Multimedia system and methods for controlling vending machines
AssigneeAutomated Vending Technology, Inc.
InventorsShannon W. Illingworth, James Winsor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless system for managing a plurality of remote vending machines includes an enterprise control center; and a two-way wireless network coupling the enterprise control center and the plurality of remote vending machines. A touch screen may be associated with each of the plurality of vending machines for selecting items to be vended therein, and means for displaying a plurality of advertisements on the touch screen. The touch screen may also include means for paying for the items to be vended within the plurality of vending machines.
Claims15
A multimedia system for controlling a plurality of remote vending machines, comprising:
- an enterprise control center including a graphical user interface adapted to control aspects of customer interaction of selectable ones of the plurality of remote vending machines;
- a network coupling the enterprise control center and the plurality of remote vending machines;
- a touch screen associated with each of the plurality of vending machines for selecting items to be vended therein;
- and
- advertisement display means for displaying a plurality of advertisements on the touch screen based on payment validating information received from the touch screen.
A method for controlling a plurality of remote vending machines on a computer system, the method comprising:
- displaying a plurality of selectable ones of the plurality of the remote vending machines on a display of the computer system;
- receiving a selection of one or more vending machines from the plurality of selectable ones of the plurality of the remote vending machines from user input;
- receiving a command from the user input of the computer system for the selected one or more vending machines;
- and
- controlling, from the computer system, aspects of customer interaction of the selected one or more vending machines based on the received command,
- displaying a plurality of advertisements on a touch screen of one or more of the plurality of vending machines based on payment validating information received from the touch screen and based on the controlling aspects of customer interaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.