초록 ▼

An ice machine includes an insulated compartment to store ice, a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment, a card reader, and a controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser. The controller stores permission settings inc

An ice machine includes an insulated compartment to store ice, a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment, a card reader, and a controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser. The controller stores permission settings including a public setting and a private setting. The controller is to receive a card number from the card reader. The controller is to determine whether to initiate ice dispensing using the dispenser based on the card number, the public setting and the private setting.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice machine comprising: an insulated compartment to store ice;a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment;a card reader; anda controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser, the controller storing permission settings

1. An ice machine comprising: an insulated compartment to store ice;a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment;a card reader; anda controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser, the controller storing permission settings including a setting selectable between a public option and a private option, the controller to receive a card number associated with a card from the card reader, the controller to determine whether to initiate ice dispensing using the dispenser based on the card number and the select public or private option of the setting, wherein the public option permits dispensing to card numbers associated with all groups and the private option limits dispensing to card numbers associated with a select group, wherein the select group is associated with a private or public retailer, club, venue, association, union, or organization, wherein the card number associated with the select group can be used at other ice machines with the public option selected to dispense ice, and wherein the controller is to initiate the dispensing without debiting a card account associated with the card number. 2. The ice machine of claim 1, further comprising a communication circuitry, the controller in communication with the communication circuitry. 3. The ice machine of claim 2, wherein the controller is to communicate the card number to a remote server using the communication circuitry and is to receive validation information from the remote server, wherein determining based on the card number includes determining based on the validation information. 4. The ice machine of claim 3, wherein the validation information includes location permission data associated with the card, the controller to compare the location permission data with the public or private option of the setting. 5. The ice machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is to receive a group number associated with the card from the card reader, the controller to compare the group number to the private option when selected. 6. The ice machine of claim 1, further comprising an ice maker to provide ice to the insulated compartment. 7. The ice machine of claim 1, further comprising a button in communication with the controller, the controller to initiate ice dispensing in response to activation of the button following the determining. 8. The ice machine of claim 7, wherein ice is dispensed for a set period of time following activation of the button. 9. The ice machine of claim 7, wherein ice is dispensed while the button is activated. 10. A system comprising: an ice machine, the ice machine comprising: an insulated compartment to store ice;a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment;a card reader;a communication circuitry; anda controller in communication with the card reader, the communication circuitry, and the dispenser, the controller storing permission settings including a setting selectable between a public option and a private option, the controller to receive a card number from the card reader, the controller to provide the card number to a remote server and to receive validation information from the remote server using the communication circuitry, the controller to determine whether to initiate ice dispensing using the dispenser based on the validation information and the select public or private option of the setting, wherein the public option permits dispensing to card numbers associated with all groups and the private option limits dispensing to card numbers associated with a select group, wherein the select group is associated with a private or public retailer, club, venue, association, union, or organization, wherein the card number associated with the select group can be used at other ice machines within the system with the public option selected to dispense ice, and wherein the controller is to initiate the dispensing without debiting a card account associated with the card number; andthe remote server comprising data storage associating the card number and the validation information. 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an activation device comprising a card reader and a communication circuitry, the activation device to receive a card number using the card reader and to provide the card number and activation information to the remote server using the communication circuitry. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the ice machine further includes an ice maker to provide ice to the insulated compartment. 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the ice machine further includes a button in communication with the controller, the controller to initiate ice dispensing in response to activation of the button following the determining. 14. The ice machine of claim 13, wherein ice is dispensed for a set period of time following activation of the button. 15. The ice machine of claim 13, wherein ice is dispensed while the button is activated. 16. A method of dispensing ice, the method comprising: receiving permission settings at an ice machine, the permission settings including a setting selectable between a public option and a private option;receiving an account code using a card reader at the ice machine;determining based on the account code and the select public or private option of the setting whether an account associated with the account code has permission to access the ice machine, wherein the public option permits dispensing to accounts associated with all groups and the private option limits dispensing to accounts associated with a select group, wherein the select group is associated with a private or public retailer, club, venue, association, union, or organization, wherein the card number associated with the select group can be used at other ice machines with the public option selected to dispense ice; anddispensing ice based on the determining without debiting a card account associated with the card number. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating the account code to a remote server and receiving validation information from the remote server. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining includes determining whether an account associated with the account code is valid and active. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the validation information includes permission data, wherein determining includes comparing the permission data to the permission settings. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving permission data stored on a card associated with the account code from the card reader, wherein determining includes comparing the permission data to the permission settings.