Cubic Corporation

Busch-sorensen, Thomas

Thomas Busch-Sorensen

Pradip Mistry

Graham H Hilton

Rasheed Behrooznia

Paula Miller

Richard A Pearson

Kay Paetzold

Robert Sprogis

Tareef Al-Mahdawi

Mistry Pradip

Systems and methods for RFID fare collection for improving passenger throughput and security in transit systems. RFID tags identify passengers at a distance and allow a hands-free experience for transit users. The system includes gate cabinets and/or other entry points that define a passageway and separate a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area, at least one RFID transmitter positioned on the entry points, at least one RFID receiver positioned on the entry points, and a processor coupled with the RFID receiver. The system detects the presence of the RFID tag within the passageway and detects information linking to the account balance of the user. The system determines whether transit users are entering or exiting the restricted access area based on analysis of the wireless signals received by the RFID receivers, and provides an alarm signal when a transit user is not permitted to access the restricted access area.

RFID for fare collection

System, device, and method for enabling transit access using a multi-beam phased array antenna. One method may include repeatedly transmitting, by a location transmitter positioned within a transit location within a transit system, a location signal identifying the transit location. The method may include receiving, by a mobile communication device, the location signal, initiating a check-in process, and transmitting a device signal identifying the mobile communication device. The method may include receiving, by a gate receiver positioned within a gate within the transit location, the device signal and analyzing the received device signal to determine that a holder of the mobile communication device is entering through the gate.

Multi-beam phased array antenna for transit access

Systems and methods for implementing vision-based fare collection using one or more cameras positioned within a transit station. The system may determine that a user is approaching an entry point separating a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area. Using a camera and/or an RFID transceiver, the system may track the location of the user as the user approaches the entry point. The system may determine that the user is permitted to access the restricted access area, and may allow the user to access the restricted access area via the entry point upon the user being within a threshold distance from the entry point.

Vision-based fare collection

Embodiments of the invention integrate a contactless media reader with sensors to detect that an object is within the contactless media reader operating field and optionally detect the position, orientation and speed of the object as it approaches the contactless media reader. The object can be, for example, a contactless fare media such as a contactless smartcard, a personal processing device such as a smart phone, personal computer, tablet computer or the like, or the user's hand, one or more fingers, or both. Embodiments may use one or more distance/position sensors to determine the position of the contactless fare media relative to the contactless media reader. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention enhance contactless media reader performance by adding user interaction capabilities and providing feedback to the contactless fare media user.

Integration of position sensor with RF reader

The present invention is generally related to monitoring and remotely accessing the environmental and operating parameters on a vehicle such as a bus, train, subway, taxi, ride share, airplane, ferry, hyper loop, or other transit vehicle, although applications are not so limited. Embodiments of the present invention including mounting sensors, that communicate data over a network, on the inside and externally to vehicles such that the sensor data can be: monitored and viewed remotely; monitored or viewed by transit patrons using the vehicle; and monitored and viewed by the driver on a driver control unit.

Transit vehicle sensor system

Techniques are disclosed for protecting communication of an NFC-enabled device by generating one or more blocking signals during an NFC data exchange. The blocking signal(s) can include a similar carrier frequency, modulation type, and/or modulation rate an NFC signal, thereby effectively masking the NFC signal. Furthermore, the blocking signal(s) can have a varying amplitude and/or length, which can further mask when an NFC signal is transmitted.

Protection of near-field communication exchanges

Techniques for CSC detection and selection include generating a radio frequency (RF) field that defines a range of communication for the CSC reader, transmitting a signal in the RF field, and detecting a modulation in the RF field indicating that a first CSC is within the RF field and has responded to the signal. The modulation is inspected for collision, wherein collision occurs if more than one CSC within the RF field responds to the poll signal. After determining that the modulation does not contain a collision, a halt command is transmitted to the first CSC instructing the CSC to only respond to one or more specific commands.

Card detection and selection

Systems and techniques are presented for determining the position of a mobile device. The mobile device receives two beacon packets transmitted at varying power levels by a first beacon and determines received signal strength (RSS) levels for the beacon packets. A maximum distance and a minimum distance are determined based on the power levels that the packets were transmitted at and the RSS levels that the packets were received at. An area around the first beacon is determined based on the distance range. The mobile device receives two additional beacon packets transmitted at varying power levels by a second beacon and determines RSS levels for the beacon packets. A distance range between the mobile device and the second beacon is determined and an area around the second beacon is determined based on the distance range. The area of overlap between the beacons is where the mobile device is positioned.

Positioning system with wireless beacons that vary transmission power levels

Systems and methods are provided for enhancing a signal for load modulation from reading a smartcard. According to such methods, an antenna signal is generated by transceiver circuitry. An antenna signal field associated with the antenna signal can be transmitted. A reference signal that is substantially constant in amplitude and phase and substantially in phase with a carrier frequency of the antenna signal can be generated. A modulated antenna signal can be received. The modulated antenna signal can include the antenna signal that has been modulated as a result of the presence of a smartcard within the antenna signal field. The reference signal can be subtracted from the modulated antenna signal to produce a resultant signal. The resultant signal may be provided to receiving circuitry of the transceiver circuitry.

Signal enhancement for load modulation

A card protection device and method of protecting data stored on a contactless smartcard are disclosed. The card protection device may include an antenna, a detector circuit, and an alerting circuit. The antenna may include a magnetic loop that is coupled to a tuning circuit responsive to magnetic field emissions in a frequency band associated with contactless smartcard communications. The detector circuit is coupled to the antenna and may include control logic for attenuating the magnetic field emissions based on smartcard operating characteristics. The detector circuit can store energy associated with the magnetic field emissions and the alerting circuit can provide an audible and/or visual alert using the stored energy. Optionally, the card protection device may be integrated with other smartcard communication functions and/or it may share components with a contactless smartcard.

Smartcard protection device

Techniques for protecting communication between a card reader and a contactless smartcard are disclosed. In one embodiment, a protocol transmitter includes a transmit circuit and a processor. The transmit circuit is configured to generate a blocking signal having a frequency used by the card reader to communicate with the contactless smartcard. The processor is coupled to the transmit circuit and configured to modulate the blocking signal according to a communication protocol of the contactless smartcard. A first antenna of the protocol transmitter is disposed a predetermined distance from the card reader and is coupled to the transmit circuit to radiate the blocking signal. Optionally, the processor modulates the blocking signal so as to simulate a data exchange between the card reader and the contactless smartcard.

Smartcard protocol transmitter

Techniques for authenticating a contactless smartcard in a card processing system are disclosed. A card reader measures an impulse response associated with the contactless smartcard during outbound modulation of an RF carrier and compares measured impulse data to reference impulse data. The reference impulse data can be stored at the card reader or obtained from the contactless smartcard in an encrypted form. Optionally, the card reader issues one or more challenges to the contactless smartcard in connection with a card transaction and verifies a response to the one or more challenges using calibration data. The card reader can determine the card's authenticity based on the impulse data, the response to one or more challenges, or a combination thereof.

Contactless smartcard authentication

A card reader system, method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed. The card reader can include a transmitter that modulates a radio frequency carrier with a transmit data signal and a receiver that detects a modulation of the radio frequency carrier by a contactless smartcard. A processor can be coupled to the transmitter and the receiver. The processor can generate the transmit data signal so as to simulate a data exchange according to a protocol of the contactless smartcard. The processor can determine a timing for reading data from or writing data to the contactless smartcard and can discontinue the simulated data exchange based on the timing.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Thomas Busch-Sorensen