Control of a network connected dispensing device via a network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017345246-A1
Application number	US-201615169519-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	May 31, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system may include a client device. The client device may receive, from a set of vending devices and via a network connecting the set of vending devices with the client device, sensor data relating to a status of the set of vending devices. The client device may generate a user interface associated with providing information identifying the status of the set of vending devices. The client device may provide, for display, the user interface based on generating the user interface. The client device may detect, based on providing the user interface, a selection of an adjustment that is to be performed for a particular vending device of the set of vending devices. The client device may transmit, via the network, an instruction to the particular vending device to cause the adjustment to be performed for the particular vending device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
one or more devices to implement:
a first module to communicate with a set of dispensing devices via a network,
each dispensing device, of the set of dispensing devices, being associated with dispensing an item based on a received selection,
each dispensing device, of the set of dispensing devices, including a communications module associated with transmitting information between the first module and one or more sensors of the dispensing device;

a second module to communicate with a set of user devices,
each user device, of the set of user devices, being utilized in association with operations relating to the set of dispensing devices;

a third module to communicate with a set of reference data structures,
a particular reference data structure, of the set of reference data structures, being associated with providing event data, relating to an event located in a particular area, to a particular dispensing device, of the set of dispensing devices, located in or near the particular area; and

a fourth module to communicate with a client device,
the client device being associated with providing a management user interface for managing the network and the set of dispensing devices,
the client device being associated with detecting an interaction with the management user interface,
the client device to cause an alteration to a configuration associated with the set of dispensing devices based on the interaction with the management user interface.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more cloud servers to obtain sensor data regarding the one or more sensors from the first module and provide processed sensor data for display via the management user interface.

3 . The system of claim 2 , where the one or more cloud servers are to process the sensor data using a particular processing technique,
the particular processing technique including at least one of:
a machine learning technique,
a heuristic technique,
a regression technique,
an optimization technique, or
an image processing technique.

4 . The system of claim 1 , where one or more dispensing devices, of the set of dispensing devices, are to receive dynamic pricing information based on the interaction with the management user interface.

5 . The system of claim 1 , where the one or more devices are further to implement:
a fifth module to cause sensor data to be provided from the first module to the fourth module for display via the management user interface.

6 . The system of claim 1 , where the one or more devices are further to implement:
a fifth module to determine a set of locations of a set of devices connected to the network and provide information identifying the set of locations for display via the management user interface.

7 . A system, comprising:
a client device to:
receive, from a plurality of vending devices and via a network connecting the plurality of vending devices with the client device, sensor data relating to a status of the plurality of vending devices,
the sensor data including location data, sales data, and health data regarding a health of the plurality of vending devices;

generate a user interface associated with providing information identifying the status of the plurality of vending devices,
the information identifying the status of the plurality of vending devices including information identifying a present status and a predicted status,
the predicted status being determined based on a data model;

provide, for display, the user interface based on generating the user interface;
detect, based on providing the user interface, a selection of an adjustment that is to be performed for a particular vending device of the plurality of vending devices; and
transmit, via the network, an instruction to the particular vending device to cause the adjustment to be performed for the particular vending device.

8 . The system of claim 7 , where the network is configured to route the sensor data from the plurality of vending devices to the client device based on one or more time intervals.

9 . The system of claim 8 , where the one or more time intervals include a near real-time time interval.

10 . The system of claim 8 , where the one or more time intervals include a first time interval associated with a first portion of the sensor data and a second time interval associated with a second portion of the sensor data.

11 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a service orchestrator to:
receive the instruction from the client device; and
cause an integration module of the particular vending device to cause the adjustment to be performed for the particular vending device.

12 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a reference data module,
the reference data module including a set of reference data structures storing particular information,
the particular information including at least one of:
event data relating to an area in which the particular vending device is located, or
weather data relating to the area in which the particular vending device is located.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a service orchestrator to cause the particular information to be obtained from the reference data portion and provided to the client device to cause the client device to adjust one or more operations relating to the particular vending device based on the particular information.

14 . A method comprising:
receiving data by a device of a group of devices of a virtual network,
the data including first data, second data, and third data,
the first data being received from a plurality of sensor devices integrated into a plurality of vending devices connected to the virtual network,
the plurality of vending devices including a corresponding plurality of communications modules associated with routing information between the plurality of vending devices and the device,

the second data being received from a plurality of user devices being utilized by a plurality of users to coordinate operations associated with the plurality of vending devices,
the third data being received from one or more reference data structures connected to the virtual network;

generating, by the device, a user interface including a set of user interface elements,
a first user interface element, of the set of user interface elements, being associated with providing a portion of the data for display,
a second user interface element, of the set of user interface elements, being associated with receiving a user input associated with altering management of the plurality of vending devices;
detecting, by the device, a user interaction with the second user interface element; and transmitting, by the device, information associated with altering management of the plurality of vending devices to a particular vending device, of the plurality of vending devices, or a particular user device, of the plurality of user devices, based on detecting the user interaction.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing the user interface for display via a client device based on generating the user interface; and where detecting the user interaction comprises:
receiving information identifying the user interaction with the user interface.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
routing fourth data from the particular vending device to the client device for display via the first user interface element.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

Assignees

• Accenture Global Solutions Ltd

Inventors

• Torresani Giorgio
• Sawyer Jeffrey Scott
• Sawhney Puneet
• Groves Austin S
• PATEL Drashti Sunit

Classifications

• G06Q10/087

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

• G06Q10/06311

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title

• G05B19/042

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title

• G07F9/026 Primary

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