JP2001052244A - Gathering system for automatic vending machine information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely gather management information on an automatic vending machine without any trouble while suppressing the communication cost low. SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine 1 is provided with a PHS communication terminal 2 to enable a communication with a handy terminal 3. The PHS communication terminal 2 stands by while normally made ready to answer calls of both the public communication mode and tranceiver mode of PHS. The handy terminal 3 is equipped with a PHS communication device and calls the automatic vending machine 1 in the tranceiver mode first to try to communicate when gathering the management information from the automatic vending machine 1. When the automatic vending machine 1 can be communicated with in the tranceiver mode, the management information is gathered through a communication in the transceiver mode. If the automatic vending machine 1 can not be communicated with in the tranceiver mode and the frequency or time of retrial exceeds a specific value, the mode is automatically switched to the public communication mode to make a communication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine information collecting system for collecting management information such as the stock status of commodities sold in each vending machine and the failure status of the vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vending machine information collecting system, a PHS communication device is provided in a vending machine, and a PHS communication function is also provided in a mobile terminal of a route man, so that a vending machine and a mobile terminal can be connected. Systems that collect management information by performing communication have been developed. In such a vending machine information collection system, management information is collected for a plurality of vending machines by sequentially calling each vending machine in the PHS public communication mode. When collecting management information from one vending machine, the vending machine is directly called and collected in the transceiver mode of the PHS.

[0003] In this way, it is not necessary to go to each vending machine to check the stock status and the like.
The routeman's work efficiency can be greatly improved.

Conventional documents relating to such a vending machine information collection system include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is 198557 publication (G07F 9/02).

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However,
The conventional vending machine information collection system has a problem in that when communication is performed in the PHS public communication mode, a communication fee is required and the cost is increased. Also, when communicating in the transceiver mode of the PHS, if the distance is too long or there is an obstacle such as a radio wave in between, communication will not be possible. There was a problem that it took.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem and to enable efficient collection of vending machine management information without any trouble while keeping communication costs low. .

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine information collecting system, comprising:
A vending machine capable of transmitting management information by a PHS communication device that is in a standby state in which it can respond to calls in both the PHS public communication mode and the transceiver mode, and the vending machine in both the PHS public communication mode and the transceiver mode A vending machine information collecting system comprising a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the vending machine and collecting management information from the vending machine, wherein when collecting management information from the vending machine, the vending machine information is first automatically sold in the transceiver mode. Call the machine and try to communicate. If communication is possible with the vending machine in transceiver mode, communication is performed in transceiver mode. If communication with the vending machine is not possible in transceiver mode, the communication mode automatically changes to public communication mode. To communicate with the vending machine. This way,
This makes it possible to efficiently collect vending machine management information without any trouble while keeping communication costs low.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine information collecting system, the mobile terminal automatically switches to the public communication mode when the number of retries for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined number. It is characterized by switching. This makes it possible to easily and reliably switch to the public communication mode.

Further, in the vending machine information collecting system according to claim 3, the mobile terminal automatically switches to the public communication mode when a retry time for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined time. It is characterized by switching. Even in this case, switching to the public communication mode can be easily and reliably performed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine information collection system. In FIG. 1, 1 is a vending machine, 2 is a PHS communication terminal, 3 is a handy terminal,
4 is a PHS public network, and 5 and 6 are PHS base stations.

A vending machine 1 has a PHS communication terminal 2 attached thereto.
An HS communication device is built in. And vending machine 1
When collecting the management information such as the stock status of the product and the failure status of the vending machine, when the vending machine 1 is called from the handy terminal 3, the vending machine 1
The handy terminal 3 can be transmitted through the PHS communication terminal 2.

At this time, communication in the public communication mode via the PHS public network 4 and the PHS base stations 5 and 6 and communication in the transceiver mode for directly communicating between the PHS communication terminal 2 and the handy terminal 3 are described. Both communications are possible. The PHS communication terminal 2 is in a state of being able to respond to calls in both the public communication mode and the transceiver mode.

For example, when the routeman arrives at a parking lot near the installation location of the vending machine 1 by a delivery car, the routeman stops the delivery car there and collects management information from the vending machine 1 at the handy terminal 3. The PHS communication terminal 2 of the vending machine 1 is called. At that time, the handy terminal 3 first calls the PHS communication terminal 2 in the transceiver mode to attempt communication, and receives a management information from the vending machine 1 when a line is established with the PHS communication terminal 2. Then, based on the contents, a replenishment product or the like is prepared and carried to the place where the vending machine 1 is installed.

