Patent ID: 9569911
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A method for facilitating a return of an article by a user to an article dispensing machine, comprising the steps of: receiving from a first user interface a signal indicative of a first request to return the article to the article dispensing machine, wherein the article dispensing machine comprises a first user interface portion having the first user interface, a second user interface portion having a second user interface, and at least one article transfer portion configured to enable distribution of vended articles and receipt of returned articles through an port opening of the article dispensing machine wherein the article dispensing machine includes fewer article transfer portions port openings than user interfaces; determining whether the article transfer portion is available to enable the return of the article through the opening; and based on the availability determination of the article transfer portion, displaying through a first user interface screen associated with the first user interface portion information indicating to the user whether to proceed with the return of the vendible article or to wait for a notification to proceed with the return, wherein the displayed information to wait for the notification is generated upon determination that the article transfer portion is processing a second request to vend or return another article through the port opening received from the second user interface portion prior to the receipt of the first request wherein the article is unidentified before it is received into the dispensing machine.