Vending devices having ad-watching as consideration

• US 8,751,038 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/136,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/237, 700/238, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising

Abstract

Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus, comprising:

a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product to a user;

a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content to the user; and

a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion, the control system being operable to at least;

receive a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product;

after receipt of the signal, to cause the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and to cause the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user at least one of after or simultaneously with provision of the communicable content; and

sense the user, including at least determine whether the user is at least one of facing or watching a display screen.

2. A method, comprising:

receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product;

after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user;

at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing the product to the user; and

sensing the user, including at least determining whether the user is at least one of facing or watching a display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein dispensing the product to the user comprises:

providing an electrical charge to a user-provided chargeable device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing an electrical charge to a user-provided chargeable device comprises:

inductively providing an electrical charge to a user-provided chargeable device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein providing an electrical charge to a user-provided chargeable device comprises:

providing an electrical charge to at least one of a battery, a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, an handheld communication device, a music player, a camera, a recording device, a hearing aid, a portable computing device, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a wearable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the communicable content to the user comprises:

providing an audio-visual content to the user.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the communicable content to the user comprises:

transmitting the communicable content to a user-provided chargeable device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving a signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content as a complete consideration in exchange for the product.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving at least one signal indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review the communicable content as a partial consideration in exchange for the product, and to provide a payment as another partial consideration in exchange for the product.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the user comprises:

determining whether the user is at least one of receiving or reviewing the communicable content.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the user comprises:

determining that the user is not at least one of receiving or reviewing the communicable content.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an indication to discontinue providing the product to the user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

discontinuing dispensing the product based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein dispensing the product to the user includes dispensing electricity to charge a user-provided chargeable device, the method further comprising:

discontinuing dispensing electricity based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving at least one indication from the user that the user consents to at least one of receive or review the communicable content as a partial consideration for the product, and that the user consents to provide a payment as another partial consideration for the product.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving an indication from the user that the user consents to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product, the device associated with the user including at least one of a user input system, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone, a sensor, a camera, a photodiode, a pressure sensor, a keyboard, a pointing device, a joystick, a game pad, an antenna, a scanner, or an input device.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product, the device associated with the user including at least one of a cellular telephone, a portable computing device, a personal data assistant, a music player, a hearing aid, an automobile, a scooter, or a vehicle.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product, including at least receiving an indication from the user that the user consents to at least one of receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product;

after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user;

at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing the product to the user;

sensing whether the user is watching a display device through which the communicable content is provided; and

continuing to dispense the product as long as the user is watching the display device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

discontinuing dispensing the product when the user is not watching the display device.

22. A vending system, comprising:

means for receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for a product;

means for providing the communicable content to the user after receiving the consent signal;

means for dispensing the product to the user at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user; and

means for sensing the user, including at least means for determining whether the user is at least one of facing or watching a display screen.

23. A method of vending electricity, comprising:

receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device;

communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device;

after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user; and

at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing an electrical charge to the user-provided chargeable device, including at least dispensing the electrical charge at a rate based on a time period needed to display the communicable content.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to at least a control component that controls dispensing the electrical charge to the user-provided chargeable device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user comprises:

downloading the communicable content onto the user'"'"'s chargeable device for later viewing.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user comprises:

providing the communicable content based on one or more environmental characteristics or circumstances.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user comprises:

providing the communicable content based on information received from the user-provided chargeable device.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

transmitting a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

receiving a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device, the device associated with the user including at least one of a user input system, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone, a sensor, a camera, a photodiode, a pressure sensor, a keyboard, a pointing device, a joystick, a game pad, an antenna, a scanner, or an input device.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device comprises:

receiving a consent signal from a device associated with a user indicative of a consent by the user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device, the device associated with the user including at least one of a cellular telephone, a portable computing device, a personal data assistant, a music player, a hearing aid, an automobile, a scooter, or a vehicle.

33. A method of vending electricity, comprising:

receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device;

communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device;

after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user; and

at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing an electrical charge to the user-provided chargeable device, including at least adjusting a rate of dispensing the electrical charge based on an appearance of a second user.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

transmitting a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

receiving a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.

36. A method of vending electricity, comprising:

receiving a consent signal indicative of a consent by a user to at least one of receive or review a communicable content at least partially in exchange for charging of a user-provided chargeable device;

communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device;

after receiving the consent signal, providing the communicable content to the user; and

at least one of after or simultaneously with the providing of the communicable content to the user, dispensing an electrical charge to the user-provided chargeable device, including at least adjusting a rate of dispensing the electrical charge based on the user providing a monetary payment.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

transmitting a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein communicating a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device comprises:

receiving a recharging information from the user-provided chargeable device to an electricity dispensing device.