DE10031532A1 - Vending method for dispensing of goods or services, especially drinks and food, from an automatic dispenser and paying for such goods using a mobile phone connection to a central server for authentication and payment - Google Patents

Abstract

Vending machine for provision of a good or service by identification of a user or determination of a payment. The machine connects to a central server or monitoring device using a data connection and also connects to a user's mobile telephone. A mobile Internet connection or mobile telephone connection enables a user to select and pay for a good or service via his or her mobile phone. An independent claim is made for a method for paying for a good or service using a telephone or Internet connection and authorization using a user's mobile phone.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for Ab a product according to the generic term of the patent Proverb 1 and a corresponding procedure according to the Ober Concept of claim 5.

It is known for paying for items for example to use cash or credit cards. At Credit cards usually suffice to provide the number and the expiry date to identify a customer. This Procedure can lead to difficulties since one other than the authorized cardholder's card number could use. Especially when paying via the In ternet can hardly be guaranteed here.

To secure business deals between strangers numerous processes have already been used. Specifically for the Internet, transmission Encryption, such as the credit card number, was conceived. It is for example a process called "Secu re electronic transactions "(SET) Bank a double of a personal electronic wallet write down, a customer does not need in a PC only a SET software, but also a SET certificate from Bank, usually a chip card. The dealer must be his have a SET certificate.  

A ver devised by a Frankfurt company Paybox-Net Driving takes advantage of the fact that many buyers use a cell phone own fon, so that authorization via mobile phones is sought.

There are also cash-operated machines for submitting a pro product or a service, for example drinks slot machines or slot machines. Everyday occurs yet again and again the problem is that a potential Customer of an automatic machine does not have suitable coins with him leads, making conventional machines inoperable. Furthermore occurs both with money-operated as well as credit operated machines in that than to order a product or service from a range usually a keyboard or touch Screen must be operated. Such operating mechanisms he prove to be relatively complicated in practice, feh Vulnerable and maintenance-intensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine that is simple and maintenance-free Delivery of products or services enabled.

This task is solved by a machine with the Features of claim 1 and a corresponding Process for its operation with the features of the patent entit 5. The task is also solved by a Sy stem with the features of claim 6.

According to the invention is now a simple to use Automatically provided, its operability is not of the presence of suitable coins or usable credit cards. According to the invention is, for example  se simple acoustic or telephone menu control or operator control can be implemented, so that the operator effort for the user compared to conventional solutions is simplified. Logistical monitoring (equip kung, repair) of a machine according to the invention is with remote data transmission between the machine and opposite a central control or monitoring unit simplified conventional solutions.

Advantageous embodiments of the Automa according to the invention th or the inventive method are the subject of subclaims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention vending machines include the means for wireless telephones connection between the user's mobile phone and the Automat a dialable telephone connection. According to this Embodiment can be on an automatic keyboard be completely dispensed with, a menu control or Be The machine can be operated entirely via the keyboard of the mobile phone. Apart from this, that this results in costs for the provision of an Automa ten can be reduced, the risk of loading damage to the machine, for example through vandalism, can also be reduced.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invent vending machine according to the invention to create a wireless phone connection with a cellphone one User a keyboard for entering a phone number, in particular the connection number of the user mobile phone on. This measure can be done in a special way safety aspects are taken into account, for example  in the case of a stolen cell phone, an unauthorized one Usually the person's port number of the cell phone does not know.

The machine is expediently equipped with a system and / or accounting house (central tax or supervisory device) via a remote data transmission line or a wireless connection, especially via the In ternet, connected, and points in the system or accounting a virtual mirror image. By that measure It is possible to take information at the same time to determine centrally about malfunctions on the machine. Also ge this measure provides an optimization of the logistics Equipping the machine (ordering and delivery).

In the case of installing an automatic machine according to the invention in a publicly accessible place and when installing for example, an information screen diverse possibilities for additional uses, at for example as part of a broadcast public rele vanter information, or as part of advertising or other individual content.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invent vending machines according to the invention, for the separately nachge protection is searched, the machine has a device for lifting a product selected by a user in order to ei ne output of a product via an output opening in an egg to allow the desired height. For example, point conventional vending machines for mechanical reasons very low beverage ejection, in which the respective falling out of their chute. This leads to inconvenience for a user because he is  For example, must bend down to get the drink out of the machine refer to. Furthermore, the user is afraid of the can open as he can hear the can hit after its fall can and suspects accordingly that this may carbonize acidic drink when opening the can from this bubbles out. It should also be noted that a user with a conventional low output and a ver tied lack of insight a little hygienic darrei associated form. Especially in the public installed machines, this assumption is still out more embossed because the dispensing openings are principally for dogs and are accessible to other pets. With the pre measure is an output of, for example, a Ge drinking at normal height, for example a height of 1 m to 1, 50 m above the ground, achievable, so that the loading users no longer have to bend down.

Advantageously, the device for lifting the Product can be operated by the user Lever mechanism on. By means of such a lever mechanism nism can increase the energy necessary for lifting be applied considerably by the user, so that No lifting energy is available within the machine must be put. It should be noted that it is also possible an automatic lifting mechanism for lifting the beverage kes to use, which is, for example, electrically can be driven.

According to a particularly preferred. Training the inventor vending machine according to the invention has a device for Prompt the user to use the lever mechanism actuate. There are various incentive options here bar to persuade the user to operate the lever  A preferred embodiment is, for example Request to participate in a short, simple game. As with a "one-armed bandit" by actuating not only the drink in the dispenser transported at the desired height and the output tray opened, the user can also on a preset Attend game. Such is expedient Play on a screen provided on the machine "virtually" realizable, so that no role mechanisms, as used in conventional slot machines, are necessary. In such a game, the user can zer then win his drink, for example.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now become apparent hand further described by the accompanying drawing. In the he shows

Before ferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, wherein the sale is Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one of a product over a mobile phone ( "phone"),

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a prior ferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the purchase of a product on the Internet, he follows,

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an order and delivery process for a SEN according to the invention machine,

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a Befühl- and / or repair operation of a ten automation according to the invention.,

Fig. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a process of the invention within the framework of the men realizable Beẓah lungs- or accounting mode,

Fig. 6 is a graph management information system for the presentation of a possible Ma, and

Fig. 7 is a schematic front view of a particularly preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention. Process explained further using the example of a vending machine.

In a step 100 , the user or customer selects a drink on the machine by pressing a button. A sensor or monitoring device provided as part of the automatic control system checks in a step 1011 whether the selected drink is present or not. If this is not the case, a step 102 shows on an information screen that the desired drink is not available and that another drink should be selected.

If, however, the desired drink is available, a telephone number or a so-called "nickname" which is to be selected and which is to be entered by means of the user's mobile phone is displayed on the information screen in a step 102 'on the information screen.

The machine then receives a call in step 103 and establishes a connection to the customer's mobile phone. The customer is then visually or acoustically asked on the information screen and / or on the mobile phone to confirm the choice of drink by entering a specific key on the mobile phone. For example, if there are seven drinks to be selected, it is conceivable to press a corresponding key 1 to 7 .

In a subsequent step 105 , the customer then dials the number of the desired beverage on his mobile phone. If the number entered in step 105 corresponds to the drink selected in step 100 , a decision is made in step 106 that the number entered is correct, after which in step 107 a corresponding confirmation of the order on the information screen and / or the mobile phone and in a step 108 the beverage is ejected. If, for example, an incorrect number is entered three times in step 106 , this leads in step 109 to the connection being terminated or to the method being terminated.

The method illustrated with reference to FIG. 1 can be modified, for example, to the effect that a keyboard and / or an information screen on the automobile is completely dispensed with. It is conceivable here that only one telephone number of the machine to be dialed by means of the customer's mobile phone is indicated on the machine. In this case, the user could be informed of the corresponding operating instructions of the machine acoustically via his own mobile phone.

A further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2a, in which the customer logs in or dials in via an internet machine in accordance with the invention. In a step 201, the customer logs in to a domain that can be assigned to the machine, the example shown www.streetvending.de. This login can be done, for example, using a mobile phone with WAP function. In a step 202 it is determined whether the user is a registered customer (“user”) or not. If this is not the case, a registration process is offered in step 203 . After registration, either with or without the interposition of step 203 , a menu-controlled selection of the city and the district in which the user is located and an identification of the machine take place in a step 204 , for example.

It has proven to be expedient to present a virtual mirror image of the machine in a step 205, for example on the display of the WAP mobile phone or on an information screen of the machine. On the basis of this mirror image, the customer can easily order the desired number of drinks in a step 206 by corresponding input via his mobile phone or a keyboard or the information screen. It is also conceivable to generate a virtual mirror image of the machine in the central machine control (system house) in order to monitor the usability of each machine.

Steps 207 to 209 represent examples of ways in which the customer can pay for the requested beverage.

Fig. 2a essentially relates to possible payment options. Fig. 2b is primarily concerned with the specific selection of the desired drink by the user. The method steps according to FIG. 2b can follow step 205 , for example.

The individual process steps partially correspond to the process steps explained with reference to FIG. 1, so that an explanation of the process steps in individual is no longer necessary. In detail, step 210 corresponds to step 100 , step 211 to step 101 , step 212 to step 102 and step 220 to step 102 .

After being asked to enter a telephone number or a nickname in step 212 , the customer enters the requested information in step 213 on the telephone keypad of his mobile telephone. In a step 214 , it is indicated on the information screen of the machine that the customer's credit on this machine is x drinks or y EURO. In step 215 , the user is asked to confirm his or her choice of beverage, and in step 216 the beverage is ejected. Taking into account the credit and beverage ejection, a reduction in the credit is carried out in step 217 and a request is made in step 218 as to whether a further beverage is desired. If this is not the case, the method is ended in a step 219 , otherwise the method returns, for example, to step 214 or (not shown) step 210 .

With reference to FIG. 3, an advantageous ordering and delivery process will now for an inventive machine provides Darge.

If necessary, the machine sends a fill signal to the central system in a step 301 via a remote data transmission line (or wirelessly). For example, the system house receives a detailed order for each slot of the vending machine (step 302 ). The order can then be placed with a desired beverage wholesaler or an external warehouse (step 303 ). The drinks are expediently packaged in special cartons for each machine (step 304 ), and they can be picked up by a messenger and delivered to the respective machine (step 305 ). The messenger is expediently able to open the machine via his cell phone with his electronic key in order to fill the beverage and clean the machine (step 306 ), as will be explained in more detail below.

From a logistical point of view, it proves expedient to also instruct the messenger to collect the drinks and to inform him of the electronic key to be used in step 306 (step 307 ). Step 302 also serves to send an acknowledgment of receipt and the assignment of the electronic key to the machine (step 308 ). Step 304 is expediently followed by a completion message to the system house (step 309 ).

A preferred embodiment of a filling and repair process is described in FIG. 4. The messenger (or a suitably trained technician) presses any key on the keyboard. In step 202, a prompt to select a drink appears on the screen in accordance with normal operation. In a step 403, the messenger then enters an arbitrary code via the keyboard, for example a double cross and an electronic key, whereupon the machine opens its front door in a step 404 . In step 405 , the messenger or a suitably trained technician is informed whether there is a fault or not. If there is no fault, the messenger is informed in step 406 via the information screen of an instruction for filling the manholes. The messenger then fills the shafts according to the order already described (step 407 ) and cleans the machine. A EDI message can then be sent to the system house via the messenger or automatically (EDI report according to step 409 ). The machine is then ready for operation again in step 410 .

However, if it is determined in step 405 that there is a system malfunction, the information screen, for example, indicates which malfunction has to be remedied (step 411 ). In step 412 the error is then eliminated and the machine is cleaned. It proves to be expedient to enter a personal identification number and / or a malfunction code and / or an information relating to a spare part used in the system in a step 413 on request by means of the information screen. This information is sent back to the system house in step 409 already mentioned. Here, too, the machine is then ready for operation in step 410 .

With reference to FIG. 5, it should be clarified once again how the system house can be used as a central payment or settlement point when using the method according to the invention. It can be seen that online bookings and deposit slips can be transferred to the system house both via a telephone company, such as Deutsche Telekom, or via the Internet ("www"). Furthermore, Kuier invoices and beverage invoices of the warehousing companies used are sent to the system house. The system house is then able to arrange for the payment of the couriers and warehouses used.

In Fig. 6 options for designing a management information system for a machine according to the invention are shown using the example of a drinks machine. By means of data comparison between the machine and the system house, it is possible to statistically record the cans sold per machine and the income of a telephone company or an Internet provider used (block 601 ). In this context, a notification system can be provided, which indicates an overdue filling and / or the repair of a machine and connection problems. When using a number of machines, it is possible to create a "bestseller" ranking of the machines used, for example by profit or turnover. The same applies to a bestseller list of requested drinks, which can also be corrected, for example, with an outside temperature.

At 602, it is shown that a data comparison between the machine and the system house with regard to machine order, machine delivery and beverage invoices can also be expediently provided. Here, statistical information can be generated regarding the best customers in network sales or telephone sales, particularly cheaper or faster delivery, as well as regarding cheap shopping and quick provision. A corresponding data comparison with regard to profitability or an income / expense calculation with regard to the sales transaction or an income / expense calculation with respect to an advertising transaction which can be provided with a machine according to the invention is possible, as shown at 603. Statistics regarding the size of the advertising customers, the last and most effective technicians employed as well as the malfunctions of the machine or the most vulnerable parts can be generated.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that that small transport units depending on the order by egg individual machines are prepared or prepared as required Can be made available. Simultaneously with the be delivery of products in accordance with requirements, it is possible to fill and clean the machine. To a bar Payments can be dispensed with entirely, the Bezah processing takes place via "cyber cash". Product billing too expediently takes place online.

On loading a truck with all vending machines products, since it is not known which products the respective more machines have been removed, can be dispensed with be, because the fill level of the machine be is known regarding each individual product. Conventional It was necessary to open every machine that Checking the fill level, determining the requirement appropriate goods from a carried, necessarily right to provide a relatively large stock of goods. Subsequently  the machine had to be filled and booked as well as that withdrawn money from the machine. It was also an examination of the change and a bank account trolls of the coin validator and cleaning of the machine necessary. Counting the money received and one clear allocation of the money received to each vending machine, as well as finally packing the one money and the deposit to the bank conventionally associated with great effort. Further had to follow a filling run of a series from machines the unused products from the wa be discharged. Also accounting procedures with the respective used suppliers designed themselves for a drink manufacturer expensive.

After all, again purely by way of example, are more appropriate Wise intended features of the machine hardware, the car matensoftware, as well as the system house used, again described using the example of a vending machine ben.

A drinks machine is out with a number of shafts formed, in which the individual products, in particular Beverage cans that can be filled. If possible, in every shaft, every single can is detected by a light barrier can be. Of course there are others here too Means can be used, for example microswitches or Ab level measurements or similar procedures. This measure he in connection with a dial-up dedicated line allows a virtu All mirroring of the machine in the network or in the system house. Order optimization can thus be based on current developments lungs.  

The dial-up equipment should if possible for a party be designed for connection (ADSL or ISDN). Dependent on from the location of the machine it is also conceivable to GSM module or, according to the state of the art, a UMTS Install module. In any case, this should be about a PCMCEA plug-in card can be solved to get the system up to make it compatible. The DFÜ would then only limit to the bare minimum. Large amounts of data, for example wise for video streaming, could then be traditional be transmitted in a manner.

