Method and apparatus for managing vending machine offers

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a promotion redeemable at a vending machine is determined. The promotion comprises an offer distinct from a general offer to sell products from the vending machine at posted prices. The promotion is output (e.g., via an output device of a vending machine, an output device of a peripheral device of a vending machine, an output device of a customer device, or a combination thereof). In some embodiments, the promotion may be determined such that it satisfies the goal of increasing the profitability of the vending machine and/or the goal of conserving an inventory of coins in the vending machine. In some embodiments, determining a promotion may comprise constructing a promotion instance by populating a parameter of a promotion type with a value selected based on one or more rules.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a promotion redeemable at a vending machine, the promotion comprising an offer distinct from a general offer to sell products from the vending machine at posted prices; and    causing the promotion to be output.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises: 
 selecting the promotion from a plurality of available promotions.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting, based on data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine, a promotion from a plurality of available promotion.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed comprises: 
 data indicating products purchased from the vending machine.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed indicates, for each product of a plurality of products, a rate at which the product has been selling; and 
 further comprising: 
 determining, for each product of the plurality of products, a rate at which the product should be sold; and  
 wherein selecting a promotion comprises:  
 selecting a promotion for the product of the plurality of products for which the rate at which the product has been selling is furthest away from satisfying the rate at which the product should be sold.  
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed comprises: 
 a balance of coins currently available for dispensing from the vending machine.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed further comprises: 
 data describing an amount of change dispensed from the vending machine during a period of time.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting, based on data associated with a transaction currently initiated at the vending machine, a promotion from a plurality of available promotions.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting, based on data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine and on data describing a transaction currently initiated at the vending machine, a promotion from a plurality of available promotions.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises: 
 selecting a type of promotion from a plurality of types of promotions, each type of promotion including at least one parameter; and    populating the at least one parameter of the selected type of promotion with a value, thereby creating an instance of a promotion.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the value represents at least one of (i) a product to be included in the promotion; (ii) a price to be included in the promotion; and (iii) a purchase condition to be included in the promotion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selecting a type of promotion comprises: 
 selecting, based on at least one of data associated with transactions completed and data describing a transaction currently initiated but not yet completed at the vending machine, a type of promotion.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selecting a type of promotion is further based on a goal.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the goal is a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the goal of profit is a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine for a particular product and during a predetermined period of time, the product being a product sold by the vending machine.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the goal is a preservation of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein populating comprises: 
 selecting, based on at least one of data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine and data associated with a transaction currently initiated but not yet completed at the vending machine, at least one value from a plurality of available values.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 determining a list of available values from which the value for the at least one parameter is selected.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining the plurality of available values comprises: 
 selecting a subset of values from a set of available values based on the at least one of data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine and data associated with a transaction currently initiated at the vending machine.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selecting at least one value is further based on a goal.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the goal is a goal of profit.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the goal of profit is a goal of profit to be made by the vending machine for a particular product during a predetermined period of time, the product being a product sold by the vending machine.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the goal is a preservation of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each value of the plurality of values represents a product of a plurality of products sold by the vending machine, and 
 wherein the data associated with transactions completed indicates, for each product of the plurality of products, a rate at which the product has been selling; and    further comprising: 
 determining, for each product of the plurality of products, a rate at which the product should be sold; and  
 wherein selecting a value from the plurality of values comprises:  
 selecting the value representing the product of the plurality of products for which the rate at which the product has been selling is furthest away from satisfying the rate at which the product should be sold.  
   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selecting a type of promotion is further based on a goal.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the goal is a goal of profit to be made by the vending machine.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the goal of profit is a goal of profit for a particular product during a predetermined period of time, the product being a product sold by the vending machine.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the goal is a goal of preserving an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises: 
 determining, at a vending machine and based on at least one of data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine and data associated with a transaction initiated at the vending machine, a promotion to be output via an output device of the vending machine.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises: 
 selecting a type of promotion from a plurality of types of promotions, each type of promotion including at least one parameter;    populating the at least one parameter of the selected type of promotion with a first value, thereby creating a first instance of a promotion;    populating the at least one parameter of the selected type of promotion with a second value, thereby creating a second instance of a promotion; and    selecting one of the first instance of the promotion and the second instance of the promotion for output via an output device associated with the vending machine.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the selecting one of the first instance and the second instance comprises: 
 selecting, based on at least one of data associated with completed transactions at the vending machine and data associated with a transaction initiated at the vending machine, one of the first instance of the promotion and the second instance of the promotion for output via the output device associated with the vending machine.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the selecting one of the first instance and the second instance is further based on a goal.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the goal is a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the goal of profit comprises a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine for a particular product, the product being a product sold by the vending machine.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the goal is a preservation of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 determining the goal.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed in response to an initiation of a transaction at the vending machine.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the causing comprises: 
 causing the promotion to be output to a customer associated with the initiated transaction before a completion of the initiated transaction.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed based on a current time.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the determining is performed if the current time is within a predetermined time of a previous determination of a promotion to be output.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed in response to a predetermined event.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of: 
 an addition of inventory to the vending machine;    a dispensing of a product from the vending machine;    a dispensing of currency from the vending machine;    a receipt of a response to a previous promotion output via the output device of the vending machine;    an update of a price of a product sold by the vending machine;    a selection of an item to be purchased from the vending machine;    a receipt of an instruction to determine a promotion;    an audit of inventory of the vending machine;    an audit of transactions completed at the vending machine;    an audit of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine; and    a request for a promotion.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing comprises: 
 causing the promotion to be output such that the promotion is presented to all viewers of the vending machine.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing comprises: 
 causing the promotion to be output constantly until it is determined either that the promotion is no longer to be output or that the promotion is to be replaced by another promotion.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing comprises: 
 causing the promotion to be output in response to an initiation of a transaction at the vending machine.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a response to the promotion.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 storing an indication of the response in association with the promotion, for use in determining another promotion.    
     
