WO1999062038A1

WO1999062038A1 - Pre-paid telephone calling card vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO1999062038A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/010665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert B. Cooley; Christopher W. Jones
Original assignee: Autocard Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-05-27
Filing date: 1999-05-14
Publication date: 1999-12-02
Also published as: AU3991399A

Abstract

A vending machine for telephone calling cards or similar pre-paid debit tokens reads a personal identification number (PIN) from a list of such numbers stored in a replaceable memory and prints it on the card. When all the PINs stored in the memory have been used in this manner, the supply of blank cards may be replenished, and the memory may be removed and replaced with a memory having a new list of PINs. The purchaser may use the calling cards to make pre-paid telephone calls in the conventional manner.

Description

PRE-PAID TELEPHONE CALLING CARD VENDING MACHINE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 09/085,216, filed

May 27, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pre-paid telephone calling cards and, more specifically, to systems and methods for activating such cards that are dispensed from a vending machine.

Description of the Related Art

A pre-paid telephone calling card allows a person to make a telephone call without making a payment at the time the call is made. Rather, the cost of the telephone call is debited from a corresponding account during each call. Prior to making the telephone call, the person purchases the card from a service provider, which is typically not a telephone company but rather a reseller of telephone services purchased from a telephone company. More often, a person purchases cards from a vendor, such as a convenience store, that re-sells a service provider's cards. The person's payment represents the initial account balance from which the cost of calls are to be debited. Cards may be purchased in fixed denominations, such as five dollars or ten dollars (or other local monetary units). A five dollar card allows a user to make five dollars worth of telephone calls at a rate established by the service provider. By purchasing the card the person is, in effect, pre-paying for telephone calling services.

To make a telephone call to another party, the person first makes a telephone call to the service provider, typically through a toll-free connection. The toll-free telephone number is typically printed on the card. The person then provides information to the service provider that identifies the account. Typically, the person simply uses the buttons of the telephone keypad to enter a number that is printed on the card. Such a number is typically known as a personal identification number (PIN). Nevertheless, other types of pre-paid telephone calling cards have a magnetic stripe or similar medium that stores the PIN or other identifying information on the card in an electronically readable manner. Telephones having a means for reading a magnetic stripe can thus read the number or other identifying information automatically. The service provider's computer receives and compares the identifying information to a database to verify the authenticity of the account. If the account is authentic, the computer instructs the caller, typically by means of voice prompts, to dial the telephone number of the party to whom the caller wishes to speak. The computer then completes the call by making the connection through the appropriate telephone companies and debits the caller's account by an amount proportional to the duration of the call. When the account balance falls to an amount not sufficient to pay for a call, the computer prevents any further telephone service. The person may then purchase a new card. Some service providers provide a feature that allows a person to recharge a card, i.e., increase the balance of the corresponding account, by making further payment. Although telephone calling cards are most commonly sold in convenience stores and other retail outlets in a manner similar to any other goods, they are increasingly sold in automated kiosks and by automated vending machines. A telephone calling card vending machine may include a means for accepting payment from a purchaser, such as a currency acceptor or a credit card acceptor, a supply of cards of various denominations pre-printed with PIN numbers, a selection mechanism, and a dispensing mechanism. A user may, for example, insert a bill into the currency acceptor and press a button of the selection mechanism to select the denomination of the card the user wishes to purchase. In response to sufficient payment, the dispensing mechanism ejects a card having the selected denomination.

In accordance with certain vending systems, the cards stored in the vending machines are "live." That is, the service provider's computer and its database reflect accounts having initial balances corresponding to the denominations of the cards stored in the vending machine. Such a vending machine is more attractive to thieves than vending machines for conventional goods such as foods and beverages because the cards are generally much more valuable. A supply of live cards in a vending machine in, for example, five and ten dollar denominations, may have a total value of hundreds of dollars.

To minimize the vendor's exposure to theft, vending systems have been developed that include on-line activation. In response to receipt of payment from a purchaser, the vending machine makes a telephone connection to the service provider's computer, which only then activates the account corresponding to the card to be dispensed. Thus, the cards stored in the machine have no intrinsic value until they are sold. Variations on such on-line activation systems include providing a vending machine with a printer that prints on the card to be dispensed a PIN received from the service provider's computer. A disadvantage of on-line activation vending systems is that the vending machine must be connected to the telephone network. Typically, such connection requires that the local telephone company install a dedicated subscriber line, which limits the vendor's freedom of choice in placing its vending machine where the vendor believes it will maximize card sales. Vending machines having wireless or cellular telephone equipment are known, but they are not as economical.

A convenient and economical alternative to telephone calling card vending machines and vending systems known in the art would be desirable. These needs are satisfied by the present invention in the manner described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vending machine and method for selling telephone calling cards and similar pre-paid debit tokens that are to be used by the purchaser to access a telephone network or other suitable electronic system. The present invention also relates to the method by which a provider of the electronic system services provides a vendor with the ability to resell the services using the vending machine. The purchaser may use the tokens to make prepaid telephone calls or use other services in the conventional manner. That is, the purchaser contacts the service provider and provides identifying information that identifies an account. The telephone or other electronic system service provider provides access to the purchaser if the account balance is sufficient and debits the balance in response to use of the system services by the user.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vending machine includes a payment acceptor for receiving payment from a user, a token repository for storing a supply of access tokens that do not bear the identifying information, a memory for storing a list of activation identifiers, an activator and a token dispenser. In response to receipt of sufficient payment from a purchaser, the activator reads an activation identifier from the memory that it has not previously read, and records information responsive to the activation identifier on an access token from the token repository. The token dispenser then provides the access token to the purchaser. For example, the access token may be a card, and the activator may print an activation identifier such as a PIN on the card before it is dispensed. Nevertheless, an activation identifier may be any suitable information, and activation of the token may occur in any suitable manner, including electronically altering information that is recorded or stored on the card. The information may be the activation identifier itself or it may be any other indication that the card has been activated. In a vending machine that dispenses cards or similar items, the access token may be dispensed separately from the card. For example, the access token may be an adhesive label or sticker that the purchaser can mount on the card. In any event, each time another access token is sold, another activation identifier is used.

An important advantage of the system is that the contents of the memory in the vending machine, i.e., the activation identifiers, control or limit the activation of the tokens. In an exemplary embodiment of the vending system, the provider of the electronic system services sells the vendor not only a supply of cards but also the memory itself, in which the PINs or other activation identifiers are pre-stored. The memory is preferably a removable non-volatile medium such as a flash memory or a so-called smart card that can be installed in the vending machine and then removed when all of the activation identifiers have been used.

The vending machine is resistant to theft because the cards stored in it have no value prior to activation, and the means for activating them includes a memory that is relatively tamper proof because its contents can only be read electronically. Indeed, the contents may even be encrypted or otherwise made difficult to translate into useful PINs or other activation identifiers without prior knowledge of the encryption or translation system. The vending machine is relatively economical because it includes none of the telephony equipment of vending machines having on-line activation.

The foregoing, together with other features and advantages of the present invention, will become more apparent when referring to the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone calling card vending machine, with the access door open to show the memory card and a supply of blank telephone calling cards in a dispensing and printing mechanism;

Figure 2 illustrates one face of a telephone calling card dispensed by the vending machine;

Figure 3 illustrates the other face of a telephone calling card dispensed by the vending machine, showing the PIN printed on it;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the vending machine; Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the method of setting up the vending machine prior to use;

Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the method of vending a card; Figure 7 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment in which an existing vending machine is retrofitted in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 illustrates an alternative telephone calling card having a sticker bearing the PIN.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in Fig. 1 , a telephone calling card vending machine 10 dispenses telephone calling cards 12 in response to payment from a user. Such cards are sometimes referred to as pre-paid telephone calling cards. As described below, a user (not shown) may use one of cards 12 to access the telephone network via a service provider to make a telephone call. Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention relates to telephone calling cards, other embodiments of the invention may relate to other types of tokens that represent other types of pre-paid services. Accordingly, although the service provider described with respect to the illustrated embodiment is a provider of telephone services, in other embodiments the service provider may be a provider of any other suitable electronically accessible service. Accessible to a user on the front panel of vending machine 10 is a bill acceptor 14 for receiving payment from the user, selector buttons 16 and 18 for selecting the denomination of card 12 that the user desires to purchase, and a slot 20 through which cards 12 are dispensed. Card 12 is illustrated in further detail in Figs. 2 and 3. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the front surface of card 12 displays suitable graphic or textual indicia to convey to a user that the card is a telephone calling card and to convey its denomination. The illustrated card 12 includes the text "$20 TELEPHONE CARD" to convey that the card has a value or denomination of twenty dollars. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the reverse surface of card 12 displays a telephone number 22 for the user to call to contact the service provider. The number is typically a toll-free number, which in the United States typically includes the prefix "800" or "888". The reverse surface of card 12 also displays a personal identification number (PIN) 24. It further includes a magnetic stripe 26.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, vending machine 10 further includes, in addition to bill acceptor 14 and selector buttons 16 and 18, an activation controller 28, a card dispenser and printer unit 30, and a memory card 32. Card dispenser and printer unit 30 includes a card dispenser 34 that stores a supply of blank cards and dispenses each card upon which the printer 36 prints PIN 24. As described further below, memory card 32, which is preferably a flash memory card or similar non-volatile semiconductor data storage medium, stores a list of PINs 24 to be printed upon the blank cards. Other types of memory may also be suitable. For reasons described below, an important aspect of memory card 32 is that it can readily be installed in and removed from vending machine 10.

A method for providing the vending system is illustrated in Fig. 5. At step 38 the service provider or a third party via the service provider initially sells vending machine 10 to a vendor or otherwise enters into an arrangement for the vendor to control the use of vending machine 10. In other embodiments that relate to providing services other than telephone services, it may be desirable for the service provider itself to control the use of vending machine 10 directly. As indicated by step 40, the service provider also defines a number of PINs 24 and corresponding accounts. As is conventional in the pre-paid telephone card industry, the service provider has a computer (not shown) that maintains a database of (typically, thousands of) PINs 24 and corresponding account balances. The service provider may also sell the vendor the blank cards. The cards may be made of plastic, cardboard or similar materials. At step 42 the blank calling cards are loaded into card dispenser and printer unit 30 of vending machine 10. Importantly, the service provider also sells the vendor PINs 24. This transaction may be effected by providing the vendor with memory card 32, and may occur in conjunction with selling the vendor blank cards. At step 44 memory card 32 is installed in vending machine 10. The service provider may define PINs 24 in various denominations. For example, some of PINs 24 may have corresponding account balances of ten dollars, and others may have corresponding account balances of twenty dollars. Thus, the vendor can choose how many PINs 24 to purchase of each denomination. In keeping with the well- understood concept of a PIN as used in this art, each PIN 24 in the service provider's database is, of course, different from every other PIN 24. Accordingly, each PIN 24 stored in memory card 32 is different from every other PIN 24 stored in memory card 32 and different from PINs 24 stored in other memory cards 32 that the service provider may sell to other vendors.

The loading of blank calling cards and installation of memory card 32 may be performed by the service provider's representative. The service provider may arrange with the vendor to have a representative visit vending machine 10 from time to time to replenish the supply of blank cards and replace memory card 32. Briefly referring to Fig. 1 , the representative can access these elements inside vending machine 10 through an access door 46. As illustrated, the repository 48 for storing the supply of blank cards may be located in card dispenser and printer unit 30. The representative can plug memory card 32 into a connector or receptacle 50 on an electronic circuit board 52. Suitable flash memory cards and receptacles for receiving them in a removable manner are well-known and commercially available. The circuitry of activation controller 28 and related circuitry is included in circuit board 52. Although in the illustrated embodiment, memory card 32 is a flash memory card that is plugged into or otherwise received in a receptacle 50 inside vending machine 10, other arrangements may be suitable. For example, in other embodiments, the memory may be included in a card that transmits data to (and may even receive data from) activation controller 28 in a wireless manner, such as via radio-frequency communication or inductive communication. The card may be a so-called smart card that includes a processor of its own. Also, in other embodiments the memory may be a medium other than a card. For example, the memory may be a magnetic or optical disk, such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM. Figure 6 illustrates a method for vending a telephone calling card 12 and the method by which a purchaser of card 12 can use it to place a telephone call. At step 54 vending machine 10 receives a payment from the user. The user can insert currency into bill acceptor 14, although in other embodiments a credit card reader may be provided for accepting payment via a user's credit card. In the exemplary vending machine 10, cards are provided in two denominations: ten dollars ($10) and twenty dollars. ($20), as indicated by the indicia on buttons 16 and 18, respectively. The user can thus insert a $10 bill or $20 bill and, as indicated by step 56, press the corresponding button 16 or 18 to request a calling card in that denomination. Although not illustrated, it is well-known and thus suitable in other embodiments of the present invention to pair a bill acceptor with a change mechanism to provide change for a user who inserts a bill of a larger denomination than the denomination of calling card he desires to purchase.

In response to insertion of a bill and pressing button 16 or 18, activation controller 28 (Fig. 4) determines whether the denomination of the bill is sufficient to pay the cost of the desired card. If the payment is not sufficient, activation controller 28 can cause bill acceptor 14 to eject the bill. If the payment is sufficient, at step 58 activation controller 28 reads PIN 24 from memory card 32 (Fig. 4). A PIN is used only once. Thus, each time activation controller 28 reads a PIN from the list of PINs stored in memory card 32, it reads the next PIN 24 on the list, i.e., a PIN 24 that it has not read previously. At step 60 activation controller 28 causes printer 36 to print PIN 24 on a blank card. The cards are only necessarily "blank" in the sense that they bear no PIN 24 or other activation identifier that would allow a user to use them to make telephone calls. They may, of course, include any other graphical or textual indicia. The blank cards may include, for example, the textual indicia shown in Fig. 2 on their front faces and include on their reverse faces, as shown in Fig. 3, telephone number 22 and magnetic stripe 26. PIN 24, however, is not printed until activation controller 28 causes it to be printed in response to receipt of sufficient payment and selection of a denomination. At step 62 activation controller causes the card 12 upon which PIN 24 has been printed to be dispensed or ejected via slot 20.

Activation controller 28 does not, of course, cause PIN 24 to be printed upon a blank card if the supply of blank cards is empty or if all PINs 24 have previously been read from memory 32. In such cases, activation controller 28 may cause the bill to be ejected to refund the user's money. Although not illustrated, a suitable electronic display may be included through which activation controller 28 can instruct the user how to operate vending machine 10 or alert the user of various conditions, such as an empty card/PIN supply or an inability to provide change.

The remaining steps illustrated in Fig. 6 relate to the use of card 12 to make a telephone call. That a user performs these steps using a telephone (not shown) rather than vending machine 10, and may perform them at a time and place remote from vending machine 10, is indicated by the dashed line separating steps 62 and 64. The method of making a telephone call that is defined by these steps is the conventional method known in the art. At step 64 the user uses a telephone to call the service provider. The user can dial the toll- free number 22 (Fig. 3) indicated on card 12. From that point, the service provider's computer telephony equipment (not shown) conducts the transaction with the user. A computer causes the call to be answered and provides voice prompts to the user directing him to enter a PIN using the telephone keypad. As indicated by step 66, the user reads PIN 24 on card 12 and enters it using the telephone keypad. Although this example includes the step of entering PIN 24 using a telephone keypad, it should be recognized that a PIN stored on magnetic stripe 26 can be equivalently provided by swiping card 12 through a magnetic stripe reader on the telephone if the telephone includes such a reader.

The computer then retrieves from its database the balance of the account corresponding to PIN 24 that the user entered and determines at step 68 whether it exceeds a predetermined threshold amount, such as zero dollars. More commonly, rather than zero, the threshold is the smallest amount that is sufficient to pay for the smallest increment of telephone calling time for which the service provider normally charges, typically a few cents. If the account balance is sufficient to pay for this increment of calling time, the computer prompts the user to dial the number of the party to whom he desires to speak. As indicated by step 70, the computer completes the connection via the public telephone network or one or more long-distance telephone companies, thereby causing the other party's telephone line to be rung. If the party answers and the call is thus completed, the computer periodically debits the user's account during the call. If the account balance falls below the threshold amount, the computer terminates the call at step 72.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, a PIN 24' may be printed on a sticker 74. The vending machine dispenses both sticker 74 and a blank card 12' to which the user can adhere sticker 74. Sticker 74 may be made of thin, flexible paper or plastic and has a peelable backing protecting pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on its reverse side, i.e., the side opposite that on which PIN 24' is printed. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the vending machine includes a sticker dispensing and printing unit 30' in addition to a blank card dispenser 76. Sticker dispensing and printing unit 30' is analogous to card dispenser and printer unit 30 described above in that it prints and dispenses what is in effect the access token that subsequently gives the user access to the telephone system. Sticker dispensing and printing unit 30' comprises a sticker dispenser 34' and sticker printer 36 analogous to dispenser 30 and printer 36, respectively, described above. This embodiment of the invention is particularly well-suited to retrofitting an existing calling card vending machine 80 of the type known in the art that dispenses "live" cards. Vending machine 80 includes a bill acceptor 14' and buttons 16' and 18' that are analogous to bill acceptor 14 and buttons 16 and 18, respectively, described above. Vending machine 80 also includes a card vending controller 78 that functions in the conventional manner. That is, when a user inserts the proper payment into bill acceptor 14' and presses the appropriate button 16' or 18' to indicate a denomination of card to purchase, controller 78 causes blank card dispenser 76 to dispense blank card 12'. The term "blank" refers to the absence of a PIN printed on the card. But for the absence of a PIN, blank card 12' is identical to card 12 described above. Accordingly, it bears a pre-printed telephone number 22' and a magnetic stripe 26'.

Vending machine 80 is retrofitted by mounting, either within the interior of its cabinet or on the exterior of its cabinet, a retrofit unit 82. Sticker dispensing and printing unit 30' are within the enclosure or cabinet of retrofit unit 82. Retrofit unit 82 includes an activation controller 28' and a memory card 32' that are analogous to activation controller 28 and memory card 32, respectively, described above. Activation controller 28' detects a user's purchase by, for example, detecting when blank card dispenser 76 is dispensing blank card 12'. In response to such detection, activation controller 28' reads memory card 32' in the manner described above with respect to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-6 and causes sticker dispensing and printing unit 30' to print PIN 24' on sticker 74 and dispense it through a slot (not shown) in retrofit unit 82 similar to slot 20 (Fig. 1). The user can then peel the backing away from sticker 74 to expose the pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on the reverse side (not shown) of sticker 74 and adhere sticker 74 to card 12' or, for that matter, to any other desired substrate. The user could even retain sticker 74 without removing the backing. Because PIN 24' is printed on sticker 74, it is sticker 74 and not card 12' that is the access token in this embodiment. In this embodiment, card 12' itself is merely a convenient carrier for the access token and a convenient reminder of telephone number 22'.

This embodiment of the invention is advantageous because owners or distributors of existing calling card vending machine may prefer to retrofit them in accordance with the present invention rather than replace them with entirely new machines of the type described above with respect to Figs. 1 and 4. Existing calling card vending machines can quickly and easily be retrofitted with retrofit unit 82 because the only required interface between vending machine 80 and retrofit unit 82 is a signal that indicates to unit 82 when a user has initiated a purchase. This signal can be as straightforward as, for example, one that indicates the presence of current in the motor of blank card dispenser 76. Nevertheless, the interface can alternatively include signals communicated directly between card vending controller 78 and activation controller 28'. It will be evident that there are numerous embodiments of the present invention, which, while not specifically described above, are clearly within the scope and spirit of the invention. Consequently, the above description is considered to be exemplary only, and the full scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claims

1. A vending machine for access tokens for an electronic system that provides access to a user in response to information retrieved from an access token dispensed from said vending machine, said vending machine comp╧Çsing: a payment acceptor for receiving payment from a user; a token repository for storing a supply of access tokens not bearing information in response to which said electronic system provides access to a user; a memory for storing a list of activation identifiers; an activator for, in response to receipt of payment from a purchaser, reading an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read by said activator and recording information responsive to said activation identifier on an access token from said token repository, in response to which information said electronic system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said electronic system debiting said balance in response to access by said user; and a token dispenser for providing to said user said access token on which is recorded said information.

2. The vending machine claimed in claim 1 , wherein said memory comprises a removable medium mounted in said vending machine.

3. The vending machine claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

4. The vending machine claimed in claim 1 , wherein said electronic system comprises a telephone network and debits said account balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network.

5. The vending machine claimed in claim 1 , wherein said access tokens are stickers; said activator comprises a printer for printing said activation identifier on a sticker; and said electronic system provides access to a user in response to information said user obtains by reading an activation identifier printed on said sticker and manually enters into said electronic system.

6. The vending machine claimed in claim 1 , wherein: said access tokens are cards; said activator comprises a printer for printing said activation identifier on a card; and said electronic system provides access to a user in response to information said user obtains by reading an activation identifier printed on said card and manually enters into said electronic system.

7. The vending machine claimed in claim 6, wherein said activation identifiers are numbers.

8. A vending machine for access cards for a telephone network system that provides access to a user in response to information printed on an access card dispensed from said vending machine, said vending machine comprising: a payment acceptor for receiving payment from a user; a card repository for storing a supply of access cards not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user; a memory for storing a list of activation identifiers; an activator for, in response to receipt of payment from a purchaser, reading an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read by said activator and printing said access identifier on a card from said card repository, in response to which access identifier said telephone network system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said telephone network system debiting said balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network; and a card dispenser for providing to said user said card on which is printed said access identifier.

9. The vending machine claimed in claim 7, wherein said memory comprises a removable medium mounted in said vending machine.

10. The vending machine claimed in claim 8, wherein said memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

11. A method for vending access tokens for an electronic system that provides access to a user in response to information retrieved from an access token dispensed from a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of: receiving in said vending machine a payment from a user; storing in said vending machine a supply of access tokens not bearing information in response to which said electronic system provides access to a user; storing in said vending machine a list of activation identifiers; reading, in response to receipt of payment from a purchaser, an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read; recording information responsive to said activation identifier on an access token from said token repository, in response to which information said electronic system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said electronic system debiting said balance in response to access by said user; and providing to said user said access token on which is recorded said information.

12. The method claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: mounting said memory in said vending machine, said memory having pre- stored in it said activation identifiers; and removing said memory from said vending machine after at least one said activation identifier has been read.

13. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein said memory comprises a removable semiconductor memory.

14. The method machine claimed in claim 11 , wherein said electronic system comprises a telephone network that debits said account balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network.

15. The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein: said access tokens are cards; and said recording step comprises printing said activation identifier on a card.

16. The method claimed in claim 15, wherein said activation identifiers are numbers.

17. A method for vending access cards for a telephone network system that provides access to a user in response to information retrieved from an access card dispensed from a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of: storing in said vending machine a supply of access cards not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user; storing a list of activation identifiers in a memory in said vending machine; receiving in said vending machine payment from a user; reading, in response to receipt of payment from a purchaser, an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read by said activator; printing said access identifier on a card from said card repository, in response to which access identifier said telephone network system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said telephone network system debiting said balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network; and providing to said user said card on which is printed said access identifier.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein said memory comprises a removable medium mounted in said vending machine.

19. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein said memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

20. A method for providing a system for vending access tokens for an electronic system that provides access to a user in response to information retrieved from an access token dispensed from a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of: providing to a vendor a vending machine comprising a payment acceptor for accepting payment from a user, a token repository for storing access tokens, an activator for activating access tokens in response to an activation identifier, and a token dispenser for providing an activated access token to a user; defining activation identifiers and corresponding accounts, each account having an account balance, said electronic system providing access to said user if an account balance of an account corresponding to an activation identifier received from said user is greater than a predetermined minimum balance; storing a supply of access tokens in said token repository; and mounting a removable memory medium in said vending machine in response to payment from said vendor, said removable memory medium storing a list of activation identifiers, each activation identifier readable by said activator in response to payment received by said payment acceptor.

21. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said payment from said vendor is quantitatively responsive to a total of account balances of accounts corresponding to activation identifiers in said list.

22. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said memory medium comprises a semiconductor memory.

23. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein said electronic system comprises a telephone network and debits said account balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network.

24. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein: said access tokens are cards; said activator comprises a printer for printing said activation identifier on a card; and said electronic system provides access to a user in response to information said user obtains by reading an activation identifier printed on said card and manually enters into said electronic system.

25. The vending machine claimed in claim 24, wherein said activation identifiers are numbers.

26. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein: said access tokens are stickers; said activator comprises a printer for printing said activation identifier on a sticker; and said electronic system provides access to a user in response to information said user obtains by reading an activation identifier printed on said sticker and manually enters into said electronic system.

27. The vending machine claimed in claim 26, wherein said activation identifiers are numbers.

28. A retrofit unit for a vending machine that vends access cards for a telephone network system that provides access to a user in response to information printed on an access card dispensed from said vending machine, said vending machine comprising a payment acceptor for receiving payment from a user, a card repository for storing a supply of access cards not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user, and a controller for dispensing an access card in response to receipt of payment from a user, said retrofit unit comprising: a sticker repository for storing a supply of stickers not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user; a memory for storing a list of activation identifiers; an activator for detecting initiation of a purchase of an access card by said user and, in response, reading an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read by said activator and printing said access identifier on a card from said card repository, in response to which access identifier said telephone network system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said telephone network system debiting said balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network; and a sticker dispenser for providing to said user said sticker on which is printed said access identifier.

29. The retrofit unit claimed in claim 28, wherein said memory comprises a removable medium mounted in said vending machine.

30. The retrofit unit claimed in claim 29, wherein said memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

31. The retrofit unit claimed in claim 28, wherein said activation identifiers are numbers.

32. A method for retrofitting a vending machine that vends access cards for a telephone network system that provides access to a user in response to information printed on an access card dispensed from said vending machine, said vending machine comprising a payment acceptor for receiving payment from a user, a card repository for storing a supply of access cards not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user, and a controller for dispensing an access card in response to receipt of payment from a user, said method comprising: mounting to said vending machine a retrofit unit, comprising: a sticker repository for storing a supply of stickers not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user; a memory for storing a list of activation identifiers; an activator for detecting initiation of a purchase of an access card by said user and, in response, reading an activation identifier from said memory that has not been previously read by said activator and printing said activation identifier on a card from said card repository, in response to which activation identifier said telephone network system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said telephone network system debiting said balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network; and a sticker dispenser for providing to said user said sticker on which is printed said access identifier; and coupling to said activator a signal from said controller indicating purchase of an access card by said user.

33. A method for using a vending machine to obtain access cards for a telephone network system that provide access to a user in response to information printed on said access card, said method comprising: said user providing payment to said vending machine; said vending machine, in response to receipt of said payment, performing the steps of: dispensing an access card not bearing information in response to which said telephone network system provides access to a user; and printing an activation identifier on a sticker stored in a repository in said vending machine and dispensing said sticker to said user; and said user adhering said sticker to said access card, wherein in response to said activation identifier printed on said sticker said telephone network system provides access to said user if an account balance corresponding to said activation identifier is greater than a predetermined minimum balance, said telephone network system debiting said balance in response to a measure of time during which said user accesses said telephone network.

34. The method claimed in claim 33, wherein said step of printing said access identifier on a sticker stored in a repository in said vending machine and dispensing said sticker to said user comprises the step of reading an activation identifier from a memory that has not been previously read by said vending machine, said memory storing a plurality of activation identifiers each corresponding to an account balance.