Remote expert mode invocation
View Patent ↗A method for retrofitting a vending machine with a video communications device includes securing a video communications device with a mounting feature of the video communications device removably coupled with a mounting location on a vending machine. The video communications device includes a video communications module for real-time interactions with a ticket office. The video communications module includes a display, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. The video communications device includes a video communication device communications interface. The method includes electronically coupling the video communications device with a power supply of the vending machine and communicatively coupling the video communications device with the vending machine such that functions of the vending machine are controllable using the video communications device. The method includes communicatively coupling the video communications device with the ticket office for real-time video communications with the ticket office.
1. A method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine, the method comprising:
receiving, at a transit fare vending machine, an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;
establishing audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the ticket office;
receiving a request to enable control of the transit fare vending machine by a remote device of the ticket office;
authenticating a user of the remote device, wherein authentication comprises receiving identity credentials associated with a user of the remote device;
providing control of the transit fare vending machine to the remote device upon authentication of the user of the remote device;
disabling control of functionality of the transit fare vending machine by all input devices of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable only by the remote device; and
executing one or more functions associated with a transit fare transaction based on instructions received from the remote device, the one or more functions comprising issuing a fare media.
2. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
disabling control of the of the transit fare vending machine by the remote device; and
enabling at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by the user of the transit fare vending machine.
3. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by both the user of the transit fare vending machine;
receiving, using the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine, authentication information associated with the user of the transit fare vending machine; and
disabling the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine.
4. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 1 , wherein:
a level of the control provided to the remote device is selected based in part on the authentication of the user of the remote device, wherein a higher level of control is associated with the remote device having control over a greater number of functions of the transit fare vending machine.
5. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 4 , wherein:
the remote device comprises a first remote device; and
the method further comprises:
transferring control of the transit fare vending machine to a second remote device, wherein a level of the control provided to the second remote device is different than the level of the control of the first remote device based on the authentication of a user of the second remote device.
6. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
overlaying at least a portion of a display of the remote device on a display of the transit fare vending machine.
7. The method for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine of claim 1 , wherein:
providing control of the transit fare vending machine comprises enabling control of functionality of both software and hardware components of the transit fare vending machine.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon for remotely controlling a function of a transit fare vending machine, the instructions comprising computer code for causing a computing device to:
receive, at a transit fare vending machine, an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;
establish audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the ticket office;
receive a request to enable control of the transit fare vending machine by a remote device of the ticket office;
authenticate a user of the remote device, wherein authentication comprises receiving identity credentials associated with a user of the remote device;
provide control of the transit fare vending machine to the remote device upon authentication of the user of the remote device;
disable control of functionality of the transit fare vending machine by all input devices of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable only by the remote device; and
execute one or more functions associated with a transit fare transaction based on instructions received from the remote device, the one or more functions comprising issuing a fare media.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:
disable control of the of the transit fare vending machine by the remote device; and
enable at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by the user of the transit fare vending machine.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:
enable at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by both the user of the transit fare vending machine;
receive, using the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine, authentication information associated with the user of the transit fare vending machine; and
disable the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein:
a level of the control provided to the remote device is selected based in part on the authentication of the user of the remote device, wherein a higher level of control is associated with the remote device having control over a greater number of functions of the transit fare vending machine.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein
the remote device comprises a first remote device; and
the non-transitory computer readable medium further comprises instructions for causing the computing device to:
transfer control of the transit fare vending machine to a second remote device, wherein a level of the control provided to the second remote device is different than the level of the control of the first remote device based on the authentication of a user of the second remote device.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:
overlay at least a portion of a display of the remote device on a display of the transit fare vending machine.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein:
providing control of the transit fare vending machine comprises enabling control of functionality of both software and hardware components of the transit fare vending machine.
15. A transit fare vending machine, comprising:
a communications interface configured to send and receive data;
a memory; and
a processor configured to:
receive an input to initiate audio/visual communication with a ticket office of a transit system, the input being provided by a user of the transit fare vending machine;
establish audio/visual communication between the transit fare vending machine and the ticket office;
receive a request to enable control of the transit fare vending machine by a remote device of the ticket office;
authenticate a user of the remote device, wherein authentication comprises receiving identity credentials associated with a user of the remote device;
provide control of the transit fare vending machine to the remote device upon authentication of the user of the remote device;
disable control of functionality of the transit fare vending machine by all input devices of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable only by the remote device; and
execute one or more functions associated with a transit fare transaction based on instructions received from the remote device, the one or more functions comprising issuing a fare media.
16. The transit fare vending machine of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
disable control of the of the transit fare vending machine by the remote device; and
enable at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by the user of the transit fare vending machine.
17. The transit fare vending machine of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
enable at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine such that the transit fare vending machine is controllable by both the user of the transit fare vending machine;
receive, using the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine, authentication information associated with the user of the transit fare vending machine; and
disable the at least one input device of the transit fare vending machine.
18. The transit fare vending machine of claim 15 , wherein:
a level of the control provided to the remote device is selected based in part on the authentication of the user of the remote device, wherein a higher level of control is associated with the remote device having control over a greater number of functions of the transit fare vending machine.
19. The transit fare vending machine of claim 15 , wherein:
the remote device comprises a first remote device; and
the processor is configured to:
transfer control of the transit fare vending machine to a second remote device, wherein a level of the control provided to the second remote device is different than the level of the control of the first remote device based on the authentication of a user of the second remote device.
20. The transit fare vending machine of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
overlay at least a portion of a display of the remote device on a display of the transit fare vending machine.