United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,674,055
`
`Ogaki et a1.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jun. 16, 1987
`
`[54] SOFTWARE VENDING SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Hirokazu Ogaki; Yasuhiro
`Funahashi; Hiroshi Koie; Tomoko
`Kurachi. all of Nagoya, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,
`Aichi, Japan
`
`[2:] Appl, No.: 614,664
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`May 29, 1984
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jun. 9. 1983 [JP]
`Japan ................................ 58-103232
`. 58-103233
`Jun. 9. 1983 [JP]
`Japan
`
`Jun. 10, 1983 [JP]
`Japan
`58-104742
`
`Int. CL4 ....................... G06F 15/21; G06F 15/44
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl. .................................... 364/479; 364/410;
`364/900
`[53] Field of Search ............... 364/478, 479, 401, 404,
`364/405, 406, 410, 200 MS File, 900 MS File;
`369/84, 85; 360/15; 235/379, 380, 381
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,718,906 2/1973 Lightner
`3,990.710 11/1976 Hughes
`4,141,045
`2/1979 Sheehan
`
`360/15 X
`.1 360/15 X
`
`360/92 X
`
`4.227.220 10/1980 Brown .............................. 360/15 X
`4.240,]20 12/1980 Padwa ..
`360/15
`
`235/379 X
`4,414,467 11/1983 Gould
`
`4,593,376
`6/1936 Volk
`364/900
`
`6/1986 Izumi et al.
`4,597,058
`364/900
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0096465 12/1983 European Pat, Off.
`2013365
`2/1983 United Kingdom
`
`360/15
`360/15
`
`Primary Examiner—Joseph Ruggiero
`Attorney, Agent. or Firm—Browdy and Neimark
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A software vending system comprising a host system
`including primary memory means for storing a plurality
`of different software programs, and a plurality of pe-
`ripheral vending instruments each operatively con—
`nected to the host system for interactive data communi—
`cation therebetween. Each of the peripheral vending
`instruments includes a selector device for selecting a
`desired one of the software programs, and a recording
`device operable to duplicate in a recording medium the
`selected software program transferred from the primary
`memory means in response to the operation of the selec-
`tor device.
`
`23 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 1
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 1
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`x52
`
`FIG
`3
`
`
`
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`Cm.3:2:asa.3%
`
`mama"Ha.q
`
`-\4 ‘6|\
`t?
`
`wa
`SIJFT
`
`'[J
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Abfibmm
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 2
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC — Exhibit 1014 - Page 2
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Jun. 16,1987
`
`Sheet2 of7
`
`4,674,055
`
`II
`
`I
`
`ME
`Iii
`
`"3!
`i
`In
`
`FIG.2
`
`
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 3
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 3
`
`

`

`"DEMON STRATI O N
`
`"PROGRAM
`
`"PROGRAM
`
`DISPLAY" RAM
`1.3
`MODEM
`INTERFACE
`
`39
`
`
`
`-"START"KEY
`
`12
`
`13
`
`M SELECTOR KEY
`
`15
`
`‘6
`10
`
`FIG. 4
`
`1 44a M
`
`I “b
`42
`
`‘T
`
`‘5
`
`AUTOMATIC
`C SECOND — DUPLICATING
`DEVICE
`C P U
`
`
`1.1
`
`~
`
`50
`
`‘
`STARR
`
`‘
`
`INDICATOR
`
`FIRST
`C P U
`
`EATHODE RAY
`TUBE (CRT)
`
`'
`
`'ND'CATOR
`
`8
`
`22
`
`'
`
`7
`
`49
`
`"BUS'NESS"
`SELECTOR KEY
`'gEE‘i‘E%¢BL9'¥I‘Eb"
`NUMERIC KEYS ‘
`(TEN-KEYS)
`JOY STICK
`'17 -—' —*—
`46
`18
`JOV KEY —.p
`'
`PAPER-MONEV
`S
`h "COPY" LIGHT
`PU
`1.8
`DETECTOR
`5
`‘l
`COUNTER —
`COIN — — D/A CONVERTER
`v
`
`DETECTOR
`CASSETTE TAPE
`~__— SPEAKER
`RECORDING/PLAYv
`1.7
`BACK DEVICE
`w;
`
`
`
`MODEM
`INTERFACE
`
`28
`
`29
`
`HOST
`
`—> PRINTER
`
`— C RT
`
`.
`
`
`
`1.0
`
`MAGNETIC DISK
`MEMORY
`PRIMARY
`MEANQEMOR")
`KY1: REWIND KEV
`KY2: STOP KEY
`.
`KY3' PLAY KEV
`KY4: FAST FORWARD KEY
`KY5= RECORDING KEV
`
`C
`(a
`"U
`a
`g
`H.
`
`H
`'—
`«a
`_.
`‘D
`3
`
`(n
`53*
`9*
`m
`9.5
`q
`
`:5
`3
`J"
`O
`all
`
`24
`
`®@®@®
`
`52
`
`11
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 4
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC — Exhibit 1014 - Page 4
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Jun. 16, 1987
`
`Sheet4 of7
`
`4,674,055
`
`IS"BUSINESS"
`SWITCH ON .7
`
`YES
`
`545
`
`IS "GAME"
`SWITCH ON?
`
`YES
`
`54
`
`IS"EDUCATIONAL"
`SWITCH ON 7
`
`YES
`
`546
`
`INDICATOR LIGHTS
`CORRESPONDING TO ALL
`"BUSINESS"
`PROGRAMS
`
`ARE I LLUMI NATED
`
`INDICATOR LIGHTS
`CORRESPONDING TO ALL
`"GAME" PROGRAMS
`ARE ILLUMINATED
`
`INDICATOR LIGHTS
`CORRESPONDING TO ALL
`"EDUCATIONAL" PROGRAMS
`ARE ILLUMINATED
`
`
`
`HAS A PROGRAM
`
`N00 BEEN DESIGNATED?
`
`YES
`
`55
`
`DESIGNATED PROGRAM
`IS INDICATED ON
`INDICATOR
`
`IS"START"
`KEY ON?
`
`.
`
`YES
`
`INDICATOR LIGHT
`
`CORRESPONDING TO
`DESIGNATED PRO—
`GRAM IS COMMAND-
`ED TO BLINK
`
`SB
`
`
`
`
`$9
`
`DEMONSTRATION, PRICE AND MESSAGE
`
`
`DATA OF DESIGNATED PROGRAM
`ARE RETRIEVED TO PROVIDE ON CRT
`DEMONSTRATION, PRICE INDICATION
`
`A D ME
`A
`F R
`A
`N
`SS GE
`0
`5 LE
`
`HAS ENOUGH MONEY
`
`BEEN UEPOSITED ?
`
`
`II
`LSEYRSEIE’;
`
`IT
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`,
`
`DISPLAY DN CRT
`IS CLEARED
`
`.
`
`MESSAGE ON CRT
`IS CHANGED
`
`512
`
`$13
`
`RECEIPT IS PRINTED
`AND EJECTED.
`CHANGE IS EJECTED
`AS NEEDED.
`
`
`
`514
`
`V a
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 5
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 16, 1987
`
`SheetS of7
`
`4,674,055
`
`9
`
`FIG; 6
`
`FIRST CPU 41 DIRECTS HOST CPU 37 TO
`
`
`RETRIEVE DESIGNATED PROGRAM FROM
`
`
`MAGNETIC DISK MEMORY; AND TRANSFER
`
`
`THE PROGRAM TO "PROGRAM DISPLAY" RAM
`AND "COPY" RAM.
`DEMONSTRATION DATA
`IS TRANSFERRED FROM " DEMONSTRATION
`DISPLA " RAM TO "COPY" RAM.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SIS
`
`TRANSFERRED PROGRAM IS
`DUPLICATED BY DUPLICATING
`
`TURNED ON.
`
`DEVICE.
`
`"COPY" LIGHT IS
`
`816
`
`THE PROGRALdIS EXECUTED
`ON CRT
`
`517
`
`
`
`HAS THE PROGRAM
`BEEN DUPLICATED?
`HAS DUPLICATE
`
`
`CASSETTE BEEN
`
`EJECTED ?
`
`
`DUPLICATE CASSETTE
`IS EJECTED
`
`PROGRAM DUPLICATION IS
`CONTINUED.
`
` SZO
`"COPY" LIGHT IS TURNED ON.
`
`
`
`523
`
`PROGRAM EXECUTION
`ON CRT IS CONTINUED
`
`IS THE PROGRAM
`EXECUTION ON
`
`YES
`
`CRT COMPLETED?_
`
`
`
`YES
`
`ARE THE PROGRAM
`DUPLICATION AND
`EXECUTION ON CRT
`COMPLETED ?
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 6
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 6
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Jun. 16,1987
`
`Sheet6 of7
`
`4,674,055
`
`.
`
`IS"BUS|NESS","GAME"OR
`
`"EDUCATIONAL" SWITCH ON?
`
`OR HAS ENOUGH
`MONEY BEEN
`DEPOSITED AGAIN?
`
`MESSAGE TO SUGGEST VERIFI-
`CATION OF DUPLICATED PRO-
`GRAM IS DISPLAYED ON CRT
`
`YES
`
`FIG“ 7
`
`525
`
`ON?
`
`S31
`
`‘ "
`IS ”PLAY" KEY
`
`CRT IS COMMANDED TO PROVIDE
`
`
`$30 MESSAGE TO INDICATE THAT THE
`DUPLICATED PROGRAM IS UNDER
`
`
`VERIFICATION
`
`
`THE DUPLICATED PROGRAM IS
`VERIFIED AGAINST THE SELECT-
`
`ED PROGRAM
`
`
`IS THE DUPLICATED
`
`
`NO
`PROGRAM IN CON-
`FORMITY WITH THE
`
`SELECTED PROGRAM?
`CRT IS CAUSED TO PROVIDE
`
`MESSAGE TO INDICATE PRE-
`
`
`SENCE OF DUPLICATION
`CRT '5 COMMANDED TO
`
`PROVIDE MESSAGE TO
`
`
`ERROR AND TELL HOW TO
`INDICATE CORRECT
`RE~DUPLICATE THE PROGRAM
`DUPLICATION
`
`
`
`
`$34
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`528
`
`DISPLAY ON CRT
`’5 CLEARED
`
`
`
`YES
`
`$41
`
`SALE OF THE DUPLICATED
`
`PROGRAM IS RECORDED
`
`
`WITH DATE OF SALE
`DISPLAY ON CRT
`
`'5 CLEARED
`
`IS"RECORDING" KEY SET
`IN"RECORD" POSITION WITH
`THE TAPE REWOUND ?
`
`IS"BUSINESS"."GAME" OR
`"EDUCATIONAL" SWITCH ON?
`OR HAS ENOUGH MONEY
`BEEN DEPOSITED AGAIN'.>
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 7
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 7
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`Jun. 16,1987
`
`Sheet7 of7
`
`4,674,055
`
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`DESIGNATED PROGRAM IS
`RE-DUPLICATED IN THE TAPE
`CASSETTE BY RECORDING/
`
`
`PLAYBACK DEVICE.
`"COPY"
`LIGHT IS TURNED ON.
`
`
`
`
`
`THE PROGRAM IS EXECUTED
`
`
`
`ON CRT
`
`HAS THE PROGRAM
`
`BEEN RE-DUPLICATED ?
`
`NO
`
`
`
` PROGRAM RE-DUPLICATION
`
`
`IS CONTINUED.
`"COPY" LIGHT IS TURNED ON.
`
`536
`
`S37
`
`
`
`V
`HAS ENOUGH MONE
`
`BEEN DEPOSITED
`
`AGAIN ?
`
`
`
`
`
`DEMONSTRATION IMAGES. SELLING
`PRICE AND"THANK YOU" MESSAGE
`ARE PROVIDED ON CRT
`
`543
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIPT IS PRINTED AND EJECTED.
`
`CHANGE IS EJECTED AS NEEDED.
`
`
`
`SM.
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 8
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 8
`
`

`

`1
`
`SOFTWARE VENDING SYSTEM
`
`4,674,055
`
`2
`been transferred from the primary memory means in
`response to the operation of the selector means.
`In the software vending system arranged as described
`above. a desired one of plural software programs stored
`in the primary memory means in the host system may be
`selected by the selector means on the peripheral vend-
`ing instrument, and the selected program is transferred
`to the peripheral vending instrument to be duplicated in
`a suitable recording medium. With this arrangement,
`the software manufacturer, supplier or distributor at
`which the host system is installed, can sell software
`programs to consumers or purchasers through local
`dealers at which the peripheral vending instruments are
`installed, without delivering program-loaded recording
`media such as tape cassettes or floppy disks to the local
`dealers, and without the local dealers having to display
`such program-loaded recording media. Thus. the soft-
`ware vending system according to the present invention
`requires a minimum inventory control of the software
`goods by the manufacturer, supplier, distributor and by
`the local dealers owning or managing the peripheral
`vending instruments.
`According to one advantageous form of the software
`vending system of the invention, each of the peripheral
`vending instruments includes secondary memory means
`for storing the selected program transferred from the
`primary memory means, before the selected program is
`duplicated in the recording medium. That is, a program
`is transferred from the primary memory means to the
`secondary memory means when the program is selected
`by the selector means. The vending instrument further
`comprises means for checking if a condition required
`for vending the selected program is satisfied or not, the
`checking means being placed in its predetermined posi—
`tion when the required vending condition is satisfied,
`and further comprises central processing means for
`inhibiting the recording means from duplicating the
`selected program until the checking means has been
`placed in the said predetermined position.
`In the above arrangement, the selected program is
`duplicated only after the required condition for vending
`that program has been established. Preferably.
`the
`checking means comprises a counter which generates a
`signal representative of a sum of money deposited into
`the vending instrument.
`in this instance, the selected
`program transferred to the secondary memory means is
`duplicated only after the counter senses that a large
`enough amount of money has been deposited into the
`instrument.
`According to another advantageous form of the soft—
`ware vending system of the invention, each of the pe-
`ripheral vending instruments has visual display device,
`and secondary memory means for storing demonstra-
`tion data corresponding to the selected program. The
`demonstration data represents an abstract of the con—
`tents of the selected program stored in the primary
`memory means. The vending instrument further in-
`cludes central processing means which retrieves from
`the secondary memory means the demonstration data
`and operates the visual display device to execute the
`retrieved demonstration data before the selected pro-
`gram is duplicated in the recording medium.
`In the above arrangement, an abstract of the contents
`of the selected program is demonstrated on the visual
`diSplay device, whereby the purchaser may have a brief
`idea of the subject matter of the selected program. and
`conequently the purchaser may easily decide whether
`to buy the program or not.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a software vending
`system.
`Nowadays. a variety of software programs for video
`games. and visual or audiovisual software programs for
`business and educational purposes are marketed and
`sold in a large scale, keeping pace with the wide spread
`use or popularization of microcomputers or personal
`computers. Such software programs are available on
`the market in the form of tape cassettes or floppy disks
`in which original or source programs are duplicated or
`copied by software manufacturers or suppliers These
`tape cassettes and floppy disks having various duplicate
`programs are distributed by the manufacturers. suppli-
`ers or their distributors to local dealers who place or-
`ders for specific programs they want to sell.
`However, the software manufacturers. suppliers or
`distributors encounter difficulty in having a predictable
`prospect of demands of the individual software pack-
`ages. Accordingly, they suffer a trouble in maintaining
`optimum stock of the individual packages to attend
`varying orders of the local dealers. Similarly, the local
`dealers have difficulty in keeping optimum stock of the
`software packages to meet the demands of the purchas-
`ers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention was developed to minimize the
`above indicated inconveniences experienced in the art.
`Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide
`a software vending system which is capable of vending
`various software programs at
`local dealers in quick
`response to their orders, without software manufactur—
`ers or distributors delivering program-loaded recording
`media such as tape cassettes or floppy disks to the local
`dealers, and with a minimum inventory control of such
`software programs by the manufacturers or distributors.
`It is another object of this invention to provide such
`a vending system which permits a minimum inventory
`control of the software programs by the local dealers.
`A further object of the invention is to provide such a
`vending system which does not require the display of
`program-loaded recording media at the local dealers.
`Another object of the invention is the provision of
`such a vending system which permits the purchaser to
`recognize the contents of a program before the program
`is bought by the purchaser.
`A still further object of the invention is the provision
`of such a vending system which enables the purchaser
`to verify a desired program bought by the purchaser,
`against its source program, thereby avoiding an unnec-
`essary conflict between the purchaser and the local
`dealer.
`According to the present invention. there is provided
`a software vending system comprising a host system
`including primary memory means for storing a plurality
`of different software programs, and further comprising
`a plurality of peripheral vending instruments each oper-
`atively connected to the host system for interactive data
`communication therebetween. Each of the plural pe-
`ripheral vending instruments includes selector means
`for selecting a desired one of the software programs,
`and recording means operable to duplicate in a record-
`ing medium the selected software program which has
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 9
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 9
`
`

`

`4,674,055
`
`3
`In accordance with a further advantageous form of
`the invention. each of the peripheral vending instru-
`ments further includes verifying means for verifying a
`duplicate program recorded in the recording medium.
`against the selected program transferred from the pri-
`mary memory means, and further includes central pro-
`cessing means for inhibiting the recording means from
`duplicating the selected program when the verification
`by the verifying means reveals no duplication error, and
`for permitting the recording means to re-duplicate the
`selected program in the recording medium when the
`verification reveals any duplication error. Preferably.
`the vending instrument further includes a recording/—
`playback device operable to read the duplicate program
`so as to verify the duplicate program by the verifying
`means. The recording/playback device is also operable
`to re-duplicate the selected program when the verifica-
`tion reveals any duplication error,
`thereby serving as
`part of the recording means.
`the
`In the above preferred form of the invention,
`purchaser may verify the duplicate program in the re-
`cording medium, and if the duplicate program is not in
`conformity with the selected program stored in the
`secondary memory means, the purchaser may set the
`recording medium in the recording/playback device
`and re-duplicate the selected program in the recording
`medium. Thus. in the event of possible trouble of faulty
`duplication of a program, the purchaser may obtain a
`true copy of the program by using these verifying and
`re-duplication capabilities.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`The above and other objects, features and advantages
`of the present invention will become more apparent
`from reading the following description of the preferred
`embodiment taken in connection with the accompany-
`ing drawing in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
`software vending system of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a control table
`of a peripheral vending instrument of the vending sys-
`tem of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a tape cassette
`used for the vending instrument;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a control
`arrangement of the vending system; and
`FIGS. 5-9 are schematic block flow charts showing
`the operations of first and second central processing
`units of the peripheral vending instrument.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred
`form of a software vending system which comprises a
`plurality of peripheral vending instruments 1 installed at
`local software dealers, and a host system 2 located at a
`software manufacturer, supplier or distributor. Each
`vending instrument 1 is are operatively connected via a
`private communication line 52 to the host system 2, to
`permit on-line interactive data communication as there-
`between, as indicated in FIG. 1. Each of the peripheral
`vending instruments 1 comprises a control table 1a on
`which are provided various control keys and switches.
`and other device used to operate the vending instru-
`ment 1 as described later in detail. At the rear of this
`control table la, there is provided a display or exhibi-
`tion device 3 which stands upright.
`
`4
`The exhibition device 3 comprises a display panel 4
`carrying 68 representations 5 which are disposed in
`plural rows. Each representation 5 consists of a title of
`a software program and an animated cartoon or picto-
`rial or illustrative image showing the contents or sub»
`ject matter of the program. The individual programs
`indicated by the respective representations 5 are num—
`bered by Serial-No. indicia 6 disposed right above the
`corresponding representations 5.
`In this specific em—
`bodiment. Serial Nos. 1—20. 21—40, 41-60, and 61—68
`respectively designate: software programs for video
`games (hereinafter referred to as GAME programs);
`software programs for business purposes (hereinafter
`referred to as BUSINESS programs); software pro—
`grams for educational purposes (hereinafter referred to
`as EDUCATIONAL programs); and such GAME,
`BUSINESS
`and/or EDUCATIONAL programs
`which are newly marketed products. Thus, these soft-
`ware programs identified by the representations 5 and
`designated by the Serial-No. indicia 6 are classified into
`three groups, i.e., GAME, BUSINESS and EDUCA-
`TIONAL, each group consisting of programs having
`utilities in the same category. The new software pro-
`grams, Serial Nos. 61—68 include the GAME, BUSI-
`NESS and EDUCATIONAL programs arranged at
`random.
`
`The exhibition device 3 includes indicator lights 7
`(FIG. 4) provided on the inner side of the display panel
`4, so as to be located right behind the respective Serial~
`No. indicia 6. These lights 7 are illuminated under the
`control of central processing means which will be de-
`scribed.
