Detailed Description
Hereinafter, an electronic lock unit unlocking system of a vending machine will be described in detail as an example of a preferred embodiment of the electronic lock unit unlocking system according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[ Structure of the entire System ]
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline structure of an electronic lock unit unlocking system of a vending machine in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, an electronic lock unit unlocking system 1 for a vending machine includes a plurality of vending machines 10A to 10B (hereinafter, the vending machines 10A to 10B are collectively referred to as "vending machine 10"), a mobile terminal 20, and a server 30. The vending machine 10, the mobile terminal 20, and the server 30 are connected so as to be able to communicate via the network N. The vending machine 10 and the portable terminal 20 can communicate with each other by short-range wireless communication, for example, Bluethooth (registered trademark). Although 2 vending machines 10 are shown in fig. 1, the number of vending machines 10 may be 1, or 3 or more.
[ Structure of vending machine ]
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the vending machine 10 includes a product selection unit 101, a first communication unit 102, a second communication unit 103, a money handling unit 104, a product output unit 105, a storage unit 106, a control unit 107, and an electronic lock unit 108.
The commodity selection unit 101 is a part that is observed and operated by a commodity purchaser, and is implemented by a price display 111, a saleable lamp 112, a sold-out lamp 113, and a selection button 114. The price display 111 is used to display the selling price of the commodity. The vendable lamp 112 is illuminated when the money invested is the selling price or more. A sold-out lamp 113 is lit when there is no commodity for sale in a storage (not shown). The selection button 114 is used for selecting an article to be purchased by an article purchaser, and when the selection button 114 of the lane in which the vendable lamp 112 is in an illuminated state is pressed, the article is output from the storage.
The first communication unit 102 is used to connect the vending machine 10 to the network N and communicate with the server 30, and the second communication unit 103 is used to connect the vending machine 10 to the mobile terminal 20 and communicate with the mobile terminal 20. The money handling unit 104 is implemented by a coin mechanism 115 that performs coin receiving and paying processes, a bill validator 116 that performs bill receiving and paying processes, and the like. The commodity output unit 105 is used to output commodities of the selected commodity passage from the storage and transport the commodities to an output port (not shown).
The storage unit 106 is a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory. The storage unit 106 stores an operating system and various programs. In addition, the storage unit 106 stores vending machine identification information 117 and the like as data necessary for executing various programs. Specifically, the vending machine identification information 117 is, for example, a vending machine management number. Such programs and data are loaded into a memory 119 described later as necessary, and are referred to from an arithmetic processing unit 118 described later.
The control unit 107 is realized by an arithmetic processing unit 118 such as a CPU and a Memory 119 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The arithmetic processing unit 118 operates each functional unit by executing the program stored in the storage unit 106 based on various inputs. Specifically, the arithmetic processing unit 118 includes a barcode image processing unit 120 and the like. The memory 119 is used for temporarily storing various data necessary for arithmetic operations and the like during execution of processing in a program. The barcode image processing unit 120 is used to convert a barcode image read by a barcode image reading unit 121, which will be described later, into data. The barcode may be a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode, but is more preferably a two-dimensional barcode, for example, a QR code (registered trademark).
The control unit 107 is connected to the barcode image reading unit 121, the clock unit 122, and the outer door opening/closing detection sensor 123. The barcode image reading unit 121 is used to capture a barcode image displayed on the mobile terminal 20, and specifically, the barcode image reading unit 121 is a camera. The clock unit 122 measures the current date and time, and the outer door opening/closing detection sensor 123 is operated when the outer door of the vending machine is opened or closed by an operator to replenish commodities, collect sales revenue, or the like, and uses an optical sensor, a switch, or the like.
The electronic lock unit 108 includes an authentication unit 124, and is connected to an unlock/lock driving unit 125. The authentication unit 124 authenticates whether or not the data converted by the barcode image processing unit 120 satisfies a condition for unlocking the electronic lock. The unlock/lock driving unit 125 drives a movable unit for restricting the opening of the outer door or allowing the opening of the outer door. Specifically, the unlock/lock driving unit 125 uses, for example, a solenoid.
[ Structure of Portable terminal ]
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile terminal in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, the portable terminal 20 includes a control unit 201, a first communication unit 202, a second communication unit 203, a touch panel 204, and a storage unit 205.
The control unit 201 is realized by an arithmetic processing unit 210 such as a CPU and a Memory 211 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The arithmetic processing unit 210 operates each functional unit by executing the program stored in the storage unit 205 based on various inputs. Specifically, the arithmetic processing unit 210 includes an extended function unit 212 and the like. The memory 211 is used to temporarily store various data necessary for arithmetic operations and the like during execution of processing in a program.
The extended function portion 212 is a function for receiving a barcode image for unlocking the outer door of the vending machine from the server 30 and causing the touch panel 204 to display the barcode image, specifically, an unlocking system application.
The first communication unit 202 connects the mobile terminal 20 to the network N and communicates with the server 30, and the second communication unit 203 connects the mobile terminal 20 to the vending machine 10 and communicates with the vending machine 10. The touch panel 204 is a device for receiving an input from a user or displaying various information. Specifically, the touch panel 204 displays a barcode image received from the server 30.
The storage unit 205 is a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory. The storage unit 205 is used to store an operating system and various programs. In addition, the storage unit 205 stores the mobile terminal information 213, the barcode image data 214, and the like as data necessary for executing the above-described unlock system application. Such programs and data are loaded into the memory 211 as necessary, and are referred to from the arithmetic processing unit 210.
[ Structure of Server ]
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, the server 30 includes a control unit 301, a first communication unit 302, a storage unit 303, and an input unit 304.
The control unit 301 is realized by an arithmetic processing unit 310 such as a CPU and a Memory 311 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The arithmetic processing unit 310 operates each functional unit by executing the program stored in the storage unit 303 based on various inputs. Specifically, the arithmetic processing unit 310 includes a barcode image generation unit 312, a distribution processing unit 313, and the like. The barcode image generation unit 312 generates a barcode image based on the barcode image creation data transmitted from the vending machine 10. The distribution processing unit 313 distributes the barcode image generated by the barcode image generating unit 312 to the mobile terminal 20. The memory 311 is used to temporarily store various data necessary for arithmetic operations and the like during execution of processing in a program.
The first communication unit 302 is used to connect the server 30 to the network N and communicate with the vending machine 10 and the mobile terminal 20.
The storage unit 303 is a nonvolatile storage medium such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a flash memory. The storage unit 303 stores an operating system and various programs. In addition, the storage unit 303 stores the mobile terminal registration information DB 314, the vending machine unlock/lock information DB 315, and the like as data necessary for executing various programs. Such programs and data are loaded into the memory 311 as necessary, and are referred to from the arithmetic processing unit 310.
The portable terminal registration information DB 314 is a database in which portable terminal information of a worker who uses the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the vending machine is registered, and if the portable terminal information is not registered in advance, the worker cannot receive a barcode image necessary for unlocking. The vending machine unlock/lock information DB 315 is a database storing unlock information or lock information transmitted when the external door of the vending machine 10 managed by the server 30 is opened or closed.
The input unit 104 is used to register the mobile terminal information in the storage unit 303, and the input unit 104 is, for example, a keyboard or the like.
[ processing sequence of electronic lock unit unlocking system of vending machine ]
Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the processing contents of the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention. The description will be made assuming that the information of the mobile terminal 20 that can use the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the vending machine is stored in the mobile terminal registration information DB 314 of the server 30.
First, the extended function unit 212 of the mobile terminal 20 starts the unlock system application (step S101), and the mobile terminal 20 is brought into a state in which the short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 10 is possible. When the operator who holds the mobile terminal 20 approaches the range in which the short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 10 is possible, the mobile terminal 20 transmits the own mobile terminal information 213 stored in the storage unit 208 to the vending machine 10 via the second communication unit 203 (step S102). A character "in communication" is displayed on the touch panel 204 of the portable terminal 20 (step S103).
The vending machine 10 replies to the mobile terminal 20 that the mobile terminal information has been received (step S104), and when the mobile terminal information transmitted from the mobile terminal 20 is received via the second communication unit 103, receives the reception date and time from the clock unit 122, and transmits barcode image creation data (including the mobile terminal information, the reception date and time, and the vending machine identification information stored in the storage unit 108) to the server 30 (step S105). The portable terminal 20 that has received the reply from the vending machine 10 displays "waiting for receipt of a barcode image" on the touch panel 204 (step S106).
The server 30 that has received the barcode image creation data checks whether or not the mobile terminal information included in the received barcode image creation data is registered in the mobile terminal registration information DB 314 (step S107). When the registration is made, the barcode image generation unit 312 of the arithmetic processing unit 310 generates a barcode image obtained by adding an electronic lock unit unlocking identification code indicating the electronic lock unit for unlocking the electronic lock unit to the reception date and time and the vending machine identification information included in the received barcode image creation data (step S108), and transmits the barcode image generated by the barcode image generation unit 312 to the mobile terminal 20 corresponding to the mobile terminal information (step S109).
The portable terminal 20 that has received the barcode image displays the received barcode image on the touch panel 204 (step S110). The operator having the portable terminal 20 on which the barcode image is displayed presents the barcode image to the barcode reader 121 provided in the vending machine 10, and the barcode reader 121 reads the barcode image and temporarily stores the barcode image in the memory 119 (step S111). The barcode image processing unit 120 analyzes the barcode image stored in the memory 119 and converts the barcode image into data (step S112). In the case where the electronic lock unit unlocking identification code is present in the data obtained by the image analysis processing, the barcode image processing section 120 temporarily stores the reception date and time and the vending machine identification information in the memory 119 and transmits to the electronic lock unit 108. On the other hand, if the electronic lock unit unlocking identification code is not present in the data obtained by the image analysis processing, a series of processing of the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the automatic vending machine is terminated, for example, QR code settlement processing or the like (not shown) is executed. The reception date and time and the vending machine identification information temporarily stored in the memory 119 are erased after a predetermined time has elapsed.
The authentication unit 124 of the electronic lock unit 108 performs an authentication process of the data transmitted from the barcode image processing unit 120 (step S113). The details of the authentication process will be described in [ barcode data authentication process flow ] described later. If the authentication process is successfully performed (yes in step S114), the electronic lock unit 108 sets the used flag in association with the barcode data temporarily stored in the memory 119, and outputs an unlock instruction to the unlock/lock driving unit 125 (step S115). Thus, the operator can open the outer door of the vending machine to store the commodity and collect cash (coins, bills) stored in the coin mechanism 115 and the bill validator 116 as the money handling unit 104. On the other hand, if the authentication fails (step S114: NO), the series of processes of the electronic lock unit release system of the vending machine is ended. In this case, the display unit (not shown) may display the authentication failure.
When the worker opens the outer door of the vending machine, the outer door opening/closing detection sensor 123 detects the opening (step S116), and the unlocking information is transmitted from the vending machine 10 to the server (step S117). The unlock information includes, for example, vending machine identification information, unlock date and time, and portable terminal information. Upon receiving the unlock information, the server 30 stores the unlock information in the vending machine unlock/lock information DB 315 in the storage section 303 (step S118).
Next, when the worker finishes storing the commodity, collecting cash, and closing the outer door, the outer door open/close detection sensor 123 detects the closing (step S119), and at this time, the electronic lock unit 108 outputs a locking instruction to the unlock/lock driving unit 125 (step S120), and transmits locking information from the vending machine 10 to the server (step S121). The locking information includes, for example, vending machine identification information, locking date and time, and the like. Upon receiving the locking information, the server 30 stores the locking information in the vending machine unlock/lock information DB 315 in the storage unit 303 (step S122). Through the above, a series of processes of the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the vending machine is ended.
The erasure of the barcode image displayed on the mobile terminal 20 is not particularly described, but an unlock notification may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 20 after the outside door sensor detects opening (step S117), and the barcode image of the mobile terminal may be erased after the unlock notification is received.
[ Bar code data authentication processing ]
Next, the barcode data authentication processing procedure is explained with reference to a flowchart shown in fig. 6.
First, it is determined whether or not the vending machine identification information, which is one of the bar code data temporarily stored in the memory 119, coincides with the vending machine identification information 117 stored in the storage section 106 (step S201). In the case of coincidence (step S201: YES), the current date and time of the clock section 122 is compared with the reception date and time which is one of the bar code data temporarily stored in the memory 119 (step S202). On the other hand, in the case of disagreement (step S201: NO), the authentication is considered to have failed, and no processing is performed and returned.
If the current date and time of the clock section 122 is within the prescribed range as a result of the comparison in step S202 (step S203: YES), it is determined whether or not the used flag is set in association with the barcode data temporarily stored in the memory 119 (step S204). On the other hand, if the current date and time of the clock unit 122 is out of the predetermined range as a result of the comparison in step S202 (NO in step S203), the authentication is considered to have failed, and no processing is performed and the process is returned. If the used flag is not set as a result of the determination in step S204 (no in step S204), the authentication success flag is set (step S205), and the process is terminated and returned. On the other hand, if the used flag is set (step S204: YES), the authentication is considered to have failed, and the process is returned without any processing.
As described above, in the electronic lock unit unlocking system of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the barcode image used for unlocking the outer door of the vending machine is a one-time-use type that can be used only once and becomes invalid when a predetermined time has elapsed, even if the barcode image is improperly acquired, the electronic lock cannot be unlocked even if an authorized operator attempts to unlock the electronic lock by using the improperly acquired barcode after the authorized operator has unlocked the electronic lock, and therefore, the electronic lock unit unlocking system is very safe, and the risk of the improper acquirer stealing the stored goods and sales revenue is very small.
In addition, in the electronic lock unit unlocking system for an automatic vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the short-range wireless communication is performed with the portable terminal in which the serial number is registered in the server, the serial number of the portable terminal and the time at which the communication is performed are transmitted to the management server in a data manner, and the management server that has received the data generates the barcode image including the serial number of the portable terminal and the time at which the communication is performed and transmits the barcode image to the portable terminal, the worker can receive the barcode image and display the barcode image on the screen of the portable terminal without performing an operation for unlocking the automatic vending machine in the portable terminal, and the load of the worker who performs replenishment of commodities and collection of sales revenue can be reduced.
The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the barcode authentication process is performed on the vending machine side as shown in fig. 2, but the barcode authentication process may be performed on the server side. The control unit of the vending machine and the electronic lock unit are configured independently of each other, but may be integrally configured.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described using a vending machine, but may be an electronic lock unit unlocking system for a plurality of electrical devices, for example, a distribution cabinet, etc., which are handled by an operator.