A vending machine for storing and selling restricted commodities, and a vending method implemented therein. In the vending machine, a control module comprises a processor executing program codes to provide a vending service. A user interface is connected to the control module, comprising a sensor sampling biometric characteristics of a user. A communication module is connected to the control module, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive commands from the control module, and communicate with a central system or the user. The control module drives said sensor to capture the biometric characteristics of the user, and then uploads the biometric characteristics to the central system through the communications module. A database storing associations of the biometric characteristics and identity characteristics of users. The control module receives a search result from the database based on the biometric characteristics of the user to determine whether a restricted commodity is authorized for sale.

A mobile consumer device with a display, processor(s), and memory: identifies a merchant device in proximity to the consumer device based on broadcasted information transmitted by the first merchant device, the broadcasted information including a first identifier corresponding to the first merchant device; transmits the first identifier to a server and receives from the server an electronic communication including identification and transaction information associated with the merchant; displays the identification information, receives user selection of the merchant identification information; and in response, displays the merchant transaction information, receives supplemental user information, and transmits the supplemental transaction information to the server for completion of the transaction.

A mobile device with a first transceiver, a second transceiver, one or more processors, and memory bridges communications between an offline retail machine with a short-range communication capability and a remote server by obtaining via the first transceiver a single-use request code from an information packet broadcast by the offline retail machine; transmitting via the second transceiver the single-use request code to a remote server; obtaining via the second transceiver from the remote server a grant token including the single-use request code; detecting a trigger condition for initiating provision of a product or service by the offline retail machine; and in response to detecting the trigger condition, initiating performance of the provision of the product or service by transmitting the grant token to the offline retail machine via the first transceiver.

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 for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more container cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

Described herein are a cash register and a ticket vending mechanism that require little or no merchant infrastructure resulting in dramatic cost reduction for merchants. These are made possible through a payer-centric payment paradigm where the payer—as opposed to the merchant—completes the payment transaction without depending on the merchant, resulting in increased payer convenience and payment security.

The disclosure generally relates to a system for managing and dynamically generating beverage recipes. The system can obtain an ingredient modifier and can generate a beverage recipe based on the ingredient modifier and a recipe generation policy. The system can cause an automated dispensing system to automatedly dispense a group of ingredients in accordance with the beverage recipe.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user computing device associated with a user for one or more items from an in-vehicle vending apparatus during a ride. The method also includes sending information associated with the user to start a vending session using the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes receiving an indication that the user associated with the user computer device accessed the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes determining that the user associated with the user computing device is the only user associated with the ride, determining that the user associated with the user computing device is one of a plurality of users associated with the ride, or determining that the user associated with the user computing device is associated with the in-vehicle vending apparatus.

The present invention relates to a system and method of selling goods or services, or collecting recycle refuse using mechanized mobile merchantry, comprising positioning, by self-propelling, at least one of a mechanized mobile merchantry within a geographical boundary, allowing interaction with consumers, and effectuating selling of goods or services, or collection of recycle refuse with consumers. Other exemplary embodiments can include signaling a mechanized mobile merchantry with a consumer's mobile device to direct the merchantry to self-propel to the consumer's location, and utilizing usage logs and algorithms to optimize functionality of a fleet of merchantry and reposition the merchantry, as necessary, within a geographical boundary, to increase sales and consumer convenience. The present invention also relates to a waste collection system with option to deliver new food and beverage items includes a customer service robot comprising a slave computer and one or more waste receptacles to collect waste material. The customer service robot includes at least one robotic arm having at least three degrees of motion to facilitate collection from, e.g., tables and the like. The customer service robot is also capable of interfacing with a recycling unit and a master computer to control disposal of the collected waste.

In an example embodiment, a beverage vending device is provided that includes a network interface and one or more processors. The beverage vending device also includes a computer-readable tangible medium with instructions stored thereon that direct the one or more processors to establish contact with an available network and locate a second beverage vending device on the network. The computer-readable tangible medium also has instructions stored thereon that direct the one or more processors to establish contact with the second beverage vending device on the network, and communicate with the second beverage vending device via the network.