Systems and Methods Monitoring Devices, Systems, Users and User Activity at Remote Locations

• US 20090166375A1
• Filed: 07/05/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Really Epic Dog, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mediaport Entertainment, Inc.
• Inventors: Butler, Jon F., Nakada, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,223,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/282
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• 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 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

Apparatus for vending physical products and/or digital content and methods of using such apparatus are described. In some embodiments, a traditional vending machine, such as a beverage vending machine, can be equipped with an electronic transfer device and a user or customer interface to allow the customer to select the desired digital content such that a consumer can download the content onto a user'"'"'s portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, hand-held computer, or other media-playback device. In other embodiments, a vending machine can vend a portable electronic product after it has been loaded with the digital content selected by the user. In other embodiments, a vending machine could vend a customized CD or DVD containing the digital content selected by the consumer. Other embodiments are described.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus, comprising:

a first storage portion configured to store and display a physical product;

a second storage portion configured to store digital content;

a third portion configured to dispense the physical product, the digital content, or both to a user;

a user interface for displaying the digital content and for allowing a user to select desired digital content; and

a communications link configured to transfer the selected digital content from the second storage portion to a dispensable electronic product.

2. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical product comprises a consumable product or a dispensable electronic product.

3. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third portion comprises a first part for dispensing the physical product and a second part for distributing the digital content.

4. The vending apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second part can distribute the digital content to an external portable electronic device via a wireless or a wired connection.

5. The vending apparatus of claim 3, wherein the dispensable electronic product comprises a playback device or a storage device.

6. The vending apparatus of claim 5, wherein the digital content is transferred to the playback device or the storage device which can then be dispensed to the user.

7. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a CD or a DVD which is dispensed to a user.

8. A vending apparatus, comprising:

a viewable storage portion configured to store a consumable product or a dispensable electronic product;

an internal storage portion configured to store digital content;

a third portion configured to dispense the physical product, the digital content, or both to a user;

a user interface for displaying the digital content and for allowing a user to select desired digital content; and

a communications link configured to transfer the selected digital content to a selected, dispensable electronic product.

9. The vending apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third portion comprises a first part for dispensing the physical product and a second part for distributing the digital content.

10. The vending apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second part can distribute the digital content to an external portable electronic device via a wireless or a wired connection.

11. The vending apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dispensable electronic product comprises a playback device or a storage device.

12. The vending apparatus of claim 11, wherein the digital content is transferred to the playback device or the storage device which can then be dispensed to the user.

13. The vending apparatus of claim 8, wherein the storage device comprises a CD or a DVD which is dispensed to a user.

14. A system for delivering digital content to a user, comprising:

a storage device capable of storing digital content;

a distribution device capable of distributing the digital content to a user of the distribution device, the distribution device containing;

a viewable storage portion configured to store a consumable product or a dispensable electronic product;

an internal storage portion configured to store digital content;

a third portion configured to dispense the physical product, the digital content, or both to a user;

a user interface for displaying the digital content and for allowing a user to select desired digital content; and

a communications link configured to transfer the selected digital content to a selected, dispensable electronic product; and

a communications network connecting the storage device and the distribution device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the distribution device comprises a vending apparatus that comprises a first part for dispensing the physical product and a second part for distributing the digital content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second part can distribute the digital content to an external portable electronic device via a wireless or a wired connection.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the dispensable electronic product comprises a playback device or a storage device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the digital content is transferred to the playback device or the storage device which can then be dispensed to the user.

19. A method for distributing digital content to a user, comprising:

providing a vending apparatus containing;

a viewable storage portion configured to store a consumable product or a dispensable electronic product;

an internal storage portion configured to store digital content;

a third portion configured to dispense the physical product, the digital content, or both to a user;

a user interface for displaying the digital content and for allowing a user to select desired digital content; and

a communications link configured to transfer the selected digital content to a selected, dispensable electronic product;

allowing a user to select a consumable product, a dispensable electronic product, or digital content; and

dispensing the selected consumable product, dispensable electronic product, or digital content to the user.

20. A method for distributing digital content to a user, comprising:

providing a vending apparatus containing;

a viewable storage portion configured to store a consumable product or a dispensable electronic product;

an internal storage portion configured to store digital content;

a third portion configured to dispense the physical product, the digital content, or both to a user;

displaying the digital content to a user via a user interface that displays the digital content and that allows the user to select desired digital content;

allowing the user to select a desired dispensable electronic product; and

transferring the selected digital content to the selected dispensable electronic product and then dispensing that electronic product to the user.