Vending System

Abstract

A vending system server for a vending system for selling products or services, from at least one vending machine connected to a network, to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with the network by wireless data packet network connection, comprises an operator server, connected to the network by an operator network connection, wherein the operator server is configured to (1) receive via the operator network connection a communication from a mobile communicator of identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving personal identification information from the mobile communicator, (2) transmit, via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information, (3) receive, via the operator network connection, authorization information from an external authorization center, and (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service in response to the authorization information.

1 . A vending system server for a vending system for selling products or services, from at least one vending machine connected to a network, to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with the network by wireless data packet network connection, the vending system server comprising:
 an operator server, connected to the network by an operator network connection, and configured to:
 (1) receive via the operator network connection a communication from a mobile communicator of identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving personal identification information from the mobile communicator; 
 (2) transmit, via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information; 
 (3) receive, via the operator network connection, authorization information from an external authorization center; and 
 (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service in response to the authorization information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located comprises an identifying code. 
     
     
         3 . The vending system server according to  claim 2 , wherein the operator server further comprises a first database including vending machine identifying codes and the corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the at least one vending machine connected to the network. 
     
     
         4 . The vending system server according to  claim 2 , wherein the operator server further is configured to assign an identity code to the vending machine and to change the assigned identity code at a specified time. 
     
     
         5 . The vending system server according to  claim 4 , wherein the operator server further is configured to change the assigned identity code after each purchase request from a customer. 
     
     
         6 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the operator server is located at the vending machine. 
     
     
         7 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the operator server is located at a position remote from the vending machine. 
     
     
         8 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the operator server further comprises a second database containing identity codes of authorized customers. 
     
     
         9 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the operator server further is configured to transmit and receive encrypted data. 
     
     
         10 . The vending system server according to  claim 1 , wherein the operator server further is configured to notify the mobile communicator via the operator network connection that a transaction is complete. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing products or services to a consumer via a vending apparatus, comprising:
 receiving, at an operator server, a first digital message in a transaction request exchange from a wireless device over a packet data network, wherein the first digital message includes a consumer identifier;   verifying, at the operator server, the received consumer identifier;   receiving, at the operator server, a second digital message in the transaction request exchange from the wireless device over the packet data network, wherein the second digital message includes a code associated with the vending apparatus;   transmitting, from the operator server, an authorization message for the transaction request to the vending apparatus; and   transmitting, from the operator server, a third digital message in the transaction request exchange to the wireless device, wherein the third digital message includes a transaction confirmation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting, from the operator server, a message to the vending apparatus including a new code for use in a subsequent transaction with a consumer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the third digital message is a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing products or services to a consumer via a vending apparatus, comprising:
 receiving, at an operator server, a first digital message in a transaction request exchange from a wireless device over a packet data network, wherein the first digital message includes a code associated with the vending apparatus;   transmitting, from the operator server, a second digital message in the transaction request exchange to the wireless device, wherein the second digital message includes a communication identifier and a packet data network address associated with the vending apparatus;   receiving, at the operator server, a third digital message in the transaction request exchange from a remote authorization server, wherein the third digital message includes a transaction authorization; and   transmitting, from the operator server, an authorization message for the transaction request to the vending apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transmitting, for the operator server, a fourth digital message in the transaction request exchange to the wireless device, wherein the fourth digital message includes a transaction confirmation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transmitting, from the operator server, a message to the vending apparatus including a new code for use in a subsequent transaction with a consumer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 after the step of transmitting, from the operator server, a second digital message:
 receiving, at the remote authorization server, a fourth digital message in the transaction request exchange at the remote authorization server, wherein the fourth digital message includes the communication identifier, the packet data network address associated with the vending apparatus, and a payment code associated with the consumer; 
 authorizing the requested transaction using the payment code associated with the consumer; and 
 transmitting, from the remote authorization server, the transaction authorization to a operator server. 
   
     
     
         18 . A server for providing products or services to a consumer via a vending apparatus, comprising:
 a vending transaction processor configured to:
 receive digital messages in a transaction request exchange from a wireless device over a packet data network, 
 transmit an authorization message for the transaction request to the vending apparatus, and 
 transmit a transaction confirmation to the wireless device; and 
   a database associating a packet data network address of the vending apparatus to a code associated with the vending apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The server of  claim 18 , wherein the vending transaction processor is further configured to:
 communicate a message including a new code to the vending apparatus for use in a subsequent transaction with a consumer.   
     
     
         20 . The server of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a second database including identity codes of authorized consumers.   
     
     
         21 . The server of  claim 20 , wherein the vending transaction processor is further configured to:
 verify the identity of the consumer requesting the transaction.   
     
     
         22 . The server of  claim 18 , wherein the vending transaction processor is further configured to:
 transmit addressing information for the vending apparatus to the wireless device; and   receive a transaction authorization message from a remote authorization server.   
     
     
         23 . A method for vending products or services, from at least one vending machine connected to a network to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with the network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an operator server connected to the network by an operator network connection, from a mobile communicator, identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving personal identification information of the mobile communicator;   transmitting from the operator server, via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information;   receiving, at the operator server, via the operator network connection, authorization information from an external authorization center in communication with the mobile communicator; and   authorizing the vending machine to supply a good or service in response to the authorization information.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising providing the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located as an identifying code. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising providing, from a first database to the operator server, vending machine identifying codes and the corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the vending machines. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising assigning an identity code to the vending machine and changing the assigned identity code at a specified time. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising changing the assigned identity code after each purchase request from a customer. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising locating the operator server at the vending machine. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising locating the operator server at a position remote from said vending machine. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising providing, from a second database to the operator server, identity codes of authorized customers. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising connecting the mobile communicator to the Internet through a cellular network. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising transmitting and receiving encrypted data between the operator server and the mobile communicator. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising notifying the mobile communicator via the operator network connection that a transaction is complete. 
     
     
         34 . A method for vending products or services, from at least one vending machine connected to a network to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with the network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:
 receiving at an operator server, from a mobile communicator via a wireless data packet network connection, identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving personal identification information from the mobile communicator;   transmitting from the operator server, via the wireless data packet network connection, to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information;   transmitting from the mobile communicator, via the wireless data packet network connection, to an external authorization center, personal identification information and vending machine identification information;   receiving at the operator server, via the network, authorization information from an external authorization center in communication with the mobile communicator; and   transmitting from the operator server to the vending machine authorization to supply a good or service in response to the authorization information.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the operator server, via the network and the wireless data packet network, to the mobile communicator, notification that a transaction is complete.   
     
     
         36 . A computer readable storage medium storing program instructions thereon that, if executed by a data processing device, cause the data processing device to perform a vending method for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the method comprising:
 receiving at an operator server, from a mobile communicator via a wireless data packet network connection, identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving personal identification information from the mobile communicator;   transmitting from the operator server, via the wireless data packet network connection, to the mobile communicator, vending machine identification information;   transmitting from the mobile communicator, via the wireless data packet network connection, to an external authorization center, personal identification information and vending machine identification information;   receiving at the operator server, via the network, authorization information from an external authorization center in communication with the mobile communicator; and   transmitting from the operator server to the vending machine authorization to supply a good or service in response to the authorization information.   
     
     
         37 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:
 notifying the mobile communicator via the network that a transaction is complete.