Video ticket office

1. An apparatus implementing a Video Ticket Office (VTO) for providing an interactive agent-assisted transportation service, the apparatus comprising:

a video display screen oriented to display in the direction of an expected user location;

a video camera oriented to obtain images of the expected user location;

a microphone oriented to receive sound from the expected user location;

a speaker system oriented to direct sound to the expected user location;

at least one input device;

at least one output device;

a communication interface module capable of transmitting and receiving real-time video and audio communications with a separately located operator center;

an auxiliary visual display screen comprising a touch screen and configured to display prompts received from the operator center and to receive inputs and cause the inputs to be transmitted to the operator center; and

a computer comprising memory and one or more processors communicatively linked to the video display screen, the video camera, the microphone, the speaker system, the at least one input device, the at least one output device and the communication interface module;

wherein the processors execute instructions from the memory that cause at least one output device to transmit to the expected user a transportation service output, wherein the instructions further cause the processors to display on the auxiliary visual display screen information regarding service options, the information regarding service options being selected by a service agent at the operator center based on interaction with the user, and to transmit to the operator center a response, entered through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding the service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen.

2. The VTO of claim 1 , wherein the VTO is communicatively linked with a separate cash handler.

3. The VTO of claim 1 , wherein the processors implement instructions to monitor the operational status of at least one of the at least one input device and the at least one output device, and to cause a signal about the status to be transmitted to the operator center.

4. The VTO of claim 1 , further comprising speakers mounted to project directional sound downward to the expected user location.

5. The VTO of claim 1 , wherein all input devices and output devices are configured on a single panel oriented facing the expected user location.

6. The VTO of claim 1 , wherein at least one input device is a scanner.

7. A system comprising:

an apparatus implementing a Video Ticket Office (VTO) for providing an interactive agent-assisted transportation service, the apparatus including:

a video display screen oriented to display in the direction of an expected user location;

a video camera oriented to obtain images of the expected user location;

a microphone oriented to receive sound from the expected user location;

a speaker system oriented to direct sound to the expected user location;

at least one input device;

at least one output device;

a communication interface module capable of transmitting and receiving real-time video and audio communications with a separately located operator center;

an auxiliary display screen comprising a touch screen and configured to display prompts received from the operator center and to receive inputs and cause the inputs to be transmitted to the operator center;

a computer comprising memory and one or more processors; and

wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the processors to:

instruct the communication interface module to establish a real-time interactive communication link with the separately located operator center;

to output on the video display screen and speaker system video and audio signals of an operator at the operator center;

to display on the auxiliary visual display screen information regarding service options, the information regarding service options being selected by a service agent at the operator center based on interaction with the expected user, and to transmit to the operator center a response, entered through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding the service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen; and

cause at least one output device to transmit a transportation service output to a user.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the VTO is communicatively linked with a separate cash handler.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the memory includes instructions which cause the one or more processors to monitor the operational status of at least one input device or output device, and to cause a signal about the status to be transmitted to the operator center.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least on input device and at least one output device are configured on a single panel oriented facing the expected user location.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one input device is a scanner.

12. A method of providing an interactive agent-assisted transportation service between a Video Ticket Office (VTO) apparatus and a separately located operator center, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to initiate agent-assisted interactive transportation service;

generating a request from the VTO to the operator center to have agent-assisted transportation service provided interactively;

establishing an interactive agent-assisted transportation service communication link between the VTO and the operator center;

receiving the interactive agent-assisted transportation service using real-time video and audio communication between the VTO and the operator center over the interactive agent-assisted transportation service communication link;

displaying on an auxiliary display screen, located on the VTO and comprising a touch screen, information regarding service options, wherein the information displayed on the auxiliary display screen is selected by an agent at the operator center based on interaction with the user;

transmitting to the operator center a response, entered by the user through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen; and

transmitting to a user a transportation service output.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a request to complete the transportation service in an automated mode at the VTO;

terminating the interactive agent-assisted transportation service communication link upon reception of the request to complete the transportation service in an automated mode at the VTO; and

completing the transportation service in an automated mode at the VTO.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising communicating between the operator center and a cash handler to accept a payment for a service, wherein the cash handler is separate from the VTO.