Method and apparatus for establishing and managing vending machine subscriptions
First Claim
1. A method for purchasing a subscription for a plurality of items of a product from a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing payment for said subscription;
transmitting a request to purchase said subscription; and
receiving a redemption code.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for registering a subscription to purchase a plurality of items dispensed by a vending machine. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing an item by a vending machine in response to a request to redeem at least a portion of a registered subscription. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing an item by a vending machine based on an estimated availability determined through an analysis of stored subscription data
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for purchasing a subscription for a plurality of items of a product from a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing payment for said subscription; transmitting a request to purchase said subscription; and receiving a redemption code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for redeeming an item from a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing payment for a subscription for a plurality of the items, the subscription being associated with a redemption code; transmitting to the vending machine a request to redeem the item; transmitting to the vending machine the redemption code; and receiving from the vending machine the item. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for processing a purchase, comprising:
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receiving payment for a subscription for a plurality of items; storing subscription data, including a redemption code associated with the subscription; receiving the redemption code at a vending machine; dispensing at least one of the plurality of items from the vending machine; and updating the stored subscription data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for processing a purchase, comprising:
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receiving payment for a subscription for a plurality of items; storing subscription data, including a redemption code associated with the subscription; receiving the redemption code at a vending machine; dispensing at least one of the plurality of items from the vending machine; and updating the stored subscription data.
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22. An apparatus for processing a purchase, comprising:
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a processor; and a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to; receive an indication of payment for a subscription for a plurality of items; store subscription data, including a redemption code associated with the subscription; receive the redemption code from a user; dispense at least one of the plurality of items from a vending machine; and update the stored subscription data.
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23. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for processing a purchase, said method comprising:
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receiving an indication of payment for a subscription for a plurality of items; storing subscription data, including a redemption code associated with the subscription; receiving the redemption code; dispensing at least one of the plurality of items from a vending machine; and updating the stored subscription data.
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24. A system allowing the purchase of a subscription for a plurality of items of a product from a device, comprising:
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means for providing payment for said subscription; means for transmitting a request to purchase said subscription; and means for receiving a redemption code. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A device for redeeming an item, comprising:
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means for providing payment for a subscription for a plurality of the items, the subscription being associated with a redemption code; means for transmitting to the device a request to redeem the item; means for transmitting to the device the redemption code corresponding to the item; and means for receiving the item from the device.
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28. A system for processing a purchase, comprising:
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means for receiving payment for a subscription for a plurality of items; means for storing subscription data, including a redemption code associated with the subscription; means for receiving the redemption code at a device; dispensing at least one of the plurality of items from the device; and updating the stored subscription data. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification