Patent ID: 7996269
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: G06Q,G07F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A virtual vend apparatus comprising: an access mechanism; a multi-function device configured to support a virtual vending controlled access option wherein said virtual vending controlled access option is an administrator selectable option on said multi-function device; and a remote vend application server operatively connecting said access mechanism to said multi-function device wherein said virtual vending controlled access option is selected to configure said multi-function device to lockout a user access until the user's profile information is provided by said remote vend application server and wherein said remote vend application server is adapted to hold jobs destined for said multi-function device until authorized and purge jobs from said remote vend application server after a specified time, wherein said multi-function device performs a desired print job as requested by the user's inputs via said access mechanism upon authorization by said remote vend application server and transmits usage charges from said multi-function device to said remote vend application server.