WO2022249029A1

WO2022249029A1 - Multifunction vending machine control apparatus and system for dispensing food and vending machine comprising said apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022249029A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/054801
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Amoruso
Original assignee: Orasesta SpA
Current assignee: Orasesta SpA
Priority date: 2021-05-24
Filing date: 2022-05-23
Publication date: 2022-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-24
Also published as: IT202100013334A1; EP4348613A1

Abstract

The invention describes a vending machine control apparatus (100) comprising a VMC controller card (10); a payment system card (30), connected to said controller card (10); a storage module (30_1) of accounting data (D_CONT) associated with said payment system card (30); a gateway card (20) comprising a processing unit (210) configured to read data (D_bus1;D_bus2;D_bus3) in transit on one or more serial buses (bus_1, bus_2,bus_3) and display and/or store said data (D_bus1;D_bus2;D_bus3) on said vending machine; wherein said control apparatus (100) is characterized in that said processing unit (210) is further configured to: process said data (D_bus1;D_bus2;D_bus3) in transit on one or more of said serial buses (bus_1, bus_2,bus_3); transmit to the outside said control apparatus (100) said read and/or processed data (D_bus1;D_bus2;D_bus3); and said gateway card (20) further comprises: a geolocation module (GEO) arranged to geolocate said control apparatus (100) and said processing unit (210) is configured to store geolocation data (D_GEO); transmit accounting data (D_CONT) referring to said geolocated control apparatus (100) by means of said geolocation data (D_GEO).

Description

MULTIFUNCTION VENDING MACHINE CONTROL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING FOOD AND VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING SAID APPARATUS DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a multifunction vending machine control apparatus for dispensing food, the vending machine also being identified with the more generic term "automatic dispenser".

The present invention also relates to a remote multifunction vending machine control system for dispensing food.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vending machine for dispensing food which comprises the control apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a remote multifunction vending machine control apparatus and system for providing a plurality of services based on the data transmitted by the communication buses of the same vending machine.

In the course of the present description, the term "automatic dispenser" or "vending machine" will mean a physical containment unit, arranged to dispense a food product, which comprises a series of automated compartments and/or ingredient mixing units and/or brewing units which can be controlled by a processing unit by means of a combined action of sensors and actuators, and power supply means. In particular, the vending machine described in the present invention is an automatic dispenser capable of dispensing food in general: by way of non limiting example, the machine is capable of dispensing hot and/or cold beverages prepared instantly, bottled drinks, canned drinks, tetrapacks or other container formats, sweet and/or salted snacks, yoghurts, candies, chewing gums, ready meals, salads, fruit and the like.

PRIOR ART The continuous evolution of mobile communication technologies is offering the vending sector new opportunities which can have important repercussions on the relationship between the Manager and the end Customer.

Traditional vending, thus excluding the contiguous sectors of OCS (Office Coffee Service) and HCS (Home Coffee Service), is a B2B-based sector, i.e., a company/entity/community, which allows its users to use a service, entering into an agreement with a Vending Management company.

Vending Management is intended as a company which provides a service to an end Customer, using leasing agreements with a third party (company/entity/community), which allows, through its physical spaces, positioning the Vending Service.

The Vending Service is provided to the end Customers through automatic dispensers (Vending machines).

The interaction between the end Customer and the Vending machine concerns three steps:

Product need (impulsively, because dictated by a contingent need) Product selection (by means of a product display case for cold beverages and snacks or by means of push-button panel/touch display for hot beverages)

Payment (traditionally in cash or with electronic key)

This last step is the most subject to technological evolution, as it lends itself to being dematerialized through mobile communication devices.

For several years now, the payment at Vending machines has evolved, allowing purchase by means of credit cards.

However, this evolution, referring to the Italian market, has led to the migration of a minimum number of transactions towards this new payment system.

In general, the object of the present invention is to improve the interaction between the remote configuration system and the vending machine in terms of communication efficiency. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to perform the different processes which occur in the vending machines with data updated almost in real time.

A further object of the present invention is to establish an efficient interaction between the vending machine and the end user.

