Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
Description
Field Ott the Invention
The invention relates first to automatic reservation end
ticketing terminals second, to programmed audio-visual displays used
in collection with the sale of goods undo services, and to automatic,
5 around-the-clock service tellers.
Bacltgroun~ of the Invention
In a service-oriented business such as a travel agency, the
offices must be staffed with persotlnel working on a one-to-one basis
10 with the customers, and using hundreds of travel brochures and
scores of schedules and reservation manuals. The travel agent rust
verbally describe a destination, or show the customer a printed
brochure, check schedules and reservation status, then physically
write the tickets or coupons before collecting payments. The time
15 and means devoted to the promotion of tile service are very limited
and depend upon the salesmanship of the office staff. Such agencies
are usually located in busirless sections and not in places where
people live work, or frequent in their daily commuting routines.
Yet studies have shown that as many as 80% of persons using a
I particular travel agency do so because of convenience. Therefore,
the need has arisen for a new device capable of performing the
promotion and sales of services such as those coml-nonly dispensed
by travel agencies, in a fully automated fashion and from easily
I
accessibly locutions. rho American public his been conditioned to
receive most of its information via television high-quality audio
visual trnYelog con utilize prncticnlly all the hmnan senses to
motivate and influence a custolnel to select a particular vacation
5 or destination. The general public is also becoming accustomed to
self-service terminals from vending machines to automatic bank
tellers.
The present invention, ingeniously combines the features of
audio-visual media presentation with those of self-service terminals
10 to create a new anal very efficient device for the promotion and
distribution of goods and services.
Summary of the Invention
The objectives of the instant invention are multiple and
comprise, among others, the following:
Providing an automatic and efficient means for promoting and
dispensing services to the general public on a twenty-four flours per
dry, seven-day per week, basis;
Reducing the overall cost of services by lowering personnel
and office overhead;
Providing faster access to information and services from
convenient locations along thorougllfales and in public buildings;
Achieving target marketing of services from specific locations
frequented by selected demographic groups;
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Offering mercilanqise related to the service promoted; for
insulins, dispensing? by Coil insertion, travel-related products such
as malts, books, guides end foreigll currency, in conjunction with the
sure lid prorrlotion of travel services.
Offering the customer a convellient means for evnluuting a
variety of products or services presented to him by an audio visual
medium; for instance, by highlightillg, describing and updating
vacation destinations and programs;
Providing the public with convenient access to computerized
10 mass information systems, reservation booking and ticketing networks
as well as specialized data banks; and
Providing for the on-the-spot payment for products or services
by currency or credit curds.
These and other objectives are achieved in tile implementation
15 of a self-serYice terminal grouping a cathode ray tube for the audio
visual presentation of informatioll, n document printer, a vending
machine, a coin box, a credit card reader, R keyboard for the entry
of customer inquiries and a controlling unit operating from a plurality
of data sources either locally or remotely located.
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Brief Inscription of the Vrawir~s
inure I is a front ele~atiollal view of the self-service terrnhlal;
legal 2 is a right side view thereto`,
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
5 Figure l;
Figure 4 is a top-plan view of tile terminal with the upper
hoed in the open position;
Figure S is an enlarged cross sectional view of the dispenser
distribution station;
figure 6 is the electrical schematic of thy goods dispenser;
Figure 7 is a general block diagram of the self-service
ton final;
Figure 8 is the detailed bloat< diagram thereof;
figure 9 is the top level system flow diagram; and
Figures 10 and 11 are a detailed flow diagram of the system.
Dissuasion of the Preferred Embodiment
referring now to the drawing and according to the invention
there is shown a self-service termilml 1 which is housed in a
spherical enclosure 2 supported on a pedestal 3. The spherical
20 enclosure 2 has a diameter of preferably 90 centimeters (36 inches)
and extends to a height of 135 centimeters (54 inches). A transparent
plexiglass door 5 covering approximately one quadrant of the upper
hemisphere pivots around a hinge 7 located at the apex. The door
,, . . , ,
.. ..... _ .. _ . _ . . . . .. .
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gives access to a cavity in which) the various control elements
of toe terminal are groped. On the slanted floor 8 of the cavity
ore a keyboard 20 a printer 11 and a smell lvindow 14 for viewing
a goQcls dispenser 23. The Buckley is occupied by the screen of a
5 cathode ray tube 10. In the right wall are n credit card reader slot
15 and a loud speflker grid 17. A telephone hand set 25 and coin slot
16 appear on the left wall. A distribution pouch 18 associated with
the goods dispenser it located on the lower hemisphere of the
enclosure 2 immediately below the service cavity. A hood 4
10 comprising the upper hemispherical skin of the enclosure 2 can be
rotated around hinge 6 to give access to the various components of
the system. The terminal equipment is ventilated by air flowing
from ventilation holes 49 at the bottom of the enclosure 2 to the
vents 48 in the hood 4 under the action of fan 47.
The basic architecture of the self-service terminal can be
best understood w ilk reference to tile gencrnl block diagram
illustrated in Figure 7. The system operates under the control of a
data processor 30. The customer's input interface elements comprise
the keyboard 20 a coin box 21 and a credit card reader 22. Information
20 is delivered to the customer through tile CRT 10 and the page printer
11. Various items can be delivered by way of the dispenser 23. An
audio communication link 24 associated with the telephone hand set
25 and a loud speaker 12 can be used to deliver voice information
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and to commluli~atc with n reliant service confer. Ire processor
30 operates iron a variety of duty sources 26 no explained below.
I more detailed layout of the system is illustrated in Figure 8.
Tile preset embodiment of the invention is designed to prove
S travel-rel~ted information nod services. The first component of the
data source 26 is a video storage and playback unit 27 which holds
recordings of various travel documentaries promoting tours, cruises,
special events, resort facilities nod other vacation opportunities.
Each documentary is indexed and can be recalled on demand and
10 played on the cathode ray tube 10. A second source of data is
provided by a mass storage unit 28 which contains information of
a more transitory nettler suet) as flight schedules to various
destinations, ticket prices, weather information, snow conditions at
various skiing resorts, hotel occupancy status and other information
15 useful in the planning of a business trip or vacation. Issue information
is periodically updated via a commllnication link 24 with a remote
control center. The information contained in the mass storage unit
28 can be selectively displayed in alpha numerical form on the Clot
10. The CRT can also be used to display regular broadcasted television
20 programs as well as scheduled and private cable television
productions. Any information or image displayed on the CRT 10 can
also be deliverer in a hard copy form by a printer 11. All requests
for services or information are entered by tile customer via the
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lowbrowed 20. l'aylllellts for tile services may be effected either by
depositing coins in the coin box 21 or by charging it to a credit card
account after validation of the credit curd through the magnetic
strip card render 22. A small member of travel-related goads such
5 as travel guides, maps, sunglasses, foreign currency, may be purchased
on the spot by wry of the goods dispenser 23.
The goods dispenser 23 described with reference to Figures 1
through 6, comprises a rotating carousel 51 Welch surrounds the
various elements of the system about the equatorial zone within the
10 enclosure 2. The carousel is divided in a plurality of stations 52 and
is supported by a peripheral flange 54 riding over rollers 53 mounted
against the shin of the enclosure 2. Each of the stations 52 is open
at the bottom and houses a hopper 55 holding one or more items
56 to be dispensed. The hopper 55 has a triangular shape and is
lo supported by a hinge 57 at one of the lower corners of the station.
The hopper is held in place by a spring-tensioned latch 58. When
the latch 58 is pulled, the hopper 55 rotates downward around hinge
57 and drops the goods 56 into the distribution pouch 18. The latch
58 is released under the pull of a solenoid 60. A single solenoid 60
20 located oil tile forward edge of the equipment-suppolting shelf 45
guarantees that the goods are always dropped in the distribution
pouch 18. The carousel 51 is rotated by mulls of an electrical motor
Go via a set of genus 62. Hugh StatiOIl 52 is identified by a code
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embedded in n n~a~netic sly it Go in the Buckley of each hopper. A
sensor ô4 located below the solenoid 60 reads identification codes
ox the stations from the magnetic strips during the movemerlt of
the carousel 51. The goods dispenser 23 is operated by means of a
S vending controller 37 of which Figure 6 is a functional block diagram.
The electrical motor 61 driving the carousel 51 is energized
through driver 70 when the flip-flop Yule is set upon depressing the
CIRCA pushbutton located on the keyboard 20. The flip-flop Fly
will remain set and the carousel will continue to rotate as long as
10 the SEARCH pushbutton is held down. After the search pushbutton
has been released, the carousel will stop wizen flip-flop Fly is reset
as soon as one of the station codes is detected by the code sensor
64 and OR gate Go. This guarantees that the carousel will always
stop with a loaded station properly aligned below the viewing window
15 14 and With its latching lever 58 positioned above the solenoid 60.
The coin box 21 has the ability to generate a code corresponding to
the amulet of chAIlge which has bell deposited therein. This
informatiorl is sent to the central processor 30. The central processor
in turn generates a code compatible with the identification code of
20 one or more stations. These stations are presumed to contain goods
whose cost is equal to the amount of change recognized by the
coin box 21~ If the code of the station which is positioned below
the viewing window coincides to the code issued by the central
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processor, the decoding gates 67 generate a signal which
enables AND gate 68. The sl~nal generated by -the depress-
in of DISPENSE pushbutton is routed through gate 68 to
set flip-flop FF2. The output of flip-flop FF2 energizes
the solenoid 60 by way of driver 69. This causes a release
of the latch 58 holding the hopper 55 of the station and
the unloading of -the goods into the distribution pocket
18. A COIN ACCEPT signal is generated through gate 66 and
sent through the central processor 30 toward the coin box
21. The COIN ACCEPT signal also resets flip-flop FF2,
returning the system to its standby mode.
In order to provide the maximum flexibility in the
utilization of the various components of the automatic
service terminal and to allow for future expansion, the
entire system is managed through the central processor 30.
This central processor 30 is used to interpret the complex
inputs generated by the customer via the keyboard 20, the
coin box 21, and the credit card reader 22, as well as those
generated from the remote site and communicated via the
audio communication unit 24. The operating program of
the central processor 30 is stored in a non-volatile read
only memory 31. This memory contains the programmed code
numbers necessary to direct
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the computer or microcomputer to E)erforlll the various functions ox
the terminRI. Intermediate results, variables, etc., required by the
operating program, will reside in the rcad/write memory 29. Both
the read only memory 31 and the reud/write memory 29 are an
5 integral part with the central processor 30. As implied by the block
diagram of Figure 8, the terminal system employs a bidirectional
parallel bus oriented input/outp-lt structure. The exact specifications
of the bus are typically a functioll of the central processor and one
of the standard types well Nemo by people skilled in the art. The
10 advantage of the bus structure is not only to accommodate the
various terminal components, but also to provide for addition of
other devices tint may be later necessary to support future terminal
features. Tile terminal system is basically a locally controlled device
as explained before. remote interface is also provided for the
15 Hollowing features:
Monitoring of the operational status of the terminal system
by remote site computer 42,
Updating the variable data kept in the mass storage unit 28;
and
Programming of additional features of capability of tile
terminal system.
The central processor selected for this embodiment of the
invention is an IOTA, M ode 80/ 20, single board computer. This
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instrument, in addition to the basic central processor 30, features
a bidirectional standardized bus support 40 integral read only and
read/write memories, integral bidirectional serial chenille 43 for
remote communications, multiple, integral, parallel input/output and
5 control lines, and an integral timer system
The display system consists of various modules, parts of which
are capable of receiving data and commands from the central
- processor 30 via the parallel bus 40. Five distinct modules comprise
the display system.
Thea CRT display device 10, capable of receiving electrical
signals and transferring them into visual representation on the viewing
screen.
A video playback module 27, which can retrieve, and cause
to be output, visual images and audio information which is stored
5 on a removable media.
A video frame presentation module ~vidicom) 36, which can
receive data, interpret it as a series of dots, and cause to be
displayed nun image represented by the presence or absence of dots.
A video controller module 33, which can receive da to and
20 commands, and cause to be displayed, alpha numerical information,
symbols, graphic information, etc., typically associated with texts
or word-oriented applications; and
A video multiplexer module 35, which can be instructed to
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select one of the above modules video Ol1tplltS and direct it to the
CRT display device.
us a separate input, tile video multiplexer module 35 also is
capable of pl~senting a standard television signal to the CRT device
5 10 . This sigrnnl may come from a cable television system m or a
television receiver external to the terminal system, and is interpreted
through the demodulate and decode device 34.
The Clot display device lo may be one of any available from
various manufactures Scull as Motorola, C. Isle? etc., the only
10 requirement being the ability to trallsform electrical (video) signals
unto visual representations by modulating an electron beam which
strikes force phosphor-coated glass and emits visible light.
