Control system for automatic vending machines

• US 20040030446A1
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jofemar SA (Corporacion Jofemar 1971 SA)
• Original Assignee: Jofemar SA (Corporacion Jofemar 1971 SA)
• Inventors: Guindulain Vidondo, Felix
• Application Number:
  US10/602,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

Control system for automatic vending machines, especially applicable to automatic vending machines, in such a way that the system comprises a central server (1) connected to Internet (4), to which the associated operators or owners (2) of the automatic vending machines (3) to be controlled may have access. The automatic vending machines are provided with a public telephone, through computer equipment, the central server including equipment for the connection in real time or cyclical connection with each machine, data processing equipment and equipment for the management and control of the data of each machine, means to facilitate access to the data of each machine by the operators or owners associated to their corresponding machines and equipment to receive direct information from the machines concerning their operation.

Claims

1. A control system for automatic vending machines especially applicable to automatic vending machines, wherein the system comprises a central server connected to Internet, to which the associated operators or owners of the automatic vending machines to be controlled may have access, the automatic vending machines being provided with a public telephone, by means of computer equipment, the central server including means for the connection in real time or cyclical connection with each machine, data processing means and means for the management and control of said data of each machine, means to facilitate access to the data of each machine by the operators or owners associated to their corresponding machines and means to receive direct information from the machines concerning their operation.

2. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1, wherein the central server has hired telephone lines corresponding to each one of the machines to be controlled from a telephony operator in order to communicate by means of the public telephone itself that the machines are provided with, each one of the machines with the central server, it being possible for the communication between the central server and the machine to be bidirectional.

3. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1, wherein the means for connection in real time or cyclical connection of the central server which each machine, are defined by a program included by the central server and the public telephone itself included in the machines.

4. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1, wherein the means for processing the data obtained by the central server in each connection with the associated machines and subsequent management and control of the data are defined by means of a program that updates and stores said data in order for same to be included in the corresponding file that includes a safety standard that guarantees the confidentiality of the data to each one of the operators or owners.

5. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1, wherein the means for facilitating access to the data stored in the central server corresponding to each one of the associated machines to the respective operators or owners are based on a connection to Internet from computer equipment by the operators or owners by means of using the management and control programs of the central server.

6. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1, wherein the means for receiving information from the machines regarding their operation are defined by the self-check and control program that the machines themselves include, and that by means of the public telephone itself included in the machines, contact is made with the central server in order to report the incident that has taken place, the central server being able to notify the operator or owner of the machine, by means of reporting the incident that has taken place to the computer equipment itself, or other equipment.

7. The control system for automatic vending machines, according to claim 1 wherein the machines may include an internal modem associated to the corresponding telephone line thereof for the communication of each one of the machines with the central server.