SYSTEM FOR VENDING PHYSICAL AND INFORMATION ITEMS

• US 20080173707A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: TEDESCO, DANIEL E., WALKER, JAY S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/004 Restocking arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A vending machine handles a purchase transaction by receiving a payment, receiving a product selection from the customer, and dispensing the product indicated by the product selection. As part of the same transaction, the vending machine offers an information item such as an audio recording or a video recording. The vending machine also receives from the customer a destination address, which may be an e-mail address. The vending machine or a system of which it is part transmits the information item to the received destination address.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a customer, an indication of payment for a product to be dispensed from a vending machine, the indication of payment being associated with a payment type;

receiving, from the customer, an indication of a product selection that identifies the product to be dispensed from the vending machine;

offering, based on the payment type, a digital file to the customer;

dispensing, from the vending machine, the product identified by the product selection;

determining an acceptance of the offer by the customer; and

providing, after the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer, the digital file to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the offering comprises:

displaying a menu of a plurality of available digital files.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

determining an indication of a selection, by the customer, of the digital file from the menu of the plurality of available digital files.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the offering comprises:

offering a digital file search tool to the customer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

receiving an indication of a specific digital file that the customer desires to search for; and

identifying the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying, comprises:

utilizing a digital file searching service to identify the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the digital file searching service comprises a service that allows searching of digital files via the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital file comprises an undetermined digital file at the time of dispensing, and wherein the providing, comprises:

determining, after the dispensing, the digital file; and

transmitting, after the dispensing, an indication of the digital file to a destination address associated with the customer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of the digital file, comprises:

selecting the digital file from a plurality of available digital files based on data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing comprises data defining a post-dispensing popularity associated with the digital file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital file comprises one or more of:

(i) a music file;

(ii) a movie file;

(iii) a television program file;

(iv) an e-book file;

(v) a game software file;

(vi) a game cheat code; and

(vii) an access code.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is conducted via the vending machine.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital file is stored at the vending machine.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is conducted via a central controller.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital file is stored at the central controller.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is conducted via a third-party digital file providing device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital file is stored at the third-party digital file providing device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the digital file from a plurality of available digital files.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the digital file is selected based on the product selection.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

transmitting an indication of the digital file to a handheld device associated with the customer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

providing audio output associated with the digital file via a speaker of the vending machine.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

providing video output associated with the digital file via a display device of the vending machine.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises transmitting an indication of the digital file to a destination address associated with the customer, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer and via an input device of the vending machine, an indication of the destination address.

117. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 1.

118. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 1.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a currency acceptor, a payment for a product to be dispensed from a vending machine;

receiving, via alpha-numeric keys, an indication of a product selection that identifies the product to be dispensed from the vending machine;

selecting, based on the product selection, a plurality of digital files;

offering, via an output device, the plurality of digital files to a customer;

receiving, from the customer, a selection of a digital file from the plurality of digital files;

dispensing, from the vending machine, by a dispensing device, the product indicated by the product selection; and

causing the digital file selected by the customer to be output by a handheld device associated with the customer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing comprises:

receiving, via the alpha-numeric keys, input identifying an address associated with the handheld device; and

transmitting a signal indicative of the digital file selected by the customer to the address.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the offering of the plurality of the digital files to the customer, comprises:

displaying a menu of the plurality of offered digital files.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving of the selection, by the customer, of the digital file from the plurality of digital files, comprises:

determining an indication of a selection, by the customer, of the digital file from the menu of the plurality of offered digital files.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the offering of the plurality of the digital files to the customer, comprises:

offering a digital file search tool to the customer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving of the selection, by the customer, of the digital file from the plurality of digital files, comprises:

receiving an indication of a specific digital file that the customer desires to search for; and

identifying the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the identifying, comprises:

utilizing a digital file searching service to identify the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the digital file searching service comprises a service that allows searching of digital files via the Internet.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the digital file comprises a type of digital file comprising an undetermined digital file, at the time of dispensing, of a plurality of digital files associated with the type of digital file, and wherein the causing of the outputting, comprises:

determining, after the dispensing, the digital file; and

transmitting, after the dispensing, an indication of the digital file to a destination address associated with the customer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the determining of the digital file, comprises:

selecting the digital file from the plurality of digital files associated with the type of digital file based on data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing comprises data defining a post-dispensing popularity associated with the digital file.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the digital file comprises one or more of:

(i) a music file;

(ii) a movie file;

(iii) a television program file;

(iv) an e-book file;

(v) a game software file;

(vi) a game cheat code; and

(vii) an access code.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing of the outputting is conducted via the vending machine.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the digital file is stored at the vending machine.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing of the outputting is conducted via a central controller.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the digital file is stored at the central controller.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing of the outputting is conducted via a third-party digital file providing device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the digital file is stored at the third-party digital file providing device.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of digital files comprises a first plurality of digital files, further comprising:

selecting the first plurality of digital files as a subset from a second plurality of digital files.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing of the outputting comprises:

transmitting an indication of the digital file to the handheld device associated with the customer.

44. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing audio output associated with the digital file via a speaker of the vending machine.

45. The method of claim 24, wherein the causing of the outputting comprises transmitting an indication of the digital file to a destination address associated with the customer, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer and via an input device of the vending machine, an indication of the destination address.

115. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 24.

116. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 24.

46. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a customer, an indication of a selection of a product offered for sale by a vending machine;

receiving an indication of a payment amount provided by the customer in exchange for the selected product;

determining, based on the payment amount and a price associated with the product, an amount of change due to the customer;

dispensing, after the receiving of the indication of payment provided by the customer in exchange for the selected product, a unit of the selected product;

determining, based on the amount of change due to the customer, a digital file; and

transmitting, after the receiving of the indication of payment provided by the customer in exchange for the selected product, the digital file to a device associated with the customer.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

offering, based on the amount of change due to the customer, the determined digital file to the customer; and

determining an acceptance of the offer by the customer.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the offering comprises:

displaying a menu of a plurality of available digital files.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

determining an indication of a selection, by the customer, of the digital file from the menu of the plurality of available digital files.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the offering comprises:

offering a digital file search tool to the customer.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

receiving an indication of a specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the determining of the digital file, comprises:

identifying the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the identifying, comprises:

utilizing a digital file searching service to identify the digital file as the specific digital file that the customer desires to search for.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the digital file searching service comprises a service that allows searching of digital files via the Internet.

55. The method of claim 46, wherein the determining of the digital file comprises determining an undetermined one of a type of digital file, and wherein the providing is conducted after the dispensing.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the determining of the digital file further comprises:

selecting, after the dispensing, the digital file from a plurality of available digital files associated with the type of digital file, based on data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing comprises data defining a post-dispensing popularity associated with the digital file.

58. The method of claim 46, wherein the digital file comprises one or more of:

(i) a music file;

(ii) a movie file;

(iii) a television program file;

(iv) an e-book file;

(v) a game software file;

(vi) a game cheat code; and

(vii) an access code.

59. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting is conducted via the vending machine.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the digital file is stored at the vending machine.

61. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting is conducted via a central controller.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the digital file is stored at the central controller.

63. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting is conducted via a third-party digital file providing device.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the digital file is stored at the third-party digital file providing device.

65. The method of claim 46, wherein the determining of the digital file, comprises:

selecting the digital file from a plurality of available digital files.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the digital file is selected based on the product selection.

67. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting an indication of the digital file to a handheld device associated with the customer.

68. The method of claim 46, wherein the providing comprises transmitting an indication of the digital file to a destination address associated with the customer, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer and via an input device of the vending machine, an indication of the destination address.

69. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting is conducted in lieu of providing the change due to the customer.

113. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 46.

114. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 46.

70. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a customer, an indication of a selection of a product offered for sale by a vending machine;

receiving an indication of payment provided by the customer in exchange for the selected product;

dispensing, after the receiving of the indication of payment provided by the customer in exchange for the selected product, a unit of the selected product;

determining an information item associated with the selected product;

receiving, from the customer, input defining a destination address associated with a customer device; and

transmitting an indication of the information item to the customer device via the destination address.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

offering the determined information item to the customer; and

determining an acceptance of the offer by the customer.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the determining of the acceptance comprises the receiving of the input defining the destination address.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the offering comprises:

displaying a menu of a plurality of available information items.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

determining an indication of a selection, by the customer, of the information item from the menu of the plurality of available information items.

75. The method of claim 71, wherein the offering comprises:

offering, via the vending machine, an information item search tool to the customer.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the customer comprises:

receiving an indication of a specific information item that the customer desires to search for.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the determining of the information item associated with the product, comprises:

identifying the information item as the specific information item that the customer desires to search for.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the identifying, comprises:

utilizing an information item searching service to identify the information item as the specific information item that the customer desires to search for.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the information item searching service comprises a service that allows searching of information items via the Internet.

80. The method of claim 70, wherein the determining of the information item comprises determining an undetermined one of a type of information item, and wherein the transmitting is conducted after the dispensing.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the determining of the information item further comprises:

selecting, after the dispensing, the information item from a plurality of available information items associated with the type of information item, based on data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the data that is unavailable at the time of dispensing comprises data defining a post-dispensing popularity associated with the information item.

83. The method of claim 70, wherein the information item comprises one or more of:

(i) a music file;

(ii) a movie file;

(iii) a television program file;

(iv) an e-book file;

(v) a game software file;

(vi) a game cheat code; and

(vii) an access code.

84. The method of claim 70, wherein the transmitting is conducted via the vending machine.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the information item is stored at the vending machine.

86. The method of claim 70, wherein the transmitting is conducted via a central controller.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the information item is stored at the central controller.

88. The method of claim 70, wherein the transmitting is conducted via a third-party information item providing device.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the information item is stored at the third-party information item providing device.

90. The method of claim 70, wherein the determining of the information item, comprises:

selecting the information item from a plurality of available information item.

91. The method of claim 70, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting an indication of the information item to a handheld device associated with the customer.

92. The method of claim 70, wherein the transmitting is conducted in lieu of providing change due to the customer.

111. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 70.

112. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 70.

93. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a PDA device associated with a customer, an indication of payment for a product to be dispensed from a vending machine;

receiving, from the PDA device, an indication of a product selection that identifies the product to be dispensed from the vending machine;

selecting, by the vending machine and based on the product selection, an information item;

dispensing, from the vending machine, the product identified by the product selection; and

transmitting the information item to the PDA device.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer, input defining an e-mail address associated with the PDA device.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the transmitting of the information item to the PDA device comprises:

sending the information item to the e-mail address associated with the PDA device.

96. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

detecting, by the vending machine, a proximity of the PDA device to the vending machine.

109. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 93.

110. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 93.

97. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a cellular telephone associated with a customer, an indication of payment for a product to be dispensed from a vending machine;

receiving, from the cellular telephone, an indication of a product selection that identifies the product to be dispensed from the vending machine;

selecting, by the vending machine and based on the product selection, a information item;

dispensing, from the vending machine, the product identified by the product selection; and

transmitting the information item to the cellular telephone.

98. The method of claim 97, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer, input defining a telephone number associated with the cellular telephone.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the transmitting of the information item to the cellular telephone comprises:

sending the information item to the telephone number associated with the cellular telephone.

100. The method of claim 97, further comprising:

detecting, by the vending machine, a proximity of the cellular telephone to the vending machine.

107. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 97.

108. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 97.

101. A method, comprising:

bundling a physical product associated with a high demand with an information item associated with a low popularity; and

selling the bundle to a customer via a vending machine, wherein the selling comprises;

receiving a single payment amount from the customer in exchange for the bundle;

dispensing the physical product to the customer via a dispensing device of the vending machine; and

transmitting the information item to a destination address associated with the customer.

105. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 101.

106. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 101.

102. A method, comprising:

bundling a physical product associated with a low demand with an information item associated with a high popularity; and

selling the bundle to a customer via a vending machine, wherein the selling comprises;

receiving a single payment amount from the customer in exchange for the bundle;

dispensing the physical product to the customer via a dispensing device of the vending machine; and

transmitting the information item to a destination address associated with the customer.

103. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

perform the method of claim 102.

104. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

perform the method of claim 102.

119. A system, comprising:

a vending machine storing a plurality of physical products offered for sale via the vending machine, the vending machine comprising;

a selection device operable to receive an indication of a selection, by a customer, of one of the plurality of physical products;

a payment device operable to receive payment, from the customer, for the selected one of the plurality of physical products;

a dispensing device, responsive to the payment device, the dispensing device being operable to dispense a unit of the selected one of the plurality of physical products;

an offer device operable to output an offer for a data file available for sale via the vending machine;

an input device operable to receive an indication of an acceptance, by the customer, of the offer for the data file;

a customer device operable to interface with the vending machine; and

a server in communication with the vending machine, the server having access to an inventory of data files comprising the data file, and the server being responsive to the vending machine to cause the data file to be provided to the customer device.