Abstract:
There is provided a system for remotely monitoring coin-operated machines. Data from the machines is collected and transmitted by the machine to a remote server. In alternate embodiments, several machines may be interconnected via a LAN to a local CPU which transmits data to the remote server, typically using the internet. The combination of one or more remote machines and the central monitoring site form a Virtual Private Network (VPN). An optional feature allows for e-mail or other type of alert messages to be sent from the remote server in response to the identification of one or more predetermined events for which a customer should immediately be notified. Browse and query tools working against a database of machine information are provided so that authorized customers or other interested parties may view data for individual or groups of coin-operated machines by means of a web page accessed via the internet.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is Continuation-in-Part Application claiming priority in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §1.78 from Provisional Applications, Serial Nos. 60/188,092, filed Mar. 9, 2000 and 60/202,148, filed May 5, 2000, 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to monitoring coin-operated machines, and, more specifically, to monitoring a number of coin-operated machines from a remote location via a computer network and/or the internet. 
     Owners/operators of coin-operated machines, typically vending machines and the like, are constantly plagued by the problem of providing adequate service to the machine, tracking the profitability of a machine or group of machines, determining the buying/usage habits of patrons of a particular machine, etc. By having up-to-date information about their machines, operators can optimize their service schedules and product offerings, detect problems or tampering attempts, detect machine malfunctions such as coin or bill jams, determine the quantities of products remaining and log purchases by date and time. The list of possibilities is seemingly endless, but the bottom line is that the operator, with current machine data, can probably keep his or her machines “on line” a high percentage of the time, thereby potentially maximizing profits. However, typically, vending or other coin-operated machines are visited on a periodic, routine basis by a service person who conducts an inventory of the products sold, replenishes the stock, checks the machines for malfunctions, and collects the deposited money. Because every machine will have a different history, some machines could have been devoid of product for a period of time before the scheduled visit by a service person while other machines may have been utilized only sporadically and need less frequent attention. In addition, malfunctions in the machine, such as coin or bill jams, create a loss of goodwill as well as revenue, and may increase the risk of vandalism to the machine by an angry customer. Ideally, the service frequency for each machine will occur just prior to the machine having vended all of its stock, regardless of the frequency of use. 
     With up-to-date information for each machine, malfunctions my be corrected sooner than if a route service person simply finds the problem on his next routine visit to the machine, possibly several days after the problem occurred. A service person could also be prepared with the correct amount of inventory with which to replenish the machine. High activity machines could receive the attention they deserve while low activity machine could receive less frequent attention. 
     In gaming (i.e., slot machines or the like) or arcade-type coin operated machines, change machines, coin laundry machines as well as other types of coin-operated machine, keeping the machines up and running is also important to maintain profitability and good will. 
     Having a system whereby a coin-operated machine operator can remotely determine the operating status, inventory level, etc., of one or more machines becomes highly desirable. The widespread availability of the internet has made this more practical than has heretofore been possible. In addition, a system which can, under certain predetermined circumstances, notify the operator via e-mail, fax, beeper, or the like of a problem demanding immediate attention would be highly attractive. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The problem of remotely monitoring vending or other coin operated machines is not new. To date, many solutions have been proposed. However, none of the solutions provided heretofore are seen to have the inherent advantages of the system of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,713 for INVENTORY, CASH, SECURITY, AND MAINTENANCE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A PLURALITY OF REMOTE VENDING MACHINES, issued Feb. 25, 1992, to Arthur H. Horne, et al., provides one such solution. HORNE, et al. equip a vending machine with several sensing systems to monitor inventory level, sense machine malfunctions and detect vandalism. Each machine is configured to communicate via a standard dial-up telephone connection. The HORNE, et al. apparatus also includes a credit card verification mechanism. Two-way voice communication is possible between a patron of the remote vending machine and a central monitoring site. Telephone communication is maintained constantly and personnel are required to be on duty in the central monitoring facility to interact with the machines or users thereof. 
     In contradistinction, the inventive system utilizes a highly automated central monitoring system. Both individual coin-operated machines and/or groups of coin-operated machines linked to one another and/or a group controller may contact the central monitoring site on an as needed basis (i.e., may dial in when there is data to be transmitted). In addition, the inventive system may be polled from a central computer and periodically transmit stored data to the central computer system upon command. The inventive system also includes a database system wherein data from individual and related groups of machines is analyzed and provided via a web page to authorized users. Authorized users may determine the status of any or all of their machines and may, in interactive mode, modify the data or even reprogram operation of the data collection system. Finally, the inventive system provides an alert sub-system whereby as certain predetermined events are reported by a machine, an e-mail message, a page, fax, or similar real-time alert may be sent to an appropriate person. If a response is not received from the notified person within a predetermined time, the alert may be repeated or the transmission mechanism may be switched. The alert function is particularly useful for machine events that involve malfunction or vandalism. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,070 for E-MAIL SYSTEM AND INTERFACE FOR EQUIPMENT MONITORING AND CONTROL, issued Dec. 14, 1999, to Robert H. Frantz, teaches a system wherein individual coin-operated machines may generate e-mail messages. Each e-mail message is specific to a particular event or condition in the individual machine. In addition, the FRANTZ system allows e-mail responses to be received by the coin-operated machines which translate the messages and perform an operation in response to a message. 
     The inventive system, on the other hand, utilizes e-mail messages as one potential alert vehicle. Unlike the FRANTZ system, the messages in the inventive system are generated by the central monitoring site in response to data representative of certain remote machine conditions or events. There is no communication to an individual machine by e-mail message in the inventive system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,548 for TELELINK MONITORING AND REPORTING SYSTEM, issued Aug. 23, 1988 to Louis A. Cedrone, et al., teaches another telephone-based reporting system. CEDRONE, et al., rely on a non-dedicated telephone connection whereby their microprocessor-based machines may periodically report stored status information to a remote site by use of built-in modems. 
     The inventive system is designed for retrofitting into existing mechanical and/or electronic coin-operated machines. While the inventive data collection unit may be utilized with a microprocessor-based coin-operated machine, it is also readily adapted for use in older, mechanical coin-operated machines by providing analog input for monitoring devices within the machine, such as triggers, switches, counters, etc. It may also have digital input ports for connection to digital or electrical signal lines in electronic and/or hybrid coin-operated machines. CEDRONE, et al. teach none of the sophistication of the central monitoring portion of the invention. No web page server is present whereby a customer&#39;s service person or other authorized person may access individual or group machine data via the internet from anywhere in the world where the internet may be accessed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,358 for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY MONITORING A PLURALITY OF COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEMS, issued Dec. 26, 2000, to Konstantin Othmer, et al., teaches a system for remotely monitoring the operation of computer-based systems connected to a central server. The system is particularly useful for monitoring the operation of a software product being debugged on a plurality of remote workstations (i.e., computers). The OTHMER, et al., system does include provisions for the automatic generation of e-mail messages by the central server as well as a bug tracking and customer service data base with browse and query tools available to manipulate the database. 
     Unlike the inventive system, there is no scaled alert system whereby fax, pager, telephone, etc. may be used as an alternative to e-mail or as ancillary method of communication in the event that a user does not make a timely response to an e-mail. Also, the browse and query tools are not available via web page to authorized users via the internet. The system does not directly apply to coin-operated machines, especially to remote groups of machines arranged on their own LANs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,694 for REPORTING UNIT, issued Aug. 25, 1992, to Brett A. Jackson, et al., teaches a method for optimized coverage for devices utilizing radio frequency (RF) signals for data communication and reporting. JACKSON, et al., teach the use of an RF link but are silent on any details concerning the generation of data within a coin-operated machine and do not teach any elements of the sophisticated central monitoring facility of the instant invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,401 for METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ACKNOWLEDGING A PAGING MESSAGE VIA A CELLULAR PHONE NETWORK CONTROL CHANNEL, issued Jun. 11, 1996, to Peter O. Roach, Jr., et al., teaches details of the use of the cellular phone network for data communication including acknowledgment routines. While the type of communication methodology taught by ROACH, Jr., et al., could be used for a data transmission element in the inventive system, there is no teaching of any of the many inventive concepts and elements of the central monitoring site present. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,981 for APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED VENDING MACHINE INVENTORY MAINTENANCE, issued Jan. 30, 2001, to Steve Varga, et al., teaches a system wherein a plurality of vending machines are linked to a central monitoring facility. Inventory and status information is transmitted from the machines or groups of machines to the central site via a telephone or radio modem link. Information analyzed at the central site allows dispatch of appropriate service personnel when a machine requires attention. 
     VARGA, et al., however, neither disclose nor suggest the sophisticated database server, the web server, or the alert server of the instant invention. Neither do VARGA, et al., teach a data collection unit suitable for inclusion in an existing coin-operated machine. The VARGA, et al., system is also limited strictly to vending machines unlike the system of the present invention which finds utility when used with any type of coin-operated machine. Finally, no data communication utilizing the internet is taught or suggested, nor is data encrypted. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, are, however, seen to anticipate or suggest the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system and method for remotely monitoring the operation and/or status of at least one coin-operated (e.g., vending) machine. Data from the coin-operated machine is collected and either transmitted by the individual machine to a remote server, or, in an alternate embodiment, data is collected by a local group controller (e.g., a PC or other CPU) which is connected to the coin-operated machines via a LAN or other similar network. Data from multiple machines is then transmitted to the remote server by the local group controller. Data transmission, whether from individual machines or groups of machines on a LAN is typically via the internet. The combination of one or more remote machines and the central monitoring site form a Virtual Private Network (VPN). An optional feature, operative with any embodiment of the inventive system, allows for e-mail or other type of alert messages to be sent from the central monitoring site in response to the identification of one or more predetermined events for which a customer should be immediately notified. A scalable alert scheme with escalating retransmission and alternate alert methods is provided. Browse and query tools working against a database of machine information are provided so that authorized customers or other interested parties may, via a web page accessed from the internet, view and possibly modify data for individual or groups of coin-operated machines. Finally, a web server is provided upon which the aforementioned web page is posted. The web page allows authorized customers or other authorized persons to browse and/or query the database from essentially anywhere in the world, via the internet. An optional interactive mode, whereby the user may actually modify the data or the query statements, may also be provided on the web page. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein predetermined events and/or conditions within a coin-operated machine are logged and data representative of these events or conditions is transmitted to a remote central monitoring site. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein individual coin-operated machines may communicate directly with a remote central monitoring site. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein multiple coin-operated machines are arranged on a local area network (LAN) with a CPU and wherein combined data for all machines on the LAN is communicated to a remote central monitoring site by the CPU. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein data communicated between the coin-operated machines and the central monitoring site is encrypted for transmission. 
     It is again an object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines which includes data collection units adapted for installation inside an existing coin-operated machine. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein the data collection units include both analog and digital data inputs which may be connected to existing triggers, switches and data signals within either mechanical and electronic coin-operated machines. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein data communication between the coin-operated machine and the central site is by means of the internet. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a remote monitoring system for one or more coin-operated machines wherein a database of machine information at a central site may be browsed or queried by authorized persons by a web page accessed through the internet for any location having internet access. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic, system block diagram of a first embodiment of the coin-operated machine monitoring system of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic, system block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the inventive system; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic, system block diagram of a portion of a third embodiment of the inventive system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to remotely monitoring one or more coin-operated machines using a computer network. Three embodiments of the inventive system are provided. In all embodiments a virtual private network (VPN) is created using the internet to allow transmission of machine data to a server at a central site. In the first embodiment, a data collection unit located within each coin-operated machine connects directly to the internet, typically using a dial-up connection, and establishes the VPN. In the second embodiment, a plurality of machines are locally networked. A group CPU or central data collection unit gathers data from individual coin-operated machines on the network and then connects to the internet, establishes the VPN, and transmits data for all machines to the server at the central site. In the third embodiment, a group controller/CPU is equipped with a data collection interface (e.g., a data input card having analog and/or digital data ports). Signals from each coin-operated machine are connected to the ports of the data input ports. This embodiment avoids the need for equipping each coin-operated machine with its own data collection unit. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a system schematic block diagram of the first embodiment, generally at reference number  100 . The overall system  100  typically includes at least one coin-operated machine  102  which needs to be monitored. Coin-operated machines  102  may be any coin, token, scrip, bill, card, or “Fastpass” operated machines. Typical examples of such machines are: arcade machines, gaming machines (e.g., slot machines, etc.), soda machines, clothes washers and dryers, cigarette machines, food vending machines, change machines, etc. The term “coin-operated machine” will be used herein to refer to any coin, token, bill, scrip, credit card, etc. operated machine. The specific type of coin-operated machine forms no part of the present invention, which may be used with any such machine. It should also be understood that the coin-operated machines  102  may be mechanical machines that have analog electrical devices (e.g., switches, counters, triggers) which can provide electrical signals in response to a condition or event within the coin-operated machine  102 . For example, in a soda vending machine there are typically lights or other indicators showing when stock of a particular brand or flavor of soda is exhausted, when correct change is required, as well as other similar conditions. These existing indicators, switch contacts, etc., present in the coin-operated machine are referred to as existing triggers. The system of the present invention can monitor any or all of these existing triggers so that the owner, operator, or other authorized interested party may monitor the status of the coin-operated machine  102  from a remote location. 
     In the alternative, coin-operated machine  102  may be an electronic or electrical device wherein signals (i.e., existing triggers) are provided directly from the machine&#39;s circuitry. Finally, it should be obvious that hybrid machines having a mixture of analog and electrical/electronic devices may be used with the monitoring system of the present invention. 
     A data collection unit  104 , typically located within coin-operated machine  102 , is provided to collect the required data from various components and subsystems of coin-operated machine  102 . Data collection unit  104  must typically be physically small enough to be mounted in an available space in the coin-operated machine  102 . Data collection unit  104  will typically use a microprocessor (not shown) and will include a memory device (not shown) for storing information about machine conditions and events until the information may be transmitted to a remote central monitoring site  112 . Data collection unit  104  typically contains multiple input ports (i.e., “sockets”) (not shown) adapted to interface with devices and/or signals in coin-operated machine  102 . These input ports may be either analog or digital ports, the number and type of ports being chosen to meet a particular operating environment or circumstance, each input port being operatively connected to an individual device or signal in machine  102 . Typical devices and/or conditions which may be monitored include: triggers or switches on the coin drop or bill validator doors, environmental sensors (e.g., temperature), product stock status, detected tampering, out of change, door open, coin/bill received, product dispensed, temperature changed, machine paid out, coin/bill jam, etc. It will be obvious that each class or type of coin-operated machine could have a unique set of conditions and/or events which could be monitored. The system of the present invention is capable of monitoring any mix of these conditions and/or events. 
     Data collection unit  104  also includes a communications interface (not shown) which allows transmission of data representative of these or similar conditions to a central monitoring site  112 . A wide variety of data transmission media (e.g., data communications buses, etc.) and formats may be used. Data collection unit  104  will typically be equipped with a modem (not shown) attached to a telephone circuit (not shown). Data transmission may be accomplished in a number of different ways. For example, data collection unit  104  may initiate a phone call to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) immediately upon receiving data about an event or a condition. In alternate embodiments, data collection unit  104  may store data and periodically initiate a phone call. In still other embodiments, data collection unit  104  may store data until polled (i.e., called) by the central monitoring site. 
     Data  106  typically consists of a unique machine identification code as well as time and date (time stamp) information in addition to substantive data representing a machine event or condition. The unique machine ID code may be preprogrammed into firmware within data collection unit  104 . 
     Typically, data encryption will be used to protect data  106  being transmitted by data collection unit  104  in machines  102 . Typically, encryption will be done by using keys (public and private). Each data collection unit  104  may have an encryption key within its firmware. Software at central site  112  is adapted to decrypt the data when it is received. Standard 128-bit or any other known encryption strategy may be used. Because two-way communication between central site  112  and coin-operated machines  102  is possible, a reverse key arrangement may also be provided. 
     In a typical example of operation, as a product is dispensed from coin-operated machine  102 , a trigger (typically an existing trigger) is actuated that sends a signal to data collection unit  104 . Depending upon the manner of implementation, data collection unit  104  may immediately transmit data, typically including a machine identification code and a time stamp to central site  112 . In the alternative, the data may be stored for later transmission, either initiated by data collection unit  104  or upon polling by central site  112 . Modalities wherein transmission is initiated by an event are typically called interrupt driven (i.e. “push”) modalities. Polling modalities wherein data communication is initiated at central site  112  are called “pull” modalities. 
     A central site  112 , typically located remotely from coin-operated machines  102 , is provided to receive data from coin-operated machines  102  via a data communications link  106 ,  108 ,  110 . In the embodiment chosen for purposes of disclosure, each individual coin-operated machine  102  provides output data  106 . A data interface, typically a telephone dial-up connection, is provided whereby each coin-operated machine  102  may establish communication with the internet  108  through a local ISP (not shown). Data  110 , representative of data from a plurality of coin-operated machines  102 , is received at central site  112 . Optionally, data  106  may be encrypted using any well known encryption strategy. 
     Central site  112  is provided with a plurality of modems (not shown) or another equivalent data receiving apparatus well known in the data communications arts. Sufficient reception channels must be provided to handle the data traffic. Actual data traffic loads will be dependant upon multiple factors including the number of coin-operated machines  102  potentially transmitting at a given time, individual message lengths and the overall traffic volume generated by the particular mix of coin-operated machines  102 . 
     A data repository server  114  is operatively connected to the modems (not shown) as well as to database server  116 . Data repository server  114  receives, decrypts (if necessary) and retains raw data from a plurality of remote coin-operated machines  102 . The raw data typically containins a machine ID, a time stamp, coin drop information, or other similar information from the remote coin-operated machines  102  as may have been preselected, for further processing and analysis. Data repository server  114  may be implemented on a computer platform typically using an operating system such as Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 2000, Unix or Linux. The choice of operating system forms no part of the instant invention and may be varied to meet a particular operating requirement or environment. 
     Database server  116  receives raw data from data repository server  114  and extracts, filters, processes and formats the individual data records from coin-operated machines  102 , ultimately storing the data records in their final form in a database  118  operatively connected to database server  116 . It is assumed that database server  116  is implemented using commercially available database software such as Interbase, Oracle, or other such software well known to those skilled in the art, on a computer platform utilizing a suitable operating system such as Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 2000, Unix, Linux, etc. The inventive system is not considered limited to the choice of either database or operating system software. 
     Central site  112  also includes a web server  120  which runs active queries on the data within database  118  and posts the results of the queries on a secure web page  122  for viewing by authorized individuals. Access to web page  122  is typically from a customer&#39;s personal computer (PC)  124  which is adapted for internet access in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Web page design and implementation are also well known to those skilled in the art. Web page  122  may be designed for either passive mode (i.e., the user can only view data) or active mode wherein the user may change filters, structure queries, or otherwise manipulate the data present on web page  122 . Ideally, web page  122  should be designed so that a user may view data for either individual coin-operated machines  102 , or for a plurality of coin-operated machines  102 . If required, encryption, as well as other access security measures, may be implemented to limit access to web page  122  thereby ensuring the confidentiality of the data present thereupon. Because the internet is used to connect a customer PC  124  to web server  120  and web page  122 , access is possible from anywhere in the world that internet access is available. The advent of small, hand-held mobile web access devices also allows a customer to be in substantially constant communication with one or more coin-operated machines  102  regardless of the customer&#39;s location. 
     Central site  112  also contains alert server  126  which is connected to and operates cooperatively with database server  116 . When predetermined conditions are identified by alert server  126 , a real-time message is sent to the customer or other interested party informing them of the condition. Alert server  126  can provide the alert in a number of ways such as e-mail, fax, telephone, pager, or the like. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 assumes an e-mail alert will be generated by alert server  126 . When a predetermined event occurs, for example, a coin-operated machine  102  runs out of a product, a trigger within machine  102  initiates transmission of a message to central site  112 . The message typically contains the machine ID, a time stamp, and a description of the event, in this case that the machine&#39;s product inventory is exhausted. The message is received by data repository server  114  at central site  112  and is then processed by data base server  116 . Because the product exhausted event fits a predetermined criteria for generating an alert, alert server  126  generates and sends an e-mail message to the customer&#39;s PC  124  informing them of the product exhausted status. This allows immediate action to be taken by the customer (or other interested party) to rectify the situation. Because the length of the alert e-mails is short, it is assumed that substantially immediate processing and transmission of the messages by alert server  126  is possible. Alert server  126  may be equipped with an appropriate number of individual modems (not shown) for connection to an internet e-mail service. In alternate embodiments, a high bandwidth connection such as DSL, cable modem, T1, or other such connection method well know to those skilled in the data communication arts could be utilized. 
     Alert server  126  utilizes a scalable alert structure wherein a multi-level response to an alert situation may be generated. In the embodiment chosen for purposes of disclosure, alert server  126  is programmed to expect a response from the e-mail recipient within a predetermined amount of time. If no response is received, alert server  126  may resend the e-mail alert, or send the alert information via a different medium such as pager or fax. It should be obvious that a wide variety of choices could be made depending upon unique operating environments and circumstances and that any arrangement of alert notification/acknowledgment strategies is deemed to be within the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic system block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the communications and monitoring system of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of coin-operated machines  102  is equipped with a data collection unit  104 . No data collection unit  104 , however, has a built-in modem but rather has a communications interface such as a network interface (not shown) adapted to communicate with a local CPU  126  via local area network (LAN)  128 . Communication between CPU  126  and coin-operated machines  102  may be by any of the data network topologies which are well known to those skilled in the art. The network speed requirement for LAN  128  is typically minimal unless there are large number of machines  102  present on the network. Ethernet would be one suitable choice because of its relatively low cost and widely available components. Either an interrupt-driven or a polled operation may be used to communicate data  106  from machines  102  to CPU  126  over LAN  128 . CPU  126  may store data for periodic, batch transmission to central site  112 . In other embodiments, CPU  126  may transmit data  106  from any connected coin-operated machines  102  as data  106  is received at CPU  126  or transmit stored data when polled by central site  112 . 
     The requirements for CPU  126  are dependent upon, among other factors, the number of machines  102  attached to LAN  128 . CPU  126  may range from a very simple, inexpensive personal computer with a simple LAN interface to a rather sophisticated system with advanced input/output (I/O) devices. CPU  126  may use any well-known operating systems such as Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 2000, UNIX or Linux. It is anticipated that a proprietary software program meeting the specific needs of the monitoring system will be used. The creation and operation of such software is well know to those skilled in the software development arts. It should be obvious that any program, whether off-the-shelf, custom developed, or modified, which can perform the necessary data collection, storage management functions and data transmission functions may be used with the system of the present invention. CPU  126  may, optionally, encrypt data being transmitted to central site  112 . 
     While, in the embodiments chosen for purposes of disclosure, data transmission between individual machines  102  and central site  112  or between CPU  126  and central site  112  are assumed to be performed over the internet, it should be obvious that many other data transmission systems could also be used. For example, private leased line, microwave, satellite, infrared, or laser communications links, RF subcarrier link, optical fibre links, etc. are a few of the possibilities. The present invention is not considered limited by the method chosen to transmit data from machines  102  and/or CPU  126  to central site  112 . 
     CPU  126  is adapted to access the internet via an ISP and send data  130  which represents a consolidation of individual data stream  106  from coin-operated machines  102 . Because each data stream  106  is uniquely identified, the data arriving at central site  112  is indistinguishable from individual data streams  106  as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . Operation of central site  112  in this embodiment is identical to the operation already described hereinabove with the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is particularly useful when there is a relatively large number of machines  102  in relatively close proximity to one another and where it would be both costly and is impractical to provide each of the machines  102  with an individual modem and telephone line to communicate with central site  112 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a schematic system diagram of a third embodiment of the inventive system. A plurality of coin-operated machines  102  are connected to a data collection interface  132  via cables  134 . In this embodiment, no data collection units  104  (FIGS. 1,  2 ) are installed in coin-operated machines  102 . Rather, individual signal lines connected to triggers, switches, etc. within the machines  102  are routed to data collection interface  132 . Data collection interface  132  is typically a multi-channel device having a mix of analog and digital input ports and, when required, digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Many devices suitable for this application are well known to those skilled in the data collection arts. These devices may be external to CPU  126  or may be packaged on plug-in cards located within CPU  126 . In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the individual data collection units  104  are eliminated and their functions performed centrally at CPU  126  in cooperation with data collection interface  132 . While the cost may be lower, the expense of running multiconductor cables may be greater than interconnecting machines  102  to CPU  126  via a LAN as is shown in the embodiment of FIG.  2 . The distance between machines  102  and data collection interface  132  may also need to be limited to minimize false signals caused by noise pickup along cables  134 . It will be obvious to those skilled in the data collection arts that the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be an inexpensive way to implement the inventive system in certain environments. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.