Method of soliciting a user to input survey data at an electronic commerce terminal

• US 6,807,532 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kolls, H. Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TARAE, CATHERINE MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/602,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a processing method for conducting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business by way of an electronic commerce terminal. An electronic commerce terminal can be referred to as a pervasive computing device. In addition, the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones (public, private, cellular), facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, personal data assistants (PDA'"'"'s), pagers, and other vending machines, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC). Vending equipment can be networked to each other through a first network, programmable and accessible by a PC, server, point of sale (POS) system, property or management information system (PMS/MIS), and networked to a second network. The first network and second network can be the same network. Complete control of a vending machine'"'"'s functionality including usage, control, diagnostics, inventory, and marketing data capture can be effectuated locally or by remote connection to the network. Remote connection to the network includes Internet type connections, telecommunication (telephone, ISDN, ADSL), VSAT satellite, and other wire and wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A method of soliciting a user to input a plurality of data at an electronic commerce terminal in communication with a universal server, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining a status of said user based on a dynamic identification interchange;

b) displaying an advertisement on said electronic commerce terminal;

c) allowing said user to respond to said advertisement;

d) prompting said user to enter said plurality of data as response data based on said dynamic identification interchange;

e) saving said response data;

f) determining if data communication to said universal server is required;

g) determining whether a period of non-use of said electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

h) determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period;

i) generating an error message based on said determination of step h);

j) determining if at least one of a system limit and an authorization limit of said user is at least one of reached and exceeded;

k) reauthorizing said user based on said determination step j); and

l) reprocessing said data based on said reauthorization.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step c) further comprises the step of returning to said step b) if after a predetermined time for response has elapsed said user has not responded.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step c) further comprises the step of allowing said user to enter a plurality of survey data by way of a touch screen.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step c) further comprises the step of allowing said user to enter a plurality of survey data by way of a keypad.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step e) further comprises the step of saving said response data related to said advertisement.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step f) further comprises the step of communicating said data between said electronic commerce terminal and said universal server.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of updating a dynamic identification interchange database based on said user response data.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dynamic identification interchange selects said advertisement displayed to said user.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of data is survey data.