Vending machine and computer assembly

• US RE41,543 E1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Satchell Jr, Johnson A. Asumadu
• Original Assignee: Vendonet Incorporated
• Inventors: Satchell, James A. Jr., Asumadu, Johnson A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland; Steven R
• Application Number:
  US09/686,626
• Time in Patent Office: 3,596 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/241, 700/231, 700233-238, 700/244, 705/16, 705/17, 705/26, 705/27, 705/5, 705/410, 709/203, 709/217, 709/229, 221/7, 221/2, 221/3, 221/8, 221/9, 221/199, 463/48, 369/24.01, 386/97, 235/381, 340/541, 379/93.22, 361/683
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/006 Details of the software used for the vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A vending machine for purchasing selected items by a customer. The vending machine includes a dispensing assembly for dispensing an item and a selector assembly connected to the dispensing assembly. A computer assembly having a central computer, video display screen and a modem is connected to and actuated by the selector for connecting the computer to an internet site and displaying a received transmission on the video screen in response to a purchased item.

Claims

1. A vending machine for sale of items selected by a customer, said vending machine including a retrofit door for retrofitting to an existing vending machine, said door vending comprising:

a storage unit for storing a plurality of items for sale and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the items from said storage unit;

the retrofit door comprising;

(a) a selector device for selecting one or more of said items for sale by a customer;

(b) a payment-control device for receiving and detecting an amount of payment required for sale of an item and for actuating said dispensing mechanism when a payment is received to dispense a selected item; and

(c) a computer assembly connected to said storage unit and dispensing unitmechanism, selector device and payment control device and having a computer, video display screen and a communication network, whereby said computer is connected to and actuated by said selector device for automatically connecting said computer to a preselected internet site in response to purchase of the selected item, dispensing the selected item, and automatically displaying information obtained from said internet site on said video screen for viewing by the customer, said computer assembly further including customer actuating means for enabling a customer to interface with said computer;

said computer having programming responsive to payment of an additional amount in excess of the amount required to purchase the selected item to provide the customer access to at least one website of the customer'"'"'s choice on the internet through interaction with the vending machine after the selected item is dispensed.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein

said communication network comprises a modem and said computer assembly further includes a telephone line connection for connecting said computer to said internet site.

3. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein

said computer comprises software for selectively connecting said computer to a plurality of different internet site, and being connected to said selector means device for automatically connecting said computer to a specific internet site in response to a selected item.

4. The vending machine of claim 1, said computer assembly further comprising

data storage means connected to said selector device for displaying selected stored information in response to a selection of items by a customer.

5. The vending machine of claim 4, wherein said computer displays information from said data storage means at idle times of said vending machine.

6. The vending machine of claim 5, further comprising a speaker for broadcasting audio signals, where said data storage means transmits signals to said video screen and speaker to display advertising information from said data storage means.

7. The vending machine of claim 1, said computer further comprising

user operated keypad and trackball for operating said computer to connect said computer to an internet side selected by said customer.

8. The vending machine of claim 1, said computer further including

speakers for receiving audio transmissions from said internet site.

9. The vending machine of claim 1, said computer further comprising

an audio display device, a microphone and audio recording device for recording audio by said customer.

10. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein said computer further comprises

a camera and video recording device for recording an image of said customer.

11. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said computer further comprises

a central control unit for an audio-visual connection to an internet site;

a transmission unit for transmitting an audio-visual signal from said computer to said internet site;

a receiving unit for receiving audio-visual signals from said internet site; and

a recording unit for recording and storing said audio-visual signals.

12. A retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine for sale of items selected by a customer, said retrofit door assembly comprising:

a storage unit for storing a plurality of different items for sale and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the items from said storage unit;

a selector device for selecting one or more of said items for sale by the customer;

a payment-control device for receiving and detecting an amount of payment required for sale of an item and for actuating said dispensing mechanism when a payment is received to dispense a selected item; and

a computer assembly connected to said storage and dispensing unit and dispensing mechanism, selector device and payment control device, and having a computer, video display screen and a modem, whereby said computer is connected to and actuated by said selector device for automatically connecting said computer to a pre-selected internet site in response to purchase of the selected item, dispensing the selected item, and automatically displaying information obtained from said internet address site on said video screen for viewing by the customer;

said computer having programming responsive to payment of an additional amount in excess of the amount required to purchase the selected item to provide the customer access to at least one website of the customer'"'"'s choice on the internet after the selected item is dispensed.

13. A retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine for dispensing of at least one drink selected by a customer, said retrofit door assembly comprising:

a door having a computer, video screen and communication network operatively connected to the Internet whereby a customer may view website content on said video screen,

a delivery port for dispensing said at least one drink selected by a customer to the customer, an access portal to the Internet on said door for interaction of the customer through the Internet, so that the customer may choose a website to view on the video screen;

said computer is connected to and actuated by a selector device for automatically connecting said computer to a preselected Internet site in response to purchase of a selected drink, dispensing the selected drink and automatically displaying information obtained from said Internet site on said video screen for viewing by the customer;

said computer having programming responsive to payment of an additional amount in excess of an amount required to purchase a selected drink to provide the customer access to at least one website of the customer'"'"'s choice on the Internet after dispensing a purchased drink.

14. A vending machine comprising the retrofit door assembly of claim 13, said vending machine further including a storage unit for storing said at least one drink for purchase by a customer.

15. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein said door further comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said at least one drink.

16. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein at least one of a telephone connection, cable, modem, antenna, and satellite dish is provided for interacting with other transmitters and receivers.

17. The vending machine of claim 16, wherein an other receiver is capable of receiving and utilizing data.

18. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein said purchased drink is at least one drink selected from the group consisting of drinks in cans and bottles.

19. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one mechanism selected from the group including data storage unit, programmable audio-video message storage unit, laser-disc, read-write CD-ROM, read only memory recording medium, magnetic media and diskette for storage of data and recording, storage and playback of audio and video signals,

wherein a customer is enabled respectively to upload and download audio and video signals from and to said mechanism to and from websites and homepages, and to send and receive data from and to said mechanism to and from other data transmitters or receivers.

20. The vending machine of claim 19, further comprising a camera connected to a computer for generating video signals, and

a microphone connected to a computer for generating audio signals, wherein said microphone generated audio and camera generated video signals are recorded alone or in combination with already recorded audio and visual signals by said at least one mechanism.

21. The vending machine of claim 19, wherein said programmable audio-video message storage unit comprises at least one of an optical recoding medium, a magnetic recording medium, and an electrically eraseable and programmable read-only memory recording medium.

22. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising:

a camera connected to the computer for generating video signals;

a microphone connected to said computer for generating audio signals; and

at least one audio-video mechanism connected to said computer for recording said audio and video signals.

23. The vending machine of claim 22, wherein said signals provide a two-way communication via the Internet.

24. The vending machine of claim 23, wherein said at least one audio-video mechanism is selected from the group consisting of data storage mechanism, laser-disc, read-write CD-ROM, and diskette, whereby said signals are recorded by said at least one audio-video mechanism and dispensed to the customer.

25. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein said vending machine is connected to an Internet service provider by a communication network system which enables two-way multimedia interactive communication with a customer.

26. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising transmitting and receiving network communication means and content uploading and downloading means to and from websites so as to enable communication between a customer and an owner or operator of said vending machine.

27. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising programmable means to connect the machine to a website or homepage of a manufacturer of the drink purchased.

28. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising programmable means to connect the machine to a website or homepage of an owner or operator of the vending machine.

29. The vending machine of claim 28, further comprising means to download a communication onto a mobile recording medium.

30. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising at least one of an audio or a video interface circuit for two-way interactive communication.

31. The vending machine of claim 30, wherein the interface circuit for two-way interactive communication is a video interface circuit.

32. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a credit card acceptor.

33. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising means for accepting payment.

34. The vending machine of claim 33, wherein the payment comprises at least one of coins, bills and credit cards.

35. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising means for accepting visual input.

36. The vending machine of claim 35, further comprising means for converting said visual input to digital form.

37. The vending machine of claim 36, further comprising a communications network to connect the vending machine to a pre-programmed financial website.

38. The vending machine of claim 37, further comprising means to download information from said financial website.

39. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising an amount deposit acceptor.

40. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a payment control device.

41. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a computer activation circuit in which the computer is connected to an Internet provider via the Internet before the drink is dispensed.

42. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising software for automatically connecting the vending machine to a specific Internet website.

43. The vending machine of claim 42, wherein the specific Internet website transmits and receives at least one of data, audio or video signals.

44. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising means to display advertising when the vending machine is idle.

45. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a transmit-receive circuit connecting the vending machine with other transmitters and receivers.

46. The vending machine according to claim 14, wherein said at least one item selected is a drink in bottles.

47. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, wherein the communication network comprises a modem on said door.

48. The retrofit door assembly of claim 13, further comprising a money delivery port on said door.

49. The vending machine of claim 48, wherein money is dispensed through said money delivery port.

50. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, wherein said door further comprises means for two-way interactive communications by a customer with the Internet.

51. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 50, wherein the interactive communications are interactive visual communications.

52. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises at least one of a blank compact disk and a blank diskette delivery port.

53. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises speakers.

54. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a keypad.

55. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a trackball.

56. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a camera.

57. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a programmable selection panel for customer selection of websites or homepages to transmit-receive data, music, video and audio and to provide visual and digital recording functions.

58. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a headphone.

59. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a microphone.

60. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a credit card reader.

61. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprising means for displaying pricing information for the Internet.

62. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprises a scratch pad memory unit.

63. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the door further comprising means to display time left to browse websites.

64. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, further including a programmable selection panel for selecting websites or homepages.

65. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, further including means to accept input from a customer.

66. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 65, wherein the computer is also connected to the means to accept input from a customer.

67. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 66, wherein the computer displays a homepage or website, together with information from an Internet provider.

68. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, said door further comprising at least one of a programmable microprocessor and an interface circuit.

69. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine according to claim 13, said door further comprising at least one of a digital signal processing unit and an interface circuit.

70. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, further comprising software for browsing the Internet.

71. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, further comprising software for connecting the computer with an Internet site.

72. The retrofit door assembly for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, wherein an Internet site is selected from the group consisting of an Internet provider, a manufacturer of the item, a vendor of the item, a website specified by the customer, an owner of the vending machine, an operator of the vending machine, news websites, financial websites, music websites and a website of the property owner where the vending machine is located.

73. The door for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, further comprising an escutcheon plate and a transparent plastic panel with back lighting to display a logo or trademark of a vendor.

74. The door for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, further comprising an interface to a communication network to access an on-line computer service, wherein said service is capable of transmitting and receiving, via a communication network, a request for service by a customer and a response to said request.

75. The door for retrofitting an existing vending machine of claim 13, further comprising a mouse.

76. A method of providing a customer with access to the Internet via a vending machine, said method comprising:

1.) providing a vending machine to vend at least one physical item for purchase by a customer;

2.) purchasing said at least one physical item connects the customer, via the Internet, to at least one pre-selected website;

3.) accessing at least one additional website of the customer'"'"'s choice after said at least one physical item has been purchased and dispensed, said accessing comprising at least one of inserting money or credit card information into the vending machine in excess of an amount required for the purchase of said at least one item; and

customer input of data to a computer.

77. The method of claim 76, including connecting said computer to a website via a modem.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein said customer input comprises activating at least one key of a keyboard.

79. The method of claim 76, including actuating at least one of audio, video and multi-media capabilities associated with the vending machine.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein said access to the Internet is effected by inserting money in the form of coin or currency into said vending machine.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein said access includes providing means for two-way interactive visual communications by a customer with the Internet.

82. The method of claim 76, further including the step of providing means to allow the customer to download data, audio or video information from the Internet and take it away from the vending machine in the form of magnetic or optical storage media.

83. The method of claim 76, including providing the vending machine with a camera.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein the step of providing said vending machine is in the form of an existing vending machine with a retrofit door.

85. The method of claim 84, where a computer is assembled onto the retrofit door for the vending machine and said computer also controls various components of the vending machine, in addition to Internet access.

86. The method of claim 76, wherein a customer may transmit data on the Internet from the customer'"'"'s own magnetic or optical storage mediums insertable into drives in the vending machine.

87. The method of claim 76, further including providing at least one of telephone, cable or satellite communications on said vending machine.

88. The method of claim 76, further including providing a microphone on the vending machine.

89. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of incorporating a timing device into the vending machine to limit the time the customer is operatively connectable, via the Internet, to at least one of preselected websites.

90. The method of claim 76, wherein the purchasing is in response to actuation of a credit card reader and check of personal identification number.

91. A method of attracting greater patronage to a vending machine for drinks, said method comprising:

providing a vending machine for drinks with a retrofit door assembly, the retrofit door assembly comprising a door with a video screen, at least one of a credit card reader or a money acceptor, and at least one customer input device,

automatically connecting a customer to at least one predetermined website and displaying the at least one predetermined website on the video screen in response to actuation of the money acceptor or credit card reader in an amount required to purchase a drink;

upon purchase of the drink, causing a drink to be vended to the customer and providing a predetermined time period for which the customer is automatically connected to at least one predetermined website; and

, thereafter providing the customer access to at least one website of the customer'"'"'s choice on the Internet/world wide web through interaction with said vending machine by the payment of an additional amount in excess of the amount required to purchase the drink, which customer'"'"'s choice of website is displayed on the screen.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein at least one predetermined website displays at least one of informational, entertainment or advertising.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the customer input device is at least one selected from the group consisting of a keypad, trackball and mouse.