FR2752979A1 - Travel data processing unit e.g. for hire car or taxi company - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a databank containing geographical location information. A management unit is interconnected with a number of remote terminals and interrogates the databank when a terminal user makes a request and outputs the specified geographical location information. The information is displayed on the user's terminal. A processor within the user's terminal writes the geographical location information into a smart card. A central unit co-ordinates the provision of the geographical location information to the terminals.

Description

Installation to manage data exchanges, especially travel
The invention relates to the field of installations intended to process data, in particular travel data, so as to store a part of them in memory cards.

It relates more particularly to installations of the type comprising terminals distributed in different locations, possibly distant from each other, some at least, called "interrogator terminals", being provided with at least one operator interface and display means of data, and certain other terminals, called "terminal-readers", being provided with at least processing means and a reader-recorder of memory cards.

Such a device is known, in particular, from American Patent Application US 93-167596. This installation makes it possible to carry out transactions between a terminal-reader into which a memory card with a private code is inserted, and a computer forming a terminal-interrogator housed in an agency, for example of travel, or of a transport company. The reader terminal is connected to the agency terminal by a network of telephone links.

Interrogation of an agency terminal can only be done on condition that the card inserted therein already has a private code. Thus, only a subscriber to the installation can carry out a transaction relating to a remote reservation of a hotel room and / or transport ticket service.

Once the reservation has been accepted by the user, a bank card type monetary transaction is carried out.

Such a payment method therefore requires authorization from a third party, which can slow down the duration of a reservation, or even prohibit it. In addition, some providers may refuse this type of transaction because of the costs it entails.

If the transaction is authorized, the management means then give the order to the processing means of the terminallector to memorize the reservation and the associated monetary transaction. Only a geographic location subject to a certain reservation can be stored.

Furthermore, insofar as a reservation-transaction can only be made, then stored, by a remote terminal, and not directly by the reader terminal in the reader-recorder of which the memory card is momentarily inserted. , it is generally not possible to book guesthouses or rural lodges, since most of them are not connected to the installation network.

Finally, this type of installation does not offer assistance to the user when the service (s) he wishes to obtain is not available, or when his wishes are not completely, or not at all, frozen.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide an installation for processing travel data, which does not have all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The invention proposes for this purpose an installation of the type described in the introduction, and in which a database representative at least of geographic locations is provided, and management means interconnected with the terminals and the database, and capable, on request from a terminal interrogator operator
* to interrogate the database so as to obtain response data representative of the geographic places which are the subject of the request, with a view to viewing them on the display means of the interrogator terminal controlled by the operator, then the selection by this operator of at least some of these response data, and
* authorize the processing means of a terminallector to store in a memory card housed in its reader-recorder identifiers of the geographic places associated with the data-responses selected by the operator of the terminal-interrogator.

From now on, it is possible, on the one hand, to store in a memory card data representative of places which are not necessarily the subject of a service reservation, and without necessarily being subscribed to the services of an installation, and on the other hand, to offer the possibility to a traveler to consult visual and / or textual data representative of geographic places in order to assist him in real time in the preparation of his trip.

Once the choices have been made, the operator can issue him with a memory card containing his trip data. He can then go on a trip without having to carry a multitude of booking slips.

In addition, it is now possible for the terminal operator to enter travel data, in particular, which is not accessible via the network forming the installation.

The interrogator terminals can be, for example, personal computer or network consoles, or fully equipped stations for travel or transport agencies.

Furthermore, an interrogator terminal may also be a reader terminal, thus enabling an operator to provide a memory card directly to a traveler for whom he has just carried out operations.

In the case of a personal computer, its user can make a reservation remotely, without needing to travel, the card then being manufactured in a service agency and then delivered to the user, by mail, or by carrier, accompanied by a sheet summarizing the data it contains.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises at least one central station containing data on the availability status of services chosen from a group comprising at least hotel rooms in at least one geographic location whose data are stored in the database, and means of transport serving this place. In addition, the management means are arranged, at the request of a terminal-interrogator, to interrogate said central station so as to obtain at least one state of availability of service selected by the operator of the terminal-interrogator, and send to this terminal-interrogator this state so that it is displayed on its display means.

Preferably, the group of said services also includes restaurant tables, shows, museums, and shops, the reservation data of which are accessible at a central station.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, on the one hand, the interrogator terminals allow the selection, by their operator, of at least some of the services whose respective states of availability are displayed on their display means, and d on the other hand, the management means can authorize the processing means of a terminal-reader to memorize in the memory card housed in its reader-recorder reservation identifiers for available services selected by the operator of a terminal- interrogator.

According to another aspect of the invention, the management means comprise a path calculation module capable of determining, from at least geographic locations associated with response data selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator, a optimal path between these places. This calculated optimal route may possibly include one or more intermediate destination place (s).

Preferably, the route calculation module can determine an optimal route between geographic locations associated with response data selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator, taking into account criteria chosen from a group comprising a departure location, a place of arrival, at least one mode of transport, a departure date and an arrival date.

This allows for full assistance in planning a trip.

When the installation includes a route calculation module, it is desirable that the management means can, on the one hand, send an interrogator terminal an optimal route that it has requested, so that the places it contains are displayed on its display means and that a selection of at least some of them can be made by its operator, and on the other hand, authorize the processing means of a terminal reader to store in the memory card housed in its reader-recorder with identifiers of at least the locations of said optimal route selected by the operator of said terminal-interrogator.

In this way, it is possible to select certain locations for an optimal route proposed and to store their identifiers, as well as possibly other identifiers allowing for example the connections between said selected locations.

Thus, a traveler, who is in an unknown city and having a card in which is stored an optimal route, can during the trip ask an operator to interrogate his terminal-reader so that he indicates how to get there at the next place on the route. This indication can be a name of city, places, or a directional indication, such as for example a direction to take at a crossroads, or the name of a street.

In a particularly advantageous way, it is possible to perform an optimal route calculation which includes places and / or means of transport with service. In this case, the management means interrogate, for example, the central station to obtain the state of availability of the service, then request the journey calculation module with the places and / or the means of transport for which the services are available. . The identifiers for the locations of the optimal journey and the identifiers for booking associated services can then be stored in a memory card.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, it is possible at any time to make a modification of an optimal path previously stored in a memory card. This modification can relate to the deletion of a place of the journey with a possible cancellation of reservation, or the addition of one or more reservations, or even on a new calculation of journey.

This offers great flexibility of use to the traveler.

Preferably, the installation is connected to terminals of service providers, forming central stations, and chosen from a group comprising car rental companies, taxi companies, telephone operators, distributors of items of given brands, banks , credit companies, and toll management companies.

The installation can also allow the storage in the smart card of the representative subscription data of the owner to at least one of the service providers of the aforementioned group.

In this way, it is possible to extend the field of use of the card to all sectors relating to tourist or professional travel, or even leisure. The owner of such a memory card can in any place equipped with a reader terminal adapted to his card, take advantage of the subscriptions he has previously contracted without the need for him to present a certified card.

Advantageously, at least some of the reader terminals can be installed in transport vehicles chosen from a group comprising at least buses, coaches, private and rental vehicles, taxis, as well as in selected places giving access to means of public transport chosen from a group comprising at least planes, metropolitan areas, and boats. This allows the use of subscriptions stored in a card.

In this way, when the owner of the memory card wishes to use or have access to a transport vehicle, or a means of public transport, equipped with a terminallector, for which he has obtained a memorized right of use, he just enter your card in the reader-recorder, without providing proof.

Furthermore, according to yet another characteristic of the invention, certain terminal readers can be installed in private and rental vehicles, and taxis, equipped with an operator interface and a navigation module with display means. capable of supplying the on-board terminal with the geographical coordinates of the place where the vehicle is located, so that the vehicle can be located using display means on a geographical map in the company of at least the most close whose identifier is stored in the memory card which is inserted into their reader-recorder.

In this way, by inserting his memory card in the on-board terminal of the vehicle in which he is located, the traveler can know very precisely his position relative to the intermediate or final destination he wishes to reach, which is part of the planned journey. initially and which is stored in the card.

Preferably, the terminal installed in the car can make modifications or adaptations to the optimal route stored in the card, or else directly offer the traveler an optimal route after it has been entered, using a user interface, information relating to the trip he wishes to make, the display of the route reservations being effected on the display means of the navigation module.

Of course, this type of terminal with navigation module can be produced in the form of a portable device so that it can be used by a pedestrian.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the management means allow monetary transactions between a holder of a memory card, the card of which is inserted in a reader terminal, and a remote or local terminal. In this case, the memory card is designed to store monetary data representative of the transactions carried out.

Transactions can be carried out according to a bank card type mode and / or an electronic wallet type mode.

To do this, and in the case of an electronic purse, the management means are arranged to authorize the processing means of a terminal reader to store monetary data representative of a sum d in a memory card. money paid by the card holder, in a given currency, to the operator of the terminal-reader concerned.

The card holder then has a fictitious amount of money on him that he can convert, partially or totally, into cash, or use it to carry out a remote or local transaction, the amount of which will be debited instantly by the processing means upon authorization of the management means, and the remaining sum is then stored in the memory card to replace the previous amount.

The fictitiously stored sum of money can be increased at any time if the owner wishes, by transferring said sum of money in foreign currency to a person authorized to use a suitable terminal-reader. One can also envisage transactions between two cards inserted in a double reader-recorder.

Furthermore, in the case of a payment of the bank card type, the management means are arranged to interrogate a terminal of a service provider of the bank or credit company type whose contact details are stored in the memory card, in order to '' authorize a transaction.

Thus, the owner can carry out a remote transaction, or not, without needing to use a specific bank card, a check book, or currencies which are not necessarily specific to the country in which he is at the time of the transaction.

With such a card, equipped with the electronic wallet and / or credit card function, it is possible to access public or private means of transport equipped with reader terminals, even when the holder has no access authorization.

This transactional function can also be used to store loyalty points allocated during a transaction.

In order to secure certain transactions, or certain information contained in the memory card, the management means can assign a memory card a private code.

Such a code can be of the alphanumeric type, or of the voice type (spectral fingerprint), or even of the fingerprint or biometric type. Of course, it is also possible to envisage a combination of several codes to allow access to certain data on the card.

Preferably, the management means are arranged to authorize the processing means of a terminal reader to memorize in a memory card information data on its owner, chosen from a group comprising at least his name, his address, his ID card number, passport number, blood type, insurance policy numbers, driver's license number and the information it contains.

This makes it possible to get rid of a multitude of bulky papers, while ensuring much greater confidentiality than with said papers since in order to have access to the data stored in the card it may be necessary to know your private code.

In a particular embodiment, at least some of the terminals include the management means. This allows for fully equipped workstations.

In the description which follows, given by way of example, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which - FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the installation in a preferred embodiment; and - Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a memory card for the installation of Figure 1.

The installation according to the invention is particularly suitable for the organization of trips before their start, as well as their adaptation after their start.

Travel is understood to mean any type of travel comprising at least one place of destination, with or without booking a service. These reservations may notably concern a hotel room, a restaurant table, a rental vehicle, a taxi, seats for shows, transport tickets, or subscriptions to means of transport, etc.

To do this, the installation comprises, first of all, a multiplicity of first terminals 1 (only one is shown in FIG. 1), preferably installed in specialized agencies, such as for example travel agencies.

Each terminal 1 is preferably produced in the form of a microcomputer 2 comprising input means 3 (or operator interface) such as for example a keyboard with keys and a mouse, as well as a monitor 4 for viewing entered data. or data called by the operator authorized to use the first terminal 1. This type of terminal is called "terminal-interrogator".

A first terminal 1 also preferably includes a reader-recorder 5 of memory card 6, which is controlled by processing means 7 coupled to the operator interface, to allow the exchange of data between the memory card 6 and installation. Such a terminal is said to be "terminal-interrogator-reader".

Preferably, each first terminal 1 also comprises management means 8, interconnected with the processing means 7 of the reader-recorder 5.

Of course, a first terminal 1 can be produced in a single element, such as for example a microcomputer in which is housed the reader-recorder 5, the processing means 7, and the management means 8. As a variant, the terminal 1 can be composed of a microcomputer 2, coupled to a box comprising the reader-recorder 5, the processing means 7 and management 8. Still alternatively, the management means can be part of a single terminal central located in a service center, which is used for all or part of the installation.

Each first terminal 1 is connected to a multitude of terminals of service providers, in particular tourism, which will be detailed below. Preferably, the interconnection of a terminal 1 to said service provider terminals is carried out by means of a switch 9 located either in one of the agencies equipped with a first terminal 1, or in a service center. independent of travel agencies.

The switch 9 is intended to direct a first terminal 1 to one or more service provider terminals, or reservation center 16, 17 (central station), when it is in the interrogation phase. To do this, the switch 9 is interconnected with a multitude of terminals 10 from remote service providers 10, such as for example banking companies, credit companies, taxi companies, motorway toll management companies or car parks (this list is not exhaustive), distant shops 11, or places of shows (cinemas, theaters, operas, etc), or museums or distant historic monuments 12.

All interconnections are made via communication networks.

The switch 9 is also preferably connected to a multitude of hotel terminals 13, restaurants 14, and private or public transport companies 15 (planes, trains, buses, etc.). Preferably, this latter interconnection takes place via one or more reservation centers 16 and 17 which play the role of sub-switches. These reservation centers (GDS) forming central positions can play the role of wholesaler, or even reseller of services.

Each first terminal 1 can also be directly and personally connected to the terminals of local service providers 30-32, such as for example hotels, restaurants, shops, means of transport, museums, historical monuments, meeting rooms. shows, which are located near the agency in which is located the first terminal 1 which performs an interrogation. This makes it possible to offer a traveler a very large number of services, while saving them precious time.

However, it is also possible to make reservations for services which are not directly connected to the installation. This is for example the case, generally, of guesthouses or rural lodgings, or more generally of shops. In this case, reservations are made by a verbal telephone interrogation between the operator of a first terminal 1 and the service provider concerned. Then, if the service is available, the operator enters his identifier.

It is quite obvious that this type of reservation is of interest only on condition that the service providers (rural lodgings, guest houses, shops) have at least one terminal with reader-recorder 5 ("terminallector") provided with at least processing means and an operator interface, in order to be able to read the information relating to them, which is stored in the memory card presented by a traveler who has made a remote reservation.

The term “identifier” is understood to mean any type of data that can be stored in a memory card, and which represents directly or indirectly information, whatever its type.

A datum is said to be direct when it represents directly exploitable information, while a datum is said to be indirect when it represents an address of a memory of the installation, and not of a memory card, in which finds usable information stored.

Data representative of geographic coordinates of a place are thus considered to be exploitable data. Such data can either be stored in a register of a memory card, or be stored in a memory of the installation provided for this purpose, and accessible by an address stored in a memory card. In the latter case, the information is of the virtual type, which makes it possible to produce memory cards of low capacity, and consequently of lower cost.

A trip, or simply a reservation of services, can then be carried out as follows.

A traveler presents himself in an agency equipped with a first terminal 1, at least of terminal-interrogator type, and preferably with reader-recorder 5. Said traveler provides the operator of terminal 1 with a certain amount of information concerning the trip and / or the reservation he wishes to make before his departure. In the case of a simple reservation concerning for example a hotel or a transport ticket, or even a theater seat, or a restaurant table, the traveler provides the name of the place concerned, the date on which he wishes to go to the audit place, the mode of transport he wishes to use, as well as possibly information concerning the prices he wishes to pay.

It is clear that this information can be of any type, such as for example a particular exhibition in a restaurant, a smoking or non-smoking location, etc. Its information will serve as selection criteria for the search for available services.

In the case of a journey in which the places of final and intermediate destinations, and the associated reservations, are perfectly known to the traveler, the operator need only enter the information provided by said traveler. These are, for example, the place of departure, the place of arrival, possibly the places of intermediate destinations, the mode or modes of transport associated with these places, as well as the reservation data.

Once all the information has been entered by the operator of the first terminal 1, and in the event of a service reservation request, the management means 8 of this terminal (or of the installation) send a request to the terminals premises and / or the switchman 9, who, according to the information contained in the request, will (or will) switch the first terminal 1 to one or more terminals of service providers 10-17.

The terminal or terminals concerned will then supply availability states to the switcher 9, which retransmits them to the management means 8, which addresses them to the first terminal 1 having sent the request so that they can be viewed on the monitor 4. If the traveler still wishes to make the reservation (s), the operator of the first terminal 1 confirms these reservations by sending confirmations to the switcher 9 which transmits them to the modules concerned, and / or to local service providers 30-32 .

The operator then introduces into the reader-recorder 5, connected to the first terminal 1 that he controls, a memory card 6 blank with travel data, and requests the management means 8 so that these authorize the means of processing 7 to memorize in a register 18 of the memory card 6 the identifiers of reservations accepted by the traveler, which include the geographic coordinates of the places of destination.

It is clear that in the case where the first terminal does not include a reader-recorder, the storage of information is carried out via a terminal-reader placed in a service center, the card then being addressed to the traveler by post or by carrier.

Preferably, the operator of the first terminal 1 offers the traveler to store in a register 19 of the memory card 6 a certain amount of information which concerns him, for example, his identity number, his passport number, his name and address, name and phone number of his insurance company, blood group, insurance policy numbers, etc. This list is not exhaustive.

A great deal of other information can also be stored in the memory card 6. Thus, it is possible to store there, in another of its registers 20, loyalty points obtained by the traveler before the reservation, or in another register 21, the references of one or more subscriptions taken out by the traveler. The loyalty points stored in the register 20 can be allocated by service providers whose terminals are connected to the installation. As for the subscriptions stored in the register 21, they can concern telephone networks, taxi companies, aviation companies and more generally private or public transport companies, car park management companies or motorway tolls, as well as particular brands. In the latter case, the subscription may consist of the authorization to consume a drink of a particular brand, at will, or in a predefined manner.

Furthermore, it is also possible to store monetary data in the memory card. The memory card 6 can indeed function as an electronic purse and / or a bank card.

To do this, it suffices for the operator of a first terminal 1 to request the management means 8 so that these authorize the processing means 7 to store in a register 22 of the memory card 6 a sum of 'money that comes from him r the currency of the country where the traveler wishes to go. This amount can also correspond to travelers checks.

Thus, when the traveler wishes to make a purchase, or more generally a monetary type transaction, in a place equipped with a 10-15 reader-recorder terminal provided with processing means and an operator interface, he will not have that to insert his personal memory card 6 in the reader-recorder 5, then to give his agreement to the operator of the terminal in question so that this one debits the sum of money, stored in the register 22, the amount of the transaction. The management means 8 of the terminal concerned will then be responsible for authorizing the processing means 7 to replace the old amount of money stored in the register 22 by the new amount, after subtracting the amount from the transaction.

The memory card 6 can also function as a bank card, or credit card. When this option is chosen, the operator stores in one of its registers 23 the contact details of the traveller's personal account or accounts in bank or credit companies 10. These contact details can be entered by the operator in a first terminal 1 when creating the memory card 6, or later.

Of course, the memory card 6 can perform both the functions of electronic wallet and bank or credit card.

Preferably, when the memory card 6 performs a monetary function, it is useful for it to have a private access code known to the traveler. When the private code is of alphanumeric type, it can be directly assigned to the traveler by the management means 8. It can even be made up of several sub-codes each allowing access to a type of information stored in the card.

On the other hand, when this code is of the spectral (vocal) or digital, or even biometric fingerprint type, it is necessary to provide a fingerprint capture device, interconnected with the processing means 8 of a terminallector, in order to capture this fingerprint and then store it in the memory card 6.

Thus, one, several or all the services offered by the smart card can be made inaccessible to a person who does not have the private code of the smart card concerned. This code will be provided by the traveler via the operator interface, which can be adapted to enter fingerprint codes.

 It is clear that a user interface can be provided in addition to the operator interface in order to ensure the confidentiality of the code.

Furthermore, the electronic purse can be replenished at any time in a place equipped for this purpose, such as for example in a travel agency, or a bank 10, or a currency exchange agency 10, provided with a first terminal 1 with reader-recorder 5. A first can also be credited or debited by a second card housed remotely or in a reader-recorder with two cards.

At the same time as the operator delivers to the traveler a personalized memory card, the latter delivers a report sheet known as a roadmap, on which are registered all the identifiers of reservations and geographical locations whose data are stored. in the memory card. By identifier is meant everything relating to a reservation, such as, for example, address (geographic coordinates), name, time, date, etc. Thus, in the case of a trip, when the traveler arrives at an intermediate destination initially planned, he introduces his memory card into the reader-recorder 5 of the terminal located there. The traveler optionally provides his private code, which is verified by the management means, or by a verification module contained in the reader-recorder 5, then the management means 8 authorize the processing means 7 of the terminal concerned to read in the memory card 6, inserted in its reader-recorder 5, the information which concerns them, such as for example those memorized in the register 18 if it is a reservation, or in the register 21 if it is a subscription, or in one of the registers 22 or 23 if it is a monetary transaction.

Of course, the composition of the private code can be useless.

Thus, when the card contains in its register 18 a museum identifier, for example, its insertion in the terminal-reader of said museum allows its owner to enter this museum directly, or else to obtain an entry ticket without that it is necessary for him to pay the amount of said entry.

Of course, if the visit to the museum was not initially planned, but the memory card performs a monetary function, the monetary transaction for the purchase of the entry ticket can be ensured thanks to the information contained in the registers 22 and / or 23.

It is moreover possible for the traveler having a memory card 6, to modify or supplement at any time the travel and / or money data stored in his memory card. To do this, it suffices to find a first terminal 1 equipped for this purpose and to ask the operator of said terminal to make new reservations, or cancellations of previous reservations, or even to replenish the register 22 in fictitious money.

We have so far described the case of a traveler who knows perfectly the places of destination where he wishes to go when he goes to an agency to make reservations, and that, in addition, the services he wanted get were available. However, two other cases may arise.

A first case in which at least one of the services desired by the traveler is not available, and a second case in which the traveler has only a very vague idea of the trip he wishes to make. The installation according to the invention is particularly suitable for these two cases.

In the first case, after an interrogation, the operator announces to the traveler that at least one of the services he wants is not available. Again, two cases arise: either the traveler gives up making a new reservation, then leaves, or he asks the operator if he can offer him equivalent services. In order to offer assistance to the traveler, the installation includes a database 25 which contains a multiplicity of information relating to geographic locations, of textual and / or audio visual type, and classified according to selected criteria. This information can be stored on CD-ROMs, or any other digital information medium. They can be photographs, films, sketches or drawings, programs of shows or events.

When the operator of a terminal-interrogator 1 has entered the information obtained from the traveler, he requests the management means to interrogate the database 25 so as to obtain response data representative of the geographic location or locations making the subject of the request. The response data are then displayed on the display means of the interrogator terminal 1 controlled by the operator. Of course, it is possible to provide terminals equipped with an operator monitor and a traveler monitor coupled to a traveler interface so that it can possibly manipulate the data displayed. Then, the operator selects the services, the response data of which interests the traveler.

The traveler can also give the operator new information so that the operator can start a new interrogation on the basis of new information.

If a reservation must be made, the operator sends a request to the management means 8 which come into contact with the terminals concerned, as explained above.

Once the reservations have been made, or when only geographic locations without reservations have been selected, the management means 8 can authorize the processing means 7 of the terminal reader 1 to store in a memory card 6 housed in its reader-recorder 5 the identifiers of the geographic locations associated with the response data selected by the operator, as well as the identifiers of any reservations for services associated with said locations.

In the second case, the operator must offer a complete trip. To do this, the installation has at least one path calculation module 24, which is installed either in a service center in the company of the management means 8, or directly in a terminal-interrogator 1.

This journey calculation module 24 determines, from identifiers of places of passage and / or means of transport possibly associated with dates of passage provided by the traveler and entered by the operator, an optimal path between these different places . All the places of the journey should preferably be part of the database, in order to facilitate its calculation.

