JP2001167357A - Software sales system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of users such as the queuing in front of a sales terminal and a waiting time. SOLUTION: This software sales system comprises a distributing computer 2 which can distribute software data and plural sales terminal 11 which can distributed the software data, and the distributing computer 2 is equipped with a 2nd communication means 83 capable of data communication with a communication terminal 5 and a storage means 85 which stores a sales terminal database in which the sales schedules of the respective sales terminals 11 are registered, retrieves a free time zone of a sales terminal 11 which is selected by a user for sales and sends it to the communication terminal 5, and registers and updates the sales schedule in the free time zone, so that the sales at the sales terminal 11 can be reserved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to music or game
The present invention relates to a software sales system that distributes and sells software data such as software to sales terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent advance of digital technology, various software such as music, games, and movies have been sold as digital data recorded on recording media such as CDs and DVDs. ing.

[0003] However, in the method of selling these various software by recording them on a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, it is necessary to manufacture a CD or DVD on which the various software is recorded. Various types of CDs and DVDs on which these various software are recorded
It is necessary to stock and display such recording media, and a large space for these stocks and displays is required.

[0004] For this reason, in recent years, with the advance of digital communication technology, data of various software such as music, games, and movies has been distributed to sales terminals installed in stores. Many systems have been studied in which the sales terminal records the data on a recording medium such as a mini-disc or a memory card or outputs the data to a mobile phone for sale.
These software sales systems do not require a large space for inventory and display as described above, and only require the sales terminal to be installed in a corner of a convenience store, video rental store, gas station, etc. It is expected to spread.

[0005]

The software sales system using these sales terminals has the above-mentioned advantages, but it is not suitable for writing data to a recording medium or outputting data to a portable telephone or the like. Since a certain amount of time is required, when many people try to use the same sales terminal, a queue is formed, and there is a problem that the user has to wait for a long time.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in a software sales system using the above-mentioned sales terminal, the user is required to wait for a long time without waiting for the user. It aims to provide a software sales system with improved convenience.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a software sales system according to the present invention comprises a storage unit in which at least data of software such as music or games to be sold is registered. And a communication means capable of distributing the data of the registered software, and a communication capable of receiving at least data of the software distributed from the distribution computer. Means,
Storage means for storing the delivered software data;
An output unit for writing or outputting software data to be sold; and a plurality of sales terminals capable of selling the distributed software data. The sales terminal includes a second communication means capable of data communication with a communication terminal operable by a user, and stores the sales terminal database in which a sales schedule in each sales terminal is registered. Means, the user accesses the distribution computer from the communication terminal via the second communication means, searches for and determines the software to be purchased, and selects a sales terminal to be purchased. Thus, the distribution computer is
Based on the sales schedule of the selected sales terminal registered in the sales terminal database, a vacant time zone is selected and transmitted to the user's communication terminal, and the vacant time zone is selected. It is characterized in that the sales schedule can be reserved and updated by registering and updating the sales schedule. According to this feature, the user who wishes to purchase accesses the distribution computer using the communication terminal such as a mobile phone, searches for and determines the software to be purchased, and determines the software to be purchased. For example, by selecting the nearest sales terminal to purchase the wear, the available time of the sales terminal is returned from the distribution computer, and the reservation can be made in the available time. By going to the sales terminal selected in the above, the software can be purchased without waiting time, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0008] In the software sales system of the present invention, in the distribution computer, at the time of the reservation, identification information capable of identifying a user is registered in association with reservation time information in the reserved sales terminal. The identification information is delivered to the reserved sales terminal together with the reservation time information, and the sales terminal includes identification information input means,
It is preferable that at the time of sale, the identification of the user can be performed at the sales terminal by comparing the identification information input by the user from the input means with the distributed identification information. By doing so, for example, by performing identity verification using the identification information as a personal identification number having a predetermined number of digits, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the sales terminal is used by a third party other than the reservation person.

