The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for securely providing telemetry data of a dispenser machine to an administrator system via an exposed web service over a computer network. To secure the exposed web service, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide secure gateways at the dispenser machine and the administrator system that can provide one or more of message integrity, authentication, authorization, and confidentiality. The secure gateways are implemented separate from the applications creating web service request and response messages at the dispenser machine and the administrator system, respectively. Because the secure gateways are implemented separate from the applications creating the web service request and response messages, the applications creating the web service request and response messages can be created and modified without consideration to message security, which is handled transparently by the secure gateways.

A vending machine having a goods store, a goods dispensing apparatus and a user interface contains a goods input region for inserting goods to be returned and an identification apparatus for the goods which interacts with a data processing device and a data memory. The present invention also relates to a vending machine (40) which is associated with a goods store (2), which goods store (2) is stocked in a manner organized by a plurality of goods carriers (41), wherein a goods input region (4) for inserting old goods intended for replacement, return, or repurchase and an identification apparatus oriented to the input region (4) are provided, and wherein signal transducers (42, 43) are provided which are associated with a goods carrier (41) or with a group of goods carriers (41), wherein said signal transducers (42, 43) have a signal link to the identification apparatus such that following identification of old goods inserted into the goods input region (4) the signal transducer (42, 43) or the signal transducers (42, 43) for a goods carrier (41) or for a group of goods carriers (41) which is/are intended to stock new goods associated with the old goods is/are activated.

An automated method is provided for enabling and implementing a beacon-based service location application in a user device having a beacon monitoring application. A service location facilitation server establishes service need criteria for a user of the user device and estimates a service need state for the user. The service need state includes information indicative of a relative need for a desired service. The service location facilitation server then determines whether the service need state meets the service need criteria, and, if so, transmits an instruction to the user device to transition the beacon monitoring application from an inactive state to an active monitoring state.

The present invention provides a dispenser interface, associated methods and systems, and dispensers employing the dispenser interface and associated systems and methods. An example embodiment provides a method of configuring a communication interface of a dispenser controller configured to control a dispenser for dispensing hygiene products or other products. The method comprises operatively connecting a communication controller to the communication interface of the dispenser controller; and transmitting, via the communication interface and from the communication controller and to the dispenser controller, configuration information, the configuration information comprising at least one of: a communication protocol, instructions indicating dispenser information to be communicated in association with the occurrence of at least one type of dispenser event, instructions associated with how to communicate dispenser information associated with at least one type of dispenser event to the communication controller, and a priority indicator associated with at least one type of dispenser event.

A modular, scalable prescription dispensing and verification system includes a four-tiered central conveyor, dispensing control system with stored patient orders for creating dispensing and routing itineraries, carriers transporting itineraries and dispensed medications, induction station, pairs of processing stations divided by the conveyor, including automated and manual dispensing, verification, cold chain, and ambient packaging. Crossover conveyors transport carriers between dispensing station pair members for dispensing multiple products per station pair. One conveyor tier returns empty carriers to induction, another transports carriers from each dispensing station to verification, then to packaging, another transports carriers from induction to dispensing, then to additional dispensing, another conveys carriers from induction to dispensing stations. Carrier stops halt carriers at stations for removal for processing, replacement, and transport to the next station, or deposit on another tier and transport to a different station. The system may include two conveyor modules, one for refrigerated or ambient unit-of-use items, another for ambient countables.

A game system capable of suppressing the variation in the remaining number of prizes between multiple game machines is provided. A game system includes two game machines that each provide a game and a prize discharge mechanism that discharges a capsule from among multiple capsules that contain a plurality of physical prizes. Additionally, the prize discharge mechanism discharges a capsule when a prize condition is satisfied in at least one of the two game machines.

A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.

Embodiments of the invention provide a vending machine for enabling a transaction between a user and one of a plurality of remote sources. Vending machine may include a communication interface communicatively coupled with each source. Vending machine may include an input interface for receiving an input regarding the selection of a source. Vending machine may include a speaker and a microphone for audio communication with selected source, as well as a display for providing information related to the transaction from selected source. Vending machine may include a processor that transmits an indication that a source has been selected and establishes, via the communication interface, audio communication. Processor may receive, via the communication interface, a control command from selected source directing a hardware peripheral of vending machine to perform a function. Processor may receive an issuance authorization from selected source. The issuance authorization may cause a transaction item to be issued.

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.

Certain example embodiments relate to vending machines with large area transparent touch electrode (LATTE) technology, and/or associated methods. By using the low-E Ag-based coatings described herein, it is possible to create new vending machine user interfaces that are more interesting and interactive than conventional interfaces. Touch-based user interfaces may be useful in vending, attract, and game-playing modes into which example vending machines may be placed and under which they may be operated.