JP2003044906A - Automatic vending machine, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine which can send management data on quantities of stock or the like to a management device, etc., of the automatic vending machine without providing a communication means in the automatic vending machine. SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine 1 is provided with a connection means (by a connector, radio, infrared rays, etc.), which connects a mobile machine (portable telephone, etc.). When a user connects the mobile machine 2 to the connecting means and pushes a purchase button, data (data on stock, change, etc.), regarding article vending, settlement information and weather information are sent to a distribution server 4 through the mobile machine 2. The distribution server 4 sends the settlement information to a settlement server 6, the stock information to ASP 8, and the weather information, etc., to ASP's 9 and 10. Replies from the server 6 and ASP's 8 to 10 are sent to the automatic vending machine 1 through the distribution server 4 and mobile machine 2. The automatic vending machine 1 automatically vends articles or displays an unvendable state according to the reply information, The reply information includes even data for controlling sensors for the weather information, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that uses a mobile terminal owned by a user to perform EC (electronic payment), transmission of the number of stocks, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine inventory management system, as shown in FIG. 10, a communication terminal such as a PHS is installed inside an vending machine 21, and the vending machine inventory management server 22 Communication was performed via the communication carrier network 23 to collect and distribute information. In this method, the vending machine management company needs to install a communication device such as a PHS in the vending machine 21, and it is also necessary to bear a monthly basic fee, a communication fee, etc. for paying to the telecommunications carrier. Also, with conventional vending machines etc., products are only cash purchases,
Therefore, there is a limit in the convenience of the user or in the sales promotion such as the purchase point system.
Further, the conventional vending machine has only functions related to sales, and has no function of collecting / delivering value-added information such as weather information.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to automatically manage management data such as the number of stocks without providing communication means inside the vending machine. It is to provide an automatic vending machine that can transmit to a management device of the vending machine. Another object of the present invention is to connect a mobile device such as a mobile phone to
It is to provide a vending machine that allows a purchaser to purchase a product without using cash. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine that can automatically deliver weather information and the like to an information collecting center.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 responds to an operation of a product purchase button by a purchaser for the product set inside. In the automatic vending machine that automatically sells the data, when the mobile device is connected to the connecting device that connects the mobile device, when the mobile device is connected to the connecting device, the data about the product sales such as the number of goods in stock and the change of money is sent via the mobile device. An automatic vending machine, comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting to a management means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the vending machine further includes detection means for detecting data other than the data relating to the sale of goods, such as weather data, and the transmitting means, It is characterized in that the output data of the detection means is transmitted to the management means together with the data relating to the sale of goods. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first or second aspect, the accumulated amount of the data related to the product sale or the data other than the data related to the product sale exceeds a predetermined fixed amount. It is characterized in that an appealing means is provided for appealing the data transmission request to the outside when a predetermined time has elapsed or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set inside according to an operation of a product purchase button by a purchaser, a connecting means for connecting a mobile device, and When the purchaser operates the product purchase button while the mobile device is connected to the connection means, data corresponding to the operated product purchase button is transmitted to the payment device via the mobile device, and the payment is performed. The vending machine is characterized by comprising a control means for receiving a reply from the means and issuing an instruction to discharge the product.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set therein in response to a purchaser's operation of a product purchase button, a connecting means for connecting a mobile device, and When the purchaser inserts cash into the vending machine and operates a button for designating prepaid in a state where the mobile device is connected to the connecting means, data corresponding to the inserted cash is transferred via the mobile device. An automatic vending machine, comprising: a control means for transmitting a prepaid amount to a settlement means. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in an automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set inside in response to an operation of a product purchase button by a purchaser, a connecting means for connecting a mobile device and the connecting means are provided. When the purchaser inserts cash into the vending machine and operates the product purchase button while the mobile device is connected, the change from the price of the inserted cash and the product specified by the operated product purchase button. A change calculating means for obtaining the change amount, an inquiry means for inquiring the purchaser to transfer the change amount obtained by the change calculating means to the prepaid money, and when the purchaser performs a button operation to transfer the change amount. And a control means for transmitting data indicating the amount of change as a prepaid amount to the settlement means via the mobile device. It is.

The invention according to claim 7 has a connection means for connecting a mobile device, and is computer-readable for use in a vending machine for transmitting data to the management means via the mobile device connected to the connection device. A possible recording medium, a procedure for transmitting to the computer data relating to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, and data other than the data relating to the product sales to the management means via the mobile device. It is a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing a procedure of transmitting and a procedure of transmitting data related to payment to the management means via the mobile device.

The invention according to claim 8 is a program used in an automatic vending machine, which has a connecting means for connecting a mobile device and transmits data to the managing means via the mobile device connected to the connecting means. Then, the computer, a process of transmitting data related to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, a process of transmitting data other than the data related to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, It is a program for executing processing for transmitting data relating to payment to the management means via the mobile device.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic vending machine and an automatic vending machine system using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This vending machine system connects a mobile device (mobile phone, PHS, etc.) to the vending machine,
Online payment is performed, and at the same time primary information unique to vending machines such as inventory information and secondary information such as weather information are collected, and required for ASP (application service provider) that functions as a settlement server or inventory management server. It is a system that transmits various information.

(System Configuration) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the present vending machine system. Reference numeral 1 is a vending machine connectable to a mobile device, and reference numeral 2 is a mobile device owned by a user or a service person who uses the vending machine 1. Reference numeral 3 is a mobile communication carrier network, reference numeral 4 is a distribution server in a portal site, reference numeral 5 is a LAN (local area network), reference numeral 6 is a settlement server, reference numeral 7 is the Internet network, and reference numeral 8 is the inventory of the vending machine 1. ASP that functions as a management server, reference numeral 9 A that functions as a weather forecast server
SP and reference numeral 10 are other ASPs.

(Unit Structure) The structure of the vending machine 1 is shown in FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a vending machine management unit, which detects the types of products purchased by the user, the number of purchases, the number of products in stock, the amount of change in the change storage, and the like.
The product type data, the purchase quantity data, the stock quantity data, the change data, etc. (these are information unique to the vending machine and are hereinafter referred to as various information 1) are output to the control unit 12. In addition, the control unit 12 outputs deposit data indicating the deposit amount of the user, dispensing data indicating the purchase amount purchased from the prepaid balance by the user (hereinafter referred to as settlement information).

Reference numeral 13 is a sensor unit composed of various sensors and an interface circuit for converting the outputs of the sensors into digital data and outputting the digital data to the control unit 12.
Here, various sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a weather sensor such as an atmospheric pressure sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a pollen sensor,
It is a reflective photoelectric sensor that detects the movement of a person, and outputs data that is irrelevant to the original function of the vending machine. In addition,
Hereinafter, the output data of the sensor unit 13 will be referred to as various information 2. The interface circuit described above periodically converts the output of each sensor into digital data and outputs it to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 stores these data in the data storage unit 16 via the information system 15.

Reference numeral 14 is a mobile unit interface section,
It is composed of a connector to which the mobile device 2 is connected, and an interface circuit that mediates data between the mobile device 2 connected to the connector and the control unit 12. In addition, in connection with the mobile device 2, instead of physical connection by a connector,
Connection by infrared communication or wireless communication (eg Blue
A connection by communication according to the tooth standard) may be used.

Reference numeral 15 is an information management system, and 16 is a data storage unit. The information management system 15 stores each output data of the vending machine unit 11 and the sensor unit 13 in the data storage unit 16, reads the stored data, and outputs the read data to the control unit 12. The information management system 15 also manages transmission of stored information. That is, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process of transmission management performed by this information management system. First, in step S1, it is checked whether or not the data storage unit 16 stores data in an amount equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. If it is less than or equal to the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is checked whether or not it is a predetermined accumulated data notification time. Then, the judgment result is "N
If it is "O", the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S1 is greater than or equal to the threshold value, or if the result of the determination in step S2 is "YES", then the process proceeds to step S3, and an information transmission request is output to control unit 12.

Numeral 17 is a revolving light for issuing a warning such as an out-of-stock condition.
Reference numeral 8 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and 19 is a speaker. The control unit 12 controls each of the above-described units and is configured by a microprocessor (details will be described later).

In FIG. 1, the mobile device 2 sends various information 1 and various information 2 from the vending machine 1 to the distribution server 4 via the mobile communication carrier network 3 together with the transmission number (mobile phone number), Also, the data supplied from the distribution server 4 via the mobile communication carrier network 3 is output to the vending machine 1. The distribution server 4 uses the settlement server 6 and the payment server 6 according to the respective purposes to send various information sent from the vending machine 1.
Allocate to SP8-10. Also, the payment server 6, AS
The data transmitted from P8 to 10 is used by the mobile communication carrier network 3
And to the vending machine 1 via the mobile device 2.

The ASP 8 receives the type data of the products for sale, the sales quantity data, etc. from the vending machine 1 and receives the data from the vending machine 1.
The stock quantity of each product is calculated, and the result is notified to the department in charge such as the delivery staff. Further, various instructions such as a price reduction instruction for a product whose expiration date is near or a hot / cold switching instruction for canned coffee etc. are transmitted to the vending machine 1 via the distribution server 4 and the mobile device 2. ASP
9 receives weather data such as temperature and humidity from the vending machine 1 and records it in a database, and makes a weather forecast based on the contents of the database. The ASP 10 receives ultraviolet ray data, pollen data, etc. from the vending machine 1 and performs corresponding processing.

(Operation) FIGS. 4 to 7 are flow charts showing the operation of the system described above. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are flowcharts showing a normal operation for waiting for product purchase, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for waiting for product purchase (urgent) requiring emergency contact to the settlement server 6 and ASPs 8 to 10.
5 is a continuation of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a continuation of FIG. First, the normal operation of waiting for purchase will be described.
When the user purchases a product, the vending machine 1 in this system can be purchased in cash or by prepaid money. When purchasing with prepaid money, it is necessary to deposit a certain amount of money in advance.

First, the case of purchasing with cash will be described. In this case, the user inserts cash from the money insertion slot of the vending machine 1 and then presses the product purchase button for the product that he / she wants to purchase (step Sa1 in FIG. 4). When cash is deposited, the vending machine management unit 11 detects the deposit amount and outputs data indicating the deposit amount to the control unit 12. This data is stored in the data storage unit 16 from the control unit 12 via the information management system 15. Next, when the product purchase button is pressed, the product type data corresponding to the pressed button is output from the management unit 11 to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 stores this data in the data storage unit 16. Then from these data,
It is determined whether there is change change payment (step Sa
2). If there is change payment, the change prepaid is appealed by the display device 18 or the speaker 19 (step Sa3). Here, change change prepaid means transfer of change change to prepaid money.

Here, when the user selects the change prepaid by the button on the operation panel of the automatic vending machine 1 (step Sa4), the control unit 12 receives it and prepares for the prepaid information transmission (step Sa5). Next, the flag indicating "no change payout" is turned on (step Sa6). On the other hand, when the user instructs the change prepaid non-selection using the button on the operation panel, the control unit 12 receives the instruction and turns on the flag indicating that there is change (step Sa7).

Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the data obtained by subtracting the change amount to be paid to the user from the data showing the current change reserve is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value (step Sa8). . If the determination result is equal to or more than the threshold value, then whether or not the number obtained by subtracting the purchase quantity of the user from the stock quantity of the product that the user intends to purchase is greater than or equal to the threshold value. To judge. Then, if the determination result is equal to or more than the threshold value, then it is determined whether or not the mobile device 2 is connected to the mobile device interface unit 14 (step Sa10). Then, when the mobile device 2 is connected, various information is transmitted via the mobile device (step Sa11).

That is, the control unit 12 first instructs the information management system 15 to read data. In response to this instruction, the information management system 15 sequentially reads the payment information, the various information 1 and the various information 2 stored in the data storage unit 16 and outputs them to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 sequentially outputs these pieces of information to the mobile device 2 (FIG. 1). The mobile device 2 outputs these data to the distribution server 4 via the mobile communication carrier network 3. The distribution server 4 distributes the received data to the settlement server 6 and the ASPs 8 to 10 according to the content. For example, the various information 1 is transmitted to the ASP 8 via the Internet 7, and the weather information of the various information 2 is transmitted to the ASP 9
And pollen information etc. to ASP10.

If the result of determination in step Sa10 of FIG. 4 is that there is no mobile device, step Sa11 is skipped and the process proceeds to step Sa12. In step Sa12, the control unit 12 gives an instruction for paying out change to the management unit 11. This process is not performed if there is no change to be paid out. Upon receiving this instruction, the management unit 11 pays out the change to the user. Next, the control unit 12 issues a product payout instruction to the management unit 11 (step Sa13). The management unit 11 receives this instruction,
Pay the goods. Then, the control unit 12 returns to the product purchase waiting (normal) mode.

On the other hand, step Sa8 or step Sa
If the determination result of 9 is less than or equal to the threshold value, the process proceeds to step Sa14. In step Sa14, the control unit 12
Will make an "appeal for when to send emergency data". This appeal is an appeal that "the price of the product will be discounted when the mobile device is connected", and for example, as shown in FIG. And the speaker 19
Tells nearby users that the discount is in progress.

Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the mobile device 2 is connected to the mobile device interface unit 14 (step Sa15). Then, if not connected, the change-out instruction is given to the management unit 11 (step Sa16). This process is not performed if there is no change to be paid out. Upon receiving this instruction, the management unit 11 pays out the change to the user. next,
The control unit 12 issues a product payout instruction to the management unit 11 (step Sa17). The management unit 11 receives this instruction and dispenses the product. Then, the control unit 12 enters a product purchase waiting (urgent) mode.

Further, in the judgment at step Sa15,
If the mobile device 2 is connected, the process proceeds to step Sa18. In this step Sa18, the above-mentioned step S
Similar to the processing of a11, various information transmission processing is performed.
Next, when the processing proceeds to step Sa19, the control unit 12 instructs the management unit 11 to pay out the money and the discount money. Upon receiving this instruction, the management unit 11 pays out the change and the discount money to the user. Next, in step Sa13, the product is paid out to the user. Here, the amount of discount money may be set in advance in the control unit 12, or may be instructed by the payment server 6.

Next, the operation when the user deposits the prepaid money will be described. In this case, the user first presses the prepaid button on the operation panel of the vending machine 1, and then connects the mobile device 2 to the mobile device interface unit 14 (step Sa21 in FIG. 5). Next, the prepaid money is deposited (step Sa22). The amount of money deposited is detected by the management unit 11, and the amount data is output to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 temporarily stores the amount data in the data storage unit 16, and then transmits various information via the mobile device (step Sa23). In this case, first, the payment information including the above amount data is distributed to the distribution server 4
Then, various information 1 and various information 2 are sequentially transmitted to the distribution server 4. The distribution server 4 transmits the payment information to the payment server 6 and also receives various information 1 and 2.
To ASPs 8-10.

The payment server 6 adds the deposit amount data included in the received payment information to the account of the owner of the mobile device 2, and sends the addition result to the distribution server 4 as EC payment result data. The distribution server 4 transmits the data transmitted from the payment server 6 to the control unit 12 of the vending machine 1 via the mobile device 2 together with the data from the ASPs 8 to 10. The control unit 12 receives the EC settlement result data from the settlement server 6 (step Sa24), displays the received data on the display device 18 as a prepaid balance,
Further, the user is notified by voice from the speaker 19 (step Sa25). The data flow when depositing the above-mentioned prepaid money is shown in FIG. 9 (PHASE1).

Next, the operation when the user purchases the product by the prepaid money will be described. In this case, the user connects the mobile device 2 to the mobile device interface 14, and then presses the product purchase button on the operation panel (step Sa26). When the product purchase button is pressed, the management unit 11 outputs the product type data corresponding to the pressed button to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 transmits the product type data to the distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2, then reads various information from the data storage unit 16 and transmits it to the distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2 (step S
a27). The distribution server 4 transmits the product type data to the settlement server 6 and then sends various information to the ASPs 8 to 1.
Send to 0.

The settlement server 6 subtracts the price of the product indicated by the product type data from the account balance of the owner of the mobile device 2, and if the result is positive, the subtraction result is obtained. If the subtraction result is negative, , “NG” is transmitted to the distribution server 4 as the EC settlement result data result. The distribution server 4 transmits the EC settlement result data together with the data from the ASPs 8 to 10 to the control unit 12 via the mobile device 2. The control unit 12 receives the EC settlement result data (step S
a28), whether the received data is the subtraction result or “NG”
It is determined whether or not the data indicates (step Sa2
9). If the data indicates the subtraction result,
Instruct the management unit 11 to discharge the product. The management unit 11 receives this instruction and discharges the product (step Sa
30). On the other hand, when the received data is data indicating "NG", step Sa30 is skipped and the process proceeds to step Sa25. In step Sa25, the control unit 1
The data received by 2 are displayed on the display device 18 as a prepaid balance, and the user is notified of the balance by voice from the speaker 19. In addition, the data flow at the time of product purchase by the above-mentioned prepaid money is shown in FIG.
It is shown in E2).

Next, the above-mentioned information transmission request (see step S3 in FIG. 3) is sent from the information management system 15 to the control unit 12.
The case where the data is output to will be described. In this case, the control unit 12 receives this information transmission request (step Sa3 in FIG. 5).
2), "Appeal of emergency data transmission time" described in step Sa14 is performed (step Sa3).
3). Then, the product waits (urgent) mode is entered.

Next, a case where the maintenance staff transmits various information via the mobile unit will be described. In this case, when the maintenance staff connects the mobile device 2 to the mobile device interface unit 14 and presses the maintenance button on the operation panel (step Sa34 in FIG. 4), the control unit 1
2 detects the pressing of the maintenance button, sequentially reads the payment information, various information 1 and various information 2 from the data storage unit 16 and transmits them to the data distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2 (step Sa35). Then, the process returns to the product purchase waiting (normal) mode.

Next, the operation in the product purchase waiting (emergency) mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In this mode, when the user inserts cash into the vending machine 1 and presses the product purchase button (step Sb1 in FIG. 6), data indicating the amount of cash inserted from the management unit 11 and data indicating the product type. Is output to the control unit 12.
The control unit 12 determines from these data whether there is change to be paid out to the user (step Sb2).
If the change is paid out, the display device 18 or the speaker 19 is used to perform the step Sa before.
The change prepaid appeal described in 3 is made (step Sb3).

Here, when the user selects the change prepaid by the button on the operation panel of the automatic vending machine 1 (step Sb4), the control unit 12 receives it and prepares for the prepaid information transmission (step Sb5). Next, a flag indicating that no change is paid out is turned on (step S
a6). On the other hand, when the user instructs the change prepaid non-selection by the button on the operation panel, the control unit 12
In response to this, the flag indicating that there is change is turned on (step Sb7).

Next, in step Sb8, the mobile unit 2
Is connected to the mobile device interface unit 14. If not connected, the change is dispensed as usual (step Sb9), and then the product is dispensed (step Sb10). On the other hand, when the mobile device 2 is connected, the payment information, the various information 1 and the various information 2 are sequentially transmitted to the data distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2 (step Sb11). Next, when the processing proceeds to step Sb12, the change and the discount money are paid out. Next, when proceeding to step Sb13,
Merchandise is discharged. Next, in step Sb14, the "appeal of data transmission time" is canceled. Then, the process proceeds to the product purchase waiting (normal) mode.

On the other hand, in the product purchase waiting (urgent) mode, when the user connects the mobile device 2 to the mobile device interface 14 and then presses the product purchase button on the operation panel without inserting cash (step Sb15), The management unit 11 outputs the product type data corresponding to the pressed button to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 transmits the product type data to the distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2, then reads various information from the data storage unit 16 and transmits to the distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2 (step Sb16). . The distribution server 4 transmits the above-mentioned product type data to the settlement server 6, and then sends various information to the AS.
Send to P8-10.

The settlement server 6 subtracts the price of the product indicated by the product type data from the account balance of the owner of the mobile device 2, and if the result is positive, the subtraction result is obtained. If the subtraction result is negative, , “NG” is transmitted to the distribution server 4 as the EC settlement result data result. The distribution server 4 transmits the EC settlement result data together with the data from the ASPs 8 to 10 to the control unit 12 via the mobile device 2. The control unit 12 receives the EC settlement result data (step S
b17), whether the received data is the subtraction result or “NG”
Is determined (step Sb1)
8). If the data indicates the subtraction result,
The product instructs the management unit 11 to discharge. The management unit 11 receives this instruction and discharges the product (step S
b19). On the other hand, if the received data is data indicating “NG”, step Sb19 is skipped and the process proceeds to step Sb20. In step Sb20, the data received by the control unit 12 is displayed on the display device 18 as a prepaid balance, and the speaker 19 notifies the user of the balance by voice. Then, step Sb
At 14, the "data transmission time appeal" is canceled, and the product purchase waiting (normal) mode is entered.

In the product purchase waiting (emergency) mode, the user presses the prepaid button on the operation panel of the vending machine 1 and then connects the mobile device 2 to the mobile device interface section 14 (step Sb21 in FIG. 7). ,next,
When the prepaid amount is deposited (step b22), the deposited amount is detected by the management unit 11, and the amount data is output to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 temporarily stores the amount data in the data storage unit 16, and then
Various information is transmitted via the mobile device (step Sb2)
3). In this case, first, the payment information including the above-mentioned amount data is transmitted to the distribution server 4, and then the various information 1,
Various information 2 is sequentially transmitted to the distribution server 4. The distribution server 4 transmits the payment information to the payment server 6 and also transmits various kinds of information 1 and 2 to the ASPs 8 to 10.

The settlement server 6 adds the deposit amount data included in the received settlement information to the account of the owner of the mobile device 2, and sends the addition result to the distribution server 4 as EC settlement result data. The distribution server 4 transmits the data transmitted from the payment server 6 to the control unit 12 of the vending machine 1 via the mobile device 2 together with the data from the ASPs 8 to 10. The control unit 12 receives the EC settlement result data from the settlement server 6 (step Sb24), displays the received data on the display device 18 as a prepaid balance,
Further, the user is notified by voice from the speaker 19 (step Sb25). Then, the "appeal of the data transmission time" is canceled (step Sb26). And
Go to product waiting (normal) mode.

When the maintenance staff connects the mobile unit 2 to the mobile unit interface unit 14 in the product purchase waiting (emergency) mode and depresses the maintenance button on the operation panel (step Sb27), the control unit 1 is started.
2 detects the pressing of the maintenance button, sequentially reads the payment information, various information 1 and various information 2 from the data storage unit 16 and transmits them to the data distribution server 4 via the mobile device 2 (step Sb28). Then, the appeal of the data transmission time is released (step Sb26), and the process proceeds to the product purchase waiting (normal) mode.

As described above, the vending machine 1 is basically "waiting for product purchase (normal)" and "waiting for product purchase (urgent)".
It has two sales modes (operation mode). The “waiting for product purchase (normal)” mode is a so-called normal product sales mode. Whether it is a cash purchase or an EC payment connecting the mobile device 2, the vending machine has a communication function. Not an emergency. On the other hand, in the “waiting for product purchase (emergency)” mode, compared to this, there is a situation in which data must be sent inside the vending machine.
This is a case where the owner of the mobile device 2 is urgently required to make the connection. This is because when the vending machine 1 reaches the scheduled information notification time, when the accumulated information amount of the vending machine 1 exceeds the threshold value, or when the change is out (or a small amount),
For example, when the product is out of stock (or a small amount).
In this case, in the "product purchase waiting (urgent) mode",
The vending machine 1 makes an "appeal of data transmission time",
Rotate revolving lights, display messages, and make voice calls.

In this product purchase waiting (emergency) mode, even if the user desires to purchase cash, the customer points are added to the settlement server when the mobile device 2 is connected, and when the user reaches a certain point, it is free or discounted. Because it gives benefits such as, you can appeal the mobile device connection. In addition,
The system for giving a privilege based on this point can be applied not only to the product purchase waiting (emergency) mode but also to the product purchase waiting (normal) mode.

The above is the details of the embodiment of the present invention.
According to this embodiment, the automatic vending machine 1 can be automatically sold to the ASP (vending machine inventory management server) without providing a communication function, that is, without the vending machine paying the carrier. You can send information about the aircraft.

The user of the mobile device 2 is allowed to transmit and receive data unrelated to the payment by superimposing it on the payment information at the time of communication, which is essential for online payment, that is, the communication function for the vending machine 1. By lending, you can benefit from discounts on products and discounts on online payment fees. Also, the distribution server 4
By receiving various data unrelated to payment during online payment, can sell these various data.

The settlement server 6 is the distribution server 4
By selling the data at, the base for paying the online payment fee will be large, so the payment fee will be low. Also, ASP (Vending Machine Inventory Management Server)
8 receives the information such as the vending machine inventory and controls the vending machine without the vending machine 1 having a communication function, that is, without the vending machine 1 having to bear the charge to the telecommunication carrier. be able to.

Further, the ASPs 9 and 10 can obtain various kinds of information of a desired region (place of installation of a vending machine) without having their own equipment and communication function. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the user connects the mobile device 2 to the vending machine 1 and purchases a product, a communication fee is charged, and when the user connects the mobile device 2 and does not purchase a product, communication is performed. The fee may not be charged.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) It is possible to transmit management data such as the inventory quantity to the management device of the vending machine without providing a communication means inside the vending machine. (2) By connecting a mobile device such as a mobile phone, the purchaser can purchase the product without using cash. (3) The weather information can be automatically distributed to the information collection center.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic vending machine 1 in the system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information management system 15 in the system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation in a product purchase waiting (normal) mode in the system.

FIG. 5 is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation in a product purchase waiting (urgent) mode in the system.

FIG. 7 is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state when the vending machine enters the appeal mode in the system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data flow at the time of online purchase and online payment in the system.

FIG. 10 is a system block diagram in a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Mobile 4 ... distribution server 6 ... Payment server 8-10 ... ASP 11 ... Vending machine management unit 12 ... Control unit 13 ... Various sensors 14 ... Mobile unit interface 15 ... Information management system 16 ... Data storage unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasuhide Irino             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuhiko Ohara             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Miyamoto             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 CA02 CA10 DA05 DB05                       DC01 DD02 DE01 EA02 EB01                       EB08                 5K101 KK12 KK20 LL12 MM07 PP03                       RR19 SS07

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set inside in response to a purchaser's operation of a product purchase button, wherein a connecting unit for connecting a mobile unit and the mobile unit are connected to the connecting unit. When connected, a vending machine comprising: a sending means for sending data related to product sales, such as the number of stocks of goods and change, to the management means via the mobile device. 2. A detection means for detecting data other than the data relating to the sale of goods, such as meteorological data, wherein the transmitting means transmits the output data of the detection means to the management means together with the data relating to the sale of the goods. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A data transmission request is sent externally when the accumulated amount of the data related to the product sale or the data other than the data related to the product sale exceeds a predetermined fixed amount or when a predetermined fixed time elapses. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an appealing means for appealing to the customer. 4. An automatic vending machine for automatically selling a product set inside in response to an operation of a product purchase button by a purchaser, wherein connecting means for connecting a mobile device and said mobile device are connected to the connecting means. When the purchaser operates the product purchase button in the connected state, the data corresponding to the operated product purchase button is transmitted to the payment means via the mobile device, and the product is received in response from the payment means. A vending machine comprising: a control unit for issuing a discharge instruction of the vending machine. 5. An automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set inside in response to an operation of a product purchase button by a purchaser, wherein a connecting means for connecting a mobile device and the mobile device are connected to the connecting means. In the connected state, when the purchaser inputs cash into the vending machine and operates a button for designating prepaid, data corresponding to the inserted cash is transmitted to the settlement means as the prepaid amount through the mobile device. An automatic vending machine, comprising: 6. An automatic vending machine that automatically sells a product set inside in response to a purchaser's operation of a product purchase button, wherein a connecting means for connecting a mobile device and the mobile device are connected to the connecting means. When the purchaser puts cash into the vending machine and operates the product purchase button in a connected state, a change calculation for a change from the price of the inserted cash and the price of the product specified by the operated product purchase button Means, an inquiry means for inquiring the purchaser to transfer the change change calculated by the change calculation means to the prepaid money, and the change amount when the purchaser performs a button operation to transfer the change change. And a control means for transmitting the data indicating the above as a prepaid amount to the settlement means via the mobile device. 7. A computer-readable recording medium used in an automatic vending machine, which has a connecting means for connecting a mobile device and transmits data to the managing means via the mobile device connected to the connecting means. A procedure for transmitting to the computer data relating to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, a procedure for transmitting data other than the data relating to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, and A procedure for transmitting data to the management means via the mobile device, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the procedure. 8. A program used in an automatic vending machine, which has connecting means for connecting a mobile device and transmits data to the managing means via the mobile device connected to the connecting means, wherein A process of transmitting data related to sales to the management means via the mobile device, a process of transmitting data other than the data related to product sales to the management means via the mobile device, and data related to settlement to the mobile device And a program for executing the processing of transmitting to the management means via the.