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

• US 6,317,649 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• 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: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/635,111
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/233, 700/236, 700/241, 235/375, 235/381, 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 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 vending machine for dispensing a product to a customer, said vending machine comprising:

an input device for receiving a purchase request for said product;

an output device for presenting at least one question to said customer in response to said purchase request; and

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

2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said output device comprises at least one of a display, an audio speaker, a keypad and a microphone.

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

an input device for receiving a purchase request for said product;

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

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

an item dispenser for dispensing said product.

4. 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;

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.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of presenting said question is performed after said step of receiving a purchase request.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of presenting said question requires that said customer purchase said product before being rewarded for answering said question.

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

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said question queries said customer about alternative products for said vending machine.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of storing said answer together with an indication of a location of said vending machine.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of storing said answer together with demographic information about said customer.

11. The method according to claim 4, wherein said reward comprises the price of said product.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein said reward comprises a discount to the price of said product.

13. The method according to claim 4, wherein said reward comprises a second product.

14. The method according to claim 4, wherein said reward comprises a rebate.

15. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of presenting a marketing promotion to said customer and wherein said question is about said marketing promotion.

16. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of comparing said received answer against at least one correct answer.

17. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of comparing said received answer against a predefined set of correct answers.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of dispensing said reward if said received answer is correct.

19. The method according to claim 4, wherein said purchase request includes a product selection.

20. The method according to claim 4, wherein said purchase request includes payment for said product.

21. A method of operating a vending machine, comprising the steps of:

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

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

ensuring that said offer is not provided to said customer at a vending machine unless said inventory data indicates a sufficient quantity of said reward.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said ensuring step is performed when said customer purchases said product.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said ensuring step is performed periodically and independent of a purchase request.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said ensuring step is performed in a substantially continuous manner.

25. 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;

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.

26. 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;

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.

27. 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

sending a signal to dispense said product.

28. 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 sending a signal to dispense said product.

29. 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 send a signal to dispense said product.

30. 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

sending a signal to dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

31. 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 sending a signal to dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

32. 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 send a signal to dispense said product if said customer has answered said question.

33. 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

sending a signal to dispense said product.

34. 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

sending a signal to dispense said product.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of presenting at least one question to said customer about said marketing promotion.

36. The method according to claim 35, 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) sending a signal to dispense said reward if said received answer is correct.

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

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

sending a signal to dispense said product.