초록 ▼

The present invention is generally directed to an automated system for monitoring and supplying a vending machine. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a set of sensors configured to detect a variety of service conditions, including products being low or out of stock,

The present invention is generally directed to an automated system for monitoring and supplying a vending machine. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a set of sensors configured to detect a variety of service conditions, including products being low or out of stock, as well as, out of order conditions. The sensors generate output signals that are input to a transmitter or transceiver disposed at (typically within) the vending machine. The transmitter includes circuitry that encodes the signals received from the sensors into a message that includes an instruction code. The transmitter further includes circuitry for transmitting the encoded message, preferably via radio frequency transmission (although other forms of transmission are consistent with the invention). The system further includes a transceiver located remotely (but nearby) from the transmitter, and configured to receive the transmitted signal. The transceiver includes circuitry for transmitting the encoded message until the message is received by a transceiver integrated with a device that can access the public switched telephone network. The transceiver may be configured to dial a defined telephone number associated with a central station. The transceiver further includes circuitry that, after the connection is established, controls the transmission of the encoded message to the central station. Accordingly, the central station includes an interface to the PSTN and circuitry configured to receive the encoded message transmitted from the transceiver. The central station further includes circuitry (which may be programmable--e.g., in the form of a computer) that evaluates the encoded message, and from that evaluation, determines the state of the vending machine sensors and dispatches appropriate personnel to service the machine.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention is generally directed to an automated system for monitoring and supplying a vending machine. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a set of sensors configured to detect a variety of service conditions, including products being low or out of stock,

The present invention is generally directed to an automated system for monitoring and supplying a vending machine. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a set of sensors configured to detect a variety of service conditions, including products being low or out of stock, as well as, out of order conditions. The sensors generate output signals that are input to a transmitter or transceiver disposed at (typically within) the vending machine. The transmitter includes circuitry that encodes the signals received from the sensors into a message that includes an instruction code. The transmitter further includes circuitry for transmitting the encoded message, preferably via radio frequency transmission (although other forms of transmission are consistent with the invention). The system further includes a transceiver located remotely (but nearby) from the transmitter, and configured to receive the transmitted signal. The transceiver includes circuitry for transmitting the encoded message until the message is received by a transceiver integrated with a device that can access the public switched telephone network. The transceiver may be configured to dial a defined telephone number associated with a central station. The transceiver further includes circuitry that, after the connection is established, controls the transmission of the encoded message to the central station. Accordingly, the central station includes an interface to the PSTN and circuitry configured to receive the encoded message transmitted from the transceiver. The central station further includes circuitry (which may be programmable--e.g., in the form of a computer) that evaluates the encoded message, and from that evaluation, determines the state of the vending machine sensors and dispatches appropriate personnel to service the machine. number of intermediaries required to connect the client computer to the computer system. 3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the inputs on one or more operating characteristics include an estimate for toll charges associated with placing the voice call from the selected computer system to the circuit switched network extension. 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the communication services calculate corresponding call metrics based on the solicited inputs for the solicited computer systems, and use the calculated call metrics to make the computer system selection. 5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the communication services further include telephony services for cooperating with telephony equipment coupled to the computer system. 6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the execution unit further executes the programming instructions to implement web server functions. 7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the execution unit further executes the programming instructions to implement internet service provider functions. 8. A method for selecting a computer system to route a packet based phone call, destined for a circuit switched network extension that does not employ pulse code modulation (PCM), off a packet switched network and onto the circuit switched network, the method comprising: (a) soliciting inputs by a computer system from a plurality of other computer systems on one or more operating characteristics associated with routing the packet based phone call off the packet switched network and onto the circuit switched network at other computer systems; and (b) selecting by the soliciting computer system, one of the solicited computer systems to route the packet based phone call off the packet switched network and onto the circuit switched network based on the solicited operating characteristics. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said soliciting input comprises soliciting from each computer system an estimate on a number of intermediaries required to connect the client computer to the computer system. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said soliciting input comprises soliciting from each of the solicited computer systems a toll charge estimate for placing a voice call from the particular computer system to the non-PCM circuit switched network extension. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said selecting comprises calculating corresponding call metrics based on the solicited inputs for the responding computer systems, and use the calculated call metrics to make the selection. 12. A computer system comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions; and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, to execute the plurality of programming instructions to provide a set of communication services including a service to establish and facilitate a voice call from a client computer coupled to a packet switched network to a circuit switched network extension on behalf of the client computer, wherein the communication services include services to receive solicitation inputs from a soliciting computer system on one or more operating characteristics associated with the establishment and support of the voice call to the circuit switched network extension, the soliciting computer system also soliciting other computer systems for their operating characteristics associated with the establishment and support of the voice call, and wherein the communication services further include services to determine the solicited one or more operating characteristics, and to respond to the solicitation with the determined one or more operating characteristics to enable the soliciting computer system to determine from the solicited operating characteristics which of the solicited computer systems is in a better position to place the voice call to the circuit switched network extension through a circuit switched network for the client computer. 13. The computer system of