TWO-WAY EXCHANGE VENDING

• US 20150045947A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Inventors: Yau, Chi W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,870,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• 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: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

Two-way exchange vending can be performed by a two-way exchange based vending machine. The two-way exchange based vending machine can vend rechargeable batteries. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include different modules to perform different functionalities. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include a communications module, a dispensing module, a rejection module, and a receiving module. The communications module can communicate information to and receive inputs from a user. The dispensing module can dispense one or more rechargeable batteries or other requested products to a user. The receiving module can receive one or more rechargeable batteries from a user.

Claims

1. A vending machine comprising:

a processor configured to control the vending machine;

a receiving module configured to receive a battery and collect and transmit battery information to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the received battery is associated with a valid subscription; and

a dispensing module configured to dispense a battery in response to the receipt of the battery and the determination that the battery is associated with a valid subscription.

4. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a charging module.

5. The vending machine of claim 4, wherein the charging module is configured to determine if the received battery meets charging criteria.

6. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein the charging module is configured to recharge the received battery if the received battery meets the charging criteria.

7. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a network communications module configured to communicate across a network.

8. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the received battery is acceptable.

9. The vending machine of claim 8, wherein determining if the received battery is acceptable comprises determining if the operating condition of the battery is acceptable.

12. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to communicate information to a user.

13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein the communication module is configured to receive user inputs.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A method of using a vending machine, the method comprising:

receiving a battery, wherein said receiving comprises;

determining if the received battery is associated with a valid subscription;

determining the type of received battery;

determining if the received battery is acceptable; and

dispensing a requested battery, wherein said dispensing comprises;

dispensing the same type of battery as the received battery in response to the determination of the valid subscription associated with the battery and the acceptability of the battery.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining if the received battery is acceptable comprises determining if the operating condition of the battery is acceptable.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein determining if the received battery is associated with a valid subscription comprises determining if the received input is associated with a valid subscription.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the received input comprises the received battery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining if the received input is associated with a valid subscription comprises determining if the received battery is a battery for use with the vending machine.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the chargeability of the received battery.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the chargeability of the received battery comprises determine the charge state of the received battery.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the chargeability of the received battery comprises determining if the received battery meets charging criteria.

20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. A vending system comprising:

a vending unit for vending products, the vending unit comprising a communication module and a unique identifier;

a central computer comprising;

a processor;

a database storing product information; and

a communication unit, the central computer being located remote to the vending unit;

a vending interface, the vending interface being located remote from the vending unit and configured to communicate with the central computer; and

wherein the vending interface is configured to communicate the unique identifier of the vending unit and vending information to the central computer, and the central computer is configured to communicate the product information to the interface and to communicate vending instructions to the vending unit with the unique identifier.

34. The vending system of claim 33, wherein the unique identifier is associated in the database with the product information, and the central computer is configured to receive the unique identifier from the interface, retrieve the corresponding product information, and communicate the product information to the interface.

36. The vending system of claim 33, wherein the vending interface comprises a mobile application configured for use on a mobile electronic device.

35. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

60. (canceled)

61. (canceled)