System, method and apparatus for remote dispensing of items
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a remote dispenser to dispense an item, the method comprising:
- receiving information relating to a user;
receiving from the user a request for a requested item having an item id;
associating a user id with the requested item;
identifying at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to said information relating to the user; and
communicating said user id and said item id to said at least one remotely located dispenser when said requested item is available at said remotely located dispenser to permit said requested item to be retrieved from said at least one remotely located dispenser by the user.
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method for remotely dispensing items includes a controller and at least one remote dispenser. The controller includes an interface and a processor circuit. The interface receives information relating to a user and for receive from the user a request for a requested item having an item id. The processor circuit is in communication with the interface and is configured to associate a user id with the requested item, identify the at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to the information relating to the user, and communicate the user id and the item id to the at least one remotely located dispenser when the requested item is available at the remotely located dispenser to permit the requested item to be retrieved from the at least one remotely located dispenser by the user.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a remote dispenser to dispense an item, the method comprising:
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receiving information relating to a user;
receiving from the user a request for a requested item having an item id;
associating a user id with the requested item;
identifying at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to said information relating to the user; and
communicating said user id and said item id to said at least one remotely located dispenser when said requested item is available at said remotely located dispenser to permit said requested item to be retrieved from said at least one remotely located dispenser by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for controlling a remote dispenser to dispense an item, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving information relating to a user;
means for receiving from the user a request for a requested item having an item id;
means for associating a user id with the requested item;
means for identifying at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to said information relating to the user; and
means for communicating said user id and said item id to said at least one remotely located dispenser when said requested item is available at said remotely located dispenser to permit said requested item to be retrieved from said at least one remotely located dispenser by the user.
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22. An apparatus for controlling a remote dispenser to dispense an item, the apparatus comprising:
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an interface for receiving information relating to a user and for receiving from the user a request for a requested item having an item id;
a processor circuit in communication with said interface, said processor circuit being configured to;
a) associate a user id with the requested item;
b) identify at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to said information relating to the user; and
c) communicate said user id and said item id to said at least one remotely located dispenser when said requested item is available at said remotely located dispenser to permit said requested item to be retrieved from said at least one remotely located dispenser by the user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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30. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said processor circuit is configured to charge an account associated with the user in response to receipt of said availability signal.
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38. A system for remotely dispensing items, the system comprising:
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a controller and at least one remote dispenser, said controller including;
an interface for receiving information relating to a user and for receiving from the user a request for a requested item having an item id;
a processor circuit in communication with said interface, said processor circuit being configured to;
a) associate a user id with the requested item;
b) identify said at least one remotely located dispenser operable to dispense the requested item in response to said information relating to the user; and
c) communicate said user id and said item id to said at least one remotely located dispenser when said requested item is available at said remotely located dispenser to permit said requested item to be retrieved from said at least one remotely located dispenser by the user.
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39. A method of dispensing requested items at a location remote from a computer maintaining a record of requested items, the method comprising:
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receiving from the computer a user id and an item id associated with the user id, identifying an item requested by a user;
receiving user input requesting said item, said user input including an identification of the user when said identification of the user matches said user id associated with said item id, dispensing said item and transmitting a signal to said computer to indicate said item has been dispensed;
receiving said item; and
transmitting a signal to said computer in response to receiving said item, to indicate said item has been returned.
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40. An apparatus for dispensing requested items at a location remote from a computer maintaining a record of requested items, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving from the computer a user id and an item id associated with the user id, identifying an item requested by a user;
means for receiving user input requesting said item, said user input including an identification of the user means for dispensing said item and for transmitting a signal to said computer to indicate said item has been dispensed when said identification of the user matches said user id associated with said item id;
means for receiving said item; and
means for transmitting a signal to said computer in response to receiving said item, to indicate said item has been returned.
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Specification