Method and apparatus for distributing products to vehicle occupants

• US 6,445,309 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Packes, Jr., John M., Krantz, Jason, Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/224,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 221/211, 406/2-3, 340/933, 340/928, 340/935, 340/5.2, 186/55, 186/52, 186/53
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing a product at a toll station. In accordance with the present invention, a first method is disclosed for distributing a product at a toll station. The method includes receiving an account identifier to identify an account. The method further includes outputting an offer to distribute a product. The offer may include offer criteria such as price in the case of a sale, or rental period, rental fee and extra fees such as late fees in the case of a rental. The method further includes detecting acceptance of the offer and dispensing the product. The method also includes processing a transaction based on the account identifier and the offer criteria.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a product at a toll station, the method comprising:

receiving an account identifier that indicates an account;

detecting receipt of a product;

determining a product identifier corresponding to the product;

determining whether there is an association between the product identifier and the account identifier;

processing a transaction based on the account identifier and the product identifier;

determining a first location identifier representing a dispensing location associated with the product;

determining a second location identifier representing a return location associated with the product; and

calculating a transaction amount based on the first location identifier and the second location identifier; and

wherein the processing is based on the transaction amount.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining the first location identifier comprises receiving a Global Positioning System signal.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining the second location identifier comprises receiving a Global Positioning System signal.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining the first location identifier comprises receiving an odometer measurement.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining the second location identifier comprises receiving an odometer measurement.

6. An automatic sales machine for receiving a product at a toll station, the sales machine comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor storing a program to control the operation of said processor;

the processor operative with the program in the memory to;

receive an account identifier that indicates an account;

detect receipt of a product;

determine a product identifier corresponding to the product;

determine whether there is an association between the product identifier and the account identifier;

process a transaction based on the account identifier and the product identifier;

determine a first location identifier representing a dispensing location associated with the product;

determine a second location identifier representing a return location associated with the product;

calculate a transaction amount based on the first location identifier and the second location identifier; and

process the transaction based on the transaction amount.

7. An automatic sales machine for receiving a product at a toll station, the sales machine comprising:

means for receiving an account identifier indicating an account;

means for detecting receipt of a product;

means for determining a product identifier corresponding to the product;

means for determining whether there is an association between the product identifier and the account identifier;

means for processing a transaction based on the account identifier and the product identifier;

means for determining a first location identifier representing a dispensing location associated with the product;

means for determining a second location identifier representing a return location associated with the product;

means for calculating a transaction amount based on the first location identifier and the second location identifier; and

wherein the means for processing the transaction operates based on the transaction amount.