In the software sales system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the identification information is a telephone number of a user.
In this way, not only is it possible to prevent the reservation of a vacancy by carrying out the settlement of the purchased software in advance in the distribution computer by charging the user's telephone number, etc.
By detecting the telephone number from the user in the second communication means, the user can be specified by the accurate telephone number without an input error or the like.

In the software sales system according to the present invention, a reservation time zone reserved by a user is distributed from the distribution computer to the sales terminal, and the sales terminal operates in a time zone where no reservation is made. It is preferable that sales can be made to users without reservation. In this way, even if there is no reservation, even a person without a reservation can use the sales terminal.

[0011] In the software sales system according to the present invention, the communication means capable of distributing the software data registered in the distribution computer is capable of simultaneously distributing the software data to each sales terminal. Preferably, it is a broadcast communication means. In this way, the cost and time for distributing software data to each sales terminal can be reduced.

[0012] In the software sales system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the output means is provided separately from the sales terminal as an output unit connected to the sales terminal. With this configuration, the output unit can be arranged near the checkout cash register or the like, and writing or output by the output unit can be performed after the checkout at the checkout cash register. Can be improved.

[0013] In the software selling system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the selling terminal is provided with a settlement means for adjusting a selling fee. This makes it possible to settle the amount of the software sold at the sales terminal, and eliminates the need for another adjustment device, for example, a device for interlocking with a POS register or the like.

In the software selling system according to the present invention, the settlement means reads out the amount data from a prepaid medium which is purchased in advance with a predetermined amount and stores the amount data, and reads out the amount data from the prepaid medium. It is preferable to execute the settlement by reducing the sales amount and recording new amount data on the prepaid medium. In this way, it is not necessary to provide an identification and counting device or the like for identifying or counting bills and coins in the sales terminal, and it is possible not only to easily form a settlement means but also to carry out replenishment and collection of these bills and coins. Therefore, the convenience at the store can be improved.

In the software sales system according to the present invention, it is preferable that when the user makes a reservation at the distribution computer, the sales amount is reduced by a predetermined amount. In this way, it is possible to improve the utilization rate of reservation at the sales terminal.

[0016]

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

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a software sales system of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a sales terminal in the software sales system of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sales terminal in the software sales system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view illustrating an output unit connected to and used by the sales terminal according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output unit, and FIG. 6 is a simplified portable telephone (personal handy phone; P) which is a communication terminal used by a user in this embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable cellular phone, and FIG. 8 is a distribution computer installed at a distribution center in the software sales system of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data block;

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the main configuration of the software sales system according to the present embodiment is a sales terminal 11 installed in a convenience store or a gas station, which is a sales store, for selling software. A distribution computer 2 for distributing software data and various data such as reservation information to the sales terminal 11 and receiving a reservation from a user; General telephone 4 which is a communication terminal operable by a user and connectable to the distribution computer 2 through a communication network 13 of
And simple mobile phone terminals (Personal Handy Phone; PH
S) 5).

In the software sales system according to the present embodiment, the distribution computer 2 and each sales terminal 11
As shown in FIG. 1, as a communication means for distributing various kinds of data such as software, the communication means is connected via a satellite line via a satellite, and by using a satellite line using these satellites, Various data such as software can be simultaneously broadcast from the distribution computer 2 to each sales terminal 11 at a high speed of about 2 Mbit / sec (bps).

In this embodiment, in order to perform high-speed data distribution using these satellites 9, the distribution computer is used.
The satellite communication device 3 having a relatively large radio wave output capability and the large parabolic antenna 8 are provided at the distribution center 1 where the data 2 is installed, and the satellite communication device 12 having the relatively small radio wave output capability and A sales terminal 1 provided with a small parabolic antenna 10 and installed at each store
It is possible to transmit data to the distribution computer 2 at a data rate of about 150 Kbps even from 1.

In this embodiment, as described above, data is distributed to each sales terminal 11 at the same time by using a satellite line. Date
Performing data distribution is preferable because the data transmission speed of the line is relatively high, and the time and cost required for distribution can be reduced by performing distribution by simultaneous broadcasting. However, the method of performing the data distribution in a broadcast manner is not limited to other communication methods, for example, a method using a subchannel of a terrestrial broadcast wave.
Data transmission or the Internet network which is a computer network.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes the PHS terminal 5;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a central control station that controls the base station 6 and connects the communication network 13 to the base station 6.

Next, the configuration of the distribution computer 2 that constitutes the software sales system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The distribution computer 2 used in the present embodiment has the inside of the computer. A central processing unit (CP) that executes various operation controls such as a distribution process of the distribution computer 2 and a reservation acceptance process based on a predetermined processing program on a data bus 80 for transmitting and receiving data.
U) 81, a RAM 84, a real-time clock (RTC) 86 capable of outputting current time information and calendar information such as a day of the year, month and day, and communication enabling data communication with the satellite communication device 3. A distribution software database comprising an interface 82, a magnetic disk and a magneto-optical disk, and storing names and related information of music and games distributed to the sales terminals 11 and data of software; (DB) and a sales terminal database (DB) in which the name and location of the store where each sales terminal 11 is installed and its schedule information are registered, together with the central processing unit (CPU) 21. And a predetermined number of lines simultaneously connected to the communication line network 13 and a storage device 85 storing a control program in which various processing contents to be executed are described. A plurality of communication line boards 83, which are second communication means that can be managed, and a plurality of communication line boards 83 connected to each other, and the communication line boards 83 perform on-hook / off-hook control of telephone lines on the boards. A caller number detecting circuit for detecting a telephone number data transmitted from the network circuit, the telephone 4 or the PHS 5 of the user;
A tone signal conversion circuit that detects a tone signal based on an operation of the numeric keypad and converts the tone signal into predetermined numeric data, and converts a guidance voice or music data for audition digitally recorded in the storage device 85 into analog data and reproduces the data. A D / A conversion circuit and the like are provided.

Next, the configuration of the sales terminal 11 constituting the software sales system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Referring to FIG. 3, the selling terminal 11 used in the present embodiment is mainly composed of a selling terminal body 20 and a separate body from the selling terminal body 20, and is connected to the selling terminal body 20 by a communication cable. It is composed of an output unit 44 connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the selling terminal main body 20 is provided with a display 21 which is a display device for mainly displaying information such as advertisements, at a vertically upper end position.
A speaker 22 for outputting music such as promotion displayed on the display 21 and reproduction music for trial listening is provided below the display. In addition, a display input unit 23 in which a liquid crystal panel and a touch panel, through which an operator can perform various inputs in an interactive manner, is provided on an inclined upper surface of a portion protruding forward of the lower body. A memory card writer, which is an output means, into which a memory card 40 (see FIG. 4) as a recording medium on which software to be purchased is written and recorded can be inserted into the front panel of the part protruding forward. 24, a connection adapter 25 which is an output means used for connection for outputting data to the mobile phone when the output destination of the software to be purchased is a mobile phone, etc., and payment for software purchase is possible. And a magnetic card reader / writer 26, which is a payment means into which a prepaid card, which is a magnetic card, is inserted.

The D / A conversion unit 2 for reproducing the music for the trial listening and the voice message for the operation guidance is provided inside the sales terminal main body 20 in addition to the above-mentioned devices.
9, an amplifier 30 for amplifying the analog signal converted by the D / A conversion unit 29 so that the analog signal can be output from the speaker 22, a first communication unit 28 for performing data communication with the satellite communication device 12, , A second communication unit 27 for communicating with the output unit 44, software and software-related data distributed from the distribution computer 2 via a satellite line, and reservation schedule data. And a control unit 32 connected to these units and controlling the operation of the sales terminal body 20 as shown in FIG. It is configured.

The output unit 44, which is separate from the sales terminal body 20, has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance as shown in FIG. The output unit 44 is provided with a card insertion port 34 into which a software card can be inserted into which the purchased software data is to be inserted into the memory card 40 so as to be connected to the card insertion port 34. Memory card writer 3 for writing
9 are provided.

On the upper surface of the output unit 44 of this embodiment, the output destination of the software to be purchased is a portable telephone or the like, similarly to the connection adapter 25 installed on the entire panel of the selling terminal main body 20. Connection adapter 3 used in some cases for connection for data output to a mobile phone
8 are provided, and are housed in recesses having substantially the same shape as the connection adapter 38 formed on the upper surface of the output unit 44.

The notch surface inclined forward of the output unit 44 is connected to the liquid crystal panel 33 on which the data writing status, the output status, the error content, and the like are displayed, and the sales terminal body 20. Probability (online; OL),
An indicator 37 which is lit appropriately when receiving data, writing data, etc., a selection button 36 for selecting an output destination of purchased software data, and outputting or writing data. And an execution button 35 that is operated at the time of execution.

The configuration of the output unit 44 is as shown in FIG. 5. The liquid crystal driver 41 for controlling the display operation of the liquid crystal panel 33 is provided inside the output unit 44 together with the above-mentioned devices. A communication unit 42 for performing data communication with the sales terminal body 20; and a control unit connected to these units for controlling writing or output of software data to be purchased in the output unit 44.
The controller 43 has an internal memory (not shown) capable of temporarily storing data received by the communication unit 42. It also has a buffer function in communication.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the output unit 44 capable of writing or outputting the software data to be purchased is provided separately from the sales terminal body 20, and this output unit 44 is normally sold. It is installed near the cash register of the store, and if the software purchaser pays in cash, after the cash for the software purchased at the cash register is settled, the sales clerk The user can operate the output unit 44 on the spot to write or output software data to be purchased on the memory card 40 or the PHS terminal 5 of the purchaser.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the PHS terminal 5 operated by the user in this embodiment is almost the same as a general PHS terminal 5 which is generally used. As shown in FIG. 7, a receiving unit 61, a transmitting unit 62, and an antenna switch 63 for exchanging radio waves with the base station 6 via an antenna 51.
Transmission / reception RF module 60 having
Π / 4 shift QPSK modem 64 for demodulating the radio wave received by the module 60 and modulating the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting / receiving RF module 60
And phone number data, the name of the other party, and the received message
SRAM 6 for storing purchase software data input from the sales terminal body 20 or the output unit 44, which is an external device, through the external connection terminal 56 together with the external device.
7, an LCD panel 53 for displaying various storage contents and the like stored in the SRAM 67, an LCD module 70 including an LCD driver 69, and audio inputted from the microphone 55 in an adaptive difference quantization (ADPCM) system. An ADPCM codec 72 for converting ADPCM data output from the π / 4 shift QPSK modem 64 into a voice signal,
An amplifier 73 and a micro speaker 52 connected to the M codec 72; a driver 71 for driving a sounder, an LED, and a vibrator for outputting a ring tone and a notification sound at the time of various operations; and a front face of the PHS terminal 5. And an input unit 68 including various switches such as a numeric keypad 54 capable of inputting a telephone number, an external connection terminal 56 for performing serial data communication with an external device, and controlling these various devices. An MPU 65;
5 has an internal ROM 66 in which a program describing a control operation performed by the MPU 65 and telephone number data, identification ID, and the like assigned to each PHS terminal 5 are stored.

The PHS terminal 5 of this embodiment is connected to the amplifier 73 and purchased and stored in the SRAM 67 by MPEG-3 as a data compression method.
An MPG3 codec 74 capable of reproducing compressed software data (music) is mounted.
The music reproduced by the codec 74 is supplied to the micro speaker 52 or the stereo terminal 57 through the headphone terminal 5.
When 8 is connected, it is output to headphones.

The situation when a user accesses the distribution computer 2 and makes a reservation will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the user calls the distribution center using the PHS terminal 5 carried. The distribution computer 2 temporarily registers a caller number output from the caller number detection circuit provided on the communication line board 83, which is a predetermined connection process based on an incoming call from a user, and temporarily registers the line. Make the connection. Although not implemented in the present embodiment, in this connection processing, for example, whether the caller is a pre-registered member may be confirmed by the caller number or the password.

When these connections are completed, a message prompting the user to input the title of the music album or the name of the singer, which is software, is transmitted from the distribution computer 2 and displayed on the LCD panel 53 of the PHS terminal 5 of the user.

Based on the display, the user inputs, for example, the name of a singer as information of a music album which is software to be purchased.

Based on the input of the singer's name, the distribution computer 2 searches and extracts the title of the music album corresponding to the input singer's name from the software data registered in the storage device 85. Are returned, and the returned title names are displayed on the PHS terminal 5.

The user selects the desired music album if there is a desired music album among the displayed title names. If the desired music album does not exist, the user again selects the title of the music album. A search is performed in the distribution computer 2 by inputting a name.

Based on the selection by the user, the distribution computer 2 specifies the software selected by the selected title name, and stores the trial listening data of the music album with the selected title name from the storage device 25. At the same time, the listening data is output to the communication line board 83, and the D / A provided on the communication line board 83 is read.
The data is reproduced by the conversion circuit and transmitted to the PHS terminal 5, so that the user can listen to a part of the reproduced music album.

As described above, by allowing a user to preview a part of a music album, the user can confirm the content by trial listening, thereby avoiding the problem of erroneous purchase of purchasing a different album by mistake. Although preferred in view of the above, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is not necessary to appropriately perform these auditions.

If the user does not wish to purchase and does not select re-search, the distribution computer 2 disconnects the line and terminates. If re-search is selected, the distribution computer 2 ends the music album title or singer. A message prompting for the input of the first name is transmitted again, and input of search information is awaited.

If the user wishes to purchase, after confirming the contents of the album through these trial listenings, he / she selects the purchase request and, at the same time, selects the area where the software data is to be purchased, for example, the current position of the user. Enter the address etc. At this time, to simplify the input, for example, 7
The postal code of the digit may be input.

Based on the area information input from the PHS terminal 5 of the user, the distribution computer 2 has registered a plurality of stores near the position specified by the input area information in the storage device 85. The sales terminal database is searched and selected, and the position information (store name and location) of each selected sales terminal 11 is returned to the PHS terminal 5 as a search result. The user selects a desired store (sales terminal 11) from among the plurality of returned store candidates, and inputs a desired purchase date.

The distribution computer 2 reads the schedule of the desired purchase date at the sales terminal 11 of the selected store from the sales terminal database, searches and extracts the vacant schedule, and transfers the vacant schedule to the PHS terminal 5. Reply.

When the user selects and inputs a desired time zone from the vacant schedule displayed on the PHS terminal 5, the selected sales terminal 1 in the sales terminal database is entered.
The sales schedule is registered in the first schedule, and a message prompting the input of a personal identification number is returned with the location information (store name and location) and time zone of the store where the registered sales terminal 11 is installed, and the PHS terminal is returned. 5 is displayed.

With these displayed contents, the user confirms the contents of the reservation and inputs a personal identification number (four digits in this embodiment).

The entered password is registered in association with the reservation time of the sales terminal database together with the caller telephone number of the user detected in the connection processing. More PHS terminal 5
And the line is disconnected.

At the time of making these reservations, although not implemented in the present embodiment, the price of the software sold to the telephone number is charged based on the telephone number of the caller, so that the sales at the sales terminal 11 can be performed before the sale. May be settled,
This is preferable because it is possible to avoid reservations for vacancies. However, in this case, it is necessary to carry out payment with the telephone company.
Implementation may be appropriately selected.

The reservation contents reserved by these users,
That is, the reservation date and time zone, the title of the album to be purchased, the caller's telephone number, and the personal identification number are distributed to the reserved sales terminal 11 from the distribution computer 2 via the satellite line, and the sales terminal body 20 Storage unit 3
1 is stored.

Next, when the user purchases a reserved album (obtains software data) using the sales terminal 11 installed at the store, the processing status of the sales terminal 11 is described in the form of data. Output medium is PHS
The case of the terminal 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

The user brings the PHS terminal 5 to the retailer who made the reservation at the date and time when the reservation was made, and first makes an input by touching the surface of the display input unit 23 provided on the main body 20 of the retailer.

Upon detection of the input, the display input unit 2
For example, the display of "Please come. If you have made a reservation, please input a reservation button, if you do not have a reservation, please input a non-reservation button." Is a reservation person and selects and inputs a reservation required button.

At this time, when the reservationless button is selected and input, the input position is detected by the display input unit 23 having a touch panel function and the control unit 32
And the control unit 32 detects that “no reservation” has been input, and the storage unit 31
Is read and the presence or absence of a reservation within a predetermined time is checked. If there is a reservation, a predetermined message indicating that there is a reservation is displayed on the display / input unit 23, and input waiting again. Returning to the state, when there is no reservation, the routine shifts to a trial listening routine, and software can be purchased after the trial listening.

Based on the input of the reservation button, the control unit 32 displays a screen prompting the input of the telephone number and the password on the display input unit 23, and prompts the input of the telephone number and the password from the storage unit 31. By reading the voice message and outputting it to the D / A conversion unit 29, the message voice reproduced by the D / A conversion unit 29 is amplified by the amplifier 30 and output from the speaker 22.

Based on the display and the voice guidance, the user inputs the telephone number of the PHS terminal 5 with which the user has made a reservation and the four-digit password determined at the time of the reservation into the display input unit 2.
Enter from 3.

Based on the input, the control unit 32 compares the input telephone number and the password with the telephone number and the password registered in association with the reservation to confirm whether or not they match. If they do not match, the process is interrupted and the process returns to the input waiting state.If the match is found, the title name of the reserved album that has been reserved and the amount reduced by the reservation from the predetermined sales amount due to the reservation are entered. The information is displayed on the display input unit 23.

As described above, it is preferable to confirm the identity of the reservation person at the sales terminal because it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of using the sales terminal 11 by a third party other than the reservation person, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not limited.

The user confirms that there is no error in the title and amount of the album displayed on the display input unit 23, and selects and inputs the confirmation button displayed on the display screen of the display input unit 23.

Based on the input of the confirmation button, the control unit 32 selects the selection item of the settlement method (“prepaid card” or “cash” in this embodiment) and the selection item of the output form (“memory card” in this embodiment). Or “connection terminal output”) on the display screen of the display input unit 23.

The user selects a desired item from these display items. For example, as in this embodiment, the user
The PH capable of reproducing music data compressed by EG-3
When the user brings the S terminal 5 and selects "cash" as the payment method and "connection terminal output" as the output form, the user brings the price and the PHS terminal 5 to the cash register. At the cash register, after the clerk has settled the price,
The connection adapter 38 of the output unit 44 arranged near the cash register is connected to the external connection terminal 56 of the PHS terminal 5, and the execution button 35 is pressed.

The operation of the execution button 35 is detected by the controller 43 of the output unit 44, and is transmitted from the controller 43 to the control unit 32 of the sales terminal body 20 via the communication unit 42 and the communication unit 27. The input of the execution button 35 is output. In the control unit 32, the execution button 3
It is determined that the settlement process has been completed based on the input information of No. 5 and music to be sold is obtained from the data of each software distributed and stored in the storage unit 31 from the distribution computer 2 via a satellite line. The data of the album is read and output to the output unit 44.

The output unit 44 outputs the music album data received via the communication unit 42 to the PHS terminal 5 from the connection adapter 38, and the PHS terminal 5 converts the music album data input from the external connection terminal 56 to the SRA
It is stored in M67.

The completion of the data output of the music album is displayed on the LCD panel 33, and the PHS terminal 5 is returned to the user.

In the above description, the connection adapter 38 of the output unit 44 is used for settlement in cash.
When the payment of the “prepaid card” is selected, data is output to the PHS terminal 5 using the connection adapter 25 provided in the sales terminal main body 20.

The user operates the SRAM 6 of the PHS terminal 5.
The MPEG-3 data of the music album stored in the PHS terminal 5 is stored in the PHS terminal 5 by a predetermined operation.
The music recorded in the music album can be listened to by the micro-speaker 52 or the headphones by reproducing the music with the G-3 codec 74.

In the case of selecting and inputting, for example, "prepaid card" and "memory card" in the items of the settlement item and the output form, the user inserts the prepaid card purchased in advance into the magnetic card. -Dalita 2
6 and the memory card 40 is inserted into the memory card.
By inserting it into the dryer 24, the amount is read from the prepaid card, the purchase price is reduced, new amount data is written, updated, and the balance is executed, and returned after the balance. When the settlement is completed, the data of the music album to be sold is written from the memory card writer 24 to the memory card 40 and returned after the writing is completed.

In the case where the above-mentioned “prepaid card” is settled, the memory card
0 is written, but when the settlement method is "cash", the memory card 40 is inserted into the card insertion slot 34 of the output unit 44, and the memory card is inserted.
Writing to the memory card 40 is performed by the driver 39.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in the above embodiments with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and changes and additions may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, the present invention is included in the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the PHS terminal 5 is a simple portable telephone having a relatively small radio wave output.
Although the present invention is not limited to this, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a normal mobile phone having a relatively large radio wave output. Needless to say, the telephone 4 to which a general telephone line is connected as shown in FIG. 1 may be used, and further, these communication terminals may be computer terminals connected to a computer network such as the Internet.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a music album is mainly described as an example of software, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these software may be game software, The melody data of a ringtone of a mobile phone may be used, and the contents of the software are not limited.

In the above embodiment, the output destination of the software is the memory card 40 as a recording medium or the PHS terminal 5 as a communication terminal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is not particularly limited as long as the output software data can be recorded.

[0072]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the first aspect of the present invention, a user who wishes to purchase accesses a distribution computer using the communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and searches for software to be purchased. By selecting the nearest sales terminal, for example, by selecting the nearest sales terminal, the vacant time zone of the sales terminal is returned from the distribution computer, and the reservation can be made in the vacant time period. Since it becomes possible, by going to the sales terminal selected in the reserved time zone, it becomes possible to purchase software without waiting time, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

(B) According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, the identification terminal is used as a personal identification number having a predetermined number of digits and the identification is carried out, so that the sales terminal is used by a third party other than the reservation person. Inconvenience can be eliminated.

(C) According to the third aspect of the present invention, not only is it possible to prevent empty reservations by carrying out payment of purchased software in advance in the distribution computer by charging the user's telephone number, etc. By detecting the telephone number from the user in the second communication means, the user can be specified by the accurate telephone number without an input error or the like.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, when there is no reservation, a person without reservation can use the sales terminal.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to reduce the cost and time for distributing software data to each sales terminal.

(F) According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to arrange the output unit near a checkout register or the like,
Writing or output by the output unit can be performed after the payment at the payment register, and the convenience of the payment at the store can be improved.

(G) According to the invention of claim 7, it becomes possible to execute the settlement of the amount of the software sold at the sales terminal, and a device for interlocking with another settlement apparatus, for example, a POS cash register or the like. Can be eliminated.

(H) According to the invention of claim 8, it is not necessary to provide an identification and counting device for identifying or counting bills and coins in the sales terminal, and it is possible to simply form the settlement means, and also to set up these bills and coins. It is not necessary to carry out replenishment and collection, and the convenience at the store can be improved.