`As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control table la has a
`visual display device in the form of a cathode ray tube
`8 (hereinafter called CRT 8) having a screen which is
`covered by a transparent glass plate 9. This CRT 8
`provides messages to a purchaser, displays the contents
`of each program on sale, and serves other functions, as
`discussed later in detail. The control table la further has
`numeric Ten-keys 10 disposed to the right of the CRT
`8 to select a desired one of the 68 software programs
`through their serial numbers given by the Serial—No.
`indicia 6. At the back of the numberic Ten—keys 10 is
`provided a speaker 11 which is adapted to generate
`sounds for video games, alarm sounds, etc.
`In front of the Ten-keys 10, there are disposed a
`START key 12 to execute the selection of a program
`which has been designated by the Ten-keys 10, and a
`RESET key 13 which is used to cancel the selection of
`a program once effected by depression of the START
`key 12. Three selector switches are provided in front of
`the START and RESET keys 12, 13: a GAME selector
`key 14: a BUSINESS selector key 15; and an EDUCA—
`TIONAL selector key 16. These selector keys 14, 15
`and 16 are used to designate one of the three groups of
`software programs: GAME, BUSINESS: and EDU-
`CATIONAL. Thus, the numeric Ten—keys IO, and the
`selector keys 14-16 serve as selector means for selecting
`a desired software program.
`In front of the CRT 8, there are disposed manually-
`operated means: a pair ofjoy stick switches 17, and four
`joy keys 18 located between the switches 17. These
`switches and keys 17, 18 are used to interact with a
`selected program when it is executed on the CRT 8, or
`influence the execution of the program, in particular, to
`participate in a game which is animated by the selected
`program executed on the CRT 8. In other words. the
`manipulation of the switches 17 and keys 18 will affect
`
`lo
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`15
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`20
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`30
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`35
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`4o
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`65
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`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 10
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 10
`
`

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`5
`visual images provided on the CRT 8 during execution
`of the program.
`To the left of the CRT 8. there are provided cash-
`depositing means:
`a paper-money inlet 19 through
`which a lOOO-yen bill is inserted into the instrument 1; a
`100-yen coin slot 20 through which a IOU-yen coin is
`deposited; and a 10-yen coin slot 21 for depositing a
`10-yen coin. An indicator 22 disposed to the left of the
`IOU-yen coin slot 20 indicates the sum of money depos
`ited through the paper-money inlet 19 and the IOU-yen
`and 10-yen coin slots 20. 21. The indicator 22 further
`indicates the serial number of a program designated by
`the Ten-keys 10, and other information. At the back of
`the indicator 22 is disposed a receipt exit 23 through
`which is fed out a receipt which is printed by a printer
`which will be described.
`The control table la is further provided, at the back
`of the receipt exit 23, with a tape cassette recording/-
`playback device 24 which is used, as one of recording
`means, by the purchaser to inspect or verify a program
`bought by the purchaser. The recording/playback de—
`vice 24 is operated through manipulation of a RE—
`WIND key KY1, 3 STOP key KY2, a PLAY key KY3,
`a FAST FORWARD key KY4 and a RECORDING
`key KY5. which are all disposed on the front side of the
`device 24. An indicator, “COPY" light PL] is disposed
`on the rear side of the recording/playback device 24.
`This "COPY” light PLl is illuminated while a selected
`program is duplicated into a recording medium in the
`form of a tape cassette 25 of FIG. 3. The blank or non-
`recorded tape cassette 25 is stored in the vending instru~
`ment 1 in large quantities.
`On the front left-hand side of the vending instrument
`1. there are disposed a cassette tray 26 and a change tray
`27. The cassette tray 26 receives the recorded tape
`cassette 25, and the change tray 27 receives change
`when the amount of money deposited through the inlet
`19 and the coin slots 20, 21 exceeds a selling price of a
`program duplicated into the tape cassette 25.
`The host system 2 includes a printer 28, a CRT 29.
`and a keyboard 30. The printer 28 is used to produce a
`printout of sales record of each software program sold
`by each local dealer,
`including dates of sales of the
`programs. The CRT 29 is used to display such sales
`records.
`Referring next to FIG. 4, a control arrangement of
`the software vending system of the invention will be
`described below.
