초록 ▼

A system for the remote monitoring of vending machines and for automatically communicating conditions at the vending machines to a central computer complex is described. Each vending machine is provided with a microprocessor which monitors and stores data within that machine and transmits the data t

A system for the remote monitoring of vending machines and for automatically communicating conditions at the vending machines to a central computer complex is described. Each vending machine is provided with a microprocessor which monitors and stores data within that machine and transmits the data to the central computer complex either immediately or at scheduled call-in times. The distributed logic between the vending machine microprocessors and the central computer complex provides various alarm function signals and aids in inventory control and efficient route planning for the supply and maintenance of the machines. In a preferred embodiment the data is transmitted between the central computer complex and each vending machine over telephone lines.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising: a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended; door means in said vending machine providing access

A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising: a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended; door means in said vending machine providing access to said storage compartments; door switch means for sensing when said door is open and generating a door open signal; entry acknowledge switch means within said vending machine which is inaccessible until said door means is opened, said entry acknowledge switch means generating a legal entry signal when actuated within a predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal; timer means for measuring said predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal; logic circuit means for sensing if said entry acknowledge switch means is actuated during said predetermined period of time; alarm generating means coupled to said logic circuit means for transmitting an illegal entry alarm signal to said central computer complex if said entry acknowledge switch is not actuated within said predetermined period of time; service switch means for generating a service signal in response to the manual actuation thereof indicative of an entry into said vending machine to service the same; and means for generating and transmitting a service alarm signal to said central computer complex in response to the occurrence of said service signal in combination with said legal entry signal.