For customers, using Ring and Ride during a trip simply consists of two free phone calls; one at the beginning and one at the end of the trip. Between these calls they can travel along their route, change vehicles and public transport providers as often as they'd like, provided that they remain within the area covered by the service. The key idea of using the mobile phone network for a mobile ticketing system corresponds to a set of goals for the improvement of public transport. First reason are less restrictions for customers when using public transport, especially for occasional and new customers. Currently, customers need to understand the tariff system to buy a valid ticket. If they are not familiar with the tariff or the use of the vending machines, they may pay too little and unintentionally become a 'fare dodger'. Customers should thus be able to get a proper ticket without knowledge of the tariff, and without the use of cash. The second reason is the provision of one electronic ticket for both long and short distance travel. The ticketing system has to allow the use of different public transport providers and modes, within a variety of tariff systems. In this way, Ring and Ride would be a suitable ticketing system for intermodal public transport across Germany. The third reason is the reduction of distribution costs by using existing infrastructure. In contrast to other mobile ticketing systems, Ring and Ride has no need for its own infrastructure. Special equipment to check-in and check-out is not necessary. This paper provides a detailed description of the first mobile ticketing system with electronic fare management that is based on location technology. Apart from GSM, W-LAN and GPS location, the integration of further location technologies, e.g. NFC, is also feasible in future without major changes to the Ring and Ride system. This independence from the location technology meets the overall requirements of the public transport providers. Especially in the European context, cross border ticketing will be one of the most challenging future tasks in the further development of the concept. This requirement could however also be added without the need for major changes to the architecture.
Location-based mobile ticketing with electronic fare management
Ortsgebundene mobiles Parkscheinwesen mit elektronischem Beförderungsendgelt-Management
2008
12 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 11 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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