JP7041880B1 - Display control system for vending machines that configure multi-faceted display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distribution server for delivering a moving image by always connecting when the synchronized moving image reproduction in a multi-faceted deployment method of a vending machine having an operation display panel with a digital signage function is interrupted due to the original sales function of the vending machine. It is to provide a display control system that can return the display of a vending machine to a multi-faceted expansion method display simply and at low cost without relying on. A reproduction return point information providing means transmits the reproduction return point information to the moving image reproduction means, and the moving image reproduction means receives the reproduction return point information and returns to the reproduction, triggered by the end of the sales mode. The system is characterized in that the moving image display of the vending machine related to the interruption is synchronized with the moving image display of the other plurality of vending machines, and the formation of the multi-faceted development display is restored. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a display control system that reproduces moving images such as advertisements and guidance on the operation display panel of a vending machine having an operation display panel with a digital signage function. The present invention relates to a display control system for playing back a moving image in a multi-faceted expansion display that displays a combination of.

Recently, as a method of utilizing a vending machine having an operation display panel with a digital signage function for displaying advertisements, product information, etc., a multi-faceted display in which a plurality of vending machines are synchronized to appeal one theme has been attracting attention. These vending machines have a signage mode display operation for displaying a video accompanied by advertisements, product information, etc., and a sales mode display operation for accepting operations such as touch for selling products related to the vending machine. There is.

In a multi-faceted expansion display in which multiple vending machines are placed in predetermined positions and the part videos in charge of each part are displayed synchronously on their operation display panel, the relevant video display is interrupted due to the purchase operation for any of the vending machines. The challenge is to synchronize the video display with other vending machines and restore it.
When the vending machine detects an operation such as touch by the purchaser for the original sale of the vending machine, it switches to the display operation of the sales mode. This is because if the vending is interrupted and canceled, it is necessary to synchronize the video playback with other vending machines constituting the multi-faceted display.

Conventionally, a distribution server that manages and distributes part videos for multi-sided expansion display is provided, a vending machine that develops multi-sided expansion display is connected to this distribution server, and videos with synchronized playback timing are distributed to each operation display panel. The method of doing was adopted. The vending machine itself does not have a mechanism to manage the display operation of the signage mode, an external distribution server is required to synchronize the playback timing, and it is necessary to maintain a constant connection between the vending machine and the distribution server. There is a problem that the configuration and operation of the system become complicated and the system construction and maintenance become expensive.

As such a multi-faceted development display technique, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1.
Here, it is a digital signage system including a distribution server that distributes content, and a plurality of playback devices that distribute the content from the distribution server via a network and display the content on a plurality of display devices. ,
The distribution server transmits a time stamp to the reproduction device, each reproduction device transmits the time stamp to the distribution server, and the distribution server transmits the content based on the transmitted time stamp. The difference in the response time of the communication in each of the reproduction devices required for displaying is calculated, the difference in the response time is transmitted to each of the reproduction devices, and each of the reproduction devices is transmitted from the distribution server. The internal time difference is calculated based on the time stamp, the correction value is calculated based on the response time difference and the internal time difference transmitted from the distribution server, and the internal calculation is applied by applying the correction value. A system has been proposed that realizes synchronized playback by processing content playback based on time.
However, a distribution server that distributes content in real time is indispensable, and it is essential to maintain a constant connection with the server device, such as calculating the time lag based on the time stamp transmitted in advance, and the system. The problem of complexity and high cost has not been fully resolved.

JP 2018-85671

An object of the present invention is a server function of an external device that synchronously distributes a video by always connecting when the vending machine having an operation display panel with a digital signage function is interrupted due to the original sales function of the vending machine during video playback by multi-faceted display. It is to provide a display control system that can return to multi-faceted display by mainly using the local function that each vending machine operates independently without relying on.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it has a signage mode for displaying a moving image and a selling mode for displaying a sales screen, and when a purchase operation is detected in the signage mode, the moving image display is interrupted and the sales mode is used. It is a display control system of a vending machine with an operation display panel that operates.
a) A video storage means for storing a part video that forms a multi-faceted expansion display by being played in synchronization with one or more other vending machine other part videos.
b) The scheduled playback time set after the current time and its playback from the playback time table storage device that stores the playback time table that associates the playback return positions set multiple times in the entire area of the part video with the scheduled playback time. A playback / return point information providing means for searching and transmitting playback / return point information, which is a set of return positions, and
c) A moving image reproduction means for receiving the reproduction return point information, returning the reproduction from the reproduction return position to the scheduled reproduction time, and reproducing the part moving image.
Including
Triggered by the end of the sales mode, the reproduction return point information providing means transmits the reproduction return point information to the moving image reproduction means, and the moving image reproduction means receives the reproduction return point information and reproduces the reproduction. By returning,
Provided is a system characterized in that the moving image display of the vending machine according to the interruption is synchronized with the moving image display of the other plurality of vending machines, and the formation of the multi-faceted development display is restored.

Here, the standard time providing means for providing the standard time of the vending machine group according to the multi-faceted expansion display may be further included.

The standard time providing means may be an Internet time server, and the standard time may be the Internet standard time provided by the Internet time server.

The sales mode may be terminated when the notification of the completion of the sales process is given or the predetermined purchase progress operation is not detected continuously for a predetermined time.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a group of vending machines displaying a moving image forming a multi-faceted development display of the present embodiment as viewed from the front provided with an operation display panel. FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an example of a vending machine that is displayed and operated in the sales mode. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal hardware configuration of the vending machine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control board and peripheral devices. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the sequence structure of the part moving image reproduced by the display control system of this embodiment and the set reproduction return position. FIG. 6 is a chart diagram showing the relationship between the reproduction time table consisting of the reproduction return position and the scheduled reproduction time and the reproduction time zone. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a part moving image showing a modified example of the reproduction return position setting. FIG. 8 is a chart diagram showing the relationship between the reproduction time table and the reproduction time zone according to the modified example. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the display operation of the vending machine of this embodiment and the purchase / sale operation related thereto. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the signage mode return operation of the signage mode display unit.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in examples using drawings.
In the embodiment, each functional component that realizes the function of the present invention is realized by executing a control program such as firmware built in advance or a control program stored in a storage device by a processor such as a computer or a circuit. The program.

(Schematic diagram of vending machine group to be displayed on multiple sides)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a group of vending machines displaying a moving image forming a multi-faceted development display of the present embodiment as viewed from the front provided with an operation display panel.
The vending machines 1001A, 1001B and 1001C have a signage mode operation and a sales mode operation, but here, a group of vending machines operating in the signage mode is shown.

These vending machine groups are provided with operation display panels 1002A, 1002B and 1002C, respectively. Here, the video of "Dragon" is being played, the part video of the tail of "Dragon" displayed on 1002A, the part video of the body of "Dragon" displayed on 1002B, and the "Part video of the body of" Dragon "displayed on 1002C. The part video of the head of "Dragon" and the video of the theme of "Dragon" are being displayed in a multi-faceted development.
The vending machines are arranged so that the three operation display panels play back the respective part videos in synchronization so that the three part videos integrally represent a video of one theme.

When a touch to the operation display panel of any vending machine is detected, the vending machine interrupts the playback of the part video, enters the sales mode, and displays a sales screen that performs a purchase support operation according to the touch position of the purchaser. ..
Here, the method of switching to the sales mode by detecting the touch on the operation display panel during video playback is adopted, but the trigger to interrupt the part video playback and switch to the sales mode is limited to this. is not it. For example, a vending machine may be provided with a motion sensor, and a method of switching to the sales mode triggered by human detection may be adopted.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an example of the vending machine 1001A that is displayed and operated in the sales mode. The vending machines 1004B and 1004C also employ the same sales mode operation.
On the operation display panel 1002A, a sales screen showing a plurality of product images 2001 and a product selection button 2002 corresponding to each product is displayed.
It is possible to detect the touch of the purchaser's product selection button and select the product desired by the purchaser as a sales target.
When the settlement of the following product purchase is completed in this selected state, the product related to the purchaser's selection is paid out as shown later.

These vending machines are provided with money handling interfaces 1003A, 1003B and 1003C, and serve as an interface for settlement of product purchases in the sales mode.
Here, a reader that accepts electronic money is adopted, but the money handling interface that can be adopted in the present invention is not limited to this, and a credit card reading interface, a money slot, and the like can be appropriately adopted.

These vending machine groups are provided with product payout ports 1004A, 1004B and 1004C, respectively. According to the control command from the product sales management control unit 4007 described with reference to FIG. 4, the products for which the settlement of the product purchase in the sales mode has been settled are paid out to these product payout ports.
The product payout port is provided with a sensor for detecting the product payout at the product payout port, and is configured to detect the product payout and send a notification of the completion of the payout to the product sales management control unit 4007.
When the product sales management control unit 4007 receives the notification of the completion of the payout, the sales mode is terminated.
The end information of the sales mode is transmitted from the product sales management control unit 4007 to the signage mode display unit 4001 as described later.

These vending machines are a playback time table database 1007 that stores a playback time table composed of a set of a playback return position and a scheduled playback time of the part video forming the Internet time server 1006 and the multi-faceted expansion display via the network 1005. Is connected to.

(Internal configuration of vending machine)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal hardware configuration of the vending machine 1001A.
The other vending machines 1001B and 1001C constituting the vending machine group also have the same hardware configuration.

The vending machine 1001A has a main body cabinet 3001. The main body cabinet 3001 is configured in a box shape with an open front surface by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and the front opening of the main body cabinet 3001 is closed by an openable and closable outer door 3002.
The outer door 3002 is locked in a closed state, and as shown in FIG. 1, a display operation unit panel 1002A is provided on the front surface. The display operation panel is a combination of a large display panel and a touch detection unit that detects and notifies a touched area. In the signage mode, the part moving image as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed, and in the selling mode, the selling screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. The touch detection unit transmits a touch detection notification including a touched area to the functional component of the control board, which will be described later.

A control board 3003 and a moving image storage device 3004 for storing a part moving image are provided on the back side of the operation display panel 1002A. The configuration of the control board will be described later.
As the moving image storage device 3004, a device such as a USB memory, an SD card, or a hard disk is appropriately adopted as required for data capacity and data transmission speed.

Below the operation display panel inside the outer door 3002, the inside of the money handling unit 3005 and the payout port 1004A, which correspond to the main body of the money handling interface, is arranged.
The main body cabinet 3001 is provided with a product management storage unit 3006 provided with a mechanism for paying out products for which payment has been completed by the money handling unit to the payout port 1004A.

(Functional configuration of control board)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control board 3003 and peripheral devices.
The control board 3003 is composed of a signage mode display unit 4001, a communication unit 4002, a sales mode display unit 4006, and a product sales management control unit 4007.
The signage mode display unit 4001 is divided into a lower-level functional configuration unit such as a standard time providing unit 4003, a reproduction return point information providing unit 4004, and a moving image reproduction unit 4005.

The standard time providing unit 4003 is connected to the Internet time server 1006 on the network 1005 in cooperation with the communication unit 4002, and provides the Internet standard time as the current time to other functional components.
The reproduction return point information providing unit 4004 searches the reproduction time table database 1007 for the reproduction return point information at the current time, triggered by the notification of the end of the sales mode from the product sales management control unit 4007 described later, and reproduces the moving image. The moving image reproduction unit 4005 to be transmitted to the unit 4005 receives the reproduction return point information, and reproduces the part moving image stored in the moving image storage device 3004 from the reproduction return position included in the information to the scheduled reproduction time included in the information. It returns, receives a touch detection notification from the operation display panel 1002A, and interrupts playback.
In this way, it controls the interruption and return of the playback of the part moving image that forms the multi-faceted development display mainly by the function component unit provided locally in each vending machine.

The communication unit 4002 connects to the network by a predetermined communication protocol, and communicates the functional component unit constituting the control board with the Internet time server and the reproduction time table database on the network.

The sales mode display unit 4006 receives the touch detection notification from the operation display panel 1002A displayed in the signage mode, and starts the operation. First, the sales screen set in advance as the initial screen is displayed. After receiving the touch detection notification from the operation display panel after the initial screen is displayed or the display control command from the following product sales management control unit 4007, the screen transitions to the sales screen set as the purchase operation support screen for the purchaser.

The product sales management control unit 4007 receives a touch detection notification to a predetermined area from the operation display panel 1002A in the sales mode, determines selection of a purchased product related to screen touch, and the sales mode display unit 4006. A display control command for transition to the sales screen indicating a predetermined response is transmitted.
Further, the product sales management control unit 4007 receives a notification of the completion of payment by the money handling unit 3005 electronic money reading or the like, and transmits a product payout order related to the product selection to the product management storage unit 3006.
Further, the product sales management control unit 4007 receives the notification of the completion of the payout from the payout port 1004A, and sends the notice of the end of the sales mode to the signage mode display unit 4001.
Even when there is no purchase progress operation such as the touch detection notification and the payment completion notification for 90 seconds during the operation in the sales mode, the product sales management control unit 4007 still has the signage mode display unit 4001. Send a notification of the end of sales mode to.

(Sequence that composes the part video)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the sequence structure of the part moving image reproduced by the display control system of this embodiment and the set reproduction return position.
In the part moving image 5001, n sequences that can be visually distinguished as a group of moving images are connected along the time axis.
That is, along the time axis shown by the timeline 5002 of the moving image, S (1) from the start point 5003 of the timeline time 00:00:00 (hereinafter, abbreviated as timeline time 00:00:00). ) 5004, S (2) 5005, ..., S (n-1) 5006, S (n) 5007, and so on, n sequences are C (1) 5008, C (2) 5009, ... ..., C (n-1) 5010, C (n-1) 5011 are connected by (n-1) connection points.
These start points and connection points are set as playback return positions, a playback time table shown later is generated, and stored in the playback time table database 1007.
Here, the reproduction time of the sequences S (1), S (2), ..., S (n-1), S (n) is T (1) 5012, T (2) 5013, ... , T (n-1) 5014, T (n) 5015.
Here, the playback time required to play all n sequences is exactly 6 minutes, and playback starts at the start time specified by the hour, minute, and second indicated by the standard time, and all sequences are played. When the playback is completed, the playback is repeated from the timeline time 00:00:00, which is the starting point.
The playback time of the part video that can be adopted in the present invention is not limited to this, and the playback time that can be synchronized with the timing in seconds ticked at the standard time is the content of the video and the playback time of the video. It can be changed as appropriate according to the purpose.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the relationship between the reproduction time table 6000 including the reproduction return position 6002 and the scheduled reproduction time 6003 and the reproduction time zone 6001.
The playback time table 6000 is created for 24 hours from 00:00:00 in standard time (hereinafter, abbreviated as 00:00:00 in standard time) to 24:00 in standard time. It is stored in the reproduction time table database 1007.
Here, for the sake of simplification of the explanation, the reproduction time table 6000 from the standard time 00:00:00 indicated by 6004 to a little after the standard time 01:00:00 indicated by 6005 is shown. There is. The relationship between the playback return position and the scheduled playback time between 01:00 and 23:00 of the standard time is the same as the relationship between the playback return position 6002 and the scheduled playback time 6003 at 00:00. The part moving image 5001 is repeatedly played back exactly every 6 minutes, and the relationship between the playback return position 6002 represented by the timeline time and the scheduled playback time 6003 is also repeated every 6 minutes.

The playback return position 6002 starts from C (1), which is the first connection point indicated by 6006, and continues to C (2), ..., C (n-2), C (n-1), and so on. It returns to the timeline time 00:00:00, which is a point, and repeats the same playback / return position from C (1).
The scheduled playback time 6003, which is paired with the repeat playback return position, starts from the standard time T (1) indicated by 6007, T (1) + T (2), ..., T (1) + T ( 2) + ・ ・ ・ + T (n-2), T (1) + T (2) + ・ ・ ・ + T (n-2) + T (n-1), followed by standard time 00:06: It becomes 00. Hereinafter, similarly, the scheduled playback time in which the time required for playback of each sequence is sequentially added continues.
By setting the start point and connection point of the sequence of the part video as shown here to the playback return position, the part video of the vending machine that returns after the interruption can be played back at the beginning of any sequence and returns. There is an effect that the moving image can be restarted at the break of the moving image in which the subsequent discontinuity is inconspicuous.

(Modification example of playback return position setting)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a part moving image showing a modified example of the reproduction return position setting.
Also in this modification, the part moving image having the same sequence structure as that shown in FIG. 5 is adopted, and the same parts as those shown in FIG. 5 are numbered the same.
Along the time axis indicated by the video timeline 5002, the timeline time indicated by 7001 is 00:00:01, the timeline time indicated by 7002 is 00:00:02, ..., The timeline time indicated by 7003: 00: The playback / return position is set in 1-second increments such as the timeline time of 05:58 and 7004, 00:05:59, and the timeline time of 7005: 00:06: 00.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing the relationship between the reproduction time table 8000 and the reproduction time zone 8001 according to the modified example.
Here, too, the playback time table is created with the playback time zone set to 24 hours from 00:00:00 to 24:00 in the standard time, and the above-mentioned part video 5001 is repeatedly played back in this time zone. ..
The playback return position 8002 is sequentially set every second from the timeline time 00:00:01 indicated by 8004, and at the 6th minute, at the timeline time 00:00:00, which is the reproduction start position indicated by 8005. It is set to return, and every 6 minutes thereafter, it is also set every 1 second.
The scheduled playback time 8003, which is paired with the repeated playback return position, is sequentially set from the standard time 00:00:01 indicated by 8006 to the standard time 24:00:00 every second.

When there is a need to lengthen the time for multi-faceted display such as when it is used as an advertising medium, it can be dealt with by setting the playback / return position at such short intervals.
Here, a 24-hour reproduction time table is adopted, but the reproduction time table of the present invention is not limited to this. A one-hour reproduction time table, a one-week reproduction time table, or the like can be appropriately adopted.

The playback / return position setting method can be appropriately changed according to the purpose of multi-faceted display and as necessary, such as a method of setting the playback / return position at the joint where the sequence of the part video is cut, and a method of setting the playback / return position at predetermined time intervals.
Then, by using the playback time table created according to the purpose and need in this way, the video playback function provided locally in each vending machine can be provided without relying on a video distribution server equipped with a synchronization function. As the main, it is possible to return the vending machine display to the multi-faceted display method at a simpler and lower cost.
The vending machine group for multi-faceted display can only acquire the standard time from the Internet time server 1006, and can perform the synchronized display operation even though it operates substantially independently.

(Operation of vending machine)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the display operation of the vending machine 1001A of this embodiment and the purchase / sale operation related thereto. The operations of the vending machines 1001B and 1001C also operate in the same flow.
In the operation start step 9001, the operation of the vending machine 1001A is started by the operation of the vending machine manager at a predetermined start time. Here, the operation is started in the signage mode.

In the signage mode operation step 9002, the signage mode display unit 4001 reproduces the part moving image and forms a multi-faceted expansion display.
When the purchaser touches the screen of the operation display panel 1002A in the touch detection step 9003, the signage mode display operation is interrupted, and the touch detection notification is transmitted from the operation display panel 1002A to the sales mode display unit 4006.

In the sales mode operation step 9004, the sales screen is displayed by the sales mode display unit 4006. The sales screen detects the purchase operation by touching the screen from the purchaser, and the main function is to detect the product selection.
In the state where the product selection on the sales screen is detected, the payment is made to the money handling unit 3005 by reading the electronic money of the purchaser or the like, and the notification of the completion of the payment is transmitted from the payout port 1004A.
Here, if the product sales management control unit 4007 does not receive the touch detection notification from the operation display panel 1002A or the payout completion notification from the payout port 1004A continuously for 90 seconds, a time-out occurs and the product sales management control unit 4007 sends a notification of the end of the sales mode to the signage mode display unit 4001, and the operation of the system shifts to the signage mode return step 9006.

In the sales end step 9005, the product sales management control unit 4007 receives the notification of the completion of the payout from the payout port 1004A in the sales mode operation step, and transmits the notification of the end of the sales mode to the signage mode display unit 4001.

In the signage mode return step 9006, the signage mode display unit 4001 that has received the notification of the end of the sales mode returns to the signage mode display and plays the part movie by the operation of the signage mode return as shown later.

(Details of operation for returning to signage mode)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the signage mode return operation of the signage mode display unit 4001.
In the sales mode end reception step 10001, the notification of the end of the sales mode is received from the product sales management control unit 4007.
In the reproduction return point search step 10002, the reproduction return point information providing unit 4004 searches the reproduction return point information at the current time from the reproduction time table database 1007 and transmits the reproduction return point information to the moving image reproduction unit 4005.
In the reproduction return point information reception step 10002, the moving image reproduction unit 4005 receives the reproduction return point information.
In the reproduction return step 1004, the moving image reproduction unit 4005 performs reproduction return from the reproduction return position included in the reproduction return point information to the scheduled reproduction time included in the information, and reproduces the part moving image stored in the moving image storage device 3004. do.

Due to the operation of the system as described above, in a vending machine having an operation display panel with a digital signage function, multi-faceted expansion display is performed by a substantially independent local function without relying on a distribution server that synchronously distributes videos with a constant connection. It is possible to control the return to video playback synchronized with the display of other vending machines for forming the display, and maintain the multi-faceted display.

The invention disclosed in the present invention can be used not only in the vending machine industry but also in the advertising industry and the public sector using the operation display panel of the vending machine as a medium.

1001A Vending machine 1002A Operation display panel 1006 Internet time server 1007 Playback time table database

Claims (4)

A display control system for a vending machine with an operation display panel that has a signage mode for displaying a moving image and a selling mode for displaying a sales screen, interrupts the moving image display when a purchase operation is detected in the signage mode, and operates in the selling mode. And
a) A video storage means for storing a part video that forms a multi-faceted expansion display by being played in synchronization with one or more other vending machine other part videos.
b) The scheduled playback time set after the current time and its playback from the playback time table storage device that stores the playback time table that associates the playback return positions set multiple times in the entire area of the part video with the scheduled playback time. A playback / return point information providing means for searching and transmitting playback / return point information, which is a set of return positions, and
c) A moving image reproduction means for receiving the reproduction return point information, returning the reproduction from the reproduction return position to the scheduled reproduction time, and reproducing the part moving image.
Including
Triggered by the end of the sales mode, the reproduction return point information providing means transmits the reproduction return point information to the moving image reproduction means, and the moving image reproduction means receives the reproduction return point information and reproduces the reproduction. By returning,
A system characterized in that the moving image display of the vending machine according to the interruption is synchronized with the moving image display of the other plurality of vending machines, and the formation of the multi-faceted expansion display is restored. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a standard time providing means for providing a standard time of the vending machine group according to the multi-faceted expansion display. The display control system according to claim 2, wherein the standard time providing means is an Internet time server, and the standard time is the Internet standard time provided by the Internet time server. The display according to claim 1, wherein the sales mode ends when the notification of the completion of the sales process is given or the predetermined purchase progress operation is not detected continuously for a predetermined time. Control system.

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