Automatic audio level adjustment for video vending machines

• US 9,317,854 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gavin R., Reymann, Steffen, Kenward, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US14/695,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 370259-271, 370351-357, 709201-207, 709217-248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• 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 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/006 Details of the software used for the vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A method for retrofitting a vending machine with a video communications device includes securing a video communications device with a mounting feature of the video communications device removably coupled with a mounting location on a vending machine. The video communications device includes a video communications module for real-time interactions with a ticket office. The video communications module includes a display, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. The video communications device includes a video communication device communications interface. The method includes electronically coupling the video communications device with a power supply of the vending machine and communicatively coupling the video communications device with the vending machine such that functions of the vending machine are controllable using the video communications device. The method includes communicatively coupling the video communications device with the ticket office for real-time video communications with the ticket office.

Claims

1. A method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response, the method comprising:

receiving, at a transit fare vending machine, an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a remote device of a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;

establishing the audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the remote device of the ticket office;

detecting, using sensors of the transit fare vending machine, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine, the response comprising one or more of a body position or a body action of the user associated with a parameter of the transit fare vending machine being outside of a desired range;

matching the response with at least one remedy of a database of remedies, each remedy comprising an adjustment to a parameter of the transit fare vending machine;

adjusting a parameter of the transit fare vending machine related to the audio/visual communication based on the matched remedy such that the parameter may be tuned to the desired range;

monitoring the response to the adjusted parameter to determine whether the adjustment successfully tuned the parameter to the desired range;

receiving a request from the remote device to adjust the parameter;

detecting a behavior of the user upon receiving the request;

updating the database of remedies to include the behavior; and

associating the behavior with a suggested remedy.

2. The method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the parameter a second time based on the monitored response determining that the adjustment was not successful in tuning the parameter to the desired range.

3. The method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response of claim 1, wherein:

the parameter comprises one or more of a font size, a display contrast, a display brightness, or a volume level.

4. The method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response of claim 1, wherein:

the sensors of the transit fare vending machine comprise one or more of a camera, an ultrasound device, light sensors, weight sensors, infrared sensors, or proximity sensors.

5. The method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response of claim 1, wherein:

detecting, using sensors of the transit fare vending machine, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine comprises;

capturing an image of the user with a camera of the transit fare vending machine; and

using video analytics to identify the response.

6. The method of automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input using an input device of the transit fare vending machine to set the adjusted parameter as a default value for the user, the input specifying whether to use the default value for only the transit fare vending machine or at all vending machines within the transit system.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon for automatically adjusting a parameter of a transit fare vending machine based on a response, the instructions comprising computer code for causing a computing device to:

receive, at a transit fare vending machine, an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a remote device of a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;

establish the audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the remote device of the ticket office;

detect, using sensors of the transit fare vending machine, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine, the response comprising one or more of a body position or a body action of the user associated with a parameter of the transit fare vending machine being outside of a desired range;

match the response with at least one remedy of a database of remedies, each remedy comprising an adjustment to a parameter of the transit fare vending machine;

adjust a parameter of the transit fare vending machine related to the audio/visual communication based on the matched remedy such that the parameter may be tuned to the desired range;

monitor the response to the adjusted parameter to determine whether the adjustment successfully tuned the parameter to the desired range;

receive a request from the remote device to adjust the parameter;

detect a behavior of the user upon receiving the request;

update the database of remedies to include the behavior; and

associate the behavior with a suggested remedy.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:

adjust the parameter a second time based on the monitored response determining that the adjustment was not successful in tuning the parameter to the desired range.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein:

the parameter comprises one or more of a font size, a display contrast, a display brightness, or a volume level.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein:

the sensors of the transit fare vending machine comprise one or more of a camera, an ultrasound device, light sensors, weight sensors, infrared sensors, or proximity sensors.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein:

detecting, using sensors of the transit fare vending machine, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine comprises;

capturing an image of the user with a camera of the transit fare vending machine; and

using video analytics to identify the response.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:

receive an input using an input device of the transit fare vending machine to set the adjusted parameter as a default value for the user, the input specifying whether to use the default value for only the transit fare vending machine or at all vending machines within the transit system.

13. A transit fare vending machine comprising:

a communications interface configured to send and receive data;

a sensor interface;

a memory; and

a processor configured to;

receive an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a remote device of a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;

establish the audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the remote device of the ticket office;

detect, using the sensor interface, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine, the response comprising one or more of a body position or a body action of the user associated with a parameter of the transit fare vending machine being outside of a desired range;

match the response with at least one remedy of a database of remedies, each remedy comprising an adjustment to a parameter of the transit fare vending machine;

adjust a parameter of the transit fare vending machine related to the audio/visual communication based on the matched remedy such that the parameter may be tuned to the desired range;

monitor the response to the adjusted parameter to determine whether the adjustment successfully tuned the parameter to the desired range;

receive a request from the remote device to adjust the parameter;

detect a behavior of the user upon receiving the request;

update the database of remedies to include the behavior; and

associate the behavior with a suggested remedy.

14. The transit fare vending machine of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

adjust the parameter a second time based on the monitored response determining that the adjustment was not successful in tuning the parameter to the desired range.

15. The transit fare vending machine of claim 13, wherein:

the parameter comprises one or more of a font size, a display contrast, a display brightness, or a volume level.

16. The transit fare vending machine of claim 13, wherein:

the sensor interface comprises one or more of a camera, an ultrasound device, light sensors, weight sensors, infrared sensors, or proximity sensors.

17. The transit fare vending machine of claim 13, wherein:

detecting, using sensors of the transit fare vending machine, a response from the user of the transit fare vending machine comprises;

capturing an image of the user with a camera of the transit fare vending machine; and

using video analytics to identify the response.