MDB-BLE is an MDB device that adds Bluetooth vending payment to existing machines: the user pays with a vending e-wallet or via mobile payment for vending, and the machine receives the transaction as just another cashless MDB peripheral. Beyond cashless vending payment, it provides MDB monitoring and MDB audit of the bus. MDB BLE is therefore a vending machine payment system that combines MDB Bluetooth connectivity, the MDB bus and hardware cryptographic security.
The unit acts as an MDB cashless device, allowing e-wallet and mobile app payment solutions to be integrated into existing vending machines without modifying their main control architecture.
The platform is based on a Silicon Labs ARM microcontroller and uses uC/OS as its real-time operating system. It also includes a dedicated cryptographic chip to protect private keys and execute cryptographic operations securely.
Payments via Bluetooth Low Energy
Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity provides wireless communication between the vending machine and compatible devices, enabling payment systems based on e-wallets or mobile apps.
BLE offers a low-power wireless interface well suited to the identification, authorisation and data-transfer processes involved in payment transactions.
The device acts as a bridge between the digital payment ecosystem and the machine's MDB bus.
MDB cashless client
MDB-BLE implements MDB Cashless Device functionality, presenting itself to the vending machine controller as an electronic payment system.
The device handles the data exchange required to take part in the vend sequence, reporting the events associated with each cashless transaction to the MDB controller.
This architecture makes it possible to add new payment methods while remaining compatible with the existing MDB infrastructure.
MDB traffic monitoring
In addition to its cashless functions, the unit can monitor MDB communication traffic.
The electronics can supervise the exchanges between the different elements on the bus, providing additional information for diagnostics, traceability and auditing.
Monitoring can cover both the communications relating to the cashless device and the traffic exchanged between the controller and the connected MDB peripherals.
Auditing and traceability
Its ability to monitor communications means MDB-BLE can serve as a data source for transaction auditing and analysis of machine operation.
Relevant events can be processed to provide traceability of completed transactions, peripheral states and the communication sequences associated with each sale.
This is particularly valuable in systems that need to combine electronic payment, telemetry and auditing in the vending environment.
Hardware cryptographic security
The device incorporates a dedicated hardware cryptographic element for the protected storage of private keys.
This component means sensitive cryptographic keys do not have to be stored directly in the microcontroller's conventional memory.
The secure element can be used for operations involving asymmetric cryptography, authentication, signature generation or verification, and encryption/decryption, depending on the specific firmware implementation.
This architecture adds an extra layer of protection to identification and electronic payment processes.
Silicon Labs ARM architecture
The platform uses a Silicon Labs ARM microcontroller that simultaneously manages BLE communications, the MDB protocol, security and application logic.
Integrating Bluetooth Low Energy into the architecture makes for a compact unit designed specifically for IoT and payment applications.
uC/OS operating system
The firmware is based on uC/OS, with the different functions organised as real-time tasks.
BLE handling, MDB communications, transaction processing, monitoring and cryptographic services run concurrently within a modular, deterministic architecture.
X10 protocol support
The device supports the X10 protocol, extending its integration options with the specific infrastructure of the installation.
This compatibility allows the BLE and MDB communication functions to be combined with the features provided by X10 in the final solution.
Integration into existing vending machines
One of the main advantages of MDB-BLE is that it brings electronic payment capabilities to machines that already have MDB infrastructure.
The functional architecture can be summarised as follows:
- App / e-wallet
- BLE
- MDB-BLE
- MDB
- Vending machine controller
The machine's main electronics are retained, with a dedicated layer added for mobile payments, security and transaction monitoring.
Applications
MDB-BLE is aimed at vending machines, dispensing machines, self-service systems, cashless systems, e-wallets, mobile payment solutions and the retrofit of existing MDB machines.
It can also be used in projects that require MDB bus monitoring and auditing in addition to the payment functions themselves.
Technical specifications
| Product | MDB-BLE |
|---|---|
| Application | Electronic payments for vending |
| Wireless interface | Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Vending bus | MDB |
| MDB role | Cashless Device |
| Processor | Silicon Labs ARM |
| Operating system | uC/OS |
| Security | Hardware cryptographic element |
| Key protection | Secure private key storage |
| Cryptography | Hardware cryptographic operations |
| MDB monitoring | Yes |
| Traffic auditing | Yes |
| Additional protocol | X10 |
| Integration | Vending machines with MDB |
