JP2002083345A - Card issuing device, dispenser, card issuing method, computer-readable storage medium recording an execution program of the method on computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispenser not losing the selling chances of commodities and the offering chances of services. SOLUTION: This dispenser 101 is provided with a commodity selling section 502 selling a commodity or offering a service, an input section 501 receiving the payment money paid for the commodity or the service sold or offered by the commodity selling section 502, a change amount calculating section 503 calculating the change amount subtracted with the price amount of the commodity or the service from the amount of the payment money paid by the input section 501, a point determining section 506 determining the point subject to refund of the commodity or the service, a point recording section 509 recording the point determined by the point determining section 506 on a content- rewritable card, and a card issuing section 512 issuing the card recorded with the point by the point recording section 509.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card issuing apparatus, a vending machine, a card issuing method, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded. The present invention relates to a card issuing device that issues a predetermined card, a vending machine, a card issuing method, and a computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an automatic vending machine which sells a product and dispenses a change corresponding to a difference between a payment paid by a user and the price of the product. Vending machines are smaller in number of products handled than supermarkets and convenience stores, but they are space-saving, have relatively few installation locations, have low labor costs, and can be sold 24 hours a day. , And so on.

[0003] Also, with respect to the fact that the types of commodities are small, so-called top-selling commodities are determined, and by selling such commodities with a good turnover rate, it is possible to achieve a high profit margin. That is, the convenience of a conventional vending machine is very high, and in fact, vending machines including ticket vending machines and coin lockers are one in Japan.
5.5 million units have been installed by the end of 999 (JVM
A: Japan vending machine industry survey).

[0004]

However, the conventional vending machine has the following problems. First, it is necessary to refund the change to the user (user). However, in the case of running out of change, even if the product can be sold, the sales must be stopped. Therefore, there is a problem that the user may not be able to purchase the product even though the product is in stock.
On the other hand, there has been a problem that a supply source of the product may miss a chance to sell the product due to lack of change.

[0005] For example, when two coins, one 100 yen coin and one 50 yen coin, are inserted in order to purchase a can juice of 120 yen, a 10 yen coin 3 is used as change.
The card is dispensed. Therefore, there has been a problem that the number of coins is larger when dispensing than when depositing, the wallet is swollen with coins, and the user feels troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, in which a card issuing apparatus, a vending machine, a card issuing method, and a computer are provided which do not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable recording medium in which a program to be executed by a computer is recorded.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, the card issuing device according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a change amount obtained by subtracting the price of the goods or services from the amount of payment paid for the goods or services to be sold. Calculating means for calculating, a point determining means for determining points to be returned for money or services based on the change amount calculated by the calculating means, and a point determined by the point determining means. Point recording means for recording on a rewritable card, and card issuing means for issuing a card on which points are recorded by the point recording means are provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to pay out change, so that it is possible to prevent the discontinuation of sales and the provision of change due to running out of change.

A card issuing device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the card issuing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, which inserts a card in which a point to be redeemed for money or a service is recorded. And point calculation means for calculating a total point of the points recorded on the card inserted by the card insertion means and the points determined by the point determination means,
The point recording means records the total points calculated by the point calculation means on a card inserted by the card insertion means.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the points are accumulated on one card, so that the receipt of the card is not troublesome.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card issuing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card storage unit for storing a plurality of types of cards, and a plurality of types of cards stored by the card storage unit. Card switching means for switching to a card of a type different from the type of card inserted by the card insertion means, wherein the point recording means replaces the card inserted by the card insertion means. The total points are recorded on the card switched by the card switching means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use a card issued in various ways to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card issuing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the card storing means is a series card having a mutual relation or a type having a small number of issued cards. Store the rare card,
The card switching means switches to a series card or a rare card when a point to be recorded by the point recording means reaches a predetermined point.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card issuing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the card storing means is a series card having a mutual relation or a type having a small number of issued cards. Store the rare card,
When the change amount calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the card switching unit switches to the series card or the rare card.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the card issuing apparatus according to the third aspect, the card storing means is a series card having a mutual relation or a type having a small number of issued cards. Store the rare card,
The card switching means switches to the series card or the rare card with a predetermined probability.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the card issuing device according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, a point recorded on a card inserted by the card insertion means is provided. A principal determination means for determining a principal point to be a target of interest points based on the
Based on the principal points determined by the principal determination means, an interest determination means for determining interest points for the principal points, wherein the point calculation means determines the interest points for the total points. A point to which the interest point determined by the means is added is newly calculated as a total point.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the desire to purchase a product can be stimulated to increase the point of the principal, or the user can feel the desire to receive a service.

The card issuing device according to the invention of claim 8 is the card issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the user information for identifying a user of the card issuing device is stored in the card issuing device. User information recording means for recording on a card; and sales provision restricting means for restricting sales or provision by the sales provision means based on the user information recorded by the user information recording means. And

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately allocate a purchaser of goods and a receiver of services.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the card issuing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, all or one of the money corresponding to the points recorded on the card is provided. A refund means for refunding a part is provided.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the points stored and stored are returned, opportunities for using the device are increased.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine including the card issuing device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a vending machine provided with the card issuing device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0027] In the card issuing method according to the present invention, the change amount obtained by subtracting the price of the product or service from the amount of payment paid for the product or service to be sold is provided. Calculating a point based on the change amount calculated in the calculating step, a point determining step of determining a target point of the return of the money or service, and the point determined in the point determining step, And a card issuing step of issuing a card on which points have been recorded by the point recording step.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to pay out change, it is possible to prevent the discontinuation of sales or the provision of change due to running out of change.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the card issuance method according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, a card in which a point on which a point to be redeemed for money or a service is recorded is inserted. And a point calculation step of calculating a total point of a point recorded on the card inserted in the card insertion step and a point determined in the point determination step, wherein the point recording step includes the point calculation. The total points calculated in the step are recorded on the card inserted in the card inserting step.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since points are accumulated on one card, the receipt of the card is not troublesome.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the card issuance method according to the twelfth aspect, a card switching step of switching to a card of a type different from the type of card inserted in the card insertion step. Including
In the point recording step, the total points are recorded on a card switched in the card switching step in place of the card inserted in the card insertion step.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use a card issued in various ways to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

In the card issuance method according to the present invention, the points to be recorded in the point recording step reach predetermined points in the card switching step. In this case, the system is switched to a series card having a mutual relation or a rare card which is a type with a small number of issued cards.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

In a card issuing method according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the change amount calculated in the calculating step is equal to or more than a predetermined amount in the card switching step. In this case, it is characterized by switching to a series card having a mutual relation or a rare card which is a type with a small number of issued cards.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to arouse a desire to purchase a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

The card issuance method according to the invention of claim 16 is the invention according to claim 13, wherein in the card switching step, the series cards or the number of issuances which are related to each other with a predetermined probability. It is characterized in that it is switched to a rare card which is a kind with less number.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use these specific cards to urge the purchase of a product or to feel a desire to receive a service.