(I) According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the utilization rate of reservation at the sales terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a software sales system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a sales terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sales terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an output unit used by being connected to a sales terminal in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an output unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing a PHS (Personal Handy Phone) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal handy phone; PHS in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distribution computer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a status of a reservation process in the distribution computer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing status of software sales in the sales terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Distribution center 2 Distribution computer 3 Satellite communication device 4 Telephone 5 Simple portable telephone terminal (Personal handy phone; PHS) 6 Base station 8 Parabolic antenna 9 Satellite 10 Parabolic antenna 11 Sales terminal 12 Satellite communication device 13 Communication network 20 Selling terminal body 21 Display 22 Speaker 23 Display input unit 24 Memory card writer 25 Connection adapter 26 Magnetic card reader / writer 27 Second communication unit 28 First communication unit 29 Conversion unit 30 Amplifier 31 Storage unit 32 Control unit 33 Liquid crystal panel 34 Card slot 35 Execute button 36 Select button 37 Indicator 38 Connection adapter 39 Memory card writer 40 Memory card 41 LCD driver 42 Communication unit 43 Controller 44 Output unit 51 Antenna 52 Micro speaker 53 LCD panel 55 Microphone 56 External connection terminal 57 Stereo terminal 58 Headphone terminal 60 Transmitting / receiving RF module 61 Receiving unit 62 Transmitting unit 63 Antenna switch 64 Modulation / demodulation modem 65 MPU 66 Internal ROM 67 SRAM 68 Input unit 69 LCD driver 70 LCD module 71 driver 72 ADPCM codec 73 amplifier 74 MPG3 codec 80 data bus 81 central processing unit (CPU) 82 communication interface 83 communication line board 84 RAM 85 storage device

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 5B049 BB11 BB61 CC05 CC06 CC08 CC32 CC36 DD05 EE05 FF09 GG04 GG07 5B089 GA11 GA21 HA01 HA11 JA09 JA10 JA33 JB07 KA18 KB09

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A storage device in which at least data of software such as music or a game to be sold is registered, and a communication device capable of distributing the data of the registered software. Delivery computer, and the delivery computer
Communication means capable of receiving at least data of the software distributed from the data, storage means for storing the distributed software data, and output means for writing or outputting the software data to be sold And a plurality of sales terminals capable of selling the distributed software data,
The distribution computer comprises a communication terminal operable by a user and second communication means capable of data communication, and a sales schedule at each sales terminal is registered. The user has access to the distribution computer from the communication terminal via the second communication means, searches for the software to be purchased, and determines the software to be purchased. And select a retailer to buy from,
The distribution computer selects a vacant time zone based on the sales schedule of the selected sales terminal registered in the sales terminal database and transmits it to the user's communication terminal. A software sales system wherein a sales schedule can be reserved at a sales terminal by registering and updating a sales schedule in the vacant time zone. 2. In the distribution computer, at the time of the reservation, identification information capable of identifying a user is registered in association with reservation time information of a reserved sales terminal, and the identification information is registered with the reservation time information. Is distributed to the reserved sales terminal together with the sales terminal, and the sales terminal includes an identification information input means, and compares the identification information input by the user from the input means with the distributed identification information at the time of sale. 2. The software sales system according to claim 1, wherein the personal identification can be performed at the sales terminal. 3. The software sales system according to claim 2, wherein the identification information is a telephone number of a user. 4. The distribution computer distributes a reservation time reserved by a user to the sales terminal, and the sales terminal sells to a user without reservation during a time when no reservation is made. Claims 1 to 3 in which
Software sales system according to any of the above. 5. A communication means capable of distributing software data registered in the distribution computer is a broadcast communication means capable of simultaneously distributing software data to each sales terminal. The software sales system according to claim 1. 6. The software sales system according to claim 1, wherein said output means is provided separately from the sales terminal as an output unit connected to the sales terminal. 7. The software sales system according to claim 1, wherein the sales terminal includes a settlement unit for adjusting a sales fee. 8. The payment means reads out the amount data from a prepaid medium which has been purchased in advance with a predetermined amount and has the amount data recorded thereon, and reduces the sales amount from the amount data to obtain a new amount. 8. The software sales system according to claim 7, wherein the settlement is performed by recording a large amount of money data on the prepaid medium. 9. The software sales system according to claim 1, wherein said sales amount is reduced by a predetermined amount when a user makes a reservation on said distribution computer.