US 6,647,256 B1Granted

Methods and system for remote access to and payment for products delivered from automated apparatus

AssigneeSonera Oyj

InventorsTeemu Stewen, Seppo Vihinen

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Abstract

A system and methods for implementing access to and control of a service in a telecommunication system utilizes a first terminal device, a control center operable for handling short messages and/or data calls, an automated apparatus includes a second terminal device and a control unit connected thereto, a telecommunication network comprising an intelligent network, the intelligent network including means for determining charge and location data and for producing voice messages, a first telecommunication connection, and a second telecommunication connection. The first terminal device, the second terminal device and the control center are connected to the telecommunication network. A product vendable or otherwise accessible or distributable through the automated apparatus is ordered by making a call from the first terminal device to a number shown on or associated with the automated apparatus or with a service to be rendered by an automated apparatus. The control unit controls the automated apparatus and the second terminal device to operatively cause the customer to receive the product or service ordered. If the automated apparatus has run out of the product or has malfunctioned, then the customer is so informed by a voice message delivered to the first terminal through the first telecommunication connection.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for providing a service, provided by an automated service apparatus, under remote user control using a first terminal device of the user that is connectable to a telecommunication network comprising an intelligent network including a control center having means for handling one of short messages and data calls, a second terminal device connectable to the telecommunication network and located in the automated service apparatus, a control unit located in the automated service apparatus and connected to the second terminal device and the automated service apparatus, means in the intelligent network for determining charge and location data and for producing voice messages, a first telecommunication connection establishable between the first terminal device and the telecommunication network, and a second telecommunication connection establishable between the telecommunication network and the second terminal device, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing the first telecommunication connection by user operation of the first terminal device to initiate a call from the first terminal device to a predetermined called subscriber number associated with the service to be provided by the automated service apparatus, the call initiated from the first terminal device being directed through the first telecommunication connection to the intelligent network of the telecommunication network;
determining, in the intelligent network, charge data associated with the call;
establishing, through the intelligent network in response to the establishing of the first telecommunication connection, the second telecommunication connection from the telecommunication network to the second terminal device;
and
controlling the automated service apparatus, by operation of the control unit in response to establishing of the second telecommunication connection and subject to a state of the automated service apparatus, to carry out the service to be provided by the automated service apparatus in response to user establishment of the first telecommunication connection from the first terminal device by user initiation of the call to the predetermined called subscriber number.

2 more elements

A system for providing a service, provided by an automated service apparatus, to a user under remote user control using a first terminal device of the user that is connectable to a telecommunication network, the telecommunication network comprising an intelligent network that includes means for determining charge and location data and for producing voice messages and a control center having means for handling one of short messages and data calls, the system comprising:

a second terminal device connectable to the telecommunication network and located in the automated service apparatus;
a control unit located in the automated service apparatus and connected to the second terminal device and to the automated service apparatus;
the telecommunication network having a predetermined called subscriber number associated with the service to be provided by the automated service apparatus such that, when user operation of the first terminal device initiates a call from the first terminal device to the predetermined called subscriber number, the telecommunication network establishes a first telecommunication connection between the first terminal device and the telecommunication network, the intelligent network determines charge data associated with the call to the predetermined called subscriber number, and the telecommunication network establishes a second telecommunication connection between the telecommunication network and the second terminal device;
and
wherein said control unit is operable for monitoring functions of the automated control apparatus, for monitoring the second telecommunication connection, and for controlling operation of the automated service apparatus in response to the establishment and monitoring of the second telecommunication connection to provide the service in response to user initiation of the call to the predetermined called subscriber number associated with the service to be provided by the automated service apparatus.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.