JP2002092704A - Vending machine, its reservation information receiving method, device, and advance order sales system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely and reliably reserve a commodity and receive the reserved commodity through a vending machine merely by simple confirmation. SOLUTION: An advance orderer Op reserves the commodity purchase through the vending machine 24 to a server computer 22 (process T1), and the server 22 generates and transmits an advance order number to the advance orderer Op (process T2) and transmits the advance order number and a UID to the dispenser 24 (process T3). For reception, the advance orderer Op transmits sale request data to the server 22 (process T4), and the server 22 specifies the vending machine 24 in reference to an advance order management table and transmits the UID to the relevant vending machine 24 (process T5). The vending machine 24 compares the advance order number and the UID transmitted at advance order (process T3) with the UID transmitted at reception request (process T5) and the inputted advance order number (process T6) and conveys and delivers the relevant commodity when they coincide with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, a method and an apparatus for sending and receiving reservation information, and a reservation / sales system.
In particular, the present invention relates to a vending machine capable of reserving stored goods, a reservation information transfer method for handling information for reservation of the vending machine, a reservation information transfer device, and a reservation sales system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine is for purchasing goods (beverages, confectionery, cigarettes, etc.) by inserting coins and bills.
The user makes a purchase while visually selecting the desired product while viewing the products stored in the vending machine. However, sometimes they do not have cash, the desired product is sold out, or the quantity is insufficient. In addition, when it is necessary to prepare a product in accordance with the time of a meeting or a meeting, it is not necessary at present, but will want to receive it later. In such a case, you will need to prepare cash and go out, go to the vending machine again, or come back at the required time and get the desired product, but if you can get the desired product surely Not necessarily.

For this reason, there has been proposed a vending machine system capable of making a reservation purchase by using a mobile telephone (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-8).
249530).

[0004]

However, if a third party senses that a reservation has been made simply by making a reservation, the third party fulfills the request for receiving the reserved product, and the reserved product is received. Reservers may not be able to receive them.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a vending machine capable of receiving a reserved product safely and securely with only a simple check at the vending machine, a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving the reservation information, and a reservation vending system. With the goal.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine provided with a data input means connected to a communication line. A method for exchanging reservation information for a vending machine when a purchase of a specified product is reserved by a connected information terminal and the relevant product is received after authentication by a data input unit of the vending machine, wherein the reservation information is designated by the information terminal. Receiving, via the communication line, reservation information on a product of the vending machine including a reservation person identifier for identifying a reservation person, generating reception information for identifying the received reservation information, and Registering the reservation information and the reception information in a reservation management table, transmitting the reception information to the information terminal, transmitting the reception information and the reservation person identifier to the vending machine, Receiving request information including a reservation identifier and indicating a request to receive a product from the information terminal, and transmitting a reservation identifier included in the received request information to the vending machine for the authentication. And

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the purchase of a designated product is reserved by an information terminal connected to the communication line among the products accommodated in the vending machine provided with the data input means and connected to the communication line. The present invention is applied to a method of giving and receiving reservation information for a vending machine when receiving a corresponding product after authentication by the data input means of the vending machine. That is, the vending machine is connected to a communication line such as the Internet, and includes a data input unit. The data input means
This is used to authenticate the reservation when the purchase of the designated product is reserved by the information terminal.

[0008] A reservation for purchase of a designated product is specified by an information terminal for a product of a vending machine. At this time, it receives, via a communication line, reservation information about a product of a vending machine including a reservation person identifier such as a user ID for identifying the reservation person, and generates reception information for identifying the received reservation information. In addition, the reservation information and the reception information are registered in the reservation management table. This reservation information includes product type, quantity,
The date and time of receipt and the location of the vending machine. The reception information includes a reservation number managed by the server.

Then, the reception information is transmitted to the information terminal, and the reception information and the reservation person identifier are transmitted to the vending machine. As a result, it is possible to transmit common reception information to both the reservation person side and the vending machine side for the purchase reservation of the product. When the reservation person receives the reserved product, the information terminal transmits request information indicating a request to receive the product by the information terminal. By receiving this request information, it is possible to ascertain a product receiving request. The request information includes a subscriber identifier, and transmits the subscriber identifier included in the received request information to the vending machine for authentication.

[0010] Thus, the vending machine prompts the data input means to input the reception information, and compares the input reception information with the reservation identifier and the reception information received at the time of reservation with the reservation identifier. By doing so, it is possible to authenticate whether or not the receipt is legitimate. Therefore, the reservation person of the commodity can surely receive the reserved commodity from the vending machine.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, among commodities accommodated in a vending machine provided with data input means connected to a communication line, purchase of a designated commodities is performed by an information terminal connected to the communication line. In a reservation information transfer device for a vending machine for making a reservation and receiving a corresponding product after authentication by the data input means of the vending machine, a reserving person identifier designated by the information terminal and for identifying a reserving person Reservation information receiving means for receiving, via the communication line, reservation information relating to a product of the vending machine including: generating reception information for identifying the received reservation information; and storing the reservation information and the reception information in a server. Server registration means for registering the information, transmitting the reception information to the information terminal, and transmitting the reception information and the reservation person identifier to the vending machine Additional information transmitting means, request information receiving means for receiving request information including the reservation identifier and indicating request for receiving a product from the information terminal, and a reservation identifier included in the received request information for the authentication. And an identifier transmitting means for transmitting to the vending machine.

[0012] A reservation information transfer method for a vending machine can be realized by the following device. Specifically, the reservation information transfer device for a vending machine stores the reservation information and the reception information in the server storage means. This reception information is generated by the server registration unit and registered in the server storage unit. Server registration means for receiving, via a communication line, reservation information for a product of a vending machine specified by the information terminal and including a reserving person identifier for identifying the reserving person; , And generates reservation information and registers the reservation information and the reception information in the server storage unit. The reception information transmitting means transmits the reception information to the information terminal and transmits the reception information and the reservation person identifier to the vending machine. Thereafter, the request information receiving means receives the request information including the subscriber identifier and indicating a request to receive the product from the information terminal, and the identifier transmitting means recognizes the subscriber identifier included in the received request information for authentication. Send to vending machine.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the reservation information transmitting / receiving device for a vending machine according to the second aspect, the server storage means indicates at least the correspondence between the reception information and the reservation information. It is characterized by storing a reservation management table.

The reservation information and the reception information are stored in the server storage means, but are preferably managed for each reservation. Therefore, by storing a reservation management table indicating the correspondence between the reception information and the reservation information, it is possible to easily extract information related to the reservation only by referring to this table.

[0015] The vending machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a vending machine for identifying reservation information when purchase of a designated product is reserved by an information terminal connected to a communication line among the accommodated products. A storage unit for storing information, a communication unit for receiving the reception information at the time of reservation from outside through a communication line, an input unit for inputting the reception information at the time of receiving the product by the reservation person, and the communication unit Processing means for comparing the received reception information with the reception information input by the input means, and controlling the transport of the corresponding product when the correspondence is normal.

[0016] The vending machine stores, in the storage means, reception information for identifying the reservation information when the designated product is reserved for purchase by the information terminal connected to the communication line among the stored products. . This reception information is received from the outside via a communication line by communication means at the time of reservation. When goods are received for the reservation, the reception information is input by the input means. The processing unit compares the reception information received by the communication unit with the reception information input by the input unit, and controls the transport of the corresponding product when the correspondence is normal. Therefore, the identity of the information at the time of reservation and the information at the time of reception can be compared, and it is possible to reliably deliver the product to the reservation person.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, among the products stored in the vending machine connected to the communication line, the purchase of the designated product is reserved by the information terminal connected to the communication line,
3. A reservation vending system for a vending machine for receiving a corresponding product after authentication at the vending machine, wherein the vending machine is a reservation vending system.
And a vending machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0018] In this way, by constructing a system in which the above-mentioned reservation information transfer device and the vending machine are connected by a communication line, the reservation person of the commodity can surely receive the commodity reserved. .

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a computer that can be connected to a network by wireless or wired
The present invention is applied to a network system.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a vending machine network system provided for implementing the present invention. In this embodiment, the network for vending machines
The system 10 includes, as a communication medium, a LAN (Local Area Network) as the Internet or another network.
rk), and a communication network 14 such as a public telephone network constructed and provided by telephone companies in each country or region. The communication network 14 includes, for example, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network). Further, as the communication network 14, a PDC (Pe
rsonal Digital Cellular) and PHS (Personal Handyp)
hone System). Network 12 and communication network 14 are interconnected by gateway system 18.

A network 12 represented by the Internet includes a user computer 2 operated by a user.
0 and various server computers 22 are respectively a modem, a router, and a TA (Terminal Adapter: Terminalin).
al Adapter). These computers are configured to be able to exchange information via a network 12 by mutual communication. In addition, a vending machine 24 under network management is connected to the network 12 via a connection device 26.

The network 12 can be interconnected via a connection device 26 such as a modem or a router.
CP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet
Protocol) can be mutually accessed according to a predetermined communication protocol. Accordingly, the vending machine network system 10 has a configuration in which countless server computers (host terminals), user computers (user terminals), and vending machines are connected.

In these computer systems, some computers operate as “servers” for providing various resource services for free or for free, and other computers operate as “clients” for requesting resource services to the servers. It functions as a so-called server-client system. That is, in the present embodiment, the user computer 20,
And the vending machine 24 operates as a “client”. Note that a mobile terminal and a vending machine 24 that can be connected to the communication network 14 described later also operate as “clients”.

Here, the server computer 22 is 1
The present invention will be described with reference to a unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although details will be described later, as an example of the server computer, in the present embodiment, the charge settlement management server 70
A, there is a product inventory management server 70B.

The computer is provided with input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting instructions with the computer, and is provided with a display for displaying the results of processing by the computer. Note that the computer has a general and general hardware configuration, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the communication network 14 includes a base station 16 having a function of transmitting and receiving data to a transmitting / receiving device such as a portable terminal. As a result, a transmitting / receiving device such as a portable terminal (the portable terminal 28 or the communication device 30) can participate in the network 12 via the communication network 14. It is preferable that the communication network 14 can provide not only a function of transmitting and receiving data to a transmitting and receiving device such as a portable terminal, but also a function of providing an authentication function and a position detecting function.

Vending machine 2 connectable to communication network 14
4 includes a communication device 30 instead of the connection device 26. The vending machine 24 communicates with the communication network 1 via the communication device 30.
4 is capable of exchanging information with each other through mutual communication. The vending machine 24 includes a console 32 for data input and data display (details will be described later).

Therefore, the vending machine 24 is connected to the connecting device 26
And server computer 2 via network 12
2 can be exchanged by mutual communication with the communication device 30, the communication device 30, the communication network 14, the gateway system 18,
And server computer 2 via network 12
2 can exchange information with each other.

The plurality of vending machines 24 each have an electronic lock for locking the front door and the main body attached to the back of the front door, and are installed in the jurisdiction of the business office. The server computer 22 functions as a management unit, and can centrally manage the operation status of a plurality of vending machines. For example, the server computer 22 centrally manages failures, inventory of goods, running out of change, locking of individual electronic locks, and the like as operating statuses on a plurality of vending machines, and stores products of individual vending machines described later. Centrally manage reservations. Also, the mobile terminal 28 (mobile phone)
Is carried when the user reserves or receives a product with the vending machine 24 (described later).

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where the front door of the vending machine 24 for selling canned beverages to which the present invention can be applied is closed. Note that the vending machine 24 includes a connection device 26.
And at least one of the communication devices 30 is connectable.

