×

Method and apparatus for vending a combination of products

  • US 9,171,316 B2
  • Filed: 06/12/2007
  • Issued: 10/27/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×