A card issuance method according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the card issuing method according to any one of the twelfth to sixteenth aspects, wherein the points recorded on the card inserted in the card insertion step are: Based on the principal determination step of determining the principal points to be the target of interest points, based on the principal points determined in the principal determination step, the interest points for the principal points An interest determining step of determining, wherein in the point calculating step, a point obtained by adding the interest point determined in the interest determining step to the total point is newly calculated as a total point.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the desire to purchase a product is stimulated in an attempt to increase the point of the principal, and it is possible to make the user want to receive a service.

The card issuance method according to the invention of claim 18 is the invention according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein user information for specifying a user of the card is stored in the card. A user information recording step for recording;
A sales provision restriction step of restricting sales or provision in the sales provision step based on the user information recorded in the user information recording step.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately allocate the product purchaser layer and the service provision receiver layer.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the card issuance method according to any one of the eleventh to eighteenth aspects, all or one of money corresponding to points recorded on the card is provided. A refund process for refunding a part is included.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, since the points stored and stored are returned, opportunities for using the method are increased.

A recording medium according to a twentieth aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of the eleventh to nineteenth aspects. Accordingly, the operations of claims 11 to 19 can be realized by a computer.

[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the accompanying drawings, a card issuing apparatus, a vending machine, a card issuing method according to the present invention, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, a card issuing device for recording change on a card as a point without the change being refunded will be described.
Here, a case where the card issuing apparatus is applied to a vending machine will be described for simplicity of explanation.

(External Configuration of Vending Machine) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the external configuration of a vending machine when the card issuing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a vending machine. The vending machine 101 has a plurality of product samples 111
(Product sample 111a to product sample 111h) and a product selection button 112 that displays the selling price of the product corresponding to the product sample 111 and allows the product to be selected.
(Commodity selection buttons 112a to 112h), a bill deposit port 113 for depositing bills, and a coin deposit port 1 for depositing coins.
14 and a return lever 115.

Further, the vending machine 101 has a card insertion slot 11 for inserting / returning a card (hereinafter, referred to as a point card or simply a card) which records points to be redeemed for money or services.
6, a selection button 117 for selecting whether to refund (withdraw) the change, or to record points corresponding to the change amount on the point card, and a change dispensing port 118 for dispensing the change.
And an outlet 119 for taking out a product, and a display 120 for displaying various kinds of information such as the current total points in addition to the input amount and the description of the product. In FIG. 1,
A state in which the point card is inserted halfway into the card insertion slot 116 (a state in which the point card is inserted halfway) is shown.

(Internal Configuration of Vending Machine) Next, the internal configuration of the vending machine 101 will be described focusing on a portion for processing bills, coins and point cards. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram mainly showing a portion for processing bills, coins, and point cards in the internal configuration of the vending machine 101. The vending machine 101 includes a bill processing unit 201 that processes bills, and a coin sorting unit 202 that sorts coins.
And a card processing unit 203 for processing cards.
The drawing also shows a money card processing unit 204 that controls the bill processing unit 201, the coin sorting unit 202, and the card processing unit 203. Hereinafter, the bill processing unit 201 and the coin sorting unit 202 will be referred to as a money processing unit 205, and the money processing unit 205 and the card processing unit 203 will be referred to as a money card unit 200.

Next, the contents of the coin selection unit 202 will be described. The coin sorting unit 202 includes a guide path 221 that guides a coin inserted from the coin receiving port 114 to a check unit 222 described below, a check unit 222 that checks coins to determine a denomination, A coin holding unit 223 that holds until the coin passing through the change unit 222 is to be dispensed or stored, and a coin held in the coin holding unit 223 in response to the rotation of the return lever 115. Mouth 11
8 and a collection valve 226 for collecting coins in the coin storage 225 when change is not returned.

Next, the contents of the card processing section 203 will be described. The card processing unit 203, as described later,
A card read / write unit 231 for reading and writing points corresponding to change, and storing a plurality of types of cards, switching the cards under the control of the cash card processing unit 204, and sending the switched cards to the card read / write unit 231. And a card storage unit 232 for storing the information.

(Hardware configuration of vending machine 101)
Next, the hardware configuration of the vending machine 101 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the vending machine 101. Vending machine 101
Is a hardware configuration of the CPU 301 and the memory 3
02, an I / F (interface) 303, a display 120, a cash card unit 200, and a product processing unit 30
4 are connected by a bus 300.

The CPU 301 is a processor that controls the entire vending machine 101, and performs predetermined processing according to a program stored in the ROM 312 via the cash card processing unit 204 shown in FIG.

The memory 302 is a RAM 311 used as a work area of the CPU 301, a ROM 312 for storing basic programs and the like, the total points given to the point card, the sales quantity and sales time of the product, and the calculation by the money processing unit 205. And a memory such as a flash memory 313 for storing various data such as the money in the machine.

The ROM 312 stores a product processing unit control program 312a for controlling the basic operations of the vending machine such as storing and transporting the product, a change amount obtained by subtracting the product price from the payment, and a return valve 224, Collection valve 226
Processing unit control program 312 for controlling the operation of
b, a card unit control program for controlling the operation of the card processing unit 203, switching cards, recording points on the card, issuing cards, inserting and discharging (returning), accumulating and adjusting points. 312c. The card section control program 312c includes a point determination program 312d for determining points based on the change amount.

The I / F 303 controls an interface between the inside of the vending machine 101 and an external device. Specifically, RC
232C connection control driver.

The merchandise processing section 304 is a mechanism for storing and transporting merchandise and a mechanical mechanism for storing a price. Since the technology of a conventional vending machine can be applied to the product processing unit 304, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

(Example of Sales Price Display) Next, a display example of the sales price displayed on the product selection button 112 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the sales price displayed on the product selection button 112. As is clear from the figure, the price of the product is set not in units of 10 yen but in units of “sen”. Conventionally, both the user of the vending machine 101 and the provider of the vending machine 101 set the selling price of the product in units of 10 yen in view of the complexity of putting in and out of coins.

However, since the vending machine 101 according to the present embodiment does not pay out change, it is not always necessary to use a so-called “clear number” such as a unit of 10 yen. Therefore, it is possible to sell products in yen and monetary units as shown. In other words, the vending machine 101 can sell a product even at a selling price having a “fraction”. This is possible because change is recorded on a card instead of points and issued. In other words, even if the change is not paid out, the user will receive a substantial refund of the change based on the points recorded on the card,
There is no complaint about the change.

As described above, the change is not paid out, so that the sales are not stopped due to the change of the change. Also, the user is free from the hassle of putting and taking out change. Further, since it is not necessary to pay out change, it is possible to sell products in yen and monetary units, and it can be expected that appropriate price competition is promoted.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101) Next, the functional configuration of the vending machine 101 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the vending machine 101. The vending machine 101 has a functional configuration as a depositing unit 501, a merchandise selling unit 502, a change amount calculating unit 503, a dispensing card selecting unit 504, and a dispensing unit 505.
A point determination unit 506, a card insertion unit 507,
Point calculating section 508, point recording section 509, card switching section 510, storage section 511, card issuing section 5
And 12.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Payment Unit 501) The payment unit 501 receives money for a product. Here, the money for the product means the money of the payment to be put into the vending machine by the user for the product to be purchased. Hereinafter, the amount of the payment is referred to as a payment amount. The depositing unit 501 is, for example,
The functions can be realized by the bill receiving port 113, the coin receiving port 114 (see FIG. 1), the taxiway 221 and the check section 222 (see FIG. 2).

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Product Sales Unit 502) Next, contents of the product sales unit 502 will be described. The product sales unit 502 has a product selection button 112
The commodity selected by (see FIG. 1) is conveyed, and the selling price is sent to a change amount calculating unit 503 described later. The selling price of the product is specifically “10” as shown in FIG.
8.00 yen "," 112.08 yen "," 74.92 yen "
Say. The product sales unit 502 occupies most of the physical mechanisms of the vending machine 101, and its functions can be realized by the product processing unit 304, the product processing unit control program 312a (see FIG. 3), and the like.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine: Contents of Change Amount Calculation Unit 503) Next, the contents of the change amount calculation unit 503 will be described. The change amount calculation unit 503 calculates a change amount obtained by subtracting the selling price (price) of the product sold by the product sales unit 502 from the payment amount received from the depositing unit 501. Here, when calculating the change amount, a subtraction process may be performed, but a subtraction process may be performed by an addition process or a shift using a counter as appropriate. The function of the change amount calculating unit 503 can be realized by the money processing unit 205 (see FIG. 2), the money processing unit control program 312b (see FIG. 3), and the like.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine: Contents of Dispensing Card Selection Unit 504) Next, contents of the dispensing card selection unit 504 will be described. The dispensing card selection unit 504 outputs a change (coin / banknote) corresponding to the change amount calculated by the change amount calculation unit 503 from the change dispensing port 118,
The user selects whether to record points corresponding to the change amount on the card.

When the withdrawal is selected, the return valve 22 is controlled under the control of the money processing unit control program 312b (see FIG. 3).
4 is opened and a predetermined change is dispensed from the change dispensing port 118. On the other hand, when recording on the card is selected, information on the change amount is sent to the point determination unit 506 described later. The dispensing card selection unit 504 uses the selection button 117
(See FIG. 1), the function can be realized by the money processing unit control program 312b and the like.

Here, the selection button 1 as shown in FIG.
Without providing the point 17, for example, when a point card is inserted from the card insertion slot 116 before the commodity is selected, it may be determined that the point recording process on the card is automatically selected. Further, when there is an operation of rotating the return lever 115 before depositing from the banknote deposit slot 113 or the coin depositing port 114, it may be determined that the dispensing process to the change dispensing port 118 is selected.

As described above, the vending machine 101 also generates a change amount in yen and monetary units. Therefore,
In the case where the change is in units of one yen and in units of yen, and when the withdrawal from the change dispensing port 118 is selected by the selection button 117, the change of less than 10 yen is rounded down and the change in units of 10 yen is made. It may be controlled so that only the withdrawal is made. Also,
Only the change amount less than 10 yen is the point determination unit 506
Control for transmitting the data to the server may be performed.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine: Cash Out Unit 505)
Next, the contents of the dispensing unit 505 will be described. The dispensing unit 505 dispenses change corresponding to the change amount calculated by the change amount calculation unit 503 when the change card selection unit 504 selects change dispensing. As for the change of “sen” of less than 1 yen, which does not exist as the current circulation currency, the change is cut off as described above, and the change in yen is dispensed. The dispensing unit 505 includes a change dispensing port 118 (see FIG. 1) and a money processing unit control program 312b (see FIG. 3).
The function can be realized by, for example, the following.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Point Determination Unit 506) Next, the point determination unit 506 will be described.
Will be described. The point determination unit 506 determines points to be returned for money or services based on the change amount calculated by the change amount calculation unit 503. There are various ways of determining the points. For example, there is a method of simply replacing points with one sen = one point. As a result, it is possible to calculate 100 points = 1 yen, which facilitates the calculation when the points are later redeemed. The point determination unit 506 includes, for example, a CPU
301 and the point determination program 312d (see FIG. 3)
Such a function can be realized by such as.

Here, it is not always necessary to make the yen and money and the points proportional as described above. For example, apart from change, the points to be added as a service are determined according to the type of the product, and if the product is a soft drink, a method of multiplying the point by 1.2 is added. And a method of setting a higher point in a time zone where the number of customers is poor. This can be expected to increase the sales of the product.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Card Insertion Unit 507) Next, contents of the card insertion unit 507 will be described. The card insertion unit 507 performs a point card insertion process, reads a previously recorded point from the point card, and reads and writes information on the latest recording date and time. This information can be input, for example, by providing a magnetic recording surface on the point card. The card insertion unit 507 includes, for example, a card insertion slot 116 (see FIG. 1), a card read / write unit 231.
(See FIG. 2), the card part control program 312c (FIG.
) Can realize the function.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Point Calculation Unit 508)
Will be described. The point calculation unit 508 calculates a point (total point) obtained by adding the points determined by the point determination unit 506 and the points recorded before the card inserted by the card insertion unit 507. In addition, as described later, when interest points are calculated, the interest amount is also added to obtain a total point. The point calculation unit 508 is, for example, the CPU 3
01 (see FIG. 3) and the card unit control program 312
The function can be realized by c or the like.

Here, a single card can be used a plurality of times by the addition processing of the point calculation unit 508.
It is possible to eliminate waste and trouble of the card. In other words, every time a card that records points equivalent to a change of several yen to several tens of yen is issued, the user feels troublesome like a receipt accumulated in a wallet, and rather uses a vending machine. Will hinder promotion. Therefore,
The point calculation unit 508 performs the summing process to improve the convenience of using the card.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Point Recording Unit 509)
Will be described. The point recording unit 509 performs a process of recording the points calculated by the point calculation unit 508 on a card to be recorded. The card to be recorded here is the card inserted from the card insertion slot 116, the card issued for the first use, or the cut-off when switched to a card of a different type from the card inserted under predetermined conditions. It means a replaced card. The function of the point recording unit 509 can be realized by, for example, the card read / write unit 231 (see FIG. 2) and the card unit control program 312c (see FIG. 3).

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Card Switching Unit 510 and Storage Unit 511) Next, the contents of the card switching unit 510 will be described. Card switching unit 51
0 switches the card in which the point is to be recorded to a card of a different type from the card inserted from the card insertion slot 116 in a predetermined case. Here, the predetermined case refers to a condition under which the provider of the vending machine 101 or the supplier of the merchandise included therein can be freely set. For example, the accumulated points are fixed points, for example, 100,000.
You can switch cards when you reach the point,
The switching may be performed when the calculated change amount is 1000 yen or more. In addition, at a predetermined probability, for example, probability 1
Switching control may be performed as / 100. The function of the card switching unit 510 can be realized by, for example, the CPU 301 (see FIG. 3) and the card unit control program 312c.

Next, the contents of the storage section 511 will be described.
The storage unit 511 stores a large number of so-called “raw cards” in which information such as points is not recorded, and feeds out the raw cards as needed to prepare for recording in the point recording unit 509. In addition, the storage unit 511 includes, for example,
A series of cards such as "Mountain 100 Views", "Japanese Railway", "Japanese Flower Series", and "Baseball Series" may be stored, or rare cards with a small number of copies, such as character or idol. Things may be stored. Such a card is selected and transmitted under the control of the card switching unit 510.

The card unit control program 312c
For example, when a certain point is reached, the card is switched. In other words, the card is collected, so that a user who collects such a series card or a rare card does not use the card. As a result, a desired card is accumulated at the user's hand, and abandoned change is accumulated at the merchandise provider, so to say, a card use cycle that is satisfactory to both is established.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a raw card, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a "Japanese flower series" card. As shown in FIG. 6, the point card is provided with a band-shaped magnetic surface 701, and points are recorded on this portion. The surface of the card may be coated with a heat-sensitive paint, and points may be visually displayed (printed) for each use.

As described above, by storing various cards in the storage unit 511, the use of the vending machine 101 can be promoted. The storage unit 511 includes a card storage unit 232 (see FIG. 2) and a card unit control program 312c.
Such a function can be realized by such as.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 101: Contents of Card Issuing Unit 512) Next, the contents of the card issuing unit 512 will be described. The card issuing unit 512 returns the point card on which the information on the points is recorded by the point recording unit 509. For the first time user, information on points is recorded and a point card is issued. Depending on the mode of use, the points of two or more point cards may be summed up and rewritten into one card and issued. In addition, a card switched by the card switching unit 510 as described above is also issued. The card issuing unit 512 includes, for example, the card read / write unit 2
31 (see FIG. 2) and the card insertion slot 116 (see FIG. 1) can realize the function.

(Process Flow of Vending Machine 101) Next, the flow of processing when a vending machine 101 issues a point card will be described. 8 and 9
Is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing when a vending machine 101 issues a point card. Here, without using the select button 117,
The processing flow of the vending machine 101 in which the processing for automatically recording change on the point card by the insertion of the point card is selected will be described.

The user of the vending machine 101 first inserts a point card from the card insertion slot 116 (step S801), and then the user enters a payment to purchase a product (step S802). Here, FIG.
As shown in the example, the selling price is 112.08 yen (112
Consider a case where the user inserts one 50-yen coin after the 100-yen coin from the coin depositing port 114 in order to purchase apple juice of 8 yen.

The money processing unit control program 312b (FIG. 3)
) Determines whether or not the amount of the commodity that can be sold with the first inserted coin (100 yen coin) has been reached (step S803). In this case, since the product price has not yet been reached, the process returns to step S802 and waits for further coins to be inserted.

Next, when the user inserts a 50-yen coin, the merchandise can be sold. Therefore, the merchandise processing section control program 312a causes the LED of the arrow mark (see FIG. 4) of the merchandise selection button 112 to emit light. Subsequently, the vending machine 101 determines whether or not the product selection button 112 has been pressed (step S804). If the button has been pressed (step S804: Yes), the corresponding product is carried out (step S805). In this case, apple juice is carried out.

The vending machine 101 continues the deposit amount (payment amount) and the sales amount (price amount) of the selected product.
Then, the change amount is calculated (step S806). This calculation is based on the cash processing unit control program 312b.
PU301 performs. In the above example, 150 yen-11
2.08 = 37.92 yen is the change amount.

The vending machine 101 determines points based on the calculated change amount (step S80).
7). For example, assuming that a point is determined as one sen = 1 point, in the above example, the point is 3792
Determined to the point. This point determination is performed by the point determination program 312d.

Subsequently, the vending machine 101 reads information on the total points from the point card inserted in step S801 (step S808: refer to FIG. 9), and the read total points indicate the points determined in step S807. Are added to obtain a new total point (step S809). The reading control and the adding control are performed by the card unit control program 312c.

Subsequently, the vending machine 101 determines whether the new total points obtained in step S809 have reached a predetermined point (step S810). When a predetermined point has been reached (step S810: Ye
s) The vending machine 101 performs control to switch the point card to be returned to a new type of point card instead of the inserted point card itself (step S811).

Subsequently, a new type of card switched in step S811 or step S8
If it is determined in step 10 that the predetermined points have not been reached (step S810: No), the new total points calculated in step S809 and the total points as necessary are added to the inserted point card. (For example, purchased merchandise, purchase date and time, point recording date and time on the card) are recorded (step S812).
Lastly, the vending machine 101 discharges and returns the point card from the card insertion slot 116 (step S813), and ends a series of processing.

As described above, in the vending machine of the first embodiment, since change is replaced with points, there is no need to pay out the change itself, thereby preventing the sales from being discontinued or the provision from being discontinued due to running out of change. can do. In the case of a mechanism in which change is always recorded on a card as a point, there is no need to store the change in advance, so that a change reserve is not required, the burden of preparation is reduced, and the dead money is eliminated. Also play. Further, a change processing mechanism is not required, so that control can be facilitated and the apparatus cost can be reduced.

Further, since no change is dispensed, the user does not feel troublesome in handling change. further,
Since the selling price can be realized in yen and monetary units, there is an effect that the degree of freedom in setting the price is increased, appropriate price competition is induced, and ultimately the profit of the user is obtained. further,
Since cards are issued and switched, and the types of cards can be diversified, users can be used without giving a feeling of boredom. In addition, the desire to collect cards is stimulated, and the use of the device is promoted.

[Embodiment 2] In this embodiment, a vending machine 1001 that issues a point card by adding interest points to points will be described.

(Hardware Configuration of Vending Machine 1001) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration when the card issuing device according to the present embodiment is applied to a vending machine. The vending machine 1001 has a CPU 1002 and a memory 1003 as its hardware configuration.
, An I / F 1004, a display 1005, a product processing unit 1006, and a money card unit 1007.
The memory 1003 includes a RAM 1011 and a ROM 1
012 and a flash memory 1013. The money card unit 1007 includes a money processing unit 1071 and a card processing unit 1072. The vending machine 10
In the components of FIG. 01, the components having the same names as those of the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3 perform the same operation processing as the components, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the ROM 1012 will be described. As shown in the figure, the ROM 1012 stores a product processing unit control program 1014, a money processing unit control program 1015, a card unit control program 1016, a point determination program 1017, and a principal determination program 1
018 and an interest determination program 1019.

The principal determination program 1018 determines the principal points to be the points of interest based on the total points of the point card inserted from the card insertion slot 116. The simplest determination program is a method in which the total points are all targeted for the principal.
In addition, the principal points may be determined according to the number of times the vending machine 1001 is used.

For example, the principal may be used only when the points are 100,000 points or more. By setting in this way, the user tries to collect more points than the target point of the principal, and as a result, a lot of change is provided to the provider of the vending machine 1001 or the supplier of the product. Will accumulate. Therefore, the provider or the supplier can effectively operate the accumulated money, and it can be expected that the user will also benefit from lowering the commodity price.

On the other hand, the interest determination program 1019 determines interest points for the principal points determined by the principal determination program 1018. Although the points stored on the point card are not money, they can be returned for money or services, so it is considered that interest is generated over time while being recorded on the card. The interest determination program 1019 is a program for determining this interest point. The calculation of the actual interest points will be described later.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1001) Next, the functional configuration of the vending machine 1001 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the vending machine 1001. The vending machine 1001 has a functional configuration as a depositing unit 1101, a product sales unit 1102,
Change amount calculation unit 1103 and withdrawal card selection unit 1104
Payment unit 1105, point determination unit 1106, card insertion unit 1107, point calculation unit 1108, point recording unit 1109, card switching unit 1110, storage unit 1111, card issuing unit 1112, Main determining unit 1113, timer 1114, and interest determining unit 1115
And

In FIG. 11, the components having the same names as those of the respective functional units shown in FIG. 5 correspond to the corresponding units, and the description thereof will be omitted. Timer 1114 and interest determination unit 11
15 will be described.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1001: Principal Determination Unit 1113, Timer 1114, Interest Determination Unit 1115
As described above, the principal determination unit 1113 determines the principal points to be interest based on the total points, and the interest determination unit 1115 determines the interest based on the determined principal points. Is calculated. When the interest is determined, the interest fluctuates due to a change in the interest rate, a distinction between simple interest and compound interest, and the like. For example, the interest rate may be changed depending on the principal points, or the interest rate may be changed depending on the purchased product. For example, a method in which the interest rate is kept low when a top selling product is purchased, and the interest rate is set high for a product whose sales are sluggish, to promote sales.

The principal determining unit 1113 can realize its function by, for example, the CPU 1002 and the principal determining program 1018 shown in FIG.
115 can implement its function by, for example, the CPU 1002, the interest determination program 1019, and the like. On the other hand, when the interest determination unit 1115 determines interest, the timer 1114 measures or determines a time interval to be an interest target. In the following, this time interval will be referred to as an interest target time. The function of the timer 1114 can be realized by, for example, an internal clock (not shown) built in the motherboard of the vending machine 1400.

(Flow of processing for adding interest of vending machine 1001) Next, the flow of processing in which the vending machine 1001 determines interest points, adds the points to the total points, and issues a point card will be described. I do. FIG.
2 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of processing in which the vending machine 1001 determines an interest point and issues a point card to which the points are also added.

The user of the vending machine 1001 inserts a point card from the card insertion slot 116 (step S1).
201) Then, the user enters a payment to purchase a product (step S1202). Next, it is determined whether or not the amount of money for selling the product has been reached (step S1203). If not more than the predetermined amount (step S1
203: No), returning to step S1202 to wait for the addition of the payment. On the other hand, when the product can be sold (step S1203: YES), the product selection button 11
It is determined whether or not 2 has been pressed (step S1204).

If the commodity selection button is pressed (step S1204: YES), the corresponding commodity is carried out (step S1205). Subsequently, the vending machine 1001 calculates the change amount from the deposit amount (payment amount) and the sales amount (price amount) of the selected product (step S1).
206), based on the change amount, determine points related to the current purchase of the product (step S1207).

Next, the vending machine 1001 reads out information on the total points from the point card inserted in step S1201 (step S1208: FIG. 1).
3), and determines a principal point to be an interest target (step S1209). Further, the time at which the point was most recently recorded on the card is read from the point card (step S1210), and an interest target time to be an interest is calculated (step S1211).

[0108] The interest target time is calculated from the latest recording time (ta) read in step S1210 and the time in step S120.
Based on the time (tb) at which the product was conveyed in step 5, the time elapsed between them is calculated. Specifically, if ta is “8:30:15 on May 21” and tb is “9:31:42 on May 22”, the interest target time is “25 hours 87 seconds = 90087 seconds” ". The interest target time may be a minute unit or an hour unit in addition to the second unit.

Next, interest points are calculated based on the principal points determined in step S1209 (step S1212). The interest point is determined by multiplying the principal point determined in step S1209 by the interest rate per unit time and the interest target time calculated in step S1211. Specifically, if the principal point is “848759 points”, the interest rate per second is “0.0000000003”, and the interest target time is “90087 seconds”, the interest point is “2
2.9386561 points ".

Then, the calculated interest points and the points determined in step S1207 are added and recorded as a new total point (step S1213). Finally, the recording time is also recorded for calculating the next interest target time (step S1214), the point card is returned (step S1215), and a series of processing ends.

As described above, the vending machine 1001 according to the present embodiment can give interest to points. Conventionally, change has been complicated as small change, but the vending machine 1001 of the present embodiment releases the user from the complexity of change change, converts the change amount into points, Since interest is added to the points over time, there is an effect that the use value of the point card for the user is further enhanced.

[Third Embodiment] In a third embodiment, a description will be given of a vending machine which also records information about a user on a point card and limits available vending machines or available products.