The video playback disc device 27 is preferably a DISCOVI~ION
ASSOCIATES Model PRY which can provide local storage of high
15 resolution video image and audio information. The principal features
of this device are the capability of storing 54,000 individual video
frames and synchronized audio playback, which can be accessed
sequentially or randomly under control from the central processor
30. eye stored information, as for e~nmple, travel documental issue
20 maps, etc., is routed to the CRT 10 inshore control of the central
processor 30, via the video multiplexer 35. The video frame
presentation device (vidicom) 36, not unlike in technology to those
available from COLORADO VOW, INC., will allow display of
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facsimile information acquired by the central processor from zither
the mass storage 28 or the remote site computer 42. The purpose
of this device is to allow timely information to be encoded at the
remote location and transmitted over the serial channel unit by the
5 modems 38, 39 and the audio controller 24, to the terminal computer
and subsequently decoded and displayed after routing through the
video multiplexer 35.
The alphanumeric and video display controller 33 provide
the capability necessary to support the intended manual-oriented
10 transaction system for user interfacing. This device may be
implemented with a MErACOMP Model MCY-1023 controller which
combines the necessary features into a bus-oriented controller. The
video output of this controller 33 would be displayed on command
via video multiplexer 35. The final module of the video display
15 system, the video multiplexer 35, is designed using existing electronic
technology, to accept inputs from bus 40, the vidicom 36, the video
controller 33, the video disc 27 and the demodulate and decode
device 34.
The printer 11 is cost fluted by a video hard-copy unit,
20 TEKTRONIX Model 4632, which can generate a hard copy in a 21.6
X 27.9 centimeters (8-1/2" X 11") from a raster scan video source.
any image displayed on the CRT 10 can also be printed in a 21.6
X 27.9 centimeters (8-1/2" X 11") format on the printer 11.
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Tile card render module 22 is included to allow input of data
from a standard magnetically encoded stripe such as those normally
found on credit cards. It may be implemented with AMERICAN
MEN ETlCS Model 40, which provides electrical signals
S corresponding to magnetically encoded information on several parallel
tracks. Card-reader 22 interfaces with the controller parallel l/O
bus. This allows the central processor 30 to sense a card being
presented by the customer and to interpret the data. The data would
typically be account number, credit limit, name and similar
10 information relevant to a credit card authorization and charge
system. The keyboard, not unlike the one provided by KEYTRONlCS,
consists of a series of keys similar to Q typewriter in arenas
and mechanical operation. This keyboard can convert the mechanical
motion of key depression into an electrical signal which can be
15 sensed by the central processor 30 via the bus 40.
The coin box 20 is a FLUNKS Model AL coin acceptor
which can accept currency payments for various services or goods
provided and communicate to the central processor 30 the amount
of change deposited therein by the bus 40.
The voice and audio communication unit 24 allows the terminal
computer 30 to provide an audio corlnection between the terminal
user end some remote site, or to route audio outputs from the video
disc 27 to the local loud speaker 12 US explained before. The control
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module or communication unit 24 accepts commands from
the central processor 30 and connects a typical -telephone
handset 25 to a telephone line or similar voice grade
communication technique via a modem 38. The central
processor 30 is equipped with a serial interface 43
compatible with most modem required input formats.
The on-line mass storage unit 28 it a floppy disc
device available from SHUGART ASSOCIATES and has a control
interface compatible with the I/O bus 40. The central
lo processor 30 is able to store and subsequently retrieve
data from the on-line mass storage module 28 on command.
The interfacing of the various components of the
system as described above is done according to standard
practices well known to those skilled in the electronic
arts. The operation of the central processor unit 30
which acts as a decision-making machine, is directed
from the operational program stored in the read only
memory 31. The application program is derived from the
on-line mass storage 28. The application program is of
a "menu-type" and can be best understood by reference to
the flow diagrams of Figures 9, lo and if. In order
to illustrate the capabilities of the terminal, the
operational program will be discussed in connection with
five operations: the display of travel documentaries,
the display of flight schedules, securing reservations
on a particular flight, the issuance of a flight ticket,
and the control of the vending machine.
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The operation of Use terminal is prilned by Use ClJStomer~s
droppillg a dime in the coin box slot. As explained before, the coin box
generates a coded signal indicative of the amount of change
deposited. This signal is immediately sensed by the central processor
5 which addresses the mass storage unit and fetches from it the basic
list or menu of the services available. This information is then
transmitted via the video multiplexer to the CRT where the list of
services available is displayed in columnar form with, adjacent to
it the key symbol to be entered by the customer in making his
10 selection. The customer may, for instance, be requested to enter a
"D" in order to obtain a listing of all the travel documentaries
available. A "S" to check a flight schedule, and so on. Assuming
now that the customer enters a "D" on the keyboard, the central
processor addresses the video-disc storage unit and fetches from it
15 a list of all documentaries recorded thereon. This list is again routed
throllgh the video multiplexer to be displayed on the CRT. The name
of the various documentaries are indexed with an alphanumerically
code which the customer is asked to use in making hi-s selection.
Once Uris code is entered via the keyboard, it is used by the central
20 processor to address the video-disc storage to the area containing
the selected documentary. after the documentary has been run, the
basic menu is again displayed on the CRT and the system is ready
for an alternate selection to be made by the customer. If no selection
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is Nikolai within the next to try psychoanalyze, the system retrials to a
standby s~fltus until primed again by deposit of the required change.
The flight schedule program Barnes by Use display on the CRT
of a schedule mask through which the customer is invited to fill in
5 the from nod to locations of the flights. When the customer enters
tile departure point and the destination on the keyboard, two codes
are generated which are used to Salk the appropriate inrorm~tion
in the mass storage or, alternately, are sent via the audio
commullication system to a remote reservation computer. When the
10 list of available flights has been gathered from the mass storage or
received back from Use remote computer center, it is displayed on
the Clot with an inquiry as to whether the customer wants a hard
copy of the schedule. The amount of change to be deposited in order
to obtain the hard copy is also displayed. When the proper amount
15 Of cha1lge is detected in the coin box, the central processor generates
a code which is recognized by the printer as a signal to print the
raster scan image being generated on the CRT. At the end of the
printillg sequence the customer is offered the choice to jump
immediately into tile flight reserv~tioll mode or to return to the
I basic menu display.
The reservation sequence begins with Use display of a mask
from the CRT requesting such inforlllation as the flight number,
member of passengers, and other information such as smoking or
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non-smoking section preferences. ~ftcr the musk his been completed
by tile customer entering his selection, the central processor
generates a request message which is sent via the audio
communication system to the remote reservation computer After
5 receiving the confirmation message, the system again offers the
customer the option to obtain a hard copy of the reservation
information, after which the system offers the option to go directly
into A ticket purchase mode, or a return to the basic menu display.
The flight ticket delivery program requires from the customer
10 the payment of the fare through credit card. The price to be paid
is fetched from the mass storage and displayed upon the CRT. The
introduction of a credit kirk into the credit card reader triggers a
sequence during which the account number and the amount being
charged are sent to a remote credit center where the credit line
15 is verified and the transaction is recorded. The acceptance message
received back from the computing collier anuses the CPV to generate
a video image of a flight ticket which is simultaneously printed by
the video hard copy printer.
The computer-controlled goods dispensing program is also
initiated by a video display of the lists of items available for sale.
Upon selection of the item by this alpha-numerical indexing number,
the system selects from the video disc a sequence of images
illustrating the product. The customer at that point is offered a
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choice to purchusc tile item by depositing Ulc amount indicutcd or
to return to the item mist display mode for an alternate selection.
Once Use payment has been recognized in the coin box the carousel
of the vending machine is allowed to rotate until a matching code
5 is detected in the back of the appropriate station at which point
the computer triggers the dispense sequence discussed earlier.
Illustl axed in Figure 10 is the flow diagram of a program for
establishing a voice commlmication with a remote site and for the
transfer of data between the mass storage and a remote data center.
10 These sequences are of a very common type for which software
packages are readily available for most common types of central
processors.
The operational sequences just described are illustrative of
the versatility of the terminal. The system can be adapted to
15 various tasks related to the delivery of travel services by mere
software changes. The terminal may be used to promote
and sell a variety of services and to facilitate financial transactions.
Its comprehensive communication interface makes it an ideal tool
for catalog sales from a central warehouse and an adequate
20 substitute in many cases for the retail store. The terminal could
also be adapted to the delivery of a higher grade of services such
as professional advice and counseling.
While toe preferred embodiment of the invention has been
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described nod mociificntiolls thereto hove boon suggested, other
implem~lltntiQns may be devised which gall be adapted to a variety
of applications without deporting from -tune spirit of the invention
and the scope of the appended claims.
