Virtual visual selection merchandising interface
First Claim
5. A method for vending products within a machine to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a display module containing products to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which products to be vended are visibly housed, the displays organized into at least one visually recognizable pattern;
providing a computer for activating and controlling the display module;
providing software for controlling said computer; and
,generating a visual display with said software for establishing a virtual screen for inputting customer data, the screen comprising virtual representations of said physical displays arranged in said at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on said virtual screen selected and viewed by customers correspond to actual items available in said plurality of physical displays.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending arrangement for computerized vending machines, retail displays, automated retail stores, or the like presents a physical display comprising a plurality of viewing windows or modules containing items to be vended. The physical windows or modules are organized into visually recognizable patterns of rows or columns physically apparent from the machine exterior. A controlling computer responds to software and provides a visual display controlled by the software for establishing screens for inputting customer selections and displaying machine options. The screen presents virtual representations of physical displays arranged in said recognizable patterns, whereby images appearing the virtual screen selected and viewed by customers correspond to actual items available in corresponding physical displays.
76 Citations
12 Claims
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5. A method for vending products within a machine to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a display module containing products to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which products to be vended are visibly housed, the displays organized into at least one visually recognizable pattern; providing a computer for activating and controlling the display module; providing software for controlling said computer; and
,generating a visual display with said software for establishing a virtual screen for inputting customer data, the screen comprising virtual representations of said physical displays arranged in said at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on said virtual screen selected and viewed by customers correspond to actual items available in said plurality of physical displays. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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10-1. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said dispensing step includes the further steps of:
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opening a vending door; prompting the user to collect vended products; monitoring the retrieval of vended products, and, if a preset amount of time elapses and a user has not retrieved their product(s), re-prompting the user to retrieve their product(s), and, if a user has retrieved their product(s) displaying a thank-you message for the customer.
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12. A method for vending products within a machine to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a display module associated with said machine containing products to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which products to be vended are visibly housed, the displays organized into at least one visually recognizable pattern; providing a computer for activating and controlling the display module;
providing software for controlling said computer;generating a virtual visual selection interface with said software for establishing a virtual screen for inputting customer data, the screen comprising virtual representations of said physical displays arranged in said at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on said virtual screen selected and viewed by customers correspond to actual items available in said plurality of physical displays, said virtual visual selection interface step comprising the further steps of; associating each product available for vending with a unique product identification number; providing a current session identification number in response to a customer input; retrieving a screen template; associating selected products with corresponding lighting mapping data; coloring virtual display areas in said screen template and physical product areas with lighting effects defined in said mapping data; establishing product mapping data associated with said session identification numbers and said product identification numbers; reading product mapping data to provide the user with said virtual visual selection interface.
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Specification