Depository System

• US 20060279400A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Gotfried, Bradley L. Gotfried
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Gotfried, Bradley L. Gotfried
• Inventors: Gotfried, Bradley L., Gotfried, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US11/380,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.520
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned

Abstract

An automated depository system having a sobriety detection mechanism and a storage unit for storing a deposited article in which the storage unit selectively releases the stored article based on measurements taken by the sobriety detection mechanism. In one arrangement, the sobriety detection mechanism can produce a blood alcohol content reading, and the storage unit can release the deposited article when the reading is below a predetermined value. Conversely, the storage unit can retain the article when the reading reaches a predetermined value. In another arrangement, the system can have circuitry for contacting a transportation service based on measurements taken by the sobriety detection mechanism.

Claims

1. An automated depository system, comprising:

a sobriety detection mechanism;

a storage unit for storing a deposited article;

circuitry for contacting a transportation service;

a processor operably coupled with at least one of the group consisting of said storage unit, said sobriety detection mechanism and said circuitry;

wherein said processor signals said storage unit to release the deposited article when the sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that does not reach a predetermined threshold indicating that a user is sober; and

wherein said processor signals said storage unit to retain the deposited article and signals said circuitry to contact a transportation service when said sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that the user is not sober.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sobriety detection mechanism provides a blood alcohol content reading;

wherein said storage unit releases said deposited article when said blood alcohol content reading is below a predetermined value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sobriety detection mechanism provides a blood alcohol content reading;

wherein said storage unit retains said deposited article when said blood alcohol content reading reaches a predetermined value.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sobriety detection mechanism provides a blood alcohol reading;

wherein said circuitry contacts said transportation service when said blood alcohol reading reaches a predetermined value.

5. The transportation service of claim 1, wherein said transportation service is selected from the group consisting of a taxi, a tow truck and a delivery service.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising structure for receiving payment from a user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said structure includes circuitry for receiving data from an electronic transactional card.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said user interface displays measurements taken by said sobriety detection mechanism.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of said measurements is a blood alcohol content reading.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a biometric identifier for identifying at least one biometric characteristic of an individual using said system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of said biometric characteristics is selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint, a retinal scan and an iris scan.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said article is a key.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising structure for receiving payment from a user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said structure includes circuitry for receiving data from an electronic transactional card.

14. A method of automatically storing articles, comprising the steps of:

storing at least one article in a storage unit;

obtaining sobriety measurements of an individual with a sobriety detection mechanism; and

releasing the deposited article from the storage unit when the sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that does not reach a predetermined threshold indicating that a user is sober, or retaining the deposited article and signaling the circuitry to contact a transportation service when said sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that the user is not sober.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of contacting a transportation service if warranted by the measurements taken by the sobriety detection mechanism.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a biometric identifier; and

identifying at least one biometric characteristic of an individual with the biometric identifier.

17. An automated depository system, comprising:

a sobriety detection mechanism;

a storage unit for storing a deposited article;

circuitry for contacting a transportation service;

a biometric identifier;

a processor operably coupled with at least one of the group consisting of said storage unit, said sobriety detection mechanism, said circuitry and said biometric identifier;

wherein said processor signals said storage unit to release the deposited article when the sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that does not reach a predetermined threshold indicating that a user is sober and the biometric identifier identifies a biometric characteristic; and

wherein said processor signals said storage unit to retain the deposited article and signals said circuitry to contact a transportation service when said sobriety detection mechanism obtains a sobriety detection measurement that reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that the user is not sober.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said sobriety detection mechanism provides a blood alcohol content reading;

wherein said storage unit releases said deposited article when said blood alcohol content reading is below a predetermined value or said storage unit retains said deposited article when said blood alcohol content reading reaches a predetermined value.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said sobriety detection mechanism provides a blood alcohol reading;

wherein said circuitry contacts said transportation service when said blood alcohol reading reaches a predetermined value.

20. The transportation service of claim 17, wherein said transportation service is selected from the group consisting of a taxi, a tow truck and a delivery service.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising a user interface.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said user interface displays measurements taken by said sobriety detection mechanism.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of said measurements is a blood alcohol content reading.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein said biometric characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint, a retinal scan and an iris scan.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of a key and a gun.