A beverage dispenser and method for operating a beverage dispenser may include receiving a handshake request from a mobile device of a user. A communications link may be established with the mobile device. Responsive to receiving control data associated with a beverage order from the mobile device, a physical function may be caused to be performed by the beverage dispenser.

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems that interact with users to provide access to media appropriate to and/or customized for a particular user using the entertainment system, the location at which the entertainment system is being accessed, and/or a predefined event. For example, in certain exemplary embodiments, an entertainment system in a location is configured to provide jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services that are accessible from within and from the outside of the location, and provide (1) attract or flight media operations, (2) browsing services, and/or (3) search screens appropriate to and/or customized for a particular user using the entertainment system, the location at which the entertainment system is being accessed, and/or a predefined event. Such screens may be provided with a three-dimensional look-and-feel in certain exemplary embodiments.

A system and method for control of prescription drug packaging and dispensing machines located in an in-patient health care facility including centralized control and enhanced communication between system components. Delay and errors in processing item data in the prescription dispensing system are reduced by using concise ID data incorporated into each canister memory chip and storing canister contents data elsewhere. Canisters are configured in a pharmacy using interchangeable parts. Data being processed is synchronized by a combination of user tokens (who), data identifiers (what), and unique Ids for the entities in the system (where). The foregoing combination enables substantial efficiency improvements and error reduction.

A system and method for enabling wireless dispensation of products from the self-service kiosk/vending machine without using an application associated with the self-service kiosk/vending machine. For this purpose, a machine-readable code, which is displayed on the self-service kiosk, is scanned by a portable user device. Further a short-range connection (e.g., BLE connection) is established between the portable user device and the self-service kiosk. This further enables sharing product inventory data to the portable electronic device. The inventory data is accessible through browser application of the portable electronic device. After selection of desired products by a user and making successful payment, the selected products are dispensed from the self-service kiosk.

A method of retrieving a lost item from a compartment to an owner of the lost item is provided. The method comprises detecting the lost item in the compartment to define an item image of the lost item relative to the compartment, updating an inventory list of lost objects, and identifying at least one potential user of the lost item. The method further comprises providing notification to the at least one potential user and providing viewable access of the item image. The method further comprises verifying ownership of the lost item to define the owner of the lost item, determining a preferred pickup location for the owner, storing the lost item at the preferred location defining a stored item, and confirming identity of the owner for retrieval of the stored item at the preferred location. The method further comprises allowing access to the stored item from the preferred location.

A system for controlling the dispensing of fuel or the like in a vending apparatus, particularly for private use, comprising one or more dispensing assemblies, one or more mobile processing devices, and a central remote processing device, the mobile devices being configured to transmit data originating from the dispensing assemblies toward the central remote device. Each dispensing assembly comprises an electronic controller and dispensing element which comprise an electric pump, the electronic controller being configured to control electronically the electric pump of the dispensing element on the basis of the occurrence of an operating condition of the electrical and/or hydraulic type of the dispensing element of the dispensing assembly.

A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.

The invention provides a system to physically dispense an item, including tangible items and/or services or features, on-site from a dispenser whereby the item to be dispensed is selected by the system based on user-specific or item-specific information. In an embodiment, the system selects the dispensed item based on both user-specific and item-specific information. In another embodiment the invention comprises a system that activates gaming features in a gaming device based on user-specific information. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a system incorporated into an interactive amusement system to activate features of a playfield based on user-specific information.

The invention provides a system to physically dispense an item, including tangible items and/or services or features, on-site from a dispenser whereby the item to be dispensed is selected by the system based on user-specific or item-specific information. In an embodiment, the system selects the dispensed item based on both user-specific and item-specific information. In another embodiment the invention comprises a system that activates gaming features in a gaming device based on user-specific information. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a system incorporated into an interactive amusement system to activate features of a playfield based on user-specific information.

An electronic device includes a slave interface configured for coupling to a machine controller of a machine via a multi-drop bus (MDB), a host interface configured for coupling to a first peripheral device of the machine, and memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors and comprising instructions for: registering the electronic device as a slave to the machine controller, registering the first peripheral device as a slave to the electronic device, receiving from a mobile device a request to access signals generated by the first peripheral device, validating the request, and sending a reset command to the first peripheral device via the host interface, the reset command including a directive to update a signal destination address of the first peripheral device from a controller address of the machine controller to a device address of the electronic device.