Speed pass system

• US 20040181531A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Best Buy Enterprise Services Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Best Buy Enterprise Services Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Becker, Clark
• Application Number:
  US10/799,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A customer identifier system aids in providing personalized web browsing in a public or semi-public internet kiosk. The system further aids in streamlining the process of signing a customer up for subscription services.

Claims

1. ) A kiosk system, comprising:

a) means for entering customer identifier;

b) database containing customer identifier stored in association with the customer preferred internet portal;

said database coupled to said means for entering customer identifier for data communication therebetween;

c) display;

d) means for accessing the customer'"'"'s preferred portal, said portal accessing means operatively coupled to said database and to said display for displaying the customer'"'"'s preferred portal.

2. A kiosk system according to claim 1, wherein said means for entering customer identifier includes a magnetic card reader for reading a customer'"'"'s card bearing a magnetic stripe that contains the customer identifier.

3. A kiosk system according to claim 1, wherein said means for entering customer identifier includes an alpha-numeric keypad.

4. A kiosk system according to claim 1, wherein said means for entering the customer identifier includes a smart card reader.

5. A kiosk system according to claim 1, wherein said means for entering the customer identifier includes a biometric reader.

6. A method of providing personal internet access via a multi-customer kiosk, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a kiosk having a customer input device, a display, and a data connection to the internet to display web content on the display;

b) storing customer'"'"'s unique identifier in a database in association with the customer'"'"'s profile information including the customer'"'"'s preferred internet portal and log-in information;

c) coupling the kiosk to the database for data communication therebetween to allow the kiosk send to the database a unique customer identifier and for returning to the kiosk the customer'"'"'s preferred portal and log-in information;

d) connecting to the internet via the kiosk and logging into the customer'"'"'s preferred portal using the customer'"'"'s log-in information.

7. A method of providing personal internet access via a multi-customer kiosk according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a card bearing a customer'"'"'s identifier;

b) providing a card reader, in data communication with said kiosk, for reading the customer'"'"'s identifier from the card;

c) authomatically logging into the customer'"'"'s preferred internet portal upon presenting the card to the card reader.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said card includes a magnetic stripe bearing the customer'"'"'s identifier and wherein said card reader is a mag-stripe reader.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein said card is a smart card and said card reader is a compatible smart card reader.