Method and system for an offline-payment operated machine to accept electronic payments

A method for accepting electronic payments at an offline payment-operated machine, the method comprising:

• at a payment module with one or more processors, memory, a short-range wireless transceiver configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices, a first interface module configured to output to a control unit of the offline payment-operated machine one or more electrical pulses, each of the one or more electrical pulses emulating an analog signal generated by a coin receiving switch of the offline payment-operated machine in response to insertion of a single coin of a predetermined type in the offline payment-operated machine:
• storing, in the memory of the payment module, a number of electrical pulses that must be received by the control unit to initiate an operation of the offline payment-operated machine;
• receiving a wireless message via the short-range wireless transceiver from a respective mobile device of the one or more mobile devices, in conjunction with a payment transaction between the respective mobile device and the payment module, wherein the wireless message includes payment information corresponding to at least a payment amount required for the operation of the offline payment-operated machine;
• and
• in response to the wireless message:
• issuing via the first interface module to the control unit of the offline payment-operated machine the number of electrical pulses required to initiate the operation;
• and
• sending to the respective mobile device via the short-range wireless transceiver information confirming completion of the payment transaction between the respective mobile device and the payment module.

An offline payment-operated machine, comprising:

• a coin receiving switch that generates analog signals in response to insertion of a single coin of a predetermined type in the offline payment-operated machine;
• a control unit;
• and
• a payment module that includes:
• a short-range wireless transceiver configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices;
• one or more processors;
• a first interface module configured to output to a control unit of the offline payment-operated machine one or more electrical pulses, each of the one or more electrical pulses emulating an analog signal generated by the coin receiving switch of the offline payment-operated machine in response to insertion of a single coin of a predetermined type in the offline payment-operated machine;
• and
• memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
• storing, in the memory of the payment module, a number of electrical pulses that must be received by the control unit to initiate an operation of the offline payment-operated machine;
• receiving a wireless message via the short-range wireless transceiver from a respective mobile device of the one or more mobile devices, in conjunction with a payment transaction between the respective mobile device and the payment module, wherein the wireless message includes payment information corresponding to at least a payment amount required for the operation of the offline payment-operated machine;
• and
• in response to the wireless message:
• issuing via the first interface module to the control unit of the offline payment-operated machine the number of electrical pulses required to initiate the operation;
• and
• sending to the respective mobile device via the short-range wireless transceiver information confirming completion of the payment transaction between the respective mobile device and the payment module.