Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes using an electronic commerce kiosk and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce
First Claim
1. A method for use by an electronic commerce kiosk for selling prepaid telephone service, the method comprising:
- providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location;
displaying one or more purchase options to a user at the kiosk corresponding to one or types of telephone usage;
receiving a purchase selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to at least one of the displayed purchase options;
determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the purchase selection;
receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins substantially simultaneously in a coin input region of the kiosk to at least partially pay for the selected purchase;
subtracting the amount due from a sum of the received coins to determine a difference between the funds received and the amount due; and
when the difference is greater than zero, automatically dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is at least redeemable for additional purchases selected at the kiosk.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce. In one embodiment, a method for conducting electronic commerce includes providing a kiosk in a publicly accessible location, and displaying one or more transaction options to a user at the kiosk. The method may further include receiving a transaction selection from the user corresponding to one or more of the displayed transaction options, determining an amount due from the user in response to the transaction selection, and receiving funds from the user. In response to receiving the funds, the kiosk may dispense a redeemable voucher to the user, including a redeemable voucher for any amount paid in excess of the amount due.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for use by an electronic commerce kiosk for selling prepaid telephone service, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location;
displaying one or more purchase options to a user at the kiosk corresponding to one or types of telephone usage;
receiving a purchase selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to at least one of the displayed purchase options;
determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the purchase selection;
receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins substantially simultaneously in a coin input region of the kiosk to at least partially pay for the selected purchase;
subtracting the amount due from a sum of the received coins to determine a difference between the funds received and the amount due; and
when the difference is greater than zero, automatically dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is at least redeemable for additional purchases selected at the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for conducting electronic commerce, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location;
displaying one or more transaction options to a user at the kiosk;
receiving a transaction selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to at least one of the displayed transaction options;
determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the transaction selection;
receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins substantially simultaneously in a coin input region of the kiosk to at least partially pay for the selected transaction;
subtracting the amount due from a sum of the received coins to determine a difference; and
when the difference is greater than zero, dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is redeemable for a value at least generally corresponding to the difference between the funds received and the amount due. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15-28. -28. (canceled)
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29. A system for conducting electronic commerce in a publicly accessible location, the system comprising:
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means for displaying one or more transaction options to a user at a kiosk;
means for receiving a transaction selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to at least one of the displayed transaction options;
means for determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the transaction selection;
means for receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins substantially simultaneously to at least partially pay for the selected transaction;
means for subtracting the amount due from a sum of the received coins to determine a difference; and
when the difference is greater than zero, means for dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is redeemable for a value at least generally corresponding to the difference between the funds received and the amount due. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. (canceled)
Specification