of illuminated differently colored areas changing their coloration with
or without indicating arrows. Such guidance system gives passengers a better ride
experience by using colours / light levels to influence their mood exiting the vehicle.
The one or more visible signal indicators may be, without restriction, located in the floor, in or
above windows, in or above doors, in a side wall or in the ceiling of the vehicle. The term
"placed in the interior" preferably means that visible signal indicators are distributed over one
or more regions within the vehicle. In a functional description, the term "placed in the interior"
means that the visible signal indicators are adapted to guide passengers within the interior of
the vehicle, for example to guide passengers from a first point to a second point within the
vehicle, wherein the second point is remotely located from the first point and wherein the
second point may be a free seat of standing place. A special example is guidance of a
passenger on a way from a door or a vestibule to free seats or standing places that are
remotely located from the door or vestibule.
In another embodiment, one or more visible signal indicators are placed in a transition
section between two connected parts of the vehicle. The transition section may be a
gangway between two modules of a subway or a streetcar, wherein the two modules are
preferably connected by an articulated joint. Visible signal indicators may be located on the
inner side of a gangway bellow. Signal indicators located in a transition section are preferably
indicators adapted to show color changing signals, preferably areas changing their
coloration. In result, a color changing gangway is provided. The interior of the gangway may
change colour / lighting levels to give an indication to passengers to move to or from the
area, or give a sense of "well being" to give a positive impact on the journey experience. By
using different colours, the gangway may indicate the load conditions of the car, particularly
the load conditions of neighbouring cars. The gangway may indicate that a passenger should
move from one of the neighbouring cars to the other, for example if in the other car free
seats/standing places are available. According to load conditions - LED lights (in either the
gangway or inter ends) or OLED films or solid state films or other devices may be differently
illuminated to change the lighting effect on the gangway.
Even the exterior of a transition section, particularly a gangway, could be used to indicate the
load condition of adjacent cars by one or more visible signal indicators, for example
indicators as described above, particularly changed/ changing colours. This makes it easier
for passengers on track to select cars which are not too crowded right from entering the train.
In one embodiment of the passenger guidance system the detecting means is adapted to
detect free seats and/or free standing areas during the stop of the vehicle, when people are
entering or leaving.
In another embodiment of the passenger guidance system the detecting means is also
adapted to detect free seats and/or free standing areas during the drive of the vehicle, and
the control unit is adapted to act on the one or more visible signal indicators in such a way
that during the drive of the vehicle the signal is shown that guides passengers to free seats
and/or free standing areas. In this embodiment, the guidance system is working dynamically.
For example if a passenger leaves a set during the movement of the vehicle because he
intends to leave at the next stop, the detecting means detects his now free seat and a signal
is shown that directs another passenger to the free seat.
In a further embodiment the passenger guidance system comprises a calculation means
adapted to calculate passenger densities in regions of the vehicle, wherein the calculation
means is connected with the control unit by a further data transmission means. Preferably
the calculation means is adapted to send a signal to the control unit when the passenger
density falls below a threshold and the control unit is adapted to act on the one or more
visible signal indicators in such a way that a signal is shown when the passenger density falls
below the threshold. In order to calculate a passenger density, a predefined region of the
vehicle is taken as basis. The predefined region is preferably a sub-region of the total area of
a vehicle. The passenger density is preferably defined as the number of free seats and
standing places in relation to the total number of seats and standing places in that region.
The passenger density can be used as further information in order to indicate regions
wherein a minimum number of free seats and/or standing places are available. This is the
case when the passenger density falls below the threshold and a signal is shown to guide
passengers in the respective region.
In one embodiment the passenger guidance system according to the invention comprises
one or more further visible signal indicators that are placed on the outer face of the vehicle,
wherein the one or more further visible signal indicators are adapted to guide passengers to
free seats and/or free standing areas within the vehicle, and wherein the one or more further
visible signal indicators are connected with the control unit. In this embodiment during arrival
of the train in station passengers are able to select their preferred car according to free
capacity. Preferably, the one or more further visible signal indicators that are placed on the
outer face of the vehicle are adapted to show regions within a vehicle wherein free seats or
free standing places are available. This system can be combined with a calculation means
adapted to calculate passenger densities in regions of the vehicle, as already described
above.
Passenger flow can by controlled accordingly. For the further visible signal indicators on the
outer side of the vehicle, all the embodiments and variations may be employed that are
described above with respect to visible signal indicators that are placed in the interior. In a
special embodiment the one or more further visible signal indicators are placed on the outer
face of the vehicle in a transition section between two connected parts of the vehicle. As
mentioned above, the transition section may be a gangway between two modules of a
subway or a streetcar, wherein the two modules are preferably connected by an articulated
joint. One or more visible signal indicators may be located on the outer side of a gangway
bellow, wherein the same kind of signal indicators may be used as described above.
In another aspect, the invention provides with a railway vehicle, particularly a suburban train,
a subway train, or a street car, comprising a passenger guidance system as described
above.
In still another aspect, the invention is directed to a process for guidance of passengers
within a public transportation vehicle, the process comprising:
- detecting free seats and/or free standing areas within the vehicle by a detecting
means
- communicating information about free seats and/or free standing areas to a control
unit,
- creating signals in visible signal indicators that are controlled by the control unit and
that are located in the interior of the vehicle, wherein the signals guide passengers to
free seats and/or free standing areas.
In the process, all passenger guidance systems and components that were described above
may be employed.
The process may be carried out during a stop of the vehicle and/or during the ride of the
vehicle. In the latter case, the process is a dynamic process that detects seats and/or
standing areas that become free during the ride of the vehicle.
In a special embodiment of the process, vehicle load information is sent to the next station as
the train leaves from a station. This embodiment allows an indication of passengers in the
next station where to wait on the platform. This embodiment may be combined with indication
systems that are integrated in a platform of a station. Such systems are known from the prior
art, for example prior art cited in the background of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a part of the interior room of a train with visible signal indicators,
Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of detecting means, control unit, data transmission means and
signal indicator,
Fig. 3 shows a gangway with visible signal indicators,
Fig. 4 shows a train with visible signal indicators placed on the outer face of the train.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a part of the interior of a subway train with a door and a ceiling 2. Two visible
signal indicators 3, 4 are shown in the ceiling in the region of the door 1. The visible signal
indicators 3, 4 are in the form of a directional arrow and in the form of areas of different color,
in this case organic LED films or areas filled with liquid crystals that may change color. The
visible signal indicators 3, 4 are adapted to indicate signals in the form of illuminated areas
which may change their coloration and making up illuminated areas so that a variation of the
light, luminosity and color may be produced as geometrical figures, in this case a
combination of arrows, colored areas within the arrows and letters. The signal indicator 4 on
the right side shows the letters "Full" and the area around the letters may be red-colored.
Detecting means (not shown) in the right part of the vehicle, in this perspective, have not
detected free seats or standing areas, or they have detected only occupied seats/areas. The
detecting means has sent a signal to a control unit (not shown). Via a data transmission
means (not shown) a control signal was sent to visible signal indicator 4. The control signal
effects the visible signal indicator 4 to show a red colored area and the letters "Full". The left
signal indicator 3 shows the letters "Spaces" and the area around the letters may be greencolored.
Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of detecting means 60, 65, control unit 6 1, data transmission
means 62 and signal indicator 3 in the left part of the vehicle, seen from the perspective of
Fig. 1. A seat 63 is provided with a detecting means 60 which is integrated in the seat 63. In
this case, the detecting means 60 may be a capacitive sensor or a pressure sensor that
detects presence of a human body. In Fig. 2, the seat 63 is unoccupied and the detecting
means 60 detects a free seat 63, or in alternative embodiment a free standing area, or a
passenger density that falls below a threshold. In alternative embodiments, the detecting
means 60 may be integrated in the floor of the vehicle. The detecting means 60 sends a
signal (or no signal, or a negative signal) via a signal transmission means 64 to the control
unit 6 1 . Via a data transmission means 62 a control signal is sent to visible signal indicator 3
that may be located in the ceiling, as shown in Fig. 1, or at another appropriate place where it
can be seen be passengers. The control signal effects the visible signal indicator 3 to show a
green colored area and the letters "Space", as shown in Fig. 1. The signal indicator 3 guides
a passenger to the free seat 63, or, in an alternative embodiment, to a free standing area in
the left part of the train (in the perspective of Fig. 1).
Fig. 2 shows a second seat 66 with a detecting means 65. The detecting means 65 is also
connected with the control unit by a signal transmission means 64. It is to be understood that
still more seats within a train, or a selection of seats, may be each provided with a detecting
means, and each detecting means may be connected with one or more control units. And the
one or more control units may be connected via data transmission means with one or more
signal indicators.
Fig. 2 also shows a calculation means 70 adapted to calculate passenger densities in
regions of the vehicle, in this case in the region of the vehicle wherein seats 63 and 66 are
located. The calculation means 70 is connected with the control unit 6 1 by a further data
transmission means 7 1. Only seats 63 and 66 are shown as examples and there are still
more seats in this region of the train. Each detecting means 60, 65 in each of the seats 63,
66 sends information to the control unit 6 1 whether it is occupied by a passenger or not. The
information for each seat is sent to the calculation means 70 that calculates a passenger
density. The passenger density may be calculated as a percentage of occupied seats.
In one embodiment, the control unit 6 1 acts on the signal indicator 3 in a way that the
indicator 3 shows free spaces or seats as long as at least one seat is free. Further signal
indicators may be present that lead the passenger to a free seat. Such further signal
indicators are also connected with the control unit 6 1. The control unit 6 1 has information
which one of the seats is free and can therefore control appropriate further signal indicators
that lead a passenger to the respective free seat.
In another embodiment the calculation means 70 is adapted to send a signal to the control
unit 6 1 when the passenger density falls below a threshold and the control unit 6 1 is adapted
to act on the visible signal indicator 3 in such a way that a signal is shown when the
passenger density falls below the threshold, e.g. green light and the letters "Space".
Fig. 3 shows a gangway 7 with visible signal indicators 8-17. The gangway 7 is a gangway
bellow that is located between two cars 5 and 6. In this case the left car 5 is empty, or the
passenger density is below a predefined threshold, and the right car 6 is crowded, or the
passenger density is higher than a predefined threshold. The visible signal indicators 8-17
are located within the gangway bellow as color changing areas. In this case, the visible
signal indicators 8-1 7 are composed of a plurality of LED lights or organic LED films or solid
state films or other devices that are differently illuminated to change the lighting effect on the
gangway. Fig. 3 shows the interior side of the train. But visible signal indicators 8-1 7 may
also be located on the outer side of the gangway.The color of visible signal indicator 8 may
be green to indicate that the car 5 is empty. The color of visible signal indicator 17 may be
red to indicate that the car 6 is crowded. The remaining visible signal indicators 9-16
between the outer signal indicators may in summary show a color gradient changing from
green to red, as in the green-to-redpart of a rainbow.
Fig. 4 shows further visible signal indicators 20-27 that are placed on the outer wall of a
subway train 50. The signal indicators 20-23 are placed on the outer side of a first car 5, and
the signal indicators 24-27 are placed on the outer side of a second car 6. Further signal
indicators on further cars (no reference sign), as well a gangways 7 are shown. The visible
signal indicators 20-27 are composed of a plurality of LED lights or organic LED films or solid
state films or other devices that are differently illuminated to change the lighting effect on the
outer side of the train. For example, a red-colored visible signal indicator 2 1 may indicate that
the section of the car where signal indicator 2 1 is located is crowded. In the same way a
green-colored visible signal indicator 22 may indicate that the section of the car where signal
indicator 22 is located is empty, or is passenger density falls below a predefined threshold.
An additional indication system 30 for indicating free seats or standing areas in the train is
located in the platform 40. Load information of the vehicle is sent to the station before the
train arrives. By this measure the indication system 30 helps the passengers on the platform
40 to distribute themselves on the platform in a suitable way in order to reach free noncrowded
sections of the train in short time once the train has arrived.
This embodiment allows an indication of passengers in the station where to wait on the
platform 40. Indication system 30 may be, for example, an LED light strip that can change
color, wherein different colors may be shown in different sections of the light strip. In the
present case, the color of the light strip 30 corresponds to the color of the adjacent signal
indicator on the outer side of the train. If for example signal indicator 22 is green-colored, the
adjacent section of LED light strip 30 is also green. If for example signal indicator 23 is redcolored,
the adjacent section of LED light strip 30 is also red.

Claims
1. Passenger guidance system for guidance of passengers within a public transportation
vehicle (50), comprising
- one or more visible signal indicators (3, 4; 8-17), placed in the interior of the vehicle
(50) and adapted to guide passengers to free seats and/or free standing areas within
the vehicle,
- a detecting means (60, 65) adapted to detect free seats (63, 66) and/or free standing
areas,
- a control unit (61) adapted to control the visible signal indicators,
- a data transmission means (62) adapted to transmit data from the control unit (61 ) to
the visible signal indicators (3),
wherein the control unit (61 ) is adapted to act on the visible signal indicators (3, 4; 8-17)
in such a way that a signal is shown that guides passengers to free seats (63, 66) and/or
free standing areas.
2. Passenger guidance system according to claim 1, wherein
the detecting means (60, 65) is adapted to detect free seats (63, 66) and/or free
standing areas during the drive of the vehicle,
the control unit (61 ) is adapted to act on the visible signal indicators (3) in such a way
that during the drive of the vehicle the signal is shown that guides passengers to free
seats (63, 66) and/or free standing areas.
3. Passenger guidance system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a
calculation means (70) adapted to calculate passenger densities in regions of the
vehicle, wherein the calculation means (70) is connected with the control unit (61) by a
further data transmission means (71).
4. Passenger guidance system according to claim 3, wherein the calculation means (70) is
adapted to send a signal to the control unit (61) when the passenger density falls below
a threshold and the control unit (61) is adapted to act on the visible signal indicators (3)
in such a way that a signal is shown when the passenger density falls below the
threshold.
5. Passenger guidance system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
visible signal indicators are placed in a transition section (7) between two connected
parts (5, 6) of the vehicle.
6. Passenger guidance system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
visible signal indicators are located in the floor, in a side wall, in or above a window, in or
above doors, and/or in the ceiling of the vehicle.
7. Passenger guidance system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or
more further visible signal indicators (20-27) that are placed on the outer face of the
vehicle (50), wherein the further visible signal indicators (20-27) are adapted to guide
passengers to free seats and/or free standing areas within the vehicle, and wherein the
further visible signal indicators are controlled by the control unit.
8. Passenger guidance system according to claim 7, wherein the one or more further
visible signal indicators are placed on the outer face of the vehicle in a transition (7)
section between two connected parts of the vehicle.
9. Passenger guidance system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
visible signal indicators are in the form of a directional arrow and/or in the form of an
area that is able to change its coloration.
10. Railway vehicle, particularly suburban train, subway train, or streetcar, comprising a
passenger guidance system as mentioned in one of claims 1-9.
11. Process for guidance of passengers within a public transportation vehicle (50), the
process comprising:
- detecting free seats (63, 66) and/or free standing areas within the vehicle by a
detecting means (60, 65)
- communicating information about free seats and/or free standing areas to a control
unit (61),
- creating signals in one or more visible signal indicators (3; 8-1 7) that are controlled by
the control unit (61 ) and that are located in the interior of the vehicle, wherein the
signals guide passengers to free seats (63, 66) and/or free standing areas.
12. Process according to claim 11, wherein the process is carried out during a stop of the
vehicle.
13. Process according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the process is carried out dynamically
during the ride of the vehicle.