US 20100198400A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0198400 A1
Pascal et al.
(54)
(43) Pub. Date:
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
CONTROLLING A VENDING MACHINE
_
(76) Inventors:
Aug. 5, 2010
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
_
Felique Pascal, Lmkopmg (SE);
Int. Cl.
G06F 1 7/00
(2006.01)
G06F 9/445
(2006.01)
G07F 9/02
Felique Christian, Brussel (BE)
(52)
(200601)
us. Cl. ...................................................... .. 700/232
Correspondence Address?
(57)
ABSTRACT
A solution comprising cost-effective methods and techniques
stattler-Sllh PC
60 SOUTH MARKET, SUITE 480
for converting a traditional vending machine into a vending
machine With a graphical user interface, multimedia adver
SAN JOSE, CA 95113 (US)
tising and info kiosk capabilities. A key aspect of this inven
tion is the integration of a consumer DVD player in a vending
machine, in Which the graphical user interface is imple
21
( )
A
1_ N _:
pp
12/667,941
mented as DVD Menu structures stored on a DVD disc that
0
.
also contains the video clips.Another aspect of this invention,
is the changed logic of a traditional vending machine to delay
_
item dispense until a video clip has been played. The present
(22)
PCT Flled'
Jul‘ 6’ 2007
invention provides interfacing methods between a DVD
player, a Vending Machine Controller and an optional micro
(86)
PCT N05
PCT/BE2007/000074
munication protocol between a DVD player and a microcon
troller. The methods and techniques of the invention can be
§ 371 (0X1),
(2), (4) Date:
Jan. 6, 2010
controller. These methods can be used to implement a com
integrated in an MDB peripheral device of a vending
machine.
,_
OPTICAL
F SENSOR UN?!"
10%
"I
we acsaem w mm PLAYER ma‘
DTMF
,
QECGQER
we
we
SELECTiGN
k
FAhEEL
KEYEQARD
DEGODER
we
m2
REMOTE
' CONTROL UNIT
‘E01 ;
1G7’
Gout;
vewmm
"
103‘
DZ$PENSER
UN‘T
‘‘
P
MAGHlNE
CONTROLLER
‘300
“Emma
MACHWE
RELAY
105
104
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 1 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figurel
SEtECTEON
PANEL
k
'
KEYBGARD
DECODER
101
102
‘17
Wm
M
CHANGER
.. -
VENDWG
mar-me
CGNTRGLLER
100
103
II’
vsmoms
gis?i'i‘fw =1
momma
RELAY
105
‘E04
Figure 2
k
OPTiCAL
’ 8ENS€3R um"
109
A
ms SCREEN i“
I
‘
own PLAYER
108
ms
x
mm
,
QECQQER
xavacmm
I
QECQDER
W3
“32
M
sazwamm
PANEL
‘
REMOTE
' GGNTROL mic"?
101
10?
as»:
J
CHANQER
193;
k
5&2?
CONTROLLER
‘0°
‘1!
;
msf??aa :
105
vamnme
MAcHmE
RELAY
1°“
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 2 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 3
213a SCREEN :
DVD PLAYER
108
10s
1l
1F
OPTICAL
mm’ SENSOR um?
mm:
vacuum
we
‘R SEWER
m
1w
1k
ip
samcmu
‘I r
W,
MiQRO
PANEL
CONTROLLER
1m
14 1
h
JL
3
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ms T0 @232
smvsama
Ksvacmm
aeecum
112
wz.
a
i
mm
GHANQER
,
‘
10a
Z
$01.9 om
L568
we
i I.
1V
k
, vemws MAGHENE CONTRGLLER
7
7100
1'
msg??w :
vrsmmm
menu
RELAY
105
104
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 3 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 4
r/
_ was suwa
\\
LCD SCREEN :
WC, PMYER
108
we
Jl
xr
UP'i'iCAL
{37M}:
" ' m’ SENSOR um
uecoam
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‘510
r
sauwnou
PANEL
‘R SEWER
114
l
l
_
"
Mam
CONTROtLER
101
111
mg m R3232
CONVERTOR
#12
K
1
mmgmi‘?
'
'
j
MuQEmYQTER
1I
CHANGER
ws
*
F
coumouaa
me
KW
17
DISPEN8ER
UNIT
105
VSNEJWG
MACHENE
RELAY
104
r
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 4 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 5
8L
LCD SCREEN
SL: Speaker Left
SR: Speaker?ighf
SR
SEL: Selec?an Panel
108
‘1
2
3
4
SEL 5
6
"I
8
1m
9
COIN
CHANGER
193
Dl$9EN$ER
U M "f ‘£95
Figure 6
‘3
2
R63)
SEL 5
1 2 3
5
1/ 12 5 6
‘y
7 8 9
8
107
2
101
SEL w Item seiec?en
RCU : Remme (30mm! Unit
9
Figure 7
?‘a
$2
<r‘?3
KM
@2
SEL7
3
101
9
SLEL : tiem selection
I\ Rgu
!/ ¢z§=~>
197
RGU @ Remote Contmi Unit
Patent Application Publication
Figure 8
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 5 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
insert coins
!1
Push button to select deaired beverage
item out of stock
Law funds
Selected bevsa'aga is dispensed
Remaining coins are returned
Figure 9
‘
No baverage is diwensed
:
Push button to return coins
Enseri veins
1
select desired beverage in graphisal user interface
1
Random or sequential video clip is
ShQWTI an the fmnt panel LCD screen
i
Contmi Mavis is glayeci after tiie end of the video ciip to
instruct the \ZMC ta dispense the iniiia! selected item
N6
item out of siock
Law funds
$eXec>ted beverage is dispensed
No beverage is dispensed
l
Remaining coins are returned
Push button to return coins
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 6 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 10
Insert coins
U‘
Setect desired bevarage in graphicai use: interface
N0
.
‘
~
NO
.
Sold out victeo message as shewn
on the {rent panai LCD screen
Low funds vidao message is Shawn
an the front pane! LCD screen
Randam or sequemiai vidan clip is
shown on the frnnt pane! LCD smear:
‘!
Setected bevarage is dispensed
No beverage is dispensed
l'
Remaining coins are returned
w
Push butter: tax return Cains
Figure 11
Requast to piay a movie from the piay ?st
?g. Mavis 30
I
Jump toihe first Movie List DVD Menu
I
Send proper numerica! value to the @VS Mayer
YES
34;. sequenee {9.‘9..9,.6}
Play selected viden clip
on the front panel LGD scream
HEM 9
Jump to the next Muvie List DVD Menu
+
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 7 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 12
Play public information kiosk movie
in 300p mode
‘
T‘MER
EXP‘RED
Navigate in graphicaf user interface
'
'HMER
Select dasired beverage in graphical user intarface
EXPiRED
Figure 13
Request to piay randum video ciip
Jump E0 ?rst Program instruction Mavia objent
All mratch card GPRM
registers cuniain ?xFfzFF
1%
Set at? GF‘FZM mgisters to W608i}
Graw a random number M
'
beiwezen 1 and N
The bit was aiready set
in the carreapanding
GPRM register
' MOVEEE PLAYED
SEFORE
Scratch the movie an the scraish aard
I
Jump to title M
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 8 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 14
Use bultuns on the front panel
After a ?nal selection has been
to navigate in the» graphical
Mlcmconimller is in input mode and
made in the Selections DVD Menu,
user interface and eventually —v forwards line button presses lo the ~a- ihe DVD player will play a Control
select an item in the Seleclions
DVD player using the IR sender
Mnvia and will jump to the Decision
DVD Menu
DVD Menu
Niim'cicontmller will swl‘lwii fmm
‘l‘he Coniml Movie will inform the
dggigiqomzgggggi?ais ‘____ input mode in decisiun mods and *_ microeontmllar which item was
successm or umsumessfut
will stay forwarding the mitten
presses to the DVQ player
i
selecied and tbal we are in decision
made:
Mimocunlmiler sends numerical
value “1" to the DVD player to ____’
select the ?rst invisible menu item
in in‘: Decision DVD Menu
DVD player plays
Said out video mwsage
m
Micmaonlmiler sands numerical
value “2" in the DVD player to M
salient {he almond invisible menu
llem in lhe Decision DVD Menu
DVE) player plays
Low funds video message
m
Micmcenlrnller sands numeiisal
value “3” teina DVD playsr tn w’
select the third invisible menu Elem
in the Decision DVD Menu
9V0 player plays
nandnm er sequential video nlip
Central Manila is played after ihe
Mici'ocuntmller will insmsctihe VMO
em.‘ “the “68° my“) mfqm if“;
to dispense the initial selected item ‘m
1
Selacted beverage is
‘__
dispensed
m'cmcommuar mama d’p has
ended, and the DVD playef will
jump in the Selections DVD Menu
Mlcrocommller will swiiah inzim
declsicn moda in input mode
Remaining coins are returned W
Push builnn to return coins
Cnnirol Movie is played after the
end oftlie vldei: message to inform
.
N0 beverage is dlspansad
‘a’
Mlcrooonlmllar will switch l‘mm
decision mode in input mode
ma minmcontmller matthe
'9'‘ message has ended, and the DVD W
player will jump to the Sialec?uns
DVD Menu
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 9 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 15
1118671 coins
I
Mimocontmifer deiects coin insertion
or return ail Quins operation and
switches fmm input mode '10 min
martian mode
Push button in reium coins
Micmcontroher is in min insertion
mode and nu Ringer forwards the
buttan pressea to the £35.?!) pfayer
Mierocnntmiier sends numeriaai value
a9,1 10 8:8 DVS giayer to safest tize
hidden min insertinn menu item in the
safac?ms SW} Menu
Miaroncntmiier sends numerical; value-
to the DVD player in select a coin
.
.
.
.
7
113MB piayar will jump fmm
the:
‘
Salaam“ 13W’ New w the Gain
lnsariion DVD Menu
.
mm 918?“ Wm update the (3pm,:
type m :m Gum insertmn {3V9 Mam;
register that maps trams oi’ the teta!
or is set “the min value: in zero
mart“ amuunt me was
Mizsmsonimlier wiil switch fmm win
insertim made to input maria
DVD piayer wilt jump 20 82a ?aw
Safecticms CW8 Menu which Shows,
the cement credit vaiua in the
A
a
background image
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5,2010
Sheet 10 of 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 16
Use buttons on the front panel
After a final selection has been
to navigate in the graphical
user interface and eventually
Mlcrooonlroller is In input mode and
forwards the button presses to the
DVD player using the: lR sender
select an item in the Selections
DVD Menu
made in lna Selections DVD Menu.
the DVD player will play a Control
Movie and will Sump t0 lhe Decision
DVD Menu
Microconlroller will switch from
“l‘he Control Movie informs the
input made to decision mode and ‘_ microcontroiler which ilem was
will stop forwarding lha button
selected and that we are in decision
presses lo the DVD player
mode
Microoontroller will make: a
decision wnelher lne vend is
snmzessful or unsuccessful
NO
Mloroconlroller sands numerical
value "1” to the DVD player to W
DVD player plays
select the first invisible menu item
in the Deolsion ova Menu
Sold out video messago
Microconlroller sends numerical
DVD player will check if inserted
value “2” to the DVD player to M crsdil is greaierlhan or equal to the
select the second invisible menu
item price in the button stalemanis
item in the Decision DVD Menu
of tile Docision DVD Menu
NO
DVD player plays
random or sequential video clip
1
Conlml Movie is played alier lite
$eieoled beverage is
dispensed
‘w
Remaining coins are returned -
.
. .
Microconlroller
will
instruct the VMC
an d. of the video clip to inform the
lo dispensetlie initial seleclaci item ‘m
m’cmcanmner that ma cup hag
ended, and the DVD player w?l
jump to tho Selections DVD Menu
Microoontrolier will switch from
decision mode to input mode
Push button to return coins
DVD player plays
Low funds video message
i
Gonirol Movie is played after the
end oflhe video message to inform
N0 beverage is dispensed
‘w
Miomcontroller will switch from
decision mode to input mode
the miciocanlroller that the
,
message has ended! and the {3V1} ‘
player will jump to line Selections
DVD Menu
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 11 of 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 17
Area code:
BE~LEWEN '
Target
Numberrange:
group:
awooosettzoo
GAMPLKS
‘
‘
Run Start date:
Run End date:
01 not 2on7
31 (JCT 2967
I
Figure 18
an‘
m
-
I—
III
In‘
W
m
“.II‘IIII
'
I
I
sensorsmus
I
l E {:3 : tnactive
I i
I
|
: [
u
. I
‘
I
I
: Active
I
.
I : inactive
I
v
u
g [:1 :
tnaetwe
an
Q
I : [:1 I:
|
i
z
z
| : [:1 : inactive
I : I] : inactive
I
“K
I
I
I
I
I
I
I [:3 :
I
inactive
inactive
I
| E [I : inactive
J l‘lllllnl.
_ _ I
Allowed screen area for video clips
'
Sensor area used by Video Control Movies
I
-
Inactive rectangular area (sensor above not activated)
{:1
Active rectangular area (sensor above activated)
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 12 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 19
Key Low frequency [Hz] High frequency [Hz]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
O
S
#
A
B
C
D
697
697
697
770
770
770
852
852
852
941
941
941
697
770
852
941
1209
1336
1477
1209
1336
1477
1209
1336
1477
1336
1209
1477
1633
1633
1633
1633
Figure 20
Register"
GPRM1
GPRM2
GPRM3
GPRM4
GPRM5
GPRM6
GPRM7
Movies ' 1
1-16
17-32
33-48
49-64
65-80
81-96
97-99
Bits
u ,
B15-BO (Movie 16-Movie 1)
B15-B0 (Movie 32-Movie 17)
B15-B0 (Movie 48-Movie 33)
B15-B0 (Movie 64-Movie 49)
B15-BO (Movie 80-Movie 65)
B15-B0 (Movie 96-Movie 81)
B15-B0 (Movie 99-Movie 97)
"
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 13 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 21
Button
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
'
'
Menu 1
Movie 1
Movie 2
Movie 3
Movie 4
Movie 5
Movie 6
Movie 7
Menu 2
Movie 9
Movie10
Movie11
Movie12
Movie13
Movie14
Movie15
Menu 3
Movie17
Movie18
Movie19
Movie20
M0vie21
Movie22
Movie23
Menu 4
Movie25
Movie26
Movie27
Movie28
Movie29
Movie30
Movie31
Menu 5
Movie33
Movie34
Movie35
Movie36
Movie37
Movie38
Movie39
Menu 6
Movie41
Movie42
Movie43
Movie44
Movie45
Movie46
Movie47
Menu 7*
Movie49
Movie50
Movie51
Movie52
Movie53
Movie54
Movie55
‘ Movie 8
Movie16
Movie24
Movie32
Movie40
Movie48
Movie56
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
91
Figure 22
-1B\ Menu?‘
‘E ‘
Menu 2
‘2.
Movie 1-9
Menu 3
Movie 10-18
Menu 4
13
'1 e
8
Menu 101
Movie 1
Movie73
Menu 12
Movie 2 Movie11
Movie74
Movie 81-89
Menu 13
Movie 90-98
Movie 3 Movie12
M0vie75
Menu 14
Movie10
Movie 19-27
Menu 5
Movie 28-36
'5 Menu 6
‘52 Movie 37-45
6,; Menu 7
"
Menu-,2 2, ‘Menu 3
Movie 99-107
Movie 4 Movie13
Movie76
Movie 5
Movie14
Movie77
Movie 6 Movie15
Movie78
Movie 46-54
7
Menu 8
,1 Movie 55-63
Menu 9
Movie 64-72
g9 Menu 10
‘
Movie 73-...
Menu 11“
Menu 15
Movie 108-116
Menu 16
Movie 117-125
Menu 17
Movie 126-134
Movie 7 Movie16
Movie79
Movie 8 Movie17
Movie80
Movie 9 Movie18
Menu 11
Menu 18
Movie 135-143
Menu 19
Movie 144-152
Menu 20
Movie81-...
Movie 153-...
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 14 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 23
Itemlbeverage
selection
Video Comm! Movie
Decoded value
1
0x01
Item released
item 1
2
3
0x02
0x03
7
6207
Item released
item 7
8
9
0x08
0x09
-
I
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 15 0f 18
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 24
Coin amount
Image #
0,00
1
Selections DVD Menu
background Eggs
Please insert coins
.2".
a:
"ll all; 1.
Make your selection
E‘ Lemonades
Juices
0,05
2
Waters
Please insert coins
Make your selection
3%] Lemonades
Juices
Waters
DU
USDBE
S
6,55
5
Please insert coins
Make your selection
‘5E1 Lemonades
Juices
Waters
Please insert coins
Make your selection
IE! Lemonades
Juices
Waters
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 16 0f 18
Figure 25
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 26
Please make your selection
Please insert coins
Make your selection
Figure 27
Figure 28
Ke m
S e m cm .0
Figure 29
Item selected
I"""‘"""I
-sold out I
1.-....
_...|
l'"""""'"""“"l
' check funds -
i..........._...---..l
5B
nm
Item selected
ESE-0E3 {léxK/f‘u‘nIcCsE :ven
Figure 3 0
S O L D 0 UT
Please select other item
m
m
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 17 0f 18
Figure 31
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 32
Movie list 009-016
LOW FUNDS
movie 10 movie 11 movie 12
Please insert more coins
movie 13 movie 14 movie 15 movie 16
movies
17
Figure 33
Figure 34
Please insert coins
Please insert coins --l:“
Make your selection
Make your selection
‘gag Lemonades
Juices
[E Lemonades
Waters
Juices
Figure 35
I
Waters
Figure 36
Please insert coins
Make your selection
IE] Lemonades
Juices
El
[:1
[1!
E]
[:1
El
Ll
El
Waters
Please insert coins
U
Make your selection
Apple juice
Back
UE
Patent Application Publication
Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 18 0f 18
Figure 37
Figure 39
Figure 41
Signal item selection
Signal answer on question
Check item price
Check funds
Check sold out
Dispense item
Dispense coin
Test verid
Get clock
Read data from peripheral
Write data from peripheral
More commands
US 2010/0198400 A1
Figure 38
m
ma
Write Byte
Read Data
Write Data
Figure 40
Figure 42
Acknowledge selection
Coin deposited
Coin dispensed
Escrow request
Bills accepted
Begin session
Vend approved
End session
Error Coin Acceptor
Error Bill \lalidator
Error cashless device
mi
mcs
gam a
swam
Aug. 5, 2010
US 2010/0198400 A1
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
CONTROLLING A VENDING MACHINE
[0010] An input device is used to provide a means for user
input such as item selection. The term user is knoWn in the art
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
the operator of the input device. Examples of input devices
and should be interpreted hereinafter as the customer being
are eg a keyboard, a mouse, a light pen, a touch screen, etc.
[0001]
Vending machines are Well known in the art. Gen
erally they serve the purpose of selling snacks and beverages
[0011]
An output device is used to display audio/visual
but can also be used to sell other items such as newspapers,
feedback to the customer. Examples of output devices are eg
a computer monitor, a television screen, speakers, etc.
etc. Item selection in a vending machine is performed by
selecting the item using a user interface of the vending
machine. The user interface of the vending machine generally
unit to read/Write digital information from/to a storage
medium. Different types of storage media are available: ?ex
contains push buttons for the user to choose the desired item.
Generally, a central processor of the vending machine is
responsible for the control and activities of said user interface.
R, DVD-RAM, memory stick, USB memory keys, etc.
[0013] People skilled in the art recogniZe that other types of
[0012]
A storage device is used by the central processing
ible ?oppy discs, hard drives, CD(R), DVD, DVD-R, DVD+
Most vending machines include a system for receiving pay
ment for the particular article and for dispensing the article
from the dispensing department to the merchandise removal
area after such payment is received. After paying, the
media exist.
machine releases the product such that it falls in an open
compartment at the bottom, or into a cup. The product may
content and Where multimedia content is stored on a DVD
also become available by the unlocking of a door, draWer,
turning of a knob etc. Sometimes the product is not just
released but prepared. Most vending machines are operated
by vending companies that offer a Wide variety of services,
hoWever, companies producing beverages, also oWn and ser
multimedia features are provided eg a graphical user inter
vice a great number of vending machines.
[0002] A number of innovations have taken place over the
input devices, output devices, storage devices and storage
[0014] In existing vending machine solutions that provide
multimedia features such as the playback of audio-visual
disc, a central processing unit is used in case 1) additional
face OR in case 2) interfacing With the vending machine is
required. When a central processing unit is in use, the central
processing unit (computer or similar) uses a storage device
(DVD drive or similar) to read the information stored on this
DVD disc. A commonly used setup is a computer, connected
to a DVD drive. Different types of interface connections are
decades in the vending machine business. We name some
possible betWeen a computer and a DVD drive, e.g. IDE,
examples of innovations:
[0003] Improved bill and coin validation
[0004] Improved sense and feedback systems to verify
used setup is a computer, connected to an industrial Laser
that the vend Was made
USB, FireWire, parallel, RS-232, etc. Another commonly
disc/ DVD player through the serial RS-232 interface or simi
lar.
[0005] Remote monitoring of vending machines
[0015]
[0006]
graphical user interface to the customer, said graphical user
interface is implemented by a computer program, set of
instruction code or similar running on the central processing
Telemetry to transmit sales and inventory data to
a remote location
[0007] Cashless vending alloWing consumers to use
debit cards
[0008]
Although efforts have been made to make vending
machines more attractive to the public such as adding multi
media capabilities for simplifying the operation of the
machine, increasing the user interactivity, and playing back
audio-visual content on a screen, these have never been
implemented on a Wide scale basis in the majority of vending
machines for dispensing beverages, candies or other items
In existing vending machine solutions that provide a
unit, other than the central processing unit of the DVD player.
Input devices connected to the central processing unit provide
a means for user input such as item selection. Output devices
connected to the central processing unit are used to display
audio-visual feedback to the customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
because of the high cost of integrating multimedia capabili
[0016] The present invention relates to cost-effective meth
ods and techniques for converting a traditional vending
ties into a vending machine. Vending machines in accordance
machine into a vending machine With a graphical user inter
With prior art that have no graphical user interface and mul
timedia capabilities are hereinafter referred to as traditional
face, multimedia advertising and info kiosk capabilities.
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention provide
vending machines.
methods and techniques for integrating a stand-alone con
sumer DVD player in a vending machine, in Which the graphi
[0009] There are vending machine solutions available on
the market according to prior art that come With multimedia
capabilities such as playing back audio-visual content. The
cal user interface is implemented as DVD Menu structures
stored on a DVD disc.
content from a remote location over a netWork connection.
[0018] In contrast to vending machine solutions in accor
dance With prior art, the graphical user interface in our inven
tion is NOT implemented by a computer program, set of
instruction code or similar running on a central processing
When these solutions provide additional multimedia features
next to the playback of audio-visual content, eg a graphical
user interface, and When interfacing With the vending
unit other than the DVD player (e. g. computer or similar)
[0019] Due to cost effectiveness of the proposed solution,
the huge park of existing traditional vending machines can be
machine is required, these solutions make use of a central
processing unit connected to a number of devices: a combi
converted from a beverage/candy/other item dispenser into a
media channel for effective local commercials.
nation of one or more input devices, and/or one or more
output devices, and/or one or more storage devices, and/or
[0020] A speci?c aspect of the technology described in this
invention, is the changed logic of a traditional vending
one or more interfacing devices.
machine to delay the dispense of the selected item until a
audio-visual content is stored on a storage medium that can be
read by a device present in the vending machine. In some
con?gurations the audio-visual content can be updated With