Electronic commerce terminal connected to a vending machine operable as a telephone

• US 6,604,086 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kolls, H. Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/335,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/1, 700/231-244, 713/183, 713/200-202
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a public, private, or cellular phone with access to the Internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and for communicating voice and data. In addition the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale in this instance at a public, private or cellular phone. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones (public, private, cellular), facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, personal data assistants (PDA'"'"'s), pagers, and other vending machines, personal computers (PC), PC terminals (NET PC), and network computers (NC). Vending equipment can be networked to each other through a first network, programmable and accessible by a PC, server, point of sale (POS) system, property or management information system (PMS/MIS), and networked to a second network. The first network and second network can be the same network. Complete control of a vending machine'"'"'s functionality including usage, control, diagnostics, inventory, and marketing data capture can be effectuated locally or by remote connection to the network. Remote connection to the network includes Internet type connections, telecommunication (telephone, ISDN, ADSL), VSAT satellite, and other wire and wireless transmission. The present invention allows a user to obtain authorization for use, pay for products, and services, and configure the vending equipment with a smart card, or magnetic card (card). Magnetic cards include phone, smart card, credit card, debit card, pre-paid, automated teller machine (ATM) or other bank or private issued card. Users can also use a hotel room key/card or other insertion type-identifying device. Additionally, biometric identification such as handwriting, voice, finger, hand, or eye (iris scan) can be utilized to control the system.

Claims

1. An electronic commerce terminal operatively connected with a vending machine capable of operating as a telephone, said electronic commerce terminal In conjunction with said vending machine allowing a user to purchase at least one product and facilitating an incentive-based purchase of one or more products, said electronic commerce terminal comprising:

a controller for controlling use of said vending machine capable of operating as a telephone;

equipment control means connected with said controller for interfacing said controller to said vending machine;

identification means for i) accepting at least one of a plurality of identification inputs from said user and ii) effectuating a selective dynamic identification interchange of said at least one of said plurality of said identification inputs from said user;

storage means in communication with said controller for storing a plurality of Incentive-based advertising referencing terms for an incentive for said user;

presentation means in communication with said controller for presenting said user with said incentive-based advertising based on said dynamic identification interchange;

comparison means for comparing said user selection of a product for purchase to said terms for said incentive; and

controlling means for controlling a delivery of said incentive to said user in response to said comparison means;

first determining means for determining whether a period of non-use of said electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

second determining means for determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period and generating an output signal;

generating means for generating an error message based on said output signal from said second determining means;

third determining means for determining if at least one of a system limit and an authorization limit of said user is at least one of reached and exceeded and generating an output based on said determination;

reauthorizing means for reauthorizing said user based on said output of said third determining means; and

means for reprocessing said purchase based on said reauthorization.

2. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said presentation means displays said incentive-based advertising.

3. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vending machine is a public telephone.

4. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vending machine is a wireless or cellular telephone.

5. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electronic commerce terminal includes a debit card terminal.

6. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electronic commerce terminal includes a credit card terminal.

7. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electronic commerce terminal is a coin and/or cash acceptor.

8. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive user response system includes a touch screen.

9. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive user response system includes a plurality of pushbuttons.

10. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an infrared communication means connected with said controller for communicating with other said electronic commerce terminals.

11. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a magnetic card reader connected with said controller.

12. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode indicator means connected with said controller for optically communicating to said user a plurality of status conditions.

13. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a hardware security interface means connected with said controller.

14. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a voice and/or handwriting capture and recognition means connected to said controller.

15. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a biometric reader means connected to said controller.

16.The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive user response system includes a speaker and a microphone to communicate audio for audio conferencing.

17.The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive user response system includes a camera to communicate video for video conferencing.

16. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a telephone interface control means connected with said controller for controlling usage of a telecommunication line.

17. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said product is a service.

18. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, further comprising;

an interactive user response system connected with said controller for effectuating user interaction in response to said incentive-based advertising.

19. The electronic commerce terminal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive user response system comprises said presentation means.

20. An electronic commerce terminal operatively connected with a vending machine capable of operating as a telephone, said electronic commerce terminal in conjunction with said vending machine and facilitating a purchase of one or more products, said electronic commerce terminal comprising:

a controller for controlling use of said vending machine capable of operating as a telephone;

equipment control means connected with said controller for interfacing said controller to said vending machine;

identification means for i) accepting at least one of a plurality of identification inputs from said user and ii) effectuating a selective dynamic identification interchange of said at least one of said plurality of said identification inputs from said user;

storage means in communication with said controller for storing a plurality of advertising referencing terms for at least one of an award and special pricing as an incentive for said user;

presentation means in communication with said controller for presenting said user with said advertising based on said dynamic identification interchange;

comparison means for comparing said user selection of a product for purchase to said terms for said incentive; and

controlling means for controlling a delivery of said incentive to said user in response to said comparison means;

determining means for determining whether a period of non-use of said electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

second determining means for determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period and generating an output signal;

generating means for generating an error message based on said output signal from said second determining means;

third determining means for determining if at least one of a system limit and an authorization limit of said user is at least one of reached and exceeded and generating an output based on said determination;

reauthorizing means for reauthorizing said user based on said output of said third determining means; and

reprocessing means for reprocessing said purchase based on said reauthorization.