Digital data vending machine

A digital data vending machine suitable for downloading digital data to a user after a payment and allowing a service provider to update digital data at any convenient time. The user uses the input controller to select digital data content. Thereafter, the fee-charging device is activated under the supervision of the central processing unit. The requested digital data are permitted to be transferred from the data storage device to the data input/output device, ready for the user to download when proper fees are paid. The service provider also uses the input controller to select the digital data content to be updated. After selection, external data is transferred from the data input/output device to the data storage device under the supervision of the central processing unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. FIG. 2 is a digital data vending machine system according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the digital data vending system includes a main board 30 , a central processor 32 , an input controller 34 , a data input/output device 36 , a fee-charging device 38 and a data storage device 40 . The system further includes a loudspeaker 42 and the input controller 34 actually includes a user input device 44 and a monitor 46 . The central processor 32 , the data input/output device 36 , the fee-charging device 38 , the data storage device 40 , the loudspeaker 42 , the user input device 44 and the monitor 46 are all connected to the main board 30 so that the main board 30 can receive and output signals to various devices. The digital data vending machine is able to receive payment before downloading digital data to users. Detailed operation of the machine is described as follows. First, the user can select the type of digital data to be downloaded via the input controller 34 . The input controller 34 can be a touch control display or can be a system that includes a user input device 44 and a monitor 46 . The user input device 44 can be a keyboard, a mouse or a tracker ball, for example. The user input device 44 facilitates the user in the selection of the type of digital content to be downloaded, for example, music, video games, image patterns, document data and so on. Through the supervision of the central processor 32 , payment is checked by probing registers such as a note/coin cashier, a credit card reader or a stored value card reader. The fee-charging device will be triggered only when a correct payment is submitted. Thereafter, the requested data is sent from the data storage device 40 , which can be a hard drive or a random access memory, to the data input/output device 36 of the user. The data input/output device 36 can be a memory card, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop device or a CD-RW, for example. The data input/output device 36 and the main board 30 are connected through an interface card (not shown). The interface standard used by the interface card can be IDE, SCSI, USB or IEEE 1394, for example. Furthermore, the system may use the loudspeaker 42 to guide user in the downloading process vocally. To explain the operation of the digital data vending machine more fully, a flow chart is drawn in FIG. 3 showing the steps involved in operating the system. In step 100 , a user initiates the operation. In step 102 , a list of selectable items is shown on a display screen or monitor. The list may include major data categories such as music, game programs, image patterns or text documents. The user is free to request any item via the user input device. After initial selection of the categories, a finer subdivision of the type of digital content is listed in step 104 . The user makes one further selection from the list in step 106 to pinpoint the exact product requested. After careful inspection of the product, the user decides to purchase the digital product or not. If the user refuses to accept the product, control is returned to step 102 so that the user may select again from the main list. On the other hand, if the user still wants the product, control is branched to step 110 . In step 110 , the user is prompted by the monitor to input the correct amount of payment according to the labeled product price. At this point, the device in this invention will check to see if the user has sent out any payment by probing connected teller devices such as note/coin cashier, credit card reader or stored value card reader. After payment is verified, step 112 is executed, informing the user, with a prompt, to select the data output device. In step 114 , the display will issue a message asking the user to insert a data output medium. At this point, the user must properly mount a device such as a memory card, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop device or CD-RW in the data input/output device. In step 116 , a message will appear on the display screen informing the user that the system is downloading the required data. Meanwhile, the required data is downloaded from the data storage device to the data input/output device of the user. On completion of downloading, a message saying download completion will appear on the display screen in step 118 . In step 120 , the user is asked if any more data downloading is required. If the user decides to download similar data, control jumps to step 104 so that the user may select other items from the list. Otherwise, control is returned to step 102 and the selection process is started anew. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the series of steps for a digital data provider to update information by sending in external data. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , a digital data provider initiates the updating operation in step 150 through the input controller 34 . In step 152 , a main list of possible selections will appear on the display screen. In step 154 , a code is input to determine the identity of the updating person. On agreeing to a modification, the updating person is permitted to select the refreshing target (digital data content to be updated) in step 156 . Under the supervision of the central processing unit 32 in FIG. 2 , data is updated in step 158 . As shown in FIG. 2 , external data is transferred to the data storage device 40 from the data input/output device 36 . On completion of data update, the system inquires in step 160 to determine if there is a need to update another batch of data. Control is returned to step 156 if more data updating is needed, otherwise, step 162 is executed to exit the current updating program. In conclusion, this invention facilitates the downloading of digital data by a user, using a non-local digital data vending machine with a payment checking device, so that a digital data provider can secure a profit. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.