DE10035449A1 - Automat for automatically loading mobile phone cards with credit by insertion into machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The automat has a number of magazines (2) that hold either telephone cards or mobile phones with integrated cards. These can be inserted through openings (9,10) and are loaded with new credit before being transferred by an internal feed mechanism to a delivery point (8)

Description

The invention relates to an automatic machine for providing Service based on the entry of a valuable object with a Housing in which there is an opening for receiving the Valuables and an opening for removing the Performance located.

Vending machines are known in various forms and designs and on the market. While in the past Cigarette and beverage machines were the rule Today there are all kinds of goods to be bought Vending machine, even for flowers, then the vending machine appropriate facilities for keeping the goods fresh assigned.  

The present invention has for its object a new use for such a machine open.

To solve this problem, the opening to Take the power from a charging device for charging assigned to a phone card and from a device to Capturing the object of value is controllable.

The phone and especially the cell phone is out of the world today Life is no longer imaginable. While in many cases one User contract with a telephone company is completed, but also finds the phone card considerable spread. Under a phone card is in understood a separate plastic card in the present case, which contains a corresponding chip, which the contains necessary information for making calls. The Phone card can also be integrated in a cell phone, which is no longer a plastic card, but the phone card can be in the form of a suitable one Chips directly connected to the required electronics his. Many possibilities are conceivable here and should by of the invention. The only important thing is that it is an item that is being charged should make phone calls possible. Of course, such a phone card can also be used a suitable phone booth.

The advantage of the invention is that the user no longer depends on the business hours of a provider, but Top up your phone card at any time of the day or night can. Furthermore, he does not need a new one every time Calling card, but can be his existing card use several times. In the context of the invention is even on it thought the phone itself with electricity and at the same time  corresponding to a credit for calling charge.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the can also be used separately, the opening to Taking the power to be assigned subjects in which cell phones, especially disposable cell phones, phone cards and Cell phone accessories are located. After prices for cell phones today have become so cheap can be remembered To develop disposable phones that are specific, relative contain high credit or, for example, also to operate with a phone card that can also be solved are. For example, the disposable cell phone can be solved and then into the above-mentioned opening for charging the mobile phone be put. The battery of the mobile phone can also be used here charged and the phone with a desired one PIN number. The user still needs a cell phone pocket, so he can also solve it.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the can also be used separately, the Opening a facility for receiving the valuables be assigned to capture the object of value, which with a device for issuing a secret number connected is. Today the so-called Call Now Card application, which is based on a certain equivalent be issued. These cards contain a scratch field, on which a secret number can be recognized. Will this Secret number communicated to the network operator, so a certain number unlocked for the equivalent.

According to the present invention, this process should be without Interposition of a card may be possible. That is, the User enters an object of value in the machine, that of the device for capturing the object of value  is recognized. This shares the value of the facility Output a PIN with. Now either Device for issuing the secret number itself Select network operator and give him the secret number, so that the network operator the desired number unlocked. It is also conceivable that the secret number is on is output on a display or a printer and the The user then selects the network operator and him communicates this PIN.

This is a significant issue for network operators today Problem that they are in for their accomplishments in many cases Must submit. That means the phone owner uses the services of the Network operator, but only pays the some time later Bill. In many cases it also happens Bad debts of the network operator because of Mobile phone users no longer meet the accumulated claims can pay. A little remedy is the phone card, which the cell phone user has to buy first so that he can get the Service of the network operator paid in advance. The Phone card is cumbersome to handle and requires a special design of the cell phone.

The present one proposes to solve this problem Invention before that a machine for filling a Telephone credit is created with a housing in which an opening for receiving a valuable object and there is a keypad. The opening is for receiving of the object of value a device for detecting the Assigned valuables and this facility in turn with a facility for replenishing the telephone credit connected. That means that the cell phone user before Utilization of the service of the network operator this Performance must reward. This saves the network operator  substantial interest on his advance payment. Bad debts are hardly possible anymore.

All conceivable possibilities should be included under valuables fall. These include banknotes, coins, Credit cards or other items purchased from the Device for capturing the object of value captured can be and the establishment of a particular Value.

The keypad can consist of one or more keys exist, depending on which activities of the machine with the keypad should be controlled. In a simple one The housing has an embodiment of the invention Slot or a slot for a phone card or the cell phone itself, so that right on the case after the Enter a certain amount of money this on the Phone card or on the SIM card of the cell phone can be credited.

It is also conceivable that by inserting the cell phone in the Automat connected to an account server will, who after entering the amount of money this the Credits cell phone owner's account. Similar things can also done with a check card.

A machine is also very simple, in which the Cell phone owners have a specific number with the Account server can connect and for example enter his own phone number or a secret number, which then gives access to the phone account of the cell phone holder opens so that by pressing a button also the amount of money thrown into the telephone account of the Cellphone owner is credited. Here are surely  still other embodiments possible by the present invention should be included.

Such machines can be at any central location, such as train stations, airports, supermarkets, etc. s. w. be set up.  

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred embodiment and based on the Drawing; this shows in

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine according to the invention for the provision of services;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of different ways to top up a credit for phone calls.

The automatic machine according to the invention for providing a power has a housing 1 in which there are a plurality of compartments 2.1 to 2.3 . These subjects 2.1 to 2.3 serve to hold objects from the telephone area, for example telephone cards 3 , cell phones 4 and cell phone pockets 5 . In a known manner, the phone cards 3 , cell phones 4 and cell phone pockets 5 are held by spirals 6 , which are rotatable about their axis. When the spiral 6 is turned , the objects in the compartments 2.1 to 2.3 are pushed forward and enter a vertical channel (not shown in more detail) through which they can fall down into a dispensing trough 7 . They can then be removed from this dispensing recess 7 through an opening 8 .

Furthermore, there is a slot 9 and an insertion opening 10 in the housing 1 . The slot 9 is used to hold a phone card to be charged, but the insertion opening 10 is intended to use an entire cell phone with its foot part, so that a phone card present in the cell phone can be charged.

The slot 9 and the insertion opening 10 are assigned a charging device 11 , indicated by dashed lines, by means of which a telephone card inserted into the slot 9 or a cell phone inserted into the insertion opening 10 can be charged.

The charging device 11 is connected via a connection 12 , indicated by dashed lines, to a device 13 by means of which the value of an object of value introduced through a further slot 14 can be determined. The object of value can primarily be money, bank notes, credit cards, vouchers, etc.

Above the slot 14 there is also a keypad 15 via which the corresponding subjects 2.1 to 2.3 can be selected, on the other hand the keypad can also be used to enter a secret number for a mobile phone to be charged or a telephone card to be charged or a new secret number to be programmed into a mobile phone to be charged or a telephone card.

The operation of the present invention is as follows:
If a user desires, for example, a new telephone card 3 in the amount of a certain value, he enters the corresponding object of value in the slot 14 and selects the compartment 2.1 via the keyboard 15 . The spiral 6 rotates and pushes a telephone card 3 forward until the telephone card 3 reaches the area of the vertical shaft and falls down into the dispensing recess 7 . It can then be removed by the user through the opening 8 .

Another user has almost used up his phone card. He can now insert it into slot 9 and insert a corresponding object of value through slot 14 . The device 13 for detecting the object of value detects its value and forwards it to the charging device 11 , which charges the telephone card accordingly.

In Fig. 2 different possibilities are indicated how a customer can make up or top up his credit for making calls. In any case, he uses a machine that is preferably installed in a publicly accessible location. In the exemplary embodiment d), the above-described possibility of filling up the telephone card itself or the cell phone is shown. A corresponding housing 1.4 has the slot 14 or 14.1 for inserting a bank note or for inserting coins. The inserted value is shown on a display 16 .

In the slot 9 a telephone card or in the insertion opening 10, a mobile phone can be inserted.

After the insertion of a banknote or the inserting corresponding coins into the slots 14 and 14.1 and the insertion of a telephone card into the slot 9 and the insertion of a mobile phone in the insertion opening 10 may use the keypad 15.1 charging of the phone card or Cell phones are set in motion.

If, for example, money is urgently needed by the cell phone owner, there is also the possibility of completely or partially unloading the phone credit as desired after inserting the phone card into slot 9 or after inserting the cell phone into the insertion opening 10 an output compartment for corresponding banknotes or coins is provided. This option should also be available for the other machines.

In the three other possibilities shown a) to c) of changing his phone credit, the corresponding housings 1.1 to 1.3 are each connected via a telephone line or wirelessly to an account server 17 . In embodiment a), slots 14 and 14.1 are provided for receiving banknotes and coins. The value of the inserted coins or bank notes can be read on the display 16 . Also numbers that are entered via the keypad 15 .

After inserting banknotes or inserting coins, the cell phone owner dials the number of the account server 17 , which, for example, can have four digits, as in the mailbox. He then enters his mobile number via the keypad 15 so that the amount of money thrown in is credited to his account. He can then telephone them.

It goes without saying that the housing 1.1 can also be equipped with an output for a receipt. There is also the option of calling up money from the account server that the machine is issuing.

Of course, the slot 14 can also receive a check card, which is checked by the account server after entering a secret number, the debiting of a desired amount and the crediting to the telephone account then being carried out. For this purpose, a separate slot 18 can also be provided in the housing 1.2 . A telephone card from which a credit is transferred directly to an account server 17 could also be inserted into this slot 18 .

A similar variant is also offered by the machine c), in which the cell phone is inserted directly into the insertion opening 10 . After inserting a certain amount of money, only the number of the account server 17 needs to be selected here, the account server 17 then asks the cell phone 10 for its number and credits this number with the amount of money inserted. Here the mobile phone owner doesn't even have to enter his own number. This ensures the greatest possible certainty that the amount required to make calls will actually be credited to the desired cell phone.

These are just a few conceivable options under the However, all combinations of the invention lie Possibilities and similar execution examples.  

Item number list

1

casing

2nd

subject

3rd

Phone card

4

Disposable cell phone

5

Cell phone case

6

spiral

7

Issuers

8th

opening

9

slot

10th

Insertion opening

11

Loading device

12th

connection

13

Facility

14

slot

15

Keypad

16

Display

17th

Account server

18th

Credit card slot

Claims (10)

1. Automatic machine for providing a service by entering a valuable object with a housing ( 1 ) in which there is an opening ( 14 ) for receiving the valuable object and an opening ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) for removing the power, characterized in that a charging device ( 11 ) for charging a telephone card ( 3 ) is assigned to the opening ( 9 , 10 ) for removing the power and can be controlled by a device ( 13 ) for detecting the object of value. 2. Automatic device for performing a service based on the input of a valuable object with a housing ( 1 ) in which there is an opening ( 14 ) for receiving the valuable object and an opening ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) for removing the power, characterized in that The opening ( 8 ) for removing the power is allocated to compartments ( 2.1-2.3 ) in which there are cell phones ( 4 ), in particular disposable cell phones, telephone cards ( 3 ) and cell phone accessories ( 5 ). 3. Automatic machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the powers ( 3 , 4 , 5 ) of rotatable spirals ( 6 ) are held in the compartments ( 2.1-2.3 ). 4. Automatic device for performing a service based on the input of a valuable object with a housing ( 1 ) in which there is an opening ( 14 ) for receiving the valuable object and an opening ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) for removing the power, characterized in that the opening ( 14 ) for receiving the object of value is associated with a device ( 13 ) for detecting the object of value, which is connected to a device for issuing a secret number. 5. Vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the device ( 13 ) for issuing the secret number passes this directly to a network operator. 6. Vending machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the facility for issuing the secret number with connected to a display or a printer. 7. Automatic machine for refilling a telephone credit with a housing ( 1.1-1.4 ) in which there is an opening ( 14 , 14.1 , 18 ) for receiving a valuable item and a keypad ( 15 , 15.1 ), characterized in that the opening ( 14 , 14.1 , 18 ) for receiving the object of value is assigned a device for detecting the object of value and this is connected to a device ( 17 ) for replenishing the telephone credit. 8. Automatic machine according to claim 7, characterized in that in the housing ( 1.4 ) there is a slot ( 9 ) for inserting a telephone card to be filled and / or an insertion opening ( 10 ) for inserting a cell phone to be filled. 9. Vending machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the device for capturing the object of value with can be connected to an external account server.   10. Automatic machine according to claim 9, characterized in that a connection between the account server and the device for detecting the object of value can be ordered via a keypad ( 15 ), a telephone card and / or the cell phone itself.