EP0386024A1 - Improvements in or relating to ticketing - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to ticketing

Info

Publication number
EP0386024A1
EP0386024A1 EP88908292A EP88908292A EP0386024A1 EP 0386024 A1 EP0386024 A1 EP 0386024A1 EP 88908292 A EP88908292 A EP 88908292A EP 88908292 A EP88908292 A EP 88908292A EP 0386024 A1 EP0386024 A1 EP 0386024A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ticket
information
magnetic track
blank
authorised
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88908292A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Stanley William Fowers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ISOCARD Ltd
Original Assignee
ISOCARD Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ISOCARD Ltd filed Critical ISOCARD Ltd
Publication of EP0386024A1 publication Critical patent/EP0386024A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/42—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for ticket printing or like apparatus, e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/06187—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with magnetically detectable marking
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B1/00—Machines for printing and issuing tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B11/00—Apparatus for validating or cancelling issued tickets

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to ticket blanks, ticketing methods and ticketing apparatus which find particular application in the creation and checking of travel tickets, such as airline tickets.
  • airline tickets are created using blank IATA standard ticket forms which are completed with handwritten or printed details identifying th ' e passenger, the destination ' s, the flight numbers and the , cost.
  • the standard multiple destination IATA ticket form at present usually covers four destinations.
  • the present IATA airline ticket system has the disadvantage that the agency must carry a stock of potentially valuable blank ticket forms which pose a security risk.
  • the creation of tickets from the blank forms and the subsequent paper work involved are time consuming and labour intensive. Similar drawbacks apply to tickets created by the carrier itself, with the time-consuming nature of the operation being even more of a drawback in an airport environment.
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET -1- the- carrier and the banking system are relatively slow in tire:- existing ticketing system, bearing in mind the paper- based and essentially manual nature of this system. This leads to delays in the payments for the travel facilities 5 to which the tickets relate, thereby presenting cash flow problems for the participants, apart from the customers, in. the system.
  • the existing 10 ' airline ticketing system has the disadvantage of providing the customer with an eminently destructible paper ticket which is of inconvenient size and may, in the case of complex international travel arrangements, be relatively bulky and complicated. Moreover, the booking l-> process itself is slow and, in the case of manually created tickets, the information on the ticket may not always be legible or may become illegible.
  • the existing ticketing system is more over*
  • the present invention provides a ticket blank having a magnetic track for
  • the invention provides a method of creating a ticket from a ticket blank having a
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET magnetic track and a visual display area comprising recording at a point of sale on the magnetic track of the ticket information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, printing at the point of sale on the visual display area of the ticket information defining the action and the person authorised by the ticket in human-readable form, and storing a copy of the magnetically recorded ticket information in a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority.
  • the invention provides a method of amending a ticket created in accordance with the method of the invention, comprising magnetically reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, amending the information thus read out, magnetically recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track and correspondingly amending the copy of tb * e magnetically recorded ticket information in the booking computer.
  • the invention provides a method of checking a ticket created or amended in accordance with the methods of the invention, comprising magnetically reading out at a check-point the ticket information from the magnetic track of the ticket, retrieving the corresponding ticket information from the booking computer, and comparing the information read from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
  • the present invention also provides apparatus for creating a ticket from .
  • a ticket blank having a magnetic track and a visual display area, including means at a point of sale for magnetically recording on the magnetic track of the ticket information defining the action
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised means at the point of sale for printing on the visual display area of the ticket information defining the action and person authorised by the ticket in human- readable form, and means at the point sale for receiving information from booking computer operated by the ticket- issuing authority for use in creating the ticket and for sending the information recorded on the ticket to the booking computer for storage by the computer.
  • the invention further provides apparatus for amending a ticket created by apparatus according to the invention, which ticket amending apparatus comprises means at an amendment location for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for amending the information thus read out, means for recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track ⁇ f the ticket and means for transmitting the amended information to the booking computer for corresponding amendment of the copy of the ticket information stored by the computer.
  • ticket amending apparatus comprises means at an amendment location for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for amending the information thus read out, means for recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track ⁇ f the ticket and means for transmitting the amended information to the booking computer for corresponding amendment of the copy of the ticket information stored by the computer.
  • the invention still further provides apparatus for checking a ticket created or amended by apparatus according to the invention, which checking apparatus comprises means for reading out the information on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for retrieving the corresponding information stored by the booking computer and means for comparing the information read out from the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
  • the invention still further provides ticket creating and checking system, comprising ticket creating apparatus at a point of sale and ticket checking apparatus at a point of use, the ticket issuing apparatus comprising means for magnetically recording on a magnetic
  • the present invention provides a ticket whenever created or amendedJay a method or apparatus embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of one side of a ticket blank embodying the present invention and for use in the creation of an airline ticket;
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the other side of the ticket blank of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a ticketing system embodying the present invention for use with the ticket blank shown in Figures 1 and 2;
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET Figure 4 is a schematic functional diagram of an interface used in Figure 3 system.
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of the one side of the Figure 1 ticket blank after information has been magnetically recorded and printed thereon to create a ticket.
  • an exemplary ticket blank embodying the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular card 1 made of a suitable plastics material, such as PYC or PVCA, which card has a length of 171.44 mm, a width of 54.03 mm and a thickness of 0.38 mm.
  • the card has rounded corners having a radius of 3-17 mm.
  • Such a card conforms to the ISO standard dimensions for the width and thickness of magnetic cards but is of double the standard length.
  • a stripe 2 of magnetic material is deposited on one surface of the card adjacent one longitudinal edge 3 of the card.
  • the magnetic stripe has a width of 12.7-mm and is divided into four parallel tracks upon which data may be magnetically recorded in accordance with the ISO 1864 standard for magnetic cards.
  • the remainder 4 of the surface area of the one side of the card 1 constitutes a visual display area of the ticket blank and is screen printed to form a surface capable of accepting print from a printing unit employing an ink or carbon ribbon.
  • the screen printing preferably extends over the whole of the one surface of the card 1.
  • the visual display area of the card is preferably provided at one end 5 with a pre ⁇ printed indication 6 that the card is to be inserted by the end 5 into a magnetic card reading and/or recording machine.
  • the other surface 7 of the ticket blank 1 is screen printed with any desired information, such as the class
  • FIG 3 illustrates schematically an airline ticket creating and checking system making use of " ticket- blanks embodying the present invention.
  • the system comprises a main frame booking computer 1 operated by the carrier, in this case an airline, who constitutes the ticket-issuing authority and which is provided with all the relevant information relating to the travel facilities offered by the carrier.
  • the carrier in this case an airline, who constitutes the ticket-issuing authority and which is provided with all the relevant information relating to the travel facilities offered by the carrier.
  • the main frame computer 11 is connected by a two- W ay data link 12 to remote ticket-issuing apparatus 13 which may be located in the offices of a travel agent or other authorised ticket-issuing agency, and by a second two-way data communications link 14 to the carrier's own ticket-issuing and checking facilites 15 at the airport.
  • the carrier's main frame computer 11 is connected by two-way data communications link 16 to the airport authorities facilities 17.
  • the ticket-issuing apparatus comprises a main frame computer 18 operated centrally by the ticket booking agency and connected to local ticket issuing stations 19, of which one is shown in Figure 3.
  • Each ticket issuing station comprises a terminal or work station 20 with a screen 21 which enables the operator to retrieve information from and send information to the carrier's main computer 11 via the travel agent's main rame computer 18.
  • the work station 20 is connected via an interface 22 to a ticket reading and recording unit 23 which comprises means for magnetically recording and reading data on the magnetic stripe 2 of a ticket blank 1 as described earlier with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and for printing information on the visual display area 4 of such ticket blank.
  • a ticket reading and recording unit 23 which comprises means for magnetically recording and reading data on the magnetic stripe 2 of a ticket blank 1 as described earlier with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and for printing information on the visual display area 4 of such ticket blank.
  • the carrier's checking and ticket issuing facilites 15 at the airport similarly comprise a terminal or work station 30 having a screen 31 at a check-in desk or ticket issuing point, which work station is connected via interface 32 (like interface 32) to a ticket reading and recording unit 33 having means for recording and reading data on the magnetic stripe 2 of a ticket blank 1 and for printing information on the visual display area 4 of the ticket blank.
  • the work station 30 is also connected via interfaces (not shown) like interfaces 22, 32; to three slip readers 34, 35 and 36 for reading the information on the magnetic stripe of a ticket created from the ticket blank 1 of Figures 1 and 2 and presented to the slip readers.
  • the slip readers 34 to 36 will be provided at respective boarding pass control points.
  • An aircraft micro-computer 37 has a screen 38 and is connected via an interface (not shown) like interface 32 to receive information from a fourth slip reader 39 provided at the aircraft boarding tunnel.
  • a bar-code reader 40 for reading a bar-coded label applied to luggage at the check-in desk is provided in the form of a light pen located at the luggage loading bay for reading the bar-coded labels ' which may be of standard design. The luggage information gathered by the bar-code reader
  • Two magnetic disc data storage devices 38 and 39 are provided for storing the information received and processed by micro-computer 37 regarding the passengers who have boarded and the luggage which has been loaded onto aricraft.
  • the facilities 17 operated by the airport authority within the system comprise an airport main frame computer
  • Customer information points 51, 52 and 53 may be connected directly to the carrier main frame computer and constitute terminals able to transmit and receive information from the main frame, so that the flight details and departure point within the airport may be displayed to him on one of a number of screens upon insertion of the ticket into a respective magnetic reading device at the information point.
  • the reading and recording devices 23, 33 may suitably be embodied by 0MR0N DC Motor-driven magnetic card readers type 354YR-MCR or MAR manufactured by OMRON TATEISI ELECTRONICS CO. and the slip readers 34, 36, 39 and 42 to 44 by OMRON Manual type magnetic card readers type 354YR-HDR or 354YR-HBR.
  • FIG 4 is a functional diagram of an interface 60, such as the interfaces 22 and 32 provided between the work stations 20 and 30 and their associated reading and recording devices 23 and 33 and between the slip readers 34 to 36, 39 and 42 " to 44 and that associated work stations and computers.
  • an interface 60 such as the interfaces 22 and 32 provided between the work stations 20 and 30 and their associated reading and recording devices 23 and 33 and between the slip readers 34 to 36, 39 and 42 " to 44 and that associated work stations and computers.
  • the interface 22, 32 comprises a printed circuit board having a microprocessor and associated software which implements the functions described below.
  • the interface serves to permit ticket blanks 1 embodying the invention- to be controlled in a mechanism of the reading and recording device, to be magnetically encoded with data presented to the interface, to read magnetically coded data to transmit this data from the interface, and to control a printing mechanism of the reading and recording device to print in the visual display area 4 of the ticket blank.
  • the interface has been devised to control t ⁇ e OMRON range of magnetic card reading and recording units but is not limited to these devices.
  • the interface controls the card transport mechanism 61 and associated sensors to enable cards to be presented and taken into the mechanism, to traverse the magnetic heads 62 for reading and writing data from and to the tracks on the card and to traverse the printing head mechanism 63 in such a way as to permit data to be printed on the surface of the card.
  • Cards may also be ejected at the front or rear of the mechanism.
  • this -J1- data can be magnetically encoded at ISO density and bit formats or to any other format on the tracks of the card.
  • the card can also be positioned in the transport such that data magnetically encoded on the tracks of the card can be read off and stored in the interface circuitry. This data may then be transmitted from the interface.
  • data magnetically encoded on the tracks of the card may be written to the card, read from the card, modified and written back to the card any number of times.
  • Cards may be positioned in the transport such that data presented to, and stored in the interface circuitry, may be printed by a suitable• printing mechanism on the surface of the card. This data may be different from the data magnetically. encoded on the tracks of the cards.
  • Characters and marks may be printed on the card either horizontally or vertically relative to the card's long axis dependent upon the orientation of the print head mechanism.
  • Control lines 64 are provided on the interface which may be used to activate indicators of various kinds such as lamps, buzzers, relays or solenoids in response to instructions presented to the interface.
  • the interface is provided with data interchange
  • TE SHFET - 2- circuits 65, 66 to enable a variety of devices to exchange data with the cards.
  • a bidirectional parallel "byte-wide" interface 67 with strobe and direction control is provided. These channels enable a wide range of terminals, computers, peripherals and other equipment to 0 be connected to the interface to enable data exchange with the cards.
  • the booking and ticket-issuing procedure at the ticket-issuing station 19 is as follows:
  • the operator of work station 20 at the travel aganets may interrogate the carrier's main frame computer 11 via the
  • TITUTE SH ET agency's computer 18 to determine the availablity of the desired booking.
  • the operator Upon confirmation that the booking is available, the operator inserts a ticket blank into the ticket recording and printing unit 23 and feeds the booking information from the work station 20 to such unit via the interface 22, so that the booking information is recorded magnetically on the magnetic stripe 2 of the card and is visibly printed on the visual display area 4 of the card.
  • Figure 5 illustrates schematically that the ticket may be printed with an issue place and date at 70, the passenger's name at 71, the departure date 72, the departure airport 73, the destination airport 74, the departure flight number and time 75, the return flight date 76, the return departure airport 77, the return destination airport 78 and the return flight number and time 79.
  • the unit 23 ' In addition to recording the booking information on the magnetic stripe, the unit 23 ' also recordjs on the magnetic stripe a series of sub-codes comprising, for example, a terminal identity number identifying the particular terminal issuing the ticket and a customer identity number (for example passport number).
  • a unique security code is also recorded on the magnetic stripe, such security code being generated by combining a number of sub-codes for example, the security code may be generated by multiplying together the terminal identity number, the customer identity number and a random number created by the booking computer 11 upon receipt of confirmation of the booking from the station 9.
  • the resulting security code is recorded by the carrier's main frame computer 11 and is used as a validation check during subsequent use of the ticket which has been created.
  • the magnetic stripe of the ticket blank may be pre-recorded with unique start and stop sentinels.
  • the ticket thus created is physically robust and secure and can be safely sent through the mail or by courier.
  • the travel agent can hold booking and store the relevant information so that a corresponding ticket can be issued subsequently when required.
  • the check-in procedure in the system illustrated in Figure 3 involves the customer inserting his ticket from his side of the check-in desk into the unit 33, so that the magnetically recorded data is read from the magnetic stripe on the ticket and displayed on the check-in operator's screen 31.
  • the information magentically read from the ticket is also passed to the carrier's main frame computer 11 for checking and, assuming the ticket is validated, this verification is communicated to the screen 31. On international flights the operator then confirms the customer identification.
  • the operation next enquires of the passenger how many pieces of luggage he has, whether a smoking or non ⁇ smoking seat is required and if the customer has any special requirements.
  • This information is input to the terminal 30 together with the seat number which the operator has selected from suitable available seats.
