Information management system

• US 20060200271A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nova Resolution Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nova Resolution Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Porco, Elliott
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system for information management has a compilation device collecting information particular to a vending device located therein, a PDA useable for receipt, manipulation or inputting information into the compilation device. An activation device triggers the compilation device to prepare it to export or import information to or from the PDA. The compilation device has a power source and activation sensor for activation of thereof and in a dormant state prior to such activation, thereby conserving the energy stored within the power source, and allowing the data compilation device to remain as small as possible. The PDA has operating software which is able to synchronize multiple PDAs to a computer server and is also capable of having route management software for use by field engineers.

Claims

1. An information management system for vending devices, comprising:

a data compilation device located substantially within a vending device for collection of information particular to said vending device;

a connection for a portable computing device (PCD) constructed to permit the PCD to be used by a user of said data compilation device for either or both of, receipt and manipulation of said information and/or inputting at least some of said information into said data compilation device; and

an activation device interposed between said data compilation device and said PCD for triggering said data compilation device to be prepared to export information therein to said PCD or to import information thereto from said PCD.

2. An information management system as recited in claim 1, said information collected by said data compilation device being one of:

the number of vends of said vending device, the type of product vended from said machine, said machine'"'"'s specifications, said machine'"'"'s location, the operator of said machine and vend collection information.

3. An information management system as recited in claim 2, said number of vends being the number of vends since the last time the information was collected.

4. An information management system as recited in claim 2, said number of vends being the cumulative total number of vends for said vending device.

5. An information management system as recited in claim 2, said number of vends being for a selected time period.

6. An information management system as recited in claim 1, further comprising one of:

a digital readout located on or proximate said data compilation device constructed to display selected information collected by said data compilation device; and

said connection being constructed to permit the selected information to be transmitted to said PCD.

7. An information management system as recited in claim 6, wherein said connection is constructed so that said transmission from said data compilation device to said PCD is via any one of the transmission technologies known as Blue Tooth, infrared, wifi, radio frequency, RFID, GPRS and/or cellular.

8. An information management system as recited in claim 1, said data compilation device comprising a power source and an activation sensor responsive to an external stimulus to activate said data compilation device, wherein said data compilation device is in a dormant state prior to said activation time, causing reduced consumption of energy stored in said power source.

9. An information management system as recited in claim 8, wherein once activated, said data compilation device stays activated for a defined period of time thereafter before reentering said dormant state.

10. An information management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said activation sensor responds to a radiation beam having a pre-selected frequency.

11. An information management system as recited in claim 10, further comprising an activation device transmitting a radiation beam having the pre-selected frequency for communicating with said activation sensor.

12. An information management system as recited in claim 8, said activation sensor being a bar code reader located along an outside surface of said vending device.

13. An information management system as recited in claim 12, further comprising an activation device having a bar code display to be read by said bar code reader.

14. An information management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said activation sensor is a socket located along an outside surface of said vending device and said activation device has a plug extending therefrom for matingly connecting to said socket for activation of said data compilation device.

15. An information management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said activation sensor is a plug located along an outside surface of said vending device and said activation device has a socket for matingly connecting to said plug for activation of said data compilation device

16. An information management system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a PCD connected to said connection, said PCD having operating software.

17. An information management system as recited in claim 16, wherein said operating software includes a program component structured to synchronize multiple PCDs to a computer server.

18. An information management system as recited in claim 16, said operating software including a program component providing route management, said route management component being operable by a field engineer to manage a route he travels among different vending devices.

19. An information management system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

A bar code display device located along an outside surface of said vending device, said bar code display device communicating with said data compilation device; and

a bar code reader for use by a user of said data compilation device.

20. An information management system as recited in claim 19, wherein said bar code reader is located on an activation device operated by the user.

21. An information management system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote server, said information provided to said PCD via said connection being structured to be communicable by said PCD to said server via a communications network.

22. An information management system as recited in claim 21, wherein said communications network is the Internet.

23. An information management system as recited in claim 21, said remote computer server having a program to compile, store and secure said information received from said PCD into allowable user groupings, which allowable user groupings designate a user or set of users able to access and/or manipulate said information.

24. An information management system as recited in claim 23, said allowable user groupings of said program being at least vendor/operator, store/location, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and product supplier.

25. An information management system as recited in claim 24, said vendor/operator grouping being further divided into subgroups comprising at least regional manager, account manager, field engineer, data entry person and shop technician.