Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes using an electronic commerce kiosk and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce
First Claim
1. A method for use by an electronic commerce kiosk for selling prepaid telephone service, the method comprising:
- providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location;
displaying at least first and second purchase options to a user at the kiosk, wherein the first purchase option relates to a type of telephone service and the second purchase option relates to a type of credit card usage;
receiving a purchase selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to first purchase options;
determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the purchase selection;
receiving funds from the user to pay for the purchase selection, the funds including a plurality of randomly oriented coins received substantially simultaneously in a coin input region of the kiosk to at least partially pay for the purchase selection;
subtracting the amount due from the funds received to determine a difference between the funds received and the amount due; and
when the difference is greater than zero, automatically dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is at least redeemable at the kiosk for the second purchase option.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce. In one embodiment, a method for conducting electronic commerce includes providing a kiosk in a publicly accessible location, and displaying one or more transaction options to a user at the kiosk. The method may further include receiving a transaction selection from the user corresponding to one or more of the displayed transaction options, determining an amount due from the user in response to the transaction selection, and receiving funds from the user. In response to receiving the funds, the kiosk may dispense a redeemable voucher to the user, including a redeemable voucher for any amount paid in excess of the amount due.
129 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for use by an electronic commerce kiosk for selling prepaid telephone service, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location; displaying at least first and second purchase options to a user at the kiosk, wherein the first purchase option relates to a type of telephone service and the second purchase option relates to a type of credit card usage; receiving a purchase selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to first purchase options; determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the purchase selection; receiving funds from the user to pay for the purchase selection, the funds including a plurality of randomly oriented coins received substantially simultaneously in a coin input region of the kiosk to at least partially pay for the purchase selection; subtracting the amount due from the funds received to determine a difference between the funds received and the amount due; and when the difference is greater than zero, automatically dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is at least redeemable at the kiosk for the second purchase option. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for conducting electronic commerce, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic commerce kiosk in a publicly accessible location; displaying at least first and second transaction options to a user at the kiosk, wherein the first transaction option relates to prepaid telephone service and the second transaction option relates to a prepaid credit card; receiving a transaction selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to the first transaction option; determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the transaction selection; receiving funds from the user to pav for the transaction selection, the funds including a plurality of randomly oriented coins; subtracting the amount due from the funds received to determine a difference; and when the difference is greater than zero, dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is redeemable for a value at least generally corresponding to the difference between the funds received and the amount due, and wherein the voucher is redeemable at the kiosk as payment for the second transaction option. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for conducting electronic commerce in a publicly accessible location, the system comprising:
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means for displaying one or more transaction options to a user at a kiosk; means for receiving a transaction selection from the user at the kiosk corresponding to a purchase of prepaid telephone service; means for determining an amount due from the user in response to receiving the transaction selection; means for receiving funds to pay for the transaction selection, the funds including a plurality of randomly oriented coins; means for subtracting the amount due from the funds to determine a difference; and when the difference is greater than zero, means for dispensing a voucher to the user at the kiosk in the absence of dispensing monetary currency to the user, wherein the voucher is redeemable for a value at least generally corresponding to the difference between the funds received and the amount due, and wherein at least a portion of the voucher value can be applied to a prepaid credit card or a prepaid debit card at the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification