Vending machine systems using standard inventory control system components

• US 8,788,341 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantaloupe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VendScreen, Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Paresh K., Butler, Glenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LI, SUN M
• Application Number:
  US13/351,222
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.53, 709/217, 700/232, 700/236, 700/237, 700/231
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vending machine system includes at least one vending machine having a central coordinating unit, at least one management technology, and at least one communication technology facilitating communication between the at least one vending machine and the at least one management technology. Optional features that may be used alone or in combination with the vending machine system include: the ability to provide users with a promotional discount; the ability to provide users with multilevel pricing; the ability to track, time stamp, and keep records of activity at the at least one vending machine; a unique user interface; the ability to allow a user to report vending machine problems from a “report problem screen” on a unique user interface; unique vending machine-to-server communications; and the ability to remotely issue a refund to the user.

Claims

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

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

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

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

the management technology being configured to transmit inventory data from the inventory database to a separate promotion server, and in response thereto, receive one or more promotions applicable to one or more products listed in the inventory data;

receive the promotions from the management technology in a communication separate from the upload of the vending machine data; and

direct a user interface of the vending machine to display one or more of the promotions to a user at the vending machine, the vending machine data being transmitted to the management technology, and the promotions being received from the management technology, before and independent of the one or more of the promotions being displayed to the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

receive a response pertaining to a particular promotion of the one or more of the promotions displayed to the user;

apply the particular promotion in an instance in which the response indicates acceptance of the particular promotion, and a particular product to which the particular promotion is applicable is purchased from the vending machine;

and with the response or separate selection of the particular product,

direct the vending machine to dispense the particular product.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the particular promotion includes a required specified action, the memory storing further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

direct the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and the required specified action,

wherein the apparatus being caused to receive the response includes being caused to receive confirmation of performance of the required specified action, the confirmation indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

communicate settlement redemption data pertaining to application of the particular promotion to a settlement server remote from the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

direct the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and a required specified action,

wherein the apparatus being caused to receive the response includes being caused to receive confirmation of performance of the required specified action without a separate request for the particular promotion, the confirmation indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

direct the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and a required specified action,

wherein the apparatus being caused to receive the response includes being caused to receive confirmation of performance of the required specified action and a separate request for the particular promotion, the confirmation and request indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

receive confirmation of payment of a non-discounted price of the particular product before the vending machine is directed to dispense the particular product, and

wherein the apparatus being caused to apply the particular promotion includes being caused to direct the vending machine to provide a refund in an amount of the particular promotion.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus being caused to apply the particular promotion includes being caused to direct the vending machine to provide a credit in an amount of the particular promotion for purchase of another product from the vending machine, or direct the vending machine to provide another product from the vending machine without payment.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus being caused to apply the particular promotion includes being caused to direct the vending machine to provide a value to an accumulated loyalty system in an amount of the particular promotion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management technology is further configured to transmit inventory data from the inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in the inventory data, and merge the vending machine data with the nutrition data to obtain merged data, the merged data including at least the inventory data and the nutrition data, and

wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to further:

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

direct the user interface to display of the nutrition data in response to user selection of products at the vending machine, the vending machine data being transmitted and merged with the nutrition data, and the merged data being received from the management technology, before and independent of the user selection.

11. A method comprising:

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

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

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

the management technology being configured to transmit inventory data from the inventory database to a separate promotion server, and in response thereto, receive one or more promotions applicable to one or more products listed in the inventory data;

receiving the promotions from the management technology in a communication separate from the upload of the vending machine data; and

directing a user interface of the vending machine to display one or more of the promotions to a user at the vending machine, the vending machine data being transmitted to the management technology, and the promotions being received from the management technology, before and independent of the one or more of the promotions being displayed to the user,

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

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving a response pertaining to a particular promotion of the one or more of the promotions displayed to the user;

applying the particular promotion in an instance in which the response indicates acceptance of the particular promotion, and a particular product to which the particular promotion is applicable is purchased from the vending machine; and

with the response or separate selection of the particular product,

directing the vending machine to dispense the particular product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular promotion includes a required specified action, the method further comprising:

directing the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and the required specified action,

wherein receiving the response includes receiving confirmation of performance of the required specified action, the confirmation indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

communicating settlement redemption data pertaining to application of the particular promotion to a settlement server remote from the apparatus.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

directing the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and a required specified action,

wherein receiving the response includes receiving confirmation of performance of the required specified action without a separate request for the particular promotion, the confirmation indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

directing the user interface to display a non-discounted price, a discounted price reflecting the particular promotion, and a required specified action,

wherein receiving the response includes receiving confirmation of performance of the required specified action and a separate request for the particular promotion, the confirmation and request indicating acceptance of the particular promotion.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving confirmation of payment of a non-discounted price of the particular product before the vending machine is directed to dispense the particular product, and

wherein applying the particular promotion includes directing the vending machine to provide a refund in an amount of the particular promotion.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the particular promotion includes directing the vending machine to provide a credit in an amount of the particular promotion for purchase of another product from the vending machine, or directing the vending machine to provide another product from the vending machine without payment.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the particular promotion includes directing the vending machine to provide a value to an accumulated loyalty system in an amount of the particular promotion.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the management technology is further configured to transmit inventory data from the inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in the inventory data, and merge the vending machine data with the nutrition data to obtain merged data, the merged data including at least the inventory data and the nutrition data, and

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the merged data from the management technology in a communication separate from the upload of the vending machine data; and

directing the user interface to display of the nutrition data in response to user selection of products at the vending machine, the vending machine data being transmitted and merged with the nutrition data, and the merged data being received from the management technology, before and independent of the user selection.