WO2008109966A1

WO2008109966A1 - Passenger interaction system with a taxi cab

Info

Publication number: WO2008109966A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mirko Durovic
Original assignee: Cabex Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-15
Filing date: 2008-03-17
Publication date: 2008-09-18

Abstract

A passenger interaction system within a taxi cab, said interaction system including an interactive unit adapted to be installed within a taxi cab vehicle. This interactive unit includes a display unit of which is in visual and touchable communication with said passenger, said interactive unit further including a panic selection, of which when activated is adapted to send out a distress or the like signal to parties outside the taxi cab for their immediate actioning. The interactive unit further includes receival means to accept various forms of payment for the travel services provided for by the taxi cab, and said interactive unit having an upright position when the unit is being interacted with a customer of the taxi cab, and a collapsible position, said collapsible position characterised in having at least part of the display unit rotatable or collapsible towards the front of the vehicle such that if the vehicle is involved in an accident or there is sudden breaking in the vehicle and a customer of the cab is sent crashing into the interactive unit, substantial injury is avoided as impact between passenger and unit is absorb by the forward movement of the unit away from the customer on impact.

Description

PASSENGER INTERACTION SYSTEM WITH A TAXI CAB

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a passenger interaction system with a taxi cab and more particularly to an automated or virtual feature that allows for independence between passenger and driver of said taxi cab, to allow either, or both improved security, journey, comfort and payment integrity during travel.

BACKGROUND ART

From the outset however, it is important to appreciate that though the general description provided for relates to a passenger interaction system with taxi cabs, such a system and arrangement can easily extend to additional services that would be applied to limousines, private cars, buses, ferries and similar such pay for travel vehicles.

Traditional interaction between a passenger and a driver in a taxi cab revolves around more formal lines of communication, wherein once the passenger enters the vehicle, a conversation js struck up with the driver pointing out by the passenger to the driver in most instances, their destination and perhaps their method of paying for the travel to that particular destination.

By the very nature of services associated with taxi cabs and similar such vehicles and services, there is a commercial exchange between the passenger and the driver of the vehicle. With any commercial exchange there is always the potential for competing interests.

For example the passenger will always hope that the most expeditious route will be taken by the driver in order to minimise their time and travel costs in a taxi cab to reach their required destination. On the other hand the driver as most enterprising individuate would always like to maximise their financial benefit from any commercial exchange and hence their priority may not aiways be on getting the passenger to their required destination following the appropriate route.

Still further, not only is there that often slight uncertainty between the passenger and driver as to the best way to get to a location, there is also the problem and method of payment when the travel has been completed and the passenger alights at the required destination. Credit cards, debit cards, cash, cheques and the like need to be handed over to the driver for their processing in order to acknowledge payment.

Though in the most part a driver of a taxi cab is there to do the appropriate thing, it cannot be denied that the opportunity however is made available when credit cards, debit cards and the like are exchanged that they can be inappropriately used or recorded for other purposes rather than simply the payment of the required fare.

Therefore the above has already introduced several problems, first of all metering charge problems as well as payment problems but still there remains even more obstacles and difficulties between the current conventional interaction between a passenger and a driver of a taxi cab.

They further include security between passenger and driver. The media is fuH of instances of various attacks being perpetrated on passengers travelling within a taxi cab or even the alternative scenario when a passenger or passengers have set about attacking a taxi driver, often with robbery as a main motive.

Therefore, the traditional taxi cab has failed to provide appropriate independence and security between passenger and driver. While there may be various devices already available for a driver to activate a certain feature when the driver is placed in a dangerous situation, such features to this date have not been provided fpr to a passenger. This problem of passenger safety is a real concern, not only for those particular passengers that could be subjected to potential attack within a taxi cab, but also the many more passengers who suffer from anxiety or stress brought upon by the potential threat, real or otherwise as they travel in a taxi but they could be attacked by the driver.

Another problem with conventional taxi cabs is that during the interaction between passenger and driver throughout the travel, there could be this perceived duty of politeness for both parties to become involved in idle chatter.

