System and method for dispensing pre-paid items using a uniquely identified container
First Claim
1. A system for providing a pre-paid product to an authorized customer using a unique container, comprising:
- a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for providing validation of the unique container and the authorized customer;
a sales module that acquires a container ID for the unique container and generates a credential ID for the authorized customer receiving the unique container, wherein the credential ID is related to the container ID, but is separate element carriable by the customer independently of the container, and wherein the sales module activates the unique container and stores the container ID for the unique container and the related credential ID for the authorized customer in the storage medium; and
a dispensing module that receives a request from a remote dispensing device for validation of the unique container to receive the prepaid product, wherein the dispensing module compares a received request container ID and a received request credential ID in the request to the stored container ID and the stored credential ID in the storage medium, respectively, and authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product only if the received request container ID matches the stored container ID and the received request credential ID and the stored credential ID, wherein the match of the request credential ID and the stored credential ID validates the authorized customer, wherein the match of the request container ID and the stored container ID validates the container, and wherein the dispensing module authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product only if the authorized customer presents the container ID to validate the container and also presents the credential ID to validate the authorized customer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing a pre-paid product using a unique container. The system comprises a computer system comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and stored instructions for execution by the processing circuit. The computer system includes a sales module that acquires an identifier for the unique container and generates a credential ID for a customer. The sales module also activates the unique container, and stores the identifier for the unique container and the corresponding credential ID in the storage medium. Also included is a dispensing module that receives a request from a remote dispensing device for validation of the unique container to receive the prepaid product, compares a received identifier and a received credential ID with the identifier and the credential ID stored in the storage medium, and authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product if they match.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for providing a pre-paid product to an authorized customer using a unique container, comprising:
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a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for providing validation of the unique container and the authorized customer; a sales module that acquires a container ID for the unique container and generates a credential ID for the authorized customer receiving the unique container, wherein the credential ID is related to the container ID, but is separate element carriable by the customer independently of the container, and wherein the sales module activates the unique container and stores the container ID for the unique container and the related credential ID for the authorized customer in the storage medium; and a dispensing module that receives a request from a remote dispensing device for validation of the unique container to receive the prepaid product, wherein the dispensing module compares a received request container ID and a received request credential ID in the request to the stored container ID and the stored credential ID in the storage medium, respectively, and authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product only if the received request container ID matches the stored container ID and the received request credential ID and the stored credential ID, wherein the match of the request credential ID and the stored credential ID validates the authorized customer, wherein the match of the request container ID and the stored container ID validates the container, and wherein the dispensing module authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product only if the authorized customer presents the container ID to validate the container and also presents the credential ID to validate the authorized customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing a prepaid product from a remote dispensing station, wherein the remote dispensing station receives authorization to dispense the prepaid product from a computer system in communication with the remote dispensing station, and wherein the computer system comprises a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing the method, the method comprising:
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processing a sales transaction for a unique container having a container ID and at least one condition of sale; generating a credential ID for the authorized customer that activates the unique container and is related to the container ID but is a separate element carriable by the customer independently of the container; saving in the storage medium the related container ID and credential ID, along with the at least one condition of sale; receiving a request to authorize the dispensing of the prepaid product into the container, wherein the request includes a request container ID and a request credential ID; and enabling the remote dispensing station to dispense the requested prepaid product into the container only if the request container ID matches the stored container ID in the storage medium to validate the container and the request credential ID matches the stored credential ID in the storage medium related to the container ID to validate the authorized customer, and wherein the dispensing module authorizes the dispensing of the prepaid product only if the authorized customer presents the container ID to validate the container and also presents the credential ID to validate the authorized customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A remote dispensing station for use by an authorized customer with a unique container, the remote dispensing station comprising:
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a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for providing validation of the unique container and the authorized customer; a plurality of products to be provided to the authorized customer; a container ID reader that acquires a request container ID of the unique container; a credential ID reader that acquires a request credential ID provided by the authorized customer, wherein the credential ID is related to the container ID but is a separate element carriable by the customer independently of the container; a transceiver for transmitting the request credential ID and the request container ID to a remote data system in a request for an authorization to dispense one of the plurality of products and for receiving a response to the request, wherein the response includes the authorization only if the request container ID matches a stored container ID in the storage medium to validate the container and the request credential ID matches a stored credential ID in the storage medium related to the container ID to validate the authorized customer, and wherein the response includes the authorization only if the authorized customer presents the container ID to the container ID reader to validate the container and also presents the credential ID to credential ID reader to validate the authorized customer; and a dispenser to dispense one of the plurality of products into the unique container if the response to the request includes the authorization to dispense one of the plurality of products. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification