METHOD OF OUTPUTTING OFFERS AT A VENDING MACHINE
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a vending machine, comprising:
- receiving, from a customer, a request to dispense an item at the vending machine;
determining, by the vending machine, that the item will not be dispensed by the vending machine;
determining, by the vending machine, a state of a service queue at a retail establishment; and
outputting to the customer, in the case that the state of the service queue is determined to indicate fewer than a predefined threshold number of customers waiting in the service queue, a coupon for the item to be redeemed at the retail establishment, wherein the outputting is conducted based on the determination that the item will not be dispensed.
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Abstract
A network of vending machines is interfaced via a controller to a network of devices installed at retail establishments. When a customer goes to a vending machine and requests a transaction such as dispensing a product from the vending machine, the vending machines outputs an offer to the customer in response to the received request and based on a condition that has been identified at one of the retail establishments. The identified condition may be a lack of customer traffic at the retail establishment. The offer outputted at the vending machine may be a discount coupon to induce the customer to visit the retail establishment. Preferably, the retail establishment is nearby to the vending machine which outputted the offer. The vending machine may also output offers when the vending machine is out of stock of the item requested by the customer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vending machine, comprising:
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receiving, from a customer, a request to dispense an item at the vending machine;
determining, by the vending machine, that the item will not be dispensed by the vending machine;
determining, by the vending machine, a state of a service queue at a retail establishment; and
outputting to the customer, in the case that the state of the service queue is determined to indicate fewer than a predefined threshold number of customers waiting in the service queue, a coupon for the item to be redeemed at the retail establishment, wherein the outputting is conducted based on the determination that the item will not be dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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determining, by a device associated with a retail establishment, a state of a service queue at the retail establishment;
transmitting, in the case that it is determined that the state of the service queue is indicative of fewer than a predefined threshold number of customers waiting in the service queue, a signal to a vending machine from the retail establishment, the signal being operative to cause the vending machine to output, to a customer at the vending machine, a coupon that is redeemable at the retail establishment; and
accepting, at the retail establishment and from the customer, the coupon for redemption. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a detection device located at a retail establishment, the detection device being operable to-detect a current rate of transactions being experienced at the retail establishment;
a processing device associated with the retail establishment, the processing device being operable to determine that the current rate of transactions is indicative of fewer than a predefined threshold rate of transactions; and
a transmitting device associated with the retail establishment, the transmitting device being operable to transmit, to a vending machine and in the case that the current rate of transactions is determined to be indicative of fewer than the predefined threshold rate of transactions, a trigger signal; and
the vending machine including;
a receiving device operable to receive the trigger signal;
a controller operable to determine, based on a receipt of the trigger signal, that a coupon is to be output to a customer of the vending machine; and
an offer device operable to selectively output the coupon in response to the controller; and
the retail establishment including;
a redemption device operable to accept the coupon for redemption at the retail establishment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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determining, by a vending machine, an indication of a transaction request of a customer;
determining, by the vending machine, that an item associated with the customer'"'"'s transaction request will not be dispensed;
determining, by the vending machine, that a rate of transactions currently being experienced by a retail establishment is less than a predetermined threshold rate of transactions; and
outputting, by the vending machine, based at least in part on (i) the determination that the rate of transactions currently being experienced by the retail establishment is less than the predetermined threshold rate of transactions and (ii) the determination that the item will not be dispensed, an offer to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeDaniel Tedesco, John Packes, Magdalena Fincham
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Original AssigneeDaniel Tedesco, John Packes, Magdalena Fincham
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InventorsTedesco, Daniel, Fincham, Magdalena, Packes, John
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Application NumberUS11/873,127Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current700/232CPC Class CodesG06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation...G06Q 30/0223 based on inventoryG06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting o...G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending ma...G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part...
