SERVICE KIOSK

• US 20180165655A1
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go Moto, Inc., Meridian Zero, LLC
• Original Assignee: Go Moto, Inc., Meridian Zero, LLC
• Inventors: Marcelle, Todd, Gilder, Christopher, Florig, Robert, Williams, JR., Lynwood A., White, Philip Aubrey
• Granted Patent: US 11,062,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Abstract

Systems, methods and tools for securely scheduling appointments, maintenance and repairs of vehicles. The system may be an automated service kiosk available 24 hours a day. A customer can schedule services, drop off and pick up keys for receiving service at any time that may be convenient for the customer, without regard for the normal operating hours of the service provider and may do so without having to interact with an employee of the service provider. Automated customer recognition may be performed using license scanning or biometric scanning. The user may select a service from a menu of services and deposit keys (or key fobs) within the kiosk system or receive keys therefrom. Upon returning to complete the service transaction customers may scan a paper or digital receipt provided during the initial scheduling of the service and tender payment via the kiosk or using digital currency.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a scanning device in electronic communication with the processor;

a key storage system in electronic communication with the processor, comprising a deposit zone and a retrieval zone; and

a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the storage device contains program code executable by the processor via the memory device to implement a method for performing an service transaction comprising the steps of;

receiving, by the processor, user input identifying a user profile;

displaying, by the processor, a plurality of services available for each vehicle registered to the user profile;

scheduling, by the processor, a selected service;

assigning, by the processor, a storage location for a key deposited into the deposit zone of the key storage system; and

providing, by the processor, a scannable code, wherein the scannable code identifies the storage location of the key and instructs the computer system to retrieve the key as a function of scanning the scannable code with the scanning device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user input identifying the user profile is received by the processor as a function of scanning, with the scanning device, a driver'"'"'s license.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a payment system electronically connected to the processor of the computer system, wherein the program code executable by the processor further comprises the steps of:

receiving, by the processor, instructions as a function of scanning the scannable code, identifying the storage location of the key previously deposited in the deposit zone;

further receiving, by the processor, payment information inputted into the payment system;

retrieving, by the processor, the key from the storage location; and

delivering the key to the retrieval zone of the computer system.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the program code executable by the processor further comprises the steps of:

delivering, by the processor, a receipt, wherein the receipt is electronically transmitted to a separate client device or printed by the computer system.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is a kiosk.

6. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the step of providing the scannable code further comprises:

transmitting, by the processor, the scannable code to a mobile application server responsible for serving the scannable code to a client device.

7. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the step of electronically transmitting the receipt to the separate client device is delivered using a method selected from the group consisting of email, push notification, short messaging service (SMS) and direct messaging.

8. A method for performing a service transaction comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a processor, user input identifying a user profile;

displaying, by the processor, a plurality of services available for each vehicle registered to the user profile;

scheduling, by the processor, a selected service;

assigning, by the processor, a storage location for a key deposited into a deposit zone of a key storage system; and

providing, by the processor, a scannable code, wherein the scannable code identifies the storage location of the key and instructs the processor to retrieve the key as a function of scanning the scannable code with a scanning device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input identifying the user profile is received by the processor as a function of scanning, with the scanning device, a driver'"'"'s license.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the processor, instructions as a function of scanning the scannable code, identifying the storage location of the key previously deposited in the deposit zone;

further receiving, by the processor, payment information inputted into a payment system;

retrieving, by the processor, the key from the storage location; and

delivering the key to the retrieval zone of the computer system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

delivering, by the processor, a receipt, wherein the receipt is electronically transmitted to a separate client device or printed by the computer system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing the scannable code further comprises:

transmitting, by the processor, the scannable code to a mobile application server responsible for serving the scannable code to a client device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of electronically transmitting the receipt to the separate client device is delivered using a method selected from the group consisting of email, push notification, short messaging service (SMS) and direct messaging.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in a computer system, where the computer-readable program code in combination with the computer system is configured to implement the steps of receiving, displaying, scheduling, assigning and providing.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable hardware storage system having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code containing instructions executable by a computer processor to implement a method for performing a service transaction comprising the steps of;

receiving, by the processor, user input identifying a user profile;

displaying, by the processor, a plurality of services available for each vehicle registered to the user profile;

scheduling, by the processor, a selected service;

assigning, by the processor, a storage location for a key deposited into a deposit zone of a key storage system; and

providing, by the processor, a scannable code, wherein the scannable code identifies the storage location of the key and instructs the processor to retrieve the key as a function of scanning the scannable code with a scanning device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the user input identifying the user profile is received by the processor as a function of scanning, with the scanning device, a driver'"'"'s license.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the processor, instructions as a function of scanning the scannable code, identifying the storage location of the key previously deposited in the deposit zone;

further receiving, by the processor, payment information inputted into a payment system;

retrieving, by the processor, the key from the storage location; and

delivering the key to the retrieval zone of the computer system.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

delivering, by the processor, a receipt, wherein the receipt is electronically transmitted to a separate client device or printed by the computer system.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the step of providing the scannable code further comprises:

transmitting, by the processor, the scannable code to a mobile application server responsible for serving the scannable code to a client device.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the step of electronically transmitting the receipt to the separate client device is delivered using a method selected from the group consisting of email, push notification, short messaging service (SMS) and direct messaging.