Patent ID: 8201736
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A dispensing machine, comprising: a dispensing unit operable to dispense packaged and unpackaged products; a control unit, implemented by a central processing unit, connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with a memory operable to store and retrieve digital data; and a user interface operable to show information to a user and to retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen operable to display at least part of virtual buttons and virtual shelves, wherein said virtual buttons on the display are operable to send a command to the control unit related to product information displayed on said display and said virtual shelves on the display are operable to display to the user available products for dispensing, said virtual including a window panel as a virtual shelf that shows the products for sale by the dispensing machine, and, in response to the input commands from the user for choice of products from the dispensing unit or screen modification by displaying additional product information in response to the user pressing a corresponding virtual button of a desired product, the control unit controls the interface to dynamically modify the display on the graphic screen to relate to details of the input commands from the user and the dispensing unit to perform the dispensing of at least one of said packaged or unpackaged products of said available products selected by the user from the dispensing machine.