1. A method comprising:
receiving a request for an electronic payment transaction;
establishing a communications link with a user device;
receiving an identity claim utterance from a user via the communications link;
determining if the identity claim utterance is authentic;
in response to an authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance, authorizing the electronic payment transaction; and
in response to a non-authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance, denying the electronic payment transaction.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an identity claim utterance from a user via the communications link comprises requesting the user to repeat a predefined expression and receiving the user’s identity claim utterance of the predefined expression.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
indicating that the communications link is for an electronic payment authentication prior to requesting the user to repeat the predefined expression and further indicating if the user’s identity claim utterance was or was not authenticated.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the identity claim utterance is authentic comprises comparing the user’s identity claim utterance to a voice print.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an identity token from the user device prior to establishing the communications link with the user device.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
billing the user for the electronic payment transaction if the electronic payment transaction is authorized following a comparison of the identity claim utterance to a voice print.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the communications link comprises establishing a voice call with the user device.
8. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
a first executable portion configured to receive a request for an electronic payment transaction;
a second executable portion configured to establish a communications link with a user device;
a third executable portion configured to receive an identity claim utterance from a user via the communications link;
a fourth executable portion configured to determine if the identity claim utterance is authentic;
a fifth executable portion configured, in response to an authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance, to authorize the electronic payment transaction; and
a sixth executable portion configured, in response to a non-authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance, to deny the electronic payment transaction.
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the third executable portion is further configured to request the user to repeat a predefined expression and to receive the user’s identity claim utterance of the predefined expression.
10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise:
a seventh executable portion configured to indicate that the communications link is for an electronic payment authentication prior to requesting the user to repeat the predefined expression and further indicate if the user’s identity claim utterance was or was not authenticated.
11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the fourth executable portion is further configured to compare the user’s identity claim utterance to a voice print.
12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise:
a seventh executable portion configured to receive an identity token from the user device prior to establishing the communications link with the user device.
13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise:
a seventh executable portion configured to bill the user for the electronic payment transaction if the electronic payment transaction is authorized following a comparison of the identity claim utterance to a voice print.
14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the second executable portion is further configured to establish a voice call with the user device.
15. A system comprising:
a payment validator comprising a processor configured for:
receiving a request for an electronic payment transaction;
establishing a communications link with a user device;
receiving an identity claim utterance from a user via the communications link;
determining if the identity claim utterance is authentic;
authorizing the electronic payment transaction in response to an authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance; and
denying the electronic payment transaction in response to a non-authentication of the user’s identity claim utterance.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein receiving an identity claim utterance from a user via the communications link comprises requesting the user to repeat a predefined expression and receiving the user’s identity claim utterance of the predefined expression.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured for:
indicating that the communications link is for an electronic payment authentication prior to requesting the user to repeat the predefined expression and further indicating if the user’s identity claim utterance was or was not authenticated.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein determining if the identity claim utterance is authentic comprises comparing the user’s identity claim utterance to a voice print.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured for:
receiving an identity token from the user device prior to establishing the communications link with the user device.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured for:
billing the user for the electronic payment transaction if the electronic payment transaction is authorized following a comparison of the identity claim utterance to a voice print.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein establishing a communications link with a user device comprises establishing a voice call with the user device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vacuum pickup module arranged for use with a modular street sweeper comprising:
a frame supported on wheels for rolling movement in a forward working direction along the ground in a longitudinal direction of the frame;
a hopper supported on the frame;
a main broom supported for rotation about a horizontal axis extending laterally across the frame spaced rearwardly from the hopper and arranged for engaging the ground at a bottom side thereof;
the main broom being arranged to rotate forwardly at the bottom side;
at least one side broom supported on the frame for rotation about a respective upright axis, said at least one side broom being offset laterally to one side of the frame;
said at least one side broom being arranged to rotate laterally inwardly at a forward side thereof; and
a conveyor pickup module comprising a chute and a conveyor rotatable within the chute and being arranged to be supported between the main broom and the hopper so as to convey debris from the main broom to the hopper;
the vacuum pickup module being arranged to be interchangeable with the conveyor pickup module so as to be arranged to be supported on the frame, the vacuum pickup module comprising:
a vacuum head having an opening arranged to span laterally across the frame in proximity to the ground;
a fan having an inlet and an outlet;
an inlet duct arranged to communicate between the vacuum head and the inlet of the fan; and
an outlet duct arranged to communicate between the outlet of the fan and the hopper.
2. The module according to claim 1 wherein the opening of the vacuum head is arranged to overlap said at least one side broom in a lateral direction.
3. The module according to claim 1 wherein said at least one side broom comprises a pair of laterally opposed side brooms and the opening of the vacuum head is arranged to span laterally a width of a lateral space defined between the side brooms in overlapping configuration therewith.
4. The module according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum head is adjustable in height relative to the frame.
5. The module according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum head is adjustable in height relative to the fan supported on the frame, the vacuum head and the fan communicating with one another through a flexible duct.
6. The module according to claim 1 for a sweeper comprising a plurality of hydraulic lines receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for driving rotation of the main broom and rotation of the conveyor, wherein the fan is arranged to be driven to rotate by connection to at least one of the hydraulic lines used to power rotation of the main broom or rotation of the conveyor.
7. The module according to claim 1 for a sweeper comprising a hopper supported on a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the hopper relative to the frame, wherein there is provided a crane arranged to be supported on the hopper from which at least one of the conveyor pickup module and the vacuum pickup module are arranged to be suspended for movement with the hopper relative to the frame.
8. The module according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an auxiliary hopper supported for rolling movement along the ground and arranged for towing connection to the frame and wherein the outlet duct is movable between a forward position in communication with the hopper on the frame and an auxiliary position in communication with the auxiliary hopper.
9. The module according to claim 1 wherein the fan comprises mulching blades arranged to reduce a particle size of material passing through the fan from the inlet to the outlet.
10. The module according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum pickup module is arranged to be supported on the frame rearwardly of the hopper and forwardly of the main broom.
11. A modular street sweeper comprising:
a frame supported on wheels for rolling movement in a forward working direction along the ground in a longitudinal direction of the frame;
a hopper supported on the frame;
at least one side broom supported on the frame for rotation about a respective upright axis, said at least one side broom being offset laterally to one side of the frame;
said at least one side broom being arranged to rotate laterally inwardly at a forward side thereof; and
a pickup mechanism arranged to convey debris from the ground to the hopper;
the pickup mechanism including:
a main broom supported for rotation about a horizontal axis extending laterally across the frame spaced rearwardly from the hopper and arranged for engaging the ground at a bottom side thereof;
the main broom being arranged to rotate forwardly at the bottom side;
a conveyor pickup module; and
a vacuum pickup module;
the conveyor pickup module and the vacuum pickup module being interchangeable with one another between a conveyor mode in which the conveyor pickup module is supported on the frame and a vacuum mode in which the vacuum pickup module is supported on the frame;
the conveyor pickup module comprising a chute and a conveyor rotatable within the chute and being arranged to be supported between the main broom and the hopper so as to convey debris from the main broom to the hopper; and
the vacuum pickup module comprising:
a vacuum head having an opening arranged to span laterally across the frame in proximity to the ground;
a fan having an inlet and an outlet;
an inlet duct arranged to communicate between the vacuum head and the inlet of the fan; and
an outlet duct arranged to communicate between the outlet of the fan and the hopper.
12. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein the opening of the vacuum head is arranged to overlap said at least one side broom in a lateral direction.
13. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein said at least one side broom comprises a pair of laterally opposed side brooms and the opening of the vacuum head is arranged to span laterally a width of a lateral space defined between the side brooms in overlapping configuration therewith.
14. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein the vacuum head is adjustable in height relative to the frame.
15. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein the vacuum head is adjustable in height relative to the fan supported on the frame, the vacuum head and the fan communicating with one another through a flexible duct.
16. The sweeper according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of hydraulic lines arranged for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for driving rotation of the main broom and rotation of the conveyor in the conveyor mode, wherein the fan is arranged to be driven to rotate by connection to said plurality of hydraulic lines in the vacuum mode.
17. The sweeper according to claim 11 further comprising a lift mechanism arranged for raising and lowering the hopper relative to the frame, and a crane arranged to be supported on the hopper from which at least one of the conveyor pickup module and the vacuum pickup module are arranged to be suspended for movement with the hopper relative to the frame.
18. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein there is provided an auxiliary hopper supported for rolling movement along the ground and arranged for towing connection to the frame and wherein the outlet duct is movable between a forward position in communication with the hopper on the frame and an auxiliary position in communication with the auxiliary hopper.
19. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein the fan comprises mulching blades arranged to reduce a particle size of material passing through the fan from the inlet to the outlet.
20. The sweeper according to claim 11 wherein the vacuum pickup module is arranged to be supported on the frame rearwardly of the hopper and forwardly of the main broom.