Patent ID: 8571705

Claim:
A system-implemented method for selecting one or more vending machines for being serviced in a predefined service period SP1, the system comprising circuitry, wherein the vending machines are located at a plurality of locations, and at least one location has more than one vending machines, the method comprising: (1) selecting, by the system controlled by the circuitry, vending machines according to one or more first selection rules for selecting and deselecting the vending machines; (2) for at least one location L1 comprising a vending machine VM1 selected according to the one or more first selection rules and also comprising a vending machine VM2 deselected according to the one or more first selection rules, determining, by the system controlled by the circuitry, if one or more second selection rules apply to the machine VM2, and selecting the machine VM2 if the one or more second selection rules apply.