Integrated vehicle vending machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020361356-A1
Application number	US-201916413287-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2019
Priority date	May 15, 2019
Publication date	Nov 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device that includes a housing configured to couple to a vehicle console. The device further includes a lid that is configurable between a closed position and an open position. The device further includes a lock is configured to transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the lock is configured to maintain the lid in the closed position. In the unlocked configuration, the lock is configured to release the lid from the closed position. The device further includes a user interface configured to display products, receive a user input identifying a product, receive card information, send an authorization request that requests a purchase of the product, and send an authorization signal to a controller in response to receiving an approval message. The device further includes the controller configured to send an actuation signal to unlock the lock in response to receiving the authorization signal.

First claim

1 . A vending machine, comprising:
a housing configured to couple to an interior of a vehicle, comprising an interior storage portion; a lid coupled to the housing, wherein:
the lid is configurable between a closed position and an open position;
the lid is configured to restrict access to the interior storage portion of the housing when the lid is in the closed position; and
the lid is configured to allow access to the interior storage portion of the housing when the lid is in the open position;
an electromechanical lock coupled to the housing, wherein:
the electromechanical lock is configured to transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration in response to an actuation signal;
the electromechanical lock is configured to maintain the lid in the closed position when the electromechanical lock is in the locked configuration;
the electromechanical lock is configured to release the lid from the closed position when the electromechanical lock is in the unlocked configuration;
a card reader coupled to the housing, configured to receive payment card information for a payment card; a user interface coupled to the housing and in signal communication with the card reader, configured to:
display one or more products that are available for purchase;
receive a user input identifying a product from among the one or more products that are available for purchase;
receive payment card information from the card reader;
send an authorization request to a remote server, wherein the authorization request requests a purchase of the product using the payment card information;
receive an approval message that authorizes the purchase of the product in response to sending the authorization request;
send an authorization signal in response to receiving the approval message; and
a controller coupled to the housing and in signal communication with the user interface, configured to:
receive the authorization signal; and
send the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock in response to receiving the authorization signal.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a weight sensor disposed within the housing and in signal communication with the controller, wherein the weight sensor measures a weight of one or more objects located in the interior storage portion of the housing.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a camera disposed within the housing and in signal communication with the controller, wherein the camera captures images of objects located in the interior storage portion of the housing.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the interior storage portion of the housing is removable from the housing.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is removably coupled to the interior of the vehicle using a strap.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lid is transparent.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen device displays products that are available for purchase from within the interior storage portion of the housing.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface displays products that are available for purchase that are not located within the interior storage portion of the housing.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is further configured to:
compare a product identifier for the product to an inventory list of items that are available in the interior storage portion; and determine that the product is available within the interior storage portion based on the comparison.

10 . A vending method, comprising:
displaying, by a user interface of a device mounted to a vehicle, one or more products available for purchase; receiving, by the user interface, a user input identifying a product from among the one or more products available for purchase; receiving, by the user interface, payment card information for a payment card from a card reader installed on the device; sending, by the user interface, an authorization request to a remote server, wherein the authorization request requests a purchase of the product using the payment card information; receiving, by the user interface, an approval message that authorizes the purchase of the product in response to sending the authorization request; sending, by the user interface, an authorization signal to a controller installed on the device in response to receiving the approval message; sending, by the controller, an actuation signal to an electromechanical lock installed on the device in response to receiving the authorization signal; and transitioning, by the electromechanical lock, from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration, wherein:
the electromechanical lock maintains a lid of the device in a closed position when the electromechanical lock is in the locked configuration;
the lid restricts access to an interior storage portion of the device when the lid is in the closed position; and
the electromechanical lock releases the lid of the device from the closed position when the electromechanical lock is in the unlocked configuration.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
sending, by a weight sensor installed on the device, a first weight for products in the interior storage portion of the device to the controller before the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; sending, by the weight sensor, a second weight for the products in the interior storage portion of the device to the controller after the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; determining, by the controller, a weight difference based on the first weight and the second weight; comparing, by the controller, the weight difference to an expected weight difference; determining, by the controller, the weight difference is greater than the expected weight difference; determining, by the controller, a product is missing in response to determining that the weight difference is greater than the expected weight difference; identifying, by the controller, a missing product based on the weight difference; and sending, by the controller, a notification to the remote server of the missing product.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
sending, by a camera installed on the device, a first image of products within the interior storage portion of the device to the controller before the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; sending, by the camera, a second image of the products within the interior storage portion of the device to the controller after the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; comparing, by the controller, the first image to the second image; determining, by the controller, a product is missing based on the comparison of the first image and the second image; identifying, by the controller, a missing product based on the comparison of the first image and the second image; and sending, by the controller, a notification to the remote server of the missing product.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
sending, by a weight sensor installed on the device, a first weight for products in the interior storage portion of the device to the controller before the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; sending, by a camera installed on the device, a first image of products within the interior storage portion of the device before the controller sends the actuation signal to the electromechanical lock; sending, by the weight sensor, a second weight for the products in the interior storage portion of the device to the controller

Assignees

• 7 Eleven Inc

Inventors

• Hodge Jonathan Christopher
• Singh Gurmeet
• Suri Maninder Singh
• Mohan Ranganathan

Classifications

• G07F11/06

  supported individually on pivotally-mounted flaps or shelves · CPC title

• G07F7/08

  by coded identity card or credit card {or other personal identification means (without personal verification means G07F7/02)} · CPC title

• G06Q20/34

  using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards · CPC title

• G06Q20/40

  Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title