Generating a single audit file from multiple sources
First Claim
1. A vending machine audit system comprising:
- a vending machine including a vending machine controller configured to generate device data representative of operations of the vending machine;
at least one peripheral device operatively coupled to the vending machine and configured to generate device data representative of operations of the peripheral device; and
an audit module including a data storage component and operatively coupled to the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device;
wherein the audit module is configured to receive device data from each of the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device and to perform a merging operation to generate a single merged audit data record representative of the operations of the vending machine and the at least one peripheral device,wherein the audit module is configured to comprise a reference table stored in memory defining a priority between a priority of data groups, a priority of the vending machine controller, and a priority of the at least one peripheral device,wherein the audit module is configured to enter an interim period in response to generation of the single merged audit data record, andwherein the audit module is configured to invalidate the single merged audit data record in response to detecting an event that changes an accuracy of the single merged audit data record during the interim period.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine audit system includes a vending machine including a vending machine controller configured to generate device data representative of the operations of the vending machine. At least one peripheral device is operatively coupled to the vending machine and is configured to generate device data representative of the operations of the peripheral device. An audit module includes a data storage component and is operatively coupled to the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device. The audit module is configured to receive device data from each of the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device and to perform a merging operation to generate a single merged audit data record representative of the operations of the vending machine and the at least one peripheral device.
20 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A vending machine audit system comprising:
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a vending machine including a vending machine controller configured to generate device data representative of operations of the vending machine; at least one peripheral device operatively coupled to the vending machine and configured to generate device data representative of operations of the peripheral device; and an audit module including a data storage component and operatively coupled to the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device; wherein the audit module is configured to receive device data from each of the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device and to perform a merging operation to generate a single merged audit data record representative of the operations of the vending machine and the at least one peripheral device, wherein the audit module is configured to comprise a reference table stored in memory defining a priority between a priority of data groups, a priority of the vending machine controller, and a priority of the at least one peripheral device, wherein the audit module is configured to enter an interim period in response to generation of the single merged audit data record, and wherein the audit module is configured to invalidate the single merged audit data record in response to detecting an event that changes an accuracy of the single merged audit data record during the interim period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for generating a single audit record from at least two sources within a vending machine, the method comprising:
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operating an audit module to communicate with a vending machine controller of a vending machine, the audit module requesting device data from the vending machine controller; transferring the device data from the vending machine controller to the audit module, the audit module storing the device data from the vending machine controller in memory; operating an audit module to communicate with at least one peripheral device within the vending machine; and transferring the device data from the at least one peripheral device to the audit module, the audit module storing the device data from the at least one peripheral device in memory; generating, by the audit device, a single audit record indicative of operations of the vending machine using the device data from the vending machine controller, the device data from the at least one peripheral device, and previously stored device data for the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device, and wherein the audit module is configured to comprise a reference table stored in memory defining a priority between a priority of data groups, a priority of the vending machine controller, and a priority of the at least one peripheral device, entering an interim period in response to generation of the single audit record, and invalidating the single audit record in response to detecting an event that changes an accuracy of the single audit record during the interim period.
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35. A method for generating a single merged audit record from at least two sources within a vending machine comprising:
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generating new device data from a vending machine controller of the vending machine; generating new device data from at least one peripheral device of the vending machine; maintaining in a memory of an audit device, previously stored device data from the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device; and generating a merged audit record based on the comparison of the new device data and the previously stored device data from the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device, respectively, wherein a reference table stored in memory defines a priority between a priority of data groups, a priority of the vending machine controller, and a priority of the at least one peripheral device, entering an interim period in response to generation of the single audit record, and invalidating the single audit record in response to detecting an event that changes an accuracy of the single audit record during the interim period.
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Specification