Systems and methods for providing network access

• US 20070050083A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Signorelli, Paul, Alderucci, Dean, Tedesco, Daniel, Breitenbach, Paul, Lee, Sih
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, a request from a customer to initiate a communication session, establishing a first communication link between the vending machine and a device associated with the customer, and establishing a second communication link between the vending machine and a remote network device, such that a communication session is established between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device. Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, an indication of a selection of a product sold by the vending machine, receiving, from a customer, payment for the selected product, dispensing the product to the customer, the product comprising an indication of a communication session activation code, receiving, by the vending machine, an indication of the communication session activation code, and establishing a communication session between a device associated with the customer and a remote network device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a vending machine, a request from a customer to initiate a communication session;

establishing a first communication link between the vending machine and a device associated with the customer; and

establishing a second communication link between the vending machine and a remote network device, such that a communication session is established between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating communications between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment, from the customer, in exchange for the establishing of the communication session between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the payment is received via the first communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a price to charge the customer for the establishing of the communication session between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the price is based at least in part on one or more of (i) an identity of the customer, (i) a duration of the communication session, (ii) a bandwidth of the communication session, (iii) current utilization of available bandwidth, (iv) a time or date, and (v) a product of the vending machine selected by the customer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication, from the customer, of a selection of a product sold by the vending machine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of (i) a duration of the communication session and (ii) a bandwidth of the communication session is determined based on the selected product.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

dispensing the selected product.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication, from the customer, of a code associated with the communication session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the establishing of the first communication link is based at least in part on the receipt of the code.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the code is provided to the customer via a product dispensed from the vending machine.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a vending machine, an indication of a selection of a product sold by the vending machine;

receiving, from a customer, payment for the selected product;

dispensing the product to the customer, the product comprising an indication of a communication session activation code;

receiving, by the vending machine, an indication of the communication session activation code; and

establishing a communication session between a device associated with the customer and a remote network device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication of the communication session activation code comprises a sticker coupled to the dispensed product.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication of the communication session activation code is received by the vending machine via a wireless communication link with the device associated with the customer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication session is defined by one or more parameters that are determined based upon the dispensed product.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the device associated with the customer comprises a wireless telephone and wherein the remote network device is associated with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider.

18. A vending machine, comprising:

a processor;

a communications device coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions operable to cause the processor to;

determine the receipt of a request, from a customer, to initiate a communication session;

establish a first communication link between the communications device and a device associated with the customer; and

establish a second communication link between the communications device and a remote network device, such that a communication session is established between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device.

19. The vending machine of claim 18, wherein the communications device comprises a first communications device and a second communications device, and wherein the first communications link is established between the first communications device and the device associated with the customer, and wherein the second communication link is established between the second communications device and the remote network device.

20. The vending machine of claim 19, wherein the first communications device comprises a wireless router and wherein the second communications device comprises a broadband modem.