Computer controlled system providing functions within a laundromat facility
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer controlled system providing customer access to, control and monitoring of self service apparatuses providing functions within a laundromat facility, the system comprising:
- a plurality of apparatuses within the laundromat facility for providing specific respective laundromat functions;
programmable computer means;
means for storing and retrieving data in nonvolatile storage coupled to the computer means;
at least one validating means for accepting and validating respective customers'"'"' payments;
means for providing customer account information to respective customers;
means, including program means in said computer means, for opening respective customers'"'"' accounts and generating respective customers'"'"' accounts;
means, including program means in said computer means, to authenticate respective accounts at a site within the facility wherein the authenticated account is used to access various ones of the apparatuses; and
means coupled to said computer means and responsive to signals therefrom for activating respective ones of the apparatuses.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer controlled system providing accountability at a laundromat facility. The system includes a central computer and a plurality of washers/dryers, as well as one or more accessory vending machines. The vending machines and each washer and dryer or combination of washers and dryers includes a programmed microprocessor which controls access to the apparatus and interfaces with the central computer providing information to and receiving information from the central computer. An account generation site, via which a customer can communicate with the central computer is provided, as are an operator'"'"'s terminal including a keypad, display and printer. Sensors for sensing temperatures, pressures and the like are operatively arranged to provide data inputs to the central computer. A remote operator terminal can be provided, modems being used, to effect communication with the central computer and the programmed microprocessors.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer controlled system providing customer access to, control and monitoring of self service apparatuses providing functions within a laundromat facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses within the laundromat facility for providing specific respective laundromat functions; programmable computer means; means for storing and retrieving data in nonvolatile storage coupled to the computer means; at least one validating means for accepting and validating respective customers'"'"' payments; means for providing customer account information to respective customers; means, including program means in said computer means, for opening respective customers'"'"' accounts and generating respective customers'"'"' accounts; means, including program means in said computer means, to authenticate respective accounts at a site within the facility wherein the authenticated account is used to access various ones of the apparatuses; and means coupled to said computer means and responsive to signals therefrom for activating respective ones of the apparatuses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer controlled system providing customer access to, control and monitoring of self service apparatuses providing functions within a laundromat facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses within the laundromat facility for providing specific respective laundromat functions; programmable computer means; means for storing and retrieving data in nonvolatile storage coupled to the computer means; at least one means, for accepting and validating respective customers'"'"' payments; means responsive to signals from said means for accepting and validating said customers payments, for opening and modifying the customers'"'"' accounts, and for storing account information in said nonvolatile storage means; and means, including program means in said computer means, to authenticate respective accounts at a site within the facility wherein the authenticated account is used to access various ones of the apparatuses. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer controlled system providing customer access to, control and monitoring of self service apparatuses providing functions within a laundromat facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses within the laundromat facility for providing specific respective laundromat functions; programmable computer means; means for storing and retrieving data in nonvolatile storage coupled to the computer means; at least one validating means for accepting and validating respective customers'"'"' payments; means for providing customer account information to respective customers; means, including program means in said computer means, for opening respective customers accounts and generating respective customers'"'"' accounts; means, including program means in said computer means, to authenticate respective accounts at a site within the facility wherein the authenticated account is used to access various ones of the apparatuses; means for monitoring operating parameters and functions of the apparatuses; means, including program means in the computer means, for maintaining and storing customer account information and information relating to operating parameters and functions of the apparatuses; and means for extracting from the computer means customer account information and information relating to operating parameters and functions of the apparatuses. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A computer controlled system providing customer access to, control and monitoring of self service apparatuses providing functions within a laundromat facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses within the laundromat facility for providing specific respective laundromat functions; programmable computer means; means for storing and retrieving data in nonvolatile storage coupled to the computer means; at least one validating means for accepting and validating respective customers'"'"' payments; means for providing customer account information to respective customers; means, including program means in said computer means, for opening respective customers'"'"' accounts and generating respective customers'"'"' accounts; and means, including program means in said computer means, to authenticate respective accounts at a site within the facility wherein the authenticated account is used to access various ones of the apparatuses.
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Specification