JP3284929B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine having a flash memory as a storage medium and storing data such as a control program in the flash memory via a memory card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is necessary to upgrade a control program even in a vending machine. This is often based on a request from a vending machine management company rather than a version upgrade for functional enhancement. Even for the same type of vending machine, different programs may be installed depending on the management company of the delivery destination.

[0003] The control program is usually EP
-Written in a storage medium called a ROM, conventionally, the EP-ROM alone is set in a ROM writer to write a program, and then the EP-ROM is written.
Is mounted on the substrate.

[0004] For this reason, once the ROM is mounted on the board, if it is desired to change the program by upgrading the program, the ROM is removed from the board (for this purpose, the ROM is disassembled from the box containing the board). You may have to do that), and then erase the contents of the removed ROM by optical processing,
It must be set in a ROM writer and write data again, or a new ROM must be separately prepared and the ROM must be mounted on a board. R already implemented in this way
Program change for OM (P-ROM exchange commonly called)
Requires a lot of labor and steps.

[0005] Therefore, a flash memory which can be easily electrically written and erased like a normal RAM is EP.
-Attention is being paid as an alternative to ROM. This flash memory is suitable for a program storage medium because it does not require data backup and can store a large amount of data.

FIG. 29 shows a vending machine in which a flash memory is provided in a control box. A microcomputer 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as “microcomputer”) controls the vending machine. Based on a storage program and control data (setting data and control data, etc.) necessary for sales control stored in the RAM 3,
It controls a sales organization (not shown). When sales are performed, the sales data is stored in the RAM 3.

When the control program is rewritten to such a flash memory 2 for a reason such as version upgrade, the flash memory writing device 4 is generally used.
The control program is written in the flash memory 2 via the microcomputer 1 by serial communication or the like. Since the storage address of the control data stored in the RAM 3 differs depending on the written program, when the control program is rewritten, the original control data stored in the RAM 3 becomes invalid.

[0008]

Therefore, conventionally, FIG.
As shown in (1), before the program is rewritten, the control data is saved in the data loader 5 or the like of another unit separately connected, and after the program is written, the saved control data is replaced with an appropriate data. It is necessary to rearrange the addresses again, or to manually re-enter the addresses one by one using the keyboard 6, which is troublesome.

In addition, depending on the control program to be written, it may not be necessary to save the control data. Therefore, it is necessary to know in advance whether the control data must be saved when writing the program. However, because of the misunderstanding, the data was required to be evacuated, but this was not performed, and a problem occurred when the vending machine malfunctioned.

[0010] Further, even if the program stored in the memory card is charged, it is possible to write in a plurality of vending machines by using the above-mentioned writing device, thereby preventing illegal copying. Could not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine which can easily and accurately manage the version upgrade of a program stored in a writable and erasable memory.

[0012]

As shown in FIG. 1, a vending machine according to claim 1 is newly provided in a portable memory (150) separately from a program storage means (151) for storing a new program. A control data storage means (152) for storing new control data is provided.

When the portable memory (150) is mounted on a vending machine, a program storage means (151) of the portable memory (150) is provided.
The new program read from the
(101), and new control data storage means (152)
The new control data read from is written to the control data storage means (102). Thus portable memory (150)
Vending machine (1
00).

The vending machine according to claim 2 uses the current program and control data stored in the program storage means (101) and the control data storage means (102),
The program storage means (101) and the control data storage means (102) of the portable memory (150) are provided with a memory map switching means (SW) for switching between using a new program stored and control data. By the configuration, the portable memory (150) can be installed without rewriting the current program on the vending machine (100) side by installing the portable memory (150).
Operation becomes possible with the 0) side program.

As shown in FIG. 3, a vending machine according to a third aspect of the present invention has a portable memory (150) in which information such as a type of control data and a storage area corresponding to a new program is stored. Each information storage means (153) and a temporary save data storage means (154) for temporarily saving the control data stored in the control data storage means (102)
A temporary save data information storage means (155) for saving and storing information such as the type of control data stored in the control data for each control data information means (103) described later, and the vending machine (100) And a control-data-specific information storage means (103) storing information of control data corresponding to the current program stored in the program storage means (101).

When a new program is written in the vending machine (100), the control data for the program stored in the control data storage means (102) is temporarily stored in the control data storage means (102) based on the information of the control data information storage means (103). The data is temporarily saved in the storage means (154), and the data is stored in the control data storage means based on the information in the new program control data per information storage means (153).
By relocating to (102), control data for the new program can be obtained, and the sales data can be used as it is. As described in claim 4, the temporary save data storage means (154) and the temporary save data information storage means (155)
May be provided on the vending machine side.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the information stored in the new program control data per information storage means (153) of the portable memory (150) and the control data per information storage are provided. The means (103) is provided with means (104) for comparing whether the stored information is the same as the stored information. If the two information are different by the comparison, the control data storage means (102) is added to the control data storage means (102). The stored control data is temporarily saved in the portable memory and relocated to a predetermined address again. However, if the two information are the same, it is not necessary to save and relocate the control data.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vending machine according to claim 6 includes means (155) for storing the type of control program (for cans, cups, etc.) in the portable memory (150). In the portable memory (150), the vending machine (100) stores the type of the stored current program (10
5) and comparing means (106) for comparing whether the types of both programs are the same, and when rewriting the programs, if the types of both programs are the same, save and relocate the control data. If the type of the program is different, the control data is not compatible with the data level, so the standard value of the storage is stored in the standard value writing means (107), and the control data of the vending machine (100) is stored. Write to means (102).

In the vending machine according to the seventh aspect, as shown in FIG. 6, the process of storing the information indicating to which point the writing process of the new program and the control data has been completed in the portable memory (150) is shown. Vending machine with storage means (156)
(100) a process progress writing means (106) for creating the information and writing the information in the process progress storage means (156);
(156) an interruption determining means (108) for determining whether the writing is interrupted from the stored contents, and an interruption resuming means (108) for restarting the writing from the processing after the interruption when it is determined that the writing has been interrupted. 109). Thus, when the processing is resumed after the interruption of the processing, the processing progress is determined by the interruption determining means (108), and the processing is resumed from the interrupted processing by the interruption resuming means (109). There is no.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vending machine according to claim 8 includes authentication code storage means (157) and (110) for storing a common authentication code at the start of a series of processes, respectively, as a portable memory and a portable memory. In preparation for a vending machine, when resuming the interrupted process, when the authentication codes stored in both storage devices match according to the comparison by the comparing unit (111), the process may be resumed from the process after the interruption. However, if the two authentication codes are different, that is, if another portable memory is inserted when the processing is resumed, the authentication codes generally do not match,
Therefore, in such a case, even if the interrupted process is restarted, the process is executed from the beginning.

The vending machine according to claim 9 is provided with means (112) for detecting various data changed during the control operation in the vending machine as shown in FIG. By storing the change data in the change data storage means (158) set in the portable memory (150), when a control abnormality occurs, the change data stored in the change data storage means (158) is analyzed to determine Can be known whether or not a problem has occurred.

As shown in FIG. 9, the vending machine according to the tenth aspect includes a means (113) for detecting whether or not the portable memory is mounted when the power is turned on, and a rewriting command means (114) for issuing a program writing instruction when the portable memory is mounted. ), The control based on the program stored in the program storage means (101) is executed when there is no attachment, but when the portable memory is attached, the control of the program stored in the portable memory is executed. Writing is performed automatically.

The vending machine according to the eleventh aspect is shown in FIG.
As shown in (5), when the portable memory (150) is removed and the power is turned on after the rewriting of the program, the program execution means (115) for instructing the execution of the new program
, A series of processes from rewriting to execution of a program can be easily performed.

A vending machine according to a twelfth aspect is shown in FIG.
Operation type storage means for storing which operation is to be performed, such as writing a new program, writing new control data, saving and rearranging control data in a vending machine, etc. (159) Mobile memory (150)
In the vending machine (100), the operation type storage means
(159) is provided with an operation instructing means (116) for instructing execution of a corresponding operation based on an operation type of storage, so that there are various portable memories having different processing contents only by inserting a desired portable memory. Even in such a case, a process suitable for the attached portable memory is executed.

A vending machine according to a thirteenth aspect is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the portable memory is provided with a storage means (160) for storing the number of usable times or the number of times of use, and each time the portable memory is used, the number of usable times is counted down by the counting means (117), or Is counted up, and it is determined that the count value has reached the specified value.
If determined by (18), by use prohibition means (119),
Thereafter, the use of the portable memory is prohibited.

The counting means (117) and the number-of-times-of-use determining means (118) may be provided on the portable memory side. When the usable number or the number of uses is specific data such as a simple numerical value or a character, it is desirable that the data can be used regardless of the number of uses.

FIG. 13 shows a vending machine according to the present invention.
As shown in the figure, a program storage area end storage means (120) storing the end of the program storage area in the program storage means (101), and a program storage means (101)
Program end storage means (121) for storing the end of each of the old and new programs stored in the storage unit, and a control program selecting means for reading and executing a desired program by designating
With the provision of (122), when the new program does not function properly, the old program can be read and the sales can be controlled.

FIG. 14 shows a vending machine according to a seventeenth aspect.
As shown in (1), a program save storage means (123) for saving and storing a program stored in the program storage means (101).
When writing a new program in the program storage means (101), a program writing error detecting means (124) for detecting a writing error, and when a writing error is detected, the program saving means (123) By providing the program rewriting means (126) for writing the program into the program storage means (101), the sales can be continued with the original program even if the writing cannot be performed.

FIG. 15 shows a vending machine according to the present invention.
As shown in, program storage means (123 ') to copy and store the program stored in the program storage means (101),
When writing a new program in the program storage means (101), when a write error is detected, an error address storage means (125) for storing the write address at that time,
When an abnormality is detected, the program storage means (101)
A program rewriting means (126) for writing the old program stored in the program storage means (123 ') up to the write address, and when an error occurs during writing, the old program is restored. At this time, since the old program is written only in the area where the new program has been written, the time required for program recovery can be reduced.

The vending machine according to the nineteenth aspect is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), a program save storage means (123) for saving and storing a program stored in the program storage means (101).
And a control program operation abnormality detection means (127) for detecting an operation abnormality of the new program written in the program storage means (101), and an old program stored in the program evacuation means (123) when an operation abnormality is detected. Program rewriting means for writing a program to the program storage means (101)
(126), and when the operation in the new program is abnormal, the saved old program is restored.

A vending machine according to a twentieth aspect is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), means (161) and (162) for respectively storing a control program and control data of a vending machine are provided in a portable memory, and mode storage means (163) for storing a write mode or a read mode. In the read mode, the program and the control data stored in the vending machine A are stored in the portable memory, and the portable memory is mounted on another vending machine B, and in the write mode, The data of the vending machine A can be copied to the vending machine B by writing the stored program and control data to the vending machine.

[0032]

FIG. 18 is a control block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention. The vending machine control box is provided with a memory card interface 7, and a memory card 10 is inserted into the memory card interface 7 as a portable memory. Reference numeral 11 denotes a memory map changeover switch, which switches between reading from the flash memory 2 and reading from the memory card 10 as a program. The microcomputer 1 performs the counting means and the number-of-times-of-use determining means described above, but may be provided on the memory card 10 side.

The memory card 10 stores setting data, sales data, and control data, and the above-mentioned temporary save data, temporary save data information, an authentication code, and the like as control data separately from the program storage area 10A. It has an area 10B. The temporary save data and the temporary save data information may be stored in the RAM 3.
Sales data includes change data generated by vending machines
(A deposit signal, a sales signal, etc.) are also stored. In the program, control data adopted by the program is stored in the RAM 3.
A RAM data table storing which address is stored in the RAM is included.

For the memory card 10, write the program and control data stored in the memory card 10 to the vending machine .: Write only the program, and for the control data, rearrange the existing data for the new program. Utilization: There are three types of copying operations in which a program and control data of a vending machine are copied to a memory card 10 and stored in another vending machine using the memory card 10. The card of (1) stores setting data and control data for a new program. The card of operation type stores setting data, sales data, and control data from the RAM 3 of the vending machine.

Hereinafter, the control operation of the vending machine will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIG. When the power of the vending machine is turned on, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S2, in which the memory card 10
Is determined. If not inserted, the control flow A of FIG. 22 described later is executed, and sales control is performed based on the current program.

If the memory card 10 has been inserted, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S3, where it is determined whether or not the sales control is performed directly by the program stored in the memory card 10 by switching the memory map. When the program of the memory card 10 is used, in step S4,
Switches the memory map. Details of the memory map switching circuit 11 are shown in FIG.

Chip select signal CS from microcomputer 1
Is supplied to the AND gate AND2 and supplied to the AND gate AND1 through the inverter INV. Then, a read address from the address decoder 11A is supplied to the other input section of each of the AND gates AND1 and AND2. By the chip select signal CS,
One of the AND gates is turned on, and the read address is transmitted to the flash memory 2 or the program storage area 10A of the memory card 10 through the ON AND gate. Now, when the AND gate AND2 is turned on, the program of the memory card 10 is read into the microcomputer 1. This control is suitable when the sales control is to be performed by another program while leaving the current program.

Returning to FIG. 19, when the vending machine is not directly controlled by the memory card 10, the process proceeds from step S3 to step S5, and the operation type of the memory card 10 is determined. If it is the card (write the program and control data) here, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether the authentication codes stored in the vending machine and the memory card 10 match each other.

When the authentication codes do not match, that is, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the vending machine for the first time, data must be written from the beginning. Proceeding to step S8, the current time is written into the memory card 10 and the vending machine as an authentication code. In step S9A, it is determined whether there is an empty storage area in the flash memory 2 where a new program can be written.

As shown in FIG. 27, the flash memory 2
In the program end address of the old program,
An empty storage area is known from the difference from the program area end address, and if the area of the new program is larger than the empty storage area, the new program is written from the start address of the program area.

On the other hand, when the area of the new program is smaller than the free storage area, the new program can be written. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S9A to step S10A, and the new program of the memory card 10 is stored in the free storage area of the flash memory 2. Written. In this case, the old and new programs coexist in the flash memory 2.
In step S13, "1" is stored as state data to indicate the stage at which the writing of the program has been completed. Then, in step S14, the control data stored in the memory card 10 is written into the RAM 3, and subsequently "2" is stored as state data to indicate the stage at which the writing of the control data has been completed. When a new program execution command is issued in the next step S16, the base address of the new program is set in step S17, and when the process proceeds to the control flow A, sales control is performed by the new program. On the other hand, when the execution of the new program is not instructed, the sales program is controlled according to the current program because the base address of the old program remains set.

In the control flow A shown in FIG. 22, when there is a deposit (step S21), the deposit signal is stored in the memory card 10 in which the deposit signal has been inserted (step S22). (Step S23), the product selection signal is stored in the memory card 10 (Step S2).
4) Then, if the selected product is carried out (step S2)
5), the signal of the product discharge is stored in the memory card 10 (step S27). Once the change is refunded
(Step S27), the refund signal is the memory card 1
0 (step S28), and thereafter returns to the original state and waits for payment. During this time, if an abnormality occurs in the control operation (step S29), the sales by the program are stopped (step S30).

By storing the various signals generated by the sales control in the memory card 10 as described above, it is useful to identify the cause of the failure by checking the signal stored at the time of the failure. When the process proceeds from step S2 in FIG. 19 to control flow A, step S22 and the like are skipped.

The description so far has been about the case where the memory card 10 is inserted for the first time. However, for example, after the status data = 1 is stored in step S13, the case where the subsequent write processing is interrupted due to a power failure or the like will be described. I do. In that case, when the power is restored, the process proceeds sequentially from step S1,
In step S6, it is determined whether the authentication codes match. As can be seen from the above description, since the two authentication codes match, the process proceeds to step S7. Since state data = 1, the process proceeds from step S7 to step S14, where R
This is performed from writing data to AM3. If the status data is 2, the process proceeds to step S16. As described above, since the processing is started from the stage where the processing is completed in the previous operation, there is no waste.

The above control uses a memory card,
FIG. 20 shows another control for using the memory card 10 in which the new program is written in the free storage area. In step S9B, the current program stored in the flash memory 2 is evacuated to an empty storage area of the RAM 3, and in step S10B, a new program is written in the flash memory 2, and step S11 is performed.
It is determined whether an error has occurred in the writing, and if not, the program writing is continued in step S10B. When the writing is completed, step S
In step 13, the state data = 1 is stored, and subsequently, in step S
At 14, control data is written, and state data = 2 is stored. If a write error has occurred, the saved old program is written to the flash memory 2 in step S15A. It should be noted that an empty storage area on the vending machine side may be used as a location where the current program is saved. With this control, even if the program cannot be rewritten normally, sales can be continued with the old program.

Another control related to the control of FIG. 20 is shown in FIG. In step S9C, the current program is stored in the free storage area of the RAM 3. Since the data is not saved, the current program remains in the flash memory 2. In step S10B, the new program is sequentially overwritten in the flash memory 2 by updating the write address, and when the writing is completed, the process proceeds to step S13, where status data = 1 is stored, and
Subsequently, control data is written in step S14,
State data = 2 is stored.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 28, the new program is overwritten from the start address [S] of the old program area to the old program storage area, and the write address [Y] is written. It is assumed that a writing error has occurred in. In this case, in step S15B, the old program stored separately is written again in the area from the start address [S] to the address [Y], so that the original old program is restored in the flash memory 2. . According to this control, the time required for restoring the old program can be reduced.

In the above control, if an abnormality is detected at the time of writing a new program, the program returns to the old program. However, even if the writing is performed normally, an abnormality may occur during the operation of the actual new program. FIG. 23 shows a control flow A ′ that can respond to this.

Steps S21 to S28 are the same as those in the flow of FIG. If an abnormality occurs during sales control in the program abnormality detection task, the old program is restored in place of the new program in step S31. If the control flow A 'follows the flow of FIG. 19, the base address of the program area is changed to the old program. If the control flow A ′ follows the flow of FIG. 20, the saved old program is rewritten to the flash memory 2. If the control flow A ′ follows the flow of FIG. 21, the old program stored separately is rewritten to the flash memory 2. After restoring the old program in the flash memory 2 in this way, the CPU is reset in step S32 to operate with the old program.

Returning to FIG. 19, the operation type of the inserted memory card 10 is determined by the operation type determination in step S5.
In the case of (writing only the program and using the current data for the control data), the process proceeds from step S5 to step S41 in FIG.

In step S41, it is determined whether the types of programs stored in the vending machine and the memory card 10 are the same. Here, when the types of both programs are the same, it is determined in step S42 whether or not the information of the control data stored in the vending machine and the information of the control data stored in the memory card 10 match. If they match, it is determined in step S43 whether the authentication codes stored in the vending machine and the memory card 10 match, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S48, but if they do match, the process proceeds to step S48.
At 44, it is determined whether the status data is 0. If the status data is 0, the current time is written as an authentication code into the vending machine and the memory card 10 in step S48, and the new program stored in the memory card 10 is written into the flash memory 10.

At this time, the writing is performed in an empty storage area of the flash memory (FIG. 19), and the current program is temporarily saved and then a new program is written (FIG. 2).
0), the current program is stored in another memory and overwritten on the current program, and if an error occurs at the time of writing, the current program is rewritten in the written area (FIG. 21). Any of these may be used.
When the writing of the program is completed, the state data = 1 is stored.

On the other hand, in step S44, the status data is 0.
However, in the case of 2, the process skips step S48 and proceeds to the control flow of FIG. 22 or 23.

If it is determined in step S42 that the control data is not the same information, the process proceeds to step S45, where it is determined whether the authentication codes match, and if they match, whether the status data is 0 in step S46. Is determined.
When the status data is 0 and when the authentication codes do not match, in step 47, the control data stored in the RAM 3 is saved to the memory card 10 in accordance with the above-described control data, and the status data = 1 is set. It is memorized.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S48, in which the authentication code is written, the program is rewritten, and the state data = 2 is stored. In step S49, the saved control data is stored in the memory card 10 so as to correspond to the new program. Based on the information (temporary evacuation data information), the address is changed and relocated to the RAM 3.

On the other hand, if the status data is 1, step S
The process proceeds to 48, and if the status data is 2, the process proceeds to step S49.

If it is determined in step S41 that the types of the programs are not the same, it is determined in step S45 whether the authentication codes match. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S48, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S46. It is determined whether the status data is 0. If the status data is 0, the process proceeds to step S48. Next, in step S50, the initial value is written as control data in the RAM 3 and the status data = 3 is stored.

If it is determined in step S46 that the status data is 2, the process proceeds to step S50, and if the status data = 3, step S50 is skipped.

When it is determined in step S5 of FIG. 19 that the operation type of the memory card 10 is a card (the data of the vending machine A is copied to another vending machine B), it is determined in FIG. Proceed to step S61. First, it is determined whether the number of uses n of the memory card 10 is less than the number of usable times Z. If n is equal to the value of Z, use of the memory card 10 is prohibited. If not, the process proceeds to step S62. Here, it is determined whether the vending machine in which the memory card 10 is inserted is the copy source machine, that is, whether the vending machine A is the vending machine A. If so, whether the authentication codes match in step S63 If it is determined that they do not match, the process proceeds to step S65, where the authentication code is written, the current program stored in the flash memory 2 is read and written into the memory card 10, and 1 is finally stored as status data. Next step S66
Then, the control data stored in the RAM 3 is read out and written into the memory card 10, and 2 is stored as status data.

If the authentication codes match, step S
From 63, the process proceeds to step S64, and it is determined whether the status data is 0. If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S65,
In the case of 1, the process proceeds to step S66, and in the case of 2, the process skips step S66 and proceeds to the control flow of FIG. 22 or 23, whereby the vending machine A continues the sales control according to the current program.

If the memory card 10 inserted in the vending machine A is inserted into another vending machine B and the power is turned on, steps S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 in FIG.
Then, the process proceeds to step S61 in FIG. Again, n <
If Z, in the next step S62, it is determined whether the vending machine into which the memory card 10 is inserted is a copy source machine. In this case, since it is not the copy source machine, that is, the above-mentioned vending machine B, the process proceeds to step S67. Here, it is determined whether or not the authentication codes match. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S69, where the authentication code is written, the program stored in the memory card 10 is read into the vending machine B, and written into the flash memory 2. Finally, 1 is stored as state data. In the next step S70, the control data stored in the memory card 10 is read into the vending machine B and written into the RAM 2, and 2 is stored as state data.

If the authentication codes match, step S
The process proceeds from step 67 to step S68, and it is determined whether the status data is 0. If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S69,
In the case of 1, the process proceeds to step S70, and in the case of 2, the process proceeds to step S71.

Thus, the program and the control data stored in the vending machine A are copied to the vending machine B. In step S71, it is determined whether or not the copied data does not include a program and the control data is specific data including only data such as price. Only when the data is not specific data, the value of n is incremented by 1 in step S72. Thereafter, by proceeding to the control flow, the vending machine B performs the vending control according to the data of the vending machine A.

[0063]

According to the present invention, not only the new program but also the control data corresponding to the program is stored in the portable memory, and the control data is written when the new program is written. The program and control data can be set in a short time and without writing errors. The invention according to claim 2 is a memory map switching method for switching between using a current program and control data stored therein or using a new program and control data stored in a mounted portable memory (150). By providing the means (SW), it is possible to operate with the program of the portable memory without rewriting the current program while keeping it. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the portable memory stores information A such as the type of control data and the storage area for the new program, and the vending machine stores information B of the current control data for the current program. When writing a new program in the portable memory, the current control data is stored in the information B.
Temporarily saves the data in the portable memory based on the information A, and then relocates the saved data to the vending machine again based on the information A. Even if the program is updated, the current control data is reused. it can. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the information A and the information B are compared to determine whether they are the same. If the information A and the information B are the same, the control data on the vending machine is not saved or rearranged. And the time required for it can be saved. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the type of the program stored in the portable memory and the type of the current program stored in the vending machine are the same, the control data of the vending machine is saved and re-stored. The current data is reused by arranging it, but if it is different, the current control data cannot be reused, so standard values are written as control data. And proper data writing can be performed. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the writing process of the new program or the control data has been stored in the portable memory, information indicating up to which point the writing process has been completed is interrupted and the process is resumed. Since writing is performed after the interruption, there is no need to start over. The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein a common authentication code is written in the portable memory and the vending machine at the start of the processing, and when the processing is resumed after the processing is interrupted, the two-way authentication code is used. When the authentication code does not match, the writing is performed from the beginning only when the authentication code does not match, and the erroneous setting due to the insertion of the irrelevant portable memory can be eliminated. The invention according to claim 9 is useful for investigating the cause by referring to the change data when a failure occurs by storing the change data generated in the vending machine in the portable memory one by one. Can be made. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, if the portable memory is mounted when the power is turned on, the program stored in the portable memory is rewritten, so that not only the labor can be saved but also an erroneous write command can be eliminated. . The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 10,
When the power is turned on after the portable memory is removed after the rewriting of the program, the execution of the new program is instructed, so that the work of designating the program is not required. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the portable memory, which operation is to be performed, such as writing a new program, writing new control data, saving and rearranging control data in the vending machine, is described. By storing, even if a desired portable memory is inserted, even if there are various portable memories having different processing contents, it is possible to execute a process suitable for the attached portable memory. According to the invention of claim 13, when the number of times of using the portable memory reaches the specified number, the subsequent use is prohibited, and unlimited use can be prohibited. The invention according to claim 16 executes the designated program by address designation by storing the end of the program storage area in the program storage means and the end of each of the old and new programs stored in the program storage means. it can. According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, when writing a new program, the current program is evacuated to another place, and when an error occurs during writing of the new program, the evacuated old program is written again. Control can continue. The present invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that the current program is stored in another storage means, and then the new program is overwritten.
The old program is written from the start address to the address where the abnormality has occurred, and the time required for restoring the old program can be reduced. The invention according to claim 19 is
The new program is written after the current program is saved in another storage means, and when an abnormality occurs during the operation of the new program, the old program is restored and the sales control can be continued. According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, a storage control program and control data are taken into a vending machine A, and the data are written into another vending machine B. B can be easily copied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a claim showing a first embodiment (claim 1) of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a second embodiment (claim 2) of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to claims showing a third embodiment (claim 3) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to a claim showing a fourth embodiment (claim 5) of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a fifth embodiment (claim 6) of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a sixth aspect (claim 7) of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a seventh aspect (claim 8) of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a claim correspondence diagram showing an eighth aspect (claim 9) of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a ninth aspect (claim 10) of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a tenth aspect (claim 11) of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a claim correspondence diagram showing an eleventh aspect (claim 12) of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a twelfth aspect (claim 14) of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a thirteenth aspect (claim 16) of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to a claim showing a fourteenth aspect (claim 17) of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a fifteenth aspect (claim 18) of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to a claim showing a sixteenth aspect (claim 19) of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a claim correspondence diagram showing a seventeenth aspect (claim 20) of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing details of a memory map switching circuit 11 shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 27 is a memory map diagram showing when a new program is written in a free storage area of a flash memory.

FIG. 28 is a memory map diagram of a flash memory when restoring an old program by interrupting the overwriting of a new program

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a data setting method in a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microcomputer 2 Flash memory 3 RAM 7 Memory card interface 10 Memory card 11 Memory map switching circuit

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-296187 (JP, A) JP-A-62-286196 (JP, A) JP-A-1-276389 (JP, A) JP-A-5-197869 (JP) JP-A-5-298530 (JP, A) JP-A-4-241087 (JP, A) JP-A-4-274592 (JP, A) JP-A-2-14175 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/00

Claims (19)

(57) [Claims] A portable memory such as a memory card (150)
The program data stored in advance in the program storage means (151) is written in the electrically rewritable program storage means (101) in the vending machine (100). Data storage means (10
2) In a vending machine (100) that performs sales control based on control data such as selling prices stored in a storage device, a control data storage means for storing control data corresponding to a new program in a portable memory (150). (152), the portable memory (150) is attached to the vending machine (100), and when a new program read from the portable memory (150) is written to the program storage means (101), the control data storage means (15
The control data stored in the control data storage means (1)
Vending machine characterized by writing in 02). 2. A program storage means of the portable memory (150).
Memory map switching means (SW) for switching between using a new program stored in (101) or using a current program stored in program storage means (101) in a vending machine
The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A portable memory such as a memory card (150).
The program data stored in advance in the program storage means (151) is written in the electrically rewritable program storage means (101) in the vending machine (100). Data storage means (10
2) In a vending machine (100) that performs sales control based on control data such as sales prices stored in a memory, information such as a type of control data and a storage area corresponding to the new program is stored in a portable memory. Control data information storage means (153) and control data storage means (102)
The temporary save data storage means (154) for temporarily saving the control data stored in the control data, and information such as the type of control data stored in the control data information storage means (103) described later are saved. A temporary evacuation data information storage means (155) for storing and storing information of control data corresponding to the program stored in the program storage means (101) in the vending machine (100). A data-by-data information storage means (103) is provided, and when writing a new program into the vending machine (100), control data stored in the control data storage means (102) is stored in the control data-by-control information storage means (103). Based on the information of the new-program control-data-based information storage means (153), the data is temporarily saved in the temporary save data storage means (154), and is relocated to the control data storage means (102). Vending machine characterized. 4. A temporary save data storage means (154) and a temporary save data information storage means (15) provided in the portable memory (150).
The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein (5) is provided on the vending machine side. 5. Each control data for comparing information stored in the control data information storage means (103) with information stored in the new program control data per information storage means (153) in the portable memory (150). 5. The vending machine according to claim 3, further comprising an information comparison unit, wherein when the two information match, the control data is not temporarily saved and relocated when the program is rewritten. 6. A portable memory (150) comprising a program type storage means (155) for storing a type such as whether a new program is for a can machine or a cup machine, and wherein the vending machine (100) has an existing program. A program type storage means (105) for storing the type of the program, a program type comparison means (106) for comparing whether the storage type matches the two program type storage means, and rewriting the program when the program type matches. Sometimes, save control data,
6. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the rearrangement is performed, and when the types of the programs do not match, the standard value is written into the control data storage means by the standard value writing means. 7. A portable memory (150) comprising processing progress storage means (156) for storing information indicating up to which point the writing process of a new program or control data has been completed. A process progress writing unit (106) that creates the information and writes the information to the process progress storage unit (156); and an interruption determination that determines whether or not the writing has been interrupted based on the storage content of the process progress storage unit (156). 2. An interruption resuming means (109) for resuming writing from a process after the interruption when it is determined that the interruption has been made.
7. The vending machine according to any one of items 6 to 6. 8. A portable memory (150) having an authentication code storage means (157) for storing an authentication code which changes every time a series of processes for rewriting a program is started,
The vending machine (100) has an authentication code storage unit (110) that stores the same authentication code stored in the authentication code storage unit (157), and the authentication codes stored in both authentication code storage units match. Authentication code comparing means (111) for comparing whether to perform
The vending machine according to claim 7, further comprising: when restarting the interrupted process, if the two authentication codes do not match, the process is executed from the beginning even when the process is restarted after the interrupted process. 9. A change data detecting means (112) for detecting various data changed during a control operation, and storing the detected change data in a change data storage means (1) set in a portable memory.
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is written in (58). 10. A memory mounting presence / absence detecting means (113) for detecting whether or not the portable memory (150) is mounted when the power is turned on, and a rewriting command means (11) for issuing a program writing instruction when the portable memory (150) is mounted.
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising (4). 11. When the power is turned on after the portable memory (150) is removed after rewriting the program,
Program execution means (11
The vending machine according to claim 10, comprising: (5). 12. Writing a new program, writing new control data, saving control data in a vending machine,
The operation type storage means (159) for storing which operation is to be executed, such as rearrangement, is stored in the portable memory (15).
0), the vending machine (100) includes an operation command means (116) for instructing execution of a corresponding operation based on the operation type stored in the operation type storage means (159). 12. The vending machine according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. The portable memory (150) is provided with a use count storage means (160) for storing the number of usable times or the number of uses, and the vending machine (100) is provided with each time the portable memory is used, Counting means (117) for counting down or counting up the value stored in the usage count storage means (160)
A use count determining means (118) for determining whether the count value has reached a specified value, and a use inhibiting means (119) for inhibiting use of the portable memory (150) when the count value has reached a specified value. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: 14. The vending machine according to claim 13, wherein said counting means (117) and use count judging means (118) are provided on the portable memory side. 15. The vending machine according to claim 13, wherein when the number of usable times or the number of times of use is specific data, the vending machine can be used regardless of the number of times of use. 16. A program storage area end storage means (120) for storing the end of the program storage area in the program storage means (101), and a program storage means (10).
A program end storage means (121) for storing the end of each of the old and new programs stored in (1), and a control program selection means (122) for reading and executing a desired program according to designation. The vending machine according to any one of claims 15 to 15. 17. A program save storage means (12) for saving and storing a program stored in a program storage means (101).
3), when a new program is written to the program storage means (101), a program writing abnormality detecting means (124) for detecting a writing abnormality, and when a writing abnormality is detected,
17. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a program rewriting means (126) for writing the old program saved in the program saving means (123) to the program storage means (101). 18. A program storage means (123 ') for copying and storing a program stored in a program storage means (101).
When writing a new program in the program storage means (101), when a write error is detected, an abnormal address storage means (125) for storing the write address at that time
When an abnormality is detected, the program storage means (101)
17. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a program rewriting means (126) for writing the old program stored in the program storage means (123 ') up to the write address. 19. A program save storage means (12) for saving and storing a program stored in a program storage means (101).
3), a control program operation abnormality detection unit (127) for detecting an operation abnormality of the new program written in the program storage unit (101), and a program evacuation unit (123) when an operation abnormality is detected. 17. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a program rewriting means (126) for writing the old program into the program storage means (101).