Analytics based climate control in vending machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10055927-B2
Application number	US-201715800324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A climate-controlled vending machine is monitored using data analytics. The climate-controlled vending machine includes a primary storage unit for storing two or more items. A first slot of an item is determined to be available within a secondary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine. The secondary storage unit is a climate-controlled unit. A first item, of the two or more items within the primary storage unit, is transferred to the first slot of the secondary storage unit. The first item within the first slot of the secondary storage unit is altered to a first condition. A selection from a first user is received. In response to the reception of the selection of the first item, the first item is dispensed to the user from a dispensary unit, wherein the item is being of the first condition. The first slot is replenished with a replacement item from the primary storage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a climate-controlled vending machine using data analytics, the method comprising:
storing two or more items within a primary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine;
determining that a first slot is available within a secondary storage unit of the vending machine, the secondary storage unit being a climate-controlled unit;
transferring a first item of the two or more items within the primary storage unit into the first slot of the secondary storage unit, wherein the first item is in a condition at a time of the transferring;
altering the condition of the first item within the secondary storage unit to a first condition;
monitoring the condition of the first item to determine if the first item is at the first condition;
monitoring the condition of a second item in a second slot of the secondary storage unit of the vending machine to determine if the second item is at a second condition;
receiving, from a user, a selection of the first item;
informing the user if the first item has not met the first condition;
informing the user if the second item has met the second condition;
prompting the user with an option to make a new selection if the first item has not met the first condition;
dispensing, using a dispensary unit, the second item from the second slot, to the user in response to receiving the selection of the second item; and
replenishing the second slot with a replacement item from the primary storage unit.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Gerhard Elizabeth L
• Kilker Robert E
• Vlasak Wayne L

Classifications

• G07F11/62

  in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles · CPC title

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title

• G07F9/105 Primary

  Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage (dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064) · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G07F9/002

  Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines · CPC title