Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a system of automated workflow management and active checkpoint validation that streamlines and standardizes the vending machine provisioning process. The embodiment not only normalizes the installation and deployment process across geographic and personnel differences, it also greatly optimizes the process allowing for increased installations per technician per day. The monitored assets are added to online applications in real time and remote monitoring commences immediately upon the end of technician visit. Other embodiments are addressed herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a system of automated workflow management and active checkpoint validation that streamlines and standardizes the vending machine provisioning process. The embodiment not only normalizes the installation and deployment process across geographic and personnel differences, it also greatly optimizes the process allowing for increased installations per technician per day. The monitored assets are added to online applications in real time and remote monitoring commences immediately upon the end of technician visit. Other embodiments are addressed herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: determining inventories for first and second times for a first vending machine (VM); determining inventories for first and second times for a second VM; determining inventories for first and second times for a third VM; and determining a service route to visit the first and second VMs on a specific date, and to specifically avoid visiting the third VM on the specific date, in response to determining the inventories for the second times for the first, second, and third VMs. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An information management system within a client/server based computer system is disclosed. The information management system manages information as to the dynamic locations and continuous changes relating to services offered within the computer system. The information management system utilizes a service point map (SPM) that monitors such changes. The SPM tracks changes relating to services, sphere, location, port, and epoch value. The SPM may be hierarchical in nature. Parallel or duplicate services may also exist within the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new system and method for process automation system that allows the conversion of a narrowband consumer Internet user into a broadband (e.g., DSL, ISDN, or Data over Cable) Internet user. In an alternative embodiment, the new system and method is used to configure an original broadband connection. The system includes automation agent software residing on the personal computer that is being configured for broadband communication, and an automation server associated with the manager of the broadband network. The automation agent software guides the user through the steps of testing and ordering the service, automates the configuring of the personal computer for broadband communication, and communicates with the automation server to complete the registration, billing and other administrative processes.

Abstract: A method, system, computer system and computer program product to distribute data to arbitrarily large subsets of a very large client base, with each client computer system running client software referred to as an agent. The data distribution system uses minimal server resources and a large-scale network such as the Internet. The data to be distributed may include, for example, agent software configuration data; agent software programs, plug-ins, and associated data; announcements; and other data that is centrally managed by an administrator. Using this invention, millions of client computer systems, such as computer systems for subscribers to a broadband service, can be configured and managed centrally, while allowing data to be distributed to all or a subset of subscribers efficiently and using minimal bandwidth. Agents assist in determining whether particular data are to be distributed to them, enabling much larger-scale applications to be supported with limited server-side resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for programming media content on an aggregated media on-demand network are provided which models the MoD network by identifying a plurality of distribution channels that provide media content to a plurality of targeted consumers associated with a specified passion area and generating consumer profile information for the plurality of targeted consumers. As distribution rights over the MoD distribution channels are established and performance parameters for the MoD network are measured, the MoD network may be programmed with media content based on the consumer profile information for the plurality of targeted consumers, the performance parameters for the aggregated media on-demand network, and content profile information for the media content.

Abstract: An information management system within a client/server based computer system is disclosed. The information management system manages information as to the dynamic locations and continuous changes relating to services offered within the computer system. The information management system utilizes a service point map (SPM) that monitors such changes. The SPM tracks changes relating to services, sphere, location, port, and epoch value. The SPM may be hierarchical in nature. Parallel or duplicate services may also exist within the system.