Claims:CLAIMS
We Claim:
1. A transportation management system comprising:
a) at least one transport vehicle;
b) at least one set of transmission apparatuses or sensors installed on said transport vehicle;
c) at least one data processing unit for receiving, recording and compiling data from said set of transmission apparatuses or sensors;
d) at least one communication unit for sending and receiving digital data through an application or messages; and
e) at least one notification unit for displaying details of said vehicle such as, but not limited to identification number, numbers of seat available, current location name, next upcoming stop detail;
wherein,
said data processing unit comprises processor/server for receiving, recording and compiling data from said set of transmission apparatuses or sensors;
said communication unit comprises a wireless communication channel; and
said notification unit comprises a display unit such as, but not limited to like LCD screen, LED Screen, etc.

2. The transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission apparatuses or sensors include subsystems such as, but not limited to like GPS sensor, Proximity sensor, cameras, etc. for determining the location of the vehicle and transmitting a signal including information identifying the vehicle and the current vehicle location.

3. The transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission apparatuses or sensors include specific subsystems which record number of vacant seats in the vehicle at a given time.

4. The transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication channel enables of sending and receiving digital data through an application or messages on a wireless platform such as, but not limited to like mobiles, tablet, etc.

5. The wireless communication channel according to claim 4, wherein said wireless communication channel provides location detail of vehicle, the estimated time of arrival and the distance from the specified location along the vehicle route to the passengers or other individuals awaiting the arrival of the transporting vehicle.

6. The wireless communication channel according to claim 4, wherein said wireless communication channel provides location detail of vehicle and number of passengers in the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle.

7. The transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said notification system comprising a display unit such as, but not limited to like LCD screen, LED Screen, etc. which displays details such as, but not limited to like numbers of seat available, current location name, next upcoming stop detail, nearby places around the specific stop, etc.

8. The transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a bus, a multi-utility vehicle, mini-vans, mini-buses, public transport vehicles like electric train, metro-rail and alike.
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970

(39 of 1970)

&

THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

[See Section 10 and Rule 13]

TITLE:

“TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM”

APPLICANT:

ALLINNOV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIVATE LIMITED
A company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and having address at
D. NO.: 226/5, 7TH CROSS, RAJAJI NAGAR, BEHIND STADIUM, KRISHNAGIRI - 635001, TAMILNADU, INDIA

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for transportation management for performing synchronous communication between passenger and service provider by way of exchanging real time data through the communication devices connected to a transport vehicle. More specifically, the invention described below comprises a bus management method operating over a wireless internet network and having several communication channels, which record and transmit real time data related to bus current location, seat availability and total number of passenger travelling at a given point of time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many cities and towns, conventionally, a transport system operates along a predetermined route. Generally this transportation is in the form of government run or privately operated vehicles whereby buses pick up passengers at several bus stops along several bus routes. The arrival time of a bus at a given bus stop can vary significantly from day to day for any of a number of reasons. As a result, passengers typically arrive at the bus stop well before the bus is expected to arrive to avoid missing the bus. Sometimes the bus get occupied at the start of its route which makes it impossible to carry passengers from the later stops. As a result, the passengers at later stops have to wait for the next bus in order to commute.
Often, buses are delayed for numerous reasons including inclement weather, such as fog, snow, ice or extreme cold, which reduces the speed of the bus and thus impedes the arrival of the bus at the planned time. Similarly, technical problems, heavy traffic or substitute bus drivers can result in delayed arrival. In addition, many buses make several sequential stops to pick and drop passengers. A delay in picking up passenger in the first run can result in similar or longer delays for subsequent runs. Correspondingly, it is possible, when the weather is good and smooth traffic conditions, for the bus to arrive at the bus stop earlier than the estimated time.
In areas where bus routes cover many miles there is a large variance in arrival time of a bus at the bus stops along the route and in many instances the bus stop will not be visible from the home. Advance notification of bus arrival also allows time to prepare the passenger for journey without rushing to catch the bus.
In addition the transporting vehicle can be delayed, misrouted, lost or otherwise go off a given route after passengers have boarded the bus for any of a number of reasons including the possibility of a driver intentionally deviating from the assigned task and travel route for some unexplained reasons. In certain situations, a bus might depart from the assigned travel route or run into vehicle problems after picking up passengers without the dispatching authority becoming aware for sometime afterwards. Because the driver does not provide a warning back to the dispatching authority, such situations are presently identified by someone at the delivery site, for example a school, noticing that a particular bus or vehicle has not arrived well after its expected arrival time or someone notices a bus has broken down and contacts the dispatching authority or police.
There are many other situations where passengers and their families might find advance bus notification information useful. Children with special needs will especially benefit from such information, as they will have adequate warning time by which to prepare for boarding of the bus. Additionally, all passengers will be relieved of the shock factor of a bus pulling up unannounced.
Based on the forgoing, a need exists for an improved system for bus transport service and the like wherein synchronous communication about bus is exchanged between passenger and owner by way of exchanging real time data through the communication devices.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the invention is to provide a method for bus management in a system for performing synchronous communication between passenger and owner by way of exchanging real time data through the communication devices connected to a bus.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bus management system operating over a wireless internet network and having several communication channels, which record and transmit real time data related to bus current location, seat availability and total number of passenger travelling at a given time.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle arrival notification system that enables passengers to receive the location and arrival time of the transporting vehicle before its arrival at a given location (e.g., many minutes in advance).
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle locating or tracking system for monitoring and mapping the location of in-transit transporting vehicles particularly a vehicle locating/tracking system for doing such monitoring and mapping in real-time.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a display system in the transporting vehicle which continuously shows details like, bus number, route detail, upcoming stoppages detail and available seat will be shown on a display unit mounted outside the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for transportation management for performing synchronous communication between a passenger and a service provider by way of exchanging real time data through the communication devices connected to a vehicle, wherein said vehicle includes a bus, a multi-utility vehicle, mini-vans, mini-buses, public transport vehicles like electric train, metro-rail and alike.
The transportation management system is operating over a wireless internet network and having several communication channels which record and transmit real time data related to vehicle's current location, seat availability and total number of passengers travelling at a time.
In yet another embodiment a transportation management system comprises of a data processing unit, a communication unit and a notification unit. The data processing unit is installed on a vehicle and comprises of server/processor to receive and compile data from different sets of transmission apparatus /sensors such as, but not limited to like GPS sensor, Proximity sensor, cameras, etc. The transmission apparatus/sensors include subsystems for determining the location of the bus and transmitting a signal including information identifying the vehicle and its current location. Further, specific sensors are mounted into vehicle which record vacancy of seats in the vehicle. Now, the server/processor uses the current location information to determine an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at a specified location along its route.
In yet another embodiment, the communication unit comprises of a wireless communication channel which enables sending and receiving digital data through an application or messages on a wireless platform such as, but not limited to like mobiles, tablet, etc. Preferably, the estimated time of arrival and the distance from the specified location along the vehicle route is sent to the passengers or other individuals awaiting the arrival of a vehicle. Further, it sends location detail and number of passengers in vehicle to the service provider/owner of the vehicle.
In yet another embodiment, the notification unit comprises a display unit such as, but not limited to like LCD screen, LED Screen, etc. which displays details such as, but not limited to like number of seats available, current location name, next upcoming stop detail, nearby places around the specific stop, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The object of the invention may be understood in more details and more particularly description of the invention briefly summarized above by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective equivalent embodiments.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a transportation management system with its attributes in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a transportation management system showing operation of computing total number of passengers travelling in a vehicle with its attributes in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a transportation management system showing operation of calculating total number of vacancy in a vehicle with its attributes in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a transportation management system showing display unit with its attributes in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of the process for determining and displaying information used in connection with real-time mapping and monitoring of in-transit vehicles for vehicle owner; and
Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of the process for determining and displaying information used in connection with real-time mapping and monitoring of in-transit vehicles for passenger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the transportation system comprises components like a plurality of sensors, a GPS, a data processing unit, communication channels, display units, said components are in communication with each other as well as to an application based hand-held device such as a laptop, mobile or tablet. The system is essentially installed on a vehicle, which term includes a bus, cab or any other vehicle meant for public transport. The vehicle has sensors installed on entry and exit gates as well as seats, to assess number of passengers entering and exiting the vehicle, and sensing the number of seat occupied and vacant. The data processing unit analyses the data such as number of passengers and seats vacant in the vehicle at a given time. The data processing unit assesses the location of the vehicle by GPS. The system transmits the data processed to a display unit installed outside the vehicle as well as to the hand-held device. The said transportation system according to the invention has vehicle selected from the non-limiting group comprising a bus, a multi-utility vehicle, mini-vans, mini-buses, public transport vehicles like electric train, metro-rail and alike.

In Fig. 1, a block diagram of a transportation management system 100 with its attributes has been shown. The transportation management system 100 comprises of a data processing unit 102 consisting of processor/servers which receive and compile data from different set of transmission apparatuses /sensors such as, but not limited to like GPS sensor, Proximity sensor, cameras, etc. Further, a communication unit 104 is provided with wireless communication channel which enables sending and receiving digital data through an application or messages on a wireless platform such as, but not limited to like mobiles, tablet, etc. At last, a notification unit 106 is provided with display unit such as, but not limited to like LCD screen, LED Screen, etc. which displays details such as, but not limited to like numbers of seat available, current location name, next upcoming stop detail, nearby places around the specific stop, etc.

Now referring to Fig. 2, a block diagram of a transportation management system 100 showing operation of computing total number of passenger travelling in the vehicle is explained. Here, present sensors will record and send data of how many passengers are inside and how many passengers are getting down to the connected processor/server, which further evaluates the data and processes the message to owner via a communication unit present in vehicle.

Now referring to Fig. 3, a block diagram of a transportation management system 100 showing operation of calculating total number of vacancy in a vehicle through the sensors equipped in each seat which are continuously sending details of taken and vacant seat to the processor which on request evaluate the same data to the notification unit of the system.

Now referring to Fig. 4, a block diagram of a transportation management system 100 showing display unit associate with notification system. Details like, bus number, route detail, stop detail and available seat is shown on a display unit mounted outside the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of the process for determining and displaying information used in connection with real-time mapping and monitoring of in-transit vehicles for vehicles' owner. This particular system is more particularly configured and arranged to receive transmissions from in-transit vehicles so as to locate each of these vehicles for monitoring vehicle movement and, in more particular embodiments, performing a real-time mapping of vehicle movement as well as determining if such movement indicates an abnormal condition. For this application, the data processing unit is typically continuously powered and thus, is capable of receiving transmissions from any vehicle/bus at any time. The system allow continuous mapping of any vehicle and process the same information to the owner of vehicle.

Now referring to Fig. 6, a flow diagram of the process for determining and displaying information used in connection with real-time mapping and monitoring of in-transit vehicles for passenger. This particular system is configured and arranged to receive transmissions from in-transit vehicles so as to locate each of these vehicles for monitoring vehicle movement and, in more particular embodiments, performing a real-time mapping of vehicle movement as well as determining if such movement indicates an abnormal condition. For this application, the data processing unit is typically continuously powered and thus, is capable of receiving transmissions from any vehicle/bus at any time. System can process details according to passenger request and provide passenger with information like vehicle location, expected arrival time and vacant seats in vehicle.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.