Item dispensing system

• US 6,351,688 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTECH Corporation (GTECH SpA)
• Original Assignee: Interlott Technologies Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wagoner, David G., Perin, Joseph C. Jr., Nichols, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US09/513,408
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/8, 221/232, 221/233, 221/235, 700/236, 700/244, 705/21, 705/78, 705/241, 705/242
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

An item dispensing system has a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations. The item dispensers have processors for collecting data relating to the items dispensed. A host computer in electrical communications with processors in the item dispensers receives and stores the data relating to the items dispensed. A client computer in electrical communications with the host computer then receives the data relating to the items dispensed. Thus, the invention provides for the reporting of data relating to the items dispensed to a client computer via a host computer that collects the data from the item dispensers. The client computer is also capable of providing data to the item dispensers via the host computer. The invention is further applicable to a configuration which has a plurality of different client computers associated with different client systems, for example, different states. Thus, the invention is particular useful in reporting client item sales.

Claims

1. An item dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations, the item dispensers having respective processors for independently operating the item dispensers and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispensers;

a host computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and in electrical communications with the processors for receiving and storing the data relating to the items dispensed by the item dispensers;

a first other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and the host computer, the first other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed by item dispensers at a first retail location; and

a second other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations, the host computer and the first other computer, the second other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed from item dispensers at a second retail location.

2. The item dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising a retailer computer located at the first retail location, the retailer computer being in electrical communications with first processors of first item dispensers at the first retail location, the retailer computer receiving from the first processors data relating to items dispensed from the first item dispensers.

3. An item dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations, the item dispensers having respective processors for independently operating the item dispensers and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispensers;

a retailer computer located at a first retail location, the retailer computer being in electrical communications with first processors of first item dispensers at the first retail location, and the retailer computer receiving data from the first processors relating to items dispensed from the first item dispensers;

a host computer in electrical communications with the retailer computer at the first retail location which receives and stores the data relating to the items dispensed from the first item dispensers; and

a first other computer in electrical communications with the host computer which receives data relating to items dispensed from item dispensers at the first retail location.

4. The item dispensing system of claim 3 further comprising:

the host computer being in electrical communications with a processor of a second item dispenser at a second retail location for receiving and storing data relating to items dispensed from the second item dispenser; and

a second other computer in electrical communications with the host computer for receiving data relating to items dispensed from the second item dispenser at the second retail location.

5. An item dispensing system comprising:

an item dispenser at a first retail location, the item dispenser having

a processor for independently operating the item dispenser and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispenser, and

a display for playing a message relating to the items dispensed by the item dispenser;

a host computer in electrical communications with the processor at the first retail location, the host computer receiving and storing the data relating to the items dispensed by the item dispensers; and

a first other computer in electrical communications with the host computer which receives the data relating to items dispensed from item dispensers at a first retail location, the first other computer originating a second message relating to the items being dispensed the first other computer transferring the second message to the host computer, the host computer transferring the second message to the processor, and the processor playing the second message on the display.

6. An item dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of item dispensers located at a first retail location;

a plurality of processors located at the first retail location, each of the plurality of processors electrically connected to one of the plurality of item dispensers for independently operating the item dispensers and providing first data relating to items dispensed from a respective one of the plurality of item dispensers;

a retailer computer located at the first retail location and in electrical communications with the plurality of processors, the retailer computer receiving and storing the first data relating to the items dispensed from the plurality of item dispensers;

a second item dispenser located at a second retail location;

a second processor located at the second retail location and electrically connected to the second item dispenser, the second processor receiving and storing second data relating to items dispensed from the second item dispenser;

a host computer in electrical communications with the retailer computer and the second processor, the host computer receiving and storing the first and second data relating to the items dispensed from the plurality of item dispensers and the second item dispenser, respectively; and

another computer in electrical communications with the host computer which receives and stores the first and second data relating to the items dispensed from the plurality of item dispensers and the second item dispenser, respectively.

7. An item dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of retailer units placed at respective point-of-sale counters at different retail locations, each of the retailer units having an input device adapted to permit a retailer to independently process an item selection made by a customer through an input device of a customer unit at a respective point-of-sale counter and provide data relating to items dispensed;

a plurality of item dispensers placed at the different retail locations, each of the plurality of item dispensers being in electrical communication with a respective one of the retailer units and dispensing an item in response to the retailer unit processing the item selection made by the customer; and

a host computer located geographically remotely from, and in electrical communications with, the plurality of retailer units, the host computer receiving from the plurality of retailer units data relating to the items dispensed.

8. The item dispensing system of claim 7 further comprising another computer in electrical communications with the host computer for receiving from the host computer the data relating to the items dispensed.

9. The item dispensing system of claim 7 further comprising a retailer computer in electrical communications with first retailer units and the host computer, the retailer computer receiving and forwarding to the host computer first data from the first retailer units relating to the items dispensed by first item dispensers in electrical communications with the first retail units.

10. The item dispensing system of claim 7 further comprising a customer unit at the point-of-sale counter and having an input device adapted to permit the customer to select an item for purchase.

11. A lottery ticket dispensing system comprising:

first lottery ticket dispensers located at a first retail location;

first processors located at the first retail location, the first processors electrically connected to respective ones of the first lottery ticket dispensers for independently operating the lottery ticket dispensers and providing first data relating to lottery tickets dispensed from the first lottery ticket dispensers;

a first retailer computer located at the first retail location and in electrical communications with the first processors, the first retailer computer receiving and storing the first data relating to lottery tickets dispensed from the first item dispensers;

second lottery ticket dispensers located at a second retail location;

second processors located at the second retail location, the second processors electrically connected to respective ones of the second lottery ticket dispensers for receiving and storing second data relating to lottery tickets dispensed from the second lottery ticket dispensers;

a second retailer computer located at the second retail location and in electrical communications with the second processors, the second retailer computer receiving and storing the second data relating to lottery tickets dispensed from the second item dispensers;

a host computer in electrical communications with the first and second retailer computers, the host computer receiving and storing the first and second data relating to the lottery tickets dispensed from the first and second item dispensers, respectively; and

another computer in electrical communications with the host computer which receives and stores the first data relating to the lottery tickets dispensed from the first lottery ticket dispensers.

12. The lottery ticket dispensing system of claim 11 further comprising at least one further computer located geographically remote from the other computer, the retail locations and the host computer, the further computer in electrical communications with the host computer for receiving the second data relating to lottery tickets dispensed at the second lottery ticket dispensers.

13. An item dispensing system comprising:

a first retailer unit placed at a first point-of-sale counter at a first retail location, the first retailer unit having an input device adapted to permit the first retailer unit to independently process an item selection made by the customer and provide first data relating to an item dispensed;

a first item dispenser at the first retail location and in electrical communication with the first retailer unit, the first item dispenser dispensing an item in response to the first retailer unit processing an item selection made by a customer;

a second retailer unit placed at a second point-of-sale counter at a second retail location, the second retailer having an input device adapted to permit a retailer to process an item selection made by a customer and provide second data relating to items dispensed;

a second item dispenser at the second retail location and in electrical communication with the second retailer unit, the second item dispenser dispensing an item in response to the second retailer unit processing the item selection made by a customer;

a host computer in electrical communications with the first and second retailer units which receives the first and second data relating to the items dispensed; and

another computer in electrical communications with the host computer which receives from the host computer the first data relating to the items dispensed at the first retail location.

14. The item dispensing system of claim 13 further comprising at least one further computer geographically remote from the other and host computers and the retail locations, the further computer in electrical communications with the host computer for receiving second data relating to items dispensed at the second retail location.