CA2073098A1 - Computer controlled system for vending personalized products - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

A machine is disclosed which includes an enclosure with selection and payment means on the outside thereof and with storage and handling means on the inside thereof, all coupled to computer equipment which is on the inside of the enclosure. The computer equipment is programmed to facilitate a customer's creation from among types of products to be delivered and the desired mode of personalization thereof and to deliver a completed personalized product to a receptacle from which it may be removed by the customer. The machine of the invention improves customer service and availability by periodically reporting sales and other information. In addition, the machine self detects errors of operation and provides the capability of stocking new products or software programminq revisions via data transmission from a remote location.

Description

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COMP~TER CONTR0~2D BY8~E~ FO~
V~DING pERRo~LIæ~D PROD~CT8 RE~RENC~ TO R~LAT~D APP~ICATION~
This application is a continuation-in-part o~ an application of Bu¢kley et al. U.S. Serial No. 07/602,433 filed October 22, 1990, and is related to ~ubject matter disclosed in applications o~ Buckley et al. United States Serial No. 282,013, filed December 8, 1988 and issued as United States Letters Patent 5,03~,472 ("'472"), and U.S.
Serial No. 07/735,985, fil~d July 25, 1991. This application is also related to subject matter disclosed in an application of Banks et al. Ua S ~ Serial No. 514,670, filed April 25, l9gO. The disclosures of all of said applications are incorporated here:in by re~erence.

~AC~RO~N~ OF T~B INV~NTION

1. Fiel~ o~ the I~ventio~
This invention relates to a vending machine and more particularly to an interactiv~ machine which i5 usable to dispense a variety o~ personalized social occasion products including greeting cards and/or visual and audio media as selected by a customer.
Even moxe specifically, a v~nding machine o~ this invention is further programmabl~ to detect error or malfunction conditions and low base product or ancillary supply levels and to report such conditions. Further, the vending machine yenerates and transmits periodic reports o~
sale~, marketin~ and consumer information statistics.
Finally, the v~nding machin~ receives data and control for revision of the types and attributes o~ products to be dispensed without a physical visit to the vending machine.
At the same time, the vending machine is reliable, efficient and fast in operation and is manufacturable at rel~tively low cost.

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2. Bac~grou~ ~f ~he I~ve~tio~
~ s discussed in the introductory portion o~ the spe~ification of the aforementioned related applications, U.S. Patent No's. 3,892,427 and 3,982,744 disclose methods for the production of personalized "ME" books in which, for example, the name of a child who is to receive a story book is printed in the text of a story book. In the production o~` such books, a computer was used to control a printer to print variable data on preprinted sheet material to form sheets which were bound together in a separate operation to provide the ~inal hard cover book product. As disclosed, many types of variable data could be stored in the computer and such variable data may include quality control indicia which may include check bars or other graphics.
The Rosewarne et al. U. S. Patent No. 4,616,327 discloses methods similar to those disclosed in the "ME"
book patents and the printing o~ specific types-of graphics including pictorial figures having physical characteristics similar to personalized data introcluced into the system. A
standard microprocessor is programmed to provide storage and combining functions after personalized data i$ introduced into the system by temporary storage by the purchaser or usar on a storage medium such as a punched card. One or more plotters are used ~or producing the final product, an eight pen plotter being disclosed.
The aforesaid Buckley et al. '472 patent discloses a machine for vPnding greeting cards and similar social occasion personalized products. The machine is readily operable by a customer without assistance to obtain pçrsonalized or customized products of his or her choice.
The machine includes means for displaying identifications of available products and desirable attributes and features thereo~ and of modes of selection such as to facilitate selection of products and the desired attributes and features by the customer, and provides a flexible ," ' ' ~
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manufacturing pla~form. This flexible platform allows for quick changes of product storage means to allow different products to be manufactured to customer~s preferences.
More particularly, the machine of the Buckley et al. '472 patent includes an enclosure with selection and payment means on the outside thereof and with pxoduct storage and handling means on the inside thareof, all coupled to a computer which is on the inside 9f the enclosure. The computer is programmed to deliver a sel~cted product to a receptacle from which it may be removed by the customer. Preferably, available products and their desirable attributes and features are identified both audibly and visually and the computer is programmed to control presentation of a sequence of images and associated so~nd. In accordance with an important feature, the computer controls a general presentation of a series of descriptions of available products and their features with instructions as to initiating use of the machine. When a customer initiates use of the machine, the computer then controls presentations of specific ins~ructions to the customer to make it possible to make selections ~a~ily, quickly and accurately. After a customer's selections are effected, the computer again controls the general presentation and repeats it until another customer's use is initiated. Thus the audible and visual capabilities of the machine are used to maximu~ advantaga.
In an illustrated embodiment of the BucXley et al.
'472 patent, the images are presented on a CRT screen which is also usable as a touch screen for selection of the desirsd product and the desired features and attributes thereof. The touch screen or a keyboard or other input device may be used~ for example, to select from among a ~; number of different birthday cards and to enter the name and birth date of the intended receivex, the name of the sender and other personalized data.

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AftPr a customer selects and pays for a greeting card or other product, a data entering mode may be initiated in which he or she is asked to enter data or otherwise select the form of the final product, as by ~ntering the names of the receiver and sender of a birthday card, for example. The data entering mode may further include operations for viewing and correction of entered data.
Many vendin~ machines have heretofore been provided for vending of cans, bottles, hot and cold liquids in çups, sandwiches, candy, combs, and various other products, each machine being typically designed to handle-only products which have a physical size and shape within a certain limited range. For exampl,_, one of such machines is disclosed in the Ogaki et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,677,565 and is designed for vending of a computer program selected by a customer from menus displayed on a screen, the-selected `~^`
program being recorded on a tape cassette or floppy disc inserted into a tape or disc drive of the machine.
Problems commonly associated with vending machines by consumers frequently arise, how~ever, when (1) the machine is out of the product which the consumer wishes to purchase or is unabl~ to create the product which the consum~r wishes to purchase; (2I the machine is unable to make change; (3) the machine is out of order, or (4) the machin~ has no product which the customer is currently interested in purchasing. In all of these situations, the customer cannot or will not make a purchase. Most common vending machines attempt to remedy this problem by having a service person visit the machine daily. However, if the machine becomes inoperative shortly after a visit by a ~ervice person, an entire ~ay's sales are lost. In high traffic areas, the volume of lost sales can be very damaging to profitability of the machine.

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8~NNA~Y O~ T~B INV~TION
Th~refore, an object of the invention is to provide a machine which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art~
An additional object is to provide a machine which is capable of periodically reporting sales and other information to a remote location to enable adequ~te stocking of base products in th machine.
A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is capable o~ periodically reporting sales and consumer survey information to a central location to enable rapid response to changing consumer likes, dislikes, and desires.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is capable of sel~ detection of errors arising during operation and which, upon such self detection, is capable of self repo:rting those errors to a remote location for rapid response and correction of such errors.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine which is apable of being electronically stocked with n~w types and attributes of products to be dispens~d including providing various new engaging graphical demonstrations to encourage customer purch~ses as well as being capable o~ having software controlling the opexation o~-~he machine updated ~rom a remote location.
In accordanca with ths inv~ntion, these and other obje~ts are provided in a machine which incorporates features o~ the aforesaid Buckley et.al. '472 patent and related appllcations and additionally is capable of 1) s~lf-detectlon o~ error conditions, 2) maintaining and periodically reporting sales and consumar survey in~o~mation, and 3) bPing electronically stocked with digital information from a remote location.
A machine constructed in accordanc~ with the , , : .
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; ~ ' invention preferably includes an enclosure with selection and pa~ment means on the outside thereof and with storage and handling means on the inside thereof, all coupled to computer equipment which is on the inside of th~ enclosure.
The computer equipment is programmed to facilitate a customer's creation from among types of products to be delivered and the desired mode of personalization thereof and to deliver a completed personalized product to a receptacle from which it may be removed by the customer.
The machine of the invention improves customer service and availability by periodically reporting sales and other :~
in~ormation. In addition, the machine self detects errors of operation and provides the capability of stocking new product~ or software programming revisions via data transmission from a remote location.
The invention may be utilized ~or manufacture of social occasion products such as pe~rsonalized greeting cards from "white paper", i. e. base prociuct which is paper stock of any color and o~ any weight and in sheet or roll form, particularly including, for example, heavy paper stock or cardboard such as 59 pound stock used for high quality greeting aards. To provide a completed card, the machine imprin~s on such ~tock both graphics and text as selected by a customer to provide a personalized card of very high quality.
Additionally, should a customer not have time to input the n~cessary information to achieve a personalized card, the custom~r may select a standard card design which requires no personalization prior to being printed.
Further, the customer may select a card designed for personalization and allow the machine to select personalizing indicia suitable to any customer. Either of these two nonpersonalized card selections results in a card of high quality being available to the customer without the expensive and space consuming selec~ion racks typical to card shops.
With this arrangement, all stock is used. No expensive preprinted forms which might go unused are wasted.
Another very important advantage is that a great many graphics and text formats may be permanently stored in digital form as on hard discs, tape, lasar disc or CD ROMs, to provide customers with much wider selections of graphics and text formats. And in keeping with an object of the invention, utilizing writable storage media to stDre graphics and text formats enables new graphics and text formats to be transmitted to the machine electronically from a remote location without the need of a service visit to the machins its~lf.
A machine of the invention preferably retains a number of advantageous features as disclosed in the aforesaid prior applications. For example, available products and their desirable attributes and ~eatures are identified bo~h audibly and visually through presentation of a sequence of images and associated sound to present a series o~ descriptions of available products and their features with instructions as to initiating use of the machineO When a customer initiates use o~ the machine, he or she is then supplied with speci~i~ instructions to make it possible to make selections easily, quickly and accurately.
Pre~erably, images are pres~nted on a display means such as a CRT screen which is also usable as a touch screen for selection o~ the desired product and the desired featùres and delivery o~ products. For example, data transfers take place while transfers o~ a sheet ara being effected and, while printing or other modifications are taking placel other required operations may take place, such as the d~livery of an envelope and a bag to a delivery section. The result is that the time required to produce the final product is minimized.

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Specific features of the invention relate to the pxoduction of soGial occasion products such as greeting cards on base product consisting of plain greeting card stock with color graphics and text to produce card~ which are of high qualiky and very attractive and which are selected by customers from a wide variety of possible designs and formats and which are imprinted with text selected by customers for personalization thereo~. Thesa features relate to the adaptation of a color printer for reliable printing on greeting card stock, to the handling of greeting card stock and to the selection of graphics and text by customersO
In an illustrated embodiment, a high quality color ink jet printer is used advantageously which is of a known type and which is capable of printing a sheet of standard weight and width card stock. Readily understood is that the invention is not limited to the use of a particular color : printer. Both traditional printers as well as solid ink jet, water base ink jet, and solvent base ink jet, thermal 20 wax, dye di~fusion, diffusion, erosion, laser, and other printers as well as pen plotters and pencil plotters may be adap~e~ for use. Further, a printer which prints on only one side of paper or a printer capable o~ printing on both sides of a piece of paper simultaneously may be used. In addition, ¢olor or black and white printing technology may be used. Finally, printers in which paper is supplied in roll rather than sheet form may be used~
These and other features provida a system which is highly ~lexible and versatile, capable of meeting the desires of customer~ and reliably providing final products of uniform high quality and at reasonable cost.
This invention contemplates other objects, features and advantages which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

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BRIEF DB~CRIPTION OF ~Z D~WIN~
FIGURE 1 shows a front panel portion of a vending machin2 constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a robot used in handling of products within the machine o~ FIG. l;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the robot of FIG.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the maohine o~ FI&. 1, illustrating diagrammatically the positions o~
the robot of FIGS. 2 and 3 and other components within the machine;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan`view corresponding to FIG.
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FIGURE 6 is a p~rspecti~l~ view illustrating a blank card supply and feeder section of the machine o~ FIG.
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FIGURE 7 is a cross-sect:ional view o~ a lower portion of a printer of the machin~3 of FIG. 1, looking downwardly at a level a5 indicated by line 7-7 of FIG. 4, also showing th~ feed of a sheet to the printer by the robot;
~IGURE 8 is a schema~ic block diagram illustrating a foreground computer, a background computer and o~her circuitry o~ ~he machine;
FIGURES 9 and 1~ are flow diagrams illustrating the operation of the foreground computer shown in Fig~ 10;
and FIGURES 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are flow diagrams illustrating operations o~ the background computer shown in Fig. 10.

D~C~IP~IO~ OF PR~FBRRBD ~NBODI~T~
Reference numeral 10 generally designates a vending machine which is constructed in accordance with the principle~ of thi~ invention and which is particularly '. I

designed for vending personalized greeting cards but which may be used for vending o~ other personalized products.
The machine 10 includes display means including a screen 11 which in accordance with the invention is operable to present visual illustrations in color to enable a customer to select from among a large number of available greeting cards or oth~r products and to enable the customer to select text and other modifications as may be desired for personalization of the selectQd card or product. The display means also includes voice generating means for providing an audible presentation oorrelated to the visual presentation.
In ~n introduGtory presentation mod~, suoh display means are operable to present a sequence of identifications o~ the available products and desirable attributes and features thereof to persons in the vicinity of the machine 10. Operating lnstructions are al:30 presented-in the .introductory presentation mode.
By way of example, the machine 10 may be used to vend products including get-well, birthday, anniversaryf Easter, Passover, Hanukkah, Christmas cards and other types of greeting cards. In each case~ a personalized message may be print~d along with the name of the recipient of the card and the name of the sender of the card.
In the illustrated embodiment, the screen 11 is operable as a touch screen for selection o~ the product and attribute~ thereof and for entering of name, date and personalized message data where a personalized product is selected. The customer i~ invited to touch a portion of the screen to indicate an intention to consider purchase of a selected one of the available products and 1s then instructed audibly through voice generating means and vi~ually through the screen 11 to e~fect a conditional pre-payment for the product, payment being conditioned upon the cu~tomer'~ final approval of the product. Upon the . .
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~ ?~9 failure of a custcmer to touch the screen 11 in the appropriate place, the introductory presentation mode is repeated.
Pre-payment may be ef~ected by insertion of coins in a coin 510t 12, insertion o~ a bill in a bill receiving slot 13 or momentary insertion of a credit card in a credit card reader ~lot 14. Upon entry of selection and personalization data, as hereinafter described, the customer is invited to indica$e final approval of a product by pressing a "buy" button 15. At this time, as well, the product selected ~or purchase is shown on the screen ll for visual verification. The change cup 16 is provided for return of coins made as prepayment and delivering any change which may be due. A refund button 17 is also provided and a small read out display 18 may either he associated with the payment receiviny devices or preferably is displayed on the screen 11.
A delivery receptacle 19 is provided into which the selected product is delivered, along with envelope or other required associated materials. The delivery receptacle 19, the screen 11, coin slot 12, and payment effe.cting devices are positioned on a front panel 20 o~ a housing 22 as generally shown in Figures 4 and 5.
In one embodiment, a robot 24 within the housing 22 operates to effect trans~ers of base product, such as greeting card stoclc, as required to effect pPr~onalization of a product in accordance with data supplied by a cu~tomer.
Depending upon the type and variaty of base products to be used, a paper feed assembly rather ~han a robot may be used to ef~ect transfers oP base product a~ required to ~f~ect personaliæation of a product i~ accordance with data supplied by a customer. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various standard automation deYices in addition to the use o~ a robot are within the scope of the inventionO

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.. . :. ., .:, Where a robot is utilized, a suitable robot 24 is a commercially available type of robot o~ a type sold by Eshed Robotic, Inc. of Princeton, New Jersey and includes electro-mechanical components which are not shown in detailO
Such components are responsive to applied electrical signals to accurately control rotation o~ the turret head 26 about a vertical axis, rotation of links 29 and 30 about the horizontal axis 32, rotation of the links 33 and 34 about the horizontal axis 36 and rotation of the transfer head 28 relative to the links 33 and 34 about the axes 40 and 42.
The position o~ the robot 24 and the positions of other components within the housing 22 are indicated diagrammatically in dotted lines in Figures 4 and 5. In brief, the transfer head 28 of the robot 24 of the illustrated machine 10 is operated to pick up a sheet of greeting card stock from a blank card supply and feeder unit 48 and thereafter inserts the sheel: into a feeder slot at the lower end of the printer 50, p.Lcks up the sheet after printing on one side thereof, xein~3erts the sheet into the printer 50 for printing on the opposite side thereof, transfers the sheet to a decurling assembly a~sociated with the printer 50, picks up the decurled sheet from the decurling assembly, and thereafter trans~ers the sheet to a delivery station 52.
While printing operations are taking place, the transfer head 28 i~ operated to transfer an envelope and a bag from envPlope and bag supply stations 53 and 54 to the delivery station 52. The pxinted sheet, envelope and bag are then dropped downwardly ~rom the delivery station 52 to the delivery rec~ptacle 19 to be picked up by the customerO
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the printer 50, looking downwardly at a level as indicated by line 7-7 of Figure 4, also showing the ~eed of sheet 58 to the printer by the robot 24. The illustrated printer 50 includ~s portions of a known type o~ ink jet

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color printer manufactured by Howtek, Inc. of Hudson, New Hampshire and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,591,281 and

4,714,936, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
A second type of ink jat printer (not shown in Figures) which also may be used in the machine 10 of the invention is a Phaser~ III RX marketed by Tektronix~ Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon. High1y attractive color printiny of computer generated graphics and text may be achieved with printers of these types, The embodiment using the Phaser~ III RX printer and only a sing1e base product, such as a blank card skoc~, to produce the various products, such as various social occasion cards, eliminates the use of a robot. Rather, a sheet hand1ing system such as that disclosed in United States Patent Application Serial No. _ , filed April 3, 1992, incorporated by reference herein in i~s entirety, may be used in place o~ the robot to effe~t feeding of blank card stock, transfex of enve1Opes to the customer, reversing of the card stock after printing of the first side to enab1e printing of the second side, and ~eeding of the completed card to the cu~tomer.
In the i11ustrated machine o~ the invention, modifications of the printer 50 are made to obtain reliable automatQd operation and to print on both sides o~ blank greeting card stock which is relatively thick and which has a width substantial1y less than that o~ conventiona1 paper.
These modi~ications are disclosed in the previously mentioned parent application U.S. Serial No. 07/602,439 filed October 22, 1990 of this continuation-in-part app1ication.
Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram o~ the control system ~or visual and audio presentations and contro1 of making o~ a personalized product as se1ected by the customer in the embodiment where a robot is used. The . ::

pre~Pntation screen 11 of Figure 1 is provided by a monitor 106 which is connected through a video drive cable 107 and a touch signal transmission cable 108 to an interface circuit 109 o* a "~oreground" computer 110, operative to control presentation and control operations directly associated with the customer. To control operation of the base product manipulation and feeding means, such as the robot 24, and the printer 50, a separate "background" computer 136 is provided. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms backgound computer and fora~round computer may be u~ed to refer to two separate and distinct computers or to a single computer capable o~ parallel processing.
Interface cixcuit 109 also operates to transmit an audio signal through a cable 111 to a speaker unit 112 and to receive a NTSC signal through a cable 113 from an optical disc unit 114, or other suitable storage media such as CD
ROM, writable compack disc or hard disk. The NTSC signal is then manipulated by the interface circuit 109 and transmitted via ca~le 107 to the monitor 106. The intQrface circuit 109 is such that the optical disc unit 114 is ccntrollable ~rom the foreground computer 110 through a RS232 serial link 115 to supply signa~ls to d~velop display~
of a very large number of color graphics stored on an optical disc, or other suitable storage device such as CD-ROM, writabla compact disc or hard disc, and from whirh the customer may select one suitable for personalization o~ a card. A direct connection 115 i~ provided between optical disa unit 114 and the speaker unit 112 for developing an audio signal corresponding to th~ display developed by 3~ monitor 106 from the transmitted video signal.
For printing o~ color graphics corresponding to the graphics produced from the video disc or other storage device, data for producing corresponding CMYK signals are s~ored in a memory unit 116 which may be a hard disc drive unit, for example~ Ik will be understood that the invention , ` ` : : , : ',:., ` ; , .

is not limited to any particular fo~m of media, either optical or magnetic or otherwise, for storing of graphics and other data.
For transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the control panel, an interface circuit 119 of the foreground computer 110 is connected through isolation circuitry 120 to a coin reader 121 which provides the coin slot 12, to a cixcuit 122 which controls delivery of coins to the change cup 16, to a bill reader 123 which provides the bill receiving slot 13, to a credit card reader 124 which proYides the credit card receiving ~lot 14, and to switch units 125 and 126 con~rolled by the buy and refund buttons 15 and 17.
As shown, the isolation circuitry 120 is also connected to a unit 128 which controls operation of release devices of the delivery unit 52 to release an assembly of a completed card and associated envelope and bag to fall into the deliver~ receptacle 19. In addlition, the isolation circuitry 120 may be connected to a lpeople ~nsor 132 which ~enses the presence of anyone in proximity to the machine, and to video monitor sw.itch 134 which controls the monitor 106 to operate either from RGB or other color signals applied through the cable 107.
To control operation of the robot 24 and the printer 50, a separate "background" computer 136 is provided in ~he illustrated machine 10 which is conn~cted through a RS232 serial link 137 to the foreground computer 110, through a RS232 serial link 138 to a controller 140 which is connected through interface and drive control circuits 141 3~ and 142 to sense and control movement~ of the robot 24, supply of vacuum to the vacuum cups 37 and 38 of the transfer head 38 and control other operations including the energization of drive motor 87 for the kick roller 70 (Figure 7~, the energi2ation of the motor 100 of the decurl a~embly (Figure 9) and the operation of the delivery unit .. : .
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52. The background computer 136 is al50 connected through a parallel bus 143 to the printer 50 and through a RS232 serial link 144 to a controller 146 ~or the modification station 56.
In accordance with the su~jPct invention, the background computer 136 i5 connected through a RS~32 serial link 149 to a modem 150. The background computer 136 is also connected, via an expansion slot, to a facsimile board 153. The modem 150 and the facsimile board 153 are each connected to a telephone line 151 for transmission of data or monitoring of machine operation at a remote location 154, as well as servicing or control of the machine from the remote location. Use of the facsimile board enables the machine 10 to contact the remote location 154 either by (1) transmitting data directly to a ~acsimile machin~ or (2) transmitting data to any suitable receiv~r capable of xeceiving and utilizing facsimile telephone transmissions, such as another computer which is also equipped with a ~acsimile board.
The modem 150 enables the machine 10 to transmit data to a receiver at the r~mote location 154. The modem 150 also enables the machine 10 to receive data from the remote location 154. Such a receiver preferably is a "pag~r" or "beeper" of the type capable o~ visually displaying numeric figures transmitted thereto. Two such suitable pagers are the Facts Courier~ pager mark~ted by NEC
America, Inc. and the Airsignal SM~ pager marketed by Motorola~ Additionally, the receiver may include a remote computer ~uipped with a ~odem or other suitable data :-communication capability as will be understood by those skilled in the art. As diagra~matically shown, a hand~et 152 is optionally connected to the r~mote location 154 via the telephone line 151 for transmitting voice signals ther~to.
3~ The operation of the pres~ntation or foxeground ; ~ ' , ',, .~ . . . `, ;' . ~', ~ .

