Vending machine audit monitoring system with matrix interface

• US RE40,588 E1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Audit Systems Company
• Original Assignee: Audit Systems Company
• Inventors: Smith, Gerald W., Cowles, John C., Ostendorf, Eugene G., Morris, Irwin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/179,232
• Time in Patent Office: 2,344 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 700/231, 700/236
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

An audit monitoring system (10) is provided for use with any of a multiplicity of different coin operated vending machines (300). The audit monitoring system includes an interface assembly (102) for use in replacing an existing data link (330) within vending machine (300) and interfacing with row and column conductors (306) of vending machine (300). The interface assembly (102) is coupled to an audit monitoring assembly (100) which interprets the communications transferred between a controller (310), coin changer (322), bill validator (324), and motor matrix (304) of vending machine (300). Audit monitoring assembly (100) is powered from a power supply (302) of vending machine (300) and includes interface circuitry (110, 120, 130, 180, 190) for receipt of digital logic level signals, serial data or relay logic signals from vending machine (300). Additionally, the data retrieval terminal (20) may be removably coupled to the audit monitoring assembly (100) through either a hard wired coupling (254) through a serial interface (250) or alternately by means of infrared optical signals (12, 22) through an infrared interface circuit (260).

Claims

1. An audit monitor for retrofit into a coin operated vending system, the vending system having means for receiving and dispensing funds in the form of a coin changer and a bill validator electrically coupled to a controller by a data link, said audit system comprising:

interface means coupled to the data link for monitoring electrical signals exchanged between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller to establish funds transaction data;

microprocessor means having a first input coupled to an output of said interface means for (1) interpreting said monitored electrical signals responsive to a pre-selected portion of a set of predetermined parameters, and (2) discriminating and accumulating both said funds transaction data and product dispensing transaction data for the coin operated vending system;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said set of predetermined parameters and said accumulated funds transaction data and said product dispensing transaction data, said memory microprocessor means including means for reading said pre-selected portion of said set of stored predetermined parameters and providing an output thereof provided from said memory means being coupled to said microprocessor means;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for output of said accumulated funds transaction data and said product dispensing transaction data therefrom.

2. An audit monitor for retrofit into a coin operated vending system, the vending system having means for receiving and dispensing funds electrically coupled to a controller by a data link, said audit system comprising:

interface means coupled to the data link for monitoring electrical signals exchanged between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller to establish funds transaction data, said interface means including means coupled to the controller for monitoring electrical signals transmitted on a respective pair of a plurality of row and column conductors coupling the controller to a plurality of product dispensing mechanisms of the vending system to establish product dispensing transaction data;

microprocessor means having a first input coupled to an output of said interface means for (1) interpreting said monitored electrical signals responsive to predetermined parameters, and (2) discriminating and accumulating both said funds transaction data and said product dispensing transaction data for the coin operated vending system, said microprocessor means having a second input coupled to an output of said means for monitoring the row and column conductors, said microprocessor means including means for detecting which one of the plurality of product dispensing mechanisms is energized;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said predetermined parameters and said accumulated funds transaction data and said product dispensing transaction data, said memory microprocessor means including means for reading said stored predetermined parameters and providing an output thereof provided from said memory means being coupled to said microprocessor means;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for output of said accumulated funds transaction data and said product dispensing transaction data therefrom.

3. An audit monitor as recited in claim 2 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors includes (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to the row conductors and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the row conductors, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to the column conductors and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the column conductors.

4. The audit monitor as recited in claim 3 where said microprocessor means includes means for detecting said means for monitoring the row and column conductors being coupled to said second input.

5. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 4 where said microprocessor means includes means for establishing a vend operation of the vending system, said means for establishing a vend operation determining said operation from (1) said monitored communication between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller when an absence of said coupling between said means for monitoring the row and column conductors and said second input of said microprocessor is detected, and (2) from detection of a change in potential in each of one of the plurality row conductors and one of the plurality of column conductors when said coupling between said means for monitoring the row and column conductors and said second input of said microprocessor is detected.

6. The audit monitor as recited in claim 2 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors includes adapter means coupled to the controller, the row and column conductors, and said microprocessor means for monitoring signals carried by the row and column conductors.

7. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 6 where said adapter means includes a plurality of output row lines and a plurality of output column lines.

8. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 7 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors further includes (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to said adapter means output row lines and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a motor home position feedback signal on one of said plurality of output row lines, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to said adapter means output column lines and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the plurality of output column lines.

9. An audit monitoring system for addition to any of a plurality of different types of existing coin operated vending systems, at least one of the types of vending systems having a currency validator and a coin changer electrically coupled to a controller by a data link, said audit monitoring system comprising:

first adapter means coupled to the currency validator, coin changer and controller of the vending system in place of the data link for monitoring electrical signals communicated therebetween representing funds transaction data;

first interface means coupled to said first adapter means for buffering said monitored signals;

microprocessor means coupled to an output of said first interface means for monitoring said buffered signals to discriminate and accumulate said funds transaction data therefrom, said microprocessor means including (1) means for interpreting said buffered accessed signals responsive to parameters selected from a plurality of predetermined parameters, and (2) means for receiving input of an identification code;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said plurality of predetermined parameters and said funds transaction data, said memory microprocessor means including means for reading said selected parameters from said stored plurality of predetermined parameters and providing an output thereof provided from said memory means to said microprocessor means responsive to said identification code input to said microprocessor means;

power supply means coupled to said first interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for output of said funds transaction data therefrom.

10. The audit monitor as recited in claim 9 further comprising second adapter means coupled to the controller, a plurality of row and column conductors coupling the controller to a plurality of product dispensing mechanisms of the vending system, and said microprocessor means including means for monitoring signals carried by the row and column conductors between the controller and the plurality of product dispensing mechanisms.

11. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 10 where said second adapter means includes a plurality of output row lines and a plurality of output column lines.

12. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 11 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors further include (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to said second adapter means output row lines and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a motor home position feedback signal on one of said plurality of output row lines, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to said second adapter means output column lines and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the plurality of output column lines.

13. The audit monitor as recited in claim 11 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors includes (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to said second adapter means output row lines and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the row conductors, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to said adapter means output column lines and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the column conductors.

14. An audit monitoring system for retrofit into a vending machine, the vending machine having means for receiving and dispensing funds electrically coupled to a controller by a data link and a plurality of product dispensing mechanisms electrically coupled to the controller by a plurality of conductors arranged as an array of rows and columns, said audit system comprising:

interface means coupled to the controller for monitoring signals received and transmitted thereby, said interface means including means coupled to the data link for monitoring communication between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller and means coupled to the controller for monitoring electrical signals carried by the row and column conductors;

microprocessor means having a first input coupled to an output of said means for monitoring communication and a second input coupled to said means for monitoring the row and column conductors for (1) interpreting said monitored communications responsive to a pre-selected set of predetermined parameters, (2) detecting which one of the plurality of product dispensing mechanisms is energized, and (3) discriminating and accumulating transaction data for the coin operated vending machine, said transaction data including accumulation of vend operations for each of the product dispensing mechanisms;

memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said set of predetermined parameters and said transaction data, said memory microprocessor means including means for reading said stored pre-selected set of predetermined parameters and providing an output thereof provided from said memory means being coupled to said microprocessor means;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said microprocessor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means removably coupled to said microprocessor means for output of said transaction data therefrom.

15. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 14 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors includes adapter means coupled to the controller, the row and column conductors, and said microprocessor means for monitoring signals carried by the row and column conductors.

16. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 15 where said adapter means includes a plurality of output row lines and a plurality of output column lines.

17. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 16 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors further includes (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to said adapter means output row lines and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a motor home position feedback signal on one of said plurality of output row lines, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to said adapter means output column lines and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the plurality of column lines.

18. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 14 where said means for monitoring the row and column conductors includes (1) row interface means having a plurality of first input lines respectively coupled to the row conductors and a plurality of first output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the plurality of row conductors, and (2) column interface means having a plurality of second input lines respectively coupled to the column conductors and a plurality of second output lines coupled to said microprocessor means for detecting a change in potential on one of the plurality of column conductors.

19. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 14 where said microprocessor means includes means for detecting said means for monitoring the row and column conductors being coupled to said second input.

20. The audit monitoring system as recited in claim 19 where said microprocessor means includes means for establishing a vend operation of the vending machine, said means for establishing a vend operation determining said operation from (1) said monitored communication between the funds receiving and dispensing means and the controller when an absence of said coupling between said means for monitoring the row and column conductors and said second input of said microprocessor is detected, and (2) from detection of a change in potential in each of one of the plurality row conductors and one of the plurality of column conductors when said coupling between said means for monitoring the row and column conductors and said second input of said microprocessor is detected.

21. An audit monitor for a coin operated vending system, the vending system having a plurality of product dispensing mechanisms coupled to a controller by a plurality of row and column conductors, said audit system comprising:

interface means connected to the plurality of row and column conductors for monitoring electrical signals carried thereby;

processor means having an input coupled to an output of said interface means for discriminating and accumulating transaction data for the coin operated vending system;

memory means coupled to said processor means for storing said accumulated transaction data, said memory processor means including means for reading said stored predetermined parameters stored in said memory means and providing an output thereof provided from said memory means being coupled to said processor means;

power supply means coupled to said interface means, said processor means, and said memory means for supplying an operating voltage thereto; and

input/output means coupled to said processor means for output of said accumulated transaction data therefrom.