Systems, methods, and computer storage medium for vending products and services to purchasers having mobile communicators

• US 7,574,377 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Tide Consulting LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Carapelli, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J
• Application Number:
  US10/363,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,905 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 26- 27, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/26.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• 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 provides a vending system (1) for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators (2) enabled to a wireless internet connection (7), and comprises:—means to permit a customer to communicate to an operator (4), via an internet connection (7), the identity of a vending machine (2);—means by which the operator can authorise via the Internet connection an identified vending machine (2) to make a sale to the purchaser;—means to notify said purchaser via the internet connection.

Claims

1. A vending system for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the system comprising:

at least one vending machine connected to the network by a network connection;

an operator server connected to the network by an operator network connection; and

a mobile communicator connected to the network by a wireless data packet network connection,

wherein the mobile communicator is configured to (1) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to the operator server identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, (2) receive via the wireless data packet network connection vending machine identification information from the operator server, and (3) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to an external authorization center personal identification information and vending machine identification information, and

wherein the operator server is configured to (1) receive via the operator network connection communication from the mobile communicator of the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving the personal identification information, (2) transmit via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator vending machine identification information, (3) receive via the operator network connection authorization information from the external authorization center, and (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located comprises an identifying code.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the operator server further comprises a first database including vending machine identifying codes and the corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the vending machines.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the operator server is configured to assign an identity code to the vending machine and to change the assigned identity code at a specified time.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the operator server is configured to change the assigned identity code after each purchase request from a customer.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operator server is located at said vending machine.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operator server is located at a position remote from said vending machine.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operator server further comprises a second database containing identity codes of authorized customers.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile communicator is connected to the Internet through a cellular network.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said vending machine further comprises a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to automatically establish a bi-directional communication link between said vending machine and said mobile communicator and to automatically transmit an identity code to the mobile communicator when the mobile communicator is in the vicinity of the vending machine.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said RF interface is able to connect the mobile communicator to the Internet.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein (1) the system comprises the authorization center, (2) the mobile communicator is configured to transmit the vending machine identification information of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located to the authorization center, and (3) the external authorization center is configured to transmit authorization information to an operator.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising a database associated with the authorization center containing the vending machine identification information.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operator server and the mobile communicator are configured to transmit and receive encrypted data.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a gas station system and said vending machine is a fuel dispenser.

16. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the operator server further is configured to notify the mobile communicator via the operator network connection that a transaction is complete, and the mobile communicator further is configured to receive via the wireless data packet network connection notification from the operator server that a transaction is complete.

17. A vending method for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:

connecting at least one vending machine to the network by a network connection;

connecting an operator server to the network by an operator network connection;

connecting a mobile communicator to the network by a wireless data packet network connection,

configuring the mobile communicator to (1) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to the operator server identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, (2) receive via the wireless data packet network connection vending machine identification information from the operator sewer, and (3) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to an external authorization center personal identification information and vending machine identification information, and

configuring the operator server to (1) receive via the operator network connection communication from the mobile communicator of the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving the personal identification information, (2) transmit via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator vending machine identification information, (3) receive via the operator network connection authorization information from the external authorization center, and (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising providing the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located as an identifying code.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising providing the operator sewer with a first database including vending machine identifying codes and the corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the vending machines.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising configuring the operator server to assign an identity code to the vending machine and to change the assigned identity code at a specified time.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising configuring the operator server to change the assigned identity code after each purchase request from a customer.

22. A method according to claim 17, further comprising locating the operator server at said vending machine.

23. A method according to claim 17, further comprising locating the operator server at a position remote from said vending machine.

24. A method according to claim 17, further comprising providing the operator server with a second database containing identity codes of authorized customers.

25. A method according to claim 17, further comprising connecting said mobile communicator to the Internet through a cellular network.

26. A method according to claim 17, further comprising providing said vending machine with a radio frequency (RF) interface and configuring the RF interface to automatically establish a bi-directional communication link between said vending machine and said mobile communicator and to automatically transmit an identity code to the mobile communicator when the mobile communicator is in the vicinity of the vending machine.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising configuring said RF interface to connect the mobile communicator to the Internet.

28. A method according to claim 17, wherein the system includes the authorization center, the method further comprising (1) configuring the mobile communicator to transmit the vending machine identification information of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located to the authorization center, and (2) configuring the external authorization center to transmit authorization information to an operator.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising providing a database associated with the authorization center containing the vending machine identification information.

30. A method according to claim 17, further comprising configuring the operator server and the mobile communicator to transmit and receive encrypted data.

31. A method according to claim 17, wherein the system is a gas station system and said vending machine is a fuel dispenser.

32. A method according to claim 17, further comprising configuring the operator server to notify the mobile communicator via the operator network connection that a transaction is complete, and configuring the mobile communicator to receive via the wireless data packet network connection notification from the operator server that a transaction is complete.

33. A vending method for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:

connecting at least one vending machine to the network;

connecting an operator server to the network;

connecting a mobile communicator to the network by a wireless data packet network connection;

transmitting from the mobile communicator, via the wireless data packet network connection, to the operator server, identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without transmitting personal identification information;

transmitting from the operator server, via the wireless data packet network connection, to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information;

transmitting from the mobile communicator, via the wireless data packet network connection, to an external authorization center, personal identification information and vending machine identification information;

receiving at the operator server, via the network, authorization information from the external authorization center; and

transmitting from the operator server to the vending machine authorization to supply a good or service.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising:

transmitting from the operator server, via the network and the wireless data packet network, to the mobile communicator, notification that a transaction is complete.

35. A computer readable storage medium storing program instructions thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform a vending method for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:

connecting at least one vending machine to the network;

connecting an operator server to the network;

connecting a mobile communicator to the network by a wireless data packet network connection;

configuring the mobile communicator to (1) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to the operator server identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, (2) receive via the wireless data packet network connection vending machine identification information from the operator server, (3) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to an external authorization center personal identification information and vending machine identification information, and

configuring the operator server to (1) receive via the network communication from the mobile communicator of the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving the personal identification information, (2) transmit via the network to the mobile communicator vending machine identification information, (3) receive via the network authorization information from the external authorization center, and (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service.

36. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein the method performed by the program instructions further comprises:

configuring the operation server to notify the mobile communicator via the network that a transaction is complete, and

configuring the mobile communicator to receive via the wireless data packet network connection notification from the operator server that a transaction is complete.

37. A vending system for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the system comprising:

at least one vending machine connected to the network;

an operator server connected to the network;

a mobile communicator connecting to the network by a wireless data packet network connection;

the mobile communicator including means for (1) transmitting via the wireless data packet network connection to the operator server identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, (2) receiving via the wireless data packet network connection vending machine identification information from the operator server, and (3) transmitting via the wireless data packet network connection to an external authorization center personal identification information and vending machine identification information, and

the operator server including means for (1) receiving via the network communication from the mobile communicator of the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving the personal identification information, (2) transmitting via the network to the mobile communicator vending machine identification information, (3) receiving via the network authorization information from the external authorization center, and (4) authorizing the vending machine to supply a good or service.