Patent Publication Number: US-2019180262-A1

Title: Transaction method and system for vending machine

Description:
The subject matter herein generally relates to systems and methods for processing commodity transaction information of vending machines. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A vending machine may automatically dispense items such as snacks, beverages, lottery tickets, and consumer products, after the customer inserts currency or a credit card to the machine. The vending machine may support one or more payment methods, but duplicate payments may occur if a user misoperates the machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an operating environment diagram of an embodiment of a vending machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a transaction system of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the transaction system of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an operating environment diagram including a vending machine  100  in accordance with an embodiment. The vending machine  100  may communicate with a server  200  through a wireless network such as a WIFI network, a GPRS network, or a 3G/4G network. The server  200  may manage and monitor a plurality of vending machines  100 . The server  200  may obtain operation information, transaction information, and inventory information of the vending machine  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the vending machine  100  may comprise at least one data storage  101 , at least one processor  102 , and a transaction system  103 . The transaction system  103  is configured to process commodity transaction information of the vending machine  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the transaction system  103  may comprise a plurality of modules, such as a transaction detecting module  10 , a control module  20 , a transaction verification module  30 , a display module  40 , and a commodity dispensing module  50 . The modules  10 - 50  may comprise one or more software programs in the form of computerized codes stored in the data storage  101 . The computerized codes may include instructions that can be executed by the processor  102  to provide functions for the modules  10 - 50 . 
     In one embodiment, the data storage  101  can be in the vending machine  100 , or can be a separate external memory card, such as an SM card (Smart Media Card), an SD card (Secure Digital Card), or the like. The data storage  101  can include various types of non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums. For example, the data storage  101  can be an internal storage system, such as a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read-only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The data storage  101  can also be an external storage system, such as a hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. The processor  102  can be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or other data processor chip that performs functions of the vending machine  100 . 
     The transaction detecting module  10  is configured to detect and determine whether the vending machine  100  receives a transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, the vending machine  100  may sell types of commodities. For example, the types of commodities can comprise drinks, snacks, electronic products, and daily necessities. The vending machine  100  may comprises a plurality of commodity selection keys  104  and each commodity selection key  104  corresponds to a type of commodity. When one of the commodity selection keys  104  is pressed, the transaction detecting module  10  determines that the vending machine  100  receives the transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, the vending machine  100  may comprise a touch screen  105 , a user may touch commodity icons of the touch screen  105  to select commodities. 
     In one embodiment, if an available number of a first type of commodity is zero, the commodity selection key  104  or the touch screen  105  cannot receive a purchase request of the first type of commodity. 
     The control module  20  is configured to obtain commodity information in response to the vending machine  100  receiving a transaction request. A payment method that is selected in a payment selection interface of the machine  100  is further obtained by the control module  20  and other payment methods are forbidden. 
     In one embodiment, the commodity information may comprise commodity names, commodity prices, and goods channel information. 
     In one embodiment, the payment selection interface can be displayed in the touch screen  105 , the payment selection interface may comprise a plurality of payment methods. When the transaction detecting module  10  determines that the vending machine  100  has received the transaction request, the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display the payment selection interface. 
     In one embodiment, the plurality of payment methods may comprise a card payment method, a scan payment method, and a cash payment method. The card payment method may comprise at least one of bank card pay, city smart card pay (public traffic card), and work card pay. The scan payment method may comprise one or more of Wechat pay, Alipay, and Apple pay. The cash payment method may comprise at least one of coin pay and paper currency pay. When the control module  20  receives a first payment method selected by the user, the control module  20  forbids other payment methods. For example, if the card payment method is selected by the user, the control module  20  forbids the scan payment method and the cash payment method. If the transaction request is not closed, the user can reselect a payment method through the payment selection interface. 
     In one embodiment, if the card payment method is selected, the control module  20  activates a card reader (not shown) and can control a loudspeaker (not shown) to output a first audible instruction of “please swipe card”, which can also be displayed on the touch screen  105 . If the scan payment method is selected, the display module  40  may control the touch screen  105  to display QR codes for payment. The control module  20  may control the loudspeaker to output a second audible instruction of “please scan code”, which can also be displayed on the touch screen  105 . If the cash payment method is selected, the control module  20  may control the loudspeaker to output a third audible instruction of “please insert cash”, which can also be displayed on the touch screen  105 . 
