JP2001148050A - Automatic vending machine, image printing and sales system, and program recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arouse use desire and to make expectable a drastic sales expansion due to the acquisition of fixed customers by differentiating a sales system in each different customer even under an environment where many existing automatic vending machines selling the same and similar commodities are installed in the neighborhood. SOLUTION: Every time when a customer uses a leading automatic vending machine, a CPU 11 reads a customer ID from a memory card presented from the customer and reads the use situation of the customer from a use situation data table on the customer ID. The CPU 11 refers to a discount table on the basis of the past use situation of the customer and performs cost discount as a prescribed privilege service corresponding to the use situation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, an image printing and vending system, and a program recording medium for them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vending machines have overflowed excessively in the city, and have sold not only tangible goods but also intangible goods such as music and game software. Regarding the prices of various products, whether they are tangible or intangible, the same products or similar products are sold at a predetermined price for each product. Products are purchased at vending machines. Therefore, the biggest factor in increasing the sales volume is the installation environment in which there is no vending machine that sells the same or similar products in the surrounding area.

[0003]

However, in an area where a number of existing vending machines that sell the same or similar products are installed in the surrounding area, the sales of each vending machine are already near the limit, and There is also a limit to grabbing fixed customers only at the place where the machine is installed, and it is extremely difficult for a person who operates and manages a vending machine to expect a further increase in sales. The first object of the present invention is to differentiate the customer's sales style for each customer even in an environment where a number of existing vending machines for selling the same or similar products are installed in the surrounding area, thereby increasing the willingness to use. And expect to see a significant increase in sales through the acquisition of fixed customers. A second object of the present invention is to manage a vending machine as a terminal device simply by incorporating a simple communication function into the vending machine, even in an environment where many vending machines for printing and selling images are installed. By controlling the center, the sales format can be differentiated for each customer, and this differentiation can stimulate the willingness to use the product, and a significant increase in sales due to the acquisition of fixed customers can be expected.

[0004] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to the first aspect of the invention (first invention), each time the customer uses the service, the customer management information storage means for storing and managing the past usage status for each customer is read, and the usage status corresponding to the customer is read. The apparatus includes a reading unit and a service processing executing unit that executes a predetermined privilege service based on the usage status corresponding to the customer read by the reading unit. The customer management information storage means may store and manage at least one of the past usage count, total usage amount, usage frequency, and usage frequency as a customer-specific usage status. Further, the usage status by customer is information recorded on a recording medium owned by the customer, and the reading means, when the customer uses the recording medium, attaches the recording medium to the vending machine when the customer uses the recording medium. It may be possible to read out the usage status by customer in the above. A comparing unit that compares the usage status recorded in the storage medium owned by the customer with the usage status of each customer stored and managed in the management device; and a comparison result of the comparison unit. An update unit for updating the usage status in the recording medium based on the usage status for each customer stored and managed in the management device may be provided. In the invention according to the first aspect, each time the customer uses the service, the use status in the customer management information storage means corresponding to the customer is read, and a predetermined status is determined based on the read use status corresponding to the customer. Execute the privilege service. Therefore, even in an environment where there are many existing vending machines that sell the same or similar products in the surrounding area, it is possible to stimulate the willingness to use by differentiating the sales format for each customer, Can be expected to significantly increase sales.

[0005] The invention of claim 5 (second invention)
An image printing and selling system comprising a plurality of image printing and selling machines for printing and selling image data, and a center-side management device communicatively connected to each of the image printing and selling machines. When printing and selling the image specified by the customer, the center has a usage status notification means for transmitting the current usage status to the management device at the center. The management device at the center stores and manages the past usage status for each customer. A predetermined privilege based on at least one of the customer management information storage means to be executed, the current usage status transmitted from the image printing and vending machine, and the past usage status of the customer in the customer management information storage means. And control means for permitting the service to the image printing and vending machine. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when printing and selling an image designated by a customer, the current use status is transmitted to the management device on the center side, and the management device on the center side is transmitted from the image printing and vending machine. Based on at least one of the current usage status and the past usage status of the customer in the customer management information storage unit, a predetermined privilege service is permitted to the image printing and vending machine. Therefore, even in an environment where a large number of vending machines for printing and selling images are installed, simply installing a simple communication function in the vending machine enables the vending machine to control the vending machine as a terminal device by controlling the center. In addition, the sales format can be differentiated for each customer, and this differentiation can stimulate the desire to use the product, and a significant increase in sales can be expected due to the acquisition of fixed customers.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 is an external perspective view of a vending machine. The vending machine according to this embodiment can sell various commodities, that is, tangible commodities as well as intangible commodities, and in this embodiment, prints and sells images and copies music. To do. In other words, images supplied externally from customers (customer brought-in images), character images and creative images (sales images) prepared in advance in vending machines are printed on paper at high quality, and sold or prepared in advance. Various types of music are sold by copying them to recording media owned by customers. The vending machine body 1 includes a recording medium connection unit 2 on which a portable recording medium (memory card) CF owned by a customer is mounted, a display panel 3 for displaying charges, various menus and messages, and an operation for inputting various commands and the like. A panel 4, a charge input / return port 5, a sales product outlet 6, and a portable terminal connection unit 7 to which a portable information device owned by a customer are connected are provided.

The memory card CF is a compact flash card, PC card, smart media, MO (magneto-optical disk), FD (floppy disk), etc.
It is used as an image supply medium for externally supplying image data to a vending machine, or as a copy medium for copying and selling music. The portable terminal connection unit 7 is connected to a portable information device CR owned by a customer via a cable instead of the memory card CF mounted on the recording medium connection unit 2. For example, a notebook computer, a PDA, an electronic organizer, a portable Phone. In addition, whether the customer uses the portable information device CR or the memory card CF is arbitrary, but the following description will be made on the case where only the memory card CF is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an automatic vending system having a plurality of vending machines configured as described above and a sales management device communicatively connected to each vending machine. That is, in this embodiment, an automatic vending system (wide area communication system) in which a plurality of vending machine OSs deployed nationwide or in a specific region are connected to the sales management device SM via the network MW is connected. The sales management device SM is installed at a center that manages each vending machine OS. Note that the network MW is, for example, a telephone line network or a service digital network, but may use wireless communication means.

FIG. 3 shows a vending machine OS and a sales management device S.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of M. Here, basically the same components as the vending machine OS and the sales management device SM are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description is also used, but the components of the vending machine OS and the sales management device SM are also used. In order to identify the vending machine OS, the configuration of the vending machine OS will be described below, and the description of the sales management device SM will be omitted. C
The PU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the vending machine OS according to the operating system and various application software in the storage device 2. The storage device 12 stores an operating system and various application software, and is magnetic, optical,
It has a recording medium 13 composed of a semiconductor memory or the like and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 13 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy desk, a RAM card, and a magnetic card which can be detachably mounted. Also, this recording medium 1
The programs and data in the CPU 3 are stored in the CPU 11 as necessary.
(For example, static RAM) 14 under the control of
Or the data in the RAM 14 is stored in the recording medium 3
Saved to. Further, the recording medium may be provided on an external device such as a server, and the CPU 11 can directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via a transmission medium. Also, CP
U11 can also take in part or all of the data stored in the recording medium 13 from another device via a transmission medium, and newly register or additionally register it in the recording medium 3.
That is, the transmission control unit 15 receives programs / data transmitted from other devices constituting the computer communication system via a wired transmission line such as a communication line or a cable or a wireless transmission line such as radio waves, microwaves or infrared rays. Then, it can be installed in the recording medium 13. Furthermore, the program / data may be stored and managed on an external device side such as a server.
U11 can also directly access and use programs / data on the external device side via a transmission medium.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 has a transmission control unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17,
An image printing unit 18, a fee control unit 19, and a card control unit 20 are connected via a bus line, and the CPU 11 controls the operation of the CPU 11 according to an input / output program. The display unit 17 includes a liquid crystal or CRT for performing full-color display.
Alternatively, it is a plasma display device or the like. Image printing unit 18
Has a laser printer, an ink jet, or the like, and has an image externally supplied from a customer, for example, an electrophotographic image (customer brought-in image) taken by a digital still camera, a character image prepared in advance in a vending machine, or a creative image. The image (sales image) can be printed as a high-quality full-color image, that is, a high-quality image can be printed as if a silver halide film was developed and printed on photographic paper. Charge control unit 19
Has a normal configuration for counting the amount of printing fee input from the fee input / return port 5 and the refund amount of returned change and the like, and performs forgery determination and the like. The card control unit 20 controls a read / write operation for the memory card CF.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the customer-specific usage status data table AT stored in the memory card CF and the center-side sales management device SM. The usage status data table AT is configured to be able to store a plurality of records indicating past usage status of vending machines for each customer. That is, it is possible to store a plurality of records each having items of “use date and time”, “product code”, and “sales amount” corresponding to the customer ID, and each record is created and stored every time a vending machine is used. . Here, the customer ID is automatically written by inserting a memory card CF owned by the customer into the vending machine body and then instructing registration of a new customer. That is, when the vending machine OS issues a registration request to the sales management device SM when registering a new customer, the sales management device SM creates a customer ID and sends the vending machine OS requesting.
The vending machine OS that has received the ID writes the customer ID on the memory card CF. The vending machine to be used is, of course, a vending machine unique to this embodiment, which is communicatively connected to the sales management apparatus SM. However, when any of the vending machines is used, A record is created and stored in which the system date and time is “use date and time”, the type of product used is “product code”, and the charge associated with the use is “sales amount”.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a discount table ST provided on each vending machine OS side. In the discount table ST, how much the rate discount is performed according to the past usage status of the customer is set, and the contents of the table are referred each time the vending machine OS is used. Here, in order to perform a rate discount according to the number of past uses, the total amount of use, the frequency of use, and the like, the discount table ST includes “the number of uses for the past month”, “the total number of uses”,
The “condition” and the “discount rate” are stored in correspondence with the “sales amount for the past month” and the “use count”.
The “number of uses for the past month” indicates the frequency of use, and the number of uses for the past month is “5” as a discount condition.
In the case of “more than once”, “10%” is set as the discount rate, and in the case of “more than 10 times”, “20%” is set as the discount rate. The “total number of uses” indicates the total number of uses from the start of use by the customer to the present. If the total number of uses is “50 or more” as a discount condition, “+ 5%”, “ If “100 times or more”, “+ 10%” is set as the discount rate. Here, "+5
“%” And “+ 10%” indicate discount rates to be added to other discount rates.

The “sales amount for the past month” indicates the frequency of use. If the sales amount for the past month is “10000 yen or more” as a discount condition, the discount rate is “10%”. If it is “20,000 yen or more”, “20%” is set as the discount rate. "Use frequency"
A milestone of the number of times of use indicating that the above-mentioned "total number of uses" has reached a predetermined number of times, that is, a specified number of times, and as the specified number of times increases, the discount rate is increased. ing. That is, if the turning point of the number of times of use as the discount condition is “10th time”, the discount rate is “20%”. If “50th time”, the discount rate is “50%”, and further “100th time”. , "Free" is set as the discount rate.

Next, the operation of the vending machine OS according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, programs for realizing the functions described in these flowcharts are stored in the form of readable program codes on the recording medium 13, and the CPU 11 sequentially executes operations according to the program codes. I do. Further, the CPU 11 can also sequentially execute an operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium. This is the same in other embodiments described later. In addition to a recording medium, a program / program externally supplied via a transmission medium is used.
Operations specific to this embodiment can also be performed using data.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the vending machine OS. In order to simplify the following description of the operation, the vending machine OS is abbreviated as “terminal” and the sales management device SM is abbreviated as “center” as necessary. First, when use of a vending machine is instructed, a menu indicating a product genre is displayed corresponding to a tangible or intangible product that can be sold (step A1). Sales of tangible goods,
Each menu item of print sales of carry-in images and sales images and copy sales of music is displayed. Then, when a desired menu item is selected from the genre menu screen (step A2), a message prompting that a memory card CF should be inserted is displayed (step A3). Then, it is checked whether the card has been inserted (step A).
4). In this embodiment, even if the memory card CF is not inserted, the vending machine can be used.

If the card is not inserted, that is, if the customer forgets to bring the memory card CF (step A4), the process proceeds to step A22 in FIG.
Here, a product menu in the selected genre is displayed. For example, when the image print sales is selected, a menu of images brought in by the customer and images prepared in advance is displayed. Here, the customer selects desired products one by one from the product menu as printing targets (steps A23 and A24). Then, when all the selections are completed, it is checked whether or not to discount (step A25). In this case, since the current use is not a discount target, a fee corresponding to the selected content is calculated and displayed and output ( Step A27).

Then, on condition that the fee is paid (step A35 in FIG. 8), the selected product is sold and discharged (step A3).
6). In other words, if the selected product is a tangible product, discharge it. If the selected product is image printing, print the image data with high quality and discharge the printed material. Write music data to the medium. Then, in step A37, it is checked whether or not the card is used. Since the card is not used this time, the process proceeds to step A41, and the customer ID can be input. In this case, if the user forgets to bring the memory card CF but remembers his / her customer ID, the customer ID is entered by key. Then, the center is requested to additionally write the current usage status (step A39), and the current usage data “date of use”, “product code”,
The "sales amount" is transmitted (step A40). The customer
If the ID is not keyed, the process of additionally writing the current usage status to the center is not performed.

On the other hand, when the memory card CF is inserted, the process proceeds to step A5 in FIG. 6, where the customer ID is read from the card, and the center is inquired about the usage status of the customer (step A6). It is checked whether the usage status data table AT is stored in the server (step A).
7) If there is, the use status is read from the card (step A12). In other words, since it takes time until there is a response from the center, even if there is no response, if there is a usage status data table AT in the card, it is read out and the processing proceeds to the following discount processing. Table AT
If there is no response, a response waiting state is entered (steps A8, A
9) When the use status of the customer is transmitted from the center, it is received and temporarily stored (step A10). Then, it is checked whether or not the usage status corresponding to the customer is transmitted from the center after the usage status is read from the card (step A11). If the usage status is not read from the card, the center shown in FIG. Move on to discount processing.

This discount processing is performed in step A of FIG.
At 13, it is checked whether this use is eligible for a discount. That is, the contents of the past usage status read from the card or the past usage status transmitted from the center are totaled, and the totaling result is one of various discount conditions set in the discount table ST. Check if it corresponds to. Here, if it corresponds to the number of uses / sales amount in the past month (step A14), the highest discount rate among the discount rates associated with the corresponding discount condition is read from the table (step A14). Step A15).
Furthermore, if it corresponds to the total number of uses (step A1)
6), read the increment of the discount rate corresponding to the relevant condition,
This is added to the discount rate read earlier (step A1).
7).

If the number of times of use matches, the discount rate corresponding to the condition is read (step A1).
9). Then, the discount rates thus read are compared, and the highest discount rate among them is determined as the current discount rate (step A20). Then, the determined discount rate is displayed and output to notify the customer (step A21). Then, the process proceeds to step A22 described above, and a product menu is displayed. When a desired product is selected from the menu (steps A23 and A24), it is checked whether or not the current use is to be discounted (after the discount rate is determined) (step A23). A25) In the case of discounting, after calculating a normal fee according to the selected product, the determined discount rate is subtracted from the fee, and the discounted fee is calculated and displayed (steps A26 and A28).

In this case, step 3 in FIG.
Since it is determined in step 1 that the card is used, the flow advances to step A32 to read out the use status from the center. Move on to comparison judgment. At this point, since the usage status transmitted from the center has already been received, the usage status from the center is compared with the usage status read from the card (step A33). As a result, when it is determined that the two do not match, the latest usage status from the center is written in the card, and the usage status in the card is rewritten (step AA34). That is, even when the customer ID is keyed in without using the card as described above, the usage status is additionally written in the usage status data table AT for each customer on the center side. In order to match the usage status on the center side, the usage status in the card is rewritten to the latest information. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step A35 described above, and the selected product is sold on condition that the fee is paid (step A36).
In this case, since it is determined in step A37 that the card is used, the data used this time is additionally written in the guard (step A38).
A request for writing the current usage data is made to the center (step A39), and the current usage data is transmitted in association with the customer ID (step A40).

As described above, in the first embodiment, each time the customer uses the content, the contents of the usage status data table AT are read out based on the customer ID, and the contents are read out based on the past usage status of the customer. Referring to the discount table ST,
Since the special privilege service is executed according to the usage status, even if there are many existing vending machines that sell the same or similar products in the surrounding environment, the sales form can be changed by the customer. It can be differentiated separately, which can motivate users to use it and can expect a significant increase in sales by acquiring fixed customers. In this case, as the privilege service, the fee is discounted according to the past use situation, so that the desire to use the service can be further stimulated. Further, in the discount table ST, various discount conditions are set according to the number of times of use / sales amount, total number of uses, and the number of times of use in the past month, and a discount rate according to the conditions is set. Therefore, more detailed services can be provided.

Also, the memory card CF owned by the customer includes:
Since the past usage status is written together with the customer ID, it is only necessary to insert the memory card CF into the vending machine body when using the customer. The usage status recorded in the customer-owned memory card CF is compared with the usage status for each customer stored and managed on the center side. Since the usage status in the memory card CF is updated based on the usage status, the usage status in the card and the usage status on the center side can be matched, and the usage status in the card is updated to the latest information. Can be rewritten.

In the first embodiment described above,
Although the vending system in which a plurality of vending machine OSs are communicatively connected to the sales management device SM on the center side via a network has been exemplified, the present invention is not limited to such a communication system, but may be applied to a stand-alone vending machine. There may be. Further, although the usage status data table AT is written in the customer-owned memory card CF, the usage status data table AT may be written in the customer-owned portable information device CR instead of the memory card CF.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, even in an environment where a large number of image printing and vending machines for printing and selling image data are installed, the vending machine can be connected to a terminal device only by incorporating a simple communication function into the vending machine. By controlling the center, the sales format is differentiated for each customer. Here, basically the same components in both embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the following mainly describes the features of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a service number table BT provided in the sales management device SM on the center side.
In the service number table BT, the number of services indicating how many of them are to be serviced according to the number of printed images is set. For example, if the number of images is 1 to 10,
If there is no service and 11 to 30 pages, the service content is set according to the number of printed images used this time, such as "1 page service".

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine OS for printing and selling image data. FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the operation of the sales management device SM. First, when the memory card CF is inserted according to the message prompting the card insertion (steps B1 and B2), the customer ID is read from the card (step B3) and the image to be printed (customer carry-in image or sales image) is displayed in a menu. (Step B4). When all the desired images have been selected (steps B5 and B6), the customer ID,
The selected image No. and the number of prints of the selected image are transmitted (step B7), and a response is waited for (step B8).

When the center receives the customer ID, the selected image No., and the number of prints of the selected image in step C1 of FIG. 11, the center retrieves the usage status data table AT based on the customer ID. The corresponding use status is read (step C2). Then, the same discount rate determination processing as in steps A13 to A20 of FIG. 7 shown in the above-described first embodiment is performed, and the highest discount rate is determined as the discount rate for the current use (steps C3 to C10). Further, the service number table BT is searched according to the received number of prints of the currently selected image, the corresponding number of services is obtained, and this service number is subtracted from the number of prints of the currently selected image to obtain the post-service number. Then, the total charge for the actual number is calculated (step C11 in FIG. 12).

Then, it is determined whether or not the discount rate has been determined by the above-described discount rate determination processing, that is, whether or not the current use is to be discounted (step C12). In the case of discounting, the discounted rate is calculated (step C12). Step C13). Then, the discounted state (the current discount condition and the determined discount rate) when the discount is performed together with the current fee obtained as described above.
Is transmitted to the requesting terminal (step C14), and a response to the use completion transmitted from the terminal is waited (steps C15 and C16).

When the terminal waiting for a response receives the current fee transmitted from the center (step B9 in FIG. 10), the fee is displayed, and the discount state is also transmitted from the center. If you have
The display is also performed (step B10). Here, when the fee is paid (step B11), the printing of the selected image is started on the condition thereof (step B12). Then, a use completion notification is transmitted to the center (step B13). Then, when receiving the completion notification (step C16 in FIG. 12), the center additionally writes the current usage status in the usage status data table AT and updates it (step C17).

As described above, in the second embodiment,
The vending machine OS transmits the current usage status to the sales management device SM at the center when printing and selling the image specified by the customer, and the center uses the current usage status transmitted from the vending machine. Service is granted to the image printing and vending machine in accordance with the past usage status of the customer and the customer, so in an environment where many vending machines for printing and selling images are installed. However, by simply incorporating a simple communication function into a vending machine, the control of the center, which manages the vending machine as a terminal device, makes it possible to differentiate the sales format for each customer, and this differentiation motivates users. It can be aroused, and can be expected to significantly increase sales by acquiring fixed customers.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a fee service is provided in which the current fee is discounted according to the past usage status. However, the contents of the privilege service according to the past usage status include: Of course, it is not limited to this. For example, a small item may be provided as a service item, a not-for-sale item having characteristics of popular characters or the like may be provided as an “extra” item, or various service tickets may be issued.

The photographed image is not limited to an image photographed by a digital still camera, but may be any one of a designated still image or a continuous image of several frames of a moving image photographed by a digital video camera. May be decomposed and extracted one image at a time at a predetermined timing to perform high-quality printing. Further, the image externally supplied from the customer is not limited to the photographed image, and may be an image read by an image scanner. The object on which the image is printed is not limited to paper, but may be a portable information device. The image may be printed on the surface of the image.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even in an environment where a number of existing vending machines that sell the same or similar merchandise are installed in the surrounding area, the sales form is differentiated for each customer. As a result, the willingness to use can be stimulated, and a significant increase in sales due to the acquisition of fixed customers can be expected. According to the second aspect, even in an environment where a large number of vending machines for printing and selling images are installed, the vending machines can be managed as terminal devices only by incorporating a simple communication function into the vending machines. With the control of the center, the sales format can be differentiated for each customer, and the differentiation can motivate the user to use the product and can expect a significant increase in sales by acquiring fixed customers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a vending system having a plurality of vending machines and a sales management device communicatively connected to each vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a vending machine OS and a sales management device SM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage status data table AT stored in a memory card CF and a center-side sales management device SM.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a discount table ST provided in each vending machine OS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine OS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine OS following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine OS following FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a service number table BT provided in the sales management device SM on the center side in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vending machine OS that prints and sells image data in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sales management device SM in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sales management device SM following FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Recording media connection unit 7 Mobile terminal connection unit OS Vending machine SM Sales management device CF Memory card AT Usage status data table ST Discount table BT Service number table 11 CPU 12 Storage device 13 Recording medium 15 Transmission control unit 16 Input unit 17 Display Part 18 Image printing part

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Each time a customer uses the service, reference is made to customer management information storage means for storing and managing past usage status for each customer.
Reading means for reading the usage status corresponding to the customer; and service processing execution means for executing a predetermined privilege service based on the usage status corresponding to the customer read by the reading device. Vending machine. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the customer management information storage means stores and manages at least one of past usage count, total usage amount, usage frequency, and usage frequency as customer usage status. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The customer-specific usage status is information recorded on a customer-owned recording medium, and the reading unit reads the customer-owned recording medium when the customer-owned recording medium is mounted on a vending machine main body. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the usage status for each customer in the recording medium is read out. 4. A vending machine communicatively connected to a management device on the center side, wherein a usage status recorded in a storage medium owned by the customer and a customer-specific usage stored and managed by the management device. A comparison means for comparing the situation with the situation, and a use situation in the recording medium based on the customer-specific use situation stored and managed in the management device when it is determined that the two do not match. The vending machine according to claim 3, further comprising an updating unit for updating the vending machine. 5. An image printing and selling system comprising a plurality of image printing and selling machines for printing and selling image data, and a center-side management device communicatively connected to each of the image printing and selling machines. The printing vending machine has a usage status notifying unit that transmits the current usage status to the center-side management device when printing and selling the image specified by the customer. Management information storage means for storing and managing each customer, and at least one of the current usage status transmitted from the image printing and vending machine and the past usage status of the customer in the customer management information storage means. Control means for permitting a predetermined privilege service to the image printing vending machine based on the image printing and vending machine. 6. A recording medium having a program code which can be read by a computer, wherein each time the customer uses the same, the customer management information storage means for storing and managing past usage status for each customer corresponds to the customer. A recording medium comprising: a computer readable program code for reading a use situation; and a computer readable program code for executing a predetermined privilege service based on the read use situation corresponding to the customer. 7. A recording medium having a program code which can be read by a computer, wherein when printing and selling an image designated by a customer, a current use status is transmitted from the image printing / vending machine to a management device on the center side. The computer-readable program code to be transmitted and the present usage status transmitted from the image printing and vending machine and the past usage status of the customer in the customer management information storage means for storing and managing the past usage status for each customer. And a computer-readable program code for permitting a predetermined privilege service to the image printing and vending machine based on at least one of them.