Method and apparatus for vending goods
First Claim
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1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
- at least one storage area being operable to store packaged goods for sale;
at least one retrieving device operable to retrieve the goods from the storage area and to dispense the goods from the vending apparatus; and
a processing unit operable to (i) permit the dispensing of goods from the vending apparatus for an interval, (ii) partially disable the vending apparatus from dispensing at least some of the goods at an end of the interval, and (iii) not at least partially disable the vending apparatus at the end of the interval if a continuation code is received by the vending apparatus before the end of the interval, wherein;
the interval represents at least one of (i) one or more predefined periods of time;
(ii) one or more predefined numbers of vends of goods from the vending apparatus;
(iii) one or more predefined quanta of sales by the vending apparatus, and the processing unit is further operable to at least one of reset and modify the interval in response to the vending apparatus receiving the continuation code.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to the actions and/or functions of an apparatus for the vending of goods, and for shifting influence among entities with an interest in the vending interest in the vending of goods, which methods and apparatus facilitate the distribution of the risks and rewards involved in the operation the vending apparatus.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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at least one storage area being operable to store packaged goods for sale;
at least one retrieving device operable to retrieve the goods from the storage area and to dispense the goods from the vending apparatus; and
a processing unit operable to (i) permit the dispensing of goods from the vending apparatus for an interval, (ii) partially disable the vending apparatus from dispensing at least some of the goods at an end of the interval, and (iii) not at least partially disable the vending apparatus at the end of the interval if a continuation code is received by the vending apparatus before the end of the interval, wherein;
the interval represents at least one of (i) one or more predefined periods of time;
(ii) one or more predefined numbers of vends of goods from the vending apparatus;
(iii) one or more predefined quanta of sales by the vending apparatus, andthe processing unit is further operable to at least one of reset and modify the interval in response to the vending apparatus receiving the continuation code.
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2. (75+) A vending apparatus, comprising:
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at least one storage area being operable to store goods for sale;
at least one retrieving device operable to retrieve the goods from the storage area and to dispense the goods from the vending apparatus;
a processing unit operable to (i) permit the dispensing of the goods from the vending apparatus, and (ii) at least partially disable the vending apparatus from dispensing at least some of the goods when an externally generated disable code is received by the vending apparatus, wherein the processing unit is further operable to decode the disable code, the disable code having been encrypted prior to being received by the vending apparatus, and wherein the goods are packaged goods, and a communications unit operable to connect the vending apparatus to a communications network such that the disable code may be input into the vending apparatus over the communications network.
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3. (81+) A method of operating a vending apparatus, comprising:
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permitting the dispensing of packaged goods from a vending apparatus, the vending apparatus including at least one storage area being operable to store the goods available to be dispensed, and at least one retrieving device operable to retrieve the goods from the storage area and to dispense the goods from the vending apparatus; and
at least partially disabling the vending apparatus from dispensing at least some of the goods when an externally generated and encrypted disable code is received and decrypted by the vending apparatus.
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4. (227+) A processing system, comprising:
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a data processor that is remote from at least one vending apparatus and operable to receive data from the vending apparatus concerning sales of goods from the vending apparatus; and
a database operable to store at least some of the data, wherein the data include at least one of (i) information concerning vending or attempts at vending unauthorized goods from the vending apparatus;
(ii) information concerning the sales of goods from the vending apparatus obtained using a goods identification scanning device of the vending apparatus;
(iii) information concerning any limitations under which the vending apparatus vends the goods; and
(iv) information concerning a user'"'"'s second selection of goods from the vending apparatus in response to the user'"'"'s first selection of goods being out of inventory in the vending apparatus, andwherein the data processor is further operable to produce at least one of a continuation code, a disable code, and a re-enable code, based on at least some of the data received from the vending apparatus, wherein the continuation code is for use by the vending apparatus to remain in an enabled state such that at least some of the goods may be dispensed therefrom, the disable code is for use in disabling the vending apparatus from dispensing at least some of the goods, and the re-enable code is for use in re-enabling the vending apparatus such that at least some of the goods may be dispensed therefrom after that vending apparatus has been at least partially disabled.
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Specification