METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL FOR A BUS

摘要

A method and system for providing an estimated time of arrival ('ETA') for a bus. A bus stop device is installed at each bus stop. The bus stop includes an intelligent transponder/receiver, a transmitter/receiver, and a display. The bus stop devices may also comprise a solar cell for powering the bus stop device, and may also include a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the bus stop device. The intelligent transponder/receiver can detect a bus proximate to the bus stop device by receiving the transmission of a unique bus identification code transmitted by a bus device installed on a bus. When the bus stop device receives such a transmission, the bus stop device can compare the actual arrival time of the bus to an expected time of arrival for the bus. If the actual time of arrival exceeds the expected time of arrival by a preset threshold amount, the bus stop device may utilize the transmitter/receiver to transmit a notification message to a central office or, the bus device may transmit the notification message to the central office. The transmission of the notification message may be made over an existing cellular network or through an existing communications satellite. The central office receives the notification message and, in response, calculates the ETA of the bus at one or more downstream bus stop devices located downstream on the bus route from the transmitting bus stop device. The central office then transmits the ETA for the bus to each of the downstream bus stop devices. The downstream devices then utilize the built-in display to display the ETA for the bus.