Automated Payment Terminal With Two-Way Video Audio Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated payment facilities for parking garages and lots lack human interaction, making them undesirable despite their convenience, as they cannot provide the same level of personal engagement as live attendants.
Innovation Solution
An automated payment facility with two-way video and audio communication capabilities, allowing customers to interact with a remote live attendant through a central monitoring station, which can access and control multiple remote payment terminals, providing human interaction while minimizing manpower requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fully automated payment system is implemented, then operational efficiency and productivity are improved, but the lack of human interaction makes the system undesirable to many customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces video and audio communication equipment as an intermediary between the automated payment system and customers. This allows human interaction to occur through the automated terminal, bridging the gap between automation efficiency and human contact needs. The communication equipment enables customers to speak with attendants or receive assistance without requiring a fully staffed booth, thus maintaining productivity while improving customer satisfaction.
2Ease of operation
If live attendants are stationed at each exit facility, then human interaction capability is improved, but device complexity and manpower requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the communication equipment multi-functional by enabling it to serve multiple purposes: customer assistance, security monitoring, emergency response, and promotional content delivery. This universal approach allows a single automated terminal with communication capabilities to replace multiple specialized functions that would otherwise require separate staffed positions, thereby reducing manpower requirements while maintaining interaction capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses video and audio technology to create a virtual presence of human attendants at automated terminals. Instead of physically stationing attendants at each location, the system copies human interaction capabilities through remote communication, allowing customers to experience human assistance without the need for physical attendance at each facility.
3Ease of operation
If communication equipment is added to provide human interaction, then customer satisfaction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication equipment (video cameras, microphones, speakers) with the existing automated payment terminal infrastructure. By integrating these functions into a single unified system rather than separate components, the patent reduces overall system complexity while still providing enhanced customer interaction capabilities. The communication features are combined with payment processing, display, and control functions in one integrated terminal.
Data Source
AI summary
A central monitoring station is linked to a plurality of remote terminals, such as payment terminals at a plurality of parking facilities. The central monitoring station and each remote terminal includes a two-way communication system in the form of a video camera and display, and audio speaker and microphone. The station and remote terminals are preferably linked through an Ethernet or Internet connection, although a hard-wired connection is also contemplated. The two-way communication system can be used by a customer at the remote terminal to achieve direct human interaction with an attendant at the remote central station to address problems occurring at the terminal. The communication system can also allow the attendant to manipulate the processor of each remote terminal to collect data, troubleshoot or override the function of the terminal.