Managing system for vending machine

• US 20060096997A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tae-Soon Yeo
• Original Assignee: Tae-Soon Yeo
• Inventors: Yeo, Tae-Soon
• Application Number:
  US10/514,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096997A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system for managing a plurality of vending machines from a main vending machine using a management network, without the need to periodically visit and check all the machines, and effectively managing a plurality of vending machines even from a remote place using a wire or wireless Internet system. The main vending machine includes a controller for controlling a vending machine mechanism and processing data transmitted from each sub-vending machine to store it in a memory: a Bluetooth communication module for transmitting various data from each sub-vending machine to the controller; a display for displaying sales and management information of each sub-vending machine, s a moving picture outputted by a graphic controller according to a signal outputted from the controller; and a keypad for controlling the controller and the display and selecting items.

Claims

1. A system for managing vending machines in real time even from a remote place, wherein a main vending machine and a plurality of sub-vending machines are connected via a local area network (LAN) and said main vending machine can access a vending machine management server website through a wire or wireless communication network, wherein

said main vending machine comprises:

a vending machine mechanism composed of mechanical devices for containing items and dispensing a selected item according to a control signal;

a first input means;

a local area communication means for communicating with said sub-vending machines via LAN; and

a controller for requesting payment is an item is selected through said first input means, controlling said vending machine mechanism to dispense the selected item if payment is made according to a predetermined process, storing information received from said sub-vending machines through said local area communication means in a memory, and transmitting information about each sub-vending machine to said vending machine management server website through said wire or wireless communication network according to a predetermined process, and

each of said sub-vending machines comprises;

a vending machine mechanism composed of mechanical devices for containing items and dispensing a selected item according to a control signal;

a second input means;

a local area communication means for communicating with said main vending machine via LAN; and

a controller for requesting payment if an item is selected through said second input means, controlling said vending machine mechanism to dispense the selected item if payment is made according to a predetermined process, and transmitting information about the state of the sub-vending machine to said main vending machine through said local area communication means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise:

a cash sensing means for sensing a coin or bill; and

a card reader connected to said controller to process payment by credit card, wherein;

when ‘

cash’

is selected through each of said input means, said controller senses the amount of inserted cash through said cash sensing means to process payment;

when ‘

credit card’

is selected, said controller transmits credit card information inputted from said card reader to a card company'"'"'s server through said wire or wireless communication network to process payment;

when ‘

payment device’

is selected, said controller transmits the amount to be paid to said payment device through said local area communication means, and when a customer selects one of a rechargeable chip or credit card using said payment device, said controller processes payment according to a corresponding process.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said local area communication network is a Bluetooth communication network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a display means for displaying various characters and pictures to advertise a product.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a digital camera for taking photos of each vending machine itself and customers and sending a still or moving picture of each vending machine to said vending machine management server website for security purpose and for image communication with customers.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a sensor for sensing retrieved items.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise an ear microphone for communication with a servicer and a voice signal processing section for processing a voice signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a servicer'"'"'s handheld terminal for monitoring the state of each vending machine in real time.

9. The system according to claim 2, wherein said local area communication network is a Bluetooth communication network.

10. The system according to claim 2, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a display means for displaying various characters and pictures to advertise a product.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a digital camera for taking photos of each vending machine itself and customers and sending a still or moving picture of each vending machine to said vending machine management server website for security purpose and for image communication with customers.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise a sensor for sensing retrieved items.

13. The system according to claim 2, wherein said main vending machine and said sub-vending machines further comprise an ear microphone for communication with a servicer and a voice signal processing section for processing a voice signal.

14. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a servicer'"'"'s handheld terminal for monitoring the state of each vending machine in real time.