Products and processes for a membership for a customer of a vending machine
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- determining, by a vending machine equipped with a processor, an internet connection and a visual display device and based on demand for a first product stored in the vending machine, a term of an offer to establish a membership at the vending machine;
providing, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, the offer via the display device;
receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, an indication of an acceptance of the offer;
determining, by the vending machine, an amount of payment that is required to establish the membership;
determining, by the vending machine, whether the amount of payment has been received;
generating, by the vending machine and in the case that it is determined that the amount of payment has been received, a membership identifier that includes a plurality of alphanumeric digits;
storing, by the vending machine, the membership identifier in association with the term of the membership;
receiving, by the vending machine, from the customer, and after the storing of the membership identifier, the membership identifier via an input device;
determining, by the vending machine and based on the received membership identifier, the term of the membership;
receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, after the determining of the term of the membership based on the received membership identifier, a selection of a second product that the customer intends to purchase from the vending machine;
determining, by the vending machine, a product having a sales velocity that is less than an ideal sales velocity thereof; and
selling, by the vending machine and to the customer, after determining that the product has a sales velocity that is less than an ideal sales velocity, the product at a discount.
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Abstract
In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a customer of a vending machine is provided with an offer to establish a membership at a vending machine. After receiving an acceptance of the offer, a membership identifier is determined. The membership identifier is stored in association with the term of the membership.
After the step of storing, the membership identifier is received. The term of the membership is determined. A selection of a product that the customer intends to purchase is received from the customer, and a transaction is processed at the vending machine in accordance with the term and the selection.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, by a vending machine equipped with a processor, an internet connection and a visual display device and based on demand for a first product stored in the vending machine, a term of an offer to establish a membership at the vending machine; providing, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, the offer via the display device; receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, an indication of an acceptance of the offer; determining, by the vending machine, an amount of payment that is required to establish the membership; determining, by the vending machine, whether the amount of payment has been received;
generating, by the vending machine and in the case that it is determined that the amount of payment has been received, a membership identifier that includes a plurality of alphanumeric digits;storing, by the vending machine, the membership identifier in association with the term of the membership; receiving, by the vending machine, from the customer, and after the storing of the membership identifier, the membership identifier via an input device; determining, by the vending machine and based on the received membership identifier, the term of the membership; receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, after the determining of the term of the membership based on the received membership identifier, a selection of a second product that the customer intends to purchase from the vending machine; determining, by the vending machine, a product having a sales velocity that is less than an ideal sales velocity thereof; and selling, by the vending machine and to the customer, after determining that the product has a sales velocity that is less than an ideal sales velocity, the product at a discount.
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2. A method comprising:
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providing, by a vending machine equipped with a processor, an internet connection and a visual display device and to a customer of the vending machine, an offer to establish a membership at the vending machine; receiving, by the vending machine, an acceptance of the offer; determining, by the vending machine, a membership identifier; storing, by the vending machine, the membership identifier in association with the term of the membership; receiving, by the vending machine, the membership identifier after the step of storing; determining, by the vending machine, the term of the membership; receiving, by the vending machine and from the customer, a selection of a product that the customer intends to purchase; and processing, by the vending machine, a transaction at the vending machine in accordance with the term and the selection. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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receiving an identifier that indicates a membership of a customer at a vending machine equipped with a processor, an internet connection and a visual display device; determining a term of the membership; receiving, from the customer, a selection of a product that the customer intends to purchase; and processing a transaction at the vending machine in accordance with the term and the selection, determining whether the amount of payment has been received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification