Patent ID: 8583280

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by said processor cause said apparatus to at least: (a) receive vending machine data uploaded from a vending machine using standard vending machine protocol, said vending machine data including inventory data listing products stocked in or sold by said vending machine, and at least one of inventory level information indicating an amount of the products listed in said inventory data, or fund data indicating an amount of funds received by said vending machine, and said vending machine data being received for storage in an inventory database with machine data from other vending machines to permit performance of one or more management operations for the respective vending machines using said vending machine data, said one or more management operations including at least one of determining vending machine routing needs, determining profitability, managing cash flow or managing inventory; (b) transmit inventory data from said inventory database to a separate nutrition server, and in response thereto, receive nutrition data for products listed in said inventory data; (c) merge said vending machine data with said nutrition data to obtain merged data, said merged data including at least said inventory data and said nutrition data; and (d) transmit said merged data to said vending machine in a communication separate from the upload of said vending machine data, said merged data being transmitted for display of said nutrition data on a display of said vending machine based on user selection of products thereat, said vending machine data being received and merged with said nutrition data, and said merged data being transmitted to said vending machine, before and independent of said user selection.