Method and device for accessing, controlling and purchasing a product through a dispenser

• US 9,245,403 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Vending, LLC
• Original Assignee: Todd Goldstein
• Inventors: Geigel, Art, Armenio, Christopher, Muhammad, Abdullah
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/891,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 221/96, 700/237
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/02 by volume
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Various technologies described herein pertain to an automated dispenser including a dispensing portion, a motion sensor, a receiver module, and a control module. The control module initiates motion sensing by the motion sensor in response to receipt of an activation signal from a network server by the receiver module. The dispensing portion dispenses a product in response to the motion sensor sensing an absence, presence or motion of an object.

Claims

1. An automated dispenser, comprising:

a dispensing portion;

a motion sensor;

a receiver module that receives an activation signal, wherein the activation signal is received from a network server via a network, the activation signal being sent by the network server in response to the network server authorizing a request for the automated dispenser to dispense a product, the request being sent by a mobile device to the network server, and the activation signal indicates that the network server has authorized the dispensing portion to dispense the product; and

a control module that initiates sensing performed by the motion sensor in response to the receiver module receiving the activation signal;

wherein the automated dispenser is associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is configured to be scanned by the mobile device to generate the request for the automated dispenser to dispense the product;

wherein the dispensing portion dispenses the product in response to the motion sensor detecting a presence of an object.

2. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is an automated fluid dispenser.

3. The automated fluid dispenser of claim 2, wherein, when activated, the dispensing portion dispenses up to a predetermined amount of fluid.

4. The automated dispenser of claim 2, further including a flow control module that controls a rate of fluid flow from the dispensing portion as a function of a detected distance of the object relative to the automated dispenser.

5. The automated dispenser of claim 2, wherein a fluid dispensing rate is either zero or a predetermined amount as a function of a detected distance of the object relative to the automated dispenser.

6. The automated fluid dispenser of claim 2, wherein an indicator is configured to indicate a state of the automated fluid dispenser, wherein the state includes at least one of the following:

a ready to be scanned state, a ready to dispense state, and a dispensing state.

7. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor detects a user'"'"'s motion and transmits data generated from the user'"'"'s motion to the control module, wherein the control module analyzes the data generated by the motion sensor and dispenses the product based thereon.

8. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion detected by the motion sensor includes a component parallel to a plane of detection of the motion sensor relative to the automated dispenser.

9. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an infrared sensor.

10. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a camera.

11. An automated dispenser, comprising:

a motion sensor activated responsive to receipt of an activation signal that indicates authorization of a dispense request for a product, where the activation signal is received from a network server, the activation signal being sent by the network server in response to the network server authorizing the dispense request, the dispense request being sent by a mobile device to the network server, and the dispense request being generated by the mobile device responsive to an indicator associated with the automated dispenser being scanned by the mobile device; and

a dispensing portion that dispenses that product from the automated dispenser into a dispensing zone;

wherein the motion sensor detects a presence or a motion of an object within a sensing zone;

wherein the sensing zone is outside of the dispensing zone; and

wherein the motion sensor is configured to cause the dispensing portion to dispense the product in response to detection of the presence or the motion of the object within the sensing zone.

12. The automated dispenser of claim 11, wherein the products of the automated dispenser comprise potable fluids.

13. The automated dispenser of claim 11, wherein the dispensing zone of the automated dispenser is below the dispenser portion.

14. The automated dispenser of claim 11, wherein the sensing zone of the automated dispenser is spatially apart from the dispensing zone.

15. A method of operating a network server to control dispensing of a product by an automated dispenser, comprising:

receiving, at the network server, a request to activate the automated dispenser to dispense the product, the request being received from a mobile device, the request comprises identification information for the automated dispenser, the request being generated by the mobile device responsive to an indicator associated with the automated dispenser being scanned by the mobile device;

detecting an identity of the automated dispenser based on the identification information from the request;

determining whether to approve or deny the request to activate the automated dispenser;

responsive to approving the request, transmitting an activation signal to the automated dispenser to cause the automated dispenser to dispense the product; and

responsive to denying the request, transmitting an indication that the request is rejected from the network server to the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to approving the request, transmitting a confirmation that the request is approved from the network server to the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 15, the activation signal causes activation of a motion sensor of the automated dispenser.