JP2000020802A - Card system for vending machine with expiration date controlling function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize proper management of card expiration date by making it unnecessary to install a card encoder device in a use facility in a system for purchasing beverage merchandise or the like to be sold by an automatic vending machine by a magnetic card or the like. SOLUTION: A location code(code) for identifying an automatic vending machine 105 is recorded in a magnetic card 104(card). When the card is inserted into a card reader device, whether or not a code recorded in the card is made coincident with any of the two codes set in a vending machine 105 is judged by a device 107. When the judged result is true, the selling processing of merchandise at a sum of money based on sum information recorded in the card is executed by the vending machine 105. The two codes set in the vending machine 105 are successively changed while temporarily shifted by a device 106 corresponding to the codes recorded in cards successively issued by each device 101-103.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for controlling the expiration date of a card in a system in which a drink product or the like sold by a vending machine can be purchased by a magnetic card or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Products sold by vending machines are:
In the past, it was usually sold by inserting money (coins or bills), but recently, a vending machine that can sell products by inserting a magnetic card type prepaid card has also been developed. Have been.

In this case, a prepaid card is generally purchased by a user by paying a predetermined amount in advance, and the amount information recorded on the card is subtracted each time the card is used. Thus, such prepaid cards are considered securities. Here, if such a card can be distributed as a prize (prize) in various leisure facilities such as a pachinko parlor, a customer can purchase a beverage product by a vending machine installed in the store, for example, and the service can be provided. Leads to improvement.

However, the distribution of securities such as prepaid cards as prizes (prizes) is often prohibited by law.

[0005] Therefore, for example, only a vending machine installed in the facility can be used only within a predetermined expiration date,
In addition, if one card (or one piece) of beverage product (or other product) can be supplied with one card, the card is completely the same quality as one cup of beverage product, etc., and is recognized as a securities. Not done. As a result, it is possible to provide small prizes (prizes) that have often been neglected by customers. Also, since the card becomes a prize (prize), inventory management is easy and easy, and customer satisfaction and repeat visits can be improved at low cost. Further, by setting an expiration date, it can be used for security measures such as forgery prevention.

In order to realize such a service,
One card is stored in the vending machine every time it is used, and it is necessary to make the card usable only within the expiration date on the premise of reducing costs by recycling the stored card.

As a prior art for that purpose, a technique is considered in which accurate expiration date information is recorded on a card and the expiration date is determined when the card is inserted into a vending machine.

[0008]

In order to ensure low cost, cards are shipped in a large number of units, and the cards are temporarily stocked in a facility where they are used and then sequentially distributed and consumed. The spent card is stored in the vending machine, the stored card is recycled, and the card is shipped again. In such a case, if an attempt is made to introduce the above-described conventional technology, it is necessary to record the expiration date information starting from the time of distribution on the card, and for that purpose, it is necessary to install a card encoder device in the use facility. Occurs. For this reason, conventionally, there was a problem that the cost for installing and operating the vending machine card system was increased.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the necessity of installing a card encoder device in a use facility and realize appropriate expiration date management.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine (105, 704) based on price information recorded therein.
A method for controlling the expiration date of a card (104, 703) from which a product sold by the company can be purchased is assumed.

In the first aspect of the present invention, first, identification information (location code) for identifying a vending machine is recorded on a card.

Next, when a card is inserted into a vending machine, it is determined whether or not the identification information recorded on the card matches one of the two pieces of identification information set in the vending machine. Is determined.

[0013] When the result of the determination is true, the vending machine executes a process of selling a product having an amount based on the amount information recorded on the card.

[0014] The identification information recorded on the sequentially issued card is set to correspond to the identification information and set in the vending machine.
The two pieces of identification information are sequentially changed while being shifted in time.

[0015] In the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention described above, the two identification information set in the vending machine corresponding to the identification information recorded on the sequentially issued card are shifted in time. As an alternative to the sequentially changing operation, an operation may be performed in which two identification information set in the vending machine are simultaneously changed.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, first, identification information (location code) for identifying a vending machine on a card, and a consumption expiration date (validity obtained by adding an appropriate offset to the expected consumption period of the card) Due date) is recorded.

Next, when the card is inserted into the vending machine, the identification information recorded on the card matches the identification information set on the vending machine and the card is recorded on the card. It is determined whether or not the consumption expiration date is a date corresponding to a date after the date including today's date.

[0018] When the result of the determination is true, the vending machine executes a process of selling a product having an amount based on the amount information recorded on the card.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

The vending machine 105 includes the card reader 1
08, a location code authentication device 107, and a location code registration device 106.

The card encoder device 103, the location code / amount registering device 101, and the location code database 102 are installed in a company that ships the magnetic card 104.

In the shipping company, the location code / amount registering device 101 stores the location code for uniquely identifying the destination facility and the amount of the vending machine product that can be purchased by the magnetic card 104.
The determination is made while operating the location code database 102, and an encoding instruction is issued to the card encoder device 103.

The card encoder 103 records the location code and amount data determined by the location code / amount registering device 101 on the magnetic card 104. The magnetic card 104 on which recording has been performed in this manner.
Are shipped to the use facility in units of many sheets (for example, in units of 1000 sheets).

At the use facility, the magnetic card 104 is distributed to the customer as a small gift, and the customer inserts the distributed magnetic card 104 into a vending machine 105 in the use facility, whereby the beverage product sold by the vending machine 105 is sold. Etc. can be purchased.

In this case, the amount of money recorded on the magnetic card 104 is set, for example, to an amount that allows the vending machine 105 to purchase only one drink product. Collected.

When the magnetic card 104 is used, a stipulated expiration date is set loosely.
The customer uses the magnetic card 104 within the validity period.

The operation principle of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to the operation sequence diagram of FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the magnetic card 104 is used in a vending machine 105 at one usage facility.

First, as shown in FIG.
1, a magnetic card 1 on which a location code 1 is recorded
For example, 1000 pieces of 04 are shipped to the use facility.

At the same time, the location code 1 is registered by the location code registration device 106 of the vending machine 105 as shown in FIG. 2C.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the magnetic card 104 on which the location code 1 is recorded is distributed and used in a period t2 to t4 after an appropriate stock period t1 to t2 after shipment. In this case, the location code authentication device 107 in the vending machine 105 records the location code 1 registered by the location code registration device 106 at the time point t1 during the period t1 to t5 shown in FIG. When the magnetic card 104 is inserted into the card reader device 108, it is determined that the magnetic card 104 has been used within the expiration date, and the merchandise selling process is executed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
At 3, the 1000 magnetic cards 104 on which the location code 2 is recorded are shipped, for example.

At the same time, the location code 2 is registered in addition to the location code 1 by the location code registration device 106 of the vending machine 105, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the magnetic card 104 on which the location code 2 is recorded is distributed and used in a period t4 to t6 after an appropriate stock period t3 to t4 after shipment. In this case, the location code authentication device 107 in the vending machine 105 records the location code 1 registered by the location code registration device 106 at the time point t1 during the period t3 to t5 shown in FIG. Magnetic card 104 or location code registration device 10 at time t3
6 is the location of the magnetic card 104 on which the location code 2 is recorded.
When the magnetic card 104 is inserted into the storage device 8, the magnetic card 104 is determined to be used within the expiration date, and the merchandise sales process is executed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2A, at time t5, for example, 1,000 magnetic cards 104 on which the location code 3 is recorded are shipped.

At the same time, the location code 3 is registered in addition to the location code 2 by the location code registration device 106 of the vending machine 105, as shown in FIG. Deleted.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the magnetic card 104 on which the location code 3 is recorded is distributed and used in a period t6 to t8 after a suitable stock period t5 to t6 after shipment. In this case, the location code authentication device 107 in the vending machine 105 records the location code 2 registered by the location code registration device 106 at the time t3 during the period t5 to t7 shown in FIG. Magnetic card 104 or location code registration device 10 at time t5
6 is one of the magnetic cards 104 on which the location code 3 registered by the
When the magnetic card 104 is inserted into the storage device 8, the magnetic card 104 is determined to be used within the expiration date, and the merchandise sales process is executed.

At the above operation timing, FIG.
It is not necessary that the shipping time of the magnetic card 104 and the registration time of the location code shown in FIG. 2C exactly coincide with each other. Similarly, there is no problem even if the consumption period of the magnetic card 104 shown in FIG.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the vending machine 105 authenticates the vending machine 105 by overlapping two location codes without recording the data on the expiration date on the magnetic card 104. By sequentially changing these location codes while shifting them in time, the expiration date of the magnetic card 104 can be controlled.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart showing a control operation of the location code / money amount registration device 101 of FIG. 1 based on the above-described operation principle. This operation flowchart is realized as an operation in which a CPU (not shown) executes a control program stored in a memory (not shown).

First, in step 301 of FIG. 3, a location code calculation process is executed. The location code is calculated so as to be unique for each use facility and each vending machine 105. For example, it can be calculated as a combination of today's date and an appropriate sequence number.

Next, in step 302 of FIG. 3, a location code registration process is executed. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart showing details of this processing. In this process,
For example, a location code database 102 having the data configuration shown in FIG. 5 is used.

In the location code database 102, one record (one horizontal row in the table of FIG. 5) is registered for each use facility and vending machine.

Each record defines a store name field, a location code 1 field, a location code 2 field, an amount field, and a telephone number field.

In the store name field, the name of the facility used and the name of the vending machine are registered.

In the location code 1 field, there are used facilities and vending machines 105 corresponding to the record.
, The first location code registered earlier in time is registered.

In the location code 2 field, the facility and vending machine 105 corresponding to the record are used.
, The second location code newly registered in terms of time is registered.

In the price field, the usage facility corresponding to the record and the price of the product sold by the vending machine 105 are registered. In addition, one vending machine 10
When the item 5 deals with a product of a plurality of types of money, a plurality of records are registered correspondingly, and a plurality of magnetic cards 10 are registered.
4 is issued.

The telephone number field will be described later.

In the location code registration process of step 302 in FIG. 3, first, a user who displays the contents of the location code database 102 on a display or the like in a tabular form as shown in FIG. Using the interface, the user is caused to specify a record corresponding to the facility where the magnetic card 104 is to be issued and the vending machine 105.

When the issuer specifies a record, first, FIG.
In step 401, the location code value registered in the location code 2 field of the record is moved to the location code 1 field of the record.

Next, in step 402 of FIG. 4, the location code calculated in step 301 of FIG. 3 is registered in the location code 2 field of the record.

Steps 401 and 402 in FIG. 4 described above.
When the location code registration process of step 302 in FIG. 3 indicated by is completed, an encoding instruction process is executed in step 303 of FIG. In this process, the location code calculated in step 301 of FIG.
In step 302, the amount specified in the amount field of the record in the location code database 102 corresponding to the use facility and the vending machine 105, which is designated by the issuer of the magnetic card 104 and will now issue the magnetic card 104 Is instructed to the card encoder device 103. As a result, the card encoder 103 writes the location code and the amount on the magnetic card 104 set therein.

The magnetic card 104 on which the location code and the amount of money have been written in this manner is, for example, 100
Each unit is shipped to the corresponding use facility.

In accordance with the above operation, the magnetic card 104
Of the location code calculated in step 301 of FIG. Specifically, the issuer uses, for example, a user interface that displays the contents of the location code database 102 on a display or the like in a table format as shown in FIG. The value of the location code 2 field of the record corresponding to the vending machine 105 is notified to the trader.

In this case, if the telephone number field shown in FIG. 5 is provided in the record, and the telephone number of the trader is registered in the field, it is convenient for notification.

At the time of delivery of goods to the vending machine 105, etc.,
Of the location code registration device 106 of the vending machine 105, the location code registered in the vending machine 105 is replaced by the location code of the oldest registered location code. The registered location code is newly registered. Thereby, the operation sequence described in FIG. 2 is realized.

Note that the operation of registering a new location code in the vending machine 105 can be performed through a telephone line or the like without using manual operation as described above.

In this case, the location code / amount registering device 101 and the location code registering device 106 in the vending machine 105 have built-in communication hardware and communication software capable of communicating the location code with each other.

Then, in the location code registration processing of step 302 of FIG. 3, the location code / amount registering apparatus 101 registers the location code 1 field and the location registered in the corresponding record of the location code database 102 according to the operation flowchart of FIG. The two location code values in the code 2 field are dialed and transmitted to the telephone numbers registered in the telephone number field of the record.

This telephone number is associated with the communication device of the location code registration device 106 in the vending machine 105, whereby the location code registration device 1
In step 06, the two location code values transmitted from the location code / amount registering device 101 are registered again in the vending machine 105.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart showing the control operation of the location code authentication device 107 in the vending machine 105 of FIG. This operation flowchart is realized as an operation in which a CPU (not shown) executes a control program stored in a memory (not shown).

First, when the magnetic card 104 is inserted into the card reader device 108, at step 601 in FIG. 6, the location code recorded on the magnetic card 104 read by the card reader device 108 is registered in the location code. The device 106 determines whether or not it matches the older location code 1 registered.

If a match is determined, step 60
At 3, the vending machine 105 sells the merchandise at the price recorded on the magnetic card 104 read by the card reader device 108.

If it is determined in step 601 that there is no match, in step 602, the location code recorded on the magnetic card 104 read by the card reader device 108 is stored in the location code registration device 10.
6, it is determined whether or not it matches the newer location code 2 registered.

If a match is determined, step 60
At 3, the vending machine 105 sells the merchandise at the price recorded on the magnetic card 104 read by the card reader device 108.

When a mismatch is determined in step 602 or after the processing in step 603, in step 604,
The collection process of the inserted magnetic card 104 is executed.
In the present embodiment, the amount of money recorded on the magnetic card 104 is determined so that only one product of the vending machine 105 can be purchased with one card.

In the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention described above, two location codes set in the vending machine 105 corresponding to the location codes recorded on the magnetic card 104 which are sequentially issued are temporally changed. As an alternative to the operation of sequentially changing the vending machine 105, the vending machine 105
May be configured to perform an operation of simultaneously changing two location codes set in the.

As a result, it is possible to suppress or eliminate unintended use such as forgery.

As described above, the magnetic card 104 used in the first embodiment of the present invention can be used with a conventional prepaid card in which it is not clear when the card will be used or used up when issued. They differ in form and are also premised on recycling. The magnetic card 104 is sequentially consumed after a certain stock period and is collected in the vending machine 105, so that it is possible to grasp how the magnetic card 104 in stock is consumed. This has the feature that the timing of changing the location code can be determined.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.

The vending machine 704 includes the card reader 7
06 and an authentication device 705.

The card encoder device 702 and the location code / amount / expiration date registration device 701 are installed in a company that ships the magnetic card 703.

In the shipping company, the location code / amount / expiration date registering device 701 stores a location code for uniquely identifying the destination facility and a vending machine product that can be purchased by the magnetic card 703. Determine the amount and the expiration date of the magnetic card 703,
The writing to the magnetic card 703 is instructed to the card encoder device 702.

The card encoder 702 records the location code, the amount, and the expiration date determined by the location code / amount / expiration date registration device 701 on the magnetic card 703. The magnetic card 703 on which the recording has been performed in this manner is shipped to the use facility in units of a large number (for example, in units of 1000).

At the use facility, the magnetic card 703 is distributed to the customer as a small gift, and the customer inserts the distributed magnetic card 703 into a vending machine 704 in the use facility, whereby the beverage product sold there is sold. Etc. can be purchased.

The operation principle of the second embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to the operation sequence diagram of FIG.

Here, it is assumed that a magnetic card 703 is used in a vending machine 704 at a certain usage facility.

First, as shown in FIG.
In step 1, for example, 1000 magnetic cards 703 on which the expiration date 1 is recorded are shipped to the use facility.

The expiration date is a period from the shipping time point t1 to the time point t5, as shown in FIG.

Magnetic card 703 on which expiration date 1 is recorded
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), after an appropriate stock period t1 to t2 after shipment, distribution is performed in a period t2 to t4.
used. In this case, when the magnetic card 703 in which the expiration date 1 is recorded is inserted into the card reader device 706, the authentication device 705 in the vending machine 704 passes the current date past the expiration date 1 of the magnetic card 703. If not, execute the product sales process.

Next, as shown in FIG.
3, the magnetic card 703 on which the expiration date 2 is recorded
Are shipped, for example, 1000 sheets.

Magnetic card 703 on which expiration date 2 is recorded
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), after an appropriate stock period t3 to t4 after shipment, distribution is performed in a period t4 to t6.
used. In this case, the authentication device 705 in the vending machine
Executes the merchandise selling process when the magnetic card 703 on which the expiration date 2 is recorded is inserted into the card reader device 706 and the current date does not exceed the expiration date 2 of the magnetic card 703.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8A, at time t5, the magnetic card 70 on which the expiration date 3 has been recorded is stored.
3 are shipped, for example, 1000 sheets.

Magnetic card 703 on which expiration date 3 is recorded
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), after an appropriate stock period t5 to t6 after shipment, distribution is performed in the period t6 to t8.
used. In this case, the authentication device 705 in the vending machine
Executes the merchandise sales process when the magnetic card 703 on which the expiration date 3 is recorded is inserted into the card reader device 706 and the current date does not exceed the expiration date 3 of the magnetic card 703.

At the above operation timing, FIG.
The consumption period of the magnetic card 703 shown in FIG.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the data relating to the expiration date is recorded on the magnetic card 703, but the magnetic card 703 can be used without installing a card encoder device or the like at the facility. The expiration date can be controlled.

[0089]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a vending machine authenticates two pieces of identification information in a vending machine without recording data relating to the expiration date on the card, and authenticates the pieces of identification information in time. It is possible to control the expiration date of the card by sequentially changing it while shifting it.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, how the cards in the inventory are consumed by the cards being sequentially consumed after a certain inventory period and being collected in the vending machine. This makes it possible to determine the timing of changing the location code.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, data relating to the expiration date is recorded on the card, but it is possible to control the expiration date of the card without installing a card encoder device or the like at the use facility. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the location code / money amount registration device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart illustrating an example of a location code registration process.

FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram of a location code database.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the location code authentication device.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation sequence diagram of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Location Code / Amount Registration Device 102 Location Code Database 103, 702 Card Encoder Device 104, 703 Magnetic Card 105, 704 Vending Machine 106 Location Code Registration Device 107 Location Code Authentication Device 108, 706 Card Reader Device 701 Location Code / Amount / Expiration date registration device 705 Authentication device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling an expiration date of a card capable of purchasing a product sold by a vending machine based on money amount information recorded in the vending machine. When the card is inserted into the vending machine, the identification information recorded on the card is used to record any of a plurality of pieces of identification information set in the vending machine. It is determined whether or not they match, and when the result of the determination determines the match, the vending machine executes a sales process of a product of an amount based on the amount information recorded on the card, and sequentially A step of sequentially changing a plurality of pieces of identification information set in the vending machine while shifting the time in accordance with identification information recorded on the issued card. Card system for a period control function with a vending machine. 2. A method for controlling an expiration date of a card capable of purchasing a product sold by a vending machine based on money amount information recorded in the vending machine. When the card is inserted into the vending machine, the identification information recorded on the card is used to record any one of the two identification information set in the vending machine. If the result of the determination is true, the vending machine executes a sales process for a product having an amount based on the amount information recorded on the card, and is sequentially issued. Expiration date control, wherein two identification information set in the vending machine are sequentially changed while being temporally shifted in accordance with identification information recorded on the card. Vending machine card system with ability. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two vending machines are set in the vending machine in correspondence with identification information recorded on the card sequentially issued. Alternatively, the step of sequentially changing the plurality of pieces of identification information while shifting the time is alternatively included, further comprising the step of simultaneously changing two or more pieces of identification information set in the vending machine. Vending machine card system with expiration date control function. 4. A method for controlling an expiration date of a card capable of purchasing a product sold by a vending machine based on money amount information recorded in the vending machine. The identification information for identifying and the expiration date obtained by adding an appropriate offset to the expected consumption period of the card is recorded, and when the card is inserted into the vending machine, the expiration date is recorded on the card. The vending machine matches the identification information set in the vending machine, and determines whether or not the expiration date recorded on the card is a date corresponding to a date after this date including the current date. If the result of the determination is true, the vending machine executes a process of selling a product having an amount based on the amount information recorded on the card. Card system for the control function with a vending machine.