JPH0612571A - Automatic information vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive the latest information, only executing an operation in accordance with a message, by reading in information data from an external data base by a communication circuit and migrating it into a set storage medium. CONSTITUTION:When approach of the human body is detected by a sensor, a demonstration image of a commercial and sales information is reflected on a display 54 by a hard disk 26 or a VTR. In such a state, when an operating panel 46 is operated, a genre menu of the sales information and the next operating instruction are displayed. When a desired genre is selected in accordance with this message, a saleable information menu in the genre and its price are displayed, and also, the next operation menu is outputted. When desired information data is selected in accordance therewith, the method for payment is messaged together with an outline of the information data and its price, and its information capacity. Subsequently, a charge processing is executed by a prepaid card reader/writer 38, a coin mechanism 44, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information vending machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to an information vending machine that stores information in a memory medium such as an IC memory, a compact disk, or a magnetic memory for sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has become possible to effectively use data by exchanging data from electronic notebooks, laptop personal computers, etc. with personal computers, etc., while developing IC memory cards, optical memory cards, magnetic memory cards, etc. as memory. The storage capacity and the used area have been expanded. The user can save the desired data and read it freely when he wants to see it. In such an environment, an information providing service using a communication line such as a captain system and a fax service is provided.

[0003]

However, in order for the user to obtain the information using the communication line, the cost of purchasing the equipment is high and it is difficult for the individual user to use the information. Therefore, the present invention is to realize a system capable of providing information by an automatic vending machine.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides various information data by a communication line and transfers the information data to a memory inserted into a terminal from the outside. An auxiliary memory for storing message information of information data to be sold and demonstration data, an input / output control means for displaying and outputting a predetermined operation message by an external operation signal such as a selection operation and a deposit operation, and an external database. Communication means for inputting the information data to be sold from, the reading / writing means for detecting the memory use state of the memory inserted from the outside and transferring the information data from the communication means in the previous term, and the message information from the auxiliary memory in the previous term And the demonstration data are read out and displayed and sold by an external operation signal. When the information data to be selected is selected, the remaining capacity of the inserted memory is detected, and when it is determined that the information data can be transferred, the control means for transferring the information data to the inserted memory by the communication line is provided. It is an information vending machine characterized by that.

[0005]

The information vending machine of the present invention is demonstrated to start operation when a human body is detected by the sensor and to display CM and sales information stored in the auxiliary memory on the display device by operating the operation panel. The sales information data menu and operating procedure are messaged, information information is selected, fees are charged, output medium is instructed according to the procedure, and after setting, the memory capacity of the set storage medium is diagnosed and the area is secured, then the communication line The information data is read from the external database and transferred to the set storage medium.

[0006]

FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of an information vending machine of the present invention, which includes a sensor 4, a display 6, a coin slot 8, a prepaid card slot 10, a print output sheet outlet 12, A memory card slot 14 and a telephone 16 are arranged.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information vending machine 2, which stores and holds information data to be sold, message information such as a database number, capacity and price of the information data, and information for demonstration. Hard disk 2
6, DSU (Digital Subscriber Unit) 36
And a communication interface 30 and a catch memory 28, a communication unit for converting a communication signal from an external database by an ISDN service into information data, and an operation panel 4
6, a prepaid card read / writer 38, a coin mech 44, and an I / O interface 42 for controlling external input / output signals of a sensor 50, and a display 54 and a VTR 48.
And an input / output control unit for controlling display of a predetermined message by the video interface 56, an output terminal of the printer 40 and an IC memory card reader / writer, a menu, an initialization format of an external memory, management of sales status, etc. It is composed of a main memory 24 for storing and holding data and a control / management program, and a CPU 22 for controlling operation / operation by the control / management program. The telephone 32 is used exclusively for telephone consultation type voice such as dial Q2.

Next, the operation of the information vending machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the sensor detects the approach of a human body from the standby state, the hard disk 26 or the VTR 48 displays a demonstration image of commercial and sales information on the display 54. When the operation panel 46 is operated, the genre menu of sales information and the next operation instruction are displayed. The operation instructions may be given simultaneously by voice, and will be referred to as a message hereinafter.

When the desired genre is selected in accordance with this message, the information menu and prices available for sale within the genre are displayed, and the following operation message is issued.
According to this, when the desired information data is selected, a message about the payment method of the charge is given together with the outline and price of the information data and its information capacity. The information capacity is displayed by the memory capacity and the number of A4 sheets.

When the payment method is entered here, a confirmation display is displayed, and when canceling the operation, the display screen is returned to the previous display screen,
If it is OK, the charge is prompted and the prepaid card reader / writer 38, the coin mech 44 and the like perform the charge processing. After that, an IC card, a floppy disk, a printer, or the like is selected as the output medium, and a message for setting the output medium is issued.

When the set of the output medium is confirmed, a line is connected to an external database, and the printer or I is connected through the DSU 36, the interface 30, and the cache memory 28.
It is output to the C card and an end message is made.

Next, detailed processing when outputting to the memory medium will be described with reference to FIG. The standard format inside the memory of the present application has a structure in which the directory is divided into sectors and clusters according to the floppy format. When outputting to an IC card or the like of the memory inserted from the outside, the flow of FIG. Memory diagnosis is performed as shown in the chart.
First of all, if it is OK to detect whether the set memory card is in the readable and writable standard format of this unit and if it is not good, instruct it to select whether to reset it or initialize it to the standard format. The index display of the information stored in the memory is performed.

Further, when the remaining capacity is detected and it is judged whether the information data can be transferred or not, a message is displayed as to whether the memory card should be replaced, a specific file should be erased or initialized, and a selection instruction should be given. After securing the information data import area of the receiving memory card, the line is connected and the information data is imported.

Further, as shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 4C and 4D, the information data once called is stored in the hard disk 26 which is the auxiliary memory of the main body so that the same information data can be obtained from the auxiliary memory. An upper memory sales area (S) which can be transferred to an external memory and stores and holds information data of the upper sales area for a certain period of time and a storage when the information data which is not in the upper area (S) on that day is called By providing a register for dividing or dividing the daily use area (R) to be held, the information data can be effectively called and transferred. Of course, a method of storing and holding it in the auxiliary memory during a time period when it is not used is also possible.

The sales information on sale is managed in the main memory 24 and is sent to the center by the communication line every day at the time determined by the timer. Also, the message information can be rewritten by transmission from the center.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Individual users can easily obtain the latest information they want by simply operating according to the message without purchasing a fax machine or various adapters, and the memory medium can be used effectively as it has a multi-information holding selectivity. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the information vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are flowcharts showing a processing procedure and information data processing when outputting the memory card of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Sensor 6, 54 Display 8 Coin Slot 10 Prepaid Card Slot 12 Paper Ejection Slot 14 Memory Card Slot 16, 32 Telephone 26 Hard Disk 28 Cash Memory 30 Communication Interface 36 Digital Subscriber Unit 38 Prepaid Card Reader / Writer 40 Printer 42 IO interface 44 CoinMec 46 Operation panel 48 VTR 50 Video interface 56 IC memory card reader / writer

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 21, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the information vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the information vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure and information data processing when outputting the memory card of the present invention.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Takanobu Goto 496 Oaza, Showa-machi, Kita-Katsushika-gun, Saitama Saitama Works (72) Inventor Toyofumi Hieda 496 Oaza, Showa-machi, Kita-Katsushika-gun, Saitama Industrial Saitama Office

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An auxiliary memory for storing message information of information data to be sold and demonstration data,
Input / output control means for displaying and outputting a predetermined operation message by an external operation signal such as a selection operation and a deposit operation, a communication means for inputting information data to be sold from an external database, and a memory use state of a memory inserted from the outside Reading / writing means for detecting and transferring information data from the previous term communication means, reading and displaying message information and demonstration data from the previous term auxiliary memory and inserting when information data to be sold is selected by an external operation signal Information vending machine, which is provided with a control means for detecting the remaining capacity of the stored memory and determining that the information data can be transferred into the inserted memory through a communication line. . 2. An auxiliary memory for storing message information of information data to be sold and demonstration data,
Input / output control means for displaying and outputting a predetermined operation message by an external operation signal such as a selection operation and a deposit operation, a communication means for inputting information data to be sold from an external database, and a memory use state of a memory inserted from the outside Reading / writing means for detecting and transferring information data from the previous term communication means, reading and displaying message information and demonstration data from the previous term auxiliary memory and inserting when information data to be sold is selected by an external operation signal When it is determined that the information data can be transferred to the stored memory, the information data is output to the auxiliary memory or the memory inserted by the communication line, and the information data is stored in the auxiliary memory when called from the communication line. And a control means for controlling Information vending machine.