Abstract: A mobile device with a display, processor(s), and memory: displays promotional offers; detects a user input selecting one of the promotional offers; and initiates performance of a transaction with an automatic retail machine to purchase a product stocked by the automatic retail machine. The mobile device also: receives a transaction completion notification from the payment module indicating that the product corresponding to the selected promotional offer was vended by the automatic retail machine; and, in response to receiving the transaction completion notification, provides a prompt to the user of the mobile device to obtain a product code for the vended product to validate the promotional offer. The mobile device further: obtains the product code for the vended product; transmits the product code to the server; and, in response: receives promotion validation information from the server; and displays the promotion validation information indicating whether the respective promotion offer was validated.

Abstract: A payment module includes: one or more processors, memory, a first interface module configured to couple the payment module with a control unit of an offline-payment operated machine, and a short-range communication capability for communicating with one or more mobile devices each including a complimentary short-range communication capability and a long-range communication capability. The payment module receives a transaction request via the short-range communication capability from a mobile device to perform a transaction with the offline-payment operated machine. The payment module validates the transaction request to verify that the mobile device is authorized to initiate payment for the transaction by a remote server via the long-range communication capability.

Abstract: A first device with one or more processors, processors, memory, and two or more communication capabilities obtains, from a payment module, advertised information via a first communication capability (e.g., BLE), where the advertised information at least includes a current firmware version of the payment module. In accordance with a determination that the current firmware version of the payment module satisfies one or more predefined firmware criteria (i.e., indicating that the payment module's firmware needs updating), the first device includes sends, to the payment module, firmware update information via the first communication capability, where the firmware update information includes one or more data packets for updating the current firmware version of the payment module.

Abstract: A device with one or more processors, memory, and two or more communication capabilities obtains, from a payment module, advertised information via a first communication capability (e.g., BLE), where the advertised information at least includes status information indicating one or more states of at least one of a payment module and a payment accepting unit (e.g., an automatic retailing machine for dispensing goods and/or services) associated with the payment module. The device sends, to a server, at least the status information from the advertised information via a second communication capability (e.g., GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi, etc.) distinct from the first communication capability.

Abstract: Described herein is a mobile-device-to-machine payment system and method for facilitating a cashless transaction for purchase of at least one product or service by a user from a payment accepting unit.