Method and apparatus for purchasing and dispensing products
View Patent ↗A system for purchasing a product that does not need to be physically present at a point-of-sale includes a point-of-sale device, a product-selection device, a data-analyzing device, an inventory-managing device, and a dispensing machine. The point-of-sale device includes apparatus for scanning or otherwise inputting a first product that is physically present at the point-of-sale. The product-selection device includes apparatus for selecting a second product that does not need to be physically present at the point-of-sale by a characteristic other than by a standardized product identification number corresponding to the second product, controller and memory apparatus for retrieving a standardized product identification number corresponding to the second product, and communication apparatus for sending the standardized product identification number of the selected second product to the point-of-sale device. The data-analyzing device receives completed purchase transaction data from the point-of-sale device and identifies the selected second product from that data. The data-analyzing device thereafter sends instructions to the dispensing machine for dispensing the second product. The inventory-managing device communicates with the product-selection device, data-analyzing device, and dispensing machine to inform customers of product availability, reserve products for customers, and maintain inventory of products.
1. A method of dispensing a purchased product to a customer, comprising:
receiving data from a point-of-sale device, said received data corresponding to a completed sale transaction;
identifying, from said received data, a purchased product that is housed in a dispensing machine; and
transmitting to said dispensing machine instructions for dispensing said purchased product to a customer, wherein said instructions for dispensing said purchased product include data corresponding to the age of said customer and wherein said method further comprises verifying the age of said customer at the dispensing machine.
2. A method of dispensing a purchased product to a customer, comprising:
receiving data from a point-of-sale device, said received data corresponding to a completed sale transaction;
identifying, from said received data, a purchased product that is housed in a dispensing machine; and transmitting to said dispensing machine instructions for dispensing said purchased product to a customer, wherein said identifying step further comprises identifying, from said received data, a restriction on a purchased product that is housed in a dispensing machine.
3. A system for purchasing products comprising:
a point-of-sale device equipped with a product-scanner for scanning a first product that is physically present at a point-of-sale;
a dispensing machine for dispensing a second product that is not physically accessible at said point-of-sale;
a product-selection device having
selection apparatus for selecting said second product by a characteristic other than by a standardized product identification number corresponding to said second product,
memory apparatus for retrieving said standardized product identification number corresponding to said second product, and
communication apparatus for sending said standardized product identification number to said point-of-sale device; and
a data-analyzing device for identifying said second product from said completed sale transaction data received from said point-of-sale device, and for transmitting to said dispensing machine instructions for dispensing said second product.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said product-selection device comprises a first unit located distal from said point-of-sale device and a second unit located proximate to said point-of-sale device, said first unit comprising said selection apparatus, and said second unit comprising said memory apparatus and said communication apparatus.
5. The system of claim 3 wherein said product-selection device comprises a first unit located distal from said point-of-sale device and a second unit located proximate to said point-of-sale device, said first unit comprising said selection apparatus and said memory apparatus, and said second unit comprising said communication apparatus.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein said point-of-sale device executes the sale of both said first and second products.