Systems and methods for determining electric pulses to provide to an unattended machine based on remotely-configured options

A system for determining electric pulses to provide to an unattended machine based on remotely-configured options for the unattended machine, the system comprising:

• a mobile device including a display, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs including an application executed on the mobile device, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• identifying the unattended machine based at least in part on an identifier or location corresponding to the unattended machine, wherein the unattended machine is a payment operated machine that accepts payment for dispensing of products and/or services, and wherein the unattended machine includes a control unit and a pulse-providing device electrically coupled to the control unit;
• after identifying the unattended machine, receiving, from a server, a first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine;
• in response to receiving the first set of remotely-configured options, displaying, in the application, user interface objects that allow for selection of respective options in the first set of remotely-configured options;
• detecting a selection of a first user interface object that corresponds to a first option in the first set of remotely-configured options;
• after detecting the selection of the first user interface object, receiving, from the server, pulse information specifying a count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses to be provided to the control unit of the unattended machine by the pulse-providing device in accordance with the first option;
• and
• sending the pulse information to the pulse-providing device;
• wherein the pulse-providing device includes one or more processors and memory with one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• receiving the pulse information;
• determining based on the received pulse information a signal sequence of electrical pulses to output to the control unit of the unattended machine in order to initiate a cashless operation of the unattended machine, wherein the signal sequence of electrical pulses emulates an analog signal generated by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine, and wherein the signal sequence is characterized by the count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses specified by the pulse information;
• and
• causing the unattended machine to initiate the cashless operation by issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system, the one or more programs including instructions for:

• at an application executing on a mobile device:
• identifying an unattended machine based at least in part on an identifier or location corresponding to the unattended machine, wherein the unattended machine is a payment operated machine that accepts payment for dispensing of products and/or services, and wherein the unattended machine includes a control unit and a pulse-providing device electrically coupled to the control unit;
• after identifying the unattended machine, receiving, from a server, a first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine;
• in response to receiving the first set of remotely-configured options, displaying, in the application, user interface objects that allow for selection of respective options in the first set of remotely-configured options;
• detecting a selection of a first user interface object that corresponds to a first option in the first set of remotely-configured options;
• after detecting the selection of the first user interface object, receiving, from the server, pulse information specifying a count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses to be provided to the control unit of the unattended machine by the pulse-providing device in accordance with the first option;
• and
• sending the pulse information to the pulse-providing device;
• wherein the pulse-providing device includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs including instructions for:
• receiving the pulse information;
• determining based on the received pulse information a signal sequence of electrical pulses to output to the control unit of the unattended machine in order to initiate a cashless operation of the unattended machine, wherein the signal sequence of electrical pulses emulates an analog signal generated by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine, and wherein the signal sequence is characterized by the count, amplitude, shape, or interval of electric pulses specified by the pulse information;
• and
• causing the unattended machine to initiate the cashless operation by issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit.