Electronic vending machine management method

Abstract

A method for centralized mass processing of substitutable, good-holding magazines used in conjunction with computer-controlled vending machines. A memory-chip-mounting smart-card is used, not only to enter into the machines the magazine location and price of the various goods, but also to carry a sales transaction record of the replaced magazine, thus avoiding the need for magazine locking mechanisms and other security measures.

1 . In a method for exploiting at least one vending machine installed at a vending site, said machine including:
 a magazine, said magazine having a plurality of slots, each of said slots holding a specific type of sellable good,   means for electrically accumulating records of good-selling transactions, and   means for assigning and displaying a specific selling price to each type of sellable good, an improvement which comprises:
 recording in a data storage implement, located remotely from said site, programming information including identities and locations of slots in said magazine and a price for each type of sellable good held in said slots; 
 contemporaneously with the refilling of said machine, transmitting from said implement to said machine said programming information; and 
 downloading from said machine and onto said implement accumulated records of good-selling transactions. 
   
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting comprises using an Internet connection. 
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said information further comprises specifications and instructions for said machine to dispense a combination of different goods from separate slots at a discount price. 
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said step of recording said database comprises recording a machine opening pass-word. 
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 1 , which further comprises opening said machine by reading said pass-word from said implement. 
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 1 , which further comprises programming each of said machines to periodically require a modified pass-word. 
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said step of establishing menus comprises listing a combination of at least two locations under a single price;
 whereby two goods may be dispensed by a machine at a discount price.   
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said steps of transmitting from and downloading onto said implement comprises transmitting from and downloading onto a smart-card. 
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein said steps of transmitting from and downloading onto and reading from said medium comprises transmitting from and downloading onto a single smart-card for a plurality of said machines. 
   
   
       10 . A method for processing vending machines from a central location in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said machines, each of said machines having a plurality of slots in a sellable good magazine and each of said slots holding a specific type of sellable goods, said method comprising the steps of:
 assigning to each machine an identification code;   establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said machines, each of said menu listing the slot locations in a machine of a series of different goods and a sale price of each of said goods;   keeping a record of each of said machines by identification numbers and related ones of said menus;   at said central location:
 recording on a storage medium a route distribution database including machine identification codes, menus and site identification codes; 
 at each of said sites and in at least one of said machines, 
 compiling an account of good-selling transactions of goods previously installed in said machine; 
 downloading from said machine and onto said medium, said compiled account; 
 reading from said medium and writing into said machine, a price and location menu corresponding to said identification code including a type of goods in each of said slots and the price said type of goods is to be sold; 
 refilling said machines in accordance with said menus. 
   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , which further comprises:
 maintaining an inventory of said goods available for refilling said machines; and   integrating said compiled account with said inventory.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  which further comprises:
 applying said identification code to said machine in a machine-readable form.   
   
   
       13 . In a method for exploiting at least one vending machine having means for electrically accumulating records of good-selling transactions and means for electronically accepting programming information assigning selling prices to different goods loaded in a plurality of dispensing locations, an improvement which comprises:
 recording on a machine-readable medium a database of machine programming information including an item price for each of said locations;   causing said machine to read from said medium and to write into said machine said information; and   downloading from said machine onto said medium accumulated records of good-selling transactions;   wherein said steps of reading and recording comprise using an Internet connected device as said medium.   
   
   
       14 . A vending machine which comprises:
 a magazine having a plurality of slots for holding a diversity of sellable goods;   a data processor programmed to assign sale prices to goods held in said slots,   to compile an account of sales of goods out of said slots,   to accept from an remote device menu instructions specifying said sale prices, and   to unload said account to said device.   
   
   
       15 . The vending machine of  claim 14 , wherein said device comprises a public communication network.