Vending equipment for remote selection of items via a mobile device
A touchless vend system includes a first processor and a second processor, each within a vending machine and communicably coupled to one another. The first processor can receive a signal representing a product selection, associated with a product in the vending machine, from a mobile device. The first processor can transmit a payment authorization to a controller of the vending machine, and transmit the signal representing the product selection to the second processor. The second processor receives the signal representing the product selection from the first processor, converts the signal representing the product selection into an electronic signal based on a make, a model, and version information of the vend machine, and sends the electronic signal to the controller to cause vending of the product.
1. A system, comprising:
a first processor disposed within a vend machine; and
a second processor disposed within the vend machine and communicably coupled with the first processor,
the first processor configured to receive a signal representing a product selection from a mobile device, the product selection associated with a product in the vend machine,
the first processor configured to transmit a payment authorization to a controller of the vend machine, and to transmit the signal representing the product selection to the second processor,
the second processor configured to: (1) receive the signal representing the product selection from the first processor; (2) convert the signal representing the product selection into an electronic signal based on a make, a model, and version information of the vend machine; (3) send the electronic signal to the controller to cause vending of the product; and (4) prevent a manual selection button press signal from reaching the controller while the first processor is receiving the signal representing the product selection from the mobile device,
the second processor electrically connected to the controller and to a product selection keypad of the vend machine.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal representing the product selection specifies at least one of a coil, a column, a row, a carousel position, a compartment, or an x-y coordinate of the vend machine.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is configured to convert the signal representing the product selection into the electronic signal further based on a locally-stored map of signal data for each button of a plurality of buttons of the vend machine.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is configured to send the electronic signal to the controller of the vend machine to cause vending of the product in response to the receiving the signal representing the product selection from the first processor, and without receiving a signal representing a user selection from a button of the vend machine.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is configured to convert the signal representing the product selection into the electronic signal further based on a controller board configuration of the vend machine.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the version information includes at least one of a firmware version and a software version.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor includes a plurality of switch multiplexing (MUX) chips configured to emulate a button press.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is further configured to scan the product selection keypad for a button press and transmit a selection signal to the controller.
9. A system, comprising:
a first processor disposed within a user-operated service machine; and
a second processor disposed within the user-operated service machine and communicably coupled with the first processor,
the first processor configured to receive a signal representing a user selection from a mobile device, the user selection associated with a service of the user-operated service machine,
the first processor configured to transmit a payment authorization to a controller of the user-operated service machine, and to transmit an action instruction, based on the user selection, to the second processor,
the second processor configured to: (1) receive the action instruction from the first processor; (2) convert the action instruction into an electronic signal based on a make, a model, a firmware version, and version information of the user-operated service machine; (3) send the electronic signal to the controller of the user-operated service machine to cause the service to be performed; and (4) prevent a manual selection button press signal from reaching the controller while the first processor is receiving the signal representing the product selection from the mobile device,
the second processor electrically connected to the controller and to a selection keypad of the user-operated service machine.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is configured to send the electronic signal to the controller of the user-operated service machine to cause the service to be performed in response to the receiving the action instruction from the first processor, and without receiving a signal representing a selection from an interface of the user-operated service machine.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is configured to convert the action instruction into the electronic signal further based on a controller board configuration of the user-operated service machine.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the version information includes at least one of a firmware version and a software version.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second processor includes a plurality of switch multiplexing (MUX) chips configured to emulate a button press.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further configured to scan the selection keypad for a button press and transmit a selection signal to the controller.
15. A system, comprising:
a first processor disposed within a vend machine and communicably coupled to a controller of the vend machine; and
a second processor disposed within the vend machine and communicably coupled to: (1) the first processor, (2) the controller, and (3) a product selection keypad of the vend machine,
the first processor configured to:
receive a product selection signal from a mobile device, the product selection signal associated with a product in the vend machine;
send a payment authorization to the controller in response to receiving the product selection signal;
receive, after sending the payment authorization, a signal indicating that a first vend position, associated with the product selection signal, is empty;
generate, in response to receiving the signal indicating that the first vend position associated with the product selection signal is empty, a modified product selection signal associated with a second vend position different from the first vend position; and
send the modified product selection signal to the second processor,
the second processor configured to: (1) receive the modified product selection signal from the first processor; (2) convert the modified product selection signal into an electronic signal based on a make, a model, and version information of the vend machine; and (3) send the electronic signal to the controller to cause vending of the product from the second vend position.