Multi-drop bus to personal computer interface
First Claim
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1. A multi-drop bus vending system comprising;
- at least one vending device, said vending device including means for determining input data and means for generating a multi-drop bus protocol output signal responsive to said input data;
a multi-drop bus for carrying said output signal, said output signal including modal information having protocol specific information;
an interface responsive to said vending device output signal, said interface transposing said output signal by managing said modal information; and
a personal computer having at least memory, central processing unit, and a serial interface for receiving said transposed signal.
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Abstract
A Multi-Drop Bus to personal digital computer interface converts standard vending protocols into personal digital computer standards for RS-232, Universal Serial Bus (USB) and wireless Ethernet 802.11x protocols using framing transposition, modal management, and microprocessor based conversion algorithms.
10 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A multi-drop bus vending system comprising;
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at least one vending device, said vending device including means for determining input data and means for generating a multi-drop bus protocol output signal responsive to said input data;
a multi-drop bus for carrying said output signal, said output signal including modal information having protocol specific information;
an interface responsive to said vending device output signal, said interface transposing said output signal by managing said modal information; and
a personal computer having at least memory, central processing unit, and a serial interface for receiving said transposed signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A data conversion method for a multi-drop bus vending system, said method comprising:
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Inputting data to at least one multi-drop bus vending device, wherein said inputted data is indicative of activity pertaining to the routine operation of said at least one multi-drop bus vending device;
Outputting a first digital signal by said at least one multi-drop bus vending device responsive to said input data, wherein said first digital signal includes modal data;
Receiving said first digital signal by a multi-drop bus to personal computer interface;
Managing said modal data by said multi-drop bus to personal computer interface;
Outputting a second output signal by said multidrop bus to a serial interface, wherein said second output signal lacks modal data; and
inputting said second output signal into a personal computer.
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10. A multi-drop bus to personal computer interface for transposing vending system data from at least one vending device connected to a multidrop bus, said multidrop bus to personal computer interface comprising:
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means for polling said at least one vending device;
means for managing said at least one modal bit;
means for transposing said vending system data; and
means for inputting said transposed data into a personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A multi-drop bus to universal serial bus computer interface vending system for transposing a data signal from at least one vending device to a computer, said interface comprising:
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a computer having memory, CPU, universal serial bus interface for transmitting and receiving said transposed data signal;
a multi-drop bus for carrying said output signal, said output signal including modal information having protocol specific information; and
an interface responsive to said vending device output signal, said interface transposing said output signal by managing said modal information.
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14. A multi-drop bus to universal serial bus computer interface for transposing a data signal from at least one vending device to a computer, said interface comprising:
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a universal serial bus input;
a universal serial bus output;
a multi-drop bus output;
a multi-drop bus input; and
a microprocessor for managing communications between said universal serial input and output and said multi-drop bus input and output.
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Specification