Vending machine controller and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vending-machine controller comprising:
- a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine;
a first serial port connected to the programmable processor;
an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of at least two serially-communicating devices, respectively, to determine that a communication session is being initiated by one of the serially-communicating devices if activity is present upon an input, and to connect the first serial port of the programmable processor to the serially-communicating device that first initiates a communication session; and
a second serial port configured as one of a multi-drop bus interface and a VCCS bus interface for connecting the programmable processor to a multi-drop bus or a VCCS bus, respectively.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine controller having a single serial port on the same chip as the programmable processor. The controller includes a port arbitrator that selectively connects one of several serially communicating devices to this single serial port. The vending machine controller also has multitasking capabilities so that remote price changing, and/or remote reprogramming can be conducted at the same time as a vend operation and/or a multimedia presentation.
442 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A vending-machine controller comprising:
-
a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine; a first serial port connected to the programmable processor; an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of at least two serially-communicating devices, respectively, to determine that a communication session is being initiated by one of the serially-communicating devices if activity is present upon an input, and to connect the first serial port of the programmable processor to the serially-communicating device that first initiates a communication session; and a second serial port configured as one of a multi-drop bus interface and a VCCS bus interface for connecting the programmable processor to a multi-drop bus or a VCCS bus, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 30, 31)
-
-
12. A vending-machine system comprising:
-
at least two serially-communicating devices; a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine; a first serial port connected to the programmable processor; an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of said at least two serially-communicating devices, respectively, to determine that a communication session is being initiated by one of the serially-communicating devices if activity is present upon an input, and to connect the first serial port of the programmable processor to the serially-communicating device that first initiates a communication session; and a second serial port configured as one of a multi-drop bus interface and a VCCS bus interface for connecting the programmable processor to a multi-drop bus or a VCCS bus, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33)
-
Specification