Method and apparatus for collecting and applying vending machine demand information

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• receiving an amount of money from a purchaser;
• receiving at the processor a selection of a first product from the purchaser;
• measuring a time between a receipt of the amount of money and a receipt of the selection;
• storing a value corresponding to the time;
• and
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product;
• offering the substitute product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• measuring a second product demand corresponding to a number of times a second product is selected when a first product is unavailable;
• if the second product demand meets a predefined criterion,
• storing a second product identifier corresponding to the second product as a substitute product identifier for the first product;
• receiving at the processor a selection of the first product from a processor;
• and
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving the substitute product identifier corresponding to the second product;
• offering the second product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the second product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• storing a first expiration date corresponding to a second product;
• storing a second expiration date corresponding to a third product;
• determining whether the first expiration date is earlier than the second expiration date, and if the first expiration date is earlier:
• storing a second product identifier corresponding to the second product as a substitute product identifier for a first product;
• receiving at the processor a selection of the first product from a purchaser;
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving the substitute product identifier corresponding to the second product;
• offering the second product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the second product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products stored in the vending machine;
• storing, for a first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product;
• receiving at the processor a selection of the first product from a purchaser;
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving the substitute product identifier;
• offering the substitute product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product;
• wherein the offering step further comprises:
• determining a second product demand for the second product, and if the second product demand is higher than the demand for each of the plurality of products:
• storing a second product identifier corresponding to a second product as the substitute product identifier.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• detecting a purchaser;
• receiving at the processor a selection of a first product from the purchaser;
• measuring a time between a detection of the purchaser and a receipt of the selection from the purchaser;
• storing a value corresponding to the time;
• and
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product;
• offering the substitute product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a processor, comprising:

• measuring an average selection time;
• receiving at the processor a selection of a first product from a purchaser;
• and
• if the first product is not available,
• retrieving a substitute product identifier corresponding to a substitute product;
• offering the substitute product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a data storage device, comprising:

• measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
• determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product;
• storing in the data storage device, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product;
• detecting a purchaser;
• measuring a time between a detection of the purchaser and a receipt of an amount of money from the purchaser;
• storing a value corresponding to the measured time;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a data storage device, comprising:

• measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
• determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product;
• storing in the data storage device, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product;
• detecting a purchaser;
• measuring a time between a detection of the purchaser and a receipt of a selection from the purchaser;
• storing a value corresponding to the measured time;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method of dispensing a substitute product from a vending machine that includes a data storage device, comprising:

• measuring a demand for each of a plurality of products;
• determining from the demand a substitute product for a first product;
• storing in the data storage device, for the first product, a substitute product identifier corresponding to the substitute product;
• determining an average selection time;
• and
• dispensing the substitute product.

A computerized method for dispensing a product from a vending machine that includes a detector device, comprising:

• determining an average selection time;
• detecting a purchaser by means of the detector device;
• measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser;
• and
• if the time is greater than the average selection time,
• offering a first product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the first product.

An apparatus for dispensing a product, comprising:

• means for determining an average selection time;
• means for detecting a purchaser;
• means for measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser;
• means for offering a first product to the purchaser when the time is greater than the average selection time;
• and
• means for dispensing the first product.

An apparatus for dispensing a product, comprising:

• a storage device;
• and
• a processor connected to the storage device,
• the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
• and the processor operative with the program to:
• determine an average selection time;
• detect a purchaser;
• measure a time from a detection of the purchaser;
• and
• if the time is greater than the average selection time,
• offer a first product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispense the first product.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computerized vending machine to dispense a product, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
• computer readable program code means for determining an average selection time;
• computer readable program code means for detecting a purchaser;
• computer readable program code means for measuring a time from a detection of the purchaser;
• and
• computer readable program code means for, if the time is greater than the average selection time,
• offering a first product to the purchaser;
• and
• dispensing the first product.