A checkout-payment device includes a controller configured to recognize items to be purchased by a user from an image captured by a camera, make checkout and payment for the recognized items, and perform face recognition to identify the user based on an image of the user’s face captured by a second camera, wherein, upon recognition of an age-restricted item, after identifying a user, the controller performs age verification based on information on the age of the identified user to determine whether the user is subject to the age restrictions. The device also includes a touch screen display configured to display results of operations for item recognition, checkout and payment, and face recognition.

Systems and methods for performing inventory management. The methods comprise: measuring, by an Out Of Stock (“OOS”) sensor at a first time, a first collective weight of a plurality of items disposed thereon; measuring, by the OOS sensor at a second later time, a second collective weight of a plurality of items disposed thereon; using the first and second collective weights to determine if an item has been added to or removed from the OOS sensor; and wirelessly communicating, from the OOS sensor to a remote computing device, a notification that an item has been added to or removed from the OOS sensor such that stored inventory information is updated accordingly. The OOS sensor comprises a base layer having a planar cross-sectional profile and an array of weight measuring sensors (e.g., piezoresistive sensors).

A maintenance monitoring apparatus includes: a maintenance management part that manages, based on a monitoring result of a current or power of a vending machine that provides a beverage by extracting the beverage from a raw material, whether an operation performed on the vending machine is a predetermined maintenance operation and whether the maintenance has been executed at an appropriate time interval and as many times as necessary; and a notification part that notifies that a maintenance has been executed or not.

Disclosed are systems and methods for managing secure refrigerated bin systems. A system receives a request to access a respective compartment of a plurality of compartments in a dispensing device. Responsive to receiving the access request-and identifying one or more medications in the respective compartment, a safe temperature range specific to the identified one or more medications is determined, and a temperature of the respective compartment is determined using a respective temperature sensor of the respective compartment. The system determines whether the determined temperature of the respective compartment is within the safe temperature range of the identified one or more medications causes an alert to be displayed when the determined temperature of the respective compartment is outside of the safe temperature range of the identified one or more medications.

The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.

Systems and methods are provided for a low stock product display alert system. A system includes a pushing element configured to push one or more products toward a front of a shelf as a unit of the product is removed from the shelf. The system also includes an RFID component, where the RFID component is configured to be in a dormant state when the pushing element is in a first position. The system further includes an activation element configured to activate the RFID component when the pushing element is in a second position, where when activated, the RFID component is configured to emit a signal indicating that the product display is out of product.

A disease management system and therapeutic hub are provided. In certain embodiments, a dispensing apparatus used as part of a compliance monitoring system for the disease management system can function as a therapeutic hub that interacts with a plurality of peripheral devices to accumulate, communicate, and analyze a variety of medical and non-medical related data of the patient.

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.

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are described herein useful to indicate the number of products on a merchandising unit. Counting devices as described herein maintain an accurate count of the number of products on a given merchandising unit and provides a display of the count.