Methods and systems for hands-free fare validation and gateless transit

A method to facilitate gateless entry for a transit service when a user carrying a mobile device approaches a transit facility for the transit service, wherein the method comprises performing the following using a control unit:

• authenticating, by the control unit, the mobile device using Bluetooth-based messaging with the mobile device over a Bluetooth interface, wherein, before authenticating, receiving by the control unit a plurality of Bluetooth advertisement packets at a first transmission rate over the Bluetooth interface transmitted by the mobile device, wherein each advertisement packet contains data indicating that the mobile device is configured for gateless entry for the transit service;
• upon authentication of the mobile device, receiving, by the control unit, transit data from the mobile device over the Bluetooth interface, the mobile device transmitting the transit data at a second transmission rate that is higher than the first transmission rate, wherein the transit data includes:
• a device-specific value to uniquely identify the mobile device and determine a location thereof, wherein the device-specific value is pre-assigned to the mobile device by an entity associated with the transit facility and stored in the mobile device, and wherein the device-specific value comprises unique manufacturer keys provided by the transit facility for the mobile device, and
• a secure token to facilitate validation of an electronic ticket stored in the mobile device for the transit service;
• based on the secure token, determining, by the control unit, that the electronic ticket is valid for transit;
• providing, by the control unit, the device-specific value to a positioning unit to enable the positioning unit to uniquely identify the mobile device and determine the location thereof;
• receiving, by the control unit, a first timestamped location data for the mobile device from the positioning unit;
• based on the first timestamped location data, determining, by the control unit, that the user is entering a gateless entry point for the transit service;
• and
• allowing, by the control unit, the user to avail the transit service through the gateless entry point.

A mobile device comprising:

• a transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate over a Bluetooth interface;
• a memory for storing program instructions and an electronic ticket;
• and
• a processor coupled to the transceiver and to the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the program instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform the following to facilitate entry for a transit service when a user carrying the mobile device approaches a transit facility for the transit service:
• determine that the mobile device is in proximity of an entry location for the transit service,
• transmit a plurality of Bluetooth advertisement packets to a gateway unit at a first transmission rate over the Bluetooth interface using the transceiver, wherein each advertisement packet contains data indicating that the mobile device is configured for entry for the transit service,
• using the transceiver, communicate with the gateway unit receiving the plurality of Bluetooth advertisement packets to facilitate authentication of the mobile device,
• upon authentication of the mobile device, transmit transit data to the gateway unit using a plurality of Bluetooth data packets at a second transmission rate over the Bluetooth interface using the transceiver, wherein the second transmission rate is higher than the first transmission rate, and wherein the transit data includes:
• a device-specific value to uniquely identify the mobile device and determine a location thereof, wherein the device-specific value is pre-assigned to the mobile device by an entity associated with the transit facility and stored in the mobile device, and wherein the device- specific value comprises unique manufacturer keys provided by the transit facility for the mobile device, and
• a secure token to facilitate validation of the electronic ticket stored in the mobile device for the transit service, and
• inform the user to avail the transit service through the entry location.

A system to facilitate entry for a transit service when a user carrying a mobile device approaches a transit facility for the transit service, wherein the system comprises:

• a gateway unit operable to perform the following:
• authenticate the mobile device using Bluetooth-based messaging with the mobile device over a Bluetooth interface at a first transmission rate, up2n authentication of the mobile device, receive transit data from the mobile device over the Bluetooth interface at a second transmission rate, wherein the second transmission rate is higher than the first transmission rate, and wherein the transit data includes:
• a device-specific value to uniquely identify the mobile device and determine a location thereof, wherein the device-specific value is pre-assigned to the mobile device by an entity associated with the transit facility and stored in the mobile device, and wherein the device-specific value comprises unique manufacturer keys provided by the transit facility for the mobile device, and
• a secure token to facilitate validation of an electronic ticket stored in the mobile device for the transit service,
• provide the device-specific value to a positioning unit, and
• provide the secure token to a controller unit;
• the positioning unit, wherein the positioning unit is operatively coupled to the gateway unit and is operable to perform the following:
• uniquely identify the mobile device and determine the location thereof based on the device-specific value received from the gateway unit, and
• send a first timestamped location data for the mobile device to a controller unit;
• and
• the controller unit, wherein the controller unit is operatively coupled to the gateway unit and the positioning unit, and wherein the controller unit is operable to perform the following:
• based on the secure token received from the gateway unit, determine that the electronic ticket is valid for transit,
• based on the first timestamped location data received from the positioning unit, determine that the user is entering an entry point for the transit service, and
• allow the user to avail the transit service through the entry point.