Analytics based climate control in vending machines

• US 9,842,454 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gerhard, Elizabeth L., Kilker, Robert E., Vlasak, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US15/087,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20170287258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 700236, 700240, 700242, 221150 R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

A climate-controlled vending machine is monitored using data analytics. The climate-controlled vending machine includes a primary storage unit for storing two or more items. A first slot of an item is determined to be available within a secondary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine. The secondary storage unit is a climate-controlled unit. A first item, of the two or more items within the primary storage unit, is transferred to the first slot of the secondary storage unit. The first item within the first slot of the secondary storage unit is altered to a first condition. A selection from a first user is received. In response to the reception of the selection of the first item, the first item is dispensed to the user from a dispensary unit, wherein the item is being of the first condition. The first slot is replenished with a replacement item from the primary storage.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a climate-controlled vending machine using data analytics, the method comprising:

storing two or more items within a primary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine;

determining that a first slot is available within a secondary storage unit of the vending machine, the secondary storage unit being a climate-controlled unit;

transferring a first item of the two or more items within the primary storage unit into the first slot of the secondary storage unit, wherein the first item is in a condition at a time of the transferring;

altering the condition of the first item within the secondary storage unit to a first condition;

monitoring the condition of the first item to determine if the first item is at the first condition;

receiving, from a user, a selection of the first item;

informing the user if the first item has not met the first condition;

prompting the user with an option to make a new selection if the first item has not met the first condition;

dispensing, using a dispensary unit, the first item from the first slot, to the user in response to receiving the selection of the first item; and

replenishing the first slot with a replacement item from the primary storage unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein replenishing the first slot with a replacement item includes:

determining that a second item of the two or more items is more frequently purchased than the first item; and

replenishing the first slot with the second item as the replacement item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting one or more climate-controlled vending machines, including the climate-controlled vending machine, over a network;

monitoring the one or more climate-controlled vending machines, over the network, using data analytics, wherein the data analytics include

collecting item selection statistics of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines,

transmitting the item selection statistics to a central data storage, and

selecting the first item for the first slot of the secondary storage unit using the item selection statistics;

compiling the item selection statistics, from the central data storage, for each of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines,

determining that the climate-controlled vending machine has the first item; and

dispensing, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine having the first item, the first item to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the climate-controlled vending does not have the first item; and

informing, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine not having the first item, the user of a second climate-controlled vending machine of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines within a proximity containing the first item.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the data analytics further includes:

updating stock information of the climate-controlled vending machine based on supply and demand information and the item selection statistics; and

transmitting the stock information to the central data storage.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the climate-controlled vending machine issues a low stock alert when a first item falls below a first stock threshold.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the data analytics are compiled using cloud analytics relating to the data analytics of the one or more climate-controlled machines.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary storage unit contains one or more condition monitors for determining the first condition of the first item stored within the secondary storage unit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining usage statistics of the climate-controlled vending machine; and

altering a condition of the secondary storage unit based on the usage statistics to a second condition.

10. A system for monitoring a climate-controlled vending machine using data analytics, the system comprising:

a memory;

a processor device communicatively coupled to the memory; and

a data analytics unit of the climate-controlled vending machine that is communicatively coupled to the processor device and the memory wherein the climate-controlled vending machine is configured to

store two or more items within a primary storage unit of the vending machine,

determine that a first slot is available within a secondary storage unit of the vending machine, the secondary storage unit being a climate-controlled unit,

transfer a first item of the two or more items within the primary storage unit into the first slot of the secondary storage unit, wherein the first item is in a condition at a time of the transfer,

alter the condition of the first item within the secondary storage unit to a first condition,

monitor the condition of the first item to determine if the first item is at the first condition,

receive, from a user, a selection of the first item,

inform the user if the first item has not met the first condition,

prompt the user with an option to make a new selection if the first item has not met the first condition,

dispense, using a dispensary unit, the first item from the first slot, to the user in response to receiving the selection of the first item, and

replenish the first slot with a replacement item from the primary storage unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the climate-controlled vending machine is further configured to:

connect to one or more climate-controlled vending machines, including the climate-controlled vending machine, over a network;

communicate with the one or more climate-controlled vending machines, collecting item selection statistics, transmitting the item selection statistics to a central data storage, and selecting the first item for the first slot of the secondary storage unit using the item selection statistics;

compile, the item selection statistics from the central data storage, for each of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines;

determine that the climate-controlled vending machine has the first item; and

dispense, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine having the first item, the first item to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the climate-controlled vending machine is further configured to:

determine that the climate-controlled vending does not have the first item; and

inform, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine not having the first item, the user of a second climate-controlled vending machine of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines within a proximity containing the first item.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the data analytics unit is further configured to:

update the item selection statistics unit of the climate-controlled vending machine based on supply and demand information and the item selection statistics; and

transmit the supply and demand information and the item selection statistics from the item selection statistics unit to the central data storage.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the climate-controlled vending machine issues a low stock alert when an amount of a first item falls below a first stock threshold.

15. A computer program product for monitoring a climate-controlled vending machine using data analytics, the climate-controlled vending machine comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable application stored therein, wherein the computer readable application, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

store two or more items within a primary storage unit of the vending machine;

determine that a first slot is available within a secondary storage unit of the vending machine, the secondary storage unit being a climate-controlled unit;

transfer a first item of the two or more items within the primary storage unit into the first slot of the secondary storage unit, wherein the first item is in a condition at a time of the transfer;

alter the condition of the first item within the secondary storage unit to a first condition after the first item has been transferred;

monitor the condition of the first item to determine if the first item is at the first condition;

receive, from a user, a selection of the first item;

inform the user if the first item has not met the first condition;

prompt the user with an option to make a new selection if the first item has not met the first condition;

dispense, using a dispensary unit, the first item from the first slot, to the user in response to receiving the selection of the first item; and

replenish the first slot with a replacement item from the primary storage unit.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

connect to one or more climate-controlled vending machines, including the climate-controlled vending machine, over a network;

communicate with the one or more climate-controlled vending machines, collecting item selection statistics, transmitting the item selection statistics to a central data storage, and selecting the first item for the first slot of the secondary storage unit using the item selection statistics;

compile, the item selection statistics from the central data storage, for each of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines;

determine that the climate-controlled vending machine has the first item; and

dispense, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine having the first item, the first item to the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

determine that the climate-controlled vending does not have the first item; and

inform, in response to the determination of the climate-controlled vending machine not having the first item, the user of a second climate-controlled vending machine of the one or more climate-controlled vending machines within a proximity containing the first item.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

update the item selection statistics unit of the climate-controlled vending machine based on supply and demand information and item selection statistics; and

transmit the supply and demand information and item selection statistics from the item selection statistics unit to the central data storage.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the climate-controlled vending machine issues a low stock alert when an amount of a first item falls below a first stock threshold.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the secondary storage unit contains condition monitors for determining the first condition of the first item stored within the secondary storage unit.