System providing direct internet access in public or semi-public places

Abstract

A vending machine for dispensing telecommunications access is disclosed. A customer interested in using the telecommunications access makes a payment into the payment processing unit which forwards the payment information to the central control unit. The central control unit reports the transaction information to a central computer system via its modem connected to a telecommunication channel. Access to the same telecommunication channel or another channel can be made available to the customer via a switchable telecommunications access circuit which is also controlled by the central control unit. The customer connects to the telecommunications channel via the telecommunications access connector. The central control unit provides information on the progress of the vending transaction to the customer via the user interface. The central control unit determines when the transaction is completed by sensing the cessation of usage via the usage detection circuit or via customer action at the user interface.

1 . A system for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel providing the direct Internet service;    a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and    at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer's device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to monitor usage of the telecommunications channel.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authorizations for access are based on payment by the customer for a vended transaction.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein payment comprises remittance in currency form, coin form, or electronic form.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein payment comprises remittance by credit card, debit card, smart card, or pre-paid card.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein payment comprises remittance by electronic communication with a microprocessor.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein payment comprises remittance based on an electronic communication providing data to the control unit.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications channel comprises a high speed data channel.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises one or more of wireless networks, ISDN channels, T1 channels, T3 channels, cable networks, or external communications channels.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 channel or a T3 channel.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a payment processing unit configured to receive payment from a customer.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the computing unit are combined in a single unit.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications access circuit is a built-in function within the control unit.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the computing unit are distributed from one another.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising memory configured for communication with the control unit and in which one or both of payment information and transaction length information are stored.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising memory disposed in the control unit and in which one or both of payment information and transaction length information are stored.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit is configured for computing a usage cost as a function of the usage amount.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for computing a usage cost as a function of the usage amount.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit is configured for computing a telecommunications channel usage amount to determine a payment amount.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for computing a telecommunications channel usage amount to determine a payment amount.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit limits usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage amount.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit limits usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage amount.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to track a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized, and the control unit is adapted to limit usage of the telecommunications channel to a predetermined amount corresponding to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit is configured to track a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized, and the control unit is adapted to limit usage of the telecommunications channel to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit is configured to communicate to the control unit a quantity of telecommunications channel access authorized, and the control unit is adapted to limit usage of the telecommunications channel to the quantity of access authorized.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing unit limits usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage cost level.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit limits usage of the telecommunications channel as a function of usage cost level.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the usage cost level is a function of convenience of the system.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the usage cost level is a function of length of usage time.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of telecommunications channels, wherein the control unit is adapted to control access to the plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of telecommunications channels, wherein the control unit is adapted to monitor usage of the plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of telecommunications connector devices.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for communicating transaction and system information to the customer.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control access to the telecommunications channel based at least in part on a valid data indication.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications connector device comprises one or more of a cable port, an RJ-45 connector port, a serial port, a parallel port, or an I/O port.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications connector device comprises an RJ-45 connector port.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a single payment processing mechanism configured for operation with a plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single control unit is configured for operation with a plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single user interface is configured for operation with a plurality of telecommunications channels.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single control unit is configured for operation with a plurality of telecommunications connector devices.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications access circuit is adapted to detect disconnection of the at least one telecommunications connector to signal termination of a transaction to the control unit.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications access circuit is adapted to detect an indication from the customer to terminate a transaction.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit seeks authorization from the computing unit before providing telecommunications access in the form of direct Internet service.  
   
   
       44 . A system for vending to a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service on a transactional basis, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control access to a telecommunications channel providing the direct Internet service on a vended transactional basis;    a computing unit adapted to process vended transaction based authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and    at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer's device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       45 . A system for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service;    a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the high speed data channel as directed by the control unit; and    at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer's device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system to obtain high speed access to the high speed direct Internet service through the high speed data channel when enabled by the telecommunications access circuit;    wherein high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service is provided through a Local Area Network connection; and    wherein the control unit is adapted to monitor usage of the high speed data channel.    
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the Local Area Network comprises an Ethernet network.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 line.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the authorizations for high speed access are based on payment by the customer.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the control unit is adapted to record usage amounts of the high speed data channel.  
   
   
       50 . A system for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service;    a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the high speed data channel as directed by the control unit; and    at least one telecommunications connector device enabling the customer's device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system to obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the high speed data channel when enabled by the telecommunications access circuit;    wherein high speed access to the high speed data channel supplying the direct Internet service is provided through a Local Area Network connection; and    wherein the computing unit is adapted to monitor usage of the high speed data channel.    
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the Local Area Network comprises an Ethernet network.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the high speed data channel comprises a T1 line.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the authorizations for high speed access are based on payment by the customer.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the computing unit is adapted to record usage amounts of the high speed data channel.  
   
   
       55 . A system for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the direct Internet service;    a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel; and    at least one telecommunications connector device in the form of an RJ-45 port enabling the customer's device located in the public or semi-public place to connect with the system and obtain high speed access to the direct Internet service through the telecommunications channel.    
   
   
       56 . A system for providing a customer's portable device located in a public or semi-public place with telecommunications access in the form of high speed direct Internet service, the system comprising: 
 a control unit adapted to control high speed access to a telecommunications channel in the form of a T1 line providing the direct Internet service;    a computing unit adapted to process authorizations for high speed access to the direct Internet service, and configured for communication with the control unit;    a telecommunications access circuit enabling high speed access to the telecommunications channel;    a telecommunications connector device in the form of an RJ- 45  port; and    a customer's portable device located in the public or semi-public place and having an RJ-45-based connection with the RJ-45 port through a cable, the customer's portable device obtaining high speed access to the direct Internet service from the T1 line through the RJ-45 connection.