Abstract: A method and system is provided for the interpretation of information communicated in disparate dialects. The method and system includes a general parser receiving audit reports having data in multiple dialects including unknown dialects. An interpretation module extracts the data from the audit reports and interprets the data while a validation module analyzes the results of the interpretation. For unknown dialects, the general parser either marks an audit report as having an unknown dialect or invokes the learning module which acquires the unknown dialect. The learning module creates a provisional interpretation module and a provisional validation module for the unknown dialect using the data in the unknown dialect audit report. The learning module tests the provisional interpretation module and provisional validation module with additional audit reports having the same dialect as the audit report used to create them and with successful testing are assumed to be correct.

Abstract: A system and method for transitioning remotely monitored devices, including point of sale devices such as vending machines, between maintenance states is disclosed. The system and method provide that operational data for a remotely monitored device may be reviewed such that a determination may be made as to the device's ability to continue operating on an as-needed maintenance schedule. Any errors or discrepancies detected in the operational data may result in the remote device being placed on a defined maintenance schedule. Should the operational data indicate that the remote device is performing within desirable parameters, the remote device may remain on or be transitioned back to as-needed maintenance scheduling. The system and method generally ensure that remote devices in a distributed asset system are properly maintained in an efficient, cost effective manner.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for identifying malfunctioning remote devices, such as point of sale devices, are disclosed. In operation, a performance history for one or more remote devices is built and a normal operating day is determined from the performance history. Also extracted from this performance history are average and variance values for various aspects of satisfactory remote device performance. During remote device evaluations, the current operating performance of each remote device is compared with the normal day and the average and variance values for the respective remote device. For remote devices operating outside of the normal day, average and variances values, a likelihood estimate that the remote device is actually malfunctioning is calculated. For remote devices determined likely to be malfunctioning, an approximation of the remote device's losses are made such that the remote device with the greatest losses may be prioritized for maintenance or other purposes.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating between remote devices is provided. In one aspect, the method provides a compression engine available to a first device with previously communicated information. The compression engine then uses the previously communicated information and the information to be compressed to achieve improved compression ratios. After receiving the compressed information, the receiving device may provide the previously communicated information to a decompression engine, thereby enabling the received, compressed information to be effectively decompressed. With each communication of current device information, the previously communicated information may be updated with the current device information. As a failsafe for corrupt transmissions, out of date previously communicated information, etc., the receiving device may evaluate the integrity of the decompressed information and request a retransmission of the information using alternative compression techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for the real-time monitoring and control of field assets. In particular, a monitoring device is disclosed that may be coupled to a field asset. The monitoring device may be designed as a stand-alone unit or it may be designed to leverage one or more technologies included in the field asset to determine the occurrence of one or more error conditions. The error conditions may be detected either as they occur or by testing the field asset at timed intervals. Upon detection of one or more error conditions, the monitoring device may initiate one or more corrective sequences to resolve the error condition. Alternatively, the monitoring device may notify a network operations center, via a wireless network, of the detected error condition. Users may access the network operations center via the Internet using a Internet-enabled remote device. From the Internet-enabled remote device, the user may view status information concerning one or more field assets.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface. In one embodiment, each application controller interfaces with remote equipment that comprises a vending machine.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface. In one embodiment, each application controller interfaces with remote equipment that comprises a vending machine.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment to obtain operational data and the status of remote machines is disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with the remote machines from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network. The application host may communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network. The handheld wireless equipment may be used to obtain operational information for each remote machine from the network operations center.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote beverage dispensing equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and apparatus for the remote monitoring and control of a computing component. An intelligent management and control transceiver (IMCT) is preferably attached to a computing component to be monitored and controlled. The IMCT preferably operates independently of the computing component being monitored and controlled by maintaining its own processing power, memory, power supply and communications capabilities. Software executing on the IMCT enables various functional and environmental characteristics of the computing component to be monitored and controlled. A wireless transceiver is preferably included to allow the IMCT to generate an alert in response to the occurrence of a monitored event as well as to enable the remote management of the computing component.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating data between a network operations center and a remote device is described. Vending machine state information is communicated between a vending site and a network operations center using a delta scheme. A database, maintained by the network operations center, maintains a history of the activity of a variety of vending machines located at a variety of vending sites. To minimize the data needed to be transmitted between the vending site and the network operations center, the network operations center, in one embodiment, will request information from the vending site regarding the change in state of the various vending machines. The vending machines are responsible for restructuring a data block, calculating a delta for the change in state of the machine, applying a compression algorithm to the calculated delta and then transmitting the delta to the network operations center.