Virtual vending machine in communication with a remote data processing device
First Claim
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1. A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services, comprising:
- a vending machine without an onboard vending machine controller, the vending machine comprising a vending mechanism; and
a vending bridge in communication with the vending mechanism and a virtual vending machine controller resident on a data processing device remote from the vending machine, the virtual vending machine controller adapted to reconcile a product selection to a product location on the vending machine;
the vending bridge adapted to receive a command from the virtual vending machine controller to dispense the selected product from the product location via the vending mechanism.
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Abstract
A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services. The vending machine system may include a vending machine with a vending mechanism, a data processing device remote from the vending machine, and a vending bridge. The vending bridge is in communication with the data processing device and the vending mechanism of the vending machine so as to instruct the vending mechanism to dispense the goods or the services.
57 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services, comprising:
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a vending machine without an onboard vending machine controller, the vending machine comprising a vending mechanism; and a vending bridge in communication with the vending mechanism and a virtual vending machine controller resident on a data processing device remote from the vending machine, the virtual vending machine controller adapted to reconcile a product selection to a product location on the vending machine; the vending bridge adapted to receive a command from the virtual vending machine controller to dispense the selected product from the product location via the vending mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services, comprising:
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a vending machine without an onboard vending machine controller, the vending machine comprising a vending mechanism; and a vending bridge in communication with the vending mechanism and a virtual vending machine controller resident on a data processing device remote from the vending machine, the virtual vending machine controller adapted to reconcile a product selection location on the vending machine; the vending bridge in communication with the data processing device and the vending mechanism of the vending machine such that the data processing device may receive consumer payment information and the vending bridge is configured to receive a command from the virtual vending machine controller to dispense the selected product from the product location via the vending mechanism.
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30. A vending machine system, comprising:
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a vending machine without an onboard vending machine controller, the vending machine comprising a vending mechanism; and a vending bridge in communication with the vending mechanism and a virtual vending machine controller resident on a data processing device remote from the vending machine, the virtual vending machine controller adapted to reconcile a product selection to a product location on the vending machine; the vending bridge in communication with a plurality of virtual equipment modules of the data processing device and adapted to receive a command from the virtual vending machine controller to dispense the selected product from the product location via the vending mechanism.
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31. A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services, comprising:
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a vending machine without an onboard vending machine controller, the vending machine comprising a refrigeration system and a vending mechanism; a data processing device remote from the vending machine; and a vending bridge; the data processing device controls the refrigeration system via the vending bridge, wherein the data processing device comprises a microprocessor readable medium having embodied thereon instructions that when executed cause the data processing device to; receive humidity data, determine if condensation will form on surfaces of the vending machine, and control the refrigeration system to prevent the formation of condensation, and the vending bridge in communication with the data processing device and the vending mechanism of the vending machine such that the data processing device directly instructs the vending mechanism to dispense the goods or the services in a master-slave relationship in response to a selection of goods or services.
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Specification