Vending Modified Climate Control Device

Abstract

A user input comprising a climate control parameter is received. A climate control subsystem that is configured to modify an environment based on the climate control parameter is activated. A payment message that is based on a usage parameter is transmitted to a billing system. The payment message results in a charge being made to an account of the user.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for modifying an environment, the method comprising:
 receiving user input identifying a climate control program comprising a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values;   sensing a condition of the environment;   determining a difference between the condition of the environment and a respective one of the plurality of parameters; and   operating a climate control subsystem to modify the environment based on the difference.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for use of a climate control device;   transmitting an authorization request to a billing system in response to the request;   receiving an activation message from the billing system in response to the authorization request.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a usage parameter indicating operation of the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a plurality of usage parameters indicating operation of a plurality of climate control subsystems comprising the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the condition of the environment is sensed by a respective climate control subsystem associated with the condition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 comparing the condition of the environment to the respective one of the plurality of parameters;   deactivating the climate control subsystem in response to determining that the condition of the environment is substantially equal to the respective one of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the payment message is transmitted in response to the deactivating. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for modifying an environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving user input identifying a climate control program comprising a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values; 
 sensing a condition of the environment; 
 determining a difference between the condition of the environment and a respective one of the plurality of parameters; and 
 operating a climate control subsystem to modify the environment based on the difference. 
   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a request for use of a climate control device;   transmitting an authorization request to a billing system in response to the request;   receiving an activation message from the billing system in response to the authorization request.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a usage parameter indicating operation of the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a plurality of usage parameters indicating operation of a plurality of climate control subsystems comprising the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the condition of the environment is sensed by a respective climate control subsystem associated with the condition. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing the condition of the environment to the respective one of the plurality of parameters;   deactivating the climate control subsystem in response to determining that the condition of the environment is substantially equal to the respective one of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the payment message is transmitted in response to the deactivating. 
     
     
         42 . A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for modifying an environment, which, when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving user input identifying a climate control program comprising a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters associated with a respective one of a plurality of times, a plurality of durations, and a plurality of set values;   sensing a condition of the environment;   determining a difference between the condition of the environment and a respective one of the plurality of parameters; and   operating a climate control subsystem to modify the environment based on the difference.   
     
     
         43 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a request for use of a climate control device;   transmitting an authorization request to a billing system in response to the request;   receiving an activation message from the billing system in response to the authorization request.   
     
     
         44 . The computer readable medium of  claim 43 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a usage parameter indicating operation of the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         45 . The computer readable medium of  claim 43 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting a payment message to the billing system, the message based on a plurality of usage parameters indicating operation of a plurality of climate control subsystems comprising the climate control subsystem.   
     
     
         46 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the condition of the environment is sensed by a respective climate control subsystem associated with the condition. 
     
     
         47 . The computer readable medium of  claim 44 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing the condition of the environment to the respective one of the plurality of parameters;   deactivating the climate control subsystem in response to determining that the condition of the environment is substantially equal to the respective one of the plurality of parameters.