RFID system and method for vending machine control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A product dispensing machine configured with a RFID information system, comprising:
- a machine cabinet having storage locations for a plurality of products to be dispensed from said machine;
at least one smart tag associated with each different type of product to be dispensed, said smart tags containing information related to their respective products;
a smart tag scanner disposed within range of said smart tags;
a pre-selection mechanism operatively configured with said scanner by which a consumer pre-selects a product contained within said cabinet, said scanner configured to retrieve said product information from said smart tag associated with the pre-selected product and cause said information to be conveyed such that a consumer may make an informed decision as to whether to purchase the product from said machine.
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Abstract
A RFID method and system are provided to aid consumers in making an informed decision prior to purchasing products from a vending or other type of dispensing machine. The products in the machine are associated with a smart tag that contains information regarding the product that may be of interest to a consumer prior to purchasing the product. A smart tag scanner is incorporated with the dispensing machine and used to retrieve the product information from the smart tags.
168 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A product dispensing machine configured with a RFID information system, comprising:
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a machine cabinet having storage locations for a plurality of products to be dispensed from said machine;
at least one smart tag associated with each different type of product to be dispensed, said smart tags containing information related to their respective products;
a smart tag scanner disposed within range of said smart tags;
a pre-selection mechanism operatively configured with said scanner by which a consumer pre-selects a product contained within said cabinet, said scanner configured to retrieve said product information from said smart tag associated with the pre-selected product and cause said information to be conveyed such that a consumer may make an informed decision as to whether to purchase the product from said machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A product dispensing machine configured with a RFID information system, comprising:
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a plurality of products stored within said machine;
a smart tag associated with each said product, said smart tag containing information related to their respective products;
a smart tag scanner; and
wherein said scanner provides a consumer with said product information upon the consumer pre-selecting a product prior to purchase such that the consumer may make an informed decision as to whether to purchase the product from said machine.
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19. A method for providing consumers with information related to products within a product dispensing machine, said method comprising:
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associating a smart tag with each type of product within the machine, the smart tags containing product information related to the respective products;
configuring a smart tag scanner with the machine, wherein the scanner retrieves the product information from the smart tag associated with a product pre-selected by the consumer; and
displaying the product information retrieved from the smart tag to the consumer prior to the consumer purchasing a product. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A product dispensing machine configured with a RFID information system for use by a consumer associated with a smart tag for conveying a personal information, comprising:
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a plurality of products stored within said machine, each product associated with product information stored on a memory device;
product information associated with each said product;
a smart tag scanner adapted for reading information from the smart tag associated with the consumer; and
means for electronically obtaining information about consumer needs or preferences pertaining to at least one of said products by using the information read from the smart tag associated with the consumer;
wherein said scanner recommends to the consumer a selection of one or more products responsive to said information about consumer needs or preferences.
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Specification