System and a Method for Facilitating the Provision of Goods

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating the provision of goods using automated stores are provided. The automated stores are distributed across a geographical area and are remotely controlled to create an on-line marketplace. Users of the system can access the marketplace using an interactive portal to purchase items. Buyers can create purchase orders for items stocked in the marketplace and collect the items at one or more automated stores. The items are consigned to the buyers in real time at the automated store.

1 . A system for implementing a distributed automated marketplace comprising:
 a plurality of remotely controlled automated stores arranged to store physical items and dispense physical items to buyers, each store comprising a communication interface for communicating over a communication network;   a management server arranged to communicate over the communication network with the plurality of remotely controlled automated stores and with a buyer communication device to provide a buyer with an interactive portal;   a consignment module arranged to associate an item located at an automated store with a buyer;   wherein   the interactive portal is arranged to enable the buyer to create a purchase order for one or more items and forward the purchase order to the consignment module; and   the consignment module is arranged to, in response to receiving the purchase order, process the purchase order, advise the buyer, via the interactive portal, of the availability of the one or more items and associate available items with the buyer, and one or more automated stores for collection of the physical item.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of remotely controlled automated stores are distributed across a geographical area and the system further comprises an inventory management module arranged to monitor items stocked in the automated stores via the communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consignment module is arranged to:
 determine a buyer location using data received over the network from the buyer communication device;   identify an automated store that stocks an item ordered by the buyer and is closest to a location of the buyer; and   advise the buyer of the location of the identified automated store.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consignment module is further arranged to enable dispensing of items associated with the buyer at one or more automated stores after an identity of the buyer has been verified at the one or more automated stores. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the consignment module is arranged to consign the ordered items to the buyer at the one or more automated stores at time of purchase. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises an identity verification module arranged to verify an identity of the buyer before items are dispensed to the buyer; the identification being based on at least one of:
 matching of buyer location data received over the network from the buyer communication device to a location of the automated store;   reading buyer's biometrical data;   reading data coded in a hardware device embedded in the buyer communication device;   verifying login credentials provided by the buyer; and   verifying a token generated by the consignment module and provided to the buyer over the network.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the consignment module is arranged to generate an identification token and transmit the token to the buyer over the communication network to allow for verification of the identity of the buyer at the one or more automated stores. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the buyer interactive portal is arranged to allow for transmission over the communication network of the token to a third party. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the buyer interactive portal is arranged to allow: selection of a courier; and transfer of the token over the communication network to a courier's communication device, whereby the courier may attend at the automated store to retrieve the item on behalf of the buyer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a buyer management module arranged to categorise buyers based on buyer's purchase transactions and issue discounts or promotions to the buyers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the buyer management module is further arranged to issue specific discounts or promotions to buyers categorised in a specific category. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a market analytics module arranged to scan networks for prices of items offered by third party providers. 
     
     
         14 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A remotely controlled automated store comprising:
 a housing for storing items;   a distribution mechanism configured to release selected items for collection by buyers;   a processor, memory, and network communication interface for communicating with a system in accordance with  claim 1 ;   a buyer interactive interface for interacting with a buyer;   wherein the buyer interface is arranged to allow the buyer to:   browse items stocked in the automated store and create purchase orders for items available in the automated store and collect the ordered items at the automated store; or   by communicating via the communication interface with an inventory management module, browse items stocked in a distributed automated marketplace comprising the plurality of remotely controlled automated stores distributed over a geographical area.   
     
     
         20 . The remotely controlled automated store of  claim 19 , wherein the store further comprises a buyer identification system for verifying an identity of the buyer before dispensing items associated with the buyer to the buyer. 
     
     
         21 . The remotely controlled automated store of  claim 20 , wherein the buyer identification system comprises at least one of:
 an arrangement for determining the proximity of the buyer using a buyer's portable communication device;   a reader for reading buyer's biometrical data; a reader for reading data coded in a hardware device embedded in a buyer's portable communication device; and   an interface for enabling the buyer to provide login credentials or a token.   
     
     
         22 . A system for facilitating the provision of goods, comprising an ordering system, a communication device and a network of remotely controlled automated stores;
 the ordering system being arranged to receive an order for an item from a buyer device, and to associate the order with a buyer identifier;   the ordering system further comprising a security module arranged to validate the buyer identifier, the security module, on validation of the buyer identifier, enabling provision of the associated item at a remotely controlled automated store.   
     
     
         23 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A computer readable medium, providing a computer program: comprising instructions for controlling a mobile communication device to communicate and interact with a system in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A computer readable medium, providing a computer program comprising instructions for conrolling a composer to implement buyer interactive portal as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A device for retrofitting a vending machine comprising:
 a communication module arranged to communicate with a management server of an automated marketplace;   an interactive module arranged to provide a buyer interactive interface for interacting with a buyer; and   a vending machine communication interface arranged to communicate with a vending machine controller;   wherein when the device is fitted to the vending machine, the buyer interface allows the buyer to:   browse items stocked in the automated marketplace, create purchase orders for one or more of the items and collect the ordered items at one or more automated stores of the marketplace; or   browse and purchase items stocked in the vending machine.   
     
     
         31 . A method for retrofitting a vending machine comprising the steps of connecting a device comprising:
 a communication module arranged to communicate with a management server of an automated marketplace;   an interactive module arranged to provide a buyer interactive interface for interactive with a buyer; and   a vending machine communication interface arranged to communicate with a vending machine controller;   wherein when the device is fitted to the vending machine, the buyer interface allows the buyer to:   browse items stocked in the automated marketplace create purchase orders for one or more of the items and collect the ordered items at one or more automated stores of the marketplace; or   browse and purchase items stocked in the vending machine to the vending machine to interface the vending machine to a system in accordance with  claim 1 .   
     
     
         32 .- 45 . (canceled)