JP2003281604A - Display control of operation panel in automatic transaction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a technology for letting an automatic transaction device indicate convenient selecting buttons in accordance with actual use. <P>SOLUTION: A ticket vendor 100 displays destination selecting buttons on a liquid-crystal panel 150 to sell tickets according to users' touch operation. The vendor 100 compiles the statistics on the result of button selection and changes the sizes of button displays according to the selection percentage. By this change, the button display in accordance with the actual use of the vendor 100 could be realized without complication. Managers or manufacturers of the vendor 100 could avoid complication of carrying out visual effect setting according to the actual situation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic transaction device that executes a predetermined transaction based on a user's operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a ticket vending machine for a railway ticket is provided with buttons corresponding to a getting-off station and a fare by displaying a liquid crystal panel or the like. The user can purchase a ticket by selecting this button. To improve the convenience of ticket vending machines,
Some of the buttons that are in high demand are set large in advance.

[0003]

However, the work of setting a drop-off station with high demand has been complicated. As an example, consider the case of an alighting station such as “Nagoya” which is predicted to be frequently used. At this time, at ticket vending machines installed at stations adjacent to Nagoya, the frequency of use of buttons for short sections will increase, and at ticket vending machines installed at stations far from Nagoya,
It is expected that the frequency of use of buttons for long sections will increase. Therefore, the button of the ticket vending machine needs to be individually set in size according to the station in which it is installed, and the setting load is very heavy.

In addition, there are cases where the prediction regarding the usage frequency deviates from the actual state. When the size of the button was set by predicting that "Nagoya" will be frequently used, there is a possibility that the station adjacent to Nagoya is actually frequently used. In such a case, increasing the size of the Nagoya button may rather reduce the convenience of the ticket vending machine.

This problem is not limited to ticket vending machines, but in automatic teller machines such as drinking water vending machines and ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), when the size of the buttons is changed to improve convenience. It was a common issue.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object thereof is to improve the practicality of the operation panel presented by the automatic transaction device.

[0007]

In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention provides an automatic transaction apparatus for executing a predetermined transaction based on an operation performed by a user, in a panel presenting unit, an input unit, and a changing unit. It is assumed that a section will be provided. The panel presenting section presents an operation panel provided with buttons that the user selects at the time of transaction. The input unit inputs a button operation result. The changing unit changes the visual effect of each button on the user based on predetermined statistics related to the user's operation.

By using the statistics in this way, it is possible to change the visual effect by reflecting the actual state of use of each button and improve the convenience of the automatic transaction device.

As the automatic transaction apparatus, there are a vending machine for drinking water, an automatic cash transaction apparatus such as an ATM (Automated Teller Machine), and a ticket vending machine for railway tickets. Each of these automatic transaction devices executes predetermined transactions such as drinking water sale, cash transaction, and ticket sale.

The presented button may be displayed as software on a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, or may be a button composed of a switch.

In the automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention, the changing unit may change at least one of the size, color and arrangement of the buttons.

For example, when the buttons are presented on the liquid crystal panel, the size, color and arrangement can be changed by software. Further, when the button is presented by the switch, the color can be changed by changing the color of the LED or the like provided corresponding to each switch.

In the automated teller machine of the present invention, the predetermined statistic is the frequency of button selection, and the changing unit preferably enhances the visual effect of the button that is frequently selected.

By doing so, it is possible to easily select a button that has been selected many times in the past.

The predetermined statistics related to the user's operation are not limited to the frequency of button selection, and various kinds of statistics can be considered.

In the automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined statistic is a statistic relating to the time required from the user's one operation to another operation at the time of the transaction, and the change unit is a button with a long time required. It may also enhance the visual effect.

By doing so, it is possible to realize the operation panel in which the actual situation of use is grasped in accordance with the time required from one operation performed by the user to the shift to another operation and the grasped actual situation is reflected. You can

For example, in the case of a ticket vending machine at a station, the longer the average time from displaying the selection screen of the exit station to the touch operation for selecting the exit station on the liquid crystal panel, the longer the selection button of the exit station. The display may be enlarged. This is to facilitate selection of the selection button. Here, the user operation on the automatic transaction apparatus includes the operation of inserting coins and banknotes as well as the selection of buttons. As the time required to shift from one operation to another operation, the time from the insertion of coins into the ticket vending machine to the start of the touch operation on the liquid crystal panel can be considered.

In the automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention, the changing unit may use statistics according to the time.

For example, the statistics may be properly used according to the time zone of the day, or may be used depending on the season and the day of the week. In addition, you may use it properly according to the time of the end of the month, the year-end and New Year holidays, and Bon Festival.

By doing so, it is possible to realize an operation panel that reflects the actual conditions of use according to the time.

The automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention may be provided with a storage unit for storing statistics and a statistics updating unit for updating statistics based on the operation result.

Further, the automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention is connected to an external device for managing statistics by a communication line, and has a transmission unit for transmitting predetermined information used for statistics to the external device according to the operation result. In addition to the provision, the changing unit may acquire the information required to make the change from the external device.

Further, in the control device of the present invention, a receiving unit and a setting are connected to a control device which is connected to a plurality of automatic transaction devices for executing a predetermined transaction based on a user's operation through a network and controls the operation of the automatic transaction device. Section and a control signal transmitting section. The receiving unit receives, from each automatic transaction device, a result of an operation performed by a user on a button provided on the automatic transaction device. The setting unit sets the visual effect that each button gives to the user according to the statistics related to the operation result. The control signal transmission unit transmits a control signal for realizing a visual effect to each automatic transaction device.

The predetermined information transmitted by the automatic transaction device to the control device may be various information depending on the operation result of the button. For example, when the statistic is the frequency of button selection, the information of the selection result may be sequentially transmitted, or the statistical value information of the selection ratio may be transmitted at regular intervals.

By doing so, the visual effect given by the button can be integratedly managed for a plurality of automatic transaction devices. For example, ticket vending machines installed at one station have a certain degree of commonality in actual usage. If buttons of a plurality of ticket vending machines installed at one station are in different modes, the operability is often impaired. According to the control device of the present invention, such a problem can be eliminated.

The control device may realize the same visual effect in all automatic transaction devices, or may realize different visual effects in the automatic transaction devices. For example, in a ticket vending machine at a station, different visual effects may be realized depending on the installed corners.

The present invention can be configured in various modes such as an automatic transaction device and a control device, as well as an automatic transaction device control method and a network-connected automatic transaction device control method. Further, these methods may be configured as a computer program realized by a computer itself or a signal that can be regarded as the same. Furthermore,
You may comprise as a recording medium which recorded these computer programs.

Here, as the storage medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card,
Various computer-readable media such as ROM cartridges, punched cards, printed materials on which codes such as bar codes are printed, internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM) of computers, and external storage devices can be used.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on embodiments of a ticket vending machine and a control server. A. First embodiment (ticket vending machine): A1. Schematic configuration / functional block configuration: A2. Processing: B. Second embodiment (change of button display position): C.I. Third embodiment (change of compartment layout): D. Fourth embodiment (change based on selected time): E. Fifth embodiment (considering operation time): F. Sixth embodiment (integration of multiple terminals):

A. First embodiment (ticket vending machine): A1. Schematic configuration / functional block configuration: FIG. 1 shows a ticket vending machine 1.
It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of 00. The ticket machine 100
It is an automatic transaction device that sells railroad tickets based on an operation performed by a user.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ticket vending machine 100. The ticket vending machine 100 includes a control unit 300 configured as a microcomputer including a CPU and a memory. Control unit 30
0 issues a control signal to the illustrated liquid crystal panel 200 and each unit included in the unit group 110 to control it.

The liquid crystal panel 200 includes a control unit 300.
The selection button is displayed according to the control signal from and the selection result of the user is input. The liquid crystal panel 200 shown in FIG. 1 shows a selection screen for selecting an exit station. For example, the user can select "Yokohama" station as the exit station by touching the selection button 100y.

Each unit of the unit group 110 also receives a control signal from the control unit 300 and executes an operation.
The ticket issuing printer unit 101 prints on the base paper and issues a ticket from the ticket issuing port 101k. Card unit 1
02 reads and writes the magnetism of the card inserted from the card insertion slot 102i and handles it. The coin depositing / dispensing unit 103 receives coins inserted by the user through the coin depositing port 103i, and also returns a predetermined amount of coins to the coin returning port 10.
Return from 3k. The banknote pay-in / pay-out unit 104 handles the pay-in / pay-out at the banknote pay-in / out port 104j in the same manner.

Here, the flow of transactions performed by the ticket vending machine with the user will be described. A user who purchases a ticket inserts a coin from the coin deposit port 103i. Control unit 300
Receives a report of the input amount from the coin deposit / withdrawal unit 103. The user selects an exit station by touching the selection screen of the liquid crystal panel 200 shown in FIG. Upon receiving a touch operation from the liquid crystal panel 200, the control unit 300 causes the ticket issuing printer unit 101 to issue a ticket to the alighting station selected by the user. At the same time, the control unit 300 calculates the change money and causes the coin deposit / withdrawal unit 103 to return it. This allows the user to
A desired ticket can be received from the ticket issuing port 101k, and money for change can be received from the coin return port 103k. As a method of giving and receiving the ticket price, it is possible to insert a prepaid card into the card insertion slot 102i or insert a bill into the bill insertion / exit port 104j.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional block configuration of the ticket vending machine 100. The illustrated functional blocks are configured as software as the functions of the respective control units 300. However, each functional block may be configured by hardware.

The control unit 310 includes a unit processing unit 320,
The panel presenting unit 350 and the changing unit 300 are integratedly controlled. The control unit 310 performs control by acquiring operation information regarding a user operation from the unit processing unit 320 and the panel presenting unit 350. In addition, the control unit 310, the change unit 33.
By inputting operation information to 0, the display storage unit 344 is changed.

The panel presenting section 350 causes the liquid crystal panel 200 to display based on an instruction from the control section 310. The panel presenting unit 350 displays the basic display data stored in the basic display data storage unit 352 with reference to the display mode instruction stored in the display storage unit 344. The panel presentation unit 350 acquires operation information regarding a touch operation performed by the user on the liquid crystal panel 200, and the control unit 310.
To enter.

The unit processing section 320 operates each unit included in the unit group 110 based on an instruction from the control section 310. For example, the coin deposit / withdrawal unit 103 may be used to return the change, or the ticket issuing printer unit 101
To get a ticket issued. In addition, the unit processing unit 32
0 inputs operation information related to operations such as coin insertion performed by the user from the unit group 110 to the control unit 310.

The changing section 330 compiles statistics relating to user operations and stores them in the statistic storage section 342. Change unit 33
0 uses the operation information acquired via the control unit 310 to compile. In addition, the changing unit 330 includes the liquid crystal panel 200.
The display mode in is determined based on statistics. The determination content is stored in the display storage unit 344. The stored contents of the decision are read out and used by the panel presentation unit 350. Although the statistic storage unit 342 and the display storage unit 344 are separately configured in the embodiment, they may be integrally configured.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing statistics. The data configuration is used when the changing unit 330 stores the statistics of the operation information in the statistical storage unit 342. The selection screen shown in FIG. 1 is "Yokohama",
It has six selection buttons: "Atami", "Yonehara", "Kyoto", "Osaka", and "Hakata". The statistic storage unit 342 stores the number of selections of the selection button and the selection ratio (%) in association with these selection buttons.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the display storage unit 344. As shown in the figure, the display storage unit 344 stores the sizes corresponding to the selection buttons in four stages of “maximum”, “large”, “medium”, and “small”. This data is set by the changing unit 330.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the basic display data storage section 352. In the embodiment, the selection button is displayed for each section. The basic display data storage unit 352 stores, for each of the sections A to F, paired data of upper left corner / upper right corner coordinates. Here, the coordinates are the liquid crystal panel 200.
Use the two-dimensional xy coordinates on a. In this embodiment, the sections A to F are stored in association with the selection buttons of Yokohama to Hakata.

Sections A to F stored in the basic display data storage section 352 are sections Ka to K in the liquid crystal panel 200a.
Corresponds to the range of f. The panel presenting unit 350 selects the Yokohama-Hakata selection button from the section K in the liquid crystal panel 200a.
Displayed inside a to Kf, respectively.

The basic display data storage section 352 stores data such as character fonts and images in addition to the display section. For example, the shape of the selection button is stored. The panel presentation unit 350 displays the selection button by enlarging / reducing the shape according to the button size “maximum” to “small”.

A2. Process: FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen. This is the one displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200 by the panel presenting unit 350 while taking into consideration the section (FIG. 5) stored in the basic display data storage unit 352 based on the storage content of the display storage unit 344 (FIG. 4). Is. The panel presentation unit 350 displays the six selection buttons “Yokohama” to “Hakata” in the size corresponding to the size stored in the display storage unit 344 inside the corresponding section.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the ticket issuing process. In step Sa1, the panel presentation unit 350 reads the size of the selection button from the display storage unit 344 and the basic display data from the basic display data storage unit 352.

At step Sa2, the panel presenter 350
Displays the selection screen (FIG. 6) based on the data read in step Sa1.

At step Sa3, the panel presenter 350
Inputs the selection result based on the user's touch operation on the selection button. In step Sa4, the unit processing unit 320 operates each unit included in the unit group 110 based on the selection result. Specifically, the ticket issuing printer unit 101 is caused to issue a ticket, and the coin depositing / dispensing unit 103 and the like are caused to return the change money.

In step Sa5, the changing unit 330 updates the storage contents of the statistic storage unit 342. Specifically, the recorded value of the number of selections of the selected button is incremented by 1.
Also, the record of the selection ratio (%) is calculated and stored.

