DESC:The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention in general relates to vending machines and kiosk systems, more particularly to an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart kiosks having wireless telecommunication components for wireless communication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART:

With the advent of technology and digitization, the concept of e-commerce, online and virtual shopping, digitization of user centric facilities have substantially increased. Kiosks having wireless telecommunication components for wireless communication, typically called as smart kiosks, have played a vital role in developing a user-friendly system for various industries such as retail, hospitality, travel and the like. The use of smart kiosks systems by various industries have significantly reduced their dependency over human resources, which is difficult to manage and a costly affair. Even with these smart kiosks, any user, at any corner of the globe, through internet connection, can access various facilities extended by various industries. Various smart kiosks are known in the art, which provides facilities such as payment of utility bills, booking of tickets, dispensing utility items, sale of online tickets and the like. Even various kinds of kiosks such as tele-kiosks, financial kiosks, photo kiosks, internet kiosk, ticketing kiosk, movie ticket kiosk, visitor management and security kiosk, hospital management and check-in/out kiosk and the like are known in art.

However, every technology comes with a package of pros and cons. Similarly, the smart kiosk technology has several constraints which not only limit its utility but also reduces its acceptance. An illustration for such limitation would include identification of the user i.e. there is no easy way of identifying the user interacting with the kiosk, physical constraints i.e. at a time only person can operate the kiosk, time constraints i.e. if the person is not well versed with the operation of such kiosk, it will eat up the time for other users and the like. At times, non availability of internet connection, power cuts, overcrowding, security concerns and the like acts against the acceptance of the smart kiosks.

Thus, in order to overcome the limitations mentioned above and several others associated with the existing prior art system known in the art, there exist a need to design and develop a method for allowing the user to interact with the kiosk through a mobile application rather than the display panel of the kiosk, which will help overcome several constraints discussed above.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, which allows users to interact with kiosks using a mobile application.

Another object of the present invention is provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, which saves time and permits multiple operations over single kiosk after registering the user and verifying their credentials.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, wherein a user can register itself and its verification can be done using a log-in identification detail, scanning a QR code, or automatic detection of kiosk through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology or Bluetooth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, which facilitates interaction to the user, session interactions via sequential steps for eliciting inputs, processing and presenting of outputs, final output via a confirmation, physical delivery of goods via the kiosk, printing of a receipt, an online transaction etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, which provides user friendly graphic user interface capable of modification/alteration depending upon the user specific requirement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile enabled interactive kiosk, which facilitates user to provide input using various input/out means and presents the output through one of the several means including without limitation menus, graphs, charts and user interactive screens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments, a user session with the kiosk can either be initiated manually by the user himself through scanning a QR code or automatically through NFC/Bluetooth detection of the kiosk. Upon initiation of a session, the appropriate mode of interaction will be determined by the interactive application. This could be in the form of a menu driven session, chat based session or UI based session. The interaction could be directly with the kiosk itself, which in turn is connected to the backend or between the mobile app and the backend. In case it is with the kiosk and the mobile app, the interactive elements (i.e. the UI or the menu items as the case may be) are streamed from the kiosk to the app and the user’s inputs are streamed back. In either case the session information is relayed to the backend by the kiosk and/or the mobile app. The backend processes the inputs and submits the outputs and/or visual elements for the next step of the session. Upon the completion of the session, the final action could be either a digital confirmation delivered on the app and/or the kiosk, a receipt, a print out or a physical delivery of a product via the kiosk. Payments if any could be collected through various means including payment through the app, swiping of card on the kiosk terminal or physical money inserted into the kiosk.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The present invention overcomes the aforesaid drawbacks and the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention showing the overall system architecture of the mobile enabled interactive kiosk.

Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention showing a mobile enabled interactive kiosk displaying physical products.

Figure 3 discloses an embodiment of the invention showing interaction of user with the mobile enabled interactive kiosk through scanning of a QR code.

Figure 4 discloses an embodiment of the present invention showing a user interface capable of establishing interaction with the mobile enabled interactive kiosk.

Figure 5 of the present invention discloses a flow chart of the entire process from user’s end.

Figure 6 of the present invention discloses a flow process from the backend.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Reference is made to the Figure 1 to 4, which depicts various illustrative embodiments of the present invention. The illustrations and the explanations of the present invention mentioned hereinafter may be explained with the aid and assistance of the Figure 1 to 4 jointly or severally, however, the same may not be treated as limitation to the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an internet connected kiosk can be operated through a mobile based application, which can be downloaded from a server situated locally on any system or globally over a cloud. The said mobile based application can be downloaded on any hand held device such as mobile, palmtop, tablet, and the like. The said mobile based application can establish the connection with any kiosk through NFC, Bluetooth, infrared, or through log-in identification, QR code and the like with the aid and assistance of internet connection present on the hand held device. After establishing the connection, the mobile based application facilitates the user to have an interactive session with the kiosk through user friendly graphical user interface. Any user, after establishing the connection with the interactive kiosk, can submit the input in the form of various input means such as menu, chat, GUI, written or verbal command and the like. These inputs can be received by the interactive kiosk and is processed at the backend through a controller programmed to process such commands. The output can be in one of several types that include – confirmation, physical delivery of goods via the kiosk, printing of a receipt, an online transaction and the like.

Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention showing the overall system architecture (100) of the mobile enabled interactive kiosk. The said system architecture (100) comprises a hand held device operated by a user (110) connected to an interactive kiosk (120) through servers (160) located locally on any system or globally over cloud (150).

The hand held device operated by a user (110) establishes the connection with the interactive kiosk (120) through NFC, Bluetooth, infrared, or through log-in identification, QR code and the like with the aid and assistance of internet connection present on the hand held device (110). The hand held device (110) can be any mobile, laptop, palm top or any digital assistance device. After establishing the connection with the interactive kiosk (120), the hand held device (110) interacts with the kiosk through various inputs means such as without limitation menu, chat, GUI, written or verbal command and the like (130). The said interactive kiosk (120) comprises of a controller (135), which is capable of decoding the inputs (130) fed in by the user. After decoding the inputs (130), the interactive kiosk (120) procures the details through inventory control management system (145), which gets the requisite information from the data storage such as vendor ware house, availability of specific article, rates of specific articles, discounts, if available and the like (140). The cloud (150) and the server (160) acts as a bridge between the hand held device (110) and interactive kiosk (120).

Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention showing a mobile enabled interactive kiosk displaying physical products. The said embodiment discloses an interactive kiosk (200) having a user interface (210) along with a display shelf (220), which can be used to display various kinds of products. This kind of kiosk would facilitate any user, who wishes to purchase the specific product, placed in display shelf (220), after downloading the mobile based application through server or cloud, establishes its connection with the interactive kiosk (200) through internet, NFC, Bluetooth or infrared. After establishing the connection, the user can send the input instructions through the user interface (210), which can be executed at backend with the help of a controller (not shown).

By way of an illustration, interactive kiosks (200) as discussed above could be in a retail context wherein physical products are displayed in the kiosk. In such a scenario, upon invoking the mobile based application, the exact product of interest to the user will be identified by scanning of the corresponding QR code of the product. This also invokes the user session. After selection of the product, the user can directly send the product for payment and the product can be delivered to it at the time of exit.

Figure 3 discloses an embodiment of the invention showing interaction of user with the mobile enabled interactive kiosk (300) by activating the mobile based application through scanning of a QR code (310). In the said embodiment, any user would establish the connection with the interactive kiosk (300) by scanning the QR code (310). This kind of kiosk could be in a services industry as shopping mall, airline ticket check in or a hospital. A user can connect to the interactive kiosk while scanning QR code and activate the mobile based application through which it can accomplish its instructions.

Figure 4 discloses an embodiment of the present invention showing a user interface (410) capable of establishing interaction with the mobile enabled interactive kiosk (415). In the said embodiment, the interaction can happen between the mobile based application present over a user interface (410) and the interactive kiosk (415). The interactive menu as inputs can be streamed from the interactive kiosk (415) to the mobile based application using NFC, Bluetooth or similar machine to machine communication protocols. The inputs from the user can be streamed back to the interactive kiosk in a similar manner.

In another embodiment, the interaction can be between the mobile based application and the backend through the regular internet means. The interaction can be driven through a menu, which consists of numbers starting from 1 onwards and a corresponding action which will be undertaken upon choosing that option. This effectively will constitute a decision tree with inputs in the form of numbers or other text based inputs and output in the form of information which will be displayed and/or the next set of options.

Figure 5 of the present invention discloses a flow chart of the entire process from user’s end. In the said embodiment, at step 510, the user downloads the interactive application from any play store. After downloading, the user registers itself with his credentials. In the present embodiment, at step 520, when the user activates the interactive application, it activates the Near Field Communication devices (NFC) such as Bluetooth, infrared and the like. The devices would in turn try to identify any nearby interactive kiosk at step and connects the same with the hand held devices at step 530. At step 540, the interactive kiosk permits the user to make the transactions, which would include reviewing the product, their details, place order and make payment.

In another embodiment, the interaction can be driven through a set of UI screens similar to the normal web/app interactions or a chat session which can be either automated through a boot or manual wherein an agent responds to the user’s inputs/queries. Upon successful completion of the tasks, the interactive kiosk can deliver a printout which could be a confirmation, receipt, token, ticket etc .

Figure 6 of the present invention discloses a flow process from the backend. In the said embodiment, at step 610, the interactive kiosk receives the signals emitted from the hand-held device and verifies the identity of the user. At step 620, the kiosk establishes the connection and permits the user to interact with interactive kiosk. At step 630, the user is allowed to screen the products, their details and the like. At step 640, the interactive kiosk accepts the order and process the payment along with the delivery of product. In the present embodiment, mode of payments can be through various means including payment through the app, swiping of card on the kiosk terminal or physical money inserted into the kiosk. Upon successful completion of the tasks, the interactive kiosk can deliver the actual product displayed. In another embodiment, upon successful completion of the tasks, the mobile based application presents a confirmation which may include a call for action. This could be in the form of a request for user to collect the product from a nearby store also.

The embodiments of the invention described, referred hereinabove are provided to overcome the hurdles and achieve benefits, and advantages as hereinabove set forth. It may be possible to further modify and improve the described invention within the scope of the unity of the present invention. Thus, the illustrations, explanations, formulae and the methodology as explained in the specification hereinabove may not be treated as limitation to the invention.

,CLAIMS:CLAIMS:

I/We claim:

1. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device comprising an interactive kiosk adapted with an NFC detecting mechanism, a display unit, a controller; a digital electronic device capable of transmitting and receiving NFC signals; and cloud controlled servers.

2. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital device can be any mobile, laptop, palmtop or any digital assistance device.

3. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interactive kiosk can be any physical structure equipped with a graphical user interface, controller capable of receiving, analyzing and disseminating signals and instructions, an NFC detecting mechanism and shelf for storing the articles.

4. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said interactive kiosk and the digital device interacts with each other through NFC device i.e. near field communication device such as Bluetooth, infrared and the like.

5. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein after receiving the NFC signals from the digital device of the user, the controller of the interactive kiosk connects with the cloud controlled servers, which are located globally or locally to fetch the desired information sought by the user.

6. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloud controlled server stores various information such as details of the products, their photographs, manufacturing and expiry details, selling price, packaging details, offers and the like.

7. An interactive kiosk capable of interacting through digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital device of the user sends NFC signals to the interactive kiosks and the same a decoded by the interactive kiosk through the controllers and the desired information sought by the user are fetched from the cloud controlled server and transmitted to the user through NFC signals.

8. A method for allowing users to interact with interactive kiosk through an interactive application comprising: enablement of user to invoke the interactive application; means for presenting the appropriate interface for interaction to the user, session interactions via sequential steps for eliciting inputs, processing and presenting of outputs, final output via a confirmation, physical delivery of goods via the kiosk, printing of a receipt, an online transaction and the like.

9. A method for allowing users to interact with interactive kiosk as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for invoking the interactive application by the user is either through scanning a QR code, or downloading the same from any play store or online.

10. A method for allowing users to interact with interactive kiosk as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user connects with the interactive kiosk through NFC or Bluetooth.

11. A method for allowing users to interact with interactive kiosk as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interactive kiosk presents appropriate interface for interaction to the user including providing menus, pictures, graphics of the goods and the like.

12. A method for allowing users to interact with interactive kiosk as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interactive kiosk processes the instructions received from the user via sequential steps for eliciting inputs, processing and presenting of outputs through the controller sitting over it and fetches the required information and processes physical delivery of goods via the kiosk, printing of a receipt, an online transaction through cloud controller servers.