Abstract: A vending status reporting system for use with vending machines in a facility utilizing an AC power system, a telephone communication system, and a collection office. The system includes a plurality of slave units, each connectable to an associated vending machine to be monitored and to the facility's AC power system, and a master unit connectable to the facility's AC power system and to a telephone communication system. The master unit retrieves vending status information by signaling each slave unit using unique addresses in dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) code format and waiting for a response. Each slave unit includes a mechanism for retrieving information on the status of vending items of its associated vending machine and for transmitting the retrieved vending status information. A slave unit controller of the slave unit receives the transmitted vending status information and processes the transmitted information.

Abstract: A vending status reporting system for use with vending machines in a facility utilizing an AC power system, a telephone communication system, and a collection office. The system includes a plurality of slave units, each connectable to an associated vending machine to be monitored and to the facility's AC power system, and a master unit connectable to the facility's AC power system and to a telephone communication system. The master unit retrieves vending status information by signaling each slave unit using unique addresses in dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) code format and waiting for a response. Each slave unit includes a mechanism for retrieving information on the status of vending items of its associated vending machine and for transmitting the retrieved vending status information. A slave unit controller of the slave unit receives the transmitted vending status information and processes the transmitted information.