USER-SPECIFIC DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20160314641A1
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zito LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur J. Zito, Jr.
• Inventors: Zito, Arthur J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,867,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0035 Participation in a loyalty or discount scheme data processing for shopping and discounts G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/00 Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus coin inlet arrangements G07F1/00; coin-actuated mechanisms, interlocks G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/006 Details of the software used for the vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

The invention provides a system to physically dispense an item, including tangible items and/or services or features, on-site from a dispenser whereby the item to be dispensed is selected by the system based on user-specific or item-specific information. In an embodiment, the system selects the dispensed item based on both user-specific and item-specific information. In another embodiment the invention comprises a system that activates gaming features in a gaming device based on user-specific information. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a system incorporated into an interactive amusement system to activate features of a playfield based on user-specific information.

Claims

1. A system to dispense at least one user-appropriate item, said system comprising:

a reader configured for reading a user-identifier associated with a user and associated with initial user-specific information of the user;

at least one storage device;

at least one dispensing device;

a control mechanism to activate dispensation by a dispensing device of the item from the at least one storage device; and

a processor to interpret the user-specific information and send a signal based on the interpretation to the control mechanism to activate the dispensation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor further interprets information based on items associated with at least one storage device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a computer memory stores coded instructions used by the processor to interpret the user-specific information.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display screen capable of presenting the user with a menu of choices including a plurality of items appropriate for the user based on the interpretation by the processor, wherein the processor is further capable of receiving the user'"'"'s input and then sending a signal to the control mechanism to activate the dispensation based on the user'"'"'s input from the menu.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one virtual button presenting the user with an input of at least one item appropriate for the user based on criteria determined by at least one provider of the system, wherein the processor is further capable of receiving the user'"'"'s input and then sending a signal to the control mechanism to activate the dispensation based on the user'"'"'s input.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one physical button presenting the user with an input of at least one item appropriate for the user based on criteria determined by at least one provider of the system, wherein the processor is further capable of retrieving the user'"'"'s input and then sending a signal to the control mechanism to activate the dispensation based on the user'"'"'s input.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispensation based on the interpretation of user-specific information is how an item is dispensed.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer memory in communication with the processor to maintain a log of information to include at least one of the user, the user-specific information, the interpretation of the user-specific information, the item dispensed, the dispensation, or a purchase or action of the user after the dispensation.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is capable of interpreting the log to send a signal for a subsequent dispensation.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor can be configured to interpret the log to present a menu of items appropriate for the user and wherein the processor is further configurable to send a signal to the control mechanism for dispensation based on the user'"'"'s input.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the log or the user-specific information is periodically updated by at least one of the following:

the user, a provider of the system or a user-feedback.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-specific information is included in a profile.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is connected to the Internet such that a user or a provider of the system can interact with the system through the Internet.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-specific information is how the user meets pre-selected criteria determined by a provider of the system.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-specific information includes a biological profile of the user.

16. The system of claim 2 wherein said information based on items is a quantity of items dispensed from the at least one storage device.

17. The system of claim 2 wherein said information based on items is a quantity of items remaining in the at least one storage device.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a currency accepting device coupled with the processor, and the processor capable of interpreting both the user-specific information and the currency device to create the interpretation that is the basis of the signal to control the dispensation.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein instructions are based on criteria provided by at least one provider of the system.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the item dispensed is a music clip.

32. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer memory in communication with the processor to maintain a log of information to include at least one of the user, the user-specific information, the interpretation of the user-specific information, or the item dispensed.

33. The system of claim 3 wherein the user-identifier is read by the reader such that the user-specific information associated with the user-identifier is accessed from a computer memory by the processor.

35. The system of claim 2 wherein said information based on items is a quantity of items remaining.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein the item dispensed is a service.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein the item dispensed is a media clip.

19. A system to dispense at least one user-appropriate item, said system comprising:

a reader configured to identify an authorized user;

at least one storage device capable of storing a plurality of items;

at least one dispensing device capable to release an item from said storage device;

a control mechanism to activate said dispensing device to release said item;

a memory including coded instructions to interpret the authorization of the user, to determine a group associated with the authorization, and to determine the at least one item appropriate for the user based on the group associated with the authorization; and

a processor to send a signal based on the interpretation to the control mechanism to activate the dispensation;

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the processor is configured to present the user with a set of items appropriate for the user'"'"'s authorization and then to dispense at least one of the items based on the user'"'"'s input from the set of items presented.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the system further comprises a payment accepting device and dispenses to the user at least one item after insertion of an appropriate amount of currency or monetary payment into the payment accepting device.

23. The method of claim 21 where the presentation is a set of items appropriate for the characteristic, and the dispensation is made based on the user'"'"'s response to the presentation.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the item dispensed is a service.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the item dispensed is a media clip.

34. The system of claim 19 wherein the system is connected to the Internet such that a provider of the system can interact with the system through the Internet.

22. A method of dispensing at least one user-appropriate item, comprising:

a. identifying a user based on a characteristic;

b. presenting the user with at least one item appropriate for the characteristic; and

c. dispensing the at least one item to the user.

26. A method to measure purchase response from a sample, comprising:

a. reading a user-identifier associated with a user and associated with user-specific information of the user;

b. interpreting the user-identifier to determine at least one item appropriate for the user based on the interpretation;

c. dispensing at least one item from at least one storage device based on the determination;

d. storing data about the user, the dispensation or a feedback from the user;

e. measuring a purchase transaction by the user or associated with the item dispensed;

f. storing data about the purchase transaction;

g. associating the purchase transaction data with the user who received the dispensation;

h. providing data to a provider of the system or a user who controls the system.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising a menu wherein the at least one item appropriate for the user is presented to the user and the user'"'"'s selection from the menu is integrated with the determination for the dispensation of the item.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising a payment accepting device, wherein insertion of an appropriate amount of currency or monetary payment into the payment accepting device is integrated into the determination for the dispensation of the item.

29. A method of providing data about a user comprising:

a. collecting data that is user feedback, preference, selection or answer to a prompt;

b. dispensing an item appropriate for the user based on the data;

c. recording the data or the dispensation in a computer memory;

d. measuring the purchase of an item associated with the item dispensed;

e. recording the measurement of the purchase;

f. presenting a menu to the user to collect a response based on the dispensation, the item dispensed, the purchase or a combination thereof;

g. storing the user'"'"'s selection from the menu in the database; and

h. presenting the data to a provider of the system or a user who controls the system.