  • this information is automatically recorded on the magnetic stripe 2 of the ticket and printed on the visual display surface 4 of the ticket.
  • the thus up-dated ticket now serves also as a boarding pass, thereby obviating the need to create a separate card.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET_ now proceed through a boarding pass control point, where he manually wipes the updated ticket through a slip reader 34 35 or 36 which automatically checks that the information recorded on the ticket comprise with the check-in desk procedures.
  • the updated ticket may also be used at other points within the airport to provide information about the passenger at various check-points, such as passport control 45, customs 46 and duty free shops 47.
  • Slip reader 39 provided at the point of boarding the aircraft enables the aircraft micro-computer 37 to accummulate a detailed and up to date manifest of the passengers aboard and the bar-code reader 40 at the aircraft loading bay enables a similar cargo manifest to be assembled.
  • This detailed record of the passengers and cargo carried by the aircraft is recorded on disc 38 and 39, one of which is retained on the aircraft and the other which is retained by the airline at the airport.
  • a passenger may insert his ticket into one of a bank of terminals provided with a screen and magnetic reading facility in order to receive on the screen details of his flight and flight departure point within the airport in his own language as determined by corresponding data recorded on the ticket.
  • the system described with reference to Figure 3 provides a high degree of security, yet provides rapid ticket creation and checking facilities which also provide the passenger with the facility to change his ticket in a convenient and rapid manner.
  • the security of the ticket may be enhanced further by using a 45 degree or 90 degree watermark magnetic security stripe in place of the ISO standard 4 track lamination tape used to produce the magnetic stripe of the ticket blank of - It- Figures 1 and 2.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)

Abstract

Une partie en blanc de billet comporte une piste magnétique (2) destinée à enregistrer des informations sous une forme lisible par une machine. Ces informations définissent l'action autorisée par le billet et désignent le titulaire du billet. Elles sont imprimées sur une partie réservée à cet effet sous une forme lisible par une personne.A blank part of the ticket includes a magnetic strip (2) intended to record information in a machine-readable form. This information defines the action authorized by the ticket and designates the ticket holder. They are printed on a part reserved for this purpose in a form readable by a person.

Description

-I-
"Improvements in or relating to ticketing"
THIS INVENTION relates to ticket blanks, ticketing methods and ticketing apparatus which find particular application in the creation and checking of travel tickets, such as airline tickets.
At present, airline tickets are created using blank IATA standard ticket forms which are completed with handwritten or printed details identifying th'e passenger, the destination's, the flight numbers and the , cost. The standard multiple destination IATA ticket form at present usually covers four destinations.
The issuing and processing of such manually created airline tickets presents disadvantages for all of the ' parties involved in creating, processing and using the tickets.
As far as travel agencies are concerned, the present IATA airline ticket system has the disadvantage that the agency must carry a stock of potentially valuable blank ticket forms which pose a security risk. The creation of tickets from the blank forms and the subsequent paper work involved are time consuming and labour intensive. Similar drawbacks apply to tickets created by the carrier itself, with the time-consuming nature of the operation being even more of a drawback in an airport environment.
The flow of information between the points of sale,
SUBSTITUTESHEET -1- the- carrier and the banking system are relatively slow in tire:- existing ticketing system, bearing in mind the paper- based and essentially manual nature of this system. This leads to delays in the payments for the travel facilities 5 to which the tickets relate, thereby presenting cash flow problems for the participants, apart from the customers, in. the system.
As far as the customer is concerned, the existing 10' airline ticketing system has the disadvantage of providing the customer with an eminently destructible paper ticket which is of inconvenient size and may, in the case of complex international travel arrangements, be relatively bulky and complicated. Moreover, the booking l-> process itself is slow and, in the case of manually created tickets, the information on the ticket may not always be legible or may become illegible.
The existing ticketing system is more over*
20 susceptible to counterfeiting and fraud.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ticketing system which aims to overcome, or at least mitigate, the disadvantages of existing
2^ ticketing systems, especially that used for airline tickets.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a ticket blank having a magnetic track for
30 recording in machine-readable form information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, and a visual display area for printing with information defining the action and the person authorised by the ticket in human-readable form.
35
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of creating a ticket from a ticket blank having a
SUBSTITUTESHEET magnetic track and a visual display area, comprising recording at a point of sale on the magnetic track of the ticket information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, printing at the point of sale on the visual display area of the ticket information defining the action and the person authorised by the ticket in human-readable form, and storing a copy of the magnetically recorded ticket information in a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of amending a ticket created in accordance with the method of the invention, comprising magnetically reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, amending the information thus read out, magnetically recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track and correspondingly amending the copy of tb*e magnetically recorded ticket information in the booking computer.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of checking a ticket created or amended in accordance with the methods of the invention, comprising magnetically reading out at a check-point the ticket information from the magnetic track of the ticket, retrieving the corresponding ticket information from the booking computer, and comparing the information read from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
The present invention also provides apparatus for creating a ticket from.a ticket blank having a magnetic track and a visual display area, including means at a point of sale for magnetically recording on the magnetic track of the ticket information defining the action
SUBSTITUTESHEET authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, means at the point of sale for printing on the visual display area of the ticket information defining the action and person authorised by the ticket in human- readable form, and means at the point sale for receiving information from booking computer operated by the ticket- issuing authority for use in creating the ticket and for sending the information recorded on the ticket to the booking computer for storage by the computer.
The invention further provides apparatus for amending a ticket created by apparatus according to the invention, which ticket amending apparatus comprises means at an amendment location for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for amending the information thus read out, means for recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track βf the ticket and means for transmitting the amended information to the booking computer for corresponding amendment of the copy of the ticket information stored by the computer.
The invention still further provides apparatus for checking a ticket created or amended by apparatus according to the invention, which checking apparatus comprises means for reading out the information on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for retrieving the corresponding information stored by the booking computer and means for comparing the information read out from the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
The invention still further provides ticket creating and checking system, comprising ticket creating apparatus at a point of sale and ticket checking apparatus at a point of use, the ticket issuing apparatus comprising means for magnetically recording on a magnetic
SUBSTITUTESHEET track of a ticket blank information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, means for printing on a visual display area of the ticket blank information defining the action and person authorised by the ticket in human readable form and means for receiving information from a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority and for sending the information recorded on the ticket blank to the booking computer for storage by the computer, the ticket checking apparatus comprising means for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for retrieving the corresponding information from the booking computer and means for comparing the information read from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a ticket whenever created or amendedJay a method or apparatus embodying the present invention.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of one side of a ticket blank embodying the present invention and for use in the creation of an airline ticket;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the other side of the ticket blank of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a ticketing system embodying the present invention for use with the ticket blank shown in Figures 1 and 2;
SUBSTITUTESHEET Figure 4 is a schematic functional diagram of an interface used in Figure 3 system; and
Figure 5 is a plan view of the one side of the Figure 1 ticket blank after information has been magnetically recorded and printed thereon to create a ticket.
Referring firstly to Figure 1, an exemplary ticket blank embodying the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular card 1 made of a suitable plastics material, such as PYC or PVCA, which card has a length of 171.44 mm, a width of 54.03 mm and a thickness of 0.38 mm. The card has rounded corners having a radius of 3-17 mm. Such a card conforms to the ISO standard dimensions for the width and thickness of magnetic cards but is of double the standard length.
A stripe 2 of magnetic material is deposited on one surface of the card adjacent one longitudinal edge 3 of the card. The magnetic stripe has a width of 12.7-mm and is divided into four parallel tracks upon which data may be magnetically recorded in accordance with the ISO 1864 standard for magnetic cards. The remainder 4 of the surface area of the one side of the card 1 constitutes a visual display area of the ticket blank and is screen printed to form a surface capable of accepting print from a printing unit employing an ink or carbon ribbon. The screen printing preferably extends over the whole of the one surface of the card 1. The visual display area of the card is preferably provided at one end 5 with a pre¬ printed indication 6 that the card is to be inserted by the end 5 into a magnetic card reading and/or recording machine.
The other surface 7 of the ticket blank 1 is screen printed with any desired information, such as the class
SUBSTITUTESHEET of travel 8 and the name and/or logo 9 of the carrier.
Whilst the layout and dimensions of the ticket blank described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is particularly convenient for the information which needs to be recorded in the case of an airline ticket, it is envisaged that other layouts and dimensions could be employed and, in particular, it is envisaged that more than one magnetic stripe could be employed and that the or each stripe may not necessarily extend along an edge portion of the card. As regards dimensions, it is envisaged that any convenient dimensions may be employed, but cards of the same width, thickeness and corner radius as the card described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 may conveniently be employed with the shorter lengths of 128.58 mm and 85.72 mm.
Figure 3 illustrates schematically an airline ticket creating and checking system making use of" ticket- blanks embodying the present invention.
As shown in Figure 3, the system comprises a main frame booking computer 1 operated by the carrier, in this case an airline, who constitutes the ticket-issuing authority and which is provided with all the relevant information relating to the travel facilities offered by the carrier.
The main frame computer 11 is connected by a two- Way data link 12 to remote ticket-issuing apparatus 13 which may be located in the offices of a travel agent or other authorised ticket-issuing agency, and by a second two-way data communications link 14 to the carrier's own ticket-issuing and checking facilites 15 at the airport. In addition, the carrier's main frame computer 11 is connected by two-way data communications link 16 to the airport authorities facilities 17.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET The ticket-issuing apparatus comprises a main frame computer 18 operated centrally by the ticket booking agency and connected to local ticket issuing stations 19, of which one is shown in Figure 3. Each ticket issuing station comprises a terminal or work station 20 with a screen 21 which enables the operator to retrieve information from and send information to the carrier's main computer 11 via the travel agent's main rame computer 18.
The work station 20 is connected via an interface 22 to a ticket reading and recording unit 23 which comprises means for magnetically recording and reading data on the magnetic stripe 2 of a ticket blank 1 as described earlier with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and for printing information on the visual display area 4 of such ticket blank.
The carrier's checking and ticket issuing facilites 15 at the airport similarly comprise a terminal or work station 30 having a screen 31 at a check-in desk or ticket issuing point, which work station is connected via interface 32 (like interface 32) to a ticket reading and recording unit 33 having means for recording and reading data on the magnetic stripe 2 of a ticket blank 1 and for printing information on the visual display area 4 of the ticket blank. The work station 30 is also connected via interfaces (not shown) like interfaces 22, 32; to three slip readers 34, 35 and 36 for reading the information on the magnetic stripe of a ticket created from the ticket blank 1 of Figures 1 and 2 and presented to the slip readers. The slip readers 34 to 36 will be provided at respective boarding pass control points.
An aircraft micro-computer 37 has a screen 38 and is connected via an interface (not shown) like interface 32 to receive information from a fourth slip reader 39 provided at the aircraft boarding tunnel. A bar-code reader 40 for reading a bar-coded label applied to luggage at the check-in desk is provided in the form of a light pen located at the luggage loading bay for reading the bar-coded labels 'which may be of standard design. The luggage information gathered by the bar-code reader
40 is supplied to the aircraft micro-computer 37. Two magnetic disc data storage devices 38 and 39 are provided for storing the information received and processed by micro-computer 37 regarding the passengers who have boarded and the luggage which has been loaded onto aricraft.
The facilities 17 operated by the airport authority within the system comprise an airport main frame computer
41 connected to the carrier's main frame computer 11 and connected to receive information from three suitably interfaced slip readers 42, 43 and 44 located respectively at a passport control location 45, a customs control location 46 and a duty free shop 47 having respective screens 48, 49 and 50.
Customer information points 51, 52 and 53 may be connected directly to the carrier main frame computer and constitute terminals able to transmit and receive information from the main frame, so that the flight details and departure point within the airport may be displayed to him on one of a number of screens upon insertion of the ticket into a respective magnetic reading device at the information point.
The reading and recording devices 23, 33 may suitably be embodied by 0MR0N DC Motor-driven magnetic card readers type 354YR-MCR or MAR manufactured by OMRON TATEISI ELECTRONICS CO. and the slip readers 34, 36, 39 and 42 to 44 by OMRON Manual type magnetic card readers type 354YR-HDR or 354YR-HBR.
SUBSTITUTE* ϋHTTET -ιo-
Figure 4 is a functional diagram of an interface 60, such as the interfaces 22 and 32 provided between the work stations 20 and 30 and their associated reading and recording devices 23 and 33 and between the slip readers 34 to 36, 39 and 42" to 44 and that associated work stations and computers.
The interface 22, 32 comprises a printed circuit board having a microprocessor and associated software which implements the functions described below. The interface serves to permit ticket blanks 1 embodying the invention- to be controlled in a mechanism of the reading and recording device, to be magnetically encoded with data presented to the interface, to read magnetically coded data to transmit this data from the interface, and to control a printing mechanism of the reading and recording device to print in the visual display area 4 of the ticket blank. The interface has been devised to control tφe OMRON range of magnetic card reading and recording units but is not limited to these devices.
Function 1.
The interface controls the card transport mechanism 61 and associated sensors to enable cards to be presented and taken into the mechanism, to traverse the magnetic heads 62 for reading and writing data from and to the tracks on the card and to traverse the printing head mechanism 63 in such a way as to permit data to be printed on the surface of the card. Cards may also be ejected at the front or rear of the mechanism.
Function 2
Data presented to the interface is stored in the circuitry until the card is appropriately positioned under the magnetic recording heads at which time, this -J1- data can be magnetically encoded at ISO density and bit formats or to any other format on the tracks of the card.
The card can also be positioned in the transport such that data magnetically encoded on the tracks of the card can be read off and stored in the interface circuitry. This data may then be transmitted from the interface.
By combining these processes, data magnetically encoded on the tracks of the card may be written to the card, read from the card, modified and written back to the card any number of times.
Function 3.
Cards may be positioned in the transport such that data presented to, and stored in the interface circuitry, may be printed by a suitable• printing mechanism on the surface of the card. This data may be different from the data magnetically. encoded on the tracks of the cards.
Characters and marks may be printed on the card either horizontally or vertically relative to the card's long axis dependent upon the orientation of the print head mechanism.
Function 4.
Control lines 64 are provided on the interface which may be used to activate indicators of various kinds such as lamps, buzzers, relays or solenoids in response to instructions presented to the interface.
Function 5
The interface is provided with data interchange
TE SHFET -»2- circuits 65, 66 to enable a variety of devices to exchange data with the cards. These conform to serial interface standards RS232C and RS422 both of which are bidirectional.
Additionally, a bidirectional parallel "byte-wide" interface 67 with strobe and direction control is provided. These channels enable a wide range of terminals, computers, peripherals and other equipment to 0 be connected to the interface to enable data exchange with the cards.
Function 6.
5 Software to control the interface functions described in stored in the circuitry and provides various additional features such as error-checking on data transfers, fault checking and diagnosis <and data storage in the circuitry. 0
Portions of this software can be configured to match the characteristics of magnetic card read mechanisms other than the OMRON range and to cater for a range of devices and equipment to exchange data via the
2.5 interface data channels.
The use of a ticket blank 1 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic drawing of the ticketing 30 system in Figure 3-
The booking and ticket-issuing procedure at the ticket-issuing station 19 is as follows:
35 Upon receipt of a customer's instructions, the operator of work station 20 at the travel aganets may interrogate the carrier's main frame computer 11 via the
TITUTE SH ET agency's computer 18 to determine the availablity of the desired booking. Upon confirmation that the booking is available, the operator inserts a ticket blank into the ticket recording and printing unit 23 and feeds the booking information from the work station 20 to such unit via the interface 22, so that the booking information is recorded magnetically on the magnetic stripe 2 of the card and is visibly printed on the visual display area 4 of the card. Figure 5 illustrates schematically that the ticket may be printed with an issue place and date at 70, the passenger's name at 71, the departure date 72, the departure airport 73, the destination airport 74, the departure flight number and time 75, the return flight date 76, the return departure airport 77, the return destination airport 78 and the return flight number and time 79.
In addition to recording the booking information on the magnetic stripe, the unit 23 ' also recordjs on the magnetic stripe a series of sub-codes comprising, for example, a terminal identity number identifying the particular terminal issuing the ticket and a customer identity number (for example passport number). A unique security code is also recorded on the magnetic stripe, such security code being generated by combining a number of sub-codes for example, the security code may be generated by multiplying together the terminal identity number, the customer identity number and a random number created by the booking computer 11 upon receipt of confirmation of the booking from the station 9. The resulting security code is recorded by the carrier's main frame computer 11 and is used as a validation check during subsequent use of the ticket which has been created.
As an additional security measure, the magnetic stripe of the ticket blank may be pre-recorded with unique start and stop sentinels.
The ticket thus created is physically robust and secure and can be safely sent through the mail or by courier.
As an alternative to issuing a ticket immediately, the travel agent can hold booking and store the relevant information so that a corresponding ticket can be issued subsequently when required.
The check-in procedure in the system illustrated in Figure 3 involves the customer inserting his ticket from his side of the check-in desk into the unit 33, so that the magnetically recorded data is read from the magnetic stripe on the ticket and displayed on the check-in operator's screen 31. The information magentically read from the ticket is also passed to the carrier's main frame computer 11 for checking and, assuming the ticket is validated, this verification is communicated to the screen 31. On international flights the operator then confirms the customer identification.
The operation next enquires of the passenger how many pieces of luggage he has, whether a smoking or non¬ smoking seat is required and if the customer has any special requirements. This information is input to the terminal 30 together with the seat number which the operator has selected from suitable available seats. Upon termination of the transaction, this information is automatically recorded on the magnetic stripe 2 of the ticket and printed on the visual display surface 4 of the ticket. The thus up-dated ticket now serves also as a boarding pass, thereby obviating the need to create a separate card.
Armed with his up-dated ticket, the passenger may
SUBSTITUTE SHEET_ now proceed through a boarding pass control point, where he manually wipes the updated ticket through a slip reader 34 35 or 36 which automatically checks that the information recorded on the ticket comprise with the check-in desk procedures. The updated ticket may also be used at other points within the airport to provide information about the passenger at various check-points, such as passport control 45, customs 46 and duty free shops 47.
Slip reader 39 provided at the point of boarding the aircraft enables the aircraft micro-computer 37 to accummulate a detailed and up to date manifest of the passengers aboard and the bar-code reader 40 at the aircraft loading bay enables a similar cargo manifest to be assembled. This detailed record of the passengers and cargo carried by the aircraft is recorded on disc 38 and 39, one of which is retained on the aircraft and the other which is retained by the airline at the airport.
At an information point 51 to 53 a passenger may insert his ticket into one of a bank of terminals provided with a screen and magnetic reading facility in order to receive on the screen details of his flight and flight departure point within the airport in his own language as determined by corresponding data recorded on the ticket.
The system described with reference to Figure 3 provides a high degree of security, yet provides rapid ticket creation and checking facilities which also provide the passenger with the facility to change his ticket in a convenient and rapid manner. The security of the ticket may be enhanced further by using a 45 degree or 90 degree watermark magnetic security stripe in place of the ISO standard 4 track lamination tape used to produce the magnetic stripe of the ticket blank of - It- Figures 1 and 2.
Should a fraudulent ticket be presented to the reading device at the check-in desk, it will be detected as a result of the absence of one or more of the codes recorded on the magnetic stripe and will be retained.
Should a ticket be lost, this fact can be recorded on the airline main frame computer and thus prevent use of the missing ticket which can then be replaced by the issue of a fresh ticket to the passenger who has lost his original ticket.
SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

CLAIMS :
1. A ticket blank having a magnetic track for recording in machine-readable form information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, and a visual display area for printing with information defining the action and the person authorised by the ticket in human-readable form.
2. A ticket blank according to claim 1, which is made of plastics material.
3. A ticket blank according to claim 2, wherein the display area is screen-printed onto the surface of the ticket.
4. A ticket blank according to claim 3, wherein the screen printing covers the magnetic track.
5. A ticket blank according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of magnetic tracks.
6. A ticket blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic track or tracks are provided in the form of a magnetic stripe extending along an edge of the card.
7. A ticket blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic track has a region for recording information on the action authorised by the ticket and a region for recording coded information confirming the authenticity of the ticket created from the ticket blank.
8. A ticket blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic track is pre-recorded with a magnetic finger print.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET -12-
9. A method of creating a ticket from a ticket blank having a magnetic track and a visual display area, comprising recording at a point of sale on the magnetic track information defining the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, printing at the point of sale on the visual display area information defining the action and the person authorised by the ticket in human-readable form and storing a copy of the magnetically recorded ticket information in a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority.
10. A method according to claim 9, including recording on the magnetic track a unique security code peculiar to that ticket. 5
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the security code is generated by combining a plurality of sub-codes.
0 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the sub¬ codes are a code identifying the point of sale, a customer identity code and a random code generated by the booking computer.
13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein at least one of the sub-codes is also recorded on the magnetic track separately from the security code.
14. A method of amending a ticket issued in accordance 0 with any one of claims 9 to 13, comprising reading out the information stored on the magnetic track, amending the information thus read out, recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track and correspondingly amending the copy of the ->-> magnetically recorded ticket information in the booking computer.
SUBSTITUTE SHEE"
15. A method of checking the validity of a ticket issued or amended by a method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, comprising reading out at a check-point the ticket information from the magnetic track of the
5 ticket, retrieving the corresponding ticket information from by the booking computer • and comparing the information read out from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
10
16. Apparatus for creating a ticket using a ticket blank having a magnetic track and a visual display area, comprising means at a point of sale for magnetically recording on the magnetic track information defining the
15 action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, means at the point of sale for printing on the visual display area information defining the action - • and the person authorised by the ticket in human readable form, and means at the point of sale for receiving 20 information from a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority for use in creating the ticket and for sending the information recorded on the ticket to the booking computer for storage by the computer.
25 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising interface means for receiving information from an information input terminal at the point of sale and for controlling the means for magnetically recording and printing on the ticket blank.
30
18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, including code. generating means for generating a unique security code for recording on the magnetic track of the ticket.
35 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the code generating means generates the security code by combining
SUBSTITUTE SHEET -αo- a plurality of sub-codes.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the sub¬ codes are a code identifying the point of sale, a customer identity code and a random code generated by the booking computer.
21. Apparatus for amending a ticket issued using apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 20, including means at an amendment location for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for amending the information thus read out, means for recording the amended information over the original information on the magnetic track of the ticket and means for transmitting the amended information to the booking computer for corresponding amendment of the copy of the ticket information stored by the computer.
22. Apparatus for checking a ticket created or amended using apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 21, comprising means for reading out the information on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for retrieving the corresponding information stored by the booking computer and means for comparing the information read out from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
23. A ticket created or amended by a method according to any one of claims 9 to 14 or using apparatus according to claims 16 to 21.
24. A ticket creating and checking system, comprising ticket creating apparatus at a point of sale and ticket checking apparatus at a point of use, the ticket issuing apparatus comprising means for magnetically recording on a magnetic track of a ticket blank information defining
SUBSTITUTE SHEET -2.1- the action authorised by the ticket and the person so authorised, means for printing on a visual display area of the ticket blank information defining the action and person authorised by the ticket in human readable form and means for receiving information from a booking computer operated by the ticket-issuing authority and for sending the information recorded on the ticket blank to the booking computer for storage by the computer, the ticket checking apparatus comprising means for reading out the information stored on the magnetic track of the ticket, means for retrieving the corresponding information from the booking computer and means for comparing the information read from the magnetic track of the ticket with the information retrieved from the booking computer to verify the authenticity of the ticket.
25. An - airline ticket blank substantially as hereinbefore described with ' reference to the accompanying drawings.
26. A method of creating and checking an airline ticket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
27. Apparatus for creating and checking an airline ticket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
28. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.
SUBSTITUTESHEET
EP88908292A 1987-09-25 1988-09-26 Improvements in or relating to ticketing Withdrawn EP0386024A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8722567A GB2210190B (en) 1987-09-25 1987-09-25 Improvements in or relating to ticketing
GB8722567 1987-09-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0386024A1 true EP0386024A1 (en) 1990-09-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88908292A Withdrawn EP0386024A1 (en) 1987-09-25 1988-09-26 Improvements in or relating to ticketing

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EP (1) EP0386024A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2487188A (en)
GB (1) GB2210190B (en)
WO (1) WO1989003098A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA887202B (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA887202B (en) 1989-07-26
GB2210190A (en) 1989-06-01
GB2210190B (en) 1991-11-06
GB8722567D0 (en) 1987-11-04
AU2487188A (en) 1989-04-18
WO1989003098A1 (en) 1989-04-06

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