Another object of the present invention is to allow to manage the different processes which occur in the vending machines in an improved and optimized manner; in particular, the processes regarding payments. Another object of the present invention is to allow an efficient remote monitoring of the operating status of the automatic dispenser and of the payment systems, where the term status in the course of the description means the status of the sales and/or faults and/or anomalies and/or interactions with the user.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the communication, between different devices for querying/modifying the data produced/managed by the vending machine, allowing an interfacing between different devices even of different generation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention describes a multifunction control apparatus for an automatic dispenser, according to what is described in claim 1. Advantageous aspects are described in dependent claims 2 to 8.

In a second aspect, the invention describes a remote vending machine control apparatus, according to what is described in claim 9.

Advantageous aspects are described in dependent claims 10 to 17.

In a third aspect, the invention describes a vending machine, according to what is described in claim 18, which comprises the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageous aspects are described in dependent claims 19 and 20.

The invention achieves the following technical effects:

- improved interaction between the remote configuration system and the vending machine in terms of communication efficiency; - execution of the different processes which occur in the vending machines with data updated almost in real time;

- efficient interaction between the automatic dispenser and the end user.

- improved and optimized management of the different processes which occur in the vending machines; in particular, the processes regarding payments;

- efficient remote monitoring of the operating status of the dispenser;

- standardization of the connections, between the devices for querying/modifying the data produced/managed by the vending machine. The technical effects/advantages mentioned, and other technical effects/advantages of the invention will emerge in further detail from the description provided herein below of an example embodiment provided by way of approximate and non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine control apparatus, according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a vending machine control system, according to the invention.

Figure 2A is a second schematic view of a vending machine control system, according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a processing unit of a component of the apparatus of figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of a component of the apparatus of figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general terms, the invention allows to improve the interaction between the remote configuration system and the vending machine in terms of communication efficiency.

In particular, it allows to perform the different processes which occur in the automatic dispensers with data updated almost in real time. Furthermore, the invention allows to manage different processes which occur in vending machines in an improved and optimized manner; in particular, some of these processes concern payments; the invention therefore allows customers to make electronic payments in a simple and optimized manner, decreasing cash transactions, and allowing a dematerialization of the electronic key.

The invention further provides telemetry functions, thus allowing the efficient remote monitoring of the operating status of the dispenser.

In particular, the invention describes a multifunction system applicable to an automatic dispenser, hereinafter called vending machine, which performs on the one hand telemetry functions, i.e., it allows to remotely know the status of the machine, where the term status in the course of the description is intended as the status of the sales and/or faults and/or anomalies and/or interactions with the user.

Furthermore, the invention allows to establish an efficient interaction between the vending machine and the end user, in particular by means of a software application for electronic devices, in particular for smartphones which allows the manager to reach the end customer and acquire details of the transactions, both in terms of expenses and in terms of products, so as to be able to provide the customer with an improved and, as much as possible, customized system.

Even further, the invention allows to standardize the connections, between the devices for querying/modifying the data produced/managed by the automatic dispenser, allowing an interfacing between different devices even of different generation.

In a first implementation aspect, with particular reference to figure 1 , the invention describes a vending machine control apparatus 100 comprising a VMC controller card 10 which communicates by means of one or more serial buses.

The buses used are protocol A bus, indicated as bus 1 , also called executive bus, MDB bus referred to as bus_2 and DDCMP bus referred to as bus_3, the latter also referred to as DDCMP-EVADTS bus, where EVADTS represents the "vocabulary" for identifying the messages on the DDCMP bus.

The control apparatus 100 further comprises a payment system card 30 connected to the controller card 10 and arranged to control sales transactions of the vending machine.

Preferably, the payment system card 30 is connected to a payment device 31 ,32,33,34.

Outside the control apparatus 100, the vending machine comprises the payment device 31 ,32,33,34.

Preferably, the payment device 31 ,32,33,34 comprises one of an electronic key reader 31 , a coin validator 32, a banknote reader 33 and a payment card reader 34.

In one embodiment of the invention, the VMC controller card 10 comprises the payment system card 30.

The protocol A (or executive) bus (bus_1) is the fundamental bus for having telemetry information on sales because it is located between the controller card 10 and the payment system card 30; furthermore, it indicates the active or non-active service of the vending machine.

The MDB bus (bus_2) is also important for having telemetry information on sales; it is further essential when an external payment system is to be created, i.e., when a smartphone and a corresponding app for payment are to be used, since the MDB bus is arranged to recognize the external payment system.

That is, the MDB allows a direct communication between the controller card 10 and the payment devices 31 ,32,33,34.

The DDCMP bus, with EVADTS protocol, (bus_3) is arranged to intercept information related to machine faults or sometimes for remote configuration/programming of the payment system card 30 or of the controller card 10 of the vending machine. The control apparatus 100 comprises a storage module 30_1 of accounting data D_CONT associated with the payment system 30, comprising accounting data of sales transactions and payment details for the sales transactions carried out using the payment system card 30. Preferably, the storage module 30_1 is in the payment system card 30. Alternatively or in addition, the storage module 30_1 is outside the payment system card 30 and in data communication therewith.

That is, the storage module 30_1 of accounting data D_CONT is a black box which contains accounting data and allows it to be sent autonomously. The control apparatus 100 further comprises a gateway card 20 in data connection with the controller card 10 and/or the payment system card 30. Operationally, the gateway card 20 acts as a sniffer on the executive bus bus_1 , i.e., it intercepts the communications between the controller card 10 and the payment system card 30.

With particular reference to figure 4, the gateway card 20 comprises a serial connector 222 arranged for a data connection with one or more of the serial buses bus_1 , bus_2, bus_3.

In one embodiment, the gateway card 20 comprises the payment system card 30.

In this case, the gateway card 20 no longer acts as a sniffer, but acts as a master for the executive bus (bus1 ).

According to the invention, the gateway card 20 comprises a processing unit 210 (fig. 3) configured to manage and process the data in transit on the buses.

The processing unit 210 is configured to read data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 in transit on one or more of the serial buses bus_1 , bus_2,bus_3 and display and/or store the data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 on the vending machine.

In general, it should be noted that in the present context and in the subsequent claims, the control unit 210 is presented as divided into distinct functional modules (memory modules or operating modules) for the sole purpose of describing the functionalities thereof clearly and completely.

Actually, such a control unit, in one case, can consist of a single electronic device, suitably programmed for performing the functions described, and the various modules can correspond to a hardware entity and/or routine software that are part of the programmed device.

Alternatively, or in addition, these functions can be performed by a plurality of electronic devices over which the aforesaid functional modules can be distributed.

The control unit 210 can further make use of one or more processors for executing the instructions contained in the memory modules.

The aforesaid functional modules can also be distributed over different computers, locally or remotely, based on the architecture of the network in which they reside.

According to the invention, the processing unit 210 is configured to process the data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 in transit on one or more of the serial buses bus_1 , bus_2,bus_3.

With particular reference to figure 3, a first processing module 216 is arranged for such a purpose.

The processing unit 210 is further configured to externally transmit the read and/or processed data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 to the control apparatus 100.

That is, the processing unit 210 is further configured to transmit the read and/or processed data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 towards the outside, or outside, the control apparatus 100.

With particular reference to figure 3, a first transmission module 217A is arranged for such a purpose.

In particular, with particular reference to figure 2A, the first transmission module 217A is arranged to transmit the read and/or processed data towards a telecommunication network 300.

According to the invention, the processing unit 210 is further configured to remotely send identification data D_ID of the gateway card 20 at each start-up, as shown in figure 2A.

With particular reference to figure 3, the first transmission module 217A is arranged for such a purpose.

According to the invention, a radio module 220 is further coupled to the gateway card 20.

As described below, as soon as the radio module 220 of the gateway card 20, associated with the transmission module 217A is activated, the identification data D_ID of the gateway card are sent remotely.

According to the invention, the gateway card 20 is identified based on the hardware features of the radio module 220 and of the processing unit 210, in particular of its processor, for example by means of unique identifiers of the wired components in the hardware.

The radio module 220 is arranged to transmit one or more of the data D_bus1 , D_bus2, D_bus3 and the identification data D_ID of the gateway card 20 remotely towards a telecommunication network 300; that is, the radio module 220 allows transmission access to public mobile networks to send the aforesaid data towards a remote system 400 which will be described below.

Preferably, such networks exploit one of the standards GSM, LTE, 5G or the like.

According to the invention, the apparatus 100 is in data communication with a user electronic device 200, as shown in figures 2, 2A and 4. Preferably, the user electronic device 200 comprises one of a smartphone, a tablet-PC, a PDA, a PC, or the like.

Preferably the gateway card 20 comprises a wireless communication module 221.

Preferably the wireless communication module 221 creates a Bluetooth, NFC or similar communication.

The user electronic device 200 is in communication with the gateway card 20 and/or the payment system card 30 by means of the wireless communication module 221

Preferably, the wireless communication module 221 comprises a second transmission module 217B arranged for Bluetooth communication with the user device 200.

In particular, the second transmission module 217B is configured for an interaction with the user device 200 through a transmission of a beacon signal which makes the presence of the apparatus 100 known to the user device 200.

That is, the user device 200 detects the vending machines in a certain area.

In one embodiment, the user device 200 is arranged to provide additional paid services not supplied by the vending machine; for this purpose the user device 200 comprises a money top-up module, i.e., it has a refillable wallet, and the vending machine is arranged to receive a money top-up and interface with the user device 200 for a payment of the additional services provided.

The interaction between the user device 200 and the apparatus 100, in particular the gateway card, according to the invention is made even more efficient.

For this purpose, the second transmission module 217B is provided with an output power adjuster.

With particular reference to figure 4, preferably, the gateway card 20 is provided with an external Bluetooth antenna 226 connected to the second transmission module 217B.

All the hardware examples of vending machines on the market today which use Bluetooth, are provided with an antenna integrated on the PCB: this choice makes the radio performance and thus the coverage radius, strongly influenced by the mounting position of the gateway card inside the vending machine and the constructive type thereof.

Usually the remote payment hardware is mounted on the front part of the vending machine, near the user, however the constructive features of this mounting area can vary: on some vending machine models the area can have almost all plastic parts, while in others it can have large areas confined by metal surfaces.

This involves the fact that the radio performance, thus the coverage radius, are significantly affected by the mounting position of the antenna and the propagation features dictated by the constructive materials of the vending machine.

In order to ensure a predetermined radio coverage radius, according to the invention the gateway card 20 mounts an external antenna 226 and the second transmission module 217B has adjustable output power.

The technical effect achieved is the solution of the variable coverage problem as a function of the antenna installation position: in fact, the combination of antenna type and output power adjustment allows to optimize the Bluetooth coverage in a sufficient radius, but not too wide, since the user must be in front of the vending machine to use it (e.g., 2 metres).

Preferably the gateway card 20 comprises a communication slot 224 arranged to support an expansion module 225 comprising an additional radio unit 225A and/or a microprocessor 225B and/or a graphic controller 225C, the latter being connected to a graphic display 101 (fig.2).

In this case, a keypad interface module 21 (fig.1 ) is provided which replaces the traditional keypad of the vending machine.

Preferably, the expansion module 225 exploits the PCI-Express standard. In other words, since in the field of telemetry systems, there are no known systems which have the possibility of installing an additional radio module on the same PCB, for example to cope with technological evolution by integrating the on-board radio technologies natively present on the PCB, the PCB of the gateway card 20 comprises a slot in PCI-Express format. Preferably, such a slot is provided with power supply and USB serial connection, connection to a SIM slot and antenna signals, for the creation of a module containing an additional radio unit and a microprocessor with graphic controller for managing a graphic display.

In particular, the graphic display 101 connected to the expansion module 225 is arranged to perform one or more of the following functions:

- receive user identification data and/or user configuration data from the remote system 400 and show information on the graphic display 101 modified based on the received data;

- receive a selection (e.g., of a product) from a user by means of a keypad interface 21 to command said controller card 10 to perform a requested function.

The technical effect achieved is the possibility of sharing the resources of the gateway card mentioned above, benefiting size and costs; in the case of the graphic display, such a solution would allow to share the connectivity and the communication interfaces of the gateway card towards the server.

According to the invention, taking up what is written above, at each start up of the vending machine and the corresponding automatic remote sending of the identification data D_ID of the gateway 20, the processing unit 210 is further configured to receive remotely, in particular from a remote system 400, configuration data D_CONF of the gateway card 20, as shown in figure 2A.

In particular, the gateway 20 is identified based on the hardware features of the radio module 220 and the processing unit 210.

In particular, with reference to figure 3, the first reception module 218 is arranged for such a purpose.

According to the invention, the processing unit 210 is further configured to initialize the buses bus_1 , bus_2, bus_3, for a communication with peripheral devices, for example of payment, based on the configuration data D_CONF received and to initialize protocols for communication and interaction of the buses bus_1 , bus_2, bus_3 with the controller card 10 and with the payment system card 30 based on the received configuration data D CONF. The identification/recognition of the gateway card 20 at each start-up does not require post-manufacturing settings, i.e., the card is autonomous and works without additional commands. The technical effect achieved is a communication between the vending machine and the remote system 400 based on a remotely controlled and updated identification at each start-up, which does not require a local configuration setting.

With particular reference to figure 2A, the processing unit 210 is further configured to receive from the remote system 400 work data D_work of products for sale, e.g., prices and products sold, and/or identification of users connectable to the apparatus 100 and/or additional services available via the web which exploit the payment system card 30, in particular the payment systems, also in cash, on the automatic payment system of the vending machine.

The data D_work are received at each start-up and only after receiving the configuration data D_CONF.

In the event of unavailability of the communication network 300 and/or the remote system 400, the gateway card 20 restarts with the last configuration used and with a reduced set of active functions since it does not yet have the updated work data D_work.

With reference to figure 4, according to the invention, the gateway card 20 further comprises a geolocation module GEO arranged to geolocate the control apparatus 100.

Preferably, the geolocation module GEO comprises one or more of a GPS and a telephone cell triangulation system.

According to the invention, the processing unit 210 is configured to store geolocation data D_GEO generated by the geolocation module GEO; preferably, a storage module 22 connected to a geolocation antenna, e.g., GPS, is configured for this purpose.

The processing unit 210 is further configured to transmit the accounting data D_CONT referring to the control apparatus 100 geolocated by means of the geolocation data D_GEO; the transmission occurs in the step of externally transmitting, or in other words outside, the control apparatus 100 the read and/or processed data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 carried out by means of the first transmission module 217A.

A first technical effect is a geolocation of the accounting data with consequent guarantee of the data sent because the data are associated with the position of the machine, easily verifiable.

A second technical effect, in the case of a machine installed on a mobile vehicle, for example train or ferry, is that the position and the data allow to predict a possible maintenance or resupply, having knowledge of the actual position of the machine.

Preferably, the processing unit 210 further comprises a cryptographic and electronic signature module 228 (fig. 3) configured to send the signed and non-alterable sales accounting data D_CONT to a third-party remote system 500, for example, Sogei-Revenue Agency.

According to the invention, the vending machine comprises the control apparatus 100 with at least all the features described so far and consequent technical effects/operating advantages.

In a second aspect, the invention describes a vending machine control system.

With particular reference to figure 2 and 2A, the vending machine control system comprises the control apparatus 100, previously described.

The control system further comprises a remote system 400 arranged to provide configuration data D_CONF of the gateway card 20.

In particular, the remote system 400 is a control and management software application.

The control system further comprises a telecommunication network 300 arranged for communication between the control apparatus 100 and the remote system 400.

According to the invention, the telecommunication network 300 is arranged to: transmit said read and/or processed data D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3 from the control apparatus 100 towards the remote system 400.

The telecommunication network 300 is further arranged to transmit the configuration data D_CONF of the gateway card 20 from the remote system 400 towards the control apparatus 100.

Since the gateway card does not maintain the configuration data, the technical effect achieved is that the remote system 400 sends the activation data to the machine 100 upon each activation thereof.

According to the invention, in fact, at each start-up of the control apparatus 100, the remote system 400 is arranged to receive identification data D_ID of the gateway card 20 by means of the radio module 220.

The remote system 400 is arranged to verify the identification data D_ID and if the identification data D_ID are correct, send configuration data D_CONF of the gateway card 20 to the apparatus 100.

The remote system 400 is in communication with a database comprising the identification data of the connectable gateway cards 20, which it accesses to verify the correct identification of the gateway cards.

Thereby, the gateway card (and thus the control apparatus 100) is uniquely identified and communication with the system 400 is secure.

After the gateway card 20 has been uniquely identified, the remote system 400 is further arranged to send work data D_WORK to the apparatus 100 of products for sale and/or identification of users connectable to the apparatus 100 and/or services.

The technical effect achieved is a receipt by the gateway card 20 of all the commercial/sales data, after having uniquely identified the machine on which it resides.

Given the operation of the executive protocol in price-holding mode, today the telemetry devices on the market connected to the vending machine through this bus, are not able to intercept the sales prices of the products set remotely, except by carrying out a configuration audit, through a dedicated port, on the default payment systems.

To overcome this problem, a function has been created on the telemetric gateway card which essentially replicates the mechanism for reading the price table dedicated to the vending machine: during this step, the vending machine is isolated from the bus and the telemetric gateway impersonates it, presenting itself to the vending machine as a payment system.

Such information is not available in normal sniffer operating mode due to the protocol operating mode.

In other words, the controller card 10 by means of the executive bus bus_1 is arranged to receive product price data which will be implemented by the vending machine, in particular comprised in the work data D_WORK received from the remote system 400.

The processing unit 210 in the gateway card 20 is configured to

- send representative sales data, in particular prices and transactions, to a local display 230; preferably, a display module 211 is configured for this purpose.

- interrupt communication on the executive bus_1 towards the controller card 10; preferably, an interrupt module 212 is configured for this purpose:

-divert the passage of the price data of products in transit on the executive bus bus_1 towards the display module 211 ; preferably, an activation module 213 is configured for this purpose.

The technical effect achieved is to share the product sold and the sale price of each transaction in real time.

Inside the vending machine, there are now numerous "smart" peripheral devices provided with upgradable firmware. However, most of them envisage only local updating thereof, through a physical connection and, sometimes, with dedicated tools (e.g., specific programmers, dedicated software for pc, pen-drive).

Such an updating procedure involves inconvenience and costs since a technician must physically go to the vending machine, equipped with the necessary equipment specific to the device, with the possibility of error, since the procedure is totally manual (e.g., incorrect firmware loading, problems connecting the programming tools, lack of necessary skills). Since several peripheral devices are currently provided with a USB port operating in On-The-Go mode through which it is possible to update the peripheral device, the invention envisages exploiting such a standard to remotely carry out any updates that should have been local.

That is, according to the invention, the gateway card 20 comprises an On- The-Go USB port 223 arranged to receive said firmware update.

Preferably, the remote system 400 is arranged to send the firmware update data to the vending machine by means of the aforesaid port.

The processing unit 210 in the gateway card 20 comprises an update module 214 arranged to update the peripheral devices inside the vending machine with the received firmware update data.

The technical effect achieved is the simulation by the gateway card 20 of an external disk through its On-The-Go USB port, in order to update peripheral devices contained within the vending machine, not natively arranged for the remote update. The necessary update files can be uploaded remotely on the telemetric gateway card and can be deposited on an external flash memory arranged on the PCB or on an SD memory inserted in a dedicated slot.

Claims

1. A vending machine control apparatus (100), wherein said vending machine comprises a series of automated compartments and/or ingredient mixing units and/or brewing units, wherein said control apparatus (100) comprises: a VMC controller card (10) which communicates by means of one or more serial buses among protocol bus A (bus_1), MDB bus (bus_2) and DDCMP bus (bus_3); a payment system card (30), connected to said controller card (10) arranged to control sales transactions of said vending machine, a storage module (30_1) of accounting data (D_CONT) associated with said payment system card (30), comprising accounting data of sales transactions and payment details for said sales transactions carried out using said payment system card (30); a gateway card (20) in data connection with said controller card (10) and/or said payment system card (30), wherein said gateway card (20) comprises a processing unit (210) configured to

- read data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) in transit on one or more of said serial buses (bus_1 , bus_2,bus_3);

- display and/or store said data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) on said vending machine; wherein said control apparatus (100) is characterized in that said processing unit (210) is further configured to:

- process said data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) in transit on one or more of said serial buses (bus_1 , bus_2,bus_3);

- transmit towards the outside of said control apparatus (100) said read and/or processed data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) and said control apparatus (100) is further characterized in that said gateway card (20) further comprises:

- a geolocation module (GEO) arranged to geolocate said control apparatus (100); and said processing unit (210) is configured to

- store geolocation data (D_GEO) generated by said geolocation module (GEO);

- in said step of transmitting said read and/or processed data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) towards the outside of said control apparatus (100), transmitting said accounting data (D_CONT) referring to said geolocated control apparatus (100) by means of said geolocation data (D_GEO).

2. The control apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit (210) is further configured to:

- at each start-up, remotely send identification data (D_ID) of said gateway card (20)

- remotely receive (400) configuration data (D_CONF) of said gateway card (20)); initialize said serial buses (bus_1 , bus_2, bus_3) for communication with peripheral devices based on said received configuration data (D_CONF); initialize communication and interaction protocols of said serial buses (bus_1 , bus_2, bus_3) with said controller card (10) and with said payment system card (30) based on said received configuration data (D_CONF).

3. The control apparatus (100) according to claim 2, wherein said processing unit (210) is further configured to:

- at each start-up, after receiving said configuration data (D_CONF), remotely receive (400) work data (D_work) of products for sale and/or identification of users connectable to the apparatus (100) and/or additional services which can be provided via the web which exploit said payment system card (30).

4. The control apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said gateway card (20) comprises said payment system card (30).

5. The control apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said VMC controller card (10) comprises said payment system card (30).

6. The control apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gateway card (20) is coupled to a radio module (220) arranged to remotely transmit one or more of said data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) and said identification data (D_ID) of said gateway card (20) to a telecommunication network (300).

7. The control apparatus (100) according to claim 6, wherein said gateway card (20) is identified based on HW features of said radio module (220) and said processing unit (210).

8. The control apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gateway card (20) comprises a wireless communication module (221) arranged to transmit said data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) to a user electronic device (200).

9. A vending machine control system comprising:

- said control apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8;

- a remote system (400) arranged to provide configuration data (D_CONF) of the gateway card (20);

- a telecommunication network (300) arranged for communication between said control apparatus (100) and said remote system (400); wherein said telecommunication network (300) is arranged to:

- transmit said read and/or processed data (D_bus1 ;D_bus2;D_bus3) from said control apparatus (100) to said remote system (400);

- transmit said configuration data (D_CONF) of said gateway card (20) from said remote system (400) to said control apparatus (100).

10. The control system according to claim 9, wherein said remote system (400) is arranged to: - at each start-up of said control apparatus (100), receive by means of said radio module (220), identification data (D_ID) of said gateway card (20);

- verify said identification data (D_ID)

- if said identification data (D_ID) is correct, send configuration data (D_CONF) of said gateway card (20) to said apparatus (100).

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein said remote system 400 is further arranged to, after said gateway card (20) has been uniquely identified, send to said apparatus (100) work data (D_WORK) of products for sale and/or identification of users connectable to the apparatus (100) and/or services.

12. The control system according to any one of claims 9 to 11 comprising a user electronic device (200) in communication with said gateway card (20) and/or with said payment system card (30) by means of said wireless communication module (221).

13. The control system according to any one of claims 9 to 12

- said remote system (400) is arranged to send price data of products of said vending machine to said controller card (10) by means of said executive bus (bus_1);

- said processing unit (210) in said gateway card (20) comprises:

- a display module (211) configured to send representative sales data on a local display (230);

- an interruption module (212) configured to interrupt the communication on said executive bus (bus_1) to said controller card (10);

- an activation module (213) configured to divert the passage of product price data in transit on said executive bus (bus_1) to said display module (211).

14. The control system according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein

- said remote system (400) is arranged to send firmware update data to said vending machine;

- said gateway card (20) comprises an On-The-Go USB port (223) arranged to receive said firmware update data;

- said processing unit (210) in said gateway card comprises an update module (214) arranged to update peripheral devices inside said vending machine with said received firmware update data.

15. The control system according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein

- said gateway card (20) comprises a communication slot (224) arranged to support an expansion module (225) comprising an additional radio unit (225A) and/or a microprocessor (225B) and/or a graphic controller (225C), the latter connected to a graphic display (101 ).

16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein said graphic display (101) is arranged to perform one or more of the following functions: receive user identification data and/or user configuration data from the remote system (400) and display information on the graphic display (101) modified based on the received data; - receive a selection from a user by means of a keypad interface (21) to command said controller card (10) to perform a requested function.

17. The control system according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein said user electronic device (200) comprises one of a smartphone, a PC tablet, a PDA, a PC or the like.

18. A vending machine comprising a control apparatus (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

19. The vending machine according to claim 18, comprising a payment device (31 ,32,33,34) in data connection with said payment system card (30).

20. The vending machine according to claim 19, wherein said payment device (31 ,32,33,34) comprises one of an electronic key reader (31), a coin validator (32), a banknote reader (33) and a payment card reader (34).