Vending machines sending data comprising only differences between new and reference data to central processor

摘要

A vending machine (10), comprising: a) a control system (12) adapted to: I) determine new vending data for the vending machine, the new vending data relative to reference vending data kept at a central processing system for the vending machine; and ii) generate difference indicia capable of instructing the central processing system (14) to modify the reference vending data to reflect the new vending data; and b) communication electronics (18) associated with said control system and adapted to communicate electronics associated with said control system and adapted to communicate the difference indicia to the central processing system wherein the reference data at the central processing system is modified using the difference indicia to reflect the new vending data, wherein said control system is adapted to generate the difference indicia to include a line number for an affected record, an action type for the affected record and data, if necessary, for the affected record.