Patent ID: 11966898
Assignee: PAYRANGE INC.
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A method of determining electric pulses to provide to an unattended machine based on remotely-configured options for the unattended machine, the method comprising:
at an application executing on a mobile device:
identifying the unattended machine based at least in part on an identifier corresponding to the unattended machine, wherein the unattended machine is a payment operated machine that accepts payment for dispensing of products and/or services, and wherein the unattended machine includes a control unit and a pulse-providing device electrically coupled to the control unit;
after identifying the unattended machine, receiving, from a server, a first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine;
in response to receiving the first set of remotely-configured options, displaying, in the application, user interface objects that allow for selection of respective options in the first set of remotely-configured options;
detecting a selection of a first user interface object that corresponds to a first option in the first set of remotely-configured options;
after detecting the selection of the first user interface object, receiving, from the server, pulse information specifying a count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses to be provided to the control unit of the unattended machine by the pulse-providing device in accordance with the first option; and
sending the pulse information to the pulse-providing device; and

at the pulse-providing device:
receiving the pulse information;
determining based on the received pulse information a signal sequence of electrical pulses to output to the control unit of the unattended machine in order to initiate a cashless operation of the unattended machine, wherein the signal sequence of electrical pulses emulates an analog signal generated by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine, and wherein the signal sequence is characterized by the count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses specified by the pulse information; and
causing the unattended machine to initiate the cashless operation by issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit.