Terminal for communication in an urban environment

• US 6,411,937 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER SYSTEMES
• Original Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER SYSTEMES
• Inventors: Brusseaux, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/333,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/21, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 340/932.2, 340/5.9, 194/205, 194/900
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters

Abstract

A communications terminal for communicating in an urban environment. The communications terminal includes a parking meter with a printer and a payment device. The terminal also is provided with a CPU, a modem for communicating with at least one information server, and a user interface for selecting information.

Claims

1. A communications terminal, comprising:

a parking meter having

printer means,

payment receiving means,

display means,

user interface means, and

control means, responsive to at least one of (i) a payment made by a user into said payment receiving means, and (ii) selections made by the user via said user interface means, to control said printer means to print a ticket for indicating a period of permitted parking;

communication means for communicating with a remote source of information,

means, including said user interface means, to designate information to be accessed in the remote source of information via said communication means,

means, including said display means, to display said accessed information, and

means, including said printer means, to print out said accessed information.

2. A communications terminal according to claim 1, wherein said user interface means for selecting information comprises a display screen and a device for selecting information displayed on said display screen.

3. A communications terminal according to claim 2, wherein said selection device is a knob.

4. A communications terminal according to claim 2, wherein said selection device is a plurality of touch-sensitive keys disposed on the display screen.

5. A communications terminal according to claim 1, wherein said terminal operates on-line, being permanently connected to said server.

6. A communications terminal according to claim 1, wherein said terminal operates off-line, not being permanently connected to said server.

7. A communications terminal, comprising:

a parking meter having

printer means,

payment receiving means,

user interface means, and

control means, responsive to at least one of (i) a payment made by a user into said payment receiving means, and (ii) selections made by the user via said user interface means, to control said printer means to print a ticket for indicating a period of permitted parking;

communication means for communicating with a remote source of information,

means to designate information to be accessed in the remote source of information via said communication means,

display means to display said accessed information, and

means, including said printer means, to print out said accessed information.

8. A communications terminal, comprising:

a parking meter having

printer means,

payment receiving means,

display means, and

control means, responsive to a payment made by a user into said payment receiving means, to control said printer means to print a ticket for indicating a period of permitted parking;

communication means for communicating with a remote source of information,

user interface means to designate information to be accessed in the remote source of information via said communication means,

means, including said display means, to display said accessed information, and

means, including said printer means, to print out said accessed information.

9. A communications terminal, comprising:

a parking meter having

printer means,

payment receiving means, and

control means, responsive to a payment made by a user into said payment receiving means, to control said printer means to print a ticket for indicating a period of permitted parking;

communication means for communicating with a remote source of information,

user interface means to designate information to be accessed in the remote source of information via said communication means,

display means to display said accessed information, and

means, including said printer means, to print out said accessed information.