Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Automated electrical financial or business practice or... – Inventory management
Patent
1996-12-20
1999-07-27
MacDonald, Allen R.
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
Automated electrical financial or business practice or...
Inventory management
705 14, 705 26, G06F15300
Patent
active
059307714
ABSTRACT:
There is provided an apparatus and method for monitoring inventory in a plurality of coin-operated vending machines. A bar code scanner is used to log inventory into a memory within each vending machine. As merchandise is dispensed, transaction records including the date and time of sale are generated and stored within each vending machine. Denominations of currency tendered by a buyer for each transaction are also stored. At a predetermined time under the control of a processor in cooperation with a real-time calendar-clock within each vending machine, stored information about each vending transaction is transmitted via a cellular telephone interface and modem to a central computer where a statistical analysis of sales for a single vending machine or for predetermined groups of vending machines may be performed. Calls are times such that no two vending machines are attempting to communicate with the central computer at the same time. Consequently, a single cellular telephone number may be used by all vending machines. Inventory status and change remaining in a vending machine may also be communicated to the central computer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4369442 (1983-01-01), Werth et al.
patent: 4412292 (1983-10-01), Sedam et al.
patent: 4563739 (1986-01-01), Gerpheide et al.
patent: 4884212 (1989-11-01), Stutsman
patent: 4907250 (1990-03-01), Ricks
patent: 5091713 (1992-02-01), Horne et al.
patent: 5159560 (1992-10-01), Newell et al.
patent: 5207784 (1993-05-01), Schwartzendruber
patent: 5305197 (1994-04-01), Axler et al.
patent: 5316124 (1994-05-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5400253 (1995-03-01), O'Connor
patent: 5404384 (1995-04-01), Colburn et al.
patent: 5491326 (1996-02-01), Marceau et al.
patent: 5526401 (1996-06-01), Roach, Jr. et al.
patent: 5619024 (1997-04-01), Kolls
patent: 5641050 (1997-06-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5685435 (1997-11-01), Picioccio et al.
patent: 5696908 (1997-12-01), Muehlberger et al.
patent: 5769269 (1998-06-01), Peters
patent: 5794144 (1998-08-01), Comer et al.
"Imp Introduces First Programmable Ic To Monitor Analog Signals", pp. 1-4; Dialog: File 16, May 20, 1996.
"Application Include Remote Monitoring of Utility Meters and vending Machines", BellSouth, Jan. 4, 1996, Dialog: File 16.
Jeanty Romain
MacDonald Allen R.
Siemens Terrance L.
LandOfFree
Inventory control and remote monitoring apparatus and method for does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inventory control and remote monitoring apparatus and method for, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inventory control and remote monitoring apparatus and method for will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-892742