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.

1 - 50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . A method for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit;    connecting with the customer's device through at least one telecommunications connector, the customer's device being located in the public or semi-public place to the system; and    providing the customer's device with high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising the control unit monitoring usage of the telecommunications channel.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the authorizations for access are based on payment by the customer for a vended transaction.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein payment comprises remittance in currency form, coin form, or electronic form.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein payment comprises remittance by credit card, debit card, smart card, or pre-paid card.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein payment comprises remittance by electronic communication with a microprocessor.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein payment comprises remittance based on an electronic communication providing data to the control unit.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the telecommunications channel comprises a high speed data channel.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises one or more of wireless networks, ISDN channels, T1 channels, T3 channels, cable networks, or external communications channels.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 channel or a T3 channel.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising receiving payment from a customer through a payment processing unit.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control unit and the computing unit are combined in a single unit.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the telecommunications access circuit is a built-in function within the control unit.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control unit and the computing unit are distributed from one another.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising providing memory communicating with the control unit and in which one or both of payment information and transaction length information are stored.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising computing a usage cost as a function of the usage amount using the computing unit.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising computing a usage cost as a function of the usage amount using the control unit.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising computing a telecommunications channel usage amount using the computing unit to determine a payment amount.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising computing a telecommunications channel usage amount using the control unit to determine a payment amount.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising limiting usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage amount using the computing unit.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising limiting usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage amount using the control unit.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising tracking a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized using the control unit, and the control unit limiting usage of the telecommunications channel to a predetermined amount corresponding to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising tracking a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized using the computing unit, and the control unit limiting usage of the telecommunications channel to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising communicating to the control unit a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized using the computing unit, and the control unit limiting usage of the telecommunications channel to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising limiting usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage cost level using the computing unit.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising limiting usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage cost level using the control unit.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the usage cost level is a function of convenience of the system.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the usage cost level is a function of length of usage time.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising controlling access to a plurality of telecommunications channels using the control unit.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising monitoring usage of a plurality of telecommunications channels using the control unit.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising communicating transaction and system information to the customer through a user interface.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the telecommunications connector device comprises one or more of a cable port, an RJ-45 connector port, a serial port, a parallel port, or an I/O port.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the telecommunications connector device comprises an RJ-45 connector port.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising mechanism processing payment for a plurality of telecommunications channels using a single payment processing.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein a single control unit operates with a plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein a single user interface operates with a plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein a single control unit operates with a plurality of telecommunications connector devices.  
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising detecting disconnection of the at least one telecommunications connector, using the telecommunications access circuit, to signal termination of a transaction to the control unit.  
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising detecting an indication from the customer to terminate a transaction using the telecommunications access circuit.  
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising the control unit seeking authorization from the computing unit before providing telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service.  
   
   
       91 . A method for vending to a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service on a transactional basis, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit on a vended transactional basis;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service on a vended transactional basis using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit;    connecting with the customer's device through at least one telecommunications connector, the customer's device being located in the public or semi-public place to the system; and    providing the customer's device with high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       92 . A method for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit;    connecting with the customer's device through at least one telecommunications connector, the customer's device being located in the public or semi-public place to the system; and    providing the customer's device with high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel;    wherein a Local Area Network connection provides the high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the high speed direct Internet service; and    wherein the control unit monitors usage of the high speed data channel.    
   
   
       93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the Local Area Network comprises an Ethernet network.  
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 line.  
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the authorizations for high speed access are based on payment by the customer.  
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising the control unit recording usage amounts of the high speed data channel.  
   
   
       97 . A method for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit;    connecting with the customer's device through at least one telecommunications connector, the customer's device being located in the public or semi-public place to the system; and    providing the customer's device with the high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel;    wherein a Local Area Network provides the high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the high speed direct Internet service; and    wherein the computing unit monitors usage of the high speed data channel.    
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the Local Area Network comprises an Ethernet network.  
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 line.  
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the authorizations for high speed access are based on payment by the customer.  
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the computing unit is adapted to record usage amounts of the high speed data channel.  
   
   
       102 . A method for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit;    connecting the system with the customer's device through at least one telecommunications connector in the form of an RJ-45 port, the customer's device being located in the public or semi-public place; and    providing the customer's device with the high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       103 . A method for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the method comprising: 
 controlling high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the high speed direct Internet service, the high speed access being controlled by a control unit;    processing authorizations for high speed access by the customer's device to the high speed direct Internet service using a computing unit;    communicating a status of the authorizations between the computing unit and the control unit;    enabling high speed access' to the telecommunications channel using a telecommunications access circuit; and    providing the customer's portable device with an RJ-45-based connection to the RJ-45 port through a cable, the customer's device obtaining high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service from the T1 line through the RJ-45 connection while located in the public or semi-public place.