System, Method And Apparatus For Vending Machine Wireless Audit And Cashless Transaction Transport
First Claim
1. A system for auditing a vending machine, the system comprising:
- an audit device mounted in a vending machine;
a multi-drop bus (MDB) interface in the audit device for communicating with an MDB interface of a vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;
a DEX interface in the audit device for communicating with a DEX interface of the vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;
a computer interface in the audit device for communicating with a handheld computer;
a clock in the audit device;
clock control logic in the audit device for automatically synchronizing the clock in the audit device with a clock in the handheld computer;
nonvolatile memory in the audit device for storing DEX data and MDB data;
audit control logic in the audit device for automatically collecting DEX data and MDB data from the VMC, the audit control logic storing timestamps with the DEX and MDB data to record occurrence times for individual events and conditions within the vending machine;
authentication control logic for preventing unauthorized communications over the computer interface; and
transfer control logic for transferring collected DEX data and MDB data from the audit device to the handheld computer, such that the collected DEX data and MDB data may be transferred from the audit device to a central operations center via the handheld computer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for collecting, storing and communicating vending machine transaction data. The system preferably includes an embedded data collection and storage device that, when placed inside a vending machine, will collect both DEX and MDB data using a combination of ad-hoc scheduling and trigger-based events. In addition, the embedded data collection and storage device may collect transaction data concerning handheld transactions as well as vending machine error transactions, including timestamps. Functionality operable to permit handheld computer communication with the vending machine, as well as at least a cashless media transaction device may also be included. Data transferred to the handheld computer may be subsequently communicated to one or more host applications or credit agencies.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for auditing a vending machine, the system comprising:
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an audit device mounted in a vending machine;
a multi-drop bus (MDB) interface in the audit device for communicating with an MDB interface of a vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;
a DEX interface in the audit device for communicating with a DEX interface of the vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;
a computer interface in the audit device for communicating with a handheld computer;
a clock in the audit device;
clock control logic in the audit device for automatically synchronizing the clock in the audit device with a clock in the handheld computer;
nonvolatile memory in the audit device for storing DEX data and MDB data;
audit control logic in the audit device for automatically collecting DEX data and MDB data from the VMC, the audit control logic storing timestamps with the DEX and MDB data to record occurrence times for individual events and conditions within the vending machine;
authentication control logic for preventing unauthorized communications over the computer interface; and
transfer control logic for transferring collected DEX data and MDB data from the audit device to the handheld computer, such that the collected DEX data and MDB data may be transferred from the audit device to a central operations center via the handheld computer.
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2. A method for auditing a vending machine, the method comprising:
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automatically collecting audit data in an audit device mounted in a vending machine according to predefined collection criteria;
storing the audit data with associated timestamps to record occurrence times for individual events and conditions within the vending machine;
receiving authentication information from a handheld computer at the audit device;
in response to the authentication information, testing the authentication information for validity; and
in response to receiving valid authentication data, synchronizing a clock in the audit device with a clock in the handheld computer and transferring at least a portion of the audit data to the handheld computer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for collecting, storing and communicating vending machine data, comprising:
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at least one processor;
at least one memory operably coupled to the processor; and
at least one communication port operably coupled to the processor and the memory, the communication port operable to communicate vending machine transaction data including cashless transaction data obtained from a cashless media device to a handheld computing device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for communicating with a vending machine, comprising:
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transmitting information from a handheld computer to a vending machine via a wireless communications interface in the vending machine operating substantially in accordance with at least one unlicensed radio band; and
receiving information at the handheld computer from the vending machine via a wireless communications interface in the handheld computer operating substantially in accordance with at least one unlicensed radio band. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26-36. -36. (canceled)
Specification