Power and telecommunications access vending machine

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving payment information from the customer to initiate a vending transaction;    providing a customer interface for indicating the status of the vending transaction;    providing an electronic circuit for determining when the vending transaction is completed;    enabling access to at least one external telecommunications channel at the beginning of the vending transaction and disabling access at the end of the vending transaction;    enabling a connection to an external telecommunications device of the customer; and    providing a control unit for receiving payment information from the customer and controlling the electronic circuit and a telecommunications channel access circuit.    
     
     
         2 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes receiving cash in a cash payment receiving device.  
     
     
         3 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes receiving information to initiate an electronic payment.  
     
     
         4 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes receiving information from at least one of a credit card, debit card, smart card, prepaid card and RF ID card.  
     
     
         5 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes authenticating the customer.  
     
     
         6 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes using a fingerprint recognition device.  
     
     
         7 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes using a voice recognition device.  
     
     
         8 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said step of receiving payment information includes using a retinal pattern recognition device.  
     
     
         9 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprises the step of authorizing a billing transaction for initiating the electronic payment.  
     
     
         10 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said step of authorizing a billing transaction includes using a separate billing computer.  
     
     
         11 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said step of authorizing a billing transaction includes using a billing computer located within a vending machine.  
     
     
         12 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the customer interface includes using at least one light on a surface of a vending machine to indicate the status of the vending transaction.  
     
     
         13 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the customer interface includes using a video display unit on a surface of a vending machine to indicate the status of the vending transaction.  
     
     
         14 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the customer interface includes using an auditory signal generated by a vending machine to indicate the status of the vending transaction.  
     
     
         15 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the customer interface includes using a mechanism that interfaces with software supplied by the customer to indicate the status of the vending transaction.  
     
     
         16 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the customer interface includes using a card reader for approving a card supplied by the customer.  
     
     
         17 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling access to at least one external telecommunications channel includes using a switchable channel access circuit.  
     
     
         18 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using a high bandwidth channel connector.  
     
     
         19 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using a fiber optic line connector.  
     
     
         20 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using a copper line connector.  
     
     
         21 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using an infrared connector.  
     
     
         22 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using a local telephone line connector.  
     
     
         23 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using a modem disposed in a vending machine.  
     
     
         24 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a predetermined connector.  
     
     
         25 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device includes using an RJ-11 connector.  
     
     
         26 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a telecommunications channel access connector adapted to be connected to a dial-up telephone line.  
     
     
         27 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a RJ-11 connector.  
     
     
         28 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a fiber optic line connector.  
     
     
         29 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using an infrared line connector.  
     
     
         30 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a modem disposed in a vending machine.  
     
     
         31 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a telecommunications channel access circuit adapted to be connected directly to an Internet connection via an Internet Service Provider selected by a vending machine.  
     
     
         32 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a telecommunications channel access circuit adapted to be connected directly to an Internet connection via an Internet Service Provider selected by the customer.  
     
     
         33 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises the step of transmitting and receiving voice communications over the external telecommunications channel using a microphone and a speaker.  
     
     
         34 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises the step of sending video images over the external telecommunications channel using a video camera connected to a vending machine.  
     
     
         35 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a transceiver to connect wirelessly to the external telecommunications device.  
     
     
         36 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using an infrared transceiver.  
     
     
         37 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises the step of supplying power to a vending machine by an electrical generator.  
     
     
         38 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing a control unit include providing a control unit located remote from a vending machine.  
     
     
         39 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said step of providing a control unit includes using a telecommunications channel access circuit located remote from the vending machine.  
     
     
         40 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises the step of using circuitry for controlling a plurality of vending machines.  
     
     
         41 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of vending telecommunications channel access to a customer includes providing a vending machine disposed in a booth.  
     
     
         42 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of vending telecommunications channel access to a customer includes providing a vending machine disposed in a kiosk.  
     
     
         43 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said step of vending telecommunications channel access to a customer includes providing a plurality of vending machines which are present in a kiosk so that multiple users can simultaneously use each of the plurality of vending machines.  
     
     
         44 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of vending telecommunications channel access to a customer includes providing a vending machine disposed in a storage locker.  
     
     
         45 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of vending telecommunications channel access to a customer includes providing a vending machine disposed on a wall mounting device.  
     
     
         46 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing a control unit includes using a telecommunications channel access circuit in a building so that the external telecommunications channel can be located remotely from a vending machine to vend telecommunications.  
     
     
         47 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to the external telecommunications device of the customer includes using a telecommunications channel access circuit which comprises at least two different types of data lines.  
     
     
         48 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein said step of enabling a connection to an external telecommunication device of the customer includes using the data lines which can be of any type that are used by a telecommunications supplier.  
     
     
         49 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing the control unit includes using a payment mechanism which comprises a mechanism that interfaces with software that is resident on equipment of the customer.  
     
     
         50 . A method for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer using a vending system, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving payment information from the customer to initiate a vending transaction;    providing a customer interface for indicating the status of the vending system;    providing an electronic circuit for determining when the vending transaction is completed;    enabling access to at least one external telecommunications channel at the beginning of the vending transaction and disabling access at the end of the vending transaction;    enabling a connection to an external telecommunications device of the customer; and    providing a control unit for receiving payment information from the customer and controlling the electronic circuit and a telecommunications channel access circuit.