The front door 101 is opened and closed using both left ends of the vending machine as pivots, and is unlocked and opened for column setting, canned beverage replenishment, and the like, and locked and closed for normal sales. Things. The panel 102 is a transparent resin plate, and a plurality of types of canned beverage samples 1 displayed inside.
03 for confirmation. Coin slot 104
Is a portion where the user inserts coins, and the inserted coins are supplied to a coin mechanism inside the vending machine. Bill insertion slot 1
05 is a part into which a user inserts a bill, and the inserted bill is supplied to the building bar inside the vending machine.

The display section 106 displays the amount of inserted coins, the amount of inserted bills, and the like. The commodity selection button 107 has a built-in selling lamp and a sold-out lamp, and is provided on the panel 102 corresponding to each canned beverage sample 103. At least one lamp available for sale
When coins or bills into which canned beverages can be purchased are inserted, only those corresponding to the canned beverages are turned on when the canned beverages are stored in the column inside the vending machine. When a predetermined column inside the vending machine is emptied, the sold-out lamp always lights up corresponding to the canned beverage. When you press the product selection button 107 with the available lamp on,
The canned beverage corresponding to the canned beverage sample 103 is carried out to the product outlet 108. The return lever 109 returns the caster coin from the return port 110, or returns a change obtained by subtracting the purchase price of the canned beverage from the inserted coin or inserted bill.
It is for returning from 0.

The electronic lock 111 is attached to the back of the front door 101 to lock and unlock the front door 101.
For example, one using energization of a solenoid is used. The electronic lock 111 may be either one that is directly unlocked by a worker at the business office or one that is unlocked by the server computer 22 by remote control.

A console 32 is provided on the front door 101, and is used for performing an input for authentication when receiving a reserved product. The console 32 includes at least an input device such as a numeric keypad or a predetermined key, and may further include a notification device for notifying a user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the basic operation of the vending machine 24. The main control unit 201 supervises control of the vending machine 24, and includes a ROM, a CP,
U, RAM, and peripheral circuits (timer, I / O port, etc.) are built in. More specifically, the ROM stores program data for integrally controlling a plurality of slave control units, which will be described later, and the CPU operates the plurality of slave control units in accordance with the result of decoding the program data read from the ROM. The RAM is for writing or reading the results of calculations by the CPU and various data from a plurality of slave control units.

In terms of hardware, the ROM has a mask R
OM, EPROM, or EEPROM (flash R
OM (including OM). CPU is R
R, a program counter for specifying the execution address of the OM
It includes an instruction decoder for unlocking the contents read from the OM, an arithmetic and logic unit for performing a logical operation, an accumulator for temporarily storing operation data, and the like. RAM
Is a volatile memory such as an SRAM.

Coin processing control unit 202, bill processing control unit 2
03, a customer service control unit 204, a sales control unit 205, and an input control unit 206 correspond to a plurality of sub control units, and are similar in hardware, ROM, CPU, and RAM to the main control unit 201.
Built-in. The coin mechanism 207 includes a change-of-change sensor for detecting change of change, receives the inserted hard from the coin input port 104, and returns the change from the return port 110 as necessary. The coin processing control unit 202 controls the coin mechanism 207 to determine a denomination of a coin to be inserted, whether the coin is true or false, calculate the number of suspected coins, store excess coins in a safe, pay out change, and the like. Like the coin mechanism 207, the bill burr 208 includes a bill-of-bill sensor that detects the break of a bill, receives bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 105, and returns a bill from the bill insertion slot 105 as necessary. is there. The bill processing control unit 203 includes a bill validator 208.
To determine the denomination and true / false of inserted bills, calculate the number of denominations, pay out bills, and the like. In addition,
The coin processing control unit 202 and the bill processing control unit 203
The processing operation is executed each time coin insertion and bill insertion are performed.

The customer service unit 209 includes a display unit 106, a plurality of product selection buttons 107 provided corresponding to a plurality of types of canned beverage samples 103, and a lamp indicating that the product is on sale, discontinued, or out of change. It is a thing. Customer service control unit 204
Controls the customer service unit 209. That is, the customer service control unit 20
4 turns on a lamp indicating sale, discontinuation, change of out of change, turns on a sellable lamp or sold out lamp for each drink to be sold, according to a customer service instruction regarding canned drink sales from the main control unit 201, , It detects which one of the plurality of product selection buttons 107 has been pressed, and transmits a detection signal at this time to the main control unit 201. Sales Organization 2
Numeral 10 is used to carry out a canned beverage desired by the user to the product outlet 108. The sales control unit 205 controls the sales mechanism 210, and in accordance with a sales instruction from the main control unit 201 in response to the detection signal from the customer service control unit 204,
The product desired by the user is carried out to the product outlet 108.

The remote controller 211 is detachably provided on the back surface of the front door 101, and is used for associating a product with a product storage column, setting a product price, setting cooling / heating switching of the product storage column, and the like. . The input control unit 206
The content received by the receiving unit 112 when the operator operates the dedicated wireless terminal (not shown), the setting content when the operator operates the remote controller 211, and the purchaser of the product
An interface is provided for allowing the main control unit 201 to determine the input content input from the second control unit 2.

The communication control unit 212 is connected to at least one of the connection device 26 and the communication device 30, receives information relating to reservation transmitted from the server computer side, and supplies the information to the main control unit 201. . That is,
Upon receiving the information on the reservation, the main control unit 201 accumulates the information in the built-in memory.

FIG. 4 shows a main functional block diagram of the server computer 22 and the vending machine 24 for realizing the reservation sale of the product. First, the server computer 22 functions as a reservation server and the table storage unit 5
2, the control unit 56, the transmission / reception unit 58, and the timer unit 60. The table storage unit 52 is a memory for storing the reservation management table shown in FIG. 5. The reservation management table includes an identification symbol (reservation number) for identifying the reservation of the product, and an automatic vending machine for accommodating the reserved product. Machine identification code (vending machine ID), reservation person connection number (KID), reservation person identification code (UID), reserved product identification code (product code), reserved product total quantity (quantity), reserved product It is composed of the scheduled time (date and time of receipt) for receiving the.

The details of the flow of generation and registration will be described later. As each element constituting the reservation management table, a reservation number is generated and assigned when a product purchase reservation is made. A code based on this is assigned. The vending machine ID indicates the location of the vending machine that contains the reserved product specified by the reservation person. The KID is an identifier (telephone number) of the mobile terminal used by the subscriber. UID
Is an identification symbol of a reservation person such as a pre-registered user ID used when making a reservation for a product.

The control unit 56 is a functional unit that generates a reservation number, which is a reception number, when a product reservation is received, and stores the reservation number in the table storage unit in addition to the reservation information. The control unit 56 also has a function of transmitting data for authentication to the vending machine when the reservation person receives the product. The transmitting / receiving unit 58 is a functional unit that transmits / receives predetermined data to / from a vending machine or a reservation person based on a reservation management table.
The timer unit 60 is for reading the current date and time.

The transmission / reception unit 58 can be connected to another server 70 such as a server for performing settlement of charges, a server for managing inventory management and transportation, and the control unit 56 is connected to the other server 7.
It also has a function of exchanging data with 0.

Next, the vending machine 24 will be described.
The main control unit 201 of the vending machine 24 can be classified into a configuration functionally including a storage unit 42, a processing unit 44, and a timer unit 46. The storage unit 42 is a memory for storing the reservation number and UID received from the server side (details will be described later). The processing unit 44 controls the storage unit 42 to store the reservation number and the UID, and determines whether or not the input (console 32) by the reservation person is a proper one, and carries out a process of transporting the product when the input is a regular one. Govern Processing unit 44
Is connected to a transmission / reception unit 40 (corresponding to the communication control unit 212) for exchanging information with the server computer 22, and an input unit 48 for receiving input information of the reservation person.
(Corresponding to the input control unit 206), and the vending machine mechanism unit 50 which is each operation mechanism of the above-described vending machine 24 for transporting goods is connected. The timer 46 measures the current date and time. By referring to this timer, it is possible to specify the date and time of the reservation request of the product by the reservation person.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 conceptually shows a process of pre-sale of goods in the vending machine network system 10 according to the present embodiment. In other words, this figure shows a situation in which a user reserves a product of a vending machine as a reservation person and receives the reserved product. Here, it is assumed that the reservation person Op has the portable terminal 28.

First, the reservation person Op connects the portable terminal 28 to the server computer 22 and reserves the purchase of the merchandise of the vending machine 24 (process T1). In the server computer 22, it is assumed that a KID and a UID are registered in advance for users who can make a reservation request for a product using the mobile terminal. Therefore, the mobile terminal 28
Is connected to the server computer 22, the server computer 22 can grasp the KID and the UID. Also, in the process T1, it is assumed that the vending machine ID, the product code, the quantity, and the reception date and time are included as the reservation information as the data.

[0049] The server computer 22 stores the reservation person Op.
Generates a reservation number in response to the reservation data from
And the UID and the reservation information are associated with each other and registered in the reservation management table. Then, a reservation number is transmitted to notify the reservation person Op that the reservation has been accepted (step T2).
By receiving the reservation number at the portable terminal 28, the reservation person Op grasps that the reservation has been established, and uses this reservation number for authentication when receiving the reservation product. At the same time,
The computer 22 sends a reservation number and a UID to the vending machine 24 to notify that the product has been reserved.
Is transmitted (step T3). The vending machine 24 receives the reservation number and the UID to recognize that the reservation has been made, and uses the reservation number and the UID for authentication at the time of delivery of the reserved product.

The reserving person Op goes out near the vending machine 24 to receive the reserved product (the reserving person Op).
p), transmitting data representing the reception request (sales request) to the server computer 22 (step T4). The server computer 22 receives the data of the reception request from the reservation person Op (reservation person Opp), and
The vending machine 2 refers to the reservation management table based on the ID.
4 is identified, and the UID is transmitted to the corresponding vending machine 24 (step T5).

When the vending machine 24 receives the UID from the server computer 22, the vending machine 24 outputs a voice message or display to the reservation person O.
prompts p to enter the reservation number. In response, the reservation person O
p inputs a reservation number through the console 32 (step T6). In the vending machine 24, the reservation number and UID transmitted at the time of reservation (step T3), the UID transmitted at the time of a reception request (step T5) and the inputted reservation number (step T3)
6) is compared, and when they match, the corresponding product is delivered to deliver the product. At this time, the fact that the delivery of the reserved product has been completed is transmitted to the server computer 22 (step T7), and the reservation processing in the vending machine 24 is completed.

Note that the payment of the commodity can be performed in the same manner as usual when the commodity is received by the reservation person. Here, a fee for reservation may be added. By the way, the fee settlement by reservation is not limited to the vending machine 24. For example, as another computer 70, a charge settlement management server 70A for charge settlement can be used.

For example, in the process T1 in FIG. 6, when a reservation purchase of a product of the vending machine 24 is made by the reservation person Op, the server computer 22 sends the reservation payment management server 70A for settlement of the reservation person Op. Part of the purchase price (advance payment)
(Step S1). This settlement includes bank account debit processing and loan settlement. When the settlement request is accepted, the settlement server computer 70A transmits data representing consent to the server computer 22 (process S2). Then, when the delivery of the reserved product is completed (process T7), the server computer 22 sends the reserved person O
The payment settlement management server 70A for settlement of the payment p is settled with all of the purchase price (the remaining balance) (processing S1, S2). At the time of this settlement, a reservation fee can be added.

Also, when a reservation is requested, the vending machine 24 may have a case where the corresponding product is insufficient in the reservation quantity or may not be accommodated. In this case, the commodity inventory management server 70B can be used as the other computer 70.

For example, in the process T1 of FIG. 6, when a reservation purchase of a product of the vending machine 24 is made by the reservation person Op, the server computer 22 requests the product inventory management server 70B to secure the reserved product. (Process S3). This request may be made directly to the vending machine 24, or may be secured including transportation to the vending machine 24. When the reservation request is accepted, the commodity inventory management server 70B transmits data representing consent to the server computer 22 (process S4).

Next, the processing of the server computer 22 and the vending machine 24 will be described in detail. First, the server
In the computer 22, a processing routine for product reservation shown in FIG. 7 is executed at predetermined intervals.

In step 300 of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not a reservation application has been made from the portable terminal 28 of the reservation person Op.
If the result is negative, the routine ends. If affirmative, the process proceeds to step 302, where reservation information from the portable terminal 28 is received. This reservation information is provided by the reservation person Op
, A vending machine ID, a product code, a quantity, and a date and time of receipt. In the next step 304, a reservation number is generated as reception information for the received reservation information, and the reservation management table (FIG. 5) is updated by adding a data record relating the reservation number and the reservation information to the KID and the UID. I do. As described above, the reservation management table stores the corresponding data for each reservation number as a table.

In the next step 306, at least the reservation number is transmitted to the portable terminal 28 of the reservation person Op and the corresponding vending machine 24. In more detail, the reservation number is transmitted to the portable terminal 28 to the reservation person Op as information for authentication of the reception of the reservation and for receiving the goods. To the vending machine 24, a reservation number and a UID are transmitted as authentication data for notifying that a product to be accommodated has been reserved and for delivering the product.

Next, a negative determination is made in step 308 until the sales request signal is received, and the process waits. That is, the reservation person goes to the vending machine and waits until receiving the data representing the reception request (sales request) transmitted by the portable terminal 28 (step T4). When the reception request data is received, the affirmative determination is made in step 308, and the flow advances to step 310 to transmit the UID for authentication to the vending machine 24.

Next, a negative determination is made in step 312 until a sales completion signal is received, and the process waits. That is, the authentication of the delivery of the product by the reservation person is completed in the vending machine, and the process waits until the data is received (step T7). When the data of the sale completion is received, the result in step 312 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 314, the fee is settled, and this routine ends. As described above, the charge settlement may be performed by a vending machine or by the charge settlement management server 70A for settlement. Further, the timing may be in the middle of any processing.

Next, the processing of the vending machine 24 will be described in detail. In each vending machine 24, a processing routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed. At step 400 in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the reservation number has been received. On the other hand, if affirmative, step 402
Then, the current date and time are read by referring to the timer section 46. In the next step 404, the reservation number and the UID transmitted from the server computer 22 are received, and
The reservation number and the UID are stored in the storage unit 42.

Next, step 4 is executed until a UID to be received at the time of product delivery is received from the server computer 22.
08 is denied and waits. That is, as described above, when the reservation person goes to the vending machine and transmits the data of the reception request by the portable terminal 28, the server computer 22
Sends the UID for authentication. When the authentication UID is received, the result in step 408 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 410. At step 410, the reservation person Op is prompted by voice or display to enter the reservation number, and the reservation number input from the console 32 of the reservation person Op is read. Next step 4
At 12, it is determined whether or not the reservation number has been input. If the reservation number has not been input, the determination is negative, and the process returns to step 410. If the reservation number has been input, the process proceeds to step 414.

In step 414, the reservation number and UID transmitted at the time of reservation (step T3), that is, the stored data are read, and in the next step 416, the reservation number and UID transmitted at the time of reservation (step T3) are read out. The UID transmitted at the time of the reception request (step T5) and the input reservation number (step T6) are compared for comparison. When the collation results in step 416 match, the result in the next step 418 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 420, where the product is delivered by transporting the corresponding product. At this time, the fact that the delivery of the reserved product has been completed is transmitted to the server computer 22 (step T7), and this routine ends. On the other hand, if the collation results are inconsistent, the determination in step 418 is denied, and the process proceeds to step 422, where it is notified that there is no reservation, and this routine ends.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
It is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a reservation is made, the reservation information is received from the reservation person, the reception information is transmitted to the reservation person, and the reservation information including the reservation person identifier and the reception information are automatically transmitted. At the time of sale, the vending machine receives the request information of the product reception request from the reservation person and transmits the reservation person identifier included in the request information to the vending machine for authentication. It is possible to reliably provide the reserved person to the product based on a comparison between the reception information and the reservation identifier input at the time of sale and the reception information and the reservation identifier received at the time of reservation, This has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image diagram schematically showing a configuration of a vending machine network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a basic operation of the vending machine 24.

