초록 ▼

A vending machine controller having a single serial port on the same chip as the programmable processor. The controller includes a port arbitrator that selectively connects one of several serially communicating devices to this single serial port. The vending machine controller also has multitasking

A vending machine controller having a single serial port on the same chip as the programmable processor. The controller includes a port arbitrator that selectively connects one of several serially communicating devices to this single serial port. The vending machine controller also has multitasking capabilities so that remote price changing, and/or remote reprogramming can be conducted at the same time as a vend operation and/or a multimedia presentation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vending-machine controller comprising:a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine;a first serial port connected to the programmable processor;an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of at least two serially-communica

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vending-machine controller comprising:a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine;a first serial port connected to the programmable processor;an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of at least two serially-communicating devices, respectively, to determine that a communication session is being initiated by one of the serially-communicating devices if activity is present upon an input, and to connect the first serial port of the programmable processor to the serially-communicating device that first initiates a communication session; anda second serial port configured as one of a multi-drop bus interface and a VCCS bus interface for connecting the programmable processor to a multi-drop bus or a VCCS bus, respectively.