Vending kit and method
First Claim
1. A vending system for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending system comprising:
- a locking mechanism arranged between a door of a kiosk and a casing of the kiosk;
a door sensor;
a payment collection module;
a radio antenna arranged within the kiosk and configured to broadcast an excitation signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk;
a radio frequency identification reader arranged within the kiosk configured to read identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; and
a processor arranged within the kiosk and configured;
to record an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader,to collect payment information from a patron through the payment collection module,to initiate a new transaction at the kiosk in response to authentication of the payment information,to trigger the locking mechanism to unlock the door in response to initialization of the new transaction,to record a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader in response to opening of the door followed by closure of the door, as detected by the door sensor, during the new transaction, andto initiate a payment for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory via the payment information to complete the new transactions;
to estimate a first position of a first product on a first shelf within the kiosk prior to the new transaction based on strength of a first signal received from a first radio frequency identification tag, arranged on the first product, by the radio antenna; and
to estimate a second position of the first product on the first shelf within the kiosk upon conclusion of the new transaction based on strength of a second signal received from the first radio frequency identification tag by the radio antenna.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for controlling access to products from a vending machine includes: locking a door of the vending machine; recording an initial inventory of products arranged within the vending machine based on signals received by a radio antenna arranged within the vending machine and read by a radio frequency identification reader; initiating a transaction in response to receiving a cashless payment mechanism from a patron; unlocking the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism; in response to closure of the door, recording a final inventory of products within the vending machine based on signals received by the radio antenna and read by the radio frequency identification reader; and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory to complete the transaction.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vending system for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending system comprising:
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a locking mechanism arranged between a door of a kiosk and a casing of the kiosk; a door sensor; a payment collection module; a radio antenna arranged within the kiosk and configured to broadcast an excitation signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk; a radio frequency identification reader arranged within the kiosk configured to read identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; and a processor arranged within the kiosk and configured; to record an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader, to collect payment information from a patron through the payment collection module, to initiate a new transaction at the kiosk in response to authentication of the payment information, to trigger the locking mechanism to unlock the door in response to initialization of the new transaction, to record a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader in response to opening of the door followed by closure of the door, as detected by the door sensor, during the new transaction, and to initiate a payment for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory via the payment information to complete the new transactions; to estimate a first position of a first product on a first shelf within the kiosk prior to the new transaction based on strength of a first signal received from a first radio frequency identification tag, arranged on the first product, by the radio antenna; and to estimate a second position of the first product on the first shelf within the kiosk upon conclusion of the new transaction based on strength of a second signal received from the first radio frequency identification tag by the radio antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vending system for controlling access to products from a vending machine, the vending system comprising:
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a locking mechanism arranged between a door of a kiosk and a casing of the kiosk; a door sensor; a payment collection module; a radio antenna arranged within the kiosk and configured to broadcast an excitation signal toward radio frequency identification tags arranged on products within the kiosk; a radio frequency identification reader arranged within the kiosk configured to read identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna; and a processor arranged within the kiosk and configured; to record an initial inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader; to collect payment information from a patron through the payment collection module; to initiate a new transaction at the kiosk in response to authentication of the payment information; to trigger the locking mechanism to unlock the door in response to initialization of the new transaction; to record a final inventory of products within the kiosk based on signals received by the radio frequency identification reader in response to opening of the door followed by closure of the door, as detected by the door sensor, during the new transaction; to initiate a payment for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory via the payment information to complete the new transaction; to access real-time pricing data of products stocked in the kiosk based on identification signals received from radio frequency identification tags via the radio antenna prior to the new transaction; to identify a set of products removed from the kiosk during the new transaction based on the difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory; and to access nutritional information for each product in the set of products based on identities of products in the set of products; and to calculate aggregate nutritional information of the set of products; and a display arranged on the kiosk and configured to display pricing information of products stocked within the kiosk during the new transaction and the aggregate nutritional information of the set of products in response to conclusion of the new transaction.
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Specification