JPH0594576A - On-line system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to reduce the number of lines even at the time of installing plural automatic vending machines(AVMs) and to allow this automatic vending machine(AVM) on-line system to flexibly correspond to the transfer of an AVM on-lien system by utilizing existing telephone lines and concentrically managing plural AVMs. CONSTITUTION:An AVM control apparatus 1 is integrated in an AVM 2, stores various information and has a function for holding various information and transmitting information in accordance with a condition of a failure or the like. Such information is transmitted to a centralized control apparatus 4 by utilizing an existing electric line 3 as an information transmitting route. The apparatus 4 utilizes a telephoneset 5 and a public telephone line 6 separately, and during the period that the telephone set 5 is not utilized, executes communication with an information processor 8 arranged at a remote place.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine online system, and more particularly to a system for collecting and delivering various information managed in the vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an example in which meter information is automatically metered through a public line by gas meter metering, etc., but there is no online usage mode of various vending machines scattered in stores or buildings, and automatic vending The only information collected on-site was collected using a collection device. In addition, regarding failure, it is only displayed on the vending machine, and no reporting means has been realized.

[0003]

In recent years, vending machines have become intelligent, and it has become possible to grasp and store product sales information or non-sale information such as breakdowns and out-of-changes by a microcomputer or the like. There is. However, it was difficult to collect information from remote areas because there was no means to quickly transmit such information to remote areas.

Further, when using a normal online line, there are problems in the number of lines for a plurality of vending machines at the same place, and in line installation work.

Further, even if the construction load is reduced by branching out the existing telephone line, when the vending machine is called from a remote place, the ringing tone of the existing telephone may sound.

[0006]

According to the present invention, "a vending machine control device for storing and controlling vending machine information and a plurality of vending machine control devices are centrally managed, and the vending machine is controlled through a power line. Central control device that communicates with the machine control device,
It is possible to obtain a vending machine online system which has a centralized control device and an information processing device that communicates, and is characterized by bidirectional communication that enables communication from the centralized control device and communication from the information processing device.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a more detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, a vending machine control device 1 is incorporated in a vending machine 2, holds various kinds of information, and transmits information according to a condition such as a failure. With function. These pieces of information are transmitted to the centralized control device 4 using the existing power line 3 as an information transmission path. This will reduce the line work due to the movement of vending machines and the line burden for the number of vending machines.

The central control device 4 includes a telephone 5 and a telephone line 6.
Is used to communicate with the information processing equipment 8 at a remote place through the public line network 7 while the telephone 5 is not used. When using the telephone during communication, the communication is interrupted, so that the use of the telephone is not hindered.

When the information is transmitted from the information device 8 to the vending machine control device 1 through the route reverse to the above, the call branching from the information processing device 8 is performed by using the non-ringing service of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation. The phone does not detect it.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By using existing telephone lines and centrally managing multiple vending machines, it is possible to reduce the number of lines even when installing multiple vending machines and to flexibly deal with relocation. In addition, it is easy to introduce because there is no need to prepare a new online line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vending machine control device 2 Vending machine 3 Power line 4 Centralized control device 5 Telephone 6 Telephone line 7 Public line network 8 Information processing device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A central control device that centrally manages a vending machine control device that stores and controls vending machine information and a plurality of vending machine control devices, and that communicates with the vending machine control device through a power line. An automatic vending machine online system having a central control device and an information processing device that communicates with the central control device, and is characterized by bidirectional communication that enables communication from the central control device and communication from the information processing device.