Intelligent vending system and method

• US 6,850,607 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Protel Incorporated (Inductotherm Group)
• Original Assignee: Protel Incorporated (Inductotherm Group)
• Inventors: Meyer, Rolf, Stirk, Gary L., Hayes, Stephen J., McBride, Tony L., Felch, Raymond F., Bryan, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/971,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 379/143, 379/144.01, 379/144.03, 379/144.05, 379/144.06, 379/144.07, 379/145, 379/146, 379/147, 379/148, 379/149, 379/150, 379/153, 379/154, 379/155, 340/5.1, 340/5.9, 232/55, 700/213, 700/231
• US Class Current: 379/145
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/023 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features

Abstract

An intelligent vending system such as a pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraud prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and detailed reporting. Information regarding each transaction is recorded and is useful in verification, by way of example. The system includes a delta-sigma driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller which facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of data, records, and operating program code. Battery management techniques, memory management, and coin detection circuits add to the system'"'"'s capabilities and reliability. Firmware security techniques and operating system formats also promote product firmware security and configuration control.

Claims

1. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including an application specific integrated circuit operable with a microprocessor;

circuit means integrated into the application specific integrated circuit for providing a delta-sigma modulation capability;

a high-speed, bidirectional, one-wire master controller integrated into the application specific integrated circuit for facilitating serial communication with a communications device to transmit system status data.

firmware security means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system, the firmware security means having means for storing a configuration code, a product code, and a revision level indicator in the operating system, wherein recognition of the configuration and product codes permits use of firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating system, and the configuration and product codes carried by the firmware favorably compare with the configuration and product codes of the operating system.

2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a programmable coin debounce and detection circuit integrated into the application specific integrated circuit.

3. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery and battery diagnostic means operable with the battery, the battery diagnostic means communicating with the microprocessor for providing a signal thereto indicative of battery capacity while maintaining the battery to operation of the system.

4. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a pin fraud prevention circuitry communicating with the microprocessor for permitting operation of the system upon an enabling signal therefrom to minimize potential fraud.

5. The system recited in claim 3, wherein the battery diagnostic means comprises:

voltage detection circuit for measuring a voltage level of the battery when operating with a known load, the voltage detection circuit providing a level detection signal to the microprocessor; and

a battery charging circuit operable with the battery for charging thereof, the charging of the battery initiated by the microprocessor communicating with the battery charging circuit in response to the level detection signal.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the microprocessor provides a battery charging time period based on the level detection signal, and wherein the operating system provides an output signal indicative of a low battery status.

7. The telephone as recited in claim 5, wherein the microprocessor provides a battery voltage level based on the level detection signal, and wherein the operating system provides an output signal indicative of a low battery status.

8. The telephone as recited in claim 4, wherein the pin fraud prevention circuitry comprises current limiting means for limiting an amount of current flowing through the system and for providing sufficient operating current.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the current limiting means comprise:

first current limiting means operable with a positive voltage signal;

second current limiting means operable with a negative voltage signal; and

signaling means responsive to the positive and negative voltage signals for providing a signal to the microprocessor indicative of an operable condition.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one-wire master controller comprises:

a serial interface circuit;

a single wire serial bus operable between the serial interface circuit and the application specific integrated circuit; and

processing control software operable with the microprocessor for providing signal timing and protocol for controlling operation of the application specific integrated circuit with the system.

11. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including an application specific integrated circuit operable with a microprocessor and a battery;

a master controller integrated into the application specific integrated circuit and communicating with a communications device through a single wire connection;

battery diagnostic means operable with the battery of the operating system, the battery diagnostic means communicating with the microprocessor for providing a signal thereto indicative of battery capacity;

firmware security means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system, and for facilitating flexibility in managing the configuration control; and

a lower power, low impedance control circuit integrated into the application specific integrated circuit for reducing the affects of water intrusion that cause false indications.

12. A method for controlling the configuration and use of an intelligent vending system, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a configuration code in an operating system, the operating system having a programmable computer and firmware carried therein, the operating system further having an input port for receiving data therethrough, wherein identifying the configuration code permits access to the operating system for upgrading and revising configurations of the vending system;

providing hardware and firmware with the configuration code for permitting use with the operating system;

storing product code in the operating system;

providing the firmware with the product code for permitting use with the operating system;

storing a revision level identifier in the operating system; and

permitting use of the hardware and the firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the hardware and firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating system, and the configuration and product codes carried by the hardware and firmware favorably compare with the configuration and product codes of the operating system.

13. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

storing the configuration code in a portable data storage device operable with the operating system via the input port for upgrading and revising a system operation;

comparing the configuration code of the portable data storage device with the configuration code stored in the operating system; and

revising the operating system configuration when the data storage device provides a favorable comparison of its configuration code with the configuration of the operating system.

14. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including a telephone line access, a modem, input ports for receiving data, a data storage device and firmware operable with a microprocessor, the operating system having implemented therein a high-speed, bi-directional, one-wire master controller for facilitating serial communication among various devices within the vending system for security, system configuration, and system expansion purposes; and

means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system, which means comprise means for storing a configuration code, a product code, and a revision level indicator in the operating system, wherein recognition of the configuration code and the product code permits use of firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating system, and the configuration and product code carried by the firmware favorably compare with the configuration and product code of the operating system.

15. The system recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a programmable data storage device for modifying the operating system, the storage device having a configuration code carried therein; and

means communicating between the storage device and the operating system via an input one of the ports for upgrading and revising a control operation only when the configuration code recognizable by the firmware security means for permitting revisions to the operating system configuration provides a favorable comparison between the configuration code of the storage device and the configuration code of the operating system.

16. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including ports for transmitting and receiving data, a data storage device and firmware operable with a microprocessor, the operating system having implemented therein a high-speed, bi-directional, one-wire master controller for facilitating serial communication among various devices within the vending system for security, system configuration, and system expansion purposes; and

means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system, wherein the firmware security and configuration control means comprise means for storing a configuration code, a product code, and a revision level indicator in the operating system, wherein recognition of the configuration code and the product code permits use of firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating system, and the configuration and the product code carried by the firmware favorably compare with the configuration and the product code of the operating system.

17. The system recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a programmable data storage device for modifying the operating system, the storage device having a configuration code carried therein; and

means communicating between the storage device and the operating system via an input of one of the ports for upgrading and revising a control operation only when the configuration code recognizable by the firmware security means for permitting revisions to the operating system configuration provides a favorable comparison between the configuration code of the storage device and the configuration code of the operating system.

18. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including an application specific integrated circuit operable with a microprocessor;

circuit means integrated into the application specific integrated circuit for providing a delta-sigma modulation capability;

a high-speed, bi-directional, one-wire master controller integrated into the application specific integrated circuit for facilitating serial communication with a communications device to transmit system status data; and

a programmable data storage device for modifying the operating system, the storage device having a configuration code carried therein; and

means communicating between the storage device and the operating system via an input port for upgrading and revising a control operation only when the configuration code recognizable by the firmware security means for permitting revisions to the operating system configuration provides a favorable comparison between the configuration code of the storage device and a configuration code of the operating system.

19. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including a telephone line access, a modem, input ports for receiving data, a data storage device and firmware operable with a microprocessor, the operating system having implemented therein a high-speed, bi-directional, one-wire master controller for facilitating serial communication among various devices within the vending system for security, system configuration, and system expansion purposes;

a programmable data storage device for modifying the operating system, the storage device having a configuration code carried therein; and

means communicating between the storage device and the operating system via an input one of the ports for upgrading and revising a control operation only when the configuration code recognizable by the firmware security means for permitting revisions to the operating system configuration provides a favorable comparison between the configuration code of the storage device and the configuration code of the operating system.

20. The system recited in claim 19, further comprising means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the firmware security and configuration control means comprises means for storing a configuration code, a product code, and a revision level indicator in the operating system, wherein recognition of the configuration code and the product code permits use of firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating, and the configuration and product code carried by the firmware favorably compare with the configuration and product code of the operating system.

22. An intelligent vending system comprising:

an operating system including ports for transmitting and receiving data, a data storage device and firmware operable with a microprocessor, the operating system having implemented therein a high-speed, bi-directional, one-wire master controller for facilitating serial communication among various devices within the vending system for security, system configuration, and system expansion purposes;

a programmable data storage device for modifying the operating system, the storage device having a configuration code carried therein; and

means communicating between the storage device and the operating system via an input of one of the ports for upgrading and revising a control operation only when the configuration code recognizable by the firmware security means for permitting revisions to the operating system configuration provides a favorable comparison between the configuration code of the storage device and the configuration code of the operating system.

23. The system recited in claim 22, further comprising means for providing firmware security and configuration control of the operating system.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the firmware security and configuration control means comprises means for storing a configuration code, a product code, and a revision level indicator in the operating system, wherein recognition of the configuration code and the produce code permits use of firmware with the operating system when a revision level number of the firmware favorably compares with the revision level of the operating system, and the configuration and the product code carried by the firmware favorably compare with the configuration and the product code of the operating system.