Method and apparatus for controlling rented or leased or loaned equipment
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the sale of packaged goods from a vending apparatus, the vending apparatus including a computer controller which has the ability to enable or disable the vending apparatus from selling packaged goods to a user of the vending apparatus based on an agreement between a first party and a second party, wherein;
- the first party has an interest in controlling the sale of packaged goods from the vending apparatus, andthe second party controls the loading of packaged goods into a storage area which is located inside the vending apparatus, and wherein,the first and second parties enter into an agreement of contractual obligations concerning the sale of packaged goods from the vending apparatus, the agreement including the following rules about the manner of operation of the vending apparatus;
(i) the vending apparatus is initially enabled to sell the packaged goods to a plurality of successive users, (ii) however, when an externally generated disable code is received by the vending apparatus, the vending apparatus is at least partially disabled from selling at least some of the goods to a plurality of subsequent users, and (iii) if a disable code is not received by the vending apparatus, then, in that case, the vending apparatus is not at least partially disabled, and furthermore wherein,the rules (i),(ii), and (iii), for enabling and disabling the vending apparatus to sell packaged goods, are executed by the computer controller, which computer controller is programmed to control the vending apparatus in accordance with these rules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus relating to the renting, leasing and/or loaning of electronic equipment operable and/or controllable by a computer, wherein one entity not in physical possession and/or control of the equipment desires control over another entity which has physical possession and/or control of the equipment. Such equipment may comprise a washing machine, medical, office or industrial equipment, a vending machine, etc. A central computer system includes software which enables management and execution of financial transactions between the entities, such as debiting or crediting of accounts held by these or other entities, or creating an invoice for one entity to present to another entity. Information used in making these financial transactions can be determined by analysis of information which may be communicated to the central computer system from at least one other source. Such source may include the control system of the controlled equipment, e.g., from a vending machine or the computer system of an interested entity.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the sale of packaged goods from a vending apparatus, the vending apparatus including a computer controller which has the ability to enable or disable the vending apparatus from selling packaged goods to a user of the vending apparatus based on an agreement between a first party and a second party, wherein;
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the first party has an interest in controlling the sale of packaged goods from the vending apparatus, and the second party controls the loading of packaged goods into a storage area which is located inside the vending apparatus, and wherein, the first and second parties enter into an agreement of contractual obligations concerning the sale of packaged goods from the vending apparatus, the agreement including the following rules about the manner of operation of the vending apparatus; (i) the vending apparatus is initially enabled to sell the packaged goods to a plurality of successive users, (ii) however, when an externally generated disable code is received by the vending apparatus, the vending apparatus is at least partially disabled from selling at least some of the goods to a plurality of subsequent users, and (iii) if a disable code is not received by the vending apparatus, then, in that case, the vending apparatus is not at least partially disabled, and furthermore wherein, the rules (i),(ii), and (iii), for enabling and disabling the vending apparatus to sell packaged goods, are executed by the computer controller, which computer controller is programmed to control the vending apparatus in accordance with these rules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification