초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a cashless transaction processing system implementing a VEND ASSIST mode of operation to effectuate a cashless vending transaction. The VEND ASSIST mode allows a computing platform 802 to oversee, control, and authorize by way of a system 500 the vend selection and s

The present invention relates to a cashless transaction processing system implementing a VEND ASSIST mode of operation to effectuate a cashless vending transaction. The VEND ASSIST mode allows a computing platform 802 to oversee, control, and authorize by way of a system 500 the vend selection and sale price of a user selected vend item prior to fulfilling the user's request. The cashless transaction processing system includes a system 500 and a computing platform 802. The system 500 initiates a vending session when certain commands from an interconnected computing platform 802 are received or in response to presentation, by a user, of valid payment identification data. Computing platform 802 data communicates a VEND APPROVE or VEND DENY response to a system 500 initiated REQUEST VEND APPROVE data communication. A vend cycle is then initiated or preempted as appropriate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cashless transaction processing system, for effectuating a cashless vending transaction, said cashless transaction processing system comprising: a payment module, said payment module further comprising an interactive interface, a VEND ASSIST mode of operation, and a memory,

What is claimed is: 1. A cashless transaction processing system, for effectuating a cashless vending transaction, said cashless transaction processing system comprising: a payment module, said payment module further comprising an interactive interface, a VEND ASSIST mode of operation, and a memory, said payment module implements and manages an MDB TRANSACTION STRING in said memory, said MDB TRANSACTION STRING further comprising a MDB TRANSACTION CONDITION FLAG; and a computing platform interconnected with said interactive interface; where said payment module implementing said VEND ASSIST mode requires said payment module to data communicate said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to said computing platform, with said MDB TRANSACTION CONDITION FLAG set to REQUEST VEND APPROVE, to solicit a VEND APPROVE data communication response, from said computing platform, prior to initiating a vending cycle. 2. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module further comprising: a multi-drop-bus interface, said multi-drop-bus interface interconnects said payment module to a vending machine controller, said vending machine controller is interconnected with a vending machine. 3. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module further comprising: a payment interface, said payment interface accepts a plurality of payment identification data presented by a user. 4. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said payment interface is at least one of the following: i) a credit card reader; ii) said interactive interface; iii) a magnetic card reader interface; iv) a smart card reader interface; v) a hotel room key card interface; vi) a touch device interface; vii) a keypad interface; viii) a magnetic card interface; ix) a biometric interface; x) a personal data assistant (PDA) interface; xi) an IRDA interface; xii) a network interface; xiii) a data modem interface; xiv) a wireless interface; xv) a data exchange interface (DEX); xvi) an RFID interface; xvii) a barcode reader interface; xviii) a multi-drop bus (MDB) interface; xix) a wireless phone interface; xx) a proximity card interface; or xxi) an external peripheral interface. 5. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module further comprising: a vending equipment interface for interconnecting said payment module to and data communicating with a vending machine controller, said vending machine controller being interconnected with a vending machine. 6. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said vending equipment interface is at least one of the following: i) a multi-bus-drop interface (MDB); ii) a data exchange interface (DEX); iii) a bill acceptor interface; iv) a coin acceptor interface; v) a plurality of general purpose input output control lines; or vi) a serial communication interface. 7. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing platform and said payment module data communicate, by way of said interactive interface, data related to at least one of the following: a) a plurality of payment identification data to initiate said cashless vending transaction, and or to initiate said vending cycle; b) data from said payment module to effectuate monitoring of said payment module operation by said computing platform; c) data from said payment module to effectuate monitoring by said computing platform of a plurality of vending equipment, said plurality of vending equipment being in data communication with said payment module; or d) data to enable said computing platform to control said cashless vending transaction, and or control said vending cycle. 8. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing platform monitors said cashless vending transaction by monitoring said MDB TRANSACTION STRING. 9. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein sad computing platform data communicates a command to said payment module requesting said payment module to data communicate said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to said computing platform. 10. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said command is at least one of the following: i) an @<esc>H command; or ii) an @<esc>V command. 11. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module updates said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to indicate a USER SELECTED AMOUNT. 12. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module updates said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to indicate a vend state of IN SESSION. 13. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said VEND APPROVE data communication includes a promotional vend item and or service sale price, to be charged, for said vending cycle. 14. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module, upon receiving said VEND APPROVE data communication, from said computing platform, initiates said vending cycle and accrues a fee to be charged, for vended items and or services. 15. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing platform data communicates a VEND DENY message to said payment module prior to said payment module initiating said vending cycle to prevent said vending cycle from occurring. 16. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said VEND APPROVE data communication includes the sale price to be charged for said vending cycle. 17. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said VEND APPROVE data communication is an @≧esc>A+STX+SALE-+insert sale price here+ETX+LRC command. 18. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a VEND DENY data communication is used to force a user to select a specific vend item or service. 19. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module is at least one of the following: i) an audit-credit-interactive device; ii) a G4; iii) a cashless payment device; iv) a card reader assembly; v) a vending interface unit (VIU); vi) a combination bill validator and card reader; vii) embodied with a bill acceptor; viii) embodied with a coin mechanism; ix) an audit device; x) an E-PORT; xi) an MDB controller; or xii) a semiconductor. 20. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module updates said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to indicate the item and or service selected. 21. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module updates said MDB TRANSACTION STRING to indicate the item and or service selected, as part of soliciting said computing platform for a VEND APPROVE response. 22. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the VEND ASSIST mode of operation is utilized to effectuate a plurality of promotional vending options. 23. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said plurality of promotional vending options include at least one of the following: i) buy at least one item or service, get a second item or service, and or selectively subsequent items or services, for a promotional price; ii) buy at least one item or service, get a second item or service, and or selectively subsequent items or services free; ii) a price mark-up promotion; iv) a price mark-down promotion; or v) a forced item and or service selection promotion. 24. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said VEND APPROVE sale price setting is manipulated prior to data communication, from said computing platform, to effectuate a plurality of promotional vending options. 25. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 24, wherein said plurality of promotional vending options include at least one of the following: i) buy at least one item or service, get a second item or service, and or selectively subsequent items or services, for a promotional price; ii) buy at least one item or service, get a second item or service, and or selectively subsequent items or services free; iii) a price mark-up promotion; iv) a price mark-down promotion; or v) a forced item and or service selection promotion. 26. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said VEND APPROVE response, from said computing platform, includes the sale price set to zero to effectuate a free vend. 27. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive interface operationally relates said payment module with at least one of the following: i) a card reader interface circuit board; ii) an online module; iii) a cashless payment device; iv) a payment semiconductor; v) a vending interface unit (VIU); vi) an audit-credit-interactive system; vii) a coin mechanism; viii) a bill validator; ix) a combination bill validator and card reader; x) an audit device; xi) a personal computer; xii) a data processing device; xiii) a data processing resource; xiv) a global network based data processing resource; xv) a communication module; xvi) a microprocessor based system; xvii) a wireless network; xviii) a wireless phone; xix) a vending machine; xx) a vending machine controller (VMC); xxi) a multi-drop-bus (MDB); xxii) a data exchange interface (DEX); xxiii) a pager; xxiv) a second computing platform; xxv) a personal data assistant (PDA); or xxvi) a second payment module. 28. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein upon receipt at said computing platform, of said MDB TRANSACTION STRING with said MDB TRANSACTION CONDITION FLAG set to REQUEST VEND APPROVE, a non-response from said computing platform is interpreted by said payment module as a valid VEND APPROVE response. 29. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment module further comprising a communication module. 30. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said communication module further comprising at least one of the following: i) a wireless modem; ii) a modem; iii) a local area network (LAN) interface; or iv) a wide area network (WAN) interface. 31. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said communication module effectuates remote data communication with a plurality of remote data processing resources. 32. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said plurality of remote data processing resources includes at least one global network based data processing resource. 33. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing platform is at least one of the following: i) an online module; ii) a coin mechanism; iii) a bill validator; iv) a combination bill validator and card reader; v) an audit device; vi) a personal computer; vii) a data processing device; viii) a data processing resource; ix) a global network based data processing resource; x) a vending machine; xi) a vending machine controller (VMC); xii) a communication module; xiii) a wireless modem; xiv) a modem; xv) a local area network (LAN) interface; xvi) a wide area network (WAN) interface; or xvii) a microprocessor based system. 34. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 6, wherein based in part on said interactive interface effectuated data communications, said cashless transaction processing system effectuates at least one of the following: i) said vending machine monitoring, based in part on obtaining data from said data exchange interfere (DEX); ii) said vending machine monitoring, based in part on obtaining data from said serial communication interface; iii) said vending machine monitoring, based in part on obtaining data from said plurality of general purpose input output control lines; iv) said vending machine monitoring, based in part on obtaining data from said multi-drop-bus (MDB); v) cashless vending, based in part on utilizing said serial communication interface; vi) cashless vending, based in part on utilizing said multi-drop-bus (MDB); vii) cashless vending, based in part on utilizing said plurality of general purpose input output control lines; viii) cashless vending, based in part on utilizing said data exchange interface (DEX); ix) interactive vending, based in part on utilizing said computing platform; x) promotional vending, based in part on utilizing said computing platform; xi) performing remotely at least one of the following: monitoring said vending machine, controlling said vending machine, managing said vending machine item and or service inventory, servicing said vending machine, diagnostics, or maintenance; xii) remote vending route management, based in pan on utilizing said vending machine telemetry data; or xiii) effectuating synapse like data connectivity to network a plurality of said payment module, and or a plurality of said vending machine with a plurality of local and or remote data processing resources. 35. The cashless transaction processing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein based in part on said interactive interface effectuated data communications, said cashless transaction processing system effectuates at least one of the following: i) monitoring said vending machine; ii) monitoring said vending machine alarms; iii) monitoring said vending machine data exchange interface (DEX); iv) controlling said vending machine; v) changing said vending machine operational parameters; vi) determining said vending machine service requirements; vii) managing said vending machine item and or service inventory; viii) accounting for currency transactions; ix) accounting for cashless transactions; x) providing settlement reporting related to said vending machine transacted currency and or cashless transactions; xi) managing, monitoring, determining, and or controlling said vending machine energy requirements, and or energy utilization; xii) managing, monitoring, determining, and or controlling, said vending machine energy management modes of operation; xiii) performing remote said vending machine service, and or maintenance; xiv) effectuating global network based interactive vending; xv) effectuating promotional vending; xvi) effectuating global network based promotions, and or virtual promotion vending; xvii) acquiring said vending machine telemetry data; xviii) acquiring said vending machine data exchange interface (DEX) data; xix) acquiring said vending machine multi-drop bus (MDB) data; xx) communicating DEX and or MDB data to local and or remote data processing resources; xxi) providing said vending machine telemetry data and or data exchange interface (DEX) data for use with route management, and or vending management information systems; xxii) monitoring said vending machine operational states and or usage patterns; xxiii) facilitating said cashless vending transaction for vended items and or services; xxiv) managing local authorization rules, and or local authorization routines; xxv) managing local authorization card number databases; xxvi) effectuating synapse like data connectivity to network a plurality of said payment module, and or a plurality of said vending machine with local and or remote data processing resources; xxvii) preventing fraudulent said cashless vending transaction; or xxviii) configuring said payment module, said vending machine, and or said computing platform.