Operation

The operation, including trip-planning, ticketing and billing, should be:

• less complex than driving a car or using present public transport

• intuitive for the user but technically realizable at low cost

• similar to the operation of known automatic machines such as cars, phones, elevators or ATMs (whenever possible)

Because the new TS should offer a broad choice of services and options its operation may become complex and it is desirable to have a service that provides an ``easy to use'' interface between the TS and the user. This service is called the user-management. The introduction of a user-management has also economical reasons, since it is intended that several companies compete for the simplest, costumer-oriented and most transparent travel service. The user-management and the type of services it should offer are defined below.

Remark 1:

The system operation explained in this section is based on a user-card. This is a card in the format of a credit card with which the user can identify himself electronically. It is thought that this is the most cost-effective solution with current technology.

Remark 2:

The exact human-system interaction and boarding procedures are subject to behavioral tests.

The user-management

The user is a person who going to use the new TS, for either passenger or freight transport. He will need to open an account at a user management of his choice.

Services

The user-management, should act as a ``travel agent'', providing the following services:

• the user-management hands out a user-cards to the users with a unique user identification number (user-id ). The user card has the dimensions of a standard credit card and has a chip on it to store the user-id and the identification number of the user-management
• the user-management is the only responsible for planning, organizing, and billing of each trip that the user will undertake on the account of the corresponding user-management

• the user-management is the only institution with whom the user communicates, before, during and after each trip with the TS

• The user-management will accept and process the following orders from the user:
  • selection of destination for a single vehicle
  • organization of vehicle cleaning when the user tells the system that the vehicle needs to be cleaned or when the user refuses the vehicle because it is littered or damaged

• the user-management may provide special services such as:
  • booking or organizing passenger (Sections 1.7.5) or freight trips (Sections 1.7.7)
  • diverse travel options (see Section 1.7.1.3)
  Furthermore, clever user-managements will try to predict the user's travel habits. For example, if a user leaves his house every morning at 7:00 the user-management could organize a vehicle that is already waiting for him.
• tracking and charging persons who litter or damage vehicles

Orders

The user can give orders to the user-management such as:

• selecting or alternating the destination of the next or current trip
• refusing to use a vehicle (if it is littered or damaged)
• sending vehicle for cleaning after use
• booking a person transport
• organizing a freight transport or
• changing travel options

Travel options

Different user-managements may offer a different choice of travel options that can be selected by the user. Dependent on the selected travel options, the user will need to provide the appropriate information to the user-management. These options can be modified at any time via user terminals at stops, via Internet, cellular phone or by contacting directly a costumer office of the user-management. Here is a possible choice of options:

• a default destination: this will be the destination for each trip unless the customer specifies a different one

• vehicle type: where possible, user services will book a vehicle with different interior. This can be any non-standard vehicle type (see Section 1.5), including the users own private vehicle
• operation: user-system interaction can be modified:
  • passengers with wheel-chairs or with child carriages the seats fold back automatically when passengers enter the cabin

  • For the visually impaired all system messages, such as destination station, door closing, come from loud speakers in addition to displays or visual signals. Special messages could be added to help improve the journey.

  • the physically disabled and elderly people, cabin doors would not close too quickly to allow them sufficient time
• route selection. One has the option to:
  • select the path that minimizes travel-costs
  • select the path that minimizes travel-time
  • select the path with a scenic view

• language selection: all system information are displayed or spoken in the selected language

• defining alias names for destinations: the customer can define alias names instead of numbers for frequently accessed destinations

• transport of minors: When minors are on board without adult supervision, some functions of the user terminal can be blocked
• Waiting time of booked vehicles: This is the time booked vehicles wait for the user before leaving without them (see Section 1.7.5)

User terminals: the user's access point

The user has access to the user service via user terminals which is a general term for a variety of devices that allow the user to communicate with the user-management in a unified manner. The way information is received and orders given is the same for all user terminals--within the technical limits of the particular terminal type. Examples of user terminals types are:

• stop-type user terminal with keypad and display. The display is sufficient to list menu items and small messages. The key pad has:
  • menu buttons to navigate through menus and select items
  • numeric keys to insert destination numbers (or others)
  • help, to call for assistance (menu sensitive)
  This type of user terminal would usually be installed at frequently used stops. Their operation should be similar to the one of a banking machine (ATM): The user inserts his travel card into the slot of the travel card reader and gives interactively (menu-driven) his orders to the user management. The user-id and user-management-id are stored on the travel card. Thereafter he'll take back his travel card. In the same manner, stop-type user terminal can be used to call empty vehicles.

• call-type user terminals without keypad and display. This is a simple box with a travel card reader that may be installed at less frequently used stops. When the user inserts his travel card, the appropriate user-management will direct an empty vehicle to this stop. Optionally there is a small display, indicating the waiting time.
• Cabin-type user terminals. Those are similar to stop terminals but the key pad and the display are inside the cabin and the travel card reader is outside the cabin, beside the door (where one would usually expect to open a vehicle with a key). The key pad is enhanced by the interrupt button to exit at the next available stop. When the user inserts his travel car and is authorized (cabin is empty or booked for him) the vehicle door opens. If desired, the user can make orders inside the vehicle, just as with stop terminals. After the trip, the user takes back his travel card. There should also be the possibility to feed the travel card reader automatically with wayside boarding facilities.

• WWW-type user terminal. This is the managemen web site which can be accessed via computer or cellular phone. The user makes his orders by filling in HTML forms. For this purpose, he also needs to insert his user id.

• Phone type user terminal. The user can call in one of the user-management's agencies by ordinary phone. The user's id and orders can be selected by pressing the telephone keys while getting orally guided through a menu. There is also the possibility to ask an operator for assistance.
• Computer-type user terminal. This terminal allows to give orders to the user-management by a computer via standardized e-mails. This means that a computer can generate automatically orders and process messages from the user-management. This is useful:
  • if the transport includes many vehicles that need to be coordinated

  • if the computer needs to coordinate vehicle and automated loading and unloading facilities

  • for periodic or auto initiation of transport orders. This feature is necessary to include the new TS into industrial production processes

Terms and general philosophy of vehicle operation

• The travel card is used to identify which user is using the vehicle(s). This user is responsible for loading and unloading and the appropriate use of the vehicle i.e. that the vehicle is not damaged or littered by passengers or freight. If the user recognizes an improper state of the vehicle he is supposed to inform the user-management (who will take care of maintenance).
• There is a simple operating philosophy that should guide users through the entire procedure of a trip:
  • a green flashing light at buttons or other devices indicate that the user has to press or access one of them in order to go ahead with the procedure of the trip

  • a constant green light at buttons or other devices indicate that the user has the option to press or access one of them in order to go ahead with the procedure of the trip

  • a constant red light or no light at buttons or other devices means that the respective functions or devices are inactive or out of order
  For visually impaired persons there is either a vibrating plate beside each light (usually for all buttons and devices at stops, outside the vehicle), or instructions are given via loud speakers (inside vehicles).

• The trip destination is programmed before entering the vehicle. The destination programming can be done in two principle ways:
  • the user gets in contact with his user-management (using any user terminal, except call-type and cabin-type user terminals, see Section 1.7.2) and gives the necessary orders (see also orders in Section 1.7.1)

  • if no destination has been specified when the user enters the cabin then the default destination is used. It is compulsory for the user to specify a valid default destination upon the reception of the travel card in order to guarantee that the vehicle immediately knows where to go as soon as the user entered (see also travel options in Section 1.7.1)

• an Available vehicle is a vehicle that is empty and not booked. Everybody with a valid travel card can enter an available vehicle. A vehicle indicates its availability in one of the following ways:
  • at stops without boarding facilities (see Section 1.6.4) the vehicle has a green flashing light beside the door, near the slot of the travel card reader, where the user is supposed to insert his travel card. For standard freight vehicles the green flashing light is outside the vehicle beside the door open button

  • at stops with boarding facilities (see Section 1.6.4) there is a green flashing light at the travel card reader of the boarding facility (see Fig. 1.2). If there are passengers inside the waiting zone (who already identified themself by means of the travel card reader) then the vehicle doors open immediately upon the arrival of the vehicle

• a booked vehicle is a vehicle that is empty, but booked for a user with a specific user id. Only the user with that user id can access the vehicle. The booked vehicle is also indicated with a green flashing light, just as the available vehicle, with an additional small display below that indicates the user's id

Spontaneous travel

The entire procedure of this trip happens in three logical steps:

Step 1:

specification of destination: It is assumed that destination is programmed before entering the vehicle. The user has principally two possibilities select a destination:

• the user gets in contact with his user-management (using any user terminal, except call-type and cabin-type user terminals, see Section 1.7.2) and gives the necessary orders (see also orders in Section 1.7.1)

• if no destination has been specified when the user enters the cabin then the default destination is used. The default destination is a travel option that can be changed at any time (see Section1.7.1.3)

Step 2:

entering vehicle:

1. the user needs to go to a MAIT stop

2. dependent on the type of passenger stop (see Section 1.6.4) the user accesses an available vehicle in one of the following ways:
   • stop without boarding facility: In the case there is no available vehicle, the user accesses a stop-type terminal or inserts his card into a call-type user terminal in order to call a vehicle. Then the user inserts his travel card into the reader of the available vehicle. The travel card is returned immediately, and as soon as the user takes it out of the slot, the vehicle's door opens

   • stop with boarding facility: The user inserts his travel card into the slot of the card reader of a boarding facility (see Fig. 1.2) with a green flashing light. The user will pass with accompanying persons and baggage through the gate into the waiting zone. The gate is locked as soon as the user takes back his travel card from the slot. If there is no available vehicle at the platform, the passengers need to wait. The vehicle doors open as soon as it arrives

3. The user can now enter the vehicle with accompanying persons and baggage

Inside the cabin, the display of the internal user terminal shows the destination of the current trip. The vehicle door closes after a moment and the voyage begins.

The user can change destination or travel options (see Section 1.7.1.3) at any time via the internal cabin-type user terminal ^1.3. The user has the option to stop the journey at any time by pushing the ``abort'' button. In this case the vehicle exits at the next free stop.

Step 3:

leaving the vehicle. After arriving at the destination station:

1. the door opens

2. the user vacates the vehicle

3. the vehicle attempts to close the doors after all passengers left the vehicle^1.4
4. the user-management charges the bank account associated with the card's user id

Booked travel

A booked person transport should happen in the following steps:

Step 1:

booking: the user gets in contact with the user-management (as explained in Section 1.7.2) and selects interactively:

• origin and destination stop of intended trip. The stop of origin can only be a stop, where a waiting vehicle does not block other vehicles
• the departure time of intended trip
• other (non standard) options like number or type of vehicles

Step 2:

entering vehicle:

1. the user goes to a MAIT stop, where the booked vehicle(s) is(are) waiting. If the user does not arrive in time, the vehicle will wait. After a certain time, which is also a travel option (see Section 1.7.1.3), the vehicle will leave the stop without its passenger

2. dependent on the type of passenger stop (see Section 1.6.4) the user accesses the booked vehicle in one of the following ways:
   • stop without boarding facility: a small display beside the vehicle door indicates the user-id of the costumer who booked this vehicle. Then the user inserts his travel card into the reader of the vehicle. The travel card is returned immediately, and as soon as the user takes it out of the slot, the vehicle's door opens. In the case the user booked multiple vehicles, the doors of all vehicles open simultaneously when inserting the user card into the slot of one of the booked vehicle
   • stop with boarding facility: a small display at the boarding facility's card reader indicates the user id of the costumer who booked this vehicle (see Fig. 1.2).

     The user inserts his travel card into the slot of the card reader. The gate will open if the user's id is identical to the displayed one. The user will pass with accompanying persons and baggage through the gate into the waiting zone. The gate is locked as soon as the user takes back his travel card from the slot and the vehicle doors open

3. The user can now enter the vehicle(s) with accompanying persons and baggage.

Inside the cabin, the display of the internal user terminal shows the destination of the current trip. The vehicle door closes after a moment and the journey begins.

The user can change destination or travel options (see Section 1.7.1.3) at any time via the internal cabin-type user terminal. The user has the option to abort the journey at any time by pushing the ``abort'' button. In this case the vehicle exits at the next free stop.

Step 3:

Leaving the vehicle: After arriving at the destination station,

1. the door opens

2. the user(s) vacate(s) the vehicle(s)

3. the vehicle(s) attempt(s) to close the door(s) after all passengers exit
4. the user-management charges the bank account associated with the card's user id

Spontaneous freight transport

A freight transport in the strict sense is a freight only transport, where the user does not travel with a (standard or non-standard) freight vehicle but controls it via a user terminal. This would usually be a computer-type user terminal (see Section 1.7.2). A spontaneous freight transport assumes that freight vehicles are available at the departure stop. This may be a usual situation in a factory, where empty freight vehicles are waiting in a queue to get loaded. Alternatively, vehicles can be called by stop-type or call-type user  terminal, similar to the spontaneous passenger transport. Empty vehicles can be ordered, using the procedure of the booked freight transport, described in Section 1.7.7. The entire transport should happen in three logical steps:

Step 1:

specification of destination: The user, which could be a computer communicates the origin and destination stops to the user management. The user-management will then verify whether the vehicle which parks currently at the stop of origin is empty and available If so, it will unlock it for loading.

Step 2:

loading the vehicle:

1. the vehicle door is opened by:
   • pressing the door-open button
   • telling the user-management to open the door via user terminal
2. the vehicle can be loaded either manually or automatically with the appropriate loading facilities
3. the loading process is terminated by:
   • pressing the door-close button
   • telling the user-management to close the door via user terminal

After the doors are closed and locked, the vehicle will start the trip. At any time, the user, who is not inside the vehicle, can change transport destinations interactively by contacting the user-management as described in Section 1.7.1

Step 3:

Unloading the vehicle: After arrival at the destination, user-management unlocks the vehicle doors. The user has the option to keep the vehicle locked until he wishes to unlock it (for example if he wants first a confirmation from the destination that the vehicle is ready for unloading).

1. as soon as the vehicle doors are unlocked, they can be opened by:
   • pressing the door-open button
   • telling the user-management to open the door via user terminal
2. the vehicle can be un-loaded either manually or automatically with the appropriate facilities
3. the un-loading process is terminated by:
   • pressing the door-close button
   • telling the user-management to close the door via user terminal

The user-management charges the users bank account.

Booked freight transport

Step 1:

Booking: the user which could be a computer, contacts the user service via a user terminal (as explained in Section 1.7.1) and selects interactively or by standardized protocols:

• origin and destination stop of intended freight transport

• The departure time of intended transport

• Other options like number or type of vehicles

The user-management will then direct the requested empty vehicle(s) at the desired time to the departure stop and unlock it(them). From now on the booked freight transport is identical to the spontaneous freight transport (see Section 1.7.6), except that there can be more than one freight vehicle.

Step 2:

Loading the vehicle(s):

1. the vehicle door(s) are opened by:
   • pressing the door-open button
   • telling the user-management to open the door(s) via user terminal
2. the vehicle can be loaded either manually or automatically with the appropriate facilities
3. the loading process is terminated by:
   • pressing the door-close button(s)
   • telling the user-management to close the door(s) via user terminal

After the doors are closed and locked, the vehicle will start the trip. At any time, the user, who is not inside the vehicle, can change transport destinations interactively by contacting the user management as described in Section 1.7.1

Step 3:

Unloading the vehicle(s): After the arrival at the destination, the user-management unlocks the vehicle doors. The user has the option to keep the vehicle locked until he wishes to unlock (for example if he wants first a confirmation from the destination that the vehicle is ready for unloading).

1. As soon as the vehicle door(s) are unlocked, they can be opened by:
   • pressing the door-open button
   • telling the user-management to open the doors via user terminal
2. the vehicle can be un-loaded either manually or automatically with the appropriate facilities
3. the un-loading process is terminated by:
   • pressing the door-close button
   • telling the user-management to close the door(s) via user terminal

The user-management charges the users bank account