Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment from a mobile payment application executing on the mobile device, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit, and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: After sending a request to a payment module, via a first communication capability (e.g., BLE), to initiate a transaction with a payment accepting unit associated with the payment module, a mobile device with one or more processors, memory, one or output devices, and two or more communication capabilities obtains a notification from the payment module via the first communication capability. The notification indicates an event at the payment accepting unit associated with the payment module. In response to obtaining the notification, mobile device provides a representation of the notification to a user of the mobile device via the one or more output devices of the mobile device. For example, a message is displayed on a display of the mobile device, a vibration alert is produced by a vibration mechanism of the mobile device, an aural alert is produced by a speaker of the mobile device, and/or the like.

Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit, and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: A robotic ticket scratching system includes a controller configured to receive a dispense command for a ticket dispensing machine; cause the ticket dispensing machine to dispense, based on the dispense command, a ticket having a scratching area; and receive user-provided signing data and user-provided scratching data from the application server. The robotic ticket scratching system further includes a robotic scratching mechanism configured to scratch, or remove an opaque substance from, the scratching area of the ticket in accordance with the user-provided scratching data.

Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit, and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: A device with one or more processors, memory, and two or more communication capabilities obtains, from a payment module, an authorization request via a first communication capability (e.g., Bluetooth). The device sends, to a server, the authorization request via a second communication capability distinct from the first communication capability (e.g., cellular or WiFi technology). In response to sending the authorization request, the device obtains, from the server, authorization information via the second communication capability. After obtaining the authorization information, the device detects a trigger condition to perform a transaction with a payment accepting unit associated with the payment module. In response to detecting the trigger condition, the device sends, to the payment module, at least a portion of the authorization information via the first communication capability.

Abstract: A controller is configured to obtain, from a first camera associated with a ticket machine, a first image stream; transmit the first image stream to an application server; receive, from the application server, a first command for the ticket machine; cause the ticket machine to provide, based on the first command, a ticket having a scratching area; receive a user-provided scratching command from the application server; and cause a robotic scratching device to scratch the scratching area in accordance with the scratching command.

Abstract: A mobile device with a first transceiver, a second transceiver, one or more processors, and memory bridges communications between an offline retail machine with a short-range communication capability and a remote server by obtaining via the first transceiver a single-use request code from an information packet broadcast by the offline retail machine; transmitting via the second transceiver the single-use request code to a remote server; obtaining via the second transceiver from the remote server a grant token including the single-use request code; detecting a trigger condition for initiating provision of a product or service by the offline retail machine; and in response to detecting the trigger condition, initiating performance of the provision of the product or service by transmitting the grant token to the offline retail machine via the first transceiver.

Abstract: An offline retail machine comprising a short-range transceiver, one or more processors, and memory performs communications operations via one or more mobile devices. The communications operations include establishing via the short-range transceiver a connection with a first mobile device, and transmitting first information to the first mobile device. Upon not receiving an acknowledgement that the first information was received by a remote server, the offline retail machine maintains the first information in the memory and establishes, via the short-range transceiver, a connection with a second mobile device, appends the first information to second information, and transmits the first and second information to the second mobile device. Upon receiving acknowledgement that the first and second information were received by a remote server, the offline retail machine deletes the first and second information.

Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment from a mobile payment application executing on the mobile device, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing fixture including a display screen, a scanning device, and one or more processors is configured to: obtain via the display screen or remote scanner a selection of one or more controlled products; update a user interface on the display screen based on the selection; determine whether the one or more controlled products meet a purchase limit associated with the one or more controlled products for dispensing; obtain via the scanning device consumer identification information; determine whether the consumer identification information meets an age threshold and/or an identity requirement associated with the one or more controlled products; and in accordance with a determination that (i) the one or more controlled products meet the purchase limit for dispensing, and (ii) the consumer identification information meets the age threshold and/or the identity requirement, transmit a dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture to dispense the one or more controlled products.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing system includes a dispensing fixture and a server system. The server system receives from a first computing device image data corresponding to an identification document and/or face of a consumer, and verifies an identity or age of the consumer based on the image data. The server system obtains a live video feed of the consumer from the first computing device, transmits (i) the live video feed of the consumer and (ii) the image data corresponding to the identification document and/or face of the consumer to a second computing device, receives from the second computing device a verification message indicating that the consumer in the live video feed corresponds to the identification document and/or face of the consumer, and based on the verification message, transmits to the first computing device consumer validation data including an indication that the identity or age of the consumer is verified.

Abstract: A browser application of a mobile device receives an instruction from a web page to obtain identity and/or age data from a digital wallet application of the mobile device, obtains the requested data upon successful biometric authentication, transmits the requested data to the server system, receives a graphic barcode from the server system corresponding to a determination by the server system that the requested data satisfies an identity or age-based restriction or regulation, and causes the graphic barcode to be displayed on a display of the mobile device. A verifying device scans the graphic barcode and transmits it to the server system. The server system transmits a validation decision to the verifying device based on a determination that the graphic barcode transmitted to the mobile device corresponds to the graphic barcode received from the verifying device.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing system includes a dispensing fixture and a server system coupled to the dispensing fixture via a communication network. The dispensing fixture is configured to obtain via an input peripheral a first identifier associated with a controlled product and a second identifier associated with a dispensing requester; transmit the first and second identifiers to the server system; receive an approval notification from the server system; and instructing the dispensing mechanism to dispense the controlled product.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing system includes a dispensing fixture and a server system coupled to the dispensing fixture and a mobile device via a communication network. The server system receives from the mobile device identification data of a user of the mobile device and verifies an identity or age of the user. In accordance with the verifying of the identity or age of the user, the server system transmits to the mobile device dispense approval data including an indication that the identity or age of the user is verified. The dispensing fixture obtains via an input peripheral a dispense code provided by the mobile device, the dispense code corresponding to the dispense approval data, and in accordance with the dispense code, causes a dispensing mechanism to dispense the controlled product.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing system includes a dispensing fixture and a server system coupled to the dispensing fixture and a mobile device via a communication network. The server system receives from the mobile device identification data of a user of the mobile device, verifies an identity or age of the user, and receives a request to reserve a controlled product included in the dispensing fixture. In accordance with the verifying of the identity or age of the user and the request to reserve the controlled product, the server system transmits to the mobile device dispense approval data including user validation and product selection information. The dispensing fixture obtains via an input peripheral a dispense code provided by the mobile device, the dispense code corresponding to the dispense approval data, and in accordance with the dispense code, causes a dispensing mechanism to dispense the controlled product.

Abstract: An electronic communication module broadcasts a first stream of alternating packets by alternating between a plurality of first packets and a plurality of second packets from a transceiver. Each of the first and second packets is associated with a first and second service, respectively, and includes a header with information identifying a first and second device, respectively as its source of transmission. The electronic communication module receives from a first mobile device a request for the first device to perform an operation associated with the first service, and concurrently establishing a connection with the first mobile device and transmitting first packets associated with a response to the first request, while continuing to broadcast second packets indicating presence of the second device, where the first and second packets are transmitted in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit, and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic payment module with one or more processors, memory, a slave interface that couples the module with an unattended machine via a multi-drop bus (MDB), and one or more host interfaces that couple the module with at least one payment peripheral of the unattended machine. The method also includes: receiving, from a refund center, a request to issue an approved refund of a predetermined amount and one or more criteria that must be satisfied before dispensing the predetermined amount. In accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are met, the method includes issuing (i) a signal to the unattended machine, via the slave interface, that the at least one payment peripheral is unavailable and (ii) a signal to the at least one payment peripheral, via the one or more host interfaces, to dispense the predetermined amount.