Wide area network operation's center that sends and receives data from vending machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A remote data acquisition and transmission system, comprising:
- first and second application controllers, the first application controller interfacing with a first vending machine to acquire operation data from the first vending machine, and the second application controller interfacing with a second vending machine to acquire operation data from tie second vending machine;
an application host communicating with at least one of the first and second application controllers via a local area network (LAN) to receive the operation data from the first and second vending machines;
a wide area network (WAN) interface in the application host for communicating with a network operations center;
the first and second application controllers and the application host operable to autoconfigure the local area network;
a first transceiver in the first application controller that transmits the operation data from the first vending machine to the second application controller;
a second transceiver in the second application controller that receives the operation data from the first vending machine and relays the operation data from the first vending machine to the application host on behalf of the first application controller, wherein the second transceiver also transmits the operation data from the second vending machine to the application host;
the network operations center communicating with the application host via the WAN to receive the operation data acquired by the first and second application controllers; and
the network operations center transmitting data for the first and second vending machines via the WAN to the application host the application host transmitting the data to at least one of the first and second application controllers via the LAN, and the first and second application controllers providing the data to the first and second vending machines, respectively.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface. In one embodiment, each application controller interfaces with remote equipment that comprises a vending machine.
402 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A remote data acquisition and transmission system, comprising:
-
first and second application controllers, the first application controller interfacing with a first vending machine to acquire operation data from the first vending machine, and the second application controller interfacing with a second vending machine to acquire operation data from tie second vending machine;
an application host communicating with at least one of the first and second application controllers via a local area network (LAN) to receive the operation data from the first and second vending machines;
a wide area network (WAN) interface in the application host for communicating with a network operations center;
the first and second application controllers and the application host operable to autoconfigure the local area network;
a first transceiver in the first application controller that transmits the operation data from the first vending machine to the second application controller;
a second transceiver in the second application controller that receives the operation data from the first vending machine and relays the operation data from the first vending machine to the application host on behalf of the first application controller, wherein the second transceiver also transmits the operation data from the second vending machine to the application host;
the network operations center communicating with the application host via the WAN to receive the operation data acquired by the first and second application controllers; and
the network operations center transmitting data for the first and second vending machines via the WAN to the application host the application host transmitting the data to at least one of the first and second application controllers via the LAN, and the first and second application controllers providing the data to the first and second vending machines, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
the LAN is supported by wireless transmissions;
the application host and each of the first and second application controllers comprises a wireless LAN transceiver for communicating via the LAN; and
the application host comprises a hand-held portable computer.
-
-
3. The system of claim 1, wherein:
-
the local area network is supported by wire-line transmissions; and
the application host and each application controller comprise a wire-line LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.
-
-
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the autoconfiguration comprises configuring the second application controller to operate as a relay for the first application controller when the first application controller is not within a primary communication range of the application host.
-
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the application host directly connected to and associated with one of the application controllers.
-
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a WAN wireless transceiver.
-
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the WAN wireless transceiver communicates across a digital paging network.
-
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a WAN wire-line interface.
-
9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second application controllers interfaces with the respective vending machine via a serial interface to a vending machine controller.
-
10. The system of claim 9, wherein each application controller interfaces via the serial interface comprising a vending machine multi-drop bus.
-
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation data acquired from each vending machine comprises product dispensing and inventory data.
-
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation data acquired from each vending machine comprises equipment status data.
-
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the network operations center maintains a database storing the operation data and provides secure third party access to the database.
-
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the secure third party access to the database is provided via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.
-
15. A remote data acquisition and transmission system for vending machines, comprising:
-
first and second application controllers, the first application controller interfacing with a vending machine controller of a first vending machine from which operation data is acquired by the first application controller, and the second application controller interfacing with a vending machine controller of a second vending machine from which operation data is acquired by the second application controller;
an application host communicating with at least one of the first and second application controllers via at least one local area network to receive the operation data from the first and second vending machines, the application host comprising a wide area network interface for communicating with a network operations center;
the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to receive the operation data acquired by the first and second application controllers from the first and second vending machines;
the first and second application controllers and the application host operating to autoconfigure the local area network upon initialization;
the first application controller operating as a relay when necessary to establish communication between the application host and the second application controller, such that the first application controller relays the operation data from the second vending machine to the application host on behalf of the second application controller;
the network operations center maintaining a database storing the operation data from the first and second vending machines and providing third party access to the database;
the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to transmit operation data to the first and second application controllers for the first and second vending machines, the operation data including configuration information, firmware and other information used to operate the first and second vending machines; and
the network operations center having at least one device monitoring and control unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
the local area network is supported by wireless transmissions; and
the application host and each application controller comprise a wireless LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.
-
-
17. The system of claim 15, wherein:
-
the local area network is supported by wire-line transmissions; and
the application host and each application controller comprise a wire-line LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.
-
-
18. The system of claim 15, further comprising the application host is directly connected to and associated with one of the first and second application controllers.
-
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a narrowband PCS wireless link to connect the local area network with the network operations center.
-
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising the wireless transceiver communicating across a digital paging network and messages from the application host stored in at least one dedicated message mailbox for access by the network operations center.
-
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a wireless two way paging network to connect two or more local area networks with the network operations center to establish an efficient and low cost wide area network.
-
22. The system of claim 15, wherein each application controller interfaces via a serial interface having at least one direct sensor coupled with a component of at least one vending machine.
-
23. The system of claim 15, wherein the operation data acquired from each vending machine comprises product dispensing and inventory data and cash levels.
-
24. The system of claim 15, wherein the operation data acquired from each vending machine comprises equipment status data.
-
25. The system of claim 15, wherein the third party access is provided to the network operations center via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.
Specification