The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2001
Jonathan H. Metcalf, Houston, TX (US);
Robert J. O'leary, Cypress, TX (US);
Merlyn W. Barth, St. Louis, MO (US);
Jacob H. Gunther, North Logan, UT (US);
Erik S. Peterson, Cypress, TX (US);
Heath W. Rogers, Bloomington, IN (US);
Jonathan H. Metcalf, Houston, TX (US);
Robert J. O'Leary, Cypress, TX (US);
Merlyn W. Barth, St. Louis, MO (US);
Jacob H. Gunther, North Logan, UT (US);
Erik S. Peterson, Cypress, TX (US);
Heath W. Rogers, Bloomington, IN (US);
Chesterfield Holdings, L.L.C., Seattle, WA (US);
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.