Kiosk

• US 8,365,868 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, John Richard, Colley, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US12/701,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 186/53, 186/33, 902/8, 902/17, 902/21, 902/23, 902/30, 902/39, 902/40, 705/16, 705/17
• US Class Current: 186/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/02 for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit

Abstract

A kiosk which is configurable to accept a plurality of different types of connections corresponding to a plurality of different types of customer media. In one example, the kiosk includes a mount; a computer in a first position on the mount including a touchscreen, a card reader, and a processor; a storage medium coupled to the processor containing content; and a content transfer device coupled to the processor. The content transfer device is configurable to include at least one connection of a plurality of different types of connections corresponding to a plurality of different types of customer media. The kiosk further includes a panel in a second position on the mount adjacent to the computer including at least one connection mounting location, and the at least one connection is removably mounted to the panel at the connection mounting location. The processor stores the content in the storage medium, operates the touch screen to display a menu of the content and to record selections made by a customer from the menu, operates the card reader to read a payment card of the customer as payment for content associated with the customer selections, and transfers the content associated with the customer selections to a removable storage medium of the customer.

Claims

1. A kiosk comprising:

a mount;

a computer in a first position on the mount including a touchscreen, a card reader on one side of the touch screen, and a processor;

a storage medium coupled to the processor containing digital content;

a digital content transfer device coupled to the processor;

wherein the digital content transfer device is configurable to include at least one connection of a plurality of different types of connections corresponding to a plurality of different types of customer removable digital content storage media;

a panel in a second position on the mount adjacent to the computer including at least one connection mounting location, and wherein the at least one connection is removably mounted to the panel at the connection mounting location; and

wherein the processor is for storing the digital content in the storage medium, for operating the touch screen to display a menu of the digital content and to record selections made by a customer from the menu, for operating the card reader to read a payment card of the customer as payment for digital content associated with the customer selections, and for transferring the digital content associated with the customer selections through the at least one connection to a corresponding type of removable digital content storage medium of the customer; and

a fascia affixed to the computer adjacent each side of the touch screen except the one side and containing an aperture through which the at least one connection is accessible to the customer to connect the removable digital content storage medium.

2. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a hinge about which the computer and the fascia rotate between an operating position of the computer and a servicing position of the computer, and wherein the digital content transfer device is accessible for reconfiguration to another type of connection when the computer is in the servicing position.

3. The kiosk of claim 2, wherein the second position is below the first position and wherein the digital content transfer device is accessible for reconfiguration when the computer and the fascia are rotated upwards about the hinge.

4. The kiosk of claim 2, wherein the fascia is secured to the panel to prevent rotation of the computer.

5. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the digital content transfer device comprises a USB controller, a USB hub, and a USB port, and wherein the removable digital content storage medium of the customer couples to the USB port.

6. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the digital content transfer device comprises a USB controller, a USB hub, and a USB port, and a USB card reader/writer, wherein the removable digital content storage medium of the customer is inserted with the USB card reader/writer.

7. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a pedestal for supporting the mount.

8. The kiosk of claim 7, further comprising a printer in the pedestal for printing a receipt following the payment.

9. A kiosk comprising:

a first module including a computer, a storage medium, a touch screen, a payment card reader adjacent one side of the touch screen, and a digital content transfer device for receiving a customer digital content storage medium; and

a fascia affixed to the computer around each side of the touch screen except the one side and containing an aperture through which the digital content transfer device is accessible to a customer to connect the customer digital content storage medium;

wherein the processor is for storing digital content in the storage medium, for operating the touch screen to display a menu of the digital content and to record selections made by the customer from the menu, for operating the card reader to read a payment card of the customer as payment for digital content associated with the customer selections, and for transferring the digital content associated with the customer selections to the customer digital content storage medium through the digital content transfer device.

10. The kiosk of claim 9, further comprising:

a second module below the first module including a receipt printer coupled to the computer for printing a customer receipt and a housing for the receipt printer; and

a third module below the second module including a base for supporting the first and second modules on a horizontal surface.

11. A kiosk comprising:

a mount;

a computer in a first position on the mount including a touch screen, a card reader, and a processor;

a storage medium coupled to the processor containing content;

a content transfer device coupled to the processor;

wherein the content transfer device is configurable to include at least one connection of a plurality of different types of connections corresponding to a plurality of different types of customer media;

a panel in a second position on the mount adjacent to the computer including at least one connection mounting location, and wherein the at least one connection is removably mounted to the panel at the connection mounting location;

wherein the processor is for storing the content in the storage medium, for operating the touch screen to display a menu of the content and to record selections made by a customer from the menu, for operating the card reader to read a payment card of the customer as payment for content associated with the customer selections, and for transferring the content associated with the customer selections to a removable storage medium of the customer;

wherein the mount comprises a hinge about which the computer rotates between an operating position and a servicing position, and wherein the content transfer device is accessible for reconfiguration when the computer is in the servicing position;

wherein the second position is below the first position and wherein the content transfer device is accessible for reconfiguration when the computer is rotated upwards about the hinge; and

a fascia around a portion of the touch screen containing an aperture through which the content transfer device is accessible to the customer;

wherein the fascia is secured to the panel to prevent rotation of the computer.