TTiough in some cases a passenger and driver would enjoy the company and discussions during the journey, more often than not there is the uncertainly felt by both the passenger and driver whether or not they should be engaged in idle chit chat as the taxi cab makes its way towards the set destination.

The reason for the requirement of idle chit chat in order for polite social interaction, may well be that time is still required to be passed between point A and point B during the journey travel. Hence the problem is presented in that if the passenger had opportunity to be engaged or exposed to other available features in the cab, it would be an elimination of this perceived need of passenger driver interchange if the passenger could be occupied throughout the journey by other features within inside the taxi cab.

Therefore as the above has introduced there are a variety of problems existing with the conventional passenger interaction with a driver of a taxi cab when commencing, throughout and at the payment of the service.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide an improved passenger interaction system for taxi cabs and the like wherein passenger personal security, well being in entertainment or comfort throughout the journey and method of payment for such a service without fear of financial impropriety on behalf of the driver of the taxi cab can all be improved. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a complete reading of the following specification,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in one form of the invention there is provided a passenger interaction system within a taxi cab, said interaction system including:

an interactive unit adapted to be installed within a taxi cab vehicle,

said interactive unit including a display unit of which is in visual and touchable communication with said passenger,

said interactive unit further Including a panic selection, of which when activated is adapted to send out a distress or the like signal to parties outside the taxi cab for their immediate actioning,

said interactive unit further including receival means to accept various forms of payment for the travel services provided for by the taxi cab,

said interactive unit having an upright position when the unit is being interacted with a customer of the taxi cab, and a collapsible position,

said collapsible position characterised in having at least part of the display unit rotatable or collapsible towards the front of the vehicle such that if the vehicle is involved in an accident or there is sudden breaking in the vehicle and a customer of the cab is sent crashing into the interactive unit, substantial injury is avoided as impact between passenger and unit is absorb by the forward movement of the unit away from the customer on impact.

An advantage of such arrangement of the interaction system provided for in its border sense described above is that the passenger and the driver of the taxi cab can now go about their business during the travel to and from particular locations very independently. As the interactive unit includes a means by which passenger distress or panic could be notified to the outside world immediately, the potential for driver attack upon a passenger is greatly reduced and still further that potential or perceived threat that is created, whether falsely or otherwise of an attack by a driver to a passenger can be avoided,

As the passenger now has a means in which to obtain assistance if a panic situation develops within inside the taxi cab, advantageously now the passenger can rest assure that they will not be accosted, attacked or molested during their journey, because if such acts are perpetrated, they can be immediately detected and acted upon by virtue of the panic selection made available through the interactive unit-

Still further, taxi cab drivers will then also realise they will not be in a position to attack or effect the personal security of a passenger because their actions that are unwarranted will immediately be notified to the outside world by the passenger activating the panic selection.

A further advantage of the passenger interaction system introduced above is that once the journey has been completed and payment needs to be made, no longer does the passenger's valuable credit card, debit card or other forms of payment need to be passed over to a driver, where the opportunity is made available for misappropriate handling.

Advantageously in this invention and for the interaction arrangement, it is the interaction unit which houses a means in which to receive payment. Once the journey is complete the display screen would then visualise to the passenger the amount of money owing and then prompts the passenger with a variety of ways in which payment could be made.

In preference the payment means provided for by the interactive unit would include a magnetic slot to which a magnetic strip of a credit card, bank card or proprietary taxi cab card service could simply be swiped in order for an automatic exchange of cost for the travel service that has been provided for. A still further advantage of such an arrangement is that by having an interactive unit which has a display which can visually provide information throughout the journey, is that as the passenger remains in the vehicle during travel to their destination, the display is able to present information which is relevant to the surroundings in which the vehicle is currently passing through.

For example there now no longer needs to be that awkward silence between driver and passenger, as the passenger's comfort and entertainment is being attended to by virtue of the display in the interactive unit which is presenting material and information of relevance during the journey.

