Vending devices having ad-watching as consideration
First Claim
1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
- a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product to a user;
a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content to the user; and
a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to;
receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product; and
after receipt of the signal, to cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and to cause the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content.
9 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to; receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product; and after receipt of the signal, to cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and to cause the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user.
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2-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method, comprising:
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receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product; after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user; and at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing the product to the user. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A vending system, comprising:
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means for receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product; means for providing the communicable content to the user after receiving the consent signal; and means for dispensing the product to the user at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user.
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41-59. -59. (canceled)
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60. A method of vending electricity, comprising:
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receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device; communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device; after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user; and at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing an electrical charge to the user-provided chargeable device. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification