A compact vending machine for dispensing food products is disclosed. The compact vending machine includes a lightweight housing which may be mounted on a wall and a payment system that is configured to accept non-cash payments. A power source of the compact vending machine may be an external powers source, such as a power outlet, or an internal battery. An embodiment of the compact vending machine includes a controller and a communication system that are configured to transmit status information about the compact vending machine to a network.

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 intelligent shelf comprising: a top platform; an electronics module including: one or more sensors for sensing presence of content on the top platform; a wireless communication chip for enabling data communication over a network; a display screen for displaying dynamic messages based on the data communication and the sensing.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods to provide physical items to users participating in a real-world interactive environment. The users may participate in the interactive environment by having experiences within the interactive environment. The systems and methods described herein include techniques in which the users may be provided with physical items through special purpose physical item dispensers. The physical items may be specifically selected and dispensed to the users based on the experiences that have occurred during their past participation.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods to provide physical items to users participating in a real-world interactive environment. The users may participate in the interactive environment by having experiences within the interactive environment. The systems and methods described herein include techniques in which the users may be provided with physical items through special purpose physical item dispensers. The physical items may be specifically selected and dispensed to the users based on the experiences that have occurred during their past participation.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for administration of a customer loyalty program at a point of sale terminal. The system, in one embodiment, contains a database of customer records for the loyalty program where each customer record contains information about a customer's payment device and information about a customer's mobile device. The system may locate a customer record in a database based on payment device or mobile device information captured at the point of sale terminal and apply any applicable loyalty program discounts. The system may then forward the payment device information to a third-party payment processor for payment processing. The system may print out a receipt at the point of sale terminal indicating any discounts and containing a promotional message. The system may also send a promotional message to the customer's mobile device using the mobile device information stored in the customer's record.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for administration of a customer loyalty program at a point of sale terminal. The system, in one embodiment, contains a database of customer records for the loyalty program where each customer record contains information about a customer's payment device and information about a customer's mobile device. The system may locate a customer record in a database based on payment device or mobile device information captured at the point of sale terminal and apply any applicable loyalty program discounts. The system may then forward the payment device information to a third-party payment processor for payment processing. The system may print out a receipt at the point of sale terminal indicating any discounts and containing a promotional message. The system may also send a promotional message to the customer's mobile device using the mobile device information stored in the customer's record.

One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for facilitating the exchange of an item. For example, a containment component is configured to receive one or more items. A locking component is configured to selectively restrict or allow access to the item. A code generation component is configured to generate and provide an unlocking code to a requestor (e.g., based upon payment by the requestor that requests access to the item). A code entry component is configured to receive user input of a code. The code entry component either retains the locking component in a locked state if the code is not validated as the unlocking code or transitions the locking component into an unlocked state if the code is validated as the unlocking code.

A transaction card processing and activation system comprising the identification of a unique identifier corresponding to an aggregate of transaction cards of affiliated or non-affiliated card issuers and the activation of each transaction card corresponding to the unique identifier of the aggregate irrespective of the number, types, or card issuers of the transaction cards. Additionally, the present invention allows a point of sale entity to initiate the activation of each of the multiple, disparate transaction cards in the aggregate by merely processing the unique identifier associated with the aggregate.

A remotely-accessible computer system allows a purchase to establish an account and then purchase admission to live events or venues. The system provides the purchaser with a pass containing data identifying the account established for the purchaser which account contains information about purchased admissions. The pass can be used to gain access multiple events. The purchaser presents the pass at the entrance to the event and a reader reads the identification data and forwards it to the system. The system checks that the purchaser has purchased entry to the particular event and provides a signal to the event indicating whether admission to the event should be allowed or refused.