Method and System for Interfacing a Machine Controller and a Wireless Network

• US 20060183422A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Wu, Jizhi, Godwin, Bryan W., English, William A., Defosse, Erin M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

A wireless interface module interfaces a machine control system, such as a vending machine controller, with one of plural wireless networks through one of plural removably coupled wireless transceivers. Communication between geographically distributed vending machines and a desired wireless network is supported by coupling a transceiver associated with the desired network to the wireless interface module. This advantageously provides flexibility in selecting from one of plural wireless networks for a distributed vending machine so that communication between the control system and a distal operating center is supported over a preferred wireless network through a standardized wireless interface module incorporated in the vending machine by changing the wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless interface module.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing a machine controller with plural wireless networks, the system comprising:

a wireless antenna coupled to a wireless interface module operable to send and receive wireless signals;

the wireless interface module in communication with the machine controller;

the wireless interface module operable to communicate with a plurality of wireless transceivers;

the wireless interface module operable to communicate wireless signals between each wireless transceiver and the antenna;

each of the wireless transceivers associated with at least one of the wireless networks;

each wireless transceiver adapted to removably couple to the wireless interface module; and

each wireless transceiver operable to send and receive wireless signals associated with one or more of the wireless networks via the wireless interface module and the wireless antenna.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the machine controller comprises an audit device.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a coaxial cable operable to communicate wireless signals between each wireless transceiver and the wireless interface module.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first wireless transceiver operable to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module;

the first wireless transceiver having a GSM transceiver circuit operable to communicate with a GSM network;

an analog wireless transceiver operable to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module; and

the analog wireless transceiver configured to communicate via an analog wireless communication network.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a multi-drop bus interface associated with the wireless interface module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the multi-drop bus interface comprises a serial port.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the serial port comprises a USB port providing an interface for a BLUETOOTH module.

8. The system of claim 1 comprising BLUETOOTH wireless system communicating with the wireless interface module through a USB port to provide a personal area network.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising the wireless interface module adapted to accept power from the machine controller.

10. A method for distribution of industrial machines over geographic regions with different wireless communication systems comprising:

embedding a wireless interface module in each machine to communicate with internal components of the respective machine;

shipping any industrial machine to an operational location;

supplying power to the industrial machine;

removably coupling respective wireless transceivers to the wireless interface module of the industrial machine to test reception at the operational location to determine the most suitable wireless networks; and

selecting one of the wireless transceivers based in part on the reception test of the wireless transceivers.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising interfacing a wireless device with a multi-drop bus associated with the wireless interface module.

12. A vending machine comprising:

a controller operable to control operations of the vending machine and to monitor vending machine information, the controller having a bus interface adapted to communicate vending machine information and to provide power to a wireless interface module;

the wireless interface module removably coupled into the controller bus interface;

the wireless interface module in communication with the controller to receive the vending machine information;

the wireless module having a wireless transceiver interface;

a wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless transceiver interface; and

the wireless transceiver operable to communicate vending machine information with at least one wireless network.

13. The vending machine of claim 12 further comprising:

an antenna operable to send and receive signals with the wireless network;

the antenna coupled to the wireless interface module; and

the antenna communicates with the wireless transceiver through a coaxial cable.

14. A system for interfacing a machine controller with plural wireless networks, the system comprising:

a wireless interface module in communication with the machine controller;

the wireless interface module operable to communicate with a plurality of wireless transceivers;

a wireless antenna coupled to each wireless transceiver operable to send and receive wireless signals via the wireless antenna;

the wireless interface module operable to communicate with each wireless transceiver;

each of the wireless transceivers associated with at least one of the wireless networks;

each wireless transceiver adapted to removably couple to the wireless interface module; and

each wireless transceiver operable to send and receive wireless signals associated with one or more of the wireless networks.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the machine controller comprises an audit device.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising the wireless interface module operable to pass power to a wireless transceiver removably coupled with the wireless interface module.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a first wireless transceiver operable to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module;

the first wireless transceiver having a GSM transceiver circuit operable to communicate with a GSM network;

an analog wireless transceiver operable to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module; and

the analog wireless transceiver configured to communicate via an analog wireless communication network.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the wireless interface module further comprises a multi-drop bus operable to transmit and receive information communicated via a serial transceiver.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the multi-drop bus interface further comprises a serial port.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the serial port comprises a USB port providing an interface for a BLUETOOTH module.

21. The system of claim 14 further comprising the wireless interface module adapted to accept power from the machine controller.