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Title:
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/099708
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A communication system [100] for use in public transportation vehicles of the self-billing kind is described, said system [100] comprising a telephone terminal [50] made up of a handset [4] and a base [1], said handset and base being connected by a wire [5] and connected and/or inserted in said terminal [50], means [12] for turning usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals, means [11] for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, a billing plate [13] and means [9,10] for supplying energy. System [100] is coupled with the help of rotating catches [22] to a support bar [21] of the public transportation vehicle and can be easily withdrawn from a vehicle and installed in another one. System [100] comprises alternatively a system [14] for vehicle location or tracking of the GPS kind.

Inventors:
FROIMTCHUK PAULO LERNER (BR)
Application Number:
PCT/BR2006/000057
Publication Date:
September 28, 2006
Filing Date:
March 22, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
AVERBUG ANDRE (BR)
FROIMTCHUK PAULO LERNER (BR)
International Classes:
H04M17/02; H04M1/19; H04Q7/20
Domestic Patent References:
WO1990003077A11990-03-22
WO1997049226A11997-12-24
Foreign References:
GB2077013A1981-12-09
JPH0376355A1991-04-02
JPH09264943A1997-10-07
EP0299507A21989-01-18
JP2003037659A2003-02-07
EP0684156B12000-12-06
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Castro, Barros Sobral Gomes Advogados (228 15th floor, -040 Rio De Janeiro, BR)
Download PDF:
Claims:
WE CLAIM
1. A communication system of the selfbilling kind to be used in public transportation vehicles, wherein said system comprises: a) A telephone terminal [50], made up of a handset [4] and a base [1], said handset and said base being connected by a wire [5] and, connected and/or inserted in said terminal [50];and b) Means [12] to turn usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals, means [11] to transmit and to receive radio frequency signals, a billing plate [13], and energy supplying means [9,10].
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the public transportation vehicles are terrestrial, either on the surface or underground, or placed on a body of water.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the handset [4] comprises a keyboard [15], a display [16], volume buttons [19], a loudspeaker [17] and a microphone [18].
4. The system according to claim 1 and 3, wherein the display [16] is made up of liquid crystal and the keyboard [15] is luminescent.
5. The system according to claims 1 and 3, wherein said system is operable with only one hand.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the base [1] comprises a reader [2], which accepts inductive cards or coins.
7. The system according to claims 1 and 6, wherein the base [1] comprises means for locking the card or coin in said base.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein whenever handset [4] is inserted in base [1], contact sensor [25] of handset [4] contacts contact sensor [24] of support [6], the electric lock of the card is released and the card can be withdrawn.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the means to turn usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals comprise a telephone/radio interface [12].
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting/receiving radio signals comprise a transmitter/receiver or transceiver [11].
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the energy supply means comprises a battery [9] installed in the system itself and/or an outer source [10] installed in the vehicle containing said communication system.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the outer source [10] is a battery.
13. The system according to claim 3, wherein the loudspeaker 17of handset [4] is substantially shell shaped. 14. The system according to claims 3 and 13, wherein the handset [4] is provided with insulating means made up of rubber or foam working as an acoustic insulator. 15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the base [1] of terminal [50] is made up of a preferably rounded housing.
14. 16 The system according to claim 1 , wherein the base [1] comprises means [3] for viewing the dialed numbers as well as any text, connecting means [5] with handset [4], a noise microphone [8], and a support [6] for handset [4].
15. 17 The system according to claim 16, wherein the means for viewing comprise a display [3].
16. The system according to claim 17, wherein the display [3] is made up of liquid crystal.
17. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises means for the control of calls.
18. The system according to claim 19, wherein said call control means comprise a micro controller [26] and a microprocessor [29].
19. The system according to claim 20, wherein said micro controller [26] is provided with a set of input/output circuits [28], a memory [27] and a system [31] to follow up the telephone signal.
20. The system according to claim 1 , wherein alternatively said system is provided with a Positioning/Tracking system [14].
21. The system according to claim 22, wherein said Positioning/Tracking system [14] is a GPS system.
22. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises means for sound manipulation and noise reduction.
23. The system according to claim 24, wherein said means for sound manipulation and noise reduction comprises automatic means for control of loudspeaker [17] sound volume as a function of the noise observed in the ambient.
24. The system according to claim 24, wherein said means for noise reduction comprises a second microphone [8] that catches the ambient noise and a system [30] for: i) automatic volume regulation; ii) loudspeaker [17] and microphone [18] noise reduction; and iii) sound filtering of loudspeaker [17].
25. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a followup system [31] for the telephone signal.
26. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a rotating catch [22] and a socket [23] for said catch.
27. The system according to claim 28, wherein said socket [23] makes easier to install and withdraw said communication system from one vehicle to another one.
28. The system according to claims 1 and 28, wherein the rotating catch [22] is connected to support bars [21] of the transportation vehicle.
29. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing of base [1] of terminal [50] is installed in support bars [21] of the transportation vehicle.
30. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing of base [1] is provided with means [20] designed to dispense support to the user.
31. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system is of a convergent character, working either with an inductive card used in conventional public telephones or with a card used for prepaid cell phone card.
Description:
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

VEHICLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communication systems adapted to public transportation vehicles, more specifically, to a communication system for vehicles of public use employing a radio frequency system directed to public transportation users. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The pre-paid cell phone, a product launched about seven years ago and that already occupies 80% of the Brazilian mobile telephone market, behaves in a rather peculiar way. In spite of its huge client base, the profit by user is only about a fourth of that obtained through post-paid clients. This is due to the fact that pre-paid clients are concentrated in classes B, C and D, and they use the cell phone mostly as a pager, that is, receiving calls rather than making calls. The main cause of such behavior lies in the high fee of the pre-paid plans, causing users to make use of the mobile for emergency cases only.

Under the point of view of the clients, while the post-paid ones are able to get more competitive prices in mobile-mobile calls, that is, exchanging the fixed telephone for the mobile, the pre-paid clients save their calls and stay months without recharging their mobile telephones. The high fee per minute makes these clients use public fixed telephones instead of using their own mobiles for making calls.

In spite of being more economical than pre-paid mobile phones, the fixed telephones and public fixed telephones fee to mobile phones is very high. The interconnection fee (VU-M) to be paid to the mobile telephone companies causes a call to cost up to 33 cents of a dollar (R$ 0.75) each minute. That is, nowadays in Brazil, the lower income class has no economic option to make calls to mobile phones.

Studying the habits of low-income population it is possible to observe that, in Brazil, as well as in most developing countries, a huge part of the leisure time of these people is spent on public transportation vehicles. Therefore, it would be interesting that those people could use their time in a more productive and agreeable way, taking care of personal and professional issues.

Based on these facts the Applicant has developed the Communication System for Use in Public Transportation Vehicles aiming at pre-paid clients as well as those who do not possess mobile phones. The proposed System provides low fees for those transiting in public vehicles, that is, during a period where the target public is available for making calls.

As is widely known by the experts, the public telephone terminals presently in use are basically of two kinds: the conventional one and the self-billing one. The first one, called conventional, uses cables to be physically linked to a telephone center, so that the telephone center monitors and controls the way it works. In this case, the telephone center is in charge of providing the terminal with electrical energy, as well as detecting and completing a call, and mainly, rating each call. To this end, the telephone center makes use of a billing plate, which controls the time elapsed after each call has been completed and sends a signal to the terminal so that it can collect the credits/coins.

The second kind of public telephone, called self-billed is distinguished from the first one by the fact that it incorporates the call billing plate. For these appliances, the telephone center simply supplies electrical energy to the terminal and monitors its functioning.

In spite of its wide use, such public telephone terminals have as main drawbacks to their utilization in public transportation vehicles the fact that

they need to be physically connected to the telephone center by cables. This makes the use of such appliances in a moving vehicle impossible.

The incompatibility of the existing models with public transportation vehicles is clear, even for those using mobile telephone radio waves. If a user would like to utilize a conventional telephone in an urban transportation vehicle, this would be very difficult and there would be risks involved.

Besides, the conventional public telephone system is not very attractive to the transportation firms in view of the low profits involved, and the incorporation of an alternative service would be required to attract these companies.

Below, a list of movements effected by a user shows the difficulty in utilizing such appliances in public transportation vehicles:

1) entrance in any public transportation vehicle that starts to move;

2) displacement up to the conventional public telephone; 3) insertion of a card or coin inside the conventional public telephone;

4) withdrawal of the handset from its socket with one hand and placement of same against the ear; and

5) dialing of the desired telephone number with the other hand.

As can be easily perceived, during the call the user has no support since both hands are busy. Thus, there is a risk of injury if the vehicle makes any undue movement. Besides, a conventional public telephone would harm the flow of people, occupy space designed for passengers and require a reconfiguration of the interior of the transport vehicle to be adapted for such telephone. Further, in order to secure efficient communication even at high noise levels a special sound manipulation would be required, regarding the sound leaving the speakers as well as the one captured by the microphone.

Once a cell telephone system is available in the interior of a public transportation vehicle, it is possible to use the location based services for

tracking and monitoring vehicles, offering the transportation companies a very attractive service as well as making possible the installation of mobile phones in the interior of public transportation vehicles.

Location Based Services (LBS) employ the concept that through a series of technological developments a mobile network can locate a mobile terminal.

The higher the precision of the location method, the higher will be the aggregate value of the offered service and, therefore, the higher the aggregate value to the client. It is possible to organize the location methods into three basic groups: Cell Id (Cell Identification), TOA (Time of Arrival) and GPS (Global

Positioning System).

Cell Id (Cell Identification)

The simplest and less precise location method is the Cell Id, through which the cell where the user can be found is identified. This information is inherent to any mobile system since the network is always aware of the cell where the mobile terminal is located, so that it can direct the calls. Its precision is associated to the cell size, and can vary from 500m to more than 10 km radius, according to the covered environment (rural, suburban and urban). Location methods based on Time of Arrival (TOA) are based on the calculus of the propagation time of the signal by the mobile network. Two main methods are pointed out:

TDOA (Time Difference Of Arrival)

This method is based on the time of propagation of the radio signal transmitted by the mobile phone up to instruments called LMU's (Location

Measurement Units) usually installed beside the Transmission Bases (TB's).

Upon request of a LBS service by the user, the network "obliges" the terminal to request a handover. The time this signal takes to reach the

LMU's is processed by the SMLU (Serving Mobile Location Unit), and the terminal position is then found.

TDOA's advantage is to support the existing terminal base; however, LMU's are expensive and each Transmission Base needs one LMU. The system performance depends on the level of traffic on the network. E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) E-OTD is also based on the calculation of the propagation period of the radio signal. However, in this method the mobile terminal calculates the propagation time of the transmitted signal by at least three Transmission Bases (TB's) placed in neighboring cells up to the terminal itself, requiring extra functionality at the terminals. The LMU, placed at a known fixed point, measures the propagation period of these signals, sent by the TB's, up to itself. Based on the information sent by the terminals and by the LMU, SMLU calculates the position of the mobile phone. The number of SMLU's depends on the amount of LMU's existing in the network.

This method is fairly precise in areas of high TB's concentration (density) including indoors, utilizing one LMU for up to five TB's, with a lower processing charge than in the previous method, since most of the calculations is carried out by the terminals. Nevertheless, it requires adaptations in the terminals and its precision in areas of few TB's is low. The adoption of more advanced algorithms in the terminals, simulating the LMU's functionality will allow reducing, if not to completely eliminating, the LMU's in the network. Conventional GPS (Global Positioning System)

In a G PS-based conventional location system there is a GPS receiver integrated to the mobile terminal, which receives the signals from the satellite constellation of the GPS system and, based on the propagation periods of the signals transmitted by a minimum of three satellites, calculates the position of the terminal.

In spite of the excellent precision outdoors, this method does not offer good indoor coverage and therefore it is not ideal for use in some large

urban centers, where coverage is constantly obstructed by tunnels and high buildings. It also requires large battery consumption, reducing the useful time of the cell phone. The delay time at the initial activation of the location function, required to the sweeping of the satellite-transmitted signals, is also long.

A-GPS (Assisted GPS)

In A-GPS, the information required by the satellites and decoded by the GPS receiver is transmitted to the mobile terminal by the mobile network, reducing the processing load of the terminal, battery consumption and the time to start the location calculation functions. Once the terminal is freed from executing the decoding functions of the satellite signals, it is possible to implement calculation functions of the signal propagation period between the TB and the cell phone, in a way similar to that of the other methods. It is then possible to improve the location calculations in the interior of vehicles in nearly all outdoor environments and in many indoor environments, which is unlikely with conventional GPS systems.

The patent literature offers various documents related to public cell phones and location systems; however, there is no description or suggestion of the existence of a system incorporating in the same device both technologies while including the pre-requisites required for the installation of such a system in vehicles such as those of the urban transportation service.

Brazilian Pl BR 9201788 relates to a public cell phone particularly adapted for installation in hardly accessible places or of low demographic density. However, the technology described in that document does not meet safety, functionality, sound quality and tracking requirements, so that it is unsuitable for installation in moving vehicles.

US patent 5,272,747 deals with a mobile telephone system using a radio phone made up of a standard phone set and radio transceiver. It is

installed in a public transport vehicle and able to provide passengers with a wide variety of public services such as facsimile machine and other peripheral devices, the usual telephone communication through card or coin, a range of payment options such as credit card or cash, and synthesized voice as well as visual instructions on how to operate the system. However, the technology described therein is still unable to attend the required pre-requisites for the installation of such equipment in the interior of public transportation vehicles.

Chinese publication CN 1499875 describes a mobile phone and a receiver connected to the phone to receive the satellite signal. The receiver is an interface for the connection to a mobile phone. A GPS module and a microprocessor are installed in the interior of the receiver. Using the GPS module, the receiver captures satellite-transmitted information and the information received through a microprocessor are both conveyed to location parameter data to be received by the mobile phone. Thus, information captured by the receiver is conveyed to location parameter data to be conveyed to the mobile phone. The user can obtain the local position coordinates and real-time information straight from the mobile phone display. This system, in spite of incorporating mobile telephone and tracking, is a personal, not collective product like the one described herein.

US patent 6,247,113 describes a system for traffic control including a base station (10) and a plurality of vehicle units (12), that may be cars or trucks. A unit (12) can incorporate a GPS navigator (14) and a global positioning system information repository (16). The information contained in repository (16) can be obtained through normal GPS techniques, coordinating with satellites to assess speed and vehicle location at any time. Navigator (14) can use the GPS information for positioning the vehicle relative to a planned journey path. Thus the GPS navigator can point the vehicle in a digital map and indicate the course to follow. Upon

communication of the unit (12) with the base station (10), not only the base station receives the information from the vehicular GPS, but also the station can provide real-time information to the vehicle to make the planning of the trip easier. Thus, the base station can suggest alternative routes for the GPS navigator (14) based on information on other vehicles and traffic conditions. From the information obtained from a plurality of vehicles the base station (10) can regulate traffic control devices such as traffic lights (18), variable signals for speed control and lights (22). This can be done with cables or radio frequency (RF) connection such as a cell phone. In US patent 6,862,524 it is stated that the methods for the assessment of vehicle location include, for example, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), angle of arrival (AOA), (Ray tracing)/ pattern recognition, global positioning system (GPS) and hybrid methods using network connections. Among the available methods, the GPS system includes a plurality of satellites orbiting around the earth, sending at precisely synchronized periods, a coded sequence that identifies the satellite. The code sequence is a sequence in binary pulse at a precise time. Besides the code sequence, the satellites send location information that can be used to calculate vehicle locations. A GPS receiver retrieves the satellite location information for GPS and makes the information triangulation to obtain the receiver position. Upon using GPS for vehicle location, each vehicle is equipped with a GPS receiver and a wireless transmitter. Using the GPS receiver and the transmitter, the vehicle assesses its location and conveys the location to a base station. The base station of a conventional system for vehicle location normally includes a search system provided with a map database and some kind of storage device for storing digital maps and route information. Upon receiving the location of a vehicle from the mobile units, the base station combines the stored data with the received information and shows the actual vehicle location in a digital map.

The GPS location technology is described in detail in US patent 5,990,827.

US patent 6,810,321 states that the GPS technology is employed by inserting a GPS receiver in each cell phone. Together with the geographical location coordinates (that is, longitude and latitude), a GPS receiver typically determines the instantaneous speed (that is, the speed and direction at which the receiver is moving). When the cell phone is charged in a motor vehicle, the location information and speed detected with the GPS receiver can be used to identify traffic conditions of the route in which the vehicle travels.

US patent 6,577,946 describes a system and method for the control of traffic flow. Location information is obtained and continuously updated from cell phones in a vehicle. The information is processed and used as input for the Intelligent Transport Systems, particularly for the Real Time Urban Traffic Directory for Vehicular Congestion Systems and Traffic Control Intelligent Systems. Information registry of coordinates location from vehicular phone are collected from the cellular networks, updated and stored in a database. These registries, together with digital maps are fed to mathematical models and algorithms to build lists of vehicles under displacement in various sections of roads, traffic charges in specific road sections, etc.

US patent 6,847,825 describes a reduced cost appliance for vehicular cell phones where the driver receives location services through a device having a voice cell phone and combined data, provided with an entry for a GPS receiver. The proposed device is designed to replace more expensive similar devices, such as Onstar by General Motors, Rescu by Ford and Mercedes Benz Carin, among others, that are heavily taxed.

US patent 5,745,865 relates to a traffic control system including a traffic planner that communicates with a cell phone to aid in the

management of the traffic flow, especially when emergency vehicles are rushing to a destination. The cellular communication system determines the emergency vehicle location, and relays the location to the traffic planner. The traffic planner in turn controls the traffic lights to clear the traffic along the route traveled by the emergency vehicle. The cellular communication system can also determine the location of any vehicle transporting a subscriber unit and provides navigation information that aids the vehicle to reach its destination. The navigation information includes road maps and directions. US patents 5,745,865, 5,465,289, 5,403,117, 5,182,555 and 5,043,736 are directed to traffic information systems helped by telephones installed in personal or collective vehicles, generally backed by location systems. None of these references describes or suggests a cell phone for public use in the interior of a collective vehicle while at the same time attending to all the required items to the installation of said system, such as the system herein proposed.

In Brazil, the technology owned by the M2M Solutions company, called M2M Bus Solution * can be used in all kinds of buses, transmitting and storing every second information on location, speed, direction, etc. Besides, it is possible to transmit and store technical data such as hour meter, voltmeter, odometer, number of passengers, itinerary and consumption data, etc. This technology also does not contemplate the concept of the present invention.

Thus, the technique still needs a vehicle communication system for public use, of the self-billing kind, to be installed in the interior of a public transportation vehicle, surface or underground, on land or sea. Such system comprises a telephone terminal made up of a handset and a base linked by a wire and electro-electronic means for making usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals, means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, means for locating the geographic location of the system, a billing plate and means for energy supply. This is the vehicular

communication system for public use described and claimed in the present application.

In the long run, it is believed that speaking on the telephone on buses, vans, underground trains, trains and ferryboats will be inserted in the daily activities of low-income population, provided the required adjustments to the state-of-the-art technology and appliances are made. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly speaking, the self-billing vehicular communication system for public use according to the invention comprises: a) a telephone terminal made up of a handset and a base, the handset and the base being connected by a wire and connected to and/or inserted in said terminal; b) a means for turning usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals, a means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, a billing plate, a means for energy supply and, optionally, a means for locating the geographical position of the said communication system.

Thus, the invention provides a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles where the handset of the telephone terminal is provided with a keyboard and display in order to allow the user to utilize only one hand during the call, while letting the other hand free to hold a support when the vehicle moves.

The invention also provides a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles where the handset of the telephone terminal is provided with contact sensors that oblige the user to place the handset in its support to get back its card or non-consumed coins, this improving the passenger safety.

The invention also provides a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles provided with a sound system that

allows the reduction of outer noise during conversation, this improving the quality of the communication.

The invention still provides a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles provided with a system that senses when a call has been lost caused by lack of signal and gives to the user a credit to complete his (her) call.

The invention also provides a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles provided with easiness of adaptation to most of the public transportation vehicles, without the need to alter their internal structure and without harming the passenger flow, besides being available for seating as well as for standing passengers.

The invention further provides a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles that dispenses a physical connection with the telephone center, attends to safety requirements and transport accessibility and offers an efficient sound manipulation.

The invention also provides a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles allowing an amount of daily passengers estimated in 1.1 billion a month to effect low cost calls to cell phones during the free time spent in the public transport. The invention provides still a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles having the lowest known fees low-income population can access for cell phone calls.

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles having a converging character, that is, working either with the inductive card of a conventional public telephone or the credits of the pre-paid cell card.

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles having features of public telephone as well as of a cell phone, where the converging character is best utilized when offered by the

operators owning fixed telephone services (FTS) and mobile telephone services (MTS).

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles that, because it is used in a moving vehicle, by-passes the payment of fixed-mobile interconnection fees (VU-M) which renders it more economical to the users while the operator can have higher profit margins than those obtained through conventional public telephones.

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles highly interesting for the operators in view of its ability to increase the use of telecommunication services (network traffic generation) resulting from their location in public transportation vehicles and low cost to the user. It transforms non-consumers into consumers.

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles the logistic cost of which is low in view of the agglomeration of transportation vehicles in garages, terminals, stations, etc. so as to allow the installation, maintenance and cleaning services of the same in a more economical and efficient way than the known public telephones spread over huge urban areas. The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles with low incidence of vandal actions, since it occupies a public environment controlled by the presence of collectors, drivers and passengers, the system being generally operating under good conditions resulting from the easy maintenance in the terminals. The invention provides still a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles, which is highly attractive to the transport companies resulting from the insertion of a GPS module, which allows the lowering of logistic and operation costs through a better fleet control.

The invention provides further a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles endowed with a complementary character to the prepaid cell phone as well as to the conventional public telephones.

The invention provides also a self-billing communication system for use in public vehicles having a tracking system allowing the determination of the geographical position of the devices, and consequently the position of the vehicles. This system will be offered to the transport companies in exchange of the space to place the device, this allowing lower costs for the companies as well as optimization of the fleet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 attached is a perspective view of a telephone terminal, which is part of the communication system for use in public transportation vehicles according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 attached illustrates a block diagram representing the communication system for use in public transportation vehicles.

FIGURE 3 attached illustrates a view of the handset of the present invention and its features.

FIGURE 4 attached illustrates a detailed view of the configurations of the telephone terminal so as to adequate it to a public transportation vehicle. FIGURE 4A illustrates a view of the terminal adapted to a metallic beam of a public transport vehicle. FIGURE 4B illustrates a view of the rear portion of the terminal, exhibiting the catch used to fix it to a beam. FIGURE 4C illustrates a front view of the system, with the handset out of its socket.

FIGURE 5 attached is a schematic illustration of the sensors of the card/coin reader lock. FIGURE 5A attached is a cut view of the locking sensor, while FIGURE 5B attached is a view of the handset with the other locking sensor.

FIGURE 6 attached is a schematic diagram of the electro-electronic devices of the communication system for use in public transportation

vehicles according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODES

A first mode of the invention relates to a communication system for use in public transport vehicles. A second mode of the invention relates to a communication system for use in public transport vehicles additionally provided with a tracking or positioning system.

The invention is directed to a self-billing communication system for use in public transportation vehicles to be installed in the interior of a public transportation vehicle, on land (surface or underground) or on a body of water.

Such system comprises a telephonic terminal made up of a handset and a base connected by a wire, and, connected and/or inserted in said terminal, electronic means for turning usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals, mans for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, means for locating the geographical position of the devices, a billing plate and energy supply means.

The telephone terminal of the communication system for use in public transport vehicles bears one or more of the following features: a) the handset is provided with: i) keyboard and display in order to allow that only one hand of the user is required to operate the handset during the call, while the other hand is free to hold a support while the vehicle is in motion ii) loudspeaker and microphone; iii) design and manufacturing material able to lower outer noise, with volume regulating buttons for altering sound volume according to the outer noise, all this being carried out with the same hand that holds the handset; iv) contact sensors/locking means forcing the user to place the handset on a base support in order to retrieve the paying means;

b) control mechanism able to read and record data in cards and identify the value of the added coin to effect calls while there is credit left; c) electronic means for lost calls detection due to lack of signal and return bonus credit to the user for completing his/her call; d) connecting means with the energy supply of the vehicle where the communication system is installed; e) functionality for providing support to the user during the telephone communication; f) automatic sound control means; g) means for reducing noise as a function of conversations and/or outer noise; h) means for conveying advertising/publicity; i) means for attaching the telephone terminal in the interior of the public transportation vehicle; and j) additional energy storing means.

The keyboard of a) i) is placed in the inner portion or alternatively in the outer portion of the handset. Preferably the keyboard is placed in the inner part of the handset and is luminescent.

The display, also mentioned in the same a) i) item, is generally made up of liquid crystal or leds; it is designed to display information related to the telephone call, such as credit left, number dialed and the like.

The design mentioned in a) iii) involves a handset configuration such as to allow the muffling of the outer noise. Besides, the design is such that it makes possible that the microphone and the loudspeaker of the handset be quite close to the user's mouth. Thus, a preferred design comprises a substantially shell shaped handset, without being limited to this one, provided it allows the muffling of outer noise.

The means mentioned in a) f) comprise an outer noise sensor, so as to allow automatic adjustment of the communication system volume.

And the means of g) comprise a noise suppressor that collects noise from the environment and eliminates this noise from the signal captured by the microphone. Further, this element filters the audio signals arriving to the user's ears through the loudspeaker, securing better communication in the interior or the public transport vehicle.

The publicity insertion means h) comprise an area in the terminal itself for publicity insertion, or the utilization of the liquid crystal display to convey advertising messages. Publicity can also be conveyed through the system loudspeaker. Means i) for fixation/supporting of the telephone terminal in the interior of the public transportation vehicle comprise, without being limited to, a catch, clamp, hook, among others. To this end, the terminal is preferably provided with a socket placed in the rear portion of it, in order to receive the means allowing the terminal to be adequately installed in the interior of the public transportation vehicles. Further, the supporting means can be rotating in order to make easier the displacement of the terminal and the user access to it.

It is considered that the system of the present invention is particularly applicable to be used in the public transportation service with daily circulation of a huge amount of passengers, especially terrestrial and maritime transport. Among those should be pointed out buses, train, underground and ferryboats, used for urban as well as interurban transport. While in transit, a passenger in such a transport can make a call by inserting the required rate in a card/coin reader, which is part of the overall system. Therefore, from the study of the user movements and by applying the features of the present invention as parameters, it can be seen that the proposed system succeeds in attending to the needs of a public transport passenger.

A distinguishing feature worth mentioning is that the user can operate the system using a single hand.

Below a list of movements carried out by a user after entering a public transportation vehicle starting to move. 1) A seating or standing user decides to make a call from a vehicular public telephone;

2) The user inserts the card/coin in the communication system installed in the public transportation vehicle;

3) With one of the hands, the user withdraws the handset from the terminal base;

4) The user uses the same hand to dial the desired number and hold the handset against his/her ear;

5) The free hand can hold a support to secure stability and support;

6) The credit amount is viewed during the call by reading a second display placed on the base.

In step 4 mentioned above, it should be pointed out that the user can use the same hand to dial, since the keyboard and a first display are positioned in the handset.

In step 6, said second display placed on the base allows the user to view the available credit besides other information (duration of call, dialed number, time, etc) keeping the handset on his/her ear.

The coordination of the activities of the communication system of the invention is carried out through a processor that integrates, in general terms, a radio frequency transceiver, a micro controller to control the activities of the card reader or the coin acceptor, and a micro controller to control the handset activities, besides others.

Besides, the processor will be in charge of the overall control activities, such as: call duration management relative to the amount paid, permission of the repeated use of the telephone whenever there are any

credits left for a call, rating, control of the telephone signal during the call and any other functions required to the operation of the vehicular communication system of the invention.

Particularly, this control mechanism allows or not the access to the telephone system, where the said access control means comprises: a module accepting a pre-determined kind of card or coin, these being converted into call credits, a micro controller optionally linked to said acceptor module and to an energy supply means, this latter being either inserted in the vehicle or autonomous. Thus, when the cards or coins of said pre-determined kind are inserted in the acceptor module, the micro controller compares the cards/coins with a pre-determined kind programmed in the microprocessor, allowing or not operation access to the said vehicular communication system. The cards or coins used as payment means mentioned above are those already available in the market, such as inductive cards, smart-cards, radio-frequency identification cards, magnetic cards, tokens and coins.

The electro-electronic means for turning usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals comprise an interface that changes usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals (optionally into cell phone signals), transmitted by suitable transmission /reception of radio signals means.

The means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals comprise a transceiver of the conventional cell type or any other kind of transceivers able to perform a wireless communication between a source station and a destination station. The transceivers are provided with input and output control similar to those provided for by cell phones. Transceivers should be provided with means for supplying/feeding electric energy.

The billing plate controls the rate or tariff of each completed call and orders the debit of respective credits from a card or from deposited coins.

The energy supply means comprise either the battery of the vehicle where the communication system is installed itself, a rechargeable autonomous battery in the interior of the device or still an alternative energy source (solar, aeolian, etc) for example. Preferably, the energy supply means are the vehicle battery itself, since this one increases the system autonomy and reduces investment cost.

Optionally, the energy means can include the vehicle battery as well as an autonomous battery, so as to avoid interrupted calls in case the vehicle supply is interrupted, for example, if the bus stops. In one mode of the vehicular communication system of the invention, any positioning or tracking system such as a GPS, but not limited to it, is coupled to the system micro controller. This system allows that the device and consequently the vehicle be positioned allowing the transport companies and the passengers to know exactly the position of a transportation vehicle.

Among the additional advantages brought about by the incorporation of a positioning/tracking system to the communication system of the invention, one can point out the following ones:

• transport companies can optimize the use of their fleet, resulting in a better vehicle control with ensuing cost reduction and better services;

• users will be able to determine the real-time positioning of their vehicles, either through Internet or even their cell phones, this making possible to know the time the vehicles will reach their boarding platform. • A consequence of the massive utilization of the positioning activity is the improvement of the traffic in town, which in turn tends to reduce pollution caused by transport.

Besides, there is a huge economic advantage for the company owing the system and operating the service, since it will be able to offer this

system as a counterpart to the telephone installation, allowing in this way a much more profitable business, since there will be no need to share with the vehicle owner part of its income.

The invention will now be described by reference to the appended Figures, which should be considered as mere illustrations, such Figures including all the variations and modifications at reach by the experts.

The vehicular communication system according to the present invention, generally designed by numeral [100], comprises a telephone terminal, generally designed by numeral [50] including electronic components. Terminal [50] made up of base and handset is illustrated in Figure 1. Basically, terminal [50] comprises a base [1], made up of a preferably rounded housing, meeting the safety criteria for moving vehicles, a module or card or coin reader [2] coupled to the interior of the referred to housing, and means for viewing, preferably a liquid crystal or leds display[3] coupled to the card or coin reader [2] to inform the amount of remaining credits.

Further, the telephone terminal [50] comprises a mobile handset [4] having dialing means and call control, connection means [5] connecting the handset [4] to base [1], a support [6] for handset [4] and optionally an area [7] designed to contain a leaflet explaining the utilization of the vehicular communication system [100].

With regards to a way to by-pass the noise of the public transport vehicles, the Applicant suggests including in present system [100] means for noise reduction, aiming at filtering outer noise from the user conversation and increasing the signal to noise ratio, as illustrated in Figure 1.

One example of the noise reduction system, known by the experts but in no way limited to said noise suppression system, is the process of spectral suppression or gain, where a second microphone is positioned so as to catch ambient noise only. The similar features in the sound caught in

this second noise microphone [8], situated in base [1] and in the sound captured by microphone [18] situated in handset [4] are subtracted from the latter (through destructive interference), so that only the user voice is left, it not being caught by said second microphone [8]. As regards to the sound arriving to the user's ear through the loudspeaker (not represented in Figure 1 - see Figure 3) the Applicant suggests an equivalent noise canceling system where a microphone [8] installed in telephone terminal [50] catches the ambient noise and creates an inverted signal interfering with the signal emitted by loudspeaker [17], eliminating undesired noise. Besides, a sound filter system processes the received sound so as to improve the volume and clearness of the voice arriving to loudspeaker [17] during the call.

Turning now to Figure 2, system [100] is self-billing, incorporating suitable billing means such as a billing plate [13], which controls the charging of each complete call and commands the debit of respective credits from the card or from the deposited coins.

System [100], according to Figure 2, is preferably fed through an energy source [9] from the vehicle where the system is installed, the system being regulated to work according to the charges required to the working of the device. Besides, system [100] can be provided with means for storing energy, such as an auxiliary battery [10], operating under emergency situations, allowing system [100] of vehicular communication to be utilized even when the vehicle is off.

Moreover, system [100] comprises means for turning telephone signals into radio frequency signals. Preferably, said means comprise an interface [12] that turns usual telephone signals into radio frequency signals (optionally into cell telephone signals), transmitted by suitable means of transmission/reception radio signals. These transmission/reception means for a radio base station comprise, preferably, a transceiver [11], thus

allowing the communication through telephone terminal [50], without the need of any wire connection to the telephone center. Transceiver [11] utilizes, preferably, the cell phone technology.

Additionally, system [100] is provided with a positioning/tracking system [14] allowing the discovery of the positioning of the device, and consequently the positioning of the vehicle, and transmitting such coordinates through transceiver [11] towards a center in charge of the monitoring.

Figure 3 illustrates the preferred manufacturing features of handset [4], which is part of the vehicular communication system [100] of the invention. This handset [4] embodies the main functions of the vehicular public telephone and bears several innovations relative to the handset of state-of-the-art devices. It is through the use of handset [4] that the user makes and controls his/her call, without the need of base [1]. According to Figure 3, keyboard [15] is positioned on handset [4] instead of on base [1] (represented in Figure 1), as in conventional telephones. The main reason for this different positioning is the fact that in the interior of the transportation vehicle the passenger undergoes many efforts from the environment, such as vibration, stops, side twists, leaps, among others, all this rendering difficult the dialing in the conventional position in base [1].

