APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING RENTED WIRELESS DEVICES FOR INTERNET ACCESS VIA A LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)

• US 20140128023A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Guerra
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Guerra
• Inventors: Guerra, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US13/672,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method, apparatus, computer program product and system are disclosed for dispensing rented wireless devices to commercial customer, such as tablet computers, iPhones®, Androids®, and the like from a mobile kiosk interconnected with the Internet and a LAN. The kiosk functions in part as a server and houses a plurality of wireless devices which are dispensed automatically upon payment of a fee and deposit in accordance with a predetermined fee criteria, and are returned by customers after use.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing rented wireless devices to customers, the device comprising:

a housing securely enclosing operational electronic components of the device during unattended operation in a commercial setting;

a graphical user interface (GUI or “

display”

) for interfacing with a customer;

an internal carousel for warehousing wireless devices in logical connection with the device via a local area network (LAN);

a wireless router for facilitating network communication and relaying encrypted TCP/IP packets to the wireless devices on the LAN, the wireless router connected to, and identified by, an IP address on the Internet;

an electromechanical dispenser for dispensing wireless devices to customers;

an electromechanical retriever for receiving wireless devices returned by a customer to the device;

a plurality of dispensable wireless devices housed within the housing;

a card swipe for scanning credit cards of customers;

a processor; and

a data storage means for storing data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carousel further comprises:

a convex baseplate;

a plurality of partitions affixed to an upper surface of the convex baseplate, the partitions defining one or more slots for warehousing a wireless device; and

a cylinder enveloping the baseplate, the cylinder defining an opening for dispensing wireless devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a slide for carrying wireless devices from the carousel to the dispenser.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pushbutton controls for customer interface with the device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a kiosk.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising signage for advertising features and pricing to potential customers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a database server comprising a processor and a memory device, the database server configured to store executable and operational data, the memory device comprising;

an registration module configured to registered a customer into a virtual structure controlled by a central authority;

an accessor module configured to electronically access registration information for a customer via the Internet, said registration information accessible only through a grant of permission of from a central authority, said registration information structured in one or more computer readable files and comprising all of name, email, payment information, and historical history evidencing wireless devices previously rented;

a payment module configured to accept electronic payment of the override;

a dispenser module configured to dispense the wireless device the customer and record in computer readable memory one or more of;

the serial number of the rented wireless device, the MAC address of the rented wireless device, and the IP address of the rented wireless device;

a retriever module configured to retrieve a wireless device inserted by the customer into the retriever, and to verify the wireless device retrieved is the wireless device previously dispensed to the customer and that the retrieved wireless device is in good working condition;

a transmitter module configured to transmit notice of the rental by the customer to the central authority.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a communication module configured to email third-parties employers of the customer with invoicing and promotional information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fees charged to the customer are commiserate with the credit rating of the customer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is affixed to a plurality of casters on its undersurface.

11. A device for dispensing rented wireless devices to customers, the device comprising:

a housing securely enclosing operational electronic components of the device during unattended operation in a commercial setting;

a graphical user interface (GUI or “

display”

) for interfacing with a customer;

an internal roller comprising a plurality of partitions rising orthogonally from a surface of a flexible roller, the partitions defining one or more slot(s) for warehousing the wireless devices in logical connection with the device via a local area network (LAN);

a wireless router for facilitating network communication and relaying encrypted TCP/IP packets to the wireless devices on the LAN, the wireless router connected to, and identified by, an IP address on the Internet;

an electromechanical dispenser for dispensing wireless devices to customers;

an electromechanical retriever for receiving wireless devices returned by a customer to the device;

a plurality of dispensable wireless devices housed within the housing;

a card swipe for scanning credit cards of customers;

a processor; and

a data storage means for storing data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the carousel further comprises:

a convex baseplate;

a plurality of partitions affixed to an upper surface of the convex baseplate, the partitions defining one or more slots for warehousing a wireless device; and

a cylinder enveloping the baseplate, the cylinder defining an opening for dispensing wireless devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a slide for carrying wireless devices from the carousel to the dispenser.

14. A system to dispense and retrieve rented wireless devices, the system comprising:

a processor;

a data storage means for storing data;

a relational database management system (RDBMS);

a GUI;

a plurality of wireless devices housing within a housing comprising the RDBMS and processor;

an registration module configured to registered a customer into a virtual structure controlled by a central authority;

an accessor module configured to electronically access registration information for a customer via the Internet, said registration information accessible only through a grant of permission of from a central authority, said registration information structured in one or more computer readable files and comprising all of name, email, payment information, and historical history evidencing wireless devices previously rented;

a payment module configured to accept electronic payment of the override;

a dispenser module configured to dispense the wireless device the customer and record in computer readable memory one or more of;

the serial number of the rented wireless device, the MAC address of the rented wireless device, and the IP address of the rented wireless device;

a retriever module configured to retrieve a wireless device inserted by the customer into the retriever, and to verify the wireless device retrieved is the wireless device previously dispensed to the customer and that the retrieved wireless device is in good working condition;

a transmitter module configured to transmit notice of the rental by the customer to the central authority.

15. The system of claim 16, wherein customers preregister for use of the device on a website maintained by the central authority before interfacing with the device.