Automated, environmentally monitored and controlled storage units and systems for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of products, particularly temperature sensitive pharmaceutical and/or other high-value products, be they temperature sensitive or not. Such automated storage units contain an array of independently addressable holding locations for containers with product in one or more environmentally monitored (e.g., for temperature, humidity, etc.) and controlled zones fitted with appropriate environmental sensors. In preferred embodiments, the automated storage units also include a reader to track product information and status. Product loading, retrieval, and movement within such automated storage units is performed by a computer-controlled robot. A user interface device, preferably in communication with an application service provider to provide remotely managed inventory management and other services, provides users with inventory- and product-specific information.

A vending machine recognition apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a vending machine; and a recognition unit configured to recognize merchandise from the captured image and recognize a price of the merchandise from a peripheral image region of an image region of the recognized merchandise.

When a vending machine control system S detects a user who is about to open a door 13 of a vending machine 1 while the door 13 is locked, the vending machine control system S determines whether the detected user has a payment capability on the basis of information for settlement of the detected user. And then, the vending machine control system S controls to unlock the door 13 of the vending machine 1 in a case that it is determined that the user has the payment capability.

A secure delivery system according to various aspects of the present technology comprises a transport box having a storage space, an environmental control unit, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a deployable receiving tray responsive to automated delivery systems. The transport box fits within an interior space of a delivery box having a GPS receiver that provides a geographic delivery location of the delivery box. The delivery box comprises a plurality of corresponding electrical contacts configured to be coupled to the electrical contacts of the transport box to provide power to the transport box. The delivery box may further comprise an electronic lock that is responsive to a delivery box controller circuit configured to operate the electronic lock.

An apparatus and method for transferring value from a credit card to a card acceptor in order to provide access to playing multiple game machines from a single payment source is described. A kiosk or vending machine performs two functions, including the activation of multiple games through the use of a single credit card. The apparatus includes a central unit for accepting the credit card activates remote game machines via hardwire or wirelessly. Additionally, the apparatus may provide change, in bill or coin form, using a bill acceptor that exchanges larger denominations for smaller.

An embodiment may involve receiving, by a computing system, a message from a wireless service provider system. The computing system may include one or more computing devices located, e.g., in the trusted cloud. The message may contain a service-provider-based identity of a client device, an indication that the service-provider-based identity has been authenticated by the wireless service provider, and a code that the client device obtained from a remote machine proximate to the client device. The computing system may generate an anonymized identity of the client device based on the service-provider-based identity. The computing system may verify that a task associated with the code is within the authorized capabilities of the anonymized identity. Possibly based on the code (and perhaps other information as well), the computing system may transmit an instruction to the remote machine. The instruction may direct the remote machine to perform the task.

An apparatus for dispensing articles to a user comprising an cage having walls defining a hollow interior with one wall having a door with a locking mechanism for automatically engaging the lock; an cage electronic module having a power source, an cage communication means to communicate with a remote monitoring device, a camera, an cage interface for receiving user inputs, an cage notification means and a remote locking system; and a remote monitoring device communicating with the cage electronic module having a power supply, a remote communication means , a visual display for receiving video from an cage camera, a remote device interface for receiving attendant inputs, a remote notification means, whereby, a user can notify an attendant after payment, to dispense articles from an cage, while attendant remotely visually monitors and opens the cage allowing a user to retrieve the purchased articles, after which the lock automatically re-engages.

Mobile payment systems and methods for vending machines can include a mobile payment system comprising: a vending server module that is configured to: generate a unique session identifier in response to receipt of a unique machine identifier associated with a vending machine and a price of a product to be purchased from the vending machine; receive a mobile payment request from a mobile device, the mobile payment request comprising payment credentials, the unique session identifier, the unique machine identifier and the price of the product; and generate a vending authorization message on a condition that the mobile payment request is approved, the vending authorization message comprising instructions for the vending machine to dispense the product.

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.

Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for use in generating one or more customized food items that are customized specifically for the one or more users, the user information to be acquired including at least one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of the one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the one or more customized food items having been customized to show one or more visual indicators that provide customized information that has been customized in accordance, at least in part, with the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.