Method and apparatus for locating a nearby alternate vending machine for a desired product
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G05B-019/00
출원번호
US-0378586
(1999-08-20)
발명자
/ 주소
Moore,Morris Anthony
Dorenbosch,Jheroen Pieter
출원인 / 주소
Motorola, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
13인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
A communication network (FIG. 1) makes available, to a first vending machine (102) of a plurality of vending machines, information from nearby ones of the plurality of vending machines for coordinating product availability and vending machine location. The first vending machine then determines 502 t
A communication network (FIG. 1) makes available, to a first vending machine (102) of a plurality of vending machines, information from nearby ones of the plurality of vending machines for coordinating product availability and vending machine location. The first vending machine then determines 502 that the desired product is no longer available at the first vending machine. Thereafter, the first vending machine obtains (504-520) the information including a location of the nearby alternate vending machine for the desired product. The first vending machine then conveys (410) the location of the nearby alternate vending machine to a customer who wishes to purchase the desired product.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A server for determining a location of an alternate vending machine near a first vending machine, the alternate vending machine having a desired product that is unavailable at the first vending machine, the server comprising: a processing system; and a transceiver coupled to
What is claimed is: 1. A server for determining a location of an alternate vending machine near a first vending machine, the alternate vending machine having a desired product that is unavailable at the first vending machine, the server comprising: a processing system; and a transceiver coupled to the processing system for communicating with a plurality of vending machines, wherein the processing system is programmed to: cooperate with the transceiver to receive from the first vending machine a first query regarding the desired product; determine a candidate alternate vending machine near the first vending machine; transmit a second query regarding the desired product to the candidate alternate vending machine; receive a response from the candidate alternate vending machine indicating that the desired product is available, thereby defining the candidate alternate vending machine as the alternate vending machine for the desired product; return to the first vending machine said location of the alternate vending machine; record, in a transactions list, an entry comprising identifiers of the first vending machine, the alternate vending machine, and the desired product; receive a report from one of the plurality of vending machines indicating that a product is no longer available; compare an identifier of the one of the plurality of vending machines and the product with the transactions list to determine whether the one of the plurality of vending machines is serving as the alternate vending machine for the product; and find for the first vending machine another alternate vending machine for the product, when the one of the plurality of vending machines is serving as the alternate vending machine for the product. 2. A server for determining a location of an alternate vending machine near a first vending machine, the alternate vending machine having a desired product that is unavailable at the first vending machine, the server comprising: a processing system; and a transceiver coupled to the processing system for communicating with a plurality of vending machines, wherein the processing system is programmed to: cooperate with the transceiver to receive from the first vending machine a first query regarding the desired product; determine a candidate alternate vending machine near the first vending machine; transmit a second query regarding the desired product to the candidate alternate vending machine; receive a response from the candidate alternate vending machine indicating that the desired product is available, thereby defining the candidate alternate vending machine as the alternate vending machine for the desired product; return to the first vending machine said location of the alternate vending machine; record, in a transactions list, an entry comprising identifiers of the first vending machine, the alternate vending machine, and the desired product; receive a report from one of the plurality of vending machines indicating that a product has become available; compare an identifier of the one of the plurality of vending machines and the product with the transactions list to determine whether the one of the plurality of vending machines is the first vending machine and the product is the desired product; and clear the entry in the transactions list, when the one of the plurality of vending machines is the first vending machine and the product is the desired product. 3. The server of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further programmed to: determine whether the one of the plurality of vending machines is nearer than the alternate vending machine is to the first vending machine, when the one of the plurality of vending machines is not the first vending machine and the product is the desired product; and redefine, for the first vending machine, the one of the plurality of vending machines as the alternate vending machine for the desired product, when the server has determined the one of the plurality of vending machines is nearer to the first vending machine.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Stapp Dennis Stephen, Inventory control and remote monitoring apparatus and method for coin-operable vending machines.
Horne Arthur H. (Salt Lake City UT) Henderson Ralph J. (Salt Lake City UT) Anderson David C. (Deer Valley UT), Inventory, cash, security, and maintenance control apparatus and method for a plurality of remote vending machines.
Azizi S. Massoud (19636 Crystal Ridge La. Northridge CA 91326) Azizi S. Masih (7141 Scenic Cir. Anaheim Hills CA 92807), System and method for tracking and locating an object.
Langer, Michael; Ljungström, Patrik; Michel, Uwe; Reindl, Johann; Schmickler, Leonhard, Method for controlling a machine dispensing good and charging of goods thus dispensed.
Walker, Jay S.; Breitenbach, Paul T.; Tedesco, Daniel E.; Lee, Sih Y.; Signorelli, Paul D.; Gelman, Geoffrey M.; Jorasch, James A., Products and processes for vending a plurality of products.
Walker, Jay S.; Breitenbach, Paul T.; Tedesco, Daniel E.; Lee, Sih Y.; Signorelli, Paul D.; Gelman, Geoffrey M.; Jorasch, James A., Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups.
Walker, Jay S.; Breitenbach, Paul T.; Tedesco, Daniel E.; Lee, Sih Y.; Signorelli, Paul D.; Gelman, Geoffrey M.; Jorasch, James A., Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups.
Walker,Jay S.; Breitenbach,Paul T.; Tedesco,Daniel E.; Lee,Sih Y.; Signorelli,Paul D.; Gelman,Geoffrey M.; Jorasch,James A., Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups.
Bowers, Brad; Maskatia, Imran; Rubinstein, Jason, System and method for providing the identification of geographically closest article dispensing machines.
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