Method and system of providing vending service

• US 9,373,091 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Green, Douglas R., Belser, John E., McKinney, David U., Swan, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chedekel, Tabitha
• Application Number:
  US12/054,005
• Time in Patent Office: 3,011 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/383, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system for providing a user of a wireless communication device (WCD) with vending service. The WCD may present the user with data indicating items available for purchase from a vendor. The WCD may then receive the user'"'"'s directive to order an item from the vendor. In response, the WCD may obtain data stored at a transponder in proximity to the WCD that indicates a location of the WCD. In one example, the transponder may be at a fixed location, such as by being affixed to a fixed object at a venue (e.g., a stadium seat), in which case the stored data may indicate the fixed location. The WCD may then send an order for the item and the obtained data to the vendor. In turn, the vendor may use the data to determine a location of the WCD and then deliver the item to the determined location.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user of a wireless communication device (WCD) with vending service comprising:

a vending system engaging in a registration process with a WCD for vending service, wherein the registration process includes the vending system receiving from the WCD user preference data specifying at least one selectable option of a first item available for purchase from the vendor, wherein the at least one selectable option comprises at least one of a type, a brand, a quantity, a size, and a complimentary item;

after engaging in the registration process, the vending system receiving from the WCD (a) an order for the first item and (b) data obtained from a transponder in proximity to the WCD, wherein the data indicates a location of the WCD;

the vending system using the data obtained from the transponder to determine a location of the WCD;

the vending system using the user preference data to select the at least one selectable option of the first item and to thereby update the received order to be for the first item with the at least one selectable option; and

the vending system fulfilling the updated order by facilitating delivery of the first item with the at least one selectable option to the determined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the order for the first item further comprises an order for a second item, the method further comprising:

after receiving the order, determining that the second item is not available for delivery, and

in response to determining that the second item is not available for delivery, sending the WCD a notification that the second item is not available for delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data obtained from the transponder in proximity to the WCD comprises a transponder identifier, and wherein using the data to determine a location of the WCD comprises using the transponder identifier to look up data indicating a fixed location of the transponder.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration process further includes:

the vending system sending the WCD program logic and program data to enable the WCD to provide the user with the vending service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration process further includes:

the vending system generating an identifier for the WCD;

the vending system receiving from the WCD user payment data; and

the vending system storing the identifier for the WCD, the user payment data, and the user preference data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the vending system using the user payment data to initiate a payment transaction for the order.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vending system using the payment data to initiate a payment transaction for the order comprises the vending system sending the user payment data to a financial institution, the method further comprising:

the vending system receiving from the financial institution a response indicating a result of the payment transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vending system instructing delivery of the first item to the determined location comprises:

the vending system sending to a second WCD an instruction to deliver the first item to the determined location, whereby a user of the second WCD delivers the first item to the determined location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration process further includes:

the vending system receiving from the WCD device data for the WCD;

the vending system using the device data to select program logic and program data to enable the WCD to provide the user with the vending service; and

the vending system sending the selected program logic and program data to the WCD.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending to the WCD an acknowledgment of the order, wherein the acknowledgment comprises (a) a description of the order updated based on the user preference data to be for the first item with the at least one selectable option, and (b) an indication of a determined location of the WCD.

11. A method for providing a user of a wireless communication device (WCD) with vending service comprising:

a WCD engaging in a registration process with a vendor for vending service, wherein the registration process includes the WCD sending to the vendor user preference data specifying at least one selectable option of a first item available for purchase from the vendor, wherein the at least one selectable option comprises at least one of a brand, a type, a quantity, a size, and a complimentary item;

after engaging in the registration process, the WCD receiving from a user a first directive to submit an order for the first item;

in response to receiving the directive, the WCD (a) obtaining data stored at a transponder in proximity to the WCD, wherein the data indicates a location of the WCD, and (b) sending to the vendor the obtained data and the order for the first item, wherein the order does not specify the at least one selectable option of the first item; and

after sending the obtained data and the order, receiving from the vendor an acknowledgment of the sent order, wherein the acknowledgment comprises (a) a description of the sent order updated based on the user preference data to be for the first item with the at least one selectable option, and (b) an indication of a determined location of the WCD.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the user preference data to the vendor comprises sending the user preference data to a registration device of the vendor via a short-range wireless link, and wherein sending the obtained data and the order to the vendor comprises sending the obtained data and the order to a server of the vendor via a cellular wireless link and a packet-switched network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the order includes an identifier of the WCD and an identifier of the first item.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the order specifies a second selectable option of the first item.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

before receiving the first directive, presenting the user with data indicating a plurality of items available for purchase from the vendor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the registration process further includes the WCD sending user payment data to the vendor, the method further comprising:

receiving from the vendor a message indicating a result of a payment transaction for the order, wherein the payment transaction involves the user payment data.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the registration process further includes:

before sending the user preference data to the vendor, the WCD receiving from the vendor an offer to register for the vending service; and

the WCD receiving from the vendor program logic and program data that enables the WCD to provide the user with the vending service.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the program data comprises an identifier of the WCD and data indicating a plurality of items available for purchase from the vendor.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the WCD presenting the description of the updated order to the user as confirmation that the order has been updated based on the user preference data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

after presenting the description of the updated order, the WCD receiving user input relating to the updated order; and

the WCD sending the user input to the vendor.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the WCD receiving from the user a second directive to send a confirmation of delivery of the item;

in response to receiving the second directive, the WCD sending to the vendor the confirmation of delivery of the item.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the transponder comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the transponder comprises a transponder at a fixed location, and wherein the data stored at the transponder includes data indicating the fixed location.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein the transponder comprises a transponder affixed to a fixed object at a venue.

25. The method of claim 11, wherein the transponder in proximity to the WCD comprises a closest transponder of a plurality of transponders in proximity to the WCD.

26. The method of claim 11, wherein obtaining the data stored at a transponder in proximity to the WCD comprises:

transmitting a control signal to the transponder; and

receiving and reading data that is responsively transmitted back from the transponder.