Patent ID: 8386074

Claim:
A vending machine comprising: a housing defining a product holding area; a frame positioned in the product holding area; a plurality first product holders, each first product holder removably attached to the frame, each first product holder configured to hold a first product package, each said first product package including an RFID tag holding pocket; a plurality second product holders positioned behind the plurality of first product holders, said second product holders being different than said first product holders, each second product holder configured to hold a second product package, each said second product package including an RFID tag holding pocket; a plurality of RFID sensors, each RFID sensor attached to a different one of the first product holders and the second product holders, each first product holder having one of the RFID sensors attached to said first product holder, each second product holder having one of the RFID sensors attached to said second product holder; a door attached to the housing, said door including a support structure; a first electronic combination display device and input device supported by the support structure; a second electronic display device supported by the support structure and configured in one mode to display advertising or other content; a payment receiver supported by the support structure; a product retrieval area defined by the support structure; a lock element mounted to the support structure; and a computer control system configured to control various functions of the vending machine, said computer control system configured to: (a) receive data from a vending machine operator computer system; (b) transfer data to the vending machine operator computer system; and (c) receive data from the plurality of RFID sensors to determine first product packages held by the first product holders and to determine second product packages held by the second product holders.