Technical Field

The present invention relates to a management system and method which enable to collect desired products from shelves automatically in vending machines upon they are selected and paid by means of an input unit such as screen, to deliver them to customers, and to manage and track the vending machines and the products sold in the vending machines remotely.

Background of the Invention

Vending machines whereby a wide variety of products are sold automatically by means of the equipment it has are widely used in different fields today. The stock status, sales rate, price update of products sold in the said vending machines are tracked by people manually in the state of the art. However, tracking the vending machines of stores -which make sales by retail- manually requires too much labor and time in terms of both proliferation of use of vending machines and enhancement of diversity of products sold in vending machines.

Today, various systems are being developed so as to track vending machines remotely. Telemetry systems, which enable to monitor or control a system or a facility remotely in a wired or wireless way, are one of the systems used for remote management of vending machines. A telemetry system is a system whereby all vending machines can be viewed from a single point; product and stock management can be carried out on the basis of vending machine; information about vending machines such as cooling/shutdown status, operating status are included; daily sales of vending machines can be viewed as well; and product management is carried out for products to be sold in vending machines. However, due to the fact that known telemetry systems do not operate in integration with any retail company, companies cannot perform instant price changes, instant stock changes and instant sales tracking which occur during the business process. And the back office and front office business processes of retail companies are disrupted in these cases. Customer complaints are experienced because there are no retail business processes such as automatic ordering, product management. In addition, known vending systems use a vending machine communication protocol called MDB (Multi-Drop Bus / Internal Communication Protocol) in order to communicate with remote servers. All control of a vending machine and acquisition of the system information thereof are provided over this protocol. Information such as product release, information of shelf spiral motor sensor, information of chamber sensor (product dropped/not dropped), temperature information, fault status information can be received over MDB protocol. Because MDB protocol is a standard vending machine protocol, its integration into corporate retail systems is difficult. It cannot meet the safety standards required by merchandising systems and retail systems.

Therefore considering the studies and the deficiencies included in the state of the art, it is understood that there is need for a system whereby retail stores can receive all data related to vending machines by integrating their vending machines into their own merchandising systems and manage their vending machines remotely.

The Chinese patent document no. CN113516528A, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a vending machine remote management and monitoring system which comprises a background server and a database arranged in the background server. In the inventive system, the background server is in communication connection with a vending machine and the database. The background server comprises a network monitoring module, an operation module and a sales module. The database is in signal connection with the network monitoring module, the operation module and the sales module and is used for recording and storing data from the network monitoring module, the operation module and the sales module. According to the remote management and monitoring system for the vending machine, real-time management and state monitoring are achieved, the number of operating machines is increased, the labor cost is reduced, state maintenance information and consumption information are stored in the database. The vending machine prompts consumers through the alarm module when the conditions such as faults or insufficient stock occur, and the fault information and the stock information are stored in the information storage module. The vending machine is connected with a background server through the wireless data communication module and then uploads the fault information and the stock information to the operation module, so that operators can handle the fault information and the stock information in time.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a system and method which enable vending machines, whereby desired products are collected from shelves automatically upon they are selected and paid by means of an input unit such as screen and they are delivered to customers, to establish communication with the store via remote integration; to perform product and stock tracking and management remotely on the basis of the vending machine; and to manage information about vending machines such as cooling/shutdown status, operating status, daily sales amount.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a system and method which enable to query product price and campaign information of products, that are sold in vending machines, on merchandising databases; to display the current prices of products on the screen located on the vending machines instantly; to send the price information of products to the means of payment located on the vending machines; to enable the persons who want to purchase products to make payment by means of any payment method and then to purchase products; to create a product invoice on an online virtual vault by means of a remote server and then to record it. Detailed Description of the Invention

The “Sales and Management System and Method for Vending Machines” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

Figure l is a schematic view of the inventive system.

Figure l is a flowchart of the inventive method.

The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. System

2. Vending machine

2.1. Screen

2.2. Payment device

2.3. Communication module

2.4. Processor

3. Database

4. Electronic device

5. Merchandising application

6. Server

7. Virtual vault server

100. Method

The inventive system (1) which enables to collect desired products from shelves automatically in vending machines upon they are selected and paid by means of an input unit such as screen, to deliver them to customers, and to manage and monitor the vending machines and the products sold in the vending machines remotely, comprises at least one vending machine (2) which enables to provide the products, that are positioned in the shelves located in thereof, for customers in an automated way from an aperture located in its body by means of a movable equipment upon they are selected by customers by means of the screen (2.1) it has and paid by means of the payment device (2.2) it has; and is configured to establish communication with the remote servers by means of the communication module (2.3) it has; and to realize data exchange by means of a processor (2.4) wherein the payment device (2.2) and the communication module (2.3) are positioned; at least one database (3) which is configured to keep record of the product information related to the store, the data related to the vending machines (2) and the products sold in the vending machines (2); at least one electronic device (4) which is configured to realize data exchange by using any remote communication protocol and to run at least one application on itself; at least one merchandising application (5) which is run on the electronic device (4) and configured to ensure that the vending machines (2) are matched with stores by users, to determine the number of products the vending machine (2) can contain according to the number of product placement compartments (spiral) and/or shelves of the vending machines (2), to match each spiral with the products to be placed into the said spirals, to manage the products to be sold in the vending machines (2) and to view the products located inside the vending machine (2); at least one server (6) which is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (4) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange with the merchandising application (5) over this communication established; to manage the database (3) and to access the data inside the database (3); to receive the data of vending machine-store, vending machine-product matching realized on the merchandising application (5) and then to save these data to the database (3); to establish communication with the vending machine (2) by means of the communication module (2.3) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange; to receive the product price and campaign information by running a query on the database (3) for the related products upon receiving the information of product selection made by the customers on the vending machine (2) and to ensure that these information are displayed on the screen (2.1) and the payment device (2.2) by transmitting them to the communication module (2.3); to receive and record the product payment information over the communication established with the vending machine (2); and at least one virtual vault server (7) which is configured to establish communication with the server (6) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange; to create product-based financial records related to the store where the vending machine (2) belongs to upon it is triggered by the information about the fact that payment is received over the server (6) and to ensure that the sales made are tracked and recorded in accordance with the financial records created.

The vending machine (2) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to receive the products, that are positioned in the shelves located in thereof, in an automated way and then to provide these products for customers from an aperture located in its body by means of a movable equipment in the form of a robotic arm. The said vending machine (2) has at least one processor (2.4) wherein at least one screen (2.1) for enabling customers to select the products they want to purchase, at least one payment device (2.2) for making the payments of the selected products and at least one communication module (2.3) for establishing communication with the remote servers are positioned. The screen (2.1) located on the vending machine (2) is configured to enable customers to make a selection by dialling the numbers and/or typing their names of the products they want by means of an input unit in the form of a button and/or touchscreen interface. The processor (2.4) located on the vending machine (2) is a device in the form of a mini computer that can carry out transactions necessary to manage the vending machine (2) remotely.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vending machine (2) has a plurality of cameras configured to take a picture of both the area where the products are positioned and the area facing the customers and weight sensors configured to measure the shelf weights. The data obtained from the cameras and the weight sensors located on the said vending machine (2) are transmitted to the server (6) by means of the communication module (2.3).

In one embodiment of the invention, the vending machine (2) is a device in the form of refrigerator. The electromagnetic locked door of the said vending machine (2) is configured to be opened upon the customers scan the QR code and/or identify their credit card to the screen (2.1), located on the vending machine (2), by means of a merchandising application on their mobile device. The vending machine (2) is configured to transmit the scanned QR code and/or credit card information to the server (6) by means of the communication module (2.3).

The payment device (2.2), which is in communication with the processor (2.4), is a device in the form of POS device configured to enable the customers to make the payment of the products they selected. The payment device (2.2) is configured to enable the customers to make the payment of the products they selected by means of any payment method such as credit card, debit card, pre-paid card, cash and/or mobile payment. The said payment device (2.2) is configured to display the price information, that are obtained about the products selected by the communication module (2.3), on its screen. The payment device (2.2) is configured to directly receive the payment by making contact with the banks in accordance with the selection of the payment method. The payment device (2.2) is configured to transmit the data about the payments made to an application, that is run on the processor (2.4), so as to be transmitted to the server (6). The communication module (2.3) located in the processor (2.4) on the vending machine (2) is configured to establish communication with the remote servers by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication module (2.3) is configured to establish communication with the mechanical and electronic equipment located on the vending machine (2) by using at least one of communication protocols such as RS485, USB, WiFi, Bluetooth and to realize data exchange. The communication module (2.3) is configured to establish communication with the server (6), wherein merchandising transactions are carried out, by using any remote communication protocol and to transmit all transactions carried out on the vending machine (2) to the server (6). The communication module (2.3) is configured to send data to the server (6) in JSON or XML format by means of data transmission methods such as HTTP Rest POST. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication module (2.3) is configured to transmit information such as the product selection input via the screen (2.1) over the communication established with the server (6) wherein the merchandising transactions are carried out, the information about the spiral/product placement compartment and the serial number of the vending machine, the information about the payment made by means of the payment device (2.2), to the server (6) and to transmit the data such as the product and price information received from the server (6) to the screen (2.1) and the payment device (2.2). In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the vending machine (2) is configured to ensure that the product drops into the aperture located on itself by means of the movable equipment it has, upon it is triggered by the information such as “drop product” received from server (6) in the event that the payment of a product desired to be bought by means of the communication module (2.3) is successful. The communication module (2.3) is configured to record the stream data about all transactions carried out on the vending machine (2) and the mechanical data such as the temperature of the vending machine, the lid status, the chamber sensor information, the status of shelf modules related to the vending machine (2). The said vending machine (2) is configured to enable customers to scan QR code by means of the screen (2.1) it has, to receive the information about the customers by means of the scanned QR code and then to transmit these information to the server (6), to record them and enables to track the sales data of the vending machines.

The database (3) included in the inventive system (1) is in communication with the server (6) and configured to be managed by the server (6). The said database (3) is configured to keep record of the data about the stores and the products sold in itself such that they are associated with the store codes. The said database (3) is configured to keep record of the data about the vending machines (2) and the products sold in the vending machines (2) in itself such that they are associated with a distinctive singular identity information related to the vending machine (2). In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the database (3) is configured to keep record of the vending machines (2) together with a sub-location information that is created according to the code of the related store if the vending machine (2) is close to the store depending on whether it is close to the store or independent of the store, together with a store code only specific to the related vending machine (2) and the sub-location information created if it is not close to the store, and together with the serial number of the vending machine (2) such that they are matched with the store code and the sub-location information. The said database (3) is configured to keep record of the product number information on the basis of the shelves that can be contained by the vending machine according to the number of compartments where spiral/product is placed within each vending machine (2) in itself. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the database (3) is configured to keep record of the matching information of the products to be put into thereof by means of each spiral included in the vending machine (2) and the stock information of the product put into the compartments. The database (3) is configured to keep record of the data about from which vending machines (2) the customers did shopping in itself such that they are associated with a distinctive singular identity information related to the customers. The electronic device (4) included in the inventive system (1) is a device such as smartphone, tablet computer, desktop computer or portable computer configured to run at least one application (5) on itself. The said electronic device (4) has speakers for providing audio output, at least one camera capable of taking a picture and an input unit in the form of key or touchscreen. The electronic device (2) is configured to establish connection with the server (6) by using any remote communication protocol included in the state of art and to ensure that data exchange is realized between the application (5) and the server (6) over this connection established.

The application (5) included in the inventive system (1) is run on the electronic device (4) and configured to enable the users -who are at least store managers- to carry out merchandising transactions. The said application (5) is configured to enable the users to carry out and manage transactions related to stores and vending machines. The application (5) is configured to enable the users to match the stores with the vending machines (2) depending on whether they are located close to the store and/or in a location independent of the store for the vending machines (2) by means of an interface provided. The said application (5) is configured to enable the users to create a sub-location according to the store code for the vending machine (2) in the event that the vending machine (2) is close to the store and to create a store code and a sub-location only specific to the related vending machine (2) in the event that the vending machine (2) is independent of the store. The application (5) is configured to enable the users to match the vending machines (2) with the store code and the sub-location data crated for the vending machines (2) according to the serial numbers. The said application (5) is configured to transmit the matching data of the vending machine (2) and the store to the server (6) so as to be saved to the database (3). The application (5) is configured to enable the users to identity the number of products on the basis of the shelves that can be contained by the vending machine (2) according to the number of compartments where spiral/product is placed within each vending machine (2) by means of an interface provided. The application (5) is also configured to enable users to provide at least one interface adapted such that it will enable users to match each spiral and the products to be placed into the said spiral and to enter the stock information of the product placed into the spiral. The application (5) is configured to transmit the data of productspiral matching, performed by the users, to the server (6) so as to be saved to the database (3).

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the application (5) is configured to enable the users to view the product images within the vending machines (2) and the information about the products located in the vending machines (2).

The server (6) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (4) by using any remote communication protocol included in the state of the art and to realize data exchange with the application (5), that is run on the electronic device (4), over this communication established. The server (6) is configured to manage the database (3) by means of transactions such as making a record of new data into the database (3), deleting the data recorded in the database (3), changing the data recorded in the database (3) and updating the data recorded in the database (3). The server (6) is configured to receive the data of store-vending machine (2) and product-spiral matching realized on the application (5), from the application (5) and then to save these data to the database (3).

The server (6) is configured to establish communication by using any remote communication protocol via the communication module (2.3) located on the vending machine (2) and to realize data exchange. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the server (6) is configured to establish communication with the vending machine (2) and the electronic device (4) over a data protocol such as Internet. The server (6) is configured to receive information about the product selection of the users made on the vending machine (2) over the communication established with the communication module (2.3). The said server (6) is configured to realize a query on the database (3) for the product information transmitted from the communication module (2.3) and to transmit the data, that are obtained by querying the price and campaign information about the product, to the communication module (2.3) and the payment device (2.2) so as to be displayed on the screen (2.1) and the payment device (2.2). The server (6) is configured to transmit the product and payment to the virtual vault server (7) so that invoice is created and the payment data are recorded if the payment is made successfully by being triggered upon the result information of product purchase and payment made on the payment device (2.2) is transmitted from the payment device (2.2) by means of the communication module (2.3). The server (6) is configured to ensure that the product is removed from the inventory and saved to the database (3) in accordance with the product information transmitted from the communication module (2.3) as a result of successful payment. In one embodiment of the invention, the server (6) is configured to analyse the data about the customers in accordance with the QR code information transmitted from the vending machine (2) and the permission received from the customers, to detect from which vending machines (2) the customers did shopping and then to save it to the database (3).

The server (6) is configured to determine whether the customer is included in the store’s loyalty program or not by being triggered upon the customers’ requests to purchase products from the vending machine (2), and to detect the current campaigns for the customer and then to transmit these campaigns to the vending machine (2) and/or the customer’s electronic device (4) to be presented to the customer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the server (6) is configured to analyse the data received from the cameras and the weight sensors, that are located on the vending machine (2), by means of the communication module (2.3) via artificial intelligence techniques and to detect the products purchased and/or left by the customers and then to record these products into the database (3).

The server (6) is configured to perform controls related to customers by receiving the QR code and/or the debit card information transmitted by means of the communication module (2.3) and to transmit request to the vending machine (2) so that the lid is opened.

The virtual vault server (7) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the server (6) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange. The virtual vault server (7) is configured to create the financial records (information about the sales made and the turnover obtained) of the store where the vending machine (2) belongs to as product-based upon it is triggered when the payment receipt information and the product information are received from the server (6), and to record them such that these are associated with the date and the time when the payment was made. The virtual vault server (7) is configured to draw up an electronic invoice for all sales transactions carried out on the vending machine (2) and to record them such that these are associated with the date and the time when the payment was made. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the virtual vault server (7) is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (4) and to transmit the electronic invoice and store’s financial records created over this communication established, to the application (5) being run on the electronic device (4).

The inventive method (100) which enables to collect desired products from shelves automatically in vending machines upon they are selected and paid by means of an input unit such as screen, to deliver them to customers, and to manage and monitor the vending machines and the products sold in the vending machines remotely, comprises steps of dialling/writing the numbers and/or names of the desired products on the screen (2.1) (101);

- transmitting the information of product selection to the server (6) (102); receiving the stock, product and price information of the selected products from the database (3) and then to transmit them to the screen (2.1) and the payment device (2.2) (103); directing the customer to the payment device (2.2) by means of the screen

(2.1) and receiving the payment (104); receiving the information of provision withdrawal from the payment device

(2.2) and then transmitting these information to the server (6) (105); checking whether the provision is successful or not (106); if the provision is not successful, sending a message stating that the transaction is unsuccessful to the screen (2.1) located on the vending machine (2) (107); if the provision is successful, sending an instruction to the vending machine (2) by the server (6) so as to release the product in the spiral (108); deciding in which compartment of the vending machine (2) the product is located and then carrying out the transaction of dropping the product (109);

- the server (6) realizing a query whether the product is dropped successfully or not (HO); in the event that the server (6) detects that the product is not dropped successfully, cancelling the provision on the payment device (2.2) (111); in the event that the server (6) detects that the product is dropped successfully, dropping the related product from the inventory of the vending machine (2) on the database (3) and sending the transaction record to the payment device (2.2) (112); and

- transmitting the transaction record from the payment device (2.2) to the server (6) an to the virtual vault server (7) (113).

Industrial application of the invention

With the inventive system (1) and method (100), it is ensured that query product price and campaign information of products -that are desired to be purchased from the vending machine (2)- are queried over the databases (3); the current price of the related product is displayed on the screen (2.1) of the vending machine (2); the product is received from the vending machine (2) after the customer completes the shopping by means of a credit/debt/pre-paid card or mobile payment by sending the information of product price to the payment device (2.2) located on the vending machine (2) and the product invoice is created on the virtual vault server (7) online. With the said system (1) and method (100), it is also possible to sell the products - that are sold in the vending machine (2)- always at the right price because their price information are transferred by central systems automatically and to avoid the stock faults of both the store and the vending machine (2) because the stocks are updated automatically.

Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Sales and Management System and Method for Vending Machines (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.