Patent ID: 7734369
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method to facilitate supplying of items into a plurality of dispensing units, the method comprising: receiving at a server computer restocking information from a plurality of dispensing units, wherein the restocking information includes at least one of stock level or transaction information for items to be restocked into the dispensing units; generating ordering information for the items to be restocked using the server computer based on the restocking information; electronically sending the ordering information from the server computer to one or more supplier computers to permit restock items to be ordered; transmitting advanced shipping notice information from the server computer to the dispensing units to apprise the dispensing units of the items and quantities to be shipped for restocking into the dispensing units; and restocking the shipped items into one of the dispensing units, wherein the restocking step comprises placing the dispensing unit into restocking mode, placing the shipped items into the dispensing unit and touching item buttons corresponding to the items placed into the dispensing unit to compare the record of restocked items with the advanced shipping notice, to acknowledge the quantity restocked is equal to the quantity represented in the advance shipping notice, and to produce a record of restocked items.