JP2001307187A - System for managing automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the necessary capacity of a storage device for holding information required for the judgement of sale propriety and also to update information only in one part in an automatic vending machine managing system by which merchandise is purchased through the use of a mobile telephone. SOLUTION: When the merchandise is purchased at automatic vending machine 1, the machine 1 is called from the mobile telephone 2 via the computer 4 of a mobile telephone communication enterprise. The computer 4 holds a user table 7 which indicates propriety in the usage of the vending machine in accordance with the telephone number of the mobile telephone and judges the usage propriety of the machine based on the user table 7 when a specified machine 1 is called from the mobile telephone 2. When usage is permitted, a sales permission signal is transmitted to the automatic vending machine 1 and the machine 1 is made to be a sale possible state. Sales information are transmitted to and held in the computer 4, totaled by each user afterward and adjusted together with a telephone call charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable telephone and a PHS
The present invention relates to a vending machine operation system in which a product can be purchased using a mobile phone terminal such as a (simplified mobile phone).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vending machine, a commodity is usually purchased by inserting cash into a cash slot of the vending machine. In addition to cash, vending machines that purchase goods using an ID card or a credit card, and tallied every predetermined period (for example, one month) and settle the accounts by debiting accounts have also appeared. I have.

Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-249530 (G07F 9/0
As shown in (0), a vending machine has been proposed that allows the user to purchase the product using a mobile phone terminal such as a mobile phone or PHS so that the user can purchase the product without having cash or a card. I have.

In the vending machine, the telephone number of the vending machine is called by a mobile telephone terminal, and a product to be purchased is designated. As a result, the vending machine receives the source telephone number via the mobile telephone line. Then, it is determined whether or not the received telephone number is a registered one that is allowed to be sold at the vending machine. As a result, when it is determined that the product is available for sale, the sale available lamp of the product selection button is turned on, and the process waits until the product selection button is pressed.

When the purchaser presses a specific product selection button, the corresponding product is discharged, and the name of the sold product, its price, and the telephone number are stored therein.
Then, the data is transmitted to the mobile telephone communication company via the mobile telephone line every predetermined period (for example, one week). The mobile telephone communication company receives and stores the data, collects the data for each predetermined period (for example, one month), and collects the data together with the call charge of the mobile telephone by debiting the account.

[0006] By doing so, the vending machine can be used without using cash or a card by using the existing mobile telephone fee collection system, and the convenience is improved.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional vending machine operation system includes a telephone number that allows each vending machine to sell in order to determine whether or not the vending machine can be sold when selling by a mobile phone. Has to be registered, and in a vending machine operation system having a large number of vending machines, there is a problem that an enormous capacity storage device is required for the entire system. Further, when there is a change in the sales permitter, it is necessary to update the registered contents in each vending machine, and there is also a problem that it takes time and effort.

The present invention solves such a problem, minimizes the required capacity of a storage device for holding information necessary for determining whether or not to sell, and updates information in one place. For example, it is intended to be completed.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine operating system comprising: a plurality of vending machines connected to a computer of a mobile telephone carrier by communication means; A vending machine operation system in which a specific vending machine is called from the telephone via the computer to purchase goods from the vending machine, and the sales amount of the goods is settled later based on the personal identification information of the mobile phone. The computer, when called from a mobile phone to a specific vending machine, determines whether or not the mobile phone can use a vending machine, and when vending machine use is permitted, A selling permission signal is transmitted to the vending machine. In this case, the required capacity of the storage device that holds the information necessary for determining whether or not the sale is possible is minimized,
In addition, the information needs to be updated in one place.

In the vending machine operation system according to the present invention, the computer of the mobile telephone carrier stores a user table indicating whether or not the vending machine can be used in association with the telephone number of the mobile telephone, It is characterized in that whether or not a vending machine can be used is determined based on the user table. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the vending machine can be used only by adding information indicating whether or not the vending machine can be used to the user table.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine operating system, wherein the computer of the mobile telephone communication company is connected to a computer of a financial institution by a communication means, and when a product is sold by using a mobile telephone, the vending machine is automatically sold. The machine transmits sales information of the sold product to the computer of the mobile phone carrier, and the computer of the mobile phone carrier,
Based on the sales information received from the vending machine, the sales amount for each user is tabulated for each predetermined period, and the collected sales amount is sent to the computer of the financial institution together with the call charge to make the payment. Features. In this case, the computer of the mobile telephone carrier can add up the call amount and the sales amount of the vending machine for each user, thereby improving the efficiency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine operating system, wherein the vending machine is connected to a computer of a financial institution by a communication means, and when the vending machine sells a product by using a mobile phone, The sales information of the sold product is transmitted to a computer of the financial institution, and the computer of the financial institution is configured to settle the sales amount based on the sales information received from the vending machine. In this way, the mobile operator's computer
There is no need to total the sales amount of vending machines, and the burden is reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine operating system, wherein the vending machine, a computer of a financial institution, and a computer of a payment processing institution are connected by communication means, and the merchandise is sold by using a mobile telephone. At the time, the vending machine transmits the sales information of the sold product to the computer of the payment processing institution, and the computer of the payment processing institution, based on the sales information received from the vending machine, for each user for a predetermined period The sales amounts are totaled, and the totalized sales amounts are notified to the computer of the financial institution to perform the settlement. In this way, even when a plurality of communication companies and a plurality of financial institutions are incorporated in the vending machine operation system, the settlement can be efficiently performed by the settlement processing institution.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system according to a first embodiment. Each of the vending machines 1, 1,... Includes a mobile phone terminal such as a mobile phone or a PHS, and a computer 4 of a mobile phone carrier through a mobile phone relay station 3.
Is connected to the switching system 5 composed of The charge calculation system 6 of the mobile telephone communication company is connected to a computer 8 of a financial institution and a computer 9 of a vending machine operating company via a public line 10.

In the vending machine 1, a commodity can be purchased by inserting cash, and can also be purchased using a mobile telephone 2. When purchasing using the mobile telephone 2, the telephone number of the mobile telephone is registered in advance with the vending machine operating company, and the vending machine operating company notifies the mobile telephone communication company of the telephone number. Then, in the vending machine use permission column of the user table 7 as shown in FIG. 2 as a database of the mobile phone users registered in the computer 4 of the mobile phone carrier, the vending machine 1 Data indicating that the purchase of the product is permitted is written in advance.

Next, a process for purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 using the mobile phone 2 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the first
It is a processing explanatory view of the embodiment. When the user comes in front of the vending machine 1 and operates the dial button of the mobile phone 2 and enters the telephone number of the vending machine 1 displayed on the vending machine 1, a vending machine use request is issued. Along with the phone number,
The telephone switching system 5 is notified via the nearest relay station 3. In response to this, the telephone exchange system 5 refers to the user table 7 to determine whether or not the mobile telephone 2 that has issued the vending machine use request is permitted to use the vending machine. If permitted, the vending machine 1 transmits a sales permission signal with user identification information such as a telephone number.

When the vending machine 1 receives the sales permission signal, the vending machine 1 turns on the sellable lamp of the product selection button to notify the user that the vending machine is available for sale. Thereafter, when the user presses one of the product selection buttons, the corresponding product is discharged from the vending machine 1. Then, the vending machine 1 notifies the computer 4 of the mobile telephone communication company of the sales information including the sales date and time, the product name, the number, and the selling price together with the user identification information. The sales information is
The computer 9 of the vending machine operating company is also notified.

The computer 4 of the mobile telephone communication company stores the sales information received from the vending machine 1 and, at predetermined intervals (for example, one month), uses the charge calculation system 6 to calculate the mobile telephone call fee. The vending machine usage amount is totalized for each user, and the totaling result is transmitted to the financial institution computer 8. Then, the financial institution computer 8 performs settlement by transferring the call charge and the vending machine usage amount from the user's account to the account of the communication company and the account of the vending machine operating company, respectively.

In the above-described embodiment, when the sales permit signal is transmitted from the computer 4 of the mobile telephone communication company to the vending machine 1, user identification information such as a telephone number is transmitted. . By doing so, the correspondence between the sales information transmitted from the vending machine 1 and the user becomes clear. However, the user identification information such as the telephone number is not sent, but is held in the computer 4, and immediately after that, the sales information sent from the vending machine 1 is that of the held user. It is also possible to process assuming that there is.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a process according to a second embodiment. After the user operates the dial button of the mobile phone 2 and enters the telephone number of the vending machine 1, the processing from the vending machine 1 until the product is discharged is as follows:
It is similar to that of FIG. Then, the vending machine 1 transmits the sales information including the sales date and time, the vending machine number, the product name, the quantity, and the selling price to the computer 8B of the financial institution B in which the user has an account via the communication company. I do. When receiving the sales information, the computer 8B of the financial institution B performs the settlement by transferring the account from the user to the account of the vending machine operating company.

Further, as in the past, the call charges are tabulated for each user by the charge calculation system 6 for each predetermined period (for example, one month), and the result of the calculation is designated so that the user can pay the call charges. Is transmitted to the computer 8A of the financial institution A having the account. The computer 8A of the financial institution A transfers the call charge from the user's account to the communication company's account to perform the settlement. In this way, the vending machine usage amount and the call charge can be settled using different financial institutions and accounts. Note that it is also possible to settle the vending machine usage amount and the call charge using the same account.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system according to a third embodiment. In this embodiment, a target telecommunications company or financial institution is incorporated in the system, and a settlement processing institution that specializes in settlement processing is provided. The computers 4A and 4B of the communication company and the computer 11 of the payment processing institution are communicable via the public line 10.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the processing according to the third embodiment. The user operates the dial button of the mobile phone 2,
After entering the telephone number of vending machine 1, vending machine 1
3 to 4 are the same as those in FIGS. Then, the vending machine 1 sends the sales information including the sales date and time, the vending machine number, the product name, the quantity, and the selling price to the computer 11 of the settlement processing institution via the communication company.
Send to The computer 11 of the payment processing institution stores the sales information received from the vending machine 1, and totals the vending machine usage amount for each user for a predetermined period (for example, one month). In addition, as for call charges,
For each predetermined period (for example, one month), the computer 4A, 4B of each telecommunications carrier A, B totals for each user,
The user transmits the totalization result to the computer 11 of the payment processing institution for the call charge.

Then, the computer 11 of the payment processing institution
Is the sum of the vending machine usage amount for each user and the communication fee for each user received from the computer 4A, 4B of each communication company A, B, for each user, communication company, and vending machine operating company. Will notify the financial institution that has the designated account and settle it by account transfer.

[0025]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. That is, in the vending machine operation system according to the first aspect, when a mobile phone calls a specific vending machine, a computer of a mobile phone communication company determines whether or not the mobile phone can use the vending machine. When the use of the vending machine is permitted, a sales permit signal is transmitted to the vending machine. As a result, the information necessary for determining whether or not to sell can be stored only in the computer of the mobile phone carrier, minimizing the required capacity of the storage device as a whole, and updating the information by one. You can do it in a place.

In the vending machine operating system according to the present invention, the computer of the mobile telephone carrier stores a user table indicating whether or not the vending machine can be used in association with the telephone number of the mobile telephone. Whether the vending machine can be used is determined based on the user table.
As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not the vending machine can be used only by adding information indicating whether or not the vending machine can be used to the user table.

Further, the vending machine operation system according to the third aspect, when a product is sold by using a mobile phone,
The vending machine transmits the sales information of the sold product to the computer of the mobile telephone communication company, and the computer of the mobile telephone communication company, based on the sales information received from the vending machine, separates the user for each predetermined period. , And send the totaled sales amount to the computer of the financial institution along with the call charge to perform the settlement. As a result, the sales amount of the vending machine for each user can be added together with the call charge by the computer of the mobile telephone communication company, and the efficiency is improved.

Further, the vending machine operation system according to claim 4 is characterized in that when a product is sold by using a mobile phone,
The vending machine transmits the sales information of the sold product to the computer of the financial institution, and the computer of the financial institution adjusts the sales amount based on the sales information received from the vending machine. As a result, the computer of the mobile telephone carrier does not need to total the sales amount of the vending machine, and the burden is reduced.

Further, the vending machine operation system according to the fifth aspect, when a product is sold by using a mobile phone,
The vending machine sends the sales information of the sold product to the computer of the payment processing institution, and the computer of the payment processing institution sends the sales amount for each user at predetermined intervals based on the sales information received from the vending machine. Was calculated, and the calculated sales amount was notified to the computer of the financial institution to perform the settlement. As a result, even when a plurality of communication companies and a plurality of financial institutions are incorporated in the vending machine operation system, the payment can be efficiently performed by the payment processing institution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user table.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a process according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Mobile telephone 3 ... Relay station 4 ... Telecommunications company computer 5 ... Telephone exchange system 6 ... Charge calculation system 7 ... User table 8 ... Financial institution computer 9 ... Management computer 10 ... Public line

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Yamazaki 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E040 AA10 BA18 CA14 CB01 EA01 3E044 AA01 AA03 BA10 CA09 CB01 DA10 DC01 DE01 9A001 CC05 JJ66 JJ67 KK57

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of vending machines and a computer of a mobile phone carrier are connected by communication means, and a specific vending machine is called from the mobile phone via the computer to purchase goods from the vending machine. A vending machine operation system in which a commodity sales amount is settled at a later date based on the personal identification information of the mobile phone, wherein the computer, when a call to a specific vending machine is issued from the mobile phone, A vending machine operating system for determining whether or not a vending machine can be used for a mobile phone, and transmitting a voucher signal to the vending machine when the vending machine use is permitted. . 2. A computer of the mobile phone carrier stores a user table indicating whether or not a vending machine can be used in association with a telephone number of a mobile phone, and determines whether or not the vending machine can be used based on the user table. 2. The vending machine operation system according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made. 3. The computer of the mobile phone communication company is connected to a computer of a financial institution by a communication means, and when a product is sold by using a mobile phone, a vending machine transmits sales information of the sold product to the mobile phone. The information is transmitted to the computer of the telecommunications company, and the computer of the mobile phone telecommunications company sums up the sales amount for each user for each predetermined period based on the sales information received from the vending machine, and adds the totaled sales amount together with the call charge. 3. The vending machine operation system according to claim 1, wherein the payment is sent to a computer of a financial institution to perform settlement. 4. The vending machine is connected to a computer of a financial institution by a communication means, and when selling a product by using a mobile telephone, the vending machine transmits sales information of the sold product to a computer of the financial institution. 3. The vending machine operation system according to claim 1, wherein the computer of the financial institution adjusts the sales amount based on the sales information received from the vending machine. 5. The vending machine, a computer of a financial institution, and a computer of a payment processing institution are connected by a communication means, and when a product is sold by using a mobile phone, the vending machine displays sales information of the sold product. Is sent to the computer of the payment processing institution, and the computer of the payment processing institution aggregates the sales amount for each user at predetermined intervals based on the sales information received from the vending machine, and the aggregated sales amount is calculated by the financial institution. The vending machine operation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the settlement is performed by notifying the computer of (1).