Method and system for interfacing a machine controller and a wireless network
View Patent ↗A wireless interface module interfaces a machine control system, such as a vending machine controller, with one of plural wireless networks through one of plural removably coupled wireless transceivers. Communication between geographically distributed vending machines and a desired wireless network is supported by coupling a transceiver associated with the desired network to the wireless interface module. This advantageously provides flexibility in selecting from one of plural wireless networks for a distributed vending machine so that communication between the control system and a distal operating center is supported over a preferred wireless network through a standardized wireless interface module incorporated in the vending machine by changing the wireless transceiver removably coupled to the wireless interface module.
1. A system for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks, the system comprising:
a wireless interface module in communication with the machine controller and configured to send and receive wireless signals;
a wireless antenna coupled to the wireless interface module; and
a multi-drop bus interface associated with the wireless interface module,
wherein the wireless interface module is configured to removably couple to and communicate with a plurality of wireless transceivers, each wireless transceiver respectively associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the machine controller comprises an audit device.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a coaxial cable configured to communicate wireless signals between each wireless transceiver and the wireless interface module.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a first wireless transceiver configured to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module and having a GSM transceiver circuit configured to communicate with a GSM network; and
an analog wireless transceiver configured to be removably coupled to the wireless interface module and to communicate via an analog wireless communication network.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-drop bus interface comprises a serial port.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the serial port comprises a USB port providing an interface for a BLUETOOTH module.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a BLUETOOTH wireless system configured to communicate with the wireless interface module through a USB port to provide a personal area network.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface module is adapted to accept power from the machine controller.
9. An apparatus for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks, the apparatus comprising:
a wireless interface module in communication with the machine controller and configured to send and receive wireless signals; and
a multi-drop bus configured to transmit and receive information communicated via a serial transceiver,
wherein the wireless interface module is coupled to a wireless antenna,
wherein the wireless interface module is configured to removably couple to and communicate with a plurality of wireless transceivers, each wireless transceiver respectively associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the machine controller comprises an audit device.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless interface module is further configured to pass power to a wireless transceiver removably coupled with the wireless interface module.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the multi-drop bus interface comprises a serial port.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the serial port comprises a USB port providing an interface for a BLUETOOTH module.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless interface module is adapted to accept power from the machine controller.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a coaxial cable configured to communicate wireless signals between each wireless transceiver and the wireless interface module.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a BLUETOOTH wireless system configured to communicate with the wireless interface module through a USB port to provide a personal area network.
17. A method for interfacing a machine controller with a plurality of wireless networks, the method comprising:
coupling a wireless interface module to a wireless antenna;
communicating, by the machine controller, with a wireless interface module via a multi-drop bus interface associated with the wireless interface module;
removably coupling the wireless interface module to a wireless transceiver associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless networks, wherein the wireless interface module is configured to removably couple to and communicate with a plurality of wireless transceivers, each wireless transceiver respectively associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless networks; and
communicating, by the wireless interface module, with the wireless transceiver.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the multi-drop bus interface comprises a serial port.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the serial port comprises a USB port providing an interface for a BLUETOOTH module.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving, by the wireless interface module, power from the machine controller.