초록 ▼

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 relati

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An item dispensing system comprising:a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations, the item dispensers having respective processors for independently operating the item dispensers and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispensers; a host computer located geogra

1. An item dispensing system comprising:a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations, the item dispensers having respective processors for independently operating the item dispensers and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispensers; a host computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and in electrical communications with the processors for receiving and storing the data relating to the items dispensed by the item dispensers; a first other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and the host computer, the first other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed by item dispensers at a first retail location; and a second other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations, the host computer and the first other computer, the second other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed from item dispensers at a second retail location.