Method and apparatus for purchasing and dispensing products
US7581676B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07G1/0036
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for purchasing a product that does not need to be physically present at a point-of-sale includes a point-of-sale device, a product-selection device, a data-analyzing device, an inventory-managing device, and a dispensing machine. The point-of-sale device includes apparatus for scanning or otherwise inputting a first product that is physically present at the point-of-sale. The product-selection device includes apparatus for selecting a second product that does not need to be physically present at the point-of-sale by a characteristic other than by a standardized product identification number corresponding to the second product, controller and memory apparatus for retrieving a standardized product identification number corresponding to the second product, and communication apparatus for sending the standardized product identification number of the selected second product to the point-of-sale device. The data-analyzing device receives completed purchase transaction data from the point-of-sale device and identifies the selected second product from that data. The data-analyzing device thereafter sends instructions to the dispensing machine for dispensing the second product. The…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.