Abstract:
A system for facilitating the monitoring and managing of the inventory of vending machines utilizing a handheld inventory checker capable of communicating with the vending machines to communicate therebetween data corresponding to the remaining inventory of each checked vending machine. The handheld inventory checker includes software to monitor the inventory and based upon the data received from the communications from the vending machine, calculate and display the type and number of required items to be restocked in each particular vending machine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to system and devices for checking inventory of vending machines, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a handheld device for checking and managing the inventory of vending machines.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A vending machine will contain items to be sold or vended to a customer. Various types of items are dispensed by vending machines, including hot and cold snacks, hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, and various types of merchandise including newspapers and stamps, just to name a few. In the vending machine business, the owner or operator of the vending machines are responsible for visiting the site of the vending machine to not only empty the money out of the machine, but to also maintain sufficient inventory. For example, one site, such as an office building, could have numerous vending machines to be serviced. Usually the operator will load a cart with items that he thinks the on-site vending machines will need. The operator then goes from machine to machine opening each to check and replace the inventory. Since the use of vending machines varies not only from vending machine to vending machine, but also from visit to visit the operator will often not have the right inventory immediately at hand to fill the machines. The solution is to either close up the machine and retrieve the needed additional items and return, or leave the machine lacking certain items until the next visit.  
         [0003]     It would be advantageous therefore, to develop a device or apparatus that can be used to readily and accurately determine the inventory of a vending machine. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0004]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an vending machine and handheld inventory checker constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a handheld vending machine inventory checker constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention as similarly shown in  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0007]     Referring now to the drawings wherein like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views and figures, and wherein the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular, to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a vending machine  100  and a handheld inventory checker  200  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Vending machine  100  is designed to dispense items  102  as chosen by a user or purchaser. As can be appreciated vending machine  100  could be virtually any type of vending machine, including, but not limited to a beverage vending machine, food or snack vending machine, medicine vending machine, and a merchandise vending machine.  
         [0008]     Vending machine  100  includes an inventory monitor  104 . Inventory monitor  104  is designed to keep track of various matters pertaining to the inventory of the items  102  stored in the vending machine. Such matters include a real time inventory or count of each item  102 , the total number of items  102 , the total number of items  102  initially loaded into the vending machine each time filled, any possible expiration dates of items  102 , the time and date of the purchase of items  102 . It is anticipated that items  102  could be either all one type of an item, such would be the case with a newspaper vending machine, or items  102  could be a variety of items, such would be the case with a snack or beverage vending machine. Vending machine  100  further includes a communication device which interfaces with inventory monitor  104 .  
         [0009]     As illustrated handheld inventory checker  200 , includes a display  202 , a control panel  204 , a holder  206 , and a communication interface  208 . In operation, vending machine  100  would be initially stocked with items  102 , and the inventory monitor  104  would update the data that it is designed to monitor (such as described in the hereinabove). After a select period of time, the owner or operator of the vending machine  100  would return to restock the vending machine. Once the operator is within a certain distance from the vending machine  100 , the handheld checker  200  and the vending machine  100  would communicate therebetween. The information or data stored in the inventory monitor  104  would be communicated to the handheld checker  200 , whereby at least a portion of the data could then be displayed on display  202 . The data would allow the user to display on display  202 , such information as: the items that have been sold from the vending machine  100 ; the number of items remaining in the vending machine  100 ; and expired items: and, the number and type of items needed to restock the vending machine  100 . It is contemplated that handheld checker  200  could also be programmed to recommend different items to be placed in a particular vending machine based on historical sales of items.  
         [0010]     As many vending machine owner/operators generally have or service more that one vending machine, a unique electronic ID could be assigned to each vending machine  100  such when the data stored in the inventory monitor  104  is communicated to the handheld checker  200 , the handheld checker  200  will be able to properly identify the data associated with each machine.  
         [0011]     Vending machine  100  and handheld checker  200  can be configured to communicate by using various types of communications. For example, a wireless connection (such as with an 802.11x or blue tooth protocol) could utilized to established a communication connection between vending machine  100  and handheld checker  200 , which would be facilitated, in part by antenna  108  of vending machine  100  and antenna  208  of handheld checker  200 . It is further contemplated that a physical or wired connection could also be utilized for the communications between vending machine  100  and handheld checker  200 . In addition, handheld checker  200  could also be configured to communicate in either wireless or wired manner with a computer  300  or long term electronic storage device, where the user could download and store all the data received from their vending machines.  
         [0012]     An advantage of a vending machine  100  and handheld checker  200  utilizing a wireless communication, would be that the user could check the inventory of multiple vending machines all located within a select range at the same time, thereby saving time in preparing to restock the vending machines.  
         [0013]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is an exemplary embodiment of the handheld checker  200 . As illustrated handheld checker  200  includes a display  202  for displaying information gathered and processed to the user. Examples of displayed items would be machine id number, time and date, items and quantity of each needed for that machine, expiration dates for remaining items, location of machine, and virtually any type of data determined to be useful to the user. As further illustrated, handheld checker  200  includes a control panel  204  for facilitating a user to control the operations of handheld checker  200  as well as for facilitating user input. The user, among other things, would be able to activate the operation of handheld checker  200  for checking inventories, and would enable control of the items displayed on display  202  such as by scrolling the items in display. Control panel  204  could also include a power switch for turning on/off the handheld checker  200 .  
         [0014]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , handheld checker  200  includes a device holder  206  to facilitate a strap connected to it or for enable hanging handheld checker  200  on a hook or other type of hanging device.  
         [0015]     As described above, handheld checker  200  includes a communication interface  208  for the transferring of data between handheld checker  200  and the vending machine  100  or computer  300 . Although communication interface  208  is illustrated as a wireless interface, it is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that a wired interface could also be utilized.  
         [0016]     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, handheld inventory checker  200  is microprocessor controlled handheld computer with software that would enable it to browse, query and obtain information corresponding to a vending machine&#39;s inventory, process the data, and display, to the user, information corresponding to data received from the vending machine. It is contemplated that outer casing  210  of handheld checker  200  would be constructed a durable material, such as hard plastic, and that a transparent protective covering would also be utilized over display  202 .  
         [0017]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.