METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS AT VENDING MACHINES

• US 20150235202A1
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EAZY COIN Corporation
• Original Assignee: EAZY COIN Corporation
• Inventors: Zabala, Jose Rafael
• Application Number:
  US14/293,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20150235202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for enabling cashless purchases at a vending machine. A conventional vending machine may be modified by attaching to it a Bluetooth transceiver that can communicate with a mobile telephone'"'"'s Bluetooth interface. The vending machine'"'"'s Bluetooth interface may be connected to an MDB bus to communicate with the vending machine'"'"'s VMC processor. The VMC processor may be reprogrammed so that it can poll the vending machine'"'"'s Bluetooth reader. The VMC may then poll the Bluetooth interface to detect a payment signal sent by the mobile telephone and deliver and item, ordered through the mobile phone'"'"'s graphical user interface, to a customer.

Claims

1. A method for handling cashless transactions at a vending machine comprising:

polling a bus to verify receipt of a signal generated by a bill or coin collector, a credit card slot, or a wireless transceiver attached to the vending machine;

at the wireless transceiver, detecting a signal sent by a multi-function mobile device;

selecting the wireless transceiver for communication with a processor in the vending machine;

accepting a product or service selection; and

delivering the product or service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said bus is an MDB.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is a payment verification signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is a product or service selection signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said processor is a VMC.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transceiver includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transceiver includes an NFC transceiver

8. The method of claim 1, accepting a product or service selection includes accepting a selection entered through a button panel located at the vending machine.

9. The method of claim 1, accepting a product or service selection includes accepting a selection entered through a software application running in the multi-function mobile device.

10. A cashless transaction device for communication with a vending machine module comprising:

a processor for controlling the operation of the device and for communicating with the vending machine module through a bus;

a wireless transceiver electrically coupled with the processor and for communication with a multi-function mobile device; and

at least an opto-coupler under control of said processor and being configured to send a product or service selection signal to the vending machine.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein said transceiver includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein said transceiver includes an NFC transceiver.

11. A system for handling cashless transactions comprising:

a vending machine module including a first processor, a button panel, and an actuator; and

a cashless transaction device including a second processor for controlling the operation of the device and for communicating with the vending machine module through a bus, a wireless transceiver electrically coupled with the second processor and for communication with a multi-function mobile device, and at least an opto-coupler under control of said second processor and being configured to send a product or service selection signal to the vending machine.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said transceiver includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said transceiver includes an NFC transceiver.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a bill collector.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a coin collector.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a credit card slot.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first processor is a VMC.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said bus is an MDB.