System providing direct internet access in public or semi-public places
First Claim
1. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
- a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and
at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine for dispensing telecommunications access is disclosed. A customer interested in using the telecommunications access makes a payment into the payment processing unit which forwards the payment information to the central control unit. The central control unit reports the transaction information to a central computer system via its modem connected to a telecommunication channel. Access to the same telecommunication channel or another channel can be made available to the customer via a switchable telecommunications access circuit which is also controlled by the central control unit. The customer connects to the telecommunications channel via the telecommunications access connector. The central control unit provides information on the progress of the vending transaction to the customer via the user interface. The central control unit determines when the transaction is completed by sensing the cessation of usage via the usage detection circuit or via customer action at the user interface.
177 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and
at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for vending to a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service on a transactional basis, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control access to a telecommunications channel providing the direct Internet service on a vended transactional basis;
a computing unit adapted to process vended transaction based authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and
at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.
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45. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the high speed data channel as directed by the control unit; and
at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system to obtain high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the high speed data channel when enabled by the telecommunications access circuit;
wherein high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service is provided through a Local Area Network connection; and
wherein the control unit is adapted to monitor usage of the high speed data channel. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the high speed data channel as directed by the control unit; and
at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system to obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the high speed data channel when enabled by the telecommunications access circuit;
wherein high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service is provided through a Local Area Network connection; and
wherein the computing unit is adapted to monitor usage of the high speed data channel. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and
at least one telecommunications connector device in the form of an RJ-45 port enabling the customer'"'"'s device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.
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56. A system for providing a customer'"'"'s portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising:
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a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the direct Internet service;
a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;
a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel;
a telecommunications connector device in the form of an RJ-45 port; and
a customer'"'"'s portable device located in the public or semi-public place and having an RJ-45-based connection with the RJ-45 port through a cable, the customer'"'"'s portable device obtaining high speed access to the direct Internet service from the T1 line through the RJ-45 connection.
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Specification