Importance

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Abstract

A system (8) for managing multiple dispensing units by communicating information through a communications network (12) is provided. The system includes a plurality of dispensing units (10) operable to transmit and receive information through the network. Each dispensing unit includes a plurality of bins (20) operable to hold a quantity of product. Each dispensing unit includes a plurality of reference level sensors (72) where each reference level sensor is coupled to an associated bin. Each reference level sensor is operable to determine when the quantity of product in the associated bin drops below a reference level (76) that is higher than an out of stock level (82) of the associated bin. Each dispensing unit includes a controller subsystem (34) coupled to the plurality of bins, to the plurality of reference level sensors, and to the network. The controller subsystem is operable to monitor conditions of the dispensing unit, to transmit status messages responsive to an occurrence of one of a plurality of defined events, and to receive command messages. The system further includes a dispensing unit controller system (14) operable to communicate through the network. The dispensing unit controller system is operable to receive status messages from each of the dispensing units, to process the status messages, and to transmit command messages to each of the dispensing units. One command message can be an instruction to a dispensing unit to download a software module to update an existing software module in the controller subsystem of the dispensing unit.

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First Claim