Networked vendor for workplace or controlled environment

• US 9,406,187 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Hammonds, Marcus, Perry, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/153,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/236, 700/237, 700/242, 700/244
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• 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: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Aspects of the invention described herein provide an apparatus and method for networked vending. According to embodiments described herein, a vending machine is provided that may be installed and managed by the venue in which it is installed. Consumers may purchase vending products from the vending machine using cashless accounts managed by an external device in communication with the vendor. The venue may manage the inventory for the vending machine by placing orders for single product inserts to be loaded in the vending machine.

Claims

1. A vending machine for use in a networked environment, comprising:

a frame having an exterior surface, wherein the frame defines an interior area;

at least one rack, affixed to the frame in the interior area, the at least one rack configured to hold at least one insert for holding a plurality of vending products, the at least one insert having a front end, a rear end, a bottom end and an open top end for viewing the plurality of vending products, the at least one insert configured to hold the plurality of vending products in a linear direction from the front end to the rear end, the at least one insert further configured to display readable identification data comprising information related to at least one of;

a characteristic of a product held within the insert and the insert itself;

at least one insert sensor, configured to read the readable identification data;

a plurality of weight sensors included within the at least one rack, at least one weight sensor of the plurality of weight sensors included within the rack configured to determine weight data for the at least one insert;

a consumer input device, configured to receive consumer information data that allows a consumer to purchase one or more of the vending products using an account; and

a processor, coupled to the at least one insert sensor, the at least one weight sensor, the consumer input device, and a network connection, and configured to;

receive vending data, wherein the vending data may comprise at least one selected from the group of;

the readable identification data from the at least one insert sensor, the weight data from the at least one weight sensor, and the consumer information data from the consumer input device; and

transmit the vending data over the network connection.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the readable identification data is contained on a conductive ink label adhered to the insert, and wherein the at least one insert sensor is configured to read the readable identification data on the conductive ink label.

3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the readable identification data comprises information about the plurality of vending products in the insert.

4. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein the information about the plurality of vending products in the insert consists of a type of product and a number of the product.

5. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the weight data consists of a first weight of the insert determined before a vending product is removed, and a second weight of the insert determined after the vending product is removed.

6. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the consumer input device is a sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to receive the consumer information data from a consumer RFID tag.

7. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the consumer input device is a keypad, and wherein a consumer enters the consumer information data on the keypad.

8. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the consumer information data comprises a consumer account code for the account.

9. The vending machine of claim 1, comprising:

a display screen, coupled to the processor, the processor further configured to cause the display screen to display at least one selected from the group of;

a consumer account status for the account;

a consumer account balance for the account;

or a description of a vended product purchased by the consumer.

10. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a door, attached to the frame, configured to open to provide consumer access to the interior area for removal of the vending product from the insert.