JP2002352310A - Automatic vending machine and automatic vending machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine and an automatic vending machine system capable of preventing unauthorized purchases by unqualified persons. SOLUTION: A network system 10 for the automatic vending machine comprises a network 12 and a communication network 14. The network 12 is connected to a server computer 22 and the automatic vending machine 24 for selling qualified articles. The automatic vending machine 24 is provided with a card reader 34. When the qualified articles are purchased, a user inserts a credit card recording individual information to be used for an original use and sale permission information for the qualified articles into a card reader 34. The automatic vending machine 24 reads the sale permission information by the card reader 34 and judges whether the qualified articles can be sold or not. When the user is determined as a qualified person, sale of the qualified articles is permitted. When the user is determined as an unqualified person, sale of the qualified articles is inhibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vending machine and a vending machine system, and more particularly to a vending machine and a vending machine system connectable to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine is for purchasing goods (beverages, confectionery, cigarettes, etc.) by inserting coins and bills.
Among such products, there are products (beer, liquor, cigarettes, etc.) that should be permitted to be sold only to qualified persons who have purchase qualifications (for example, 20 years or older).

[0003] Conventional vending machines do not have a function for judging whether or not they are eligible for purchase, so that it was not possible to prohibit the sale of products to unqualified persons.

[0004] To solve this problem, the date of birth printed on the license or the like is read by a camera or the like to determine whether or not the user is eligible for purchase. There are vending machines that prohibit sales.

[0005]

However, in the case of a license or the like, since it can be easily copied, it is difficult to effectively prevent unauthorized purchase by an unqualified person.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine and a vending machine system capable of preventing unauthorized purchase by an unqualified person.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine for selling goods including qualified goods, wherein a personal information recording area for recording personal information is provided. Reading means for reading information recorded on a recording medium including a recording area including a permission information recording area for recording the sales permission information for the qualified product; and Control means for determining whether or not the qualified product can be sold, and controlling to permit the sale of the qualified product when it is determined that the qualified product can be sold.

The present invention is applied to a vending machine which sells products including qualified products such as alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and the reading means includes a personal information recording area for recording personal information and a personal information recording area. It reads information recorded on a recording medium having a recording area including a permission information recording area for recording sales permission information. The personal information is, for example, information used for the original purpose of use of the recording medium, and the permission information is, for example, information indicating whether or not the user is eligible to purchase a qualified product, or determining whether or not the user is eligible to purchase. Information (date of birth, etc.).

The control means determines whether or not the qualified product can be sold based on the sales permission information read by the reading means. Then, when it is determined that the qualified product can be sold, that is, when it is determined that the user of the recording medium is a qualified person, control is performed to permit the sale of the qualified product.

It is preferable to use a recording medium that is difficult to lend to another person, for example, a credit card, a cash card, a train commuter pass, or the like. That is, in many cases, personal information that one does not want to be known to others is recorded, and is usually not lent to another person. By using such a recording medium, it is possible to prevent unauthorized purchase of a qualified product by an unqualified person.

As described in claim 2, when the qualified product is sold, sales information and the personal information on the sold qualified product are managed by the management of the vending machine via a communication line. Transmission means for transmitting to an administrator-side terminal belonging to the user.

Thus, the manager terminal can manage the sales history for each user, and can provide the user and the issuer of the recording medium with compensation according to the sales results. Become.

The above vending machine can be provided to the following system. More specifically, the invention according to claim 3 has a recording area including a recording area including a personal information recording area for recording personal information and a permission information recording area for recording sales permission information for the qualified product. Reading means for reading the information recorded on the medium; determining whether or not the qualified product can be sold based on the read sales permission information; and when determining that the product can be sold, selling the qualified product. Control means for permitting the sales of the qualified product, and transmission means for transmitting the sales information and the personal information on the sold qualified product via a communication line when the qualified product is sold. A vending machine, a recording device for recording the sales permission information in a permission information recording area of the recording medium, a receiving unit connected to the communication line for receiving the sales information and the personal information, Transmission means for generating, via a communication line, value information relating to a value to be given to the publisher of the recording medium based on the information and the personal information, and transmitting the price information to a publisher terminal belonging to the publisher. An administrator terminal belonging to an administrator of the vending machine.

Further, in such a system, the recording device may be provided in the administrator side terminal, as described in claim 4.

[0015]

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 wirelessly or by wire is used.
The present invention is applied to a network system. In the present embodiment, as an example, a computer network system for a vending machine that sells canned beverages including alcoholic beverages such as beer that requires purchase qualification (for example, 20 years or older) will be described. .

FIG. 1 schematically shows the 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" that provide various resource services for free or free, and other computers operate as "clients" requesting resource services from 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”.
In the present embodiment, although details will be described later, the user computers include an owner-side computer 70 belonging to the vending machine owner and an issuer-side computer 72 belonging to a credit card issuer described later.

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.

The computer is provided with an input device 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 and 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 data transmission / reception function to a transmission / reception device such as a portable terminal but also an assignment function such as an authentication function and a position detection function.

Vending machine 2 connectable to this 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, and a card reader 34 for reading information recorded on a card provided with a recording area for recording information. I have. As such a card, a credit card, a cash card, a commuter pass such as a train, or the like can be used. The recording area includes a personal information recording area for recording personal information used for the intended purpose and a permission information recording area for recording sales permission information for qualified products. The information may be recorded magnetically or electrically (IC card or the like). In this embodiment, a case of a credit card will be described.

With such a configuration, the vending machine 24
Can exchange information with the server computer 22 via the connection device 26 and the network 12, and can communicate with the server computer 22 via the communication device 30, the communication network 14, the gateway system 18, and the network 12. It is possible to exchange information by mutual communication with the M.22. Note that, instead of the communication device 30, a connection device to which the mobile terminal 28 can be connected may be provided, and the connection device and the mobile terminal 28 may be connected to make the mobile terminal 28 function as a communication device.

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 a jurisdiction of a 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, and the like as operating states on a plurality of vending machines,
It centrally manages setting and changing of secret keys including the personal identification code of each electronic lock, and locking and unlocking of each electronic lock. In addition, the portable terminal 28 (mobile phone) is carried by a worker in a sales office when traveling around a plurality of vending machines 24. However, the present invention does not limit the carrying of the portable terminal by the worker. Absent.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the front door of a 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 unit 106 displays the inserted coin amount, the inserted bill amount, 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 can be inserted to purchase canned drinks, books can be stored in multiple columns (storage shelves) inside the vending machine.
The one corresponding to the column containing the canned beverage is lit. The vending machine 24 includes a plurality of columns having different sizes and appropriate temperatures, for example. When a predetermined column inside the vending machine is emptied, the sold-out lamp always lights up corresponding to the canned beverage. When the merchandise selection button 107 with the available lamp is turned on, the canned beverage corresponding to the canned beverage sample 103 is carried out to the commodity outlet 108. The return lever 109 is for returning the caster coin from the return opening 110 or returning the change obtained by subtracting the canned beverage purchase amount from the inserted coin or inserted bill from the return opening 110.

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.

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 includes a coin mechanism 20.
7 to determine the denomination and true / false of the input coin, calculate the number of suspected coins, store surplus coins in a safe, pay out change, and the like.

Like the coin mechanism 207, the bill burr 208 includes a bill-of-bill-out sensor for detecting a bill-of-bill expiration, receives an inserted bill from the bill insertion slot 105, and returns the bill from the bill insertion slot 105 as necessary. Is what you do.

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.

The customer service control unit 204 controls the customer service unit 209. In other words, the customer service control unit 204 turns on a lamp indicating that the product is on sale, discontinues sales, or runs out of change, or turns on a sellable lamp or a sold-out lamp for each drink sold according to the customer service instruction regarding canned beverage sales from the main control unit 201. And further detects which of the plurality of product selection buttons 107 has been pressed, and outputs a detection signal at this time to the main control unit 201.
Or send it to

The selling mechanism 210 carries out the canned beverage desired by the user to the product outlet 108. The sales control unit 205 controls the sales mechanism 210 to carry out a desired product of the user to the product outlet 108 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 console 32 is detachably provided on the back surface of the front door 101, and performs setting of correspondence between a product and a product storage column, setting of a product price, setting of cooling / heating switching of the product storage column, and the like. It is for confirmation.

The input control unit 206 stores the contents received by the receiving unit 112 when the operator operates the dedicated wireless terminal (not shown) and the setting contents when the operator operates the console 32 in the main control unit. The main control unit 201 determines the information read from the credit card by the card reader 34.

The communication control unit 212 is connected to at least one of the connection device 26 and the communication device 30 and receives information transmitted from the server / computer side.
01. That is, the main control unit 201
Receives information and stores it in a built-in memory.

FIG. 4 shows a main functional block diagram of the server computer 22 and the vending machine 24 for realizing the sale of qualified products. First, the server computer 22 belonging to the processing center side stores 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 sales information management table shown in FIG. 5, and the sales information management table includes an identification symbol (sales number) for identifying the sale of a qualifying product, and a sold product. Code of vending machine (vending machine ID), user identification code (UID), credit N of user's credit card
o, the identification code of the sold product (product code), the quantity of the sold qualified product, and the sales time (sale date and time) of the sold qualified product.

Although details of the flow of generation and registration will be described later, as each element constituting the sales information management table, a sales number is generated and assigned when sales information is received from the vending machine side. And a code based on predetermined conditions. The vending machine ID indicates the location of the vending machine that sold the qualified product. The UID is a user identification symbol such as a user ID of a user who has sold a qualified product.

The control unit 56 generates a sales number when receiving the sales information of the product from the vending machine, adds the sales information transmitted from the vending machine to the sales number, and stores it in the table storage unit 52. Let it. The timer unit 60 is for reading the current date and time.

The transmission / reception unit 58 can be connected to the owner computer 70 belonging to the vending machine owner, and the control unit 56 has a function of transmitting the sales number and sales information to the owner computer 70.

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 information received from the server. Processing unit 44
Controls the storage unit 42 to store the sales number and the sales information. The transmission / reception unit 40 (corresponding to the communication control unit 212) for exchanging information with the server computer 22 is connected to the processing unit 44, and is used for inputting information recorded on the credit card 76 of the user. Input unit 4
8 is connected, and a vending machine mechanism 50, which is each operation mechanism of the above-described vending machine 24 for transporting the goods to the transport port, is connected. The timer 46 measures the current date and time.

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

FIG. 6 conceptually shows a sales process of a qualified product in the vending machine network system 10 according to the present embodiment.

First, a meeting between the vending machine owner and the card issuing side of the credit card is made so that the vending machine owner manages the vending machine in the permission information recording area of the credit card issued by the card issuing side. Request that permission information indicating whether or not the machine can purchase a qualifying product (eg, beer) be recorded.

On the card issuing side, a recording device 78 is provided, and when the user Usr is a qualified person, that is, for example, when the user is 20 years old or older, permission information indicating that the user is a qualified person is provided by an unqualified person. Person, that is, under 20 years of age, writes permission information indicating that the person is unqualified into the permission information recording area of the credit card by using the recording device 78, and also records the credit number, user ID (UID), expiration date, and the like. Write personal information to the personal information recording area.

When purchasing a qualified product, the user Usr inserts the credit card 76 into the card reader 34 of the vending machine 24 and presses the product selection button 107 for the qualified product.

In the vending machine 24, the credit card 7
6 is read, and if the permission information indicates that the user is a qualified person, the qualified product corresponding to the pressed product selection button 107 is placed in the product exit 1
To 08. In addition, it is determined based on the permission information whether or not the person is a qualified person, and whether or not the expiration date of the credit card included in the personal information is valid. The sale of a qualified product may be prohibited by regarding the product as a qualified person. As a result, it is possible to prevent unauthorized purchase of a qualifying product by an expired credit card.

The read personal information, that is, the UI
D, credit No, information on the expiration date, and sales information on the sold qualified product, that is, information on the product code, quantity, sales date and time, etc. are transmitted to the processing center side, that is, the server computer 22 as sales information.

Upon receiving the sales information, the server computer 22 generates a sales number, associates the sales number with the received sales information, registers the sales number in the table storage unit 52, and transmits the sales information to the owner-side computer 70.

The owner-side computer 70 calculates a card usage fee as a price for having the credit card record the permission information based on the received sales information, and transmits this information to the issuer-side computer 72. . The vending machine owner pays the card usage fee to the card issuing side at predetermined intervals, for example, every month.

As described above, since a credit card which is highly likely to be carried by the user at all times and which is unlikely to be lent to another person is used for purchasing a qualified product, unauthorized purchase by an unqualified person can be prevented. . Also, the credit company can obtain a card usage fee only by recording the permission information on the card, and can increase the income from use other than the original card use. It should be noted that the user may be provided with a price corresponding to the sales performance, for example, a discount on the repayment amount or extension of the repayment period.

Next, the processing of the server computer 22 and the vending machine 24 will be described in detail. First, in the server computer 22 on the processing center side, the processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed at predetermined intervals.

In step 300 of FIG. 7, the vending machine 2
It is determined whether or not the sales information has been received from No. 4, and if the sales information has not been received, a negative determination is made in step 300,
This routine ends.

On the other hand, when the sales information is received, the result is affirmative in step 300, and the sales number is generated in the next step 302. Then, in the next step 304, the generated sales number is associated with the received sales information and registered in the sales information management table, and in the next step 306, the sales information is transmitted to the owner-side computer 70.

As a result, the owner-side computer 70
Calculates a card usage fee as a consideration to be paid to the issuer based on the received sales information, and transmits this information to the issuer computer 72. The price can be determined according to, for example, the number of times the card has been used or the sales amount.

Next, the processing of the vending machine 24 will be described in detail. In each vending machine 24, the processing routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed at predetermined time intervals. In step 400 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the credit card 76 has been inserted into the card reader 34. If not inserted, a negative determination is made in step 400 and the present routine ends. If the credit card 76 is inserted, step 400
In step 402, it is determined whether or not the product selection button 107 has been pressed. If the product selection button 107 has not been pressed, the determination in step 402 is negative, and the process waits until the product selection button 107 is pressed. When the commodity selection button 107 is pressed, the result in step 402 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to the next step 404, where the pressed commodity selection button 107 is pressed.
Is determined whether the product corresponding to is a qualified product.

If the selected merchandise is not a qualified merchandise, the result in Step 404 is negative, and the merchandise is carried out to the merchandise outlet 108 in the next Step 416, and this routine ends.

On the other hand, if the selected product is a qualified product, the result of step 404 is affirmative, and the next step 4
At 08, the information recorded on the credit card 76, that is, personal information and permission information, is read.

In the next step 410, it is determined whether or not the read permission information indicates that the user is a qualified person. If the read permission information does not indicate that the user is a qualified person (nothing is stored in the permission information recording area). If it is not recorded, the result is negative in step 410 and a corresponding process is performed in step 418. Specifically, for example, a message indicating that there is no eligibility to purchase a qualified product is displayed on the display unit 106.

On the other hand, if the read permission information indicates that the person is a qualified person, the result in step 410 is affirmative, and in step 412 the pressed product selection button 107 is pressed.
Is carried out to the product outlet 108. Then, in the next step 414, the read personal information, ie, UID and credit No information, and the sales information on the sold qualified products, ie, information such as the product code, quantity, and sales date and time, are used as the sales information as the server computer 22. To end this routine. Immediately after detecting the insertion of the credit card, the information recorded on the credit card is read to determine whether or not the user is a qualified person. May be prohibited. As a result, the sale enable lamp of the product selection button 107 can be turned on according to the presence or absence of the qualification.

In the above description, the recording device 78 is provided on the card issuing side and personal information and permission information are recorded on the card issuing side. However, the recording device 78 may be provided on the vending machine owner side.

FIG. 9 conceptually shows the process of selling qualified products when the recording device 78 is provided on the vending machine owner side.

First, a meeting between the vending machine owner and the credit card issuing side requests the use of the permission information recording area of the credit card issued by the card issuing side.

On the card issuing side, as usual, personal information is recorded by a recording device (not shown) and provided to the user Usr so as to function as an original credit card. The user Usr brings this to the vending machine owner to prove it and a qualified person (for example, a license). The vending machine owner has a credit card 7
6 is provided with a recording device 78 for recording the permission information, confirms that the user Usr is a qualified person brought by the user, and if the user is a qualified person, that fact is verified. Credit card 76 as information indicating
Record to.

Since the rest is the same as described above, a detailed description is omitted, but the user Usr uses the credit card 76 on which the permission information is recorded in the same manner as in the vending machine 2 described above.
4. Purchasing qualified products. The card issuing side may provide personal information, and the vending machine owner may also record the personal information.

Further, the authorization information may be provided from the processing center side to the vending machine without providing a recording area for the authorization information in the credit card (that is, the same as a normal credit card).

FIG. 10 schematically shows a sales process of a qualified product in a case where a vending machine inquires permission information from a processing center to confirm whether or not the user is a qualified person.

First, a meeting between the vending machine owner and the card issuing side of the credit card is made to negotiate the sale of the qualifying product using the credit card issued by the card issuing side. Provide personal information of the user of the vending machine to the vending machine owner. The vending machine owner provides personal information to the server computer 22 belonging to the processing center.

Also, the user Usr indicates that he is a qualified person by bringing a certifying person (for example, a license etc.) to the vending machine owner side, thereby indicating that he is a qualified person. Confirms this and transmits to the server computer 22 information indicating that the person is qualified as permission information. In the server computer 22, the personal information and the permission information are stored in the table storage unit 52 in association with each other.

When the user Usr inserts the credit card 76 into the card reader 34 of the vending machine 24 in order to purchase a qualified product, the vending machine 24 reads the personal information and transmits it to the server computer 22. By doing so, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the person is a qualified person. The server computer 22 stores the permission information corresponding to the personal information transmitted from the vending machine 24 in the table storage unit 5.
2 is transmitted to the vending machine 24.

Since the subsequent steps are the same as described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the vending machine 24 determines whether or not the user is a qualified person based on the received permission information, and sells the qualified product. Perform control.

In the above description, the case of purchasing a qualified product using a credit card is described as being difficult to lend to another person. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A mobile phone may be used. In this case, personal information and permission information are recorded in the memory of the mobile phone, and the vending machine 24 is provided with a wireless communication device capable of performing local communication with the mobile phone instead of the card reader. Then, personal information and permission information are transferred from the mobile phone to the vending machine 2.
By transmitting the information to No. 4, the vending machine can perform the same processing as described above based on the received personal information and permission information, and can appropriately sell qualified products.

The embodiments of the present invention have 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.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that unauthorized purchase by an unqualified person can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image diagram schematically showing a configuration of a network system for a vending machine 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 a vending machine 24 relating to automatic delivery of a product.

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

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a sales process of a qualified product by the vending machine 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.

FIG. 9 is an image diagram showing another example of a sales process of a qualified product by the vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing another example of a sales process of a qualified product by the vending machine according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network system for vending machines 12 Network (communication line) 14 Communication network 22 Server computer 24 Vending machine 28 Portable terminal 30 Communication device 32 Console 34 Card reader (reading means) 40 Transmission / reception part (transmission means) 42 Storage part 44 processing unit (control means) 46 timer unit 48 input unit 50 vending machine mechanism unit 52 table storage unit 56 control unit 58 transmission / reception unit 60 timer unit 70 vending machine owner side computer (administrator side terminal) 72 publisher computer (publisher side) Terminal) 78 Recording device Usr user

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06K 17/00 G07F 5/22 M G07F 5/22 7/08 B F term (Reference) 3E044 AA01 BA04 BA05 CC10 DA05 DC01 DE01 5B058 KA01 KA06 KA12 KA31 YA01 YA20

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine for selling a product including a qualified product, comprising: a personal information recording area for recording personal information; and a permission information recording area for recording sales permission information for the qualified product. Reading means for reading information recorded on a recording medium having a recording area comprising: And vice versa. A vending machine comprising: control means for permitting the sale of the qualified product in a case where it is performed. 2. When the qualified product is sold, sales information and the personal information on the sold qualified product are
2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sending unit that sends the information to an administrator terminal belonging to an administrator of the vending machine via a communication line. 3. Recording information recorded on a recording medium having a recording area including a personal information recording area for recording personal information and a permission information recording area for recording sales permission information for the qualified product. Reading means for reading and judging whether or not a qualified product can be sold based on the read sales permission information, and controlling to permit the selling of the qualified product when judging that the product can be sold. A vending machine comprising: control means; and transmitting means for transmitting, via a communication line, sales information and the personal information relating to the sold qualified product when the qualified product is sold; and the recording medium. A recording device for recording the sales permission information in the permission information recording area of the above, a receiving means connected to the communication line for receiving the sales information and the personal information, Transmission means for generating, via a communication line, value information relating to the value to be given to the issuer of the recording medium based on the information and transmitting the information to an issuer terminal belonging to the issuer via a communication line. A vending machine system comprising: an administrator terminal belonging to the administrator; 4. The vending machine system according to claim 3, wherein said recording device is provided in said manager side terminal.