Remote screen and touch sharing

• US 9,355,401 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US14/695,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20150287127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• 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 for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine, the method comprising:

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

establishing the communication between the transit fare vending machine and the remote device using a central server;

receiving a request to share an image of a screen of the remote device;

receiving a selection of at least a portion of the screen of the screen of the remote device to be shared with the transit fare vending machine, the selection comprising dynamic data;

providing the image comprising the selection of at least a portion of the screen of the remote device to the transit fare vending machine;

causing the image of the selected portion of the screen of the remote device to be overlaid over at least a portion of a user interface presented on a display of the transit fare vending machine;

detecting real-time changes of information present in the selected portion of the screen of the remote device;

receiving updates of the selected portion of the screen, the updates comprising any detected real-time changes to the dynamic data; and

causing the image to be updated on the display of the transit fare vending machine with the any detected real-time changes.

2. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the remote device to share screen touch content, wherein screen touch content comprises information associated with one or more interactions with the remote device using one or more of a touchscreen, a keypad, a mouse, a stylus, or other input device;

receiving coordinates associated with the screen touch content, wherein the coordinates correspond to a location on the selected portion of the screen of the one or more interactions; and

providing an indication on the overlaid image at a screen location corresponding to the coordinates.

3. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a type of the indication, wherein the selected type of the indication comprises one or more of highlighting, an icon, an image, or text.

4. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the overlaid image to be removed from the display of the transit fare vending machine, exposing the user interface of the transit fare vending machine, wherein the removal of the overlaid image is triggered by one or more of receiving a request to stop sharing from the remote device or determining that a predetermined time limit has been reached.

5. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 1, wherein:

the transit fare vending machine comprises a first display and a second display;

the method further comprises receiving a selection of one of the first display or the second display on which the image of selected portion of the screen of the remote device is to be overlaid; and

the display comprises the selected one of the first display or the second display.

6. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the remote device, a request to display pre-stored content; and

causing the pre-stored content to be presented on at least a portion of the display of the transit fare vending machine.

7. The method for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 1, wherein:

the communication comprises an audio communication or an audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the ticket office.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine, the instructions comprising computer code for causing a computing device to:

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

establish the communication between the transit fare vending machine and the remote device;

receive a request to share an image of a screen of the remote device;

receive a selection of at least a portion of the screen of the screen of the remote device to be shared with the transit fare vending machine, the selection comprising dynamic data;

provide an image comprising the selection of at least a portion of the screen of the remote device to the transit fare vending machine;

cause the image of the selected portion of the screen of the remote device to be overlaid over at least a portion of a user interface presented on a display of the transit fare vending machine;

detect real-time changes of information present in the selected portion of the screen of the remote device;

receive updates of the selected portion of the screen, the updates comprising any detected real-time changes to the dynamic data; and

cause the image to be updated on the display of the transit fare vending machine with the any detected real-time changes.

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

receive a request from the remote device to share screen touch content, wherein screen touch content comprises information associated with one or more interactions with the remote device using one or more of a touchscreen, a keypad, a mouse, a stylus, or other input device;

receive coordinates associated with the screen touch content, wherein the coordinates correspond to a location on the selected portion of the screen of the one or more interactions; and

provide an indication on the overlaid image at a screen location corresponding to the coordinates.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:

receive a selection of a type of the indication, wherein the selected type of the indication comprises one or more of highlighting, an icon, an image, or text.

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

cause the overlaid image to be removed from the display of the transit fare vending machine, exposing the user interface of the transit fare vending machine, wherein the removal of the overlaid image is triggered by one or more of receiving a request to stop sharing from the remote device or determining that a predetermined time limit has been reached.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the transit fare vending machine comprises a first display and a second display;

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for causing the computing device to receive a selection of one of the first display or the second display on which the image of selected portion of the screen of the remote device is to be overlaid; and

the display comprises the selected one of the first display or the second display.

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

receive, from the remote device, a request to display pre-stored content; and

cause the pre-stored content to be presented on at least a portion of the display of the transit fare vending machine.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the communication comprises an audio communication or an audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the ticket office.

15. A system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine, comprising:

a communications interface configured to send and receive data;

a memory; and

a processor configured to;

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

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

receive a request to share an image of a screen of the remote device of a ticket office;

receive a selection of at least a portion of the screen of the screen of the remote device to be shared with the transit fare vending machine, the selection comprising dynamic data;

provide an image comprising the selection of at least a portion of the screen of the remote device to the transit fare vending machine;

cause the image of the selected portion of the screen of the remote device to be overlaid over at least a portion of a user interface presented on a display of the transit fare vending machine;

detect real-time changes of information present in the selected portion of the screen of the remote device;

update the overlaid receive updates of the selected portion of the screen, the updates comprising any detected real-time changes to the dynamic data;

cause the image to be updated on the display of the transit fare vending machine with the any detected real-time changes.

16. The system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the remote device to share screen touch content, wherein screen touch content comprises information associated with one or more interactions with the remote device using one or more of a touchscreen, a keypad, a mouse, a stylus, or other input device;

receive coordinates associated with the screen touch content, wherein the coordinates correspond to a location on the selected portion of the screen of the one or more interactions; and

provide an indication on the overlaid image at a screen location corresponding to the coordinates.

17. The system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a selection of a type of the indication, wherein the selected type of the indication comprises one or more of highlighting, an icon, an image, or text.

18. The system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the overlaid image to be removed from the display of the transit fare vending machine, exposing the user interface of the transit fare vending machine, wherein the removal of the overlaid image is triggered by one or more of receiving a request to stop sharing from the remote device or determining that a predetermined time limit has been reached.

19. The system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 15, wherein:

the transit fare vending machine comprises a first display and a second display;

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for causing the computing device to receive a selection of one of the first display or the second display on which the image of selected portion of the screen of the remote device is to be overlaid; and

the display comprises the selected one of the first display or the second display.

20. The system for sharing a screen from a remote device to a transit fare vending machine of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, from the remote device, a request to display pre-stored content; and

cause the pre-stored content to be presented on at least a portion of the display of the transit fare vending machine.