Vending machine systems using standard inventory control system components

摘要

A vending machine system includes at least one vending machine having a central coordinating unit, at least one management technology, and at least one communication technology facilitating communication between the at least one vending machine and the at least one management technology. Optional features that may be used alone or in combination with the vending machine system include: the ability to provide users with a promotional discount; the ability to provide users with multilevel pricing; the ability to track, time stamp, and keep records of activity at the at least one vending machine; a unique user interface; the ability to allow a user to report vending machine problems from a “report problem screen” on a unique user interface; unique vending machine-to-server communications; and the ability to remotely issue a refund to the user.

主权项

1. An apparatus associated with a vending machine, and comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least:
transmit vending machine data uploaded to management technology using standard vending machine protocol,
the vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by the vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in the inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by the vending machine,the vending machine data being transmitted for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit the management technology to perform one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using the vending machine data, the one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory, andthe management technology being configured to transmit inventory data from the inventory database to a separate promotion server, and in response thereto, receive one or more promotions applicable to one or more products listed in the inventory data; receive the promotions from the management technology in a communication separate from the upload of the vending machine data; and direct a user interface of the vending machine to display one or more of the promotions to a user at the vending machine, the vending machine data being transmitted to the management technology, and the promotions being received from the management technology, before and independent of the one or more of the promotions being displayed to the user.