Method and system for interfacing a machine controller and a wireless network
First Claim
1. A method for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks distributed over a geographic area, the method comprising:
- integrating a wireless interface module with the machine controller, the wireless interface module having a wireless transceiver port capable of interfacing with a plurality of wireless transceivers respectively associated with one of the plurality of wireless networks;
deploying the machine controller to a predetermined geographic location;
determining one of the plurality of wireless networks as preferred for the geographic location;
selecting a wireless transceiver associated with the preferred wireless network from the plurality of wireless transceivers; and
removably coupling the selected wireless transceiver associated with the preferred wireless network to the wireless transceiver port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless interface module interfaces a machine control system, such as a vending machine controller, with one of plural wireless networks through one of plural removably coupled wireless transceivers. Communication between geographically distributed vending machines and a desired wireless network is supported by coupling a transceiver associated with the desired network to the wireless interface module. This advantageously provides flexibility in selecting from one of plural wireless networks for a distributed vending machine so that communication between the control system and a distal operating center is supported over a preferred wireless network through a standardized wireless interface module incorporated in the vending machine by changing the wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless interface module.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks distributed over a geographic area, the method comprising:
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integrating a wireless interface module with the machine controller, the wireless interface module having a wireless transceiver port capable of interfacing with a plurality of wireless transceivers respectively associated with one of the plurality of wireless networks; deploying the machine controller to a predetermined geographic location; determining one of the plurality of wireless networks as preferred for the geographic location; selecting a wireless transceiver associated with the preferred wireless network from the plurality of wireless transceivers; and removably coupling the selected wireless transceiver associated with the preferred wireless network to the wireless transceiver port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
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3. The method of 2 further comprising:
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re-locating the vending machine to a new geographic location; determining a new one of the plural wireless networks as preferred for the new geographic location; and replacing the wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless transceiver port by removably coupling to the wireless transceiver port a new wireless transceiver associated with the new wireless network.
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7. A vending machine operable to communicate with a plurality of wireless networks, the vending machine comprising:
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a controller operable to control operation of the vending machine and to monitor vending machine information, the controller having a bus interface adapted to communicate vending machine information and provide power to a wireless interface module; the wireless interface module removably coupled into the controller bus interface, the wireless interface module in electrical communication with the controller to receive the vending machine information, the wireless interface module having a wireless transceiver port capable of interfacing with a plurality of wireless transceivers respectively associated with one of the plurality of wireless networks; a wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless transceiver port, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate the vending machine information with the associated wireless network; and the wireless transceiver is selected from the plurality of wireless transceivers based on a location of the vending machine and increased reliability of communications with the associated wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a vending machine and a vending machine controller; a first wireless transceiver associated with a first wireless network; a second wireless transceiver associated with a second wireless network and not operable to communicate over the first wireless network; a wireless interface module coupled to the vending machine controller and capable of being used with the first and second wireless transceivers; and a selected wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless interface module, wherein the selected wireless transceiver is selected from the first and second wireless transceivers based on available wireless networks in a geographical location in which the system is to be located. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks distributed over a geographic area, the method comprising:
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installing a wireless interface module into a standardized connector of the machine controller; supplying data and power to the wireless interface module from the machine controller; preparing the data for transmission across a plurality of wireless networks by the wireless interface module; deploying the machine controller to a geographic location; selecting one of the plurality of wireless networks for testing as a preferred wireless network for the geographic location; selecting a wireless transceiver associated with the selected wireless network from a plurality of wireless transceivers respectively associated with the plurality of wireless networks; removably coupling the selected wireless networks to a standardized port associated with the wireless interface module to test the compatibility of the geographic location and the selected wireless network; and removably coupling additional wireless transceivers with the wireless interface module to determine which transceiver and associated wireless network establishes the best performance at the geographic location.
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Specification