Electronic newspaper vending machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for dispensing electronic versions of part or all of a newspaper, comprising:
- a. a vending machine for dispensing copies of a printed newspaper;
b. a transceiver; and
c. a computer, connected to said vending machine and said transceiver, configured to respond to a query from a user received over said transceiver, for providing information related to said newspaper over said transceiver to said user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A newspaper vending machine is equipped with a computerized control and an infrared (IR) communications transceiver. A user equipped with an IR transceiver may download an electronic copy of an article, an electronic copy of the newspaper itself or a network address where these may be obtained. The IR link is also used to transfer digital cash or payment authorizations to the vending machine in exchange for the information.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for dispensing electronic versions of part or all of a newspaper, comprising:
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a. a vending machine for dispensing copies of a printed newspaper;
b. a transceiver; and
c. a computer, connected to said vending machine and said transceiver, configured to respond to a query from a user received over said transceiver, for providing information related to said newspaper over said transceiver to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for receiving information relating to a newspaper from a vending machine equipped with a transceiver, comprising:
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a. a transceiver; and
b. a computer, connected to said transceiver, configured to send a query to said vending machine over said transceiver and to receive information related to said newspaper over said transceiver from said vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of retrieving information from an information vending machine equipped with a transceiver, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing an element for performing the step of sending a query to said transceiver; and
b. providing an element for performing the step of receiving requested information from said vending machine via said transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of servicing a vending machine equipped with a wireless short range transceiver, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing an element for performing the step of sending a query to said vending machine over said transceiver; and
b. providing an element for performing the step of receiving service information from said vending machine over said transceiver if the person sending said query is an authorized service person. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for requesting and providing information related to a newspaper, comprising;
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a. a vending machine equipped with a transceiver for providing information upon request, and b. a portable computing unit equipped with a transceiver for requesting information from said vending machine and receiving requested information from said vending machine over said transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product for retrieving information from an information vending machine, comprising:
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a. a memory medium; and
b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for (a) sending a query to said information vending machine; and
(b) receiving said information from said vending machine over a wireless link.
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21. A computer program product for sending information to a portable computing device, comprising:
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a. a memory medium; and
b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for (a) receiving a query from said portable computing device; and
(b) dispensing said information to said portable computer device over a wireless link in response to a payment received over said wireless link.
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Specification