Vending machine service scheduling
First Claim
1. A system-implemented method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, the system comprising circuitry, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:
- (1) selecting, by the system controlled by the circuitry, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines;
(2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining, by the system controlled by the circuitry, if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines'"'"' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machines, and at least one subroute has a plurality of machines. The vending machine service schedule is generated by selecting the highest priority subroute (410) and selecting the machines in that subroute (420). Other subroutes can be selected (430, 440) if there is time left in the Service Period.
23 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system-implemented method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, the system comprising circuitry, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:
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(1) selecting, by the system controlled by the circuitry, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines; (2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining, by the system controlled by the circuitry, if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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5. A system comprising circuitry and controlled by the circuitry, the system being configured to perform a method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:
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(1) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines; (2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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6. A manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable data medium comprising one or more computer instructions operable to cause a computer system to perform a method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:
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(1) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines; (2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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7. A network transmission method comprising:
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(1) transmitting, over a network, a computer program configured to cause a computer system to perform a vending machine selection method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the vending machines; (2) operating the computer system to execute the computer program, wherein in executing the computer program the computer system performs operations comprising; (2A) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines; (2B) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification