Method and apparatus for vending a combination of products
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- maintaining a database of at least one upsell price, said upsell price corresponding to an upsell product;
generating a credit amount, the credit amount representing an amount of deposited currency;
receiving a product identifier corresponding to a selected product;
determining a product price corresponding to the selected product;
determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the credit amount and the product price;
comparing the round-up amount with at least one of the upsell prices in the database; and
if the round-up amount corresponds to a compared upsell price,identifying at least one upsell product in the database which corresponds to the compared upsell price, andproviding an offer for the identified upsell product.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering a plurality of products from a vending machine is disclosed. The method generally allows an offer for a package to be output, in which the package defines a plurality of products, including a selected product. An apparatus is also disclosed to carry out the method steps of the present invention.
182 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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maintaining a database of at least one upsell price, said upsell price corresponding to an upsell product; generating a credit amount, the credit amount representing an amount of deposited currency; receiving a product identifier corresponding to a selected product; determining a product price corresponding to the selected product; determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the credit amount and the product price; comparing the round-up amount with at least one of the upsell prices in the database; and if the round-up amount corresponds to a compared upsell price, identifying at least one upsell product in the database which corresponds to the compared upsell price, and providing an offer for the identified upsell product.
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2. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a vending device, a payment amount; receiving a product identifier identifying a first product dispensed at the vending device; determining a first price for the first product; determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the payment amount and the first price; identifying an at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product; and providing an offer for the upsell offer.
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3. A vending machine, comprising:
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a memory configured to store; a database of at least one upsell price, the upsell price corresponding to an upsell product; a credit amount representing an amount of deposited currency; a product identifier corresponding to a selected product; an input device configured to receive the product identifier; and a processor configured to; generate the credit amount; determine a product price corresponding to the product identifier; determine a round-up amount representing a difference between the credit amount and the product price; compare the round-up amount with at least one of the upsell prices in the database; and
if the round-up amount corresponds to a compared upsell price,identify at least one upsell product in the database which corresponds to the compared upsell price, and providing an offer for the identified upsell product.
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4. A vending machine, comprising:
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a memory, configured to store; a received payment amount; a product identifier; and at least a first upsell offer; an input device, configured to receive the product identifier; and a processor, configured to; determine a first price of a first product identified by the product identifier; determine a round-up amount representing a difference between the received payment amount and the first price; identify the at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product; and
provide the at least first upsell offer.
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5. A vending apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving a payment amount; means for receiving a product identifier identifying a first product dispensed at the vending apparatus; means for determining a first price for the first product; means for determining a round-up amount representing a difference between the payment amount and the first price; means for identifying an at least first upsell offer corresponding to the round-up amount, the at least first upsell offer corresponding to an upsell product; and means for providing the at least first upsell offer.
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Specification