JP2003256915A - Management system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management system of an automatic vending machine capable of performing additional services for a specified user. <P>SOLUTION: When a commodity is vended by using an IC card 900 functioning as an electronic wallet in the automatic vending machine 100, the settlement information of the commodity vending is transmitted to a host computer 200. The host computer 200 is provided with: a user information DB 205 for correspondingly storing the card ID of the IC card 900 and user information including at least an e-mail address; and a vending information management part 207 capable of distributing an e-mail to the user's e-mail address stored in the DB 205. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine management system capable of cashless product sales using an IC card that functions as an electronic wallet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known automatic vending machines capable of selling products without using cash by using an IC card. This vending machine is equipped with a card reader / writer that reads and writes data to an IC card that functions as an electronic wallet. Identification information and electronic money information are stored in the IC card. In this vending machine,
When an IC card is used to sell products, the card reader / writer is used to update the electronic money information stored in the IC card.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, a business that sells products using an automatic vending machine (hereinafter referred to as a "sales business") is provided with a special service to users for the purpose of increasing sales. There was a desire to do so. For example,
This is a service in which a privilege is given to a user who purchases a predetermined number or more of products using a vending machine within a predetermined campaign period. In order to realize such a service, in a conventional vending machine, information called “point” is stored in an IC card, and when a product is sold in the vending machine, the IC card is sold under predetermined conditions. I was working to increase the points.

However, such a method is inconvenient because the user needs to go to the place where the card reader / writer is installed in order to confirm the points stored in the IC card. there were. Therefore, the point service using such a method could not be expected to improve the penetration rate.

In the conventional vending machine, the user often left the IC card in the vending machine, but the seller cannot contact the user because the IC card cannot identify the user. I couldn't.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine management system capable of implementing an additional service that specifies a user.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in claim 1, a host computer on which a management program for a vending machine operates and a communication device for connecting the host computer to a network are provided. A vending machine management system for managing various information of a vending machine connected via, the vending machine comprising:
A card reader / writer that reads / writes data from / into an IC card that functions as an electronic wallet, and controls the sale of products by electronic money using the card reader / writer and the IC card via the network after the sale of products by electronic money. Payment information transmitting means for transmitting payment information including identification information of the IC card to the host computer, the host computer associating the identification information of the IC card with the user, and user information including at least the e-mail address of the user. It is proposed to provide a user information storage means for storing the information, and an information delivery means for delivering information to the electronic mail address of the user stored in the user information storage means.

According to the present invention, the settlement information transmitted from the vending machine to the host computer includes the identification information of the IC card, and the host computer stores the identification information of the IC card and the user information in association with each other. Therefore, the user of the IC card can be specified. As a result, it is possible to implement an additional service that specifies the user of the IC card. Further, since the user information includes at least the electronic mail address of the user, various kinds of information can be delivered to the user easily and surely.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the management system of the vending machine according to the first aspect, the vending machine includes user information input means for inputting user information of a user including at least an electronic mail address. And a user information transmitting means for transmitting to the host computer the identification information of the IC card read from the IC card by using the card reader and the user information input by the input means, and the user information transmitting means. It is proposed that the computer is provided with a user information registration means for registering the user information received from the vending machine in the user information storage means.

Generally, information indicating what kind of identification information the IC card of the user has, that is, I
The association information between the identification information of the C card and the user information is
Only the business operator or user of the payment service can know it.
In the present invention, since this information can be registered in the host computer by the user himself / herself by using the vending machine, the system according to claim 1 can be easily constructed.

Further, in a third aspect of the present invention, in the management system of the vending machine according to the first aspect, the host computer is a user terminal for the user from the user terminal of the user via a network. It is proposed to provide a user information registration means for registering information.

In the present invention, the user information can be registered in the host computer by the user himself / herself via the network, so that the system according to claim 1 can be easily constructed.

Further, in a fourth aspect of the invention, in the management system for a vending machine according to the first aspect, the user information includes point information, and the host computer determines a predetermined value based on the settlement information received from the vending machine. It is proposed that a rule is provided with point updating means for updating the point information included in the user information.

According to the present invention, since the point information can be managed in the host computer, the user can confirm the status of the points by accessing the host computer. In addition, since the point information can be centrally managed by a business operator that implements the point service, the point service can be smoothly implemented.

Further, in a fifth aspect, in the management system for the vending machine according to the first aspect, the vending machine is
When the card reader / writer detects the same IC card for a predetermined time or longer, the card reader / writer is provided with a notification means for transmitting a card removal notice including the identification information of the IC card to the host computer, and the host computer is a vending machine. When receiving a card removal notice from the user, the electronic mail address of the user is acquired from the various usage information storage means based on the identification information of the IC card included in the notification, and the card removal is notified to the email address. It is proposed to provide one having a transmission means for transmitting an email.

According to the present invention, when the user leaves the IC card in the vending machine for a predetermined time or longer, the notifying means of the vending machine sends the host computer a notice of forgetting to take the card including identification information of the IC card. It Then, the host computer that has received the notification identifies the user based on the identification information of the IC card, and sends an e-mail notifying that the card has been forgotten to the e-mail address of the user. This allows the user to know that he / she has forgotten to take the IC card.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A vending machine sales management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the management system of the vending machine, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vending machine.

In the vending machine management system according to the present embodiment, a business operator operating the management system (hereinafter referred to as "operating business operator") sells a product using the vending machine (hereinafter referred to as "business operator"). (Referred to as a "sales company"), a vending machine sales management service is provided using a host computer. Further, as will be described later, vending machines are capable of cashless sales using electronic money, and payment related to this cashless sales is performed by a business operator that provides a payment service (hereinafter referred to as “settlement business operator”).
Shall do. Further, it is assumed that the sales business operator performs a so-called “point service” in which the number of products purchased by the user is used as points to provide the user who has acquired the predetermined number of points with a predetermined privilege.

As shown in FIG. 1, this management system is
Multiple vending machines 1 via the first network 600
00 and the host computer 200, the host computer 200 centrally manages various information in each vending machine 100. The sales business operator can browse various information managed by the host computer 200 by connecting the sales business operator terminal 300 to the host computer 200 via the second network 700. As will be described later, when the vending machine 100 sells a product using electronic money, the payment information is the first network 600 / host computer 20.
It is transmitted to the payment computer 400 of the payment operator via the 0th / second network 700. Further, as will be described later, a user who purchases a product at a vending machine is
By connecting the user terminal 500 to the host computer 200 via the network 700, the user information can be registered in the host computer 200.

The vending machine 100, as shown in FIG.
The card reader / writer 110 that reads and writes data from and to the non-contact type IC card 900 that functions as an electronic wallet, the terminal controller 120 that controls the operation of the card reader / writer 110, and the terminal controller 120 A main control device 130 for controlling the operation and a communication device 140 for connecting the terminal control device 120 and the main control device 130 to the host computer 200 via the first network 600 are provided. Terminal control device 12
0 and the main controller 130 are connected by a communication line 150 according to the standard of the vending machine.

The card reader / writer 110 includes an antenna 111 for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the IC card 900,
A card processing unit 112 that reads and writes data from and to the IC card 900 based on a control command from the terminal control device 120, and encrypts communication data between the IC card 900 and the card processing unit 112 as necessary. An encryption processing unit 113 that performs processing is provided.

Here, in the IC card 900 to be read / written, a card ID which is an identification number for identifying itself and the balance information of electronic money are encrypted and recorded. The encrypted information can be decrypted only by the payment computer 400 for ensuring security.

When the card reader / writer 110 subtracts or adds to the balance stored in the IC card 900 according to an instruction from the terminal control device 120, it includes at least the card ID and balance information. The payment information is transmitted to the terminal control device 120. At this time, the information other than the card ID in the payment information is encrypted using the encryption processing unit 113 and transmitted. In addition, the payment information is transmitted each time a product is sold by electronic money.

The terminal control unit 120 connects the settlement control unit 121 for controlling the settlement of electronic money using the card reader / writer 110, and either the settlement control unit 121 or the main control unit 130 to the communication device 140. A switching unit 122 for switching and a switching control unit 123 for monitoring the operations of the settlement control unit 121 and the main control device 130 and controlling the operation of the switching unit 122 are provided. The payment control unit 121 operates by mutually communicating with the main control device 130 via the communication line 150. In addition, the settlement control unit 121 uses the IC
When cashless sales are performed using the card 900, the payment information received from the card reader / writer 110 is transmitted to the host computer 200.

The main controller 130 is the terminal controller 1
The vending machine includes a sales control unit 131 for controlling a terminal control device attached to each controlled device of the vending machine including the communication device 20 via a communication line 150. As the controlled device of the vending machine, in addition to the above-described card reader / writer 110, a bill validator, a coin validator, a cooling device such as a compressor (all not shown), and the like can be cited. Further, the sales control unit 131 of the main control device 130 is connected to the first network 600 via the communication device 140 and transmits various information such as sales information and failure information to the host computer 200. Here, the transmission of various information to the host computer 200 is carried out regularly or at any time. Normally, the sales information for the day is transmitted to the host computer 200 once a day. Since the structure and operation of main controller 130 are the same as those of the conventional one, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

As shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes a communication control unit 201 which is a communication interface with the first network 600, and a reception data processing unit 202 which processes various information received from each vending machine 100.
It has and. The operation of the reception data processing unit 202 will be clarified in the following description.

The host computer 200 also stores a payment information DB for accumulating the payment information received from the terminal control device 120 of the vending machine 100 for a predetermined period (for example, one month).
203, a sales information DB 204 that stores the sales information received from the main controller 130 of the vending machine 100, and a user information DB 205 that stores various types of user information.

An example of the data structure of the payment information DB 203 will be described with reference to FIG. The payment information DB 203 stores the payment information received from the terminal control device 120 of the vending machine 100, the vending machine ID of the vending machine 100, and the date and time when the payment information is received. In the example of FIG. 3, the card ID, which is the identification number of the IC card 900, and the payment statement information are the information received from the terminal control device 120. Here, the payment statement information is encrypted by the card reader / writer 110 of the vending machine 100 as described above, and cannot be decrypted by the host computer 200. The vending machine ID and the reception date and time are added by the reception data processing unit 202.

As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the sales information DB 204 stores the sales date and time of the product, the vending machine ID for identifying the vending machine 100, the product ID for identifying the sold product, and the sale in the case of sales by electronic money. IC card used in 9
The card ID of 00 is stored. Here, data other than the card ID is the main controller 1 of the vending machine 100.
It is the data received from 30. On the other hand, the card ID is data added by the received data processing unit 202. That is, the reception data processing unit 202
By comparing the payment information sequentially received from the vending machine 100 and stored in the payment information DB for each sale using electronic money with the sales information received from the vending machine 100 collectively and periodically. , It is determined whether the one piece of sales information is sales using electronic money. This determination may be based on the sales date and time and the vending machine ID. If the sale is made using electronic money, the vending machine 10
Payment information DB 203 for sales information received from 0
The card ID included in the payment information stored in is stored in the sales information DB 204. In addition,
If the sale is not using electronic money, the card I
The column of D may be left blank (NULL).

As shown in FIG. 5, the user information DB 205 includes a user ID and an IC card 9 owned by the user.
00 card ID, name, address, mail address, point information and the like are stored. This user information DB2
In 05, data is registered and managed by a sales information management unit 207 or a user information management unit 208 described later. In addition, the point information in the data of the user information DB 205 is updated by the reception data processing unit 202. Specifically, every time the payment information received from the vending machine 100 is received, the points of the user corresponding to the card ID included in the payment information are increased under a predetermined condition. Here, the predetermined condition may be, for example, a condition regarding a sale product, a region, a date and time, or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 200 sends the payment information accumulated in the payment information DB 203 to the payment computer 400 periodically and collectively via the second network 700. Via the transmission unit 206, the sales information management unit 207 that manages the data stored in the sales information DB 204 and the user information DB 205 from the sales company terminal 300 via the second network 700, and the second network 700. A user information management unit 208 that manages the data stored in the sales information DB 204 and the user information DB 205 from the user terminal 500, and a communication control unit 209 that is an interface with the second network 700. There is.

The settlement information batch transmission unit 206 sends the settlement information D
Of the payment information stored in B203, the payment information whose reception date and time is within a predetermined period is extracted to settle the payment computer 400.
Send to. At this time, the format of the transmission data to the settlement computer 400 is the same as the settlement information transmitted from the terminal control device 120.

The sales information management unit 207 is a user interface for providing sales information for the vending machine to the sales company, and relates to the sales information DB 204, the user information DB 205, the installation location of the vending machine, and the like. The data stored in the vending machine DB (not shown) and the product DB (not shown) related to the products sold by the vending machine are processed into a desired data format and transmitted to the seller terminal 300. Here, the characteristic point of the present application is that the sales information DB 204
Since the sales information stored in the user information and the user information stored in the user information DB 205 include the card ID, it is possible to specify which user purchased which product at which time. . As a result, the sales company can provide additional services such as a point service to specific users.

The sales information management unit 207 has a function of delivering a mail to the user's electronic mail address registered in the user information DB 205. This mail delivery function can deliver any message that the seller wants to deliver to the user, such as new product information or event notification. This distribution message is sent from the seller terminal 300 to the network 700 by the seller.
To enter via. Further, the mail delivery function can be implemented based on various conditions. For example, the user information DB 20
It is possible to extract users from the users registered in No. 5 based on the region, age, number of points earned, etc., and deliver the mail only to the extracted users. Further, this mail delivery function can notify the user of the number of acquired points by mail at regular intervals or at any time.

The user information management unit 208 is a user interface for providing various services to the user, and at least various types such as the card ID and name of the IC card 900 owned by the user from the user terminal 500. Information is received and this received information is stored in the user information DB 205. Here, when the card ID is printed on the IC card 900, the card ID in the user terminal 500 may be input, and the card reader / writer is attached to the user terminal 500. If so, the card reader / writer may be used to read the card ID. In addition, the user information management unit 208 also has a browsing function of transmitting various data stored in the user information DB 205 to the user terminal 500 based on a request from the user terminal 500.

The first network 600 may have any form (communication method, topology, protocol, etc.). For example, the first network 60
0 is public analog line network / ISDN line network / P
Examples include HS line networks, leased lines, and local area networks. In this embodiment, the PHS network is used. Further, it is not necessary that all of the plurality of vending machines 100 are connected to the host computer 200 via the same network. For example, some vending machines 100 are connected to the host computer 200 via a local area network, while other vending machines 100 are connected to P
A plurality of types of networks may be used, such as connecting to an HS network.

Also, the second network 700 may have any form (communication method, topology, protocol, etc.). In the present embodiment, the widely used Internet is used.

In such a vending machine management system, when each vending machine 100 sells a product, if the sales use electronic money, the payment information is set every time the sale is carried out. Is transmitted to the host computer 200 and stored in the payment information DB 203.
Further, regardless of whether the vending machine 100 sells electronic money, the sales information is regularly transmitted to the host computer 200, and the sales information DB 20
4 is stored. Then, in the sales information stored in the sales information DB 204, when the sales use electronic money, the card IC of the IC card 900 is added to the sales information. On the other hand, in the user information DB 205, the user from the user terminal 500 and the I that the user has
The card ID of the C card 900 is associated and stored.
Therefore, the seller can access the host computer 200 by using the seller terminal 300 to sequentially obtain information on when and where the user purchased which product. As a result, the seller is highly convenient in marketing and the like, and the seller can provide the user with various additional services such as a point service that specify the user.

Further, since the sales information management unit 207 of the host computer 200 has a mail delivery function, the seller can use the mail delivery function to provide various services to the user. . For example, new product information and event information can be distributed, and the number of points acquired can be notified to the user.

By the way, as is apparent from the configuration examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the management system according to the present embodiment has some components added to the conventional management system corresponding to the network. It is almost the same. That is, the card reader / writer 11 compared to the conventional vending machine.
0 and its terminal control device 120 are added, and a function is added / modified to a conventional host computer so as to perform processing relating to payment information. Therefore, the management system of this embodiment can be constructed easily and at low cost. In particular, as a communication infrastructure for connecting the host computer 200 and the payment computer 400,
Since the communication infrastructure between the vending machine 100 and the host computer 200 can be shared, the initial investment and communication cost can be suppressed. Since such a merit to the sales business operator promotes the use of the IC card 900, the settlement business operator also has the merit of expanding customers.

On the other hand, for the user, the vending machine 10
0 will enable cashless product sales. Further, by accessing the host computer 200 using the user terminal 500 and registering the user information, it is possible to confirm when, where, what product has been purchased, and the number of points to be acquired.

(Second Embodiment) An automatic vending machine management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the vending machine.
In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

The management system according to this embodiment is different from the management system according to the first embodiment in that
The point is that the user can input the user information from the vending machine. Since other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, only different points will be described here.

As shown in FIG. 6, the vending machine 100 is
An input device 160 for inputting user information from a user is provided. The input device 160 may be, for example, a numeric keypad. In the present embodiment, particularly the input device 16
With 0, at least an e-mail address of the user information can be input.

The terminal control unit 120 of the vending machine 100 is
A user information processing unit 124 is provided. The user information processing unit 124 is provided with the user information input by the input device 160 and the I information read by the card reader / writer 110.
The card ID and the card ID of the C card 900 are paired and transmitted to the host computer 200.

The reception data processing unit 202 of the host computer 200 has the following functions in addition to the functions detailed in the first embodiment. That is, when the reception data processing unit 202 receives a set of user information and card ID from the user information processing unit 124 of the vending machine 100, the reception data processing unit 202 stores this data in the user information DB 205.

According to such a management system, the user can register the user information without using the user terminal, so that the convenience is improved. Other actions and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) A vending machine management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the vending machine, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the host computer. In addition,
In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In addition to the management system according to the first embodiment, the management system according to the present embodiment further uses that fact when the user forgets to take the IC card from the vending machine. The point is to notify the person. Since other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, only different points will be described here.

As shown in FIG. 7, the terminal control unit 120 of the vending machine 100 includes a forget-to-take notification unit 125 that sends a notice of forgetting to take the IC card 900 to the host computer 200. This forgetfulness notifying section 125
When the card reader / writer 110 continues to detect the presence of the IC card 900 for a predetermined time or longer, it transmits a forget-to-take notification. This forget-to-remove notification includes at least the card ID of the IC card 900. Since a non-contact type IC card 900 is used in the present embodiment, no special sensor is required to detect the presence of the IC card 900.

As shown in FIG. 8, the host computer 2
Reference numeral 00 includes a forget-to-take notification unit 210 that sends a mail indicating that the IC card 900 has been forgotten to the e-mail address of the user who has forgotten to take the IC card 900. The forget-to-take notification unit 210 uses the card ID included in the forget-to-take notification received from the vending machine 100 via the received mail processing unit 202 to the user information DB0.
5 is searched and the electronic mail address of the user corresponding to the card ID is extracted. Then, the e-mail is sent to this e-mail address.

According to such a management system, even if the user forgets to remove the IC card 900 from the vending machine 100, the user can be notified by the host computer 200 that the IC card 900 has been forgotten, so that the convenience is improved. To do.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims and all the modifications are included in the invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, one host computer 200 manages various information of the vending machine for one seller, but it manages various information for a plurality of sellers. You may In this case, various D of the host computer 200
This can be easily realized by adding identification information for identifying the seller in B.

In this embodiment, a non-contact type IC card is exemplified as the electronic wallet, but a contact type IC card may be used, and an IC chip which functions as an electronic wallet instead of the IC card may be used. An electronic device such as a mobile phone in which is embedded may be used.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the IC card that functions exclusively as an electronic wallet is shown as an example.
The host computer may manage this information by storing other information in the C card. For example, there is a case in which the employee number is stored so that it also functions as an employee ID card.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the point service is exemplified as the additional service provided by the seller, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various services specifying the user can be provided.

Further, in the third embodiment, no special sensor is attached for detecting forgetting to remove the IC card, but a sensor for detecting the IC card may be separately provided. For example, it is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0059]

As described in detail above, according to the invention of claim 1, the settlement information transmitted from the vending machine to the host computer includes the identification information of the IC card, and the identification of the IC card is performed in the host computer. Since the information and the user information are stored in association with each other, the user of the IC card can be specified. As a result, it is possible to implement an additional service that specifies the user of the IC card.
Further, since the user information includes at least the electronic mail address of the user, various kinds of information can be delivered to the user easily and surely.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can register the identification information of the IC card possessed by the user in the host computer by using the vending machine. Therefore, the system according to claim 1 can be easily constructed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the user can register the identification information of the IC card possessed by the user in the host computer through the network. The system according to claim 1 can be easily constructed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the point information can be managed in the host computer,
The user can check the status of the points by accessing the host computer. In addition, since the point information can be centrally managed by the business operator who carries out the point service, the service can be smoothly carried out.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, when the user leaves the IC card in the vending machine for a predetermined time or more,
The IC from the notification means of the vending machine to the host computer
A forgotten card removal notification including card identification information is transmitted. Then, the host computer receiving the notification
The user is specified based on the identification information of the IC card, and an e-mail indicating that the user has forgotten to take the card is transmitted to the e-mail address of the user. This allows the user to know that he / she has forgotten to take the IC card.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1] Configuration diagram of the vending machine management system

[Figure 2] Vending machine configuration diagram

FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of the payment information DB in the host computer.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram of a sales information DB in a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram of a user information DB in the host computer.

[Figure 6] Vending machine configuration diagram

[Figure 7] Vending machine configuration diagram

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a host computer

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Vending machine, 110 ... Cardreader, 1
20 ... Terminal control unit, 130 ... Main control unit, 200 ... Host computer, 202 ... Reception data processing unit, 203 ... Financial information DB, 204 ... Sales information DB, 205 ... User information DB, 206 ... Payment information batch transmission unit , 207 ... Sales information management unit, 208 ... User information management unit, 300 ... Sales operator terminal, 400 ... Payment computer, 500 ... User terminal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G07F 9/00 G07F 9/00 107Z 107 7/08 J Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine that includes a host computer on which a management program for the vending machine operates and a communication device that connects the host computer to a network, and manages various information of the vending machine connected via the network. The management system of claim 1, wherein the vending machine controls the sale of electronic money by using a card reader / writer that reads and writes data from / to an IC card that functions as an electronic wallet. A payment information transmitting unit for transmitting payment information including identification information of the IC card to the host computer via the network after the sale of the product by electronic money, wherein the host computer associates the identification information of the IC card with the user. A user that includes at least the user's email address Management system for a vending machine, comprising user information storage means for storing information, and information delivery means for delivering information to the electronic mail address of the user stored in the user information storage means . 2. The vending machine uses a user information input unit for inputting user information of a user including at least an electronic mail address, and an IC using the card reader / writer.
The IC card identification information read from the card and the user information input by the input unit are combined and transmitted to the host computer. The host computer receives the information from the vending machine. 2. The vending machine management system according to claim 1, further comprising user information registration means for registering user information in the user information storage means. 3. The host computer comprises user information registration means for registering user information in the user information storage means from a user terminal of the user via a network. Item 1. A vending machine management system according to item 1. 4. The user information includes point information, and the host computer includes a point update means for updating the point information included in the user information according to a predetermined rule based on the payment information received from the vending machine. The management system for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the management system is for a vending machine. 5. The notifying means of the vending machine, which transmits a card removal forgetting notification including identification information of the IC card to the host computer when the card reader / writer detects the same IC card for a predetermined time or longer. When the host computer receives a card removal forgetting notification from the vending machine, the host computer acquires the electronic mail address of the user from the usage various information storage means based on the identification information of the IC card included in the notification and the electronic mail 2. The vending machine management system according to claim 1, further comprising a sending unit that sends an e-mail indicating that the user has forgotten to remove the card to the e-mail address.