Patent ID: 8660689

Claim:
A self-service vending kiosk in a kiosk environment, the kiosk comprising: (a) a plurality of self-service, open cubicles secured in a frame; (b) an electronics compartment in the frame including a computer assembly having an Internet connection; (c) a touch screen monitor operationally connected to the computer assembly; (d) a barcode scanner operationally connected to the computer assembly; (e) a transaction facilitator operationally connected to the computer assembly for facilitating payment; (f) a camera operationally connected to the computer assembly and mounted to observe the kiosk environment; (g) audio devices operationally connected to the computer assembly; (h) the computer assembly running a program to control the kiosk, the program including (1) a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication function utilizing the monitor, the audio devices, and the camera, and (2) security functions utilizing the camera; and (i) an openable, full closure security curtain that covers the open cubicles to secure the kiosk; (j) whereby a customer retrieves an item from one of the open cubicles, informs the kiosk which item has been retrieved, and pays for the item using the transaction facilitator.