Service delivery terminal and method

• US 20040203636A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Wesley, Debaty, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/133,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

Service delivery systems and methods are described. In one aspect, a service delivery terminal includes a network adapter, a memory, a reader, and a controller. The network adapter is operable to exchange data over a network connection. The memory stores a database of one or more access addresses for each of one or more remote services accessible over the network connection. The reader is operable to read token identifiers from tokens. The controller is operable to transmit read token identifiers to a selected service access address in the stored database over the network connection each time a token identifier is read.

Claims

1. A service delivery terminal, comprising:

a network adapter operable to exchange data over a network connection;

a memory storing a database of one or more access addresses for each of one or more remote services accessible over the network connection;

a reader operable to read token identifiers from tokens; and

a controller operable to transmit read token identifiers to a selected service access address in the stored database over the network connection each time a token identifier is read.

2. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the reader is operable to read token identifiers wirelessly from token RFID tags.

3. The service delivery terminal of claim 2, wherein the reader is operable to read token identifiers automatically from token RFID tags when tokens are presented to a terminal reader.

4. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the service delivery terminal is implemented in the form of a portable electronic appliance.

5. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the service delivery terminal is implemented in the form of a printer.

6. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the network adapter comprises a wireless modem configured to exchange data over a wireless network connection.

7. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein service access addresses are URLs specifying network locations of facilities providing the corresponding services.

8. The service delivery terminal of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises a web browser and is configured to concatenate a token identifier with a service URL to form a data string and to pass the data string to the web browser each time a token is read.

9. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the one or more stored access addresses correspond to one or more of a digital library service, a schedule service, a message service, a print service, a news service, and a payment service.

10. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to retrieve one or more service access addresses from a remote service manager over the network connection and to store the one or more retrieved service access addresses in the memory.

11. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to store in the memory context data identifying one or more conditions under which each token identifier is read.

12. The service delivery terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is operable to transmit context data along with read token identifiers to the selected service access address.

13. The service delivery terminal of claim 11, wherein context data comprises one or more of an identifier assigned to the data access terminal, an indication of a time when a token identifier is read, and an indication of where the service delivery terminal is located.

14. The service delivery terminal of claim 11, further comprising a context data generator, and wherein the controller is operable to retrieve context data generated by the context data generator and to transmit retrieved context data to a selected service access address over the network connection each time a token identifier is read.

15. The service delivery terminal of claim 14, wherein the context data generator comprises a GPS receiver.

16. The service delivery terminal of claim 14, wherein the context data generator comprises a clock.

17. The service delivery terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is operable to retrieve context data from a remote service manager over the network connection.

18. The service delivery terminal of claim 1, further comprising a display and a user input mechanism configured to enable users to interact with a remote service through a graphical user interface.

19. A method of operating a service delivery terminal, comprising:

establishing a network connection;

storing a database of one or more access addresses for each of one or more remote services accessible over the network connection;

reading token identifiers from tokens; and

transmitting read token identifiers to a selected service access address in the stored database over the network connection each time a token identifier is read.

20. A computer program for operating a service delivery terminal, the computer program residing on a computer-readable medium and comprising computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to:

establish a network connection;

store a database of one or more access addresses for each of one or more remote services accessible over the network connection;

read token identifiers from tokens; and

transmit read token identifiers to a selected service access address in the stored database over the network connection each time a token identifier is read.