Networked Wi-Fi stations having multi-level displays and multiple antennas

• US 9,763,271 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minutepros.Com Corp.
• Original Assignee: Minutepros.Com Corp.
• Inventors: Gabel, Gershon
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitaro, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US15/190,976
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/121 Feeding arrangements transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04 Scanning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A kiosk system is described that may have multilevel displays and multiple network antennas. Upper level displays may be non-touch and a lower level display may include a touch display. The upper level displays may be affixed to a body of the kiosk using brackets. The kiosk may include first and second network interfaces. The first network interface may be provided to enable user terminals local to the kiosk to wirelessly access network resources via the kiosk system. The second network interface may enable the kiosk to access a remote system. The kiosk may be equipped with a camera, microphone, and/or a speaker.

Claims

1. A kiosk, comprising:

a body;

an antenna mounted to the body;

two or more weather-sealed displays attached, using bolts and/or brackets, to the body above a first vertical level, wherein display portions of the two or more weather-sealed displays attached to the body above the first vertical level are non-touch and the first vertical level is at least 4 feet;

a first wireless network interface coupled to the antenna;

a second network interface;

a weather-sealed touch display positioned at a second level lower than the first level;

a camera;

a microphone;

a document scanner comprising a document feeder, wherein the document scanner is configured to receive a document via the document feeder, identify a document type for the document, and dynamically determine an image compression level based at least in part on the document type;

a computing system comprising at least a computing device and non-transitory memory that stores program instructions executable by the computing device to perform operations comprising;

enable user terminals to wirelessly connect to the first wireless network interface;

receive via the second network interface content from a remote system;

display at least a portion of the received content on the two or more weather-sealed non-touch displays attached to the body above the first vertical level;

display an accident, immigration, and/or matrimonial incident reporting user interface via the touch display positioned at the second level;

populate at least a portion of the reporting user interface with a user input provided via a keyboard and/or via the microphone;

perform a geolocation operation to determine location information related to the report;

securely transmit using the second network interface at least a portion of the user input used to populate the reporting user interface and the location information to a remote system.

2. The kiosk system as defined in claim 1, wherein the kiosk system is configured to detect an accident based at least in part on audible sounds received by the microphone, wherein based at least in part on the detected accident, content is selected and displayed via at least one of the kiosk system displays.

3. The kiosk system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a speech recognition system, the speech recognition system configured to receive user voice input and to populate one or more accident reporting user interface fields.

4. The kiosk system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a base and wheels mounted to the base.

5. The kiosk system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a mounting device configured to enable the kiosk body to be affixed to a sidewalk.

6. A terminal system, comprising:

a body;

a plurality of antennas mounted to or within the body;

at least one touch display;

a first wireless network interface coupled to a first of the plurality of antennas;

a second wireless network interface coupled to a second of the plurality of antennas;

a camera;

a microphone;

a document scanner comprising a document feeder, wherein the document scanner is configured to receive a document via the document feeder, identify a document type for the document, and dynamically determine an image compression level based at least in part on the document type;

a computing system comprising at least a computing device and non-transitory memory that stores program instructions executable by the computing device to perform operations comprising;

enable electronic devices to wirelessly connect to the first wireless network interface;

receive via the second wireless network interface content from a remote system;

display at least a portion of the received content on the touch display;

display an accident, immigration, and/or matrimonial incident reporting user interface via the touch display;

populate at least a portion of the reporting user interface with a user input provided via a keyboard and/or via the microphone;

perform a geolocation operation to determine location information related to the report;

securely transmit using the second wireless network interface at least a portion of the user input used to populate the reporting user interface and the location information to a remote system.

7. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein the terminal system is configured to detect an accident based at least in part on audible sounds received by the microphone, wherein based at least in part on the detected accident, content is selected and displayed via the touch display.

8. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a speech recognition system, the speech recognition system configured to receive user voice input and to populate one or more accident reporting user interface fields.

9. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein the body is weather sealed.

10. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein at least partly in response to receiving user input used to populate the reporting user interface, the remote system:

identifies service providers that can provide service related to the reported incident to the user that meet one or more criteria;

transmits over a network a notification to destinations associated with the identified service providers regarding;

the reported incident subject matter, a start time for a reverse auction to bid on providing the user with reported incident related service, an auction length, a bid period, and a bid emolument that will be charged for a submitted bid, the notification further comprising a control via which a service provider may indicate an interest in participating in the reverse auction;

at least partly in response to an interest indication received from a given service provider terminal, provides the given service provider via a service provider terminal with anonymized user reported information;

in response to receipt of a first bid comprising a first bid amount, transmits the first bid amount to destinations associated with service providers that indicated an interest in participating in the reverse auction, wherein the first bid amount is displayed in association with a countdown clock corresponding to the bid period;

determines whether another bid was received within the bid period;

at least partly in response to a determination that another bid was not received within the bid period, terminates the auction;

transmits to the user terminal a subset of the bids, including at least a lowest bid, received in association with information, including a respective service provider website link, regarding the service providers that submitted the subset of bids.

11. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein at least partly in response to receiving user input used to populate the reporting user interface, the remote system:

identifies a first plurality of service providers that can provide service related to the reported incident to the user that meet one or more criteria;

transmits over a network a notification to destinations associated with the identified first plurality of service providers regarding;

the reported incident subject matter, a start time for a reverse auction to bid on providing the user with a report incident related service, an auction length, a bid period, and a bid emolument that will be charged for a submitted bid;

provides at least a portion of the first plurality of service providers with anonymized user reported information;

in response to receipt of a first bid comprising a first bid amount, transmits the first bid amount to destinations associated with at least a portion of the first plurality of service providers, wherein the first bid amount is displayed in association with a countdown clock corresponding to the bid period;

determines whether another bid was received within the bid period;

at least partly in response to a determination that another bid was not received within the bid period, terminates the auction;

transmits to the user terminal one or more of the bids received in association with information regarding respective service providers;

transmits non-anonymized user reported information to the service provider that submitted a winning bid.

12. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein at least partly in response to receiving user input used to populate the reporting user interface, the remote system:

identifies one or more service providers;

transmits a notification to destinations associated with the identified one or more service providers regarding;

the reported incident subject matter, a start time for a reverse auction to bid on providing the user with a report related service, an auction length, a bid period, and a bid emolument that will be charged for a submitted bid;

provides at least a portion of the one or more service providers with anonymous user reported information;

in response to receipt of a first bid comprising a first bid amount, transmits the first bid amount to destinations associated with at least a portion of the one or more service providers, wherein the first bid amount is displayed in association with a countdown clock corresponding to the bid period;

determines whether another bid was received within the bid period;

at least partly in response to a determination that another bid was not received within the bid period, terminates the auction;

transmits to the user terminal at least a lowest bid received in association with information regarding the respective service provider that submitted the lowest bid.

13. The terminal system as defined in claim 6, wherein at least partly in response to receiving user input used to populate the reporting user interface, the remote system:

identifies a one or more service providers;

transmits a notification to destinations associated with the identified one or more service providers regarding;

the reported incident subject matter, a start time for a reverse auction to bid on providing the user with a reported incident related service, an auction length, a bid period, and a bid emolument that will be charged for a submitted bid;

provides at least a portion of the one or more service providers with anonymized user reported information;

in response to receipt of a first bid comprising a first bid amount, transmits the first bid amount to destinations associated with at least a portion of the one or more service providers, wherein the first bid amount is displayed in association with a countdown clock corresponding to the bid period;

determines whether another bid was received within the bid period;

at least partly in response to a determination that another bid was not received within the bid period, terminates the auction;

transmits to the user terminal at least a lowest bid received in association with information regarding the respective service provider that submitted the lowest bid.