METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACCESSING, CONTROLLING AND PURCHASING A PRODUCT THROUGH A DISPENSER

• US 20140142748A1
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Vending, LLC
• Original Assignee: iOTOS, Inc.
• Inventors: Geigel, Art, Armenio, Christopher, Muhammad, Abdullah
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• 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 to indicate authorization of dispensing of a product by the dispensing portion; and

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

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 an object relative to the automated dispenser.

5. The automated dispenser of claim 2, wherein the fluid dispensing rate is either zero or a predetermined amount as a function of the detected distance of an 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 receiver module receives the activation signal from a network server.

9. The automated dispenser of claim 8, wherein the network server sends the activation signal to the receiver module in response to receipt of a request signal that is sent by a mobile device.

10. The automated dispenser of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is configured to be scanned by a mobile device for purchase of the product.

11. 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 fluid dispenser.

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

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

14. A method of operating an automated fluid dispenser, comprising:

providing an identifier associated with the automated fluid dispenser;

receiving an activation signal by a network server, wherein the activation signal is associated with the identifier, and indicates approval of a request for fluid dispensing from the automated fluid dispenser associated with the identifier;

responsive to receipt of the activation signal by the automated fluid dispenser, activating a motion sensor to sense a presence, absence, or motion of an object; and

dispensing fluid from the automated fluid dispenser in response to the presence, or motion of an object detected by the motion sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising setting a fluid dispensing rate of the automated fluid dispenser as a function of presence or the motion of an object that is sensed by the motion sensor.

16. An automated dispenser, comprising:

a motion sensor activated responsive to receipt of an activation signal that indicates authorization of a dispense request; and

a dispensing portion that dispenses products of 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 product in response to the presence or motion of an object within the sensing zone.

17. The automated dispenser of claim 16, wherein the products of the automated dispenser comprise potable fluids.

18. The automated dispenser of claim 16, wherein the activation signal is received from a network server.

19. The automated dispenser of claim 16, wherein the dispensing zone of the automated dispenser is below the dispenser portion.

20. The automated dispenser of claim 16, wherein the sensing zone of the automated dispenser is spatially apart from the dispensing zone.