Networked augmented reality and virtual vending machine

摘要

A first system for maintaining an inventory of goods available for purchase and providing images relating thereto; a second system for wirelessly communicating the images to a mobile communications and computing platform; a third system operationally coupled the mobile communications and computing platform for displaying on the mobile platform at least one of the images of one of the goods on the platform in response to a user's navigation; and a fourth system for effecting a purchase transaction with respect to at least one of the goods correlated with the displayed image. In the augmented reality embodiment, navigation is effected by physically moving the mobile platform relative to the inventive vending machine whereby the products displayed, and the views thereof, change and vary as a function of the relative position of the mobile platform and the vending machine. As an alternative, the physical vending machine is replaced with a virtual vending machine adapted to display the goods on the user's mobile platform in a three-dimensional space.