Vending machine and methods for vending items

Abstract

A vending machine for use in a vehicle includes: a vending housing operable to dispense at least one of a plurality of items stored within the vending housing; a display screen; and a processor coupled to the display screen and the vending housing. A vending computer program is configured to execute on the processor. The vending computer program, when executing, displays a selection of items on the display screen that can be purchased and dispensed from the vending housing and receives an identification of at least one item to be purchased. The program then receives a payment indicator indicating that payment has been received for the at least one item and controlling the vending machine to dispense that at least one item for which payment has been received. The vending machine is compact enough to be placed into a vehicle such as a taxi cab.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A vending machine, comprising:
 a vending housing operable to dispense at least one of a plurality of items stored within the vending housing; and   a plurality of removable cartridges mounted within the vending housing, each removable cartridge maintaining a set of items that can be dispensed from the vending machine,   each removable cartridge being operable to be inserted into the vending housing while being preloaded with the set of items,   wherein each removable cartridge is mounted to hang vertically within the vending housing, and   wherein each removable cartridge comprises a vertical coil attached to a top of the removable cartridge.   
     
     
         23 . The vending machine of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a display screen;   a processor coupled to the display screen and the vending housing; and   a vending computer program configured to execute on the processor, the vending computer program, when executed by the processor, directing the processor to:
 display on the display screen a selection of items that can be purchased. 
   
     
     
         24 . The vending machine of  claim 23 , wherein when the vending computer program directs the processor to display on the display screen the selection of items that can be purchased, the vending computer program directs the processor to:
 identify a location associated to the vending machine; and   based on the location, identify a selection of products related to the location.   
     
     
         25 . The vending machine of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the vending housing; and   a vending computer program configured to execute on the processor, the vending computer program, when executed by the processor, directing the processor to:
 receive an identification of at least one item to be purchased; and 
 control the vending machine to dispense the at least one item from the vending housing. 
   
     
     
         26 . The vending machine of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the vending housing; and   a vending computer program configured to execute on the processor, the vending computer program, when executed by the processor, directing the processor to:
 receive a payment indicator indicating that payment has been received for at least one item stored within the vending housing; and 
 control the vending machine to dispense the at least one stored item for which payment has been received. 
   
     
     
         27 . The vending machine of  claim 26 , the payment indicator further indicating that payment has been received for at least one external product or service. 
     
     
         28 . The vending machine of  claim 26 , the vending computer program being further configured, when executed by the processor, to direct the processor to:
 provide a cost for the at least one stored item to be dispensed from the vending machine to an external payment system that is external to the vending housing; and   allow the external payment system to process payment for both the at least one stored item and the at least one external product or service, for which payment is received using the external payment system.   
     
     
         29 . The vending machine of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the vending housing; and   an inventory tracking module integrated with the processor, the inventory tracking module operable to keep track of inventory of items that can be vended from the vending machine, the inventory tracking module operable to communicate inventory information of items in the vending machine to a remote location.   
     
     
         30 . The vending machine of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a display screen;   a processor coupled to the display screen and the vending housing;   a vending computer program configured to execute on the processor; and   a wireless communication mechanism in communication with the processor and the vending computer program,   the wireless communication mechanism operable by the vending computer program to wirelessly transmit product data to and from the vending machine, the product data including at least one of:
 data concerning items to be vended by the vending machine at specific times of the day; 
 data concerning items to be vended by the vending machine when the vending machine is located in proximity to specific locations; 
 data concerning quantity of items stocked within the vending machine; and 
 data concerning advertising information to be displayed on the display screen. 
   
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a vending machine, an identification of at least one item to be purchased,
 the vending machine comprising:
 a vending housing, and 
 a plurality of removable cartridges mounted within the vending housing, each removable cartridge maintaining a set of items that can be dispensed from the vending machine,
 each removable cartridge being operable to be inserted into the vending housing while being preloaded with the set of items, 
 wherein each removable cartridge is mounted to hang vertically within the vending housing, and 
 wherein each removable cartridge comprises a vertical coil attached to a top of the removable cartridge; and 
 
 
   controlling, by the processor of the vending machine, at least one of the plurality of removable cartridges to dispense the at least one item to be purchased.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 displaying, on a display screen of the vending machine, a selection of items that can be purchased.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the processor of the vending machine, a location associated to the vending machine;   based on the location, identifying, by the processor of the vending machine, a selection of products related to the location; and   displaying, on the display screen, the identified selection of products related to the location.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receive a payment indicator indicating that payment has been received for at least one item stored within the vending housing.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the payment indicator further indicating that payment has been received for at least one external product or service. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 providing a cost for the at least one stored item to be dispensed from the vending machine to an external payment system that is external to the vending machine; and   allowing the external payment system to process payment for both the at least one stored item and the at least one external product or service, for which payment is received using the external payment system.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the processor using an inventory tracking module, inventory information of items in the vending machine to a remote location.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting product data to and from the vending machine, the product data including at least one of:
 data concerning items to be vended by the vending machine at specific times of the day; 
 data concerning items to be vended by the vending machine when the vending machine is located in proximity to specific locations; 
 data concerning quantity of items stocked within the vending machine; and 
 data concerning advertising information to be displayed on a display screen of the vending machine.