2~ 8 computer 110 is depic~ed in the logical flow charts of Figures 9 and 10. As shown, at start-up, graphics displays are generated ts alert customers in the vicinity of tha machine 10 as to products available from the machine and to instruct a customer as to how to learn about the products and the mode of operation of the machine. The displays include a me~sage inviting the customer to touch the screen to obtain more in~ormation as to operation of the machine and more detailed information as to available product~.
Upon touching the screen 11, the system advances to a decision block where an explanatory video is generated with ass~ciated sound. The customer is invited to make a revocable decision to co~sider purchase of a product, by ~ouching a selected area of the screen 11. If the screen is not touched after a certain time int~rval, the operation reverts ko the start condition. If the customer decides to con~ider a purchase, the system advances to an "explain vi eo" block wherein a video shopping program is initiated in which, ~or example, the customer is invited to select from a number o~ categories.
For example, if the customer sel2cts the birthday c~rd category, he or she may then be invited to select between categories of cards. M~re and morQ cards may presented until the customer finds one which is suitable.
Then more detail is provided, including full screen high resolution images o~ the cover and inside of the card. Once ~he customer ~inds a card ko his or her liking, the buy button 15 (Fig. 1) is pressed and an operation is then initiated for selection of personaliæed data. This operation is similar to that disclosed in the a~orementioned Banks et al. application U.S. Serial NoO 514,670, filed ~pril 25, ~990, the disclosure of which i5 incorporated by re~erence.
Should a customer not have time to input the necessary in~ormation to achieve a personalized product such ' ., ~ , as a personalized greeting card, the customer is instructed audibly through voice generating means and visually through the screen 11 that the customer may select a standard card design which requires no personalization prior to being printed. Further, the customer is instructed audibly through voice generating means and visually through the screen 11 that the customer may select a card designed for personalization and allow the machine to select personalizing indicia suitable to any customer. Either of ~0 these two nonpersonalized card selections re~ults in a card of high quality being available to the customer without the ~xpensive and space consuming selection racks typical to .
card shops.
After the custom~r indicates final approval of a card, operation is initiated to print the card, data stored in the RAM of the foreground comput~r 110 and in the memory unit 116 being trans~err2d to the background computer 136 through the sPrial link 137. The a~oredescribed printing and associated assembly operations are then initiated under control by the background computer 136. At this time, the customer is informed through video and audio presentations as to the exp2cted time before the card will be completed and i5 invited to participate in supplying marketing and consumer information as his or her sex, age, etc. as well as similar information concerning the recipient o~ the card, and any commants which the customer ~ay wish to convey.
As the customer answers the marketing and consumer information questions, the data is stored directly to the background computer 136 ~or later use. Th~n, if time remains, an entertainment vid~o may be presented until the card has been completed and delivered. Pr~ferably, this entertainment video may be bypassed so that a consumer may immediately begin shopping again. Such a bypass is preferably e~ected by use of the video touch screen.
General operations o~ the background computer 136 ' :, - ' ,.
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are illustrated in the flow diagrams of Figures 11, 12, ~3, 14, and 15 which are generally self-explanatory. AB shown in Fig. 11, once the consumer has decided to make a purchase, the background computer 136 downloads the graphical data and causes base product such as greeting card stock to be loaded into the printer 50. Where a personalizecl product is selected by the consumer, the background computer 136 then receives a variable ~ile created by the personalization entered by the consumer, interprets that ~ext, writes a first data file, and then downloads that data file to print the first side o~ a personalized product such as a greeting card.
Should the customer select a personalizable product but not wish to enter personalizing data, a data file created to replace a variable file created by the personalization entered by the customer is accessed by the background computer 136 which is then downloaded to print the ~irst side of a nonpersonalized product such as a greeting card. Should the customer select a nonpersonalizable product, the data file associated with tha~ product is accessed by the background computer 136 and that file is then downloaded to print the first side of a nonpersonalized product such as a greeting card. Following transfer of either of the three data files described above, the envelDpe for the personalized product is staged for delivery to the customer.
once the first side of the personalized product is printed, the background computer 136 causes the base pxoduct, such as greeting card stock, to be revarsed such that the second side may be printed~ Turning net to Fig.
12, the background computer 136 then recei~es the second variable file, interprets that ~ile and writes a second data file. Where a nonpersonalized product is selected or a customer elects not to personallze a personalizable product, the appropriate related data ~ile is accessed by the -, . . .
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background computer 136~ The second data file, appropriate to the product selected, is then downloaded, the background computer 136 determinec whether the base product in the proper position, and the second side of ths personalized product, such as a personalized greeting card, is printed and the card and envelope are dPlivered.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, sales information including: the dollar value of the sales made to consumers, the time of the salel the product sold, and, at the buyer's option, the buyer's answers to the various.marketing and consumer survey questions such as the age of the buyer, the age of the intend~d recipient, the number of similar praducts recently purchased by the buyer, and the income bracket of the buyer 15 is thereafter recorded by the bachground computer. This information is recorded so that a p2riodic report of the information may be compiled and provided to the machine's owner or operator. In addition, cumulative data may also be maintained such that comparisons bletween, for example, daily, monthly and yearly sales may be made. once such : cumulative data is maintained by the background computer 136, that in~ormation may also be compiled, manipulated and reported periodically.
A report compiled concerning sales and other marketing and consumer information i5 conveniently call2d a periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report.
While in the description of the machine 10, such sales, marketing and con~umer informatiQn are maintained and compiled by the background computer 136, such in~ormation may be maintalned and reports compiled by the foreground computer 110 just as well. That data may then be tran~ferrad to the background computer 136.
As depicted in Fig. 13, a periodic sales, marketing, and consumer information report is then ~ompiled by the background computer and stored upon an appropriate 3~8 storage media such as a hard disk at regular intervals, ~or example daily, at an appropriate time, for example at sometime between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. Generally, this report compilation may be made at any time. However, from midnight until the early morning hours is an especially suitable time as customer usage of the machine 10 is anticipated to be minimal at such times.
To enable a transfer of data at the appropriate time, the internal clock time keeping mechanisms of the foreground and background computers must keep accurate time.
Should the location of the machine and the customer traffic patterns dictate, a more suitable time may be determined.
The machine 10 may be removed from the operational mode during compilation of this report although this is not reguired. This is best accomplished only upon the completion o~ the introductory presentation mode during which a consumer has failed to tou.ch the screen at the appropriate place to begin a purchasing sequence. Where the machine 10 is removed from the operational mode during compilation of this report, the screen is preferably placed in a mode to indicate that the machine is temporarily out of service.
Upon compilation of the report by the background computer, the commercially available ~acsimile board control software is activated and the periodic sales, marketing, and consumer information report is manipulated by that software to enable facsimile transmission of the report to the re~ote location 154 as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Typical remote locations would include an owner's and/or operator's central maintenance facility or a business planning location. The remote location 154 would receive ~he report via a remote receiver such as a commercially available facsimile machine or a commercially available computer which is also equipped with a facsimile board and modem, as described above.

~. , 2~

~ here the machine 10 is taken out of active service during th~ compilation and transmission o~ the periodic sales, marketing, and consumer info~mation report, the machine 10 must be reactivated. Upon completion of the report transmission, the machine 10 including the background computer and the foreground computer are reset ~uch that the machine 10 i5 restarted in the introductory presentation mode.
Receipt o such compiled periodic sales, marketing and consumer information reports daily allows the owner and/or operat~r of the machine 10 to accurately ~udge the consumer's response to the machine 10 and to determine which products should be maintained or enhanced and which products may be deleted from the product lin~. A sample periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report, compiled at a time such as 3:00 a.m. may be constructed in the following manner:
8~1~8 ~eport Dece~ber 31, 199~
Period Days Credit Cash Refund Total Avg. Avg $
Last 24hrs 1 8 6 1 14 14.0 4.00 Prev Day 1 lo 3 9 13 13.0 4.00 Month 31 185 220 125 405 13.1 4.00 Year 44 260 356 140 616 17.0 3.82 ~5 Nov. 13 75 13S 15 211 16.2 3.50 Dec. 31 185 220 125 405 13.1 4.00 Produat Purohase Su~m~ry PersonalizedQuantity Product ~_ Sold 18 4~

~1 7 ? ~98 Consumer Resear¢h: Perc~nt ~%) Purchases in For Buyer Buyer Last 3 Mos. For Aqe Sex A~e 1-4: 25 Spouse: 12 <10: 6 ~ale: 54 <10: 7

5-9: 39 Parent: 8 10-18: 24 Female: 46 10-18: 7 10+: 17 Child: 719-25: 5 19-25: 26 None: 19 Sibs: 1426-39: 20 26-39: 17 GrParnt: 3 40-49: 27 40-49: 24 GrChild: 1 50-60: 7 50-60: 5 Other: 55 60+: 11 60+: 14 ~alos ~y ~our Previous Day Previous Month Previous Year Hour Sales ~ Sales Pct Sales Pct 4am 0 0 0 0 0 0 5am 0 0 0 0 0 0 6am 0 0 2 0.5 6 1.0 7am 17.1 7 1.7 7 1.1 8am 0 0 7 1.7 11 1.8 9am 0 0 22 5.4 33 5.4 10am 2 14.3 30 7.4 45 7.3 llam 2 14.3 37 9.1 56 9.1 Noon 1 7.1 56 13.8 73 11.9 lpm 17.1 31 7.7 50 8.1 2pm 17.1 23 5.7 39 6.4 3pm 17.1 25 6.2 38 6.2 4pm 321.4 22 5.4 40 6.5 5pm 17.1 21 5.2 31 S.0 6pm 17.1 21 5.2 39 6.4 7pm 0 0 23 5.7 35 5.7 8pm 0 0 12 3.0 20 3.3 9pm 0 0 19 4.7 28 4.6 10pm 0 0 17 4.2 26 4.2 llpm 0 0 22 5.4 27 4.4 12am 0 0 6 1.5 8 1.3 lam 0 0 2 0.5 2 0.3 2am 0 0 O 0 0 0 3am 0 0 0 0 0 0 ,. ~ , -~, ., - , . :: . .. : -- : .:, , 3~

In addition to the periodic sales, markPting, and consumer information report, where the machine 10 accepts payment via credit card, a credit transaction report sufficient to obtain payment ~rom the appropriate paying bank may also be compiled by the background comput~r 136 and transmitted via data trans~er via the modem 150 or via the ~acsimile board 153 to a remote location 154. This report is also conveniently prepared and transmitted at sometime between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. As with the periodic sales, marketing, and consumer information report, the machine 10 may optionally be removed from service during the : preparation and transmittal o~ the credit transaction report.
Also, in addition to compilation of various sales amounts and consumer and marketing surveys, various sensors well known to those skilled in the art, such as optical sensors, may be used to determine the level of base product available in the machine lO for use in preparing the various personalized final products offered by the machine 10.
These sensors may report data to the background computer 136 where that computer interprets the data and determines whether a base product or ancillary supply level i~ low. In an alternate embod.iment, these sensors could report their data to the foreground computer for monitoring.
Further, assuming that a certain amount of base product is stored and ready for use within the machine 10, once sales in a particular day using that base product begin to approach that amount, a low level of base product available for use by th2 machine 10 may be logically deduced. For example, should the machine be capable of storing 50 pieces of base product material, once daily sales of final products u ing that base product have accumulated to, for example, 30 pieces, a prudent owner and/or operator o~ the ma~hin~ lO may wish to restock th~ machine with the appropriate base product. Should sales by the machine ~0 :; ' ' . . . " ,.

., , :
.~ , during the day use a high percentage of the base produ~t stored and available within the machine, a prudent owner and/or operator may wish to restock the machine so that, should sales occur during the night time, the machine 10 will not be shut down due to a lack of base product.
The background computer 136 may be programmed ~uch that as total sales since the last periodic report increase to an amount which would indicate to the operator and/or owner that the amount of based product typically stored and available for use within the machine 10 would be insufficient to last until the next normally scheduled restocking of base product, a report of the sales total may be automatically compiled and reported to the owner and/or operator.
Such reports occur basecl upon either of two conditions. Where the owner and/or operator i5 concerned about ~upplies for any night time sales, a simple afternoon report of sales is generated at a suitable time such as 4:00 p.m. such that restocking of base product takes place prior to the completion of work hours. Further, should the machine 10 experience exceedingly rapid sales such that the available base products are depl~ted prior to the daily afternoon report, a special report is generated prior to the daily afternoon report. Such a special report may be trigg~red by, for example, use of 30 base products prior to the afternoon report.
~ eneration of an afternoon repor~ or of a special report~ however, does not accomplish resto~king of the machine 10. ~he afternoon report or a special report may be generated and transmitted to the own2r and/or operator at the remote location 154 by facsimile much like the periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report. However, maintenance personnel who service the machine often do not carry a facsimile machine. Most such maintenance persannel ~;
do, however, carry "pagers;' or other receiver devices which . .; , , ; ~
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' ~

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receive information transmitted first over telephone lines and then via radio waves.
An appropriate pager for use in receiving transmissions concerning an afternoon report or a special report is capable o~ receiving and displaying digital information including at least an identifying code indicating the location of the machine lO transmitting the information where multiple machines are monitored, an identifying code indicating the reason for th~ call, and the number of ~ales made by the machine lO since the last periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report.
The code displayed on such a pager could be presented by three sets of numbers ~7~-5-3l'1. In such a report sequence, the set "78" indicates the machine transmitting the information, the 11511 indicat2s the type of report, for example, a special report of sale~ since the last periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report, and the '13l" indicates the numbar of sale~ A report sequence of "78-6-28" could be used wherein the "6" indicates an afternoon report of sales from machine 78 and thak 28 sales have been made since th~ la~t periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report.
As with the periodic sales, marketing and consumer information report, the machine lO may optionally be remo~ed from service when a special report or an afternoon report is generated and transmitted. The machine lO is preferably only r~mov~d from s~rvice whan a consumer~s purchase is not interrupted ~y the manipulatio~ of da~a and ultimate transfer of dataO As may be done with the periodic report, this is accomplishe.d by beginning the compilation and transmission operation only upon the completion of the introductory presentation mod~ during which a consumer has failed to touch th~ screen at the appropriate plac~ to begin a purchasing sequence. As with the periodic sales, mar~eting and consumer information report, upon completion , . . .
. . .
. .: ;
',. `' " ' :

of the report transmission, the machine 10, including the background computer 136 and the ~oreground computer 110, are reset to the introductory presentation mode.
As depicted in flow chart 14, the foreground computer 110 and the background computer 136 also preferably monitor the occurence of a power ~ailure. In addition, the computers llO, 136 monitor themselves and the machine 10 for potential errors such as software ~ailures, paper jams in the printer system, connecting cabling failures, and low levels of base products, such as base white paper card stock, and ancillary supplies, such as printer inks.
Appropriate sensors and methods of detection are utilized.as will be known to those skilled in the art.
Preferably, to aid in such monitoring, thQ printer 50 used in the invention contains output data points which may be accessed for monitoring o~ printer ancillary supplies such as inks. The foreground computer 110 also optimally maintains a self diagnosis ability wherein certain errors are detected and recorded by the foreground computer 110.
Examples of such arrors include: ;
1. Power Loss DetectPd 2. No Touch Screen Driver 3. Bad Touch Screen Driver Version 4. Bad Calibxation Points 5. Bad Graphics Loading

6. Failure To Access Monitor

7. Failure To Access Background Computer

8. ~mproper Reading 0~ Product Definition File

9. Improper Reading Of Configuration File

10. Failure 0~ Background Computer To Respond The background computer 136 also pre~erably maintains a self diagnosis ability wherein certain errors and ancillary supply levels are detected and recorded.
Further, the ~arious level indicators of various base products as well as ancillary supply levels may be monitored by the background computer 136. Such sel~ diagno~is, base product, and an~.illary supplies monitored may include:

., ~ , . .
.~
~ ~. " ~

1. Escape Key Pressed 2. Base Product Transfer Means Not Responding 3. Invalid Base Product Transfer Neans Response 4. Base Product Transfer Means Command Out Of Sequence 5. Printer Paper Jam 6. Printer Cleaner Solution Low 7. Printer Ink Color A Low 8. Printer Ink Color B Low 9. Printer Ink Colox C Low 10. Printer Ink Color D Low

11. Printer Not P~eady After Resets

12. Printer Not Ready After 5 Reset~

13. Supply X Level Low

14. Base Product A Level Low ~5. Printer Ink A, B, C or D Empty 16. Base Product Supply - 0 Error~ detectPd by either the foreground computer 110 or background computer 136 may be self correctabl~. In this case, the error is ccrrected, and the machine 10, if necessary, i5 restarted. Where a low level is detected by the background computer 136, a su~'ficient amount of the base product or ancillary supply such als ink should still be available to the machine. In suchl a ca-~e, the machine 10 may continue to operate. Should an error b~ detected by either the background computer 136 or the foreground computer 110 which prohibits the machine 10 from properly operating, the machine 10 is plared in ~n inactive status and the screen indicates that the machine is out of ordar or darken. Just such a case would occur should paper jam in the printer prohibiting its proper op~ration.
Upon detection of any error or low level, the det~cting computer generate~ an appropriate code, and optionally c~mpiles a report, which identifies the error or low level detected, the computer detecting the error, and the machine 10 in which that computer is located.
Information indicating the error detected or low level indicated is al50 appropriately stored on an ~ppropriate storage media, such as a hard disk, by either the ~oreground .: : . ~: , . . .
, ..
. . :
.: ,, - ~ .

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computer 110 or background computer 136. Where an error is detecked by the foreground computer 110, that code and optional report i5 then transmitted to the background computer 136.
As shown in Fig. 14, once the error code or low level code is generated, and a report concerning the error or low level i5 optionally compiled, that information is appropriately transmitted to the remote location 154 so that the owner and/or operator may make any needed repairs or resupply necessary base products or ancillary supplies such as inks. As with other code or report transmissions, where the machine is still operational, the error or low level code transmission is optionally delayed until the completion of the introductory presentation mode during which a ~onsumer has failed to touch the screen at the appropriat~
place to begin a puxchasing sequence.
Also, where the machine 10 is operational, upon completion of the report transmission, the machine 10, including the background computer 136 and the foreground computer 110, are reset such that the machine 10 is restarted in the introductory presentation mode. Where thP
error det~cted renders the machin~ 10 inoperable, the coda or report is immediately transmitted to the remote rec~iver.
As with the afternoon report or special rPport, the error or low level report is best transmitted rapidly to maintenance personnel most likely to service the machine.
Again such personnel, who are often traveling in their vehicles, are most conveniently supplied with pagars. once the identi~ying code or compiled report is either trans~erred to the background computer 136 by the foregr~und computer 110, or is actually generatad by the backqround computer 136, that in~ormaticn may be transmitted via the modem 150 to a remote receiver. Where only a coda is to be transmitted, the appropriate code may be transmitted through the modem 150 to the pager. Where a more detailed report is ' ,' `' , :

Z~7?~

to be transmitted, the report is appropriately generated and then the commercially available ~upport software associated with the facsimile board wi-ll manipulate that report and appropriately transmit that report via the modem 150 to a remote receiver such as a facsimile machine or a computPr ~quipped with a facsimile board.
As with the afternoon and special reports, the preferred pager is capabls of receiving and displaying digital information including at least an identi~ying code indicating the location of the machine lO transmitting the information where multiple machines are being monitored, an identifying code indicating the reason for the call, and ~n identifying code indicating the error or low level detected by the foreground computer 110 or the background computer 136. The code displayed on such a pager could be presen~ed by ~our sets of numbers 1178-9-l-211. In such a report sequence, ~he first set "78" indiciates the machine transmitting the information, the 1'1911 indicates transmission of an error or low level report, ".1" indicates that the 20 error was detected by the foreground computer llO, and the "2" indicates that the error dete~ted was a ~ailure of the touch screen which had caused a ~hutdown of the machine lO.
A report saquence of 78-9-0-l2 could also be transmitt~d wh~rein the 78 would indicate the machine transmitting the information whare multiple machines are monitored, the 9 would indicate that this i~ an error or low level report t 0 would indicate that the error was detected by the hackground computer 136, and the 9 would indicate that a low level o~ printer ink C wa~ detected. Upon receiving such a message, the receiver would also understand that the machine lO was still operational but that maintenance would be required shortly.
An optional feature of the machine lO includes generation of a facsimile report following the r~pair of a shut down error, non-shut down error or resupplying of base ~ 31 -product or ancillary supplies. Such a report is transmitted to the remote owner and/or operator to indicate that maintenance personnel visited the machine following receipt of an error message and that the ~rror or low level was corrected.
~ s depicted in flow chart 15, a final benefit of a machine 10 utilizing a modem and modifiable, i.e. writable, storage media such as writable compact disk~ hard disks, hard cards and the like is that the machine 10, and ultimately the foreground computer 110 and the background computer 136, may be accessed from a remote location 154 by the owner and/or operator via the modem 150. Once the computers are accessible via the modem 150, computer programs, stored graphical information and other information stored in modifiable storage media may be modified from the remote location 154.
For example, in November, a machine 10 of the invPntion would conveniently be capable of providing personalized Birthday cards, Christmas cards, Anniversary cards and Thanksgiving cards. Following Christmas, the machine would more conveniently o~fer personalizable Birthday cards, Valentine's Day cards, Easter Cards and Anniversary cards. However, the owner and/or operator may not be able to personally visit a remotely located machine 10 without excessive expense. In such a case, the ownar and/or operator may creatP the neces~ary new ~oftware, graphical repres~ntation of a product such as a greeting card, or new hook video to entice con~umers. That information may then be digitized and the machine 10 is then accessed via the modem 150 which is connected to the background computer 136. Upon e~tablishment of the appropriate connection with the background computer 136, the digital data may be trans~erred to thP appropriate writable storage media, such as writable compact disk or hard disk, and th~ machine 10 may then be rebooted wit~ the n~w stored information in place. With the more appropriate seasonal cards now in place, increased sales may be obtained from that machine 10.
It ~ill be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

What i5 claimed is:

:

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Claims (40)

1. A machine for delivering a social occasion product which may be automatically personalized by the customer at the time of purchase, said machine comprising:
storage means for storing base product, delivery receptacle means, product handling means for effecting a series of operations and including electrically controllable transfer means for effecting transfer of base product from said storage means, electrically controllable printing means for printing graphics and text on said base product transferred by said transfer means and for effecting printing of both high quality graphics and text on said transferred base product for production of a personalized social occasion product, and electrically controllable delivery means for effecting delivery of said personalized social occasion product from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, an enclosure containing said storage, receptacle and printing means therewithin, selection means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect entry of control data to select graphics and text to be provided on the personalized greeting card to be delivered to the customer, computer means within said enclosure and coupled to said payment and selection means and to said electrically controllable transfer, printing and delivery means of said product handling means, said computer means controlling said transfer, printing, and delivery means of said product handling means following payment by a customer to perform a series of operations in accordance with said control data, said series of operations being performed within said enclosure without operator intervention and including transfer of base product from said storage means, printing of a sheet of base product transferred from said storage means and delivery of the desired final form of personalized greeting card from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, said computer means monitering status and malfunction conditions of said machine during at least a portion of said operations, and generating a status report therefrom; and communication means coupling said computer means with a remote location, said computer means transmitting said status report to said remote location via said communication means.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising payment means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect payment for said social occasion product.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said social occasion product is a greeting card.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said communication means includes data transceiver means coupled with said computer means, first data receiver means at said remote location, and a link connecting said first data transceiver means and said first data receiver means.

