Personal Navigator for a Public Transport System using RFID Ticketing

RFID-based public transport ticketing systems rely on widespread networks of RFID readers that locate the user within the transport network in real time to be able to verify whether he can travel at that time with the ticket he holds. This paper presents a system that uses that same RFID-based location information to give the user navigation indications depending on his current location, provided that the user has indicated beforehand the places he intends to visit. The system was designed to be cost-effectively deployable on the short term but open for easy extension. A fully working demonstrator was developed and runs in our premises. The added value of the development is the identification and integration of the necessary components into a system that delivers a valuable enhanced service using an existing infrastructure at low extra-cost and in a user-friendly way. This paper presents the details of all system components and relevant practical issues that have to be accounted for in similar enterpreneurships.