1. A system for managing in real-time a communication device used by a user, comprising:
a user wallet for electronically storing units of value, the user wallet being accessible by the user and being associated with the communication device;
an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with at least the communication device, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and
a function manager for managing a function of the communication device in real-time, the function manager having a global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and a local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or the administrator wallet.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a mobile device.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that even if the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function, if the administrator wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function, then the user wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet contains sufficient units of value to pay for the function.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with a charge card, and wherein the charge card is charged if the administrator wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function.
6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the units of value are credits representing services or applications.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the administrator are charged to the administrator wallet.
8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the user wallet.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the administrator wallet.
10. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a promotional wallet for storing units of value and being associated with the communication device, wherein the global rule specifies one or more promotional functions that can be charged to the promotional wallet, and wherein the local rule specifies that if sufficient units of value are stored in the promotional wallet, then charges associated with the promotional functions are to be charged to the promotional wallet.
11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a level specified by the administrator, the administrator andor the user is alerted.
12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the user wallet is associated with a charge card, and wherein the charge card is charged a pre-specified amount if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass the level.
13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function manager includes a plurality of global rules and one or more of the plurality of global rules are predetermined and cannot be changed by the administrator or the user.
14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function manager is accessible by the administrator through a website that enables the administrator to choose the function and to choose a first global rule andor a first local rule.
15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the first local rule specifies that if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a level specified by the administrator, the function manager will provide an alert to the administrator.
16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with the communication device and a plurality of additional communication devices used by a plurality of additional users, and wherein the function manager enables the administrator to choose the user or one of the plurality of additional users to administer.
17. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a support service for assisting the administrator andor the user in using the function manager.
18. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transfer function for enabling the administrator to make a transfer of units of value between the administrator wallet and the user wallet.
19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the transfer function automatically makes the transfer of a predetermined number of units of value to the user wallet from the administrator wallet on a periodic schedule.
20. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third party wallet and a transfer function for enabling the user to make a transfer of units of value from the user wallet to the third party wallet.
21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer of units of value is used to pay for communication services.
22. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer or units of value is used to pay for a previously purchased product or service.
23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer or units of value is used to make a payment for a purchase of a product or a service.
24. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gift function for enabling a third party to make a deposit of units of value to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet.
25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the gift function further enables the third party to communicate with the user andor the administrator regarding the deposit.
26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the gift function further enables the third party to make a transfer of units of value from an other communication device to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet and to have a charge associated with the transfer added to a bill associated with the other communication device.
27. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a support service for assisting a third party in making a deposit of units of value to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet.
28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the deposit results in a charge associated with the deposit being added to a bill associated with a third party communication device associated with the third party.
29. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the support service further assists the third party in communicating with the user andor the administrator regarding the deposit.
30. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transfer function for enabling the administrator to automatically make a transfer of units of value, up to a predetermined maximum level, to the user wallet when the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a predetermined level.
31. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a refill function for enabling the administrator to make a deposit of units of value to the user wallet on a periodic basis up to a predetermined maximum level.
32. A system for funding in real-time one or more communication devices, comprising:
a dynamic wallet for electronically storing units of value, the dynamic wallet being accessible by a financier and being represented by a unique identifier;
one or more user wallets for electronically storing units of value, the user wallets being associated with the communication devices;
a function manager for managing a function of the communication devices in real-time, the function manager having at least one global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and at least one local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or to the dynamic wallet;
an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with the communication devices, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and
a funding manager accessible by the financier that enables the financier to associate the dynamic wallet with the communication devices and to transfer units of value from the dynamic wallet to the administrator wallet or the user wallets.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A dispensing device of a capsule coffee machine, comprising:
a carrier unit including a fixed seat defining an accommodation space, and a sliding seat mounted in said accommodation space and slidable relative to said fixed seat along a sliding direction;
a dispensing frame for supporting and dispensing a coffee capsule, said dispensing frame being mounted pivotally on said sliding seat and having a guide space; and
a pivot seat connected pivotally to said fixed seat and having at least one push-pull rod and at least one control member;
wherein, when said dispensing device is disposed in a brewing position, said pivot seat covers said dispensing frame and said sliding seat; and
wherein, when said dispensing device is shifted from the brewing position to a dispensing position, said pivot seat pivots relative to said fixed seat, said dispensing frame is simultaneously driven to an inclined position relative to said sliding seat by said control member so that the coffee capsule supported on said dispensing frame can slide out of said dispensing frame, and said sliding seat is driven by said push-pull rod to slide out of said accommodation space along the sliding direction.
2. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide space of said dispensing frame has a capsule-supporting region and a capsule-dropping region.
3. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one push-pull rod includes two said push-pull rods spaced apart in a left-right direction, each of said push-pull rods having a push-pull end, said sliding seat having two sliding sidewalls spaced apart in the left-right direction, each of said sliding sidewalls having a slide guide slot, said pivot seat further including two sliding pins each connected to said push-pull end of one of said push-pull rods and extending slidably into said slide guide slot of a corresponding one of said sliding sidewalls.
4. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dispensing frame includes two side rods defining said capsule-dropping region, and a connecting rod interconnecting front ends of said side rods and defining said capsule-supporting region, each of said side rods having a pulled portion, and a notch adjacent to said pulled portion, said at least one control member including two said control members spaced apart in the left-right direction, said control members respectively engaging said pulled portions of said side rods when said dispensing device is in the brewing position, and respectively sliding out of said notches of said side rods to disengage from said pulled portions of said side rods when said dispensing device is shifted from the brewing position to the dispensing position.
5. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pulled portion of each of said side rods has an inclined surface extending downwardly and inclinedly from a top thereof, and each of said control members has an inclined surface extending upwardly and inclinedly from a bottom thereof.
6. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
said at least one push-pull rod includes two said push-pull rods spaced apart in a left-right direction, each of said push-pull rods having a push-pull end, said push-pull end having a hooking groove and an inclined end face;
said dispensing frame includes two side rods defining said capsule-dropping region, and a connecting rod interconnecting front ends of said side rods and defining said capsule-supporting region, each of said side rods having a pivot pin controlled by said push-pull end to move horizontally;
said dispensing device further comprises a return spring to return said dispensing frame from the inclined position to a horizontal position on said sliding seat;
when said dispensing device is shifted from the brewing position to the dispensing position, said inclined end faces of said push-pull ends of said push-pull rods respectively push said pivot pins of said side rods to move rearward by overcoming a biasing force of said return spring; and
when said pivot pins of said side rods respectively pass over said inclined end faces of said push-pull ends of said push-pull rods, said pivot pins are moved forwardly and respectively into said hooking grooves of said push-pull ends of said push-pull rods because of the biasing force of said return spring.
7. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixed seat has a first dropping hole, said sliding seat having a second dropping hole disposed above and registered with said first dropping hole, said capsule-dropping region being located above and communicating with said first and second dropping holes.
8. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fixed seat has a first dropping hole, said sliding seat having a second dropping hole disposed above and registered with said first dropping hole, said capsule-dropping region being located above and communicating with said first and second dropping holes.
9. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fixed seat includes two fixed sidewalls respectively proximate to said sliding sidewalls of said sliding seat, and a fixed bottom wall having said first dropping hole, each of said fixed sidewalls having a limiting slot extending along the sliding direction, said sliding seat including a main frame having said sliding sidewalls, and a carrier frame fixed to said main frame, said main frame further having two limiting pins respectively extending into said limiting slots of said fixed sidewalls.
10. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said carrier unit further includes a main shaft for pivotally mounting said pivot seat on said fixed seat, and a torsion spring sleeved on said main shaft for biasing said pivot seat to pivot along an opening direction.
11. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pivot seat includes a cover frame having said push-pull rods, and a brewing-supporting frame connected to and covered by said cover frame and having said control members.
12. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an openingclosing mechanism which includes a first locking member pivotally mounted on said pivot seat, a second locking member pivotally mounted on said pivot seat in proximity to said first locking member, a locking spring urging said first and second locking members to move toward a locking position, and a handle mounted on said pivot seat to control pivoting of said first locking member, said sliding seat further having at least one engaging pin mounted on said carrier frame, said first locking member including at least one locking plate for locking engagement with said second locking member, said locking plate having an engaging portion and a first retaining portion, said second locking member having a second retaining portion releasably engageable with said first retaining portion, wherein, when said dispensing device is in the brewing position, said engaging portion of said locking plate engages said engaging pin of said sliding seat and said first and second retaining portions are spaced apart from each other, and when said dispensing device is in the dispensing position, said first and second locking members are engaged to each other.
13. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said carrier frame has an unlocking piece projecting upwardly therefrom, said second locking member further having an unlocking portion projecting toward said unlocking piece, and wherein, when said dispensing device is shifted from the dispensing position to the brewing position, said pivot seat is moved downward with said unlocking portion being pushed by said unlocking piece to cause disengagement between said first and second retaining portions.