PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTER TERMINAL APPARATUS

Abstract: A public access computer terminal apparatus has a switch to change connection between computer peripherals and a plurality of processors. Each processor processes a service provided by a corresponding service provider and controls the computer peripherals. By switching the connections between the processors and the computer peripherals, the computer peripherals are shared by the processors. As each service provider uses its "own" processor, the security between systems of different service providers is reserved.

Description: PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTER TERMINAL APPARATUS This invention relates to a public access computer terminal apparatus, and more particularly, to a public access computer terminal apparatus for providing customers with a plurality of services. It is known to use a public access computer terminal to provide services to customers. There are many different types of public access computer terminals, such as a discount coupon issuing machine, a ticket vending machine and an ATM machine. Typically, such a computer terminal is housed in a kiosk enclosure together with required computer peripherals to perform its purposes. Computer peripherals usually include a display, an input device and a printer. A typical kiosk enclosure containing a computer terminal performs a specific service or services offered by a same service provider. The cost of a kiosk enclosure containing computer equipment is generally high in relation to the revenue potential of most desired commercial applications of computer terminals. Canadian application No.2,253,920 laid open on December 4, 1997 proposes an automated transaction machine which provides a plurality of services in an integrated system. The system integrates a plurality of services to avoid duplication of hardware or functions. By avoiding duplication, hardware costs of a transaction machine per service are reduced. However, this transaction machine uses a single control means for controlling any network connections and devices of the machine. In this structure, it is difficult to provide sufficient security between networks of different service providers. This insecurity has been discouraging service providers to actually implement such transaction machines. It is therefore desirable to provide a public access computer terminal apparatus which realizes reduction of hardware costs per service without sacrificing security between systems of service providers. The present invention uses a switching function in connecting computer peripherals with a plurality of processors. Each processor processes a service provided by a corresponding service provider and controls the computer peripherals. By switching the connections between the processors and the computer peripherals, the computer peripherals are shared by the processors. As each service provider uses its "own" processor, the security between systems of different service providers is reserved. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a public access computer terminal apparatus comprising a computer peripheral and a switch. The computer peripheral provides a computer peripheral function in providing services to customers. The switch connects the computer peripheral to a plurality of processors. Each processor processes a service provided by a corresponding service provider, and controls the computer peripheral. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a public access computer terminal apparatus comprising a computer peripheral, a plurality of processors and a switch. The computer peripheral provides a computer peripheral function in providing services to customers. Each of the plurality of processors processes a service provided by a corresponding service provider, and controls the computer peripheral. The switch connects each of the processors to the computer peripheral so as to provide customers with services of a plurality of service providers using the computer peripheral. Other aspects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a public access computer terminal apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of a public access computer terminal apparatus; and Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of a public access computer terminal apparatus. Referring to Figure 1 , an embodiment of a public access computer terminal apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention is described. In this embodiment, the public access computer terminal apparatus 1 comprises computer peripherals 10, a switch 20 and a plurality of Central Processing Units (CPUs) 30. Peripherals 10 provide computer peripheral functions. Peripherals 10 may be user interface devices, such as a display 12, an input device 13, a card reader 14 and a printer 15. The display 12 presents customers options of services. The input device 13 receives information input by customers. The display 12 and the input device 13 may be incorporated to form a touch screen. The card reader 14 reads information on cards presented by customers. The printer 15 prints vouchers and receipts. User interface devices may also include a telephone handset 16, a writing pad 17, a microphone or any other customer interface devices. The telephone handset 16, the writing pad 17, and the microphone may be provided as the input device 13. Further, a peripheral 10 may be a device, other than customer interface devices, such as a modem 18, as described below in Figure 3. Peripherals 10 may include one or more different types of devices providing the same computer peripheral functions. For example, peripherals 10 may include a electromagnetic card reader and an optical card reader, and a large printer and a small printer. The number and types of peripherals 10 included in the computer terminal apparatus 1 are not limited to those described above. Any number and types of peripherals 10 may be included depending on the purposes of the computer terminal apparatus 1. Each CPU 30 processes a service provided by a service provider. Each CPU 30 is also capable of controlling the peripherals 10. The service may be of any type which can be delivered or offered to customers using the computer terminal apparatus 1. The service may be tangible or intangible. For example, it may be a banking service, a ticket vending service, an information providing service, a promotional voucher issuing service, or an e-commerce service. The entire transaction may not be completed at the computer terminal apparatus 1. The computer terminal apparatus 1 may be used to carry out part of a transaction of a service. For example, a movie ticket may be ordered and issued at the computer terminal apparatus 1. A watch may be ordered using the apparatus 1 , and delivered to a specified address by mail. A service provider may provide a plurality of services to customers using a single CPU 30 or a plurality of CPUs 30. However, no CPU 30 is used by two or more unrelated service providers. For example, a service provider for issuing promotional vouchers may use many promotional offers provided by different vendors and retailers. In this case, for the computer terminal apparatus 1, the voucher issuing service provider is the user of the CPU 30, and such vendors and retailers are not considered as "service providers". Thus, the CPU 30 is used by a single service provider. -4- The switch 20 connects each CPU 30 to peripherals 10. Using the connected peripherals 10, each CPU 30 provides its service to customers. The switch 20 may connect each CPU 30 to all peripherals 10 available in the apparatus 1, or may connect each CPU 30 to those peripherals 10 that are needed by the CPU 30 in providing its service to customers. By switching the connection between a plurality of CPUs 30 and peripherals 10, the computer terminal apparatus 1 can provide customers with different services provided by a plurality of service providers using a single set of peripherals 10. Thus, duplication of peripherals is avoided. As the plurality of service providers share the peripherals 10, the costs for the peripherals 10 per service may be also shared. While the plurality of service providers share the peripherals 10, they do not share CPUs 30. Accordingly, when each CPU 30 is connected to a provider CPU 50 of its corresponding service provider, the apparatus 10 is capable of reserving security among provider CPUs 50 of different service providers. In order to communicate with the provider CPU 50 of its corresponding service provider over a communication link 40, each CPU 30 may have a communication device. The communication device may be a modem 32. The communication link 40 is preferably a direct connection communication link, but it may be a shared connection communication link. The switch 20 is operated by a customer. The customer may use the input device 13 to select a service. Once the service is selected, the switch 20 connects a coπesponding CPU 30 to the peripherals 10. The customer may use a different input device which is connected directly to a CPU 30. Such a different input device may include, but is not limited to, an electro-mechanical selection device 19. Such an electro-mechanical selection device 19 maybe located where customer has access. For example, it may be located next to the display 12. By turning on the electro-mechanical selection device 19, the connected CPU 30 is activated. The activated CPU 30 then activates the peripherals 10 through the switch 20. As shown in Figure 2, all or some of peripherals 10 may be housed in a kiosk enclosure 60. The kiosk enclosure 60 preferably has an appealing appearance and/or sounds and/or lights, etc., to attract customers. All or some of CPUs 30 may be housed in a CPU rack 70. The CPUs 30 may be housed in the CPU rack 70 together with their modems 32. The CPU rack 70 may be accommodated in the kiosk enclosure 60. However, when the size of kiosk enclosure 60 is to be minimized, it is preferable to provide the CPU rack 70 separately from the kiosk enclosure 60, as shown in Figure 2. In that case, the kiosk enclosure may be provided at a location where customers has easy access, and the CPU rack 70 may be provided at a location remote from the kiosk enclosure 60. For example, the kiosk enclosure 60 may be provided near an entrance of a store, and the CPU rack 70 may be provided in a basement of the store. Thus, the store floor area servicing directly to customers are maximized. The switch 20 may be housed in the CPU rack 70 or in the kiosk enclosure 60 or provided independently. One or more CPUs may be also housed in the kiosk enclosure 70 or provided independently. In operation, the display 12 of the kiosk enclosure 60 displays a menu showing options of services available by the computer terminal apparatus 1. That is, a list of the services provided by service providers whose provider CPUs 50 are connected to corresponding CPUs 30 of the computer terminal apparatus 1. When a customer selects a service from the options using the input device 13, the switch 20 connects the peripherals 10 to a CPU 30 which processes the selected service. The connected CPU 30 communicates with a provider CPU 50 of the provider of the selected service, and provides the selected service to the customer using the peripherals 10. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a public access computer terminal apparatus 2. In this apparatus 2, a modem 18 is provided as one of computer peripherals 10, and a plurality of CPU 30 shares the modem 18 in communicating with provider CPUs 50 of their corresponding service providers over communication links 40. Some of CPUs 30 may have their own modems to communicate with their corresponding prover CPUs 50. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the computer terminal apparatus 1 includes a plurality of CPUs 30. However, the computer terminal apparatus 1 may comprise peripherals and a switch which allow switching of connections between the peripherals and two or more CPU 30s which are subsequently added as each service provider participates to use the computer terminal apparatus 1.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A public access computer terminal apparatus comprising: a computer peripheral for providing a computer peripheral function in providing services to customers; and a switch for connecting the computer peripheral to a plurality of processors, each processor for processing a service provided by a corresponding service provider and controlling the computer peripheral. 2 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the computer peripheral is a customer interface device. 3. The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the customer interface device is an input device for receiving customer information input by customers, a display for presenting to customers options of services, a card reader for reading information on cards presented by customers, or a printer for printing vouchers and receipts. 4. The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the computer peripheral is a modem. 5 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a kiosk enclosure for housing the computer peripheral for customer access; and a processor rack for housing one or more of the processors. 6. The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the processor rack is provided within the kiosk enclosure. 7. The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the processor rack is provided remotely from the kiosk enclosure. 8 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a selection device connected to one of the plurality of processors to receive selection of a service by a customer. 9 . A public access computer terminal apparatus comprising: a computer peripheral for providing a computer peripheral function in providing services to customers; a plurality of processors, each processor for processing a service provided by a corresponding service provider and controlling the computer peripheral; and a switch for connecting each of the processors to the computer peripheral so as to provide customers with services of a plurality of service providers using the computer peripheral. 10 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each processor has a commumcation device for communicating with a service provider processor of its corresponding service provider over a communication link. 11 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication device is a modem. 12 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the computer peripheral is a commumcation device for communication with a service provider processor of each service provider over a communication link. 13 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the communication device is a modem. 14 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the computer peripheral is a customer interface device. -8- 15 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the customer interface device is an input device for receiving customer information input by customers, a display for presenting to customers options of services, a card reader for reading information on cards presented by customers, or a printer for printing vouchers and receipts. 16 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: a kiosk enclosure for housing the computer peripheral for customer access; and a processor rack for housing one or more of the plurality of processors. 17 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor rack is provided within the kiosk enclosure. 18 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor rack is provided remotely from the kiosk enclosure. 19 . The public access computer terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a selection device connected to one of the plurality of processors to receive selection of a service by a customer. 20 . A public access computer terminal apparatus comprising: computer peripherals including: an input device for receiving customer information input by customers; a display for presenting to customers options of services; a card reader for reading information on cards presented by customers; and a printer for printing vouchers and receipts; a plurality of processors, each processor for processing a service provided by a corresponding service provider and controlling the computer peripherals, each processor having a modem for communicating with a service provider processor of its corresponding service provider over a communication link; and a switch for connecting each of the plurality of processors to the computer peripherals so as to provide customers with services of a plurality of service providers using the computer peripherals.

Inventors: JONES MICHAEL ROWLES, JONES, MICHAEL, ROWLES
Applicants: JONES MICHAEL ROWLES, JONES, MICHAEL, ROWLES
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: G06Q20, G07F7, G07F17, G07F19