Mobile vending machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10854033-B2
Application number	US-201816146994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

Mobile vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers at various locations. A mobile vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, a powertrain system, and a control unit. A consumer may view a list of products in the mobile vending machine using a mobile device, such as a smart phone. The consumer may summon the mobile vending machine to a location using the mobile device, and the mobile vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer receives a product from the mobile vending machine. The control unit may enable the mobile vending machine to autonomously travel to the location of the consumer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of vending a product from a mobile vending machine, the method comprising:
transmitting to a user mobile device a list of products contained in the mobile vending machine;
receiving from the user mobile device user information including a product selection an identity of the user, and a location, wherein the user is in a different location than the mobile vending machine;
based on the received user information automatically maneuvering the mobile vending machine to the location;
verifying the identity of the user after automatically maneuvering the mobile machine to the location; and
dispensing the product after verifying the identity of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating the list of products contained in the mobile vending machine after dispensing the product.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location received from the user mobile device is the location of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location received from the user mobile device is a location other than the location of the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile vending machine is configured to operate only within a predetermined geographic area.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user mobile device is a smart phone.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user information further comprises payment information.

8. A method of vending a product, the method comprising:
receiving at a user mobile device a list of products contained in a mobile vending machine;
transmitting user information including an identity of the user and a location of the user mobile device to the mobile vending machine, wherein the mobile vending machine is configured to automatically navigate to the location of the user mobile device;
verifying the identity of the user at the location; and
performing a transaction with the user after verifying the identity of the user, wherein the user receives a product from the mobile vending machine.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
based on the transaction performed with the user updating the list of products contained in the mobile vending machine.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transaction includes an electronic payment.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user mobile device is a smart phone.

12. An autonomous mobile vending machine, comprising:
a product compartment for storing one or more products;
a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a list of products in the product compartment to a user mobile device and is further configured to receive a product selection from the user mobile device;
a dispensing opening coupled to the product compartment and accessible by a user to receive a vended product;
a scanner configured to read a code on the user mobile device to verify an identity of the user; and
a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically move the mobile vending machine,
wherein during a vending operation, the mobile vending machine automatically moves to the location of the user.

13. The autonomous mobile vending machine of claim 12 , wherein the autonomous mobile vending machine is configured to operate outdoors.

14. The autonomous mobile vending machine of claim 12 , wherein the autonomous mobile vending machine is configured to operate on multiple floors in a building.

15. A method of vending a product from a mobile vending machine, the method comprising:
transmitting to a user mobile device a list of products contained in a mobile vending machine;
receiving user information including an identity of the user and a location of the user mobile device at the mobile vending machine, wherein the mobile vending machine is configured to automatically navigate to the location of the user mobile device;
verifying the identity of the user at the location; and
performing a transaction with the user after verifying the identity of the user, wherein the user receives a product from the mobile vending machine.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein verifying the identity of the user comprises scanning a code on the user mobile device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein verifying the identity of the user comprises identifying a biometric characteristic of the user.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein verifying the identity of the user comprises entering an access code on a user interface of the mobile vending machine.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving user information comprises logging into an application on the user mobile device.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein performing a transaction with the user comprises receiving payment from the user and dispensing the product.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Jafa Emad
• Lau Cheuk Chi
• Li Xuejun
• Serock Yong
• Chan Wai Ting
• Johnstone Samuel Luke
• Mitchell Martyn Thomas
• Morrison Euan
• Williams Erik David

Classifications

• G08G1/202

  Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching · CPC title

• G06Q30/0641 Primary

  utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping · CPC title

• G06Q20/202

  Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR · CPC title

• G06Q20/322

  Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices] · CPC title

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title