Method for operating beverage vending machine and device for operating beverage vending machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a beverage vending machine (2), in which the beverage vending machine (2) is coupled to an operating entity (3), in which the operating entity (3) obtains operating information from a remotely arranged management entity (4), and the operating entity (3) can be connected to a payment entity (5) for payment of beverage fees.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a beverage vending machine.

[0002] The invention also relates to a device for operating a beverage vending machine. Background Art

[0003] It is known to operate a beverage vending machine (e.g. a fully automatic coffee machine) using a mobile operating entity (e.g. a smartphone). In this case, the mobile operating entity is arranged to store beverages that can be made with the beverage vending machine, and the operating entity is wirelessly connected to the beverage vending machine, e.g. via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, in order to trigger the purchase of a beverage from the beverage vending machine. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to integrating payment functionality into a system for wirelessly operating a beverage vending machine.

[0005] According to the invention, the features of claim 1 are provided to achieve this object. In particular, in order to achieve this object, according to the invention, a method for operating a beverage vending machine is proposed, the method using a management entity, an operating entity and a payment entity arranged remotely from the beverage vending machine, wherein beverage-specific information is stored in the management entity, wherein in a selection step, a user selects a beverage at the operating entity, in an ordering step, an order for the selected beverage is transmitted from the operating entity to the management entity, in a payment step, the management entity initiates a payment process to the payment entity, and after successful payment, the management entity transmits an order release to the operating entity in a release step to trigger the beverage vending machine to dispense the selected beverage in a triggering step.

[0006] By creating an administrative entity and participating in the payment process, the present invention can implement payment functionality without the beverage vending machine itself having to be connected to the Internet to verify the payment process.Another advantage is that the operating entity does not have to be protected in a special way to prevent the output of unpaid beverages.

[0007] The method described can be used particularly advantageously in a fully automatic coffee machine in which a variety of coffee specialities can be provided, for example with or without the addition of milk.

[0008] For example, the management entity can be designed to be fixed, in particular, arranged in a server. The advantage here is that the management entity can be maintained independently of the operation entity, in particular, can be maintained by providing updated information.

[0009] This updated information can then be used by all operating entities simultaneously without requiring changes to these operating entities. For example, a specific payment method or a specific payment entity can be selected.

[0010] The operating entity is preferably designed as a mobile device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer or a similar mobile operating unit. The advantage here is that the user can use his own operating entity.

[0011] Preferably, the payment entity is designed to be fixed. Here, it can be a payment entity for which a payment service provider provides a corresponding interface via the Internet. Therefore, the payment entity is preferably set separately from the management entity.

[0012] For example, provision can be made for the operating entity to be wirelessly connected to the beverage vending machine and / or the management entity at least in a section of the respective communication path.

[0013] For example, provision may be made for the payment entity to be offered over the Internet as a cloud service or another service that can be controlled using a standardized interface.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that in the identification step, the operating entity obtains a machine-specific identifier from the beverage vending machine. The advantage here is that the operating entity can process the machine-specific identifier in order to set it on the beverage vending machine to be operated accordingly.

[0015] For example, it can be provided that the identification step is performed before the selection step. This means that the beverage options in the selection step can be adjusted according to the beverage vending machine to be operated.

[0016] For example, it can be provided that the identification step is performed before the ordering step. This means that it can be ensured that the ordering step is adjusted according to the situation of the beverage vending machine to be operated.

[0017] In particular, it can be provided that a machine-specific identifier is transmitted together with the order information. This means that information about which beverage vending machine is being serviced is available in the management entity.

[0018] For example, it can be provided that the machine-specific identifier is optically readable. This has the advantage that no wireless connection between the operating entity and the beverage vending machine is required when reading in the machine-specific information. For example, a machine-specific identifier with a machine-readable code (e.g. a QR code) can be provided on the outside of the beverage vending machine, which can be a permanent marking or can be temporarily displayed via a display unit.

[0019] An advantage of providing and transmitting the machine-specific identifier before the selection step is that the identifier can be transmitted to the management entity before the selection step, so that the management entity can transmit the beverage-specific information to the operating entity before the selection.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that, in the connection step, a control connection is established between the operating entity and the beverage vending machine. The advantage here is that wireless control can be performed via this control connection, for example via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, particularly low-power Bluetooth or Web Bluetooth.

[0021] For example, this may be done after the identification step, making the machine-specific identifier available when setting up the operational entity.

[0022] This can also be done, for example, before the selection step, so that communication with the beverage vending machine is already possible when the beverage is selected.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, provision can be made that, in the setting step, the operating entity obtains from the management entity the set of beverages available at the beverage vending machine and / or available for a machine-specific identifier. The advantage is that the available beverages of the beverage vending machine can be changed by modifying the management entity without intervention of the operating entity or the beverage vending machine.

[0024] For example, the available beverage groups can be transmitted together with the associated prices. This means that the price information can be changed without intervention in the beverage vending machine or the operating entity.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that recipe parameters associated with the beverage group (e.g. the amount of milk or other ingredients to be added, the amount of water or the water temperature, the type of coffee, the degree of grinding or similar parameters) can be transmitted, based on which the available beverages can be differentiated and / or individually adjusted. Here, a further advantage is that the behavior of the beverage vending machine can be modified remotely without having to intervene in the beverage vending machine.

[0026] This can for example be accomplished simply by modifying the management entity and / or the beverage specific information.For this purpose, for example, a user interface can be provided on the management entity to read out and / or modify the database.

[0027] Preferably, provision is made that the setting step is carried out before the selection step, so that an update of the information carried out at the management entity is available, in particular can be displayed, at the operating entity before the selection step is carried out.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, in the verification step, the beverage vending machine transmits a verification symbol to the operating entity. The advantage here is that real information can be transmitted from the beverage vending machine to the management entity without the operating entity having to be set up in a special way. For example, the verification symbol can contain information about the time of its generation, for example as a random number.

[0029] It is particularly advantageous if the verification step is performed as part of the selection step. The advantage here is that when the authenticator is generated, the beverage vending machine already has access to the order or selection of the desired beverage. This can link the selected beverage to the authenticator for subsequent verification.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that in the ordering step or, for example, in the payment step mentioned, a validator (for example, the aforementioned validator) is transmitted to the management entity. Thus, a tool for making the payment process secure is provided. In particular, if the validator is transmitted from the vending machine via the operating entity to the management entity, the management entity can process information from the beverage vending machine, and this information cannot be changed by the intervening operating entity. In this case, the management entity can also sign the validator, as described below.

[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the management entity sends a verification symbol, such as the verification symbol mentioned above, to the operating entity in the release step. In this way, the management entity can, for example, be used to indicate that the payment has been completed and enable the operating entity to trigger the purchase of the selected beverage. For this purpose, it is beneficial if the verification symbol is signed by the management entity. The signature can be done, for example, using a key from a key pair, for example using an RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) method or a general asymmetric encryption method, so that the beverage vending machine can verify the signature.

[0032] For example, it may be provided that the operating entity forwards the verification symbol to the beverage vending machine. Thus, the information obtained on the beverage vending machine may be verified or processed by the management entity. The processing may be performed using the signature described herein. The signature may be one of the signature methods known in the prior art or other signature methods.

[0033] It is particularly advantageous if this transmission or forwarding of the authentication code from the operating entity to the beverage vending machine takes place automatically, ie without any additional action on the part of the user.

[0034] The use of a validator processed by the management entity to automatically trigger the selected beverage has the further advantage that the management entity can almost without error count the number of beverages dispensed by the beverage vending machine or the machine-specific identifier, without the need for feedback from the beverage vending machine to the management authority after the beverage has been dispensed. This is achieved in that the output of the beverage after the approval of the management entity can hardly be blocked, since all further steps can be carried out automatically within a short time.

[0035] In particular, the beverage vending machine need not therefore be connected to the Internet to provide such feedback, regardless of the operating entity.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, before dispensing the selected beverage, the beverage vending machine checks the authenticator forwarded by the operating entity in a triggering step. Thus, a verification of the order flow can be implemented in the beverage vending machine. This is particularly advantageous if the authenticator is created and processed as described. In particular, if the authenticator contains time information about its creation time, it is practically impossible to use the processed authenticator to trigger the purchase of a beverage twice in succession.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that, in the payment step, the payment request is transmitted from the payment entity to the operation entity, which means that the payment process can be performed on the operation entity.

[0038] It is particularly advantageous if such transmission of the payment request is transmitted from the payment entity to the operating entity via the management entity. This means that the management entity can monitor the entire payment process.

[0039] Thus, there is no need to connect the operating entity directly to the payment entity. This has the advantage that the payment entity does not need to be modified in order to receive information about completed payments at a central location such as the management entity, and the information about completed payments does not have to be transmitted through the operating entity to the management entity.

[0040] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the management entity checks whether the payment process is necessary before the payment step. A means is thus provided for storing in the management entity whether payment is required for the beverage vending machine. For example, if the beverage vending machine is located in a non-public area or is intended to be provided free of charge to a specific group of people, payment may not be required. In this case, the management entity can skip the payment step based on its storage decision. The advantage here is that the management entity allows a flexible design of the operating process without modifying the beverage vending machine or the operating entity. Another advantage is that even in this case, it can be ensured that the purchased beverage is securely recorded in the management entity without the need for a direct Internet connection between the beverage vending machine and the management entity.

[0041] For example, this information may be stored based on a beverage vending machine or machine-specific identifier so that the correct decision can be easily made in the management entity as to whether a payment process is required during an operation.

[0042] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the execution of the release step is stored in the management entity. Thus, it is possible to perform statistical and / or accounting analysis of the beverages purchased at the beverage vending machine without having to read the beverage vending machine, for example, via a separate Internet connection. This allows for a simple reconciliation of payment processes and beverages purchased at the beverage vending machine, and for setting up predictive maintenance or other statistical and / or accounting analysis.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that in the configuration step, a machine-specific identifier, in particular the aforementioned machine-specific identifier, is transmitted to the management entity. This enables the beverage vending machine to be registered at the management entity. It is preferably provided that the configuration step can be performed separately from the previously described operating entity, for example via another operating entity of an authorized person, and that this step is prohibited for the previously mentioned operating entity.

[0044] For example, it may be provided that the management entity generates a public / private key pair which is transmitted to the vending machine. For example, the key pair may be generated by an asymmetric encryption method (e.g., an RSA method). This means that information may be provided on the beverage vending machine which may be used to generate a verifier or other information which the operating entity cannot modify. This enables secure communication between the beverage vending machine and the management entity via the operating entity without requiring a separate connection between the management entity and the beverage vending machine which is not directed via the operating entity.

[0045] For example, it can be provided that the public key is used to verify the preferably signed authenticator (especially the aforementioned authenticator) transmitted in the triggering step in the beverage vending machine, especially for verifying the signature. This can verify whether the payment process in the beverage vending machine has been completed correctly.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the beverage vending machine and the operating entity can be connected via a point-to-point connection. This can easily establish a control connection between the beverage vending machine and the operating entity without installing the beverage vending machine into other communication networks. For example, the point-to-point connection can be established via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, in particular low-power Bluetooth and / or Web Bluetooth.

[0047] An advantage here is that the complete communication with the beverage vending machine, in particular the communication between the beverage vending machine and the management entity, can be performed by the operating entity, which itself can be connected to the Internet via mobile data access.

[0048] The invention utilizes the fact that the operating entity, in particular a smartphone, is technically set up for a data connection, for example via a mobile wireless network or WLAN, to the Internet and thus to the management entity, without the user having to make any modifications to the beverage vending machine.

[0049] In one embodiment of the invention, provision can be made that, in a configuration step, such as the one mentioned above, information relating to a machine-specific identifier, such as the one mentioned above, is stored in the management entity to indicate whether a payment process is required. An advantage here is that the configuration step can be performed by authorized personnel separately from the operating entity, such as by a separate operating entity. Thus, the information can be designed such that the operating entity cannot access it during normal operation, making it virtually impossible for unauthorized users to modify the information.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that when the method is to be performed, the manual input unit on the beverage vending machine is disabled. The advantage of this is that the management entity can achieve full control over the beverage vending machine.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that an optical output unit (e.g. the aforementioned output unit) presents a machine-specific identifier, such as the aforementioned machine-specific identifier. This enables a simple optical reading of the identifier without the need to establish a control connection between the beverage vending machine and the operating entity at this time. It can preferably be provided that this presentation of the machine-specific identifier also contains information about establishing a control connection to the beverage vending machine.

[0052] For example, it can be provided that an error message is displayed by means of an identifier. This can prevent the user from operating a faulty beverage vending machine in a safe manner.

[0053] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, according to the present invention, a device for operating a beverage vending machine is also provided, in particular, the device includes a beverage vending machine, an operating entity and a management entity, wherein the device is equipped with equipment for executing the method according to the present invention (in particular the method as described above), and / or equipment according to the claims related to the method.

[0054] The invention will now be described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment, but the invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments are produced by combining features of single or multiple protection claims with one another and / or with single or multiple features of the exemplary embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] In the attached figure:

[0056] Figure 1 A flow chart showing the configuration steps;

[0057] Figure 2 The second part shows Figure 1 A continuation of the configuration step;

[0058] Figure 3 A flow chart showing a method for operating a beverage vending machine according to the present invention is shown;

[0059] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Detailed flowchart of

[0060] Figure 5 A device for operating a beverage vending machine is shown in a highly schematic view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Figure 5 An apparatus, generally designated 1, for operating a beverage vending machine 2 is shown.

[0062] Thus, the device 1 has a beverage vending machine 2 (eg a fully automatic coffee machine), a mobile operating entity 3 (eg a smartphone), a management entity 4 (eg a database 11 accessible via the Internet) and a payment entity 5 (eg a cloud service).

[0063] The beverage vending machine 2 has a display unit 6 on which a machine-readable code, for example a QR code, can be presented.

[0064] The machine-readable code contains a machine-specific identifier and information for launching an application on the operating entity 3 .

[0065] The operating entity 3 has a reading unit 7 with which the information presented on the display unit 6 can be read for further mechanical processing.

[0066] The read information is used to establish a control connection 8 between the communication unit 9 of the beverage vending machine 2 and the operating entity 3. In this example, the control connection 8 is a Web Bluetooth connection or a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) connection.

[0067] The operational entity 3 is connected to the management entity 4 via a data connection 10, for example at least partly via the Internet.

[0068] The data connection 10 can also be established on the basis of information transmitted from the beverage vending machine 2 via the reading unit 7 , for example on the basis of a machine-specific identifier.

[0069] The management entity 4 has the above-mentioned database 11 with beverage-specific information, in particular information associated with a machine-specific identifier.

[0070] The beverage-specific information may, for example, contain recipe parameters and / or price information.

[0071] The management entity 4 also has a manual user interface for maintaining, managing and updating the database 11 .

[0072] The user interface 12 may also be operated via remote access.

[0073] The management entity 4 may be connected at least temporarily to the payment entity 5 via a further data connection 13 .

[0074] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The various sub-steps of configuring step 14 are shown.

[0075] Here, the devices and entities involved are arranged in columns.

[0076] "KVA" refers to a beverage vending machine (e.g. KVA = fully automatic coffee machine) with a wireless connector ("Frog"). The wireless connector forms Figure 5 The communication unit 9 of the beverage vending machine 2 is shown in FIG.

[0077] The operating entity 3 is presented in the third column “Setup App.” This operating entity 3 does not necessarily correspond to an operating entity in a normal operating mode, but can also be an operating entity 3 of a special authorized user.

[0078] The “Operator Frontend” column represents managed entity 4.

[0079] Each user intervention is marked by a horizontal dashed line.

[0080] It can be seen that the communication unit 9 is first activated in the substep marked with a circled 1.

[0081] The beverage vending machine 2 then displays a QR code on its display unit 6 , which is scanned by the operating entity 3 in order to provide a link to the setup routine.

[0082] Via this link, the user can now start the setup application on the operating entity 3 in the substep marked with 2 in the circle and log in to the management entity 4 or register a new user.

[0083] The user then selects at the operating entity 3 that a new beverage vending machine 2 should be registered.

[0084] Then, a control connection 8 is established between the beverage vending machine 2 and the operating entity 3 .

[0085] The beverage vending machine 2 then sends a machine-specific identifier, which contains the unique name of the machine ("machine ID") and an indication of the type of device (e.g. "product name"), via the communication unit 9. In the substep marked with 3 in the circle, the user first selects on the operating entity 3 the operating mode to be selected. Figure 4 The modes are available for selection.

[0086] Here there is an "authorized" model, a "paid" model, and an "open access" model.

[0087] In the "open access" of the open mode, the user sees the QR code on the beverage vending machine 2 (on the display unit 6), but everything is available without paying. In this case, the payment step 20 described in more detail below is skipped.

[0088] This mode is used to obtain statistical data of the vending machine 2 and display it in the management entity 4.

[0089] The second mode is a "Pay" payment mode, in which the user scans the QR code, makes payment in a payment step 20 described in more detail below, and receives a beverage.

[0090] The third mode is called "authorization" for authorized access, in which the user of the beverage vending machine 2 can be assigned through the operator front end 24 (having manual operating elements such as a touch screen, switch, etc.), that is, when the user is assigned to the beverage vending machine 2, he can use the beverage vending machine 2, and if he is not assigned, he cannot use the beverage vending machine 2. To do this, the user must log in to the coffee application on the operating entity 2 so that the system can identify who can use the beverage vending machine 2.

[0091] Return to Figure 1 , the operating entity 3 now sends a machine-specific identifier and further information (e.g. the selected operating mode “selected mode” and, for possible data communication, the protocol version, the MAC address of the communication unit 9 and the associated version number) to the management entity 4 in order to register the beverage vending machine 2 with the management entity 4.

[0092] This data is now stored in the database 11 of the management entity 4 .

[0093] The management entity 4 now generates a key pair having a public key and a private key.

[0094] This public key is now transmitted to the operating entity 3 and from there further to the drinks vending machine 2 or its communication unit 9 in order to be stored in the drinks vending machine 2 .

[0095] This public key is therefore independent of the operating entity 3 and remains available in the beverage vending machine 2 for further use.

[0096] At the end of the sub-step marked with a circled 3 , the beverage vending machine 2 provides feedback to the operating entity 3 via the control connection 8 and switches the display unit 6 so that local operation on the beverage vending machine 2 is no longer possible and is no longer displayed.

[0097] In the substep marked with a circled 4, the user at the operating entity 3 still has the option of assigning an individual name (“Frog's name”) to the beverage vending machine 2, which is stored in the communication unit 9. Once the beverage vending machine 2 has communicated the successful name change to the operating entity 3, this newly defined name of the beverage vending machine 2 is transmitted to the management entity 4 for storage in the database 11.

[0098] This completes configuration step 14.

[0099] Figure 3 A normal operating mode for carrying out the method according to the invention is shown.

[0100] Here, the "Frog" column represents the communication unit 9 of the beverage vending machine 2 and therefore the beverage vending machine 2, the "Coffee Application" column represents the operating entity 3, the "Operator Front End / Server" column represents the management entity 4, and the "Payment Provider" column represents the payment entity 5. The horizontal dashed line again represents an input on the operating entity 2.

[0101] exist Figure 3 In an identification step 15 at the beginning of the sub-step marked with a 5 in a circle in FIG. 1 , the operating entity 3 reads machine-readable information on the display unit 6, which machine-readable information notably also contains a machine-specific identifier of the beverage vending machine 2 and a link to an application to be executed on the operating entity 3. This application (“coffee application”) is generally different from the application previously described in the configuration step 14.

[0102] Now operate entity 2, such as Figure 4 It is shown that the mode of setting can be queried from the management entity 4.

[0103] In the "open access" mode, the payment step 20 described later is skipped, in the "payment" mode, the method described below is fully executed, and in the "authorized" mode, authorized users can operate the beverage vending machine locally without the beverage purchase being recorded in the management entity 4.

[0104] The following describes the process when setting up the "Payment" mode.

[0105] Using the aforementioned identifier, the operating entity 3 then queries the beverage vending machine 2 in the management entity 4 in a setup step 16 for the available beverages and the associated prices and, if necessary, the parameters of the recipe.

[0106] If this is stored in the operating entity 3 , the operating entity 3 is ready to select a beverage and can establish a control connection 8 using the information from the identification step 15 .

[0107] At the beginning of the substep marked with a circled 5, i.e. in the identification step 15, part of the information transmitted from the beverage vending machine 2 can be used to establish a data connection 10 between the operating entity 3 and the management entity 4, for example via a mobile radio data connection, and to establish a subsequent Internet connection to the management entity 4.

[0108] At the end of the setting step 16, the operating entity 3 now displays to the user the menu structure of the beverages available at the beverage vending machine 2 ( Figure 4 in the Coffee Menu).

[0109] Therefore, this information does not come from the beverage vending machine 2 but can be changed and updated by the management entity 4 without having to access the beverage vending machine 2 .

[0110] In the substep marked with a circled 6, the user selects the desired beverage in a selection step 17 on the operating entity 3. This beverage is then transmitted by the operating entity 3 to the beverage vending machine 2, whereby an authenticator ("random number") is requested.

[0111] This authentication code is generated in a authentication step 18 in the beverage vending machine 2 and transmitted to the operating entity 3 .

[0112] In a subsequent ordering step 19 , the operating entity 3 transmits the order with the details of the selected beverage and the authenticator as a payment request to the management entity 4 .

[0113] The management entity 4 calls the payment entity 5 to initiate the payment process. Feedback from the payment entity 5 is returned to the operation entity 3 by the management entity 4.

[0114] In the payment step 20, the user enters the data required to trigger the payment process to the operating entity 3 at the beginning of the sub-step marked with a circle 7. This data is now transmitted together with the validator to the management entity 4, which forwards the payment data to the payment entity 5 to trigger the payment.

[0115] If the payment process can be completed correctly, the payment entity 5 sends feedback to the management entity 4.

[0116] The management entity 4 then signs the authenticator using the key pair already mentioned above and sends it back to the operation entity 3 .

[0117] If the “open access” mode is selected, the management entity 4 skips the call and payment steps 20 of the payment entity 5 and directly sends the authenticator signature to the operating entity 2 .

[0118] Thus, in both the “open access” mode and the “payment” mode, the signed authenticator is transmitted to the operating entity 3 in a release step 21 .

[0119] In a triggering step 22 , the signed authenticator is transmitted from the operating entity 3 to the beverage vending machine 2 without further intervention by the user.

[0120] The beverage vending machine 2 verifies the signed authenticator with its public key and, after successful verification, triggers the dispensing of the selected beverage at the dispensing unit 23 of the beverage vending machine 2 .

[0121] The application can then end at operation entity 3 or can be executed again starting from the substep marked with 6 in a circle to obtain another beverage.

[0122] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method and a device 1 for operating a beverage vending machine 2, wherein the beverage vending machine 2 is connected to an operating entity 3, wherein the operating entity 3 obtains operating information from a remotely arranged management entity 4, which management entity 4 can be connected to a payment entity 5 to pay for beverage purchases.

[0123] Reference numerals list

[0124] 1Device for operating a beverage vending machine

[0125] 2 Beverage vending machines

[0126] 3 Operational Entity

[0127] 4 Management Entity

[0128] 5 Payment Entity

[0129] 6 Display unit

[0130] 7 Reading unit

[0131] 8 Control Connections

[0132] 9 Communication unit

[0133] 10 Data Connection

[0134] 11 Database

[0135] 12 User Interface

[0136] 13 (Additional) data connections

[0137] 14 Configuration steps

[0138] 15 Identification Steps

[0139] 16 Setup Steps

[0140] 17 Selection Steps

[0141] 18 Verification Steps

[0142] 19 Ordering Steps

[0143] 20 Payment Steps

[0144] 21 Release Steps

[0145] 22 Triggering Steps

[0146] 23 Allocation Unit

[0147] 24 Operator Front End

Claims

1. A method for operating a beverage vending machine (2), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, comprising a preferably stationary management entity (4) arranged remote from the beverage vending machine (2), a preferably mobile operating entity (3) and a preferably stationary payment entity (5), wherein: Beverage-specific information is stored in the management entity (4), wherein in a selection step (17), a user selects a beverage at the operating entity (3), in an ordering step (19), an order for the selected beverage is transmitted from the operating entity (3) to the management entity (4), in a payment step (20), the management entity (4) initiates a payment process to the payment entity (5), and after successful payment, in a release step (21), the management entity (4) transmits the order release to the operating entity (3) to trigger the dispensing of the selected beverage on the beverage vending machine (2) in a triggering step (22).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In an identification step (15), preferably before a selection step (17) or before an ordering step (19), the operating entity (3) obtains a machine-specific identifier from the beverage vending machine (2), in particular, wherein the machine-specific identifier is transmitted together with the order information and / or wherein the machine-specific identifier is optically read.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In a coupling step, in particular after the identification step (15) and / or before the selection step (17), a control connection is established between the operating entity (3) and the beverage vending machine (2).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In a setting step (16), in particular before a selection step (17), the operating entity (3) obtains from the management entity (4) a group of beverages available at the beverage vending machine (2) and / or available for a machine-specific identifier, in particular the group of beverages having an associated price and / or having at least one associated recipe parameter.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In a verification step (18), in particular as part of the selection step (17), the beverage vending machine (2) transmits an authenticator, in particular a random number, to the operating entity (3).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The authenticator or an authenticator is transmitted to the management entity (4) during the ordering step (19) and / or during the payment step (20) or a payment step (20).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The management entity (4) sends the authenticator or preferably the signed authenticator to the operating entity (3) in a releasing step (21), wherein the operating entity (3) preferably automatically forwards the authenticator to the beverage vending machine (2).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Before dispensing the selected beverage, the beverage vending machine (2) verifies the authentication code or an authentication code forwarded by the operating entity (3) in a triggering step (22).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In the payment step (20), a payment request is transmitted from the payment entity (5) to the operating entity (3), in particular via the management entity (4).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Prior to the payment step (20), in the management entity (4), it is checked whether a payment process associated with the beverage vending machine and / or a machine-specific identifier is necessary, in particular wherein if no payment is required, the payment step (20) is skipped.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The execution of the release step (21) is stored in the management entity (4) in order to be used in particular for statistical and / or accounting analysis.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In a configuration step (14), the machine-specific identifier or a machine-specific identifier is transmitted to the management entity (4), in particular, wherein the management entity (4) generates a public / private key pair, the public key of which is transmitted to the beverage vending machine (2) and / or is used to verify the authenticator or an authenticator in the beverage vending machine (2) transmitted in the triggering step (22).

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The beverage vending machine (2) and the operating entity (3) are connected via a point-to-point connection, in particular via Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth (BLE, Web Bluetooth), in particular wherein full communication is performed between the operating entity (3) and the beverage vending machine (2).

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In a configuration step (14), information associated with the machine-specific identifier or a machine-specific identifier is stored in the management entity (4) for indicating whether a payment operation is required.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The manual input unit on the beverage vending machine (2) is disabled and / or the optical output unit presents the machine-specific identifier or a machine-specific identifier, in particular wherein an error message is displayed via the identifier.

16. A device for operating a beverage vending machine (2), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, comprising a device for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims.

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