Gantner GAT Vending 6100 BA, Установка, настройка и эксплуатация

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GAT Vending 6100 BA
Operation
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6 OPERATION
Explained in this chapter are the different operating modes of the GAT Vending 6100 BA and the process required
to purchase a product from a vending machine. As there are many different types of vending machine available, a
range of operating conditions are possible. Therefore, a standard operation is described here and please also refer
to the user manual of the vending machine for more detailed information.
6.1 Communication
For configuration and general operation, the GAT Vending 6100 BA communicates with a server/host computer. To
enable communication, the terminal uses certain protocols that are described in separate manuals. For standard
operation of the device, it is not necessary to know the details of these protocols. The GANTNER developed
software package, GAT DIRECT.Connect, provides a convenient method for configuring and operating the GAT
Vending 6100 BA. Refer to the GAT DIRECT.Connect documentation for more information on this solution.
6.1.1 Online Mode
Online mode is the standard operating mode for the GAT Vending 6100 BA. In online mode, when a data carrier is
read the terminal sends the information over the network to the server/host and waits for a response. The server
evaluates the information then sends commands and data back to the GAT Vending 6100 BA to control the vending
operation.
Master and Slave
During online operation, the GAT Vending 6100 BA is in master mode and the server/host computer is in slave
mode. The GAT Vending 6100 BA periodically asks the host if it needs to switch to master mode (e.g., to upload a
configuration to the GAT Vending 6100 BA). If the host changes to master mode, the GAT Vending 6100 BA will
change to slave mode. If no commands are received from the host after a certain time, the GAT Vending 6100 BA
automatically changes back to master mode.
When the GAT Vending 6100 BA is operating in online mode and communication to the server/host is lost, the GAT
Vending 6100 BA automatically switches to out of operation mode. In out of operation mode, the terminal and
connected vending machine are not able to be used until communication to the server/host is reestablished.
6.1.2 Online and Emergency Mode
When the GAT Vending 6100 BA is operating in
“online and emergency mode” and communication to the
server/host is lost, the GAT Vending 6100 BA automatically switches from online mode to emergency mode. There
are a range of configurable options that control how the terminal behaves while in emergency mode, and these
allow vending operation to continue while communication is interrupted.
For example,
the “Funds” configuration setting allows a temporary account balance to be set for every valid data
carrier. When a valid data carrier is read by the GAT Vending 6100 BA while the terminal is in emergency mode, the
user is able to purchase a product and the price is deducted from the emergency mode account. As soon as
communication is restored, the GAT Vending 6100 BA returns to the standard online mode of operation and sends
the emergency mode transaction data to the host. Any guest who used the vending machine during emergency
mode will have the cost of the purchase(s) debited from their online account.