Automatic mobile payment on a non-connected vending machine

This paper addresses a mobile payment solution where there is no connection required for the vending machine, and while the local means of communication is through infrared (IR). It is assumed that the cellular phone has the IR feature. All the user has to do is to select the item, and point the infrared enabled cellular phone to the vending machine. The vending machine will detect the presence of the cellular phone through IR, and the communication will take place by sending a message to the back-end server. Detailed inventory and telemetric information can be added to the transaction data. Data compression, segmentation and reassembly schemes are implemented. The message gets decoded in the back-end server where the transaction is processed, billing is done, and inventory information is sent to the vending machine operators. Another program in the vending machine operator side optimizes the route management of the truck fleet, responsible for replenishing the vending machines. An intelligent route management saves on the operational costs, by reducing the number of times each vending machine needs to be visited. The proposal is a hybrid of three payment methods: currency (coin), manual mobile, and infrared mobile. The advantages of using the system for the users, and the operators are indicated in this paper.