Of course, it is preferable that the places of the journey, for which a service is requested, have been the subject of a prior availability status query.

This optimal calculated route can propose one or more intermediate destinations of some interest, according to the database.

Once calculated, the optimal route is displayed on the monitor 4 of the interrogator terminal 1. The traveler can then view on the monitor of the interrogator terminal the response data which are associated with the geographic places belonging to the optimal journey.

If the traveler is satisfied, the operator of the interrogator terminal 1 confirms the reservations by indicating to the management means 8 that he accepts the calculated journey. Reservation confirmation orders are then sent to the terminals of the service providers concerned, distant 10-17 and / or local 30-32. Certain reservations may be accompanied by a transaction relating to the partial or total amount of the service. Of course, all the information relating to the transaction is stored in the memory card so that there is no problem once arrived at the place which was the subject of the reservation with transaction.

On the other hand, if this traveler is not satisfied with at least one of the locations of the optimal route, he can ask the operator to calculate a new optimal route on the basis of new information. Alternatively, it is possible to delete or add certain places to an optimal route. However, certain modifications may lead to a new calculation of the optimal path.

Once the trip has been established, the information (place and / or reservation identifiers) relating to it is stored in register 18 of the memory card 6. The same applies, possibly, to the other information which it has previously discussed, such as those specific to the traveler, his possible subscriptions, his possible loyalty points, as well as his wish to have a memory card type electronic wallet and / or bank card or credit. When all the information has been stored, the smart card is issued to the traveler who only has to leave. This delivery may not be instantaneous if the terminal-interrogator who prepared the trip does not have a reader-recorder 5.

In this case, as described above, the card is manufactured in a reader terminal of a service center, then delivered to the traveler by post or by carrier.

Of course, information can be added or deleted later in another terminal reader. Likewise, the optimal route may be modified or recalculated once the journey has started.

Furthermore, in the event that a traveler would like to think before making a decision on an optimal route proposed, it is possible, thanks to terminal 1, to produce a tailor-made brochure detailing textually and / or visually the interest of the destinations offered by the optimal route. The traveler can eventually go home with the brochure to study it in detail. In this case, no memory card 6 is issued to the traveler. It is however possible to store in the interrogator terminal 1 the optimal route proposed, in order to either store it later in a memory card or adapt it. The services of an optimal route offered can be reserved until the traveler has made his choice.

In all of the above description, we have described the case of a traveler who goes to a travel agency to organize a trip with or without reservations. However, the installation is also suitable for people who wish to make a reservation from their home, without traveling, provided that they are equipped with a microcomputer 26 connected to the installation network, and preferably to the switchman 9. In this case, the operator and the traveler are confused. However, the operator-traveler has only one interrogator terminal 26 without reader-recorder 5. The microcomputer 26 can be a communication network console.

To organize his trip, the individual only has to connect to the installation network, then reproduce the operations carried out by a conventional operator, and which have been described previously. Of course, the traveling operator benefits from assistance of the "virtual agent" type as soon as he connects to the installation, in order to optimize his interrogation.

All the responses of the installation to the requests it has addressed to the management means 8 will be displayed on its monitor 27. The same is true for an optimal journey.

Once the individual's choices have been validated, the management means 8 authorize the processing means 7 of the terminallector 1 housed in the service center to manufacture a memory card containing all the identifiers of selected places and / or reservations, as well as the additional information concerning the traveler-operator. The card is then sent to him by post or by carrier, accompanied by a waybill and a fee note. In this way, the individual will have organized their entire trip without having to travel. All he has to do is pay the fees to the agency that sent him the memory card.

An interrogator and / or reader terminal 1 of the type described above can also be integrated, with certain adaptations in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in particular. It can also be produced in the form of a portable device for pedestrians.

Preferably, an on-board terminal 33 in a vehicle
V, or carried by a pedestrian, comprises management means 8, a path calculation module 24, a reader-recorder 5, processing means with user interface 7, as well as a navigation module 34 provided with means of 'display 35.

The navigation module 34 is advantageously a module of the GPS (satellite guidance) type known to those skilled in the art, and to which it is useless to return. It allows to know with great precision, typically of the order of a few meters, the geographic coordinates of the vehicle in which it is located. When this navigation module comprises a geographic database, of the road map and / or detailed plan type of a city or of districts of a city, it is then possible to display, thanks to the display means 35, the position of the vehicle, or of a pedestrian, in relation to one of the maps.

According to the invention, the management means 8 are capable of supplying the navigation module 34 of a terminal 33 with the identifiers (for example the geographic coordinates) of the places of destination which have been stored in the map. with memory 6 which is introduced into its reader-recorder 5. In this way, it is possible to locate the position of the vehicle, or of the pedestrian, with respect to the destinations provided for by an optimal memorized route. This is of great interest for a traveler who travels in a region, or a district of a city, which he does not know at all, since the navigation module 34 allows him to know very exactly where he is, for relative to the plan displayed on the display means 35, but also where there is a place where he wishes to go.

The plan can contain information representative of road signs, of type stop, one way, works, pedestrian way, etc.

Of course, it is also possible to envisage using an on-board terminal 33, exactly in the same way as a first terminal 1, insofar as the on-board terminal 33 can be connected by wireless telephone link to the installation.

A user can therefore, using his terminal 33, develop an optimal route, or adapt a route previously stored in the memory card housed in his reader-recorder.

Certain on-board terminals 33 may not include the path calculation module 24 and / or the management means 8, in order to limit their weight and simplify their use.

In addition, very simplified terminals can be provided, which include only a reader / writer, in order to read certain specific data stored in at least one of the registers of the memory card 6. Such readers are particularly suitable for museums, historic monuments, cinemas, taxis, access to public or private transport, or rental vehicles In the latter case, for example, the traveler can enter the vehicle, without a key, by inserting his memory card in a terminal housed on the bodywork. As a variant, the traveler may have a reader-recorder device capable of addressing, by wave, a coded message to the terminal on board the vehicle so that the latter orders the doors to be opened. The rental vehicle can be started without a key, by inserting the card in the terminal with reader-recorder housed in the passenger compartment, after possibly entering the private code.

The memory cards according to the invention can also contain information on their external face, such as for example the references (name and address) of the owner, or periods of validity making it possible to use a means of transport for a given period. This information can be materialized on the card, for example by engraving in relief of a part 35 of one of its faces, or by depositing a particular pattern. Thus, on simple presentation of said card to a controller, it is possible to access certain services, such as for example public transport, even though these service providers are not equipped with a terminal with a reader-recorder of the type described above, or even a simple reader-recorder.

In the above description, terminals have been described in which the path calculation module was installed, in the company of the management means 8, but it is clear that these management means 8 and / or the path calculation module 24 may be external to the terminal, and in this case, it (s) is (are) located in a central terminal housed in a service center remote from the agency terminals.

Similarly, an installation has been described in which a switch 9 is used, as well as reservation centers 16 and 17, but it is clear that this can be done without, provided that the service providers are connected to the terminals. -interrogators.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but it embraces all the variants that a person skilled in the art may develop within the framework of the claims below.

Thus, blank memory cards have been described in which information of different types was stored. However, it is clear that a card that has been used for the first time can be reused as many times as desired, so that some of the information it contains is not re-entered each time it is used.

Furthermore, memory cards have been described in which identifiers of directly usable data are stored. However, it is clear that memory cards can be provided in which the identifiers stored represent addresses of a memory of the installation in which exploitable data are stored.

Claims (25)

Claims 1. Installation for processing travel data, of the type comprising terminals (1,10-15,28-33) distributed in different places, some at least, called "interrogator terminals" (1,26,33), being provided with the less than an operator interface and data display means (4,27,35), and certain other terminals, called "reader terminals" (1,10-15,28-33), being provided with at least means processing (7) and a memory card reader-recorder (6),  characterized in that it comprises a database (25), representative at least of geographic locations, and management means (8) interconnected with the terminals (1,10-15,28-33) and the database , and arranged for  * interrogate said database <25), at the request of a terminal-interrogator operator, so as to obtain response data representative of the geographic places which are the subject of the request, with a view to viewing them on the means of display of said interrogator terminal controlled by said operator, then of the selection, by this operator, of at least some of these response data, and  * authorize the processing means (7) of a terminallector (1.33) to store in a memory card (6) housed in its reader-recorder (5) identifiers of the geographic places associated with said response data selected by the operator of the interrogator terminal. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one central station (10-17) containing data on the availability status of services chosen from a group comprising at least hotel rooms in at at least one geographic location whose data is stored in the database (25), and means of transport serving this location, and in that the management means (8) are arranged, at the request of a terminal-interrogator, to interrogate said central station so as to obtain at least one state of availability of service selected by the operator of the terminal-interrogator, and send this terminal-interrogator said state so that it is displayed on its display means. 3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the interrogator terminals (1,26,33) are arranged to allow the selection, by their operator, of at least some of the services whose respective states of availability are displayed on their display means, and in that the management means (8) are arranged to authorize the processing means (7) of a terminal reader (1,33) to be stored in the memory card (6) housed in its reader-recorder (5) of the identifiers for reserving available services selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator. 4. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the management means (8) comprise a path calculation module (24) suitable for determining, from at least geographic locations associated with data- answers selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator, an optimal route between these places. 5. Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the optimal route calculated comprises at least one intermediate destination. 6. Installation according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the path calculation module (24) is suitable for determining an optimal path between geographic places associated with response data selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator (1,26,33), taking into account criteria chosen from a group comprising a place of departure, a place of arrival, at least one mode of transport, a departure date and an arrival date . 7. Installation according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged to, on the one hand, address to said terminal-interrogator (1,26,33) an optimal path of so that the places it contains are displayed on its display means (4,27,35) and that a selection of at least some of them can be made by said operator, and on the other hand, authorize the processing means (7) of a terminallector (1.33) to be stored in the memory card (6) housed in its reader-recorder (5) identifiers of at least the places of said optimal path selected by 1 ' operator of said interrogator terminal. 8. Installation according to claim 2 in combination with claim 6, characterized in that in the event of a request, formulated by a terminal-interrogator operator (1,26,33), indicating the need to obtain an optimal route to from a place of departure, a place of arrival, at least one mode of transport, as well as departure and arrival dates, accompanied by at least one service designation relating to one at least of said places of departure and arrival and / or of a means of transport, the management means (8) are arranged to interrogate said central station (10-17, 30-32) so as to obtain the state availability of said service and to only request said route calculation module (24) with places and / or means of transport for which the services are available, and  in that the management means (8) are arranged to allow storage in a memory card (6) housed in a reader-recorder (5) of a terminal-reader of identifiers of locations of an optimal path selected by the operator of a terminal-interrogator, accompanied by identifiers for booking associated services. 9. Installation according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that in the event of insertion of a memory card (6) containing an optimal path in the reader-recorder (5) of a terminal-reader, accompanied of a request from a terminal-interrogator operator (1,26,33), the management means (8) are able to  * request the route calculation module (24) with one (or more) new place (s) of destination and / or dates and / or associated means of transport, provided by said operator, after a possible verification availability of services relating to at least one of said new places of destination or of said places of the stored optimal route and / or means of transport, so that it modifies said stored optimal route, then  * authorize the processing means (7) of the terminallector (1) to memorize in said memory card the identifiers of the locations of the modified optimal journey, accompanied by any identifiers for booking services. 10. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the group of said services further includes tables of restaurants, shows, museums, and shops, whose reservation data are accessible to a central station (10-17). 11. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is connected to terminals (10-12,30-32) of service providers, forming central stations, and chosen from a group comprising rental companies vehicles, taxi companies, telephone operators, distributors of items of given brands, banks, credit companies, and toll management companies. 12. Installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged, at the request of a terminal-interrogator operator, to authorize the processing means (7) of a terminal-reader (1 ) storing in the memory card (6) representative data of the owner's subscription to at least one of said service providers from said group. 13. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said management means (8) are arranged to allow monetary transactions between a memory card holder (6) whose said card is inserted in a terminal- reader (1) and a remote or local terminal, and in that the memory card (6) is arranged to store monetary data representative of said transactions. 14. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said management means (8) are suitable for assigning to a memory card (6), having just stored very first travel data, a private code , so that at least some of the data stored in said memory card can only be read and / or modified by a terminal reader (1,33) in the event of communication to said installation, by the operator, of the code private. 15. Installation according to one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the management means (8) are suitable for authorizing the processing means (7) of a terminallector (1) to be stored in a memory card ( 6) monetary data representative of a sum of money paid by a holder of said card, in a given currency, to an operator authorized to use said terminallector. 16. Installation according to claim 15, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged to authorize the processing means (7) of a terminal reader (1) to debit representative "in progress" monetary data. of the amount of money in progress remaining in a memory card, a transaction amount, then to replace in this memory card the previous data in progress by the new data in progress representative of the amount of money remaining after said debit . 17. Installation according to one of claims 12 to 16 in combination with claim 8, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged to interrogate a terminal of service provider of the bank or credit company type (10) of which the contact details are stored in the memory card (6), in order to authorize a transaction. 18. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the reader terminals (33) are installed in transport vehicles chosen from a group comprising at least buses, coaches, private and rental vehicles, taxis, as well as in selected places giving access to means of public transport chosen from a group comprising at least planes, metropolitan areas, and boats. 19. Installation according to claim 18, characterized in that certain reader terminals (33) located in private and rental vehicles, and taxis, include an operator interface and a navigation module (34) with display means ( 35) suitable for providing the on-board terminal with the geographical coordinates of the place where the vehicle is located, so that said vehicle can be located using display means on a geographical map in the company of at least the place of destination the closest whose identifier is stored in a memory card (6) which is inserted into the reader-recorder (5) of the terminal-reader concerned (33). 20. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the reader terminals comprise an operator interface and are of the portable type. 21. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged, at the request of a terminal-interrogator operator (1,26,33), to authorize the processing means ( 7) of a terminal reader (1.33) to be stored in a memory card (6) information data on its owner, chosen from a group comprising at least his name, address, card number d identity, passport number, blood type, insurance policy numbers, driver's license number and the information it contains. 22. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that certain terminal interrogators (26,27) are personal computer or network consoles. 23. Installation according to one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that the management means (8) are arranged to authorize the processing means (7) of a terminal reader (1.33) to be stored in the memory card (6), which is inserted into its reader-recorder (5), data representative of loyalty points allocated during a transaction. 24. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that certain terminal interrogators (1,33) further comprise a memory card reader-recorder (5). 25. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the terminals (1,33) include the management means (8).