A computer used as part of the machine can use any operating system, advantageously one Linux operating system, for example be trained as a Linux computer. It should be enough There is enough space to store advertising films or download other information screen messages, store or buffer and if necessary to play. For an internet sale, storage space for Customer accounts exist. A processor used should be sufficient to display commercials len, carry out the EDI and the control of the machine to accomplish.

The information screen is conveniently with a appropriate size and resolution trained and graphic able to. In the event that there are no dedicated lines between Au tomato and system house is possible, the machine must have the data received on DVD or CD for a streaming video. About egg A further PCM CIA slot should then be more appropriate there is the possibility of an appropriate reading advises to join.  

Similar to a public telephone, the machine can use ei ner keyboard, through which it is possible, so to enter numbers as well as letters. For simpler Menu control can use two menu items with variable assignments Most above the number pad, where ei ne assignment expediently displayed on the screen becomes. As mentioned earlier, it would be conceivable to use one of these keyboard and the input control via to accomplish the keypad of a mobile phone.

Appropriately, each machine slot is a corresponding one Assigned appropriate selection key. It is convenient to use the calculator to be equipped with an AC / DC transformer.

The software of a machine according to the invention is sufficient more partial the following requirements: the software should be able to use an appropriate driver Trigger rotation motor for beverage ejection. A tempe temperature control for setting the beverage temperature in Dependence on the outside temperature proves itself understandable also as advantageous. The machine should As already mentioned, it can be opened by entering a code. The detection of faults or critical values as well as ei ne automatic notification to the system house and to the information Mation screen should be guaranteed by the system software accomplishes. Conveniently takes place during the purchase process a display of menu navigation and control of the others Screen activities as well as management of the Internet customers and accounts. The software should also be able to be able to recognize the level and control the Data transmission and control of the screen feed or monitor.  

The EDI equipment should be a fast EDI software for Control of the transfer process and acceptance of Te calls and to trigger charge pulses. It should also be able to pack compressed data unpack, for example commercials.

The information screen should have a menu control on it point that corresponds to that of a mobile phone. Expedient are always in the lower area of the screen two windows appear showing the occupancy of the two menu Show control buttons. The installation of one is conceivable simple game to accompany the purchase process. The buyer can e.g. B. a moving crosshair using menu buttons to stop. If it is identical to the crosshair in the middle of the screen, the drink could be spent for free become.

The system should display browser technology use and be Java and Flash compatible. For the strea ming video can be made from the various existing systems one that can process tif formats.

The computer should advantageously save the following data chern: a beverage register, messages for menu control and the fault reports, possible spare parts for recording solution directly at the machine when used by the techni ker, which enables direct filling in and sending of a Repa ratur report to the central system house is possible. Appropriate software is also expedient for decryption and encryption of data for guarantee a data security provided.  

The central system house receives the sales data of each Ge soaks in every machine. If changes to the shaft pending, these are carried out via the head office men. When fault messages are received, the system immediately commissioned a technician. About an optimization program will depend on the current envelope frequency, the delivery costs and the level, the Ordering time optimized. The system house commissions the Warehouse to compile the delivery packages and be orders the messenger (messenger can also be ordered via warehouse respectively). The system house should be able to DFÜ to load the information screen.

Billing with a telephone company used, the external warehouses and messengers are handled by the Sy stemhaus. The fees for broadcasts, for example of advertising films on the information screen if processed through the system house. The system house about takes control and billing of beverage sales over the internet. Furthermore, the billing location commissions, technicians and spare parts handled through the system house.

The need for coordination arises due to the temporal and spatial disparity of product sales and payment. With the help of EDP, the purchase and sale of each individual can should be traceable and be able to be assigned to the payment. With the help of a management information system, as has already been described with reference to FIG. 6, the efficiency and profitability of each individual machine should be constantly checked and optimized.

Own servers to operate the website and to receive and Sending messages and control commands are appropriately provided. It should correspond to the Number of machines that have a central system house are controlled or monitored, sufficient computer and Line capacity must be made available.

