초록 ▼

A vending status reporting system for use with vending machines in a facility utilizing an AC power system, a telephone communication system, and a collection office. The system includes a plurality of slave units, each connectable to an associated vending machine to be monitored and to the facility

A vending status reporting system for use with vending machines in a facility utilizing an AC power system, a telephone communication system, and a collection office. The system includes a plurality of slave units, each connectable to an associated vending machine to be monitored and to the facility's AC power system, and a master unit connectable to the facility's AC power system and to a telephone communication system. The master unit retrieves vending status information by signaling each slave unit using unique addresses in dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) code format and waiting for a response. Each slave unit includes a mechanism for retrieving information on the status of vending items of its associated vending machine and for transmitting the retrieved vending status information. A slave unit controller of the slave unit receives the transmitted vending status information and processes the transmitted information. A slave unit AC carrier interface receives the processed vending information from the slave unit controller and converts it to an AC vending status signal in DTMF format. Each master unit includes a master unit AC carrier interface for receiving the vending status signal. A master unit controller of the master unit receives and processes the received vending status signal. A master unit telephone interface is connectable to a collection office via the telephone communication system. The master unit telephone interface receives a processed vending status data signal from the master unit controller and transmits the vending status information to the collection office.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vending status reporting system for reporting the status of a vending machine, comprising:means for sending an address in dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) code over an AC power line, the address corresponding to a slave unit;means for receiving the address at the slave u

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vending status reporting system for reporting the status of a vending machine, comprising:means for sending an address in dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) code over an AC power line, the address corresponding to a slave unit;means for receiving the address at the slave unit;means for transmitting vending status information in DTMF code from the slave unit to a master unit over the AC power line; andmeans for notifying the master unit when the vending status information transmission is complete.