System and method for networking and controlling vending machines
First Claim
1. A vending machine control system for controlling vending and managing inventory of items from a plurality of vending machines located proximate to one another at a single vending site, each of said vending machine having a respective coin acceptor interface and respective selection controls for selecting an item to vend at an item price, comprising:
- a) a plurality of network means respectively connected to each of said coin acceptor interfaces, for controlling vending and managing inventory, each of said network means coupled to one another by a network, said network means for facilitating communication with each of said vending machines through said network, said network means also for maintaining a status of the vending machine to which said network means is connected;
b) an inventory addressing scheme with each of said items in each of said vending machines assigned a unique price to serve as an item address with said unique price not specified to be said item price, and said network means monitoring a plurality of signals received from respectively connected vending machine control system coin acceptor interfaces, said received signals being said vending machine'"'"'s control system dispense change control lines; and
c) a single control means, coupled to said network at said single vending site, for sending and receiving information to and from each of said vending machines to control vending and monitor inventory at each of said vending machines.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine control system and method for controlling vending of items from one or more vending machines having a coin acceptor interface and selection controls for selecting items to vend. Control system and method are provided for sending and receiving information to and from each of the vending machines to control the vending of items to users. Network system and method are connected to each of the coin acceptor interfaces for facilitating communication between the control system and the vending machine.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vending machine control system for controlling vending and managing inventory of items from a plurality of vending machines located proximate to one another at a single vending site, each of said vending machine having a respective coin acceptor interface and respective selection controls for selecting an item to vend at an item price, comprising:
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a) a plurality of network means respectively connected to each of said coin acceptor interfaces, for controlling vending and managing inventory, each of said network means coupled to one another by a network, said network means for facilitating communication with each of said vending machines through said network, said network means also for maintaining a status of the vending machine to which said network means is connected; b) an inventory addressing scheme with each of said items in each of said vending machines assigned a unique price to serve as an item address with said unique price not specified to be said item price, and said network means monitoring a plurality of signals received from respectively connected vending machine control system coin acceptor interfaces, said received signals being said vending machine'"'"'s control system dispense change control lines; and c) a single control means, coupled to said network at said single vending site, for sending and receiving information to and from each of said vending machines to control vending and monitor inventory at each of said vending machines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling vending of priced items and managing inventory from a plurality of vending machines located proximate to one another at a single site, each vending machine having a respective coin acceptor interface and respective selection controls for selecting items to vend, comprising the steps of:
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a) connecting a separate network node to said coin acceptor interface of each of said plurality of vending machines; b) connecting each of said plurality of network nodes to each other by way of a network; c) connecting a single controller to said network at said single site for communicating with said plurality of vending machines by way of their respective network nodes; d) reading, at said controller, magnetically stored information from a magnetic card; e) obtaining an authorization amount for transactions for said magnetic card from a credit verification source external to said controller without causing a charge against said magnetic card to occur at the time of obtaining said authorization amount; f) storing said authorization amount at said controller; g) communicating said authorization amount to each of said vending machines, thereby allowing vending, from said controller to each of said network nodes; h) monitoring a plurality of signals sent from said vending machine control system coin acceptor interfaces to determine if a vend at one of said vending machines has been completed, said signals originating from said vending machine control system coin acceptor interface dispense change data lines; i) determining vending machine inventory from said vending machine by decoding said signals sent from said vending machine coin acceptor interface, said signals corresponding to a preprogrammed unique electronic address of each of said priced items within said vending machine; j) communicating information acknowledging said completed vend to said controller from said network node connected to said vending machine where said completed vend took place; and
preventing further vending until a new authorization amount is determined and communicated to each of said vending machines. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification