Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MANAGING A VENDING MACHINE TRANSACTION
The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/559,633, entitled
"APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING VENDING
MACHINE TRANSACTIONS", filed April 5, 2004, the entirety of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. I illustrates an embodiment of control software.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a ticket that provides alternate
value offers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I
Disclosed Examples Are Not Limiting
Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application,
and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described
embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense.
The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous
embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. Those skilled in
the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with
various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the
disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more
particular embodiments and / or drawings, it should be understood that
such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular
embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described,
unless expressly specified otherwise.
Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this
patent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of this patent
application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the
disclosed invention(s).
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Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in
continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified
otherwise. in addition, devices that are in communication with each other
may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
A description of an embodiment with several components in
communication with each other does not imply that all such components
are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are
described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the
present invention(s).
Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like
may be described in a sequential order; such processes, methods and
algorithms may be configured to work in altemate orders. In other words,
any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily
indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps
of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical.
Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.
An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered)
does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless
expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which
may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items
are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise.
For example, the enumerated list "a computer, a laptop, a PDA" does not
imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive
and
does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are
comprehensive of any category.
Terms
The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the
~
embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some
embodiments", "one embodiment" and the like mean "one or more (but not
all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)", unless expressly specified
otherwise.
The terms "including", "comprising" and variations thereof mean
"including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.
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The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly
specified otherwise.
The terms "plurality" mean "two or more", unless expressly specified
otherwise.
The phrase "at least one of' means "one or more", unless expressly
specified otherwise.
Each process / method includes one or more steps, and therefore a
reference to a"step" of a method has an inherent antecedent basis.
When an ordinal number (such as "first", "second", "third" and so on)
is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is (unless
expressly specified otherwise) used merely to indicate a particular element,
such as to distinguish it from another element that likewise is described by
the same term or by a similar term. For example, a "first widget" may be so
named rnerely to distinguish it from, e.g., a "second widget". Thus, the
mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term
"widget" does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets,
and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both
widgets., For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first" and
"second" before the term "widget" (1) does not indicate that either widget-
comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate
that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3)
does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in
importance or quality.
When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily
apparent that more than one device / article (whether or not they
cooperate) may be used in place of a single device / article. Similarly,
where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not
they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device / article
may
be usediin place of the more than one device or article.
The functionality and I or the features of a device may be
alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not
explicitly described as having such functionality / features. Thus, other
embodiments need not include the device itself.
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Computing
It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms
described herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmed
general purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor
(e.g., one or more microprocessors) will receive instructions from a memory
or like device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing one or
more processes defined by those instructions. Further, programs that
implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted
using a variety of known media in a number of well-known manners. In
some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used
in placeiof, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation
of the processes of the present invention. Thus, embodiments are not
limited to any specific combination of hardware and software
The term "computer-readable medium" refers to any medium that
participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) which may be read by a
computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many
forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and
transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or
magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include
dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the
main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire
and fibe{- optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to
the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves,
light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated
during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (!R) data communications.
Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy
disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium,
a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any
other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an
EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier
wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a
computer can read.
/
Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
carrying sequences of instructions to a processor. For example,
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sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii)
may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and / or (iii) may be
formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as
Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.
5 Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those
described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures
besides databases may be readily employed.
Products and processes are disclosed for providing an offer to
receive a benefit in lieu of receiving change that is due from a transaction
with a vending machine. In an embodiment, products and processes are
discfosed for providing vending machine customers with "altemate value
offers" in exchange for the change due from a transaction with a vending '
machine.
In an embodiment, the value of the benefit is greater than the value
of the change due (typically from the perspective of the customer).
The benefit to be received in lieu of change may be in any of various
form, such as (i) discounts (e.g., on prices of products sold via a vending
machine), (ii) credits (e.g., credits applicable to purchases at a vending
machine), (iii) specific products (e.g., products dispensed via a vending
machine without further consideration), (iv) the ability to select and acquire
one or more products from a class of products, either at a normal price, at a
discount or without further consideration (e.g. any soda; any item indicated
by a flashing red Light Ernitting Diode (LED)), (v) entries in games of skill
or
games of chance, such as entries in one or more lottery drawings, (vi) the
ability to download digital content (e.g. MP3 music files, computer files,
ring
tones for cellular telephones) from a remote computer or elsewhere, and /
or (vii) a modification of another benefit or of a right of the customer.
An offer may be provided in various manners. Such offers may be
printed (e.g., on a paper substrate), displayed (e.g., on a monitor), provided
via audio (e.g., through a speaker) and / or transmitted via an information
network (e.g., via email, downloaded to a cellular telephone or PDA).
19 some embodiments, a vending machine is configured to provide
customers with altemate value offers printed on paper tickets, which enable
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customers to receive either (1) change due from a first transaction, or (2) a
benefit.
For example, a customer who purchases a first product priced at
$0.65 from a vending machine by'depositing $1.00 may be entitled to $0.35
change (i.e. $1.00 - $0.65 = $0.35). Rather than immediately dispensing
the $0.35 change through a change dispensing apparatus, the vending
machine may print and output a paper ticket providing the customer with
the ability to either (1) enter a first code (indicated on the ticket) using
the
vending machine's keypad to receive $0.35 (e.g., immediately) from the
machine's coin dispensing apparatus, or (2) enter a second code to receive
a $0.45 credit towards the purchase of a second product (e.g., at a time of
the customer's choosing).
Various embodiments confer different advantages. For example, the
ability to provide offers for a benefit in lieu of change can permit vending
machines to retain deposited change (since less change is dispensed when
such offers are accepted by customers). When alternate value offers are
accepted, the increase in retained change can increase vending machine
revenue (either temporarily or permanently, as described below). Further,
the incrQase in retained change can increase the vending machine's ability
to provide one or more future customers with correct change (e.g., during a
sales period prior to a restock date as coin reserves are thereby
increased).
In various embodiments, the benefit of an offer can be received
almost immediately after acceptance (e.g., during the same vending
machine transaction), in the future (e.g., during a subsequent vending
machine transaction), and/or for a I imited time (e.g., redemption is
permitted only during certain times, prior to a certain date).
Further, in various embodiments, alternate value offers may provide
customers with the ability to receive such benefits at one or more machines
and / or~at one or more locations. For example, alternate value offers may
provide customers with the ability to receive benefits from a vending
machine that issued the offer, frorn a separate machine (e.g. a beverage
vending machine located next to a snack vending machine which provided
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the offer), and/or from a computer (e.g. a web server which permits the
downtoading of digital content upon receipt of a valid alphanumeric code).
In some embodiments, whether to provide an offer and / or the
content of the offer can depend on various factors. For example, whether
to provide an offer and / or the content of the offer can depend on the
vending machine's current coin or anticipated inventory (e.g., whether the
coin inventory is below a threshold), the vending rnachine's current or
anticipated product inventory, the offer's likelihood of acceptance and other
cond'itions or factors.
Finally, in some embodiments, the acceptance and / or redemption
of arr offer may be facilitated through the use of codes which the customer
may enter, e.g., into a vending machine. For exarnple, a particular
alphanumeric code may be associated #n an known manner) with a
cornrrnand to provide various benefits, such as dispense an item or issue
credit redeemable for at least one item that is dispensed by vending
machine.
Definitions Used Herein
Actual Item Velocity - The actual rate at which a given product is
sold by a vending machine during a sales period. The actual rate may be
expressed in various forms, including units sold per time, sales revenue per
time, and profit pertime.
Alternate Value Offer, Promotional Offer - An offer provided to a
customer of a vending machine which enables the customer to receive
eithe r (1) change due from a first transaction, or (2) a benefit. Alternate
value offers may be provided to customers through an output device of a
vend i ng machine, such as a printer (e.g. offers are printed on paper
tickets)
or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen. Attemate value offers may be
provided to customers through an output device of a separate computer or
device, such as a personal computer, a Personal Digitat Assistant (PDA),
or a cellular telephone.
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Benefit 1- A payment or other advantage. Some examples of benefits
include discounts on products, credits applicable to products, specific
products, the ability to receive one or more selected products from a class
of products (e.g. any soda; any item indicated by a flashing red Light
Emitting Diode).
Coin Conservation - The practice of managing the working capital stored in
a vending machine, such as by managing an inventory of coins or other
currency, so as to reserve or acquire a minimum amount. This minimum
amount can be used, e.g., to provide customers with change when
appropriate. In some embodiments, a vending machine can engage in coin
conservation efforts by configuring and outputting one or more alternate
value offers to a customer. For example, where a forecast based on
current sales patterns indicates that an insufficient number of coins remain
in the machine to make correct change for every anticipated transaction
throughout the remainder of a fill period, a vending machine control system
may engage in coin conservation by executing altemate value offers (e.g.
where customers are offered discounts on additional products in lieu of
their change due).
Coin Inventory, Coin Reserves, Working Capital - The supply of currency
(e.g., coins) available to a vending machine that can be used to provide a
customer With appropriate change pursuant to one or more transactions.
Fill Period, Sales Period - The period of time between restock dates.
Full Price, Retail Price - The price norniafly charged for the purchase of a
given product. Typically, altemate value offers present customers with the
opportunity to purchase items at less than full price.
Ideal Prod uct Velocity, Target Product Velocity, Target Velocity - The
desired rate at which a given product should be sold by a vending machine
during aperiod of time, such as a sales period. Thus, in some
embodiments, an ideal velocity may be set or calculated for each product
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indicating the rate at which products must be sold in order to cleptete the
inventory to a certain level by the end of a given sales period (i.e. by the
restock time). For example, an ideal product velocity may be calculated
(e.g., by a vending machine control system) after an operator inputs a
restock date and a desired remaining inventory for the date (e.g. an
operator may wish to have only 1 of each item remaining at the restock
date so that the machine sells as many items as possible without
completely selling out and thereby disappointing customers). Thus, if an
operator (a) stocks 50 units of Soda A, (b) inputs a restock date fourteen
days away, and (c) indicates that only one unit of Soda A should rernain at
the restock date, the control system may divide 49 by 14 to conclude that,
on average, 3.5 units must be sold per day within the sales period in order
to realize the ideal product velocity. As discussed herein, a vending
machine control system may periodically, substantially continuously, or
otherwise determine whether or not actual item velocity is at least equal to
the ideal item velocity, and if not, may institute promotions (e.g. alternate
value offers) as discussed herein. An ideal product velocity may be further
set so that if such a velocity is reached, the increase in volume will
sufficiently offset any discounts afforded to customers through promotions.
The actual rate at which a given product should be sold may be expressed
in various forms, including units sold per time, sales revenue per time, and
profit per time.
I
Minimum Selling Price - The lowest price at which an item may be sold.
The minimum selling price may not necessarily reflect the cost of the
product to the operator of a vending machine. Thus, the minimum selling
price may include an acceptable profit margin. Conversely, the minirnum
selling price may be set less than the cost of a product to the operator of a
vending machine.
Operator - The owner (or employee or agent thereof) of a vending
machine.
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Product, ltem- A good or service provided at a vending machine.
Exampips of goods provided by vending machines include beverages (e_g.
cans of soda) and snacks (e.g. candy bars). In many types of beverage
and snack vending machines, several units of the same product are linearly
5 arranged in a row (or column) and individualfy dispensed upon command.
The same product may be stocked iri more than one row. Similarly, more
than one product may be stocked in a single row. Examples of services
sold by vending machines include car washes, photography services and
access to digital content (e.g. permitting the downloading of lVIP3 files to a
10 handheld device such as an iPodT""; permitting the downloading of ring
tones to a cellular telephone).
Profit Inventory Management (PIM) - The practice of managing the sale of
products so as to increase a vending machine's profitability during a period
of time, such as a sales period. In some embodiments, a vending machine
is programmed to evaluate sales data in light of stored rules indicative of a
profit goal. For example, stored rules may indicate an ideal product
velocity that would tend to increase the machine's profitability. The
machine may determine that, based on current sales data, the ideal
product velocity (for a given product or group of products) will not be
achieved based on current promotions, prices, or other sales parameters.
In response, the vending machine may execute alternate value offers with
the goal of achieving the ideal product velocity (for a given product or group
of produ'cts).
Restock Date, Restock Time- The tirrie and/or date that a vending machine
is scheduled to be restocked (with products and/or working capital) by an
operator of a vending machine.
Target Profit, Ideal Profit- In some ernbodiments, the profit goal set by an
operator of a vending machine. A Target Profit may be applied to a
vending machine, group of vending machines, a product, a group of
products or to all products. A Target Profit may also be applied to more
than one vending machines. The target profit may be expressed in various
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forms, including dollars per time, dollars per unit sold, and aggregate
dollars by a point in time.
Ticket, Change Ticket, Printed Ticket' Voucher-An object (e.g., formed of
paper or plastic) that is output from a vending machine for the purpose of
communicating an altemate value offigr. Thus, in some embodiments, a
vending machine control system may determine an altemate product offer
and instruct a peripheral device such as an onboard thermal printer to print
the offer on a paper ticket and output the ticket to a customer. The ticket
may adsp serve as a receipt for the transaction.
1. VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS
Introduction
Generally, a vending machine in accordance with the present
invention can include a device configured to manage sales transactions
with customers by, among other thing s, receiving payment from customers,
controlling the pricing and/or distribution of -goods and/or controlling
entitlements to services.
I
Machine Casing/Cabinetry
ln some embodiments, suitablc3 machine cabinetry may be
constructed from any suitable materiai, including but not limited to any
combination of (1) commercial grade steel (e.g. for exterior panels and
internal shelving), (2) transparent materials such as glass or Plexiglas (e.g.
for item display windows), (3) rubber (e.g. for waterproofing insulation), (4)
plastic, and/or (5) aluminum.
Many commercially available nachine casings can be adapted to
work in accordance with the present Invention. For example, in snack
machine embodiments, a suitable machine casing may comprise the 129
SnackShop manufactured by Automatic Products International, Ltd. of
Saint Paul, Minnesota, which stands at 72" (1829 mm), has a width of 38
7/8" (988 mm), and a depth of 35" (889 mm). Other suitable snack
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machine casings include the A La CarteO machine from Automatic
Products, and the GPL SnackVendor model # 159 frorn Crane
Merchandising Systems! Crane Co. of Stamford, Connecticut.
In beverage machine embodiments, machine casings commercially
available from Dixie Narco, Inc. of Williston, South Carolina may be
employed. Beverage machine casings may comprise a"cooler" or "glass
front" style front panel, featuring a transparent front panel (e.g. glass)
enabling customers to see inventory for sale. Alternatively, beverage
machine casings may comprise a "bubble front" style front panel, featuring
a decorative front panel, typically used to advertise a lago of a product
manufacturer commercially interested in the vending rnachine's operation.
Other embodiments are contemplated as well, Including combination
snack and beverage vending machine embodiments, such as those
available from Crain Co. Further details concerning th e suitability of
machine casing/cabinetry are well known in the art, and need not be
described in further detail herein.
I
lnventory Storage and Dispensing Mechanisms
Inventory storage and distribution functions of a vending machine
configured in accordance with a snack machine embodiment of the present
invention may include one or more conventional components, including: (i)
a drive motor, (ii) metal shelves, (iii) a product delivery system (e.g. a
chute, product tray, product tray door, etc.), (iv) dual spiral (i.e. double
helix) item dispensing rods, (v) convertible (i.e. extendable) shelves, and/or
(vi) a refrigeration unit. In embodiments using the casing of the model 129
SnackShop manufactured by Automatic Products, 3 rernovable shelves
may be employed, together providing for 30 product rows and an inventory
capacityj of between 185 to 522 commonly vended snack products.
Inventory storage and distribution functions of a vending machine
configured in accordance with a beverage machine errs bodirnent of the
present invention may include one or more conventional components,
including: (i) metal and/or plastic shelving, (ii) item disp4ensing
actuators/motors, (iii) product delivery chutes, and/or (iv) a refrigeration
unit.
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Further details concerning vending machine inventory storage and
dispensing mechanisms are well known in the art, and need not be
described in further detail herein.
Payment Processing Mechanisms
The vending machine may also include one or more mechanisms for
receiving payment and dispensing change, including a coin acceptor, a bill
validator, a card reader (e.g. a magnetic stripe reader) and a change
dispenser. Such mechanisms may be integrated, combinedT or separate.
In a manner known in the art, a magnetic stripe card reader may
read data on the magnetic stripe of a credit or debit card, and it may
cooperate with known credit card processing equipment to validate card-
based purchases through a conventional transaction authorization network.
Suitable card-based transaction processing systems and me#hods are
availablb from USA Technologies, Inc.
The coin acceptor, bill validator and change dispenser may
communicate with a currency storage apparatus (e.g., a"hopper") and may
comprise conventional devices such as models AE-2400, MC5000,
TRC200 by Mars, Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania, or CoE nCo model
9300-L. The coin acceptor and bill validator may receive ancl validate
currency that is stored by the currency storage apparatus. The change
dispenser activates the return of coinage from the currency storage
apparatus to the customer where appropriate (e.g. where a customer
deposits more currency than is required for a given transaction; where a
customer rejects an altemate value offer and/or affirmatively requests a
change amount). Such apparatus may feature Multidrop Bus. (MDB) and/or
Micromech peripheral capabilities, as is known in the art.
In some embodiments, the coin acceptor, currency sto rage
apparatus and/or change dispenser may together comprise o ne unit (such
as the MEI CASHFLOW se(es 7000 from Mars, Inc.), or may otherwise be
configured to work in conjunction, so that coins received fromt customers
may subsequently be used to provide customers with change. Such
embodiments may be desirable in those embodiments, detailed herein,
which function to employ alternate value offers until coin reserves are
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replenished to a threshold level. For example, in an embodiment, a
vending machine may output one or more alternate value offei-s to
customers when change reserves have depleted below a threshold Ievel,
and cease outputting such offers once change reserves are replenisf3ed by
virtue of coin-based sales and/or the success of alternate value offers
(which encourage customers forfeit or defer collection of change due in
exchange for a benefit).
In some embodiments, the MEI CASHFLOW series 7000 may be
desirable as such apparatus may calculate a machine's anticipated clhange
requirements based on historic transaction data. Further, the currency
handling apparatus described in WO 98/58355, published December 23,
1998, entitled "Currency Handling Apparatus" (the entirety of which is
incorporated by reference herein), may'be desirable, as such an apparatus
similarly calculates an estimated amount of currency necessary to meet a
predicted future distribution of cUrrency. The MEI CASHFLOW series 7000
and the currency handling apparatus of WO 98/58355 merely describe
apparatus for calculating a desirable amount of stored currency; operators
employing such prior art mechanisms may, at best, use such calculations
to determine a quantity of currency to stock. However, in embodimerf ts of
the present invention that feature such coin mechanisms as the MEI
CASHFLOW series 7000 and that described in WO 98/58355, such
calculatibns may be used, as described herein, to set the threshold levels
which determine when one or more alternate value offers should be output
to customers.
In another embodiment, a vending machine in accordance witti the
present invention may be configured to receive payment authorization
and/or product selection commands through a wireless device
communication network, directly or indirectly, from a customer's wireless
device (e.g. a cellular telephone; a PDA). In such an embodiment, a
payment processing mechanism may comprise a cellular transceiver
operatively connected to a processor, as described herein. Systems and
methods allowing for the selection of and payment for vending machir-je
articles through cellular telephones are provided by USA Technologies,
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Inc., of Wayne, Pennsylvania. Further, in such an embodiment, a cellular
telephone may serve as an input/output device, as described herein.
Further details concerning vending machine payment processing
mechanisms are well known in the art, and need not be described in further
5 detail herein.
tnput/Output Devices
In accordance with the presenting invention, a vending machine may
include an input device for receiving input from (i) a customer indicating a
10 product and/or offer selection, and/or (ii) an operator (or agent thereof)
during stocking or maintenance of the vending machine. Also, a vending
machine may include one or more output devices for outputting product or
offer information to a customer or operator.
Many combinations of input and output devices may be employed in
15 accordance with the present invention. In some embodiments, a vending
machine may include more than one input device. For example, a vending
machine may include an exterior input device for receiving customer input
and an interior input device for receiving operator input. In some
embodiments, however, the input device provides the dual functionality of
receiving input data from both operators and customers. Likewise, a
vending machine may comprise more than one output device (e.g. an LCD
screen and several LEDs, as described herein). However, in some
embodiments, such as those which feature touch screens (described
herein), input and output functionality may be provided by a single device.
Many types of input devices are contemplated. Thus, an input
device may comprise one or more of (1) a set of alpha-numeric keys for
providing input to the vending machine, such as the programmable Master
MenuO Keypad, (2) a selector dial, (3) a set of buttons associated with a
respective set of item dispensers, (4) a motion sensor, (5) a barcode
reader, (6) a magnetic stripe card reader, (7) a voice recognition module
and/or microphone, (8) a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF)
receiver/decoder, (9) a wireless device (e.g. a cellular telephone or wireless
Personal Digital Assistant), (10) a biometric sensor such as a finger print
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reader; and/or (11) any other conventional input device commonly
employed by a vending machine designer.
Likewise, many types of output devices are contemplated. For
example, an output device may comprise an LCD display. Alternatively or
additionally, an output device may also comprise one or more LED displays
(e.g. several alphanumeric multi-color or single color LED displays on the
shelves of a vending machine associated proximately with each row of
product inventory).
In one embodiment, an LED display screen is mounted atop the
vendinglmachine (via bolts or other mounting hardware) and is used to
communicate alternate value offers and other messages (e.g. product
advertisements) to prospective customers. A suitable LED display screen
for such an embodiment may be housed in an aluminurri case having a
length of 27.5", a height of 4.25", and a depth of 1.75". Such a display
screen may have a display area capable of showing 13 alphanumeric
and/or graphical characters. Further, such an LED display screen may
comprise a serial computer interface, such as an RJ45/RS232 connector,
for communicating with a processor, as described herein. Further still,
such an LED display may be capable of outputting text and graphics in
several colors (e.g. red, yellow, green, black) regarding current and
upcomirig promotions.
Further, in some embodiments, an output device comprises a
printer. In one embodiment, a printer Is configured to print on card stock
paper (e.g. 0.06mm to 0.15mm thickness), such as the EPSON EU-T400
Series Kiosk Printer. In another embodiment, a printer is capable of
thermal line printing of various alphanumeric and graphical symbols in
various font sizes (e.g. ranging from 9 to 24 point) on various types of
paper. Printers with such capability include the NP-345 by Nippon Primex,
and the PSA-11 by Seiko Instruments, both of which accept folded,
perforated thermal paper. Other suitable printers may be capable of
stocking thermal roll paper that is separated with cutters, such as the
HECON TPM 80 or TPM 100, the KF-6580 from Bematech International
and the A226 and A223 printers from Axiohm. Additionally, such printers
may communicate with a processor (described herein) via an RS232/IEEE
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12834 and/or bi-directional parallel connection. Further, such a printer may
further comprise a 4KB data buffer.
Further still, an output device may comprise a magnetic strip card
dispenser and/or reader/writer. Thus, in some embodiments, a vending
machine may be configured to output, receive and / or record onto
magnetic stripe cards that contain alternate value offer codes recorded
thereon. Such cards may subsequently be presented by customers and
accepted by a card reader so.that altemate value offers may be accepted,
modified and/or redeemed.
Additionally, in some embodiments, an output device comprises an
audio modu[e, such as an audio speaker, that outputs information to
customers audibly. Speakers may comprise conventional acoustic
speakers and/or modern hypersonic speakers.
As stated, in some embodiments, a touch-sensitive screen may be
employed to perform both input and output functions. Suitable,
commercially available touch screens for use in accordance with the
present,invention are manufactured by Elo TouchSystems, Inc., of
Fremont, California, such as Elo's AccuTouch series touch sci-eens. Such
touch screens may comprise: (i) a first (e.g. outer-most) hard-surface
screen layer coated with an anti-glare finish, (ii) a second screen layer
coated with a transparent-conductive coating, (iii) a third screen layer
comprising a glass substrate with a uniform-conductive coating. Further,
such touch screens may be configured to detect input within a determined
positional accuracy, such as a standard deviation of error less than
0.080-inch (2 mm). The sensitivity resolution of such touch screens may
be more than 100,000 touchpoints/in2 (15,500 touchpoints/cm') for a 13-
inch touch screen. For such touch screens, the touch activation force
required to trigger an input signal to the processor (described herein) via
the touch screen is typically 2 to 4 ounces (57 to 113 g). Additionally,
touch screens for use in accordance with the present invention may be
resistant to environmental stressors such as water, humidity, chemicals,
electrostatic energy, and the like. These and other operational details of
touch screens (e.g. drive current, signal current, capacitance, open circuit
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resistance, closed circuit resistance, etc.) are well known in the art and
need not be described further herein.
Logic/Control/Processing Apparatus
In some embodiments, the components of the vending machine,
including the input device, output device, coin acceptor, bill validator, card
(e.g. magnetic stripe) reader, change dispenser, currency storage
apparatus, and product dispensing mechanism(s) (collectively, the
"peripherals"), communicate with, and are controlled by, a control system or
processor, such as one based on the IntelO Pentium0 or CentrinoTM series
processor. The processor may be in communication with a memory and a
communications port (e.g., for communicating with one or more other
computers or vendirig machines). The memory may comprise an
appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor
memor~, and may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM),
Read-Only Memory (ROM), a compact disc and/or a hard disk. The
memory may comprise or include any type of computer-readable medium.
The processor and the memory may each be, for example: (i) located
entirely within a single computer or other device; or (ii) connected to each
other by a remote communication medium, such as a serial port cable,
telephone line or radio frequency transceiver.
A memory may store a program for controlling a processor. The
processor performs instructions of the program, and thereby operates in
accordance with the present invention, and particularly in accordance with
the processes described in detail herein. The program may be stored in a
compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The program
furthermore includes program elements that may be necessary, such as an
operating system, a database management system and "device drivers" for
allowing the processor to interface with and instruct the peripherals.
Appropriate program elements are known to those skilled in the art, and
need not be described in detail herein.
The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to any
medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for
execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited
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to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile
media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as memory.
Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which
typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial
cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a
system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may carry
acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency
(RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-
readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard
disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any
other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium
with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM,
any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described
hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read. Various
forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more
sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
instructions of the program may be read into a main memory from another
cornputer-readable medium, such as from a ROM. The execution of
sequences of the instructions in a program causes the processor to
perform the process steps described herein. In altemate embodiments,
hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with,
software instructions for implementation of the processes of the present
invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to
any specific combination of hardware and software.
The memory also may store one or more databases. Some or all of
the data stored in each database is described herein. The described data
represents exemplary information only; those skilled in the art will
understand that the number, content, and form of the data can be different
from that which is described herein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Further, despite any description of the databases
as tabular, relational databases, an object-based model could be used to
store and manipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise,
object methods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes of
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the present invention.
Thus, the machine's processing apparatus, in conjunction with the
peripherals (e.g. through RS232 connections and/or other suitable
con nections), manages interactions with the user in accordance with stored
5 business logic, described herein.
Retroritting Conventional Vending Machines with a Separate Device
In one embodiment, one or more of the processor, the input
device(s), RAM, ROM, outpyt device(s) and a data storage device may be
10 included, wholly or partially, in a separate device, such as the e-PortT""
by
USA Technologies Inc., that is in communication with a vending machine.
The separate device may also be in communication with a network such as
the Internet.
The e-PortT'" is a credit and smart card-accepting unit that controls
15 access to office and MDB vending equipment, and serves as a point of
purchase credit card transaction device. The e-PortTm includes an LCD that
allows for the display of color graphics, and a touch sensitive input device
(touch screen) that allows users to input data to the device. The display
may be used to prompt users interactively with, e.g., alternate value offers
20 and information about the status of a transaction.
The separate device may include a printer, as described herein, for
printing and outputting alternate value offers and other information to
customers.
The separate device may altematively be a programmed computer
running appropriate software for performing the necessary functions
described herein. The separate device may be operable to receive input
from customers, receive payment from customers, exchange information
with a rqmotely located server and/or output (e.g. print and dispense)
alternate value offers to customers. The separate device may be operable
to instruct the vending machine that appropriate payment has been
received (e.g., via a credit card read by the separate device) and/or that a
particular product or products should be dispensed by the vending
machine. Further, a separate device may be operable to instruct the
vending machine to execute alternate value offer promotions.
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Thus, a separate device may be operatively connected to a vending
machine to perform the inventive processes described herein. In this
manner, conventional vending machines may be retrofitted with such
separate devices so as to perform the inventive processes described
herein.
Netvyork Embodiments
The present invention can be configured to work in a network
environment including a computer that is in communication, via a
communications network, with one or more vending machines. The
computer may communicate with the vending machines directly or
indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the Intemet, LAN, WAN
or Ethernet, Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications means or
combination of communications means. Each of the vending machines
may comprise computers, such as those based on the lntel@ Pentium or
CentrinoT"' processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer.
Any number and type of machines may be in communication with the
computer.
Comrnunication between the vending machines and the computer,
and among the vending machines, may be direct or indirect, such as over
the Intemet through a Web site maintained by the computer on a remote
server or over an on-line data network including commercial on-line service
providers, bulletin board systems and the like. In yet other embodiments,
the vending machines may communicate with one another and/or the
computer over RF, cable TV, satellite links and the like.
Some, but not all, possible communication networks that may
comprise the network or be otherwise part of the system include: a local
area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a telephone
line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, and a
satellite communications link. Possible communications protocols that may
be part of the system include: Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP,
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BluetoothT"", and TCP/IP. Communication may be encrypted to ensure
privacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.
Those skilled in the art will understand that vending machines and/or
computers in communication with each other need not be continually
transmitting to each other. On the contrary, such vending machines and/or
computers need only transmit to each other as necessary, and may
actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a
vending machine in communication with another machine via the Internet
may not transmit data to the other machine for weeks at a time.
In an embodiment, a server computer may not be necessary and/or
preferred. For example, the present invention may, in one or more
embodiments, be practiced on a stand-alone vending machine and/or a
vending machine in communication only with one or more other vending
machines. In such an embodiment, any functions described as performed
by the server computer or data described as stored on the server computer
may instead be performed by or stored on one or more vending machines.
In other embodiments, a vending machine may be in communication
with a remote computer, such as a server, that provides the vending
machine,with and/or receives from the vending machine, e.g., all or some
of the data described herein. Thus, in certain embodiments, the server
may comprise certain elements or portions of certain elements such as a
data storage device/memory.
In one embodiment, the remote computer could be accessible,
directly or indirectly, via a second computer (communicating over the
Internet or other network) by a customer or operator. Accordingly, a
customer or operator of the second computer could communicate with the
remote computer via a Web browser. The second computer could, e.g.,
receive from the remote computer messages described herein as being
output by the vending machine, and/or transmit to the remote computer
input described herein as being provided to the vending machine.
Similarly, various data described herein as received through an input
device of a vending machine may be received through a Web browser
communicating with a remote server, which in turn communicates with the
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vending machine. Thus, an operator of the vending machine may have
remote polling and reporting capabilities, may be able to transmit new
business rules to the vending machine, and the like.
II. PROCESSES
Software
In one embodiment, a software-based control system executes
instructions for managing the operation of the vending machine, and in
particular in accordance with the inventive functionality described herein.
Such vending machine operations include, but are not limited to: (1) item
pricing (e.g. displaying prices via an LED, changing such prices where
appropriate, etc.), (2) processing vending transactions by (i) receiving
customer selections via an input device, (ii) processing payment via a
payment processing mechanism, and (iii) actuating corresponding item
dispensing mechanisms, (3) identifying alternate value offers, (4) outputting
alternate value offers to customers via output devices (including display of
graphics/content on LCD and LED displays; printing of offers on cardstock
and dispensing such printed material), and (5) recording transaction
information (inventory levels, acceptance rates for alternate value offers,
etc.).
In some embodiments, machine peripherals (e.g. machine
hardware, including mechanical hardware such as input devices, output
devices, inventory dispensing mechanisms, and payment processing
mechanisms including coin acceptors, bill validators, card readers, change
dispensers, etc.) will be controlled by the software-based control system
through a standard RS-232 serial interface. In such embodiments,
embedded APIs (Application Program Interfaces)/devices may be used to
enable the software to actuate/control vending machine peripherals via RS-
232 conriectivity. Such vending machine peripherals may be operatively
connected to the control system directly or indirectly, in any manner that is
practicable.
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As illustrated by Figure 1, in one embodiment the control software
that directs the control system can be divided into three abstract
components. Such division may provide a clear partition of tasks, which
may be desirable so that any future modification and new programming of
one component can be applied without disrupting other components. Such
division also permits certain details of a component to be safely ignored by
other components. Turning to Figure 1, the three abstract components are
illustrated, including a Business L,ogic component 10, a Control Layer
component 20, and an exemplary Machine Peripheral component 30. As
stated eariier, more machine peripherals may be employed. The Business
Logic component 10 is connected to Control Layer component 20 via API
15; Control Layer component 20 is connected to Machine Peripheral
component 30 via API 25.
Turning to Figure 1, in one embodiment the Business Logic
component 10 visually represents the portion of the software that executes
alternate value offers, as discussed herein. Such a component may
access one or more databases (e.g. an aiternate value offer rules
database, product database, a coin reserve database, and/or a transaction
history database) to perform such functions. The Control Layer component
20 visually represents the portion of the software which interfaces with at
least one Machine Peripheral component 30, and thereby transmits
commands to perform such functions as: (i) outputting alternate value offer
information via an output device (i.e. a Machine Peripheral coniponent 30),
(li) dispensing products via a product dispensing mechanism (i.e. a
Machine Peripheral component 30), and/or (iii) dispensing change due to a
customer via a payment processing mechanism, which may include a
change yiispenser and a currency storage apparatus (i.e. several Machine
Peripheral components 30). As stated, the Machine Peripheral component
generally represents machine hardware, including mechanical hardware
30 such as input devices, output devices, Inventory dispensing mechanisms,
and payment processing mechanisms including coin acceptors, bill
validators, card readers, change dispensers, etc.
Notwithstanding the embodiment of Figure 1, those of ordinary skill
in the art will readily recognize that the control software may be abstractly
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represented in many, nonexclusive manners. Further, software may be
developed and / or represented according to many well-known paradigms
besides a "layered" paradigm.
5 Various Process Steps
According to some embodiments, a process designed to manage
offers (e.g. identify, output and / or process alternate value offers) is
stored
in the memory of a vending machine and is executed by the control system
10 (e.g. the processor, RAM, ROM, etc.) utilizing the vending machine's
peripheral devices (e.g. the printer, the keypad). Although the process
steps may be described as being performed by, or from the perspective of,
the vending machine control system, such descriptions are merely
illustrative of one embodiment. As discussed above, the embodiments
15 described herein may be performed in whole or part on one or more
vending machines, computers, and/or devices.
E;CempEary process steps of an embodiment comprising eight steps
(steps 100 through 800) are described below. This specific recitation of
eight steps is not limiting on the scope of the invention. The present
20 invention includes several other embodiments in which the same or similar
steps as those steps described below are arranged in other orders and with
fewer or more steps than eight. Moreover, none of the eight steps need be
considered essential to the present invention; they are described merely to
illustrate various embodiments that happen to include such steps, and
25 variations thereof.
Step 100: Receive a first product selection and payment amount.
At Step 100, a customer selects a product to purchase from a
vending machine in any known manner (e.g. by inputting an indication of a
corresponding item dispenser identifier into an input device such as a
keypad) and renders payment in any known manner (e.g., deposits
currency into a bill validator or coin accepting apparatus, swipes a credit
card through a card reader, enters a payment authorization code with a
keypad). For example, a customer may select a unit of Coca-Cola soda
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from a vending machine by depressing a key marked "A1" on a keypad and
depositing $1.00 into a bill validator. The vending machine control system
receives the selection and an indication of the amount of currency
deposited. The amount of payment available to purchase a product (i.e.,
the portion of payment which has been tendered but not already used in
paying for a product) may be considered a "credit balance" of the vending
machine. Thus, in the example immediately above, the credit balance of
the vending machine is $1.00.
Step 200: Deterrnine whether change is due. If so, proceed to Step
300.
At Step 200, the vending machine (e.g., the vending machine control
system) then determines whether change is due to the customer. In one
embodiment, the vending machine control system may do so by
determining a price for the selected product(s) (e.g. a retail price currently
charged for the product) and comparing the price to the credit balan ce. If
the credit balance exceeds the determined price for the selected
product(s), then change is due to the customer in the amount of the
difference between the credit balance and the determined price.
In one embodiment, the vending machine may determine a price for
the seleqted product(s) by retrieving, from a database (such as the Product
Database depicted belovv), a price from a record corresponding to an
identifier associated with the selected product. Further, in an embodiment,
the vending machine may determine a price for the selected product by
reading the price and/or a product identifier from machine-readable indicia
(e.g. a bar code) or data transmitter, such as a radio frequency
identification ("RFID") transmitter, affixed to the product selected.
An exemplary Product Database is shown in TABLE 1 below:
Product Database
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Product Row Product R Cost Margin Quan Quan Restock Act Ideal Sales
Name Position Category e tity at tity Date ual Rate
Identifier
t Begi Rem Sal
a nning ainin es
ii of Fill g Rat
P Perio e
r d
i
c .
e
Coca- Al Beverage $ $0.35 $0.40 20 8 6/30/03 1.2 1.3/day
CofaO 0 /da
7
Diet A2 Beverage $ $0.30 $0.45 20 6 6/30/03 7.4 1.3/day
Coke 0 /da
y
7
5
A&W Root A3 Beverage $ $0.35 $0.30 20 9 6/30/03 1.1 1.3/day
BeerO 0 /da
y
6
5
Doritos0 B1 Snack $ $0.30 $0.20 25 11 6/30/03 1_4 1.6/day
0 /da
y
5
0
Lay's B2 Snack $ $0.30 $0.45 25 7 6/30/03 1.8 1.6/day
Potato 0 /d a
Chips , y
7
5
CheetosO B3 Snack $ $0.30 $0.30 25 17 6/30/03 0.8 1.6/day
0 /da
y
6
0
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Product Row Product R Cost Margin Quan Quan Restock Act Ideal Sales
Name Position Category e tity at tity Date ual Rate
Idendfier
t Begi Rem Sal
a nning alnin es
ii of Fill g Rat
P Perio e
r d
i
c
e
Double- C1 Chewing $ $0.20 $0.15 40 18 6/30/03 2.2 2.6/day
Mint Gum 0 /da
y
3
Juicy C2 Chewing $ $0.20 $0.15 40 23 6/30103 1.7 2.6/day
Fruit Gum 0 /da
y
3
5
DentyneCJ C3 Chewing $ $0.20 $0.20 40 36 6/30103 1.1 2.6/day
Gum 0 /da
y
4
0
TABLE I
As the above product database illustrates that, in one embodiment,
for each product at least one corresponding product category is stored, as
5 well as a r corresponding retail price, cost, margin, quantity at the
beginning
of the fill period, quantity remaining as of the current date/time, restock
date, actual sales rate and ideal sales rate. The exemplary data in the
above product database assumes that the beginning of the fill period was
6/15/03, and that the current date is 6/25/03 (i.e. 10 days into the fill
period;
5 days left in the fill period). Further, the exemplary data in the above
product database will be referred to below to illustrate one or more
embodiments.
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Step 300: Determine whether to output one or more altemate value
offers. If not, proceed to Step 800. If so, proceed to Step 400.
At Step 300, the vending machine control system determines
whether to output an alternate value offer. Such a determination may be
based on one or more factors, such as: (1) the remaining quantity of one or
more products inventoried in the machine, (2) the number of days
remaining in a fill period, (3) sales and/or profii:tabiiity data of one or
more
products, (4) the machine's coin reserves, (5) the amount due to the
customer as change from a first transaction (e.g. as determined from Steps
100 and 200 above), (6) the current time, date:, day of the week, and other
time-based considerations, (7) a maximum nu mber of authorized offers, (8)
the identity of the customer (e.g. identified through an identifier= provided
on
a customer ioyalty/reward card), and/or (9) the acceptance rate of one or
more identical or similar offers. Any combination of the above factors, and
any specific values considered by any of the above factors, may be
employe'd in the determination of whether to output an offer.
-The determination of whether to output an offer, and the
determination of what benefit to offer, may be rnade according to one or
more rules. The rules may be represented in rnany forms. In one
embodiment, the rules may be embedded in a process of the control
software. Changing such rules may involve changing the control software
such as by software which changes rules using, e.g. artificial intelligence
and /or neural network algorithms.
In another embodiment, rules are represented by a database which
stores, e.g., conditions and respective offers to be output upon detenrrining
that the corresponding condition is satisfied. An advantage of storing rules
in a database is that the same software can operate on databases with
different data to effectively produce different rutes. Thus, the same
software could be installed in multiple vending rnachines, but these vending
machines could operate differently if the data in the respective databases
were different. Changing rules in such a database may involve changing
(e.g. via local controlling or remote controlling) the data stored by the
database, but need not require changing the saftware.
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Software that can be used to manipulate data in such a database
would be readily discernible to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example,
software may be used to create / edit conditions in the database by (i)
selecting a condition (e.g., inventory level), an operator (e.g., greater
than,
5 equal to), and / or a value (e.g., 30) for comparison; and (ii) chaining
together more than one comparison via Boolearn operators (e.g., AND, OR,
NOT). Software may be used to create / edit in the database by (i)
selecting categories of offers ("Please come back [return time] and receive
[product] for free), and (ii) selecting values for the parameters, if any, for
10 such categories (e.g., the return time, the product). Values in such a
database may be fixed values, or may be calculated based on other values.
Such a database can represent, among o#her things, the factors to
be considered in determining whether to output an alternate value offer,
and the factors to be considered in determining what alternate value offer
15 to output.
Ap Alternate Value Offer Rules Database can be consulted at Step
300. An exemplary Altetrtate Value Offer Rules Database, and exemplary
contents thereof, is shown in TABLE 2 below:
Altemate Value Offer Rules Database
Condition(s) Offer
IF Inventory of a product is > 30 THEN output offer: "Come back
when < 5 days remain in fill period; tomorrow and receive one unit of
AND change due customer is [Product Name] instead of your
greater than [product's cost] [change amount] by entering 1234
on the keypad."
IF quarter inventory falls below 4 THEN output offer: "Receive $0.35
coins AND change due to customer off any snack or beverage instead of
is $0.25 your $0.25 change. Just enter 5874
now!"
IF coin reserves falls below THEN output offer: "Come back
[anticipated amount of coins needed tomorrow and receive double your
for remainder of fill period] change in credit towards any
beverage! Just enter 2876
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Condition(s) Offer
' tornorrowf"
IF coin reserves depleted (i.e. "coin THEN output offer: "Receive triple
empty" mode) your change value in'machine credit
by entering 4395 QR get change
from adjacent machine by entering
9387."
IF a product's actual sales rate is < THEN output offer: "Receive
50% of [the product's ideal sales [Product Name] in exchange for
rate] your change due! J ust press 6622
now!"
TABLE 2
As illustrated, an Alternate Value Offer Rules Database may store
one or more rules that assist the vending control system in determining
whether to offer one or more alternate value offers. Although the
exemplary Altemate Value Offer Rules Database above represents rules as
conditions and corresponding offers, other means of representing rules and
like decision making structures are readily discemible by one of ordinary
skill in the art. In addition, although the exemplary Altemate Value Offer
'I'0 Rules Database above represents conditions as Boolean evaluations, other
types of conditions are readily discernible by one of ordinary skill in the
art.
I
Example - INVENTORY CONSIDERATIONS
The first record (i.e. the uppermost row of TABLE 2) shows a rule
that considers (via its corresponding condition) (i) the quanlity remaining of
an item, (ii) the number of days remaining in the fill period, and (iii) the
amount of change due to the customer from a first transaction. Specifically,
the rule provides that an offer (specifically, an offer enabling the customer
to receive a product in exchange for the change due from a first
transaction) should be output if inventory of the product rerr-iains above 30
units when only 5 days or less remain in the fill period and the change
amount is greater than the product's cost. In this case, following the
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exemplary data in the above Product Database, the vending machine
control system may determine that a customer who is entitled to $0.25
change from a first transaction should be offered the opportu nity to
purchasp a package of Dentyne chewing gum in exchange for the $0.25
change due because more than 30 units of Dentyne(D chewing gum remain
in inventory, only 5 days remain in the fill period, and the amount of change
due is greater than the item's cost ($0.20).
Example - COIN RESERVE CONSIDERATIONS
The second and third records of the Alternate Value O#fer Rules
Database illustrate embodiments in which the determination C:)f whether to
offer one or more alternate value offers depends on coin reserve data and I
or potential reduction in the coin reserves. In such embodiments, a Coin
Reserve Database may be employed. An exemplary Coin Reserve
Database is shown in TABLE 3 below:
Coin Reserve Database:
Coin denomination Quantity
Nickels 7
Dimes 4
Quarters 2
TABLE 3
The second record of the above Alternate Value Offer Rules
Database illustrates a rule that triggers an alternate value offe3r when coin
reserves are depleted below a predetermined, or "fixed", thres hold. Such a
threshold may be established in many manners, such as being set
manually (e.g., by an operator of the vending machine) or beir-ig set by a
device (e.g., a processor of the vending machine). As illustrated in that
table, the rule provides that if quarter inventory falls below four coins and
the change due to the customer is $0.25, the machine should e-utput an
offer that enables the customer to receive a $0.35 discount off any snack or
beverage in the machine if the customer agrees to forfeit the $ 0.25 change
due. Because, in the ongoing example, quarter inventory is cu rrently below
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four coins, the offer could be provided to any customer who is entitled to
receive $0.25 change from a first transaction (e.g. Steps 100 and 200,
above).
The third record of the above Alternate Value Offer Rules Database
illustratds a rule that triggers an alternate value offer when coin reserves
are depleted below a threshold that is calculated based on various data.
Such thresholds may be calculated according to any schedule desirable
(e.g., periodically, substantially continuously, or as-needed upon a vendirikg
machine transaction). Such threshold may be calculated by, e.g., the
vending machine control system or by another means such as, for
example, the MEI CASHFLOW series 7000 coin mechanism or the
currency handling apparatus of WO 98/58355, described above.
In some embodiments, as illustrated by the third record of the abovre
Altemate Value Offer Rules Database, calculated thresholds may be based
on an anticipated amount of change (e.g., the anticipated amount of
change needed to provide future customers with change throughout afiIl
period). Such thresholds may be calculated using known methods, such aas
the methods described in WO 98/58355. Alternatively, the control system
may calculate such thresholds by calculating an anticipated amount of
change due for transactions during the remainder of a fill period. For
example, the control system can determine both a projected transaction
volume and an average amount of change due per transaction. For
example, the control system may access a Transaction History database to
determine a historic transaction volume and an average change due per
transaction. An exemplary Transaction History database is shown in
TABLE 4 below:
Transaction History Database:
Date Time Item(s) Total Amount Change
purchased price tendered dispensad
5/5/03 11:00 AM Al, B3 $1.50 $2.00 $0.50
5/5/03 11:38 AM A3 $0.50 $1.00 $0.50
5/5/03 2:14 PM 132, B3 $1.25 $2.50 $0.75
5/6/03 7:43 AM C3 $1.00 $1.00 $0
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Date Time Item(s) Total Amount Change
purchased price tendered dispensed
5/6/03 9:10AM Cl $0.65 $1.00 $0.35
5/6/03 3:05 PM C3 $1.00 $1.00 $0
TABLE 4
Following the exemplary data in the above Transaction History
database, it appears that the transaction volume is three transactions per
day, with*an average of $0.35 dispensed as change. Thus, the control
system may reasonably anticipate that, assuming there are five days left in
the fill period, approximately $1.75 in change will be needed to provide
change to customers for the balance of the fill period (e.g. conservatively
assuming that all future customers pay with dollar bills and no more coins
are added to the hopper).
Based on the exemplary data in the Coin Inventory database, a coin
total of $1.25 exists in the coin hopper ((7 nickels * $0.05 value) + (4 dimes
* $0.10 italue) + (2 quarters * $0.25 value)), which is less than enough to
meet the anticipated $1.75 in change needed for the remainder of the fill
period. Because, in this example, there is not sufficient working capital in
the hopper, the machine would determine, as required by the third record of
the Alternate Value Offer Rules Database, that customers may receive
double the value of their change due in credit towards the purchase of any
beverage on the following day.
It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that there
are several other manners of determining the values discussed above. For
example, an average change due per transaction can be computed from
historic data by maintaining (i) a running count of transactions and (ii) the
average change due, as calculated over those transactions. In other
words, all historic data need not be stored in some embodimerits.
By way of example, the exemplary Transaction History Database
illustrated above represented six transactions and an average change due
of $0.35. On the next transaction, the average change due can be updated
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based on the new change due in that transaction in accordance with the
following equation:
new average change due = (6 * $0.35 + X)/ 7
5 where
X = new change due
,
In some embodiments, a forecast of available change may be
estimated (in whole or part) based on the rate at which customers generally
10 use particular denominations of coins to make purchases at the vending
machine. Thus, in some embodiments, the vending machine (or another
device) may consider the number of coins that are expected to be received
by the vending machine, and that number is used in detemiining whether or
not the vending machine will likely have sufficient coin inventory in
15 appropriate denominations to provide all future customers in the fill
period
with correct change
In some embodiments, both fixed and calculated thresholds may be
consideYed in the determination of whether one or more altemate value
offers should be provided to a customer. In the case of the example
20 illustrated by the records of the above Alternate Product Offer Database,
the second and third records provide for both fixed and calculEited
thresholds, respectively.
Further, in some embodiments, multiple alternative thresholds may
be considered and different thresholds trigger different benefits (e.g.,
25 benefits with different values). That is, a first alternate value offer may
be
determined based on a first amount of working capital, and a second
alternate value offer may be determined based on a second amount of
working capital. For example, a rule may provide that if the total value of
coins is'below $2.00, then it may be appropriate to provide an offer having
30 a value in excess of the value of change due (e.g., double change value in
the form of credit applicable to a purchase via the vending machine). On
the other hand, if the total value of coins is even lower (e.g., zero, meaning
the coin reserves have been entirely depleted), then an offer to provide an
even higher value offer (e.g., triple change value in the form of credit
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applicable to a purchase via the vending machine) may be appropriate.
Thus, according to an embodiment offers may be generated so as to be
more valuable to customers when the vending machine has relatively fewer
coins (e.g., the vending machine is in "coin empty" mode) rather than when
the vending machine has relatively more coins (e.g., the vending machine
is merely in "coin conservation" mode).
The fourth record of the above-illustrated Alternate Value Offer Rules
Database illustrates an embodiment in.which the determination of whether
to offer an alternate value offer depends on whether or not the machine's
coin inventory is depleted entirely (i.e., whether the machine is in "coin
empty" mode). In the example, if the machine's coin inventory is depleted
entirely, customers are offered the ability to receive either triple the value
of
the change due amount in credit towards an additional product or receive
their change from a nearby machine, which may be programmed to provide
the change amount upon presentation of an appropriate code (here,
"9387"). In some embodiments, such nearby machines may communicate
with the first vending machine, directly or indirectly, through a
communications network, as described herein. Thus, the first machine may
query orhe or more nearby machines to (1) determine/confirm that one or
more nearby machines have sufficient working capital to provide the
customer of the first machine with the change amount, and (2) transmit a
code that the second machine should require from the customer before
providing change. Alternatively, such nearby machines may be
programmed to store one or more codes in a database so that such a
communication from a first machine is not necessary.
It should be noted that in yet another embodiment, when a machine
has entered a "coin empty" mode, the machine may be configured to output
an offer to receive change due from a first transaction from the machine at
a later time, such as after a restocking date, or after it is anticipated that
the
machine will receive sufficient working capital through anticipated future
sales.
Example - SALES / PROFITABILITY CONSIDERATIONS
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The fifth record of the above-illustrated Altemate Value Offer
Database illustrates an embodiment in which the determination of whether
to offer one or more altemate value offers depends on sales and/or
profitability data of one or more products. As illustrated by the fifth
record,
if the actual sales rate for a product is equal to or less than 50% of the
product's ideal sales rate (e.g., as indicated by the Product Database, as
computed according to known methodologies), then an alternate value offer
which provides the customer with the opportunity to receive the product for
the change amount is appropriate.
Additional systems and methods for determining offers in exchange
for an amount of change due are disclosed in Applicant's (1) co-pending
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/473,815, entitled
APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROFIT MANAGED
VENDING MACHINE TRANSACTIONS, and the utility application filed
thereafter and claiming priority thereto, (2) co-pending U.S. Patent
Application Serial Number 10/095372, entitled METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR VENDING A COMBINATION OF PRODUCTS; (3) U.S.
Patent No. 6,397,193 B1, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
VENDING A COMBINATION OF PRODUCTS; the entirety of each
application/patent is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
TYPES OF OFFERS
The alternate value offers which are determined (e.g., at Step 300)
can provide customers with the ability to realize various benefcts in lieu of
receiving change due from the first transaction (e.g., a transaction which
commenced in Steps 100 and 200). Altemate value offers may provide
customers with the ability to, in lieu of receiving change due from a first
transaction, receive one or more "benefits", including (but not limited to):
(i)
discounts (e.g., on prices of products sold via a vending machine), (ii)
credits (e.g., credits applicable to purchases at a vending machine), (iii)
specific products (e.g., products dispensed via a vending machine without
further compensation), (iv) the ability to select and acquire one or more
products from a class of products, either at a normal price, at a discount or
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without further compensation (e.g. any soda; any item indicated by a
flashing red Light Emitting Diode (LED)), (v) entries in games of skill or
games of chance, such as entries in one or more lottery drawings, (vi) the
ability to download digital content (e.g. MP3 music files, computer files,
ring
tones for cellular telephones) from a remote computer or elsewhere, and /
or (vii) a modification of another benefit or of a right of the customer.
As an example of an entry in a game of chance, a benefit may be a
conventional lottery ticket (e.g., dispensed by the vending machine, printed
by the vending machine, acquired upon redeeming a voucher for a lottery
ticket th;pt the vending machine provides the customer) or a"factional
lottery ticket" such as is disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 6,267,670,
incorporated herein by reference.
In an embodiment, the benefit may be for a drawing in a lottery,
sweepstakes, etc., conducted or monitored by the vending machine. Thus,
the vending machine might inform customers upon the conclusion of the
lottery, sweepstakes, etc., of the outcome (e.g., which customer won, which
numbers were winning numbers, whether the customer won). Additionally
or altematively, a web site or the like could provide the outcome of the
lottery, sweepstakes, etc. In an embodiment, a benefit may include a
modification to another benefit or another right of a customer. For
example, a ticket might multiply (or otherwise increase) the amount of
credit of a product voucher, the number of unredeemed items in a
subscription to a plurality of vending machine products, the number of
network access minutes (e.g., WiFi or VoIP access) allotted to a customer.
U.S. Patent Nos. 6,298,329 and 6,876,978 to Walker et al. (both
incorporated herein by reference) disclose various products and processes
involving coupons and vouchers having a value that is set based on the
change that is due. The products and processes disclosed in those patents
may be employed, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention, to provide offers for various benefits.
Moreover, alternate value offers may provide customers with the
ability to'receive such benefits immediately, in the future, at certain times
(e.g. at an "off peak" time, such as 7:00 PM at an office building location),
and/or for a limited time (e.g., within the seven days after the offer is
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accepted). Other types of restrictions may be imposed on the redemption
of alternate value offers in a known manner.
In an embodiment, the value of a benefit can increase over time
provided the benefit is not redeemed. Thus, the benefit can essentially
accumulate "interest" as it remains unredeemed. In an embodiment, an
additional 10% increase per week in the value of a voucher redeemable for
cash accumulates. The rate of increase may be calculated based on (1) an
estimated decrease in the probability of redemption over time, (2) actual
sales, and / or (3) predicted or estimated sales.
In another example, a fixed amount (e.g., $.01) can be added each
day (or week, month etc.) to an unredeemed voucher that is redeemable
for credit towards a purchase. In an embodiment, the cash value (the
amount of cash which may be received) upon redemption of the benefit
remains constant (e.g., the original amount of change due), while any
increase in value (the "accumulated interest") may be redeemed only
towards one or more product purchases. Similarly, the rate of increase
may be calculated based on (1) an estimated decrease in the probability of
redemption over time, (2) actual sales, and / or (3) predicted or estimated
sales.
Altemate value offers may also provide customers with the ability to
receive such benefits at certain locations and / or at certain machines, such
as at the vending machine where the offer was provided or accepted, at
another vending machine, via a computer accessing the Intemet, at a
kiosk, at an ATM, via a cellular telephone, etc. In an embodiment where
the benegt is redeemed via a vending machine, the benefit may include (a)
a product typically available for sale, and / or (b) other items not typically
available for sale, such as items, vouchers, coupons, etc. provided in
product rows which a customer cannot access except pursuant to a
redemption of a benefit. For example, an item not typically available for
sale may be located in a special product row (e.g., "A-5"), and the vending
machine will not permit products in that product row to be dispensed in a
conventjonal vending machine transaction (i.e. rendering of payment and
selection of the row A-5).
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In bne embodiment, altemate value offers may provide customers
with the ability to receive benefits at one or more machines. For example,
alternate value offers may provide customers with the ability to receive
benefits from the machine that issued the offer, and/or from a separate
5 machine (e.g. a beverage vending machine located next to a sriack
vending machine which provided the offer). In one embodiment in which
an alternate value offer enables a customer to receive a benefit from a
machine other than the issuing vending machine, the other machine may
(1) receive alternate value offer data (e.g. a redemption or acceptance
10 code corresponding to an alternate value offer), directly or indirectly
(e.g.,
through a communications network as described herein), and/or (2) store
alternate value offer data (e.g., in a database for retrieval and comparison
upon presentation of a purported redemption, acceptance code or other
indicia of an alternate value offer). Thus, during redemption or reception of
15 a benefit (e.g. at Step 600, below), when a customer wishes to redeem or
accept at a separate machine a benefit associated with an altemate value
offer, the separate machine may validate an alternate value offer by
comparing data received from the customer to data received from the
issuing machine and/or data stored in a memory accessible by the
20 separate machine.
Step 400: Output one or more alternate value offers.
At Step 400, one or more of the determined altemate value offers
may be provided to customers via an output device. For example, in one
25 embodiment, as illustrated below, one or more alternate value offers may
be provided to customers on a printed ticket. Explanatory text and an
accompanying "acceptance code" may represent each altemate value
offer. An example of a printed ticket providing alternate value offers is
depicted in FIG. 2.
30 The exemplary change ticket 200 depicted in F1G. 2 illustrates
indicia 210, 215, 220 and 225 representing alternate value offers and
accompanying codes consistent with the ongoing example, assuming that
the custpmer initially purchased a$0.75 item (e.g. a Coca-Cola soda from
row position Al) for $1.00, thereby entitling the customer to $0.25 change.
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A code may be provided which, when entered, allows the customer
to indicate that he prefers to receive his change rather than accept any
provided offer_ Indicia 250 indicates such a code.
In one embodiment, unique or substantially unique acceptance
codes may be generated for each altemate value offer that is output to a
customer. Altemate value offer acceptance codes may thus, in one
embodiment, comprise non-sequentially generated alphanumeric codes. It
should also be noted that in one embodiment, a database may be
maintained to track the issuance and acceptance (redemption) of particular
alternate value offers so that a customer may not obtain a given benefit
more than a certain number of times (e.g. so that offers are limited to one
per custQmer or one per purchase of a first product).
Step 500: Determine whether one or more alternate value offers are
accepted. If so, proceed to Step 600. If not, proceed to Step 700.
At Step 500, it is determined whether one or more alterriate value
offers are accepted. Such a determination may be made by the vending
control system receiving a signal from an input device indicative of a
custorner's acceptance. For example, to Indicate acceptance of a
particular altemate value offer, a customer may enter a code printed on a
change ticket into a vending machine's keypad. Altematively, a customer
may deposit a ticket into a bill validator or card reader, may scan a ticket's
machine-readable indicia into an input device (e.g. a bar code scanner), or
may verbally provide a manifestation of acceptance to an input device (e.g.
a microphone operatively connected to a voice recognition module). Those
of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are many other methods
of redeeming or accepting an offer.
As stated, in some embodiments, the machine which issued the
alternate value offer(s) determines whether a customer accepts the
alternate value offer(s). In other embodiments, a separate vending
machine determines whether a customer accepts the alternate value
offer(s). In yet other embodiments, a separate computer (e.g., a point-of-
sale computer or a web server) determines whether a customer accepts
the alter+nate value offer(s).
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ln an embodiment, alternate value offers may expire if not accepted
within a certain time from issuance at Step 400. For example, in one
embodiment, alternate value offers may time out (i.e. the customer's
"silence" is a rejection) if an acceptance code is not received within 5
minutes of issuance. In such embodiments, after the time period for
acceptance passes, the process may optionally continue at Step 800 (at
which point change due is dispensed), or may otherwise end.
Further, in yet another alternate embodiment, alternate value offers
are considered accepted if not affirmatively accepted or rejected within a
default period of time, in which case the process may continue at Step 600,
below.
In some embodiments, acceptance of one or more alternate value
offers may constitute rejection of others.
Step 600: Provide offered benefit(s).
If one or more alternate value offers have been accepted, the
vending machine control system permits the customer to realize the
corresponding offered benefit(s). In various embodiments, permitting the
customer to realize a benefit may entail one or more of: (i) processing a
transaction at a discount, (ii) adding an amount to a credit balance, (iii)
dispensing a particular product, and/or (iv) authorizing the selection of a
product from a category, class or group. Other appropriate benefits will be
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In an alternate embodiment, a separate device such as a separate
vending machine, a point-of-sale computer or a Web server may (i) receive
an alternate value offer acceptance code, (ii) validate the received
acceptance code (by determining if the received acceptance code is stored
in a database or has been received from or confirmed with the issuing
vending machine), and /or (iii) provide (or facilitate the provision of) a
benefit (e.g. authorize a discount, etc.).
Step 700: Determine whether customer has requested change due.
If not, end process. If so, proceed to Step 800.
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In some embodiments, customers must affirmatively request change
if they wish to reject alternate value offers and receive change. In other
embodiments, change is automatically dispensed (Step 800, below) if
customers do not accept alternate value offers within a default period of
tirne. ,
In some embodiments where customers must affirmatively request
change in order to receive change, if a customer has not requested change
Within a default period of time, the process ends, and the customer may
subsequently claim the change amount from the machine. In other
embodirnents where customers must affirmatively request change in order
to receive change, if a customer has not requested change within a default
period time, the change is considered abandoned and forfeited to the
operator of the vending machine.
Step 800: Dispense change amount.
At Step 800, the vending machine control system authorizes the
dispensing of the change amount via change dispensing apparatus.
For clarification, although in some embodiments an alternate value
offer may be output if change is due, in other embodiments an alternate
value offer may be output even if change is not due.
For example, in one embodiment, an altemate value offer may be
output after a customer has inserted an amount of currency but before the
customer has selected a product to purchase.
In another embodiment, an altemate value offer may be output after
the customer has selected a product to purchase but before the customer
has inserted an amount of currency.
Further Embodiments
In one alternate embodiment, an altemate value offer may present a
customer with the ability to donate change due to a charity. Such an
amount may be transmitted to an account in a known manner.
In some embodiments, a door to a coin tray may remain locked until
a customer affirmatively requests change due. Until a customer
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affirmatively requests change, visual and/or auditory outputs may be
provided through one or more output devices indicating, for example,
"change ticket dispensing now" (or the like) so that the customer is clearly
informed about the inventive change ticket process disclosed herein.
In some embodiments, when coin reserves have fallen below a
certain threshold, the machine may output certain denomination-specific
promotions so as to encourage the accumulation of certain types of
currency (e.g. coinage). For example, when a Coin Reserve Database
indicates that dimes are below a certain threshold, the machine may offer a
discount price on all items (e.g. $0.30 discount) for customers who tender
only dimes. Vending machine may cease outputting such promotions once
the vending machine has replenished coin reserves beyond the threshold
amount.
In some embodiments, a customer may store the change due from
multiple transactions in one "account".
1. For example, before a change ticket is printed pursuant to a
transaction, the customer may be prompted to enter the
codes provided on previously issued change tickets. The
vending machine control system may then, in turn, invalidate
(e.g. in a database record) the codes associated with the
previously issued change tickets, and may add the cash value
associated with such previously issued change tickets to the
change amount from the present transaction. Thus, the
customer would receive one superceding change ticket with a
code that permits access to the change due from several
transactions. Such an embodiment would be desirable as it
permits customers to aggregate change value in one
convenient medium.
2. In another example, change due from several transactions
may be aggregated to an account identified by a unique
identifier associated with a particular customer. For example,
a vending machine may maintain an account database,
wherein records of the database are identified by
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alphanumeric codes unique to customers or by customer
biometric data (e.g. fingerprints, etc.).
As stated herein, in some embodiments, customers are permitted to
5 accept or redeem altemate value offers or receive change due from
machines other than the machine that initially issued a change ticket and/or
alternate value offer. In some of such embodiments, participating vending
machiries may be configured to record and/or report redemption data so
that operators may reconcile and understand which machines facilitated the
10 redemption of change amounts or altemate value offers. For example, one
vending machine operator (e.g. a snack machine operator) may contract
with another vending machine operator (e.g. a separate beverage machine
operator) so that each machine accepts change ticket codes issued from
either machine. Thus, if the machines are proximately located, and one
15 machine's coin reserves are depleted, the machine may issue a change
ticket so that a customer may receive change due from the second
machine. When such a customer presents the change ticket code to the
second machine and thereby receives her change due, the second
machine may then record (e.g. in a database record) and/or report (e.g. to
20 the first machine, to a central server, etc.) the provision of the change
amount so that the operator of the first machine may subsequently
reimburse the operator of the second machine for the change amount.
The offer may be provided via the vending machine (e.g., during a
transaction with a customer at that vending machine). Alternatively, the
25 offer may be provided via other means. For example, the offer may be
provided through Web site, where the customer may register preferences
regarding offers. In such an embodiment, one or more offers may be
providefd through the web site and accepted by the customer, whether or
not a transaction at a vending machine is occurring, and whether or not a
30 transaction at a vending machine has occurred.
For example, the customer may (1) access a web site, such as a
web site operated by or on behalf of a vending machine operator; (2)
identify himself to the web site (e.g., by entering a unique customer
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identifier and password); (3) indicate preferences regarding offers and / or
accept certain offers.
The customer may indicate such preferences by, e.g., operating a
graphical user interface via a standard Web browser, where the user
interface is generated in any of a number of manners (e.g., by HTML code
or the like, by active server pages, by Macromedia FlashO animation).
The preferences which the customer indicates may correspond to
rules described herein (e.g., alternate value offer rules). In an embodiment,
the customer is provided with a set of rules (e.g., via a Web browser) and
the customer selects the rule(s) he desires to apply to vending machine
transactions. For example, the customer may be provided with the
following rules:
Condition(s) Offer
ALWAYS Come back tomorrow and receive
one unit of [Product Name] instead
of your [change amount]"
change due to customer is $0.25 or "Receive $0.35 off any snack or
less beverage instead of your $0.25
change "
TABLE 6
Subsequently, when that customer participates in transactions with the
vending machine and identifies himself to the vending machine, the
applicable rule is applied to the transaction. Thus, during that transaction
the cus'tomer need not be presented with an offer and the customer need
not during that transaction accept an offer.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
