User:Mrgs123/Automated Fare Collection

Automated Fare Collection (AFC) is the automation of the ticketing system of a public transportation network - an automated version of manual fare collection. An AFC System is usually the basis for integrated ticketing.

System Description
AFC Systems often consist of the following components (the "tier" terminology is common, but not universal):
 * Tier 0 = Fare Media
 * Tier 1 = Devices to read/write Media
 * Tier 2 = Depot/Station Computers
 * Tier 3 = Back office systems
 * (Optional) Tier 4 = Central Clearing House

In addition to processing electronic fare media, many AFC systems have equipment on vehicles and stations which accepts cash payment in some form.

Fare Media
AFC Systems originated with tokens or paper tickets dispensed by staff or from self-service vending machines. These have generally been replaced with magnetic stripe cards.

Since their introduction in 1997 with the Octopus Card in Hong Kong, contactless smart cards have become the standard fare media in AFC systems, though many systems support multiple media types.

More recently, contactless smart cards from bank networks have been seen more frequently in AFC.

The promise of ubiquitous NFC phones may provide the next generation of fare media.

Devices to read/write Media
These take numerous forms, including:
 * Ticket Office Terminals - where a mediaholder can purchase a right to travel from staff in an office, or enquire as to the value and travel rights associated with the media
 * Ticket Vending Machines - where a mediaholder can purchase a right to travel from a self-service machine, or enquire as to the value and travel rights associated with the media
 * Fare gate - often used in a train station so a mediaholder can gain access to a [[paid area] where travel services are provided
 * Stand-alone Validator - used to confirm media holds an appropriate travel right, and to write the usage of the media onto the media for later verification (e.g. by a conductor/inspector). Often used in proof-of-payment systems.
 * On-vehicle Validator - used by a mediaholder to confirm travel rights and board a vehicle (e.g. bus, tram, train)
 * Inspector/conductor device - used by transit operations staff to verify travel rights

Depot/Station Computers
Used to concentrate data communications with devices in a station or bus depot. Common in older AFC systems where communication lines to upper tiers were slow or unreliable.

Back office systems
Servers and software to provide management and oversight of the AFC system. Usually includes:
 * Fare management - changing of fares and fare products
 * Media management - support for blacklisting of lost/stolen media
 * Reporting - periodic reports on performance of the AFC System, financial details and passenger movements

Clearing House
In larger systems, especially where multiple system operators share common, interoperable media, a central system similar to those used in stock exchanges (see Clearing house (finance)) is used to provide financial management, and other services to the operators such as:
 * Clearing and settling of funds
 * Common reporting
 * Apportionment of revenue between operators

Examples
This is list is only a high-level summary of a few notable AFC systems. (See List of smart cards for a comprehensive list of AFC and other systems based on contactless smart cards.)