Patent ID: 7373170

Claim:
A vending system comprising: a vending device operable to enable at least one product or service to be supplied to a user, the vending device carrying a passive data storer having a memory storing data relating to the at least one product or service; and a portable communications device having a communicator operable to communicate over a network and a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal, the passive data storer carried by the vending device having a power deriver operable to derive a power supply for the passive data storer from the carrier signal when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storer and a modulator operable to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, the portable communications device having a data extractor operable to extract data from a modulated carrier signal and a controller operable to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.