Vending machine with transponder interrogator
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsRussell Brooke, Jeremy Schwartz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vending machine includes a transponder interrogator. A customer carries a transponder embedded within an ornamental or useful item, such as a key chain ornament. When the customer desires to make a purchase from the vending machine, the customer presents the transponder to the transponder interrogator. The transponder is identified and a credit amount associated with that transponder is debited the purchase price. The system enables the vending machine operator to track the purchasing habits of the transponder user, and to provide instant incentives to purchasers using the transponder, based upon the customer's profile or purchasing habits.
Claims6
1-32. (canceled)
A consumer data tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of vending machines, each of said machines comprising:
- a dispenser housing;
- a dispenser disposed with said dispenser housing for dispensing a good or service;
- a transponder interrogator disposed with said dispenser housing;
- a transponder for interacting with said transponder interrogator;
- and
- a communication medium connecting the transponder interrogator to an external database for monitoring the interaction of said transponder with said transponder interrogator.
A method of tracking consumer data comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of vending machines, each of said machines comprising:
- a dispenser housing;
- a dispenser disposed within said dispenser housing for dispensing a product;
- and
- a transponder interrogator disposed with said dispenser housing for reading a plurality of transponder units;
- reading one of said plurality of transponder units by said transponder interrogator;
- and
- sending identifying information concerning said one of said plurality of transponder units to an external database.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.