Apparatus, systems and methods for accepting payment at a sales device

• US 7,216,754 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Downs, Michael D., Tedesco, Daniel E., Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US11/078,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 194/302, 194/202, 194/207, 902/15
• US Class Current: 194/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/28 Setting of parameters; Software updates
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an item of currency at a vending machine;

determining that the item of currency fails at least one condition for acceptance;

receiving information from a customer;

after determining that the item of currency fails at least one condition for acceptance,

determining whether to accept the item of currency based on the information received from the customer; and

accepting the item of currency as payment for at least one product.

2. The method of claim 1, in which determining that the item of currency fails at least one condition for acceptance comprises:

determining that the item of currency is not genuine.

3. The method of claim 1, in which determining that the item of currency fails at least one condition for acceptance comprises:

determining a measurement of a characteristic of the item of currency.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the measurement is not within a predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the information received from the customer comprises one or more of the following:

information about an alternative means of payment,

information about a financial account, and

an identifier that identifies a credit card.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the information received from the customer comprises one or more of the following:

an identifier that identifies the customer,

an identifier that identifies a driver'"'"'s license, and

an identifier that identifies a player tracking card.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the information received from the customer comprises an indication that the customer is willing to provide an amount of premium.

8. The method of claim 1, in which receiving the information comprises:

receiving an identifier that identifies a credit card account.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the item of currency is counterfeit; and

charging an amount to the credit card account.

10. The method of claim 1, in which receiving the information comprises:

receiving an amount of premium from the customer.

11. The method of claim 1, in which receiving the information comprises:

after determining that the item of currency fails the at least one condition for acceptance,

receiving the information from the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, in which accepting comprises:

accepting the item of currency in response to receiving the information from the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dispensing the at least one product.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the at least one condition for acceptance failed by the item of currency.

15. A method comprising:

setting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator;

determining sales data associated with a sales device; and

adjusting the level of sensitivity of the currency validator based on the sales data,

in which the sales data includes at least one of the following;

information about inventory of the sales device,

information about profit of the sales device, and

information about product demand.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the sales data does not include information related to fraud.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the sales device comprises a gaming device.

18. A method comprising:

setting a level of security of a currency validator;

determining an amount of revenue;

determining if the amount of revenue is not equal to a predetermined amount of revenue; and

if the amount of revenue is not equal to the predetermined amount of revenue,

adjusting the level of security of the currency validator.

19. The method of claim 18, in which adjusting the level of security comprises:

increasing the level of security of the currency validator.

20. The method of claim 18, in which adjusting the level of security comprises:

decreasing the level of security of the currency validator.

21. The method of claim 18, in which adjusting the level of security comprises:

automatically adjusting the level of security.

22. The method of claim 18, in which adjusting the level of security comprises:

adjusting the level of security between restock dates for a sales device.

23. The method of claim 18, in which adjusting the level of security is not performed by a human being.

24. A method comprising:

determining an amount of inventory of at least one product of a sales device; and

adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the amount of inventory.

25. A method comprising:

determining a measurement of demand for at least one product of a sales device; and

adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the measurement of demand.

26. The method of claim 25, in which the sales device comprises a gaming device.

27. A method comprising:

determining a profit margin associated with at least one product; and

adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the profit margin.

28. A method comprising:

adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on transaction data,

in which the transaction data includes at least one of the following;

information related to product inventory,

information related to sales demand, and

information related to a measure of profit.

29. The method of claim 28, in which the currency validator is embodied in a gaming device.

30. A method comprising:

determining a first level of security for a currency validator;

determining a first amount of potential sales based on the first level of security;

determining a second level of security for the currency validator;

determining a second amount of potential sales based on the second level of security;

selecting one of the first level and second level based on the first amount of potential sales and the second amount of potential sales; and

setting the currency validator to the selected level of security.

31. The method of claim 30, in which selecting comprises:

determining a difference between the first amount of potential sales and the second amount of potential sales.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining if the difference is greater than a predetermined amount.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining a first measurement of risk that is associated with the first level of security;

determining a second measurement of risk that is associated with the second level of security; and

in which selecting comprises;

selecting one of the first level and second level based on the first amount of potential sales, the second amount of potential sales, the first measurement of risk, and the second measurement of risk.

34. The method of 33, in which the first measurement of risk represents a likelihood of accepting a counterfeit item of currency.

35. The method of 33, in which the first measurement of risk is based on a previous rate of fraud for a sales device.

36. The method of 30, in which selecting comprises:

selecting the first level if the first amount of potential sales is greater than the second amount of potential sales.