FIG. 4 is a main functional block diagram for realizing a function of the vending machine 24 relating to pre-order sales of products.

FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing contents of a reservation management table.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a process of pre-sale of goods in the vending machine network system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a server computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Network System for Vending Machine (Reservation Vending System) 12 Network (Communication Line) 14 Communication Network (Communication Line) 22 Server Computer (Reservation Information Transfer Device) 24 Vending Machine (Vending Machine) 28 Mobile Terminal (Information) Terminal) 30 communication device 32 console (data input means) 40 transmission / reception section (communication means) 42 storage section (storage means) 44 processing section (processing means) 46 timer section 48 input section (input means) 50 vending machine mechanism section 52 table storage Unit (server storage unit) 56 control unit (server registration unit) 58 transmission / reception unit (reservation information reception unit, reception information transmission unit, request information reception unit, identifier transmission unit) 60 timer unit 70 other server computer 70A charge settlement management Server 70B Product Inventory Management Server Op Reserver

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07F 9/00 G07F 9/00 L 110 110Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information terminal connected to a communication line reserves the purchase of a specified product among the products accommodated in the vending machine having data input means connected to the communication line. A reservation information transfer method for a vending machine when receiving a corresponding product after authentication by the data input means, wherein the vending machine is specified by the information terminal and includes a reserving person identifier for identifying a reserving person. Receiving the reservation information on the product of the machine via the communication line, generating reception information for identifying the received reservation information, and registering the reservation information and the reception information in a reservation management table; And transmitting the reception information and the reservation person identifier to the vending machine, including the reservation person identifier, and receiving the commodity from the information terminal. Take receives request information indicating a request, reservation information transfer method for vending machine reservation identifier and transmitting to the vending machine for the authentication is included in the received request information. 2. A vending machine connected to a communication line and reserved in a vending machine provided with data input means, the information terminal connected to the communication line reserves the purchase of a designated product. A reservation information exchange device for a vending machine for receiving a corresponding product after authentication by the data input means of the vending machine, wherein the vending machine is designated by the information terminal and includes a reserving person identifier for identifying a reserving person. Reservation information receiving means for receiving, via the communication line, reservation information on a product; server registration means for generating reception information for identifying the received reservation information; and registering the reservation information and the reception information in a server storage means And, while transmitting the reception information to the information terminal, reception information transmitting means for transmitting the reception information and the reservation person identifier to the vending machine, Request information receiving means for receiving request information that includes a reservation identifier and that indicates a request to receive a product from the information terminal; and transmits the reservation identifier included in the received request information to the vending machine for the authentication. A reservation information transfer device for a vending machine, comprising: an identifier transmitting means for transmitting; 3. The reservation information transfer device for a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein said server storage means includes at least a reservation management table indicating a correspondence relationship between said reception information and said reservation information. . 4. A storage unit for storing reception information for identifying reservation information when purchase of a designated product is reserved by an information terminal connected to a communication line among the accommodated products, and a communication from outside. A communication means for receiving the reception information at the time of reservation via a line, an input means for inputting the reception information at the time of receiving the goods by the reservation person; a reception information received by the communication means; Processing means for comparing the received information with the received information and, when the correspondence is legitimate, controlling the transport of the corresponding product, and vice versa. 5. A purchase of a designated product is reserved by an information terminal connected to the communication line among the products stored in the vending machine connected to the communication line, and the corresponding product is authenticated by the vending machine. A reservation vending system for a vending machine to be received, comprising: a reservation information transfer device according to claim 2; and a vending machine according to claim 4. Sales system.