AUTOMATIC
FARE COLLECTION (AFC) SYSTEM
Automatic Fare Collection
(AFC) system are deployed in public transit
network, to allow collection of fare through
the use of stored value smart cards by passengers.
By the automation of this important function
“fare collection’, the operators are able
to reduce total cost of ownership and increase
profitability.
Prodigy is a supplier of
hardware electronics required for the implementation
of a Automatic Fare Collection System. Prodigy
hardware products for Automatic Fare Collection
(AFC) system are:
Bus
Card Processor (BCP)
– A rugged ARM CPU based computing
device running on Linux OS is the primary
passenger interface device providing 13.56Mhz
contact-less smart card reading functionality
with graphical display. The Bus Card Processor
(BCP) supports card reading distance of up-to
10CM. The Bus Card Processor (BCP) are placed
at the entrance and/or exit doors of the public
transport. The BCP are connected through Ethernet
or RS485 to the Bus Controller Unit (BCU) ( 
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Bus
Controller Unit (BCU) – A rugged ARM
CPU based computer running on Linux OS is
the central processing unit for the entire
AFC application within a public transit bus.
The Bus Controller Unit (BCU) controls and
communicates with the Bus Card processor (BCP)
through Ethernet or RS485. The Bus Controller
Unit (BCU) comes integrated with GPS satellite
tracking facility, providing real-time location
tracking information to the unit. Using this
real time location, the Bus Controller Unit
(BCU) is able to automatically update the
fare prices based on stage fare systems to
be collected at the Bus Card Processor (BCP).
The Bus Controller Unit (BCU) communicates
periodically with the central server through
WLAN or GPRS, to download and upload data.
Portable
Ticketing and Inspection Device (PTID)
– Prodigy’s Handheld Industrial Computer is
primarily designed to provide a rugged handheld
platform for AFC application. The devices
with ARM9 CPU and Linux OS and is the only
device in the market that has such powerful
features for the AFC portable device segment.
The PTID comes equipped with a full graphic
QVGA TFT LCD, thermal printer and card reader
functionalities. Communication with on-bus
devices and back-end servers are supported
through various wireless options including
GPRS, WLAN and Bluetooth