If a separate program is available on the information screens or an advertising film should also be sent, are for this among other things, an AVID cutting place and corresponding ge trained personnel necessary. All traffic is supposed to te via secured lines or via encryption of the Data is backed up.

A preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. In this figure, the front surface of a machine as it appears to a user is shown in a partially sectioned view. Areas of the machine (interior) which are shown broken open are identified by means of dashed lines.

It can be seen that the machine is designed with a lever mechanism 1 which can be actuated by the user. By actuating the lever mechanism 1 , which is not shown in all details for the sake of clarity of the illustration, a beverage can 2 , which is stored inside the machine in a storage area that is not accessible to the user, can be raised to the height h ₁ h _{2 are} raised, a dispensing opening 3 being located at height h ₂ . The dispensing opening 3 is much more easily accessible and visible to a user than was the case with conventional dispensing openings, which were provided at approximately the height h ₁ . It should be noted that the storage of the cans at an arbitrary height within the machine, ie also higher than the height h ₁ , can be provided. When you select a drink by the user, there is then, as is also known in conventional machines, a downward movement of the selected can within a shaft, the lever mechanism serving to drop the can back into a desired one Raise height. A storage area provided in this way is designated, purely schematically, by 5 in FIG. 7.

6 is a keyboard already described above, via which the user can enter a telephone number, for example a telephone number that can be assigned to the machine, or his own cell phone number.

4 with an information screen is designated, which has already been treated in detail in connection with the above-described embodiments. By means of the information screen 4 , the user can be suggested to actuate the lever mechanism 1 , this example being able to be accomplished in the form of a game. As can be provided by means of the information screen 4 , all conventional known games of chance, which are known, for example, in connection with one-armed bandits, are conceivable.

A device 7 can also be seen, which is used to create a remote data transmission connection, for example a wireless telephone connection or an Internet connection, with a mobile phone or mobile Internet connection of the user and / or with a central control or monitoring device of the machine. Such Einrich lines are known per se, and therefore shown purely schematically for the sake of simplicity. This device 7 interacts in the manner described above with the keyboard 6 and the information screen 4 .

Claims (10)

1. Automat for the delivery of a product and / or for the provision of a service upon detection of a corresponding payment or identification by a user, with means ( 5 ) for storing the product or storing the service outside the user's access area and Means, for example comprising an output opening ( 3 ), for delivering the product or service into the access area of the user, characterized by means ( 7 ) for creating a remote data transmission connection, in particular a wireless telephone connection or Internet connection, with a mobile phone or mobile internal Connection of the user and / or with a central control or monitoring device of the machine. 2. Vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means to create a wireless telephone connection or Internet connection a selectable telephone connection or Internet connection. 3. Automat according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized ge indicates that the means to create a wireless a telephone connection or internet connection for entering a telephone number or an Internet address include.   4. Automat according to one of the preceding claims, marked draws by means of creating a virtual game gel image of the loading condition of the machine and for Transmission of the virtual mirror image to the central one Control or monitoring device. 5. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 1, characterized by ei ne device ( 1 ) for lifting a product selected by a user ( 2 ) to an output of the product ( 2 ) via an output opening ( 3 ) in to allow a desired height. 6. Automatic machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) comprises a lever-operated mechanism. 7. Automat according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized by a device ( 4 ) for prompting the user to actuate the lever mechanism ( 1 ). 8. Procedures for delivering a product or service performance from a machine when a ent speaking payment or identification by a Be user, the product or service at ent speaking payment / identification from a user inaccessible area of the machine in the access area realm of the user is transferred, characterized in that a wireless phone connection or internet connection with a mobile phone or a mobile internet conclusion of the user is established, via which a  Communication between the user and the machine is feasible. 9. system for operating a number of machines, marked by Means for establishing a remote data transmission connection, especially a wireless telephone connection or Inter net connection, with a mobile phone or a mobile Internet connection of a user, and / or Means for establishing a remote data transmission connection with a central control or monitoring device the number of machines. 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that virtual images of the filling status and / or goods condition of the individual machines can be created and the central control or monitoring device from be are workable.