Vending Machine

• US 20110144801A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Akinyemi, Julius, Hockenberry, Matthew, Wetzel, Jon, Dickie, Connor, Selker, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment of this invention, a vending machine may include sensors for capturing audio and visual data. A processing unit in the vending machine may analyze this data to calculate an attention score that is indicative of whether attention is being paid to the vending machine. Alternatively, or in addition, the processing unit may analyze this data to calculate the gender or emotional state of a person. Based on these calculations, a vending machine may alter its behavior, such as by changing its audiovisual output.

Claims

1. A vending machine that includes:

at least one camera for capturing images and for outputting signals that represent data indicative of said images, and

at least one processing unit for

analyzing said data to calculate at least one measure of attention that relates to attention given to said vending machine, and

outputting instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of one or more transducers, in such a manner that which instructions are outputted depends at least in part on said calculated measure of attention.

2. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further adapted for

analyzing said data to calculate at least one emotional state of at least one person, and

outputting instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of one or more transducers, in such a manner that which instructions are outputted depends at least in part on said calculated emotional state.

3. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further adapted for

analyzing said data to calculate the gender of at least one person, and

outputting instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of one or more transducers, in such a manner that which instructions are outputted depends at least in part on said calculated gender.

4. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further adapted for

analyzing said data to calculate a social relationship among two or more persons, and

outputting instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of one or more transducers, in such a manner that which instructions are outputted depends at least in part on said calculated social relationship.

5. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises at least one input device for accepting data indicative of selections, instructions or information entered by a person, and in which said processing unit is further adapted for

analyzing said accepted data, and, based at least in part on such accepted data, calculating at least one said measure of attention, and

outputting instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of one or more transducers, in such a manner that which instructions are outputted depends at least in part on said calculated measure of attention.

6. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one said processing unit is adapted for analyzing said data to determine whether a human eye is open or shut in at least one said captured image, and for calculating, based at least in part on said determination, at least one said measure of attention.

7. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one said processing unit is adapted for analyzing said data to determine direction of gaze of at least one human eye, and for calculating, based at least in part on said determination, at least one said measure of attention.

8. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vending machine further comprises a sound sensor, and at least one said processing unit is adapted for calculating at least one said measure of attention, based at least in part on data indicative of sound detected by said sound sensor.

9. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vending machine further comprises at least one pressure sensor, and at least one said processing unit is adapted for calculating at least one said measure of attention, based at least in part on data indicative of pressure detected by said pressure sensor.

10. A vending machine that includes:

at least one camera for capturing images and for outputting signals that represent data indicative of said images, and

at least one processor for analyzing said data indicative of said images to calculate the gender or at least one emotional state of at least one human.

11. A vending machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said vending machine further comprises at least one sensor for detecting sound, and wherein said calculations are based at least in part on data indicative of said detected sound.

12. A vending machine including:

at least one camera for capturing images,

at least one transducer for producing output perceptible to a human, and

at least one processor for

analyzing data indicative of said captured images to calculate at least one numerical value indicative of attention being paid to said vending machine, and

based at least in part on said calculated value, producing instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of at least one said transducer.

13. A vending machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein said vending machine is adapted for connection to an internet.

14. A vending machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein said vending machine is adapted for wireless communication with other devices.

15. A vending machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least one of said transducers is a graphical user interface.

16. A vending machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein said vending machine is adapted to permit the download of machine readable code

17. A vending machine as set forth in claim 16, in which said machine readable code is representative of audio or visual data.

18. A vending machine including:

at least one sensor for detecting light,

at least one transducer for outputting stimuli perceptible to a human, and

at least one processing unit for

analyzing data indicative of said detected light to calculate the gender or at least one emotional state of at least one human, and

based at least in part on said calculated gender or emotional state, producing instructions regarding humanly perceptible output of at least one said transducer.

19. A method comprising the following steps, in combination:

capturing images and outputting signals that represent data indicative of said images,

processing said data to calculate at least one measure of attention, which measure of attention relates to attention shown to a vending machine, and

producing visual or audio stimuli perceptible to a human, in such a manner that which stimuli are produced depends at least in part on said calculated measure of attention.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19, that also includes the steps of analyzing said data indicative of images to determine direction of gaze of at least one human eye relative to a vending machine, and calculating a measure of attention based at least in part on said determination.