InHand Networks   InVending Cloud VMS

User Manual

Issue: V1.1-2023

InHand Networks 

www.inhandnetworks.com

Release Note 

Disclaimers 

The content in this manual is subject to change without notice. This manual is only used as the guidance. InHand makes every effort to provide accurate information in this manual, but InHand does not guarantee that there is no error in the manual. All statements, information and recommendations in this manual do not constitute any expressed or implied warranty.

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Technical Support

For technical support, please contact: 

Tel:  +1 (703) 348-2988 (USA)

E-mail:  support@inhandneworks.com

Table of Contents

1. Smart Vending Machine System Setup

Smart vending machine system includes the following 3 components as shown in figure 1-1-1.

 

3. Vending machine 
4. InPad101S vending PC & 10.1-inch touchscreen all-in-one
5. InVending cloud platform. 

InPad101S is installed in the vending machine and connects to the InVending cloud platform via cellular network. Customers can achieve machine status inquiry and remote management via the InVending cloud. 

                Figure 1-1-1

1.1 Login Cloud Platform

Open the web browser (Recommend using Google Chrome), enter the cloud platform address: http://vms.inhandnetworks.com

Please contact the product manager to receive username and password. Fill in the username and password, then click ‘Sign In, as shown in figure 2-1-1.

                Figure 2-1-1

You may also log in to the Smart Vending Machine Management platform by sweeping the QR code (this method applies only to the platform account that binding with the WeChat), as shown in figure 2-1-2.

 

                        Figure 2-1-2

After successfully login, the “My Account” (red circle position) appears in the new page interface, as shown in figure 2-1-4. Click “My Account” to edit account information, modify account password, or log out.

                Figure 2-1-4

2. Create Smart Vending Machine USB Installation Package

When first time setup InPad101S, insert a USB driver (prepare an inbox folder in advance). Enter the vending machine ID (User can customize the ID in letters, numbers, underscores or any combination, but cannot be spaces, the length must be between 6-12), As shown in figure 3-1-1. After clicking the ‘OK’ button, the system will automatically install all corresponding software. Push the MODE button on the InPad101S to switch the Maintenance Mode after all software installation has completed. See Chapter 4 ‘InPad101S Application’ for details.

                    Figure 3-1-1

Create a folder in the USB drive and name it “inbox,” then create eight more folders under the inbox folder and label them: ads, apps, config, data, game, log, oem and sale.

3. ads folder is used to store text, picture, and video advertising files;
4. apps folder is used to store applications that are provided by InHand Networks.
5. config folder is used to store four configuration files as follows:

4. config.xml
5. core.xml
6. goods_info.xml
7. smartvm_cfg.xml

which config.xml, core.xml, and smartvm_cfg.xml files are provided by InHand Networks. Reference Chapter 3.1 and 3.2 for detail to get goods_info.xml file;

5. Create a new folder name ‘picture’ within the data folder to store the pictures from the image folder. Refer to Chapter 3.1 and 3.2 for detail;
6. Game folder default as empty;
7. Log folder default as empty;
8. Oem folder is used to store company LOGO and oem.xml file that include the customer service contact information.
9. Sale folder default as empty;

2.1 Import and Export Product List Via Cloud Platform

After login to the cloud platform, click ‘Product>>Product Mgmt>>Import’ button, as shown in figure 3-1-2.

                    Figure 3-1-2

Select the product you wish to import on the pop-up window, then click the ‘Import’ button to import the item. Shown in Figure 3-1-3.

` 

                    Figure 3-1-3

Click ‘Export XML’ after successfully imported the product. Unzip the exported compressed folder ‘smartVendingGoods.zip’ which includes ‘goods_info_xml’ file, and ‘image’ and ‘desc’ folder, as shown in Figure 3-1-4.

                    Figure 3-1-4

From the Product menu:

4. Click Search > button to find the item information accurately;
5. Click Add > button to customize the product information;
6. Click Edit > button to modify the selected product information;
7. Click Delete > button to remove selected product information;

2.2 Export Product List via InPad101S 

Insert a USB driver into InPad101S, press MODE button on the InPad101S switch to the Maintenance Mode, then click ‘Exit>>Import/Export >> Export Product

Information’. After completing the steps, an Inbox folder should appear on the USB drive that has ‘config’ and ‘data’ folders, which contains exported product detail information.

3. InPad101S Application

The MODE button is used to switch between User Interface and Maintenance Mode. This chapter mainly focus on the settings under Maintenance Mode.

    

3.1 Status 

The status menu below shows basic information about InPad101S, as shown in Figure 4-1-1.

