JP2000149118A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and freely set/register display data such as an advertisement in a display device installed in an automatic vending machine and to monitor a display state by means of an arbitrary personal computer loading an outer browser function. SOLUTION: A network adapter 10 is constituted of a control part 11, a storage part 12, a network interface part 13 and an interface part 14 and it realizes the function of what is called a 'Web server'. A home page to which arbitrary display data can be inputted is prepared on a browserside, for example. A personal computer 40 loads a browser function. When the network adapter 10 of a desired automatic vending machine is accessed, the home page is displayed. When the user of the personal computer 40 inputs desired display data, data are transferred to the network adapter 10. Then, the network adapter 10 transfers display data to a display controller 30 so as to store it. The display controller 30 rotationally displays display data stored in the inner storage part on a display part 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a vending machine provided with a display device on a front portion of a vending machine by the applicant of the present invention or the like and having a function of rotatingly displaying advertisements of sales products on the display device. (Electronic advertising vending machine) has been proposed. In such vending machines,
It is proposed to display not only advertisements of sales products but also advertisements of other products in accordance with contracts and the like, and also display public information (news, weather forecast, etc.) and emergency information (disaster warning, etc.). Conventionally, display data to be displayed on a display device provided in such a vending machine is stored in the display device through a dedicated storage medium (such as a memory card) by a dedicated person or the like traveling around each vending machine. I was working on loading into the area. For this reason, it takes time and effort to update the display data, and in practice, the update operation cannot be frequently performed. For this reason, it is not suitable for displaying public information and emergency information that require timely information provision.

[0003] In response to such a problem, a public line network,
Through a dedicated network by wireless communication such as PHS,
A method of connecting each vending machine to a center device and distributing display data online from the center device has been proposed.

[0004]

However, even in the above-described method, it is necessary to prepare a device (a personal computer or the like) on which dedicated software is set up on the center side. A well-known operator (usually a dedicated operator) was required.
In this way, the display data of each vending machine can be updated substantially when a device (usually, about one) in which dedicated software is set up is provided and a dedicated operator is present (ie, (Center side).

On the other hand, for example, on a display device of a vending machine installed in front of a certain store, there is a demand that a store owner of this store and store owners in the vicinity of the store can easily perform a display for guiding a bargain sale. There is. Further, there is a demand that a vending machine provided with such a display device be used more freely and freely in various ways.

An object of the present invention is to set / register display data such as advertisements, monitor a display state, or monitor a vending machine from an arbitrary personal computer or the like having an external browser function using a so-called Web server function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine capable of easily and freely monitoring the sales status of a main body.

[0007]

A first vending machine according to the present invention is connected to a display control means for rotating and displaying arbitrary display information in accordance with a set condition, and the display control means and an external network. A homepage for allowing any browser to input display information and setting conditions via a network, and transferring the display information and setting conditions input from the browser to the display control means;
b server means.

[0008] For example, the arbitrary display information is advertising information, public information or emergency information, intra-company information or intra-area guidance information, the network is the Internet, an intra-net or a local intra-net, and the web server is The means retains its own IP address.

According to the first vending machine, for example,
Desired data can be easily and freely transmitted from an arbitrary information processing terminal having a browser function to a display device or the like provided in the vending machine under desired conditions via the Internet. Further, when a system in which the first vending machine is applied to an intranet (internal LAN), an intranet (intraregional LAN) within a region, or the like, is constructed, for example, a function such as an internal message board is provided, or a specific region is provided. Various kinds of information guidance using the display device of a vending machine can be provided inside (amusement park or the like).

[0010] A second vending machine according to the present invention is a display control means for rotating and displaying arbitrary display information in accordance with a set condition, and is connected to the display control means and an external network, and via the network, an arbitrary display information is provided. A homepage that describes various information related to the display information displayed by the display control means or a homepage for setting the control content by the display control means is prepared for the browser, and the setting information of the control content input from the browser is provided by the browser. Web server means for transferring to the display control means.

For example, various kinds of information relating to the display information displayed by the display control means are a display history and an output condition. According to the second vending machine, for example, an arbitrary information processing terminal having a browser function can monitor a display state of the vending machine having a display function of the advertisement or the like. Alternatively, display control contents can be set.

[0012] A third vending machine according to the present invention is a sales control means for controlling product sales of the vending machine, and is connected to the sales control means and an external network, and to any browser via the network. On the other hand, a homepage to be created based on information related to product sales held in the sales control means is prepared, or a homepage for inputting setting information related to product sales to an arbitrary browser is prepared. Web server means for transferring the input setting information to the sales control means.

For example, the information relating to the sale of the product includes sales information of each product sold by the vending machine and the operating status of the vending machine. According to the third vending machine, for example, in any information processing terminal having a browser function, it is possible to monitor the product sales status of the vending machine and to input setting information related to product sales.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vending machine according to the first embodiment and the entire system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vending machine according to a first embodiment includes a network adapter 10 and a display controller 3.
0, a display unit 31 (LED / LCD / PDP, etc.) and the like.

The network adapter 10 includes a control unit 1
1, storage unit 12, network interface unit 13,
It is composed of an interface unit 14 and realizes the function of a so-called “Web server”.

The control unit 11 includes a network adapter 10
It is a central processing unit that controls the entire system.
The function as the above-mentioned "Web server" is realized by using the programs / data and the like stored in 2.

The storage unit 12 stores at least an IP address obtained in advance and an application program for implementing various functions of the network adapter 10 described later. In addition, it has a storage area for temporarily storing various data transmitted from the browser side described later, display state information obtained from the display controller 30, and the like.

The above-mentioned application program realizes a generally known function of a Web server, and thus will not be described in detail. For example, communication processing with a personal computer 40 described later, homepage creation processing, display Communication processing with the controller 30 (transfer processing of data input from the personal computer 40 / display controller 30)
State data collection processing). These processes are performed by Web server software (HTTPD
= Hyper Text Transport Protocol daemon), CGI
(Common Gateway Interface), IIS and the like, and can be realized by using generally known functions. In other words, the application programs can be roughly classified into two types. That is, there are a program for performing communication processing with the personal computer 40 and a homepage creation processing, and a program for performing communication processing with the display controller 30 (such as data transfer processing to be described later).

The network adapter 10 is connected to a network 20 by a network interface unit 13 and can communicate with a personal computer 40 via the network 20. The network 20 provides an Internet / intranet environment, and its communication path may be Ethernet (registered trademark), or may use wireless communication media such as PHS.

The personal computer 40 is an information processing terminal connected to the network 20 and having a browser function. Although only one personal computer 40 is shown in FIG. 1, there is naturally a large number of personal computers 40, each of which is used by a plurality of arbitrary users, for example, a store where the above-described vending machine is installed. It is installed in and around stores.
In the personal computer 40, the browser is started and the URL (Uniform Resource L
ocator) to refer to the home page. Also, data can be input to an input area provided on the homepage. An example of a home page and an example of data input displayed on the browser screen are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and will be described later in detail with reference to these.

The display controller 30 has a function of rotatingly displaying conventionally proposed display data such as advertisements. Each display data stored in an internal storage unit (not shown) is also stored. Rotation display is performed according to the display condition setting content (display count / interval, etc.) being performed. The display unit 31 that displays the display data is, for example, an LED, an LCD, a PDP, or the like. The network adapter 10 temporarily stores the display data sent from the personal computer 40 via the network 20 and the display condition setting data in the storage unit 12,
The data is transferred to the display controller 30 via the interface unit 14. Thus, the display controller 30 stores the display data transferred from the network adapter 10 and the display condition setting data and the like in a predetermined storage area, and displays the display data together with other display data stored and displayed up to that time. Rotation display is performed on the display unit 31 while satisfying the display condition. The network adapter 10-
For example, a serial (RS23)
2C, etc.), data is transmitted and received by performing non-procedural communication.

An example of inputting the display data and the display condition setting data on the browser side and the display control on the vending machine side in response to the input will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of inputting display data and its display condition setting data on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. In the same figure, the Web of the personal computer 40
When the browser is started and the URL of the network adapter 10 of the desired vending machine is designated, the home page generated by the Web server function of the network adapter 10 is displayed on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, a main screen 50 (top page) as shown in FIG.

On the main screen 50 shown in FIG.
The type buttons are displayed. That is, a “sale advertisement display data setting” button 51 and a “general advertisement display data setting”
A button 52, a "public information setting" button 53, and an "emergency information setting" button 54 are displayed. The user of the personal computer 40 operates a mouse or the like to select / designate a desired button from the displayed four buttons.

For example, when the "general advertisement display data setting" button 52 is clicked on with a mouse, the screen is switched to a general advertisement display data setting screen 60 (link destination home page) shown in FIG.

On the general advertisement display data setting screen 60, an input area 61 of the number of display times and an input area 62 of the display data are displayed as an example of the display condition setting. Regions 61 and 6
2. Enter desired data in 2. For example, as shown in the figure, "10" is input to the display number input area 61 and "XX special sale" is input to the display data input area 62. And
When the "send" button 63 is clicked, these input data are transmitted to the network adapter 10 of the vending machine designated by the URL by a so-called CGI function, and are temporarily stored in the storage unit 12 thereof. When transmission is complete,
The screen is switched to a transmission completion screen 70 as shown in FIG. 7C, and when the user confirms the completion of transmission, the user clicks the “go to main menu” button 71 to return to the main screen 50. Of course, although not particularly shown, the process may be terminated by clicking an "end" button or the like. In the example shown in the figure, only the number of times of display is shown as the setting of the display condition. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various conditions such as a display cycle may be set.

The network adapter 10 that has received the display data and the display condition setting data described above is an application for communication processing with the display controller 30.
A program (stored in the storage unit 12) is started, and the display data temporarily stored in the storage unit 12;
The display condition setting data is transferred to the display controller 30 via the interface unit 14.

The display controller 30 stores the transferred data in its own storage unit (not shown). Normal,
The storage unit of the display controller 30 stores, for example, advertisement display data of a product sold by the vending machine, and displays the display data. Display controller 30
Indicates the transferred display data of “XX special sale” and the display condition setting data (display count '10' times)
Is scheduled to be displayed 10 times between these display data for advertisement, and the display unit 31 is rotated and displayed.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the text to be displayed is input in the text data input area 62 in the text format. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a file in which the display data is input in advance may be created. Alternatively, the file name may be input to the input area 62. In this case, for example, the file is transferred using the FTP protocol.

It is to be noted that not all persons can display display data freely.
For example, when setting general advertisement display data, only the person who paid the advertisement cost or the like may set / input the display data. In this case, for example, when the “general advertisement display data setting” button 52 is clicked on with a mouse, the screen is switched to a password input screen (not shown), and only a person who has been notified of the password in advance by paying an advertisement fee or the like can change the password. The user can input and move to the general advertisement display data setting screen 60.

Also, since "public information setting" and "emergency information setting" are not information of a nature that allows ordinary people to freely display desired data, a password screen is displayed so that only a specific person can input. May be used.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of monitoring / setting the display state on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. In the figure, the Web browser of the personal computer 40 is started,
URL of network adapter 10 of desired vending machine
Is specified, the Web
The home page generated by the server function is displayed on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, a main screen 80 as shown in FIG.

On the main screen 80 shown in FIG.
The type buttons are displayed. That is, a “status monitor” button 81 and an “operating condition setting” button 82 are displayed.
First, the “status monitoring” button 81 will be described.

When the user clicks the "status monitoring" button 81 with a mouse or the like, the screen is switched to a status monitoring screen 90 as shown in FIG. On this status monitoring screen 90,
For example, status information of the display controller 30 (operating conditions (presence or absence of time display, display time zone, etc.), output history for each display data, etc.) is displayed. For example, the status information of the display controller 30 displayed on the status monitoring screen 90 is transmitted from the display controller 30 to the network adapter 10 at regular time intervals, and the latest or almost latest status information is always stored in the storage unit 12 of the network adapter 10. Is stored / updated. When the "status monitoring" button is selected on the personal computer 40, the network adapter 10
Control unit 11 inserts the state information (variable part) of the display controller 30 stored in the storage unit 12 into a prepared homepage template (such as a homepage including only fixed information). This is returned to the browser of the personal computer 40. As a result, for example, a state monitoring screen 90 as shown in FIG. 9B is displayed, and the user can properly display the display state of the advertisement or the like at the desired vending machine and the display data inputted by the user in the past. Etc. can be confirmed.

Next, the "operating condition setting" button 82 will be described. When the user clicks the “operation condition setting” button 82 with a mouse or the like, an operation condition setting screen 100 as shown in FIG. In this case,
First, the above-described password screen is displayed, and only the user who knows the password (the user who is permitted to set / change the operating condition) is operated.
May be displayed.

