The present application describes a vending machine, communicatively coupled with a server. The vending machine comprises a Vending Machine Controller (VMC), a Data Exchange (DEX), a Vivid Transaction System (VTS), a payment device and a microcontroller. The microcontroller selects one of the DEX and the VTS, by changing a jumper setting on a GPIO. The microcontroller communicates with the VMC, the DEX and/or the VTS and the payment device in order to facilitate transaction associated with the vending machine. The microcontroller extracts at least one of inventory data and transaction data from the DEX or VTS associated with the vending machine and transmit at least one of the inventory data and the transaction data to the server for further processing and analysis. The microcontroller receives recommendation information pertaining to at least one of inventory and transaction associated to the vending machine from the server based upon the processing and analysis.

In particular embodiments, a method of transferring money by use of a payment proxy includes receiving a notification of an intent to initiate a monetary transaction in a message entered by a user of a communication platform, identified based on a determination of a particular context associated with content of the message. The method includes parsing the message to identify a unique payment proxy associated with a financial account having a syntax that includes a currency indicator and a string of characters. The method includes identifying a recipient financial account associated with the unique payment proxy. The method includes identifying a sender financial account based on the particular context associated with the content of the user message. The method includes initiating a transfer of a payment amount between the sender financial account and the recipient financial account associated with the unique payment proxy in accordance with the monetary transaction.

In particular embodiments, a method of transferring money by use of a payment proxy includes receiving a notification of an intent to initiate a monetary transaction in a message entered by a user of a communication platform, identified based on a determination of a particular context associated with content of the message. The method includes parsing the message to identify a unique payment proxy associated with a financial account having a syntax that includes a currency indicator and a string of characters. The method includes identifying a recipient financial account associated with the unique payment proxy. The method includes identifying a sender financial account based on the particular context associated with the content of the user message. The method includes initiating a transfer of a payment amount between the sender financial account and the recipient financial account associated with the unique payment proxy in accordance with the monetary transaction.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing the exchange of sensitive information during a secure communication session. A session instance may establish one or more secure modalities with systems providing sensitive information, and establish one or more open modalities with systems that are participating in the secure communication session, but that may be non-compliant with security standards required to handle the sensitive information. A separate modality manager instance may be created for each modality to selectively control what information is conveyed to each system connected to the session instance based on security rules. The session instance may thereby allow non-sensitive information to be shared with systems connected through open modalities, while preventing these systems from accessing sensitive information received and transmitted through secure modalities.

A synchronization server for fulfilling orders under non-persistent network conditions includes a terminal update element, a queue processor, and a service area map. The terminal update element receives changes corresponding to one or more orders from one or more POS terminals. The queue processor queues the changes in terminal queues that correspond to the terminals, where the state changes are accessed by the terminal update element and transmitted to a first one of a subset of the terminals, from oldest to youngest, when the first one of the subset of the terminals is operably connected to the network, and where the state changes are maintained in terminal queues corresponding to other ones of the subset while the other ones of the subset remain operably disconnected from the network. The service area map is coupled to the queue processor and associates each of the terminals to one or more service areas, where the subset corresponds to one of the one or more service areas.

Data streaming applications may need to provide high reliability, particularly depending on the nature of the data being streamed. A framework is described that allows a data streaming application to ensure high reliability both during update operations and during ordinary operations. A unique event ID count can be recorded that reflects messages being sent from a source to the streaming application. After an update and service restart, the count can again be collected to see if data is flowing through the streaming application as expected. Unique database record counts can be reviewed (e.g. after a restart or during ordinary operations) to ensure that no records are being unexpectedly dropped. Data content sampling can also be performed to see that any data transformations are functioning properly. Corrective actions (after a restart or during ordinary operations) can also be taken, including replay of database messages that are dropped, or sending an alert.

Data streaming applications may need to provide high reliability, particularly depending on the nature of the data being streamed. A framework is described that allows a data streaming application to ensure high reliability both during update operations and during ordinary operations. A unique event ID count can be recorded that reflects messages being sent from a source to the streaming application. After an update and service restart, the count can again be collected to see if data is flowing through the streaming application as expected. Unique database record counts can be reviewed (e.g. after a restart or during ordinary operations) to ensure that no records are being unexpectedly dropped. Data content sampling can also be performed to see that any data transformations are functioning properly. Corrective actions (after a restart or during ordinary operations) can also be taken, including replay of database messages that are dropped, or sending an alert.

In some examples, a financial transaction is effectuated between first and second users of a payment service system. The payment service system receives, from the first user, a request for a first payment proxy identifier for the first user, and receives from the second user, a request for a second payment proxy identifier for the second user. The payment service system generates the payment proxy identifiers with a currency indicator prefixing one or more alphanumeric characters. The payment proxy identifiers enable the payment service system to identify the financial accounts of the respective users in lieu of payment card mechanisms. The payment service system receives a message from the second user indicating a money transfer request, initiates a transfer of funds from an account of the second user to an account of the first user, and sends an email message to the first user indicating the transfer of funds.

In some examples, a financial transaction is effectuated between first and second users of a payment service system. The payment service system receives, from the first user, a request for a first payment proxy identifier for the first user, and receives from the second user, a request for a second payment proxy identifier for the second user. The payment service system generates the payment proxy identifiers with a currency indicator prefixing one or more alphanumeric characters. The payment proxy identifiers enable the payment service system to identify the financial accounts of the respective users in lieu of payment card mechanisms. The payment service system receives a message from the second user indicating a money transfer request, initiates a transfer of funds from an account of the second user to an account of the first user, and sends an email message to the first user indicating the transfer of funds.

The invention is concerning a proxy payment system including a user device, a physical store device provided in a physical store, an intermediary device provided in the physical store to communicate with the user device and the physical store device, and a proxy payment device provided on a network to make a payment to the physical store device on behalf of the user device in response to a request sent from the intermediary device over the network.