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Computer controlled rental and sale system and method for a supermarket and the like

  • US 4,866,661 A
  • Filed: 03/26/1986
  • Issued: 09/12/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer-controlled system for distributing items to an authorized customer upon demand, the system comprising:

  • (a) customer identification means for determining if a customer is an authorized customer, whereby said authorized customer may utilize the system;

    (b) access means, responsive to said customer identification means, for providing the authorized customer with access during an access time period to the items contained within a locked cabinet, whereby the authorized customer may remove and/or replace any of the items contained within the accessed cabinet;

    (c) item monitoring means, associated with the accessed cabinet, for producing inventory information indicative of the removal and/or replacement of each item within said accessed cabinet during the access time period;

    (d) selection declaration means, associated with said item monitoring means, for producing selection information indicative of the identity of each item which the authorized customer declares for distribution; and

    (e) access termination means, responsive to said item monitoring means and to said selection declaration means, for terminating access to said accessed cabinet when a comparison of said selection information and inventory information indicated that the authorized customer has declared for distribution a number of items equal to the number of items said inventory information indicates have been removed during the access time period.

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