System, Method And Apparatus For Vending Machine Wireless Audit And Cashless Transaction Transport

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for collecting, storing and communicating vending machine transaction data. The system preferably includes an embedded data collection and storage device that, when placed inside a vending machine, will collect both DEX and MDB data using a combination of ad-hoc scheduling and trigger-based events. In addition, the embedded data collection and storage device may collect transaction data concerning handheld transactions as well as vending machine error transactions, including timestamps. Functionality operable to permit handheld computer communication with the vending machine, as well as at least a cashless media transaction device may also be included. Data transferred to the handheld computer may be subsequently communicated to one or more host applications or credit agencies.

1 . A system for auditing a vending machine, the system comprising: 
 an audit device mounted in a vending machine;    a multi-drop bus (MDB) interface in the audit device for communicating with an MDB interface of a vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;    a DEX interface in the audit device for communicating with a DEX interface of the vending machine controller (VMC) in the vending machine;    a computer interface in the audit device for communicating with a handheld computer;    a clock in the audit device;    clock control logic in the audit device for automatically synchronizing the clock in the audit device with a clock in the handheld computer;    nonvolatile memory in the audit device for storing DEX data and MDB data;    audit control logic in the audit device for automatically collecting DEX data and MDB data from the VMC, the audit control logic storing timestamps with the DEX and MDB data to record occurrence times for individual events and conditions within the vending machine;    authentication control logic for preventing unauthorized communications over the computer interface; and    transfer control logic for transferring collected DEX data and MDB data from the audit device to the handheld computer, such that the collected DEX data and MDB data may be transferred from the audit device to a central operations center via the handheld computer.    
   
   
       2 . A method for auditing a vending machine, the method comprising: 
 automatically collecting audit data in an audit device mounted in a vending machine according to predefined collection criteria;    storing the audit data with associated timestamps to record occurrence times for individual events and conditions within the vending machine;    receiving authentication information from a handheld computer at the audit device;    in response to the authentication information, testing the authentication information for validity; and    in response to receiving valid authentication data, synchronizing a clock in the audit device with a clock in the handheld computer and transferring at least a portion of the audit data to the handheld computer.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the audit data from the handheld computer to a host application on a central computer for analysis.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 receiving via a wireless communications interface included in the audit device, an electronic lock actuation instruction from the handheld computer; and    actuating, by the audit device, an electronic lock in the vending machine according to the electronic lock instruction.    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for collecting, storing and communicating vending machine data, comprising: 
 at least one processor;    at least one memory operably coupled to the processor; and    at least one communication port operably coupled to the processor and the memory, the communication port operable to communicate vending machine transaction data including cashless transaction data obtained from a cashless media device to a handheld computing device.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a wireless communication port operably coupled to the memory and the processor operable to communicate with the handheld computing device using an approximately 2.4 GHz radio spectrum.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a wireline communication port operably coupled to the memory and the processor operable to communicate with the handheld computing device via a wired coupling.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the handheld computing device operable to obtain cashless vending machine transaction data directly from the cashless media device via the at least one communication port.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising electronic lock control logic operably coupled to the processor and the memory, the electronic lock control logic operable to command a vending machine electronic lock in response to a request received from the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the at least one communication port operable to communicate DEX data and multi-drop bus data obtained by the vending machine controller to the memory for storage.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising an expansion bus port, the expansion bus port operable to connect to an expansion bus port of a cashless media device such that cashless vending machine transaction data may be communicated.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a secure application module operable to store at least one security key for authentication of digital signatures and data encryption in communications with a handheld computing device.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the memory operable to store an audit trail including transactions performed via the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the processor operable to capture a state image, the state image identifying at least one aspect of vending machine status at a point in time.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the memory operable to store a reference image identifying at least one aspect of a previous vending machine state.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 the communications port operable to communicate the reference image to the handheld computer;    the processor operable to capture a current image identifying at least one aspect of a substantially current vending machine state; and    the handheld computer operable to calculate a difference between the reference image and the current image.    
   
   
       17 . A method for communicating with a vending machine, comprising: 
 transmitting information from a handheld computer to a vending machine via a wireless communications interface in the vending machine operating substantially in accordance with at least one unlicensed radio band; and    receiving information at the handheld computer from the vending machine via a wireless communications interface in the handheld computer operating substantially in accordance with at least one unlicensed radio band.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising downloading audit information and cashless transaction data from the vending machine to the handheld computer.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising communicating the cashless transaction data to at least one agency responsible for payment on accounts associated with the cashless transaction data.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 transmitting an unlock command from the handheld computer to the vending machine via the communications interface; and    unlocking the vending machine in response to receiving the unlock command from the handheld computer by the vending machine.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving a security certificate from the handheld computer at the vending machine;    determining, at the vending machine, whether the security certificate is valid; and    unlocking the vending machine in response to validation of the security certificate.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising upgrading at least one aspect of vending machine audit device functionality via the vending machine communications interface that operates at approximately a 2.4 GHz radio spectrum from the handheld computer.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising configuring at least one aspect of functionality included in a vending machine audit device via an audit device communications interface that operates at approximately a 2.4 GHz radio spectrum from the handheld computer.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transmitting to the handheld computer a vending machine audit trail including recorded and timestamped vending machine transactions and errors.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transmitting to a handheld computer recorded transactions occurring between the vending machine and one or more handheld computers.  
   
   
       26 - 36 . (canceled)