Vending system

• US 20040054601A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Tide Consulting LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Carapelli, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• 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 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• 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

Abstract

System and procedure for implementing a service in a telecommunication system comprising a first terminal device (1), a control centre (2) comprising means for handling short messages and/or data calls, an automatic apparatus (3) comprising a second terminal device (4) and a control unit (5) connected to it, a telecommunication network (6) comprising an intelligent network (7), said intelligent network containing means (8) for determining charge and location data and producing voice messages, a first telecommunication connection (9) and a second telecommunication connection (10). In the system, the first terminal device (1) and the second terminal device (4) as well as the control centre (2) are connected to the telecommunication network (6). In the procedure, a product is ordered by making a call from the first terminal device (1) to a number shown on the automatic apparatus (3). The control unit (5) controls the automatic apparatus (3) and the second terminal device (4) disposed in the automatic apparatus (3) in such a way that the customer will get the product ordered. If the automatic apparatus has run out of the product or is having a malfunction, then the customer is informed about it by sending a voice message.

Claims

1. A vending system (1) for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators (6) enabled to a wireless internet connection (7), characterised in that the system comprises:

means to permit a customer to communicate to an operator (4), via an internet connection, the identity of a vending machine (2) at which he is located;

means by which the operator (4) can authorise via the Internet connection an identified vending machine (2) to make a sale to the purchaser, means (4) to notify said purchaser via the internet connection.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means permitting the customer to communicate to an operator (4) the identity of a vending machine (2) consist of an identifying code (5) of the vending machine (2) at which the purchaser is located and transmitted by the purchaser to a web server (9) of the operator through the internet connection.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said means permitting the customer to communicate to an operator the identity of the vending machine additionally comprises a first database (DB1) of the operator (4) containing said identifying codes and the corresponding internet addresses (IP) of the vending machines. (2)

4. A system according to claim 2 or 3 comprising means (4) by which the operator may assign an identity code to the vending machine (2) and change that code at a specified time.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for assigning an identity code is able to change said code after each purchase request from a customer.

6. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said web server (9) is located at a vending machine.

7. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said web server (9) is located at a position remote from said vending machine.

14. A system according any of the preceding claim, comprising means able to encrypt the data transmitted.

15. A system according to the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is a gas station system and said vending machines (2) are fuel dispensers.

8. A system according to any proceeding claim, wherein said means to notify the purchaser comprises a database (DB2) of the operator (4) containing the identity codes of the authorised customers.

9. A system according to any proceeding claim, wherein said communicator (2) is connected to the internet (5) through a cellular network (7).

10. A system according to any proceeding claim, wherein said means to permit a customer to communicate to an operator the identity of a vending machine comprises a radio frequency (RF) interface (10) able to automatically establish a bi-directional communication link between said vending machine and said communicator and to automatically transmit to the customer an identity code when the customer is in the vicinity of the machine.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said RF interface (10) is able to connect the customer communicator to the internet (5).

12. A system according to any proceeding claim, comprising means permitting a customer to transmit via the internet (5) identifying data of a vending machine (2) to an outside authorisation centre (11) and further means permitting said outside authorisation centre (11) to notify to the operator (4) via the internet (5) of an authorisation to make a sale.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said means permitting the authorisation centre (11) to notify the operator (4) includes a database (DB3) associated with the authorisation centre (11) containing the identifying codes (COD) of the vending machines.