Vending machine nutritional information display system using standard inventory control system components

• US 8,583,280 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantaloupe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VendScreen, Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Paresh K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Sun
• Application Number:
  US12/768,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/241, 700/231, 700/232, 705/28, 705/400, 194/217
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method for using a vending machine nutritional information display system using standard inventory control system components. A vending machine nutritional information display system using standard inventory control system components. An apparatus for implementing a vending machine nutritional information display system using standard inventory control system components.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to at least:

(a) receive vending machine data uploaded from a vending machine using standard vending machine protocol,

said vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by said vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in said inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by said vending machine, and

said vending machine data being received for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit performance of one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using said vending machine data, said one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory;

(b) transmit inventory data from said inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in said inventory data;

(c) merge said vending machine data with said nutrition data to obtain merged data, said merged data including at least said inventory data and said nutrition data; and

(d) transmit said merged data to said vending machine in a communication separate from the upload of said vending machine data, said merged data being transmitted for display of said nutrition data on a display of said vending machine based on user selection of products thereat, said vending machine data being received and merged with said nutrition data, and said merged data being transmitted to said vending machine, before and independent of said user selection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus being caused to receive said vending machine data from said vending machine via at least one audit technology using standard vending machine protocol.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said apparatus being caused to receive vending machine data including being caused to synch said at least one audit technology configured to store said vending machine data with an inventory database configured to maintain vending machine data for said vending machine.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus being caused to receive said vending machine data from said vending machine using wireless communication technology.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus being caused to transmit said merged data to said vending machine using wireless communication technology.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said memory storing further executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to merge said vending machine data with advertising data for products listed in said inventory data, said inventory data being merged with said advertising data based on said inventory data to obtain merged data.

7. An apparatus associated with a vending machine, and comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to at least:

(a) transmit vending machine data uploaded to management technology using standard vending machine protocol,

said vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by said vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in said inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by said vending machine,

said vending machine data being transmitted for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit said management technology to perform of one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using said vending machine data, said one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory,

said management technology being configured to transmit inventory data from said inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in said inventory data, and

said management technology being configured to merge said vending machine data with said nutrition data to obtain merged data, said merged data including at least said inventory data and said nutrition data;

(b) receive said merged data from said management technology in a communication separate from the upload of said vending machine data; and

(c) cause display of said nutrition data in response to user selection of products at said vending machine, said vending machine data being transmitted and merged with said nutrition data, and said merged data being received from said management technology, before and independent of said user selection.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 implemented as a stand-alone device retrofittable into said vending machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 built into said vending machine.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising at least one user input technology.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, said apparatus being caused to transmit vending machine data to said management technology via at least one audit technology using standard vending machine protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, said apparatus being caused to receive said merged data from said management technology via at least one audit technology using standard vending machine protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, said apparatus being caused to transmit vending machine data to said management technology using wireless communication technology.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, said apparatus being caused to receive said merged data from said management technology using wireless communication technology.

15. A method comprising:

(a) receiving vending machine data uploaded from a vending machine using standard vending machine protocol,

said vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by said vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in said inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by said vending machine, and

said vending machine data being received for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit performance of one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using said vending machine data, said one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory;

(b) transmitting inventory data from said inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receiving nutrition data for products listed in said inventory data;

(c) merging said vending machine data with said nutrition data to obtain merged data, said merged data including at least said inventory data and said nutrition data; and

(d) transmitting said merged data to said vending machine in a communication separate from the upload of said vending machine data, said merged data being transmitted for display of said nutrition data on a display of said vending machine based on user selection of products thereat, said vending machine data being received and merged with said nutrition data, and said merged data being transmitted to said vending machine, before and independent of said user selection,

wherein said receiving, merging and transmitting are performed by an apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to perform said receiving, merging and transmitting.

16. The method of claim 15, said receiving vending machine data including receiving vending machine data from said vending machine via at least one audit technology using standard vending machine protocol.

17. The method of claim 15, said transmitting said merged data including transmitting said merged data to said vending machine via at least one audit technology using standard vending machine protocol.

18. The method of claim 15, said receiving vending machine data including receiving vending machine data from said vending machine using wireless communication technology.

19. The method of claim 15, said transmitting said merged data including transmitting said merged data to said vending machine using wireless communication technology.

20. A method comprising:

(a) transmitting vending machine data uploaded to management technology using standard vending machine protocol,

said vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by said vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in said inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by said vending machine,

said vending machine data being transmitted for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit said management technology to perform of one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using said vending machine data, said one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory,

said management technology being configured to transmit inventory data from said inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in said inventory data, and

said management technology being configured to merge said vending machine data with said nutrition data to obtain merged data, said merged data including at least said inventory data and said nutrition data;

(b) receiving said merged data from said management technology in a communication separate from the upload of said vending machine data;

(c) causing display of said nutrition data in response to user selection of products at said vending machine, said vending machine data being transmitted and merged with said nutrition data, and said merged data being received from said management technology, before and independent of said user selection,

wherein said transmitting, receiving and causing display are performed by an apparatus associated with said vending machine, and comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to perform said transmitting, receiving and causing display.