Power and telecommunications access vending machine
First Claim
1. A vending machine for vending telecommunications channel access and power to a customer, said vending machine comprising:
- a payment mechanism for receiving payment from the customer;
a customer interface for indicating the status of said vending machine;
an electronic circuit for determining when the vending transaction is completed;
a power connector to supply power to at least one external electronic device of the customer;
a telecommunications channel access circuit adapted to be connected to at least one external telecommunications channel for enabling access to the at least one external telecommunications channel at the beginning of a vending transaction and disabling access at the end of the vending transaction;
a telecommunications channel access connector connected to said telecommunications channel access circuit for enabling connection to an external telecommunications device of the customer; and
a control unit having a storage device for storing payment information received from the customer and for controlling said electronic circuit and said telecommunications channel access circuit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine for dispensing power and telecommunications access is disclosed. The vending machine has an optional switchable power circuit that receives power from a power source and delivers the power to the customer'"'"'s equipment via a power connector under the control of a central control unit. A customer interested in purchasing power or using the telecommunications access makes a payment into the payment processing unit which forwards the payment information to the central control unit. From time to time the central control unit reports the transaction information to a central computer system via its modem which is 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 under the control of 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 power usage via the power usage detection circuit or via customer action at the user interface. The vending machine may be incorporated within a storage locker, or may be incorporated with telephones in telephone booths, kiosks, and similar structures. The vending machine may also be used to dispense electricity, telecommunications channel access and other utilities to buildings and vehicles, including cars, boats and airplanes.
212 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A vending machine for vending telecommunications channel access and power to a customer, said vending machine comprising:
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a payment mechanism for receiving payment from the customer;
a customer interface for indicating the status of said vending machine;
an electronic circuit for determining when the vending transaction is completed;
a power connector to supply power to at least one external electronic device of the customer;
a telecommunications channel access circuit adapted to be connected to at least one external telecommunications channel for enabling access to the at least one external telecommunications channel at the beginning of a vending transaction and disabling access at the end of the vending transaction;
a telecommunications channel access connector connected to said telecommunications channel access circuit for enabling connection to an external telecommunications device of the customer; and
a control unit having a storage device for storing payment information received from the customer and for controlling said electronic circuit and said telecommunications channel access circuit. - 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, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneePoweroasis Networks LLC (Poweroasis Incorporated)
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Original AssigneePoweroasis Incorporated
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InventorsSchelberg, Charles C. Jr., Duff, Thomas M. Jr.
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Primary Examiner(s)Chan, Wing F.
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Application NumberUS09/594,028Time in Patent Office509 DaysField of Search379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/93.12, 379/93.37, 379/110.01, 379/111, 379/114, 379/143, 379/144, 379/100.14, 379/100.03, 379/100.04, 235/381, 235/380, 902/22, 902/24, 902/30, 902/31, 320/109, 320/111, 700/231US Class Current379/93.12CPC Class CodesG06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing servi...G06Q 20/18 involving self-service term...G07F 15/003 for electricityG07F 15/12 in which metering is on a t...G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use...G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting adve...G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending ma...G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part...H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or bill...H04L 12/1432 Metric aspectsH04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for paym...H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements...H04M 7/0066 Details of access arrangeme...
