Public communications services vending method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for vending public communications services, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a telephone;
b) a multimedia terminal operable to provide a plurality of multimedia services;
c) a user timer including;
(i) a first timer enabled in response to a request for access to at least one of said multimedia services at said apparatus;
(ii) a data rate measurement device for determining a receive data rate at which data is received at said apparatus;
(iii) memory for storing a pre-defined data rate value; and
(iv) a comparator for comparing said receive data rate with said pre-defined data rate value and for disabling said first timer when said receive data rate is less than said pre-defined data rate value and for re-enabling said first timer when said receive data rate is equal to or exceeds said pre-defined data rate value,d) a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept changes and for enabling simultaneous use of said telephone and said multimedia terminal in response to said authorization.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for vending public communications services. The apparatus includes a telephone, a multimedia terminal, and a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept charges for enabling use of at least one of the telephone and the multimedia terminal.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An apparatus for vending public communications services, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a telephone; b) a multimedia terminal operable to provide a plurality of multimedia services; c) a user timer including; (i) a first timer enabled in response to a request for access to at least one of said multimedia services at said apparatus; (ii) a data rate measurement device for determining a receive data rate at which data is received at said apparatus; (iii) memory for storing a pre-defined data rate value; and (iv) a comparator for comparing said receive data rate with said pre-defined data rate value and for disabling said first timer when said receive data rate is less than said pre-defined data rate value and for re-enabling said first timer when said receive data rate is equal to or exceeds said pre-defined data rate value, d) a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept changes and for enabling simultaneous use of said telephone and said multimedia terminal in response to said authorization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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24. A method of vending public communications services, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) making available to a user, at a multimedia terminal, simultaneous operation of public pay telephone services and a plurality of multimedia services; b) enabling first usage timer in response to a request for access to at least one of said multimedia services at said multimedia terminal; c) determining a receive data rate at which data is received from an external service; d) storing a predefined data rate value; e) comparing said receive data rate with said pre-defined rate value and disabling said first timer when said receive data rate is less than said pre-defined data rate value and re-enabling said first timer when said receive data rate exceeds said predefined data rate value; and f) rendering operational a telephone for providing said pay telephone services and said multimedia terminal for providing said a plurality of multimedia services, in response to an authorization to accept charges received at a payment receiver at said multimedia terminal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An apparatus for vending public communications services, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a telephone; b) a multimedia terminal operable to provide a plurality of multimedia services; c) a usage timer for cumulatively recording the time during which a service at said apparatus is in operation and suspending the recording of said time associated with said service during period exceeding a pre-defined duration, during which said service is waiting for a response from an external service; and d) a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept charges and for enabling simultaneous use of said telephone and said multimedia terminal in response to said authorization.
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Specification