JP4104376B2 - Vending system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a user group terminal is installed in a store such as a convenience store, and only members of the user group can access the user group server via the user group terminal to obtain specific information, for example. Information service is known.
[0003]
In this information providing service, a member who wants to obtain information must actually go to a store or the like. This means that members are attracted to stores by this information provision service. If the number or types of information provision services accessible at stores is increased, the number of customers visiting the stores etc. The number will increase. This is where the stores want.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such user group terminals are generally dedicated to the user group. Therefore, in order to increase the types of information providing services accessible in stores, the number of user group terminals installed in stores, etc. Must be increased. However, the space in which a store can be prepared for such a user group terminal is not necessarily wide, and therefore the types of information providing services that can be accessed at the store or the like are limited. Even if there is a wide space, it is common for such user group terminals to be purchased and installed by stores, etc., so that the types of information providing services that can be accessed at stores etc. for economic reasons such as stores May be restricted.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to easily increase the types of services that can be accessed in stores and the like.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, according to the first invention, a terminal having an input / output device and connectable to an external server is provided integrally with the vending machine, and responds to a request from a vending machine user club member. The vending machine user club server transmits the vending machine user club authentication information to the member's mobile terminal in advance, and when the vending machine user club authentication information is input to the vending machine, the input authentication information is transmitted from the vending machine to the vending machine user club server. The vending machine user club server determines whether or not the input authentication information is valid, and when the input authentication information is valid, the vending machine user club member receives the vending machine or vending machine user club server. In a vending machine system that enables product purchases, additional users can be requested in response to requests from additional user club members. Authentication information of an additional user club is previously given to the member from the club, and when the authentication information is input to the vending machine, the input authentication information is transmitted from the vending machine to the vending machine user club server, and the vending machine The user club server determines whether the input authentication information is the vending machine user club authentication information or the additional user club authentication information, and the input authentication information is the additional user club authentication information. In some cases, the input authentication information is transmitted from the vending machine user club server to the additional user club server, and it is determined whether or not the input authentication information is valid in the additional user club server. Additional user club members can access additional user club servers via vending machines when the information is valid Vending system that is in the jar is provided.
[0007]
According to the second invention, in the first invention, authentication information of the additional user club is transmitted from the additional user club server to the mobile terminal of the member of the additional user club.
[0008]
According to the third aspect, in the first aspect, the vending machine is connected to the additional user club server via the vending machine user club server.
[0009]
According to the fourth invention, in the first invention, the authentication information standby mode of the vending machine can be switched to the vending machine user club mode or the additional user club mode according to the selection from the user. When the standby mode is the vending machine user club mode, it is determined that the authentication information input to the vending machine is the authentication information of the vending machine user club. When the authentication information standby mode is the additional user club mode, the authentication information input to the vending machine is added. It is determined that the authentication information is the user club authentication information.
[0010]
According to the fifth invention, in the first invention, the points of the additional user club members are stored in the additional user club server, and the additional user club server can store the additional user club server via the vending machine. The member's points are increased by a predetermined value when accessing.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described taking as an example the case where the user U is a member of a vending machine user club and a member of an additional user club.
[0012]
Referring to FIG. 1, V is a vending machine in which communication terminals are integrally provided, T is a portable terminal such as a mobile phone possessed by a user U, VUGS is a vending machine user club server of the vending machine user club, and AUGS is Each of the additional user club servers of the additional user club is shown. The mobile terminal T of the user U and the vending machine user club server VUGS are connected via the communication network N1, and the mobile terminal T of the user U and the additional user club server AUGS are connected via the communication network N2 to the vending machine V and the vending machine user club server. The vending machine user club server VUGS and the additional user club server AUGS can be connected to each other via the communication network N3. These communication networks N1, N2, N3, and N4 are formed from the Internet or a dedicated line, for example. The communication networks N1, N2, N3, and N4 may be the same communication network or different from each other.
[0013]
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the vending machine V in detail, the vending machine V is provided for each sample 2 and a sample shelf 3 for displaying a sample 2 of merchandise, for example, drinking water, like a general vending machine. A drinking water selection button 4, a drinking water outlet 5, and a cash processing device 6 are provided. The vending machine V includes a liquid crystal display 7, a barcode reader 8, an infrared port 9, a key button 10, and a printer paper outlet 11 to be described later. The key button 10 includes a so-called 10 key from the numbers 0 to 9, a “YES” button, a “NO” button, an authentication information standby mode setting button, and an authentication information standby mode switching button. The drinking water selection button 4 is normally disabled, and the vending machine V does not operate even if the button is pressed at this time.
[0014]
The authentication information standby mode setting button is a button for setting the vending machine V to the authentication information standby mode. When the vending machine V is set to the authentication information standby mode, the vending machine V can read authentication information described later. Become. On the other hand, the authentication information standby mode switching button is a button for switching the authentication information standby mode between the vending machine user club mode and the additional user club mode.
[0015]
In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, a control device 14 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device 15, a communication device 16, a transport device 17, and a printer 18 are provided in the internal space of the vending machine V. It is done. Drinking water selection button 4, cash processing device 6, display 7, barcode reader 8, infrared port 9, key button 10, storage device 15, communication device 16, transport device 17, and printer 18 are interconnected with control device 14. Has been.
[0016]
A drinking water rack for storing drinking water is formed in the internal space of the vending machine V, and the transport device 17 supplies the drinking water selected by the user U by pressing the drinking water selection button 4. It is transported from the rack to the drinking water outlet 5. On the other hand, information products such as map data are stored in the storage device 15 of the vending machine V.
[0017]
Similarly to the vending machine V, the vending machine user club server VUGS, the additional user club server AUGS, and the mobile terminal T each include a control device, a storage device, and an input / output device including a display and a communication device.
[0018]
The vending machine user club is a closed user club in which only a registered member is allowed to access the vending machine user club server VUGS via the mobile terminal T or the vending machine V. The storage device of the vending machine user club server VUGS stores each member's password, prepaid balance, points, and the like.
[0019]
Similarly, the additional user club is a closed user club that allows only registered members to access the additional user club server AUGS via the mobile terminal T or the vending machine V. However, the user club is a separate user from the vending machine user club. It is a club. The storage device of the additional user club server AUGS stores passwords and points of each member.
[0020]
The vending machine V acts as a terminal for the vending machine user club. First, this will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
The user U who intends to purchase the product of the vending machine user club accesses the vending machine user club server VUGS from the portable terminal T and transmits the user ID and password (SA). The vending machine user club server VUGS determines whether the user ID and password match those stored in the vending machine user club server VUGS, that is, performs authentication. If they match, the vending machine user club server VUGS transmits a product category list indicating the product categories in the form of a list to the portable terminal T (SB). This product category list includes, for example, drinking water, maps, tickets for movies and concerts, ringtones for portable terminals, and standby screens for portable terminals.
[0022]
The user U selects a product category to be purchased and transmits it from the mobile terminal T to the vending machine user club server VUGS (SA). When the user U selects a product category other than drinking water, the vending machine user club server VUGS transmits to the mobile terminal T a product list that shows the products included in the corresponding product category in the form of a list (SB). The user U selects a product to be purchased from the product list and transmits it from the mobile terminal T to the vending machine user club server VUGS (SA). Next, the vending machine user club server VUGS creates product authentication information representing the product selected by the user U, and transmits it to the mobile terminal T (SB).
[0023]
On the other hand, when the user U selects drinking water, the vending machine user club server VUGS creates product authentication information representing drinking water and transmits it to the portable terminal T (SB). In this case, the vending machine V can select the drinking water product list without sending the drinking water product list to the user U at this point.
[0024]
The merchandise authentication information is, for example, in the form of a two-dimensional bar code, and is authentication information that is valid for a fixed time after being transmitted to the mobile terminal T.
[0025]
The user U who has acquired the product authentication information in this manner stands in front of the vending machine V, presses the authentication information standby mode setting button to place the vending machine V into the authentication information standby mode, and presses the authentication information standby mode switching button as necessary. The authentication information standby mode is switched to the vending machine user club mode, and the product authentication information displayed on the display of the portable terminal T is read by the bar code reader 8 of the vending machine V (SC). The vending machine V transmits the read product authentication information to the vending machine user club server VUGS together with the vending machine ID of the vending machine V (SD). The vending machine user club server VUGS determines whether or not the received product authentication information is valid, that is, authenticates, and if valid, subtracts the price of the product selected by the user U from the prepaid balance of the user U, that is, settles. . Further, the point of the user U is updated according to the amount and type of the product. It is also possible to settle with points or cash.
[0026]
Next, the vending machine user club server VUGS transmits to the vending machine V sales permission information indicating that merchandise sales are permitted (SE). When receiving the sales permission information, the vending machine V displays on the display 7 that the product sales are permitted.
[0027]
When drinking water is selected by the user U, the vending machine V activates the drinking water selection button 4. Next, when the user U presses the drinking water selection button 4 (SF), the drinking water selected by the user U is transported to the drinking water outlet 5, so that the user U can obtain drinking water (SG).
[0028]
When the map or ticket is selected by the user U, the vending machine V takes out the map or ticket selected by the user U from the storage device 15, prints it with the printer 18, and discharges the map or ticket from the paper outlet 11. Therefore, the user U can obtain a map or a ticket (SG).
[0029]
When the incoming melody or the standby screen is selected by the user U, the user U accesses the download site corresponding to the vending machine user club server VUGS from the mobile terminal T (SA) and downloads the incoming melody or the like (SB). That is, downloading from this download site is normally not possible, and the vending machine user club server VUGS is controlled so that it can be downloaded only when sales are permitted. In this case, the product is not sold from the vending machine V but is sold from the vending machine user club server VUGS, and the vending machine V functions as a settlement apparatus. If the product is electronic data and the portable terminal T has an infrared port, the product can be transmitted from the infrared port 9 of the vending machine V to the infrared port of the portable terminal T (SH).
[0030]
The prepaid balance and points after purchasing the product are transmitted from the vending machine user club server VUGS to the vending machine V and displayed on the display 7 of the vending machine V. If necessary, these prepaid balance and points may be transmitted to the portable terminal T. Here, when the portable terminal T has an infrared port, the prepaid balance and points can be transmitted from the infrared port 9 of the vending machine V to the infrared port of the portable terminal T (SH).
[0031]
As described above, in order to purchase the product of the vending machine user club, the first authentication using the password is performed to acquire the product authentication information, and the second authentication using the product authentication information is performed.
[0032]
Now, the vending machine V also acts as an additional user club terminal. Next, this will be described with reference to FIG.
[0033]
The user U who intends to access the additional user club server accesses the additional user club server AUGS from the portable terminal T and transmits the user ID and password (SI). The additional user club server AUGS determines whether these user IDs and passwords match those stored in the additional user club server AUGS, that is, performs authentication. If they match, the additional user club server AUGS creates personal authentication information representing the user U and transmits it to the mobile terminal T (SJ). This personal authentication information is also in the form of a two-dimensional barcode, for example, and is authentication information that is valid for a fixed time after being transmitted to the mobile terminal T.
[0034]
The user U who has acquired the personal authentication information stands in front of the vending machine V, presses the authentication information standby mode setting button to place the vending machine V into the authentication information standby mode, and presses the authentication information standby mode switching button as necessary to authenticate information standby mode. Is switched to the additional user club mode, and the personal authentication information displayed on the display of the portable terminal T is read by the bar code reader 8 of the vending machine V (SC). The vending machine V transmits the read product authentication information and the vending machine ID of the vending machine V to the additional user club server AUGS (SD) via the vending machine user club server VUGS (SK). The additional user club server VUGS determines whether or not the received personal authentication information is valid, and when it is valid, increases the point of the user U by a predetermined constant value. Further, the additional user club server VUGS transmits access permission information indicating permission to access the additional user club server AUGS to the vending machine V via the vending machine user club server VUGS (SE) (SE). When the vending machine V receives the access permission information, the vending machine V displays on the display 7 that the access is permitted.
[0035]
Thereafter, the user U can obtain necessary information from the additional user club server AUGS through the vending machine V, for example.
[0036]
Here, in order to access the additional user club server AUGS, first authentication using a password is performed in order to obtain personal authentication information, and second authentication using personal authentication information is performed. Further, when acquiring personal authentication information, an additional user club server AUGS is accessed without going through the vending machine user club server VUGS. When acquiring information through the vending machine V, for example, an additional user is passed through the vending machine user club server VUGS. The club server AUGS is accessed. In this case, the vending machine user club server VUGS also functions as a gateway server.
[0037]
Thus, in the embodiment according to the present invention, it is possible to access both the vending machine user club server VUGS and the additional user club server AUGS by one vending machine V. This means that it is possible to easily increase the types of services that can be accessed in stores and the like without requiring a large space, that is, increasing the number of users attracted to stores or the like. It means that you can. Further, the user U can obtain points only by accessing the additional user club server AUGS from the vending machine V, and this can also increase the number of users attracted to the store or the like.
[0038]
An additional user club can be composed of a plurality of user clubs, which further increases the number of users attracted to stores and the like.
[0039]
By the way, in the embodiment according to the present invention, when the vending machine V is connected to the additional user club server AUGS, the vending machine user club server VUGS is always passed through. Of course, the vending machine V can be directly connected to the additional user club server AUGS. However, it is difficult to secure a connection between the vending machine V and the additional user club server AUGS for each extremely large number of vending machines V. is there. In the embodiment according to the present invention, it is sufficient that the vending machine user club server VUGS is connected to the additional user club server AUGS.
[0040]
On the other hand, in the embodiment according to the present invention, when the authentication information standby mode is the vending machine user club mode, it is determined that the authentication information read by the vending machine V is the authentication information of the vending machine user club, and the authentication information read by the vending machine V is the vending machine user. Authentication is transmitted to the club server VUGS, and when the authentication information standby mode is the additional user club mode, it is determined that the authentication information read by the vending machine V is the authentication information of the additional user club, and the authentication read by the vending machine V Information is sent to an additional user club server AUGS for authentication. Therefore, when the authentication information standby mode is the vending machine user club mode, for example, if the vending machine V reads the authentication information of the additional user club, an error naturally occurs.
[0041]
In contrast, the authentication information standby mode may not be set for each user club. That is, the authentication information read by the vending machine V is transmitted to the vending machine user club server VUGS, and it is determined whether the authentication information read by the vending machine V is the authentication information of the vending machine user club or the additional user club. If it is authentication information of the vending machine user club, authentication is performed in the vending machine user club server VUGS, and if it is authentication information of the additional user club, this authentication information is transmitted to the additional user club server AUGS and is transmitted to the additional user club server AUGS. Authentication can be performed. In order to make this possible, it is necessary that the authentication information includes information indicating which user club authentication information. In this case, there is no need to provide an authentication information standby mode switching button.
[0042]
In the embodiment according to the present invention, the authentication information is in the form of a barcode. However, the authentication information can also be formed from, for example, a character string or a numeric string. In this case, the user U inputs the authentication information to the vending machine V using the key button 10. Alternatively, when the portable terminal T has an infrared port, the authentication information can be transmitted to the infrared port 9 of the vending machine V.
[0043]
Furthermore, the authentication information of the additional user club does not necessarily have to be transmitted to the mobile terminal T of the user U. For example, it may be printed on a card in the form of a barcode.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
It is possible to easily increase the types of services that can be accessed in stores and the like, and therefore it is possible to easily increase the number of users attracted to stores and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a vending system.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a vending machine.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the vending machine.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
V ... Vending machine U ... User T ... Mobile terminal VUGS ... Vending machine user club server AUGS ... Additional user club server

Claims (5)

A terminal having an input / output device and connectable to an external server is provided integrally with the vending machine, and the vending machine user club is connected from the vending machine user club server to the mobile terminal of the member in response to a request from the vending machine user club member. When the vending machine user club authentication information is input to the vending machine, the input authentication information is transmitted from the vending machine to the vending machine user club server, and the input authentication information is received by the vending machine user club server. In a vending machine system that determines whether or not the input authentication information is valid, a member of the vending machine user club can purchase products from the vending machine or the vending machine user club server. Additional user club credentials from additional user clubs to such members upon request from club members When the authentication information is input to the vending machine, the input authentication information is transmitted from the vending machine to the vending machine user club server, and the input authentication information is transmitted to the vending machine user club server. It is determined whether the authentication information is user club authentication information or additional user club authentication information. When the input authentication information is additional user club authentication information, the input authentication information is used as a vending machine user club server. To the additional user club server to determine whether or not the input authentication information is valid in the additional user club server, and when the input authentication information is valid, A vending system that allows members to access additional user club servers via vending machines. The vending system according to claim 1, wherein authentication information of the additional user club is transmitted from the additional user club server to the mobile terminal of the member of the additional user club. The vending system according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is connected to an additional user club server via a vending machine user club server. The authentication information standby mode of the vending machine can be switched to the vending machine user club mode or the additional user club mode according to the selection from the user, and the authentication input to the vending machine when the authentication information standby mode is the vending machine user club mode. It is determined that the information is authentication information of the vending machine user club, and the authentication information input to the vending machine is determined to be authentication information of the additional user club when the authentication information standby mode is the additional user club mode. Item 2. The vending system according to item 1. Additional user club member points are stored in the additional user club server, and when the additional user club member accesses the additional user club server via the vending machine, the point of the member is determined in advance. The vending system according to claim 1, which is increased by only one.

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