(Internal Configuration of Vending Machine 1400) FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram mainly showing a portion related to money processing and card processing in the internal configuration of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. The vending machine 1400 includes a keyboard 1401 in addition to the vending machine 101 shown in FIG.
An OCR device 1402 is added. Keyboard 14
01 and the OCR device 1402 are used to input user information when issuing or using a point card, as described later. The other components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 perform the same operations or processes, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1400) FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram mainly showing a portion related to a function of limiting a usable vending machine or a product that can be purchased, among functional configurations of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. The vending machine 1400 has a point determining unit 1501 and a point recording unit 15 as its functional configuration.
02, a user information recording unit 1503, and a card issuing unit 1
504, a card insertion unit 1505, and a sales restriction unit 150
6, a merchandise sales section 1507, a deposit section 1508, and a change amount calculation section 1509. Here, the other components except the user information recording unit 1503 and the sales restriction unit 1506 are the same as the respective components shown in FIG. 5, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1400: Contents of User Information Recording Unit 1503 and Sales Restriction Unit 1506) The user information recording unit 1503 stores information on the user of the vending machine 1400 or the user of the point card. Is recorded on the point card. In the following, this information about the user will be referred to as user information. There are various ways of using the user information. For example, there is a method of restricting the sale of luxurious goods, such as alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, which are prohibited by minors, based on information about age. This sales restriction is performed by the sales restriction unit 1506 according to a predetermined program. In addition, vending machine 1400
Is a movie ticket vending machine, there is a method of restricting the purchase of R-designated tickets.

[0116] Further, in the entrance ticket sales area of a large amusement park, even if a number of ticket vending machines are conventionally placed, it is difficult to see the crowd because of crowds, and it is difficult to know where to place the ticket quickly.
However, in the vending machine 1400, since the sales can be restricted by the user information, lanes such as a child lane, an adult lane, and a family lane can be divided.
00 will be further promoted.

The user information recording unit 1503 includes, for example, the keyboard 1401 and the OCR device 1402 shown in FIG.
Such a function can be realized by such as. For example, the card read / write unit 231 allows a license to be inserted, and the OCR device 1402 performs control to read the inserted license number and personal information such as the date of birth and record the read information on a point card. You may. Alternatively, the identity of the user may be confirmed by inputting a password for the inserted point card via the keyboard 1401.

In the processing flow of the vending machine 1400, a user purchases a product, points are determined based on the change amount (see FIG. 15), the points are recorded, and the keyboard 1401 and the OCR device are used. 140
2 issues a card recording the user information input. The user inserts this point card from the next time, and the sales restricting unit 1506 determines whether or not to permit the sale, and sells the product. In FIG. 15, solid arrows from the point determination unit 1501 to the card issuing unit 1504 indicate the flow of processing at the time of the first card issuance, and other arrows (dotted arrows, double-dashed arrows) indicate the second and subsequent arrows. It shows the flow of processing when using a card.

[0119] The user information includes the vending machine 14
00 may be provided with a camera to transfer a face photo to a point card. The sales restriction unit 1506 may determine whether the face photograph recorded on the inserted card is the same as the card inserter. As a result, even if the card is dropped, the loyalty card cannot be used by anyone other than the person, so that misuse of the loyalty card can be prevented. Vending machine 1
In the case where the camera function is provided to the 400, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, a point card in which a surrounding scenery or a composite photograph is created may be issued.

As described above, the vending machine 1400 according to the third embodiment enables distribution of users by inputting user information and restricting sales of commodities. This enables efficient product sales,
The use of vending machines will be further promoted.

[Embodiment 4] In this embodiment, a card issuing device for returning points to a user will be described. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the card issuing device according to the fourth embodiment. Here, for simplicity of description, a case where the card issuing device is applied to a vending machine will be described.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1700) The vending machine 1700 has a functional configuration similar to that shown in FIG.
And the change amount calculating unit 1703 and the withdrawal card selecting unit 17
04, the dispensing unit 1705, and the point determining unit 1706
, A card insertion unit 1707, and a point calculation unit 1708
, A point recording unit 1709 and a card switching unit 1710
, A storage unit 1711, a card issuing unit 1712, a lending unit 1713, and a total point reference unit 1714. Note that components having the same names as the components shown in FIG. 5 are the same, and description thereof will be omitted.

Since the vending machine 1700 has the lending unit 1713 and the total point reference unit 1714, it is possible to purchase a product even if the user does not have a product price. Next, this loan unit 1713
And the processing contents of the total point reference unit 1714 will be described.

(Functional Configuration of Vending Machine 1700: Contents of Lending Unit 1713 and Total Point Reference Unit 1714) The total point reference unit 1714 requests the card insertion unit 1707 to inquire of the total points of the inserted card. Perform For example, a description will be given of a process in a case where a user who wants to purchase a product of 104.12 yen has only one 100-yen coin and purchases the product when the payment amount is insufficient. There are various methods for notifying the vending machine 1700 that the user requests to replenish the shortage amount. For example, there is a method of inserting a point card after inserting a 100 yen coin.

At this time, the vending machine 1700 automatically detects that the price is insufficient, and
07, requesting a balance inquiry as to whether or not points of the balance that can be lent remain. If the loan can be made based on the balance, the loan unit 1713 notifies the change amount calculating unit 1703 of the corresponding point as a minus point.

In the above case, the change amount calculator 1703
Is -4.12 yen, and the total point reference unit 1714 determines whether 412 points (in the case of 1 sen = 1 point) corresponding to this amount are present in the point card.
, And the loan unit 1713 is -412 from the total points.
Notify points and allow sales. The functions of the total point reference unit 1714 and the lending unit 1713 can be realized by, for example, the money processing unit control program 312b (see FIG. 3), the card unit control program 312c, the CPU 301, and the I / F 303.

As described above, the change processing system according to the fourth embodiment can substantially refund the change even if the user does not have the money on hand, and can avoid missing a sales opportunity. . Further, as a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of payments accumulated inside, so that there is an advantage in crime prevention. Further, it is possible to reduce the storage space for the payment.

The change processing method described in the above embodiment is realized by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as an HD (hard disk), FD (floppy disk), CD-ROM, MO, or DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. Further, the program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0129]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the calculating means calculates the amount of the goods or services from the amount of payment paid for the goods or services to be sold. The change amount is calculated by subtracting the amount of the change, and the point determining means determines the points to be returned for the money or the service based on the change amount calculated by the calculating means. The points determined by the determining means are recorded on a rewritable card, and the card issuing means issues the card on which the points are recorded by the point recording means. To prevent the sale or offer of services from being offered, It no card issuing apparatus miss is an effect that is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the card insertion means performs an insertion process on a card on which a point to be redeemed for money or a service is recorded. The point calculation means calculates a total point of the points recorded on the card inserted by the card insertion means and the points determined by the point determination means, and the point recording means is provided by the point calculation means. Since the calculated total points are recorded on the card inserted by the card insertion means, the points are accumulated on one card, so that the receipt of the card is not troublesome. This has the effect of providing a card issuing device that does not miss an opportunity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the card storage means stores a plurality of types of cards, and the card switching means is stored by the card storage means. Of the plurality of types of cards, the type of card is different from the type of card inserted by the card insertion means, and the point recording means is replaced by the card switching means in place of the card inserted by the card insertion means. Since the total points are recorded for the card switched by the above, it is possible to motivate the purchase of the product by the various issued cards or to make the user want to receive the service.
This has the effect of providing a card issuing device that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in claim 3, the card storage means includes:
A series card or a rare card of a small number of issued cards which are related to each other are stored, and when the points to be recorded by the point recording means reach a predetermined point, the card switching means By switching to cards or rare cards, these specific cards can motivate you to buy products or make you want to receive services,
This has the effect of providing a card issuing device that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to the invention described in claim 5, in the invention described in claim 3, the card storage means includes:
A series card or a rare card of a type with a small number of issuances which are related to each other are stored, and when the change amount calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the series card Or, by switching to a rare card, these specific cards can motivate the purchase of the product or make the customer feel that they want to receive the service, so that the card that does not miss the opportunity to sell the product or the opportunity to provide the service There is an effect that an issuing device can be obtained.

According to the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claim 3, the card storage means includes:
A series card or a rare card, which is a type with a small number of issuances, is stored, and the card switching means switches to the series card or the rare card with a predetermined probability. The user can be motivated or want to receive a service, thereby providing an effect that a card issuance device that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service is obtained.

[0135] According to the invention described in claim 7, in the invention described in any one of claims 2 to 6, the principal determination means is recorded on the card inserted by the card insertion means. Based on the points obtained, the principal points to be the target of interest points are determined, and the interest determination means
Based on the principal points determined by the principal determination means, determine interest points for the principal points, and the point calculation means determines the total points as the interest points determined by the interest determination means. Is added to the total points to calculate the total points, so that it is possible to increase the amount of the principal to motivate the customer to purchase the product or to feel that they want to receive services. There is an effect that a card issuing device that does not miss a service providing opportunity can be obtained.

[0136] According to the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the user information recording means specifies the user of the card issuing device. User information is recorded on the card, and the sales provision restricting means restricts the sales or provision by the sales provision means based on the user information recorded by the user information recording means. We can properly allocate the service recipients,
This has the effect of providing a card issuing device that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the refund means may be arranged so that the refund means includes all or all of the money corresponding to the points recorded on the card. Since part of the refund will be returned, the points stored and stored will be returned, and the opportunity for using the device will increase, thereby providing a card issuing device that will not miss a chance to sell products or provide services. It works

Further, the vending machine according to the tenth aspect of the present invention includes the card issuing device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and thus has the functions and effects of the first to ninth aspects. Vending machines can be provided.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention,
In the calculation step, a change amount is calculated by subtracting the price of the product or service from the amount of payment paid for the sold product or provided service,
In the point determining step, the points to be returned for the money or service are determined based on the change amount calculated in the calculating step, and in the point recording step, the points determined in the point determining step are described. The card is recorded on a rewritable card, and in the card issuing step, the card on which the points are recorded in the point recording step is issued, so that there is no need to pay out change, so that it is not necessary to stop selling or offering due to running out of change. As a result, there is an effect that a card issuance method can be obtained without missing an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention according to claim 11, in the card inserting step, a card in which points to be redeemed for money or services are recorded is inserted, and in the point calculating step, the card inserted in the card inserting step is executed. Calculate the total points of the points recorded in the point and the points determined in the point determination step, in the point recording step, the total points calculated in the point calculation step to the card inserted in the card insertion step Since the points are recorded, the points are accumulated on one card, so that it is not troublesome to receive the cards, thereby providing an effect of obtaining a card issuance method that does not miss an opportunity to sell products or provide services. .

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention according to claim 12, in the card switching step, the card is switched to a card of a different type from the card inserted in the card insertion step, and in the point recording step, the card inserted in the card insertion step is Instead, since the total points are recorded for the card switched in the card switching step, it is possible to urge the purchase of goods or to feel a desire to receive a service by using a variety of issued cards. As a result, it is possible to obtain a card issuance method that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention according to claim 13, in the card switching step, when a point to be recorded in the point recording step reaches a predetermined point, a series card having a mutual relation or a type having a small number of issued cards is used. By switching to a rare card, these specific cards can motivate the purchase of goods or make them feel like they want to receive services, so that they do not miss opportunities to sell goods or provide services. An effect is obtained that an issuing method can be obtained.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention according to claim 13, in the card switching step, if the change amount calculated in the calculation step is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the card is a series card having a mutual relation or a type with a small number of issued cards. By switching to rare cards, these specific cards can motivate customers to purchase products or make them want to receive services, so that they can issue cards without losing opportunities to sell products or provide services. This has the effect that a method can be obtained.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, in the card switching step, the card is switched to a series card or a rare card of a small number of issuances at a predetermined probability. It is possible to stimulate motivation or to feel a desire to receive a service, thereby providing an effect of obtaining a card issuance method that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

Further, according to the seventeenth aspect,
In the invention according to any one of claims 12 to 16, in the principal determination step, based on the points recorded on the card inserted in the card insertion step, the principal of interest as a target of interest points is determined. In the interest determination step, based on the principal points determined in the principal determination step, determine interest points for the principal points, in the point calculation step, the total points Since the points obtained by adding the interest points determined in the interest determination step are newly calculated as the total points, the desire to purchase the product is stimulated in an attempt to increase the principal points, or the user feels that he / she wants to receive the service. This will provide a way to issue cards without losing opportunities to sell products or provide services. Achieve the results.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein in the user information recording step, user information for identifying a user of the card is recorded on the card, and in the sales provision restriction step, the user information is recorded. Since the sales or provision in the sales provision step is restricted based on the user information recorded in the information recording step, it is possible to appropriately assign the purchaser layer of the product and the user layer of the service provision, thereby It is possible to obtain a card issuance method that does not miss a sales opportunity or a service providing opportunity.

According to the nineteenth aspect,
In the invention according to any one of claims 11 to 18, in the payout step, all or a part of money corresponding to the points recorded on the card is paid back, so the points stored and stored are returned. Therefore, there is an effect that the opportunity for using the method is increased, and a card issuing method is obtained that does not miss an opportunity to sell a product or an opportunity to provide a service.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of the eleventh to nineteenth aspects is recorded. This makes it possible to obtain a recording medium capable of realizing the operations of claims 11 to 19 by a computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of a vending machine when the card issuing device according to the first embodiment is applied to the vending machine;

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the vending machine according to the first embodiment;
It is explanatory drawing which showed mainly the part which processes a banknote, a coin, and a point card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the vending machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a selling price displayed on a product selection button of the vending machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the vending machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a loyalty card used in the vending machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example (series card) of the point card used in the vending machine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing when a vending machine of Embodiment 1 issues a point card.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when a vending machine of the first embodiment issues a point card.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration when the card issuing device according to the second embodiment is applied to a vending machine;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a vending machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing in which the vending machine according to the second embodiment determines a point of interest and issues a point card to which the point is added.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing in which the vending machine according to the second embodiment determines a point of interest and issues a point card to which the point is added.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram mainly showing portions related to money processing and card processing in the internal configuration of the vending machine according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram mainly showing a portion related to a function of limiting a vending machine that can be used or a product that can be purchased, among functional configurations of the vending machine according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example in which a photograph of a user is incorporated into an issued point card.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a card issuing device according to a fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Vending Machine 111 Product Sample 112 Product Selection Button 113 Bill Deposit Port 114 Coin Deposit Port 115 Return Lever 116 Card Insert Port 117 Selection Button 118 Change Dispensing Port 119 Outlet 120 Display 200 Money Card Unit 201 Banknote Processing Unit 202 Coin Sorting Unit 203 Card processing unit 204 Money card processing unit 205 Money processing unit 221 Taxiway 222 Checking unit 223 Coin holding unit 224 Return valve 226 Collection valve 231 Card read / write unit 232 Card storage unit 301 CPU 302 Memory 304 Product processing unit 312a Product Processing unit control program 312b Money processing unit control program 312c Card unit control program 312d Point determination program 501 Deposit unit 502 Merchandise sales unit 503 Change amount calculation unit 504 Output Card selection unit 505 Outgoing unit 506 Point determination unit 507 Card insertion unit 508 Point calculation unit 509 Point recording unit 510 Card switching unit 511 Storage unit 512 Card issuing unit 701 Magnetic surface 1001 Vending machine 1018 Principal determination program 1019 Interest determination program 1113 Principal determination unit 1114 Timer 1115 Interest determination unit 1400 Vending machine 1401 Keyboard 1402 OCR device 1503 User information recording unit 1506 Sales restriction unit 1700 Vending machine 1713 Lending unit 1714 Total point reference unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07G 1/12 321 G07F 7/08 MF Term (Reference) 3E042 CC02 CD04 3E044 AA01 BA01 BA02 BA04 CA02 CA03 DA04 DC01 DC05 DE01 DE02 DE07 EA05 EA06 FA02 FA12 FB17 5B049 BB11 CC09 CC37 CC39 EE21 5B055 BB10 CC03 KK00

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A calculating means for calculating a change amount obtained by subtracting the price of the product or service from the amount of payment paid for the sold product or provided service, and the change amount calculated by the calculating means. Point determining means for determining points to be redeemed for money or services based on the change amount; point recording means for recording the points determined by the point determining means on a rewritable card; A card issuing device, comprising: card issuing means for issuing a card on which points are recorded by point recording means. 2. A card insertion means for inserting a card on which a point to be redeemed for money or service is recorded, and a point recorded on the card inserted by the card insertion means and determined by the point determination means. Point calculation means for calculating a total point with the calculated points, wherein the point recording means records the total points calculated by the point calculation means on a card inserted by the card insertion means. The card issuing device according to claim 1. 3. A card storage means for storing a plurality of types of cards; and a card of a type different from the type of card inserted by the card insertion means among the plurality of types of cards stored by the card storage means. Card switching means for switching, wherein the point recording means records the total points on a card switched by the card switching means in place of the card inserted by the card insertion means. The card issuing device according to claim 2. 4. The card storing means stores a series card or a rare card of a small number of issued cards which are related to each other, and the card switching means stores a point to be recorded by the point recording means. 4. The card issuing device according to claim 3, wherein when the point reaches a predetermined point, the card is switched to the series card or the rare card. 5. The card storage means stores a series card or a rare card of a small number of issuances that are related to each other, and the card switching means stores a change amount calculated by the calculation means in a predetermined amount. 4. The card issuing device according to claim 3, wherein the card is switched to the series card or the rare card when the amount is equal to or more than the amount of the card. 6. The card storage means stores a series card or a rare card of a small number of issued cards which are related to each other, and the card switching means stores the series card or the rare card with a predetermined probability. The card issuing device according to claim 3, wherein the card issuance is switched. 7. Principal determining means for determining a principal point to be an interest point based on points recorded on a card inserted by the card inserting means, and determining by the principal determining means. Interest determining means for determining an interest point for the principal point based on the obtained principal points, wherein the point calculating means calculates the amount of the interest determined by the interest determining means on the total points. The card issuing device according to claim 2, wherein a point obtained by adding the points is newly calculated as a total point. 8. A user information recording means for recording user information for specifying a user of the card issuing device on the card, and the sales provision based on the user information recorded by the user information recording means. The card issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a sales provision restricting means for restricting sales or provision by means. 9. The card issuing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a payout unit for paying out all or a part of money corresponding to points recorded on the card. 10. A vending machine comprising the card issuing device according to claim 1. Description: 11. A calculating step of calculating a change amount by subtracting the price of the product or service from the amount of payment paid for the sold product or provided service, and calculating the change amount by the calculating step. A point determining step of determining points to be redeemed for money or services based on the change amount; a point recording step of recording the points determined in the point determining step on a rewritable card; A card issuance step of issuing a card on which points have been recorded in the point recording step. 12. A card insertion step of inserting a card in which a point to be redeemed for money or a service is recorded, and a point recorded in the card inserted in the card insertion step and determined by the point determination step. A point calculation step of calculating a total point with the set points, wherein the point recording step records the total points calculated in the point calculation step on a card inserted in the card insertion step. Claim 11
Card issuance method described in. 13. A card switching step for switching to a card of a type different from the card inserted in the card insertion step, wherein the point recording step is performed in place of the card inserted in the card insertion step. 13. The card issuing method according to claim 12, wherein the total points are recorded for the card switched in the switching step. 14. The card switching step, wherein when the points to be recorded in the point recording step reach a predetermined point, a series card or a rare card of a small number of issued cards is related to each other. 14. The card issuing method according to claim 13, wherein switching is performed. 15. The card switching step, when the change amount calculated in the calculation step is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, switches to a series card having a mutual relation or a rare card of a small number of issued cards. 14. The card issuing method according to claim 13, wherein: 16. The card issuance method according to claim 13, wherein in the card switching step, the card is switched to a series card or a rare card of a type with a small number of issuances at a predetermined probability. . 17. A principal determining step of determining a principal point to be an interest point based on points recorded on a card inserted in the card inserting step; and determining the principal by the principal determining step. An interest determining step of determining an interest point for the principal point based on the obtained principal point, including the interest calculation step, wherein in the point calculating step, the interest point determined by the interest determining step is added to the total points. 17. The card issuance method according to claim 12, wherein a point obtained by adding the points is newly calculated as a total point. 18. A user information recording step of recording user information for specifying a user of the card on the card, and the sales providing step based on the user information recorded in the user information recording step. The card issuance method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, further comprising: a sales provision restriction step of restricting sales or provision. 19. The card issuance method according to claim 11, further comprising a payback step of paying out all or a part of money corresponding to points recorded on said card. 20. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 11 is recorded.