Systems and methods for vending promotions

• US 20060122881A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Tedesco, Daniel E., Lee, Sih Y., Walker, Jay S., Signorelli, Paul D., Breitenbach, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US11/282,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/72 Auxiliary equipment, e.g. for lighting cigars, opening bottles

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with determining a mystery package, wherein the mystery package comprises a first mystery product and a second mystery product. In some embodiments, the first and second mystery products are selected based at least in part on sales data associated with a plurality of products sold via a vending machine. Some embodiments describe determining a price for the mystery package. In some embodiments, the price for the mystery package is different than the sum of individual respective prices of the first and second mystery products. Some embodiments describe offering the mystery package for the determined mystery package price to a customer of the vending machine. Some embodiments describe receiving an indication of an acceptance of the mystery package offer by the customer and dispensing the at least two mystery products to the customer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a mystery package, wherein the mystery package comprises at least two mystery products having individual respective prices, and wherein the at least two mystery products are selected based at least in part on sales data associated with a plurality of products sold via a vending machine;

determining a price for the mystery package, wherein the price for the mystery package is different than the sum of the individual respective prices of the at least two mystery products;

offering the mystery package for the determined mystery package price to a customer of the vending machine, wherein the identities of the at least two mystery products comprising the mystery package are concealed from the customer;

receiving an indication of an acceptance of the mystery package offer by the customer; and

dispensing the at least two mystery products to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining first and second positions, respectively, of the at least two mystery products within the vending machine; and

determining a relation between the first and second positions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relation between the first and second positions comprises at least one of a distance or an orientation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein in the case that the relation satisfies a pre-defined condition, the dispensing comprises:

dispensing a first one of the at least two mystery products from the first position;

determining the occurrence of an event; and

dispensing, based at least upon the occurrence of the event, a second one of the at least two mystery products from the second position.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the event comprises at least one of (i) a dispensing of the first one of the at least two mystery products into a product hopper, (ii) a removal of the first one of the at least two mystery products from the product hopper, (iii) an elapse of a pre-determined amount of time, and (iv) receipt of an indication from the customer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pre-defined condition comprises at least one of (i) a minimum distance between the first and second positions, (ii) a maximum distance between the first and second positions, (iii) a range of distances between the first and second positions, (iv) one or more pre-determined orientations between the first and second positions, and (v) a likelihood that the at least two mystery products will collide in the case they are dispensed from the first and second positions.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein in the case that the relation satisfies a pre-defined condition, the dispensing comprises:

determining a third position associated with a first one of the at least two mystery products;

dispensing the first one of the at least two mystery products from the third position; and

dispensing a second one of the at least two mystery products from the second position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two mystery products are selected based on a sales metric comprising at least one of (i) a profitability metric, (ii) a revenue metric, (iii) a minimum acceptable product price metric, (iv) a product demand metric, (v) a sales rate metric, (vi) an inventory metric, and (vii) an expiration date metric.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of products sold via the vending machine are ranked according to the sales metric and wherein a first one of the at least two mystery products is selected from a top tier of the sales metric ranking and a second one of the at least two mystery products is selected from a bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first one of the at least two mystery products is selected randomly from the top tier of the sales metric ranking.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second one of the at least two mystery products is selected randomly from the bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first one of the at least two mystery products is selected in a round-robin fashion from the top tier of the sales metric ranking.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second one of the at least two mystery products is selected in a round-robin fashion from the bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sales metric comprises the profitability metric and the ranking comprises a profitability ranking.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the top tier of the profitability ranking comprises a first portion of the plurality of products that are associated with approximately forty-percent of the highest profitability rankings and the bottom tier of the profitability ranking comprises a second portion of the plurality of products that are associated with approximately forty-percent of the lowest profitability rankings

16. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two mystery products comprises a game play.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the game play comprises a play of a game, the game comprising at least one of (i) a game of skill, (ii) a game of chance, or (iii) a combined game of skill and chance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the game may be played by the customer via the vending machine.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two mystery products comprises a music file download.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two mystery products are individually packaged.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the at least two mystery products from the plurality of products sold via the vending machine.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining an identity of the customer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining of the identity of the customer comprises:

receiving an indication of at least one of a code associated with the customer and biometric information associated with the customer.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein a first one of the at least two mystery products is selected based at least in part on the identity of the customer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first one of the at least two mystery products is selected based on at least one of (i) a previous purchase made by the customer, (ii) a previous product selection made by the customer, (iii) a demographic of the customer, and (iv) an environmental factor.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining one or more previous mystery products supplied to the customer; and

preventing the one or more previously supplied mystery products from being included in the mystery package.

27. A method, comprising:

determining a mystery package, wherein the mystery package comprises a first mystery product and a second mystery product;

determining a price for the mystery package;

offering the mystery package for the determined mystery package price to a customer of a vending machine, wherein the identity of the first and second mystery products comprising the mystery package is concealed from the customer;

receiving an indication of an acceptance of the mystery package offer by the customer;

determining a first position within the vending machine of the first mystery product and a second position within the vending machine of the second mystery product; and

determining whether a relation between the first and second positions satisfies a pre-determined condition.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

dispensing the first and second mystery products to the customer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the relation between the first and second positions comprises at least one of a distance or an orientation.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein in the case that the relation is determined to satisfy the pre-defined condition, the dispensing comprises:

dispensing the first mystery product from the first position;

determining the occurrence of an event; and

dispensing, based at least upon the occurrence of the event, the second mystery product from the second position.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the event comprises at least one of (i) a dispensing of the first mystery product into a product hopper, (ii) a removal of the first mystery product from the product hopper, (iii) an elapse of a pre-determined amount of time, and (iv) receipt of an indication from the customer.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the pre-defined condition comprises at least one of (i) a minimum distance between the first and second positions, (ii) a maximum distance between the first and second positions, (iii) a range of distances between the first and second positions, (iv) one or more pre-determined orientations between the first and second positions, and (v) a likelihood that the first and second mystery products will collide in the case they are dispensed from the first and second positions.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining a third position associated with the first mystery product.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the determining of whether the relation between the first and second positions satisfies the pre-determined condition comprises:

determining a first probability of whether the first and second mystery products will collide when dispensed from the first and second positions, respectively;

determining a second probability of whether the first and second mystery products will collide when dispensed from the third and second positions, respectively; and

selecting one of the first and third positions which is associated with the smallest of the first and second probabilities, respectively.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the dispensing, comprises:

dispensing the first mystery product from the selected position; and

dispensing the second mystery product from the second position.

36. A method, comprising:

determining a mystery package, wherein the mystery package comprises a first mystery product and a second mystery product, the first and second mystery products selected based at least in part on sales data associated with a plurality of products sold via a vending machine;

determining a price for the mystery package;

offering the mystery package for the determined mystery package price to a customer of the vending machine, wherein the identities of the first and second mystery products comprising the mystery package are concealed from the customer;

receiving an indication of an acceptance of the mystery package offer by the customer; and

dispensing the first and second mystery products to the customer.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first and second mystery products are selected based on a sales metric comprising at least one of (i) a profitability metric, (ii) a revenue metric, (iii) a minimum acceptable product price metric, (iv) a product demand metric, (v) a sales rate metric, (vi) an inventory metric, and (vii) an expiration date metric.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of products sold via the vending machine are ranked according to the sales metric and wherein first mystery product is selected from a top tier of the sales metric ranking and the second mystery product is selected from a bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first mystery product is selected randomly from the top tier of the sales metric ranking.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the second mystery product is selected randomly from the bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the first mystery product is selected in a round-robin fashion from the top tier of the sales metric ranking.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the second mystery product is selected in a round-robin fashion from the bottom tier of the sales metric ranking.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the sales metric comprises the profitability metric and the ranking comprises a profitability ranking.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the top tier of the profitability ranking comprises a first portion of the plurality of products that are associated with approximately forty-percent of the highest profitability rankings and the bottom tier of the profitability ranking comprises a second portion of the plurality of products that are associated with approximately forty-percent of the lowest profitability rankings.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the first mystery product comprises a game play.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the game play comprises a play of a game, the game comprising at least one of (i) a game of skill, (ii) a game of chance, or (iii) a combined game of skill and chance.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the game may be played by the customer via the vending machine.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the first mystery product comprises a music file download.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the first and second mystery products are individually packaged.

50. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

selecting the first and second mystery products from the plurality of products sold via the vending machine.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

determining an identity of the customer.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the determining of the identity of the customer comprises:

receiving an indication of at least one of a code associated with the customer and biometric information associated with the customer.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the first mystery product is selected based at least in part on the identity of the customer.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the first mystery product is selected based on at least one of (i) a previous purchase made by the customer, (ii) a previous product selection made by the customer, (iii) a demographic of the customer, and (iv) an environmental factor.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

determining one or more previous mystery products supplied to the customer; and

preventing the one or more previously supplied mystery products from being included in the mystery package.

56. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispensing reveals the identifies of the first and second mystery products to the customer.