Wi-Fi applications in Paris Urban Transport Metro and Buses

1
Wi-Fi applications in Paris Urban Transport
Metro and Buses

• Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens - RATP
• J. Richert
• Appear Networks
• X. Aubry

2
RATP Paris Subway Bus
Business
With 44300 employees, RATP operates 4 networks
metro (14 subway lines), bus (4000 buses over 317
bus lines), RER (2 lines express train),
tramway (2 lines)
RATP intelligent bus project
Challenge
Delivering real-time operational information to
employees in stations and in buses
Applications
Customer information, profitability, staff
management, maintenance, security, etc.
RATP wireless employee projects
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The Pain Point
Too much Information
Information Headache?

• Wireless broadband is overwhelming for mobile
  users
• Too much information
• Too cumbersome to surf search
• Too much administration

• Information push and data filtering are required
• Pushing relevant data to the right users
• Easy to use graphical user interface
• Simplified and centralized service administration

Painkiller
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On-site Intelligent Filtering
Information Filtering

• Information push means new constraints on
  information filtering
• Only the right data should be pushed
• Relevance of information is highly dependant on
  the workers' situation
• Time
• Location
• Role
• Type of device
• Available bandwidth
• ...

• An extra layer of computing intelligence is
  required in order to deliver an effective
  solution for mobile workers

Context Engine
Context-Aware Services
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Relevant Information Immediately Available
Wireless Network
No Coverage
Easy Access to Data In One Single Click
Current Information Stored for Offline Use
User Recognition Context Assessment Delivery of
Relevant Data
6
Mobile Staff ongoing projects

• RER A department (since oct 2004)
• La Défense station
• 200 trained frontliners
• Customer care staff controllers
• Tramway department (since feb 2005)
• 30 trained nomad frontliners
• Customer care staff
• Night bus department (since sept 2005)
• Bi-mode PDAs
• 50 trained nomad frontliners
• Customer care staff, support teams controllers
• Security department (since sept 2005)
• Trained nomad frontliners
• Homeless Care Staff

• Used Technology
• Wi-Fi enabled PDAs
• Cisco Wi-Fi network
• Appear Context Engine
• Appear Positioning Engine

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Target architecture principles and advantages

• Principles
• Host Agnostic Database
• Requesting and data through XML format
• Style sheet adapted for any broadcasting media
• Advantages
• Multi-channel native management PC, PDA,
  Smartphone, Vocal server, Interactive television,
  etc.
• Shared Infrastructure and development cost
  reduction
• Flexibility

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Context-Aware Mobile Services

• Customer care applications
• Travel planning
• Real time connections, timetables
• Traffic disruptions
• Site information
• Fare information
• Customer surveys
• Security applications
• Emergency call (bi-mode PDAs)
• Others operational applications
• Homeless care management
• Controller applications
• Station bus stop management
• Staff management
• Equipment maintenance

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Mobile devices for staff membersTravel planner
10
Mobile devices for staff membersReal time
traffic
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Mobile devices for staff membersTraffic
disruptions
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Communicating Bus project

• Problem
• Each bus application had its own communication
  module
• Discontinuity of services in the RATP network
• Solution
• Cisco Mobile Access Router one communication
  platform for all applications
• Appear IQ Onboard context-aware services
• Advantages
• Future-Proof
• Shared infrastructure and development cost
  reduction
• Flexibility
• Continuity of services through context-aware
  approach

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And the future ?

• For RATP employees
• Emergency applications
• Generalized distribution of mobile devices
• For customers
• Information and ticketing applications through
  Smartphone
• For all
• Large stations equipped with Wi-Fi

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Flexible Architecture
WLAN
Appear Client
RATP NOC
ApplicationServers
ACE ASE
APE ZE
WiMax
Cisco Mobile Access Router
ACE ASE
Appear Positioning Engines
Proxy
LDAP/AD
ACE ASE
GPS
Server
3rd PartyServices
Proxy
Appear Client
ACE ASE
WAN
Proxy
Operator NOC
Appear Client
GPRS/EDGE /UMTS Network
Packet Gateway (PDSN, GGSN)
GPRS, UMTS Cell-based Location Enabler
Pos
Appear Context Engine (ACE)
Appear Positioning Engine (APE)
Optional 3rd party components
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Lessons Learned
Return on Investment

• The impact of an intelligent wireless
  communication platform on your bottom-line
  depends on
• 4 Golden Rules

• Focus on workforce efficiency before looking at
  new possible revenues cost savings today are
  better than revenues tomorrow!

Rule Nb 1

• Manage IT cost by selecting a solution that has
  an impact on the total cost of ownership of your
  fleet of mobile devices watch the TCO.

Rule Nb 2
Retain flexibility / adaptability by using open
standard solutions that can work with multiple IP
networks and heterogeneous device fleets.
Rule Nb 3
Focus on employee compliance and customer
satisfaction by adopting solutions with high
ergonomics no usage, no impact!
Rule Nb 4
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Thank you!

• Questions?
• joelle.richert_at_ratp.fr
• xavier.aubry_at_appearnetworks.com