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.

Abstract: Disclosed is 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.

Abstract: An improved vending machine for vending age-restricted products is disclosed. The vending machine preferably uses a customer's credit card to obtain age verification information from a consumer reporting agency via a modem. In a preferred embodiment, a customer inputs customer information, preferably a credit card number, into the vending machine. The vending machine obtains permission from the customer to use the customer information to retrieve the customer's age. Thereafter, the age data is either retrieved from a server farm containing the age of the customer corresponding to the credit card, or is retrieved via modem from the database of a consumer reporting agency. Additionally, the modem connection allows the creditworthiness of the credit card to be checked via access to a credit card company database. If the age and credit card of the customer can be verified in this fashion, the vending machine then vends the product to the customer.

Abstract: An improved vending machine for vending age-restricted products is disclosed. The vending machine preferably uses a customer's credit card to obtain age verification information from a consumer reporting agency via a modem. In a preferred embodiment, a customer inputs customer information, preferably a credit card number, into the vending machine. The vending machine obtains permission from the customer to use the customer information to retrieve the customer's age. Thereafter, the age data is either retrieved from a server farm containing the age of the customer corresponding to the credit card, or is retrieved via modem from the database of a consumer reporting agency. Additionally, the modem connection allows the creditworthiness of the credit card to be checked via access to a credit card company database. If the age and credit card of the customer can be verified in this fashion, the vending machine then vends the product to the customer.