Patent ID: 8234207
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining, by a vending machine and based on profit management considerations, a subscription to at least one product available for sale by the vending machine, the subscription including at least one term that defines a number of units of product that may be redeemed pursuant to the subscription; outputting, by the vending machine, an offer to purchase the subscription; receiving, by the vending machine, an indication of an acceptance of the offer by a customer; registering the subscription by: receiving, by the vending machine and after the registering, (i) an indication of the subscription code, (ii) an indication of the authorization code, and (iii) a request to redeem at least one unit of a product pursuant to the subscription; determining, by the vending machine and based on at least one of the received subscription code and the received authorization code, that the requested at least one unit of the product is less than or equal to the number of units of product that may be redeemed pursuant to the subscription; and providing, by the vending machine and in response to the determining that the requested at least one unit of the product is less than or equal to the number of units of product that may be redeemed pursuant to the subscription, the requested at least one unit of the product to the customer.