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EP-4115380-B1 - CONTROLLED DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD

EP4115380B1EP 4115380 B1EP4115380 B1EP 4115380B1EP-4115380-B1

Inventors

  • PATEL, Paresh, K.
  • ANNAM, SRINIVAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20201014

Claims (7)

  1. A controlled dispensing system (1300) comprising: a dispensing fixture (1302) having or in communication with a display screen (1314); a scanning device (1306) communicatively coupled to the dispensing fixture; one or more processors (202) and memory (206) storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: obtaining via the scanning device one or more identifiers of one or more respective controlled products (1304) requested for dispensing by the dispensing fixture; updating a user interface on the display screen (1314) based on the obtaining of the one or more identifiers; determining whether the one or more controlled products meet a bulk limit associated with the one or more controlled products (1304) for dispensing; obtaining via the scanning device consumer identification information; determining whether the consumer identification information meets an age threshold and/or an identity requirement associated with the one or more controlled products (1304); obtaining clerk authentication information from a badge scan, an access card scan, or a personal identification number, "PIN", entry for validating dispensing of the one or more controlled products; determining validity of the clerk authentication information; and in accordance with a determination that (i) the one or more controlled products (1304) meet the bulk limit for dispensing, (ii) the consumer identification information meets the age threshold and/or the identity requirement, and (iii) the clerk authentication information is valid: transmitting, as part of a dispensing operation, a dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture to dispense the one or more controlled products (1304); and creating an electronic record of the clerk having verified the consumer identification information for the dispensing operation.
  2. The controlled dispensing system (1300) of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: displaying on the user interface a plurality of quantity affordances associated with the one or more respective controlled products (1304); and displaying an availability indicator for each of the plurality of quantity affordances, wherein the availability indicator for each of the plurality of quantity affordances (i) is based on respective bulk limit determinations, and (ii) is updated in accordance with subsequently selected quantity affordances and corresponding updated bulk limit determinations.
  3. The controlled dispensing system (1300) of claim 2, wherein: the respective bulk limit determinations are based on respective comparisons of requested product quantities to quantity limits for requested products; and the quantity limits limit how many products may be dispensed for a particular dispensing operation.
  4. The controlled dispensing system (1300) of any of claims 1-2, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: evaluating a risk threshold based on a risk score associated with the consumer identification information; wherein transmitting the dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture is further in accordance with the risk threshold evaluation.
  5. The controlled dispensing system (1300) of claim 4, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: updating the risk score associated with the consumer identification information based on the dispensing of the one or more controlled products (1304).
  6. A method, comprising: performing at a controlled dispensing system (1300) one or more of the operations recited in any of claims 1-5.
  7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a controlled dispensing system (1300), the one or more programs including instructions for performing, at the controlled dispensing system (1300), one or more of the operations recited in any of claims 1-5.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17/026,000, entitled "Controlled Dispensing System and Method," filed September 18, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/080,577, entitled "Controlled Dispensing System and Method," filed September 18, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/075,814, entitled "Controlled Dispensing System and Method," filed September 8, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/985,882, entitled "Controlled Dispensing System and Method," filed March 5, 2020. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application relates to the field of controlled dispensing machines, and in particular, to a system for restricting the purchase and use of controlled products to individuals who are authorized to use them. BACKGROUND Selling age-restricted products presents particular issues and there must be effective systems in place for preventing sales to prospective customers who are underage. Since young people often seek to discover ways to evade proof-of-age checks and obtain age-restricted products, sales of such products have traditionally required a live person at the point of sale to request valid proof of age to confirm that the purchaser is over the minimum age to buy the product in question. In the case of online or remote sales, retailers may require purchasers of age-restricted products to register details or to set up accounts for future purchases, which means that age verification checks may only be required for the initial set-up of accounts or on the first purchase from the website. However, upon delivery or pickup of the product, a live person is still required to perform identity verification to ensure that the person receiving the age-restricted product matches the identity of the person who set up the account used to purchase the product. Even if the seller of an age-restricted product can successfully verify the age and identity of the purchaser upon receipt of the product, the purchaser may allow an underage person to use the product and the seller would have no way of knowing when or how often this is happening. Failure to restrict the purchase and use of such products to authorized individuals can lead to adverse consequences to sellers and manufacturers such as lawsuits, sanctions (e.g., geographic restrictions on sales), fines, and even imprisonment. As such, sellers and manufacturers of age-restricted products have an interest in ensuring that such products are purchased by, released to, and used by authorized individuals only. US 2019/114685 A1 relates to dispensing regulated goods. SUMMARY Disclosed herein is a controlled dispensing system for restricting the purchasing, release, and usage of controlled products to authorized users. An example controlled product is a product for which usage is controlled by an age restriction (e.g., an electronic cigarette). In one aspect, a consumer sets up an account using any electronic device. Included in the account setup process is an age verification step, so that upon setting up the account, the consumer's age is verified, and the consumer's identity is linked to the account. Also included in the account setup process is a personal electronic device linking step, so that upon setting up the account, the consumer's personal electronic device (e.g., smartphone) is linked to the account. The user's account information is stored on a server. When the consumer purchases a controlled product, the server obtains a unique product identifier corresponding to the particular controlled product being purchased by the consumer. The server may obtain the unique product identifier as a result of a dispensing machine scanning the purchased product as it is being released to the consumer. Alternatively, the server may preemptively obtain the unique product identifier as the product is being stocked into a dispensing machine (prior to the purchase of the product). Using the unique product identifier, the server links the purchased product to the consumer's account. As part of this linking process, the purchased product is associated with the consumer's personal electronic device. In some aspects, as a result of this association, the purchased device can only be used when in range of the user's personal electronic device. Thus, the purchase of the controlled device complies with age-restriction requirements because the consumer verifies his or her age during an account setup process. Additionally, in some aspects, the use of the controlled device complies with age-restriction requirements because functionality of the controlled device is enabled only when in range of the consumer's personal electronic device. This prevents the device from working if the consumer gives it to an underage individual after the purchase is complete. Importantly, the technical aspects of this system (e.g., automated linking and activation) allow for the purchase and use restrictions to be met as d