However, if the distance between the vending machine 1 and the parking lot is too long, the PHS
In some cases, a line cannot be established with the communication terminal 2. In such a case, the handy terminal 3 automatically switches to the public communication mode and performs communication. As a result, it is possible to reliably communicate with the PHS communication terminal 2 of the vending machine 1 and to reliably receive management information from the vending machine 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vending machine control device. The main control device 10 integrally controls a terminal control device for individually controlling each section of the vending machine, such as the input device 11, the customer service control device 14, the sales control device 17, and the information control device 19. The input device 11 includes a keyboard 12 and a display 1.
3 is connected, and displays necessary items on the display 13 and sends various setting data input from the keyboard 12 to the main controller 10.

The customer control device 14 is connected to an amount indicator 15 and a selection button 16 provided on the front of the vending machine, and the main control device 10 determines which of the selection buttons 16 has been pressed. In addition, the amount of money inserted into the coin insertion slot (not shown) is displayed on the amount indicator 15. The sales control device 17 controls the sales mechanism 18 based on a command from the main control device 10.

The information control device 19 is connected to the PHS communication terminal 2 and keeps the PHS communication terminal 2 in a state where it can respond to calls in both the public communication mode and the transceiver mode. In addition, management information such as the inventory status of products sold in the vending machine 1 and the failure status of the vending machine is received from the main control device 10 and held, and when a request is received from the handy terminal 3, The management information is transmitted through the PHS communication terminal 2 as needed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the handy terminal. The control device 20 includes a memory M, and the vending machine 1 that is to collect information through the PHS communication device 23 based on a command input from the keyboard 21.
Of the PHS communication terminal 2 to receive the management information from the vending machine 1 and display the information on the display 22.

The PH of the vending machine 1 for which information is to be collected
When calling the S communication terminal 2, the control device 20
First, the communication device 23 is instructed to make a call in the transceiver mode. As a result, when a line is established with the PHS communication terminal 2, the management information is received from the information control device 19 of the vending machine 1 and displayed on the display 22. On the other hand, if a line cannot be established with PHS communication terminal 2 due to poor radio wave conditions even when called in transceiver mode, control device 20 switches PHS communication device 23 from transceiver mode to public communication mode. To make a call. As a result, P
A line can be established with the HS communication terminal 2 and management information can be received.

At this time, an instruction to switch from the transceiver mode to the public communication mode is issued as follows. That is, a predetermined number of retry communications is set in the memory M of the control device 20 in advance, and if a line cannot be established after retrying with the PHS communication terminal 2 for more than the set number of times, the control device 20 performs The device 23 is instructed to switch to the public communication mode. Alternatively, a predetermined time is set in the memory M of the control device 20, and when a line cannot be established after retrying with the PHS communication terminal 2 for a set time or more, the control device 20 Alternatively, an instruction to switch to the public communication mode may be issued.

In the above embodiment, the case where the handy terminal 3 is used as the mobile terminal has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and other types, such as a portable personal computer, can be used as long as they can be carried by a routeman or the like or carried on a car.

[0022]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. That is, the vending machine information collection system according to claim 1 is
When collecting management information from a vending machine, first call the vending machine in transceiver mode and attempt communication, and if communication with the vending machine is possible in transceiver mode,
Communication is performed in the transceiver mode. When communication with the vending machine is impossible in the transceiver mode, the communication mode is automatically switched to the public communication mode to communicate with the vending machine. As a result, communication is normally performed in the transceiver mode where communication costs are low, so that if the transceiver mode cannot be used, the communication mode is automatically switched to the public communication mode to ensure reliable communication while the communication cost is low. Thereby, the management information of the vending machine can be efficiently collected without any trouble.

In the vending machine information collecting system according to the second aspect, when the number of retries for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined number, the mobile terminal automatically switches to the public communication mode. As a result, switching to the public communication mode can be easily and reliably performed.

Further, in the vending machine information collecting system according to the third aspect, when the retry time for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined time, the mobile terminal automatically switches to the public communication mode. I did it.
Even in this case, switching to the public communication mode can be easily and reliably performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine information collection system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vending machine control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a handy terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine 2 ... PHS communication apparatus 3 ... Handy terminal 4 ... PHS public network 5, 6 ... PHS base station

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A P which waits in a state capable of answering both calls in a PHS public communication mode and a transceiver mode.
A vending machine capable of transmitting management information by an HS communication device, and a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the vending machine in both the public communication mode and the transceiver mode of the PHS and collecting management information from the vending machine. A vending machine information collecting system, when collecting management information from the vending machine, first call the vending machine in the transceiver mode and attempt communication, and can communicate with the vending machine in the transceiver mode. In this case, the communication is performed in the transceiver mode, and if communication with the vending machine is not possible in the transceiver mode, the communication mode is automatically switched to the public communication mode to communicate with the vending machine. Vending machine information collection system. 2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal automatically switches to a public communication mode when the number of retries for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined number. Vending machine information collection system. 3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal automatically switches to a public communication mode when a retry time for calling the vending machine in the transceiver mode exceeds a predetermined time. Vending machine information collection system.