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Class 340/5.9 - Commodity (e.g., vending)


Subclass of Class 340 - Communications: electrical
Definition: Subject matter providing for a receipt, dispensation or
No. of patents: 219
Last issue date: 09/23/2008


1            
NumberTitleIssue Date
7427918Cargo security sensing system
A cargo security sensing system includes a smart container having a sensor, wherein the smart container is a standard shipping cargo container that includes the sensor. The sensor may be any suitable type of sensing device capable of sensing changes in environmental...
09/23/2008
7423525Method and apparatus for a product information interface utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology
Methods, systems, and apparatuses to improve an interface between customers and products in warehouse, shopping, and additional environments, including an improved interface with items associated with RFID tags, are described. In an aspect, a product database associ...
09/09/2008
7412229Sales apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving merchandise information by electric field induced in human body
The button apparatus is an apparatus provided for, for example, a vending machine and to be touched and pressed with the body of a user who wants to purchase a commodity from the vending machine. By pressing down the button apparatus, the user can purchase a require...
08/12/2008
7375614Registry system, database and method
An object registration system includes a server system and a database accessible via a worldwide network of computer. The system is utilized to register a user for registration of an object. The system responds to a request from a registered user to register the obj...
05/20/2008
7373431Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, signal processing system, program and medium
Changes to the functionality and the detection and an expansion of a signal processing apparatus that processes an input signal are disclosed. A first signal processing means processes the input signal, and an expansion means adds a second signal processing means. A...
05/13/2008
7370016Music distribution systems
Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's user station where selected music files are recorded. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only ...
05/06/2008
7362841Digital access arrangement circuitry and method for connecting to phone lines having a DC holding circuit with switchable DC termination impedance
A digital direct access arrangement (DAA) circuitry may be used to terminate the telephone connections at the user's end that provides a communication path for signals to and from the phone lines. Briefly described, the DAA provides a programmable means for the DC t...
04/22/2008
7358847IC tag
An integrated circuit tag includes an item information storage unit that stores item information related to the item, an item information controller that provides control to change the item information, and an item information display unit that displays the item inf...
04/15/2008
7359919Reliable request-response messaging over a request-response transport
A reliable request-response mechanism allows a requesting computer system and a responding computer system in an established end-to-end connection to send and receive messages in a manner that the responding computer system processes a request as intended by the req...
04/15/2008
7348874Packet box electronic device and logistic system
A device and system include a plurality of electronic boxes for packets, several electronic boxes being assigned to a control unit and a central control unit for monitoring the control units. ...
03/25/2008
7328174Sales enhancement system and method for retail businesses
A sales enhancement system for retail businesses including: (a) an input mechanism for inputting (408, 413), into the system, selection information on a plurality of items selected by a patron, the information on each item including: (i) at least on item type...
02/05/2008
7325728Remote diagnosis and repair of vending machine communication failures
An audit system for a vending machine system is provided. This audit system is configured to retrieve operational data, such as a DEX file, from a vending machine controller in the vending machine system. The audit system is further configured to store a communicati...
02/05/2008
7327267Vending machine
A vending machine reads a commodity data on a commodity from a QR code of a commodity housing unit by a code reader of a commodity receiving unit when the commodity receiving unit receives the commodity from a predetermined commodity housing unit selects an operatio...
02/05/2008
7281263System and method for managing security access for users to network systems
A network security system for managing access to a plurality of different network systems for a plurality of users. The network security system includes an enterprise directory system configured to process request messages from each of the network systems requesting...
10/09/2007
7271701System for commonly utilizing vehicle
A system for commonly utilizing a vehicle in which illegal use of the vehicle can be surely prevented. In the system for lending a shared vehicle, which is parked in a parking area and of which the use information concerning lending and returning is managed, to a us...
09/18/2007
7262685Inventory system with barcode display
A pick/put to display (PTD) device includes an image display that allows the PTD device to display images related to a product, such as a picture of the product, a barcode or an instructional video. By having the capability to display images of the product, the PTD ...
08/28/2007
7242279Method and apparatus for providing a proof of delivery verification for freight transportation systems
A method and apparatus for providing a proof of delivery verification for freight transportation systems. A vehicle transmits an indication of arrival at a destination. A remote station receives the indication and validates the arrival of the vehicle. If the arrival...
07/10/2007
7236470Tracking multiple interface connections by mobile stations
A method and apparatus for communicating between devices is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises allowing a mobile station to have a first connection to a network over a first interface and determining that the mobile station is attempting to have a se...
06/26/2007
7236085Lock with remotely activated lockout feature
A method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter has access to the storage unit unless the owner receives the legal right to deny the renter access to the storage unit and decides to do so. In this method, the storage unit is sec...
06/26/2007
7216089Promotion method and system
Upon the sale of merchandise by a vending machine, encrypted point information expressing prescribed points is presented to a user. The user transmits the presented point information, together with identification information for the user, to a center device by means...
05/08/2007
7216145Event notification system
In a method of transmitting an event notification, a first data packet that includes a first event code is transmitted to a first individual via a not-automatically receipt confirmed communication. Upon receiving a response communication from the first individual, t...
05/08/2007
7209900Music distribution systems
Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's user station where selected music files are recorded. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only ...
04/24/2007
7195156Pick-to-light system for replenishing manufacturing kits
An inventory management system and method for replenishing manufacturing kits includes a shelving system, a mobile pick station, a data server, and a network node proxy. The mobile pick station communicates with both the shelving system via the network node proxy, a...
03/27/2007
7193334Controller for electronic key system
A controller for an electronic key system including a portable device and an engine. When the ID code of the portable device cannot be authenticated, the controller instructs the driver of the necessary operations. When a transmitter circuit is transmitting a reques...
03/20/2007
7187908Wrist-watch device having communication function, information display method, control program, and recording medium
A user can easily identify the content of data (the value or the state of the data), such as a credit balance, stored in a contactless IC module provided in a wrist-watch device having a communication function. A timepiece control unit 14 of a timepiece modul...
03/06/2007
7181501Remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment
A remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment to obtain operational data and the status of remote machines is disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with the remote machines from which ope...
02/20/2007
7171451Remote data acquisition and transmission system and method
A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with...
01/30/2007
7164884Method and system for interfacing a machine controller and a wireless network
A wireless interface module interfaces a machine control system, such as a vending machine controller, with one of plural wireless networks through one of plural removably coupled wireless transceivers. Communication between geographically distributed vending machin...
01/16/2007
7161494Vending machine
A vending machine has an input/output switching device between an image display device for displaying a still image and/or a moving image and a first image output device capable of outputting image data of a small data size in a predetermined signal form. This input...
01/09/2007
7161563Electronic vehicle registration and license plate
A method and apparatus is provided for electronically providing vehicle identification and registration information to a vehicle. The system includes a remote control unit, which receives and stores vehicle identification and registration information. At least one c...
01/09/2007
7162440Product management system
A system and method for processing product movement requests including orders and returns while maintaining a real-time accounting of product locations includes a network, a first communication link connecting a first location to the network, a second communication ...
01/09/2007
7137548Removable card for use in a radio unit
A cellular phone includes a first removable subscriber identification card which has a microprocessor and memory that stores subscriber identification information. The cellular phone also includes a card interface, a controller, that generates a personal access numb...
11/21/2006
7139616Real-time alert mechanism for monitoring and controlling field assets via wireless and internet technologies
An apparatus and system are disclosed for real-time monitoring and control of field assets. A monitoring device may be coupled to a field asset to determine the occurrence of one or more error conditions. Error conditions may be detected either as they occur or by t...
11/21/2006
7136623Self-service system and method of loading an executable transaction application program from a self-service terminal to a portable electronic device
A self-service terminal has a wireless communication port for communicating with a user's portable electronic device. The self-service terminal loads an executable transaction application program via the wireless communication port to a user's portable electronic de...
11/14/2006
7131573Merchandise sales data processing apparatus
A merchandise sales processing apparatus communicates with a money changer machine for automatically dispensing cash, acquires a sales figure in a transaction, acquires a differential amount in the money changer occurred in the transaction from the money changer, de...
11/07/2006
7127236Micropayment financial transaction process utilizing wireless network processing
A MicroAdapter device enables payment transactions to be effected through a purchaser's personal trusted device (PTD) without relying upon tokens or prepayment cards. In one embodiment, the MicroAdapter includes a transceiver configured to receive a purchase signal ...
10/24/2006
7091882Automated exchange for determining availability of assets shareable among entities
An automated exchange for determining the availability of mobile assets that are shareable among mobile asset users. The automated exchange includes a plurality of mobile asset sources for providing mobile assets of one or more types, a data center for providing the...
08/15/2006
7077318Pick-to-light system for replenishing manufacturing kits
An inventory management system and method for replenishing manufacturing kits includes a shelving system, a mobile pick station, a data server, and a network node proxy. The mobile pick station communicates with both the shelving system via the network node proxy, a...
07/18/2006
7070024Method and apparatus for securing a shopping cart
A method and apparatus for securing a wheeled device such as a shopping cart is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a pair of spaced stops with an intermediate trough. In use, the wheels of the cart are rolled along an upwardly extendi...
07/04/2006
7072569Portable entertainment device
A portable entertainment apparatus is provided for writing onto a compact disk and other permanent storage medium. A touch sense screen is used to display and select menu graphics choices such as to listen to the radio or a CD, save selections, etc. The apparatus pr...
07/04/2006
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