Products and processes for vending machine gift certificates
An embodiment of the invention includes outputting, from a vending machine, an inactive voucher which includes a voucher identifier. A request to activate the voucher and a payment are received. An amount of payment is determined based on the voucher identifier, and at least the amount of payment is received. The voucher is activated, and then a request to redeem the voucher is received. A gift that corresponds to the voucher is determined, and the gift is provided via the vending machine.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving a payment for a first product at a vending machine;
dispensing the first product from the vending machine after the step of
receiving the payment at the vending machine;
outputting, from the vending machine, a paper which bears indicia
representing a series of alphanumeric characters,
in which the step of outputting is performed substantially simultaneously with the step of dispensing,
in which the series of alphanumeric characters corresponds to a database record denoting an inactive voucher;
after the step of outputting, receiving a request to activate the voucher;
after the step of outputting, receiving a payment at the vending machine;
determining, based on the series of alphanumeric characters, an amount of payment;
receiving at least the amount of payment;
activating the voucher by modifying the database record to denote an active voucher;
after the step of activating the voucher, receiving a request to redeem the voucher,
in which the step of receiving a request to redeem the voucher includes receiving the series of alphanumeric characters;
determining a gift that corresponds to the voucher after the step of receiving a request to redeem the voucher; and
providing the gift via the vending machine.
2 . The method of claim 1 , in which the step of outputting, from the vending machine, a paper which bears indicia representing a series of alphanumeric characters comprises:
commanding a printer to print the indicia representing a series of alphanumeric characters on the paper.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising after the step of commanding a printer to print, ejecting the paper from the vending machine.
4 . The method of claim 1 , in which the step of providing the gift via the vending machine comprises:
dispensing a second product from the vending machine without receiving a retail price of the second product.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of the second product via an input device of the vending machine before the step of dispensing the second product; and
determining that the second product corresponds to the voucher before the step of dispensing the second product.
6 . The method of claim 1 , in which the step of providing the gift via the vending machine comprises: I
increasing an amount of funds that are available to pay for a purchase of a product from the vending machine.
7 . The method of claim 1 , in which the step of activating the voucher by modifying the database record to denote an active voucher comprises:
outputting, from the vending machine, a second paper which bears indicia representing the series of alphanumeric characters.
8 . The method of claim 1 , in which the indicia representing a series of alphanumeric characters comprises:
a barcode representing the series of alphanumeric characters.
9 . The method of claim 1 , in which the indicia representing a series of alphanumeric characters comprises:
a printed series of alphanumeric characters.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a message before receiving the request to redeem the voucher.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
printing the message on the paper.
12 . The method of claim 10 , in which the step of providing the gift via the vending machine comprises:
outputting the message.
13 . The method of claim 10 , in which the step of receiving the message before receiving the request to redeem the voucher comprises:
receiving a name;
and in which the step of providing the gift via the vending machine comprises outputting the name.
14 . The method of claim 10 , in which the step of receiving the message before receiving the request to redeem the voucher comprises:
displaying an indication of a plurality of messages; and
receiving a selection of at least one of the messages.
15 . The method of claim 10 , in which the step of receiving the message before receiving the request to redeem the voucher comprises:
activating a recording device to record for an interval of time.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting a gift of the voucher before receiving the request to activate the voucher.
17 . The method of claim 16 , in which setting a gift of the voucher comprises:
setting the gift of the voucher based on a previously-dispensed product.
18 . The method of claim 16 , in which setting a gift of the voucher comprises:
setting the gift of the voucher based on inventory data of the vending machine.
19 . The method of claim 16 , in which setting a gift of the voucher comprises:
setting the gift of the voucher based on sales data of the vending machine.
20 . The method of claim 1 , in which the series of alphanumeric characters consists of a series of from seven alphanumeric characters to sixteen alphanumeric characters.
21 . A method comprising:
outputting, from a vending machine, a voucher which includes a voucher identifier,
in which the voucher is inactive;
after the step of outputting, receiving a request to activate the voucher;
after the step of outputting, receiving a payment at the vending machine;
determining, based on the voucher identifier, an amount of payment;
receiving at least the amount of payment;
activating the voucher, thereby yielding an active voucher;
after the step of activating the voucher, receiving a request to redeem the voucher,
determining a gift that corresponds to the voucher; and providing the gift via the vending machine.
22 . A method comprising:
retrieving, from a storage device, at least one rule that defines a triggering event;
determining that the triggering event has occurred;
after determining that the triggering event has occurred, outputting from a vending machine a voucher which includes a voucher identifier,
in which the voucher is inactive;
after the step of outputting, receiving a request to activate the voucher;
activating the voucher, thereby yielding an active voucher;
after the step of activating the voucher, receiving a request to redeem the voucher,
determining a gift that corresponds to the voucher; and providing the gift via the vending machine.