System, method, and apparatus for purchasing, dispensing, or sampling of products

• US 9,527,716 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transparensee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Transparensee, LLC
• Inventors: Kline, Michael J., Salvucci, Denise Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US14/269,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 221/96, 700231-244
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising

Abstract

A product dispenser includes a product sampling portion configured to contain a product to be sampled. The product sampling portion includes a product sample dispenser. A packaged product portion is configured to contain and dispense a packaged product corresponding to a product to be sampled.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a. initiating, via a wireless communication device, a push notification intended for a mobile application associated with a plurality of intended recipients, the push notification offering a free product sampling intended to be dispensed at one or more designated locations from a product dispenser configured to dispense both unpackaged samples of the free product sampling and purchased packaged or unpackaged products corresponding to the free product sampling;

b. receiving a response to the push notification indicative of an acceptance by an intended recipient of the offering;

c. authorizing a dispensing of an unpackaged sample of the free product sampling in a size smaller than that of the purchased packaged or unpackaged products corresponding to the free product sampling;

d. initiating a first query to the intended recipient asking if the intended recipient desires to purchase from the product dispenser a packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free product sampling;

e. initiating, responsive to receiving from the intended recipient a negative response to the first query, a second query intended for the intended recipient seeking a response as to why no purchase is desired; and

f. authorizing, responsive to receipt of a positive response to the first query from the intended recipient, dispensing of the purchased packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free product sampling from the product dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first query includes initiating a time-sensitive offer to purchase the packaged product corresponding to the free product sampling comprising offering the packaged product for a discount relative to a standard price for the packaged product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first query is initiated after a period of time corresponding to a generally recognized first moment of truth for the purchased packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free product sampling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product dispenser from which the free product sampling is intended to be dispensed is configured to dispense a purchased packaged product corresponding to the unpackaged sample of the free product sampling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the product dispenser from which the free product sampling is intended to be dispensed is further configured to dispense one or more of the following combinations:

a. Free unpackaged sample, purchased packaged product;

b. Free unpackaged sample, free packaged product;

c. Free unpackaged sample, purchased unpackaged product;

d. Free unpackaged sample, free unpackaged product;

e. Free packaged sample, purchased packaged product;

f. Free packaged sample, free packaged product;

g. Free packaged sample, purchased unpackaged product;

f. Free packaged sample, free unpackaged product;

g. Purchased unpackaged sample, purchased packaged product;

f. Purchased unpackaged sample, free packaged product;

g. Purchased unpackaged sample, purchased unpackaged product;

h. Purchased unpackaged sample, free unpackaged product;

i. Purchased packaged sample, purchased packaged product;

j. Purchased packaged sample, free packaged product;

k. Purchased packaged sample, purchased unpackaged product;

l. Purchased packaged sample, free unpackaged product.

6. The method of claim 1, further including notifying the intended recipient after initiating the first query, via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, of a period of time within which to accept an offer to purchase the purchased packaged or unpackaged product.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the offer includes offering the purchased packaged or unpackaged product at a discounted price.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the notifying of the period of time is performed via a countdown displayed on the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein following initiating the second query:

1. storing the response as to why no purchase is desired on a storage device;

2. initiating a third query intended for the intended recipient asking if the intended recipient would like to sample an additional free product sampling; and

3. authorizing, responsive to an affirmative response to the third query dispensing of an additional free product sampling from the product dispenser.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the storage device comprises the product dispenser.

11. The method of claim 9, further including the step of determining a number of free samples dispensed to the intended recipient, and discontinuing offering free product samples to the intended recipient after a predetermined number of free samples have been authorized to be dispensed to the intended recipient from the product dispenser.

12. A method comprising:

a. offering a free unpackaged product sample intended to be dispensed from a product dispenser configured to dispense both unpackaged free product samples and packaged purchased products corresponding to the unpackaged free product samples, via a push notification intended for receipt by a mobile device associated with a plurality of intended recipients, the offering requiring, as a condition of acceptance of the offer, the completion of a post-sample data acquisition operation from an intended recipient of the free unpackaged product sample;

b. transmitting, responsive to receiving information indicative of an acceptance of the offering and the condition of acceptance, by the intended recipient, instructions authorizing dispensing of the free unpackaged product sample;

c. initiating a query seeking post-sample data acquisition from the intended recipient via the intended recipient'"'"'s mobile device or a user interface associated with the product dispenser; and

d. storing the post-sample data on a storage device.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising incentivizing completion of the data acquisition operation by offering the intended recipient a second free unpackaged product sample intended to be dispensed from the product dispenser upon completion of the data acquisition operation.

14. The method of claim 12, further requiring as a condition of acceptance of the offer, completion by the intended recipient of a pre-sample data acquisition operation.

15. The method of claim 12, further including the steps of:

e. initiating a query to the intended recipient asking if the intended recipient desires to purchase from the product dispenser a purchased packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free unpackaged product sample;

f. initiating, responsive to receiving from the intended recipient a negative response to the query of step (e), a second query intended for the intended recipient seeking a response as to why no purchase is desired; and

g. authorizing, responsive to receipt of a positive response to the query of step (e) from the intended recipient, dispensing of the purchased packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free unpackaged product sampling from the product dispenser.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:

initiating, via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, a time-sensitive offer to purchase the packaged product corresponding to the free unpackaged product sampling comprising offering the packaged product for a discount relative to a standard price for the packaged product.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:

initiating, via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, a time-sensitive offer prior to expiration of a period of time corresponding to a generally recognized first moment of truth for the purchased packaged or unpackaged product corresponding to the free unpackaged product sampling, and wherein the time-sensitive offer is valid for a predetermined period of time after expiration of the period of time corresponding to the generally recognized first moment of truth.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the storage device comprises the product dispenser.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the push notification is intended to be received by a mobile application associated with the product dispenser and a smart phone of the intended recipients.