VENDING MACHINE SYSTEM

1 . A method for remotely controlling a CO 2 gas cylinder vending machine system, the method including:

displaying a remote vending machine user interface on a display of a user device;

receiving on the user device user input indicating a desire to engage with the vending machine system to perform at least one of the following operations:

(a) return a CO 2 cylinder;

(b) purchase a CO 2 cylinder; or

(c) exchange a CO 2 cylinder;

transmitting the user input over a communications network to a communications interface of the vending machine system;

receiving the user input at the communication interface of the vending machine system; and

controlling the vending machine system, by a controller, based on the received user input.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including:

receiving, at a communications module of the user device, the remote vending machine user interface from the vending machine system.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the communications module of the user device receives the remote vending machine user interface via at least one of the following:

(a) the communications network; and

(b) a wireless communications link with the communications interface of the vending machine system.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the wireless communications link uses standard communication protocols such as Bluetooth™ or Near-Field Communication (NFC).

5 . The method of claim 1 , further including:

the user device:

scanning, by a camera of the user device, indicia uniquely identifying the vending machine system, wherein the indicia encodes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the vending machine system;

decoding the scanned indicia and retrieving the URL;

sending a request to a server based on the URL via the communications network; and

receiving, via a response from the server, the remote vending machine user interface from the vending machine system, and

the server:

receiving the request based on the URL from the user device; and

sending in a response the remote vending machine user interface to the user device via the communications network.

6 . The method of claim to 5 , further including:

the user device transmitting a request to the vending machine system to use the vending machine system; and

the vending machine system receiving the request from the user device to use the vending machine system.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further including:

the vending machine system determining, based on the request, a proximity of the user device to the vending machine system;

the vending machine system determining, based on the determined proximity, whether the user device is within a proximity threshold distance to the vending machine system; and

if the user device is within the proximity threshold distance, controlling the vending machine system by the controller based on further user input.

8 . The method of claim 5 , further including:

the user device:

receiving user input corresponding to a payment; and

transmitting a notification of the payment to the communications interface of the vending machine system, and

the vending machine system:

receiving the notification of the payment at the communications interface of the vending machine system; and

communicating, by the controller, to a payment system of the vending machine system that the payment has been received.

9 . A method for remotely controlling a CO 2 gas cylinder vending machine system on a user device, the method including:

displaying a remote vending machine user interface on a display of the user device;

receiving on the user device user input indicating a desire to engage with the vending machine system to perform at least one of the following operations:

(a) return a CO 2 cylinder;

(b) purchase a CO 2 cylinder; or

(c) exchange a CO 2 cylinder;

transmitting the user input over a communications network to a communications interface of the vending machine system.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further including:

receiving, at a communications module of the user device, the remote vending machine user interface from the vending machine system.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the communications module of the user device receives the remote vending machine user interface via at least one of the following:

(a) the communications network; and

(b) a wireless communications link with the communications interface of the vending machine system.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further including:

scanning, by a camera of the user device, indicia uniquely identifying the vending machine system, wherein the indicia encodes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the vending machine system;

decoding the scanned indicia and retrieving the URL;

sending a request to a server based on the URL via the communications network.; and

receiving, via a response from the server, the remote vending machine user interface from the vending machine system.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further including:

transmitting a request to the vending machine system to use the vending machine system.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further including:

receiving user input corresponding to a payment; and

transmitting a notification of the payment to the communications interface of the vending machine system.

15 . A method for remotely controlling a CO 2 gas cylinder vending machine system, the method including:

receiving user input at a communication interface of the vending machine system;

controlling the vending machine system, by a controller, based on the received user input,

wherein the user input is conducted on a user device, and indicates a desire to engage with the vending machine system to perform at least one of the following operations:

(a) return a CO 2 cylinder;

(b) purchase a CO 2 cylinder; or

(c) exchange a CO 2 cylinder.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further including transmitting, from the communications interface, the remote vending machine user interface to the user device.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the communications interface of the vending machine system transmits the remote vending machine user interface to the user device via at least one of the following:

(a) communications network; and

(b) a wireless communications link with a communications module of the user device.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further including:

receiving a request from the user device to use the vending machine system.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further including:

determining, based on the request, a proximity of the user device to the vending machine system;

determining, based on the determined proximity, whether the user device is within a proximity threshold distance to the vending machine system; and

the controller only controlling the vending machine system based on the received user input if the user device is within the proximity threshold distance.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further including:

receiving the notification of the payment at the communications interface of the vending machine system;

communicating, by the controller, to a payment system of the vending machine system that the payment has been received

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the vending machine system for CO 2 gas cylinder includes a controller in communication with a user interface, a payment system and an array of bin assemblies, wherein each one of the bin assemblies is shaped to at least partially receive an end of a CO 2 gas cylinder and includes a locking system for releasably securing therein a CO 2 gas cylinder, said system for performing the steps of:

(1) receiving user input through the contactless user interface; and

(2) at least one of the following:

(a) if the user input represents a desire to exchange a CO 2 gas cylinder, then the system performs the steps of:

(i) receiving payment from the user through the payment system for a replacement CO 2 gas cylinder;

(ii) receiving a CO 2 gas cylinder in a first one of said bin assemblies; and

(iii) the locking system releasing a full CO 2 gas cylinder located in a second one of said bin assemblies for collection by the user,

(b) if said user input represents a desire to purchase a full CO 2 gas cylinder without replacement, then the system performs the steps of:

(i) receiving payment from the user through the payment system for a full CO 2 gas cylinder without replacement; and

(ii) the locking system releasing a full CO 2 gas cylinder located in a third one of said bin assemblies for collection by the user, and

(c) if said user input represents a desire to return an empty CO 2 gas cylinder without replacement, then the system performs the steps of:

(i) receiving an item in one of said bin assemblies;

(ii) the locking system locking the CO 2 gas cylinder in said one of said bin assemblies; and

(iii) issuing a credit to the user through the payment system for return of CO 2 gas cylinder without replacement.

22 . The method claimed in claim 21 , wherein the step of issuing a credit to the user alternatively issues the credit to a charitable organization.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the vending machine system includes an authentication system for confirming that an item to be received in one of the bin assemblies is a legitimate CO 2 gas cylinder, said the system for performing the step of:

(a) confirming through the authentication system that the item to be received in step (ii) is a legitimate CO 2 gas cylinder.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein each bin assembly in the array includes a tubular chassis shaped to receive and seat therein a CO 2 gas cylinder.

25 - 50 . (canceled)