Abstract:
A travel kiosk which focuses operator attention to a work area. The travel kiosk includes a first portion containing a touch screen, and a second portion adjacent the first portion including a work area. The work area includes a printer, a barcode reader, a passport imager, and a radio frequency reader. The work area further includes a shelf for aligning a passport, a passport tunnel at an end of the shelf for guiding the passport into a position in the second portion for reading by the passport imager and the radio frequency reader, a printer exit shoot above the passport tunnel for delivering a printed travel document from the printer, and an overhang above the printer exit shoot containing the barcode reader.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
   Travel kiosks typically consist of stand alone peripherals to a primary self service device. These peripherals may be included within the overall millwork or enclosure of the travel kiosk so as to appear to be integrated but have separate work areas to deliver travel documents and read barcodes on travel documents, read passports, and read contactless cards. 
   It would be desirable to provide a travel kiosk that is more ergonomic to an operator. 
   SUMMARY  
   A travel kiosk is provided. 
   The travel kiosk includes a first portion containing a touch screen, and a second portion adjacent the first portion including a printer, a barcode reader, a passport imager, and a radio frequency reader. The second portion contains a work area for obtaining first information from an operator provided passport, for obtaining second information from an operator provided travel document, and for delivering a printed travel document to the customer. The work area includes a shelf for aligning the passport, a passport tunnel at an end of the shelf for guiding the passport into a position in the second portion for reading by the passport imager and the radio frequency reader, a printer exit shoot above the passport tunnel for delivering a printed travel document from the printer, and an overhang above the printer exit shoot containing the barcode reader, wherein the barcode reader scans the operator provided travel document following placement under the overhang. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example travel kiosk. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating insertion of a passport. 
       FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating insertion of a passport. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating passport reading components. 
       FIG. 5  is a third perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating reading of a barcode label on a boarding pass. 
       FIG. 6  is a fourth perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating reading information from a contactless card. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , travel kiosk  10  includes processor  12 , memory  14 , storage  16 , and touch screen  18 . 
   Processor  12  executes software  30  for displaying instructions, issuing prompts, and receiving inputs from users through touch screen  18 . Processor  12  loads software  30  from storage  16  into memory  14  during execution. 
   Software  30  also controls a number of peripheral modules through one or more peripheral controllers  19 . Peripheral controller  19  may include a serial controller, such as an RS232 or USB controller. 
   Kiosk  10  may additionally include sound circuitry  17  for providing aural feedback to an operator during use of kiosk  10  and its peripherals. Sound circuitry  17  may include a tone generator and speakers. 
   Peripherals include printer  20 , magnetic card reader  22 , biometric reader  23 , barcode reader  24 , and passport reader  25 . 
   Printer  20  prints travel documents, including tickets, boarding passes, receipts, and agendas under the control of software  30 . 
   Magnetic card reader  22  reads magnetic cards, such as payment cards and loyalty cards, under the control of software  30 . Magnetic card reader  22  may include any of the know types of magnetic card readers, including a manual drag-through slot card reader, a motorized card reader, or a push-pull card reader. 
   Biometric reader  23  reads a biometric characteristic of an operator to identify the operator. Biometric reader  23  may include a fingerprint sensor. 
   Barcode reader  24  reads barcode labels travel documents under the control of software  30 . 
   Passport reader  25  includes primarily includes imager  26  and RF reader  28 . 
   Imager  26  captures an image of a machine readable zone on passports under the control of software  30 . Software  30  obtains information from the image via optical character recognition. 
   RF reader  28  interrogates and reads data from RF chips in passports through antenna  32  and under the control of software  30 . RE reader  28  may also be used to read contactless payment cards. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , example travel kiosk  10  is illustrated in further detail. 
   Travel kiosk  10  includes a front surface  40  that provides a point of focus for user interaction. Front surface  40  includes top portion  42  and bottom portion  44 . 
   Top portion  42  includes touch screen  18 . Touch screen  18  provides a point of focus for users during display of instructions and receipt of touch entered data from users. 
   Top portion  42  may also include a manual drag-through slot card reader  22   a  above touch screen  18 . 
   Bottom portion  44  includes card reader  22   b , biometric reader  23 , barcode reader  24 , and passport reader  25 . 
   Components in bottom portion  44  and organized into a work area  46  that provides a point of focus for users during printing of travel documents, reading of contactless cards and passports, scanning of barcodes on travel documents, and reading of biometric data. With the option of adding card reader  22   a , the operator&#39;s focus may be extended vertically to accommodate reading magnetic cards. 
   Work area  46  includes shelf  50 , passport tunnel  52 , printer exit shoot  54 , and overhang  56 . 
   Shelf  50  includes guide edges  60  for aligning passport  40  with passport tunnel  52 . Passport  40  is illustrated in a position aligned within guide edges  60 . 
   Passport tunnel  52  retains passport  40  with travel kiosk  10  for capturing of information from machine readable zone by imager  26  and from an REF chip in passport  40  by RF reader  28 . 
   Printer exit shoot  54  provides a location in work area  46  for depositing travel documents for user pickup. 
