Method and apparatus for maintaining a customer database using license plate scanning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
- generating an image of a license plate;
determining a set of license plate characters from the image; and
determining a customer record that corresponds to the set of license plate characters.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for generating an image of a license plate and determining license plate characters from the image. Then, a database is searched to determine if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters. If so, the customer record is retrieved and information about the customer is available. Otherwise, a customer record is created. The created customer record corresponds to the license plate characters and stores transaction data that represents a transaction.
43 Citations
80 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining a set of license plate characters from the image; and
determining a customer record that corresponds to the set of license plate characters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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47. An apparatus for identifying a customer in a vehicle, comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of customer records, each customer record corresponding to a set of license plate characters;
means for determining a set of license plate characters of a license plate;
means for identifying a customer record that corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters; and
means for creating a customer record that corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters if no stored customer record corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters.
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60. An apparatus for identifying a customer in a vehicle at a drive-through, comprising:
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means for receiving transaction data about a drive-through customer;
a display device for displaying an item and a price of the item to the drive-through customer;
a speaker operable to transmit audio signals to the drive-through customer;
a microphone operable to receive audio signals from the drive-through customer;
means for sensing a presence of a vehicle of the drive-through customer;
a camera operable to generate an image of a license plate of the vehicle;
means for determining a set of license plate characters of the license plate;
means for storing a plurality of customer records, each customer record corresponding to a set of license plate characters;
means for identifying a customer record that corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters;
means for creating a customer record that corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters if no stored customer record corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters; and
means for storing the transaction data in the customer record that corresponds to the determined set of license plate characters.
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61. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
receiving transaction data that represents a transaction; and
creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing the transaction data.
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62. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining a set of license plate characters from the image, the set of license plate characters identifying a customer; and
providing customized service to the customer.
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63. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters; and
creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing transaction data that represents a transaction.
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64. A method for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
determining a default item from the customer record;
registering a default item as an ordered item; and
outputting an indication of the default item. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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means for generating an image of a license plate;
means for determining a set of license plate characters from the image; and
means for determining a customer record that corresponds to the set of license plate characters.
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67. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
generate an image of a license plate;
determine a set of license plate characters from the image; and
determine a customer record that corresponds to the set of license plate characters.
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68. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, the method comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining a set of license plate characters from the image; and
determining a customer record that corresponds to the set of license plate characters.
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69. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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means for generating an image of a license plate;
means for determining license plate characters from the image;
means for determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
means for receiving transaction data that represents a transaction; and
means for creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing the transaction data.
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70. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
generate an image of a license plate;
determine license plate characters from the image;
determine if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
receive transaction data that represents a transaction; and
create, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing the transaction data.
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71. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, the method comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
receiving transaction data that represents a transaction; and
creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing the transaction data.
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72. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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means for generating an image of a license plate;
means for determining a set of license plate characters from the image, the set of license plate characters identifying a customer; and
means for providing customized service to the customer.
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73. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
generate an image of a license plate;
determine a set of license plate characters from the image, the set of license plate characters identifying a customer; and
provide customized service to the customer.
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74. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, the method comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining a set of license plate characters from the image, the set of license plate characters identifying a customer; and
providing customized service to the customer.
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75. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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means for generating an image of a license plate;
means for determining license plate characters from the image;
means for determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters; and
means for creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing transaction data that represents a transaction.
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76. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
generate an image of a license plate;
determine license plate characters from the image;
determine if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters; and
create, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing transaction data that represents a transaction.
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77. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters; and
creating, if there is not a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters, the customer record storing transaction data that represents a transaction.
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78. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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means for generating an image of a license plate;
means for determining license plate characters from the image;
means for determining a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
means for determining a default item from the customer record;
means for registering a default item as an ordered item; and
means for outputting an indication of the default item.
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79. An apparatus for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
generate an image of a license plate;
determine license plate characters from the image;
determine a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
determine a default item from the customer record;
register a default item as an ordered item; and
output an indication of the default item.
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80. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for maintaining a database using license plate scanning, the method comprising:
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generating an image of a license plate;
determining license plate characters from the image;
determining a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters;
determining a default item from the customer record;
registering a default item as an ordered item; and
outputting an indication of the default item.
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Specification