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APTA TCIP-S-001 - Standard for Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP)


This Fact Sheet was written on September 25, 2009 using version 3.03 of the standard dated January 10, 2009. The status of the standard at the time was: Approved.

This Fact Sheet was written on September 25, 2009. The status of the standard at the time was: In Ballot.

This Fact Sheet was last verified on September 25, 2009

 Check the ITS Standards Search to see if there has been subsequent development activity.

Overview

The Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP) standard specifies the rules and terms for the automated exchange of information in transit applications such as operations, maintenance, planning, management, and customer services. TCIP is an interface standard whose primary purpose is to define standardized mechanisms for the exchange of information in the form of data among transit business systems, subsystems, components, and devices.

What are these standards for?

This standard, APTA TCIP-S-001 - Standard for Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP), provides a standardized definition of data to be used for transit agency information transfers. The standard supports both file transfers and automated information transfers. For automated interfaces, TCIP defines the sequence of interactions between the interfaced systems in the form of dialogs.

Who uses them?

This standard, APTA TCIP-S-001 - Standard for Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP), should be used by transit managers, software vendors, and procurement personnel involved in the specification, selection, procurement, installation, operation, and maintenance of electronic transit applications. Fare collection, incident management, bus traffic management, on board systems, passenger information, scheduling and runcutting, and transit control centers are examples of transit applications for which transit professionals, vendors, and others would use this standard.

How are they used?

This standard, APTA TCIP-S-001 - Standard for Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP), defines data elements, data frames (grouping of data elements together to describe something meaningful in the real world), messages (a collection of data elements and data frames, incorporated into a meaningful one-way information transfer package), and dialogs (definitions of sequences of messages required for two-way information exchange). These building blocks can be used to transfer information among and between transit systems. TCIP provides a rich vocabulary of possible information exchanges that agencies can use on an a-la-carte basis according to their specific business needs. TCIP defines an Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) format for the data and messages as well as an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) schema to provide data exchange formats between business systems, but allows for other transfer syntaxes to be used as well. The standard is composed of four volumes that organize the information in the following way:

  • Volume 1 contains narrative about the standard including an Overview, Definitions, References, Concept of Operations, Model Architecture, Message encoding, Dialog Patterns, Conformance Criteria and informative sections concerning TCIP procurements and TCIP network communications implementations.
  • Volume 2 contains the data element, data frame and message definitions in ASN.1, and TCIP dialog definitions.
  • Volume 3 contains the TCIP XML Schema.
  • Volume 4 contains a series of annexes to the standard including topics such as National ITS Architecture Traceability Mapping, Base Type Definitions, TCIP Narrow Band Encoding, TCIP Polling Protocol, sample Profile Requirements List (PRL), and sample Profile Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS).
Scope

This standard, APTA TCIP-S-001 - Standard for Transit Communications Interface Profiles (TCIP), describes the background, basic concepts, data, messages, dialogs, and conformance requirements that apply to all TCIP business areas. The standard covers the following business areas: Scheduling, Passenger Information, Incident Management, Onboard Systems, Control Center, Spatial Representation, Common Public Transportation, and Transit Signal Priority. The standard also includes sections describing the additional business area of Fare Collection, but these sections are not balloted or approved for use.

Related documents

The following ITS standards should be considered when using this standard:

The following standards and documents, while not part of the ITS standards, should be considered when using this standard:

How to obtain Standards
American Public Transportation Association
202-496-4800
https://www.apta.com/