Device and method for dispensing a good or offering a service and a suitable system herefor

• US 6,839,611 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2000
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: O2 Germany GMBH & Company OHG (Telefonica SA)
• Original Assignee: O2 Germany GMBH & Company OHG (Telefonica SA)
• Inventors: Pfaff, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/149,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/237, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for the dispensing of a good and/or the release of a service and a suitable system therefor, which allows dispensing the goods and/or releasing the service in a simplified manner by the apparatus having a GSM cell of a network operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release of a service, comprising

a GSM cell of a network operator structured and arranged for recognizing a moblile telephone unit which is located near the apparatus, and

means for dispensing the good and/or releasing the service after the apparatus has recognized the mobile telephone unit by said GSM cell.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the GSM cell works self-sufficiently, avoiding constant contact or communication with a radio cell, whereby the apparatus can be operated independently of location.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the GSM cell is switched parallel to a coin slot.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the GSM cell is connected to the network operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein an opening (3) is provided in said apparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a reading apparatus is provided which reads specific parameters.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the GSM cell has a low range.

13. A system for the dispensing of a good, using the apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and comprising a mobile telephone unit and a GSM cell provided in a goods dispensing unit.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the GSM cell is switched parallel to a coin slot.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the GSM cell is connected to the network operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the GSM cell is connected to the network operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein the GSM cell is connected to the network operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein an opening (3) is provided in said apparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein an opening (3) is provided in said apparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein an opening (3) is provided in said apparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the opening is provided with a proximity switch.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the specific parameters include identity of the user and time of use.

23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein the opening is provided with a proximity switch.

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the opening is provided with a proximity switch.

25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the opening is provided with a proximity switch.

26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone unit is located in the GSM cell of a vending machine, such that said apparatus is able to recognize the mobile telephone unit and use data stored therein for telephone payment.

29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, being structured and arranged such that a user need only bring the mobile telephone unit in a vicinity of said apparatus and simply press a selection button on the mobile telephone unit to obtain a good or service from said apparatus.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 29, structured and arranged to operate without the mobile telephone unit directly contacting the apparatus.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, structured and arranged to operate without the mobile telephone unit directly contacting the apparatus.

8. A method of dispensing a good and/or releasing a service, comprising:

a) making available an apparatus which includes a GSM cell and a good for dispensing;

b) making available a mobile telephone unit;

c) bringing the mobile telephone unit near the apparatus; and

d) triggering the good and/or releasing the service after the GSM cell has recognized the mobile telephone unit.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the recognition of the mobile telephone unit takes place by reading the user identity and the time of use.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the triggering of the good and/or release of the service takes place in that handover made available by the network is not carried out.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein a hand telephone is used as the mobile telephone unit.

10. A method of dispensing a good and/or releasing a service, comprising:

a) making available an apparatus which includes a GSM cell and a good for dispensing;

b) making available a mobile telephone unit;

c) bringing the mobile telephone unit near the apparatus; and

d) triggering the good and/or releasing the service after the GSM cell has recognized the mobile telephone unit,

wherein the triggering of the good and/or releasing the service takes place by holding the mobile telephone unit into an opening of the apparatus.

27. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release of a service, comprising

a GSM cell of a network operator, and

a mobile telephone located in the GSM cell of a vending machine, such that said apparatus is able to recognize the mobile telephone unit and use data stored therein for telephone payment and is structured and arranged such that a user need only bring the mobile telephone unit in a vicinity of said apparatus and simply press a selection button on the mobile telephone unit to obtain a good or service from said vending machine.

28. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release of a service, comprising

a GSM cell of a network operator, and

wherein said apparatus is a dispensing machine (1), comprising

an opening (3) into which a mobile telephone unit can be introduced, a proximity switch (5) arranged to detect the mobile telephone unit and emit a signal activating the GSM cell structured and arranged as a home base station, thus activating the dispensing machine (1),

ejection mechanism within the dispensing machine (1) being activated by the GSM cell,

a coin slot (7) in the dispensing machine (1) structured and arranged to be activated in parallel by the ejection mechanism, and

a telemetry GSM terminal provided within the dispensing machine (1) and connected to the network operator.