Vending of an electronic guide device

• US 20080005225A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GaperGuide Inc.
• Original Assignee: GaperGuide Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Katharine G., Ferguson, William H.
• Application Number:
  US11/436,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005225A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects

Abstract

A plurality of electronic guide devices are stored, indexed, maintained, and selectively vended from a microprocessor controlled vending machine. The customer uses the guide device while traversing an area of interest to provide facts, history, stories, destination information, entertainment, and other relevant information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transacting electronic guide devices, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure that accommodates a plurality of guide devices;

a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the guide devices from the enclosure; and

a CPU responsive to user input, to control the dispensing mechanism to dispense at least one of the guide devices from the enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that communicates with at least one of the guide devices to determine if the guide device is vendable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide device is battery powered and the sensor detects whether the guide device has a threshold charge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a battery charger responsive to an output of the sensor to recharge the guide device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes an electromechanical dispenser/receiver coupled to a guide device storage unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electromechanical dispenser/receiver is responsive to user input to either receive one of the guide devices or to communicate with the guide device storage unit to dispense a guide device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the guide devices includes a user input device, a battery, and a locating device to determine a location of the guide.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the guide devices further includes a computer to communicate with a user and the locating device, wherein each of the guide devices includes a connector configured to communicate with a matching connector of the enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the guide devices further includes a guide internal memory, and wherein the guide internal memory is responsive to the computer based on communication between the computer and the locating device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the guide devices further includes a transmitter to communicate with an external audio device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the external audio device is a car radio.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locating device is a GPS device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for entering user input to the enclosure, wherein the user input includes at least one of a group including payment information, period of use, and location of use.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a group including an electronic payment mechanism and a touch sense interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a modem that links the CPU and a server.

16. A method for automatically providing guide services comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of electronic guide devices in a structure having a user interface;

communicating with a customer, via the user interface, so as to select at least one guide device; and

dispensing the guide device based on the communicating step.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving and processing the guide device once the guide device is returned by the customer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving and processing step includes providing a dispensing/receiving mechanism.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising preparing the guide device for re-vending.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the preparing step includes charging a battery of the guide device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising regularly determining a location of the guide device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the guide device includes a locating device to perform the determining step.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating, via the guide device, information to the customer based on the location.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the communicating with a customer step includes investigating the customer'"'"'s ability to pay.

25. A method for automatically providing guide services comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of electronic guide devices in an enclosure;

configuring at least some of the electronic guide devices so that the devices are available for use; and

dispensing at least one of the devices in response to approval of a customer'"'"'s request.