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: System and methods are disclosed for interactions with unattended retail machines (“URMs”) using detectable trigger conditions and limited-scope authorization grants. An exemplary method is performed at a mobile device and includes: receiving, via a communications unit, a broadcasted signal from an electronic payment device coupled with an URM. The broadcasted signal includes a request to authorize funds that are associated with a user of the mobile device for use at the URM. The method further includes: (i) sending the request to a server via the communications unit, (ii) receiving, from the server, an authorization grant (e.g., the grant expires if predetermined criteria are satisfied), and (iii) detecting a trigger condition to initiate a cashless transaction with the URM. In accordance with a determination that the predetermined criteria haven't been satisfied, the method includes: initiating the cashless transaction with the URM by sending the authorization grant to the electronic payment device.

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, 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 method and device for retrofitting a payment accepting unit to accommodate a plurality of payment peripherals is disclosed herein. A device with processor(s), memory, a slave interface, and host interface(s) performs as a virtual payment peripheral by registering the device as a slave to the payment accepting unit coupled with the slave interface and performs as a virtual payment accepting unit by registering payment peripheral(s) coupled with the host interface(s) as slaves to the device. The device receives a command from the payment accepting unit via the slave interface and, in response to receiving the command: sends an acknowledgement to the payment accepting unit via the slave interface; and relays the command to a respective payment peripheral via a respective one of the host interface(s), where the device sends signals to and from the payment accepting unit asynchronous of sending signals to and from the payment peripheral(s).

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) at least including an authorization code. The device sends, to a server, at least the authorization code from the advertised information via a second communication capability (e.g., GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi, etc.) distinct from the first communication capability. After the sending, the device obtains, from the server, authorization information via the second communication capability at least including an authorization grant token. After obtaining the authorization information, the device detects a trigger condition to perform a first transaction with a payment accepting unit (e.g., an automatic retailing machine for dispensing goods and/or services) associated with 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: 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 payment module with one or more processors, memory, a short-range communication capability (e.g., BLE), and a first interface module configured to couple the payment module with a control unit of an offline-payment operated machine receives a transaction request via the short-range communication capability from a respective mobile device to perform a transaction with the offline-payment operated machine. The payment module validates the transaction request, where validation of the transaction request indicates that the respective mobile device is authorized to initiate payment for the transaction by a remote server via the long-range communication capability (e.g., GSM, CDMA, or Wi-Fi). In accordance with a determination that the transaction request is valid, the payment module causes the offline-payment operated machine to perform the requested transaction by issuing a signal to perform the transaction to the control unit of the offline-payment operated machine via the first interface module.

Abstract: A payment module with one or more processors, memory, and a first communication capability is coupled with a payment accepting unit (e.g., an automatic retailing machine for dispensing goods and/or services). The payment module obtains a notification indicating completion of a transaction, and an amount thereof, performed by user of a device at the payment accepting unit. In response to receiving the notification, the payment module generates and stores transaction information based on the notification; and sends the transaction information to the device via the first communication capability (e.g., BLE). After sending the transaction information to the device, the payment module: deletes the stored transaction information if acknowledgement information is received from the device within a predetermined time period; and maintains the stored transaction information if the acknowledgement information is not received from the device within the predetermined time period.

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.