Methods of doing the business of machine vending
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of doing business with a third party wherein the third party is entitled to receive payment based upon actual operations carried out by a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for disabling itself from dispensing goods unless an authorization code is timely input thereto, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM;
generating an authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the authorization code to the CVM.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of doing the business of machine vending with a third party are disclosed. The third party issues an authorization code that prevents a computerized vending machine (“CVM”) from being shut down automatically, or a de-authorization code that causes the CVM to be at least partially shut down. Use of such codes makes it more prudent for parties to enter into contracts that were previously impractical or susceptible of abuse by dishonest vending machine operators.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of doing business with a third party wherein the third party is entitled to receive payment based upon actual operations carried out by a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for disabling itself from dispensing goods unless an authorization code is timely input thereto, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM;
generating an authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the authorization code to the CVM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- CVM”
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10. A method of doing business with a third party wherein the third party is entitled to receive payment based upon actual operations carried out by a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for identifying goods loaded therein and means for reversibly disabling itself from dispensing at least some of said goods upon receipt of a deauthorization code, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM;
generating a deauthorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the deauthorization code to the CVM. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- CVM”
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12. A method of doing business with a third party with respect to a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for disabling itself from dispensing goods unless an authorization code is timely input thereto, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party;
generating an authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the authorization code to the CVM. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- CVM”
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15. A method of doing business with a third party with respect to a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for disabling itself from dispensing goods unless an authorization code is timely input thereto and further having a communications port enabling remote electronic communication with the CVM, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party;
contracting with a data management company having the exclusive right to electronically communicate with the CVM through the communications port;
generating an authorization code under authority of the third party; and
providing the authorization code to the data management company for inputting the authorization code to the CVM.
- CVM”
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16. A method of doing business with a third party with respect to a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
), the CVM having means for reversibly disabling itself from dispensing goods upon receipt of a deauthorization code and further having a communications port enabling remote electronic communication with the CVM, comprising the following steps;
contracting with the third party to pay the third party;
contracting with a data management company having the exclusive right to electronically communicate with the CVM through the communications port;
generating a deauthorization code under authority of the third party; and
providing the deauthorization code to the data management company for inputting the deauthorization code to the CVM.
- CVM”
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17. A method of operating a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
) in conjunction with an interested third party, wherein the third party is entitled to receive at least one of either payment or data based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM, comprising the following steps;
providing a CVM to an operator, the CVM being programmed before said providing to at least partially disabling itself from dispensing goods if an authorization code is not timely input thereto;
making an agreement between the operator and an interested third party to at least one of either make payment or report data to the third party based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM;
generating an authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the authorization code to the CVM. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- CVM”
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20. A method of operating a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
) in conjunction with an interested third party, wherein the third party is entitled to receive at least one of either payment or data based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM, comprising the following steps;
providing a CVM to an operator, the CVM being programmed before said providing to become at least partially disabled from dispensing goods if a de-authorization code is input thereto;
making an agreement between the operator and an interested third party to at least one of either make payment or report data to the third party based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM;
generating a de-authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the de-authorization code to the CVM. - View Dependent Claims (21)
- CVM”
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22. A method of operating a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
) having a display portion which displays a plurality of goods of several types vendible by the CVM, comprising the following steps;
providing a CVM to an operator, the CVM being programmed before said providing to accumulate sales data relating to each of the plurality of goods vendible by the CVM; and
making an agreement between the operator and an interested third party to operate the CVM to vend the goods according to predetermined rules;
wherein the CVM is also preprogrammed before said providing to at least partially disable vending of goods based on an internal analysis of the sales data which indicates that vending of goods will not conform to the predetermined rules. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- CVM”
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26. A method of operating a computerized vending machine (“
- CVM”
) in conjunction with an interested third party, wherein the third party is entitled to receive at least one of either payment or data based upon actual operations carried out by the CVM, comprising the following steps;
providing a CVM to an operator, the CVM being programmed before said providing to;
accumulate sales data relating to the vending of at least some of the plurality of goods vendible by the CVM;
become at least partially disabled from dispensing goods if a de-authorization code is input thereto;
making an agreement between the operator and an interested third party to report at least some of the accumulated data to the third party;
generating a de-authorization code under authority of the third party; and
inputting the de-authorization code to the CVM.
- CVM”
Specification