This paper describes an experimental Java client-server system and a special purpose hardware interface to control a Pepsi vending machine over the World Wide Web. This system allows users with pre-paid accounts to vend a soda from the Pepsimachine (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 vendingcorporation, via Internet email, 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 athttp://pepsi.millersv.edu/ and is physically located inside the Pepsi machine.
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