# US 10,121,297 B2 · Vision-based fare collection

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- Number: US 10,121,297 B2
- Document ID: US10121297B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/891,196
- Filed: 2018-02-07
- Published: 2018-06-21
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-24
- Assignees: Cubic Corporation
- Applicants: Cubic Corporation
- Inventors: Thomas Busch-Sorensen; Pradip Mistry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121297B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/28: the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
- G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications}
- G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management
- H04W 4/30: Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
- H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
- H04W 4/42: for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
- G07B 15/00: Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00)
- G07C 9/10: Movable barriers with registering means
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS

## Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing vision-based fare collection using one or more cameras positioned within a transit station. The system may determine that a user is approaching an entry point separating a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area. Using a camera and/or an RFID transceiver, the system may track the location of the user as the user approaches the entry point. The system may determine that the user is permitted to access the restricted access area, and may allow the user to access the restricted access area via the entry point upon the user being within a threshold distance from the entry point.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving an indication that a first user purchased a ticket at a ticket vending machine;
determining, based on the indication, that the user is permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining that the first user and a second user are approaching an entry point, the entry point defining a passageway and separating a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;
tracking, using a camera, the location of the first user and the second user as the first user and the second user approach the entry point;
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining a first projected path of the first user;
determining a second projected path of the second user;
determining that the first user is within a first threshold distance from the entry point;
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point prior to the second user reaching a second threshold distance from the entry point, allowing the first user to access the restricted access are via the entry point; and
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point after the second user reaches the second threshold distance from the entry point, not allowing the first user to access the restricted access area via the entry point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a first speed of the first user; and
determining a second speed of the second user;
wherein:
the first projected path is determined based on the first speed; and
the second projected path is determined based on the second speed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting, using an RFID receiver, an RFID tag located within a particular distance from the second user, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the second user;
determining that the RFID tag is associated with the second user; and
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area based on the information linking to the account balance of the second user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:
facilitating tracking, using the RFID receiver, the location of the second user as the second user approaches the entry point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allowing the first user to access the restricted access area includes opening a gate or turnstile at the entry point.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting, using a sensor, one or more unique identifiers associated with the first user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ticket vending machine does not issue a physical ticket or an electronic ticket in response to the first user purchasing the ticket at the ticket vending machine.

### Claim 8

A computer readable storage media comprising instructions to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving an indication that a first user purchased a ticket at a ticket vending machine;
determining, based on the indication, that the user is permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining that the first user and a second user are approaching an entry point, the entry point defining a passageway and separating a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;
tracking, using a camera, the location of the first user and the second user as the first user and the second user approach the entry point;
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining a first projected path of the first user;
determining a second projected path of the second user;
determining that the first user is within a first threshold distance from the entry point;
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point prior to the second user reaching a second threshold distance from the entry point, allowing the first user to access the restricted access are via the entry point; and
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point after the second user reaches the second threshold distance from the entry point, not allowing the first user to access the restricted access area via the entry point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a first speed of the first user; and
determining a second speed of the second user;
wherein:
the first projected path is determined based on the first speed; and
the second projected path is determined based on the second speed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting, using an RFID receiver, an RFID tag located within a particular distance from the second user, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the second user;
determining that the RFID tag is associated with the second user; and
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area based on the information linking to the account balance of the second user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:
facilitating tracking, using the RFID receiver, the location of the second user as the second user approaches the entry point.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein allowing the first user to access the restricted access area includes opening a gate or turnstile at the entry point.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting, using a sensor, one or more unique identifiers associated with the first user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein the ticket vending machine does not issue a physical ticket or an electronic ticket in response to the first user purchasing the ticket at the ticket vending machine.

### Claim 15

A system comprising:
a camera;
one or more processors;
one or more computer readable storage mediums comprising instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving an indication that a first user purchased a ticket at a ticket vending machine;
determining, based on the indication, that the user is permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining that the first user and a second user are approaching an entry point, the entry point defining a passageway and separating a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;
tracking, using a camera, the location of the first user and the second user as the first user and the second user approach the entry point;
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area;
determining a first projected path of the first user;
determining a second projected path of the second user;
determining that the first user is within a first threshold distance from the entry point;
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point prior to the second user reaching a second threshold distance from the entry point, allowing the first user to access the restricted access are via the entry point; and
in response to determining, based on the first projected path and the second projected path, that the first user will reach the end of the entry point after the second user reaches the second threshold distance from the entry point, not allowing the first user to access the restricted access area via the entry point.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a first speed of the first user; and
determining a second speed of the second user;
wherein:
the first projected path is determined based on the first speed; and
the second projected path is determined based on the second speed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting, using an RFID receiver, an RFID tag located within a particular distance from the second user, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the second user;
determining that the RFID tag is associated with the second user; and
determining that the second user is not permitted to access the restricted access area based on the information linking to the account balance of the second user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:
facilitating tracking, using the RFID receiver, the location of the second user as the second user approaches the entry point.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein allowing the first user to access the restricted access area includes opening a gate or turnstile at the entry point.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the ticket vending machine does not issue a physical ticket or an electronic ticket in response to the first user purchasing the ticket at the ticket vending machine.