Vending Store Inventory Management and Reporting System

• US 20100138037A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NewZoom Incorporated (Swyft Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NewZoom Incorporated (Swyft Inc.)
• Inventors: Viswanathan, Sabarivasan, Hatton, James Henry, Smith, Walter David Gower, Lusardi, Steven Craig, Adelberg, Bradley Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,319,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• 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 9/001 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A data center supporting a network system for vending products to customers and associated vending methods are provided. The network system includes a data center and a plurality of vending stores remotely located from the data center and connected to the data center through a network interface. The vending stores also include an automated dispensing mechanism for immediate dispensing of purchased products to the customers. The data center may include an enterprise resource planning module and the vending stores may contain user interfaces for collecting inventory and maintenance data during stocking and maintenance.

Claims

1. A data center supporting a network system for vending products to customers from a plurality of vending stores each comprising a computer system and an interface for communicating with the data center over the network system, the data center comprising:

one or more data stores for storing inventory information corresponding to inventory in the plurality of vending stores,

one or more modules for receiving the inventory information from the plurality of vending stores and processing the inventory information to control inventory in the plurality of vending stores, and

a network interface for connecting to the network system,

wherein the data center is configured to connect to network interfaces of the plurality of vending stores over a network.

2. The data center of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules of the data center are configured to identify vending stores requiring replenishment of products and to send instructions, directly or indirectly, to suppliers or distributors of inventory to deliver particular products to vending stores identified as requiring replenishment.

3. The data center of claim 2, wherein the one or more modules of the data center are further configured to receive shipment confirmation messages from the suppliers or distributors when a delivery of the particular products is made or initiated.

4. The data center of claim 1, wherein the data center is configured to generate and upload to the plurality of vending stores user identification information to be used by user interfaces of the plurality of vending stores to determine an identify of stocking personnel.

5. The data center of claim 4, wherein the user identification information comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

information for authenticating cards issued to the stocking personnel based on card information,

information for authenticating an alphanumeric code entered by the stocking personnel on the user interfaces of the plurality of vending stores,

information for authenticating biometric information obtained by a sensor on one of the plurality of vending stores,

information for analyzing a photo image and/or a video image captured by a camera of one of the plurality of vending stores, and

a combination of thereof.

6. The data center of claim 4, wherein the data center is configured to generate and upload to the plurality of vending stores vending store access information, which controls access to certain regions of at least one vending store in the plurality of vending stores on information provided by the stocking personnel.

7. The data center of claim 1, wherein the data store is configured to generate and upload to the plurality of vending stores inventory delivery information, which is used by the plurality of vending stores to prompt stocking personnel to confirm deliveries of shipments of merchandise when said personnel stock the shipment of the merchandise in the vending stores.

8. The data center of claim 7, wherein the inventory delivery information comprises instructions for the plurality of vending stores to process the confirmation.

9. The data center of claim 7, wherein the inventory delivery information comprises instruction for the stocking personnel to send back a part of the merchandise shipment.

10. The data center of claim 7, wherein the inventory delivery information comprises instruction for the stocking personnel to transfer a part of the merchandise shipment to another vending store.

11. The data center of claim 7, wherein the inventory delivery information comprises instruction for the stocking personnel to count and report inventory in the vending stores.

12. The data center of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules of the data center are configured to generate stocking requests based on inventory reports received from the vending stores.

13. The data center of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of vending stores comprises an inventory analysis system for determining inventory of the vending store and wherein the data center is configured to instruct the at least one of the plurality of vending stores to determine the inventory when stocking personnel completes an inventory transfer function.

14. The data center of claim 1, wherein the data center is configured to establish communication with at least one of the plurality of vending stores and receive dispensing accuracy information collected by a product sensing system of the one of the plurality of vending stores corresponding.

15. The data center of claim 14, wherein the product sensing system is configured to automatically update inventory information of products stored in the one of the plurality of vending stores and to communicate the updated inventory information to the data center.

16. The data center of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or modules of the data center is an enterprise resource planning module comprising logic for performing an enterprise resource planning.

19. The data center of claim 1, wherein data center is configured to deliver inventory management information to each of the plurality of vending stores for displaying on user interfaces of the plurality of vending stores.

20. The data center of claim 19, wherein the inventory management information comprises incoming shipment data, returns data, redirections data, and/or requests for additional inventory.

17. The data center of 16, wherein the enterprise resource planning module is configured to send and receive external inventory information between the data center and a third party logistic system.

18. The data center of 17, wherein the external inventory information sent by the third party logistic system comprises vending store identification data, product identification data, product quantity data, and/or a receiving time period.

21. A method implemented at a data store in communication with a plurality of vending stores, each vending store having a storage space for storing the products, and an automated dispensing mechanism for dispensing the products from the storage space to customers, the method comprising:

identifying a subset of vending stores requiring replenishment of products and

sending instructions, directly or indirectly, to suppliers or distributors of inventory to deliver particular products to vending stores identified as requiring replenishment.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving shipment confirmation messages from the suppliers or distributors when a delivery of the particular products is made or initiated.

23. A vending store for vending products to customers, the vending store comprising:

a network interface for connecting the vending store to a network,

a computer system comprising

(i) a user interface configured to require stocking personnel to input inventory information regarding products being stocked in the vending store, and

(ii) logic for communicating said inventory information over the network,

a storage space for storing the products, and

an automated dispensing mechanism for dispensing the products from the storage space to the customers,

wherein the vending store is configured to connect to a data center in a network system over the network and is configured to send the inventory information to the data center for processing the inventory information to control inventory in the vending store.

24. The vending store of claim 23, further comprises a user identification interface having functionality for determining an identify of the stocking personnel.

25. The vending store of claim 24, wherein the functionality for determining the identify of stocking personnel comprises:

(a) a card reader and associated logic for identifying individuals who are issued specific cards,

(b) a keypad and associated logic for identifying personal identification numbers,

(c) a biometric information capture and authentication system,

(d) a camera for capturing pictures of the stocking personnel during replenishment, or

(e) a combination of any of the foregoing.

26. The vending store of claim 23, an access system for limiting access to specified regions of the vending store is based on an identity of the stocking personnel as determined by the user identification interface.

27. The vending store of claim 23, wherein the computer system of the vending store is configured to prompt the stocking personnel to confirm deliveries of shipments of merchandise when said personnel stock the shipment of the merchandise in the vending store.

28. The vending store of claim 23, wherein the computer system of the vending store is configured to receive confirmation of the deliveries through the user interface.

29. The vending store of claim 23, wherein the computer system of the vending store is configured to instruct the stocking personnel to send back merchandise.

30. The vending store of claim 23, wherein the computer system of the vending store is configured to instruct the stocking personnel to transfer merchandise between the vending store and another vending store.