Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- presenting, to a customer and via a vending machine, an offer to purchase at least two products for a single package price, wherein a first product must be selected from a first inventory group and wherein a second product must be selected from a second inventory group;
outputting indications of which products sold by the vending machine are included in the first and second inventory groups, wherein the outputting comprises selectively illuminating one or more lighting devices proximate to each product position within the vending machine;
receiving an indication that the customer desires to purchase the first product from the first inventory group and a third product also from the first inventory group;
presenting, to the customer and via the vending machine, an offer to purchase the first and third products for a single price that is greater than the single package price;
receiving an indication of a payment of the single greater price by the customer; and
dispensing, in response to the receiving of the indication of payment of the single greater price, the first and third products to the customer.
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Abstract
Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine receiving, from a customer, a selection of a first product that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine processes a sale of a unit of the first product and a respective unit of at least one additional product for a single price.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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presenting, to a customer and via a vending machine, an offer to purchase at least two products for a single package price, wherein a first product must be selected from a first inventory group and wherein a second product must be selected from a second inventory group; outputting indications of which products sold by the vending machine are included in the first and second inventory groups, wherein the outputting comprises selectively illuminating one or more lighting devices proximate to each product position within the vending machine; receiving an indication that the customer desires to purchase the first product from the first inventory group and a third product also from the first inventory group; presenting, to the customer and via the vending machine, an offer to purchase the first and third products for a single price that is greater than the single package price; receiving an indication of a payment of the single greater price by the customer; and dispensing, in response to the receiving of the indication of payment of the single greater price, the first and third products to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vending machine, comprising:
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a processor; and a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to; monitor sales data generated by transactions occurring at the vending machine; evaluate the sales data based on one or more stored rules; determine, based on an evaluation of the sales data that is based on the one or more stored rules, a value rating for each product stored in inventory at the vending machine; allocate a plurality of products stored in inventory into two or more inventory groups based on the value ratings; selectively illuminate indicators proximate to each column of product storing the plurality of products in the vending machine, such that each such column is visually identified as containing products belonging to one of the two or more inventory groups; output an offer for a customer to purchase a unit of product from each of the two or more inventory groups for a single package price; receive an indication of an acceptance of the offer by the customer; and process a sale of the unit of product from each of the two or more inventory groups. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification