METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING VENDING MACHINE OFFERS

• US 20060231614A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, O'Neil, V. Michael, Paul D. Signorelli, Paul T. Breitenbach, Sih Y. Lee
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, O'Neil, V. Michael, Paul D. Signorelli, Paul T. Breitenbach, Sih Y. Lee
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Lee, Sih Y., Walker, Jay S., Signorelli, Paul D., Breitenbach, Paul T., O'Neil, V. Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/426,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20060231614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a promotion redeemable at a vending machine is determined. The promotion comprises an offer distinct from a general offer to sell products from the vending machine at posted prices The promotion is output (e.g., via an output device of a vending machine, an output device of a peripheral device of a vending machine, an output device of a customer device, or a combination thereof). In some embodiments, the promotion may be determined such that it satisfies the goal of increasing the profitability of the vending machine and/or the goal of conserving an inventory of coins in the vending machine. In some embodiments, determining a promotion may comprise constructing a promotion instance by populating a parameter of a promotion type with a value selected based on one or more rules.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a promotion redeemable at a vending machine, the promotion comprising an offer distinct from a general offer to sell products from the vending machine at posted prices; and

causing the promotion to be output.

2-68. -68. (canceled)