   Overhang  56  contains biometric reader  23  on top and barcode reader  24  underneath. Barcode reader  24  is aimed in a generally downward direction in order to read barcode labels oriented upwards on travel documents placed in work area  46 . 
   Overhang  56  may also include light emitting diodes (LEDs)  57  and  58  which indicate whether a passport is correctly or incorrectly positioned. LEDs  57  and  58  may be different colors, such as green and red. 
   Scanner  10  is coupled to point-of-sale (POS) terminal  62 . A display  64  may also be coupled to POS terminal  62 . 
   Bottom portion  44  may also include a push-pull type card reader  22   b  instead of slot-type card reader  22   a.    
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , passport  40  is illustrated in a data capture position within passport tunnel  52 . An operator properly positions passport  40  within passport tunnel  52  in response to prompts issued by software  30 . About half of the cover of passport  40  is inserted into passport tunnel  52 . 
   Software  30  activates LED  57  to indicate that passport  40  is correctly positioned, or LED  58  to indicate that passport  40  is incorrectly positioned, in response to signals from sensors  82  and  84  ( FIG. 4 ). 
   After passport  40  is correctly positioned. Software  30  activates imager  26  to capture an image of the machine readable zone and activates RF reader  28  to capture information from the RF chip, assuming one is present, in passport  40 . If capture was successful, software  30  may activate sound circuitry  17  to provide an indication of positive capture. If capture was unsuccessful, software  30  may activate sound circuitry  17  to provide a corresponding indication. 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , passport reader  25  is illustrated in more detail. 
   In addition to image reader  26 , RF reader  28 , and antenna  32 , passport reader  25  includes imager transport  71 , and position sensors  82  and  84 . 
   Imager transport  71  includes track  72 , belt  74 , wheels  76  and  78 , and motor  80 . 
   Imager  26  is mounted within track  72 . Track  72  is located in a position for capturing an image of the machine readable zone of passport  40 . 
   Imager  26  is coupled to belt  74 . Belt  74  is mounted around wheels  76  and  78 . Wheel  76  is driven by motor  80 . Imager  26  moves within track  72  to capture an image of the machine readable zone of passport  40  under the control of software  30 . 
   Passport tunnel  52  extends into travel kiosk  10  from work area  46 . Passport tunnel  52  may be made of clear plastic to facilitate capturing of images by imager  26 . 
   Sensors  82  and  84  are mounted to passport tunnel  52 . Sensors  82  and  84  send signals to processor  12  to indicate that passport.  40  is in a correct position for imaging. Software  30  activates LEDs  57  or  58  to indicate a correct or incorrect position. 
   Antenna  32  may include a loop of wire extending under shelf  50  and passport tunnel  52 . 
   Software  30  prompts an operator to insert passport  40 . Software  30  may display instructions and illustrations showing a correct orientation. Software  30  may display an instruction to hold passport  40  still until reading is finished. 
   Software  30  may provide feedback in response to signals from position sensors  82  and  84 . For example, software  30  may activate LED  57  to indicate correct alignment, and activate LED  58  and sound circuitry  17  (e.g., beep three times) to indicate incorrect alignment. Software  30  may additionally display instructions to realign or reinsert passport  40 . 
   If position sensors  82  and  84  provide signals indicating that passport  40  is properly aligned, software  30  activates imager transport  71 . Imager  26  moves across the machine readable zone and reads information therein. If software  30  determines that no information was read, software  30  activates imager transport  71  to move imager  26  a second time. If no information is read a third time, software  30  displays instructions to reinsert passport  40  or seek help. Software  30  may additionally activate LED  58  and sound circuitry  17  (e.g., beep three times) to indicate reading has failed. 
   Following reading of information in the machine readable zone, software  30  activates RF reader  28  to detect and read an RF data chip, if one is present in passport  40 . If an RF chip is present, RF reader sends a key to unlock the RF chip and downloads the data in the RF chip. Software  30  displays instructions to remove passport  40 . Software  30  may also activate LED  57  and sound circuitry  17  (e.g., beep one time) to prompt an operator to remove passport  40 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , a barcode label  92  on a travel document  90  in work area  46  is being read by barcode reader  24 . The field of view  94  of barcode reader  24  is within work area  46  and may extend beyond work area  46 . 
   Software  30  displays prompts and instructions and may also illustrate a proper orientation of travel document  90 . Thereafter, an operator properly orients travel document  90  within work area  46 . 
   Software  30  activates barcode reader  24  to read barcode label  92 . Software  30  may also activate sound circuitry  17  and LED  57  or LED  58  to provide an indication of a successful or unsuccessful reading of barcode label  92 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , a contactless card  100  in work area  46  is being read by RF reader  28 . The range of RF reader  28  extends to cover work area  46  and may also extend beyond work area  46 . 
   Software  30  displays prompts and instructions and may also illustrate proper location of contactless card  100  within work area  46 . An operator properly orients contactless card  100  within work area  46 . 
   Software  30  activates RF reader  28  to read contactless card  100 . Software  30  may also activate sound circuitry  17  and LED  57  or LED  58  to provide an indication of a successful or unsuccessful reading of contactless card  100 . 
   Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.