Vending machine with transponder interrogator
First Claim
1. A beverage vending machine comprising:
- a housing;
a dispenser disposed within said housing for dispensing a beverage;
a transponder interrogator disposed within said housing for reading a transponder unit; and
a controller connected to said transponder interrogator for receiving data from said transponder interrogator, said controller also being connected to said dispenser and being able to cause said dispenser to dispense a beverage in response to the received data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine includes a transponder interrogator. A customer carries a transponder embedded within an ornamental or useful item, such as a key chain ornament. When the customer desires to make a purchase from the vending machine, the customer presents the transponder to the transponder interrogator. The transponder is identified and a credit amount associated with that transponder is debited the purchase price. The system enables the vending machine operator to track the purchasing habits of the transponder user, and to provide instant incentives to purchasers using the transponder, based upon the customer'"'"'s profile or purchasing habits.
55 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A beverage vending machine comprising:
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a housing;
a dispenser disposed within said housing for dispensing a beverage;
a transponder interrogator disposed within said housing for reading a transponder unit; and
a controller connected to said transponder interrogator for receiving data from said transponder interrogator, said controller also being connected to said dispenser and being able to cause said dispenser to dispense a beverage in response to the received data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A beverage vending machine in combination with a transponder, said combination comprising:
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a housing;
a dispenser disposed within said housing for dispensing a beverage;
a transponder, which is physically disconnected from said housing, for transmitting data;
a transponder interrogator disposed within said housing for reading said data of said transponder unit; and
a controller connected to said transponder interrogator for receiving data from said transponder interrogator, said controller also being connected to said dispenser and being able to cause said dispenser to dispense a beverage in response to the received data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vending machine with a dispenser and a transponder interrogator disposed within a housing;
providing a database;
providing a transponder, which is physically disconnected from the housing, and which includes a memory for storing identifying data;
transmitting an activation signal from the transponder interrogator to the transponder;
transmitting the identifying data from the transponder to the transponder interrogator;
using the identifying data to access transponder data in the database; and
determining whether the accessed transponder data meets a predetermined condition, and communicating a dispense signal from the transponder interrogator to the dispenser if the predetermined condition is met. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A method of operating a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vending machine with a dispenser and a transponder interrogator disposed within a housing;
providing a transponder, which is physically disconnected from the housing, and which includes a memory for storing credit amount data;
transmitting an activation signal from the transponder interrogator to the transponder;
transmitting the credit amount data from the transponder to the transponder interrogator; and
communicating a dispense signal from the transponder interrogator to the dispenser if the credit amount data, received by the transponder interrogator, exceeds a purchase price.
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21. A consumer data tracking and reward system comprising:
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a plurality of point of potential sale or interest terminals;
a transponder for interacting with said terminals;
a communication medium connecting each of the terminals to an external database; and
a processor, associated with said external database, monitoring data sent by said terminals representing the interaction of said transponder with said terminals, and permitting a reward to be issued upon a predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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26. A method of tracking consumer data comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of point of potential sale or interest terminals, a transponder for interacting with any of said terminals, and an external database;
interacting the transponder with a one or more of the terminals;
sending identifying information concerning an interacted transponder to the external database;
tracking consumer data in the external database relating a person associated with the transponder; and
rewarding the person, if the consumer data satisfies a predetermined condition.
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Specification