# US 11,907,926 B2 · Systems and methods for determining electric pulses to provide to an unattended machine based on remotely-configured options > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,926 B2 - Document ID: US11907926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/983,311 - Filed: 2022-11-08 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18 - Assignees: Payrange Inc. - Applicants: Payrange Inc. - Inventors: Paresh K. Patel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907926B2 ## CPC - G06Q 20/201: {Price look-up processing, e.g. updating} - G06Q 20/327: {Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices} - G06Q 30/0269: {based on user profile or attribute} - G07F 9/023: {Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising} - H04L 41/0813: characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system receives, from a server, information about a first set of remotely-configured options for an unattended machine. In response to receiving the information about the first set of remotely-configured options, the system displays user interface objects that allow for selection of respective options in the first set of remotely-configured options. After detecting a selection of a first user interface object, the system receives, from the server, specifications regarding electric pulses to be provided to the unattended machine by a pulse-providing device. After sending an authorization grant and the specifications to the pulse-providing device, the system receives an indication that the electric pulses were provided to the unattended machine according to the specifications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining electric pulses to provide to an unattended machine based on remotely-configured options for the unattended machine, the method comprising: at an application executing on a mobile device: identifying the unattended machine based at least in part on an identifier 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; and at the pulse-providing device: 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options that are determined according to a predefined pricing schedule. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined pricing schedule is determined based on a current time of day at the server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely-configured options are configured by an operator of the unattended machine without requiring any physical interactions with the unattended machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the application executing on the mobile device: receiving an indication from the server that the remotely-configured options are no longer current; and in response to receiving the indication from the server, receiving an updated set of remotely-configured pricing options that is distinct from the first set of remotely-configured pricing options. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit includes emulating a signal sequence that would be issued by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine in response to receiving a preset number of coins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a long-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device receives the first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine from the server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a short-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device transmits the pulse information to the pulse-providing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: at the pulse-providing device, sending an indication, to the mobile device, that the electric pulses were provided to the unattended machine according to the pulse information; wherein a short-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device receives the indication from the pulse-providing device. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options that are determined according to a predefined pricing schedule. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the predefined pricing schedule is determined based on a current time of day at the server. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the remotely-configured options are configured by an operator of the unattended machine without requiring any physical interactions with the unattended machine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs of the mobile device further include instructions for: receiving an indication from the server that the remotely-configured options are no longer current; and in response to receiving the indication from the server, receiving an updated set of remotely-configured pricing options that is distinct from the first set of remotely-configured pricing options. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions for issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit include instructions for emulating a signal sequence that would be issued by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine in response to receiving a preset number of coins. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device includes a long-range transceiver configured to receive the first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine from the server. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device includes a short-range transceiver configured to transmit the pulse information to the pulse-providing device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the one or more programs of the pulse-providing device further include instructions for sending an indication, to the mobile device, that the electric pulses were provided to the unattended machine according to the pulse information; and the mobile device includes a short-range transceiver configured to receive the indication from the pulse-providing device. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the remotely-configured options are pricing options that are determined according to a predefined pricing schedule. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the predefined pricing schedule is determined based on a current time of day at the server. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the remotely-configured options are configured by an operator of the unattended machine without requiring any physical interactions with the unattended machine. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for, at the application executing on the mobile device: receiving an indication from the server that the remotely-configured options are no longer current; and in response to receiving the indication from the server, receiving an updated set of remotely-configured pricing options that is distinct from the first set of remotely-configured pricing options. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions for issuing the signal sequence of electrical pulses to the control unit include instructions for emulating a signal sequence that would be issued by a coin receiving switch of the unattended machine in response to receiving a preset number of coins. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions causing a long-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device to receive the first set of remotely-configured options for interacting with the unattended machine from the server. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions causing a short-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device to transmit the pulse information to the pulse-providing device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: at the pulse-providing device, sending an indication, to the mobile device, that the electric pulses were provided to the unattended machine according to the pulse information; wherein the one or more programs further include instructions causing a short-range wireless transceiver of the mobile device to receive the indication from the pulse-providing device.