Cashless transaction payment module
First Claim
1. A payment module configured to communicate with a vending machine controller and a computing platform remote from the payment module, said vending machine controller interconnected with a vending machine, said payment module comprising:
- a payment module board including;
a vending equipment interface configured to communicate with the vending machine controller;
an interactive interface configured to communicate with the computing platform; and
a microcontroller coupled to the vending equipment interface and the interactive interface, the microcontroller configured to control cashless vending by locally authorizing a cashless vending transaction without receiving an authorization from a third party via the interactive interface, the microcontroller further configured to receive via the interactive interface an interactive interface command, the interactive interface command indicating that the computing platform is to control the cashless vending, the microcontroller further configured to switch control of the cashless vending from the microcontroller to the computing platform responsive to receiving the interactive interface command such that the computing platform controls the cashless vending by remotely authorizing the cashless vending transaction via the interactive interface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a cashless transaction payment module system that is scalable and configurable to include interfaces for vending equipment monitoring and control capabilities, interfaces for a card reader device and other identification devices as payment for items vended, an interactive interface and protocol for interconnecting the system to a computing platform, and support for a plurality of communication options that include wired, point-to-point wireless, and wireless networking including LAN/WAN/WCDMA/CDMA/CDPD/2G/2.50/3G solutions. In an exemplary embodiment the system can be embodied in a semiconductor package or module package.
In addition, the present invention relates to effectuating a system for accepting, authorizing, facilitating a vending transaction, settling transactions to effect payment for goods and services, gathering DEX and MDB audit data from the vending equipment, communicating digital content between system and server, and data communicating with a plurality of remote locations.
142 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A payment module configured to communicate with a vending machine controller and a computing platform remote from the payment module, said vending machine controller interconnected with a vending machine, said payment module comprising:
a payment module board including; a vending equipment interface configured to communicate with the vending machine controller; an interactive interface configured to communicate with the computing platform; and a microcontroller coupled to the vending equipment interface and the interactive interface, the microcontroller configured to control cashless vending by locally authorizing a cashless vending transaction without receiving an authorization from a third party via the interactive interface, the microcontroller further configured to receive via the interactive interface an interactive interface command, the interactive interface command indicating that the computing platform is to control the cashless vending, the microcontroller further configured to switch control of the cashless vending from the microcontroller to the computing platform responsive to receiving the interactive interface command such that the computing platform controls the cashless vending by remotely authorizing the cashless vending transaction via the interactive interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification