Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce. In one embodiment, a method for conducting electronic commerce includes providing a kiosk in a publicly accessible location, and displaying one or more transaction options to a user at the kiosk. The method may further include receiving a transaction selection from the user corresponding to one or more of the displayed transaction options, determining an amount due from the user in response to the transaction selection, and receiving funds from the user. In response to receiving the funds, the kiosk may dispense a redeemable voucher to the user, including a redeemable voucher for any amount paid in excess of the amount due.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/414,826 filed Apr. 15, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,108 which is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/372,844, entitled “METHOD FOR ACCESSING AND PROCESSING MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS FROM A TERMINAL,” filed on Apr. 16, 2002, which are both incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     This patent application also incorporates in its entirety by reference PCT Application PCT/US03/04600, entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXCHANGING AND/OR TRANSFERRING VARIOUS FORMS OF VALUE,” filed on Feb. 14, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic commerce is typically conducted through the use of personal computers. Forms of electronic commerce (“e-commerce”) include buying and selling products, paying bills, viewing account summaries and transactions, and online investing. E-commerce may also be conducted using other devices. Examples of such other devices include personal digital assistants, web-enabled cellular telephones, and interactive television receivers. 
     Participation in e-commerce often requires payment by credit card. Some people do not have a credit card because of poor credit, lack of credit history, personal choice, or other reasons. In fact, there are many individuals who do not even have a bank account. Such individuals may be unable to participate in e-commerce, despite their desire to do so. As another example, participating in e-commerce often requires an investment in a personal computer, a personal digital assistant with Internet access, a web-enabled cellular telephone, an interactive television receiver (where available), or other device with Internet connectivity. For some people, such investments are financially out of reach. 
     As e-commerce transactions become more widespread, people unable to participate in e-commerce may be disadvantaged. While some people have access to Internet terminals at work, in public libraries, in Internet cafes, or elsewhere, these terminals may not be available for participating in e-commerce because of policies restricting such use. Some people may also be uncomfortable conducting some transactions, though legal, at work or in a library because of concerns that their employer or others may be tracking their use and transactions. As an example, employers may track which web sites employees visit, or may block access to some web sites altogether. There may also be security concerns when using credit card numbers at a library terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a network topology view showing network connections in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partially schematic front isometric view of an e-commerce kiosk configured in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram of a Voucher routine in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram of a Round-Up routine in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flow diagram of a Voucher-After-Cancel routine in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a flow diagram of a Receive-Payment routine in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify identical or substantially similar elements or acts. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the Figure number in which that element is first introduced and discussed (e.g., element  102  is first introduced and discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 ). 
     Note: The headings provided herein are for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or interpretation of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention described below enables one to participate in e-commerce without using a personal computer or one of the other devices discussed above, and instead enables participation through use of an e-commerce kiosk. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a customer to purchase minutes on prepaid long-distance telephone calling cards. As an example, in return for cash, credit, or other currency provided by a customer, the kiosk may dispense a voucher that includes a telephone number and unique identification number. Using this unique identification number and voucher, the customer can telephone the indicated telephone number to activate access to a long-distance calling network. 
     Other uses for an e-commerce kiosk in this and other embodiments include selling prepaid credit cards and debit cards, adding minutes to prepaid long-distance telephone calling cards, and adding or purchasing minutes for use with prepaid cellular telephone services. As a further example, a customer may deposit cash toward a prepaid debit card the customer already possesses. The debit card may or may not be associated with a bank account. 
     Such an e-commerce kiosk may also be used by a customer, for example, to pay bills. As an example, a customer may provide cash or other currency to be applied towards payment of a telephone bill. 
     While some embodiments of e-commerce kiosks may be able to accept payments with cash as well as credit cards or debit cards, other embodiments may be able to accept only cash. Further, some e-commerce kiosks that accept cash may be incapable of returning money or change to the customer. As an example, if a transaction requires a payment of $8, and the customer provides a $10 bill, the e-commerce kiosk may be incapable of returning $2 in physical monetary currency (hereinafter, “currency”) as change. Reasons why an e-commerce kiosk may be incapable of returning change include lacking hardware to do so or having an insufficient amount of required denominations of currency. In these situations, the e-commerce kiosk may instead return change to the customer in the form of a voucher. 
     An e-commerce kiosk may be a “network client” as known in the relevant art and may execute software independent of or in conjunction with an e-commerce kiosk server. The e-commerce kiosk client software may be capable of being executed on devices such as personal computers, handheld devices, Internet terminals, cellular telephones, and point-of-sale terminals. These devices, including the e-commerce kiosk, may be coupled to a variety of input and output devices. Examples of such devices include display screens, printers, cameras, keypads, media dispensers, card readers, monetary currency input regions, touch screens, and digital pens. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a network topology  100  configured in accordance with an embodiment. In one aspect of this embodiment, several e-commerce kiosks  102  may be coupled via communications links  104  to a communications network  106 . Several other e-commerce kiosks  108  may be connected via communications links  110  to the communications network  106 . While two forms of e-commerce kiosks are shown in this Figure, several embodiments are anticipated. Examples of embodiments of e-commerce kiosks include various forms of vending machines, automated teller machines, advanced pay telephones, and other retail automated machines. Also coupled to the communications network  106  via a communications link  112  may be an e-commerce kiosk server  114 . Transactions selected by customers at the e-commerce kiosks  102  or  108  may be routed to the e-commerce kiosk server  114 . 
     In another aspect of this embodiment, the e-commerce kiosk server  114  may be coupled to a database  115 . The database  115  may be stored on the same or another e-commerce kiosk server  114 , or may reside in a separate server (not shown). One familiar with the relevant art will understand how software executing on an e-commerce kiosk server  114  will be able to retrieve data stored in the database  115 , whether that database  115  is stored in the same or separate servers. The database  115  may store information including unique identifiers that have been provided to customers relating to vouchers, a personal identification number associated with each unique identifier, a telephone number for the customer to call for activation of the purchased products, a credit amount, an indication of whether the voucher identified has already been used, and other pertinent information relating to providing e-commerce services on an e-commerce kiosk  102  or  108 . 
     In yet another aspect of this embodiment, the e-commerce kiosk server  114  may be coupled via a communications link  120  to a biometrics server  116  and a content server  118 . The biometrics server  116  conducts various fraud detection and prevention activities, including prevention of fraudulent check cashing. The content server  118  may perform various activities, including storing user interface content and advertising for use on the e-commerce kiosks  102  and  108 . One familiar with the relevant art will understand how content stored on the content server  118  is transferred via various communications links and protocols to e-commerce kiosks  102  and  108  for rendering the content. The content stored on a content server  118  may include images, Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) documents, hypertext markup language (“HTML”) documents, and instructions to enable an e-commerce kiosk  102  or  108  to render the documents correctly. As an example, advertising and other content specifically targeted to consumer demographics on a kiosk or time-of-day basis may be rendered on e-commerce kiosks  102  and  108  after retrieval from the content server  118 . An e-commerce kiosk  102  located in a department store may display different advertisements than an e-commerce kiosk  108  located at a convenience store. Additionally, an e-commerce kiosk  102  located in a department store may show different advertisements during weekdays than during evenings and weekends to target different demographics. Further, an e-commerce kiosk  102  located in a sporting goods department may show different advertisements than an e-commerce kiosk  102  located in an electronics department. E-commerce kiosks may be located in many locations including shopping centers, street sidewalks, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants in addition to department and convenience stores. 
     The e-commerce kiosk server  114  may also be coupled via a communications link  122  to an e-commerce kiosk communications network  124 . Multiple service provider systems  128  may also be coupled to the e-commerce kiosk communications network  124  via communications links  126 . Examples of service provider systems  128  include systems operated by telephone long distance companies, cellular telephone companies, bankcard companies, and aggregators of services from service providers. These various service provider systems  128  may operate independently on different computer systems and may use different communications protocols. The e-commerce kiosk server  114  may be able to exchange information with multiple service provider systems  128  independently or jointly and in parallel or sequentially despite using the same or different communications protocols or system software. 
     A possible use scenario of the embodiment described in  FIG. 1  is as follows. A customer elects to purchase minutes toward his or her long-distance telephone calling card at an e-commerce kiosk  102 . The customer is prompted by the e-commerce kiosk to select a service provider and to deposit $10. The customer deposits a $10 bill in the e-commerce kiosk in response to the prompt after selecting a service provider. The e-commerce kiosk  102  uses the communications network  106  to communicate with the e-commerce kiosk server  114  to notify the provider of long-distance services selected by the customer that the customer has deposited money towards minutes on his or her prepaid calling card. The e-commerce kiosk server  114  uses the e-commerce kiosk communications network  124  to communicate with the service provider system  128  of the long-distance provider selected by the customer. The service provider may return information including a unique identifier and, in one embodiment, a telephone number, for use by the customer to the e-commerce kiosk server  114  via the e-commerce kiosk communications network  124 . The e-commerce kiosk server  114 , in turn, provides some of that information including the unique identifier and telephone number to the customer via the e-commerce kiosk  102 . The customer is then able to use that unique identifier and telephone number to activate the purchased minutes on his or her long distance calling card. 
     In another use scenario, the customer does not need to activate the purchased minutes. Instead, the activation occurs automatically when the minutes are purchased by the customer. This automatic activation may or may not require input from the customer. In yet another embodiment, no activation may be required at all. 
     In the embodiment described in  FIG. 1 , a mechanism is available to update audiovisual or other user interface content or other aspects of the e-commerce kiosks  102  and  108 . As an example, when content needs to be updated, the content only needs to be updated at the content server  118 . The e-commerce kiosks  102  and  108  retrieve the updated content via the communications network  106  from the content server  118 . As described above, the content used by an e-commerce kiosk  102  may be the same or different than content used by other e-commerce kiosks  108  or even another e-commerce kiosk  102 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a partially schematic front isometric view of an e-commerce kiosk  200  configured in accordance with an embodiment. In one aspect of this embodiment, the e-commerce kiosk  200  may include a currency input region or tray  206 , bill and voucher acceptor  207 , voucher outlet  208 , card reader  209 , currency sorting/counting apparatus  212  (shown schematically), and communications facility  213  (also shown schematically). The couplings from and to a remote computer may be a single coupling to a communications network. The e-commerce kiosk  200  may further include various user interface devices, such as a keypad  214 , user selection buttons  215 , speaker  216 , soft keys  217 , and display screen  218  which may be touch-enabled. The keypad  214 , user selection buttons  215 , soft-keys  217 , and touch-enabled display screen  218  may be used to enable quick and easy access to various features and functions of the e-commerce kiosk  200 . The display screen  218  may display information in color, monochrome, or “gray-scale,” and may be used to display elements of a user interface, advertisements, or other information. The e-commerce kiosk  200  may accept various forms of payment, including cash, credit cards, debit cards, chip cards, and magnetic striped cards. 
     In one embodiment of the e-commerce kiosk  200 , a telephone handset may be included (not shown) to enable a customer to communicate with advertisers, providers of products sold in the e-commerce kiosk, and to access assistance in using the e-commerce kiosk  200 . The e-commerce kiosk may also include a digital camera for use during check cashing and other financial services. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a Voucher routine  300  in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The routine  300  starts at block  302 . At block  304 , a customer selects one or more products. Examples of products may include payment of bills, addition of money to prepaid bank cards or credit cards, and purchase of prepaid wireless telephone services, prepaid Internet access, prepaid residential telephone services, and long-distance telephone calling cards. Other products an e-commerce kiosk can offer may include financial services such as check cashing, purchase of money orders, and wire transfers of funds. 
     At block  306 , the routine  300  determines a total amount of money due from the customer. After presentation of the total amount due, the routine waits until payment is received from the customer. Acceptable forms of payment may include bills, coins, credit or debit cards, or vouchers dispensed by the e-commerce kiosk incidental to a prior transaction. However, this routine  300  is particularly useful when the e-commerce kiosk receives bills or coins and is unable to make change. At block  308 , the routine  300  receives payment from the customer. Block  308  is further described below as subroutine  600  in reference to  FIG. 6 . At block  310 , the routine  300  determines if the amount of payment provided by the customer exceeds the amount of money due from the customer. 
     If, at block  310 , the amount received from the customer exceeds the amount due from the customer, the routine  300  then dispenses a voucher to the customer at block  316  for the amount of the payment exceeding the amount due. The routine  300  then continues at block  318  to conclude the sale of the products. 
     If, at block  310 , the amount received from the customer does not exceed the amount due from the customer, then, at block  312 , the routine  300  determines whether the amount of money received from the customer is equal to the amount of money due from the customer. If that is the case, the routine  300  concludes the sale of the products at block  318  and ends at block  320 . If the amount received from the customer is less than the amount due from the customer, the routine  300  continues at block  314  by requesting an additional payment from the customer, and jumps to block  308  to receive the additional payment. Concluding the sale of the products may include dispensing a voucher other than the voucher described above for returning change to the customer. The routine  300  then ends at block  320 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the voucher routine  300  may execute block  318  before block  316  when the branch condition at block  310  is true. 
     In a further aspect of this embodiment, a voucher is credit that can be used at an e-commerce kiosk toward a future transaction. A code may be printed on the voucher enabling the customer to uniquely identify the voucher during such a transaction. Vouchers may also be redeemed via mail. In addition, some forms of e-commerce kiosks may be capable of returning cash in exchange for a voucher. In various other embodiments, vouchers may be issued by an e-commerce kiosk in lieu of cash when a transaction is canceled by the customer after payment, when the customer has paid more than the transaction amount, or when the e-commerce kiosk experiences various forms of errors. A voucher may also be issued by an e-commerce kiosk that is unable to provide change upon excess payment by the customer as a result of not having appropriate denominations of currency. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a Round-Up routine  400  in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The routine  400  starts at block  402 . At block  404 , a customer selects one or more products with an associated price. The products of block  404  may include one or more of the same products described above with reference to block  304  of  FIG. 3 . 
     At block  406 , the routine  400  retrieves tax and convenience fee information based on the type and price of the selected products. In one embodiment, the routine  400  retrieves this information from a back office server. In another embodiment, the routine  400  retrieves this information from the same computer system that the routine  400  is executing on. In yet another embodiment, the routine  400  retrieves this information from a third party. At block  408 , the routine  400  calculates a sum that is equal to the price of the products selected at block  404 , plus a tax amount on this total, and plus a convenience fee. 
     At block  410 , the routine  400  determines an amount needed to round up the sum calculated at block  408  to a whole bill amount. A whole bill amount is an amount that can be paid using one or more denominations of a form of physical monetary currency. Examples of whole bill amounts in the United States may include $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Examples of total amounts that are not whole bill amounts may include $2.50, $35.27, and $0.65. At block  412 , the routine  400  adds the amount determined at block  410  to the convenience fee retrieved at block  406  to determine an augmented convenience fee. At block  414 , the routine  400  determines a tax on the augmented convenience fee determined at block  412 . At block  416 , the routine  400  subtracts the tax determined at block  414  from the augmented convenience fee determined at block  412 , and adds that tax amount to the total tax determined at block  406 . At block  418 , the routine  400  displays the total amount due from the customer. 
     The customer then has an opportunity at block  420  to accept or reject the order. If the customer accepts the order, the routine  400  continues at block  422 , where it receives payment from the customer. At block  424 , the routine  400  dispenses a receipt showing the products purchased, the applicable convenience fees, the taxes, and the total amount paid. At block  426 , the routine  400  concludes the sale of the selected products. Concluding the sale of the products may include dispensing a voucher other than the voucher described above for returning change to the customer. The routine  400  then ends at block  430 . If the customer rejects the order at block  420 , the routine  400  ends at block  430 . 
     In one embodiment, only a single bill of physical currency may be deposited by the customer. In yet another embodiment, multiple bills and denominations may be deposited. In another embodiment, the e-commerce kiosk may provide the customer with a list of other products that may be added to the current selection of products to minimize the convenience fee used to round up the amount due to a whole bill amount. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a Voucher-After-Cancel routine  500  in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The routine  500  starts at block  502 . At block  504 , a customer selects one or more products. The products of block  504  may include one or more of the same products described above with reference to block  304  of  FIG. 3 . At block  506 , the routine  500  determines a total amount of money due from the customer for the selected products. Acceptable forms of payment are described above for block  306 . After presentation of the amount due, the routine  500  waits until payment is received from the customer. Once payment is received, the routine  500  continues at block  508 . 
