System providing direct internet access in public or semi-public places

Abstract

A vending machine for dispensing telecommunications access is disclosed. A customer interested in using the telecommunications access makes a payment into the payment processing unit which forwards the payment information to the central control unit. The central control unit reports the transaction information to a central computer system via its modem connected to a telecommunication channel. Access to the same telecommunication channel or another channel can be made available to the customer via a switchable telecommunications access circuit which is also controlled by the central control unit. The customer connects to the telecommunications channel via the telecommunications access connector. The central control unit provides information on the progress of the vending transaction to the customer via the user interface. The central control unit determines when the transaction is completed by sensing the cessation of usage via the usage detection circuit or via customer action at the user interface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 245,443 filed on Oct. 7, 2005, currently pending, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 819,168 filed on Apr. 7, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 270,108 filed on Oct. 15, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,400, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 985,930 filed on Nov. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,658, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 594,028 filed on Jun. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,169, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 156,487 filed on Sep. 18, 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 796,562 filed on Feb. 6, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,643. The disclosures of U....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] This microprocessor also communicates with the customer via a user interface to provide details on the progress of the transaction. The user interface is not particularly limited and need not even include a visual display on the vending machine. Periodically, this microprocessor is called by a central computer system over a telecommunication channel and may be requested to call back to the central computer. This vending device then calls the central computer and transfers all transaction data, machine status and related information to the central computer. After the data has been transferred to the central computer, the central computer can download any new data, such as new rates, to the vending device. This device does not need to know the rates in effect unless it is accepting payment in currency form or from pre-paid electronic cards or pre-paid laptop software (i.e. “e-money”). In fact, using the software forms of payment such as billing through an Internet service provider (hereinafter “ISP”) or using software “currency”, no physical payment method need be included in the vending machine. The central computer summarizes the data and processes the payment information and schedules technicians to visit those units that require maintenance or have full coin / currency boxes.

Problems solved by technology

A major limitation in the operation of these devices is battery life.

However, AC power for this purpose is not readily available in most public and semi-public places including airports, bus terminals, convention centers and restaurants.

However, computer compatible access to telecommunications channels is also not readily available in public and semi-public places.

This proposed solution to the problem is complicated by the shapes, sizes, and electrical characteristics of the many batteries on the market.

However, his invention is fundamentally a parking meter and he does not provide for vending power without the parking space.

Further, there is no protection from the weather as it was not contemplated that the electricity would be useful for another purpose.

Furthermore, while this invention does provide for credit card payments, it does not provide for a telecommunications link for payment or other information.

Additionally, none of these meters is designed to operate a computer.

Most importantly, these machines incorporate battery charging circuitry and are only capable of charging car batteries, not operating customer equipment such as computers.

However, these payphone installations do not provide AC power to operate an accessory or a computer and are limited to providing access to the telephone network line connected to the payphone.

These payphones cannot and do not provide fiber, cable or other types of communications channel access.

Further these payphones that do accept credit cards as a means of payment still require the central office to process the transaction before the phone can be used.

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