US Patent Office Issues AVT Inc Additional Vending Technology Rights

CORONA, CA -- AVT Inc. said it has been granted 15 claims for one of its patent from the United States Patent and Trade Office.

Patent No. 8,998,082 B2 reportedly covers a wireless system for managing a "plurality of remote vending machines" that includes an enterprise control center. This system would also include a two-way wireless network coupling the enterprise control center and remote vending machines. Moreover, AVT's patent says a touchscreen, which could be used for selecting items and displaying advertisements, may be associated with each vending machine in the plurality. The touchscreen may also include means for paying for the items to be vended within the plurality of vending machines, the patent summary said.

AVT said it is working with advisors to determine how to best monetize the patent.

"We believe that this patent and the rights extended to AVT, provides us with significant marketplace advantages," said AVT president Wayne Salvino. "We have many options under consideration to assure optimum utilization of the patent, including enforcement, licensing, sale and partnering."

AVT said last September that another patent on wirelessly controlled vending machines had been reexamined and upheld for a second time by the U.S. Patent Office. That patent, No. 8,191,779, filed in 2008, also covers a wireless system for managing a plurality of remote vending machines. Meanwhile, the Corona, CA, machine manufacturer said it had begun enforcing the patent a year earlier.| READ MORE

News of AVT's latest patent follows the company's announcement on May 4 that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.