Vending devices having ad-watching as consideration
First Claim
1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
- a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product;
a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content for at least one of viewing or hearing by a user;
a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to at least;
receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for dispensing the product;
determine at least a quantity of product required to be dispensed;
cause the dispensing portion to dispense the quantity of product; and
cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content while the dispensing portion dispenses the product until the quantity of product is dispensed,and wherein at least one of the control system or the dispensing portion is operable to adjust a rate of dispensing of the product based on a time period needed to display the communicable content.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content for at least one of viewing or hearing by a user; a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to at least; receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for dispensing the product; determine at least a quantity of product required to be dispensed; cause the dispensing portion to dispense the quantity of product; and cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content while the dispensing portion dispenses the product until the quantity of product is dispensed, and wherein at least one of the control system or the dispensing portion is operable to adjust a rate of dispensing of the product based on a time period needed to display the communicable content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content for at least one of viewing or hearing by a user; a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to at least; receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for dispensing the product; determine at least a quantity of product required to be dispensed; cause the dispensing portion to dispense the quantity of product; and cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content while the dispensing portion dispenses the product until the quantity of product is dispensed, and wherein at least one of the control system or the dispensing portion is operable to adjust a rate of dispensing of the product based on a monetary payment provided by the user.
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19. A method, comprising:
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receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for dispensing a product; determining at least a quantity of product required to be dispensed; causing the dispensing portion to dispense the quantity of product; adjusting a rate of dispensing of the product based on a time period needed to display the communicable content; and causing the communication portion to provide the communicable content while the dispensing portion dispenses the product until the quantity of product is dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification