JP6296489B2 - Electronic payment terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic settlement terminal device that can be mounted on a vending machine and communicates with a main control unit of the vending machine.

  Conventional vending machines for beverages have a power peak between 13:00 and 16:00 before shipping in order to reduce the amount of power consumed by the vending machine between 13:00 and 16:00 when power demand reaches its peak. Some times are programmed not to heat or cool the product. This program cannot be changed after shipment. In such a vending machine, since the product is heated and cooled before the peak of power demand, the power peak of the vending machine is concentrated in 4 hours from 9:00 to 13:00. . For this reason, in the vending machine industry due to the recent power situation, the vending machines are grouped so that the power is not concentrated in the vending machine as a whole. The power is averaged by shifting (shifting) the time (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  The operation time is shifted by manually setting the time of the clock function provided in the vending machine from the current time. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the vending machine 100 is divided into three groups A, B, and C, and the vending machine 100a that belongs to the A group is −8 from the current time. The entire vending machine 10 is set such that the time is shifted, the vending machine 100b belonging to the B group is set to the current time, and the vending machine 100c belonging to the C group is set to the time shifted +8 hours from the current time. The power consumption is averaged by dividing the peak power hours at.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the vending machine 100 performs electronic settlement processing with an electronic money storage medium such as a non-contact IC card in addition to the main control unit 110. An electronic money payment terminal 140 (electronic payment terminal device) that performs, a coin mech terminal 120 that processes coins inserted into the vending machine 100, and a bill valid terminal 130 that also processes the inserted bills. It is shown. In addition, a number of price displays, product selection buttons, etc., not shown, are connected.

FIG. 7 shows a timing (time synchronization) sequence in the above configuration. In FIG. 7, the electronic money settlement terminal 140 acquires time information of the vending machine 100 from the main control unit 110 by communication at the time of activation (step S301). Then, time synchronization with the vending machine 100 is performed based on the reception time. Subsequently, the current time information of itself is generated as the transmission vending machine time. (Step S302). Then, the generated transmission vending machine time is transmitted to the main control unit 110 (step S303).
The main control unit 11 of the vending machine 100 synchronizes the time between the electronic money settlement terminal 140 and the vending machine 100 based on the transmission vending machine time received from the electronic money settlement terminal 140. Also, when the electronic money settlement terminal 140 acquires the current time by wireless communication from the center server 200 connected via the wireless communication network (step S304), based on the reception time, the center server 200, the electronic money settlement terminal, Perform time synchronization. Subsequently, the current time is generated as the transmission vending machine time. (S305). Then, the transmission vending machine time is transmitted to the main control unit 110 (S306).
The main control unit 11 of the vending machine 100 performs time synchronization between the electronic money settlement terminal 140 and the vending machine 100 based on the received transmission vending machine time.
Thus, in the vending machine equipped with the electronic money settlement terminal, time synchronization is performed so that the time of the center server 200, the time of the electronic money settlement terminal 140, and the time of the main control unit 11 are the same time. It has come to be.

Internet URL: http: // www. jvma. or. jp / information / peakcut. pdf “Countermeasures for shortage of power supply in summer” (accessed December 3, 2013)

  By the way, the vending machine 100 capable of shifting the operation time as described above is limited to a type in which the electronic money settlement terminal 140 is not mounted. The reason is that the electronic money payment terminal 140 is timed (time synchronization of the electronic money payment terminal 140) by the time information acquired from the center server 200 by communicating with the center server 200, and then the electronic money payment terminal 140 When the time information is transmitted from the money payment terminal 140, the time of the vending machine 100 (time synchronization of the vending machine) is performed. Even if the time is manually shifted, the electronic money settlement terminal 140 forcibly returns the current time. Therefore, power consumption cannot be averaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that realizes averaging of power consumption by shifting the operation time for each of the grouped vending machines while operating the electronic payment terminal device at the current time.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an electronic payment terminal device that can be mounted on the vending machine and communicates with a main control unit of the vending machine. The acquisition means for acquiring the first time information for calculating the time to be transmitted to the vending machine, the second time information is acquired from the external device, the time synchronization of the external device and the own device is performed, and the acquired And control means for generating third time information by calculation of the first time information and the acquired second time information and outputting the third time information to the main control unit.

  In the present invention, the first time information is operating time difference information for each of the grouped vending machines, the second time information is current time information, and the control means includes the current time information. And adding the operating time difference information to generate the third time information.

  In the present invention, the control means acquires the operating time difference information from the external device.

  In this invention, it has a memory | storage means by which the said operating time difference information was stored beforehand, The said control means acquires the said operating time difference information from the said memory | storage means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operation time is shifted about each of the grouped vending machine, and an electric power consumption average can be implement | achieved, operating an electronic payment terminal device at the present time.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the vending machine by which the electronic payment terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic payment terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the vending machine for every group of this embodiment at the time of grouping a vending machine and performing power consumption average operation. It is a figure which shows the time sequence of the vending machine by which the electronic payment terminal device which concerns on Example 1 is mounted. It is a figure which shows the time sequence of the vending machine by which the electronic payment terminal device which concerns on Example 2 is mounted. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional vending machine for every group at the time of grouping a vending machine and performing power consumption average operation. It is a figure which shows the time sequence of the vending machine by which the conventional electronic payment terminal device is mounted.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as this embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same numbers are assigned to the same elements throughout the description of the present embodiment.

(Configuration of the embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vending machine 10 equipped with an electronic payment terminal device (electronic money payment terminal 14) according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 10 includes a plurality of terminals such as a coin mech terminal 12, a bill validator terminal 13, and an electronic money payment terminal 14 (electronic payment terminal apparatus). Is connected to the main control unit 11 by a communication line 15. The main control 11 and each terminal of the vending machine perform single master communication via the local communication line 15 with the main control unit 11 as a master terminal and the terminals 12, 13, and 14 as slave terminals.

  The electronic money settlement terminal 14 is further connected via a wireless communication network 30 to a center server 20 installed in a center managed and operated by an electronic money operator, for example.

  In the above configuration, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 acquires and stores first time information (operation time difference information) for calculating a time to be transmitted to the vending machine 10 grouped for each operation time zone. When the second time information (current time information) is acquired from the external device (center server 20) connected via the wireless communication network 30, the time of the own device is synchronized. Thereafter, the operating time difference information is added to the current time information of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 to generate third time information (vending machine time information) and transmit it to the main control unit 11. Thereby, the time of the main control 11 of the vending machine becomes the same time as the third time information.

  Note that the electronic money settlement terminal 14 acquires the operating time difference information from the center server 20 or information set by default at the time of factory shipment (the operating time difference information stored in the storage unit 142 in FIG. 2). Shall be obtained.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the electronic money settlement terminal 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic money payment terminal 14 includes a control unit 141, a storage unit 142, a first communication unit 143, a second communication unit 144, a reader / writer unit (R / W unit 145), These are connected to the control unit 141. The first communication unit 143 is connected to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 via the local communication line 15 (FIG. 1), and the second communication unit 144 is connected via the wireless communication network 30 (FIG. 1). It is connected to the center server 20.

  The R / W unit 145 is hardware that reads / writes data in an electronic money storage medium such as a non-contact IC card, which is placed on a holding unit (not shown), which is installed at a substantially lower center of the front surface of the vending machine 10, in a non-contact manner. Yes, data such as payment amount is superposed on electromagnetic waves via an antenna and transmitted / received.

  The storage unit 142 is mounted with SRAM, DRAM, flash memory, or the like. In addition to the program area in which the program executed by the control unit 141 is stored, the storage unit 142 includes, for example, operating time difference information for calculating the time to be transmitted to the grouped vending machines 100 at the time of factory shipment. A fixed data area in which data is stored and a work area in which data generated in the course of program execution are stored are allocated.

  The first communication unit 143 is a communication interface used for communication with the main control unit 11, and the second communication unit 144 is used for communication with the external center server 20 via the wireless communication network 30. It is a communication interface.

  The control unit 141 acquires operating time difference information for calculating the time to be transmitted by the electronic money payment terminal 14 to the vending machines 10 grouped for each operating time zone, and is transmitted from the main control unit 11. When the settlement request is received, the current time information is acquired from the center server 20 and the time of the own device 14 (electronic money settlement terminal 14) is synchronized. Further, when transmitting time information to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10, the operating time difference information is added to the time information held by the electronic money settlement terminal 14 to obtain synchronized time information (transmission vending machine information). ) And the R / W unit 145, the storage unit 142, the first communication unit 143, and the second communication unit 144 are controlled so as to transmit the synchronization time information to the main control unit 11.

  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams illustrating a configuration example of a vending machine for each group when the vending machines 10 are grouped and the power consumption averaging operation is performed. Here, the vending machine 10 is divided into three groups A, B, and C, and the vending machine 10a belonging to the A group is set to a time shifted by -8 hours from the current time (FIG. 3 (a)). The vending machine 10b belonging to the B group is set to the current time (FIG. 3B), the vending machine 10c belonging to the C group is set to a time shifted by +8 hours from the current time (FIG. 3C), etc. The power consumption is averaged by dividing the peak power time zone of the entire vending machine 10.

(Operation of the embodiment)
Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, for the operating time difference information, a case where a value set by default is used is referred to as Example 1, and a case acquired from the center server 20 is referred to as Example 2, and the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively referred to. However, a detailed description will be given for each example.

Example 1
First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In the first embodiment, operating time difference information for calculating the time to be transmitted to the grouped vending machines 100 is held in the fixed data area of the storage unit 142 (step S100). Here, it is assumed that the vending machine 10 belongs to the A group. Therefore, according to the grouping example shown in FIG. 3A, the vending machine 10 is set to a time shifted by -8 hours from the current time. In this case, the operating time difference information is [−8H].

  When the control unit 141 acquires time information of the vending machine 10 from the main control unit 11 through communication via the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 and the first communication unit 143 (step S101), the control unit 141 sets the reception vending machine time. The current time information of the electronic money payment terminal 14 is stored in the work area of the storage unit 142. Also, the current time information of the self is generated as the transmission vending machine time (step S102). Then, the generated transmission vending machine time is transmitted to the main control unit 11 (step S103).

  On the other hand, the control unit 141 performs wireless communication with the center server 20 connected via the wireless communication network 30 via the second communication unit 144 and receives current time information from the center server 20 (step S104). Based on the time, time synchronization of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 is performed (step S105). When there is a settlement request from the main control unit 11, the time difference information (−8 [H]) stored in the fixed data area of the storage unit 142 is read, the time difference information is added to the current time information, and the settlement information or the like is read out. Is transmitted to the main control unit 11 to calculate the transmission vending machine time (step S106). Subsequently, the control unit 141 transmits the transmission vending machine time to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 via the first communication unit 143 (step S107). Thereby, the time of the vending machine 100 is updated to the received transmission vending machine time (time synchronization is performed). That is, the time of the vending machine is updated to a time shifted by -8 hours with respect to the time of the center server 20 and the time of the electronic money settlement terminal 14.

  Therefore, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 operates at the current time received from the center server 20, and the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 can operate at the time when the operating time difference information is reflected in the current time. Become. In the first embodiment described above, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 receives the vending machine time information from the main control unit 11 at least once after the power is turned on to the vending machine 10, and the vending machine time information is converted into the electronic vending machine time information. The current time is used as the current time in the money payment terminal 14. After receiving the current time information from the center server 20, even if the vending machine time information is received from the main control unit 11, The time is not updated.

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the electronic money settlement terminal 10 according to the first embodiment, when the control unit 141 holds the operating time difference information in its own device (storage unit 142) and receives the current time information from the center server 20, the current time information Is set to its own device and time is set (time synchronization). Then, by adding the stored operating time difference information to the current time information, the transmission vending machine time is calculated, and transmitted to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10, so that the time (time) with the main control unit 11 is reached. Synchronization). The timing of transmission to the main control unit 11 may be when transmitting payment information or the like when there is a payment request from the main control unit 11.

  For this reason, in the vending machine 10 equipped with the electronic money settlement terminal 14 according to the first embodiment, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 can be operated at the current time acquired from the center server 20, and the main control unit 11 performs grouping. It is possible to operate at different times for each vending machine. Therefore, the vending machine 10 equipped with the electronic money settlement terminal 10 according to the first embodiment is not returned to the current time by the electronic money settlement terminal 10 even when the time is manually shifted.

  Note that, according to the first embodiment described above, the control unit 141 reads “operation time difference information stored in the storage unit 142, thereby calculating“ the time to transmit to the vending machines grouped for each operation time zone ”. Functions as an acquisition means, and when the control unit 141 receives the settlement request transmitted from the main control unit 11, the second time information is acquired from the external device. Time synchronization of the own device (electronic money settlement terminal) 14 is performed, third time information is generated by calculation of the acquired first time information and the acquired second time information, and the third time It functions as a control means that outputs information to the main control unit 11. The electronic payment terminal (electronic money payment terminal 14) according to the first embodiment can be used in all of the vending machines 10 that average the power by shifting the operation time by grouping.

