Method and apparatus for establishing and managing vending machine subscriptions

• US 6,298,972 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital 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: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Lech, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/545,596
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 194/217, 194/218, 364/479.01, 364/479.02, 364/479.05, 364/479.06, 364/479.07, 364/479.08, 364/479.14, 221/9, 221/2, 235/381, 235/380, 235/383
• US Class Current: 194/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

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.

Claims

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:

inputting into said vending machine payment for said subscription; and

inputting into said vending machine a request to purchase said subscription.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inputting into said vending machine payment for said subscription includes using one of a coin acceptor, a bill validator and a magnetic stripe reader.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said request to purchase said subscription includes identification of a subscription option to be purchased.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said request to purchase said subscription includes identifying a product to be associated with said subscription.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inputting into said vending machine said request to purchase said subscription includes pressing a button on said vending machine.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a redemption code.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into said vending machine payment for said subscription comprises:

inputting at least one coin.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into said vending machine payment for said subscription comprises:

inputting at least one bill.

9. The method of claim 1, in Which the step of inputting into said vending machine a request to purchase said subscription comprises:

pushing at least one button.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into said vending machine a request to purchase said subscription comprises:

pushing at least one predetermined button at least once.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

inputting a subscription option.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the step of inputting a subscription option comprises:

pushing at least one button.

13. The method of claim 11, in which the step of inputting a subscription option comprises:

inputting an indication of a price of the subscription.

14. The method of claim 11, in Which the step of inputting a subscription option comprises:

inputting an indication of a duration of the subscription.

15. The method of claim 11, in which the step of inputting a subscription option comprises:

inputting an indication of a quantity of items.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one product.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the step of identifying at least one product comprises:

pushing at least one button.

18. The method of claim 16, in which the step of identifying at least one product comprises:

pushing one button of a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of bottoms being associated with a respective product.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting a code.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the step of inputting a code comprises:

pushing at least one button.

21. The method of claim 19, in which the step of inputting a code comprises:

inserting a card.

22. The method of claim 6, in which the step of receiving a redemption code comprises:

viewing the redemption code.

23. The method of claim 22, in which the step of viewing the redemption code comprises:

viewing the redemption code on a display.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the step of viewing the redemption code on a display comprises:

viewing the redemption code as a scrolling message.

25. The method of claim 22, in which the step of viewing the redemption code comprises:

viewing the redemption code which is printed on a medium.

26. A vending machine, comprising:

input means for receiving a redemption code; and

means, responsive to said input means, for dispensing an item.

27. The vending machine of claim 26, wherein the dispensed item is a beverage.

28. The vending machine of claim 26, wherein said input means includes a set of alphanumeric keys.

29. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising means for outputting the redemption code.

30. The vending machine of claim 26, in which said input means comprises:

a card reader.

31. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for storing the redemption code.

32. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining a subscription from the redemption code.

33. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for updating a subscription associated with the redemption code.

34. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for verifying the redemption code.

35. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining whether the redemption code corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined codes.

36. The vending machine of claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining whether the redemption code corresponds to an available item.