Patent ID: 6351688
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: G06Q,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
An item dispensing system comprising:a plurality of item dispensers at different retail locations, the item dispensers having respective processors for independently operating the item dispensers and providing data relating to items dispensed by the item dispensers; a host computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and in electrical communications with the processors for receiving and storing the data relating to the items dispensed by the item dispensers; a first other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations and the host computer, the first other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed by item dispensers at a first retail location; and a second other computer located geographically remotely from the retail locations, the host computer and the first other computer, the second other computer in electrical communications with the host computer and receiving data relating to items dispensed from item dispensers at a second retail location.