(Example 2)
Next, the operation of the electronic money settlement terminal 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Also in the second embodiment described below, the vending machine 10 is assumed to belong to the A group as in the first embodiment. Therefore, according to the grouping example shown in FIG. Set to time. In this case, the operating time difference information is [−8H].

  When the control unit 141 acquires time information of the vending machine 10 from the main control unit 11 by communicating with the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 via the first communication unit 143 (step S201), the reception thereof The time is stored as the current time information of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 (step S202), and the current time of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 is transmitted to the main control unit as the vending machine time (step S203).

  Next, the control unit 141 performs wireless communication via the second communication unit 144 and the center server 20 connected via the wireless communication network 30. The current time information and the group to which the vending machine 10 belongs are transmitted from the center server 20. The operating time difference information (time difference setting value) of A is received (step S204). Subsequently, the control unit 141 performs time synchronization of the electronic money settlement terminal 14 based on the reception time (step S205), and then adds the current time and the time difference set value received from the center server 20 before transmission. Vending machine time is calculated (step S206). Subsequently, the control unit 141 transmits the calculated transmission vending machine time to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 via the first communication unit 143, and performs time synchronization with the main control unit 11 (step S207). . The timing of transmission to the main control unit 11 may be when transmitting payment information or the like when there is a payment request from the main control unit 11.

  Therefore, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 operates at the current time received from the center server 20, and the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 can operate at the time when the operating time difference information is reflected in the current time. Become. In the second embodiment described above, as in the first embodiment, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 receives the vending machine time information from the main control unit 11 at least once after the vending machine 10 is turned on. The electronic money payment terminal 14 uses the time information as the current time inside the electronic money payment terminal 14 and receives the vending machine time information from the main control unit 11 after receiving the current time information from the center server 20. The internal time is not updated.

(Effect of Example 2)
According to the electronic money payment terminal 10 according to the second embodiment, when the control unit 141 receives current time information and operating time difference information from the center server 20, the control unit 141 sets the current time information in the own device and sets the time (time synchronization). )I do. Then, the operating time difference information acquired from the center server 20 is added to the current time information to calculate the transmission vending machine time, and the time is transmitted to the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 10 by the time adjustment with the main control unit 11 ( Time synchronization).

  For this reason, in the vending machine 10 equipped with the electronic money settlement terminal 14 according to the second embodiment, the electronic money settlement terminal 14 can be operated at the current time acquired from the center server 20, and the main control unit 11 performs grouping. It is possible to operate at the time shifted for each vending machine. Therefore, the vending machine 10 equipped with the electronic money settlement terminal 10 according to the first embodiment is not returned to the current time by the electronic money settlement terminal 10 even when the time is manually shifted.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the control unit 141 transmits the “first time information for calculating the time to be transmitted to the vending machines grouped for each operation time zone” transmitted from the center server 20. The control unit 141 receives the payment request transmitted from the main control unit 11, acquires the second time information from the external device, and acquires its own device (electronic money payment). Terminal) 14 performs time synchronization, generates third time information by calculating the acquired first time information and the acquired second time information, and sends the third time information to the main control unit 11. Functions as a “output” control means. The electronic payment terminal (electronic money payment terminal 14) according to the second embodiment can be used in all of the vending machines 10 that average the power by shifting the operation time by grouping.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, it cannot be overemphasized that the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. Further, it is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 (10a, 10b, 10c) ... Vending machine, 11 ... Main control part, 14 ... Electronic money payment terminal (electronic payment terminal device), 15 ... Local communication line, 20 ... Center server (external device), 30 ... Wireless Communication network 141 ... control unit 142 ... storage unit 143 ... first communication unit 144 ... second communication unit 145 ... R / W unit,

Claims (3)

An electronic payment terminal device that communicates with a main control unit of a vending machine and can be installed in the vending machine,
Obtaining means for obtaining first time information for calculating a time to be transmitted to the vending machine grouped for each operation time period;
The second time information is acquired from the external device, the time of the external device and the own device is synchronized, and the third time information is calculated by the calculation of the acquired first time information and the acquired second time information. And control means for outputting the third time information to the main control unit,
I have a,
The first time information is operating time difference information for each of the grouped vending machines, and the second time information is current time information,
The control means includes
The electronic payment terminal apparatus, wherein the third time information is generated by adding the operating time difference information to the current time information . The control means includes
Electronic payment terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the operating time difference information from the external device. A storage means for storing the operating time difference information in advance;
The control means includes
Electronic payment terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the operating time difference information from the storage means.

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