Payment Apparatus for a Personal Transportation System

• US 20100243724A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solomon K. Golla
• Original Assignee: Solomon K. Golla
• Inventors: Golla, Solomon K
• Application Number:
  US12/414,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/30.R
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/08 with means for varying the tariff or changing the price

Abstract

A payment apparatus for a personal transportation system includes a display device for displaying a calculated fare for a passenger'"'"'s desired travel. A card slot accepts a passenger'"'"'s payment card for payment of the fare. A bill slot accepts paper currency for payment of the fare. A coin slot accepts coin currency for payment of the fare. A bill return returns paper currency as change for overpayment of the fare. A coin return returns coin currency as change for overpayment of the fare. A communicating means communicates to the personal transportation system that the fare has been paid.

Claims

1. A payment apparatus for a personal transportation system, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a calculated fare for a passenger'"'"'s desired travel;

means for accepting a payment card for payment of the fare;

means for accepting currency for payment of the fare;

means for returning currency as change for overpayment of the fare; and

means for communicating to the personal transportation system that the fare has been paid.

2. A payment apparatus for a personal transportation system, the apparatus comprising:

a display device for displaying a calculated fare for a passenger'"'"'s desired travel;

a card slot for accepting a passenger'"'"'s payment card for payment of the fare;

a bill slot for accepting paper currency for payment of the fare;

a coin slot for accepting coin currency for payment of the fare;

a bill return for returning paper currency as change for overpayment of the fare;

a coin return for returning coin currency as change for overpayment of the fare; and

means for communicating to the personal transportation system that the fare has been paid.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the communicating means further communicates to the transportation system to start the passenger'"'"'s desired travel.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the communicating means further communicates to the transportation system to allow the passenger to exit upon completion to the passenger'"'"'s desired travel.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the display device further displays websites.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said payment card is a credit card.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said payment card is a prepaid fare card.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the display device further displays advertisements.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the transportation system comprises an automated taxi system and the communication means communicates with the automated taxi system.

10. A payment computer for an automated taxi that operates in automated fashion to transport a passenger, the payment computer comprising:

a housing for mounting the payment computer in a passenger compartment of the automated taxi;

a display device for at least displaying a calculated fare for a passenger'"'"'s desired travel, current location and destination, the fare being at least calculated from distance and estimated time of travel for the passenger'"'"'s desired travel, the display device further being configured for displaying advertisements and website type information;

a card slot for accepting a payment card where the passenger can insert a credit card or prepaid card for payment of the fare;

a bill slot for accepting paper currency where the passenger can insert bills for cash payment of the fare;

a coin slot for accepting coin currency where the passenger can insert coins for cash payment of the fare;

a bill return for returning paper currency as change for cash overpayment of the fare;

a coin return for returning coin currency as change for cash overpayment of the fare; and

means for communicating to the automated taxi to begin the desired travel and that the fare has been paid where the automated taxi allows the passenger to exit at the destination.