Advantageously, as the taxi cab vehicle makes it way throughout a certain locality, information can be presented on screen of that locality which can be used simply to inform the passenger of various services and the like that are available within that area or alternatively present certain advertising instalments and the like from traders operating in that vicinity who want to present their own services as a way of generating potential business with the passenger.

Advantageously the ability of presenting advertisement during the journey of a display is a way in which additional revenue can be afforded to the taxi cab for providing such services.

As will be discussed further below this interactive system can be particularly advantageously used by the handicapped and in some embodiments with further features, can provide a situation whereby the interactive unit of the interaction system between the passenger and taxi cab, in a sense acts as a virtual taxi cab driver, whereby under such a system there would be no requirement for the passenger and a taxi cab driver to need any direct communication.

In this further preferred embodiment as to be introduced following herewith, such an interaction system within a taxi cab, would simply involve a passenger working with the interactive un^'rt, to allow the passenger to safely and securely employ the travel services of the taxi cab to get to the required destination. In preference, the payment means of the interactive unit as an option can accept taxi cab card offers of a direct billing for corporate customers and the like.

Acfvantageously, businesses or individuals who catch taxis frequently can apply for an account card with the taxi cab service providing such an arrangement. AU taxi expenses can then be charged to an account and billed, for example on a monthly basis.

Advantageously passengers, account holders or corporations can receive a statement with all expenditure itemised by date, time and individuals.

In preference the payment means further includes features that would allow biometrics.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that bio-metric payment systems allow individuals, businesses, corporate and government account holder's greater security in the way in which they conduct their transactions.

Advantageously statements of accounts can be easily processed for payment without the labour and time intensive shuffling of paper dockets into assorted bundles. Recorded taxi expenditure can be maintained and complete records for verification. Corporate accounts can be tamper proof using bio-metrics and eliminates potential voucher abuse and/or misuse.

Importantly it would also assist more secure payment transactions for those passengers with disabilities. As the person skilled in the art the introduction of bio-metrics as a method of payment means which is discussed in slightly greater detail below will be particularly advantageous to the blind community and allow them greater convenience, security and greater confidence when making a payment for the travel service they have undertaken inside the taxi cab. In preference, and as introduced above and will be discussed in greater detail beiow when referring to the illustrations, during travel to and from the required destination a passenger will have various displays appearing on the interactive unit about information such as restaurants, hotels, shops and the like that are available in that area they are passing there through.

Still further, more information can also be made available as to the genera! services and utilities available in a particular location as the taxi cab passes through the respective streets on the way to the required destination.

Advantageously such an arrangement is beneficial both for the taxi cab as it provides a way in which greater revenue can be generated through a means of presenting an advertising medium between potential customers and a trader's services, but at the same time it afso provides advantages to the passenger, as they are entertained and informed as they travel to the required destination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

In order now to describe the invention in greater detail the following preferred embodiments are presented along with accompanying illustrations.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a taxi cafc> with a portion taken away in order to see the interactive unit installed within the taxi cab vehicle and its relationship with respect to the passenger and driver.

Figure 2a and Figure 2b show firstly the positioning of the monitor inside the taxi cab vehicle with Figure 2b showing a cross-sectional view of the interactive unit.

Figure 3a shows a schematic view of a push button feature included as part of the interactive unit of the passenger interaction system within inside the taxi cab, showing that once the button is activated or selected, the panic situation is notified to various organizations including the Police and the taxi cab company, whereas Figure 3b shows how the passenger is in a position to press the panic button if required to on the interactive unit, and also the driver of the taxi cab have their own panic button should such situation arise with the driver's personal safety in danger.

Figure 4 shows the interactive unit and the slot feature to which a swipe of a credit card, debit card or similar corporate card can be accepted as well as the various payment options available on the display.

Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of how the bio-metric identification system can be used with the interactive unit for more securer and convenient interaction.

