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 system and method for a vending machine is provided. One embodiment has a user interface configured to receive a plurality of user selections of a plurality of food products of interest from the user; a robotic system configured to transport a container to a plurality of food tanks to receive food products dispensed from selected ones of the plurality of food tanks, wherein a unique machine readable code is printed on an outside surface of at least one of the container and a container seal; and a scanner configured to scan the machine readable code. Wherein prior to delivery of the container with the machine readable code, the controller system controls the robotic system so that the scanner acquires the machine readable code, and wherein the controller system associates at least food product information with the received machine readable code information.

In one general aspect, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a display case door that includes a panel assembly, a door frame, an electronic display, and a touchscreen. The door frame extends about and secured to a peripheral edge of the panel assembly. The electronic display overlays the panel assembly and is secured to the door frame. The touch screen overlaps a first portion of the electronic display, and the display includes a second portion which is not overlapped by the touchscreen.

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.

A computer method and graphical user interface (GUI) for settlement of a commodity contract includes displaying, on an electronic display of a first user device, a GUI for receiving input of information related to a particular commodity smart contract for transfer of a commodity, receiving input data including information related to commodity attributes from a first user via the GUI, displaying a commodity price field in the GUI, transferring the received input data to a server computer, displaying a commit object in the GUI receiving input from the commit object, transmitting a commitment to the server computer to cause the server computer to establish a smart commodity contract for the commodity, and displaying, in the GUI on the electronic display, a receipt acknowledgement object indicating that the smart contract is established and the first user is obligated to abide by the smart contract.

A system and method for creating a mixed consumable item may include displaying a first set of selectable indicia on a touchscreen, where the indicia may be (i) indicative of respective consumable ingredients and (ii) distinctly positioned relative to one another. A swype gesture may be received from a user via the touchscreen that forms a path extending between a first position and a second position that touches or passes close to multiple selectable indicia. From the first set of consumable ingredients, a plurality of combinations of consumable ingredients most likely to have been intended to be selected by the user based on the path of the swype gesture may be predicted. Selectable predicted combinations of consumable ingredients may be displayed on the touchscreen to enable one of the selectable combinations of consumable ingredients to be selected by the user for mixing by a dispenser of consumable items.

A computer method and graphical user interface (GUI) for settlement of a commodity contract includes displaying, on an electronic display of a first user device, a GUI for receiving input of information related to a particular commodity smart contract for transfer of a commodity, receiving input data including information related to commodity attributes from a first user via the GUI, displaying a commodity price field in the GUI, transferring the received input data to a server computer, displaying a commit object in the GUI receiving input from the commit object, transmitting a commitment to the server computer to cause the server computer to establish a smart commodity contract for the commodity, and displaying, in the GUI on the electronic display, a receipt acknowledgement object indicating that the smart contract is established and the first user is obligated to abide by the smart contract.

A cigarette vending machine that dispenses a single cigarette at a time. The cigarette vending machine includes a touchscreen that allows a user to select a particular brand of cigarettes. In addition, the vending machine includes a camera and an identification reader so that the user's age can be verified, and so that the user can be verified to be the same person as the identification holder.

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.

Disclosed is a display module including a transparent display panel and a frame to fix a side of the transparent display panel, wherein the frame has a communication unit to receive data from the outside, a controller to process the received data and to output a drive command corresponding to the processed data and a display drive unit to drive the transparent display panel in response to the drive command from the controller. A display system includes a system body and a display module detachably mounted in the system body.