US 8,571,705 B2 · Vending machine service scheduling

Abstract

Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machines, and at least one subroute has a plurality of machines. The vending machine service schedule is generated by selecting the highest priority subroute (410) and selecting the machines in that subroute (420). Other subroutes can be selected (430, 440) if there is time left in the Service Period.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A system-implemented method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, the system comprising circuitry, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:

(1) selecting, by the system controlled by the circuitry, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines;
(2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining, by the system controlled by the circuitry, if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.

A system comprising circuitry and controlled by the circuitry, the system being configured to perform a method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:

(1) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines;
(2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.

A manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable data medium comprising one or more computer instructions operable to cause a computer system to perform a method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising:

(1) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines;
(2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.

A network transmission method comprising:

(1) transmitting, over a network, a computer program configured to cause a computer system to perform a vending machine selection method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the vending machines:
(2) operating the computer system to execute the computer program, wherein in executing the computer program the computer system performs operations comprising:
(2A) selecting, by the system, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines;
(2B) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/944,223Filed 11 Nov 2010 · division

Priority

31 Mar 2005

Published

US 2011/0060458 A110 Mar 2011

Granted

29 Oct 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06Q 10/1097
Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting: using calendar-based scheduling for task assignment
G06Q 10/06315
Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations: needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G06Q 10/08726
Using inventory planning: for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation

Vending machine service scheduling

Life of this patent

Vending machine service scheduling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32