Abstract: According to the present invention, restaurant folios, for example, are equipped with a credit card reader, the card reader having memory and a communication port. The customers swipe their credit cards, for example, at the table and the credit card information is stored in the card reader. Waiters retrieve the card reader/folios combinations and carry them to an existing remote billing location. At the billing location a docking system receives local, preferably wireless, communication from the card readers and transfers card information to an establishment's existing centralized point-of-sale (POS) system as though the card had been taken from the customer at the table and swiped at the remote billing location.

Abstract: The present invention recognizes that in sales and deliveries of large digital content such as movies, the volume of sales is best affected by wide area, low speed connections for browsing and comparison shopping, while customer satisfaction is best served by high speed wired connections where chosen and purchased content can be delivered relatively quickly. This can occur in a physical area where customers are in close proximity to the vending kiosk, or will be in close proximity at a later time, such as when shopping near the kiosk. At the kiosk, high speed wired connections make the quick delivery. By creating such a configuration, sales are maximized and the customer experience is enhanced.

Abstract: A retrofit, automatic audit system for a door-access, coin-operated newspaper rack machine is disclosed. The system operates in conjunction with the standard door-lock mechanism and includes a retrofit purchase-mechanism mounted on the machine. The purchase-mechanism includes an electromechanical audit structure which is operatively connected to the purchase-mechanism and door-lock mechanism and monitors and records service and transaction audit data involving the purchase-mechanism. A portable data transfer unit is proximity coupleable with the audit structure for acquiring audit data therefrom. The system includes proximity activation through magnetic structure which causes the audit structure to shift from a data acquisition mode to an automatic data transfer mode when a data transfer unit is proximity coupled thereto. Communication means between the audit structure and the data transfer unit includes an optical structure providing communication therebetween.