     
         48 . An vending machine, comprising: 
 a processor, and 
 a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;  
 the processor being operative with the program to: 
 perform the method of  claim 1 .  
 
   
     
     
         49 . A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to: 
 perform the method of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         50 . A method, comprising: 
 determining an occurrence of a predetermined event;    constructing, in response to the occurrence of the predetermined event, an instance of a promotion, the instance of the promotion being distinct from a general offer to sell products from the vending machine at posted prices, 
 wherein the instance of the promotion is constructed based on (i) at least one of data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine and data associated with a transaction currently initiated at the vending machine; and (ii) a predetermined goal stored in a memory of the vending machine; and  
   outputting, via an output device associated with the vending machine, the instance of the promotion.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of: 
 an addition of inventory to the vending machine;    a dispensing of a product from the vending machine;    a dispensing of currency from the vending machine;    a receipt of a response to a previous promotion output via the output device associated with the vending machine;    an update of a price of a product sold by the vending machine;    a selection of an item to be purchased from the vending machine;    a receipt of an instruction to determine a promotion;    an audit of inventory of the vending machine;    an audit of transactions completed at the vending machine;    an audit of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine;    an initiation of a transaction at the vending machine; and    a request for a promotion.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed at the vending machine comprises at least one of: 
 data indicating products purchased from the vending machine;    a balance of coins currently available for dispensing from the vending machine; and    data describing an amount of change dispensed from the vending machine.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the data associated with a transaction currently initiated at the vending machine comprises at least one of: 
 an amount of currency inserted into the vending machine;    a product selected for purchase; and    a current time.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the predetermined goal comprises at least one of: 
 a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine; and    a preservation of an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the goal of profit is a goal of profit to be realized by the vending machine for a particular product and during a predetermined period of time, the product being a product sold by the vending machine.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 selecting a product to be the subject of the instance of the promotion.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the data associated with transactions completed indicates, for each product of a plurality of products, a rate at which the product has been selling; and 
 further comprising:    determining, for each product of the plurality of products, a rate at which the product should be sold; and    wherein selecting a product comprises:    selecting a product of the plurality of products for which the rate at which the product has been sold is furthest away from satisfying the rate at which the product should be sold.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein constructing an instance of a promotion comprises: 
 determining, based on at least one rule, which types of promotions are eligible to serve as a basis for the instance of the promotion;    constructing, based on at least one rule, at least one instance of a promotion for each type of promotion determined to be eligible; and    selecting, based on at least one rule, at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 outputting one of the selected at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 outputting each of the selected at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting the one constructed instance of a promotion that is expected to yield the highest profit margin.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion based on at least one of:    an expected profitability of each constructed instance of a promotion;    a likelihood of acceptance of each constructed instance of a promotion;    an inventory of coins available for dispensing from the vending machine;    an inventory of products available for sale from the vending machine; and    a determination, for each of a plurality of products that are the subject of at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion, a difference in a rate at which the product is being sold and a rate at which the product should be sold.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein selecting comprises: 
 selecting at least one of the constructed instances of a promotion based on a profitability of a product selected for purchase, as indicated by the data associated with the transaction currently initiated at the vending machine.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein outputting comprises: 
 visually outputting, via a display device associated with the vending machine, the instance of the promotion before the completion of the transaction currently initiated at the vending machine; and    ceasing to output the instance of the promotion upon receiving one of an acceptance and rejection of the instance of the promotion.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein outputting comprises: 
 visually outputting, via a display device associated with the vending machine, the instance of the promotion such that the instance of the promotion is viewable by any customer of the vending machine; and    continuing to output the instance of the promotion until a determination of one of 
 a desirability to cease outputting the instance of the promotion, and  
 an instance of another promotion.  
   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 receiving a response to the instance of the promotion, the response indicating one of an acceptance and a rejection; and    storing an indication of the response in association with an indication of the instance of the promotion, for use in constructing another instance of a promotion.    
     
     
         67 . A vending machine, comprising: 
 a processor, and    a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;    the processor being operative with the program to: 
 perform the method of  claim 50 .  
   
     
     
         68 . A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to: 
 perform the method of  claim 50.