Controlling a Java enabled Pepsi(R) vending machine over the World Wide Web

This paper describes an experimental Java client-server system and a special purpose hardware interface to control a Pepsi(R) vending machine over the World Wide Web. This system allows users with pre-paid accounts to vend a soda from the Pepsi(R) machine (without any coins or bills) using a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. Anyone with a web browser may find out if any of his or her favorite sodas are left in the machine. The server software can also notify the vending corporation, via Internet e-mail, when each brand of soda needs to be restocked. The software includes a Java applet (the client) and a multi-threaded Java server. The computer system, an Intel based Linux machine, runs its own web server and is physically located inside the Pepsi(R) machine