Automated retailer machines and methods of operating the same
AssigneeDigital Media Vending International LLC
InventorDavid ASHFORTH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic retailer machine comprising: a shelf configured to hold a plurality of mobile devices; a dispensing window; a movable hopper assembly configured to move a mobile device, from among the plurality of mobile devices, from the shelf to the dispensing window to dispense the mobile device; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions to: control the movable hopper assembly to obtain device activation information from the mobile device; and cause the automatic retailer machine to initiate activation of the mobile device based on the device activation information.
Claims20
An automatic retailer machine comprising:
- a shelf configured to hold a plurality of mobile devices;
- a dispensing window;
- a movable hopper assembly configured to move a mobile device, from among the plurality of mobile devices, from the shelf to the dispensing window to dispense the mobile device;
- and
- at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions to
- control the movable hopper assembly to obtain device activation information from the mobile device, and
- cause the automatic retailer machine to initiate activation of the mobile device based on the device activation information.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor at an automatic retailer machine including at least one shelf holding a plurality of mobile devices, cause the automatic retailer machine to perform a method comprising:
- moving a movable hopper assembly to a shelf position at which a mobile device is arranged;
- obtaining device activation information from the mobile device;
- initiating activation of the mobile device based on the device activation information;
- and
- moving the mobile device from the shelf position to a dispensing window to dispense the mobile device.
A method of operating an automatic retailer machine including at least one shelf holding a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:
- moving a movable hopper assembly to a shelf position at which a mobile device is arranged;
- obtaining device activation information from the mobile device;
- initiating activation of the mobile device based on the device activation information;
- and
- moving the mobile device from the shelf position to a dispensing window to dispense the mobile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.