Vending machine audit monitoring system

• US 5,442,568 A
• Filed: 11/15/1994
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Audit Systems Company
• Original Assignee: Audit Systems Company
• Inventors: Smith, Gerald W., Cowles, John C., Ostendorf, Eugene G., Morris, Irwin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/341,875
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479, 364/403, 364/140, 221/7, 221/9, 221/14, 221/21, 221/129, 340/825.35, 194/206
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/00 Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus coin inlet arrangements G07F1/00; coin-actuated mechanisms, interlocks G07F5/00
• 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

An audit monitoring system (10) is provided for use with any of a multiplicity of different coin operated vending machines (300). The audit monitoring system includes an interface assembly (102) for use in replacing an existing data link (330) within vending machine (300). The interface assembly (102) is coupled to an audit monitoring assembly (100) which interprets the communications signals transferred between a controller (310), coin changer (322) and bill validator (324) of vending machine (300). Audit monitoring assembly (100) is powered from a power supply (302) of vending machine (300) and includes interface circuitry (110,120,130) for receipt of digital logic level signals, serial data or relay logic signals from vending machine (300). Additionally, the data retrieval terminal (20) may be removably coupled to the audit monitoring assembly (100) through either a hard wired coupling (254) through a serial interface (250) or alternately by means of infrared optical signals (12, 22) through an infrared interface circuit ( 260).

Claims

1. An audit monitor for retrofit into a coin operated vending system, the vending system having means for receiving and dispensing funds coupled to a controller by a data link, said audit system comprising:

interface means coupled to the data link for monitoring communication between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller;

microprocessor means coupled to an output of said interface means for (1) interpreting said monitored communications responsive to parameters selected from a plurality of predetermined parameters, said selected parameters including at least a protocol of said monitored communications and (2) discriminating and accumulating transaction data for the coin operated vending system;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said plurality of predetermined parameters and said transaction data, said memory means including a circuit for (1) reading a predetermined number of said stored predetermined parameters defining said selected parameters, and (2) providing an output thereof to said microprocessor means responsive to an identification code input to said memory means therefrom;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for input of said identification code to said microprocessor and output of said transaction data therefrom.

2. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said memory means includes a read only memory for storage of said predetermined parameters.

3. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said microprocessor means includes a first serial interface for providing a wired coupling with said input/output means and a second serial interface for providing an infrared coupling with said input/output means.

4. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said microprocessor means includes means for detecting a failure of said power supply means to supply said operating voltage and means for accumulating a total number of times said failure has been detected.

5. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said interface means includes means for interfacing with a currency validator of the coin operated vending system.

6. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said interface means includes means for monitoring displacement of an access door of the coin operated vending system.

7. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said microprocessor means discriminates between vending operations for items of different monetary values and accumulates a total number of operations for each of said different monetary values and a total of all of said vending operations.

8. The audit monitor as recited in claim 7 where said memory means includes storage locations for said total number of operations for each of said different monetary values and said total of all of said vending operations.

9. The audit monitor as recited in claim 1 where said power supply means includes an input coupled to a D.C. power source of the coin operated vending system.

10. An audit monitoring system for addition to any of a plurality of different types of existing coin operated vending systems, at least one of the types of vending systems having a currency validator and a coin changer coupled to a controller by a data link, said audit monitoring system comprising:

adapter means coupled to the currency validator, coin changer and controller of the vending system in place of the data link for accessing signals communicated therebetween;

interface means coupled to said adapter means for buffering said accessed signals;

microprocessor means coupled to an output of said interface means for monitoring said buffered accessed signals to discriminate and accumulate predetermined transaction data therefrom, said microprocessor means including means for interpreting said buffered accessed signals responsive to parameters selected from a plurality of predetermined parameters;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said plurality of predetermined parameters and said transaction data, said memory means including a circuit for (1) reading a predetermined number of said stored predetermined parameters defining said selected parameters, and (2) providing an output thereof to said microprocessor means responsive to an identification code input to said memory means therefrom;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for input of identification data to said microprocessor and output of said transaction data therefrom.

11. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said memory means includes a read only memory for storing said plurality of predetermined parameters.

12. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said microprocessor means includes a first serial interface for providing a wired coupling with said input/output means.

13. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 12 where said microprocessor means includes a second serial interface for providing an infrared coupling with said input/output means.

14. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said microprocessor means includes means for accumulating values for each of a total number of bills accepted by the currency validator, a total number of bills in a stacker of the currency validator, a total number of coins entered into various compartments of the coin changer, a total number and value of coins paid out, a total number of vending operations and a total number of vending operations for each of a plurality of differently priced items, said accumulated values being stored in said memory means and subsequently output to said input/out put means responsive to a command signal therefrom.

15. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 14 where said memory means includes a non-volatile erasable memory coupled to said microprocessor means for storage of said accumulated totals therein.

16. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said adapter means further includes means for monitoring displacement of an access door of the coin operated vending system having an output coupled to said interface means, said displacement monitoring means providing a signal to said interface means responsive to opening of the access door for transmission to said microprocessor to accumulate a number of door opening occurrences.

17. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said power supply means includes an input coupled to a D.C. power source of the vending system.

18. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said audit monitoring system further comprises a real time clock having an output coupled to said microprocessor for providing a time of day value.

19. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 18 where said adapter means further includes means for monitoring displacement of an access door of the coin operated vending system having an output coupled to said interface means for providing a signal to said microprocessor means responsive to opening of the access door to accumulate a number of door opening occurrences and a respective time of day value therefore.