Figure 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method in which a passenger may interact with the taxi cab according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 7 shows a preferred method of the invention wherein a passenger may interact with a taxi cab when requesting travel services to a particular destination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Looking at the illustrations now in closer detail and there is provided a passenger interaction system within a taxi cab including an interactive unit 10, which is mounted inside a taxi cab vehicle 12. As best shown in Figure 2a the interactive unrt 10 is conveniently situated in between the two front seats 19 of a taxi cab 12 within the back seat section of the vehicle.

The interactive unit 10 includes a mount 32 which is covered by rubber feature in order to minimise any discomfort that would be felt by a passenger 14 if contact was made with the unit 10. The interactive unit has the touch screen monitor 18 connected to the mount 32 by a pivotal goose neck connection 30. The interactive unit on its front panel includes a payment receival slot, which can accept a swipe of a credit card, debit card, taxi corporate card and the like. There is also included a receipt printer 28.

The symmetrical positioning of the interactive unit 10 in between the two front seats 1Q provides a physical separation between the taxi cab driver 16 and the passenger 14.

Still further the pivotal mount of the goose neck 30 is designed such that in the event that the vehicle 12 is involved in a collision or for some reason the passenger 14 is jerked forward on to the interactive unit 10, the touch screen panel 18 would simply be dislodged or disengaged from the mount 32 rather than acting as a fixed obstacle, that would see the passenger crash through it, much like a scenario of crashing into a glass pane.

The interactive unit also includes a panic button 26 of which the passenger 14 can activate in situations of distress.

Figures 3a and 3b introduce that particular part of the invention further whereby the activation of the panic button from the taxi 21 would send out an emergency signal to an appropriate receiving station, for example the taxi cab data base centre 23, via GPS satellite 29 if required whereby this signal can be simultaneously on forwarded to the taxi cab company call centre 25 and the Police 27 which can be directed immediately to .the taxi cab location to allevJate that panic situation in taxi 21.

As shown in Figure 3b the vehicle 12 can also include a panic button 40 to which the driver 16 can activate in distress situations.

As shown in Figure 2a the interactive touch panel screen 18 of the interactive unit 10 can display various screen representations during the travelling, of which some representative examples are included as part of this illustration. Screen print 20 shows GPS mapping of the locality as the vehicle travels through that particular location on the way to the required destination. Hence the passenger 14 is able to view the display screen 18 and see where the taxi cab vehicle 12 is in relation to its surroundings.

Further examples, again we use the word representative examples, as there literally could be any type of displayed information placed on the screen for the passenger's 14 entertainment, amusement or information during the journey, relates to various advertisements that appear on screen as the vehicle makes its way through a particular location to the ultimate destination.

The screen print shown as 24 represents more general information that can be provided to the passenger, such as historical information about the area that they are passing through or information on general services available such as Government departments and the like as the vehicle 12 travels through that particular location.

Figure 4 shows a representation close up of the interactive unit 10 wherein demonstrated is a credit card being swiped along the slit 18. The display unit and its touch features can provide a variety of payment options to which the passenger 14 would then select the necessary option as shown at 42. Once the transaction is completed a receipt can be made available via the printer 28.

Figure 5 shows a particular preferred embodiment of the invention whereby biometrics is used as part of the payment system.

In this particular example a finger print to which a variety of pattern codes are identified and providing there is a matching code by the use of the passenger 14 that payment method would be made available.

Advantageously in this instance the interactive unit does not copy and keep a person's fingerprints. What they do is take a sample of the pattern available and code that particular information.

During use the passenger 12 would present their fingerprint and the interactive unit through its inbuilt logic again would provide a code for the same pattern available of the user's print, and the matching of these codes rather than precise fingerprints which will allow accessibility of the passenger 14 to use that particular payment option for the travel services involved.

Advantageously as introduced above this method provides a securer payment transaction arrangement for those with disabilities particularly members of the blind community. For example the passenger 12 makes their thumb 46 available by impressing that image at point 48 on the interactive unit 10, and with the matching of a code, the payment system and interaction can be accessed.

Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of one method of a passenger 14 interacting via the interactive unit 10 within a taxi cab.

The method would involve the passenger entering the vehicle as shown at 52 and proving destination details to the driver who would then activate the meter shown at 54, Once the meter is activated, the interactive panel 18 of the interactive unit 10 would prompt the passenger 14 with various information and the like shown at 56. As the passenger 14 travels through various locations on the way to the ultimate destination, information and advertising as shown in Figure 2a under screen prints 20, 22 and 24 can be represented of which is shown at 58 of Figure 6. At the destination 60, payment can then be completed as referred to under various embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5. At the completion of payment the passenger may then alight 62.

Figure 7 shows a further preferred embodiment of the invention whereby the passenger interaction within a taxi cab for the use of the interactive unit 10 could be such that from boarding the vehicle at 66 to paying at the destination 72 would not necessarily involve any communication whatsoever with the taxi cab driver.

Under this particular embodiment when the passenger enters the vehicle the interactive unit immediately prompts interaction with the passenger whereby the passenger can select the necessary destination with the internal logic of the unit then passing this information on to a corresponding screen or the like with the taxi cab driver who will then know where to drive to. Once the destination has been keyed, spoken or touched into the interactive unit by the passenger, the meter is activated and the driver can commence the journey.

As with Figure 6 during travelling towards the destination the monitor as shown at 70 can introduce various information and advertising with respect to that particular location and finally at destination 72, there is no requirement for the passenger to become involved in discussions with the taxi cab driver, as all the necessary features in order to bill and finalise the payment are available within inside the interactive unit.

Claims

1. A passenger interaction system within a taxi cab, said interaction system including:

an interactive unit adapted to be installed within a taxi cab vehicle,

2. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab wherein once the journey of the customer of the cab has been completed and payment is required, the unit will represent on the display the amount required to be payed by the customer, and the customer will then select from a selection as to how payment will be made and if it is a non cash method of payment no interaction or payment directly with the driver of the cab will be required.

3. The passenger interaction system of claim 2 wherein payment means provided for by the interactive unit would include a magnetic slot to which a magnetic strip of a credit card, bank card or proprietary taxi cab card service could simply be swiped in order for an automatic exchange of cost for the travel service that has been provided for by the taxi cab.

4. The passenger interaction system of anyone of the preceding claims wherein the interactive unit visually provides information on the display throughout the journey, such that as the passenger remains in the vehicle during travel to the destination, the display is able to present information which is relevant to the surroundings in which the vehicle is currently passing through.

5. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab according to claim 4 wherein the information can be presented on screen of that locality the taxi cab is passing through which can be used simply to inform the passenger of various services and goods that are available within that locality or alternatively present certain advertising instalments from traders operating in that locality who want to present their own services as a way of generating potential business with the passenger as the said passenger passes through that locality.

6. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab according to claim 5 wherein the passenger or customer of the cab an interact by touch or voice with the unit for further information available as to the general services and goods available jn a particular location as the taxi cab passes through the respective streets on the way to the required destination.

7. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of claim 5 or 6 wherein the ability of presenting advertisement during the journey on the display is a way in which additional revenue can be afforded to the operator of the taxi cab providing such services.

8. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of any one of the preceding claims wherein the payment means of the interactive unit has an option for a direct billing for corporate customers.

9, The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of claim 8 wherein corporate customers may be charged to an account and billed, on a regular basts such that account holders or corporations receive a statement formattable for all expenditure itemised by date, time, journey and passenger.

10. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of anyone of the preceding claims wherein the payment means further includes bio-metrics.

11. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of claim 10 wherein the bio-metrics assists those passengers with disabilities.

12. The passenger interaction system within a taxi cab of any one of the preceding claims wherein the unit has the display and the payment means as separate hardware components.

13. The passenger interaction system wfthin a taxi cab of claim 12 wherein it is the display hardware component that moves forward on impact with the customer or passenger.