ANDROID SMART TICKETING SYSTEM USING RFID

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The current ticketing system of the bus system works manually and is quite time-consuming. People carry a paper ticket or smart cards as a substitute, but if that is misplaced somehow or if anyone forgets to produce it at the right place these are of no use. The main objective of this project is to develop an android application so that passengers can book tickets online directly from their smartphones and a received message to their phones is enough for traveling a desired distance.
For security reasons, the information about every user is stored in Cloud which is to be accessed for each ticket booking for validation purposes. “This change of paradigm benefits from the fact that cloud ticketing services can be accessed through the Internet and they can be elastically grown or shrunk, providing easier scalability and high availability”.

ANDROID SMART TICKETING SYSTEM USING RFID

CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background

In advanced countries, ticketing systems are usually automated with the use of the Internet and e-commerce. Smart cards are usually used to make payments and ticketss generated after. The use of smart ticketing systems has increasingly helped to address the problem of long queues and time wastage problem. An electronic railway ticketing system is a computerized system that is designed to collect, store and retrieve information as well as conduct transactions related to passengers and trains. The idea behind a web-based railway ticketing and payment system was originally designed and incorporated by airline operators.

The smart ticketing system is an easy and quick way to pay for train services. Smart ticketing is a way of documenting sales, checking ticket usage, and accounting for a passenger’s transportation without the traditional usage of paper “value documents”. Passengers can make payments and print their tickets ubiquitously. The smart ticketing system is an essential system designed to address the problem of long queues and unnecessary time wastage associated with railway ticketing. Ticket counter is generally associated with long queues; the problem is so clear and visible that it demands an urgent step in addressing the situation. Aside from the problem of long queues and time wastage, passengers also experience stress and frustration. Reasons for the long queue that is associated with traditional railway ticketing include the limited counters available to deal with passengers at peak time and transaction time (the time it takes the person at the service point to issue a ticket and handle the “change” problem). As a result of the aforementioned challenges, this research aims to design an Android smart ticketing system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make ticketing quick, easy, and less frustrating. The system attempts to reduce the service time of checking routes and obtaining train tickets.

Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, is a basic and low-cost technology that allows for wireless data transmission. Due to a lack of consistency across manufacturing organizations, this technology has not been widely adopted in the industry. RFID is not the same as bar codes. RFID readers can scan tags using radio frequency (RF), which means they can be read from a distance, right through your clothes, wallet, or pocketbook. Aside from that, each RFID tag has its unique ID. RFID is based on technology that has been around since the early 1920s. This technology is less common in our country, and the most commonly used technology is biometric systems that employ fingerprints [1] . Our government makes minimal use of this technology by adopting RFID as a form of identification (identification card). People in some parts of our country prefer to utilize barcodes over RFID since they are less expensive. Technology advances at a breakneck pace, and in a few years, the potential of RFID replacing barcodes will be a reality. In comparison to other networks, RFID technologies are more efficient and secure [1] . RFID is a type of wireless automatic identification in which an object, location, or person is identified with a unique identifying code contained in an RFID tag that is attached to or inserted in the target [6] . RFID is a system, not a single product. A typical RFID system consists of three basic elements: an RFID tag (transponder), a reader (transceiver), and a back-end application system (or database), all of which require the use of a computer network. The software is used to manage, control, transact, operate, and keep track of the many users’ activities.

1.3    Statement of the Problem

The existing ticketing system in the transport industry in most countries adopts a manual process. The manual system is faced with the following problems:

• Time-consuming: The manual system is very time-consuming, stressful, and more prone to errors in purchasing a ticket, storing data, and accessing data.
• Insecurity of data: This means a lack of security of data or information. In the manual method, records are kept in the office and several people may have the opportunity to check all the files because all the files are kept appropriately, this will lead to losses of data and even theft of the valuable records.  
• Data Inconsistency and Redundancy: In the manual method of keeping records for processing and manipulation, man has in the course of time, devised certain tools which include paper, biro, and pencil which he used in the recording data or information and using these manual tools makes him have a duplicate copy of stored data, with this redundancy

of data and human errors may be encountered and also many papers are wasted and consume much space for storing the record.

• Delay in Accessing Data: In the manual method of keeping records, accessing data or information becomes very tedious, because all the files that contained information are not well arranged in a way that can be accessed appropriately and accurately, this will lead to losses of stored information.
• Ineffective Retrieval of Data: Considering the manual method of keeping records, retrieving information becomes very tedious, all files that contained the records are kept in the sales office, therefore retrieving is done by checking the files one after the other, this will consume time, misplacement of data or information and wasting of energy. With this many errors will be encountered. And it took time for the staff in the company to know all transactions.
• Lack of data Integrity: Using the manual method of keeping records, all information stored is not prevented from people who do not have access to it, and making sure that those who should have access to it can get in a way that is expected to be for feature use.
• Ineffective Transfer of Data: In a manual method of storing records, transferring of data or information that is stored in a file is done by people who carry records from one office to the other, using this manual method many records are lost and will consume time.

1.4   Aim and Objectives

This project aims to develop Android smart ticketing using RFID technology. Other objectives include:

1. To identify the relevant features of various components, and methods needed for the Android smart ticketing system and to assist operators’ operations and marketing decisions through timely decision-making via the Management Information System through the deployment of the Android smart ticketing system and the phasing out of the manual ticketing system.
2. To enable passengers to check the availability of the ticket, check the time of departure and arrival for every Transnational’s online through the system.
3. To provide a passenger with web-based ticket functions that enable passengers to reserve/book tickets through the online system and no need to queue up at the counter.
4. To enable a customer to cancel/postpone a booked ticket and also rate a driver after traveling.

1.5   Scope of the Project

The focus of this study is on two parties: employees and customers. Customers will be able to use this Android smart ticketing system to purchase tickets at their leisure, postpone/cancel tickets that have already been booked, and rate drivers as a decision support system.

1.6  Significance of the Research

This research survey identifies the need of developing and promoting a comprehensive Android smart ticketing system.  This study explores views from the ticketing system companies as the service providers and the customers as the system users upon the adoption of this system.

Many firms use Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a major indication of success in today’s competitive business environment. Customer service has benefited greatly from the use of online data management. As a result of this research, an organization will not only enhance operational efficiency, gain competitive advantages, and deliver higher-quality services, but it will also lead to superior control over the booking process, allowing clients to choose their services from other rivals.

On the other hand, a study of system users reveals that consumers are aware of the existing system and are eager to switch from the traditional (manual) technique of purchasing tickets over the counter to the modern method of purchasing through a web portal.

1.7 Definitions of Terms

Ticket: A piece of paper or card holder that gives the right to admission to a place or event or travel on public transport.

Reservation: The action of reserving/booking or arranging for the use of a particular person.

Cancellation: The act of deciding that (a planned event) will not take place.

Postponement: An act of arranging for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.

System: A complex whole; a set of things working together as a mechanism or interconnecting network.

Data: Facts and statistics used for reference or analysis.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): This is a technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person.

Secure Access Module (or Secure Application Module) is based on Smart Card Integrated circuits and is used to enhance the security and cryptography performance in devices, commonly in devices needing to perform secure transactions, such as payment terminals

An electronic lock: (or electric lock) is a locking device that operates using electric current. Electric locks are sometimes stand-alone with an electronic control assembly mounted directly to the lock

Ubiquitous computing (or “ubicomp”) is a concept in software engineering and computer science where computing is made to appear anytime and everywhere

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