Audio/video automated payment facility

• US 8,799,090 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remote Technologies IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Denison Parking, Inc.
• Inventors: Pratt, Mark, Harpold, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US13/735,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 705/418, 705/21, 705/16, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking 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: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A central monitoring station is linked to a plurality of remote terminals, such as payment terminals at a plurality of parking facilities. A two-way communication system enables communication between a customer who is remote from the central monitoring station and an attendant at the central monitoring station. The communication system may also allow the attendant to manipulate each remote terminal to collect data or troubleshoot or override the function of the terminal.

Claims

1. An automated payment system for a parking facility, comprising:

an exit gate operable to control egress from the parking facility, and

a payment terminal positioned at a remote location from the exit gate in the parking facility, the payment terminal including (i) a ticket reader that receives a parking ticket, (ii) a microprocessor programmed to determine a required payment amount based on the parking ticket, and (iii) a payment acceptor that receives the required payment amount, and

a two-way video and audio communication system positioned at the remote location, wherein the communication system enables two-way video and audio interaction between a customer at the remote location and a live attendant at a monitoring facility remote from the remote location when activated.

2. The automated payment system of claim 1, wherein the communication system includes an Ethernet or Internet link between the remote location and the monitoring facility.

3. The automated payment system of claim 2, wherein the communication system includes an IP-addressable video camera.

4. The automated payment system of claim 1, further comprising a data link between the microprocessor and the monitoring facility to permit remote control of the microprocessor.

5. The automated payment system of claim 1, wherein the payment acceptor is a credit card reader.

6. The automated payment system of claim 1, wherein the payment acceptor is a cash acceptor.

7. An automated payment system for a plurality of parking facilities comprising:

a central monitoring facility,

a plurality of exit facilities remote from the central monitoring facility, each of the plurality of exit facilities operable to control egress from a corresponding one of the plurality of parking facilities,

means for assessing and receiving payment positioned at a remote location from the central monitoring facility and each of the plurality of exit facilities, and

a two-way video and audio communication system positioned at the remote location, wherein the communication system enables two-way video and audio interaction between a customer at the remote location and an attendant at the central monitoring facility when activated.

8. The automated payment system of claim 7, wherein the communication system includes an Ethernet or Internet link between the remote location and the central monitoring facility.

9. The automated payment system of claim 8, wherein the communication system includes an IP-addressable video camera.

10. The automated payment system of claim 7, further comprising a processor at the remote location operable to control the means for assessing and receiving payment, and a data link between the processor and the central monitoring facility to permit remote control of the processor.

11. The automated payment system of claim 10, further comprising a central processor at the central monitoring facility connected to the processor at the remote location through the data link and controllable at the central monitoring facility to control the processor at the remote location.

12. An automated payment system for a parking facility, comprising:

an apparatus for calculating a payment amount,

an apparatus for receiving a payment amount,

a gate apparatus operable to control access to the parking facility in response to receipt of the payment amount, and

a two-way video and audio communication system operable to establish two-way video and audio interaction between a customer at the gate apparatus and a live attendant at a monitoring facility remote from the gate apparatus.

13. The automated payment system of claim 12, wherein the communication system includes an Ethernet or Internet link.

14. The automated payment system of claim 13, wherein the communication system includes an IP-addressable video camera.

15. The automated payment system of claim 12, further comprising a processor operable to control the apparatus for calculating a payment amount and the apparatus for receiving a payment amount, and a data link between the processor and the monitoring facility to permit remote control of the processor.

16. The automated payment system of claim 12, wherein the apparatus for receiving a payment amount is a credit card reader.

17. The automated payment system of claim 12, wherein the apparatus for receiving a payment amount is a credit card reader.