Vending modified climate control device

• US 9,188,443 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovaci Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovaci Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael, Scott, J. Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Maguire, Lindsay M
• Application Number:
  US13/306,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5698 using acoustic waves, e.g. surface acoustic wave gyros
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/04 in which the quantity mechanism is set forward automatically by the insertion of a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

A user input comprising a climate control parameter is received. A climate control subsystem that is configured to modify an environment based on the climate control parameter is activated. A payment message that is based on a usage parameter is transmitted to a billing system. The payment message results in a charge being made to an account of the user.

Claims

1. A method for operating a climate control device comprising:

receiving, at the climate control device, a request for use of the climate control device;

transmitting an authorization request to a billing system in response to receiving the request;

receiving an activation message from the billing system in response to the authorization request;

receiving a user input identifying a climate control program comprising a temperature parameter, a humidity parameter, an ionization parameter, a dehumidifier parameter, an air purification parameter, a sound parameter, and an aroma parameter, each of the parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values;

sensing a condition of the environment;

determining a difference between the condition of the environment and a parameter of the climate control program;

operating a climate control subsystem to modify the environment based on the determining; and

transmitting a payment message to the billing system based on a plurality of usage parameters;

wherein the payment message results in a charge to an account of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment message is transmitted via a wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a status message indicating a quantity of a perfumed material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment message comprises a plurality of usage indications.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying a lighting system.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a status message indicating a quantity of a perfumed material.

6. A climate control device comprising:

a network interface configured to;

receive a request for use of the climate control device;

transmit an authorization request to a billing system in response to receiving the request;

receive an activation message comprising information associated with the billing system in response to the authorization request;

transmit a payment message to the billing system based on a plurality of usage parameters, wherein the payment message results in a charge to an account of a user;

a user interface configured to;

receive a user input identifying a climate control program comprising a temperature parameter, a humidity parameter, an ionization parameter, a dehumidifier parameter, an air purification parameter, a sound parameter, and an aroma parameter, each of the parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values; and

a climate control subsystem configured to;

sense a condition of the environment;

determine a difference between the condition of the environment and a parameter of the climate control program;

modify an environment based on the difference climate control program.

7. The climate control device of claim 6, wherein the network interface is further configured to transmit the payment message via a wireless network.

8. The climate control device of claim 6, wherein the network interface is further configured to:

transmit a status message indicating a quantity of a perfumed material.

9. The climate control device of claim 6, wherein the payment message comprises a plurality of usage indications.

10. The climate control device of claim 6, wherein the climate control subsystem is further configured to modify a lighting system.

11. An apparatus for controlling a climate comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a request for use of the climate control device;

transmitting an authorization request to a billing system in response to receiving the request;

receiving an activation message in response to the authorization request, wherein the activation message comprises information associated with the billing system;

receiving a user input identifying a climate control program comprising a temperature parameter, a humidity parameter, an ionization parameter, a dehumidifier parameter, an air purification parameter, a sound parameter, and an aroma parameter, each of the parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values;

sensing a condition of the environment;

determining a difference between the condition of the environment and a parameter of the climate control program;

operating a climate control subsystem to modify the environment based on the determining; and

transmitting a payment message to the billing system based on a plurality of usage parameters;

wherein the payment message results in a charge to an account of the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmitting a payment message comprises transmitting a wireless communication.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the payment message comprises a plurality of usage indications.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the activating the climate control subsystem further comprises modifying a lighting system.