Item dispensing system
US6351688B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07G1/0036
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An item dispensing system has a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations. The item dispensers have processors for collecting data relating to the items dispensed. A host computer in electrical communications with processors in the item dispensers receives and stores the data relating to the items dispensed. A client computer in electrical communications with the host computer then receives the data relating to the items dispensed. Thus, the invention provides for the reporting of data relating to the items dispensed to a client computer via a host computer that collects the data from the item dispensers. The client computer is also capable of providing data to the item dispensers via the host computer. The invention is further applicable to a configuration which has a plurality of different client computers associated with different client systems, for example, different states. Thus, the invention is particular useful in reporting client item sales.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.