     The transaction verification module  30  can determine whether a payment of the transaction request is successful. 
     In one embodiment, when the card payment method is selected, the transaction verification module  30  verifies whether the card payment of the transaction request is successful during a first predetermined time period. The first predetermined time period is started when the touch screen  105  displays or the loudspeaker provides the instruction of “please swipe card”. For example, the first predetermined time period can be set as 20 seconds. During the first predetermined time period, if the card payment of the transaction request is unsuccessful, the user can swipe card again. After the first predetermined time period, if the card payment of the transaction request is still unsuccessful, the transaction verification module  30  can determine that the card payment method is failed, and the display module  40  can control the touch screen  105  to display a first transaction failed information. The vending machine  100  can reenter the sale mode to receive a new transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, the first transaction failed information may be “invalid card”, “no available credit/credit limit reached”, or “deduction failed”. 
     During the first predetermined time period, if the card payment of the transaction request is successful, the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display a first payment information. The first payment information may comprise commodity name, sale price and balance information. For example, if the card payment of the transaction request is the bank card, the touch screen  105  displays the commodity name and the sale price. If the card payment of the transaction request is the city card or the timecard, the touch screen  105  displays the commodity name, the sale price and the balance information. 
     In one embodiment, when the scan payment method is selected, the transaction verification module  30  verifies whether the scan payment of the transaction request is successful during a second predetermined time period. The second predetermined time period can start when the touch screen  105  displays or the loudspeaker outputs the second audible instruction of “please scan code”. For example, the second predetermined time period can be set as 60 seconds. During the second predetermined time period, if the scan payment of the transaction request is unsuccessful, the user can scan code again. After the second predetermined time period, if the scan payment of the transaction request is still unsuccessful, the transaction verification module  30  can determine that the scan payment of the transaction request is unsuccessful, and the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display a second transaction failed information. The vending machine  100  can reenter the sale mode to receive a new transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, the second transaction failed information may be “network malfunction/network anomaly” or “deduction failed”. 
     During the second predetermined time period, if the scan payment of the transaction request is successful, the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display a second payment information. The second payment information may comprise commodity name and consumption amount information. 
     In one embodiment, when the cash payment method is selected, the display module  40  can control the touch screen  105  to display a current total cash amount. The transaction verification module  30  can determine whether the cash payment of the transaction request is successful during a third predetermined time period. The third predetermined time period can start when the touch screen  105  displays or the loudspeaker outputs the third audible instruction of “please insert cash”. For example, the third predetermined time period can be set as 60 seconds. During the third predetermined time period, if the cash payment of the transaction request is unsuccessful, the user can insert cash again. After the third predetermined time period, if the cash payment of the transaction request is still unsuccessful, the transaction verification module  30  can determine that the cash payment of the transaction request is unsuccessful, and the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display a third transaction failed information. The vending machine  100  refunds any cash inserted and can reenter the sale mode to receive a new transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, the third transaction failed information may comprise: “insufficient cash inserted”, “unable to give change”, or “invalid cash. 
     During the third predetermined time period, if the cash payment of the transaction request is successful, the vending machine  100  can give out change, and the display module  40  can control the touch screen  105  to display a third payment information. The third payment information may comprise commodity name, sale price, and amount of change. 
     In one embodiment, the user can insert cash before sending a transaction request to the vending machine  100 . The touch screen  105  may comprise a return key icon, and if the payment of the transaction is not made, the user can reselect a commodity for purchasing. 
     When the payment of the transaction request is successful, the commodity dispensing module  50  controls the vending machine  100  to dispense commodities according to the commodity information of the transaction request. 
     In one embodiment, when the payment of the transaction request is successful, the commodity dispensing module  50  dispenses one or more commodities. 
     In one embodiment, the commodity dispensing module  50  is further configured to determine whether the dispensing of a commodity by the vending machine  100  is successful after successful payment. If the vending machine  100  dispenses the commodity successfully, the control module  20  records and stores transaction information. If the dispensing of a commodity is unsuccessful, the control module  20  returns deducted amount through the original payment path, and the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to display refund information. The refund information may be “delivery failed, please wait for refund, if refund failed, please contact customer service”. 
     For example, when the transaction request is paid by WeChat, the control module  20  can return the deducted amount through the WeChat. When the transaction request is paid by cash, the control module  20  can return the inserted amount through a cash return device of the vending machine  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the vending machine  100  may comprise (not shown) an infrared ray detection module or an ultrasonic wave detection module. The commodity dispensing module  50  can communicate with the infrared ray detection module to detect a commodity be delivered to an output position, etc., to determine whether a dispensing of a commodity by the vending machine  100  is successful. 
     In one embodiment, when the dispensing of a commodity is successful, the current transaction request is closed. When the transaction detecting module  10  determines that a new transaction request is received, the control module  20  controls the vending machine  100  to enter the sale mode and repeal payment methods previously forbidden. Until the transaction detecting module  10  determines that a new transaction request is received, the control module  20  controls the vending machine  100  to enter a self-inspection mode. 
     In one embodiment, when the vending machine  100  enters the self-inspection mode, the vending machine  100  can detect and determine whether each function module is operating normally. The vending machine  100  can reenter the sale mode after each function module is determined to be operating normally. When one or more function modules are determined to be operating abnormally, the vending machine  100  can enter and show an abnormal mode and suspend trading. 
     In one embodiment, when the vending machine  100  does not detect a trigger event during a predetermined time period, the control module  20  can control the vending machine  100  to enter an advertising mode. When the vending machine  100  is in the advertising mode, the touch screen  105  is configured to display advertisements. When the vending machine  100  detects a trigger event, the control module  20  controls the vending machine  100  to enter the sale mode. 
     In one embodiment, the trigger event may comprise detecting an object approaching the vending machine  100 , detecting a pressing of the commodity selection key  104  of the vending machine  100 , detecting the touch screen  105  of the vending machine  100  being touched, or detecting the insertion of cash. The predetermined time period may be set as 120 seconds. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the transaction system  103   a  comprises the transaction detecting module  10 , the control module  20 , the transaction verification module  30 , the display module  40 , the commodity dispensing module  50 , and a comparison module  60 . The comparison module  60  can determine a change in commodity amounts. When the comparison module  60  determines that a commodity amount is changed, the control module  20  can update an inventory information of a goods channel. 
     For example, a camera (not shown) may be set inside of the vending machine  100 . A first image of inventory information of the vending machine  100  is captured in a first time period t 1  and a second image of the inventory information of the vending machine  100  is captured in a second time period t 2 . The comparison module  60  may compare the first image with the second image to determine whether a change in commodity amounts. A time period difference between the first time period t 1  and the second time period t 2  is less than a time period t 3 . The time period t 3  can be  20  seconds or 30 seconds. 
     In one embodiment, the first time period t 1  may be a first transaction time period of the vending machine  100 , and the second time period t 2  may be a time period of a next transaction of the vending machine  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the control module  20  may update the inventory information of the vending machine  100  according to the stored transaction information and a total inventory. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a method of the vending machine  100 . The flowchart presents an embodiment of the method. The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the example method. Each step shown in  FIG. 5  may represent one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the example method. Furthermore, the illustrated order of steps is illustrative only and the order of the steps may change. Additional steps may be added or fewer steps may be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The example method may begin at step  500 . 
     In step  500 , the transaction detecting module  10  determines whether the vending machine  100  receives a transaction request. 
     In step  502 , the control module  20  obtains commodity information in response to the vending machine  100  receiving the transaction request. 
     In step  504 , the control module  20  obtains a payment method that is selected in a payment selection interface and forbids other payment methods. The payment selection interface comprises a plurality of payment methods. 
     In step  506 , the transaction verification module  30  verifies whether a payment of the transaction request is successful. 
     In step  508 , the commodity dispensing module  50  controls the vending machine  100  to dispense one or more commodities according to the commodity information of the transaction request in response to the payment of the transaction request being successful. 
     In step  510 , the display module  40  controls the touch screen  105  to output transaction failure information in response to the payment of the transaction request being unsuccessful. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.