Patent ID: 7548797
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispensing premanufactured physical items from one of a plurality of packs of items, wherein each of the plurality of the packs of items has parameters associated therewith, the apparatus comprising: an item dispenser adapted to dispense the items from the one of the plurality of packs of items; a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item; an input device configured to read information from the one of the plurality of packs of items when the one of the plurality of packs of items is loaded in the item dispenser; an output device; and a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having a memory storing data corresponding to at least one of the parameters associated with the plurality of the packs of items, the controller configured, based on the read information, to use the stored data when causing the item dispenser to dispense an item from the one of the plurality of packs of items, the controller further configured, responsive to the loading of the one of the plurality of packs of items, to transmit towards a remote computer a message including information read from the one of the plurality of packs of items by the input device when the one of the plurality of packs of items is loaded in the item dispenser, the message configured to cause the remote computer to activate the one of the plurality of packs of items so that items dispensed from the pack of items can be subsequently redeemed.