Patent ID: 6772048
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A system for enabling wireless communications among a plurality of vending machines and operation by one of such plurality of vending machines based upon credit deposits made at another of such plurality of vending machines, comprising a plurality of vending machines at least a first of which includes a vend dispensing portion, at least a second of which includes a credit entry portion, and at least one of which includes a vend selection portion, each of said plurality of vending machines including a machine control portion having associated therewith a communications control portion operable to transmit and receive short distance communication signals, said plurality of vending machines being positioned with respect to one another to be within range of said short distance communication signals, said positioned plurality of vending machines defining a peer-to-peer network having a wireless communications bus accessible through said communications control portions interconnecting said positioned plurality of vending machines for point-to-point communications, said first of said plurality of vending machines operable to receive a credit deposit made by a customer and to provide data representative of credit availability for vend purchasing over said wireless communications bus, said second of said plurality of vending machines operable to effect a vend dispensing operation of a product selected by a customer upon verification of appropriate vend conditions including sufficient credit availability for the vend selection made by the customer.