JP2002280948A - Unattended vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unattended vending machine, that can surely deliver an ordered article to an article purchaser and surely withdraw the expense of the ordered article from the account of the article purchaser. SOLUTION: The unattended vending machine, that sells an article requested by using a mobile communication unit, is provided with a sales permission code issue means, that transmits sales permission code to the mobile communication unit, when a number entered through the mobile communication unit attended with the ordering of the article matches the specific identification number of the unattended vending machine, having been given in advance. The unattended vending machine provides the designated article to the purchaser, when the code manually entered by an entry means matches the sales permission code and sends the bill of the expense of the article to a payment agent that is registered in advance and corresponds to he mobile communication unit, to which the sales permission code is given, after the article has been provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an unmanned vending machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to an unmanned vending machine for purchasing a product using a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone without using cash or a credit card. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, unmanned vending machines that order goods using a mobile communication device instead of cash or a card and charge payment to a payment institution corresponding to the mobile communication device have been used. According to this unmanned vending machine, not only beverages such as can juice, but also large products such as rice, books, clothes, furniture, etc. can be sold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional unmanned vending machine, when a number is input through a mobile communication device in accordance with an operation for ordering a product, the ordered product is immediately provided to a buyer. Thereby, there is an advantage that the operation of the unmanned vending machine is simple because a desired product can be obtained by one action of the buyer.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional unmanned vending machine has the following problems. That is, after the purchaser inputs a number through the mobile communication device in accordance with the ordering operation of the product, the product comes out of the product receiving port while being away from the product receiving position of the unmanned vending machine for some reason, When a product other than the purchaser obtains the product, the price of the product is deducted from the bank account or the like of the purchaser without receiving the product.

Further, when a plurality of buyers appear almost simultaneously in front of an unmanned vending machine and enter numbers for ordering from each mobile communication device at substantially the same time, a plurality of products are placed almost simultaneously at a product receiving port. Provided, but it is not clear which purchaser ordered which product, and as a result, each buyer may receive a product other than the ordered product, and the price of the product other than the received product may be deducted from the bank account etc. There is also.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional unmanned vending machine, the object of the present invention is to ensure that the ordered product is delivered to the purchaser of the unattended vending machine, and that the price to be deducted from the account of the purchaser is paid for the ordered product. Is to ensure that

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, what is provided by claim 1 of the present invention is an unmanned vending machine which sells a requested product using a mobile communication device. When the number entered through the mobile communication device in accordance with the ordering operation of the product matches the unique identification number of the unmanned vending machine previously assigned to the unmanned vending machine, a sales permission code is transmitted to the mobile communication device to issue a sales permission code. Means for providing the specified product when the code manually entered in the input means matches the sales permit code, and supporting the mobile communication device provided with the sales permit code after the product is provided. It is an unmanned vending machine that charges a pre-registered payment institution for a product.

[0007] After a product order is placed, the sales permission code is notified to the buyer through the mobile communication device, and the product is provided only when the buyer manually inputs the sales permission code. Goods are delivered reliably.
In addition, after providing the product, the buyer is requested to pay for the product to the payment institution corresponding to the mobile communication device of the purchaser, so that the payment institution has a third party account other than the purchaser of the product. Will not be accidentally debited.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a code corresponding to the sales permission code is not input to the input means within a predetermined time after issuing the sales permission code,
Invalidate the ordering operation of the product. As a result, if, after the product ordering operation, the user leaves the product receiving port for some reason and does not enter the sales permission code, the product ordering operation is invalidated, and the ordered product is reliably prevented from passing to a third party.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine according to the first or second aspect, when the product is provided by the product providing means, the sales permit code is transmitted to the mobile communication device. The system further includes sales statement information transmitting means for e-mailing sales statement information including the product name, quantity, and price of the provided product to a telephone number or an e-mail address. Since the sales information is displayed on the mobile communication device by the sales information transmitting means, the purchaser can confirm the received product and the price by confirming the transaction contents. As a result, the delivery of the goods to the buyer and the billing for the goods are performed more accurately.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine according to the third aspect, when the goods are provided by the goods providing means, the inventory including the sales statement information and the information of the sold out or small remaining amount of the goods. The information is sent to the management system that manages the unmanned vending machine at the same time. Thereby, the inventory information of the unmanned vending machines under the management of the management system is centrally managed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine according to the fourth aspect, when the replenishment of the goods is performed, the means for receiving the replenishment information of the goods from the management system and updating the stock information is provided. Have. Thereby, the unmanned vending machine can always hold the latest stock information. According to the invention of claim 6 of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine according to claim 1, when the stock of the commodity is exhausted, the location information and the inventory information of the unmanned vending machine managed by the management system are received, Means for displaying the location of the nearest unmanned vending machine holding the same product as the product.

[0012] Thus, even when the unattended vending machine does not have the stock of the product for which the purchaser intends to purchase the product, the location of the nearest unmanned vending machine holding the same product is displayed. Can reliably purchase the desired product at its nearest unmanned vending machine. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine according to the first aspect, when the stock of the product runs out, the location information and the inventory information of the unmanned vending machine managed by the management system are received and registered in advance. Means for displaying the location of only the unmanned vending machines having the stock of the desired product among the unmanned vending machines.

[0013] Thus, even when there is no stock in the unmanned vending machine for the product to be purchased by the purchaser, the location of the unmanned vending machine in which the same product is stocked is displayed. You can select the appropriate unmanned vending machine from the machines and go to the location to purchase the desired product without fail. According to the invention of claim 8 of the present invention, in the unmanned vending machine described in the claim, there is provided a means for displaying additional information about a product to be sold when a sales permit code is issued.

[0014] Thereby, the purchaser can know the information of the product campaign, the new arrival product, the price reduction product, and the like by looking at the display of the additional information, thereby contributing to the promotion of the sale of the product using the unmanned vending machine. it can.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including an unmanned vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown,
In this system, an unmanned vending machine 1, a mobile communication device 3, and an unmanned vending machine management system 4 are connected via a communication network 2. The management system 4 is connected to a pre-registered payment institution 5 corresponding to the mobile communication device 3. Although only a single unmanned vending machine 1 is shown in the figure, the management system 4 actually manages a plurality of unmanned vending machines.

The unmanned vending machine 1 sells a requested product using a mobile communication device, and the sold product is not limited to drinking water, but is managed by a management system 4 such as rice, books, furniture, and the like. Any product that can be used. The mobile communication device 3 is a communication device having a telephone function, such as a mobile phone or a PHS.

The management system 4 is for centrally managing a plurality of unmanned vending machines for selling specific products such as rice and books by connecting them via a network. Unmanned vending machine 1
Receiving means 11 for receiving a number input through the mobile communication device in accordance with the ordering operation of the product; Is issued to the mobile communication device, transmission means 15 for transmitting the issued sales permission code to the mobile communication device 3 via the communication network 2, Input means 13 for the purchaser, who is the owner, to manually input a sales permission code; and provision of a product for providing the specified product when the code input to the input means 13 matches the sales permission code. Means 14, stock information storage means 16, unmanned vending machine location information storage means 17 for storing information on the location of another unmanned vending machine holding the same product, and location of the other unmanned vending machine And a display unit 18 for displaying.

As shown, the management system 4 includes a receiving unit 41, an unmanned vending machine state managing unit 42, a billing information editing unit 43, a sales item information editing unit 44, and a transmitting unit 45. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the unmanned vending machine 1, and FIG. 3 is a time sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the entire system including the unmanned vending machine 1.

The operation of the unmanned vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S1 of FIG. 2, the unmanned vending machine 1 waits until a preset unique ID unique to the unmanned vending machine 1 is dialed and the receiving unit 11 receives the unique ID. The unique ID includes not only the address of the unmanned vending machine 1 but also the designation of the ordered product. When the unique ID is dialed, it is determined in step S22 whether another mobile communication device is accessing the unmanned vending machine 1. If the access is being performed, the process waits until the access is completed. The steps so far correspond to steps (1) and (2) in FIG.

When the access of the other mobile communication device 3 is completed, at step S23, the sales permission code is generated by the sales permission code issuing means 12, and the sales permission code is transmitted by the transmission means 15 to the mobile communication device which ordered the product. Send to 3 This sales permission code is, for example, a random number of about four digits that changes depending on the time of creation, and therefore becomes different when the time of creation is different. Step S
Reference numeral 23 corresponds to steps (3) and (4) in FIG.

Then, in steps S24 to S26, the input means 13 is set within a predetermined time after the issuance of the sales permit code.
It is determined whether or not the sales permission code is input to the. Input means 1 within a predetermined time after issuance of the sales permit code
If the sales permit code is not input to No. 3, this product order is invalidated in step S25. As a result, since the product is not provided to a third party who does not know the sales permission code, the product is prevented from being passed to a person other than the owner of the mobile communication device 3.

In step S26, if the code input to the input means 13 matches the sales permit code issued in step S23, the owner of the mobile communication device 3 who ordered the product provides the product of the unmanned vending machine 1. It is determined that the user is near the means 14, and the ordered product is provided in step S27. Steps S24 to S27 correspond to steps (5) to (8) in FIG.

Next, at step S28, the mobile communication device 3
The sales information including the product name, the quantity, the amount, and the like provided to the owner of the mobile communication device is transmitted to the mobile communication device 3, and the stock information and the billing information are transmitted to the management system 4. Step S28 corresponds to FIG.
Corresponds to steps (9) and (10). The destination of the transmission to the mobile communication device 3 may be a telephone number of the mobile communication device 3 or an e-mail address. The sales statement information transmitted to the mobile communication device 3 serves as a receipt. By transmitting the stock information and the billing information to the management system 4 at the same time, the number of transmissions and the transmission time can be used efficiently.

Thereafter, the management system 4 sets the mobile communication device 3
Is charged to the pre-registered payment institution corresponding to the item (step (11) in FIG. 3). The paying organization bills the owner of the mobile communication device 3 of communication costs and sales service charges (commodity price) (step (12) in FIG. 3), and the owner pays the billing amount to the paying organization. (Step (1 in FIG. 3)
3)).

In the unmanned vending machine 1, when the product is replenished, the replenishment information of the product is received from the management system 4 and the stock information is updated. Thereby, the unmanned vending machine can always hold the latest stock information. Further, when the product is out of stock in the unmanned vending machine 1, the location information and the stock information of the other unmanned vending machines managed by the management system 4 are received, and the nearest item having the same product as the product is received. May be displayed on the display means 18. As a result, even if there is no stock in the unmanned vending machine 1 for a product that the buyer intends to purchase, the location of the nearest unmanned vending machine holding the same product is displayed. The desired product can be purchased at the nearest unmanned vending machine.

Further, when the unmanned vending machine 1 is out of stock, the location information and stock information of other unmanned vending machines managed by the management system 4 are received, and the unregistered unmanned vending machine 1 Alternatively, the location of only the unmanned vending machine having the stock of the desired product may be displayed on the display means 18. As a result, even when there is no stock in the unmanned vending machine 1 for which the purchaser intends to purchase a product, the location of the unmanned vending machine in which the same product is stocked is displayed. It is possible to select the appropriate unmanned vending machine from among them and go to the location to purchase the desired product without fail.

Further, when the sales permit code is issued, additional information about the sold product may be displayed on the display means 18. As a result, the purchaser can know the information of the product campaign, the newly-arrived product, the price-reduced product, and the like by looking at the display of the additional information, and can contribute to the promotion of the product using the unmanned vending machine.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, after a product order is placed, a sales permission code is notified to the purchaser through the mobile communication device, and the purchaser sells the product. Since the product is provided only when the authorization code is manually input, the product is reliably delivered to the buyer. Also, after providing the product, the buyer is billed to the payment institution corresponding to the mobile communication device, so the payment is made from the account of a third party other than the purchaser of the product. It is not accidentally debited.

If, after the product ordering operation, the user leaves the merchandise receiving port for some reason and does not enter the sales permit code, the product ordering operation is invalidated and the ordered product is reliably prevented from passing to a third party. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including an unmanned vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the unmanned vending machine 1.

FIG. 3 is a time sequence chart for explaining the operation of the entire system including the unmanned vending machine 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Unmanned vending machine 3 ... Mobile communication device 4 ... Management system 5 ... Payment institution 11 ... Receiving means 12 ... Sales permission code issuing means 13 ... Input means 14 ... Merchandise provision means 15 ... Transmission means 16 ... Inventory information storage means 17 ... unmanned vending machine location information storage means 18 ... display means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07F 7/08 H04B 7/26 M 9/02 101 G07F 7/08 Q

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An unmanned vending machine for selling a requested product using a mobile communication device, wherein a number input through the mobile communication device in accordance with the ordering operation of the product is uniquely assigned to the unmanned vending machine in advance. A sales permit code issuing means for transmitting a sales permit code to the mobile communication device when the identification number is matched; an input means for a product purchaser to manually input the code; and a code manually input to the input means. A product providing means for providing a product specified by the number input through the mobile communication device when the sales license code is matched; and a mobile communication device provided with the sales permission code after providing the product. An unattended vending machine comprising: a billing unit for billing a payment institution for a product to a pre-registered payment institution. 2. A product ordering operation is invalidated when a code corresponding to the sales permission code is not input to the input means within a predetermined time after the issuance of the sales permission code. Unmanned vending machine. 3. The sales statement information including the product name, quantity, and price of the provided product in the telephone number or e-mail address of the mobile communication device to which the sales permit code is transmitted when the product is provided by the product providing means. The unmanned vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sales statement information transmitting unit that sends an e-mail. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the commodity is provided by the commodity providing means, the sales statement information and the stock information including the information on the sold out or small remaining amount of the commodity are simultaneously transmitted to the management system for managing the unmanned vending machine. The unmanned vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: 5. The unmanned vending machine according to claim 4, further comprising means for receiving replenishment information of the commodity from the management system when the replenishment of the commodity is performed, and updating the stock information. 6. When a product is out of stock, receiving information on the location of the unmanned vending machine managed by the management system and stock information, and selecting the nearest unmanned vending machine holding the same product as the product. 6. An unmanned vending machine according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying a location of the vending machine. 7. When the stock of the commodity is exhausted, the location information and the stock information of the unmanned vending machine managed by the management system are received, and the inventory of the desired commodity is registered among the unregistered vending machines registered in advance. 6. The unmanned vending machine according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying a location of a certain unmanned vending machine. 8. The unmanned vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying additional information on a product to be sold when the sales permit code is issued.