초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vending machine for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer, said vending machine comprising:a payment mechanism for receiving payment from the customer; a customer interface for indicating the status of said vending machine; an electronic circuit for determining when the vendin

1. A vending machine for vending telecommunications channel access to a customer, said vending machine comprising:a payment mechanism for receiving payment from the customer; a customer interface for indicating the status of said vending machine; an electronic circuit for determining when the vending transaction is completed; a telecommunications channel access circuit adapted to be connected to at least one external telecommunications channel for enabling access to the at least one external telecommunications channel at the beginning of a vending transaction and disabling access at the end of the vending transaction; a telecommunications channel access connector connected to said telecommunications channel access circuit for enabling connection to an external telecommunications device of the customer; and a control unit having a storage device for storing payment information received from the customer and for controlling said electronic circuit and said telecommunications channel access circuit.