Inventory, cash, security, and maintenance control apparatus and method for a plurality of remote vending machines
First Claim
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1. A monitor system for a remote vending machine comprising:
- an electronic monitor means operable to receive signals from a remote vending machine;
communication means for transmitting electronic signals between said electronic monitor means and said remote vending machine, said communication means including a speaker mounted on said vending machine to permit audible messages to be communicated from said electronic monitor means to a customer in the vicinity of said vending machine and a call switch and a microphone to enable said customer to communicate verbally and directly with a person at a location remote from said vending machine, said communication system comprising an alarm means for signaling said electronic monitor means when an alarm condition is experienced by said vending machine, said microphone being independently operable to enable security personnel to listen to ambient sounds adjacent said vending machine during said alarm; and
inventory sensing means in said vending machine for sensing the inventory of said vending machine and transmitting electronic signals to said electronic monitor means as a function of said inventory.
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Abstract
A monitoring system for monitoring a vending machine at a remote location, the monitoring system including an inventory sensing system for providing a continuous update of the inventory in the vending machine, an alarm system to signal when the vending machine is being damaged or the systems in the vending machine are in need of attention, a communication system, and a credit card verification system. The vending machine is coupled to a central computer system which monitors all the systems in the vending machine. The communication system includes a credit card verification system, a two-way communication capability, a display screen, and a printer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A monitor system for a remote vending machine comprising:
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an electronic monitor means operable to receive signals from a remote vending machine; communication means for transmitting electronic signals between said electronic monitor means and said remote vending machine, said communication means including a speaker mounted on said vending machine to permit audible messages to be communicated from said electronic monitor means to a customer in the vicinity of said vending machine and a call switch and a microphone to enable said customer to communicate verbally and directly with a person at a location remote from said vending machine, said communication system comprising an alarm means for signaling said electronic monitor means when an alarm condition is experienced by said vending machine, said microphone being independently operable to enable security personnel to listen to ambient sounds adjacent said vending machine during said alarm; and inventory sensing means in said vending machine for sensing the inventory of said vending machine and transmitting electronic signals to said electronic monitor means as a function of said inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A monitor system for a remote vending machine comprising:
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sensor means in said vending machine for selectively sensing and generating electronic information about machine conditions, inventory status, and alarm conditions; transmitting means for transmitting to a central location said electronic information from said sensing means; communication means for allowing a first person at said central location to communicate with a second person at said vending machine, said communication means including microphone means and speaker means for allowing said second person to speak directly with said first person at said central location; inventory control means for monitoring said inventory status to provide an inventory record for said vending machine; and alarm means for transmitting an alarm when an alarm condition is sensed in said vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for monitoring a vending machine at a remote location comprising:
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providing said vending machine with an alarm means for sensing an alarm condition in said vending machine; mounting an inventory sensing means in said vending machine for sensing the inventory condition of said vending machine; incorporating a communication means in said vending machine, said communication means comprising a speaker, a microphone, a display screen, and a printer; placing a money receiving means in said vending machine, said money receiving means comprising a credit card verification means for verifying the authenticity of a credit card, a coin changer and a bill changer; coupling said vending machine to a central computer means with a telephone line, said central computer means monitoring said alarm means, said inventory sensing means, and said money receiving means; and protecting said vending machine by directly coupling said vending machine through said alarm means to a security means thereby providing security to said vending machine, said protecting step including selectively operating said microphone independently to enable security personnel to listen to ambient sounds with said microphone during said alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification