Jon Scott Price

US Patent:

20030182243, Sep 25, 2003

Filed:

Mar 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/103587

Inventors:

Howard Gerson - Overland Park KS, US
Jon Price - Overland Park KS, US
Chuck Tooley - Kansas City KS, US
Michael Davis - Westwood KS, US

International Classification:

H04Q001/00

US Classification:

705/073000, 340/005420, 340/825720

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for conducting delegated tasks in response to a remote signal. The apparatus includes terminals, such as coin-operated electronic apparatus or consumer electronic apparatus, that are equipped with a module having a controller component configured to transfer and receive telephonic and data commands to activate a function of the terminal remotely and monitor certain conditions within the terminal. The method comprises the steps of accessing an electronic communication device of the terminal through a communication device of the user (i.e. mobile phone, PDA, etc.), a module receiving, authenticating and executing the command inputted at the user's communication device in response to the command and, optionally, monitoring the functions of the terminal and communicating a related signal to an associated data network.