Two-way exchange vending

• US 9,870,670 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Inventors: Yau, Chi W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gokhale, Prasad V
• Application Number:
  US14/386,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• 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: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

Two-way exchange vending can be performed by a two-way exchange based vending machine. The two-way exchange based vending machine can vend rechargeable batteries. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include different modules to perform different functionalities. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include a communications module, a dispensing module, a rejection module, and a receiving module. The communications module can communicate information to and receive inputs from a user. The dispensing module can dispense one or more rechargeable batteries or other requested products to a user. The receiving module can receive one or more rechargeable batteries from a user.

Claims

1. A vending system comprising:

a plurality of vending units for vending products, the vending units comprising communication modules and unique identifiers located on the vending units;

a central computer comprising;

a processor;

a database associating the unique identifiers located on the vending units with product information for products available for purchase at the vending units having the unique identifiers thereon; and

a communication unit, the central computer being located remote to the plurality of vending units and in communication with the plurality of vending units; and

a vending interface, the vending interface being located remote from the plurality of vending units;

wherein the vending interface is configured to communicate the unique identifier of one of the plurality of vending units to the central computer;

wherein the central computer is configured to determine from the database the identity and price of products available for purchase at the vending unit with the unique identifier in response to receiving the unique identifier from the vending interface and to communicate the identity and price of the available products to the vending interface;

wherein the vending interface is configured to communicate a product selection to the central computer; and

wherein the central computer is configured to communicate vending instructions comprising the product selection to the vending unit with the unique identifier in response to receiving the product selection from the vending interface.

2. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the vending interface comprises a mobile application configured for use on a mobile electronic device.