Method and apparatus for vending a combination of products
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- determining an amount of tendered payment;
receiving a product identifier corresponding to a product selected to be dispensed from a vending machine;
identifying at least one package which corresponds to the amount of tendered payment and the product identifier, each package defining a plurality of products which includes the selected product; and
outputting a signal representing an instruction to dispense the plurality of products defined by the package.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering a plurality of products from a vending machine is disclosed. The method generally allows an offer for a package to be output, in which the package defines a plurality of products, including a selected product. An apparatus is also disclosed to carry out the method steps of the present invention.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining an amount of tendered payment;
receiving a product identifier corresponding to a product selected to be dispensed from a vending machine;
identifying at least one package which corresponds to the amount of tendered payment and the product identifier, each package defining a plurality of products which includes the selected product; and
outputting a signal representing an instruction to dispense the plurality of products defined by the package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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displaying an offer for a package having a package price, the package defining a plurality of products to be dispensed from a vending machine;
receiving a response to the offer;
displaying an instruction to select from a vending machine each of the products defined by the package; and
instructing the vending machine that payment for each of the products has been received. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method comprising:
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maintaining a database of at least one upsell price, said upsell price corresponding to an upsell product;
generating a credit amount, the credit amount representing an amount of deposited currency;
receiving a product identifier corresponding to a selected product;
determining a product price corresponding to the selected product;
determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the credit amount and the product price;
comparing the round-up amount with at least one of the upsell prices in the database; and
if the round-up amount corresponds to a compared upsell price, identifying at least one upsell product in the database which corresponds to the compared upsell price, and outputting a signal indicative of the identified upsell product.
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9. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a vending device, a payment amount;
receiving a product identifier identifying a first product dispensed at the vending device;
determining a first price for the first product;
determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the payment amount and the first price;
identifying an at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product; and
outputting a signal indicative of the upsell offer.
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10. A vending machine, comprising:
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a memory configured to store;
a database of at least one upsell price, the upsell price corresponding to an upsell product;
a credit amount representing an amount of deposited currency;
a product identifier corresponding to a selected product;
an input device configured to receive the product identifier; and
a processor configured to;
generate the credit amount;
determine a product price corresponding to the product identifier;
determine a round-up amount representing a difference between the credit amount and the product price;
compare the round-up amount with at least one of the upsell prices in the database; and
if the round-up amount corresponds to a compared upsell price,identify at least one upsell product in the database which corresponds to the compared upsell price, and output a signal indicative of the identified upsell product.
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11. A vending machine, comprising:
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a memory, configured to store;
a received payment amount;
a product identifier; and
at least a first upsell offer;
an input device, configured to receive the product identifier;
a processor, configured to;
determine a first price of a first product identified by the product identifier;
determine a round-up amount representing a difference between the received payment amount and the first price; and
identify the at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product.
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12. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving a payment amount;
means for receiving a product identifier identifying a first product dispensed at the vending apparatus;
means for determining a first price for the first product;
means for determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the payment amount and the first price; and
means for identifying an at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product.
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Specification