WO2009081652A1

WO2009081652A1 - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009081652A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/069254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ichiro Fukuda; Tsunehiro Aso
Original assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
Priority date: 2007-12-26
Filing date: 2008-10-23
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Also published as: JP2009157658A

Abstract

A vending machine (1) has a wireless LAN base function and an internet connection function through a specific provider and sells an “internet connection service” to an arbitrary user in a timed manner. The user who has purchased the “internet connection service” in the vending machine (1) enters the wireless LAN that the vending machine (1) builds up through the own mobile personal computer (30) and is connected to the Internet through the communication interface of the vending machine (1) via the wireless LAN. This allows even a user who signs no wireless LAN internet usage contract with the specific provider to easily receive the internet connection service.

Description

vending machine

The present invention relates to a vending machine having a function of providing a public Internet connection service.

It is known that there is a system that uses a wireless local area network (hereinafter abbreviated as “wireless LAN”) constructed in an arbitrary area in a city as a public Internet connection service. However, in the publicly-known public wireless LAN using Internet connection service, since each user has to make an internet use contract with the Internet provider individually by wireless LAN, it is not easy for anyone to use. It was.

Therefore, those who have not signed an Internet usage contract with an Internet provider using a public wireless LAN cannot use the Internet even when they want to use it on the go, which is inconvenient. On the other hand, it is known that there is an Internet use service called “Internet cafe”, but a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) that can be connected to the Internet is designated as a specific place (store). ), But it is inconvenient in that users cannot use their own mobile PC, and it is inconvenient in that it can only be used in a very limited specific location (store). It was.

On the other hand, in the field of vending machines, a vending machine of a type that can use not only money but also a prepaid money management medium such as a prepaid card has appeared (for example, Patent Document 1). A vending machine of a type that can use a postpaid money management medium such as a credit card has appeared. However, even though the payment methods in vending machines have been diversified as such, the actual situation is that the products handled are limited to articles such as beverages and foods.
Japanese Patent No. 2896694

The present invention has been made in view of the above points so that even an arbitrary user who does not have an Internet use contract with a specific provider using a public wireless LAN can easily receive an Internet connection service. It is intended to provide a vending machine.

The vending machine according to the present invention is in accordance with at least one payment method among a cash payment method, a payment method using a prepaid money management medium, a payment method using a postpaid money management medium, and an electronic money payment method. A money management device that accepts money information, and item selection means that allows a user to select a purchase item, and the item that can be purchased includes an Internet connection service, and the money information that the money management device accepts A determination means for determining whether or not the item selected by the item selection means can be purchased, a means for constructing a local area network, a communication interface for performing Internet connection, and the Internet connection service by the determination means To the local area network of the user's computer The connections permitted, characterized in that the computer of the user and a control means for connecting to the Internet via the communication interface via the local area network. Preferably, the local area network constructed by the means for constructing the local area network is a wireless local area network (wireless LAN).

According to the present invention, the vending machine includes means for constructing a local area network (preferably a wireless LAN) and a communication interface for connecting to the Internet. The user brings his or her own computer (mobile personal computer) having at least a LAN interface (preferably a wireless LAN interface) and enters a money management device or a prepaid card according to a payment method that can be used with the vending machine. Alternatively, entry of money information using a credit card or the like is performed, and an Internet connection service is purchased by the item selection means. When the purchase of the Internet connection service is permitted based on the money information received by the money management apparatus, the user's computer is connected to the Internet via the communication interface in the vending machine via the local area network constructed by the vending machine. Allowed to connect. Thereby, even an arbitrary user who does not have a wireless LAN usage contract with a specific Internet provider can easily receive the Internet connection service. In addition, since vending machines are installed in public places such as station premises or near street corners, users can feel inconvenience by adopting the present invention from time to time in each vending machine. It is expected that the Internet connection service can be provided without any problems.

1 is a front external view of an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention.

The block diagram which shows the schematic example of the internal structure of this vending machine, and a system structure.

The flowchart which shows an example of the process which the control unit of this vending machine performs.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front external view of an embodiment of a vending machine 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic example of the internal configuration of the vending machine 1 and the system configuration. The appearance of the vending machine 1 has a generally known configuration. That is, the item display 2 and the item selection switch 3 are provided as item selection means for allowing the user to select a purchase item (product) at a place where the user's eyes are easily accessible. Below that, there are provided means for receiving money or money information such as the coin insertion slot 4, the bill insertion slot 5, and the prepaid medium read / write unit 6. As known in the art, a coin processing device 10 is provided for identifying the authenticity and denomination of coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 4, accepting the correct coins, and returning the false coins to the return slot 7. Yes. Moreover, the banknote processing apparatus 11 which identifies the authenticity and denomination of the banknote thrown in from the banknote insertion slot 5, accepts a true coin, and returns a false coin from the banknote insertion slot 5 is provided.

The coin processing apparatus 10 may use a known coin processing apparatus called “coin mech”, and the banknote processing apparatus 11 may use a known banknote processing apparatus called “bill validator”. The coin processing device 10 and the banknote processing device 11 are collectively referred to as a money processing device. These money processing devices function as a cash management method money management device that accepts money information according to the amount of money actually inserted.

The prepaid medium read / write unit 6 is a means for performing read / write on a prepaid money management medium generally called a prepaid card. Recently, a non-contact type IC medium called “Felica” (trademark), “Suica” (trademark), or “Pasmo” (trademark) is widely used as a prepaid card. The non-contact type IC medium may be used as a prepaid money management medium. The control unit 12 mounted in the vending machine 1 is mainly composed of a known computer including a CPU 13 and a memory 14. The prepaid medium read / write unit 6 is incorporated in the control unit 12 and reads ID information and money information of a prepaid money management medium approached from the outside in a non-contact manner, and purchase place (vending machine) ID data, purchased item data, balance information, etc. are written to the medium in a non-contact manner. The prepaid medium read / write unit 6 functions as a payment method money management apparatus using a prepaid money management medium.

The vending machine 1 can sell items such as beverages and foodstuffs as well as a normally known vending machine, and an item display 2 and an item selection switch 3 are provided corresponding to the items sold. It has been. As is well known, an article transport unit 15 is provided in the vending machine 1 and pays out an article that has been selected and purchased according to the user's operation of the item selection switch 3. As is known, the dispensed article can be taken out from the article outlet 8 at the lower front of the vending machine.

Furthermore, items that can be purchased with this vending machine 1 include an Internet connection service. For example, “Internet connection service” is assigned to one predetermined item selection switch 3a, and a user who wants to use (time borrowing) “Internet connection service” corresponds to the “Internet connection service”. The item selection switch 3a to be turned on is turned on. In this case, the use time (borrowing time) of the “Internet connection service” that can be selected by the item selection switch 3a may be fixed to a predetermined time such as 1 hour, or a ten keyboard (not shown) or the like may be used. An input unit may be provided in the vending machine 1 so that a desired “Internet connection service” use time can be input by the input unit. Alternatively, “Internet connection services” having different usage times (borrowing times) are assigned to the plurality of item selection switches 3, and the user selects one of the item selection switches 3 corresponding to the desired time. You may comprise as follows. Normally, the usage fee varies depending on the length of usage time (borrowing time).

As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 1 includes a wireless LAN base device (means for establishing a wireless LAN) 20 and a communication interface 21 for connecting to the Internet, and includes a printer 16 and a display 9. I have. This printer 16 is used for visually printing a usage ID issued to a user when “Internet connection service” is permitted. The paper printed by the printer 16 is discharged to the coin return port 7 or the article take-out port 8, for example. The usage ID printed on paper is not only composed of letters and numbers, but may be composed of a barcode or a two-dimensional code. In this connection, a bar code reader 17 (or a two-dimensional code reader) may be provided at an appropriate position in front of the vending machine 1. As will be described later, the barcode reader 17 (or two-dimensional code reader) is used to read the usage ID printed with the barcode or the two-dimensional code when the usage time is extended. The display 9 disposed at an appropriate position in front of the vending machine 1 is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is used for visually notifying various information to the user.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the control unit 12 of the vending machine 1.

In the “money information entry” in step S1, the money information used for purchasing the item is entered by inserting the money by the user and / or the proximity of the prepaid money management medium to the prepaid medium read / write unit 6. For example, when it consists only of money input, the total input amount is the entered money information. Further, when the prepaid medium read / write unit 6 reads the information of the money management medium, the amount recorded on the medium becomes the entered money information. The money input and the money management medium may be used together. In that case, the total amount of the user may be used as the entered money information. Further, as will be described later, when service points are accumulated and recorded on a money management medium, the service points can be used as money information.

In the next step S2, whether or not the selected item can be sold is determined based on the comparison between the entered money information and the selling price of the item selected by the item selection switch 3. When the selected item is an article such as a beverage or a food product, if it is determined that the item can be sold, the article transport unit 15 is operated to pay out the article, and after adjusting the change, the processing is performed. finish.

On the other hand, if the selected item is “Internet connection service”, if it is determined that the item can be sold in step S2, a usage ID is issued in the next step S3. For example, when a money information entry is made by inserting money, an appropriate usage ID is issued, and a paper on which the issued usage ID is printed by the printer 16 is provided to the user. When a money information entry is made on a prepaid money management medium, the ID information of the medium may be issued as it is as a usage ID. Also in this case, since the user often does not know the ID information of the medium, it is preferable to provide the user with paper on which the use ID is printed by the printer 16. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case of a prepaid money management medium, an appropriate usage ID may be issued, and a paper on which the issued usage ID is printed by the printer 16 may be provided to the user. Alternatively, the user may input unique information such as an e-mail address via a keyboard (not shown) and issue the user input unique information as a usage ID. In any case, the issued usage ID is registered in the internal register of the control unit 12 and used for the next verification.

When the user ID is issued, the user requests to turn on the personal computer 30 owned by the user and connect to the wireless LAN. When the user's personal computer 30 makes a connection request to the wireless LAN, the usage ID issued as described above is input. In the vending machine 1, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the usage ID entered by the personal computer 30 of the user who has requested connection to the wireless LAN constructed by the wireless LAN base device 20 matches the issued valid usage ID. Collate. If it is determined as a result of the collation, the user's personal computer 30 that has requested the connection is permitted to connect to the wireless LAN (step S5). That is, a connection is made to a predetermined provider contracted by the administrator of the vending machine 1 via the communication interface 21 of the vending machine 1 and an external communication network (dedicated line such as an optical cable), and the authorized user's The personal computer 30 can be connected to the Internet via the communication interface 21 and the provider via a wireless LAN. In this way, the user can connect to the Internet with the personal computer 30 owned by the user.

In step S6, measurement of usage time is started. In the next step S7, it is determined whether a predetermined available time corresponding to the entered money information has expired. In the case of NO, it is determined in step S8 whether or not a predetermined time before the available time has expired (x minutes before). If the predetermined time before the available time has expired, “Connect after x minutes later” is determined. “Will end” is displayed, but if it is not a predetermined time (x minutes) before the expiration of the available time, the process proceeds to the next step S9. This warning display may be sent by e-mail to the user's e-mail address, or may be generated by voice using a voice generation device built in the vending machine 1, or visible on the display 9. It may be displayed. As a result, the user can know that the available time will soon expire, and if the user wants to continue the use, the user can promptly make a use extension request as described below.

In step S9, it is determined whether or not a use extension request has been issued by the user. The use extension request is made, for example, by entering the money information for additional purchase by specifying the use ID. For example, when the user holds the barcode of the issued usage ID or the paper on which the two-dimensional code is printed over the barcode reader 17 (or two-dimensional code reader), or the same ID as the usage ID is recorded. By holding the prepaid medium on the prepaid medium read / write unit 6, the vending machine 1 is made to read the currently used ID. In step S7, the control unit 12 of the vending machine 1 reads the usage ID currently used by the bar code reader 17 (or two-dimensional code reader), or prepaid the same ID as the current usage ID. When read from the medium, the additional purchase mode is set. In the additional purchase mode, for example, the display 9 displays an appropriate display prompting entry of monetary information for additional purchase, such as “insert extra fee” or “insert additional money or set a prepaid card”. To do. In response to this, the user enters additional money or enters money information for additional purchase by bringing the prepaid medium close to the read / write unit 6. When the control unit 12 confirms that the money information for additional purchase has been entered in step S7, the control unit 12 extends the available time related to the use ID by the amount additionally purchased. At this time, a desired extension time may be selected by the item selection switch 3, or a predetermined fixed time such as 30 minutes may be automatically determined as the extension time. . At this time, a message confirming that the available time has been extended may be printed on paper by the printer 16 and issued to the user.

In step S10, a process for performing "bonus extension" is performed. For example, in step S10, while using the “Internet connection service”, the vending machine 1 reads the usage ID currently being used by the user as described above, and then the vending machine. 1, it is determined whether or not a desired article (beverage, food, etc.) has been purchased. If such a purchase has been made, “extra extension” for a predetermined time is “ Add to "Internet connection service" availability time. At this time, a message for confirming that the available time has been “extension extended” may be printed on paper by the printer 16 and issued to the user. For a medium user such as a prepaid card, service points may be added to the medium instead of “extra extension”.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not a predetermined connection cancellation operation has been performed by the user. The predetermined connection canceling operation is performed, for example, by turning on the return lever 18 of the vending machine 1 after the user causes the vending machine 1 to read the currently used usage ID as described above. .

If the connection stop operation is not performed, the process returns to step S7 and repeats the routine described above. On the other hand, if the connection stop operation is performed, the process goes to step S12, and if there is a balance corresponding to the unused time, it is returned (for money input, the balance is returned in money and the prepaid medium is returned. (Additional recording of monetary information equivalent to the balance). Next, in step S13, the connection of the user's personal computer 30 associated with the use ID to the wireless LAN is not permitted. If it is determined in step S7 that the available time has expired, the process goes to step S13 to prohibit the connection of the user's personal computer 30 related to the use ID to the wireless LAN.

In addition, at the time of “money information entry” in step S1, a service point corresponding to the money information entered this time may be added to the prepaid medium. In that case, the service point for the returned balance may be subtracted from the prepaid medium in the settlement process in step S12 based on the connection cancellation operation.

In the above embodiment, a prepaid medium is used as the money management medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a postpaid money management medium such as a credit card may be used. In that case, the vending machine 1 may be provided with a reading device for reading the recorded information of the credit card, but the card ID information is input by an input device such as a numeric keypad without including such a reading device. It may be. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described cash payment method, the payment method using a prepaid money management medium, or the payment method using a post-payment money management medium, and may adopt an electronic money payment method that does not use a medium. Good. In this case, it is assumed that the user inputs an electronic money settlement ID to the vending machine 1, and the vending machine 1 has an electronic money settlement function. As the money management apparatus in the vending machine 1, it is only necessary to have one that conforms to at least one of these various payment methods.

Claims

A cash management method, a payment method using a prepaid money management medium, a payment method using a postpay money management medium, an electronic money payment method, a money management device that accepts money information according to at least one payment method;
An item selection means that allows the user to select a purchase item, and the item that can be purchased includes an Internet connection service,
Determination means for determining whether or not the item selected by the item selection means can be purchased based on the money information received by the money management device;
Means to build a local area network;
A communication interface for Internet connection;
When the determination means permits the purchase of the Internet connection service, the user's computer is permitted to connect to the local area network, and the user's computer is connected to the local area network via the communication interface. Vending machine with control means to connect to the Internet.
The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the local area network constructed by the means for constructing the local area network is a wireless local area network.
The control means includes
An ID issuing means for issuing a use ID to the user when the determination means permits the sale of the Internet connection service;
Accepting a usage ID from the user's computer via the local area network, checking whether the received usage ID matches the usage ID already issued by the ID issuing means, and if matching, the user The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising: an ID authentication unit that permits connection of the computer to the local area network.
The money management device includes:
A money handling device that identifies inserted money, accepts true money, and returns fake money;
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a medium read / write device that reads / writes information from / to a prepaid money management medium.
5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the connection of the user's computer to the local area network in a timely manner, and disables the connection when a predetermined available time has elapsed. A vending machine according to any one of the above.
An ID input means for inputting a usage ID;
The control unit determines that the usage ID input by the ID input unit is a usage ID for which connection to the Internet is permitted, and after the determination, purchase of the product is performed. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein an additional time is added to the available time according to the situation.
An ID input means for inputting a usage ID;
The control means determines that the use ID input by the ID input means is a use ID permitting connection to the Internet before a predetermined available time elapses, and after the determination, 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the available time is extended when the money management apparatus accepts additional money information.