Patent ID: 7574377

Claim:
A vending system for selling products or services to purchasers having mobile communicators configured to communicate with a network by wireless data packet network connection, the system comprising: at least one vending machine connected to the network by a network connection; an operator server connected to the network by an operator network connection; and a mobile communicator connected to the network by a wireless data packet network connection, wherein the mobile communicator is configured to (1) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to the operator server identifying data of a vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, (2) receive via the wireless data packet network connection vending machine identification information from the operator server, and (3) transmit via the wireless data packet network connection to an external authorization center personal identification information and vending machine identification information, and wherein the operator server is configured to (1) receive via the operator network connection communication from the mobile communicator of the identifying data of the vending machine at which the mobile communicator is located, without receiving the personal identification information, (2) transmit via the operator network connection to the mobile communicator vending machine identification information, (3) receive via the operator network connection authorization information from the external authorization center, and (4) authorize the vending machine to supply a good or service.