US 6,609,102 B2Granted

Universal interactive advertizing and payment system for public access electronic commerce and business related products and services

AssigneeUSA Technologies, Inc.

InventorH. Brock Kolls

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system for networking, monitoring and controlling electronic commerce and vending equipment. The system can effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment includes copiers, phones, facsimile machines, printers, data-ports, laptop print stations, notebook computers, palmtop computers (PALM PILOT), microfiche devices, projectors, scanners, cameras, modems, communication access, 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 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 hand writing, voice, finger, hand, or eye (iris scan) can be utilized to control the system.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A public access electronic commerce terminal for allowing a user to select and purchase a vending of at least one product or service having a purchase price through a vending machine, displaying at least one targeted advertisement having a routing criteria and for facilitating one or more electronic commerce transactions, said public access electronic commerce terminal comprising:

a display device;
a plurality of networking means adapted for communicating with Internet and non-internet networks for interconnecting said public access electronic commerce terminal to at least one of the following:
a network system, a plurality of remote locations including at least one online service location, or at least one universal server;
identification means for accepting a plurality of identification inputs associated with said user for transmission through said networking means to effectuate selectively a dynamic identification interchange of is said plurality of identification inputs;
a controller interconnected to said plurality of networking means and to said identification means for determining whether said dynamic identification interchange is required, obtaining authorization for said vending, controlling said vending of products from/services through said vending machine, interpreting said routing criteria for said at least one targeted advertisement, and storing said at least one targeted advertisement for display on said display device based upon said interpreted routing criteria;
a user input device interconnected to said controller adapted for selecting a product or service to vend, responding to said at least one targeted advertisement, accessing said at least one online service location and effectuating said one or more electronic commerce transactions;
an equipment control interface interconnected to said controller for interfacing said public access electronic terminal to said vending machine;
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;
a third determining means for determining if at least one of a system limit and a 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 transaction data based on said reauthorization.

11 more elements

A method of using a public access electronic commerce terminal connected to a vending machine for allowing a user to select and purchase a vending of at least one product or service having a purchase price through a vending machine, displaying at least one targeted advertisement having a routing criteria, and for facilitating one or more electronic commerce transactions, the method comprising:

a) communicating with at least one internet or non-internet network to interconnect said public access electronic commerce terminal to at least one of the following:
a network system, a plurality of remote locations including at least one online service location, or at least one universal server;
b) accepting a plurality of identification inputs at said public access electronic commerce terminal from said user and associated with said user for transmission through said at least one internet or non-internet network;
c) effectuating selectively a dynamic identification interchange of said plurality of identification inputs from said at least one internet or non-internet network with at least one of the following:
said plurality of remote locations, said network system, or said at least one universal server;
d) authorizing said user to transact the vending of products or services from said vending machine or transacting said one or more electronic commerce transactions;
e) determining if said user qualifies for special pricing or a promotional offer based on said dynamic identification interchange;
f) controlling selectively by said public access electronic commerce terminal the dispensing of products or services from said vending machine;
g) interpreting said routing criteria for said at least one targeted advertisement;
h) storing said at least one targeted advertisement for display based upon said interpreted routing criteria;
i) controlling selectively by said public access electronic commerce terminal the display of said stored at least one targeted advertisement, and the transacting of said one or more electronic commerce transactions;
j) effectuating the payment or transaction processing for products or services vended through said vending machine;
k) determining whether a period of non-use of said electronic commerce terminal has occurred;
l) determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period;
m) generating an error message based on said determination of step l):
n) determining if at least one of a system limit and an authorization limit of a user is at least one of reached and exceeded;
o) reauthorizing the user based on said determination in step n);
and
p) reprocessing said transaction data based on said reauthorization.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/293,129Filed 16 Apr 1999 · us provisional application
Priority: 20 Jul 1998
Published: US 2002/0077889 A120 Jun 2002
Granted: 19 Aug 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G06Q 10/10
Administration; Management: office automation; Time management
G06Q 20/32
Characterised by the use of specific devices or networks: using wireless devices
G06Q 20/327
Using wireless devices: short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
G06Q 30/0226
Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates: incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems