U.S. patent application number 14/074494 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for vending data communications systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to Videx, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Videx, Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul R. Davis.
Application Number | 20140100977 14/074494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49640867 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140100977 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Paul R. |
April 10, 2014 |
VENDING DATA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
Abstract
Vending machine circuitry adapted to interface with vending
machine electronics so as to provide data communications between a
handheld device, preferably a wireless handheld device operated by
a potential consumer, and the vending machine electronics, with the
handheld device providing the network communications connectivity
for transmitting and receiving information to and from remote data
centers, data bases, and/or servers.
Inventors: |
Davis; Paul R.; (Corvallis,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Videx, Inc. |
Corvallis |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Videx, Inc.
Corvallis
OR
|
Family ID: |
49640867 |
Appl. No.: |
14/074494 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13648978 |
Oct 10, 2012 |
8600899 |
|
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14074494 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0207 20130101;
G06Q 20/202 20130101; G06Q 20/3278 20130101; G06Q 30/0237 20130101;
G06Q 20/18 20130101; G06Q 20/325 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/21 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/20 20060101
G06Q020/20; G06Q 20/18 20060101 G06Q020/18 |
Claims
1. A method of dispensing a product from a vending system, the
method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a first
communication link between a vending system and a first data
processing device with a first communication interface; (b) with
said first communication link, transmitting a request from said
first data processing device to said vending system to dispense a
product; (c) with said first communication link, transmitting
vending system data from said vending system to said first data
processing device; (d) responding to said request by one of
dispensing said requested product and providing an indication of a
status of said request to said first data processing device; and
(e) with a wireless cellular communication interface of said first
data processing device, transmitting said vending system data from
said first data processing device to a second data processing
device remote from said vending system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/648,978,
filed Oct. 10, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/545,976, filed Oct. 11, 2011.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to product dispensing
kiosk, vending machine, or self-serving automatic merchandising
systems (hereinafter, vending systems) and data communications
methods therefor, and, more particularly, to electrical and
electro-mechanical devices and systems for enhanced vending system
capabilities such as, for example, product dispensing control,
cashless payment methods, physical vending machine access control,
and internal and external data communications, data sharing, and
information collection.
[0003] Vending Data Interchange (VDI) standards have been developed
by the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) to
provide technology providers non-proprietary protocols and methods
for sharing machine-level data between various components of a
vending machine and vending machine data communication systems. The
VDI standards are intended to ensure reliability, continuity, and
longevity for installed vending machine hardware, software, and
netware. A particularly useful article, Innovative VDI Standards:
Moving an Industry Forward, by Michael L. Kasavana, The Journal of
International Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 3, December 2009,
(hereinafter, Kasavana) is excerpted in the background section
below and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0004] Kasavana mentions the essence of the VDI standards is to
allow for data movement through a messaging technique to ensure
data integrity of transmitted sets of data, regardless whether the
data was pulled from a network server or pushed to such a server.
The protocols are designed to package vending machine-level data
(such as DEX and MDB data, alerts data, cashless transaction data,
etc.) in a format that allows sharing between different supplier
systems and multiple software applications. The packaged data might
be analogous to email messaging in that the file of machine
captured data forms the content of the message, and the VDI
programming introduces a wrapper for distribution to any number of
file servers (the wrapper being similar in function to the
distribution list for an email message), independent of the
particular manufacturer or service provider.
[0005] DEX is an acronym for Data EXchange and is capable of
capturing machine-level cash in/out data, product movement data,
and financial audit data. DEX data is designed to assist vending
operators develop product replenishment strategies, product mix
rotations, and cash management safeguards.
[0006] MDB is an acronym for Multi-Drop Bus and is an internal
(vending machine) communication protocol designed to ensure
effective interface between coin mechanisms, bill validators, and
cashless payment devices and a Vending Machine Controller (VMC). An
MDB cable (or machine harness) provides physical connectivity for
attaching peripheral devices (such as card reader, bill validator,
etc.) to the VMC of a vending machine. MDB defines a serial bus
interface for electronically controlled vending machines, and
MDB/ICP (Multi-Drop Bus/Internal Communication Protocol) governs
the interface between a vending machine controller and payment
system peripheral devices. MDB/ICP enables the VMC to determine
what coins in the coin changer and what bills in the bill validator
can be accepted for cash payment. MDB/ICP also establishes the
amount of credit available through a payment card reader.
[0007] The MDB/ICP standard defines a serial master-slave
communication bus used by the internal devices in the vending
machine, such as a coin acceptor. MDB allows for immediate updating
of the current status of the machine as each product is sold. In
this way the MDB standard is considered a transaction-based
mechanism. DEX on the other hand, is a cumulative-based reporting
system. MDB allows for the attachment of an audit (DEX) device that
(acting as a passive slave) receives information for all events
happening on the vending machine (such as vends, sold outs, coins
and bills accepted, etc.). DEX involves the retrieval of stored
information (or a snapshot of machine status) through a serial plug
for connecting to, for example, a laptop PC.
[0008] Cashless transactions rely on MDB processes (eg. details of
the transaction such as card number, transaction value, product(s)
sold, date, and time, for reconciliation) whereas DEX is needed for
sales reporting. A DEX cable may be used to transfer DEX file
information along with the cashless MDB data.
[0009] DEX-enabled (or DEX-compliant) vending machines may be
configured to transmit data to a polling device. Local polling may
use a handheld device or pocket probe designed to plug into a
vending machine's DEX-port or to communication via an IR port. A
typical upload takes approximately five seconds. The field
collected data may then be transferred from the handheld device to
a central office computer for processing and report generation.
[0010] Remote data collection options include dial-up polling and
wireless polling. Dial-up polling may be used, involing a modem and
telephone line connected to the vending machine. DEX data can be
transported to a remote office or warehouse location for evaluation
via an internet or virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Wireless polling, similar to dial-up polling, may be used whereby
the vending machine is equipped with cellular network
connectivity.
[0011] These remote data collection options, however, are costly
since each requires additional communications capabilities integral
to the vending machine and monthly (telephone or cellular) access
fees. Cellular connectivity also presents challenges based on the
architectural structure surrounding the vending equipment combined
with strength of cell signal strength requirements. While
connectivity to the internet or a VPN may be more direct and less
susceptible to structural infringements, such connectivity may be
more costly.
[0012] What is needed, therefore, are electrical and
electro-mechanical devices and systems for enhanced vending system
capabilities such as, for example, product dispensing control,
cashless payment methods, physical vending machine access control,
and internal and external data communications, data sharing, and
information collection, that, among other features and capabilities
desirable to the vending industry, address these and other
shortcomings of existing vending systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
the drawings herein illustrate examples of the invention. The
drawings, however, do not limit the scope of the invention. Similar
references in the drawings indicate similar elements.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a vending machine system,
according to preferred embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exemplary operational flow chart, according to
various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art
will understand that the present invention may be practiced without
these specific details, that the present invention is not limited
to the depicted embodiments, and that the present invention may be
practiced in a variety of alternate embodiments. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and systems
have not been described in detail.
[0017] As an overview, the preferred embodiments generally involve
circuitry adapted to interface with vending machine electronics so
as to provide data communications between a handheld device,
preferably a wireless handheld device operated by a potential
consumer using the vending machine, and the vending machine
electronics, with the handheld device providing the network
communications connectivity for transmitting and receiving
information to and from remote data centers, data bases, and/or
servers. Preferred embodiments may include circuitry adapted to
provide data communications between the vending machine electronics
and an external networked device, with the external networked
device providing the aforementioned network communications
connectivity. Further, preferred embodiments may include circuitry
adapted to interface with physical access control for the vending
machine, providing additional security features and functionality
such as vending machine access audit information and
backup/secondary lock actuation capabilities for accessing the
vending machine in the event of failure of primary power supply or
vending machine electronics.
[0018] Various embodiments include additional inventive aspects,
for example methods of allowing cashless transactions using an
un-networked vending machine, collecting consumer feedback
information, utilizing a consumer's communication device to process
prior vending transactions, and managing loss using geographically
relevant transaction information. Various described embodiments
also include inventive methods for providing consumer incentives to
encourage permitted use of the consumer's handheld communication
device capabilities. For example, the consumer may be provided with
transaction progress information, options for determining the
amount of time needed for a given transaction, or chance-based
rewards in exchange for providing collectable consumer feedback
information and/or use of the consumer's communication device
computing and/or network communication capabilities.
[0019] Although the preferred embodiments may be implemented in a
wide variety of configurations involving different types of product
dispensing kiosks, vending machines, or self-serving automatic
merchandising systems, collectively referred to as vending systems,
various architectures for such vending systems, and specific
networks and network architectures and topologies, the following
detailed description discloses the preferred embodiments
principally in the context of an exemplary vending machine-to-cell
phone interface, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a
vending machine (or product dispensing kiosk or self-serving
automatic merchandising machine) system 100 comprises a vending
machine 102 adapted so as to utilize a handheld communication
device 104 for cashless vending, transmission of DEX information,
and other functions available via the handheld device.
[0020] In one embodiment, the handheld communication device 104 is
a cell phone equipped with near field, Bluetooth, wifi, audio,
optical, electrical contact-based, or other means for communicating
with an appropriate communications interface associated with the
vending machine 102. The cell phone 104 is then networked via
wireless cellular communications 114, cell network/cell tower 106,
and internet 108 for communication with a central station, data
base, or server 112. As shown in FIG. 1, the cell phone 104 may be
equipped with Near Field Communications (NFC) circuitry for
wireless communications 113 with vending machine near field
interface 120. The near field interface (circuitry) 120 in turn
communicates 144 with circuitry (shown as Videx board) 118 adapted
to communicate 140 (for example, DEX and/or MDB data, alerts data,
cashless transaction data, etc.) with vending machine electronics
122.
[0021] The vending machine 102 preferably includes vending machine
electronics 122 with circuitry adapted for providing DEX or MDB
data via communication bus 140 to communications circuitry (Videx
board) 118. The vending machine electronics 122 receives power via
power line 134, external power cord 132, and regular 110 VAC outlet
plug 130. Communications circuitry (Videx board) 118 preferably
receives DEX or MOB data from said vending machine electronics 122
via data bus 140, and receives power via power line 138, power
supply and lock driver circuitry 126, and power line 136 (which, in
one embodiment, is interconnected to power line 134 and power cord
132.
[0022] The power supply and lock driver circuitry 126 preferably
includes circuitry adapted to control actuation via 148 of an
electronic lock 128 in response to control signals via 142 from the
communications circuitry (Videx board) 118. The power supply and
lock driver circuitry 126 preferably includes circuitry adapted to
receive a signal modulated on one or more power line conductors
132, 136. The circuitry is adapted to receive the modulated signal,
demodulate the signal to obtain a transmitted access code, and
energize the lock driver circuitry 126 to actuate the electronic
lock 128 if the transmitted access code matches an access code
stored in non-volatile memory.
[0023] The vending machine 102 may optionally include wifi
circuitry 124 interconnected with the communications circuitry
(Videx board) 118 via 146. The wifi circuitry 124 is preferably
adapted to wirelessly communicate 116 with an internet access point
or other wifi enabled device 110 external to said vending machine
102. The wifi enable device 110 may comprise, in one embodiment, a
handheld or portable computing device or communications device
having tethering (wireless internet) capabilities and connectivity.
The communications circuitry (Videx board) 118 is then coupled with
the wifi enabled device 110 so as to provide connectivity between
an internet 108 connected server 112 and the vending machine 102 so
that DEX or MDB or other data may be exchanged between the server
112 and vending machine 102.
[0024] In operation, the vending data communications system 100
allows for various methods of vending product from a vending
machine. In preferred embodiments, the methods 200 shown in FIG. 2,
of vending product from a vending machine 102, include various
combinations of the vending steps shown. In one embodiment, vending
from vending machine 102 starts 202 with accepting one or more
payment method, for example cash 204, credit/debit/payment card
206, and cell phone 208 as means for payment. No sale 210 is
progressed or made unless a payment method is accepted. If cash 204
is chosen, then the vending machine performs in a traditional
manner to make the sale 222 using conventional cash transaction
means.
[0025] The vending machine 102 preferably checks for a presented
card 206 (for example, a credit card, debit card, or some other
type of funds or account or gift card recognizable by a card reader
or card readers on the vending machine 102). If the presented card
206 (i.e. its number or other identifying indicia) appears on a
good card list 214 stored in memory, then a sale 222 is allowed. If
the presented card 206 appears on a bad card list 216, then no sale
220 is allowed. However, if the presented card 206 is neither on
the good list 214 nor the bad card list 216, a sale 222 is allowed
unless the presented card 206 (having been previously added to an
unknown card list) has exceeded a card limit 218. The card limit
218 is preferably based on factors such as the total number of
products purchased (without payment confirmation and, thereafter
removal of the presented card 206 from the unknown list and
placement onto the good card list 214), an amount of time between
attempted sales or a frequency of attempted sales, and/or
geographical information associated with the presented card 206.
For example, an unknown card (i.e. one that has not yet been
classified as good or bad based upon payment confirmation
information) may be permitted for payment for a maximum
predetermined number of products, or for a maximum of one product
per hour or other time period, or for a certain number of total
products in a given geographical area, or for a certain number of
products depending upon where the presented card originates. A
presented card originating locally, for instance, may present
higher risk of loss, at least until such card is reclassified as
good or bad, than a presented card originating from farther away. A
tourist, for example, might be allowed to use an unknown card to
vend product, expecting that such a presented card would carry
lower risk of loss/non-payment.
[0026] The vending machine 102 preferably checks for a cell phone
208 presented as a form of payment. In one embodiment, the user of
the presented cell phone 208 holds their cell phone (having a Near
Field Communications interface) up to a receiving zone/proximity on
the outside of vending machine 102 so as to facilitate/allow the
cell phone to communicate with the vending machine's communications
circuitry (and near field interface). The machine checks whether
the presented cell phone 208 indicates a new customer 212, and, if
so, invites the user of the presented cell phone to scan a QR or
other optical code 224 provided by the vending machine 102. The
user scans the optical code with the presented cell phone 208 to
access a new customer account set up website 226, or the user is
invited to access the new customer account set up website by typing
in the website address on the presented cell phone.
[0027] Once in the new customer account set up website (or
cell/smart phone application), the user enters their credit card
(or debit card) payment authorization information, charge limits,
deposited cash/funds account (amount, etc.), and provides
agreements needed for use of vending services, beverage company
policies, etc. In one embodiment, the user may choose from options
to make purchases using a pre-paid card, a credit card, a debit
card, a pre-paid account with a particular product company (i.e. a
particular beverage company), or even to capture purchases on (and
pay via) their cell phone service provider's monthly billing
statements.
[0028] Preferably, the user is given options to use their credit
card, or debit card, or a pre-deposited funds account for
beverage/vending purchases as well as options for receiving and
using reward points/credits in exchange for allowing use of their
cell phone for downloading and uploading DEX and/or MDB data to and
from the vending machine 102 and for use of their cell phone
cellular network service for further vending-related data
communications (for example, with server 112 as shown in FIG. 1).
The user is preferably given the option to allow their cell phone
to be used to collect and transmit data (including unprocessed
previous vends information that need to be reconciled for payment
confirmations and re-classification of the previously presented
cards) to servers (as illustrated in FIG. 1). The user is
preferably given options as to tolerable wait times (for collecting
data while at a vending machine such as machine 102) and options
for providing additional consumer feedback (i.e. product taste
preferences, packaging preferences, etc.) in exchange for product
credits or other rewards or incentives.
[0029] The vending machine 102 checks whether the presented cell
phone 208 indicates a registered customer 212, and, if the
presented cell phone indicates the user and presented cell phone
correspond to a registered customer, the vending machine 102 begins
reading machine data 228 from the vending machine 102 to the
presented cell phone while waiting for the user to select product
230 from said vending machine, and allow sale 232 of the user
selected product.
[0030] The presented cell phone 208 preferably collects the read
machine data 228 regardless of whether the presented cell phone 208
is connected to or has an available cellular network connection.
The read machine data 228 is preferably stored in memory in the
presented cell phone 208 for later transmission and/or use (by an
application residing on the presented cell phone 208 and/or in
response to a network server 112) once the presented cell phone 208
becomes connected to a cellular network (or wifi or other network
for connecting with server 112) or once the user of the presented
cell phone 208 chooses to allow cellular network or other network
connectivity and subsequent vending-related data
transfer/communications.
[0031] Preferably during the allowed sale 232, and if the presented
cell phone 208 is connected to a cellular network, a network server
is contacted 234 (such as server 112 shown in FIG. 1) using the
cellular connection of the presented cell phone 208. With a
cellular connection and connection to server 112, data is then
transferred 236 between the network server 112 and the presented
cell phone 208 and machine data is updated 238. Updated machine
data 238 is communicated from the server 112 to the presented cell
phone 208, and then back to the vending machine 102 via the Near
Field Communications 113 between the presented cell phone 208 and
the vending machine 102 NFC interface 120.
[0032] In preferred embodiments, the reading of machine data 228
from the vending machine 102 to the presented cell phone includes
transmitting unprocessed credit card vending sales information
(likely including such information for previous users of the
vending machine 102 other than the instant user of the currently
presented cell phone 208) for subsequent transfer by the presented
cell phone 208 to a network server 112 for payment processing, and
transmitting DEX and other vending machine data from the vending
machine 102 to the presented cell phone 208.
[0033] In one embodiment, the reading of machine data 228 includes
communication of a pointer or data reference so that only machine
data that is needed is transferred. For example, if another user's
interactions with vending machine 102 resulted in partial updating
of the machine data, up to a particular pointer reference, then
only updates beyond that pointer reference would still be needed
and therefore requested from a currently presented cell phone 208.
In preferred embodiments, the pointer or data reference point is
communicated back to the server 112. The pointer is preferably
communicated back to the particular vending machine 102. The
pointer is preferably passed to the next customer that presents a
cell phone as payment to the vending machine 102. In one
embodiment, the maximum number of data records, assuming one record
per vendable product, might be the number of vended and vendable
product associated with the vending machine. If the vending machine
102 (not having its own internal network communications means) is
not visited and interacted with (by a registered customer) for
downloading/updating of machine data, payment confirmations, etc.,
then the service technician performing monthly restocking and
maintenance would have to at most download the data records for
those vended and vendable product. In one embodiment, the service
technician may use a presented cell phone 208 to interact with (and
transmit DEX, MDB, and other vending machine data) the vending
machine 102 as would a another customer interacting with the
vending machine 102 via their cell phone.
[0034] Regarding physical access into the vending machine 102, for
example, by a service technician, according to one embodiment the
vending machine 102 comprises a card reader (whether swipe magnetic
and/or proximity type reader) with the vending machine 102 checking
whether a presented card 206 authorizes access control of the
vending machine 102 for physical access into the machine (for the
restocking, maintenance, and servicing thereof) and energizing lock
driver circuitry 126 and actuating an electronic lock 128 in
response to the presented card 206.
[0035] The service technician may also, in one embodiment, gain
access to the vending machine 102 by actuating the electronic lock
128 via authenticated communications using a presented cell phone
208. The technician preferably uses a secure cell phone application
to communicate with the communications circuitry (Videx board) 118
to activate the lock driver circuitry 126 via connection 142 to
actuate (open) the electronic lock 128.
[0036] Another way to gain entry to vending machine 102, preferably
as a backup/secondary method, is for the service technician to use
an X10-type device (a power line carrier device) that modulates a
signal onto the power line 132 via interconnection with standard
outlet plug 130. X10 uses RF bursts at a frequency different than
the 50 to 60 Hz AC (110 volt) power band, typically
encoding/modulating a signal onto a 120 kHz carrier. The service
technician may simply unplug the vending machine 102 standard power
supply plug 130, plug the vending machine power supply plug into
the X10-type device, and finally plug the X10-type device back into
the standard 110 VAC wall outlet to power both the X10-type device
and the vending machine 102.
[0037] In preferred embodiments, the vending machine 102 includes
power supply and lock driver circuitry 126 that is interconnected
with the primary power line 134 (inside the machine 102), cord 132,
and standard machine outlet plug 130. The power supply and lock
driver circuitry 126 preferably includes circuitry for receiving a
signal modulated on one or more of the conductors of the power
lines/plug 134, 132, 130, circuitry for demodulating the signal to
obtain a transmitted access code, and energizing the lock driver
circuitry 126 to actuate (open) the electronic lock 128 if the
transmitted access code matches a stored access code (thereby
authenticating operation of the electronic lock).
[0038] Portions of circuitry needed for the aforementioned
electronic lock operation may be divided differently than described
above or as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the stored access
code may reside in memory associated with the communications
circuitry (Videx board) 118 or with the portion of circuitry shown
as power supply and lock driver 126. Likewise, the circuitry for
receiving and demodulating an X10-type power line carrier signal
may reside in the communication circuitry (Videx board) 118 rather
than with the lock driver circuitry 126. The modulated signal may
be fed to the communications circuitry (Videx board) 118 via power
supply line 138.
[0039] It is also to be understood that the particular arrangement
and aggregation of circuitry shown in vending machine 102 in FIG. 1
may be re-arranged, in various alternate embodiments. For example,
the Near Field Communications interface 120 and/or optional wifi
circuitry/interface 124 may be collocated and integrated with the
communications circuitry (Videx board) 118. Likewise, portions of
the power supply and lock driver circuitry 126 may be integral to
one or more of the other functional blocks shown in FIG. 1, for
instance integral with the communications circuitry (Videx board)
118.
[0040] In preferred embodiments, the user accounts (such as
smartphone applications and customer account websites) and use of
the user's cell phone data collecting and data communications
capabilities are adapted for collecting consumer feedback
information. In exchange for allowing use of the user's cellular
connectivity for data collecting and for providing feedback on
product attributes, the user's/customers are preferably provided
credits, rewards, or other incentives. For example, a T-shirt
give-away may be communicated to user's via their cell/smart phones
in exchange for providing particular feedback as to a specific
vended product. The specific vended product may comprise a product
with slight modification (for example, the addition of a trace
amount of a flavoring or mineral or nutrient) where the consumer
may use a QR code (for example on the inside/underside of a
beverage cap/lid or on the product packaging) to access a consumer
feedback space that is specific to that particular modified product
and for the specific consumer (based on the consumer's customer
registration/account/cell phone identification information).
Different QR codes may be used to differentiate product from
different vended product suppliers (i.e. different bottlers). Using
QR codes to identify batches of product, for example, provides a
blind (higher quality) consumer feedback mechanism. Feedback is
preferably collected and directed to, for example, particular
bottling companies by the server 112.
[0041] Modified product, in preferred embodiments, may be
introduced in a particular geographic region, in particular times
of the year (seasons), and to accommodate particular regional
cultures and taste preferences, all of which may be conveniently
tracked using the aforementioned vending data communications
systems and methods for collecting high quality, real-time or very
near real-time, product specific consumer feedback. Various
described embodiments include inventive methods for providing
consumer incentives to encourage permitted use of the consumer's
handheld communication device capabilities. For example, the
consumer may be provided with transaction progress information. As
data communications proceed, the consumer is preferably provided
with a progress bar visual queue that also includes a visual
indication of the reward credits being accumulated, in real-time.
Incentives may be offered to registered customers for visiting
particularly remote vending machines (for improving data collection
and communications with those particular un-networked vending
machines).
[0042] Options are preferably given to the consumer regarding the
amount of time needed for a transaction. Preferably, customers
using payment by cell phone are given a dynamic amount of time for
their transaction with vending machine 102. For example, if a
registered customer would otherwise prefer to receive additional
credits and rewards but for immediate time pressures, the customer
is preferably given options to cut short the transaction. As the
transaction is cut short, perhaps facilitated by giving the
customer an option to press a button (preferably on their
cell/smart phone) communication of a pointer or data reference is
used so as to minimize the amount of time needed to conclude the
customer transaction. The customer is preferably shown
rewards/benefits of allowing more time/more updates to proceed.
[0043] Further incentives, according to preferred embodiments,
include chance-based rewards in exchange for providing collectable
consumer feedback information and/or use of the consumer's
communication device computing and/or network communication
capabilities. For example, a consumer may receive chances for
winning particular merchandise and rewards for permitting use of
the consumer's cell phone network for vending data
communications.
[0044] Cost savings to vending machine operators and owners, by
utilizing un-networked vending machines, include the recurring
monthly cellular, telephone, or other communications network access
fees, in addition to the particular electronics necessary for
interconnecting/networking stand alone vending machines. Added
costs for circuitry and electronics such as the communications
circuitry (Videx board) 118 and other interface, power supply, and
related circuitry are low, offset by savings found in the selection
and design of electronic lock related components used in the
vending machine, and offset by costs saved by eliminating
monthly/recurring network access fees as well as the
monthly/recurring fees charged by vending telemetry service
providers and cashless service providers.
[0045] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
forgoing specification are used therein as terms of description and
not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such
terms and expressions of excluding equivalence of the features
shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that
the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *