Touch panel passenger self-ticketing system

Claim 1

A passenger self-ticketing system for vending tickets based upon reservation data stored in a central host computer, the system being comprised of a plurality of ticket terminals which communicate with the host computer, each of the terminals including: credit card reader means for reading data from a credit card inserted therein by a passenger; video means including a CRT for displaying alphanumeric and graphic information including inquiries and visual response targets to the passenger; touch input means for enabling the passenger to respond to inquiries displayed by the video means by placing a finger on a respectively corresponding visual response target displayed on the CRT; printer means for generating and dispensing a ticket based upon the reservation data; interface means for communicating with the host computer; and local computer means for receiving data from the credit card reader means, causing the video means to display a sequence of inquiries and visual response targets regarding any reservation data of the passenger, which may have already been stored in the central host computer, receiving passenger responses from the touch input means, and interrogating the host computer via the interface means to determine the passenger's reservation data stored in the central host computer, if any, and further for causing the video means to display the determined reservation data and a confirm inquiry to the passenger, receiving a confirmation response from the touch input means, causing the printer means to generate and dispense a ticket base upon the passenger's reservation data, and sending a transaction report to the host computer via the interface means.