Localization of transaction tags

Abstract

A method for trip validation includes receiving signals, on a vehicle, from one of a plurality of spaced stationary beacons on a transportation route, the signals including localization data for the respective beacon. A passenger identifier is received from a mobile communication device of a passenger on the vehicle via short range communication. Encrypted transaction data is generated, based on the user identifier, localization data, and a timestamp. The encrypted transaction data is transmitted to passenger mobile communication devices which relay the data to an associated server for processing. The method allows the location of a public transportation device to be identified without the need to provide GPS localization equipment on the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An automated trip validation device that is transported by an associated vehicle on a transportation route, the automated trip validation device comprising:
 an automated vehicle location component which is moved by the vehicle relative to associated stationary beacons along the route, the automated vehicle location component receiving localization data from each of the beacons while within range of the respective beacon;   a validation component which generates validation data based on a user identifier received by the automated trip validation device from a proximate mobile communication device, the localization data serving to identify a stop on the route associated with the validation data; and   a processor which implements the components.   
     
     
         16 . The automated trip validation device of  claim 15 , further comprising a synchronization component which synchronizes a clock with clock signals received from the stationary beacons. 
     
     
         17 . The automated trip validation device of  claim 16 , wherein the transaction data includes a timestamp. 
     
     
         18 . A transportation network comprising a set of beacons located at vehicle stops on routes of the network and a plurality of transportation vehicles, each configured for transporting passengers between stops on one of the routes, each of the plurality of transportation vehicles including an automated trip validation device as claimed in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         19 . The transportation network of  claim 18 , further comprising a data processing server which receives the transaction data from the automated trip validation devices via mobile communication devices of passengers and performs a transaction based on the transaction data. 
     
     
         20 . A method for performing transactions comprising:
 receiving transaction data from automated trip validation devices transported by transportation vehicles traveling on routes of a transportation network;   extracting localization data, a passenger identifier, and a timestamp from the transaction data, the localization data including a beacon identifier transmitted to one of the transportation vehicles from a beacon at a fixed location on one of the routes;   retrieving a location of the beacon from memory, based on the beacon identifier; and   performing a transaction based on the location and passenger identifier,   wherein at least one of the extracting, retrieving and performing is performed with a processor.   
     
     
         21 . The automated trip validation device of  claim 15 , further comprising a transmission component which transmits encrypted transaction data to another proximate mobile communication device. 
     
     
         22 . The automated trip validation device of  claim 15 , wherein the user identifier is received from the mobile communication device by an RFID tag swiped with the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         23 . The automated trip validation device of  claim 22 , wherein the RFID tag includes the processor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the beacon identifier is extracted from a sequence of beacon signals emitted in a synchronized listening window of up to about  50  ms. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising receiving a clock signal from a beacon, the method further comprising synchronizing an onboard clock with the clock signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising associating the transaction with a stop on the route, based on the localization data. 
     
     
         27 . A computer program product comprising non-transitory memory which stores instructions, which when executed by a processor, perform the method of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising memory which stores instructions for performing the method of  claim 20  and a processor in communication with the memory for executing the instructions.