Mobile device assisted retail system and process in a vending unit, retail display or automated retail store
First Claim
1. A vending system comprising at least one vending machine, retail display, or automated retail store, the vending system comprising:
- a display module containing items to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which items to be vended are visibly housed;
a computer for activating and controlling the vending system and said module, and receiving and processing customer messages from one or more mobile devices;
software for controlling said computer; and
a visual display controlled by said software for establishing a virtual screen for inputting customer data and selections, wherein the virtual screen comprising virtual representations of the physical displays of the physical display module arranged in at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on the virtual screen selected and viewed by the user correspond to actual items available in the plurality of physical displays of the display module of the at least one vending machine, wherein the computer is configured to transmit information to the one or more mobile devices to generate the virtual screen on the one or more mobile devices.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for users of an automated retail store, vending unit, digital signage or interactive retail display (self-service units) to interact with such display/unit, collectively referred to in this text as a machine, directly and/or simultaneously using a one or more mobile devices. In addition, system and methods are provided that can recognize registered users within a set proximity to the machine and broadcast messages and notifications such as machine information, inventory information, rewards, discounts and free products, all of which could be tailored to the specific user based on understanding gathered through analysis of prior interactions.
83 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vending system comprising at least one vending machine, retail display, or automated retail store, the vending system comprising:
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a display module containing items to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which items to be vended are visibly housed; a computer for activating and controlling the vending system and said module, and receiving and processing customer messages from one or more mobile devices; software for controlling said computer; and a visual display controlled by said software for establishing a virtual screen for inputting customer data and selections, wherein the virtual screen comprising virtual representations of the physical displays of the physical display module arranged in at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on the virtual screen selected and viewed by the user correspond to actual items available in the plurality of physical displays of the display module of the at least one vending machine, wherein the computer is configured to transmit information to the one or more mobile devices to generate the virtual screen on the one or more mobile devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for vending products within a vending machine to a user, the vending machine comprising a display module containing products to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which products to be vended are visibly housed, a computer for activating and controlling the display module and receiving and processing user requests from a plurality of mobile devices;
- software for controlling the computer; and
a visual display for inputting user data and selections, the method comprising the steps of;receiving user data and/or selections input at the visual display of the vending machine, wherein the user selections correspond to products to be vended; and receiving user requests from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the user request correspond to one of the products to be vended; and broadcasting messages and notifications corresponding to the vending machine and receivable by one or more of the plurality of mobile devices in proximity to the vending machine, wherein the messages and notifications include information corresponding to the inventory of products to be vended. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
- software for controlling the computer; and
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16. The method of 10 further comprising the step of transmitting information to a mobile device that generates a virtual screen on the mobile device display screen comprising virtual representations of the physical displays of the vending machine arranged in at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on the virtual screen selected and viewed by the user correspond to actual items available in the plurality of physical displays of the display module of the vending machine.
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20. A method for vending products within a vending machine to a user in a vending system comprising a central server connected to one or more vending machine, the one or more vending machines comprising a display module containing products to be vended, the display module physically comprising a plurality of physical displays in which products to be vended are visibly housed, a computer for activating and controlling the display module and receiving and processing user requests from a plurality of mobile devices;
- software for controlling the computer; and
a visual display for inputting user data and selections, the method comprising the steps of;receiving user data and/or selections input at a visual display of one or more vending machines, wherein the user selections correspond to products to be vended in the vending machine; receiving user requests from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein a user request corresponds to one of the one or more vending machines, promotions at one of the one or more vending machines, and products to be vended in one of the one or more vending machine; and receiving user location information and identifying the closest vending machine based on the user'"'"'s location information that has the product to be vended for which information was requested, and transmitting information to the mobile device that generates a virtual screen on the display screen of the mobile device comprising virtual representations of the physical displays of the vending machine arranged in at least one recognizable pattern, whereby images appearing on the virtual screen selected and viewed by the user correspond to actual items available in the plurality of physical displays of the display module of the vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- software for controlling the computer; and
Specification