5. The machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first data transceiver means is a modem.

6. The machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first data receiver means is a pager.

7. The machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first data receiver means is a modem.

8. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first data transceiver means also receives data transmitted from said remote location.

9. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first data transceiver means is a facsimile board.

10. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said base product is greeting card stock.

11. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer means maintains periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data and further compiles reports reflecting said periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data and wherein said computer means transmits said reports via said communication means.

12. A machine as defined in claim 1, said selection means including display means for displaying a plurality of social occasion product designs for selection by the customer.

13. A machine as defined in claim 12, said computer means being operable for controlling operation of said display means as well as said product handling means.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13, including memory means associated with said computer means for storage of data for selective display of said plurality of social occasion product designs by said display means and for printing of any selected one of said plurality of social occasion product designs by said printing means.

15. A machine as defined in claim 14, said computer means being arranged for downloading data from said memory means for printing of a social occasion product design while concurrently controlling said transfer means to transfer said base product to said printing means.

16. A machine as defined in claim 14, said computer means being arranged for operating said display means for entry by a customer of data for personalization of a social occasion product as well as for selection of a social occasion product design to be personalized.

17. A machine as defined in claim 1, said transfer means being arranged for transferring one sheet of said base product at a time from said storage means to said printing means.

18. A machine as defined in claim 1, said printer being arranged for printing color graphics and text on said base product.

19. A machine for delivering a greeting card which may be automatically personalized by the customer at the time of purchase, said machine comprising: storage means for greeting card stock, delivery receptacle means, product handling means for effecting a series of operations and including electrically controllable transfer means for effecting transfer of said greeting card stock from said storage means electrically controllable printing means for printing graphics and text on said greeting card stock transferred by said transfer means and for effecting printing of both high quality graphics and text on said transferred greeting card stock for production of a personalized greeting card, and electrically controllable delivery means for effecting delivery of said personalized greeting card from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, an enclosure containing said storage, receptacle and printing means therewithin, selection means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect entry of control data to select graphics and text to be provided on the personalized greeting card to be delivered to the customer, computer means within said enclosure and coupled to said payment and selection means and to said electrically controllable transfer, printing and delivery means of said product handling means, said computer means maintaining periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data and further compiling reports reflecting said periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data, said computer means controlling said transfer, printing, and delivery means of said product handling means following payment by a customer to perform a series of operations in accordance with said control data, said series of operations being performed within said enclosure without operator intervention and including transfer of base product from said storage means, printing of a sheet of said greeting card stock transferred from said storage means and delivery of the desired final form of personalized greeting card from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, said computer means monitoring status and malfunction conditions of said machine and generating a status report therefrom; and communication means coupling said computer means with a remote location, said computer means transmitting said status report and said periodic sales reports to said remote location.

20. A machine as defined in claim 19, further comprising payment means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect payment for said greeting card.

21. A machine as defined in claim 19, further comprising payment means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect payment for said social occasion product.

22. A machine as defined in claim 19, wherein said communication means includes data transceiver means coupled with said computer means, first data receiver means at said remote location, and a link connecting said first data transceiver means and said first data receiver means.

23. The machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first data transceiver means is a modem.

24. The machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first data receiver means is a pager.

25. The machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first data receiver means is a modem.

26. A machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first data transceiver means also receives data transmitted from said remote location.

27. A machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first data transceiver means is a facsimile board.

28. A machine for delivering a social occasion product, said machine comprising: storage means for storing base product, delivery receptacle means, product handling means for effecting a series of operations and including electrically controllable transfer means for effecting transfer of base product from said storage means, electrically controllable printing means for printing graphics and text on said base product transferred by said transfer means and for effecting printing of both high quality graphics and text on said transferred base product, and electrically controllable delivery means for effecting delivery of said social occasion product from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, an enclosure containing said storage, receptacle and printing means therewithin, selection means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect entry of control data to select graphics and text to be provided on the social occasion product to be delivered to the customer, sensing means for detecting status and malfunction conditions of the machine and providing a plurality of output signals, computer means within said enclosure and coupled to said payment and selection means and to said electrically controllable transfer, printing and delivery means of said product handling means, said computer means controlling said transfer, printing, and delivery means of said product handling means following payment by a customer to perform a series of operations in accordance with said control data, said series of operations being performed within said enclosure without operator intervention and including transfer of base product from said storage means, printing of a sheet of base product transferred from said storage means and delivery of the desired final form of social occasion product from said printing means to said delivery receptacle means, and receiving said plurality of sensing signals and for generating a status report; and communication means coupling said computer means with a remote location, said communication transmitting said status report to said remote location.

29. A machine as defined in claim 28, further comprising payment means operable by a customer on the outside of said enclosure to effect payment for said social occasion product.

30. A machine as defined in claim 28, wherein said social occasion product is a greeting card.

31. A machine as defined in claim 28, wherein said communication means includes data transceiver means coupled with said computer means, first data receiver means at said remote location, and a link connecting said first data transceiver means and said first data receiver means.

32. The machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said first data transceiver means is a modem.

33. The machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said first data receiver means is a pager.

34. The machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said first data receiver means is a modem.

35. A machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said first data transceiver means also receives data transmitted from said remote location.

36. A machine as defined in claim 31, wherein said first data transceiver means is a facsimile board.

37. A machine as defined in claim 28, wherein said base product is greeting card stock.

38. A machine as defined in claim 28, wherein said computer means maintains periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data and further compiles reports reflecting said periodic sales, marketing and consumer information data and wherein said computer means transmits said reports via said communication means.

39. A method for monitoring an interactive machine which delivers a social occasion product, the machine including storage mean for storing base product, delivery means, printing means for printing graphics and text on the base product to form the social occasion product, handling means for transferring base product from the storage means to the printing means and for transferring the social occasion product from the printing means to the delivery means, an enclosure containing the storage means, printing means, and delivery means therein, selection means operable by a customer on the outside of the enclosure to effect entry of control data to select graphics and text to be provided on the social occasion product, computer means within the enclosure being coupled to the selection means and to the handling, printing, and delivery means, the computer means controlling the handling, printing, and delivery means to perform a series of operation in accordance with the control data, and communication means coupling the computer means with a remote location, said method comprising the steps of:
monitoring status and malfunction conditions of the machine with the computer means;
generating a status report with the computer means from said status and malfunction conditions; and transmitting the status report from the computer means to the remote location via the communication means.

40. The method of claim 39, further including the step of supplying correction data to the computer means from the remote location in response to said status report.