An operating condition setting screen 100 shown in FIG.
For example, a setting area 101 for the presence / absence of time display and a setting area 102 for a display time zone are displayed. The user operates a mouse, a keyboard, and the like to enter these input areas 10.
A desired setting content is input to the fields 1 and 102. When a “Send” button 103 is clicked, these setting data are transferred to the network adapter 1 by a so-called CGI function.
0 and is temporarily stored in the storage unit 12 thereof.
When the transmission is completed, the screen is switched to a transmission completion screen 110 as shown in FIG. 9D, and when the user confirms the completion of the transmission, the user clicks the “To main menu” button 111 to return to the main screen 80. In this case, the transmission may not be completed until the setting data is transferred from the network adapter 10 to the display controller 30 and the display controller 30 confirms that the data has been normally received. In addition, in the example shown in the figure, the time display and the display time zone are shown as the setting contents, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The network adapter 10 that has received the above-mentioned setting data activates an application program for communication processing with the above-mentioned display controller 30 and transmits the above-mentioned setting data temporarily stored in the storage unit 12 to the interface unit. 14 and is transferred to the display controller 30.

The display controller 30 stores / updates the transferred data in a setting data storage area in its own storage unit (not shown). From this, the display controller 3
0 performs display control according to the new setting contents.

As described above, according to the vending machine of the first embodiment, the vending machine having the function of displaying an advertisement or the like can be freely and easily used from any personal computer having a browser function. (That is, anyone who can operate a personal computer or the like to some extent without requiring advanced technology) can display desired data, refer to a display state, and make settings. Become. Furthermore,
In the case of displaying emergency information, it can be expected that the information is immediately displayed from the browser terminal on the information sender side.
By utilizing the installation environment of vending machines which are basically installed in various places, information to be displayed according to each installation location can be easily, meticulously and timely set.

In the above-described vending machine, the network adapter 10 was involved in the data transfer between the personal computer 40 and the display controller 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. Delivery may also be performed, for example, so that the POS data of the vending machine can be displayed on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. Regarding this, the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vending machine according to the second embodiment and the entire system. The vending machine shown in the figure includes a network adapter 120, a display controller 30, and a display unit 31 (LED /
LCD / PDP, etc.) and the like, and the figure shows the vending machine main body 130 (a control unit for performing normal vending machine vending control). The display controller 30, the display unit 31, the network 20, and the personal computer 40 are substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 1, and are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The network adapter 120 is connected to the control unit 1
21, storage unit 122, network interface unit 1
23, a switching unit 124, an interface unit 125, and an interface unit 126 to realize the function of a so-called "Web server". The control unit 121, the storage unit 122, the network interface unit 123, and the interface unit 125 are basically the same as the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, the network interface unit 13, and the interface unit 14 in FIG.

The difference from the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 is that the interface unit 126 can communicate with the vending machine body 130. The control unit 121 controls the switching unit 124 to switch the partner (the display controller 30 or the vending machine 130) to be connected. The case of connection to the display controller 30 is substantially the same as that of FIG.

Here, for example, a description will be given assuming that a home page displayed on a browser screen (not shown) in response to a request from the personal computer 40 has, for example, a button for "display information of a vending machine body". When the user of the personal computer 40 selects / designates this button, the network adapter 120 receives the button and prepares the product sales information of the vending machine main unit 130 stored in the storage unit 122 in advance. It is inserted into the template of the homepage, and this is returned to the browser of the personal computer 40. For example, the control unit 121 controls the switching unit 124 at regular time intervals to connect to the vending machine main unit 130 via the interface unit 126 and output the sales information of the vending machine main unit 130. The transmission is requested, and the information sent from the vending machine main body 130 is stored / updated in a predetermined storage area in the storage unit 122 in response to the request.

In this manner, information on the vending machine main body can be displayed on the browser screen of the personal computer 40. Of course, not only the product sales information is displayed but also various settings relating to the vending machine main body may be made.

In the above description, the Internet / intranet environment is assumed as the network connecting the vending machines. In particular, assuming the Internet environment, any general user can easily obtain a desired display device attached to the vending machine. Of the intranet environment (in-house LAN, local LA)
N) can be applied to the environment described below to provide various conveniences to people in a limited area.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the above-described vending machine is applied to a closed network environment such as an intranet. In the figure, a plurality of vending machines (vending machines with a display function such as an advertisement) are provided on a network 160 (in-house LAN, local LAN, etc.) in an intranet environment.
140-1 to 140-n (n is an arbitrary integer) and a plurality of personal computers 150-1 to 150-n (n is an arbitrary integer)
Is connected. The configuration of the vending machine 140 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. PC 150
Has a browser function like the personal computer 40.

At present, particularly in Japan, vending machines have become very popular,
Alternatively, vending machines are almost always installed even in a limited environment in a specific area (such as a town). In a building, for example, a rest room, a smoking area It is not unusual to be installed in various places, such as lounges, dining rooms, corridors, etc.

For example, the network environment shown in FIG.
Basically, it is built in an area where only people in the company are involved, such as in a building or factory. By doing so, a vending machine having a display function of an advertisement or the like can be used as an in-house message board (various information guides). For example, a notice about lunch is displayed on a display unit of a vending machine installed in a cafeteria, or a notice to all employees is displayed on a display unit of all vending machines 140-1 to 140-n. it can.

Alternatively, the network environment shown in FIG.
It will be built in a specific area such as an amusement park, event venue, amusement park, etc. Each of the personal computers 150 in FIG. 5 is installed in, for example, an information desk in the hall, a lost child center, reception of each facility (vehicles, etc.), a central management center, and the like, each of which has its own information (guide of lost children, congestion status of facilities, events) Information, guide information in the building, etc.) to desired vending machines (or all vending machines). As described above, in a specific area such as an amusement park, various information in the area can be easily displayed in real time using the display device of each vending machine, and can be used as an information bulletin board. it can.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the vending machine of the present invention, a so-called Web server function can be used to control an external personal computer or the like equipped with a browser function.
Setting / registration of display data such as advertisements, monitoring of the display state, monitoring of the sales status of the vending machine main body, setting of sales processing, and the like can be easily and freely performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a vending machine according to a first embodiment and an entire system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of inputting display data and its display condition setting data on a browser screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of monitoring / setting a display state on a browser screen.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vending machine according to a second embodiment and the entire system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the vending machine of the embodiment is applied to a closed network environment such as an intranet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network adapter 11 control unit 12 storage unit 13 network interface unit 14 interface unit 20 network 30 display controller 31 display unit 40 personal computer 50 main screen 51 “sale advertisement display data setting” button 52 “general advertisement display data setting” button 53 “public” Information setting "button 54" Emergency information setting "button 60 General advertisement display data setting screen 61 Input area of display count 62 Input area of display data 63 Send button 70 Transmission completion screen 71" Go to main menu "button 80 Main screen 81" Status " “Monitor” button 82 “Operating condition setting” button 90 Status monitoring screen 100 Operating condition setting screen 101 Time display setting area 102 Display time zone setting area 103 Send button 110 Setting completion screen 120 Network Click adapter 121 controller 122 storage unit 123 network interface unit 124 switching unit 125 the interface unit 126 the interface unit 130 Vending machine body 140 Vending machine 150 PC 160 network

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04L 12/54 H04L 11/20 101B 12/58 F term (reference) 3E044 AA01 CA01 CA03 CA10 CB01 CB05 DA06 DB20 DC01 DC06 DE01 DE02 EA11 EA20 EB01 5B089 GA11 GA23 GA24 HA10 JA08 JA34 JA35 JA40 JB15 JB16 JB22 KA13 KB06 KC11 5K030 GA11 GA14 GA17 HA05 HB06 HC13 JT02 KA01 KA04 KA06 KA08 KA13

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Display control means for rotating display of arbitrary display information in accordance with setting conditions, and display information and setting conditions for an arbitrary browser connected to the display control means and an external network via the network. A vending machine, comprising: a web server for preparing a homepage for allowing the user to input, and transferring display information and setting conditions input from the browser to the display control means. 2. The arbitrary display information is advertisement information, public information, emergency information, in-house communication information, or intra-area guidance information, the network is the Internet, an intra-net, or an intra-region intra-net, and the web server is 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the means has its own IP address. 3. A display control means for rotating and displaying arbitrary display information in accordance with a setting condition, wherein the display control means is connected to the display control means and an external network, and the display control means controls an arbitrary browser via the network. Web server means for preparing a home page on which various kinds of information relating to displayed display information are described or a home page for setting control contents by the display control means, and transferring setting information of control contents inputted from the browser to the display control means A vending machine characterized by having: 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the various information related to the display information displayed by the display control means is a display history and an output condition. 5. A sales control means for controlling product sales of a vending machine, connected to the sales control means and an external network, and held by the sales control means for an arbitrary browser via the network. Prepare a homepage to be created based on information related to product sales, or prepare a homepage that allows any browser to input setting information related to product sales, and set the setting information input from the browser to the sales control. Web server means for transferring to a means. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the information relating to the sale of the product is sales information of each product sold by the vending machine, and operation status of the vending machine.