                    Figure 4-1-1

3.2 VMC Setup 

The VMC Setup menu includes Basic Settings, Payment Settings, Channel Deploy, Simple Refill, Detailed Refill, Handle Grid, Synchronization Config, Operation Record, Goods Rank, Back Sales Interface and Exit, as shown in Figure 4-2-1.

                    Figure 4-2-1

11. Basic Settings: display smart vending machine basic configure information;
12. Payment Settings:  Click the <Move Up> <Move Down> <Delete> button to edit the current payment methods and click <Add> button to add more additional payment method. Click <Apply> button to save and upload new settings to the cloud platform;
13. Channel Deploy: modify commodity price, capacity, valve value and add new products, etc.;
14. Simple Refill: Click one button to refill all the commodity;
15. Detailed Refill: Customize refill settings for each commodity;
16. Handle Grid: Settings for individual cabinet;
17. Synchronization Config: Synchronize configuration information with cloud management platform;
18. Operation Record: User can define the retrieve range and review the corresponding service history; 
19. Goods Rank: Click and hold the product image to drag and sort;
20. Back Sales Interface: Return to the sales interface;
21. Exit: Exit VMC settings.

3.3 Import/ Export

The Import/Export menu list all the abilities that can be act, including the capacity to remove the advertising files, as shown in Figure 4-3-1.

                Figure 4-3-1

3.4 Maintenance 

The Maintenance menu includes the System settings, Reconfiguration, Sales mode, Reboot system, Restart application, Upgrade system, Upgrade application, Save the log, etc. as shown in Figure 4-4-1. The System settings include many InPad101S application configurations.

                    Figure 4-4-1

4. InVending Cloud Platform Management 

4.1 Vending Machine Authorization

When first time setup the InPad101S, enter the vending machine ID (User can customize the serial number in letters, numbers, underscores or any combination, but cannot be spaces, the length must be between 6-12), and insert USB driver to install the corresponding software. Refer Chapter 3. Smart Vending Machine Application Preparation- New Inbox Folder.

After the completion of entering the ID and installation of the software, then connect InPad101S with 3G/4G networks (Refer Chapter 4. InPad101S Application.). The system will automatically connect with Cloud Platform. Click ‘Vending>>Machines>>Unauthorized Machine List.’ On the Unauthorized Machine List page shows the vending machine user just created, select the ID and click ‘Authorization’ button to authorize the vending machine, as shown in Figure 5-1-1.

 

                    Figure 5-1-1

When the system shows “Authorization Succeeded” message, the authorized vending machine now move from ‘Unauthorized Machine List’ to ‘Authorized Machine List.’

4.2 Vending Machines Location Planning

After vending machine has authorized, it needs set to a new location. Define the vending machine region, route, and location by the order of listed.

Define the new region by click ‘Location>> Region>>Add’ button to add a new area. Fill and save the required information in the pop-up window, as shown in Figure 5-2-1.

                    Figure 5-2-1

Define the new route by click ‘Location>>Route>Add’ button to fill out the required information on the pop-up window and submit, as shown in Figure 5-2-2.

                    Figure 5-2-2

Define the location by click ‘Location>>Location>Add’ button to fill out the required information in the pop-up window and submit, as shown in Figure 5-2-3.

                    Figure 5-2-3

Lastly, to set an authorized vending machine to a new location by click on ‘Vending> Machine’ and open ‘Authorized Machine List’. Select the device and click ‘Edit’ button to fill out the required information on the pop-up window, as shown in Figure 5-2-4.

                     Figure 5-2-4

4.3 Remote Update 

The remote update includes application, VMC, and firmware updates.

Click ‘Vending>>Vending PC>>Remote Upgrade’ to open ‘Upgrade List’ page. This page allows user to search, add, edit and delete update information. Select the update file from the list and click ‘Upgrade Now’ to execute the process, as shown in Figure 5-3-1.

                     Figure 5-3-1

4.4 Refill 

The user can check the stock status, and customize the plan for selected route that requires refill. Click ‘Refill>Refill Management’ to review the stock status at individual locations, as shown in Figure 5-4-1.

                    Figure 5-4-1

Click “Picking Ticket List” to edit the required refill items information.

After creating the refill list, click ‘Refill> Refill Management” to confirm the order. Select the order number by click ‘Edit’ button to finalize the refill. 

Click ‘Refill>Refill Management’ to search the refilled history.

4.5 Reconciliation

By click on the ‘Reconciliation> Reconciliation,’ user can choose ‘Route’ and ‘Location’ to review the reconciliation list, as shown in Figure 5-5-1.

                        Figure 5-5-1

Click the ‘Reconciliation>Settlement’, user can utilize the customizable reconcile parameter feature to search and settle the case under the ‘Unsettled’ and ‘Settled’ categories, as shown in Figure 5-5-2.

Figure 5-5-2

5. Smart Vending Machine Application Example 

5.1 First Time Setup Smart Vending Machine 

Please follow the steps when first time setup smart vending system:

Step1. Reference Chapter One to build the hardware environment, and Chapter Two, to register account and access the cloud platform;

Step2. Reference to Chapter Three to prepare Inbox folder, customize vending machine ID, and software installation;

Step3. Reference to Chapter Four to maintenance and configure InPad101S for Internet connection.

Step4. Reference to Chapter Five to plan the location and authorize the vending machines.

Step5. Reference to Chapter Six to configure the product channel and price.

5.2 Channel and Price Configuration

There are two ways to adjust the channel and price for the smart vending machine:

1. Via Cloud Platform
2. Via Vending Machine 

5.2.1 Product Channel and Price Configuration via Cloud Platform

Before using cloud platform to configure the vending machine, ensure that the vending machine is online. 

The platform already contains few of product information in the database; the user can view the product information list by click ‘Product> Product Management.’ Click <Import> button to import more product information, or add, modify, and delete product information in the product list interface, as shown in Figure 6-2-1-1.

Figure 6-2-1-1

After successfully import or add new product information, click ‘Vending>Planogram Mgmt> Planogram’ to select the target vending machine. Click on the ‘+’ sign to add the product, then enter the price, capacity and threshold information, as shown in 

Figure6-2-1-2

After completing the configuration and save, click ‘Synchronization Config> Synchronization Channel’ on the Maintenance mode from the vending machine screen interface to synchronous updates.

5.2.2Product Channel and Price Configuration via Vending Machine

Press the MODE button on the InPad101S to switch the Maintenance mode. Click ‘VMC Settings>Channel Deploy’ to enter the channel configuration page. Channel configuration page allows user to add the new product, edit existing product price, set up the channel capacity and threshold, reselect product for the channel and delete a product from the channel.

5.3 Vending Machine Refill 

Press the MODE button on InPad101S to switch the Maintenance mode. Click ‘Detailed Refill’ to enter the quantity number that each product user plan to refill, and refill the same amount products that user entered. After completing the refill process, it will display the refilled information on the platform under ‘Refill> Refill History.’

5.4 Reset Factory Default Settings

When the device is on, press the MODE button on the InPad101S to switch to Maintenance mode and click ‘Exit> Maintenance> System Settings> Backup & Reset> Factory Data Reset’ to reset factory default settings.

6. InPad101S Installation 

6.1.1InPad101S Vending PC Hardware:

InPad101S has three main parts: 

3. Main Interface Board
4. Screen
5. Antenna 

6.1.2 Installation Steps

Step1: According to the installation guide to drill holes on the vending machine, as shown in figure 7-1-2-1.

              Figure 7-1-2-1

Step2: When install the screen device, do not use any screws size that is larger than M3 x 12mm, and do not use too much force while tighten the screws, as shown in figure 7-1-2-2.

        Figure 7-1-2-2

Step3: Suggest installing the main interface box inside of the vending machine door panel, shown as figure 7-1-2-3 and 7-1-2-4.

        Figure 7-1-2-3

        Figure 7-1-2-4

6.1.3 Ground Requirements

The Main Interface box is required to have a grounding environment with the vending machine and ensure the vending machine door panel has a well grounding connectivity system. If the Main interface box does not have a good contact with the door panel, having a separate grounding weir that connect between the door panel and device. 

6.1.4 Antenna Requirements

The antenna should be placed at the top of the vending machine or by the display window. Please ensure do not place the antenna inside the vending machine which will seriously affect the signal quality and data transmission, as shown in Figure 7-2-2-1 and 7-2-2-2.

            Figure 7-2-2-1

            Figure 7-2-2-2

6.1.5 Environment Requirements

Temperature range: -10~ 50 °C

InPad101S is not waterproof, not recommended to use in any outdoor environment. InPad101S requires adding additional waterproof solution if the vending machine is being use outdoors.

7. InPad101S FAQ

7.1 Unintentional touches the touch screen 

InPad101S is using industrial-graded capacitive touch screen, and during the design process, InHand Networks has already considered the industrial field electromagnetic environment problems and accordingly adjust the touch screen algorithm to maximum reduce the possible errors. However, some industrial site has the harsh electromagnetic environment to cause unintentional touches occurred. To avoid the unintentional touches error, double check the vending machine is properly grounded and make sure the power strip that used to connect the vending machine includes grounding capability.

7.2 Display Brightness

InPad101S can display about 350nit maximum brightness and it has the default setting of 1/3 of the maximum brightness. Maximum brightness can shorten the display service life, do not recommended to set the display at maximum brightness during any unnecessary situation.