Vending machine method and apparatus for encouraging participation in a marketing effort

• US 6,161,059 A
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Tedesco, Daniel E., Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/152,905
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/233, 700/236, 700/241, 235/381, 235/375, 705/14
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A vending machine method and apparatus are disclosed for encouraging vending machine customers to review a marketing promotion or to participate in a survey while making a purchase. Customers are immediately rewarded for providing responses about about the marketing promotion that was previously presented or their preferences or opinions. The reward may be, for example, a supplementary product, a discount on the customer'"'"'s current purchase or a subsequent purchase, or a rebate. The vending machine ensures that it contains sufficient currency and products to meet the requirements of all active reward offers. The vending machine ensures that buyers are committed to making a purchase, before offering a reward to a customer. Unscrupulous customers are discouraged from using repeatedly participating in a marketing promotion, merely to collect rewards or influence the results of a survey. The marketing promotion presented to a customer can be based on the customer'"'"'s current or previous product selection(s) or purchase history.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request and a payment for said product;

presenting at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

providing a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispensing said product.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of presenting said question is performed after said step of receiving a purchase request and a payment for said product.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of presenting said question in response to said payment requires that said customer purchases said product before being rewarded for answering said question.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said question queries said customer about an alternative location for said vending machine.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said question queries said customer about alternative products for said vending machine.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said answer together with an indication of the location of said vending machine.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said answer together with demographic information about said customer.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of presenting a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing said received answer against at least one correct answer.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing said received answer against a predefined set of correct answers.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of dispensing said reward if said received answer is correct.

16. A vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

means for receiving a purchase request and a payment for said product;

means for presenting at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

means for receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

means for providing a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

means for dispensing said product.

17. A vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

a payment processing device for receiving payment for said product;

an output device for presenting at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

an input device for receiving an answer to said question from said customer; and

an item dispenser for dispensing said product and a product reward to said customer for answering said question.

18. The vending machine according to claim 17, wherein said output device comprises at least one of a display, an audio speaker, a keypad and a microphone.

19. A vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

a payment processing device for receiving payment for said product;

an output device for presenting at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

an input device for receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

a currency dispenser for providing a currency reward to said customer for answering said question; and

an item dispenser for dispensing said product.

20. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to receive a purchase request and a payment for said product;

a step to present at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

a step to receive an answer to said question from said customer;

a step to provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

a step to dispense said product.

21. A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request for said product;

presenting at least one question to said customer;

receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

providing a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispensing said product if said customer has answered said question.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said purchase request includes a product selection.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein said purchase request includes payment for said product.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

28. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of presenting a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

29. A vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

means for receiving a purchase request for said product;

means for presenting at least one question to said customer;

means for receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

means for providing a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

means for dispensing said product if said customer has answered said question.

30. A vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

a display for presenting at least one question to said customer in response to a purchase request;

an input device for receiving an answer to said question from said customer; and

an item dispenser for dispensing said product and a product reward to said customer for answering said question.

31. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to receive a purchase request for said product;

a step to present at least one question to said customer;

a step to receive an answer to said question from said customer;

a step to provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

a step to dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

32. A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request and payment for said product;

evaluating inventory data, said inventory data specifying a quantity of a reward;

presenting at least one question to said customer if said inventory data indicates a sufficient quantity of said reward;

receiving an answer to said question from said customer;

providing said reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispensing said product.

33. A method for dispensing products in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request for a product;

generating an offer to provide a reward to said customer in exchange for participation in a marketing promotion;

evaluating inventory data, said inventory data specifying a quantity of a reward;

ensuring that said offer is not provided to said customer unless said inventory data indicates a sufficient quantity of said reward; and

dispensing said sufficient quantity of said award and said product to said customer.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said ensuring step is performed when said customer purchases said product.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said ensuring step is performed periodically and independent of a purchase request.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein said ensuring step is performed in a substantially continuous manner.

37. A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request for said product;

presenting a marketing promotion to said customer based on said product;

providing a reward to said customer for reviewing said marketing promotion; and

dispensing said product.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of presenting at least one question to said customer about said marketing promotion.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising the steps of (i) receiving an answer to said question, (ii) comparing said received answer to at least one correct answer and (iii) dispersing said reward if said received answer is correct.

40. A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a purchase request for said product;

presenting at least one question to said customer based on said product;

providing a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispensing said product.

41. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU; and

a storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device storing a program for controlling the CPU and the CPU operative with the program to;

receive a purchase request and a payment for said product;

present at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

receive an answer to said question from said customer;

provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispense said product.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein presenting said question is performed after receiving a purchase request and a payment for said product.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein presenting said question in response to said payments requires that said customer purchases said product before being rewarded for answering said question.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said question queries said customer about an alternative location for said vending machine.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said question queries said customer about alternative products for said vending machine.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to store said answer together with an indication of the location of said vending machine.

47. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to store said answer together with demographic information about said customer.

48. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

49. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

50. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

51. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

52. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to present a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

53. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to compare said received answer against at least one correct answer.

54. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to compare said received answer against a predefined set of correct answers.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to dispense said reward if said received answer is correct.

56. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU; and

a storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device storing a program for controlling the CPU and the CPU operative with the program to;

receive a purchase request for said product;

present at least one question to said customer;

receive an answer to said question from said customer;

provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said purchase request includes a product selection.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said purchase request includes payment for said product.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

63. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to present a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

64. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU; and

a storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device storing a program for controlling the CPU and the CPU operative with the program to;

receive a purchase request and payment for said product;

evaluate inventory data, said inventory data specifying a quantity of a reward;

present at least one question to said customer if said inventory data indicates a sufficient quantity of said reward;

receive an answer to said question from said customer;

provide said reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispense said product.

65. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU; and

a storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device storing a program for controlling the CPU and the CPU operative with the program to;

receive a purchase request for said product;

present a marketing promotion to said customer based on said product;

provide a reward to said customer for reviewing said marketing promotion; and

dispense said product.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to present at least one question to said customer about said marketing promotion.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the CPU is further operative with the program to (i) receive an answer to said question, (ii) compare said received answer to at least one correct answer and (iii) dispense said reward if said received answer is correct.

68. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU; and

a storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device storing a program for controlling the CPU and the CPU operative with the program to;

receive a purchase request for said product;

present at least one question to said customer based on said product;

provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

dispense said product.

69. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

program code adapted to receive a purchase request and a payment for said product;

program code adapted to present at least one question to said customer in response to said payment;

program code adapted to receive an answer to said question from said customer;

program code adapted to provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

program code adapted to dispense said product.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein presenting said question is performed after receiving a purchase request and a payment for said product.

71. The computer program product claim 69, wherein presenting said question in response to said payment requires that said customer purchases said product before being rewarded for answering said question.

72. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said question queries said customer about an alternative location for said vending machine.

73. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said question queries said customer about alternative products for said vending machine.

74. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising program code adapted to store said answer together with an indication of the location of said vending machine.

75. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising program code adapted to store said answer together with demographic information about said customer.

76. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

77. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

78. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

79. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

80. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising program code adapted to present a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

81. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising program code adapted to compare said received answer against at least one correct answer.

82. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising program code adapted to compare said received answer against a predefined set of correct answers.

83. The computer program product of claim 82, further comprising program code adapted to dispense said reward if said received answer is correct.

84. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

program code adapted to receive a purchase request for said product;

program code adapted to present at least one question to said customer;

program code adapted to receive an answer to said question from said customer;

program code adapted to provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

program code adapted to dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

85. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said purchase request includes a product selection.

86. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said purchase request includes payment for said product.

87. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

88. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

89. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

90. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

91. The computer program product of claim 84, further comprising program code adapted to present a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

92. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

program code adapted to receive a purchase request and payment for said product;

program code adapted to evaluate inventory data, said inventory data specifying a quantity of a reward;

program code adapted to present at least one question to said customer if said inventory data indicates a sufficient quantity of said reward;

program code adapted to receive an answer to said question from said customer;

program code adapted to provide said reward to said customer for answering said question; and

program code adapted to dispense said product.

93. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

program code adapted to receive a purchase request for said product;

program code adapted to present a marketing promotion to said customer based on said product;

program code adapted to provide a reward to said customer for reviewing said marketing promotion; and

program code adapted to dispense said product.

94. The computer program product of claim 93, further comprising program code adapted to present at least one question to said customer about said marketing promotion.

95. The computer program product of claim 94, further comprising program code adapted to (i) receive an answer to said question, (ii) compare said received answer to at least one correct answer and (iii) dispense said reward if said received answer is correct.

96. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

program code adapted to receive a purchase request for said product;

program code adapted to present at least one question to said customer based on said product;

program code adapted to provide a reward to said customer for answering said question; and

program code adapted to dispense said product.