Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140019177 | ON-BOARD ONWARDS TRAVEL ENABLEMENT KIOSK (OBOTEK) - A method/apparatus/system for onboard onwards travel ticketing is provided. Onboard onwards travel ticketing is provided by determining current location of a mode of transit, determining the destination of a user, identifying purchase options relevant to the destination, and providing the purchase options to the user. The purchase options can be a subset of all purchase options, which subset can be selected according to one or several bounding rules, and can be options for further travel. The user can then select one or several of the purchase options and can transact the purchase of one or several of the purchase options with the apparatus and/or system. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023227 | BROKEN MAG TICKET AUTHENTICATOR - A method for determining a status of transit media where the method includes imaging transit media with an optical imager to create a digital image of one or more surfaces of transit media. The method includes generating optical data from the digital image. Optical data includes information indicative of a transit product or usage. The method includes obtaining magnetic data from a magnetic strip of transit media with a magnetic media reader. Magnetic data includes information indicative of the transit product or usage encoded within the magnetic strip. Some embodiments include comparing, using a processing unit, optical data with magnetic data to determine whether optical data corresponds with magnetic data. The method can involve implementing one or more business rules from a database of business rules. This implementation can be based on the comparison. The method includes determining a status of transit media based on the implementation of business rules. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025200 | SHARED CASH HANDLER - A cash hander can be coupled with multiple vending machines or other devices to enable the vending machines to accept cash. Through various interactions, the cash handler can provide status updates to the vending machines and relinquish control a particular vending machine to accept cash for that vending machine. The cash handler can also maintain a queue to manage and/or prioritize requests from vending machines to accept cash. | 01-23-2014 |
20150019010 | SHARED VIDEO VENDOR - Embodiments of the invention provide a vending machine for enabling a transaction between a user and one of a plurality of remote sources. Vending machine may include a communication interface communicatively coupled with each source. Vending machine may include an input interface for receiving an input regarding the selection of a source. Vending machine may include a speaker and a microphone for audio communication with selected source, as well as a display for providing information related to the transaction from selected source. Vending machine may include a processor that transmits an indication that a source has been selected and establishes, via the communication interface, audio communication. Processor may receive, via the communication interface, a control command from selected source directing a hardware peripheral of vending machine to perform a function. Processor may receive an issuance authorization from selected source. The issuance authorization may cause a transaction item to be issued. | 01-15-2015 |
20150021388 | BARCODE TO MAGNETIC MEDIA CONVERTER - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for converting barcode media to magnetic media. In one aspect, a method for converting a barcode media into a magnetic stripe media is provided. The method includes reading data encoded on a barcode media. The data includes information indicative of a transit purchase and an identifier of the barcode media. The barcode media is authenticated by checking the identifier against a list of issued barcodes and determining that the barcode media is unused by checking the identifier against a list of used barcode media. The method includes converting the data from the barcode media into magnetic data storable on a magnetic media and writing the magnetic data onto the magnetic media. The method includes distributing the magnetic media containing the magnetic data and communicating information related to a conversion transaction. The information includes an indication of the distribution of the magnetic media. | 01-22-2015 |
20150026071 | SMARTCARD TO VIRTUAL MEDIA CONVERSION - In one embodiment, a method for converting a smartcard into a virtual media in a transit system is provided. The method includes reading data from a smartcard. The data includes product information related to a transit product stored on the smartcard. The data is communicated to a smartcard management system such that the smartcard management system may create a record of the smartcard. The data is also communicated to a ticket management system. An indication of the creation of an account from the ticket management system is received. The account includes a unique account identifier and the data. An input from a contactless media is received. The input includes an identifier of the contactless media. The identifier is communicated to an authorization service. A token created by the authorization service is received. The token is associated with the identifier. The token is communicated to the ticket management system | 01-22-2015 |
20150287126 | CONTEXTUAL USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS FROM EXTERNAL TRIGGERS - A method for retrofitting a vending machine with a video communications device includes securing a video communications device with a mounting feature of the video communications device removably coupled with a mounting location on a vending machine. The video communications device includes a video communications module for real-time interactions with a ticket office. The video communications module includes a display, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. The video communications device includes a video communication device communications interface. The method includes electronically coupling the video communications device with a power supply of the vending machine and communicatively coupling the video communications device with the vending machine such that functions of the vending machine are controllable using the video communications device. The method includes communicatively coupling the video communications device with the ticket office for real-time video communications with the ticket office. | 10-08-2015 |
20150287127 | REMOTE SCREEN AND TOUCH SHARING - A method for retrofitting a vending machine with a video communications device includes securing a video communications device with a mounting feature of the video communications device removably coupled with a mounting location on a vending machine. The video communications device includes a video communications module for real-time interactions with a ticket office. The video communications module includes a display, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. The video communications device includes a video communication device communications interface. The method includes electronically coupling the video communications device with a power supply of the vending machine and communicatively coupling the video communications device with the vending machine such that functions of the vending machine are controllable using the video communications device. The method includes communicatively coupling the video communications device with the ticket office for real-time video communications with the ticket office. | 10-08-2015 |
20150287311 | ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA DETECTOR - Techniques are disclosed that utilize various devices, sensors, and/or systems as data points in a transportation system to establish normal operation of the transportation system and determine when one or more of the devices, sensors, and/or systems provides anomalous data indicative of a problem in the transportation system. Identifying a problem and/or implementing a solution can then be partially or fully automated, to help ensure a quick response and minimal disruption in service. | 10-08-2015 |