VENDING KIT AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A vending kit for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending kit comprising:
- a locking mechanism to be installed between a door of a kiosk and a casing of the kiosk;
a door sensor;
a housing to be installed on an external surface of the kiosk;
a display arranged within the housing and displaying pricing information for products within the kiosk;
a payment collection module coupled to the housing;
a radio antenna to be installed within the kiosk to broadcast a signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk;
a radio frequency identification reader arranged within the housing and reading identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; and
a processor arranged within the housing, recording an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader, authenticating a cashless payment mechanism received at the payment collection module, triggering the locking mechanism to unlock the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism, recording a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader in response to closure of the door detected at the door sensor, and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for controlling access to products from a vending machine includes: locking a door of the vending machine; recording an initial inventory of products arranged within the vending machine based on signals received by a radio antenna arranged within the vending machine and read by a radio frequency identification reader; initiating a transaction in response to receiving a cashless payment mechanism from a patron; unlocking the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism; in response to closure of the door, recording a final inventory of products within the vending machine based on signals received by the radio antenna and read by the radio frequency identification reader; and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory to complete the transaction.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vending kit for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending kit comprising:
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a locking mechanism to be installed between a door of a kiosk and a casing of the kiosk; a door sensor; a housing to be installed on an external surface of the kiosk; a display arranged within the housing and displaying pricing information for products within the kiosk; a payment collection module coupled to the housing; a radio antenna to be installed within the kiosk to broadcast a signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk; a radio frequency identification reader arranged within the housing and reading identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; and a processor arranged within the housing, recording an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader, authenticating a cashless payment mechanism received at the payment collection module, triggering the locking mechanism to unlock the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism, recording a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader in response to closure of the door detected at the door sensor, and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vending system for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending kit comprising:
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a locking mechanism installed between a door of the kiosk and a casing of the kiosk; a door sensor detecting a state of the door; a radio antenna broadcasting a signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk; a radio frequency identification reader reading identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; a wireless communication module transmitting product data to a mobile computing device proximal the kiosk for presentation to a patron; and a processor recording an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader, initiating, through the wireless communication module, a transaction with a cashless payment mechanism associated with the mobile computing device, triggering the locking mechanism to unlock the locking mechanism in response to initiation of the transaction, recording a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals read by the radio frequency identification reader in response to closure of the door detected at the door sensor, and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the method comprising:
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locking a door of the vending machine; recording an initial inventory of products arranged within the vending machine based on signals received by a radio antenna arranged within the vending machine and read by a radio frequency identification reader; initiating a transaction in response to receiving a cashless payment mechanism from a patron; unlocking the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism; in response to closure of the door, recording a final inventory of products within the vending machine based on signals received by the radio antenna and read by the radio frequency identification reader; and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory to complete the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification