Patents by Inventor Bryan W. Godwin
Bryan W. Godwin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190228373Abstract: A system is provided for product management at remotely located equipment. A processor is configured to receive, via a network, data associated with the remotely located equipment. The received data includes an occurrence of one or more vend events for the product at the remotely located equipment, one or more product inventory levels for the product at multiple time intervals at the remotely located equipment, and an equipment operating status at multiple time intervals at the remotely located equipment. The processor is also configured to determine a demand estimate for the product by evaluating product vends for only time periods when inventory of the product was available at the remotely located equipment sufficient to at least meet demand for the product and when the remotely located equipment was operating in a manner allowing product vending, and revise an associated dispatch schedule in response to the demand estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 9292993Abstract: Automatic planogram programming for a glass front snack or cold drink vending machine is accomplished using tray, product and price barcodes, each preferably a different type of barcode. Trays within the vending machine are labeled with unique barcodes, and a set of price barcodes for predetermined prices is provided together with a USB-connected scanner. The barcode label affixed to any tray is scanned by the route driver. The UPC/EAN barcodes on products are then scanned for each selection progressing across the tray, together with a price barcode for the first selection and each subsequent selection having a different price from the prior selection on the tray. Planogram data for the tray may be reviewed and corrected on a customer interface display for the vending machine before moving on to another tray, with the trays programmed in any order. The planogram for the entire vending machine is quickly and accurately programmed.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, Jr., Victor Partyshev, Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 8959028Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system for vending machines may be provided. The system may comprise a vending machine and at least one host device. The vending machine may comprise a vending machine controller; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interface operable to communicate operation data to and from the vending machine controller. The at least one host device may be communicatively coupled to the IP network interface via at least one IP network, and the host device may be operable to communicate operation data to and from the IP network interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: James M. Canter, Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 8533315Abstract: A system and method for monitoring performance of field assets are disclosed. A method may include transmitting packets on a shared bus located in a field asset may be captured. The captured packets may be analyzed to determine one or more operational parameters associated with one or more peripheral devices coupled to the shared bus. The one or more operational parameters may be analyzed to determine an operational efficiency of the field asset.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 8484068Abstract: A method and system are provided for estimating consumer demand at remotely located equipment and establishing dispatch schedules for servicing the remotely located equipment. Data from the remotely located equipment may be classified into a hierarchy or various levels of reliability for use in calculating a consumer demand estimate for each product and/or each service available at the remotely located equipment. A full set of sales data for each product or service over multiple time intervals with no equipment problems, no out of stock conditions and no other operating problems may be classified as the highest level of reliability and predictability possible for calculating a consumer demand estimate. The lowest level of data used to calculate a consumer demand estimate may be a historical average of daily sales for all products or services sold over a long period of time at the remotely located equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Crane Merchandising systems, Inc.Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, William J. Kalter
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Publication number: 20130144432Abstract: Automatic planogram programming for a glass front snack or cold drink vending machine is accomplished using tray, product and price barcodes, each preferably a different type of barcode. Trays within the vending machine are labeled with unique barcodes, and a set of price barcodes for predetermined prices is provided together with a USB-connected scanner. The barcode label affixed to any tray is scanned by the route driver. The UPC/EAN barcodes on products are then scanned for each selection progressing across the tray, together with a price barcode for the first selection and each subsequent selection having a different price from the prior selection on the tray. Planogram data for the tray may be reviewed and corrected on a customer interface display for the vending machine before moving on to another tray, with the trays programmed in any order. The planogram for the entire vending machine is quickly and accurately programmed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Victor Partyshev, Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20130103187Abstract: A vending machine is configured to provide a shopping cart vend transaction order-of-processing, allowing the customer to aggregate product selections before payment. The vending machine includes an enclosure configured to store a plurality of products, a user interface configured to receive inputs from a consumer; and a control system coupled to the user interface. The control system is configured to provide a virtual shopping cart that enables the customer to aggregate one or more product selections in a single vend transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20130006416Abstract: A vending machine is configured to collect rich customer insight information, including time-based records of the customer interaction with the vending machine during a vend transaction. Customer menu selections, brand information associated with customer payment or product selections, and promotions or displays triggering customer input are logged for analysis to provide further information regarding customer sales and promotion responses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Steven Joel Blachman, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20120130536Abstract: A unique, anonymous, tokenized customer identifier is derived by a one-way hash function from a credit/debit account number each time a customer provides the same credit/debit card information at a vending machine. The customer identifier thus repeatedly generated at each of the vending machines is then used to track the customer's purchase history and preferences for customer-focused programs, such as a loyalty rewards program. The customer need not carry a separate token bearing the customer identifier, but instead can automatically participate in the customer-focused programs as part of paying for a purchase. The customer may optionally remain anonymous in each program.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20120022686Abstract: A field asset such as a vending machine includes a coin acceptor, a bill validator, and a card reader all operatively connected to a shared bus. A rich content display device displays color graphics and an extended function adapter (EFA) coupled to the shared bus includes a rich content agent (RCA) to manage rich content displayed on the display. The RCA may include a content management agent (CMA) coupled to a rich content player that executes rich content file for display on the display device. The EFA may include a cashless agent to generate procedural state information. The CMA detects the procedural state information and controls the presentation of rich content on the display device based at least in part on the detected procedural state information. The EFA may include an analytic agent to determine a substantive state of the vending machine including an inventory state and an environmental state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, James M. Canter, William Hamilton Harris, JR.
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Patent number: 8005425Abstract: 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 machines and a desired wireless network is supported by coupling a transceiver associated with the desired network to the wireless interface module. This advantageously provides flexibility in selecting from one of plural wireless networks for a distributed vending machine so that communication between the control system and a distal operating center is supported over a preferred wireless network through a standardized wireless interface module incorporated in the vending machine by changing the wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless interface module.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: Erin M. Defossé, Bryan W. Godwin, William A. English, Jizhi Wu
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Patent number: 7997484Abstract: A field asset such as a vending machine includes a coin acceptor, a bill validator, and a card reader all operatively connected to a shared bus. A rich content display device displays color graphics and an extended function adapter (EFA) coupled to the shared bus includes a rich content agent (RCA) to manage rich content displayed on the display. The RCA may include a content management agent (CMA) coupled to a rich content player that executes rich content file for display on the display device. The EFA may include a cashless agent to generate procedural state information. The CMA detects the procedural state information and controls the presentation of rich content on the display device based at least in part on the detected procedural state information. The EFA may include an analytic agent to determine a substantive state of the vending machine including an inventory state and an environmental state.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, James M. Canter, William Hamilton Harris, Jr.
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Patent number: 7778600Abstract: A controller may be provided to monitor and record various activities associated with remotely located equipment, e.g. a vending machine or a service vehicle. The controller may also be operable to communicate over multiple wireless communication paths with remotely located equipment, handheld devices and/or a network operations center over multiple wireless networks.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, James M. Canter
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Publication number: 20090113038Abstract: A system and method for monitoring performance of field assets are disclosed. A method may include transmitting packets on a shared bus located in a field asset may be captured. The captured packets may be analyzed to determine one or more operational parameters associated with one or more peripheral devices coupled to the shared bus. The one or more operational parameters may be analyzed to determine an operational efficiency of the field asset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 7523182Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for identifying malfunctioning remote devices, such as point of sale devices, are disclosed. In operation, a performance history for one or more remote devices is built and a normal operating day is determined from the performance history. Also extracted from this performance history are average and variance values for various aspects of satisfactory remote device performance. During remote device evaluations, the current operating performance of each remote device is compared with the normal day and the average and variance values for the respective remote device. For remote devices operating outside of the normal day, average and variances values, a likelihood estimate that the remote device is actually malfunctioning is calculated. For remote devices determined likely to be malfunctioning, an approximation of the remote device's losses are made such that the remote device with the greatest losses may be prioritized for maintenance or other purposes.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Isochron, Inc.Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20090013028Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system for vending machines may be provided. The system may comprise a vending machine and at least one host device. The vending machine may comprise a vending machine controller; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interface operable to communicate operation data to and from the vending machine controller. The at least one host device may be communicatively coupled to the IP network interface via at least one IP network, and the host device may be operable to communicate operation data to and from the IP network interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2007Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: James M. Canter, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20080243566Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for identifying and correcting data integrity problems associated with remotely located equipment, e.g. vending machines, are provided. A handheld device collects a first set of data and a second set of data associated with the remotely located equipment. The handheld device compares the first set of data with the second set of data, and based at least on the comparison, identifies one or more data integrity problems associated with the remotely located equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20080140515Abstract: A method and system are provided for estimating consumer demand at remotely located equipment and establishing dispatch schedules for servicing the remotely located equipment. Data from the remotely located equipment may be classified into a hierarchy or various levels of reliability for use in calculating a consumer demand estimate for each product and/or each service available at the remotely located equipment. A full set of sales data for each product or service over multiple time intervals with no equipment problems, no out of stock conditions and no other operating problems may be classified as the highest level of reliability and predictability possible for calculating a consumer demand estimate. The lowest level of data used to calculate a consumer demand estimate may be a historical average of daily sales for all products or services sold over a long period of time at the remotely located equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2008Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventor: Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20080083770Abstract: A field asset such as a vending machine includes a coin acceptor, a bill validator, and a card reader all operatively connected to a shared bus. A rich content display device displays color graphics and an extended function adapter (EFA) coupled to the shared bus includes a rich content agent (RCA) to manage rich content displayed on the display. The RCA may include a content management agent (CMA) coupled to a rich content player that executes rich content file for display on the display device. The EFA may include a cashless agent to generate procedural state information. The CMA detects the procedural state information and controls the presentation of rich content on the display device based at least in part on the detected procedural state information. The EFA may include an analytic agent to determine a substantive state of the vending machine including an inventory state and an environmental state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, James M. Canter, William Hamilton Harris
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Publication number: 20070200673Abstract: A panel having a plurality of receptacles may be disposed in a storage container. A plurality of inserts may be releasably engaged with respective receptacles. One or more valuable object may be attached to each insert. One of the valuable objects may be a key to provide access to remotely located equipment or other types of enclosures. An electronic controller may be provided to monitor and keep a record of each time an insert is removed from and returned to one of the receptacles. The electronic controller may monitor and record possible tampering with the panel. The electronic controller may be operable to communicate with remotely located equipment, handheld devices and/or a network operations center. If the valuable object is a key for a lock associated with remotely located equipment, the electronic controller may also monitor and record each time the remotely located equipment is opened and closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2006Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventors: Bryan W. Godwin, Sean V. Howell, James M. Canter, Garrett R. Lewis