System for vending products and services using an identification card and associated methods

US6854642B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Chesterfield Holdings, L.L.C. · US

Inventors

• Jonathan Metcalf · Houston, US
• Robert J. O'Leary · Newark, US
• Merlyn Barth · Chesterfield, US
• Jacob Gunther · North Logan, US
• Erik Peterson · Cypress, US
• Heath Rogers · Bloomington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 15, 2005
• Expiry date: Feb 23, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F19/20
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A highly integrated and flexible system for vending products and services to consumers. The system receives information in advance of the vend by having the consumer insert an identification (ID) card, preferably a driver's license, into a point-of-purchase terminal (referred to as an OSU device). The OSU device preferably contains an Optical Scanning Unit (OSU), capable of scanning the textual information on the ID card. In one embodiment, the scanned information is compared against optical templates present in the system to discern or verify the information on the ID card, and is then used by the system to enable or disable the vending transaction, and/or to allow access to several preregistered system accounts.