Patent ID: 8827063

Claim:
A method of sharing a cash handler between a plurality of transit vending machines, the method comprising: sending, with a communication interface of the cash handler, a first status of the cash handler to the plurality of transit vending machines, wherein the first status is indicative of an availability of the cash handler to conduct a transaction; receiving, with the communication interface, a request from a first transit vending machine of the plurality of transit vending machines for the cash handler to conduct a first transaction; sending, with the communication interface, information to the first transit vending machine to proceed with the first transaction; sending, with the communication interface, a second status of the cash handler to at least a second transit vending machine of the plurality of transit vending machines, wherein the second status is indicative of an unavailability of the cash handler to conduct a transaction; receiving cash in the form of either or both coins or notes as part of the first transaction; sending with the communication interface, transaction information regarding the first transaction to the first transit vending machine; and storing information regarding the first transaction.