Interactive vending apparatus and method for dispensing and ordering digital media

• US 20040162633A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Brian Ringer, Sheldon Kraft
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Brian Ringer, Sheldon Kraft
• Inventors: Kraft, Sheldon, Ringer, Jeffrey Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/782,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162633A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/234
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/72 Auxiliary equipment, e.g. for lighting cigars, opening bottles

Abstract

An interactive vending machine is provided that facilitates the purchase of digital media. The machine includes audio speakers and a video screen that presents displays controlled by a consumer and that enables audio-visual promotional material and informational material to be produced on the vending machine in conjunction with purchasing digital media from the vending machine or from a source remote from the machine.

Claims

1. An interactive vending machine including

(a) a merchandise removal area;

(b) a plurality of dispensing compartments each including

(i) at least one of a particular article, and

(ii) a system to dispense said particular article to said merchandise removal area;

(c) a system for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to purchase said particular article in said dispensing compartment;

(d) a system for paying for said particular article; and

,

(e) a video screen to display video information concerning said particular article.

2. An interactive vending machine for dispensing digital audio-visual media, the vending machine including

(a) a merchandise removal area;

(b) a plurality of dispensing compartments each including

(i) at least one of a particular digital audio-video article, and

(ii) a system to dispense said particular audio-visual article to said merchandise removal area;

(c) a system for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to purchase said particular article in said dispensing compartment;

(d) a system for paying for said particular article;

(e) a video screen to display video information concerning said particular article; and

,

(f) a computer operatively associated with said video screen and including

(i) a memory for storing visual informational data for producing a video display on said video screen concerning said particular article, and

(ii) a system for selecting said informational data to display said data on said video screen.

3. An interactive vending machine for dispensing digital audio-visual media, the vending machine including

(a) a merchandise removal area;

(b) a plurality of dispensing compartments each including

(i) at least one of a particular digital audio-video article, and

(ii) a system to dispense said particular audio-visual article to said merchandise removal area;

(c) an opening for viewing said dispensing compartments;

(d) controls for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to purchase said particular article in said dispensing compartment;

(e) controls tor pay for said particular article; and

,

(f) at least one promotional area for posting advertisements, said promotional area being separate from said merchandise removal area, said opening, and said controls and being shaped to permit advertisements to be removably remounted in said promotional area.

4. An interactive vending machine for dispensing digital audio-visual media, the vending machine including

(a) a merchandise removal area;

(b) a plurality of dispensing compartments each including

(i) at least one of a particular digital audio-video article, and

(ii) a system to dispense said particular audio-visual article to said merchandise removal area;

(c) a system for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to purchase said particular article in said dispensing compartment;

(d) a system for paying for said particular article by using customer information identifying a financial account;

(e) a video screen to display video information concerning said particular article;

(f) at least one audio speaker; and

,

(g) a computer operatively associated with said video screen and said speaker and including

(i) a memory for storing visual informational data for producing a video display on said video screen concerning said particular article and for producing sounds on said speaker concerning said particular article, and

(ii) a system for selecting said informational data to display said data on said video screen and to produce said sounds on said speaker.

5. An interactive vending machine for dispensing digital audio-visual media, the vending machine including

(a) a merchandise removal area;

(b) a plurality of dispensing compartments each including

(i) at least one of a particular digital audio-video article, and

(ii) a system to dispense said particular audio-visual article to said merchandise removal area;

(c) a system for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to purchase said particular article in said dispensing compartment;

(d) a system for paying for said particular article by accessing a website in a computer network and using customer information identifying a financial account;

(e) a video screen to display video information concerning said particular article;

(f) at least one audio speaker.

6. A kit for retrofitting a vending machine to dispense digital audio-visual articles, the vending machine including

a merchandise removal area;

a plurality of dispensing compartments each including a system to dispense at least one article from said dispensing compartment to said merchandise removal area;

a system for selecting one of said dispensing compartments to dispense, on receiving payment for said article, said article into said merchandise removal area;

a system for paying for said particular article,

said kit including

(a) a video screen to display video information concerning said particular article;

(b) a computer operatively associated with said video screen and including

(i) a memory for storing visual informational data for producing a video display on said video screen concerning said particular article, and

(ii) a system for selecting said informational data to display said data on said video screen.