US 11,989,706 B2
Open infrastructure for vending machine payments from mobile devices
Kishore Swaminathan, Willowbrook, IL (US)
Filed by Kishore Swaminathan, Willowbrook, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/125,621.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/950,361, filed on Dec. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0192479 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. G06Q 20/10 (2012.01); G06Q 20/02 (2012.01); G06Q 20/18 (2012.01); G06Q 20/20 (2012.01); G06Q 20/32 (2012.01); G06Q 20/38 (2012.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G07F 9/00 (2006.01); H04W 12/40 (2021.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC G06Q 20/102 (2013.01) [G06Q 20/027 (2013.01); G06Q 20/18 (2013.01); G06Q 20/202 (2013.01); G06Q 20/3226 (2013.01); G06Q 20/3821 (2013.01); G06Q 20/3825 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0633 (2013.01); G07F 9/001 (2020.05); G07F 9/002 (2020.05); H04W 12/40 (2021.01); G06K 7/1417 (2013.01); G06Q 20/326 (2020.05); G06Q 20/3276 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for electronic payment to a vending machine from a mobile device operated by a customer of the vending machine, the method comprising:
receiving by the vending machine, a selection of products and/or services for purchase by the customer;
creating by the vending machine, a payment request for the selection, wherein the payment request designates the vending machine as the payee of the payment request;
associating the payment request with the customer, wherein the association occurs through the exchange of identifying information between the vending machine and the mobile device, and wherein the identifying information comprises at least one item chosen from a group consisting of an identifier for the vending machine, an identifier for the payment request, and an identifier for the customer;
sending the payment request by the vending machine to a backend server of the vending machine via a wide-area network;
receiving by the mobile device, the payment request via an online payment bus, wherein the online payment bus is configured to be a communication channel for payment messages between customers and backend servers of vending machines, and wherein the mobile device receives the payment request based, at least in part, on the association between the payment request and the customer;
enabling the customer, via a user interface on the mobile device, to initiate a payment process for paying the payment request, wherein the payment process comprises:
making a payment to the vending machine through an online payment gateway using a customer-specified payment credential;
receiving a confirmation statement from the online payment gateway, wherein the confirmation statement indicates that the said payment has been successfully completed;
creating a payment transaction record comprising the payment request and the said confirmation statement; and
sending the payment transaction record to the online payment bus;
receiving by the backend server, the payment transaction record via the online payment bus;
creating by the backend server, a command message instructing the vending machine to dispense the selection;
sending by the backend server, the command message to the vending machine via the wide area network; and
dispensing the selection by the vending machine.