| 1. | A device for managing information intended for users of vending machines, characterized in that it comprises: at least one product vending machine; information display means associated with said at least one vending machine; and processing means adapted to supply said information to said display means. |
| 2. | The device according to claim I5 characterized in that said display means comprise at least one video screen. |
| 3. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing means comprise a control processor, which is associated with said at least one vending machine and is connected to said display means, said control processor being cormectable to memory means which contain said information in order to acquire said information from said memory means and make them available on said display means. |
| 4. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing means comprise communication means adapted to connect said control processor to a remote management server in order to receive said information from said remote management server, said remote management server being connected to said memory means. |
| 5. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory means comprise at least one unit for reading multimedia supports, said information being stored in said multimedia supports. |
| 6. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory means comprise a permanent rewritable memory. |
| 7. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said multimedia supports comprise CDROMs and/or DVDs. |
| 8. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication means comprise radio link means. |
| 9. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication means comprise means for interfacing with a communications network. |
| 10. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communications network is a GPRS or UMTS network. |
| 11. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communications network is a local area network. |
| 12. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communications network is a data communications network or the Internet. |
| 13. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing means comprise a DVD or videotape player connected to said display means and associated with said at least one vending machine. |
| 14. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing means comprise means for receiving television signals. |
| 15. | The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said information comprises advertising messages and/or weather information and/or tourist/cultural information. |
The present invention relates to a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines. Background Art
As is known, the importance of advertising in the sales success of a product stimulates the constant search for new spaces, in addition to the traditional spaces provided by television, newspapers and road signs, where users can be reached with advertising messages.
Moreover, the need is increasingly felt to have a valid means to provide a large number of users not only with advertising messages but also with other information that can be of interest to them.
In this regard, it must be noted that users are particularly receptive to transmitted information especially during their idle moments, which very often occur at locations provided with vending machines for products of various kinds, such as food products, beverages, cigarettes and so forth. Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device which allows, by using vending machines, to transmit information to users in their idle moments.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines which allows to send not only advertising messages but also information of another kind to users of vending machines.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines which allows to change easily, depending on the requirements, the information intended for users of one or more vending machines located at various sites. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for managing
information intended for users of vending machines which constitutes an effective tool for advertising the products sold by means of vending machines.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines which has a very simple structure and is easy to use.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines which can be provided starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials and is further competitive from a merely economical standpoint.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for managing information intended for users of vending machines according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one product vending machine;
- information display means associated with said at least one vending machine; and
- processing means adapted to supply said information to said display means. Brief description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a product vending machine which uses the device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view of a module which comprises two product vending machines and uses the device according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the invention.
In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. Ways of carrying out the Invention
With reference to the figures, the device for managing information intended for users of vending machines, according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises at least one vending machine 2, of a per se known type, which is capable of dispensing products of any type, such as for example hot and/or cold beverages, snacks or other food products, cigarettes, condoms and so forth, to users.
An important feature of the invention consists in that each vending machine 2 is provided with means 3 for displaying information, which are constituted advantageously by at least one video screen 4, preferably of the LCD or television type.
Conveniently, the video screen 4 is arranged in such a position as to allow comfortable viewing by the users of the vending machine 2.
Of course, as can be seen in the examples of Figures 1 and 2, nothing prevents the provision of two or more vending machines 2 combined in a single module 5 provided with a single video screen 4.
Also according to the invention, processing means are provided which are designed to supply the display means 3 with the information to be displayed.
As will become better apparent hereinafter, an important aspect of the invention consists in that the information supplied by the processing means
and displayed on the display means 3 can be of any kind. Thus, for example, it can be constituted by advertising messages, which can relate or not to products sold by means of the vending machines 2, tourist or cultural information on the locations where the vending machines 2 are installed, weather information, news or television programs.
According to a preferred embodiment, the processing means comprise, for each vending machine 2, a control processor 7, which is conveniently provided with a microprocessor and manages the information to be displayed on the display means 3. In particular, the control processor 7 can be connected to memory means 8, in which the information to be displayed on the display means 3 is recorded.
In practice, the control processor 7 is designed to access the memory means 8 in order to acquire the information stored therein and send the acquired information to the display means 3.
In greater detail, the memory means 8 can comprise advantageously a rewritable permanent memory constituted for example by a hard disk or by a floppy disk associated with an appropriately provided reader.
Conveniently, data input means 10 are provided which are constituted for example by a keyboard which can be connected to the control processor 7; thanks to said means it is possible to input into the rewritable permanent memory the information to be displayed on the display means 3.
Advantageously, the memory means 8 can also comprise at least one unit for reading multimedia supports, such as for example CD-ROMs and/or DVDs, which store the information to be displayed on the display means 3. It is evident that the replacement of the multimedia support in the reader allows to change simply and straightforwardly the information presented on the display means 3 of the corresponding vending machine 2.
It is important to notice that the memory means 8 are not necessarily associated with a respective vending machine 2 or module 5, as shown
schematically in Figure 3.
With reference to the diagrams of Figures 4 or 6, the processing means can comprise communications means 9, which allow the connection of the control processor 7 to a remote management server H 5 which in turn is connected to the memory means 8.
As can be seen schematically in Figure 7, thanks to said communication means 9 the control processors 7 of a plurality of vending machines 2 installed in different locations can be linked to a single remote management server 11 , which makes it possible to control the information displayed on the display means 3 of the individual vending machines 2.
Accordingly, an appropriate management software installed on the remote management server 11 can allow, for example, to vary the information transmitted to the control processor 7 of each vending machine 2 and optionally provide different information to each control processor 7, so that different information can be displayed on the display means 3 of each vending machine 2.
In greater detail, the communication means 9 can be constituted by radio link means 12 or by means for interfacing with a communications network 13. In particular, the communications network 13 can be a GPRS or
UMTS network, or a local area network (LAN) or a data communications network, such as for example the Internet.
Advantageously, the processing means can also comprise means for receiving television signals, so that the pictures of television channels also can be viewed by the users of the vending machines 2 on the display means 3.
For the sake of completeness in description, it should also be added that according to a simple embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 5, the processing means comprise, for each vending machine 2, a DVD or videotape player 14, which is connected to said display means. The periodic
replacement of the DVD or of the videotape in the player 14 allows to vary the information transmitted to the users of the corresponding vending machine 2 by its display means 3.
It should also be noted that in addition to the display means 3 the device according to the invention can be provided advantageously with sound playback means, such as loudspeakers connected by means of sound cards to the processing means, so that it is possible to transmit audio messages and information to users together with the pictures which can be viewed on the display means. From what has been described above it can be understood easily that it is possible, thanks to the device according to the invention, to send messages and information to users of vending machines 2.
In practice, an example of use of the invention can be as follows. Multiple vending machines 2 are installed in different parts of a building, such as for example a shopping center, and a remote management server 11 is provided for example at the headquarters of the company that supplies the vending machines or in an appropriately provided office of the shopping center.
An operator, from the location of the remote management server 11 , is capable, over a radio link or by connection to a communications network, such as for example the Internet or the LAN network of the shopping center or the UMTS or GPRS network, of accessing a preset vending machine 2 and of setting, by entering appropriate commands, the information that he wishes to be displayed on the display means 3. This information can be stored both in the memory means 8 connected directly to the remote management server 11 and in the memory means located in the contacted vending machine 2.
Optionally, again by means of the remote management server 11, it is possible to tune the means for receiving television signals so as to select the television station to be presented on the display means 3.
As an alternative, the control processors 7 of each vending machine 2 can be programmed individually, by the respective data input means 10, in order to acquire from the remote management server 11, by accessing the communications network 13 or over a radio link, the information to be displayed on the display means 3.
It is further possible to arrange for all the vending machines 2 to transmit simultaneously, by the respective display means 3, the same information that arrives from the remote management server 11 , or for the control processor 7 of each of them to be programmed to provide the corresponding display means 3 with different information with respect to the others.
If instead each vending machine 2 is provided with its own control processor 7 and with its own memory means 8, as in the example shown with the diagram of Figure 3, it is possible, by using the data input means 10, to program the control processor 7 so as to allow the display of the information on the display means 3 according to sequences which are preset by the program.
All the characteristics of the invention described above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
The individual characteristics described with reference to general teachings or to particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics in said other embodiments.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2004A000175 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
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