DISPENSER AND ASSOCIATED TRACKING APPLICATION
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a dispenser for storing and dispensing items;
at least one sensor for detecting a storage status associated with the storing and the dispensing of the items; and
a communications device for transmitting storage status updates regarding the detected storage status to a remote device adapted to, based on the storage status updates, display a notification suggesting replenishment of the apparatus with additional items, and indicating a retailer located proximate to the remote device where the additional items are in stock and purchasable to replenish the dispenser.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for storing, dispensing, and facilitating replenishment of a dispenser. The dispenser may store and dispense one or more types of consumable items. Additionally, the dispenser may include one or more sensors for sensing a storage status of the dispenser (e.g., the quantity consumable items remaining in the dispenser). Further still, the dispenser may communicate storage status updates to a remote device on which a related application can be executed, for updating a current storage status, and presenting a notification to a user of the remote device, suggesting the purchase of additional consumable items to replenish the dispenser. The related application may further present the user with other types of purchasing-related information, such as cross merchandise opportunities, a retailer located nearest to the user/mobile device where the additional consumable items can be purchased from, as well as other shopping-related features and/or functionalities.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a dispenser for storing and dispensing items; at least one sensor for detecting a storage status associated with the storing and the dispensing of the items; and a communications device for transmitting storage status updates regarding the detected storage status to a remote device adapted to, based on the storage status updates, display a notification suggesting replenishment of the apparatus with additional items, and indicating a retailer located proximate to the remote device where the additional items are in stock and purchasable to replenish the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following; receive a storage status update from a dispenser adapted to store and dispense consumable items; determine, based on the received storage status update, whether a current storage status associated with the dispenser falls below a replenishment threshold; and upon determining that the current storage status falls below the replenishment threshold, present a notification indicating a suggestion to replenish the dispenser and a retailer located proximate to the apparatus at which additional consumable items are purchasable to replenish the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a communications network over which a storage status update is transmitted; a dispenser for storing and dispensing a plurality of consumable items; and a remote device adapted to execute an application, the application adapted to; receive the storage status update from the dispenser; and present a notification indicating a suggestion to replenish the dispenser based on the storage status update and a retailer located proximate to the remote device at which additional consumable items are purchasable to replenish the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable memory including computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to perform a method comprising:
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receiving, at a mobile device, a storage status update indicating a remaining quantity of a type of single serve coffee packs stored in a dispenser; updating a current storage status associated with the type of single serve coffee packs based on the received storage status update; determining whether the updated current storage status meets a predetermined threshold associated with the type of single serve coffee packs; and upon a determination that the updated current storage status of the dispenser meets the predetermined threshold associated with the type of single serve coffee packs, presenting a notification on the mobile device suggesting ordering an additional quantity of the type of single serve coffee packs and a proximately located retailer at which the additional quantity of the type of single serve coffee packs are purchasable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a mobile device, a storage status update indicating a remaining quantity of a type of single serve coffee packs stored in a dispenser; updating a current storage status associated with the type of single serve coffee packs based on the received storage status update; determining whether the updated current storage status meets a predetermined threshold associated with the type of single serve coffee packs; and upon a determination that the updated current storage status of the dispenser meets the predetermined threshold associated with the type of single serve coffee packs, presenting a notification on the mobile device suggesting ordering an additional quantity of the type of single serve coffee packs and a proximately located retailer at which the additional quantity of the type of single serve coffee packs are purchasable. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification