초록 ▼

Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machin

Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machines, and at least one subroute has a plurality of machines. The vending machine service schedule is generated by selecting the highest priority subroute (410) and selecting the machines in that subroute (420). Other subroutes can be selected (430, 440) if there is time left in the Service Period.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A system-implemented method for scheduling service for a plurality of vending machines to select those vending machines which are to be serviced in a predefined service period, the system comprising hardwired and/or software programmed circuitry, the method comprising op

The invention claimed is: 1. A system-implemented method for scheduling service for a plurality of vending machines to select those vending machines which are to be serviced in a predefined service period, the system comprising hardwired and/or software programmed circuitry, the method comprising operations of:(1) determining, by said circuitry, a service priority indicator of each of a plurality of vending machines;(2) determining, by said circuitry, a scheduling priority for each of a plurality of subroutes, each subroute being a set of one or more vending machines, at least one of the subroutes comprising a plurality of vending machines separated by driving times, wherein determining the scheduling priority of each subroute comprises adding, by said circuitry, the service priority indicators of the subroute's plural vending machines and determining the scheduling priority as a function of a sum of the service priority indicators of the subroute's vending machines;(3) selecting, by said circuitry, a subroute S1 for service by using the scheduling priorities, the subroute S1 being one of the plurality of the subroutes;(4) selecting, by said circuitry, one or more vending machines for service in the subroute S1 in said service period;wherein each vending machine which is not selected is deselected for service in said service period.