Electronic commerce system between a communication device and a vending machine

• US 20070138262A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Lai, Kun-Hui
• Application Number:
  US11/303,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An electronic commerce system is built between a vending machine and a communication device that permits information exchange through a network, wherein the vending machine includes a first wireless information transceiver coupled to a control system of the vending machine, and the communication device includes a second wireless information transceiver corresponding to the first wireless information transceiver and an electronic commerce software for performing the steps of receiving a transaction request information by the communication device; sending the information by the communication device to the network through the second wireless information transceiver; sending the information by the network to the first wireless information transceiver, and analyzing the information by the first wireless information transceiver to produce a purchase message; and sending the purchase message by the first wireless information transceiver to the control system, and releasing a merchandise stored in the vending machine by the control system according to the purchase message.

Claims

1. An electronic commerce system between a communication device and a vending machine, said system being built between at least one vending machine and at least one communication device that permits an information exchange with said vending machine through a network, and said vending machine includes a first wireless information transceiver, and said first information exchange unit is coupled to a control system of said vending machine, and said communication device includes a second wireless information transceiver corresponding to said first wireless information transceiver, and said communication device includes an electronic commerce software, such that after said electronic commerce software is executed, said vending machine and said communication device process the steps of:

said communication device receives at least one externally inputted transaction request information for a desired merchandise;

said communication device sends said transaction request information to said network through said second wireless information transceiver;

said network sends said transaction request information to said first wireless information transceiver, and said first wireless information transceiver analyzes said transaction request information to produce a purchase message; and

said first wireless information transceiver sends said purchase message to said control system, and said control system releases a merchandise stored in said vending machine according to said purchase message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic commerce software issues a desired transaction message to said vending machine before said communication device receives said transaction request information, and then said vending machine sends a merchandise message to said communication device through said first wireless information transceiver according to said desired transaction message, and said electronic commerce software displays various merchandise information of said merchandise sold by said vending machine according to said merchandise message.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said transaction request information inputs a number assigning signal and a confirmation message to said vending machine by an input unit of said communication device, and said electronic commerce software is produced according to said number assigning signal and said confirmation message.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication device uses said second wireless information transceiver to receive said transaction request information, and said vending machine includes a third wireless information transceiver installed at a position corresponding to said each sample in said display area for sending a selling message and a confirmation message sent from said input unit of said communication device, and then said electronic commerce software is produced according to said selling message and said confirmation message.

5. The system of claim 3 or 4, wherein said communication device uses said second wireless information transceiver to send said transaction request information to said network, and then said transaction request information is sent to a telecommunication service system, and after said telecommunication service system records a transaction and deducts an amount, said transaction request information is sent to said first wireless information transceiver through said network for analyzing and producing said purchase message and releasing a merchandise.

6. A vending machine for carrying out an electronic commerce transaction, comprising:

a first wireless information transceiver, disposed at the surface of said vending machine, and capable of receiving a transaction request information transmitted from a communication device through a network, and said first wireless information transceiver analyzes said transaction request information to produce a purchase message; and

a control system, coupled to said first wireless information transceiver for receiving said purchase message from said first wireless information transceiver, and said control system releases a merchandise stored in said vending machine according to said purchase message.

7. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein said vending machine at its surface includes a third wireless information transceiver for sending out a selling message.

8. The vending machine of claim 6, further comprising:

a sample display area, disposed at the surface of said vending machine for displaying at least one sample;

a plurality of light emitting buttons, each being disposed in said sample display area on the surface of said vending machine and at a position corresponding to said each sample;

a slot, disposed on the surface of said vending machine and under said sample display area;

a plurality of storage areas, disposed in said vending machine for storing a plurality of merchandises corresponding to said samples; and

said control system can determine a specific amount of coins received from said slot, and a display device of said vending machine outputs a received amount of coins or dollar bill, and said control system can determine a sellable merchandise according to said received amount, and lights up a light emitting button corresponding to said sample of said sellable merchandise, and after said light emitting button is pressed and lit, said control system drops a merchandise stored in said storage area and corresponding to said pressed light emitting button to a merchandise outlet disposed at the bottom of said vending machine through a conveying passage of said vending machine.

9. The vending machine of claim 7, further comprising:

a sample display area, disposed at the surface of said vending machine for displaying at least one sample;

a plurality of light emitting buttons, each being disposed in said sample display area on the surface of said vending machine and at a position corresponding to said each sample;

a slot, disposed on the surface of said vending machine and under said sample display area;

a plurality of storage areas, disposed in said vending machine for storing a plurality of merchandises corresponding to said samples; and

said control system can determine a specific amount of coins received from said slot, and a display device of said vending machine outputs a received amount of coins or dollar bill, and said control system can determine a sellable merchandise according to said received amount, and lights up a light emitting button corresponding to said sample of said sellable merchandise, and after said light emitting button is pressed and lit, said control system drops a merchandise stored in said storage area and corresponding to said pressed light emitting button to a merchandise outlet disposed at the bottom of said vending machine through a conveying passage of said vending machine.

10. A communication device for carrying out an electronic commerce transaction, comprising:

a storage unit, including an electronic commerce software installed therein; and

a second wireless information transceiver, corresponding to a first wireless information transceiver of a vending machine, such that after said electronic commerce software is executed, said second wireless information transceiver can receive at least one externally inputted transaction request information of a desired merchandise, and said communication device sends said transaction request information to a network through said second wireless information transceiver.