WO2008044081A2

WO2008044081A2 - Electronic sales kiosk

Info

Publication number: WO2008044081A2
Application number: PCT/HR2007/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zlatan Karabegovic
Original assignee: Zlatan Karabegovic
Priority date: 2006-10-10
Filing date: 2007-10-09
Publication date: 2008-04-17

Abstract

Electronic sales kiosk with the control of sales and collection of payments is the Internet multimedia electronic device with applications for authorisation, identification, sales, remote surveillance and statistics. The device provides the identification of the person authorised to sell the products by authorisation of the chip card. After the authorisation, the computer initiates the sales application which is in operation as long as the authorisation card is inserted in the card reader. The touch on the screen enables the buyer to select the required and available product, to select the method of payment and to pay. The device supports payment by all known methods of payment. Finally, the device releases the product into the container for the purchased products and the buyer takes the product. At the buyer's request, the receipt is printed on the thermal printer. The device is linked to the central system via the Internet, enabling the surveillance of sales and available stock of products. This rationalises the procedure of supplementing the products into the kiosk and container with the money unloading, as well as the statistical review of sales. The installation of the system for finger print matching and the hidden web camera enable sufficient level of the system operating security. The device enables several useful services which do not require authorisation, like surfing on the Internet, sending and receiving e-mails, processing of photographs, selling electronic value cards for prepaid mobile phones, advertising of products, telephoning, etc. The height of the device and the height of mounting the device are adjusted to accommodate disabled people. The device is of the modular type which provides simple and cheap maintenance and facilitates improvements. In the countries where the identity card with chip identification has been introduced, it is possible to install the device as a self-service sales kiosk.

Description

ELECTRONIC SALES KIOSK DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to the multimedia device for controlled sales of products with instructions for use of products displayed on the device's screen, spoken quidance, warnings and restrictions for risk groups or legal restrictions (young under 18, children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, diabetics, people with allergies, high blood pressure, alcoholics, etc ) with clearly defined system for identification of the person authorised to sell the products The system prevents misuse using its cutting edge technological security system and the identification of the authorised person without which the selling - operation of the device is not possible

Remote surveillance, surfing, selling of electronic value cards for prepaid mobile phones and collection of payments by credit cards are obtained via the Internet The electronic sales kiosk provides the control of sales, surveillance of sales, identification of the person authorised to sell, collecting payments (coins, notes, prepaid chip cards, mobile phones), sales of products, warnings, instructions, receipts issuance, multimedia information about the product (text, video clips, animations, banners, etc ) and telephoning (via the public network or VoIP - Voice over IP)

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

The electronic sales kiosk offers the possibility of selling products and replaces dozens of devices known so far, introducing many new methods of sales and control, which have not been technologically possible up to now

Nowadays there are many products which are legally prohibited to sell to persons under 18 years of age (children and youth) being hazardous for their health and healthy psychological and physical development (games of chance, alcohol, tobacco and tobacco products, certain pharmaceutical products, erotic films on CDs, etc ) and which are available in retail outlets Devices selling such and similar products do not enable control and surveillance over the sales to underage persons Such devices do not support prevention and warnings for underage persons about the hazards of consuming such kinds of products Negative consequences of these situations are that the mentioned products can easily be accessible to underage persons, because they are regularly sold at retail outlets aimed at older age groups.

The second fundamental problem is that the product instructions and warnings for risk groups (pregnant and breast-feeding women, diabetics, people with allergies, high blood pressure, alcoholics, etc.) are placed within the original packaging, and are accessible only after the purchase. This invention enables insight in the instructions and warnings on the device's screen, as well as spoken guidance before the purchase, and at purchase, the warning is printed on the receipt as an integral part of the receipt.

The third problem is keeping the record of the type and amount of sold products, as well as the quantity of the remaining products stored in the devices. This determines when exactly there is a need to supplement certain types of products and in which quantities. Persons who supplement the devices on sites could never before have known in advance, either the quantity, or the type of sold products. Therefore, the type and the quantity of the products required to supplement stock in the device were a matter of more or less approximate estimation.

The fourth problem is the security of such devices against vandalism and burglaries, regarding the fact that they contain both, the money from sales, and the products either forbidden or risky for risk groups - categories of customers.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Present scientific inventions and technological level of particular components, primarily the electronic ones, has not enabled the integration of all mentioned requirements in a single device. Instead of just one, there have existed dozens of various mechanical and electronic devices, each of them fulfilling only some of the requirements, partially. Efficient surveillance via the Internet, control by leading edge technological procedures of identity clearance by chip cards and electronic signatures, have not been in existence.

Legal framework concerning the electronic signature and the e-commerce act had not been defined.

4. DISCLOSURE OF ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

Electronic sales kiosk is an Internet multimedia electronic device with mechanical and electronic components. Authorisation, identification, sales, remote control and statistics are perfomed by applications running on the kiosk and by applications running on the server. The communication between applications running on the kiosk and on the server is carried out via the Internet.

The primary goal of the invention is the sales kiosk with the control of sales and collection of payments for products packaged in boxes of predefined dimensions which enables: a) surveillance, identification (using chip cards, electronic signature and finger print), and control of sales of products prohibited for sale to underage persons, b) multimedia prevention and warnings against the use of products hazardous for health and healthy psychological and physical development, c) sales of products packaged in boxes of predefined dimensions, d) reading the instructions for use before the purchase, e) collection of payments by all known methods of payment (coins, notes, magnetic and chip credit cards, mobile phones, prepaid chip cards and contactless cards), f) issuance of receipts and legality of business activity based on the record-keeping of issued receipts, g) remote control of products sales and information about the necessary supplementation of the kiosk stock via the Internet, thus enabling time saving and reducing the frequency of visiting kiosks for supplementation of products, h) higher security against burglary by using the remote surveillance via the Internet, and the information on the amount of money in the register together with the signal to empty the register when necessary.

The secondary goal of the invention is: a) simultaneous surfing of the Internet and informing by reading and sending e-mails, b) sending electronic postcards, c) purchase of the prepaid electronic value cards for mobile phones, d) possibility of remote multimedia advertising, e) possibility of telephoning on analog and VoIP systems.

Additional goals and advantages of the solutions provided by the invention will partly be presented in the description which follows, and partly in the survey of its application.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 The front side of the device according to the invention and the exchangeable central panel. Fig. 2 The inside of the device according to the invention with empty and filled up containers for products Fig. 3 The presentation of the inside of the device on the screen which enables the insight into the types and quantities of available products and into their purchase.

Numbers on the drawings designate:

1 Reader of magnetic and chip cards for identification, payment with credit and prepaid card

2 Device for payments with coins and tokens with the register.

3 Device for payments with notes.

4 Device for barcode scanning.

5 Thermal printer with sensors of the end of the receipt paper roll and with the system for signalling the end of the receipt paper roll and printing electronic value cards for mobile phones.

6 CD/DVD slot insert reader and printer.

7 Infrared device - transfer of photos from mobile phones.

8 Bluetooth device - transfer of photos from mobile phones.

9 Reader of photo memory cards.

10 USB 2 port for reading/writing of photos from / onto USB Memory stick.

11 17" LCD screen, TFT technology, with max resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels.

12 Antivandal touch-sensitive screen - Surface Acoustic Wave technology.

13 Metal casing - front side.

14 Metal casing - back side.

15 Lock with the key for outside switching on and off of the kiosk.

16 PC compatible computer enabling the installation of ISDN, ADSL, GPRS/EDGE and the adapter for wireless connection to the Internet and installed:

- operating system,

- sales kiosk operating system (security of work, payment collection, statistics, remote surveillance and control),

- application for identification, sales, collection of payments, distribution of products and issuance of receipts,

- application for photo kiosk,

- application for sales of electronic value cards for prepaid mobile phones,

- application for advertising (video clips, flash, etc.) on the monitor and outward plasma screen,

- application for telephoning,

- application "Kiosk City Guide",

- application for banner advertising.

17 Prepaid telephone set (telephoning on the public net with the device for detection of 16/12 kHz tariff signal and VoIP telephoning).

18 Anti-theft lock.

19 Electronic device navigating the motors releasing the products.

20 Container for the purchased products.

21 Lid of the container for the products purchased.

22 Carrier of the product.

23 Hollow tile for the products.

24 Gasket.

25 Electric motor with the mechanism for purchased products release.

26 Products.

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

6.1. General information

Using the latest scientific and technological achievements in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, computing, identification by chip cards, encryption and decryption of electronic signatures, this invention improves and broadens several basic elements and parameters in the systems of control, identification, sales payment collection and remote surveillance of the device for the sales of products packaged in boxes of predefined dimensions. They are, both as primary and secondary goals of the invention, described in chapter 4.

Applications installed on the device's computer are a system which completely surveys and manipulates the operation of the device, as well as all additional devices and systems.

The device enables the identification of the authorised seller by the chip card or finger print.

Digital signature of the person authorised to sell is stored in the chip card.

The device initiates the application for products sales exclusively if the authorised person has inserted the identification chip card.

The person authorised to sell checks the identity and age of the purchaser. The application for sales at the electronic sales kiosk does not function if the authorised person has not inserted the card. Withrawal of the card from the reader automatically disables further sales.

All other services function normally without the card.

The issuance of the card with digital signature is performed by the authorised state institution and the card is technologically impossible to copy.

The buyer selects the required product by touching the touch-sensitive screen (12). The system warns the buyer if the product is not available in the device (22).

After the selection has been correctly performed, the payment method is selected. Electronic sales kiosk supports payments by all known methods of cash and cashless payment. It is possible to pay by using:

- coin payment device (2) or banknote payment device (3),

- the system of payment by mobile phone via the SMS or WAP (7,8),

- Internet banking services,

- the magnetic card reader (1) for credit cards,

- the chip card reader (1) for prepaid chip cards.

Additional system security is provided by taking the photo of the buyer with a hidden web camera or by the authorisation of the finger print by the device for scanning and the system for finger print identification. The hidden web camera has the additional function of video surveillance of the kiosk and the nearest surroundings, and of alert in case of a burglary and/or theft.

The device maintenance is relatively simple since standard components of high quality and level of mechanical protection which are built in personal computers of high quality and reliability of function, are used for this device. In case of malfunction, it is necessary to replace the card or the module which can be obtained in every well equipped specialised personal computers shop.

When the payment is carried out, the electronics signals the mechanism for the product release to release it into the container for purchased products (20) and the thermal printer issues the receipt (5).

6.2 Touch-sensitive screen and the available products selection system

Touching the touch-sensitive screen with graphic interface (12), the buyer selects the product (picture 3). Warning is displayed on the screen if the required product is not available in the device and the system does not support the payment collection in that case. Web camera takes the photo of the buyer and stores it in the memory of the computer in the device and/or in the memory of the central computer system for the purpose of further additional identification and prevention of possible misuse.

The buyer, having correctly selected the product and the method of payment and having paid, receives the selected product and the receipt.

6.3. Security aspects

Multimedia device according to the invention, with the hardware components and circuits built in and especially developed and adapted applications applied, as well as with the crosslink with the central computer system, ensures a high level of security of the device, of sales and of all the operations thereby.

Since the device is anticipated to be installed on many public places, the hardware is of the maximum level of mechanical protection and resistance - in the first place the screen (11), which is especially designed with the protection against vandalism (vandal proof).

Web camera on the device is one of the components which contribute to the increased security of operation of the device itself and the site where it is installed. Its primary purpose is to take the photo of the buyer and store it in the computer memory in the device and/or in the central computer system memory, for the purpose of:

- further additional identification of the buyer,

- prevention of possible misuse.

Web camera serves the purpose of video surveillance and security of the site of the device.

Security of payment at the multimedia device of the invention is based on:

- the device for finger print identification to prevent the use of stolen credit and/or chip cards,

- the application of crypto protocol similar to bank protocols (tokens).

Cross-linking of particular devices and the central computer system enables central surveillance of the whole system. This considerably improves the level of system operation security.

Local operation of every single device with the transfer of data to the central server is possible.

6.4. Communication between the device and the central computer system

Special security network VPN (Virtual Private Network) which is impossible to access if unauthorised, and which is hired from authorised telecommunication companies (e.g. HT), is used for cross-linking of the devices and the central computer system. Data are encrypted by a modem, ISDN, ADSL or GPRS, using standard telecommunications protocols and they are transferred to the central computer where they are decrypted, the payment is verified, confirmed and sent back to the device(s) by the same method.

6.5. Marketing, promotion and advertising

The screen (11) of the device is fitted with banners - advertising messages - with the purpose of promotion of games and giving instructions to players, or advertisements of other companies are displayed.

Animated mode of screen (11) - if the device is not being used for 60 seconds (this time period can be re-adjusted) the screen returns to the start menu and the screen saver mode is run, i.e. hard disk based animation, which consists of advertising messages, instructions and advertising of other companies.

Advertisement space for posters is intended for passive marketing, promoting and advertising. Posters can provide quality information about how the multimedia device can be used according to the invention, as well as information and methods of payment instructions. Marketing department can advertise the current offer on the posters. This space can be rented to other companies. The device offers the possibility of exchange of several posters placed on the conveyor belt.

7. MODES OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The basis of the multimedia device according to the invention, as well as of the whole system, is that only the person authorised via the clearance of the electronic signature placed on the chip card, can initiate the selling at the kiosk on the chip card reader.

The authorised person, if necessary, checks the identity and the age of the person who wants to buy at the sales kiosk, and when certain that the buyer is older than 18, inserts the chip card into the chip card reader. The buying transaction can be performed only when the chip card is in the reader and is aborted the moment the chip card is withdrawn from the reader. The reader can, besides in the kiosk, be installed e.g. at the restaurant bar, hotel reception and similar. However, it must be connected with the kiosk to enable the control of sales.

Sales control is performed by the authorised person (e.g. the shop owner, restaurant waiter, receptionist and similar).

This method of selling ensures full control of sales and far higher level of security than it is possible to achieve at the existing kiosks (e.g. Tisak, Duhan, etc.), because it offers an additional possibility of remote surveillance by web cameras like those installed at automatic teller machines.

The system with the multimedia device according to the invention already has the function of the control of identity card with the chip, which is being introduced around the world, as one of the most secure methods of identification.

Information of the hazards of smoking, alcohol and drugs consumption will be displayed visibly on the screen, which will contribute to warning and motivating against smoking, excessive drinking or using drugs.

The kiosk being intended for wall mounting and the casing being of small dimensions, it will mostly be installed near service offering counters (bar, reception, cash register, etc.) in order to facilitate the surveillance of the sales and the control of documents of persons anticipated to be under 18.

The control of sales by chip cards is compliant with the Act on electronic signature passed in the Croatian Parliament session of 17 January 2002 (No.: 01-081-02-237/2, Zagreb 24 January 2002), which has been in force since 1 April 2002 (class: 650-05/01-01/01).

Kiosk sales of products with the control via the chip card is compliant with the Act on e- commerce, obtaining services in the information society, passed in the Croatian Parliament session of 15 October 2003 (No.: 01-081-03-3486/2, Zagreb 21 October 2003) and has been in force since 15 October 2003 (class: 330-01/03-01/06).

The device integrates the latest scientific and technological achievements in the field of electronics, telecommunications, radio communications and computing with the goal of preventing persons under 18 from buying certain products, at the same time offering several methods of cash and cashless payments to authorised buyers.

Technological improvements of personal computers, operating systems, telecommunications and radio communications, games and methods of payment, will contribute to the significance and application of this multimedia device according to the invention.

Claims

1. Electronic sales kiosk is an Internet multimedia electronic device with applications for the authorisation, identification, selling, remote surveillance and statistics, characterised by consisting of the following mechanical or electronic components: a) reader of magnetic and chip cards for identification, payments with credit and prepaid cards (1), b) coin and token payment device with the register (2), c) banknote payment device (3), d) barcode scanning device (4), e) thermal printer with sensors of the end of the receipt paper roll and with the system for signalling the end of the receipt paper roll (5), f) CD/DVD slot insert reader and printer (6), g) Infrared device - transfer of photos from mobile phones (7), h) Bluetooth device - transfer of photos from mobile phones (8), i) reader of photo memory cards (9), j) USB 2 port for reading/writing of photos from / onto USB Memory stick (10), k) 17^" LCD screen, TFT technology, with max resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels (11), I) antivandal touch-sensitive screen - Surface Acoustic Wave technology. (12), m) metal casing - front side (13) n) metal casing - back side (14), o) lock with the key for outside switching on and off of the kiosk (15), p) PC compatible computer (16) enabling the installation of ISDN, ADSL, GPRS/EDGE and the adapter for wireless connection to the Internet and installed:

- operating system,

- application for photo kiosk,

- application for sales of electronic value cards for prepaid mobile phones,

- application for telephoning,

- application "Kiosk City Guide", - application for banner advertising, q) prepaid telephone set (telephoning on the public net with the device for detection of

16/12 kHz tariff signal and VoIP telephoning) (17), r) anti-theft lock (18), s) electronic device navigating the motors releasing the products (19), t) container for the purchased products (20), u) lid of the container for the products purchased (21), v) carrier of the product (22), w) hollow tile for the products (23), x) gasket (24), y) electric motor with the mechanism for purchased products release (25), z) products (1).

2. Electronic sales kiosk according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the reader of magnetic and chip cards for identification and payment by credit and prepaid cards (1) enables the identification, clearance of the authorised sales person and payment by credit and debit cards (magnet and chip).

3. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1 and 2, characterised by the fact that coin and token payment device with the register (2) enables cash payments with coins and tokens and their storage in the register for coins and tokens.

4. Electronic sales kiosk according to claim 1-3, characterised by the fact that the banknote payment device (3), enables cash payments with banknotes and their storage in the register for banknotes.

5. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-4, characterised by the fact that barcode scanning device (4), enables the identification and authorisation of personal identification documents and the product price check, as well as the selection of the required product.

6. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-5, characterised by the fact that the thermal printer enables the issuance of receipts and printing of electronic value cards for mobile phones.

7. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-6, characterised by the fact that CD/DVD slot insert reader and printer (6), enables the storage of photos on CD and DVD media.

8. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-7, characterised by the fact that infrared device for the transfer of photos from mobile phones (7), enables the transfer of photos from mobile phones to the kiosk.

9. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-8, characterised by the fact that the Bluetooth device for the transfer of photos from mobile phones (8), enables the transfer of photos from mobile phones to the kiosk.

10. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-9, characterised by the fact that reader of photo memory cards (9) enables the transfer of photos from mobile phones or photo cameras to the kiosk by chip cards in these devices.

11. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-10, characterised by the fact that USB 2 port for reading/writing of photos from / on USB Memory stick enables the storage of the photos from the kiosk onto the USB Memory stick and vice versa.

12. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-11 , characterised by the fact that the hardware is of maximum level of mechanical protection and resistance - above all the LCD monitor (11) and touch-sensitive anti-vandal screen (12), especially designed with the protection against vandalism (vandal proof), having anticipated the installation of the device on many public places, such a device enables the use by touching the screen thus ensuring user-friendliness.

13. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-12, characterised by the fact that anti-theft locks are intended for protection against unauthorised break in and theft of money in the kiosk.

14. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-13, characterised by the fact that prepaid telephone set (telephoning on the public net with the device for detection of 16/12 kHz tariff signal and VoIP telephoning) (17), enables simultaneous surfing on the Internet and telephoning.

15. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-14, characterised by the fact that electronic device navigating the motors releasing the products (19) and the electric motor with the mechanism for the release of purchased products (25), enable the release of the selected and paid product.

16. Electronic sales kiosk according to claims 1-15, characterised by the fact that the container for the purchased products (20) and the lid of the container for the purchased products (21), enable that the buyer receives the selected and paid product.