Automated parking payment system using ATM network

• US 20040206816A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amano Cincinnati Incorporated (Amano Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Amano Cincinnati Incorporated (Amano Corporation)
• Inventors: Calkins, Wade, Gokli, Kaushal, Hamann, Jim D.
• Application Number:
  US10/420,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

An automated parking fee payment station using an ATM network is provided. The payment station includes ATM apparatus including the keypad, a card reader, a display, a communications interface and a micro-computer controller. The payment station further includes parking fee calculating and collection apparatus having a ticket reader and parking fee collection apparatus. The ticket reader and parking fee collection apparatus are operatively connected to and utilize the resources of the micro-computer controller, to allow payment of the parking fee by transaction of the ATM.

Claims

1. An automated parking fee payment station using an ATM network comprising:

ATM apparatus having a keypad, a card reader, a display, a communication interface and a micro-computer controller; and

parking fee calculating and collection apparatus including a ticket reader and parking fee collection apparatus, the ticket reader and parking fee collection apparatus being operatively connected to and utilizing resources of the micro-computer controller to allow payment of the parking fee by transaction of the ATM.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the card reader is operative to read credit cards and debit cards.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the ticket reader and micro-controller cooperate to calculate a time based parking fee.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the communications interface is in electrical communication with an ATM network to debit the calculated parking fee from a users account at a consumer financial institution.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the communications interface is in electrical communication with a credit card network.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the parking fee calculation and collection apparatus comprises a parking payment station operatively connected to the micro-computer controller.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the parking fee collection apparatus and the micro-computer cooperate to collect the time based parking fee.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the ATM apparatus further comprises a cash dispenser.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the micro-computer controller and the cash dispenser cooperate to dispense change in response to cash input to the parking fee collection apparatus and the calculated parking fee.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the cash dispenser is operative to dispense coins and bills.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the parking fee calculation and collection apparatus includes a cash dispenser.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the micro-computer controller and cash dispenser cooperate to dispense change in response to cash input to the parking fee collection apparatus and the calculated parking fee.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the cash dispenser is operative to dispense coin and bills.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the ATM is operative to charge the calculated parking fee to a users credit card.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the ATM is operative to debit the calculated parking fee to a users bank account.