Archives: Glossary Terms

Account-Based Ticketing is a public transit ticketing system model using patron accounts as a source of data for determining fares and validating access to services.

Validator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model.

A transit operator or an agency representing several transit operators. In our model, the TA is a seller of their services on an online marketplace.

Open-to-Ride Balance is an e-wallet monetary value for ticketing purposes, associated with a contactless token, shared between Transit Agencies.  It can be pre-authorized, prepaid, postpaid, or a combination of thereof.

Universal Ticketing Agent is a model of open-loop public transit ticketing using card-not-present transactions for fare acquiring. 

An online marketplace comprising two categories of customers: (A) online shoppers—e-wallet holders with cards or cash, and service receivers; (B) online merchants, sellers, and service providers. Examples include Amazon, Walmart, Uber, and many others.

Up-Front Validation method means that each contactless card tap originates a card-present payment transaction. The card issuer approval/decline response comes in several seconds. The validator cannot wait for the card issuer response and lets the patron ride. If the ticketing system gets the issuer decline it places the card in the stop list.

Open-loop ticketing allows fare payments with Visa, Mastercard, etc. cards. UniTiAg unlocks non-card-based open-loop ticketing tools, e.g., direct banking, e-wallets, crypto, etc.