Method and apparatus for establishing and managing vending machine subscriptions

A method for dispensing an item by a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request to redeem said item;
• receiving a redemption code corresponding to said item;
• updating subscription registration data associated with said redemption code to reflect said request to redeem said item;
• retrieving inventory data associated with said redemption code, said inventory data including a quantity;
• updating said inventory data to reflect said redemption;
• and
• storing said inventory data;
• and
• dispensing said item.

A method for processing a purchase of an item dispensed by a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an indication of payment for said item;
• receiving a request to purchase said item;
• evaluating inventory data associated with said item to determine availability including:
• determining a forecast demand value;
• determining forecast subscription redemption value;
• determining a forecast inventory quantity based on said demand value and said subscription redemption value;
• determining an adjusted inventory quantity;
• and
• comparing said forecast inventory quantity to said adjusted inventory quantity;
• and the method further comprising:
• dispensing said item.

A method for purchasing a subscription for a plurality of items of a product from a vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing payment for said subscription;
• transmitting a request to purchase said subscription;
• and
• providing a redemption code.

A vending machine, comprising:

• an input device for receiving a request to register a subscription to purchase a specified quantity of items of a specified product from said vending machine;
• an output device for outputting a redemption code corresponding to said subscription;
• a payment receiver for receiving a user-supplied payment;
• a dispenser for storing and dispensing said at least one item of said product;
• a storage device for storing subscription registration data pertaining to said subscription, said subscription registration data including a redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• a processor connected to said input device, said output device, said payment receiver, said storage device and said dispenser, said processor operative to
• receive said request to register a subscription from said input device,
• determine said redemption code,
• store said redemption code in said subscription registration data, and
• store said specified quantity in said subscription registration data.

A vending machine, comprising:

• at least one input device for receiving a request to redeem an item and a user-supplied redemption code;
• a dispenser for storing and dispensing at least one item of a product;
• a storage device storing subscription registration data pertaining to a subscription corresponding to said product, said subscription registration data including a redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• a processor connected to said storage device, said input device and said dispenser, said processor operative to
• receive said user-supplied redemption code from said input device,
• determine if said user-supplied redemption code matches a stored redemption code, and
• operate said dispenser to dispense said item.

A vending machine, comprising:

• at least one input device for receiving a request to purchase an item and a user-supplied redemption code;
• a dispenser for storing and dispensing at least one item of a product;
• a storage device storing subscription registration data pertaining to a subscription corresponding to said product, said subscription registration data including a redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• a processor connected to said storage device, said input device and said dispenser, said processor operative to
• receive an indication of payment for said item,
• receive a request to purchase said item, and
• determine if said item is reserved based on said subscription registration data.

A processing module for use with a vending machine, comprising:

• request receiving means for receiving a request to register a subscription to purchase a specified quantity of a specified product from said vending machine;
• output means for outputting a redemption code corresponding to said subscription;
• payment receiving means for receiving a user-supplied payment;
• dispenser activation means for causing said vending machine to dispense said at least one item of said product;
• memory means for storing subscription registration data pertaining to said subscription, said subscription registration data including a redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• processing means connected to said request receiving means, said output means, said payment receiving means, said memory means and said dispenser activation means, said processor operative to
• receive said request to register a subscription from said request receiving means,
• determine said redemption code,
• store said redemption code in said subscription registration data, and
• store said specified quantity in said subscription registration data.

A processing module for use with a vending machine, comprising:

• request receiving means for receiving a request to redeem an item;
• input means for receiving a user-supplied redemption code;
• dispenser activation means for dispensing at least one item of a product;
• memory means for storing subscription registration data pertaining to a subscription corresponding to said product, said subscription registration data including said redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• processing means connected to said request receiving means, said input means, said dispenser activation means and said memory, said processing means operative to
• receive said user-supplied redemption code from said input means, and
• determine if said user-supplied redemption code matches a stored redemption code.

A processing module for use with a vending machine, comprising:

• at least one input device for receiving a user-supplied redemption code and a request to redeem an item;
• a dispenser for storing and dispensing at least one item of a product;
• a storage device storing subscription registration data pertaining to a subscription corresponding to said product, said subscription registration data including a redemption code, a product identifier and a subscription quantity;
• and
• a processor connected to said storage device, said input device and said dispenser, said processor operative to
• receive an indication of payment for said item;
• receive a request to purchase said item;
• and
• determine if said item is reserved based on said subscription registration data.

A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for registering a subscription to purchase a plurality of items dispensed by a vending machine, said processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:

• receiving an indication of payment for said subscription;
• receiving a request to register said subscription, said request including an indication of said plurality of items;
• determining a redemption code;
• and
• storing subscription registration data including said redemption code, a product identifier and said quantity.

A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for processing a redemption of an item dispensed by a vending machine, said processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:

• receiving a request to redeem said item;
• receiving a redemption code corresponding to said item;
• updating subscription registration data associated with said redemption code to reflect said request to redeem said item;
• retrieving inventory data associated with said redemption code, said inventory data including a quantity;
• updating said inventory data to reflect said redemption;
• storing said inventory data;
• dispensing said item.

A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for processing a purchase of an item dispensed by a vending machine, said processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:

• receiving an indication of payment for said item;
• receiving a request to purchase said item;
• evaluating inventory data associated with said item to determine availability including:
• determining a forecast demand value;
• determining forecast subscription redemption value;
• determining a forecast inventory quantity based on said demand value and said subscription redemption value;
• determining an adjusted inventory quantity;
• and
• comparing said forecast inventory quantity to said adjusted inventory quantity, said method further comprising the step of:
• dispensing said item.