Audio/video automated payment facility
First Claim
1. An automated payment system for a parking facility, comprising:
- an exit gate operable to control egress from the parking facility; and
a payment terminal including;
means for assessing a payment amount;
means for receiving the payment amount;
means for opening said exit gate upon receipt of the payment amount; and
means for providing two-way video and audio communication with a monitoring facility remote from said payment terminal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A central monitoring station is linked to a plurality of remote terminals, such as payment terminals at a plurality of parking facilities. The central monitoring station and each remote terminal includes a two-way communication system in the form of a video camera and display, and audio speaker and microphone. The station and remote terminals are preferably linked through an Ethernet or Internet connection, although a hard-wired connection is also contemplated. The two-way communication system can be used by a customer at the remote terminal to achieve direct human interaction with an attendant at the remote central station to address problems occurring at the terminal. The communication system can also allow the attendant to manipulate the processor of each remote terminal to collect data, troubleshoot or override the function of the terminal.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automated payment system for a parking facility, comprising:
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an exit gate operable to control egress from the parking facility; and
a payment terminal including;
means for assessing a payment amount;
means for receiving the payment amount;
means for opening said exit gate upon receipt of the payment amount; and
means for providing two-way video and audio communication with a monitoring facility remote from said payment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automated payment system for a plurality of parking facilities comprising:
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a central monitoring facility;
a plurality of exit facilities remote from said central monitoring facility, each controlling egress from a corresponding one of the plurality of parking facilities;
a payment terminal at each of said plurality of exit facilities, each having means for assessing and receiving payment; and
means for providing two-way video and audio communication between said central monitoring facility and said payment terminal at each of said plurality of exit facilities. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. The automated payment system according to claim 9, further comprising:
a central processor at said central monitoring facility connected to said processor at said payment terminal through said data link and controllable at said central monitoring facility to control said processor at said payment terminal.
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10. An automated payment system for a facility, comprising:
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an apparatus for calculating a payment amount;
an apparatus for receiving the payment amount;
a gate apparatus operable to control access to the facility in response to receipt of the payment amount; and
a two-way video and audio communication system linking the automated payment system with a monitoring facility remote from the automated payment facility. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification