Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TECHNIQUES AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO
COMPONENTS OF A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE (PCS)
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent
Application No.
14/852,131, titled "Method and Apparatus for Securing a Structure to a
Support" and filed on
September 11, 2015, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/857,437, titled "Techniques
and
Apparatus for Mounting a Housing on a Personal Communication Structure (PCS)"
and filed
on September 17, 2015, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/857,462, titled
"Techniques and
Apparatus for Controlling the Temperature of a Personal Communication
Structure (PCS)" and
filed on September 17, 2015, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/884,044, titled
"Techniques and
Apparatus for Controlling Access to Components of a Personal Communication
Structure
(PCS)" and filed on October 15, 2015, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/884,052,
titled
"Techniques and Apparatus for Controlling Access to Components of a Personal
Communication Structure (PCS)" and filed on October 15, 2015, and U.S. Patent
Application
No. 15/240,493, titled "Techniques and Apparatus for Controlling Access to
Components of a
Personal Communication Structure (PCS)" and filed on August 18, 2016, each of
which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to techniques and apparatus
for controlling
access to components of a personal communication structure (PCS). Some
embodiments relate
specifically to techniques and apparatus for compartmentalizing subsystems of
a PCS and
independently controlling access to the individual compartments.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In some public or semi-public areas, various structures can be used for
communication
or to obtain access to goods and services. For example, telephone booths can
be used to place
telephone calls. Interactive kiosks can be used to obtain access to
information, products, and/or
services. Some interactive kiosks are self-service kiosks, which allow patrons
of a business to
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perform service tasks that were historically performed by business employees.
For example, the
automated teller machine (ATM) is a self-service kiosk that allows users to
deposit funds into a
financial account, withdraw funds from an account, check an account balance,
etc. ¨ tasks that
were historically performed with the assistance of a human bank teller. As
another example,
some retail stores allow customers to scan and pay for their items at self-
service checkout
kiosks rather than checkout stations staffed by human cashiers.
[0004] An interactive kiosk generally includes a computer terminal, which
executes software
and/or controls hardware peripherals to perform the kiosk's tasks. Many
interactive kiosks are
deployed inside buildings that are accessible to the public (e.g., banks,
stores), in areas where
the building operators can monitor the kiosks and protect them from
unauthorized access. In
some cases, interactive kiosks are integrated into walls of buildings (e.g.,
some ATMs are
integrated into walls of banks), fastened to walls, or placed against walls,
which can protect the
kiosks from unauthorized access and reduce the occurrence of potentially
dangerous events
such as the kiosks tipping or overturning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In recent years, public telephone booths have dwindled in number and
many of the
remaining booths have fallen into relative disuse and disrepair. The demise of
the public
telephone booth can be traced, in part, to the increasing prevalence of mobile
phones and to the
widespread use of communication networks for non-telephonic purposes. Many
people who
wish to participate in telephone conversations in public places prefer the
convenience of their
own mobile phones to the inconvenience of a stationary phone booth.
Furthermore, in contrast
to many mobile phones, conventional public telephone booths do not allow users
to access
Internet-based data and services. Many people who wish to access Internet-
based data and
services in public places use mobile computing devices (e.g., smartphones or
laptop computers)
and wireless networks (e.g., mobile broadband networks or Wi-Fi networks) to
do so. In short,
for many people, the public telephone booth is less convenient and less
functional than other
readily-available options for connecting to a communication network.
[0006] Despite the seeming ubiquity of mobile computing devices, many people
are often left
with insufficient access to telephonic or Internet-based services. In some
areas, wireless
network coverage may be poor or nonexistent. In areas where wireless networks
are available,
the number of network users or the volume of network traffic may exceed the
capacity of the
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network, leaving some users unable to connect to the network, and degrading
quality of service
for users who are able to connect (e.g., degrading audio quality of phone
calls or reducing rates
of data communication). Even when wireless networks are available and not
congested, some
people may not have access to telephonic or Internet-based services because
they may not have
suitable computing devices or network-access agreements (e.g., a person may
not own a
computing device, may own a computing device but not have a network-access
agreement with
an Internet-service provider, may not own a mobile computing device, may have
a mobile
computing device with an uncharged battery, etc.).
[0007] There is a need for personal communication structures (PCSs) that
enhance public
access to communication networks. Such PCSs may enhance access to
communication
networks by expanding network coverage (e.g., making communication networks
available in
areas where they would otherwise be unavailable), expanding network capacity
(e.g.,
increasing the capacity of communication networks in areas where such networks
are
available), expanding access to end-user computing devices and telephones,
and/or expanding
access to charging outlets for mobile computing devices. By enhancing access
to
communication networks, the PCSs may improve the employment prospects,
educational
opportunities, and/or quality of life for individuals, families, and
communities that would
otherwise have limited access to communication networks.
[0008] The interior portions of a PCS may be secured to protect the PCS's
components from
vandalism, theft, and damage (e.g., from unwanted handling or exposure to the
ambient
environment), protect people from safety hazards (e.g., electrical hazards),
prevent
unauthorized parties from accessing the PCS's components, etc.
[0009] Nevertheless, from time to time it may be necessary or desirable for
authorized parties
to access the PCS's internal components. For example, it may be desirable for
an authorized
party to access a PCS component to perform maintenance, to perform tests, to
repair or replace
the component, to adjust the component's settings, etc. In some cases, it may
be desirable for
one party to have access to one set of PCS components and for another party to
have access to
another set of PCS components, without either party having access to both sets
of components.
More generally, it may be desirable for different parties to have access only
to specified subsets
of the PCS's components. For example, it may be desirable for an electricians'
union to have
access to the PCS's power distribution components, so that the union's
electricians can
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maintain or repair the power distribution subsystem, but there may be no
reason for the
electricians to have access to any other PCS components.
[0010] There is a need for a personal communication structure (PCS) with
components divided
among independently accessible, independently secured compartments, such that
suitable
parties can be granted access to some PCS components, without granting those
parties access to
other PCS components. Such an arrangement of secure PCS compartment may
facilitate
maintenance and operation of the PCS in scenarios where different maintenance
providers
and/or operators of the PCS need access only to limited subsets of the PCS's
components.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a PCS is provided
including
independently accessible compartments at least partially enclosing respective
subsystems of the
PCS. The independently accessible compartments include an electronics
compartment, a
communications compartment, and a display compartment. The electronics,
communications,
and display compartments at least partially enclose a power distribution
subsystem, a
communications subsystem, and a display subsystem, respectively. The PCS also
includes an
access controller operable to provide access independently to respective
interiors of at least a
subset of the compartments.
[0012] In some embodiments, the electronics compartment further at least
partially encloses a
networking subsystem and/or a maintenance subsystem. In some embodiments, the
electronics
compartment includes a power distribution compartment and an independently
accessible
networking compartment, wherein the power distribution compartment at least
partially
encloses the power distribution subsystem, and wherein the networking
compartment at least
partially encloses a networking subsystem. In some embodiments, the
independently accessible
compartments further include a networking compartment at least partially
enclosing a
networking subsystem and/or a maintenance compartment at least partially
enclosing a
maintenance subsystem. In some embodiments, the electronics compartment
includes an access
panel movable between an open position and a closed position, and a lock
operable to lock the
access panel in the closed position. In some embodiments, the access
controller is operable to
provide access to an interior of the electronics compartment by disengaging
the lock and/or
moving the access panel to the open position. In some embodiments, the
electronics
compartment is disposed along a lower portion of the PCS.
[0013] In some embodiments, the communications subsystem includes at least one
communication device selected from the group consisting of a wireless access
point, a radio
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access node, and an antenna. In some embodiments, the radio access node
includes a small cell
operable to communicate with 3G mobile networks, 4G mobile networks, and/or
LTE mobile
networks. In some embodiments, at least one side of the communications
compartment is
attached to a frame of the PCS by at least one security fastener. In some
embodiments, the
5 communications compartment is located proximate a top of the PCS.
[0014] In some embodiments, the display subsystem includes a display panel
operable to
display images. In some embodiments, the display compartment includes an
access member
movable between an open position and a closed position, and a lock operable to
lock the access
member in the closed position. In some embodiments, the lock includes a
connector coupled to
the access member and a mating interlocking connector coupled to a frame of
the PCS. In some
embodiments, the access member includes a housing, wherein the housing
includes a frame, a
transparent covering secured to the frame, and a cavity formed by the frame
and the transparent
covering, and wherein the display panel is secured to the frame and disposed
within the cavity.
In some embodiments, the access controller is operable to provide access to an
interior of the
display compartment by disengaging the lock and/or moving the access member to
the open
position. In some embodiments, the display compartment is disposed along an
upper portion of
the PCS.
[0015] In some embodiments, the access controller includes a processing
device, wherein the
subset of the independently accessible compartments include respective locks,
and wherein the
processing device is configured to independently disengage the respective
locks. In some
embodiments, the processing device is adapted to disengage each of the locks
by controlling a
solenoid driver, a rotary actuator, a linear actuator, an electromagnet, a
cam, and/or a lever. In
some embodiments, the access controller is configured to detect closure of an
access member
of at least one compartment, wherein the access member is movable between an
open position
and a closed position, and wherein the access controller is configured to
engage the lock
associated with the at least one compartment based on detection of the closure
of the access
member.
[0016] In some embodiments, the processing device is configured to receive
authentication
data and to disengage at least one of the locks based on the authentication
data meeting
authentication requirements associated with the locks. In some embodiments,
the access
controller further includes a data input device configured to provide the
authentication data to
the processing device. In some embodiments, the access controller is
configured to detect
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unauthorized access and/or attempted unauthorized access. In some embodiments,
the access
controller is configured to collect evidence of the unauthorized access and/or
the attempted
unauthorized access. In some embodiments, the PCS further includes a camera,
wherein the
access controller is configured to collect the evidence by operating the
camera to acquire at
least one image of a region proximate to the PCS. In some embodiments, the
access controller
is configured to provide an alert regarding the unauthorized access and/or the
attempted
unauthorized access. In some embodiments, the access controller is configured
to provide the
alert by performing sounding an alarm, displaying a message via the display
subsystem, and/or
sending a silent alert to a security provider.
[0017] In some embodiments, the processing device is further configured to
receive permission
to disengage the at least one lock, and the processing device is configured to
disengage the at
least one lock based on receiving the permission and on the authentication
data meeting the
authentication requirements associated with the at least one lock. In some
embodiments, the
processing device is further configured to send a message requesting
permission to disengage
the at least one lock, and the permission to disengage the at least one lock
is received in
response to sending the message.
[0018] In some embodiments, the independently accessible compartments further
include a
user interface compartment at least partially enclosing a user interface
subsystem. In some
embodiments, the PCS further includes an air intake compartment at least
partially enclosing an
air intake subsystem. In some embodiments, the PCS further includes a mounting
compartment,
wherein the mounting compartment encloses at least one power connection and at
least one
network connection.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a PCS is
provided including at
least three independently accessible compartments at least partially enclosing
respective
subsystems of the PCS. An interior of each of the independently accessible
compartments is
accessible without accessing the interior of any other independently
accessible compartment.
The independently accessible compartments include an electronics compartment,
a
communications compartment, and a display compartment. The electronics,
communications,
and display compartments at least partially enclose a power distribution
subsystem, a
communications subsystem, and a display subsystem, respectively. The PCS also
includes an
access controller operable to provide access independently to respective
interiors of at least a
subset of the compartments.
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[0020] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a personal
communication
structure (PCS) is provided including a plurality of independently accessible
compartments at
least partially enclosing respective subsystems of the PCS. The plurality of
independently
accessible compartments include an electronics compartment disposed along a
lower portion of
the PCS, a communications compartment located proximate atop of the PCS, and a
display
compartment disposed along an upper portion of the PCS. The electronics
compartment at least
partially encloses a power distribution subsystem. The communications
compartment at least
partially encloses a communications subsystem. The display compartment at
least partially
encloses a display subsystem.
[0021] In some embodiments, the electronics compartment further at least
partially encloses a
networking subsystem and/or a maintenance subsystem. In some embodiments, the
electronics
compartment includes an access panel movable between an open position and a
closed position,
and a lock operable to lock the access panel in the closed position. In some
embodiments, the
access controller is operable to provide access to an interior of the
electronics compartment by
disengaging the lock and/or moving the access panel to the open position.
[0022] In some embodiments, the communications subsystem includes at least one
communication device selected from the group consisting of a wireless access
point, a radio
access node, and an antenna. In some embodiments, the radio access node
includes a small cell.
In some embodiments, the small cell is operable to communicate with 3G mobile
networks, 4G
mobile networks, and/or LTE mobile networks.
[0023] In some embodiments, the display subsystem includes a display panel
operable to
display images. In some embodiments, the display compartment includes an
access member
movable between an open position and a closed position, and a lock operable to
lock the access
member in the closed position. In some embodiments, the lock includes a
connector coupled to
the access member and a mating interlocking connector coupled to a frame of
the PCS. In some
embodiments, the access member includes a housing, wherein the housing
includes a frame, a
transparent covering secured to the frame, and a cavity formed by the frame
and the transparent
covering, and wherein the display panel is secured to the frame and disposed
within the cavity.
In some embodiments, the access controller is operable to provide access to an
interior of the
display compartment by disengaging the lock and/or moving the access member to
the open
position.
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[0024] In some embodiments, the PCS further includes an access controller
operable to provide
access independently to respective interiors of at least a subset of the
compartments. In some
embodiments, the access controller includes a processing device, wherein the
subset of the
independently accessible compartments include respective locks, and wherein
the processing
device is configured to independently disengage the respective locks. In some
embodiments,
the processing device is configured to receive authentication data and to
disengage at least one
of the locks based on the authentication data meeting authentication
requirements associated
with the locks.
[0025] In some embodiments, the PCS further includes a data input device
adapted to provide
the authentication data to the processing device, and an air intake
compartment at least partially
enclosing an air intake subsystem and the data input device. In some
embodiments, the
independently accessible compartments further include a user interface
compartment at least
partially enclosing a user interface subsystem.
[0026] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an access-
control method for a
personal communication structure (PCS) is provided. The method includes
receiving
authentication data via an interface of the PCS. The PCS includes a plurality
of independently
accessible compartments at least partially enclosing respective subsystems of
the PCS. The
plurality of independently accessible compartments includes an electronics
compartment at
least partially enclosing a power distribution subsystem, a communications
compartment at
least partially enclosing a communications subsystem, and a display
compartment at least
partially enclosing a display subsystem. The method further includes, based,
at least in part, on
a determination that the authentication data meets authentication requirements
associated with a
first of the independently accessible compartments, providing access to an
interior of the first
compartment without providing access to interiors of other independently
accessible
compartments.
[0027] In some embodiments, providing access to the interior of the first
compartment includes
moving an access panel of the first compartment from a closed position to an
open position
and/or disengaging a lock coupled to the access panel. In some embodiments,
the access panel
of the first compartment is moved to the open position without moving access
panels of the
other independently accessible compartments. In some embodiments, the lock of
the first
compartment is disengaged without disengaging locks of the other independently
accessible
compartments.
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[0028] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving permission
to provide
authorized access to the interior of the first compartment, wherein the access
to the interior of
the first compartment is provided based, at least in part, on the receipt of
the permission to
provide authorized access to the interior of the first compartment and on the
determination that
the authentication data meets the authentication requirements associated with
the first
compartment. In some embodiments, the permission to provide authorized access
to the interior
of the first compartment is received from a remote entity through a
communication network. In
some embodiments, the permission to provide authorized access to the interior
of the first
compartment is limited to a specified time period. In some embodiments, the
specified time
period is based, at least in part, on a repair schedule and/or a maintenance
schedule.
[0029] In some embodiments, the method further includes requesting permission
to provide
authorized access to the interior of the first compartment, prior to receiving
the permission. In
some embodiments, the step of requesting permission is based on a maintenance
subsystem of
the PCS recommending servicing of a component of the PCS accessible via the
first
compartment. In some embodiments, the step of requesting the permission to
provide
authorized access to the interior of the first compartment includes
transmitting a code to at least
one of an address and a phone number associated with a security provider.
[0030] In some embodiments, the method further includes providing an
indication that
authorized access to the interior of the first compartment is permitted. In
some embodiments,
providing the indication includes activating a light on the PCS, activating a
light on the first
compartment, and/or displaying a message.
[0031] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the following
drawings, detailed description, and claims, all of which illustrate the
principles of the invention,
by way of example only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Certain advantages of some embodiments may be understood by referring
to the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In
the drawings,
like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the
different views. Also,
the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being
placed upon
illustrating principles of some embodiments of the invention.
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[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a personal communication structure (PCS),
in accordance
with some embodiments;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic of a power distribution subsystem of a PCS, in
accordance with
some embodiments;
5 [0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a network subsystem of a PCS, in
accordance with some
embodiments;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a maintenance subsystem of a PCS, in
accordance with some
embodiments;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a user interface subsystem of a PCS, in
accordance with
10 some embodiments;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic of a user interface subsystem of a PCS, in
accordance with some
embodiments;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic of a display module of a PCS, in accordance with
some
embodiments;
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement of compartments of a PCS, in
accordance with some
embodiments;
[0041] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show respective front perspective, side, and
exploded front
perspective views of a PCS, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0042] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C show respective side perspective, front
perspective, and
exploded front perspective views of a frame of a PCS, in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0043] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a portion of a PCS, in accordance
with some
embodiments;
[0044] FIGS. 12A and 12B show front perspective views of a PCS with ribbed
panels, in
accordance with some embodiments;
[0045] FIG. 12C shows a schematic side view of a ribbed panel, in accordance
with some
embodiments;
[0046] FIG. 13 illustrates a system for controlling access to components of a
PCS, in
accordance with some embodiments;
[0047] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a security fastener;
[0048] FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of an access controller, in accordance
with some
embodiments;
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[0049] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of an electronics compartment, in
accordance with
some embodiments;
[0050] FIGS. 17A and 17B show respective front and rear perspective views of
an electronics
cabinet, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0051] FIGS. 18A and 18B show respective front and exploded front perspective
views of an
air intake assembly, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0052] FIGS. 19A and 19B show respective front perspective and rear
perspective views of a
user interface device, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0053] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a display compartment, in
accordance with some
embodiments;
[0054] FIG. 21 shows an exploded perspective view of display module, in
accordance with
some embodiments;
[0055] FIG. 22 shows a perspective cut-away view of a compartment lock of a
display
compartment, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0056] FIGS. 23A and 23B show side views of a compartment lock of a display
compartment
with the lock engaged (FIG. 23A) and disengaged (FIG. 23B), in accordance with
some
embodiments;
[0057] FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of a communications compartment, in
accordance
with some embodiments; and
[0058] FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of a mounting compartment, in
accordance with some
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview of Personal Communication Structure (PCS)
[0059] FIG. 1 illustrates a personal communication structure (PCS) 100,
according to some
embodiments. PCS 100 enhances access to communication networks in public or
semi-public
places. In some embodiments, PCS 100 includes an electronics subsystem 140, a
user interface
subsystem 150, a temperature control subsystem 160, a display subsystem 170, a
communications subsystem 180, and/or a mounting subsystem 190. Electronics
subsystem 140
may include a power distribution subsystem 110, a network subsystem 120,
and/or a
maintenance subsystem 130. These and other components of PCS 100 are described
in further
detail below.
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100601 Power distribution subsystem 110 distributes electrical power to
components of PCS
100. Power distribution subsystem 100 may provide power to network subsystem
120,
maintenance subsystem 130, other components of electronics subsystem 140, user
interface
subsystem 150, temperature control subsystem 160, display subsystem 170,
and/or
communications subsystem 180. Power distribution subsystem 110 may distribute
power
provided by any suitable power source(s) including, without limitation,
batteries, solar panels, a
power line 112 coupled to a power grid, etc. In some embodiments, power
distribution
subsystem 110 includes one or more power converters operable to convert power
from one
form (e.g., AC power) into another form (e.g., DC power) suitable for the
PCS's components.
In some embodiments, power distribution subsystem 110 includes one or more
voltage level
converters operable to change the voltage level of a signal to a level
compatible with a
component of the PCS. The ground terminal of the power distribution subsystem
110 may be
coupled to a reference potential 114 via the chassis of the PCS or via any
other suitable path.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a power distribution subsystem 110,
according to some
embodiments. In some embodiments, power distribution subsystem (PDS) 110
includes a
power conversion system 204, a power distribution board 202, and a battery
206. The inputs to
power conversion system 204 include AC power supply signals (e.g., 120 VAC at
60 Hz)
carried on a hot line 212, a neutral line 214, and a ground line 216. In some
embodiments, the
hot line 212 and neutral line 214 may be coupled to power conversion system
204 by quick
disconnect devices 207 and 208, respectively, whereby the hot and neutral
lines may be safely
disconnected from power distribution subsystem 110 if the PCS is separated
from its footing.
Ground line 216 may be coupled to a ground terminal of the PCS 100. Power
conversion
system 204 processes the AC power supply signals and converts the processed
signals into DC
power supply signals. In some embodiments, power conversion system 204
includes a current
transformer 222, AC power distribution unit 223, ground-fault circuit
interrupter 224 (e.g.,
circuit breakers), AC line filter 226, and rectifier 218. Rectifier 218 may
function as a DC
power supply (e.g., a 24 V, 75A, 2 kW DC power supply). As can be seen in FIG.
2, the
outputs of various components of power conversion system 204 may be provided
as inputs to
power distribution board 202.
[0062] Power distribution board 202 may detect power system faults and
distribute DC power
signals to other components of the PCS. In some embodiments, power
distribution board 202
uses the AC signals provided by power conversion system 204 to perform fault
detection (e.g.,
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ground fault detection, stray voltage detection, etc.). In some embodiments,
power distribution
board 202 uses the DC power supply signals provided by power conversion system
204 and/or
battery 206 to produce DC power supply signals at various voltage levels
(e.g., 5V, 12V, and
24V DC), and distributes those DC power supply signals to suitable components
of the PCS
100.
[0063] In some embodiments, power distribution system DC power signals can be
switched on
and off As those skilled in the art can appreciate, staggered activation of
high-power devices
(e.g., one or more components of display subsystem 170) reduces in-rush
current demand on
power supply 218. In some embodiments, the power distribution subsystem 110 is
able to
measure output current and can shut off power supply signals when the device
reaches an over-
current threshold. When a device causes over-current and "trips" the output,
an error message
may be sent to a maintenance center, indicating that the PCS requires
servicing.
[0064] Battery 206 may provide backup power for components of PCS 100,
including but not
limited to user interface subsystem 150, which may implement emergency
communication
(e.g., E911) functionality. In some embodiments, power distribution board 202
may charge
battery 206 (e.g., at 24 VDC) when power conversion system 204 is producing DC
power and
PCS 100 is not using all the available DC power. In some embodiments, a solar
charging
system may charge battery 206 during power outages or at other times.
[0065] In some embodiments, the power distribution subsystem 110 can detect
whether the
ground-fault circuit interrupter 224 has tripped. The ability to detect
activation of the ground-
fault circuit interrupter 224 can facilitate maintenance of the PCS. For
example, while on back-
up battery power, the PDS may determine whether AC power is lost (e.g., by
sensing whether
AC power supply signals are present) or the ground-fault circuit interrupter
224 has tripped. A
suitable message can then be sent to the maintenance center, indicating, for
example, whether
the PCS requires service.
[0066] Returning to FIG. 1, network subsystem 120 controls communication on a
network 124
within PCS 100, and communication between internal network 124 and a network
126 external
to the PCS. In some embodiments, network subsystem 120 uses network 124 to
communicate
with power distribution system 110, maintenance subsystem 130, user interface
subsystem 150,
temperature control subsystem 160, display subsystem 170, and/or
communications subsystem
180. The nodes of network 124 may be arranged in one or more suitable network
topologies,
including, without limitation, a bus (e.g., with network subsystem 120 as the
bus controller),
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star network (e.g., with network subsystem 120 as the central hub), ring
network, mesh
network, tree network, point-to-point network, etc. Network 124 may be
implemented using
one or more suitable communication technologies, including, without
limitation, Ethernet, DVI
(Digital Visual Interface), HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), USB
(Universal
Serial Bus), SMB (System Management Bus), I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus,
VGA (Video
Graphics Array), SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), SPI (Serial
Peripheral Interface)
bus, LVDS (low-voltage differential signaling), etc.
[0067] Network subsystem 120 may send and receive any suitable data. For
example, network
subsystem 120 may control the operation of other components of PCS 100 by
sending control
data to the PCS's subsystems. Network subsystem 120 may forward commands
received from a
suitable source, including, without limitation, other PCS subsystems and/or
network 126. As
another example, network subsystem 120 may send operand data to components of
PCS 100
for processing by those components (e.g., data to be displayed by display
subsystem 170 or
user interface subsystem 150, data to be transmitted by communications
subsystem 180, etc.).
[0068] In some embodiments, network subsystem 120 communicates with network
126 via
data link 122. Data link 122 may be implemented using a suitable
communications line,
including, without limitation, an Ethernet cable, coaxial cable, or optical
fiber. In some
embodiments, network subsystem 120 may include a signal conversion device
adapted to
convert the signals received on data link 122 from one form (e.g., optical
signals) into another
form (e.g., electrical signals).
[0069] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a network subsystem 120, in accordance with
some
embodiments. In one embodiment, network subsystem 120 includes a fiber
junction box 302, a
service delivery switch 304, and a network switch 306. In the example of FIG.
3, data link 122
includes one or more optical fibers. Fiber junction box 302 may optically
couple the optical
fibers of data link 122 to one or more internal optical fibers 322. In some
embodiments, fiber
junction box 302 includes one or more quick disconnect devices, whereby the
optical fibers of
data link 122 may be protected from damage if PCS 100 is separated from its
footing. Service
delivery switch 304 may convert the optical signals received on optical fibers
322 into
electrical signals representing network traffic (e.g., Ethernet packets), and
provide that network
traffic to network switch 306. Likewise, service delivery switch 304 may
convert the network
traffic (e.g., Ethernet packets) received from network switch 306 into optical
signals, and
provide those optical signals to fiber junction box 302. Network switch 306
may switch
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network traffic between PCS subsystems, or between a PCS subsystem and network
126. In
some embodiments, network switch 306 is an Ethernet switch. Network switch 306
may be
powered by power distribution subsystem 110.
[0070] In some embodiments, network subsystem 120 includes a power-over-
Ethernet (POE)
5 injector 308. The POE injector 308 may provide power to one or more PCS
subsystems,
including, without limitation, communications subsystem 180.
[0071] Returning to FIG. 1, maintenance subsystem 130 runs maintenance
diagnostics on
components of PCS 100. In some embodiments, maintenance subsystem 130 performs
tests on
the PCS's components and/or initiates self-tests of the PCS's components. Such
tests may be
10 performed periodically (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.),
intermittently, randomly or at other
suitable times. Alternatively or in addition, components of PCS 100 may
perform such tests in
response to commands received via network subsystem 120 (e.g., commands issued
by a PCS
operator via network 126 or via communications subsystem 180), or in response
to other
suitable events.
15 [0072] Based on the results of such tests, maintenance subsystem 130 may
determine whether a
tested component is operating properly. If a tested component is not operating
properly,
maintenance subsystem 130 may output data describing the component's
malfunction (e.g.,
transmit an error code to a PCS operator via network 126 or communications
subsystem 180,
display an error message via display subsystem 170 or user interface subsystem
150, etc.), take
action to resolve the malfunction (e.g., reboot the malfunctioning component),
turn off power
to the faulty component or to the entire PCS (e.g., if the malfunction
presents a safety hazard),
etc.
[0073] In some embodiments, maintenance subsystem 130 may be adapted to
control or adjust
the operation of power distribution subsystem 110, for safety purposes or
other suitable
purposes. As described above, if a safety hazard is detected, maintenance
subsystem 130 may
control power distribution subsystem 110 to deactivate the PCS 100 or the
unsafe
component(s). Alternatively, maintenance subsystem 130 may control power
distribution
subsystem 110 to "power cycle" or "reboot" a malfunctioning component.
[0074] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of a maintenance subsystem 130, in accordance
with some
embodiments. In various embodiments, maintenance subsystem 130 includes one or
more
processing devices 400. The processing device(s) may include, without
limitation, a
microprocessor, microcontroller, small-board computer, system on a chip (SoC)
(e.g.,
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Qualcomm Snapdragon, Nvidia Tegra, Intel Atom, Samsung Exynos, Apple A7,
Motorola X8,
etc.), or other suitable processing device. The processing device(s) 400 may
communicate with
other components of PCS 100 via network subsystem 120 to perform maintenance
tasks, or for
other suitable purposes. In some embodiments, processing device(s) 400 are
powered by power
distribution subsystem 110.
[0075] Returning to FIG. 1, in addition to power distribution subsystem 110,
network
subsystem 120, and/or maintenance subsystem 130, electronics subsystem 140 may
include
other components. In some embodiments, electronics subsystem 140 includes one
or more
illumination controllers, which control illumination of one or more lights
coupled to or
proximate to the PCS. When lit, the lights controlled by the illumination
controller may
illuminate user interface subsystem 150 or other portions of PCS 100. In some
embodiments,
electronics subsystem 140 includes one or more sensor controllers, which
control one or more
sensor devices (e.g., microphones, cameras, ambient light sensors, pressure
sensors, voltage
sensors, environmental sensors, accelerometers, etc.). Such sensors may be
used for any
suitable purpose, including, without limitation, adjusting the brightness of
displays and/or lights
based on ambient lighting, surveilling the region proximate to the PCS (e.g.,
when an attempt
to gain unauthorized access to the PCS is detected), etc.
[0076] User interface subsystem 150 provides an interactive user interface,
which may be used
to access a communication network. Referring to FIG. 5, user interface
subsystem 150 may
include one or more user input devices 552, output devices 554, network
modules 556 (e.g.,
network interface controllers, wireless transceivers, etc.), processing
devices 557, and/or power
supply ports 558. The user input device(s) 552 may include, without
limitation, a touchscreen,
touchpad, keyboard, keypad, trackball, one or more microphones, camera,
buttons, switches,
etc. The output device(s) 554 may include, without limitation, a display unit
(e.g., touchscreen,
LCD display, etc.), light(s), speaker(s), audio jack(s) (e.g., headset jacks,
including
microphone), etc. The one or more network modules 556 may include, without
limitation, a 3G
mobile network transceiver, 4G mobile network transceiver, LTE mobile network
transceiver,
Wi-Fi transceiver, RFID reader, Bluetooth transceiver, Near Field
Communication (NFC)
transceiver, Ethernet adapter, etc. In some embodiments, at least one of the
network modules
556 may be configured to access network 126 via network subsystem 120 or to
access a
communication network via communications subsystem 180. The one or more
processing
devices may include, without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller,
small board
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computer, or system on a chip (SoC) (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon, Nvidia Tegra,
Intel Atom,
Samsung Exynos, Apple A7, Motorola X8, etc.). The one or more power supply
ports 558 may
include, without limitation, one or more USB charging ports, a two-prong or
three-prong AC
power outlet (e.g., providing current limited AC power at 120 V, 60 Hz), etc.
[0077] User interface subsystem 150 may enhance users' access to communication
networks in
several ways. In some embodiments, user interface subsystem 150 may provide
users access to
communication networks (e.g., the Internet) via network module(s) 556. For
example, a user
may provide inputs via user input device(s) 552 to control a web browser or
other network-
based application executing on processing device(s) 557, which may access a
communication
network via network module(s) 556. The data obtained from the communication
network may
be processed by processing device(s) 557 and provided to the user via output
device(s) 554. As
another example, a user may connect a computing device (e.g., a mobile
computing device) to
user interface subsystem 150 via a network module 556 (e.g., a Wi-Fi access
point), and access
a communication network via another network module 556 (e.g., a mobile network
transceiver), via communications subsystem 180, or via network 126. As yet
another example,
users may charge mobile computing devices via power supply port(s) 558, and
access
communication networks through the charged devices.
[0078] In some embodiments, PCS 100 includes an assisted listening unit that
transmits the
PCS's audio outputs to hearing assistance devices (e.g., hearing aids,
Cochlear implants, etc.)
within the assisted listening unit's range via a "hearing loop" (e.g., an
"audio induction loop" or
"audio-frequency induction loop"). The assisted listening unit may include a
loop coil and a
loop amplifier adapted to drive amplified signals into the loop coil, thereby
creating a magnetic
field that delivers the amplified signals to hearing assistance devices within
the unit's range.
The loop coil may be included in or located proximate to user interface
subsystem 150, or
disposed at another suitable location in, on, or near PCS 100.
[0079] In some embodiments, user interface subsystem 150 includes an interface
for adjusting
the assisted listening unit (e.g., for increasing or decreasing the signal
strength or range of the
assisted listening unit). The assisted listening unit's interface may include,
without limitation,
one or more buttons, dials, switches, and/or software-based interfaces. By
adjusting the assisted
listening unit, a user may control the range of the assisted listening unit
and/or the volume of
the audio output provided by the assisted listening unit.
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[0080] In some embodiments, user interface subsystem 150 includes interface
components for
placing a phone call. User interface subsystem may implement the phone calls
using voice-
over-IP (VOIP) technology. The user's speech may be captured via the user
interface
subsystem's microphone, and the speech of other parties to the phone call may
be provided via
the user interface subsystem's speaker(s). In some embodiments, the user
interface subsystem
150 permits users to place phone calls to emergency responders (e.g., E911
calls). The E911
calls may be placed using VOIP technology (e.g., via a network module 556 of
user interface
150, via communications subsystem 180, or via network 126) or another suitable
technology.
[0081] In some embodiments, the user input devices 552 include a microphone
system, and the
processing device 557 is able to perform noise cancellation on the microphone
system. It can be
appreciated that the PCS may be located in an environment with high levels of
ambient street
noise. The processing device 557 may perform a noise cancelling process that
distinguishes the
user's speech from the background noise and removes at least some of the
background noise
from the audio stream. When a user plugs in a headset that contains a
microphone, the noise
cancellation technique may also detect and remove background noise picked up
by the
headset's microphone.
[0082] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary schematic of the user interface subsystem
150, in
accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface
subsystem 150
includes one or more processing devices 600. The processing device(s) 600 may
include,
without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller, small-board computer,
system on a chip
(SoC) (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon, Nvidia Tegra, Intel Atom, Samsung Exynos,
Apple A7,
Motorola X8, etc.), or other suitable processing device. The processing
device(s) 600 may
communicate with other components of PCS 100 via network subsystem 120. In
some
embodiments, processing device(s) 600 are powered by power distribution
subsystem 110.
[0083] In the example of FIG. 6, user interface subsystem 150 includes a
keypad 601, headset
jack 602, speaker 603, two microphones (604, 605), and an E911 button 606, all
of which are
coupled to the processing device(s) 600. Processing device(s) 600 may be
adapted to initiate an
E911 communication when E911 button 606 is pressed, and to send and receive
E911 messages
via a wireless communication module 607 (e.g., a 3G, 4G, or LTE mobile network
transceiver,
including a suitable antenna, which may be located proximate to the top of the
PCS).
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[0084] In some embodiments, the E911 button contains an indicator. One example
of the
indicator is an illumination ring. The illumination ring may help a user to
locate the button at
night, and/or may flash when a user presses the button to indicate a E911 call
is in progress.
[0085] In the example of FIG. 6, user interface subsystem 150 includes a
touchscreen 612,
display 614, camera 616, hearing loop coil 618, hearing loop amplifier 619,
and USB charging
port(s) 620. In some embodiments, the touchscreen 612, display 614, camera
616, and hearing
loop coil 618 may be packaged together in a tablet computing device 610. The
USB charging
port(s) 620 and hearing loop amplifier 619 may be powered by power
distribution subsystem
110.
[0086] Returning to FIG. 1, temperature control subsystem 160 controls the
temperature
within PCS 100. For example, temperature control subsystem 160 may cool the
components of
PCS 100. Some of the PCS's components generate heat and the PCS 100 may absorb
heat from
its environment (e.g., via radiation or convection), particularly when the
ambient temperature is
high or the PCS is exposed to direct sunlight. Extreme heat can interfere with
the operation of
the PCS or even permanently damage some of the PCS's components.
[0087] Alternatively or in addition, temperature control system 160 may, under
appropriate
conditions, heat the components of PCS 100. Some PCSs may be located in cold
environments
(e.g., outdoors in regions with cold ambient temperatures). Like extreme heat,
extreme cold can
interfere with the PCS's operation or damage its components.
[0088] Temperature control subsystem 160 may include one or more components
suitable for
heating and/or cooling the PCS. In some embodiments, temperature control
subsystem 160
includes one or more fans operable to circulate ambient air through the PCS,
which can cool
the PCS. In some embodiments, the PCS 100 includes one or more heat sinks, and
the ambient
air circulated by temperature control subsystem 160 passes proximate to the
heat sink(s). In
some embodiments, temperature control subsystem 160 includes one or more fans
operable to
recirculate air in portions (e.g., airtight compartments) of PCS 100, which
can facilitate the
transfer of heat from those portions of the PCS to other regions of the PCS
and/or to the
ambient environment. The fans may be single-speed fans or variable-speed fans.
In some
embodiments, temperature control subsystem 160 includes one or more heaters,
which can heat
the PCS. In some embodiments, one or more fans and/or heaters are located
apart from
temperature control subsystem 160, but controlled by the temperature control
subsystem.
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[0089] Temperature control subsystem 160 may control the PCS's temperature by
controlling
the operation of the fan(s) and/or heater(s). In some embodiments, temperature
control
subsystem 160 controls the PCS's temperature based, at least in part, on the
temperature inside
or in an area proximate to the PCS. Temperature control subsystem 160 may
obtain
5 temperature information regarding the temperature in or near PCS 100 from
one or more
temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may be located inside the PCS, on
an outer
surface of the PCS, proximate to the PCS, and/or in any other suitable
location. Temperature
control subsystem 160 may include one or more sensor drivers that can activate
the sensor(s)
and obtain temperature measurements from the sensor(s). Alternatively or in
addition,
10 temperature control subsystem may obtain temperature information
regarding the temperature
in the vicinity of the PCS from a suitable source (e.g., a website) via a
communication network
(e.g., network 126).
[0090] In some embodiments, the temperature control system 160 adds or removes
active fans
(e.g. switches fans on or off) in specific areas of the PCS based on the
temperature sensor
15 information. For example, active fans may be added when the ambient
temperature is high
(e.g., above a threshold). Conversely, active fans may be removed when the
ambient
temperature is low (e.g., below a threshold) to reduce power usage. The fans
may be organized
in addressable groups to facilitate addition and removal of active fans.
[0091] In some embodiments, the temperature control subsystem 160 uses a
feedback-based
20 control system (e.g., a feedback loop) to control the speeds of the
fans. The fans may include
tachometers, and the tachometer outputs may be fed back to the temperature
control subsystem,
which may use the tachometer outputs to determine the speeds of the fans. In
addition to adding
and removing active fans, the temperature control subsystem 160 may increase
the speeds of
the fans as the internal temperature increases or decrease the speeds of the
fans as the
temperature decreases.
[0092] In some embodiments, the temperature control subsystem 160 uses the fan
tachometer
output to determine whether a fan fault has occurred. For example, the
temperature control
subsystem 160 may detect a fan fault when the tachometer output indicates that
there is little or
no fan rotation (e.g., the rate of fan rotation is below a threshold). When a
fan fault is detected,
the PCS may notify the maintenance center of the fault, so the PCS can be
serviced to replace
or repair the faulty fan.
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[0093] In some embodiments, temperature control subsystem 160 controls the
PCS's
temperature based on environmental information, which may include temperature
information
and/or other information associated with the PCS's environment. For example,
environmental
information may include sunlight information indicating whether the PCS is
exposed to direct
sunlight. Sunlight information may be obtained from a camera or other suitable
optical sensor.
Alternatively or in addition, environmental information may include humidity
information
indicating the humidity levels in the PCS's environment, time-of-day
information indicating the
current time at the PCS's location, weather information indicating the weather
in the PCS's
environment, etc.
[0094] Based on the environmental information, temperature control subsystem
160 may
control the fan(s) and/or heater(s) to adjust the PCS's temperature. In some
embodiments,
temperature control subsystem 160 may activate one or more heaters when the
PCS's
temperature is below a lower threshold temperature, and/or activate one or
more fans when the
PCS's temperature is above an upper threshold temperature. In some
embodiments, the number
of heater units and/or fans activated by temperature control subsystem 160 is
determined based
on the environmental information. In some embodiments, the settings of the
activated heaters
and/or fans (e.g., the fan speeds, the heater temperatures, etc.) may be
determined based on the
environmental information. In some embodiments, if the temperature in the PCS
is determined
to be outside a safe operating range, temperature control subsystem may
instruct power
distribution subsystem 110 to deactivate the PCS or at least one component
thereof
[0095] Display subsystem 170 includes one or more display modules, each of
which includes
at least one display device. The display device may include, without
limitation, a liquid crystal
display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic light-emitting
diode (OLED)
display, cathode ray tube (CRT), electroluminescent display (ELD), electronic
paper /
electronic ink display (e.g., a bi-stable or multi-stable electrophoretic or
electro-wetting
display), plasma display, thin-film transistor (TFT) display, 3D display
(e.g., volumetric
display, holographic display, integral imaging display, compressive light
field display, etc.),
stereoscopic display, etc. In some embodiments, display subsystem 170 includes
two display
modules disposed on opposite sides of the PCS, such that the modules' display
devices face in
opposite directions.
[0096] A display device may display suitable information, including, without
limitation, news
information, weather information, emergency information (e.g., instructions
for dealing with an
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emergency, evacuation routes, etc.), travel information (e.g., traffic
conditions, road conditions,
speed limits, alternative route information, public transit schedules,
locations of and/or
directions to public transportation facilities, etc.), tourism information
(e.g., locations of and/or
directions to popular tourist attractions), advertisements, etc. The displayed
information may be
displayed in one or more suitable formats, including, without limitation,
text, still images,
and/or video. Display subsystem 170 may include one or more processing devices
adapted to
control the display of information by the display device(s). For example, each
display module
may include a processing device adapted to control the display module's
display device.
[0097] In some embodiments, display subsystem 170 includes one or more
cameras. For
example, each display module may include one or more cameras. Display
subsystem 170 may
use the cameras to determine the ambient light levels, and may adjust the
brightness of the
display device(s) accordingly. For example, if the ambient light level at the
PCS is high (e.g.,
because the sun is shining on the PCS), display subsystem 170 may increase the
brightness of
the display(s) (e.g., by increasing the brightness of the display
backlight(s)), so that the
displayed information is readily viewable by onlookers or passers-by. On the
other hand, if the
ambient light level at the PCS is low, display subsystem 170 may decrease the
brightness of the
display(s), to reduce the display subsystem's power usage and/or heat
generation. In some
embodiments, the brightness levels of the PCS's displays may be controlled
independently.
[0098] Alternatively or in addition, display subsystem 170 may use the cameras
to obtain
information about "potential viewers" (e.g., people viewing the PCS, viewing a
display device
of the PCS, using the PCS, and/or in the vicinity of the PCS). In some
embodiments, display
subsystem 170 may determine, based on images of the area proximate to the PCS
(e.g., images
acquired by the PCS's camera(s)), a potential viewer's apparent demographic
information,
including, without limitation, age, sex, race/ethnicity, etc. In some
embodiments, display
subsystem 170 may use facial-recognition techniques to determine a potential
viewer's identity.
[0099] Display subsystem 170 may use information about the PCS's potential
viewers to
select the information to be displayed by the display device(s) (e.g., to
select advertisements for
display based on the identities or demographics of the potential viewers).
Alternatively or in
addition, display subsystem 170 may track the identities and/or demographics
of the potential
viewers who have been in the vicinity of the PCS when particular
advertisements have been
displayed. Tracking information about potential viewers of advertisements
and/or controlling
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the display of advertisements based on information about the potential viewers
may increase
the value of the PCS's advertising impressions to potential advertisers.
[00100] Display subsystem 170 may obtain information about a potential viewer
from the
potential viewer, from analysis of images of the potential viewer, and/or from
the potential
viewer's computing device (e.g., smartphone). For example, a potential viewer
who connects to
a communication network through a PCS 100 (e.g., via user interface subsystem
150 or via the
user's computing device) may provide authentication data (e.g., a username,
password, and/or
other credentials), and the PCS may use that authentication data to access the
potential viewer's
account information, which may identify the potential viewer and/or provide
information about
the potential viewer (e.g., the potential viewer's attributes and/or
interests). The potential
viewer may have provided such information when registering for access to the
PCS (or set of
PCSs), or the PCS may have inferred such information based on the potential
viewer's
activities on the communication network.
[00101] Even if potential viewers do not register for PCS access, information
about a potential
viewer's attributes and/or interests can still be inferred based on the
potential viewer's
activities, and this information can be tracked in connection with information
identifying the
potential viewer's computing device (e.g., a mobile device's phone number,
mobile equipment
identifier (MEID), or unique device identifier (UDID); a computing device's
media access
control (MAC) address; etc.). In some embodiments, a PCS 100 may identify a
potential viewer
or attributes thereof based on identifying information transmitted by the
potential viewer's
computing device when the computing device is within range of the PCS, even if
the
computing device is not connected to a network via the PCS 100.
[00102] FIG. 7 is a schematic of a display module 700, in accordance with some
embodiments.
In some embodiments, a PCS 100 includes two display modules 700. In some
embodiments, a
display module 700 includes one or more processing device(s) 710. Each
processing device 710
may include, without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller, small-
board computer,
system on a chip (SoC) (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon, Nvidia Tegra, Intel Atom,
Samsung
Exynos, Apple A7, Motorola X8, etc.), or other suitable processing device. The
processing
device(s) 710 may communicate with other components of PCS 100 via network
subsystem
120. In some embodiments, each processing device 710 is powered by power
distribution
subsystem 110. In the example of FIG. 7, display module 700 also includes a
display device
720. Display device 720 may include a display panel 721, ambient light sensor
722, two
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cameras (723, 724), temperature sensor 725, frame rate controller 726,
power/backlight
controller 727, and one or more fans 728.
[00103] In some embodiments, the processing device 710 is able to read the
ambient light
sensor 722 and send a control signal to the power/backlight controller 727.
One example of the
control signal is a pulse width modulated (PWM) output. In response to the
ambient light
sensor 722 detecting the presence of high ambient light, the duty cycle of the
PWM signal may
be increased, thereby causing the power/backlight controller to increase the
backlight
brightness, so that the display image is viewable in bright sunlight. Those
skilled in the art can
appreciate that the PWM control signal may be digital or converted to an
analog output via a
digital to analog converter.
[00104] Returning to FIG. 1, communications subsystem 180 includes one or more
communication modules. In some embodiments, the communication module(s)
include one or
more radio access nodes. The radio access node(s) may include small cells
(e.g., low-power
radio access nodes with ranges between roughly 10 m and 1-2 km, including, but
not limited to,
femtocells, picocells, and microcells), macrocells (e.g., radio access nodes
with ranges of up to
a few tens of kilometers), etc. The radio access node(s) may reduce congestion
in mobile data
networks (e.g., 3G, 4G, or LTE networks) by expanding network capacity and
offloading traffic
from more congested portions of the network to the portions of the network
associated with the
radio access node(s). In areas where mobile data networks are highly congested
(e.g., portions
of New York City, and particularly portions of Manhattan), deploying PCSs with
radio access
node(s) in an area where mobile data networks are congested may, in some
embodiments,
greatly reduce network congestion and improve quality of service for many
network users.
[00105] In some embodiments, communications subsystem 180 includes at least
one wireless
access point. Computing devices may connect to the wireless access point using
a suitable
wireless adapter, including, without limitation, a Wi-Fi or WiMAX adapter.
Through the
wireless access point, communications subsystem 180 may provide access to a
local area
network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) (e.g., network 126, or a 3G, 4G, or
LTE network
accessed via the communications subsystem's radio access node(s)). PCS
operators may use
the wireless access points to provide wireless broadband network access to
individuals,
subscribers, communities, etc. Use of the wireless access points may further
improve the
quality of service on mobile data networks by offloading some users from the
mobile data
networks to the wireless access point.
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[00106] Returning to FIG. 1, mounting subsystem 190 includes a mounting device
that
releasably secures the PCS to a support (e.g., a footing). The mounting device
may be adapted
to break when a shear force above a predetermined value is applied to the
mounting device,
thereby allowing the PCS to move. Such releasable mounting can reduce the
damage caused to
5 people and property when an automobile collides with the PCS.
[00107] PCS 100 may include compartments and components of PCS 100 may be
disposed in
the compartments. FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement of compartments of a PCS
100, according
to some embodiments. For convenience, the PCS's top portion 805 and base
portion 806 are
identified in FIG. 8, as is the PCS's height 807.
10 [00108] In the example of FIG. 8, PCS 100 includes mounting compartment
890, electronics
compartment 840, user interface compartment 850, air intake compartment 865,
display
compartment 870, and communications compartment 880. Electronics compartment
840 may
enclose electronics subsystem 140. User interface compartment 850, display
compartment 870,
and communications compartment 880 may enclose user interface subsystem 150,
display
15 subsystem 170, and communications subsystem 180, respectively. In some
embodiments,
display compartment 870 may enclose, in addition to display subsystem 870, one
or more heat
sinks. Mounting compartment 890 may enclose at least a portion of a mounting
subsystem 190.
[00109] Air intake compartment 865 may enclose at least portions of
temperature control
subsystem 160. In some embodiments, air intake compartment 865 may enclose one
or more
20 fans, which may draw ambient air into the air intake area. In some
embodiments, the one or
more fans may also draw air into the air intake area from electronics
compartment 840. The
fans may move the air through display compartment 870 (e.g., across one or
more heat sinks),
and the air may be discharged through an exhaust in communications compartment
880. In
some embodiments, air intake compartment 865 may enclose one or more heaters.
25 1001101 In the example of FIG. 8, communications compartment 880 is
located proximate to
the top 805 of the PCS, display compartment 870 is disposed along an upper
portion of the PCS
and below communications compartment 880, and an air intake compartment 865 is
located
proximate to a middle portion of the PCS (in the direction of the PCS's
height) and below
display compartment 870. Mounting compartment 890 is located proximate a base
806 of the
PCS, electronics compartment 840 is disposed along a lower portion of the PCS
between
mounting compartment 890 and air intake compartment 865, and user interface
compartment
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850 is disposed along a lower portion of the PCS adjacent to air intake
compartment 865 and
electronics compartment 840.
1001111 Embodiments of a PCS are not limited by the compartmentalization
scheme illustrated
in FIG. 8. A PCS may include none of the compartments illustrated in FIG. 8,
any combination
of the compartments illustrated in FIG. 8, and/or other compartments not
illustrated in FIG. 8.
In cases where a PCS includes a compartment illustrated in FIG. 8 (e.g.,
mounting
compartment 890, electronics compartment 840, user interface compartment 850,
air intake
compartment 865, display compartment 870, or communications compartment 880),
the
location and/or shape of that compartment may differ from the location and/or
shape of the
corresponding compartment in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, a PCS may include a
compartment that encloses two or more PCS subsystems that are enclosed by
different
compartments in the example of FIG. 8. In some embodiments, a PCS may include
separate
compartments enclosing respective portions of a PCS subsystem that is enclosed
by a single
compartment in the example of FIG. 8. In some embodiments, a PCS may include a
compartment that encloses other compartments.
[00112] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show respective front perspective, side, and
exploded front
perspective views of a PCS 100, in accordance with some embodiments. For
convenience, the
PCS's top portion 805 and base portion 806 are identified in FIGS. 9A-9B, as
are the PCS's
height 807, width 908, and length 909.
[00113] As can be seen in FIG. 9C, PCS 100 may include a frame 1000. The frame
1000 is (or
is part of) a structural system that supports the components of PCS 100. In
some embodiments,
the frame 1000 forms portions of the PCS's compartments (e.g., communications
compartment
880, display compartment 870, air intake compartment 865, user interface
compartment 850,
electronics compartment 840, and mounting compartment 890).
[00114] As can further be seen in FIG. 9C, communications compartment 880 may
include a
radio access node 981, a wireless access point 983, and/or one or more
antennas. The bottom of
communications compartment 880 may be formed by a portion of frame 1000, and
the top and
sides of communications compartment 880 may be formed by a removable cap 985.
[00115] Display compartment 870 may include a heat sink 903 and a display
module 700. In
some embodiments, display compartment 870 includes a second display module
(and,
optionally, a second heat sink) arranged back-to-back (e.g., in parallel) with
display module
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700 and heat sink 903, such that display module 700 and the second display
module face in
opposite directions.
[00116] Air intake compartment 865 may include an air intake assembly 967. The
air intake
assembly 967 may include a grill, a filter, and a fan assembly. User interface
compartment 850
may include a user interface device 951. The user interface device 951 may
include a table
computer, keypad, an emergency call button, microphone(s), speakers, and a
mobile device
charging port. Electronics compartment 840 may include an electronics cabinet
941, and may
be formed by portions of frame 1000 and a cover panel 943. Mounting
compartment 890 may
at least partially enclose mounting subsystem 190, and may be formed by
portions of frame
1000 and a cover panel 991.
[00117] FIGS. 10A-10C show the frame 1000 of a PCS 100, according to some
embodiments,
and illustrate how the frame 1000 partially forms the PCS's compartments. In
some
embodiments, the frame 1000 is the frame of a monocoque structure, wherein the
frame
supports the components, forms the compartments and is also the outer face (or
"skin") of
portions of the PCS (e.g., the user interface compartment 850 and the opposing
side 1050 of the
PCS). This approach may simplify construction by reducing the number of
brackets, mounting
accessories, part count, etc.
[00118] In another embodiment, the frame 1000 is that of a traditional
structure, and the outer
skins are attached to the frame. In such embodiments, the frame supports the
components of the
PCS, forms the compartments of the PCS, and acts as a rigid structural
chassis. One advantage
of this approach is field replaceability. If an outer skin is damaged (e.g.,
by vandalism or by
ordinary wear and tear), the damaged skin can be replaced with a new skin. As
long as the
frame remains uncompromised, damaged outer skins can be removed, replaced, and
(optionally) sent to a service facility for refurbishing. Refurbishing methods
may include
removing dents and/or scratches, sanding, texturing, reshaping, and/or re-
painting. Skins that
are not suitable for refurbishing (e.g., due to extensive damage) may be
recycled and turned
into new parts.
[00119] As can be seen in FIGS. 10A-10C, frame 1000 may include a bottom
member 1001a, a
lower front member 100lb, a cross-frame member 1001c, an upper front member
1001d, a rear
member 1001e, and a top member 1001f. In the example of FIGS. 10A-10C, lower
portions of
lower front member 100lb and rear member 1001e are joined to opposite sides of
bottom
member 1001a. One side of cross-frame member 1001c is joined to an upper
portion of lower
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front member 100lb and a lower portion of upper front member 1001d. The
opposite side of
cross-frame member 1001c is joined to rear member 1001e proximate to a
midpoint between
the rear member's top and base ends. The upper portions of upper front member
1001d and rear
member 1001e are joined to opposite sides of top member 1001f
[00120] In the example of FIGS. 10A-10C, top member 1001f and the upper
portion of upper
front member 1001d form a bottom and a side of communications compartment 880.
Two sides
of display compartment 870 are formed by upper front member 1001d and rear
member 1001e,
and the top and bottom of display compartment 870 are formed by top member
1001f and
cross-frame member 1001c, respectively. Cross-frame member 1001c forms the
top, bottom,
and two sides of air intake compartment 865. User interface compartment 850 is
formed in part
by the bottom portion of upper front member 1001d, the top portion of lower
front member
1001b, and a side of cross-frame member 1001c. Two sides of electronics
compartment 840 are
formed by lower front member 100lb and the lower portion of rear member 1001e,
and the top
and bottom of electronics compartment 840 are formed by cross-frame member
1001c and
bottom member 1001a, respectively. Bottom member 1001a forms mounting
compartment 890.
[00121] Embodiments of frame 1000 are not limited by the configuration shown
in FIGS. 10A-
10C. As can be seen in FIG. 11, which shows a front-perspective view of a
portion of PCS 100,
some embodiments of frame 1000 further include one or more cross-frame members
1001g
coupled to upper front member 1001d and an upper portion of rear member 1001e
to form an I-
beam. In some embodiments, cross-frame member(s) 1001g may include one or more
ribbed
heat sinks 1161. A ribbed heat sink 1161 may include a substantially planar
member 1163 and
fins 1162 extending from the substantially planar member 1163 (e.g., in one or
more directions
substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substantially planar
member).
[00122] Frame 1000 may facilitate cooling of the PCS's compartments. In some
embodiments,
one or more (e.g., all) members of frame 1000 may have relatively high thermal
conductivity
(e.g., average thermal conductivity of at least 90, 100, 110, or 120 Btu / (hr
* F * ft)). When
the temperature within a PCS compartment is greater than the ambient
temperature in the area
proximate to the PCS, the frame member(s) with relatively high thermal
conductivity may
function as heat sinks (including, but not limited to, cross-frame member(s)
1001g), such that
heat from the compartments is transferred to the PCS's ambient environment
through the frame
member(s). The member(s) of frame 1000 with relatively high thermal
conductivity may
substantially consist of materials with relatively high thermal conductivity,
including, without
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limitation, aluminum, thermal pyrolytic graphite, silicon carbide, etc. For
example, one or more
member(s) of frame 1000 may substantially consist of aluminum.
[00123] Members of frame 1000 may be manufactured using suitable techniques.
In some
embodiments, bottom member 1001a, lower front member 100lb, cross-frame member
1001c,
cross-frame member(s) 1001g, and/or top member 1001f may be metal castings. In
some
embodiments, upper front member 1001d and/or rear member 1001e may be extruded
metal,
polymer, composite, etc.
[00124] Referring to FIGS. 12A-12C, portions of a PCS's frame 1000 and/or
compartments
may be covered by ribbed panels 1200. The ribbed panels 1200 may discourage
vandalism of
PCS 100, since the panel ribs might offer a less appealing target for drawing,
painting, or
etching than other, smoother surfaces. In addition, the ribbed panels may be
swappable, as
shown in FIG. 12B, such that a damaged or vandalized panel could be quickly
replaced with a
pristine panel.
[00125] Referring to FIG. 12C, a ribbed panel 1200 may include a substantially
planar member
1202 and a set of ribs 1204 extending from the planar member. In some
embodiments, the
angle 1206 between the outer surface of a rib and the outer surface of the
planar member is
between approximately 95 and 115 . In some embodiments, the thickness 1208 of
a rib 1204
at the rib's base may be between approximately 0.25" and 0.5" and the width
1210 of a rib
1204 may be between approximately 0.3" and 0.6". Other dimensions may be used.
Controlling Access to Components of a PCS
[00126] In some embodiments, one or more of the compartments of a personal
communication
structure (PCS) 100 may be secured. Securing a PCS's compartments may protect
the PCS's
components from vandalism, theft, and damage (e.g., from unwanted handling or
exposure to
the ambient environment), protect people from safety hazards (e.g., electrical
hazards), and/or
prevent unauthorized parties from accessing the PCS's components.
[00127] Nevertheless, from time to time it may be necessary or desirable for
authorized parties
to access the components enclosed in a PCS's compartments. For example, it may
be desirable
for an authorized party to access a PCS subsystem to perform maintenance, to
perform tests, to
repair or replace a component, to adjust a component's settings, etc. In some
cases, it may be
desirable for one party to have access to one set of PCS components and for
another party to
have access to another set of PCS components, without either party having
access to both sets
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of components. More generally, it may be desirable for different parties to
have access only to
specified subsets of the PCS's components. For example, it may be desirable
for an
electricians' union to have access to the PCS's power distribution subsystem
110, so that the
union's electricians can maintain or repair the power distribution subsystem,
but there may be
5 no reason for the electricians to have access to any other PCS
components. Likewise, it may be
desirable for a telecommunications company's personnel to have access to the
PCS's
communications subsystem 180, but there may be no reason for the company's
personnel to
have access to any other PCS components.
[00128] FIG. 13 illustrates a system 1300 for controlling access to components
of a PCS,
10 according to some embodiments. Access-control system 1300 may
independently secure at
least a subset of the compartments of a PCS 100 (e.g., access-control system
1300 may apply
different security measures to different compartments in the subset, which may
include
requiring users to provide different authentication tokens and/or information
to access different
compartments in the subset). The independently secured compartments may be
independently
15 accessible (e.g., the interior of any compartment in the subset may be
accessed without
accessing the interiors of other compartments in the subset). Providing
independently secured
and independently accessible compartments may facilitate the task of
maintaining overall
security, while granting different parties access to different sets of PCS
components. Some
techniques for securing and controlling access to the PCS's compartments are
described in
20 further detail below.
[00129] In some embodiments, access-control system 1300 includes one or more
compartment
locks (e.g., locks 1302a-f) and one or more compartment access members (e.g.,
access
members 1304a-f) associated with one or more respective compartments (e.g.,
electronics
compartment 840, air intake compartment 865, display compartment 870,
communications
25 compartment 880, mounting compartment 890, and user interface
compartment 850). When a
compartment lock 1302 is engaged, the lock fastens or otherwise secures the
corresponding
access member 1304 in a closed position, such that the interior of the
corresponding
compartment is inaccessible. When a compartment lock 1302 is disengaged, the
corresponding
access member 1304 is movable between the closed position and an open
position, such that the
30 corresponding compartment is accessible.
[00130] The compartment locks 1302 may include, without limitation, mechanical
locks,
electronic locks, electromechanical locks, etc. Non-limiting examples of
mechanical locks
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include warded locks, tumbler locks (e.g., pin tumbler locks, wafer tumbler
locks, disc tumbler
locks, lever tumbler locks), combination locks, security fasteners (e.g.,
"security" or "tamper-
proof' screws, bolts, anchors, nuts), etc. A security fastener may have an
atypical shape and/or
atypical dimensions relative to commercially available fasteners of the same
type. For example,
as can be seen in FIG. 14, a security fastener 1400 may be a machine screw
1402 with an
atypical screw drive 1404 or head configuration. A security fastener can
generally be unlocked
or unfastened using a specialized tool that conforms to or otherwise
accommodates the
fastener's atypical shape and/or dimensions. Other mechanical locks can
generally be opened
with physical keys or a combination code.
[00131] Non-limiting examples of electronic or electromechanical locks include
keycard locks,
RFID locks, smart locks, cyber locks, etc. A keycard lock can generally be
unlocked by
presenting a suitable security token (e.g., a keycard with appropriate key
data) to a keycard
reader. Likewise, an RFID lock can generally be unlocked by presenting a
suitable security
token (e.g., an RFID tag with appropriate key data) to an RFID reader. A smart
lock can
generally be unlocked by presenting suitable authentication data to an access
controller 1310,
which confirms the validity of the authentication data and disengages the
lock. Non-limiting
examples of authentication data include biometric data (e.g., fingerprint
data, retinal scan data,
voice print data or other speech-based data, etc.), security credentials
(e.g., username,
password, personal identification number (PIN), etc.) cryptographic data, etc.
[00132] A cyber lock generally includes an electronic cylinder that can be
unlocked by
inserting a suitable cyber key. A cyber key is generally an electronic key
that can communicate
with a cyber lock to engage and disengage the cyber lock's cylinder. In some
cases, a cyber key
may provide power to the cyber lock. In some cases, a cyber key may contain
internal memory
that stores security information, which may include but is not limited to: one
or more encrypted
access codes, information identifying one or more PCS structures the key can
access, dates and
times when the key is authorized to access a particular PCS or set of PCSs,
and/or date/time
ranges when the key is authorized to access a particular PCS or set of PCSs.
In some cases, a
cyber key may be capable of disabling access to the security information
and/or deleting the
security information in response to input signals (e.g., input signals
received wirelessly from a
remote service center, indicating that the key has been lost or stolen). A
cyber key's security
information (e.g., schedules, credentials, authorizations, permissions, etc.)
generally may be
updated using wireless communications (e.g., Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi) when
connected to an
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authorized network. In some embodiments, a cyber key associated with a PCS 100
may connect
to an authorized network through the PCS 100 (e.g., via the communications
subsystem 180).
Some of the above examples of cyber keys may contain an internal rechargeable
battery that
powers the cyber lock when the key is inserted into the lock. In some cases, a
cyber key may
communicate with a cyber lock (e.g., when the key is inserted into the lock).
Such
communication may occur wirelessly or via a wired connection (e.g., a USB
interface).
[00133] Some examples of commercially available electronic or
electromechanical locks
include electromagnetic locks, electric latch releases, electronically-
actuated deadbolts,
motorized locks and solenoid locks.
[00134] In some embodiments, an electronic or electromechanical lock includes
a locking
mechanism and an actuator. Non-limiting examples of locking mechanisms include
deadbolts,
latches, electromagnets, etc. Non-limiting examples of actuators include
solenoid drivers,
rotary actuators, linear actuators (e.g., a linear actuator that moves a
deadbolt or unlatches a
latch), electromagnets, cams, levers, etc.
[00135] Returning to FIG. 13, access-control system 1300 may include an access
controller
1310 and a security interface 1320. In some embodiments, access controller
1310 controls one
or more actuators for one or more compartments, and uses the appropriate
actuator to disengage
a corresponding lock 1302 and/or open a corresponding access member 1304 upon
provision of
suitable authentication data. For example, when a user provides the
appropriate authentication
data for display compartment 870, access controller 1310 may drive an actuator
to disengage
lock 1302c, and (optionally) open compartment 870 by driving an actuator to
move access
member 1304c. In some embodiments, the authentication data is provided to
access controller
1310 by security interface 1320 (e.g., via network subsystem 120). In some
embodiments,
authentication data is provided to access controller 1310 over a communication
network (e.g.,
via network subsystem 120 and/or communication subsystem 180).
[00136] In some embodiments, access controller 1310 includes one or more
processing devices
1510 and one or more actuator drivers 1520, as shown in FIG. 15. The
processing device(s)
1510 and actuator driver(s) 1520 may be powered by power distribution
subsystem 110.
Processing device(s) 1510 may include, without limitation, a microprocessor,
microcontroller,
small-board computer, system on a chip (SoC) (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon,
Nvidia Tegra,
Intel Atom, Samsung Exynos, Apple A7, Motorola X8, etc.), or other suitable
processing
device.
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[00137] Actuator driver(s) 1520 may include hardware (e.g., I/0 ports) and/or
software (e.g.,
driver software) controlled by processing device(s) 1510 and adapted to
communicate with
actuators (e.g., the actuators of locks 1302 and/or access members 1304). In
some
embodiments, access controller 1310 engages a lock 1302 and/or disengages a
lock 1302 by
sending suitable control signals to the lock's actuator via an actuator driver
1520. In some
embodiments, access controller 1310 opens an access member 1304 and/or closes
an access
member 1304 by sending suitable control signals to the access member's
actuator via an
actuator driver 1520. In some embodiments, access controller 1310 determines
whether a lock
1302 is engaged or disengaged, or determines whether an access member 1304 is
open or
closed, by sending a suitable query to the corresponding actuator, which may
reply to the query
by sending data to processing device(s) 1510 indicating the actuator's state.
In some
embodiments, when access controller 1310 detects closure of a compartment's
access member
1304, access controller 1310 may engage the compartment's lock 1302.
[00138] An embodiment has been described in which access controller 1310
includes one or
more processing device(s) 1510. In some embodiments, access controller 1310 is
implemented
on one or more processing devices of a subsystem of PCS 100. Access controller
1310 may, for
example, be implemented on the maintenance subsystem's processing device(s)
600, which
may be equipped with suitable actuator driver(s) 1520.
[00139] A user may provide authentication data to access controller 1310 via
security interface
1320. Security interface 1320 may include a keycard reader, RFID reader,
keyboard, keypad,
touchscreen, fingerprint scanner, retinal scanner, camera, microphone, data
access port, and/or
other suitable data input device. The keycard reader and RFID reader can be
used to read
authentication data from a keycard and an RFID tag, respectively. The
keyboard, keypad, or
touchscreen can be used to enter security credentials. The fingerprint
scanner, retinal scanner,
camera, or microphone may be used to enter biometric data. The data access
port may be used
to upload authentication data, including but not limited to cryptographic
keys. In the example
of FIG. 15, security interface 1320 is configured to send the user-provided
authentication data
to access controller 1310 via network subsystem 120. In some embodiments,
security interface
1320 includes a processing device adapted to encrypt the user-provided
authentication data
before sending the data to access controller 1310. In some embodiments,
security interface
1320 sends the authentication data to access controller 1310 via a dedicated
link that is not part
of network subsystem 120. Alternatively or in addition, a user may provide
authentication data
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to access controller 1310 over a communication network (e.g., network 126, or
a network
coupled to communication subsystem 180).
[00140] Access controller 1310 may analyze the user-provided authentication
data to
determine whether it is valid. In some embodiments, the user specifies which
compartment(s)
the user is attempting to access and access controller 1310 analyzes the
authentication data to
determine whether it is valid for the specified compartment(s). In some
embodiments, the user
provides authentication data without specifying which compartment(s) the user
is attempting to
access and access controller 1310 analyzes the authentication data to
determine whether it is
valid for any compartment. To determine whether the authentication data is
valid, access
controller 1310 may perform one or more suitable authentication procedures
(e.g., fingerprint
matching, voiceprint matching, retinal scan matching, username matching,
password matching,
PIN matching, one-factor authentication, two-factor authentication, multi-
factor authentication,
etc.).
[00141] In some embodiments, permission to access a compartment of the PCS 100
may be
remotely granted, denied, or revoked (e.g., by a remote service center), and
the grant, denial, or
revocation of permission to access the compartment may be communicated to the
access
controller 1310 over a communication network (e.g., network 126, a network
coupled to
communication subsystem 180, etc.). In some embodiments, the access controller
may
acknowledge the grant, denial, or revocation of permission over the
communication network.
[00142] The entity that grants, denies, or revokes permission to access a
compartment of the
PCS 100 may determine whether to grant, deny, or revoke permission based on
any suitable
information. In some embodiments, the entity grants permission to access a
compartment
during predetermined time periods. For example, the entity may grant
permission to access a
compartment during time periods specified by repair or maintenance schedules
for components
located in the compartment. As another example, the entity may deny access to
the display
compartment 870 for display subsystem 170 maintenance except during periods
generally
characterized by low pedestrian foot traffic, such as early morning hours. It
can be appreciated
that during periods of high pedestrian foot traffic, it is desirable for the
display subsystem 170
to be showing advertisements. In some embodiments, the maintenance subsystem
130 may
communicate with the entity (e.g., a remote service center). For example, the
maintenance
subsystem 130 may indicate to the entity whether (or when) maintenance or
repair of a PCS
component or subsystem is recommended or permitted. In some embodiments, the
entity grants
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permission to access a compartment based on communication from the maintenance
subsystem
indicating that repair or maintenance of a component or subsystem in the
compartment is
recommended or permitted. For example, the maintenance subsystem 130 may
indicate that
repair or replacement of a PCS component in a compartment is recommended in
response to
5 administering a diagnostic test (e.g., a self-test) and detecting a
fault. In some embodiments, the
PCS 100 may send user-provided authentication data to the entity, which may
determine
whether the authentication data is valid for one or more compartments and
grant permission to
access the compartment(s) if the authentication data is determined to be
valid.
[00143] In some embodiments, the PCS 100 may implement two-factor access
control based
10 on (1) user-provided authentication data and/or items (e.g., security
tokens, keys, etc.) and (2) a
grant, denial, or revocation of permission to access a compartment. When two-
factor access
control is used, the grant, denial, or revocation of permission to access a
compartment may
function as a grant, denial, or revocation of permission to allow authorized
access to the
compartment. When authorized access to a compartment is permitted, the access
controller
15 1310 may allow users who provide valid authentication data/item(s) for
the compartment to
access the interior of the compartment. When authorized access to a
compartment is not
permitted, the access controller 1310 may not allow a user to access the
interior of the
compartment, even if the user provides valid authentication data/item(s) for
the compartment.
In other words, the PCS 100 may permit a user to access a PCS compartment if
the user
20 provides suitable authentication data/item(s) and a remote entity grants
permission to access the
compartment, but not if the authentication data/item(s) are unsuitable nor if
the remote entity
denies or revokes permission. For example, if a user provides compromised
authentication
data/item(s) (e.g., stolen authentication data or a lost/stolen key), the
remote entity may
determine that the authentication data/item(s) are compromised, deny
permission to access the
25 compartment, and instruct the access controller 1310 to revoke the
user's privileges to access
one or more compartments by disabling authentication data/item(s) assigned to
or in the
possession of the user.
[00144] In embodiments of the PCS 100 that implement two-factor access
control, steps of the
access control process may be performed in parallel and/or in any suitable
sequence. In some
30 embodiments, access controller 1310 may send a message to a remote
entity (e.g., service
center) requesting permission to allow authorized access to a compartment, and
the remote
entity may then reply with a grant or denial of permission to allow authorized
access to the
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compartment. The access controller 1310 may send such a request before a user
provides
authentication data/item(s) for the compartment, after the user provides the
authentication
data/item(s) but before the authentication data/item(s) are validated, or
after the user-provided
authentication data/item(s) are validated. In some embodiments, a request to
access a
compartment is sent to the remote entity before a user attempts to gain access
to the
compartment (e.g., by providing authentication data/item(s)). After permission
to allow
authorized access to the compartment has been received by the PCS 100 (and
before such
permission has been revoked), a user may gain access to the compartment by
providing suitable
authentication data/item(s).
[00145] In some embodiments, the access controller 1310 provides an indication
that
permission to access a compartment (or permission to allow authorized access
to a
compartment) has been granted. For example, when access permission has been
granted (and
not revoked), the access controller 1310 may illuminate a light-emitting diode
(e.g., a green
LED) to indicate that access (e.g., authorized access) to the compartment is
permitted. The
indicator may be disposed in any suitable location, including, but not limited
to, on the
corresponding compartment or on an electronic key provided by the user. In
some
embodiments, the access controller 1310 may activate an indicator on a key
wirelessly (e.g.,
over a wireless network) or via a wired connection (e.g., when the key is
inserted into an
interface connector or lock).
[00146] In some embodiments, the PCS 100 may implement single-factor access
control based
on user-provided authentication data/item(s) or on a grant, denial, or
revocation of permission
to access a compartment. For example, the access controller 1310 may open or
unlock a
compartment in response to receiving a grant of permission to access the
compartment, without
requiring the user to provide authentication data/item(s). In some
embodiments, a user may
transmit a code to a remote entity (e.g., by emailing the code to an email
address associated
with the entity, by sending a text message to a phone number associated with
the entity, etc.),
and, after validating the code, the entity may grant permission to access the
compartment. In
some embodiments, the user may transmit the code via a mobile device that
wirelessly connects
to a network through the PCS 100 (e.g., through an access node of the PCS
100). In some
embodiments, the entity identifies a compartment of the PCS 100 and determines
whether to
grant permission to access the compartment based on the transmitted code, the
email address /
phone number to which the code was transmitted, and/or the email address /
phone number
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from which the code was sent. In some embodiments, the entity may use an
automated process
to grant permission to access a compartment.
[00147] Access controller 1310 may detect and respond to attempts to gain
unauthorized
access to compartment(s) of PCS 100. In some embodiments, access controller
1310
determines that a user is attempting to gain unauthorized access to a PCS
compartment if
invalid authentication data is provided in more than N consecutive
authentication attempts,
where N is a predetermined number. In some embodiments, access controller 1310
determines
that a user is attempting to gain unauthorized access to a PCS compartment (or
has gained
unauthorized access) if access controller 1310 detects disengagement of the
compartment's
lock or opening of the compartment's access member without a corresponding
entry of the
compartment's authentication data.
[00148] When unauthorized access (or an attempt to gain unauthorized access)
to a PCS
compartment is detected, access controller 1310 may take remedial action. In
some
embodiments, access controller 1310 collects evidence of the unauthorized
access (or attempt)
by activating a camera to acquire one or more images (e.g., still images or
video) of a region
proximate to the PCS. The acquired images may include images of the user who
has accessed
(or attempted to access) the PCS. In some embodiments, access controller 1310
sounds an
alarm, displays a message via display subsystem 170, initiates communication
with a security
provider, and/or performs other suitable actions to draw attention and/or
alert interested parties
to the unauthorized access. In some embodiments, when unauthorized access to
one or more
compartments is detected, the access controller silently alerts a remote
security center (e.g.,
alerts the remote security center without alerting the user), which in turn
takes action based on
the unauthorized access. Depending on which compartment is accessed, the
security center
may, for example, deploy security personnel or alert the local police.
[00149] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of electronics compartment 840,
according to some
embodiments. In some embodiments, cover panel 943 functions as access member
1304a for
electronics compartment 840. In some embodiments, the lock 1302a for
electronics
compartment 840 includes a set of latches 1604 and a corresponding set of
latch receptacles
1606. When the lock is engaged, the interlocking of the latches 1604 and the
latch receptacles
1606 holds the access member securely in the closed position. The lock may be
disengaged by
access controller 1310, which may drive one or more actuators coupled to the
latch receptacles
1606 to release the latches 1604 or vice versa, thereby allowing the access
member to be
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moved from the closed position (e.g., a position in which the interior of the
compartment is
inaccessible, such as the position of cover panel 943 in FIG. 9A) to the open
position (e.g., a
position in which the interior of the compartment is accessible, such as the
position of cover
panel 943 in FIG. 16). The cover panel 943 may be hinged and/or removable.
[00150] As can be seen in FIG. 16, electronics compartment 840 may enclose an
electronics
cabinet 941. FIGS. 17A and 17B show front perspective and rear perspective
views of the
electronics cabinet 941, according to some embodiments. Electronics cabinet
941 may include
three sub-compartments 1710, 1720, and 1730. Sub-compartments 1710, 1720, and
1730 (or a
subset thereof) may be independently secured and independently accessible. In
some
embodiments, sub-compartments 1710, 1720, and 1730 enclose, respectively,
power
distribution subsystem 110, network subsystem 120, and maintenance subsystem
130. In some
embodiments, the power distribution subsystem 110 and the network subsystem
120 may be
located on the same side of the electronics cabinet 941 (e.g., with the power
distribution
subsystem 110 located between the base of the PCS 100 and the network
subsystem 120), and
the maintenance subsystem 130 may be located on the opposite side of the
electronics cabinet
941. In some embodiments, sub-compartment 1720 encloses network subsystem 120,
and sub-
compartments 1710 and 1730 collectively enclose power distribution subsystem
110 and
maintenance subsystem 130 (e.g., portions of the power distribution subsystem
110 and/or
portions of the maintenance subsystem 130 may be located in both the sub-
compartment 1710
and the sub-compartment 1730).
[00151] In some embodiments, electronics compartment 840 may not enclose an
electronics
cabinet 941. Electronics compartment 840 may enclose electronics subsystem 140
without
partitioning subsystems 110, 120, and 130 into sub-compartments.
[00152] An embodiment has been described in which an electronics compartment
840
encloses three sub-compartments 1710, 1720, and 1730, which in turn enclose
power
distribution subsystem 110, network subsystem 120, and maintenance subsystem
130. In some
embodiments, PCS 100 may not include an electronics compartment 840 enclosing
multiple
compartments. Instead, PCS 100 may include three compartments which
respectively enclose
subsystems 110, 120 and 130.
[00153] FIGS. 18A and 18B show front perspective and exploded front
perspective views,
respectively, of an air intake assembly 967, according to some embodiments.
Air intake
assembly 967 may be enclosed in air intake compartment 865 and may implement a
portion of
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temperature control subsystem 160. In some embodiments, air intake assembly
967 includes a
grill 1802, a filter 1806, and a fan assembly 1804. The grill 1802 may
function as access
member 1304b, and may be secured to the PCS by security fasteners 1808, which
may function
as lock 1302b. Thus, lock 1302b may be engaged by using security fasteners
1808 to fasten
grill 1802 to the PCS. According to some embodiments, the closed and open
positions of access
member 1304b (e.g., grill 1802 of air intake assembly 967) are illustrated in
FIG. 9A and FIG.
18A, respectively. In some embodiments, air intake compartment 865 may enclose
two air
intake assemblies 967 disposed proximate to each other, on opposite sides of
PCS 100.
[00154] FIGS. 19A and 19B show front perspective and rear perspective views,
respectively,
of a user interface device 951, according to some embodiments. User interface
device 951 may
be partially enclosed in user interface compartment 850 and may implement a
user interface
subsystem 150. In some embodiments, user interface device 951 includes a user
interface panel
1902 and a tablet computer 1900 fastened to the user interface panel 1902 by
security fasteners
1904. In some embodiments, the security fasteners are accessible via the
interior of air intake
compartment 865, but not accessible from the exterior of the PCS 100. Thus, in
some
embodiments, the lock 1302f and access member 1304f for user interface
compartment 850
may include, respectively, the lock 1302b and the access member 1304b for air
intake
compartment 865.
[00155] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a display compartment 870,
according to some
embodiments. In some embodiments, display compartment 870 includes a display
module 700
and a heat sink 903. In some embodiments, display compartment 870 includes a
second display
module (and, optionally, a second heat sink) arranged back-to-back with
display module 700
and heat sink 903, such that display module 700 and the second display module
face outwardly
in opposite directions.
[00156] FIG. 21 shows an exploded perspective view of a display module 700,
according to
some embodiments. In some embodiments, display module 700 includes a housing
and a
display panel 2104. The housing may include a housing frame 2102, a covering
frame 2106,
and a transparent covering 2108. Display module 700 may be assembled by
positioning display
panel 2104 in cavity 2110, fastening the display panel to housing frame 2102,
and using
covering frame 2106 to secure transparent covering 2108 over display panel
2104. Transparent
covering 2108 may include toughened glass (e.g., "Gorilla Glass" 0
manufactured by Corning,
Inc.). In some embodiments, the assembled display module 700 functions as the
access member
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1304c for display compartment 870. FIG. 9A shows access member 1304c (display
module
700) in the closed position, and FIG. 20 shows the access member in the open
or service
position.
[00157] FIG. 22 shows a cut-away perspective view of compartment lock 1302c of
display
5 compartment 870, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments,
compartment lock
1302c includes a connector 2202 (e.g., a pin) coupled to the housing of
display module 700,
and a mating interlocking connector 2204 (e.g., an L-shaped receptacle) formed
in a retention
member 2208 of PCS 100. FIG. 22 also shows an actuator 2206. In some
embodiments,
actuator 2206 is operable to disengage lock 1302c by moving retention member
2208 such that
10 connector 2202 is released from mating interlocking connector 2204
(e.g., moving retention
member 2208 toward the PCS's base). The operation of compartment lock 1302c
and actuator
2206 are described in more detail below, with reference to FIGS. 23A and 23B.
[00158] FIG. 23A shows a cross-sectional view of compartment lock 1302c of
display
compartment 870 with the lock engaged and the access member (display module
700) in the
15 closed position, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments,
lock 1302c is engaged
by positioning connector 2202 within mating interlocking connector 2204, such
that mating
interlocking connector 2204 prevents connector 2202 from moving laterally. As
can be seen,
when lock 1302c is engaged, display module 700 is held in the closed position.
In some
embodiments, actuator 2206 is operable to disengage lock 1302c by retracting a
pin 2302 into
20 an aperture of a spool 2306, thereby moving mating interlocking
connector 2204 downward
such that connector 2202 can move laterally toward the exterior of the PCS
100. In some
embodiments, actuator 2206 includes a bias member 2304 (e.g., a spring) that
biases lock
1302c toward the engaged position. Actuator 2206 may be controlled by access
controller
1310.
25 [00159] FIG. 23B shows a cross-sectional view of compartment lock 1302c
of display
compartment 870 with the lock disengaged and the access member (display module
700) in the
open position, according to some embodiments. In the example of FIG. 23B, pin
2302 has been
retracted, thereby causing retention member 2208 and mating interlocking
connector 2204 to
move downward, thereby releasing connector 2202 to move laterally toward the
exterior of
30 PCS 100.
[00160] An embodiment has been described in which compartment lock 1302c of
display
compartment 870 includes a connector 2202 and a mating interlocking connector
2204. In some
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embodiments, a compartment lock 1302c may include multiple pairs of connectors
and mating
interlocking connectors. The connectors may be arranged around a periphery of
display module
700, and the mating interlocking connectors may be arranged around a periphery
of display
compartment 870. For example, retention member 2208 may include one or more
mating
interlocking connectors, and a second retention member disposed on the
opposite side of
display module 700 may also include one or more mating interlocking
connectors. In some
embodiments, the connectors 2202 may be disposed on the retention members
2208, and the
mating interlocking connectors 2204 may be disposed on the display module 700.
[00161] As described above, PCS 100 may include two display modules 700 facing
in
opposite directions. In such embodiments, either one or both display modules
may be equipped
with compartment locks 1302c and actuators 2206 that operate independently or
in unison.
[00162] FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of a communications compartment 880,
according
to some embodiments. In some embodiments, communications compartment 880
includes a
removable cap 985, which may function as access member 1304d, and may be
secured to the
PCS by inserting security fasteners through apertures 2404 and 2406. The
security fasteners
may function as compartment lock 1302d. According to some embodiments, the
closed and
open positions of access member 1304d (e.g., cap 985) are illustrated in FIG.
9A and FIG. 24,
respectively.
[00163] Perspective views of mounting compartment 890 are shown in FIGS. 9A,
9C, and 25,
according to some embodiments. Mounting compartment 890 may include a cover
panel 991.
In some embodiments, cover panel 991 functions as access member 1304e for
mounting
compartment 890. In some embodiments, the lock 1302e for mounting compartment
890
includes a set of latches disposed proximate the periphery of cover panel 991
and a
corresponding set of latch receptacles disposed proximate the periphery of
mounting
compartment 890 or vice versa. When the lock is engaged, the interlocking of
the latches and
the latch receptacles may hold the access member securely in the closed
position. The lock may
be disengaged by access controller 1310, which may drive one or more actuators
coupled to the
latch receptacles to release the latches, thereby allowing the access member
to be moved from
the closed position (e.g., a position in which the interior of the compartment
is inaccessible,
such as the position of cover panel 991 in FIG. 9A) to the open position
(e.g., a position in
which the interior of the compartment is accessible, such as the position of
cover panel 991 in
FIG. 9C).
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[00164] In some embodiments, the mounting compartment 890 contains a mains
power
connection and one or more network connections . The network connection(s) may
be, for
example, fiber optic and/or copper network connections, depending, for
example, on where the
PCS is located and what type of network service is available. In some
locations, PCS 100 may
receive input data through one or more fiber network connections, provide
output data through
one or more copper network connections, or vice versa.
[00165] In some embodiments, the mounting compartment 890 may contain one or
more
junction boxes 2500 for connecting power and/or network connections. In some
embodiments,
the junction boxes 2500 are attached to the mounting compartment 890 before
the PCS 100 is
installed, which may facilitate securing of the power and network cabling 2502
(e.g., fastening
of the cabling to the PCS). In some embodiments, the junction boxes are
attached to the PCS
100 before it is installed on mounting subsystem 190. In some embodiments, a
portion 2504 of
the mounting subsystem 190 forms a bottom surface of the mounting compartment
890. In
some embodiments, portions of the power and/or network cabling are located in
the mounting
subsystem 190 before the PCS 100 is mounted, and the cabling is connected to
the PCS's mains
power connection and network connection(s)after the PCS 100 is mounted.
[00166] In some embodiments, one or more compartments of PCS 100 are
hierarchically
secured, such that access to one or more compartments is a precondition for
accessing another
compartment. For example, security interface 1320 may be disposed within a
compartment C
(e.g., air intake compartment 865 or communication compartment 880), such that
a user can
access the security interface 1320 only after accessing the compartment C. The
user can then
provide authentication data to access controller 1310 via security interface
1320, and thereby
gain access to other compartments (e.g., display compartment 870, electronics
compartment
840, or mounting compartment 890). In some embodiments, the security interface
1320 may
include a key reader disposed on an exterior surface of the PCS 100 or
proximate to the PCS
100.
Further Description of Some Embodiments
[00167] Embodiments have been described in which an access controller performs
an
authentication process and controls engagement / disengagement of compartment
locks and/or
opening / closing of compartment access members. The various authentication
and control
methods or processes outlined herein can be coded as software that is
executable on one or
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more processors that employ one of a variety of operating systems or
platforms. Additionally,
such software can be written using any of a number of suitable programming
languages and/or
programming or scripting tools, and also can be compiled as executable machine
language code
or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine. Also,
the acts
performed as part of the techniques described herein can be performed in any
suitable order.
[00168] In this respect, the authentication and/or control techniques can be
embodied as a
computer readable medium (or multiple computer readable media) (e.g., a
computer memory,
one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash
memories, circuit
configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor
devices, or other
tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when
executed
on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement
the various
techniques discussed above. The computer readable medium or media can be non-
transitory.
The computer readable medium or media can be transportable, such that the
program or
programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or
other
processors to implement various aspects of the present invention as discussed
above. The terms
"program" or "software" are used herein in a generic sense to refer to
computer code or set of
computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a computer or
other
processor to implement various aspects described in the present disclosure.
Additionally, it
should be appreciated that according to one aspect of this disclosure, one or
more computer
programs that when executed perform techniques described herein need not
reside on a single
computer or processor, but can be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a
number of
different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present
invention.
[00169] Computer-executable instructions can be in many forms, such as program
modules,
executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules
include
routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform
particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the
program modules
can be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.
[00170] Also, data structures can be stored in computer-readable media in any
suitable form.
For simplicity of illustration, data structures can be shown to have fields
that are related
through location in the data structure. Such relationships can likewise be
achieved by assigning
storage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium that
conveys relationship
between the fields. However, any suitable mechanism can be used to establish a
relationship
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between information in fields of a data structure, including through the use
of pointers, tags or
other mechanisms that establish a relationship between data elements.
[00171] In some embodiments the technique(s) can be implemented as computer
instructions
stored in portions of a computer's random access memory to provide control
logic that affects
the processes described above. In such an embodiment, the program can be
written in any one
of a number of high-level languages, such as FORTRAN, PASCAL, C, C++, C#,
Java,
JavaScript, Tcl, or BASIC. Further, the program can be written in a script,
macro, or
functionality embedded in commercially available software, such as EXCEL or
VISUAL
BASIC. Additionally, the software can be implemented in an assembly language
directed to a
microprocessor resident on a computer. For example, the software can be
implemented in Intel
80x86 assembly language if it is configured to run on an IBM PC or PC clone.
The software
can be embedded on an article of manufacture including, but not limited to,
"computer-readable
program means" such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetic
tape, a PROM,
an EPROM, or CD-ROM.
[00172] Embodiments have been described in which various aspects of the
techniques
described herein are applied to a personal communication structure (PCS). In
some
embodiments, aspects of the techniques described herein may be applied to any
suitable
structure including, without limitation, a kiosk (e.g., an interactive kiosk),
pay station (e.g.,
parking pay station), automated teller machine (ATM), article of street
furniture (e.g., mailbox,
bench, traffic barrier, bollard, telephone booth, streetlamp, traffic signal,
traffic sign, public
transit sign, public transit shelter, taxi stand, public lavatory, fountain,
watering trough,
memorial, sculpture, waste receptacle, fire hydrant, vending machine, utility
pole, etc.), etc.
[00173] Various aspects of the present disclosure can be used alone, in
combination, or in a
variety of arrangements not specifically described in the foregoing, and the
invention is
therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of
components set forth in
the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects
described in one
embodiment can be combined in a suitable manner with aspects described in
other
embodiments.
Terminology
[00174] The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
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[00175] The term "approximately", the phrase "approximately equal to", and
other similar
phrases, as used in the specification and the claims (e.g., "X has a value of
approximately Y" or
"X is approximately equal to Y"), should be understood to mean that one value
(X) is within a
predetermined range of another value (Y). The predetermined range may be plus
or minus 20%,
5 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.1%, or less than 0.1%, unless otherwise indicated.
[00176] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used in the specification and
in the claims,
unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean "at
least one." The
phrase "and/or," as used in the specification and in the claims, should be
understood to mean
"either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are
conjunctively present in
10 some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements
listed with "and/or"
should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements
so conjoined.
Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically
identified by the
"and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically
identified. Thus, as
a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when used in conjunction
with open-
15 ended language such as "comprising" can refer, in one embodiment, to A
only (optionally
including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally
including
elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally
including other
elements); etc.
[00177] As used in the specification and in the claims, "or" should be
understood to have the
20 same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when separating
items in a list, "or"
or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at
least one, but also
including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally,
additional unlisted
items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of or
"exactly one of," or,
when used in the claims, "consisting of," will refer to the inclusion of
exactly one element of a
25 number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used shall only
be interpreted as
indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but not both") when
preceded by terms
of exclusivity, such as "either," "one of" "only one of" or "exactly one of"
"Consisting
essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as
used in the field of
patent law.
30 [00178] As used in the specification and in the claims, the phrase "at
least one," in reference to
a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one
element selected from
any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily
including at least
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one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements
and not excluding
any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also
allows that elements
may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified
within the list of
elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or
unrelated to those
elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least
one of A and B" (or,
equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A
and/or B") can refer,
in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A,
with no B present
(and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at
least one,
optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally
including elements
other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally
including more than one,
A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally
including other
elements); etc.
[00179] The use of "including," "comprising," "having," "containing,"
"involving," and
variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and
additional items.
[00180] Use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., in the
claims to modify a
claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of
one claim
element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. Ordinal
terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a
certain name from
another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to
distinguish the claim
elements.
Equivalents
[00181] Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of
this invention, it
is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements
will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements
are intended to be
part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of
the invention.
Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only
