Service window payment system

Abstract

A system for debiting a financial account associated with a license plate when the license plate is in proximity to a service window, such as a quick service restaurant. A mobile application on a personal electronic device is used to add a license plate to a database and associate the license plate with a financial account in communication with a financial network. When the detection device detects the proximal location of the license plate, the financial account associated with the license plate is debited through the financial network for the payment of fees charged at the service window.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A service window payment system, comprising:
 a database of license plate numbers of registered users;   a repository of financial accounts connected to one or more financial networks;   a mobile application on a personal electronic device configured to add a license plate to the database and a financial account corresponding to the license plate to the repository; and   a detection device located at a service window for detecting when a vehicle having a license plate corresponding to the license plate in the database is in proximity to the detection device, whereupon the financial account corresponding to the license plate is debited through one of the one or more financial networks to pay the fees charged at the service window.   
     
     
         2 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , further including providing notification through the mobile application that the financial account has been debited. 
     
     
         3 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , further including providing notification through the mobile application that the financial account has been debited and providing an option to dispute the debit. 
     
     
         4 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the one of more financial networks provide services specifically for payment facilities and not for cellular phone carriers. 
     
     
         5 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to designate a financial account corresponding to the license plate for debit during a preset period of time and designate another financial account for debit during other periods of time. 
     
     
         6 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to provide notification when the license plate is near the detection device and provide an option to opt out of debiting the corresponding financial account. 
     
     
         7 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to designate an alternative financial account for debit in the event funds are unavailable in the original financial account. 
     
     
         8 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to register a date on which the financial account corresponding to the license plate may no longer be debited. 
     
     
         9 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to add a license plate to the database by taking a picture of the license plate using the personal electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to display the location of parking structures having a detection device. 
     
     
         11 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is also configured to display the parking fees at parking structures having a detection device. 
     
     
         12 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal electronic device is not present in the vehicle when the vehicle is in proximity to the detection device. 
     
     
         13 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal electronic device is not activated when the vehicle is in proximity to the detection device. 
     
     
         14 . The service window payment system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection device also detects when the mobile electronic device is in proximity to the detection device by using the personal electronic device's geolocation system.