DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides to public kiosks, particularly to a non-touch public kiosk offering one or more services, including printing of documents, images and the like on one or more materiel including paper, cloth, plastic, glass and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Self-service public kiosks as point of sale are known. Known kiosks allow users to buy goods and services on payment of a fee at the kiosk itself. A standalone kiosk accepts photographic data from a customer for printing one or more photographs from that photographic data are also known.

US 20040195455 teaches an interactive kiosk that permits the user to create custom postcards composed of photographs taken with the user's own digital camera. The postcards will be printed instantly by reading the memory (via camera's memory card or by wire transfer or infrared transfer of images) of the user's digital still or video camera. The kiosk contains a programmed computer that guides the user through the transfer and postcard creation process.

A number of operational problems are associated with the known prior art, editing and customization of images or documents, hassle-free and secure payment means, secure transmission of data over a network, kiosk installation, troubleshooting and service, user-user interaction etc.

Accordingly, there exists a need in art for a device or system apparatus that problems of the prior art and user friendly.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to disclose a secure system that is easy to install, use and troubleshoot.
It is yet another object of the invention to disclose a s system that is user-friendly and that accepts hassle-free payment methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To meet the objects of the invention and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art it is disclosed here a system printing a document or an image in self-service kiosk, comprising of: a means on an user device in connection with a remote server to generate a code for the document or image from the user device; and a programmable means at the kiosk connected to the server to scan the code, read and authenticate the code, characterised in that the programmable means on authentication and reading of the instructions on the code sends appropriate instructions to a printer connected to the programmable means.

A method of printing a document or image self-service kiosk, comprising the steps of: generating a code for the document or image on an user device in connection with a remote server; and providing a programmable means connected to the server to scan the code, read and authenticate the code, characterised in that the programmable means on authentication and reading of the instructions on the code sends appropriate instructions to a printer connected to the programmable means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.1 is a pictorial representation of one of the embodiments of the invention
Fig.2 is the block diagram representation of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention and its various embodiments is better understood by reading the description along with the accompanying drawings which appear herein for purpose of illustration only and does not limit the invention in any way.

An embodiment of the invention is a public kiosk accessible by one or more users through a mobile device to access on or more services like printing a photo or a document of a service provider.

Referring to FIG.1, the invention comprises of a scanner (3) to scan a code, a programmable computing means (4) connected to a remote server (2) to read and authenticate the code and send appropriate instructions to a printer (5) connected to the programmable computing means (4).

The user preferably has an account with a service provider who has installed the public kiosks (100). The communication between the user and the kiosk (100) is preferably through non-touch means. The non-touch means may include generating a unique code or signal that is readable and recognizable by the kiosk. The unique code may be a Quick Response code (QR code) but not limited to it alone. In a preferred embodiment, a mobile device (1) generates the unique code or signal by communicating with a remote server (2). The code identifies the user and nature of service sought and other feature that are incidental to the service like number of copies, size of the print etc. in the case of print services. During the code generating process the system provides for a means to calculate fee for the service and deduct from the user account. The user can buy credit using one or more means like online purchase or purchase from a vendor.

User first downloads an application on his mobile device (1) created by a service provider for the purpose. The application is able to identify the user, allow him to purchase and store credit, interact with one or more other users or with an external application. The application may be designed to access one or more memory locations of the user mobile device.

In an exemplary case, the user selects a photo for printing through the application on the mobile device (1). The application interacts with the remote server (2) to generate an unique code, in this case QR code. The user walks to the kiosk (100), in this case a kiosk with a printer (5), set up by the service provider and shows the QR code to the code reader or scanner (3) on the kiosk (100). The computing means (4) reads the code, authenticates the code by interacting with the server (2) and send appropriate instruction to the printer (5) to print the photo in a manner desired by the user. After the printing is carried out the applications deducts a nominal fee for the service offered.

The kiosk is a programmed system that interacts with the server to send vital information like state of essential supplies, disposables and its working condition.

The system may be further configured to interact with intermediaries regarding usage and payments to made to them in case the service provider sets up an intermediary to set up the kiosk at this place.

Features and benefits
1. The provision for code scanner or signal receiver eliminates the need for buttons on the kiosk. This feature also plays an important role in the maintenance of the machine and security as we it avoids the abuse of impatient users.
2. The status of the devices (Printers, console etc) and its operations such as printing, paper jams, errors etc are logged to the server via embedded controls that keeps the service provider updated. The data are used to troubleshoot and monitor the performance of the device.
3. The system sends continuous data logs to the server to enable the service provider to locate, monitor, improve performances of the kiosks. By doing so security from theft and 95 % up time of kiosks at deployed locations is assured.
4. The selected files from user application are encrypted and generated as a code that can be used to enjoy services kiosks.
5. Recharge of the user account and payment is made easy through multi server accounting. Digital and Printed bills are generated for all the stakeholders in the ecosystem in order to eliminate accounting problems and human errors.
6. Direct wifi enables users to use the kiosks without the need for mobile data, thereby extends the reach of the kiosks to rural markets

The kiosk may offer any type of service like, image and document printing; image and document scanning; vend packed or customisable food and beverages; vend money; pharmaceutical products; groceries and the like

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the advance of technology, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in a plurality of ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Further the above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A system for printing a document or an image in self-service kiosk (100), comprising of:
a means on an user device (1) in connection with a remote server (2) to generate a code for the document or image from the user device (1);
a code scanner (3) and
a programmable means (4) at the kiosk connected to the server (2) to read and authenticate the code from the scanner (3), characterised in that the programmable means (4) on authentication and reading of the instructions on the code sends appropriate instructions to a printer (5) connected to the programmable means (4).

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said user device (1) may be a hand-held computing device adapted to be connected to a remote server (2) through a mobile or wireless network.

3. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the means on an user device (1) is a native application capable of receiving and sending one or computer readable instructions from and to remote server (2).

4. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the said code may be quick response (QR) code.

5. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the said programmable means (4) is a programmable computing device adapted to connected to a remote server (2) through a mobile or wireless network.

6. A method of printing a document or image self-service kiosk (100), comprising the steps of:
generating a code for the document or image on an user device (1) in connection with a remote server (2);
scanning the code in a code scanner (3) and
providing a programmable means (4) connected to the server (2) to read and authenticate the code, characterised in that the programmable means (4) on authentication and reading of the instructions on the code sends appropriate instructions to a printer (5) connected to the programmable means.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the said user device (1) may be a hand-held computing device adapted to be connected to a remote server (2) through a mobile or wireless network.

8. A method as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein the means on an user device (1) is a native application capable of receiving and sending one or computer readable instructions from and to remote server (2).

9. A method as claimed in claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein the said code may be quick response (QR) code.

10. A method as claimed in claims 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the said programmable means (4) is a programmable computing device adapted to connected to a remote server (2) through a mobile or wireless network.