`
`In the figure, the host system 2 comprises a central
`processing unit 37 (hereinafter referred to as host CPU
`37) which is connected to a first central processing unit
`41 hereinafter referred to first CPU 41) of each periph-
`eral vending instrument 1 at the local dealer, through a
`MODEM interface 38, a MODEM interface 39 pro-
`vided for the instrument 1 and a private or exclusive
`data communication line connecting the two MODEM
`interfaces 38 and 39, whereby interactive data commu-
`nication between the host system 2 and the instrument 1
`can be effected. The host system 2 further comprises
`primary memory means in the form of a magnetic disk
`memory 40 which has: a first memory area for storing
`source programs corresponding to the 68 programs
`which are exhibited on the display panel 4; a second
`memory area for storing price data indicative of selling
`prices of the programs; and a third memory area for
`storing sales data representing the sales records of the
`individual programs sold by each peripheral vending
`instrument 1, including the date of sale (year, month and
`
`5
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`l0
`
`l5
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`20
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`25
`
`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4,674,055
`
`6
`day). The loading of source programs and the their
`price data into the respective first and second memory
`areas of the disk memory 40 is effected by personnel of
`the software manufacturer. supplier or distributor. The
`third memory area for the sales records has divided
`memory locations for the individual vending instru-
`ments 1, and each of these memory locations is divided
`into sections for different dates of sale of each one ofthe
`68 programs on sale. Thus, the number (and amount) of
`sale of each program by each instrument 1 is recorded
`in the third memory area of the magnetic disk memory
`40.
`
`The peripheral vending instrument 1 comprises cen—
`tral processing means which consists of the previously
`introduced first CPU 41 and a second central processing
`unit 42 (hereinafter called second CPU 42). The first
`and second CPUs 41, 42, which serve various control
`functions including verification of a sold program, are
`adapted to exchange data to each other and operate
`according to a predetermined main program. The first
`CPU 41 receives data or signals from the host CPU 37
`and the input devices such as the keys and switches
`previously described, and further receives command
`signals from the second CPU 42, which in turn receives
`command signals from the first CPU 41.
`The first CPU 41 is connected to three secondary
`memory means in the form of random-access memories
`43, 44a. and 44b. These first, second and third second—
`ary memory means 43, 440 and 44b are hereinafter re-
`ferred to as “DEMONSTRATION DISPLAY" RAM
`43, “PROGRAM DISPLAY“ RAM 440 and “COPY”
`RAM 44b.
`The “DEMONSTRATION DISPLAY" RAM 43
`stores: plural sets of demonstration data corresponding
`to the 68 software programs exhibited on the display
`panel 4; message data representing messages to the pur-
`chaser; and price data indicative of the selling prices of
`the programs. The demonstration data represents an
`abstract of the contents of the respective software pro-
`gram. These demonstration, message and price data are
`transferred to the CRT 8 to provide a demonstration
`display of a selected program, and to display selling
`massages and prices.
`The “PROGRAM DISPLAY" RAM 44a is to Oper-
`ate the CRT 8. When a software program is designated
`through the selector switches 14—16 and the Ten-keys
`10, the designated program data is transferred from the
`magnetic disk memory 40 to the “PROGRAM DIS-
`PLAY” RAM 440 through the host CPU 37 and the
`first CPU 41. The first CPU 41 retrieves the program
`data from the “PROGRAM DISPLAY” RAM 440 and
`transfers it to the CRT 8 so that the selected program is
`executed on the CRT 8, that is, the first CPU 41 causes
`the CRT 8 to display the contents of the program, for
`example, enables a corresponding video game to be
`played on the screen of the CRT 8 if the selected pro-
`gram is a video game program.
`like the “PRO-
`The “COPY" RAM 44b stores,
`GRAM DISPLAY" RAM 440. a software program
`transferred from the magnetic disk memory 40. Further,
`when the program is transferred from the disk memory
`40 to the “COPY" RAM 44b. the demonstration data
`stored in the “DEMONSTRATION DISPLAY"
`RAM 43 is transferred to the "COPY" RAM 44b. The
`selected program data and its demonstration data stored
`in the “COPY" RAM 44b are retrieved by the second
`CPU 42, which operates another recording means in the
`form of an automatic recording device 45 incorporated
`
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 11
`Petitioner Motorola Mobility LLC - Exhibit 1014 - Page 11
`
`

`

`7
`the selected program is
`in the instrument 1. so that
`copied or duplicated in the blank tape cassette 25. More
`specifically stated. the duplicating device 45 records a
`duplicate program (together with its demonstration
`data) in one of the blank tape cassettes 25 stored in the
`instrument 1, based on signals from the second CPU 42.
`After completion of the program loading into the tape
`cassette 25, the tape is rewound and the cassette 25 is
`ejected to the cassette tray 26.
`A paper-money detector 46 and a coin detector 48 are
`provided to detect bills (paper—money) and coins depos-
`ited through the paper-money inlet 19 and the coin slots
`20, 21. Signals from these detectors 47, 48 are applied to
`a counter 48 which counts the sum of the deposited
`money. and feeds “deposit“ data to the first CPU 41.
`Depending upon the “deposit" data from the counter
`48 in comparison with the appropriate price data. the
`first CPU 41 directs the second CPU 42 to retrieve the
`selected program and its demonstration data stored in
`the “COPY" RAM 44b and to operate the automatic
`recording device 45 to duplicate the retrieved program
`and the demonstration data into the tape cassette 25, as
`described later in detail. Further,
`the first CPU 41
`causes the indicator 22 to display the sum of the depos-
`ited money based on the “deposit" data, and controls a
`receipt printer 49 built in the instrument 1 to print out a
`receipt.
`The first CPU 41 controls a light energization circuit
`50 which energizes a group of the 68 indicator lights 7
`corresponding to the group of programs selected by the
`GAME, BUSINESS and EDUCATIONAL selector
`switches 14—16, and effects a flickering or blinking oper-
`ation of a particular one of the indicator lights 7 corre—
`sponding to a specific program selected by the Ten-keys
`10. A D/A (digital/analog) converter 51 is connected
`to the first CPU 41 to covert a digital control signal of
`the first CPU 41 into an analog signal which is amplified
`by an amplifier 52 and transferred to the speaker 11, so
`that the speaker 11 generates video game sounds and
`alarm sounds.
`Referring to flow charts of FIGS. 5—9 illustrating the
`sequence of control by the first and second CPUs 41, 42,
`there will be described the operation of the vending
`instrument 1 which is constructed as discussed hitherto.
`For easier understanding, steps of operations are num-
`bered in the flow charts, and the step numbers (pre-
`ceded by letter S) are referred to in the following de-
`scription.
`Upon turning on a power switch (not shown) on the
`instrument 1 (51), the first CPU 41 is placed into its
`operative state wherein on-line interactive data commu-
`nication with the host CPU 37 is possible through the
`private communication line. In this state, the first CPU
`41 is ready to accept an input by a purchaser through
`operation of the GAME, BUSINESS and EDUCA-
`TIONAL selector switches 14. 15 and 16 (SI—$3).
`When the purchaser depresses the GAME selector
`key 14 (82) to buy a GAME program for a video game,
`for example, the first CPU 41 operates as shown in FIG.
`5. At first, the first CPU 41 activates all of the indicator
`lights 7 that correspond to all GAME programs (serial
`numbers 1—20, and some of the new programs, serial
`numbers 61—68 which are GAME programs), whereby
`the appropriate Serial No. indicia 6 on the display panel
`4 are illuminated to indicate the program representa—
`tions 5 of the GAME program group (S4).
`Then, the purchaser enters, with the Ten—keys 10, a
`serial number corresponding to a desired one of the
`
`ID
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`4,674,05 5
`
`8
`GAME programs whose representations 5 are illumi-
`nated by the indicator lights 7 on the display panel 4. As
`soon as the desired GAME program has been desig-
`nated (SS), the serial number of the GAME program is
`indicated on the indicator 22 (S6). and the first CPU 41
`waits for the activation of the START key 12. In re-
`sponse to an ON signal generated from the START key
`12 upon depression thereof(S7), the first CPU 41 causes
`only the indicator light 7 corresponding to the desig-
`nated serial number,
`to blink or flicker (S8). In the
`meantime, the first CPU 41 reads out from the “DEM—
`ONSTRATION DISPLAY" RAM 43 the designated
`program,
`its demonstration data and price data, and
`transfers them to the CRT 8 (S9). The demonstration
`data represents an abstract of the subject matter of the
`designated program, more particularly, visual image