Method and apparatus for vending a combination of products
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- defining, by a vending machine, a plurality of packages, each package of the plurality of packages comprising two or more products from a population of products sold via the vending machine, wherein the defining comprises;
identifying a record in a database that contains information defining a package rule;
determining, based on the package rule and the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine, a plurality of possible combinations of products, each possible combination of products defining a possible package;
retrieving inventory data for each of the products from the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine;
determining, based on the inventory data that at least one possible package is available;
defining package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available;
storing the package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available in the database; and
setting a status of each of the at least one possible packages that are available to an active status, wherein the plurality of packages comprises any of the at least one possible packages that have an active status; and
outputting, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, an offer to purchase one of the plurality of packages for a package price.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering a plurality of products from a vending machine is disclosed. The method generally allows an offer for a package to be output, in which the package defines a plurality of products, including a selected product. An apparatus is also disclosed to carry out the method steps of the present invention.
432 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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defining, by a vending machine, a plurality of packages, each package of the plurality of packages comprising two or more products from a population of products sold via the vending machine, wherein the defining comprises; identifying a record in a database that contains information defining a package rule; determining, based on the package rule and the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine, a plurality of possible combinations of products, each possible combination of products defining a possible package; retrieving inventory data for each of the products from the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine; determining, based on the inventory data that at least one possible package is available; defining package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available; storing the package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available in the database; and setting a status of each of the at least one possible packages that are available to an active status, wherein the plurality of packages comprises any of the at least one possible packages that have an active status; and outputting, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, an offer to purchase one of the plurality of packages for a package price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of; defining, by a vending machine, a plurality of packages, each package of the plurality of packages comprising two or more products from a population of products sold via the vending machine, wherein the defining comprises; identifying a record in a database that contains information defining a package rule; determining, based on the package rule and the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine, a plurality of possible combinations of products, each possible combination of products defining a possible package; retrieving inventory data for each of the products from the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine; determining, based on the inventory data that at least one possible package is available; defining package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available; storing the package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available in the database; and setting a status of each of the at least one possible packages that are available to an active status, wherein the plurality of packages comprises any of the at least one possible packages that have an active status; and outputting, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, an offer to purchase one of the plurality of packages for a package price.
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:
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defining, by a vending machine, a plurality of packages, each package of the plurality of packages comprising two or more products from a population of products sold via the vending machine, wherein the defining comprises; identifying a record in a database that contains information defining a package rule; determining, based on the package rule and the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine, a plurality of possible combinations of products, each possible combination of products defining a possible package; retrieving inventory data for each of the products from the population of products offered for sale via the vending machine; determining, based on the inventory data that at least one possible package is available; defining package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available; storing the package data for each of the at least one possible packages that are available in the database; and setting a status of each of the at least one possible packages that are available to an active status, wherein the plurality of packages comprises any of the at least one possible packages that have an active status; and outputting, by the vending machine and to a customer of the vending machine, an offer to purchase one of the plurality of packages for a package price.
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Specification