QR-Code Issues and How To Solve Them
Therefore QR-Codes:
- can be duplicated and be used multiple times,
- require user interaction,
- have limited possibility to define variable time periods,
- cannot be devalued, allowing for multiple uses.
To address some of these limitations, the scanned content is linked to a backend server. This adds more dynamic functionalities to the QR-Code like devaluation (e.g. to ensure one time use only), but introduces its own drawbacks:
- Slowing down the inspection process, especially due to the internet link.
- Strong dependency on internet availability and a performant connection.
Processing time for server linked QR-Codes are reported to be five times (5x) longer than non-linked QR-Codes. This increased time for ticket validation, ultimately results in higher personnel costs. Increased operating costs is a major concern in the industry and increases overall boarding duration that will work negatively on schedule and route planning.
New wireless technology solves the above issues by exchanging the content solely via radio transmission. The inspectors device transmits a challenge to the passenger mobile phone. The mobile phone responds to the challenge with a specific algorithm validating the passenger’s fare.
This approach:
- prevents fraud & duplication,
- works in almost real-time,
- can devalue tickets,
- enables tickets to have a variable validation period,
- works without internet access,
- issues multiple-ticket-cards, e.g. ten-tickets-card,
- allows multiple riders on one electronic ticket and
- does not require user interaction.
The new intelliConductor technology is easily implemented via SDK into any existing iOS or Android App. The Inspector App works on iOS in conjunction with a small hardware device carried by the inspector.