Besides, it should be possible that a seating user as well a standing one utilizes system [100]. Handset [4] is designed so that the user is able to dial with a single hand, since the other hand will support the standing or seating user. As handset [4] is in the user's hand, it is easier to dial as well to view the buttons. Besides, in a preferred mode, keyboard [15] is provided with glowing keys, making easier to view the numbers even in low-lighted environments.

In handset [4] there are also displaying means, preferably a liquid crystal or a led display [16], serving to show the dialed numbers and simple messages, such as for example, busy, connecting, stand-by call and calling period. The advantage of display [16] in handset [4] results from the difficulty in reading far away-placed texts in moving vehicles.

Also in Figure 3 can be seen loudspeaker [17] and microphone [18] which are equally adapted to the specific activity of vehicular communication system [100] of the invention.

A distinguishing feature of the vehicular communication system for use in public transportation vehicles according to the invention relative to its predecessors is the fact of being inserted in an environment that is noisier and fuller of people than that of conventional public telephones. Therefore, handset [4] should be adapted to offer acoustic insulation and privacy to its users. In order to fulfill these requirements, loudspeaker [17] is preferably shell shaped, so as to improve the hearing ability as well as the hygiene. Moreover, around loudspeaker [17] there are acoustic insulating means such as a rubber or foam (not represented). For the sake of hygiene, in this way, the user ear will not contact loudspeaker [17]. Upon being pressed against the user's ear, the foam/insulating rubber will provide less outer noise, improving the communicability of terminal [50].

The design of microphone [18] of handset [4] aims at two objectives. The first is to lessen the entrance of outer noise and the second is to provide privacy to the user. In present devices, the microphone is positioned laterally to the user mouth, while in handset [4] herein described the microphone will be closer to the mouth, as in cell phones having a flip relative to ones being straight. The proximity will be made easier by the curvature of handset [4] of the invention and by the fact that microphone [18] is placed on a slight flange. The objective of this positioning is to improve

the quality of sound, which will be conveyed to microphone [18], as well as to improve the conversation secrecy. Besides, optionally, there is insulating acoustic foam around microphone [18], which will allow the entrance of directional sound only. Further, handset [4] features volume buttons [19] to heighten or lower the sound of loudspeaker [17], buttons [19] being placed laterally to handset [4] as well as in base [1] of system [100]

Handset [4] and base [1] are connected through connecting means. Preferably, such means comprise a connection wire [5] connecting handset [4] with base [1]. Wire [5] is in charge of energy supply and connection with the whole operation system of the present device. Preferably, wire [5] is made up of a rubbery high-strength material, of fixed, adjustable length. Wire [5] is connected to means able to adapt the handset [4] height to the passenger stature at the time of the call (seating or standing).

According to Figure 4, the housing of base [1] of system [100] for vehicular communication herein described is provided with means [20] to dispense support to the user and is preferably installed at the support bars [21] of public transportation vehicles, being therefore accessible to seating as well as standing passengers without the need of reconfiguring seats/spaces, nor even a specific area for its utilization. Figure 4A shows a communication system [100] installed in a support bar [21] of a public transportation vehicle.

Figure 4B illustrates a view of the rear portion of the terminal, showing the supporting means such as a rotating catch [22] and the opening [23] for the socket, so that system [100] can rotate around the support bar [21], therefore being available to seating as well as standing passengers.

The socket of rotating catch [22], which in one preferred mode is an opening [23] in the rear part of the communication system [100], renders the installation and withdrawal of it very easy, simply by using a wrench designed such as to render possible to withdraw the bolts attaching the

system to rotating catch [22]. This makes possible to remove the vehicular communication system [100] from one vehicle arriving at the terminal towards another one which will be leaving in a few minutes, provided both vehicles have rotating catches [22] installed. Figure 4C illustrates a front view of the system, with handset [4] out of its socket.

Advantageously, according to Figure 5, system [100] of the invention is provided with means for locking the card in the telephone, it being released only after handset [4] is placed back on base [1]. The purpose of said locking means is to secure the required safety to the passengers, as it prevents that handset [4] hangs out of support [6] when the user ends his/her call.

Thus, according to Figure 5, contact sensors [24,25] oblige the client to place handset [4] back to support [6] to retrieve his/her card. That is, the card keeps locked in the interior of base [1] until the user returns handset

[4]. When the user places handset [4] on base [1], contact sensor [25] of handset [4] (Figure 5B) contacts contact sensor [24] of support [6] (Figure

5A) and releases the card electrical lock so that the card can be withdrawn.

The same procedure related to the use of sensors occurs in the case of return of non-used coins, in case the control mechanism is a coin- acceptor module and not a card reader. The tariff controller keeps only the utilized coins, returning the exceeding coins at the end of the call, after handset [4] is placed back on base [1].

The present vehicular communication system [100] for use in public transportation vehicles comprises means for controlling calls. According to Figure 6, micro controller [26] provides the intelligence for the system operation. Micro controller [26] is a module operated by energy supply means, preferably an autonomous battery [10] or a battery [9] belonging to the transportation vehicle itself, where micro controller [26] is installed. This

module is equipped with a set of input/output circuits [28] and a memory [27]. Micro controller [26] performs at least one or more of the following functions: a) Controlling the vehicular communication system [100] of the invention to allow calls and end the utilization according to the amount of credit available; b) Authorizing the effecting of calls; c) Discontinuing calls; d) Sending debit and credit messages to the card/coin reader; e) Exhibiting credit messages on display [3]; f) Recording statistical data in memory [27]; g) Sending instructions to micro processor [29]; h) Controlling of Sound Manipulation System [30] and noise reduction; and i) Controlling of Telephone Signal Follow-Up System [31]. j) Alternatively, controlling of the Positioning/Tracking System [14].

Microprocessor [29] is in charge of all handset [4] duties, including control of luminescent keyboard [15], primary display [16] of handset [4], loudspeaker [17] and microphone [18]. Microprocessor [29] reacts to the commands of micro controller [26] and radio stations to which it is connected, sending data on the system activity to micro controller [26], such as: a) status of the system (on, off) b) period of call; c) quality of signal reception; d) number dialed; and e) detected audio

The control software for system [100] is stored in a non-volatile random access memory in the installation.

A further advantage of system [100] is a follow-up system [31] of the telephone signal coupled to micro controller [26]. This system [31] monitors the quality of the telephone signal during the utilization of system [100] through a telephone signal intensity sensor, a device of common knowledge by the experts. When the call is discontinued before the end of the user credit and in a way independent of his/her will, the telephone signal follow- up system [31] measures the signal intensity at that moment. If the signal is below the minimum established levels, it is stated that the call has been interrupted due to lack of signal. Therefore, the user is authorized to make a new free call to the same number as soon as the signal is resumed, so as to complete his/her call. Since system [100] is placed in a public transportation vehicle, this can be very often the case, especially when the vehicle crosses tunnels or other areas of weak signal. The telephone signal follow-up system [31] avoids penalties to the user due to network signal problems, this increasing user satisfaction while reducing vandalism.

In view of the outer noise invading public transportation vehicles, in a preferred mode the Applicant suggests to include a sound manipulation and noise reduction system [30] coupled to micro controller [26]. System [30] will be in charge of the following: a) automatic volume regulation; b) loudspeaker and microphone noise reduction; c) loudspeaker sound filtering.

The automatic regulation of the loudspeaker [17] volume occurs as a function of the outer noise levels caught in microphone [18]. This regulator is in charge of measuring the outer noise and comparing it with the volume required for a fair listening of the conversation, this being done on the basis of well-established standards.

In case the volume intensity of loudspeaker [17] is not suitable to the ambient noise levels, the volume of loudspeaker [17] is automatically increased.

The positioning/tracking system [14] works coupled to micro controller [26], so that the position of the vehicle where the system [100] is installed is determined, the information being sent to a monitoring central through short message service (SMS) or general packet radio service (GPRS).

It should be understood that many modifications and variations of the present system [100] utilizing equivalent means are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The description provided hereinbefore leads to the conclusion that the main competitive factors of the inventive system [100] comprise the following aspects:

Since it is installed in a moving transportation vehicle, the system is characterized as a public mobile telephone, with low fees (lower than those of fixed telephones and conventional public telephones for calls to mobile phones) as well as higher profit margins for the telephone companies.

The fees are lower also in view of the fact that it is a collective service (gains from scale). Public transportation vehicle passengers have the spare time to speak on the telephone.

No registration or subscribing fees.

No cannibalization of higher-class clients.

New business opportunities. Service cost suitable to lower classes budget.

Tracking system (GPS) included means possibility of lower logistical and operational costs for the transportation companies.

Exchanging tracking by space in the vehicles leads to a very profitable business. Profits and branding for the telephone-operating companies.

The present system allows telephone-operating companies to offer low rates for their pre-paid clients, without cannibalization of its higher-class consumers.

And the main advantages for the operating telephone companies include: Income from selling conversation airtime (minutes);

Higher margin in cell phone calls than fixed public telephones and other fixed telephones.

Improved utilization of the installed infra-structure. No cannibalization of the post-paid consumers. Cannibalization of pre-paid consumers from competing companies.

Network traffic generation. Branding and marketing possibility. Possibility of bringing a new public for the telephone market. Intensification of convergence trend in telephone services Low charging and default costs.

Dispenses significant modifications in the network as well as in the control systems.

Dispenses any increase in the number of enrolled people. Low client capturing cost. Low learning curve, since users are accustomed to fixed public telephone devices.

For the remaining stakeholders the main advantages include:

Transportation companies

Tracking of the fleet, reducing costs and optimizing routes. Possibility of income increases through participation in card selling.

In certain cases, possibility of rise in income through participation in the minutes utilized in the interior of a company's vehicles.

No installation cost.

No maintenance cost. Does not occupy any room and does not hinder the flow of passengers.

Does not require the interior of the vehicles to be altered.

Adds value to its clients, stimulating the demand for public transport.

Population

Price of mobile telephone calls down to a third of that of pre-paid calls, and down to half of that of fixed telephones and public fixed telephones.

Cash payment. Service available when and where the client is also available.

Improves the use of time in user's everyday life.

Total amount of the rendered service can be absorbed by lower-class people.

Does not require earning statements. No subscribing, no monthly payment.

Simple, easy-to-control mechanism, similar to pre-paid systems. Possible vehicle traffic improvement in big cities through route optimization resulting from vehicle tracking.

The concept of a public telephone for public transportation vehicles can be applied to most developing countries in the world. The features that render a country attractive for the present system are:

Population ill served by telecommunication services; Existence of a cell telephone network. Existence of a large network of urban transportation service. Further, the present system has a potential of use in highly attractive tourist towns, including those in developed countries.

The present system constitutes the first public telephone for use in the interior of public transportation vehicles, comprising features and functionalities able to convey safety, quality, dependability and accessibility to public transportation vehicles. Among the innovations of the present system, the following are worth to point out:

Can be used by standing or seating passengers. Can be used with only one hand.

Is easily adaptable to most of public transportation vehicles Does not require inner reconfiguration of the vehicle.

Does not occupy any internal room nor hinders the flow of passengers. Easy to install and to remove.

Easy to use (low learning curve).

Provided with noise sensor, noise suppressor and automatic volume control, assuring sound quality and privacy to the user.

In case of accident, it offers a safe design for the passenger.

Low installation and maintenance cost.

Makes use of the existing cell phone networks.

Makes possible the tracking of public transportation fleet.