Method and apparatus for managing vending machine offers

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for providing promotions at vending machines, such as by providing vending machine subscriptions to a category of products, are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vending machine, comprising:
 a peripheral device configured to receive a wireless payment signal from a portable electronic device of a customer;   a communication device configured to receive an indication of the wireless payment signal from the peripheral device, transmit the indication of the wireless payment signal to a remote server device, and receive from the remote server device a payment authorization for a unit of product offered for sale by the vending machine; and   an inventory device configured to provide, in response to the payment authorization, the unit of product to the customer.   
     
     
         2 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processing device; and   a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in:
 receiving, by the peripheral device, the wireless payment signal from the portable electronic device of the customer; 
 receiving, by the communication device and from the peripheral device, the indication of the wireless payment signal; 
 transmitting, by the communication device and to the remote server device, the indication of the wireless payment signal; 
 receiving, by the communication device and from the remote server device, the payment authorization for the unit of product offered for sale by the vending machine; and 
 providing, by the inventory device and in response to the payment authorization, the unit of product to the customer. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the providing of the unit of the product to the customer comprises:
 dispensing, by the inventory device of the vending machine, the unit of the product to the customer.   
     
     
         4 . The vending machine of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further result in:
 outputting, by the peripheral device, an electronic signal that causes the wireless payment signal of the portable electronic device to be output by the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         5 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is further configured to output an electronic signal that causes the wireless payment signal of the portable electronic device to be output by the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a cellular telephone device. 
     
     
         7 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless payment signal comprises an indication of an identifier of the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless payment signal comprises an indication of a credit card account number. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless payment signal comprises an indication of an identifier of the portable electronic device of the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote server device comprises a credit card processing server.