Method and device for accessing, controlling and purchasing a product through a dispenser

Abstract

Various technologies described herein pertain to an automated dispenser including a dispensing portion, a motion sensor, a receiver module, and a control module. The control module initiates motion sensing by the motion sensor in response to receipt of an activation signal from a network server by the receiver module. The dispensing portion dispenses a product in response to the motion sensor sensing an absence, presence or motion of an object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling dispensing of a product from an automated dispenser, executed at a mobile computing device, comprising:
 reading an identifier associated with the automated dispenser;   responsive to reading the identifier associated with the automated dispenser, transmitting an authorization request to a network server, the request comprising identification data based on the identifier associated with the automated dispenser;   responsive to the request being authorized, transmitting an activation signal to the automated dispenser, the activation signal configured to cause the automated dispenser to dispense the product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the authorization request to the network server comprises transmitting a request to determine that a user of the mobile computing device has sufficient credits in an account to pay for at least one product stored within the automated dispenser. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reading the identifier comprises reading the identifier via near-field-communication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a near-field communication chip. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reading the identifier comprises receiving the identifier via proximity determined through GPS. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a GPS location. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activation signal is indicative of an authorization for the automated dispenser to dispense the product. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authorization request further comprises a user credential. 
     
     
         9 . A computing system for controlling an automated dispenser by way of network communication, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 reading an identifier associated with the automated dispenser; 
 responsive to reading the identifier associated with the automated dispenser, transmitting an authorization request to a network server, the request comprising identification data based on the identifier associated with the automated dispenser; and 
 transmitting an activation signal to the automated dispenser responsive to receiving an indication of authorization of the request, the activation signal configured to cause the automated dispenser to dispense a product. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein reading the identifier comprises reading the identifier via near-field communication (NFC). 
     
     
         11 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein reading the identifier comprises receiving the identifier via proximity determined through GPS. 
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the identifier is a GPS location. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein transmitting the authorization request to the network server comprises transmitting a request to the network server to determine that a user has sufficient credits in an account to pay for the product. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the indication of authorization of the request is based upon an authorization status of a user relative to the automated dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 14 , wherein the authorization status of the user is based upon a credit account of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the activation signal is indicative of an authorization to dispense the product. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 reading an identifier associated with an automated dispenser;   
       responsive to reading the identifier associated with the automated dispenser, transmitting a request to a network server, the request comprising identification data based on the identifier associated with the automated dispenser; and 
       transmitting an activation signal to the automated dispenser in response to authorization of the request by the network server, the activation signal configured to cause the automated dispenser to dispense a product. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein reading the identifier comprises reading the identifier via near-field-communication. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the request further comprises a credential of a user. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the request is configured to cause the network server to determine whether a user has sufficient credits in an account to pay for the product.