Cash payment system using vending machine

• US 7,096,191 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L.
• Application Number:
  US10/152,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/13, 705/16, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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

A host computer transmits a user ID and a list of vending machine IDs to a portable communication terminal. When the user selects from the list a vending machine through which the user makes a payment, the user ID and the ID of the selected vending machine are transmitted from a portable communication terminal to the host computer. The host computer issues to the vending machine corresponding to the vending machine ID an instruction to enter a payment acceptable mode. When the user makes a payment at the vending machine, the amount of the payment is transmitted to the host computer.

Claims

1. A system for performing a payment with a vending machine comprising:

a portable communication terminal of a user,

a host computer connected to the vending machine and the portable communication terminal through a network,

said portable communication terminal having a first transmitter for transmitting identification information of the user and identification information of the vending machine to the host computer;

said host computer having a second transmitter for transmitting an instruction of the payment to the vending machine specified by the received identification information of the vending machine, the instruction of the payment including a command to enter a cash payment acceptable mode; and

said vending machine having a controller for entering the cash payment acceptable mode in response to the instruction from the host computer, and said vending machine having a third transmitter for transmitting information of the payment including an amount of the payment to the host computer, and said vending machine having at least one cash identification unit for accepting the payment in cash when in the cash payment acceptable mode.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer comprises:

a generator for generating identification information of user in response to a registry request from the portable communication terminal; and

a fourth transmitter for transmitting registry information including the generated identification information of user and at least one identification information of the vending machine to the portable communication terminal.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said fourth transmitter transmits the registry information by electronic mail.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer comprises a fifth transmitter for transmitting a message to the portable communication terminal in response to the information of the user and the vending machine from the portable communication terminal, said message having an instruction prompting the user to make the payment.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said fifth transmitter transmits the message on a web page.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said host computer comprises generator for generating identification information of payment process in response to the information of the user and the vending machine, said message of the fifth transmitter and said instruction of the second transmitter including identification information of payment process;

and

said vending machine comprises display for displaying the identification information of payment process.