Umo IQ Help

Predictions

How do I use the system?

Real-time arrival information from Umo IQ can be obtained from signs installed at transit stops, from computers with access to the World Wide Web, and from cellular telephones and other wireless devices.

To obtain information via the Web or from wireless devices, specify which stop you want information for. The information will then be automatically displayed and updated every few seconds.

You may add the page to your "Bookmarks" or "Favorites" so you can get back to it quickly.

Keep in mind:

  • Allow enough time to get to your stop.
  • Traffic and emergencies can affect the accuracy of predictions.
  • Umo IQ supplies only the predictions.
  • Contact the transit operator for any other questions or problems.
How does it work?

Umo IQ uses Global Position Satellite (GPS) technology and advanced computer modeling to track buses and streetcars on their routes. Taking into account the actual position of the transit vehicles, their intended stops, and the typical traffic patterns, Umo IQ estimates the bus arrivals with a high degree of accuracy. This estimate is updated constantly as the vehicles are tracked.  The Umo IQ system is covered by U.S. Patents 6,006,159 and 6,374,176. The system is also produced under license from ArrivalStar, Inc. U.S. Patents 5,623,260; 6,411,891; 6,317,060; 6,415,207; 6,313,760 and 6,278,936.

How accurate are the predictions?

The accuracy of the predictions vary depending upon many factors including changes in traffic patterns, accidents, Internet traffic, etc. Therefore Umo IQ cannot specify a precise overall accuracy. In general though, the margin of error is less than one minute for predictions of five-minutes or less. For ten-minute predictions, the margin of error is less than two minutes. We have biased the predictions slightly early to avoid people missing buses. Umo IQ is confident that you will find the system accurate enough to be very helpful.

What are the benefits of the system?

The Umo IQ system puts the transit rider in control. Even when you know what the schedule is, there are any number of reasons that vehicles may not arrive when expected. Traffic variations, breakdowns, and the day-to-day problems faced by any transit company can delay or completely interrupt service.

By using the Umo IQ system to determine when the next vehicle is going to arrive, the rider doesn't need to wait an indeterminate amount of time at a possibly unpleasant or unsafe stop. Instead the rider can make an informed decision. If the vehicle will not be arriving for an extended period, the rider can go into a store, read the newspaper, or even take another mode of transportation.

The Umo IQ system also allows the user to obtain real time arrival information remotely. Riders can determine exactly when to leave home or the office in order to meet the bus -- virtually eliminating waiting time.

Why isn't it available for my bus?

Your transit agency needs to pay for the cost of the Umo IQ system. The number of agencies that provide Umo IQ predictions is rapidly growing but the technology is still relatively new. If you would like to have the service provided for your system, contact your transit agency and tell them what a benefit the Umo IQ system would provide for their passengers.

Why aren't predictions made for all vehicles?

Some transit agencies have not yet purchased the tracking devices for all of their vehicles. When untracked vehicles are run on a route, real-time arrival predictions cannot be made.

Who pays for this service?

The signs at the transit stops and the needed tracking hardware is paid for by the transit agencies. No costs are passed on to the users except for those wireless users who pay for access by the minute.

What future capabilities do you expect to provide?

In the near future we will provide predictions via additional wireless devices. We will also provide alerts that will notify you automatically via your computer or wireless device when the Umo IQ is within a specified distance. That way you will know exactly when to leave your home or office in order to catch the next bus.

What is your advertising policy?

Umo IQ has adopted a policy not to accept Internet advertising for certain classes of products that our transit partners and/or we would not view as socially responsible. Specifically excluded are sexually oriented advertising, tobacco advertising, advertising for fire arms, advertising for alcoholic beverages, and advertising intended to promote any illegal substances.

System Features

Which browsers are supported?

The Umo IQ website is supported by all modern, W3C-compliant browsers and Internet Explorer 9 and above.

Specifically, the following browsers are supported:

Older versions of these browsers may have some design features missing (such as moving vehicle icons, rounded corners, gradients, etc.), but are still able to obtain real-time prediction information. If you are having problems with this website on your browser, please e-mail umoiq.support@cubic.com.

