Self-service machine operated by communications terminal, and service providing method thereof

• US 6,658,248 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1999
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chul-Ho Lee
• Original Assignee: Chul-Ho Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Chul-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US09/432,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/419, 455/420, 455/88, 455/405, 455/352, 455/517, 455/414, 455/412, 455/406, 455/458, 455/466, 455/413, 455/66, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 340/825.35, 340/825.36, 340/5.9, 340/5.91, 379/92.03, 379/93.04, 379/93.12, 379/102.01
• US Class Current: 340/5.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/53 Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A self-service machine using a communications terminal and a service providing method thereof. The self-service machine includes an antenna for receiving a radio signal including identification information of the self-service machine and price information, a radio transceiver for processing the radio signal from the antenna, an information processor for extracting the price information from the signal processed by the radio transceiver if the identification information from the radio transceiver is identical to its actual identification information, a controller for controlling the self-service machine so as to provide a predetermined service according to the price information from the information processor, a service providing unit for providing the predetermined service under the control of the controller, and a memory for storing predetermined information about the service provided by the self-service machine after the provision of service by the service providing unit. Therefore, the self-service machine such as a vending machine or a ticket vending machine, can be used by a cellular phone or a wire/wireless telephone, without the need for cash or a card.

Claims

1. A self-service machine capable of providing a predetermined service to a user using a communications terminal, without requiring the use of the cash, coins or credit or debit cards, the machine comprising:

an antenna for receiving a radio signal from the user through a predetermined external communication system, which charges a price according to a price information input by the user using the communications terminal, including identification information of the self-service machine and price information;

a radio transceiver for processing the radio signal from the antenna;

an information processor for extracting the price information from the signal processed by the radio transceiver if the identification information from the radio transceiver is identical to its actual identification information;

a controller for controlling the self-service machine so as to provide a predetermined service to the user according to the price information from the information processor;

a service providing unit for providing the predetermined service to the user under the control of the controller; and

a memory for storing predetermined information about the service provided by the self-service machine after the provision of service by the service providing unit.

2. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the information processor generates an acknowledge signal which indicates the reception of the radio signal, if the identification information from the radio transceiver is identical to the actual identification information of the self-service machine, the radio transceiver changes the acknowledge signal into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal to the antenna, and the antenna outputs the radio signal.

3. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the self-service machine is a vending machine.

4. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the self-service machine is a ticket vending machine.

5. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the external communication system uses a radio paging communications network.

6. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the external communication system uses a cellular phone communications network.

7. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the external communication system uses a telephone communications network.

8. The self-service machine of claim 1, wherein the external communication system comprises a voice mail service (VMS) system which accepts identification information of the self-service machine and the price information as voice, and charges a price according to the input price information.

9. A service providing method for a self-service machine capable of providing a predetermined service to a user using a wire/wireless communications terminal, without requiring the use of cash, coins or credit or debit cards, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting to a predetermined external communications system, which charges a price according to a price information input by the user using the wire/wireless communications terminal;

(b) receiving identification information of the self-service machine and the price information for the wire/wireless communications terminal, and transmitting the input information to the external communications system;

(c) sending the identification information of the self-service machine and the price information, as a radio signal, from the external communications system;

(d) receiving the radio signal and extracting the identification information of the self-service machine and the price information from the radio signal in the self-service machine; and

(e) if the extracted identification information is identical to the actual identification information of the self-service machine, providing a service to the user corresponding to the input price information and storing predetermined information about the service.

10. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein the self-service machine is a vending machine.

11. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein the self-service machine is a ticket vending machine.

12. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein the communications system is a radio paging communications network.

13. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein the communications system is a cellular phone communications network.

14. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein the communications system is a telephone communications network.

15. The service providing method of claim 9, wherein in the step (b) the identification information of the self-service machine and the price information are input by voices in response to voice instructions of a voice mail system (VMS) of the communications system, and the communications system charges a price according to the input price information.

16. The service providing method of claim 9, further comprising the step of sending an acknowledge signal which indicates the reception of information, if the input identification information is identical to the actual identification information of the self-service machine.

17. A self-service system capable of providing a predetermined service from a self-service machine to a user using a communications terminal, without requiring the use of cash, coins or credit or debit cards, the system comprising:

a predetermined external communication system which charges a price according to price information input by the user using the communications terminal, including identification information of the self-service machine and price information;

said self-service machine comprising;

an antenna for receiving a radio signal from the user through said predetermined external communication system;

a radio transceiver for processing the radio signal from the antenna;

an information processor for extracting the price information from the signal processed by the radio transceiver if the identification information from the radio transceiver is identical to its actual identification information;

a controller for controlling the self-service machine so as to provide a predetermined service to the user according to the price information from the information processor;

a service providing unit for providing the predetermined service to the user under the control of the controller; and

a memory for storing predetermined information about the service provided by the self-service machine after the provision of service by the service providing unit.