Method and apparatus for utilizing demand information at a vending machine
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
- receiving a selection of a first product from a purchaser; and
if the first product is not available, retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product; and
offering the substitute product to the purchaser.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing device is equipped to monitor product demand and consumer traffic that passes by the machine. The dispensing device collects and analyzes product demand data to determine optimal product stocking, to offer products to undecided consumers and to offer substitute products when a selected product is out of stock. The substitute product may be determined according to which alternate product historically has the highest demand when a particular selected product is unavailable. Alternatively, the substitute product may be determined according to which stocked item has an imminent expiration date. Also, the substitute product may be predetermined by an operator of a vending machine or may be determined by other factors. The substitute product may further be offered to the customer at a discounted price.
123 Citations
75 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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receiving a selection of a first product from a purchaser; and
if the first product is not available, retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product; and
offering the substitute product to the purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product; and
storing, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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determining an average selection time;
detecting a purchaser;
measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser; and
if the time is greater than the average selection time;
offering a first product to the purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for measuring a demand of an unavailable product offered by a dispensing device, comprising:
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receiving a selection of a product;
determining an availability of the product; and
if the product is unavailable;
storing an indication that the selected product is unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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means for receiving a selection of a first product from a purchaser;
means for retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product when the first product is not available; and
means for offering the substitute product to the purchaser.
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65. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
receive a selection of a first product from a purchaser; and
when the first product is not available, retrieve a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product; and
offer the substitute product to the purchaser.
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66. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing by a processor a method for dispensing a substitute product, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a first product from a purchaser; and
if the first product is not available, retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product; and
offering the substitute product to the purchaser.
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67. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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means for measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
means for determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product; and
means for storing, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product.
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68. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
measure a demand for each of a plurality of products;
determine from the demand a substitute product for a first product; and
store, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product.
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69. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing by a processor a method for dispensing a substitute product, the method comprising:
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measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product; and
storing, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product.
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70. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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means for determining an average selection time;
means for detecting a purchaser;
means for measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser; and
means for offering a first product to the purchaser when the time is greater than the average selection time.
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71. An apparatus for dispensing a substitute product, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
determine an average selection time;
detect a purchaser;
measure a time from a detection of the purchaser; and
if the time is greater than the average selection time;
offer a first product to the purchaser.
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72. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing by a processor a method for dispensing a substitute product, the method comprising:
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determining an average selection time;
detecting a purchaser;
measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser; and
if the time is greater than the average selection time;
offering a first product to the purchaser.
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73. An apparatus for measuring a demand of an unavailable product offered by a dispensing device, comprising:
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means for receiving a selection of a product;
means for determining an availability of the product; and
means for storing an indication that the selected product is unavailable when the product is unavailable.
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74. An apparatus for measuring a demand of an unavailable product offered by a dispensing device, comprising:
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a storage device; and
a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to;
receive a selection of a product;
determine an availability of the product; and
if the product is unavailable;
store an indication that the selected product is unavailable.
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75. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing by a processor a method for measuring a demand of an unavailable product offered by a dispensing device, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a product;
determining an availability of the product; and
if the product is unavailable;
storing an indication that the selected product is unavailable.
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Specification