We encourage you to visit http://browsehappy.com for a list of supported browsers and how they will give you the best functionality and performance.

How do I create bookmarks?

The Umo IQ website updates its URL as you select your stop, so you can easily use your preferred browsers bookmarking method.

Why do I have to specify the "From Stop" and "To Stop"?

Sometimes there are multiple routes that go to where you want to go. The Umo IQ system can provide predictions for all possible routes that serve your stops, as long as you specify both the stop where you are boarding ("From Stop") and your destination stop ("To Stop"). Also, there are some routes that have multiple destinations. If your destination is only served by some of the vehicles for your route, then by selecting your destination only predictions for vehicles that actually are going where you need to go will be displayed. If only one route serves the stop where you are boarding and there not multiple destinations for your route, the "To Stop" selector will not have an effect and can be ignored.

Does the site offer access for the visually impaired?

The prediction display has been built and tested with screen-reading software.

How does the system remember the last stop I specified?

The Umo IQ system uses a browser cookie to keep track of the last stop for which real-time arrival information was obtained on your computer.

Do I need to have cookies enabled?

You can obtain real-time predictions even if cookies are disabled. Cookies are only used to remember the last stop for which you wanted predictions. So while this feature is not necessary, it can make it quicker for you to get your desired information.

Do I need to have JavaScript enabled?

You can still obtain real-time predictions even if you have JavaScript disabled. If JavaScript is not available or is turned off, you will automatically be directed to our non-JavaScript pages for specifying which transit stop you want predictions for. The interface will be somewhat different but you will still get exactly the same information.

Do I need to have Java enabled?

Java applets are only used for displaying real-time maps showing where the vehicles are on the desired route. If you have Java disabled, or are using a browser that cannot run applets, you will still be able to access all other features on the Umo IQ Website with the exception of route maps.

Why does the interface sometimes look different?

We have created a simple version of the Umo IQ website for users with JavaScript disabled. If you disabled JavaScript in your web browser you will automatically be redirected to the simpler site. Both sites provide exactly the same prediction information. The only difference is in how you specify the stop for which you want prediction information.

Where do I find schedules?

A link to agency schedules is provided when possible from the Umo IQ stop selector page in the upper, right-hand corner.

Where do I find maps showing where the vehicles are?

On the Umo IQ stop selector page where predictions are displayed, there is a "Show Map" link in the upper, right-hand corner. Click this link to view a map of your selected route.

Privacy

Is my privacy protected?

Umo IQ does NOT track your identity. The system only keeps track of the last stop selected on your computer. If you choose, you can even eliminate this record by turning off the cookies for your browser. You will still be able to obtain predictions.

The Umo IQ mobile site accessible via your smartphone or tablet will attempt to collect your geolocation ONLY for providing passenger information to you. Umo IQ will NOT use this information for any other purpose nor sell or distribute this information to any other organization.

Messages You May Encounter

Agency initializing ...

The agency is being accessed for the first time since our web server's restarted and our systems are loading the agencies data for subsequent reuse.

No current prediction

No information is available at the moment. Check again in a few minutes; it is likely that a prediction will be available shortly.

Possible reasons for this message include:

  • There is no vehicle between the beginning of the route and your stop. This is especially likely if your stop is near the beginning of a route. Wait a few minutes and a prediction should appear.
  • No vehicles are currently scheduled to run. Consult the schedule link for details.
  • Vehicles are running but not ones with the required tracking equipment.
  • Vehicles are deviating from their usual route.
No service scheduled

At this particular time, no vehicles are expected to operate. Check the for more details.

More than X minutes

No vehicle is nearby. The Umo IQ system has determined it will be at least X minutes before the vehicle arrives, but cannot specify an exact wait time. As soon as the vehicle moves, the wait time will be updated.

Please wait ...

Wait a few seconds, or reload the page.

0 minutes

A vehicle is at, or very near, your stop.

X

Agency initializing ...

please wait

Going to your closest Agency...

please wait

X

Internet connection lost.

Unable to predict until connection restored.

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