System and method for using a universal payment card for transportation vehicles for hire

• US 20050165683A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acquenetta Taylor
• Original Assignee: Acquenetta Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Acquenetta
• Application Number:
  US10/756,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

The present invention comprises a payment debit system specifically tailored to transportation vehicles and the method for its use wherein a passenger preferably will pre-purchase a card for a predetermined amount of fare at local outlets to be used in any hired vehicle located throughout the world equipped with the system. A second preferred embodiment will allow the passenger to swipe the card into a computer terminal located within a transportation vehicle, thus allowing a passenger to choose her or his destination and fare, upon which occurrence terminal connects to a main computer database after pin confirmation via satellite, thereby deducting the amount of fare from the debit card and printing a confirmation receipt for the passenger. A third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a panic device akin to LoJack® system for security purposes that may be depressed by both a driver and/or a passenger in case of emergency.

Claims

1. A system for payment of hired transportation comprising:

a prepaid transportation debit card;

a computer terminal affixed to a transportation vehicle capable of calculating the fare and routes for a particular passenger destination;

a swiping device as attached to the computer terminal able to communicate information on card to computer terminal;

a wireless satellite circuitry affixed to computer terminal communicating information from computer terminal to main computer database; and

a main computer database that deducts the fare from the prepaid transportation debit card and tracks card use.

2. The system in claim 1 wherein the prepaid transportation debit card is further provided with a pin number.

3. The system in claim 1 wherein the prepaid transportation debit card is further made of a substantially rigid copolymeric substance.

4. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer terminal is further provided with a display of one of the following types:

touchscreen, LCD or plasma.

5. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer terminal is further provided with circuitry for a GPS navigational system.

6. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer terminal is further provided with a keypad.

7. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer terminal is further provided with an internal printer with external receiving device.

8. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer terminal is further provided with a panic button for security purposes.

9. The system in claim 7 wherein the panic button for security purposes is a LoJack®

system.

10. The system in claim 1 wherein the swiping device is substantially the width of the prepaid transportation card.

11. The system in claim 1 wherein the main computer database confirms lost or stolen status.

12. The system in claim 1 wherein the main computer database can communicate with external emergency services.

13. The system in claim 1 wherein the main computer database can communicate with a credit card for expedient fare replenishment to the debit card.

14. A method of passenger effectuating payment for hired transportation comprising the steps of:

a) providing a prepaid transportation debit card in a predetermined amount;

b) swiping a prepaid transportation debit card into a computer terminal attached to transportation vehicle.

c) entering destination data into a computer terminal;

d) choosing a route utilizing the computer terminal;

e) entering in a predetermined pin number;

f) communicating destination, fare, and pin information via satellite to main computer database; and

g) receiving confirmation data regarding debit deduction and destination.

15. The method in claim 14 wherein the passenger can enter in a tip to the terminal for fore deduction.

16. The method in claim 14 wherein the passenger can enter in the number of passengers into the terminal.

17. The method in claim 16 wherein the passenger will invalidate a prepaid transportation card after three failed attempts in entering an incorrect pin.