     At block  510 , the customer cancels the pending transaction after tendering payment. The routine  500  then prompts the customer at block  512  to print a voucher for the amount tendered or select alternate products. If at block  514  the customer elects to select alternate products, the routine  500  continues at block  504 . If the customer elects to print a voucher at block  514 , then the routine  500  dispenses a voucher to the customer at block  516  for the amount tendered at block  508 . The routine  500  then ends at block  520 . If the customer makes no selection in response to the prompt of block  512 , any amount tendered by the customer is available for the next customer of the e-commerce kiosk  200 . The voucher dispensed at block  508  may be used by the customer in a manner similar to that described above for the voucher dispensed at block  316 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating a Receive-Payment subroutine  600  in accordance with an embodiment of an e-commerce kiosk, such as the kiosk  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The subroutine  600  starts at block  602 . At block  604 , a customer selects a payment type. Payment types include cash, credit card, debit card, and vouchers. At block  606 , the subroutine determines whether the customer elected to include one or more vouchers as payment. If the customer indicated that a voucher would be used for payment, the subroutine continues at block  608  where the subroutine receives information related to the voucher used for payment. 
     In one embodiment, at block  608 , the customer is prompted for a unique identifier previously provided with the voucher. In one aspect of this embodiment, the subroutine prompts the customer for a personal identification number (“PIN”) associated with the unique identifier provided at block  608 . In another aspect of this embodiment, the PIN may be various other indicia that reliably authenticate the voucher. 
     In another embodiment, the subroutine may receive information relating to the voucher from a barcode previously printed on the voucher. 
     At block  612 , the subroutine validates the received information relating to the voucher. In one embodiment, the information received is transmitted to an e-commerce kiosk server  114  illustrated in  FIG. 1  for validation. The e-commerce kiosk server  114  determines whether the received information is valid by retrieving information related to the voucher from the database  115  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As an example, the subroutine may receive an indication from the e-commerce kiosk server  114  on whether the voucher for which information was received has already been used. Reasons for making this determination include detecting fraud and preventing erroneous transactions. The subroutine then continues at block  604  and the customer can then make additional payments toward purchase. 
     If, at block  606 , the customer elects not to use a voucher, then the subroutine determines whether vouchers were used for payment at block  614 , in which case the balance would exceed zero. If the balance exceeds zero, the subroutine finishes at block  618 . Alternatively, if the balance does not exceed zero at block  614 , the subroutine requests the customer to make payments using cash, credit card, debit card, or other non-voucher forms of payment acceptable by an e-commerce kiosk. 
     In another embodiment, if the customer elects not to use a voucher at block  606 , the subroutine ends at block  618 . In yet another embodiment, the customer is not prompted to select a payment type at block  604 . Instead, the subroutine skips block  604  and prompts the customer to use vouchers at block  606 . In such an embodiment, the subroutine also continues at block  606  from block  612 . 
     Several examples of products that an e-commerce kiosk may offer for sale are discussed above. These products may be made available to the customer by dispensing a voucher. Printed on the voucher may be information relating to how the customer may access the products purchased. As an example, the voucher may include a toll-free telephone number and unique identifier. 
     In one embodiment of the e-commerce kiosk, all user interface-related content and instructions are served from a server. In so doing, one familiar with the relevant art will understand that features and functions may thus be dynamically updated to meet customer needs and incorporate new technological breakthroughs. One familiar with the relevant art will also understand that “dynamically updating” content involves updating content on a server that will be retrieved by a client automatically. 
     As described above, an e-commerce kiosk may be a stand-alone unit or may be embodied in various other devices such as an automated teller machine. In such a way, a retailer may either choose to install a stand-alone unit or integrate an e-commerce kiosk with some other form of retail machine already in use. As an example, an e-commerce kiosk may be integrated with a vending machine. Another example of an e-commerce kiosk is a countertop module. In such a configuration, a customer selects products to purchase and, optionally, pays using a credit card. If the customer desires to pay by cash, the customer may then pay a retail clerk or cashier. 
     As described above, an e-commerce kiosk  200  may be a client to an e-commerce kiosk server  114 . One familiar with the relevant art will understand how network communications between clients and servers are performed, including the use of various security measures to promote a secure and robust communications environment. One familiar with the relevant art will also understand that the communications networks  106  and  124  may be public networks, private networks, or a combination of both. The communications networks  106  and  124  may or may not share the same communications lines. 
     One familiar with the relevant art will also understand that the technology described above is not specific to any given hardware configuration, communications protocol, or other systems applications. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. The words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portion of this application. 
     The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of this invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps or blocks in a different order. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description. 
     In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.