Remote transaction system

Abstract

A remote transaction system is disclosed which may be used to conduct business transactions wherein visual contact between a buyer and a seller is desired or required. A transaction booth is located remotely from an operations center, the booth and the center being connected by audio and video communication lines. The booth includes audio and video equipment for transmitting and receiving audio and video signals between the booth and the center. Decoders are provided in the booth to receive telephone touch tones or pulses from the operations center and to control the audio and video equipment and other equipment in the booth. Alternatively, a programmable device, such as a controller or microcomputer, generates control signals for controlling the equipment. A dispenser unit is controllable from the operations center utilizing a decoder to selectively dispense items or objects to a customer. A payment module facilitates payment for items or services by cash, credit card, or other appropriate means. The various equipment included in the booth is assembled into modules which can be simply and easily installed in the booth and interconnected using a wiring harness, facilitating the assembly and maintenance of the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A business transaction system, comprising: an operations center;   a transaction booth located remote from said operations center;   said transaction booth including an audio device to transmit and receive audio signals between said transaction booth and said operations center;   a first video device to transmit and receive video images between said transaction booth and said operations center;   a second video device to transmit images from said transaction booth to said operations center for purposes of visual verification of identification documents;   a decoder connected to said audio device and said first video device, said decoder connected to receive signals from said operations center and responsive to said signals to control said audio device and said first video device; and   a dispenser coupled to said decoder for dispensing items to a user in response to control by said decoder;     audio and video communication lines extending between said operations center and said transaction booth for conveying signals between said operation center and said transaction booth;   said transaction booth further including a switching device For selectively coupling said first and second video devices to said video communication line.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein said switching device is connected to receive control signals from said operations center through said audio communication line and responsive to said control signals to selectively couple said video devices to said video communication line in response thereto. 
     
     
       3. A remote transaction booth, comprising: a booth housing;   a communication module contained in said housing, said module having: an audio device For connection to a first external communication line For providing audio communication with a remote location;   a video device For connection to a second external communication line For providing video images from said transaction booth to a remote location;   a security recorder For recording said audio communication and said video images;   a first decoder having an input coupled to said first external line, and said decoder having outputs coupled to said audio device, said video device and said recorder, said decoder being adapted to receive pulses transmitted along said first external line and to control said audio device, said video device and said recorder in response thereto;     a dispenser module, having: a plurality of bins For storing items to be selectively dispensed to a user of said transaction booth;   a second decoder having an input coupled to said first external line and responsive to signals transmitted over said first external line to control said bins to selectively dispense said items; and   a lock interposed between said first external line and said second decoder For preventing inadvertent dispensing of said items.     
     
     
       4. The transaction booth of claim 3, wherein said video device is a first video device, said transaction booth Further comprising: a verification module, having: a holder for receiving and securing an identification document; and   a second video device for connection to said second external line for providing video images of said identification document to said remote location.     
     
     
       5. The transaction booth of claim 4, wherein said communication module further comprises: a video switcher connected intermediate said first and second video devices and said second external communication line and operative to alternatively couple said first and second video devices to said second external communication line.   
     
     
       6. The transaction booth of claim 3, further comprising: a payment module having: a credit card receiver,   detector means for extracting information from said credit card, and   transfer means for transferring said information from said transaction booth to said remote location.     
     
     
       7. The transaction booth of claim 3, wherein: said modules may be installed in and removed from said housing, said modules having plug-in connections for connection to a wiring harness.   
     
     
       8. A remote transaction booth for dispensing keys for renting automobiles, comprising: audio communication equipment for establishing audio communication between a person in said transaction booth and an operator at a location remote from said transaction booth;   video communication equipment for establishing video communication between said transaction booth and said location remote from said transaction booth, said video equipment including: a plurality of cameras, at least one camera positioned to receive an image of said person and at least one camera positioned to receive an image of selected identification;   a camera selector switch for selecting one of said images for transmission from said transaction booth to said remote location;   a recorder for recording said transmitted image and said audio communication;     payment means for receiving a credit card for payment of said rental;   dispensing means for dispensing automobile keys to said person, said dispenser including a security lock for preventing inadvertent dispensing of keys;   a decoder connected to said audio and video equipment and to said dispensing means, said decoder oriented to receive signals from said operator at said location remote from said transaction booth and adapted to control said video equipment and said dispensing means. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  A business transaction system, comprising: an operations center;   a transaction station located remote from said operations center;   said transaction station including: an audio device to transmit and receive audio signals between said transaction station and said operations center;   a first image device to transmit and receive images between said transaction station and said operations center;   a second image device to transmit images from said transaction station to said operations center for purposes of verification of identification documents;   a decoder connected to receive signals from said operations center and responsive to said signals to control said first and said second image devices; and   a dispenser coupled to said decoder for dispensing items to a user in response to control by said decoder; and     a communication path extending between said operations center and said transaction station for conveying signals between said operations center and said transaction station;   said transaction station further including a switching device for selectively coupling said first and second image devices to said communication path. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  A remote transaction station, comprising: an audio device for connection to an external communication path for providing audio communication with a remote location;   a first image device for connection to said external communication path for providing video communication with said remote location;   a controller for connection to said external communication path, said controller adapted to receive signals transmitted along said external communication path and to control said image device;   a holder for receiving an identification document;   a second image device for connection to said external communication path for providing images of said identification document to said remote location; and   a dispenser having a plurality of bins for storing items to be selectively dispensed to a user of said transaction station, said dispenser being coupled to said controller. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       11.  The transaction station of claim 10, wherein said dispenser includes a security mechanism for preventing inadvertent dispensing of items from said bins. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The transaction station of claim 10, further comprising: a video switcher connected intermediate said first and second image devices and said external communication path and operative to alternatively couple said first and second image devices to said external communication path. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The transaction station of claim 10, further comprising:   a payment module having: a credit card receiver; and   a detector for extracting information from said credit card,   said payment module for connection to said external communication path. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A transaction station comprising:     an audio device to transmit and receive audio signals between said transaction station and a remote location;   a first image device to transmit and receive image signals between said transaction station and said remote location;   a second image device to transmit signals from said transaction station to said remote location for purposes of verification of identification documents;   a decoder connected to receive signals frown said remote location and responsive to said signals to control said first and said second image devices;   a dispenser coupled to said decoder for dispensing items to a user in response to control by said decoder; and   a switching device for selectively coupling said first and second image devices to a communication path between said transaction station and said   
     
     
        remote location. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  A remote transaction station for dispensing keys for renting automobiles, comprising: audio communication equipment for establishing audio communication between a person in said transaction station and an operator at a location remote from said transaction station;   image equipment for establishing video communication between said transaction station and said location remote from said transaction station, said image equipment including: a camera positioned to receive an image of said person and an image reader positioned to receive an image of selected identification;   a selector switch for selecting one of said images for transmission from said transaction station to said remote location;     payment equipment for receiving a credit card for payment of said rental;   a dispenser for dispensing automobile keys to said person; and   a controller connected to said image equipment and to said dispenser, said controller oriented to receive signals from said operator at said location remote from said transaction station and adapted to control said image   
     
     
        equipment and said dispenser. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  The transaction station of claim 10, further comprising: a booth containing said audio device, said first image device, said controller, said holder, said second image device, and said dispenser and having a seat for said user. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A business transaction system, comprising:   an operations center;   a transaction station located remote from said operations center;   a communication path extending between said operations center and said transaction station for conveying signals between said operations center and said transaction station;   said transaction station including: an audio device coupled to said communication path to transmit and receive audio signals between said transaction station and said operations center; a first image device coupled to said communication path to transmit and receive images between said transaction station and said operations center;   a second image device coupled to said communication path to transmit images from said transaction station to said operations center for purposes of verification of identification documents; and     a dispenser for dispensing items to a user in response to receiving a dispensing signal from said operations center. .Iaddend.