A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.

A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back.

Systems and methods for intelligently allocating inventory across a network of vending machines. The systems and methods include associating vending machines with an inventory target for a product and predicting a production requirement of the product based upon the respective inventory targets. After production occurs, the systems and methods include determining a difference between an amount of the product produced by the production facility based upon the predicted production requirement. To intelligently allocate the difference, the systems and methods include calculating a percentage by which the respective inventory target of vending machines changes if the modified and modifying the inventory target for vending machines in a manner that minimizes a sum of the percentages by which the respective inventory targets changes.

Systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with mobile commerce platforms implemented on, for example, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a mobile commerce account on a mobile device includes receiving coins and/or other funds from a user at a consumer-operated kiosk. The method can further include counting the coins and/or other funds to determine a value, and then communicating at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the hand-held mobile device for deposit in the mobile commerce account.

A controlled dispensing fixture including a display screen, a scanning device, and one or more processors is configured to: obtain via the display screen or remote scanner a selection of one or more controlled products; update a user interface on the display screen based on the selection; determine whether the one or more controlled products meet a purchase limit associated with the one or more controlled products for dispensing; obtain via the scanning device consumer identification information; determine whether the consumer identification information meets an age threshold and/or an identity requirement associated with the one or more controlled products; and in accordance with a determination that (i) the one or more controlled products meet the purchase limit for dispensing, and (ii) the consumer identification information meets the age threshold and/or the identity requirement, transmit a dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture to dispense the one or more controlled products.

A method of presenting product information in a vending machine may include detecting audio information from a consumer and converting the audio information to a text string. The method may include identifying a keyword in the text string, and determining products from a product database associated with the keyword. The method may include returning a list of the products that correspond to the keyword.

A product transfer enclosure comprising: a back door assembly; a front door assembly; an electronics module comprising a communication chip for enabling data communication over a network; and a display screen, coupled to the front door, for displaying dynamic messages based on the data communication.

Exemplary embodiments of restroom monitoring systems having a virtual assistants includes a communications gateway located in a restroom. The communications gateway having a processor, memory, short range communications circuitry, long range communications circuitry, a microphone and a speaker. The communications gateway containing logic for listening for a wake up word and upon detecting a wake up word, capturing a request, logic for processing the request to determine what request is being requested, logic for verifying the request with the requester, and one of a plurality of wave files and a voice synthesizer. The system further includes one or more dispensers located in the restroom. The one or more dispensers having short range communications circuitry for communicating status or product level to the communications gateway.

Described herein is an Internet of payments, i.e., a loosely coupled, federated architecture for electronic payment in which payers and payees interact through an Internet-based store-and-forward payment bus to complete an electronic payment. Merchants may use any payment service or gateway and any device to place a payment request on the payment bus; similarly, payers may use any payment service or gateway from any device to make a payment toward the payment request. Embodiments describe how this invention addresses different types of payments including contactless physical payments, online payments and vending machine and kiosk payments, with scenarios illustrating voluntary donations, paying a restaurant check with tips from a mobile device, automated actions at the completion of a payment (e.g., issuing a ticket by a ticketing kiosk) etc.

Systems and methods for dispensing compositions, such as beverages, are provided. A beverage dispenser may be configured to receive input corresponding to a selection of a beverage, and in response, a graphical representation of the beverage at a display device. The beverage dispenser may receive additional input corresponding to an adjustment of an amount of an ingredient of the selected beverage, and in response, the graphical representation of the beverage may be updated. The graphical representation of the beverage may include graphics depicting the beverage container, the volume of liquid in the beverage container, and the adjusted ingredient.