Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1996-01-31
1997-12-23
Pitts, Harold
Boots, shoes, and leggings
235381, G06F 1700
Patent
active
057012520
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a distribution network system of dispensers of products and services, more particularly a network of dispensers interconnected with each other through a telematic connection accomplished by means of a telephone or radio line and of a communication satellite system or by radio.
Automatic dispensers of products are known which are operated by the user by means of coins or credit cards or electronic cards.
One of the most widespread automatic dispenser is for distributing banknotes,
This machine is stocked with banknotes to be dispensed; the machine is provided with an electronic device that is able to read the magnetic card inserted by the user and to communicate with the master computer that checks the electronic card inserted.
After checking, the machine enables the user to require a sum varying within a minimum and a maximum fixed in advance. Once the user has chosen, a device counting the banknotes starts working and subsequently a dispenser conveys the selected amount of money to the outlet of the machine.
Similar machines are described in GB-A-2110450 which discloses a system for performing transactions by one or more dispenser units, without giving information about the availability of money in other dispenser when in the dispenser used the money is not available.
GB-A-2254469 discloses a multiple user-operated data-controlled machine connected to a common remote interactive data store whereby data for operational use by an individual machine is retrieved from the remote store.
Other types of less complex machines are conceived so that by inserting an electronic card or coins a certain product can be selected. The product is chosen by means of a keyboard and is then distributed through a special drawer. One of these machines is the coffee machine or the confectionery dispenser.
In the case of all these types of machines, if they don't have the required product available, they cannot comply with the user's request and neither can they inform the user about the nearest machine that can satisfy such a request.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the invention is to go beyond the limits of the automatic dispensers that have been described below.
One of the purposes to be achieved is the implementation of an interconnected distribution network of automatic dispensers, so that if the product the user wants to get from a certain dispenser isn't available there, the user can be informed about the location of the nearest automatic dispenser where the required product is available.
Another aim to be achieved is the possibility of distributing different products, even of different sizes and belonging to different marketing categories, by means of the automatic dispenser that is the object of the invention.
Another purpose to be achieved is to carry out an interconnection among automatic dispensers so that every automatic dispenser can inform the user about the possibility of finding the required products that are not available where they have been requested and can also give other kinds of information, both by asking the main storage of the computer that controls the interconnected distribution network and by means of the linkage with Data Banks, a linkage that is accomplished on-line by the user and is payed for by directly debiting a credit card or by using a prepaid card.
Another aim to be achieved is to enable the manager of the interconnected network to bring up to date the stock of each product in each automatic dispenser on real-time and also to update the prices of the products, when necessary. A further aim is to implement the automatic dispenser belonging to the network so that it can also take back the articles hired by the user, such as videocassettes, CD or other things, and at the same time carry out the necessary accounting operations like the cancellation of the item from the user's stock and the record in the stock of the dispenser.
All these aims and others that will be better explained later have been achieved by a method for dispensing pr
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patent: 4803348 (1989-02-01), Lohrey et al.
patent: 4896024 (1990-01-01), Morello et al.
patent: 5091713 (1992-02-01), Horne et al.
Facchin Daniela
Frau Paola
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