Patent ID: 6314169
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: G06Q,G07F,H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A vending machine for vending telecommunications channel access and power 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 power connector to supply power to at least one external electronic device of the customer;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; anda 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.