In step Sa6, the changing unit 330 updates the contents stored in the display storage unit 344. The update content is determined based on the storage content of the statistical storage unit 342. Specifically, the display size of each of the buttons from Yokohama to Hakata is stored in the display storage unit 344. In this embodiment, the selection ratio is 0 to 7%, 7 to 20%, 20 to 30%, 30 to 1
For the selection buttons in the range of 00%, the button sizes are stored as "maximum", "large", "medium", and "small", respectively. However, the upper limit is “less than” in the range of the selection ratio (%), and for example, the range of 0 to 7% is {x | 0
It means a range of ≦ x <7}.

As described above, the ticket vending machine 100 issues a ticket to the user and updates the statistic storage unit 342 by performing the processing in steps Sa1 to Sa5, and the display storage unit 34 is updated.
Changed the memory contents of 4. The change in the stored contents of the display storage unit 344 is read by the process of step Sa1 when the next ticket purchaser appears and performs the ticket issuing process again. In the display process of step Sa2, the selection screen is displayed while reflecting the size of the read button.

According to the ticket vending machine of this embodiment, it is possible to realize a visual effect according to the actual situation of use without complication based on the statistics related to the conventional user operation. Administrators and manufacturers of automated teller machines can avoid the complexity of setting visual effects according to the actual conditions of use.

Modifications of this embodiment will be described below as the second to fifth embodiments. The ticket vending machine according to the second to fifth embodiments is almost the same as the ticket vending machine 100 according to the present embodiment in terms of a schematic configuration, a functional block configuration, processing contents, and the like.
Therefore, the second embodiment to the fifth embodiment will be described focusing on the points different from the present embodiment. In addition, as a sixth embodiment,
An example in the case of integrally controlling a plurality of ticket vending machine terminals will be described.

B. Second embodiment (change of button display position): In the first embodiment, a case is shown in which the size of displaying the selection button is changed according to the average selection ratio (%). In the second embodiment, not only the size of the display but also the correspondence between the selection button and the section in which the selection button should be displayed are changed according to the average selection ratio (%) for display.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing the correspondence between the selection buttons and the sections. In FIG. 8, the display storage unit 344a stores the names A to F of the sections in which the buttons are to be displayed together with the size of each selection button. The partition names A to F indicate one of the partitions stored in the basic display data storage unit 352 (see FIG. 5).

Further, FIG. 8 shows the statistic storage unit 34 in this embodiment.
The data structure used by 2a is also shown. In this embodiment, the statistic storage unit 342a stores the order of the selection rate (%) together with the selection rate (%).

The ticket issuing processing in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. However, the display process in step Sa2 is performed based on the correspondence between the button and the section stored in the display storage unit 344a. In addition, the statistical storage unit 3 in step Sa5
In the storage process of 42a, the rank of the selection ratio (%) is calculated and stored together with the selection ratio (%). Furthermore, in the storage process of the display storage unit 344a in step Sa6,
In addition to changing the size of the buttons, change the display area. Here, sections A, B ... Are designated in descending order of selection ratio (%) based on the order of selection ratio (%). For example, since the selection button "Osaka" has a maximum proportion of 27%, the section A is stored as the section in which the selection button "Osaka" should be displayed.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen in which the arrangement of the selection buttons is changed. Liquid crystal panel 200 shown in FIG.
6 is different from that of the first embodiment (FIG. 6) in the arrangement of the selection buttons. This is because the arrangement is performed based on the section designation stored in the display storage unit 344a. For example, the “Osaka” selection button Sa is displayed in the upper left corner.

C. Third embodiment (change of partition arrangement): In the previous embodiment, the size of the selection button and the partition to be displayed are changed according to the average selection ratio (%). The present embodiment is different from the previous case in that the layout configuration itself of the section displaying the buttons is changed. In this embodiment, the basic display data storage unit stores a plurality of partition arrangements.
In displaying the selection screen, one partition arrangement is selected from the plurality of partition arrangements according to the average selection ratio (%) of each selection button.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a plurality of partition arrangements stored in the basic display data storage section. The liquid crystal panels 200a, 200b, and 200c of FIG. 10 each show three different partition arrangements. Here, the liquid crystal panel 200
The partition layout shown in a is the partition layout shown in FIG. 5, and is composed of partitions Ka to Kf. Similarly, the liquid crystal panel 200
In b and 200c, a divisional arrangement composed of divisions Ta to Tf and divisions Ra to Rf is shown.

FIG. 10 also shows the data structure for storing a plurality of partition arrangements in the basic display data storage section.
The basic display data storage unit stores one set of data for each partition arrangement to be stored. In each data set, a set of data representing each section included in the section arrangement by a pair of upper left / lower right coordinates is stored. In FIG. 10, the liquid crystal panel 200a
.About.200c are shown to indicate the data structure of the corresponding data set. Here, in the present embodiment, the data of each section is given a distinction of size “L” and “S”. Also,
The number of partitions of size L among the partitions included in the partition layout is stored in association with each data set.

Here, the partition of size L is the size "maximum".
Alternatively, it is a section in which the "large" button should be displayed. The section of size S is a section in which a button of size “medium” or “small” should be displayed. For example, the display storage unit 34 shown in FIG.
In the case of specifying the size of 4, the buttons of “Osaka” and “Yokohama” are displayed in the section of size L, and the other four buttons are displayed in the section of size S.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen displayed by changing the partition layout. Liquid crystal panel 2 shown in FIG.
00c is a display by the divisional arrangement shown in the liquid crystal panel 200c of FIG.

Here, the ticket issuing processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the partition arrangement is selected in the display process of step Sa2.
The display is performed based on the selected partition arrangement.

The selection of the section layout is made based on the number of buttons designated as the size "maximum" or "large". For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the number of buttons is “Osaka” and “Yokohama”.
And two. The partition arrangement is selected by selecting a partition arrangement in which the number of such buttons and the number of partitions of size L match. For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the partition arrangement shown in the liquid crystal panel 200c of FIG. 10 is selected. This is because the number of sections of size L is two.

The display based on the selected partition arrangement is performed by pressing the button whose size is designated as "maximum" or "large" with the size L.
It is done by displaying in the section of. In the case of FIG. 4, the buttons for Osaka and Yokohama are displayed in the sections Ra and Rb, respectively. At this time, the display storage unit 344a stores in order of Osaka and Yokohama, and the basic display data storage unit stores sections Ra and R.
Since the data is stored in the order of b, the button for Osaka is displayed in the section Ra and the button for Yokohama is displayed in the section Rb. Further, the button is displayed centering on the position of the center of gravity in each section. It should be noted that the buttons designated as the size “medium” or “small” are also displayed in the section of size S in the same manner as in the above case.

Incidentally, it is desirable that the size L section has such a shape that even if the button is displayed in the "maximum" size, it does not stick out to the outside. Further, it is desirable that the section of size S has a shape of “medium” that does not stick out even if the button is displayed.

D. Fourth embodiment (change based on selection time): In the first to third embodiments, the changing unit sets the size and arrangement of the selection buttons to the selection ratio (%) of the buttons.
Had to change accordingly. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which, after the display of the selection screen is started, the user makes a change according to the average time until the user operates the selection button included in the display.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the selection time.
FIG. 12 shows the timing of processing from the state where the initial screen Gb1 is displayed until the ticket is issued based on the user operation. The selection time will be described with reference to FIG.

At timing Sb1, the initial screen is displayed. The user receives the coin deposit opening 10 at the timing Sb2.
By issuing money from 3i, the ticket vending machine starts the ticket issuing process. At timing Sb3, the display of the selection screen Gb3 of the alighting station is started in response to the coin insertion. At timing Sb4, the user specifies the exit station by touching the selection button. At timing Sb5, ticket issuing processing is performed and the end screen Gb5 is displayed. The selection time refers to a period from when the display of the selection screen Gb3 is started at the timing Sb3 until the touch operation on the selection button is performed at the timing Sb4.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing the average selection time. In this embodiment, the statistical storage unit 342
The c stores the average value of the selection time related to the previous selection for each selection button.

In the present embodiment, in the input process corresponding to step Sa3 in FIG. 7, the selection time is input together with the selection result. In updating the statistic storage unit 342c in step Sa5, the average selection time is updated instead of updating the selection ratio. In the update process of the display storage unit 344c in step Sa6, the size of the button is changed and stored based on the average selection time. "Small" in the range of 0 to 7 seconds, "Medium" in the range of 7 to 20 seconds, 20
"Large" in the range of 30 seconds, "Maximum" in the range of 30 seconds or more
Memorize

It is also possible to change and store the size of the button based on both the average selection time and the selection ratio (%). In that case, the statistic storage unit 342c stores both the average selection time and the selection ratio (%). Further, both data are updated in the process in step Sa5 of FIG. Thereby, in step Sa6, the size of the button display can be determined based on both the average selection time and the selection ratio (%).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the selection time and the selection ratio range and the button size. In the process in step Sa6, the size of the button display can be determined by using this association. Figure 10
According to the correspondence shown in, for example, the average operation time is 25 seconds,
For the buttons stored in the statistic storage unit and the average selection count of 10%, the size “large” is stored in the display storage unit and designated.

E. Fifth embodiment (considering operation time): Next, as a fifth embodiment, a case where statistics are used properly according to time will be described. It should be noted that the present embodiment also shows a modification of the hardware configuration of the ticket vending machine. First, the hardware configuration of the ticket vending machine used in this embodiment is shown. After that, the case where the statistics are used properly according to the time will be described.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the schematic construction of the ticket vending machine. The ticket vending machine 500 is an automatic transaction device that sells railroad tickets based on an operation performed by a user, like the ticket vending machines in the previous embodiments. However, it differs from the ticket vending machine in the previous embodiment in that the purchase amount is selected by pressing the selection switch provided on the switch panel 510. The switch panel 510 is an operation panel having a plurality of switch buttons. The user can select a ticket of 260 yen by pressing the selection switch 511, for example.

The switch panel 510 has a function of changing the display color of the selection switch and highlighting it. In FIG. 14, the highlighting of the selection switch is schematically shown by hatching. The highlighting is based on the color of the LED provided in each switch mechanism.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure used when statistics are selectively used according to operation time. The statistic storage unit 342d and the display storage unit 344d each use the data structure shown in FIG. These display contents are used to change the display color of the selection switch.

In the statistic storage unit 342d shown in FIG.
The case is shown in which three sets of data sets are retained for each of the hours, 9 to 17:00, and 17:00 to 22:00. The content of each data set itself ranges from 200 yen to 27 yen, as in the previous embodiment.
The number of selections and the selection ratio (%) are stored for each selection switch of 0 yen.

The display storage unit 344d also holds three types of data sets depending on the time zone in which it is used. The content of each data set itself stores the display mode for each selection switch, as in the case of the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, the display modes are “emphasized” and “normal”.
There are two types.

In the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in the updating process of the display storage unit 344d in step Sa6, if the selection ratio (%) exceeds the "threshold value", "emphasized" is not exceeded, Memorize "normal". Here, the "threshold value" differs for each time zone. Further, the access to the display storage unit 344d in steps Sa1 and Sa6 and the access to the statistical storage unit 342d in step Sa5 are performed on the data set according to the time zone in which the processing is performed.

According to the ticket vending machine of this embodiment, it is possible to realize an operation panel that reflects the actual conditions of use depending on the time.

Regarding the color display of the selection switch,
The highlighting may be performed using LEDs of a plurality of colors. For example, red highlighting and blue highlighting may be used to selectively use different visual effects.

In this embodiment, the case where the statistics are used properly according to the time zone of the day has been illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, it may be used properly depending on the morning and afternoon, the season, and the day of the week. Further, it may be selectively used depending on whether it is one day or several days such as the end of the month, whether it is the year-end and New Year holidays, or the like.

Next, a modification of the purchase quantity selection panel 530 will be described. Purchase quantity selection panel 53 in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 is an operation panel configured by providing a plurality of switch buttons similarly to the switch panel 510. In the embodiment, the case where the data sets are selectively used according to the time zone has been illustrated, but it is also possible to selectively use a plurality of data sets according to the number of purchased sheets.

In the ticket issuing process of this modification, if the purchase number selection switch is operated before the disembarking station is selected in step Sa3 of FIG. 7, the display process of steps Sa1 to Sa2 is performed again according to the selection result. To do.

According to the ticket vending machine of this modification, it is possible to realize an operation panel that reflects the actual state of use according to the number of purchased tickets.

Note that it is conceivable that the ticket vending machine 100 having a liquid crystal panel may also be selected for the number of purchases.
At this time, it is possible to change the display mode of the alighting station selection button based on the selection result of the purchase number.

It is also conceivable that an LED may be attached to the purchase quantity selection panel 530 to highlight the switch. In such a case, the same variation as that of the highlighted display on the switch panel 510 can be considered.

F. Sixth embodiment (integration of multiple terminals): FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a system that integrates a plurality of ticket vending machine terminals. This system is a ticket vending machine terminal 900,900
A ticket vending machine terminal group shown in a and a control server 800 that integrally controls these terminal groups are connected by a network LAN. Here, the network LAN may be a wide area network such as the Internet or a limited network such as an intranet. The ticket vending machine terminals 900 and 900a are examples of the ticket vending machine terminal group, and the control server 800 may control three or more ticket vending machine terminals. In addition, one ticket vending machine terminal 900
The following description will be made by taking as an example the ticket vending machine terminal 900a.
The same applies to the above.

The ticket vending machine terminal 900, like the ticket vending machine of the first embodiment, is an automatic transaction device that sells railroad tickets based on an operation performed by the user. The ticket vending machine terminal 900 acquires the control data related to the display mode of the selection screen by sending the operation information to the control server 800. The ticket vending machine terminal 900
A selection screen is displayed based on the control data. In addition,
Here, the operation information sent to the control server 800 includes various kinds of information regarding a user operation such as a touch operation on the liquid crystal panel, similar to the operation information in the previous embodiment.

The control server 800 is a ticket vending machine terminal 900,
It has a function of communicating with 900a to obtain operation information and returning control data related to the display mode of the selection screen. It should be noted that in the embodiment, the description is given assuming that a common display mode is instructed to all ticket vending machine terminals, but the present invention is not limited to this case. Different instructions may be given to each unit, or different instructions may be given to certain groups.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional block configuration in a system relating to a plurality of terminals. Ticket vending machine terminal 9
00 includes a control unit 950 configured as a microcomputer including a CPU and a memory. The functional block of the ticket vending machine terminal 900 shown in the figure is configured as software as a function of the control unit 950.

The control server 800 and the ticket vending machine terminal 90
The functional block with 0 may be configured by hardware. Further, the liquid crystal panel 90 in the ticket vending machine terminal 900
1 and the unit group 902 are the same as those described in the previous embodiments.

The ticket vending machine terminal 900 acquires the control data, displays the selection screen, and sends the operation information to the control server 800. The control data receiving unit 951 receives the control data and stores it in the display storage unit 952. The display storage unit 952 stores control data. The display storage unit 952 stores control data by using the same data structure as the display storage unit in the previous embodiment. The basic display data storage unit 953 and the panel presenting unit 954 are the same as those in the previous embodiment. The panel presenting unit 954 performs display on the liquid crystal panel 901 by taking into consideration the storage content of the basic display data storage unit 953 based on the control data stored in the display storage unit 952. The operation information transmission unit 955 acquires information on the user's touch operation from the liquid crystal panel 901. In addition, operation information such as coin insertion by the user is acquired from the unit group 902. The operation information transmission unit 955 transmits the operation information to the control server 800.
To send.

In the control server 800, the operation information receiving section 851 acquires the operation information. The setting unit 852 compiles the statistics related to the operation information and stores it in the statistic storage unit 854, similarly to the changing unit 330 in the previous embodiment. The statistic storage unit 854 has the same data structure as the statistic storage unit in the previous embodiment. Further, the setting unit 852 is similar to the changing unit 330 in the previous embodiment, and the ticket vending machine terminal 9
The display mode of 00 on the liquid crystal panel 901 is determined based on the stored contents of the statistical storage unit 854. The control data transmission unit 853 composes control data based on the determined display mode and sends the control data to the ticket vending machine terminal 900.

Here, the control server 800 may integrate the operation information from the ticket vending machine terminal 900 and the operation information from the ticket vending machine terminal 900a and store one statistic in the statistic storage unit 854. The statistics related to the operation information from the machine terminal 900 and the statistics related to the operation information from the ticket vending machine terminal 900a may be stored separately.

Note that in the control server 800, the display mode determination process performed by the setting unit 852 can be performed in various modes including those described in the previous embodiments. Further, in the ticket vending machine terminal 900, the operation information transmitting unit 955.
Various cases can be considered as the mode of the operation information sent by the user and the mode of the display performed by the panel presentation unit 954 based on the control data. For example, the control server 800 may send control data that specifies the size, arrangement, and color of the buttons according to the operation time.

According to the integrated system of a plurality of terminals in the present embodiment, the visual effect given by the button can be integratedly managed for a plurality of ticket vending machine terminals. For example, the ticket vending machine terminals installed at one station have a certain degree of commonality in actual usage. If the mode of the buttons of a plurality of ticket vending machine terminals installed at one station is careless, the operability is often impaired. According to the integrated system of the present invention,
This problem can be eliminated.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the above processing may be realized not only by software but also by hardware.

[0102]

By utilizing statistics in this way,
The visual effect can be changed by reflecting the actual state of each button being used, and the convenience of the automatic transaction device can be improved. Further, by controlling the operation of the plurality of automatic transaction devices, the visual effect given by the button can be integratedly managed among the plurality of automatic transaction devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a ticket vending machine.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional block configuration of a ticket vending machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing statistics.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a data configuration of a display storage unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of a basic display data storage unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a ticket issuing process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing correspondence between selection buttons and display sections.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation panel that displays a selection screen in which the arrangement of selection buttons is changed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a plurality of partition arrangements stored in a basic display data storage unit.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen displayed by changing the partition layout.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing selected times.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure for storing an average selection time.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing association between selection time and selection ratio ranges and button sizes.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the schematic configuration of the ticket vending machine.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a data configuration used when statistics are used properly according to operation time.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a system that integrates a plurality of ticket vending machine terminals.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional block configuration in a system related to a plurality of terminals.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Ticket vending machine 100y ... Select button 101 ... Ticket issuing printer unit 102 ... Card unit 103 ... Coin deposit / withdrawal unit 104 ... Banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 110 ... Unit group 101k ... Ticketing outlet 102i ... card insertion slot 103i ... coin deposit slot 103k ... coin return slot 104j ... Banknote entry / exit 200 ... Liquid crystal panel 300 ... Control unit 310 ... Control unit 320 ... Unit processing unit 330 ... Change unit 342 ... Statistics storage unit 344 ... Display storage unit 350 ... Panel presentation unit 352 ... Basic display data storage unit 200a, 200b, 200c ... Liquid crystal panel 342a ... Statistics storage unit 344a ... Display storage unit Sa ... Selection button 342c ... Statistics storage unit 344c ... Display storage unit 500 ... Ticket vending machine 510 ... switch panel 511 ... Selection switch 530 ... Purchase quantity selection panel 342d ... Statistics storage unit 344d ... Display storage unit Ka, Kb, Kc, Kd, Ke, Kf ... Section Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf ... Section 900, 900a ... Ticket vending machine terminal 800 ... Control server 850 ... Control unit 851 ... Operation information receiving unit 852 ... Setting unit 853 ... Control data transmitter 854 ... Statistics storage unit 902 ... Unit group 951 ... Control data receiving unit 952 ... Display storage unit 953 ... Basic display data storage unit 954 ... Panel presentation unit 955 ... Operation information transmission unit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G07B 5/00 G07B 5/00 D G07F 9/02 102 G07F 9/02 102 F term (reference) 3E026 AA02 AA03 CA06 3E040 BA07 FJ02 FJ05 FJ06 3E044 AA02 BA01 BA02 BA04 EA01 EB01 5B087 AA09 AB04 DD09 DD14 DE01 5E501 AA09 BA05 BA06 BA09 EA10 FA03 FB26

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An automatic transaction apparatus that executes a predetermined transaction based on an operation performed by a user, wherein a panel presenting section that presents an operation panel including a button that the user selects at the time of transaction, and an operation result of the button. An automatic transaction device comprising: an input unit for inputting the following, and a changing unit for changing a visual effect given to the user by each of the buttons based on predetermined statistics related to the user's operation. 2. The automatic transaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes at least one of size, color and arrangement of the buttons. 3. The automatic transaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the statistic is a frequency of selection of the button, and the changing unit enhances a visual effect of a button of which selection frequency is high. . 4. The automatic transaction device according to claim 1, wherein the statistic is a statistic relating to a time required from a user's one operation to another operation during a transaction, and the changing unit. Is an automatic transaction device that enhances the visual effect of the button having the long required time. 5. The automatic transaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit selectively uses the statistics according to time. 6. The automatic transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit that stores the statistics, and a statistics update unit that updates the statistics based on the operation result. 7. The automatic transaction device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic transaction device is connected to an external device that manages the statistics by a communication line, and predetermined information used for the statistics is provided in accordance with the operation result. An automatic transaction device, comprising: a transmission unit for transmitting to the external device, wherein the changing unit acquires information required to make the change from the external device. 8. A method of controlling an automatic transaction apparatus that executes a predetermined transaction based on a user operation, the step of presenting an operation panel having a button that the user selects at the time of transaction, and the operation result of the button. A method comprising the steps of inputting and changing the visual effect each button has on a user based on predetermined statistics associated with the user's operation. 9. A predetermined transaction based on a user operation,
A computer program for causing a computer to provide an interface for a user to operate, a function of presenting an operation panel provided with a button that the user selects during a transaction, and a function of inputting an operation result of the button, A computer program for causing the computer to realize a function of changing a visual effect given to the user by each button based on a predetermined statistic related to the user's operation. 10. A plurality of automatic transaction devices that execute a predetermined transaction based on a user's operation are connected through a network,
A control device for controlling the operation of the automatic transaction device, the receiving unit receiving from each of the automatic transaction devices a result of an operation performed by a user on a button provided on the automatic transaction device; And a control signal transmitting unit for transmitting a control signal for realizing the visual effect to each of the automated teller machines, in accordance with a statistic related to Control device. 11. A method for controlling the operation of a plurality of automatic transaction apparatuses that execute a predetermined transaction based on a user's operation by using a computer connected to the automatic transaction apparatuses via a network, wherein From the transaction device, a step of receiving an operation result performed by a user with respect to a button provided on the automatic transaction device, and a visual effect of each button given to the user in accordance with statistics related to the operation result. A method comprising the steps of: setting, and transmitting a control signal for realizing the visual effect to each of the automated teller machines. 12. A computer program for controlling the operation of a plurality of automatic transaction apparatuses that execute a predetermined transaction based on a user's operation by a computer connected to the automatic transaction apparatus via a network, wherein The function of receiving from the transaction device the result of the operation performed by the user on the button provided on the automatic transaction device, and the visual effect that each button has on the user according to the statistics related to the operation result. A computer program for causing the computer to realize a function of setting and a function of transmitting a control signal for realizing the visual effect to each of the automated teller machines. 13. A computer-readable recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 9 is recorded.