US 11,991,307 B2
Communication method and communication system
Markus Förster, Biel-Benken (CH)
Assigned to SCHWEIZERISCHE BUNDESBAHNEN SBB, Bern (CH)
Appl. No. 16/962,138
Filed by SCHWEIZERISCHE BUNDESBAHNEN SBB, Bern (CH)
PCT Filed Dec. 4, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/083524
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 14, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/149407, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18155030 (EP), filed on Feb. 5, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0412882 A1, Dec. 31, 2020
Int. Cl. H04M 15/00 (2024.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01)
CPC H04M 15/8083 (2013.01) [H04L 67/12 (2013.01); H04M 15/09 (2013.01); H04M 15/51 (2013.01); H04M 15/8033 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A communication method for application in a railway system with at least one mobile terminal of a passenger travelling on a railway train, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to set up data connections or call connections via at least one mobile communication network to a data terminal or to a voice terminal and is configured for wireless communication with a host server of a host, the method comprising
establishing a wireless communication link between the host server and the mobile terminal of the passenger traveling on the railway train, via which identification data are transferred from the mobile terminal to the host server;
the host server creating a voucher, in which at least the identification data and a time period is registered;
transmitting the voucher to an operator of the mobile communication network or to a service provider, which prepares statement of charges for the mobile terminal; and
the operator of the mobile communication network or the service provider, based on the voucher, debiting communication costs for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal that were registered during the time period indicated in the voucher, at least in part to an account assigned to an identifier of the host server; wherein
radio beacons are installed in the railway train, which do not communicate bi-directionally with the mobile terminals but transmit a radio beacon-identification only, which is captured by the mobile terminal, and
the mobile terminal transmits the radio beacon-identification to the host server, which uses the radio beacon-identification as location data and creates the voucher if the mobile terminal is positioned within a predetermined service area of the host.