Cellular vending apparatus, systems, and methods of vending

• US 8,693,984 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc., U-Fuel International Company
• Original Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, Ronald Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsieh, Ping
• Application Number:
  US13/795,929
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455/406, 455/456.3, 455/552.1, 705/14.38, 705/14.53, 705/14.65, 705/27.1, 705/43
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A dispenser having a unique cellular telephone calling number (or multiple unique calling numbers) operable in response to receiving a cellular message. The dispenser includes a cellular phone component and may include a SIM card slot and SIM card. A number of dispensers may each be equipped with a cellular phone component each having a unique calling number and a cellular phone system provider configured to authorize sending of information representing a pre-authorized amount of items to be dispensed as a wireless cellular signal to one or any of the dispensers. A cell pod is configured to enable a cellular telephone to communicate and control a vending machine. A method of selling items includes sending a cellular telephone signal to a unique telephone number associated with the dispenser and assessing a charge to the cellular telephone of a user prior to authorizing the sending of the signal.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus comprising:

a controller positioned within said vending apparatus and configured to control dispensing of items or fuel from said apparatus; and

a cellular phone component positioned on or within said vending apparatus and electrically connected to said controller and configured to receive a control signal in the form of a wireless cellular telephone signal pertaining to a value or volume of items or fuel to be dispensed authorized by a cellular telephone provider where the signal relates to a value charged to a cellular telephone account of a cellular telephone provider or charged to a user'"'"'s telephone having pre-paid minutes or credits and where the control signal is received in response to a request generated by a user to a cellular telephone provider, said phone component comprising a SIM card.

2. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where said cellular phone component further comprises a cellular signal receiver and a cell phone interface configured to convert cellular telephone electrical text message signals into dispenser electrical signals.

3. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where said cellular phone component is configured to receive an encrypted text message, said controller configured to cause said vending apparatus to dispense fuel or items upon receipt of the text message, the text message represents a pre-authorized value or volume of fuel or item, said controller configured to cause said vending apparatus to cease pumping fuel or dispensing items upon dispensing the pre-authorized amount of fuel or item.

4. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the cellular phone component is configured to receive the control signal from a first cellular telephone provider, the first cellular telephone provider being the same as the cellular telephone provider which receives the signal from the user and the same as the cellular telephone provider having the cellular telephone account.

5. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the cellular phone component is configured to receive the control signal from a first cellular telephone provider, the first cellular telephone provider being different than the cellular telephone provider to which the user generates the request.

6. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the value charged is associated with an amount of cellular telephone minutes associated with the cellular telephone account.

7. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the value charged is associated with one from the group of minutes, pre-paid minutes, credits, debits, account billing, telephone bill charges, currency, dispensable volume, price.

8. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the signal relates to an item or amount of fuel to be dispensed and corresponds to the value charged to a cellular telephone account or to a user'"'"'s phone number having pre-paid minutes or credits.

9. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the signal is received in response to a text message originated and sent by the user directly to the cellular telephone provider.

10. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where the signal is received in response to a request signal generated by a software application used by the user.

11. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where said controller is configured to operate only when said phone component receives a text signal from the cellular telephone provider and configured to dispense an item or fuel only in response to said phone component receiving the text signal.

12. The vending apparatus of claim 11 where said controller also operates by receiving hard currency.

13. The vending apparatus of claim 1 where said vending apparatus includes a non-displayed unique calling number.

14. The vending apparatus of claim 13 where said vending apparatus includes a second non-displayed unique calling number.

15. A vending system comprising:

a cellular phone system provider configured to receive a message generated from a user containing information representing a requested item or fuel to be dispensed, and configured to authorize a value or volume of items or fuel to be dispensed and to send a wireless cellular control signal pertaining to the item or amount of fuel to be dispensed; and

a vending apparatus comprising;

a controller positioned within said vending apparatus and configured to control dispensing of items or fuel from said apparatus; and

a cellular phone component positioned on or within said vending apparatus and electrically connected to said controller and configured to receive the control signal in the form of a wireless cellular telephone signal from a cellular phone system provider where the control signal relates to a value charged to a cellular telephone account of a cellular telephone system provider or charged to a user'"'"'s phone having pre-paid minutes or credits and where the control signal relates to a value of the item or fuel to be dispensed, and where the control signal is received in response to a request generated from the user to the cellular telephone system provider, said phone component comprising a SIM card.

16. The vending system of claim 15 where said cellular phone system provider is configured to receive the message from a user as a text message sent from the user directly to said cellular phone system provider.

17. The vending system of claim 15 where the control signal is a text signal.

18. The vending system of claim 15 where the signal from said cellular phone system provider relates to a value pertaining to a cellular telephone account of said cellular telephone system provider.

19. A method of dispensing a requested item or fuel, said method comprising:

receiving a message at a cellular phone provider, the message having been sent by a user and containing information representing the requested item or fuel to be dispensed;

assessing a charge to a user account of a cellular telephone provider or to a user'"'"'s telephone having pre-paid minutes or credits, said assessing a charge in an amount representing a value of the item or fuel to be dispensed; and

authorizing, by a cellular telephone provider, the value or volume of item or fuel to be dispensed and the sending to a vending apparatus a control message in the form of a wireless cellular telephone signal from a cellular phone provider, the vending apparatus configured to dispense the requested item or fuel upon receipt of the signal.

20. The method of claim 19 where the message received at the cellular phone provider is sent directly from the user to the cellular phone provider.

21. The method of claim 19 where the control message is a text signal.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of dispensing the requested item or fuel from the vending apparatus.

23. The method of claim 19 where the cellular telephone provider having the cellular telephone account is the same as the cellular telephone provider which sends the control message to the vending apparatus.

24. The method of claim 19 where the cellular telephone provider having the cellular telephone account is the same as the cellular telephone provider which receives the message sent by the user.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising dispensing items or fuel from the vending apparatus while avoiding use of a computer server.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising dispensing items or fuel from the vending apparatus where the cellular telephone provider which authorizes the value or volume to be dispensed avoids tracking of a price or an amount of the items or of the fuel at the vending apparatus.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising dispensing items or fuel from the vending apparatus where the cellular telephone provider avoids tracking of an amount of the items or of the fuel at the vending apparatus.

28. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of receiving the control signal at the vending apparatus to dispense the requested item or fuel.