Method and apparatus for controlling a vending machine

• US 8,433,440 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Felique, Pascal Felique
• Original Assignee: Christian Felique, Pascal Felique
• Inventors: Felique, Christian, Felique, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/667,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

A solution comprising cost-effective methods and techniques for converting a traditional vending machine into a vending machine with a graphical user interface, multimedia advertising and info kiosk capabilities. A key aspect of this invention is the integration of a consumer DVD player in a vending machine, in which the graphical user interface is implemented as DVD Menu structures stored on a DVD disc that also contains the video clips. Another aspect of this invention, is the changed logic of a traditional vending machine to delay item dispense until a video clip has been played. The present invention provides interfacing methods between a DVD player, a Vending Machine Controller and an optional microcontroller. These methods can be used to implement a communication protocol between a DVD player and a microcontroller. The methods and techniques of the invention can be integrated in an MDB peripheral device of a vending machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus to control a vending machine, said apparatus comprising:

a playback device;

a display device coupled to said playback device; and

an interface between said playback device and said vending machine,

wherein said playback device is a device that can play back digital encoded video assets, and is operated by a graphical user interface that supports at least a level of user interactivity and navigation features to navigate within menus, select a specific chapter/movie scene and play back a video clip,

wherein said graphical user interface of said playback device provides user interactivity and navigation features to select items in said vending machine,

wherein said interface provides a protocol between said playback device and said vending machine, said protocol comprises a vending command set to control said vending machine from said playback device over said interface, said playback device to use said vending command set to control said vending machine, and

wherein said vending command set comprises a vending command for said vending machine to dispense an item selected in said graphical user interface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is integrated into said vending machine.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vending machine dispenses said item after said playback device plays a video clip associated with said item selected in said graphical user interface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said vending machine dispenses said item after said video clip is finished playing by said playback device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vending command set further comprises a vending command to check or monitor an item availability in said vending machine on said playback device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vending command set further comprises a vending command to check a credit status or monitor credit activity in said vending machine on said playback device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface is configured such that said apparatus is to control said vending machine from said media playback device without any hardware modification to said playback device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface is configured such that said apparatus is to control said vending machine from said playback device without having to replace or modify a vending machine controller in said vending machine, and whereby said vending machine controller in said vending machine is responsible for control of and activities in said vending machine.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface is configured such that said apparatus is to control said vending machine from said playback device without having to modify a software program running on a vending machine controller in said vending machine.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said playback device is operated by a touch screen integrated into said display device, and whereby said user interactivity with said vending machine is performed by selecting items on said touch screen.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said playback device is a DVD player, a DVD-like player, or a Blu-ray player.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a vending machine peripheral device and communicates with a vending machine controller in said vending machine through a standard vending machine peripheral bus in said vending machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface further comprises:

a microcontroller;

an interface between said playback device and said microcontroller; and

an interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine, wherein said microcontroller implements said protocol between said playback device and said vending machine.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said microcontroller is to check or monitor an item availability and/or check a credit status or monitor a credit activity in said vending machine through said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine, wherein said graphical user interface is to display said item availability and/or said credit status or said credit activity.

15. A method to control a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:

1) integrating said apparatus of claim 1 in said vending machine; and

2) providing an interface between said playback device and said vending machine,

wherein said interface provides a means to said apparatus for;

selecting an item in said graphical user interface implemented by said apparatus;

signaling an item selection made in said graphical user interface to said vending machine; and

instructing said vending machine to dispense a product from said vending machine to a merchandise removal area.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said steps further comprise:

modifying a program instruction code on a vending machine controller in said vending machine to integrate said apparatus in operation of said vending machine.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said interface between said playback device and said vending machine provides a means to said apparatus for passing information from said playback device to said vending machine.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said playback device is to signal an item selection made in said graphical user interface to said vending machine through said interface between said playback device and said vending machine.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said interface between said playback device and said vending machine comprises an interface between said playback device and a keyboard decoder in said vending machine.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said playback device signals an item selection made in a selections menu to said keyboard decoder of said vending machine by playing an audio or video control movie, and wherein said interface comprises a DTMF decoder, an optical sensor unit, or a demodulation circuit which is connected to audio or video outputs of said playback device and decodes said audio or video control movie into signals for said keyboard decoder to instruct said vending machine to dispense said selected item.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein said playback device communicates with said vending machine through a standard vending machine peripheral bus in said vending machine.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of connecting the selection panel in said vending machine or additional buttons to the control unit of said playback device to forward key presses on said selection panel or said additional buttons to said playback device, wherein said interface between said selection panel or said additional buttons and said control unit, provides a means to said apparatus for navigating in said graphical user interface.

23. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of playing a video clip or a sequence of video clips on said playback device from at least one of:

either after an item is selected and before the item is dispensed on said vending machine to implement a delayed vending scenario; and

either when the vending machine is unattended for a specific period of time using timeout features in said playback device menu structure.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said video clip is a commercial clip, and thus converts said vending machine from an item dispenser into a media channel for effective local commercials, or an information kiosk clip, and thus converts said vending machine from an item dispenser into an information kiosk channel.

25. A method to control a vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:

1) integrating said apparatus of claim 13 in said vending machine; and

2) providing an interface between said playback device and said microcontroller and an interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine, wherein said interfaces provide a means to said apparatus for;

selecting an item in the graphical user interface implemented by said apparatus;

checking or monitoring item availability in said vending machine;

checking credit status or monitoring credit activity in said vending machine;

signaling an item selection made in said graphical user interface to said vending machine; and

instructing said vending machine to dispense a product from said vending machine to a merchandise removal area.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said interface between said playback device and said microcontroller in said apparatus provides a means to said apparatus for passing information from said playback device to said microcontroller.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said playback device passes information to said microcontroller by playing an audio or video control movie, and wherein said interface comprises a DTMF decoder, an optical sensor unit, or a demodulation circuit, which is connected to audio or video outputs of said playback device and decodes said audio or video control movie into signals for said microcontroller.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said playback device is to signal an item selection made in said graphical user interface to said microcontroller through said interface between said playback device and said microcontroller.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine provides a means to said apparatus for passing information from said vending machine to said microcontroller.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said microcontroller is to check or monitor item availability in said vending machine through said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said microcontroller checks or monitors item availability in said vending machine by sensing a status of one or more sold out light emitting diodes (LEDs) in said vending machine.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein said microcontroller checks or monitors item availability in said vending machine by monitoring a drop sensor in said vending machine.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein said microcontroller checks said credit status or monitors said credit activity in said vending machine through said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said microcontroller checks said credit status or monitors said credit activity in said vending machine by monitoring communication between a payment system and said vending machine controller in said vending machine.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein said interface between said microcontroller and said playback device in said apparatus provides a means to said apparatus for passing information from said microcontroller to said playback device.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface comprises a menu with hidden menu items to process information from said microcontroller on said playback device, wherein said playback device is to jump to said menu with hidden menu items and will wait for said information from said microcontroller, said microcontroller is to send an IR command to said playback device through an IR sender or a direct physical connection to the receiver interface of said playback device, to select a menu item in said menu with hidden menu items.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein said microcontroller is to signal said item availability in said vending machine to said playback device through said interface between said microcontroller and said playback device.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein said microcontroller is to signal said credit status or credit activity in said vending machine to said playback device through said interface between said microcontroller and said playback device.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine provides a means to said apparatus for passing information from said microcontroller to said vending machine.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein said microcontroller is to instruct said vending machine to dispense an item through said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said microcontroller instructs said vending machine to dispense an item by generating an output signal on a keyboard decoder in said vending machine.

42. The method according to claim 25, wherein said interface between said microcontroller and said vending machine provides a means to said microcontroller to communicate with said vending machine.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein said microcontroller communicates with said vending machine through a standard vending machine peripheral bus in said vending machine.

44. The method according to claim 25, said steps further comprising:

connecting a selection panel in said vending machine or additional buttons to an input port of said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller forwards key presses on said selection panel or said additional buttons to said playback device by sending an IR command to said playback device through an IR sender or a direct physical connection to a receiver interface of said playback device, wherein said interface between said selection panel or said additional buttons and said input port, and said interface between said microcontroller and said IR sender or said direct physical connection, provides a means to said apparatus for navigating in said graphical user interface.

45. The method according to claim 25, said steps further comprising:

playing a video clip or a sequence of video clips on said playback device from at least one of;

after an item is selected and before said item is dispensed on said vending machine to implement a delayed vending scenario; and

when said vending machine is unattended for a specific period of time using timeout features in said playback device menu structure.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein said video clip is at least one of:

a commercial clip, and thus converts said vending machine from an item dispenser into a media channel for effective local commercials;

an information kiosk clip, and thus converts said vending machine from an item dispenser into an information kiosk channel;

a sold out video information message to inform a consumer that said item is not available; and

a low funds video information message to inform a consumer that there is not enough credit available.

49. A vending machine wherein a graphical user interface for operating said vending machine is implemented by integrating an apparatus according to claim 1.

47. A protocol to control a vending machine from a playback device,

wherein said playback device is a device that can play back digital encoded video assets, and is operated by a graphical user interface that supports at least a level of user interactivity and navigation features to navigate within menus, select a specific chapter/movie scene and play back a video clip,

wherein said graphical user interface of said playback device provides user interactivity and navigation features to select items in said vending machine,

said protocol between said playback device and said vending machine comprises a vending command set to control said vending machine from said playback device over an interface between said playback device and said vending machine, said playback device to use said vending command set to control said vending machine, and

wherein said vending command set comprises a vending command for said vending machine to dispense an item selected in said graphical user interface.

48. An interface to control a vending machine from a playback device,

wherein said playback device is a device that can play back digital encoded video assets, and is operated by a graphical user interface that supports at least a level of user interactivity and navigation features to navigate within menus, select a specific chapter/movie scene and play back a video clip,

wherein said graphical user interface of said playback device provides user interactivity and navigation features to select items in said vending machine,

said interface provides a protocol between said playback device and said vending machine, said protocol comprises a vending command set to control said vending machine from said playback device over said interface between said playback device and said vending machine, said playback device to use said vending command set to control said vending machine, and

wherein said vending command set comprises a vending command for said vending machine to dispense an item selected in said graphical user interface.