EP1805730A1

EP1805730A1 - Communication control unit and communication system for a vending machine

Info

Publication number: EP1805730A1
Application number: EP05783361A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Csaba RÁKOSY; Péter VIZEL
Original assignee: D3D Media Kft
Current assignee: D3D Media Kft
Priority date: 2004-08-27
Filing date: 2005-08-26
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: RU2007110903A; AU2005276252A1; CN101069219A; WO2006021825A1; HUP0401765A2; HU0401765D0

Abstract

A communication control unit (20) for a vending machine, the vending machine comprising a central controller, at least one peripheral element (12, 32) and means capable of receiving external instructions, wherein the communication control unit (20) is connected to these components. The communication control unit (20) is capable of connecting alternately the at least one peripheral element (12, 32) or a virtual peripheral element (12V, 32V) simulating the peripheral element (12, 32) to the central controller, wherein the communication control unit (20) is at least partially controlled externally. The invention also relates to a vending machine comprising the communication control unit (20) and a communication system based on these vending machines. The invention can be preferably used with Coca-Cola VENDO machines. In preferred embodiments, safe wireless communication is used and digital content can be generated in an interactive way.

Description

COMMUNICATION CONTROL UNIT AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR A

VENDING MACHINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The. invention relates to a communication control unit for a vending machine, the vending machine comprising a central controller, at least one peripheral element and means capable of receiving external instructions, wherein the communication control unit is connected to these components. The invention also relates to a vending machine comprising the communication control unit and to a communication system based on such vending machines. As an example, the invention can be used advantageously in Coca-Cola VENDO machines. In especially advantageous embodiments of the invention, a safe wireless (GPRS, EDGE or UMTS) communication is used, and furthermore, by means of a camera built into the vending machine, generating of interactive content for customers is possible.

BACKGROUND ART

There are several prior art systems for monitoring and logistically handling existing vending machines, for example beverage vending machines, through a telecommunication network. Such an approach is disclosed for example in US 6 505 095 B1. According to this known system, a traditional vending machine is fitted with a universal control unit, which is capable of handling for example the following non-traditional peripherals fitted into the vending machine: display, keyboard, network interface, printer and a modem enabling communication over a telecommunication network. The disadvantage of this known system is that it includes costly components, and it is not suitable for additionally installing into already operating, conventional beverage vending machines, without the need to replace the conventional central controller and peripheral elements therein. Accordingly, the installation of this known system is very expensive, and it is not suitable for a cost efficient integration of existing vending machines into a telemetric and logistic network.

A controller similar to the control unit above is disclosed furthermore in US 5 959 869. This known approach has the same disadvantages as outlined above.

Furthermore, a number of systems for particular aspects have been disclosed within the technical field of the invention. As an example, systems already exist for implementing telemetric data handling and logistic management of vending machines. Such systems are described for example in US 5 091 713, US 5 794 144, US 5 930 771 , US 6 038 491 , US 2002/0128932 A1, US 2003/0074106 A1 and WO 02/25602 Al

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a communication control unit for a vending machine, which unit enables enhancing at a low cost and in a flexible way the functionality of conventional vending machines, while being advantageously suitable for being additionally fitted into existing vending machines, and furthermore, which can be installed at a low cost and universally.

Accordingly, as a first aspect, the invention is a communication control unit for a vending machine, the vending machine comprising a central controller, at least one peripheral element and means capable of receiving external instructions, wherein the communication control unit is connected to the central controller, to the at least one peripheral element and to the means capable of receiving external instructions. The inventive communication control unit is characterized by being adapted to provide a connection between the central controller and the at least one peripheral element, and being capable of connecting alternately the at least one peripheral element or a virtual peripheral element simulating the peripheral element to the central controller, wherein the communication control unit is at least partially controlled externally. Connecting virtual peripheral elements instead of traditional peripheral elements in this way to the central controller entails the advantage that instead of selling the products inflexibly, generally on a mechanical basis and definitely in accordance with on-site price adjustments, products can be sold flexibly in line with market requirements, and in fact even on the basis of the customer's choices and instructions. This is because the delivering of goods after inserting a pre-specified number of coins can be replaced - by means of using a virtual peripheral feedback - by an arbitrarily adjustable money input or even by a payment through a mobile phone or with Internet or electronic money. By means of the virtual peripheral elements, the central controller is practically 'misguided¹. By means of the so implemented flexible pricing, price discounts, provisional price reductions and other advertising campaigns actuated through a telecommunication network can be established, without having to readjust one by one the already installed and operating vending machines. All this is implemented by the communication control unit according to the invention in a way that it makes full use of the functionality already existing in conventional vending machines; without making their replacement necessary, and therefore the application of the invention is extremely cost efficient.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a telecommunication unit enabling communication on a telecommunication network and/or an input unit capable of receiving instructions of customers is used as the means capable of receiving external instructions, and the communication control unit connected to these is controlled at least partially by means of instructions received via the telecommunication unit and/or the input unit. Preferably, the central controller is a VMC unit known per se, and the peripheral elements comprise a pushbutton panel and a cash-flow unit.

For flexible pricing purposes, it is of preference if the communication control unit comprises a programmable switch network for alternately interconnecting the pushbutton panel or a virtual pushbutton operating unit with the VMC unit, and a further programmable switch network for alternately interconnecting the cash-flow unit or a virtual cash-flow unit with the VMC unit.

The communication control unit is preferably connected to the telecommunication unit and to the input unit via a computerized unit, e.g. a computer.

According to a second aspect, the invention is a vending machine having a central controller, peripheral elements and means capable of receiving external instructions, which vending machine comprises an inventive communication control unit.

According to a further aspect, the invention is a communication system for vending machines, the system comprising a system operating center, a telecommunication service provider being in communication connection with the system operating center, and vending machines being in communication connection with the telecommunication service provider over a telecommunication network, said vending machines comprising a central controller, peripheral elements and a telecommunication unit enabling communication on the telecommunication network. The communication system is characterized in that the vending machines comprise a communication control unit according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will hereinafter be described on the basis of preferred embodiments depicted by the drawings, where

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vending machine with a communication control unit according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a communication control unit according to the invention, with some conventional elements of the vending machine,

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a communication system implemented with the communication control unit according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of the program running on the computer of the vending machine shown in Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 5 depicts elements of the page displayed on the screen of the vending machine by means of the program as per Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 shows an info window displayed by the program,

Fig. 7 shows a page appearing in a START state of the program,

Figs. 8A and 8B show pages appearing in a BASE state of the program,

Fig. 9 shows a page appearing in a PLUS state of the program,

Fig. 10 shows a page appearing in an EXTRA state of the program,

Fig. 11 shows a page appearing in a PAYMOBILE state of the program,

Fig. 12 shows a page appearing in a THANKS state of the program,

Fig. 13 shows a page appearing in a REGISTER state of the program,

Fig. 14 shows a page appearing in a LOGIN state of the program,

Fig. 15 shows a page appearing in a SELECT state of the program,

Fig. 16 shows a page appearing in a SHOW state of the program,

Fig. 17 shows a page appearing in a CONFIRM state of the program, and

Fig. 18 shows a page appearing in a DONE state of the program.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The vending machine 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises usual traditional elements, for example a coin slot 11 , a pushbutton panel 12, a coin exit opening 13, a product delivery opening 14 and a VMC (vending machine controller) unit 15 known per se. These conventional elements are equipped with interfaces and connectors suitable for interconnection according to standards used in the field of vending machines. Such an interconnection standard and protocol used as an example is the MDB (multi-drop-bus) protocol, but of course other data transmission systems may also be used, for example the DEX (data exchange interface) standard. The preferred embodiment of the invention described below as an example uses - but is not limited to - the MDB protocol.

According to the MDB protocol, the VMC unit 15 of the system plays the role of a master, while the connected peripheral elements, for example the pushbutton panel 12 or the cash-flow unit 32 not shown in Fig. 1 , play the role of slaves. In prior art systems, the primary aim was to create a new VMC unit having an enhanced functionality in comparison with the conventional ones, in addition to being appropriate for managing the tasks outlined in the introduction. We have found that this approach would make the conversion of already installed and operating vending machines extremely costly. Consequently, we had to find a way to change as little as possible the operation of conventional vending machine elements, while making full use of their functionality.

According to our invention, therefore, we do not replace the VMC unit 15 of the vending machine 10 by a new controller, but insert a special communication control unit 20 between the VMC unit 15 being the central controller and the peripheral elements. The communication control unit 20 operates as a slave towards the VMC unit 15 and as a master towards the peripheral elements, in a way that the elements of the vending machine 10 do not notice its presence. The latter is important in order to ensure programmable and flexible operation. On the basis of external instructions, the VMC unit 15 is connected to a conventional peripheral element or a corresponding virtual peripheral element, which simulates in a programmable way the conventional peripheral element. Consequently, according to the invention, the operation of the communication control unit 20 is at least partly controlled on the basis of external instructions.

The vending machine 10 described as an example also has in addition to the parts above a telecommunication unit 21 enabling communication on a telecommunication network. The telecommunication unit 21 preferably has a computer unit or computer 22, a camera 23, an input unit 26 connected to the computer 22, and furthermore a HSS (hypersonic sound) panel 24 known per se and a speaker 25. It is noted that instead of the computer 22, a special micro¬ controller unit designed for the given task may also be used in the vending machine 10.

Computer 22 controls the input unit 26, which is a touch screen in the depicted preferred embodiment. By means of the touch screen, the customer is able to enter the choices and the instructions necessary for the transaction, in a way described below.

The telecommunication unit 21 in the vending machine 10 is e.g. a GPRS modem enabling communication over a mobile telephone network, and this modem is connected to the computer 22. It is noted that in case the computer 22 is omitted, the telecommunication unit 21 may also be connected to the communication control unit 20. Of curse, alternatively, a different type of telecommunication may also be applied, for example a line-based or a computer network communication.

The above described telecommunication unit 21 and input unit 26 are to be considered as means capable of receiving external instructions, in accordance with the invention. On the telecommunication unit 21 , preferably the system operating center of the vending machine 10 issues instructions, while the input unit 26 primarily receives the customers' instructions. In addition, of course other appropriate means may also be applied to transfer to the vending machine 10 instructions defining the operations of the communication control unit 20.

The camera 23 arranged in the vending machine 10 can be used for example by the customer to edit - using his/her own digital photo - an electronic picture postcard, e.g. an MMS message, and to send this to a telephone number or e-mail address defined by means of the vending machine.

The speaker 25 serves for emitting the conventional sound signals of the vending machine, as well as the sounds of the audiovisual materials displayed on the input unit 26 being a touch screen. The HSS panel 24 known perse emits the sound in a predetermined narrow directional range, and therefore it is able to transfer a sound message to a potential customer walking by the vending machine 10, without increasing the noise in the environment or bothering a customer who is in the process of conducting a transaction. The activation of the HSS panel 24 can be preferably carried out by means of a motion detector known per se (not shown). The motion detector in the given case may also be used for counting the persons walking by the vending machine 10, and in this way it becomes possible to obtain a so-called media contact figure.

Furthermore, the vending machine 10 may also include a printer 27 controlled by the computer 22. For example, this printer can be applied for the printing of invoices or promotion coupons.

Further parts of the vending machine 10 disclosed as an example could be a biosensor 28 enabling the identification of a person and a display unit 29, preferably an LCD display, which serves for displaying the state of the vending machine.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a preferred communication control unit 20 according to the invention, with some traditional elements of the vending machine 10. The communication between the elements of the communication control unit 20 is established by means of an I²C bus 30 known per se, which makes sure that other elements supporting this industrial standard can be connected to the communication control unit 20.

As already mentioned above, the principal function of the communication control unit 20 is controlling/modifying the normal operations process of e.g. the MDB- based control system used in vending machines, and hence it also becomes possible to control the vending machines 10 by external means, in addition to collecting information about the operations processes.

Therefore, in a way shown in Fig. 2, the communication control unit 20 comprises a switch network 35 which connects in a programmable way the VMC unit 15 with the pushbutton panel 12 or the virtual pushbutton operating unit 12V. The initial position in the 'on' state of the vending machine 10 is the switch state 1 shown in the figure, when the pushbutton panel 12 is connected to the VMC unit 15. In this case the vending machine operates in the original conventional way. The switch network 35 is preferably designed as an intelligent relay network, and it is controlled via the I²C bus 30. A switch network 31 similar to the one described above serves for connecting the VMC unit 15 in a programmable way by a so-called cash-flow unit 32 or a virtual cash-flow unit 32V. In switch state 1 corresponding to the initial 'on' switch state, the cash-flow unit 32 is connected to the VMC unit 15. In this state the communication between the VMC unit 15 and the cash-flow unit 32 is carried out in accordance with the conventional MDB protocol.

The central unit of the communication control unit 20 is a microprocessor unit 37 shown in the figure, and it performs its control functions via the I²C bus 30, and to which an I²C channel 38 suitable for connecting other communication and control units and an RS232 channel 39 may be connected.

The communication control unit 20 is connected by means of an I²C/USB interface 36 to an USB port 22U of the computer 22 shown in Fig. 1. In the depicted embodiment, the communication control unit 20 controls the communication between the VMC unit 15 and the peripheral elements on the basis of instructions received from the computer 22. As already explained above, these instructions may be fed into the computer 22 for example via the telecommunication network through the telecommunication unit 21 , and/or via e.g. a touch screen as the input unit 26, and from the computer 22 in an appropriate way via the I²CVUSB interface 36 to the communication control unit 20. The operation of the communication control unit 20 is of course not necessarily subject to the external instructions only, but it may also be the function of signals and messages received from other parts of the vending machine 10.

Consequently, the switch networks 31 , 35 are operated on the basis of the instructions so received. When receiving a switchover instruction, the normal operations process is interrupted and a switch state 2 shown in Fig. 2 becomes available. In this state, instead of the cash-flow unit 32, the virtual cash-flow unit 32V is connected via an optocoupler 33 to the VMC unit 15 and the cash-flow unit 32 is connected also via the optocoupler 33 and the MDB/I²C .interface 34 to the I²C bus 30. At the same time, in the switch state 2, the virtual pushbutton operating unit 12V is connected to the VMC unit 15 instead of the pushbutton panel 12. Connecting virtual peripheral elements instead of traditional peripheral elements in this manner to the central controller entails the advantage that instead of selling the products inflexibly, generally on a mechanical basis and definitely in accordance with on-site price adjustments, ^products can be sold flexibly in line with market requirements, and in fact even on the basis of the customer's choices and instructions. This is because the delivering of goods after inserting a pre-specified number of coins can be replaced - through the application of virtual peripheral feedbacks - by an optionally adjustable money input or even by payment via a mobile phone or with Internet or electronic money. By means of the virtual peripheral elements, the VMC unit 15 is practically 'misguided'. By means of the flexible pricing so implemented, price discounts, provisional price reductions and other advertising campaigns actuated through a telecommunication network can be introduced, without having to readjust one by one the already installed and operating vending machines. All this is implemented by the communication control unit 20 according to the invention in a way that it makes full use of the functionality already existing in conventional vending machines; without making their replacement necessary, and therefore the application of the invention is extremely cost efficient. The virtual pushbutton operating unit 12V and the virtual cash-flow unit 32V as the virtual peripheral elements 12V, 32V are preferably implemented as hardware and/or software modules in the communication control unit 20. If necessary, of course other peripheral elements of the vending machine 10 may also be alternately replaced by connectable virtual units.

The communication control unit 20 shown as an example in Fig. 2 also comprises a watchdog unit 40, connected to a reset input 41 of the computer 22. If the watchdog unit 40 notices an error in the operation of the system, it supplies a reset signal known perse to the computer 22, and switches back the switch networks 31 and 35 to the switch status 1.

A further depicted sub-unit 42 of the communication control unit 20 comprises for example eight channels reserved for error-handling. These channels assist servicing work by a LED display. Furthermore, an external unit 43 is connected to the I²C bus 30, which external unit comprises for example twenty-four channels for error-signaling. The signals of these channels are preferably processed by the computer 22.

The vending machines 10 having the communication control unit 20 can be integrated into a communication system shown in Fig. 3. The depicted system comprises a system operating center 50, which handles the central programming, adjustment, data management, monitoring and logistic tasks in association with the vending machines 10 used in the system. These tasks are carried out by the system operating center 50 preferably through its workstations 51 in an engineering center 59. The workstations 51 communicate with a database server 53 through a firewall 52. The task of the database server 53 is the handling and storage of data obtained from and sent to the vending machines 10, which are adjusted by the system operating center. The system operating center 50 further comprises an MMS server 54 known per se. The task of the MMS server 54 is managing data handling in relation to the transfer of digital products to be described later.

The system operating center 50 is connected directly - preferably via a leased line 58 - to a mobile network service provider 56. The mobile network service provider 56, which is preferably a GSM service provider, communicates in the depicted way over the telecommunication network, for example through a VPN (virtual private network) 55 implemented in the depicted way on the basis of a GSM network, with the vending machines 10. The vending machines 10 preferably communicate via a GPRS link 57 with the mobile network service provider 56. The application of the VPN 55 is advantageous, because - contrary to the Internet-based systems applied so far - it enables extremely safe communication.

As described later on, by the application of the system according to the invention, it becomes possible to download various digital products, for example MMS, MP3, ringing tones, etc. to a mobile phone or e-mail address, which digital product is obtained by the customer preferably as a bonus related to the purchase. Most of these digital products are stored according to the invention by the system operating center 50 and not in the vending machine 10, for example on the MMS server 54. Therefore, in order to download the digital product, it is not necessary to transfer the full digital file between the vending machines 10 and the mobile network service provider 56, but it is sufficient to transfer the identifier of the digital product. When identifying the digital product, the mobile network service provider 56 requests via the leased line 58 the digital product from the server 53 or 54 of the system operating center 50, supplying it directly to the telephone or e-mail address corresponding to the mobile telephone number given by the customer.

Of course, by using the communication system shown in Fig. 3, not only the transfer of digital products, but also the electronic control, adjustment , checking, updating and telemetry of the vending machines 10 can be implemented. Thereby, the existing system consisting of individual vending machines becomes a coherent, centrally controlled and checked network, which offers the following advantages for the system operating center:

- By means of the communication system, it becomes possible to supply telemetric data on a real time basis. This is because through the communication control unit 20 fitted into the vending machines 10, measuring data can be collected any time as required, and they can be transferred on a real time basis. The advantage of this system is that the system operating center 50 immediately receives information on an eventual error, and therefore, any lost business caused by the error can be minimized.

- Logistic data supply and safety control in relation to the vending machines 10 become possible. By means of the communication system according to the invention, the quantity of goods available in each vending machine can be continuously determined. Therefore, the refilling of the vending machines can be optimally organized and lost business due to products running out in the vending machines can be reduced. By accurately tracking the selling, any abuses with the refilling of the vending machines can be eliminated, and in the case of a shortage the reason thereof can be determined.

- The system enables communication with the customer. As a result of its interactivity, the communication system according to the invention allows turning the vending machines 10 into media with multimedia functions, and the updating of content is provided centrally on an on-line basis. Therefore, it becomes possible to deliver specific advertising messages corresponding to relevant customer target groups in an accurately measurable and documented form.

Fig. 4 shows as an example a flow diagram of a program running on the computer 22 of the vending machine 10. Figs. 5 to 18 depict the pages displayed on the input unit 26 implemented as a touch screen in accordance with the program states shown in Fig. 4.

Basically, the program is in SCREENSAVER state 60. From this state, as a result of customer activity, the program is switched to START state 61. The structure of a page shown as an example and displayed in the START state 61 is shown in Fig. 5. The page comprises a background 80, a ribbon menu 81 and a language selector pushbutton 82. It is advisable to limit the length of time a customer can spend with the vending machine. Therefore, on the page, the remaining and still available time is shown by a time indicator 83. The ribbon menu 81 comprises a PURCHASE pushbutton 84, by the activation of which the program switches from any state to the START state 61. The ribbon menu 81 also comprises a MOBILE PAYMENT pushbutton 85, which takes the program to the PAYMOBILE state 65 to be described later, an INFORMATION pushbutton 86, which displays the info page 88 shown in Fig. 6, and a PROMOTION pushbutton 87, which serves for providing information in relation to the promotion sent centrally to the vending machine 10.

The display page of the START state 61 shown in Fig. 7 comprises a display 90 in the shape of a bottle, which - in the beverage vending machine application shown as an example - depicts a bottle gradually filled up proportionally with the amount dropped into the slot. The program is taken to the BASE state 62 by the BASE pushbutton 92 shown on the page, into PLUS state 63 by the PLUS pushbutton 93 and to the EXTRA state 64 by the EXTRA pushbutton 94. The EXTRAINFO pushbutton 95 serves for showing information about the purchase available in the EXTRA state 64 and the PLUSINFO pushbutton 96 serves for showing information about the purchase which can be implemented in the PLUS state 63. The page shown in Fig. 8A corresponds to the BASE state 62. The BEVERAGE SELECTOR pushbuttons 100 are shown on the left hand side, and furthermore the page comprises an advertisement window 101 suitable for playing commercials, an EXTRA pushbutton 104 for the display of the EXTRA pop-up window and the PLUS pushbutton 103 for displaying the PLUS pop-up window. A display 102 serves for displaying the amount inserted and in case the customer has not yet inserted any coins, the BACK pushbutton 105 can be used to return to the START state 61. An EXTRA window 107 and a PLUS window 106 which can be displayed by the EXTRA pushbutton 104 and the PLUS pushbutton 103, respectively, are shown in Fig. 8B. The BEVERAGE SELECTOR pushbuttons 100 preferably do not operate until there is sufficient cash in the vending machine.

Fig. 9 shows a page corresponding to the PLUS state 63 of the program. The PLUS state 63 represents a mode of operation in which the customer pays a higher amount than the normal price of the beverage, in order to receive a gift associated with the drink. In the depicted example, the sending of an electronic picture message is possible by a FUNCARD pushbutton 111, and the sending of an electronic greeting card is enabled by a FREECARD pushbutton 112.

Fig. 10 shows a page corresponding to the EXTRA state 64 of the program, in which state the customer is prepared to pay even more for the beverage, against better and higher quantity gifts. In the way shown in Fig. 10, for example as a gift a cinema related service window can be opened the by a CINEMA pushbutton 113, a window for downloading a mobile game can be opened by a MOBILE GAME pushbutton 114 and a window for downloading a mobile phone ringing tone can be opened by a RINGING TONE pushbutton 115. By means of a PAYMOBILE pushbutton 116, the program can be switched to the PAYMOBILE state 65.

In the PAYMOBILE state 65 shown in Fig. 11, payment through a mobile phone can be made in a way that the customer calls the phone number shown on the screen. Purchasing through the mobile phone is then carried out in the usual way. From the states 63-65, the program is turned to THANKS state 66, the display page of which state is shown in Fig. 12. In this state, in order to collect bonus points, the customer may register himself by a REGISTRATION pushbutton 120, and for the same reason it may log in to the system by a LOGIN pushbutton 121.

In the REGISTER state 67 shown in Fig. 13, the customer may fill in data input fields 122 by means of a keyboard 124 displayed on the page, and by means of a BACK pushbutton 123, she/he may go back to the THANKS state 66. In the LOGIN state shown in Fig. 14, the name and password can be entered into the data input fields 126 by means of the keyboard 124, and furthermore by means of a REGISTRATION pushbutton 125, the customer may switch to the REGISTER state 67.

From the states 66-68, the program is switched to the SELECT state 69, the page of which is shown in Fig. 15. There are pushbuttons 127 serving for the selection of gift/service on the page. The first pushbutton 127 enables sending a funcard, and when this button is pressed, content elements 128 appear upon the activation of pushbuttons 129 for selecting the category. By choosing the appropriate content element 128, the customer reaches a SHOW state 70 shown in Fig. 16. The program is taken to the SELECT state 69 by the BACK pushbutton 130 on the page corresponding to this state, and to the CONFIRM state 71 shown in Fig. 17 by pressing the SEND pushbutton 131. Furthermore, the SHOW state 70 is suitable for the camera 23 in the vending machine 10 to take the customer's picture and insert it into the selected picture. Thereby, individual digital pictures can be sent out by means of the vending machine 10. It is to be noted here that the individual digital pictures are of course sent in whole from the vending machine 10 via the GPRS link 57 to the mobile network service provider 56, because due to their individual nature they may not be identified by an identifier alone.

Sending digital content supplemented with a personal photo represents an example of unique customer interactivity. By making use of this promotion opportunity, the customer will be willing to pay more for the product in the given case. All this will result in the fact that the goods sold by the vending machine will have added value, well above the market price. The flexible pricing required for this is ensured by the virtual peripheral handling implemented by the communication control unit 20.

In a CONFIRM state 71 shown in Fig. 17, the data input field 132 can be used for entering the mobile phone number or e-mail address, to which the digital picture will be sent, for example as an MMS. By pressing a BACK pushbutton 133, the SELECT state 69 is reached, and a DONE state 72 is obtained by pressing a SEND pushbutton 134.

On the page of the DONE state 72 shown in Fig. 18, a confirmation about sending the message appears.

Installing the communication control unit 20 according to the invention takes an extremely short time, because for the installation only the re-plugging of the existing standard connectors is necessary. For retaining the functionality already existing in the vending machines 10, it is not necessary to replace them, therefore, the conversion of the existing vending machines is possible at a low cost. The other sub-units associated with the communication control unit 20, for example the computer 22 and the input unit 26, can also be installed in a short time, consequently the conversion of an already existing beverage vending machine can be carried out within an hour. Of course this does not exclude the possibility to produce vending machines ab ovo in the inventive way instead of converting existing vending machines. As an example, the invention can be used for vending machines selling all types of mass products, e.g. soft drinks, coffee, food, sweets, newspaper, CD/DVD and other communication products, condoms and other health products, and furthermore goods and services subjected to excise duty, e.g. tobacco, alcohol and gambling (lottery, lottery tickets) as well as multimedia or digital products. Further, the invention can also be used for reverse vending machines.

The system according to the invention enables in the way described above interactive communication with the target group of the given product or service, directly at the point of sale. Thanks to the operation/design of enhanced functionality vending machines, the media consumption and receptivity of the consumers of the relevant product/service can be measured well, along with the use of the audiovisual content. On the basis of this ongoing feedback, the sold content can be made more accurate or amended on a real time basis.

A further opportunity offered by the system according to the invention is that in addition to learning more about the consumers and processing the feedbacks continuously on a database level, a so-called consumer relationship marketing can be implemented. The basis of this method is that various consumers can be separated, for example the primary (direct) users and the secondary (indirect) users, and on the basis of this separation, the oriented message corresponding to the given consumer group reaches the consumer in a more cost efficient way. The so achieved cost efficiency characterizes furthermore in the case of short-term and controlled communication testing of research activities related to the introduction of new or renewed products.

The system according to the invention - as a communications platform - advantageously mixes the communication facilities of classical advertising and that of a narrowed target group. Its application makes sure that in both global (e.g. nationwide) and local (e.g. a block of houses, living quarter, district) environment, it becomes the source of a pre-planned and optimized sale.

Further advantages of marketing implemented by the communications system of the invention are e.g. the following:

- it is closely associated with the most frequently used means of our everyday life (e.g. mobile phone, Internet), integrating them into a uniform system in a target group specific way;

- contrary to television programs interrupted with advertising blocks or to giant billboards, it is not of a forced media character because participation/use is voluntary;

- the loyalty programs can be implemented at the point of sale and in a cost efficient way;

- due to immediate feedback, consumption can be forecast more safely. It is apparent from the detailed description of the program running on the computer that the inventive vending machine can be applied not only for the promotion of a given mass product, but also for other products and/or services related to the lifestyle of the given target group.

The system according to the invention may of course be supplemented with other functionalities. For example it is a long existing problem in the field of vending machines that discovery and preventing of abuses by the filling up personnel is not achieved. This means that in a prior art system it cannot be determined whether the filling up person has packed into the vending machine actually the quantity of products he was obliged to do, and whether he has taken any out of it later on. However, with the input unit 26 preferably implemented as a touch screen, it is possible that opening the door necessary for filling up the vending machine is possible only after entering a personal identification code. Thereby access by the filling up person can be identified and logged. The identification of the person for control purposes and the identification of the customer can of course be implemented also by means of the biosensor 28.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments detailed by way of example in the foregoing, but different versions and amendments are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A communication control unit for a vending machine, the vending machine comprising a central controller, at least one peripheral element and means capable of receiving external instructions, wherein the communication control unit is connected to the central controller, to the at least one peripheral element and to the means capable of receiving external instructions, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by being adapted to provide a connection between the central controller and the at least one peripheral element (12, 32), and being capable of connecting alternately the at least one peripheral element (12, 32) or a virtual peripheral element (12V, 32V) simulating the peripheral element (12, 32) to the central controller, wherein the communication control unit (20) is at least partially controlled externally.

2. The communication control unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that a telecommunication unit (21) enabling communication on a telecommunication network and/or an input unit (26) capable of receiving instructions of customers is used as the means capable of receiving external instructions, and the communication control unit (20) connected to these is controlled at least partially by means of instructions received via the telecommunication unit (21) and/or the input unit (26).

3. The communication control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the central controller is a VMC unit (15), and the peripheral elements comprise a pushbutton panel (12) and a cash-flow unit (32).

4. The communication control unit according to claim 3, characterized by comprising a programmable switch network (35) for alternately interconnecting the pushbutton panel (12) or a virtual pushbutton operating unit (12V) with the VMC unit (15), and a further programmable switch network (31) for alternately interconnecting the cash-flow unit (32) or a virtual cash-flow unit (32V) with the VMC unit (15).

5. The communication control unit according to claim 4, characterized by being connected to the telecommunication unit (21) and to the input unit (26) via a computerized unit, preferably a computer (22).

6. A vending machine having a central controller, peripheral elements and means capable of receiving external instructions, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising a communication control unit (20) according to any of claims 1 to 5.

7. A communication system for vending machines, the system comprising a system operating center, a telecommunication service provider being in communication connection with the system operating center, and vending machines being in communication connection with the telecommunication service provider over a telecommunication network, said vending machines comprising a central controller, peripheral elements and a telecommunication unit enabling communication on the telecommunication network, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the vending machines comprise a communication control unit (20) according to any of claims 1 to 5.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, characterized by having an input unit (26) capable of receiving customer instructions.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, characterized in that the telecommunication service provider is a mobile network service provider (56) to which the vending machines (10) are linked via a GPRS connection.