JP2004126662A - Prize providing method using vending machine, and vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize providing method using a vending machine, and a vending machine that can increase amusement and expect an improvement in sales. <P>SOLUTION: A host computer sends a plurality of keywords to each vending machine 100. When a customer purchases an article with the use of an IC card 400, the keyword corresponding to each vending machine 100 is recorded on the IC card 400. If all the keywords are recorded on the IC card 400, the vending machine 100 provides the customer with a stored article as a prize. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine connected to a host computer via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, various methods have been proposed to promote the sale of products of vending machines. For example, a method has been proposed in which a vending machine is provided with a lottery device such as a roulette, and when a product is purchased, another product is provided as a prize to a person who has won the lottery device (for example, Patent Documents). 1). Further, a method of providing a magnetic card reading / writing device in a vending machine, adding points to the magnetic card every time a product is sold, and providing another product as a prize when a predetermined number of points is achieved. It has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2). In this way, sales promotion is promoted by giving a kind of entertainment to a vending machine.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-086103 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-259898 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a trader who sells goods using vending machines generally manages a plurality of vending machines scattered in various places. The sales of each vending machine vary greatly depending on the installation location and the like, and a trader expects an increase in sales of vending machines with particularly low sales when promoting sales.
[0005]
However, in the above method, if a lottery device or the like is provided in a vending machine with low sales, an increase in sales in the vending machine can be expected, but sales of other vending machines may decrease accordingly. . That is, even if a lottery device or the like is provided in a vending machine, an increase in sales in the vending machine can only be expected, and the overall sales improvement is entirely due to the entertainment of the lottery device or the like. Therefore, in recent years, there has been a demand for a vending machine having more entertaining properties than the conventional lottery apparatus.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a prize providing method and a vending machine using a vending machine which is highly entertaining and can be expected to improve the number of sales. It is in.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for providing a prize to a customer who purchases a product a plurality of times from a vending machine, the method comprising indicating that the product has been purchased and having a plurality of different product purchases. The information is prepared in advance, and when the vending machine sells the product to the customer, the host connected to the recording medium such as an IC card owned by the customer or an acquisition status storage device provided in the vending machine or a network. One of the plurality of merchandise purchase information is recorded on the computer, and the acquisition status of the merchandise purchase information recorded on the recording medium or the acquisition status storage device or the host computer satisfies a predetermined condition. In this case, a prize can be provided to the customer.
[0008]
According to the present invention, each time a customer purchases a product, one of a plurality of product purchase information is recorded on a recording medium, an acquisition status storage device, or a host computer of the customer. Then, when the acquisition status of the product purchase information becomes a predetermined condition, a prize can be provided to the customer. That is, the vending machine needs to purchase the product a plurality of times in order for the customer to obtain the prize, so that the sales of the product can be promoted. When managing the product purchase information in the acquisition status storage device or the host computer, it is possible to manage each customer by using identification information uniquely identifying the recording medium read from the recording medium.
[0009]
As a method of providing the prize, the vending machine may provide stored goods as a prize. If the host computer manages product purchase information for each customer, it also manages each customer's personal information, such as name and address, so that prizes can be given to the customer from sellers. It can send and provide various services.
[0010]
As an example of a preferred embodiment, one product purchase information is associated with each of a plurality of vending machines in advance, and each vending machine stores the plurality of product purchase information in a distribution information storage device. When each vending machine sells a product to a customer, the vending machine stores the product purchase information corresponding to itself among the product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device in the recording medium or the acquisition status storage device or the host computer. To be recorded.
[0011]
In this way, in order for the customer to obtain a prize, it is necessary to purchase the product at a plurality of vending machines, so that sales promotion of vending machines with low sales can be achieved. That is, a kind of stamp rally using a vending machine can be performed.
[0012]
Further, as an example of another preferred embodiment, each vending machine previously stores the plurality of product purchase information in a distribution information storage device, and each vending machine sells a product to a customer. Randomly selecting one product purchase information from a plurality of product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device, and recording the product purchase information in the recording medium, the acquisition status storage device, or the host computer. No.
[0013]
As a result, the product purchase information recorded for each product becomes random, so that the number of product sales until the prize providing condition is satisfied increases. That is, sales promotion of vending machines can be achieved.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(First Embodiment)
A prize providing method using the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a vending machine network system.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of (four in FIG. 1) vending machines 100 installed at various locations are connected to a host computer 200 via a network 300. I have. Each vending machine 100 can purchase products without cash using an IC card 400 that also functions as an electronic wallet. The host computer 200 can communicate with each vending machine 100 via the network 300, and centrally manages data such as sales information in each vending machine 100.
[0016]
First, the conditions for providing a prize in the present embodiment will be described. The target of the prize is a customer who owns the IC card 400. The prize can be provided when the customer has acquired all of a plurality of (in the present embodiment, four) keywords prepared in advance (here, four keywords A, B, C, and D). A customer acquires a keyword every time a product is purchased in a vending machine. Each vending machine 100 provides a predetermined one of the plurality of keywords to the customer. In other words, the customer satisfies the condition of prize provision by purchasing a product at all vending machines 100 and obtaining a keyword. That is, in the present embodiment, a game such as a kind of stamp rally using the vending machine 100 is executed.
[0017]
Next, a control system of the vending machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the vending machine. FIG. 2 shows only the essential parts of the present invention for simplification of the description.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 100 includes a card reader / writer (hereinafter, referred to as a card R / W) 110 for reading and writing information without contact with an IC card 400, and a card R / W 110. A main control device 120 for controlling the product and the product unloading device 130, etc., a network 140 for connecting the devices, and a communication device 150 for connecting the main control device 120 and the host computer 200 via the network 300 are provided.
[0019]
The card R / W 110 functions as an antenna 111, a card R / W control unit 112 that controls reading and writing of data with the IC card 400, a communication control unit 113 that is an interface with the network 140, and an electronic wallet. A payment control unit 114 that performs payment processing of the IC card 400 and a payment data holding unit 115 that holds payment data are provided. FIG. 3 shows an example of the payment data stored in the payment data storage unit 115. As shown in FIG. 3, the payment data includes a card ID as identification information of the IC card 400, an ID of the card R / W 110, date and time, a payment amount, and the like. These payment data are periodically sent to the computer (not shown) of the operator of the electronic money via the network 300 and the host computer 200.
[0020]
The main control unit 120 cooperates with the communication control unit 121 which is an interface with the network 140, the card R / W 110, a product selection button (not shown), a coin identification device (not shown), a product unloading device 130, and the like. The system includes a sales control unit 122 for controlling product sales by moving the product, a sales information database 123 for storing sales information, and a distribution keyword storage unit 124 for storing keywords received from the host computer 200.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows an example of sales information held in the sales information database 123. As shown in FIG. 4, the sale information includes a date and time, a product code, and a card ID in the case of sale by an IC card. The distribution keyword storage unit 124 stores all keywords (four, A, B, C, and D in this embodiment) and stores information indicating which keyword among a plurality of keywords is to be distributed. are doing.
[0022]
Next, the data format of the IC card 400 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the IC card 400 includes a card ID as identification information, information on electronic money, and information on a prize. Information about electronic money is managed by a company that manages electronic money, and information about sweepstakes is managed by the system according to the present embodiment. The electronic money information includes the balance and the like. In addition, the prize information includes a keyword already acquired by the customer.
[0023]
Next, a prize providing method using the present system will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0024]
First, the host computer 200 transmits to each vending machine 100 all the keywords and information on which keywords among the keywords the vending machines should distribute (step S1). Each vending machine 100 stores the received information in the distribution keyword holding unit 124.
[0025]
When the customer presents the IC card 400 at a position readable by the card R / W 110, each vending machine 100 reads the remaining amount of electronic money and the keyword already acquired by the customer from the IC card 400, and reads the information. The remaining balance and the number of keywords are displayed on a display device (not shown) (step S2). Then, the read keyword is compared with the keyword stored in the distribution keyword holding unit 124 (step S3). If all the keywords are present in the IC card 400, the prize is provided to the customer. The process proceeds to steps S7 to S10 described below.
[0026]
If all the keywords have not been recorded on the IC card 400, that is, if the customer has not yet acquired all the keywords, a sales process for performing settlement using the IC card 400 is performed (step S4). Specifically, for a product that can be purchased with the remaining amount of the IC card 400, a sellable lamp attached to the product selection button is turned on. Then, when the customer presses the product selection button, the product controlling device 130 is controlled to carry out the corresponding product. Next, the commodity price is subtracted from the balance of the IC card 400. The sales information relating to the sale of the product is stored in the sales information database 123 and is periodically transmitted to the host computer 200. In addition, the payment data of the IC card 300 is stored in the payment data holding unit 115 and is periodically transmitted to a computer of an electronic money operator.
[0027]
Next, it is checked whether the keywords read from the IC card 400 include keywords to be distributed to customers among the keywords stored in the distribution keyword storage unit 124 (step S5). Adds the keyword to the IC card 400 (step S6). According to the above steps, when a product is purchased at each vending machine 100, a keyword corresponding to the vending machine is recorded on the IC card 400 of the customer.
[0028]
On the other hand, the case where all keywords are recorded on the IC card 400 in the step S3 will be described. In this case, since the prize providing condition is satisfied, the stored product is provided free of charge as a prize. Specifically, the sellable lamp of the product to be provided is turned on (step S7). When the customer selects the product (step S8), all the acquired keywords recorded on the IC card 400 are deleted (step S8). S9), controlling the product unloading device 130 to unload the product (Step S10).
[0029]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, each time a customer purchases a product using the IC card 400 at the vending machine 100, a keyword corresponding to the vending machine 100 is recorded on the IC card 400. . Then, when all the keywords are recorded on the IC card 400, the stored goods of the vending machine 100 can be provided as prize products. As a result, a so-called stamp rally can be provided to the customer, so that sales promotion can be achieved. In particular, in the present embodiment, since it is a condition of the prize providing that all the products of the plurality of vending machines 100 are purchased, it is possible to guide the customer to the vending machine 100 with less sales.
[0030]
(Second embodiment)
A prize providing method using a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the vending machine. In FIG. 7, for the sake of simplicity, only the gist of the present invention is shown, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0031]
This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the keywords acquired by each customer are not only recorded on the IC card 400 but also managed by the host computer 200. Incidentally, communication between each vending machine 100 and the host computer 200 is often performed once a day in order to reduce communication costs. Therefore, the vending machine 100 according to the present embodiment records the keyword acquisition status recorded on the IC card 400 in the keyword acquisition status holding unit 125 for each product sale using the IC card 400. At this time, data management in the keyword acquisition status holding unit 125 may be managed for each card ID of the IC card 400. Then, when communication between the vending machine 100 and the host computer 200 is performed, the data of the keyword acquisition status holding unit 125 is transmitted to the host computer 200, so that the host computer 200 provides each customer with (each card ID) (Every time) Keyword acquisition status can be centrally managed. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0032]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the keyword acquisition status can be managed for each customer in the host computer 200, and thus the acquisition status can be provided to each customer using a network such as the Internet. In addition, the prize provider can provide various prizes, such as mailing a prize product, instead of providing goods by a vending machine as in the first embodiment. Other effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, since the communication between the vending machine 100 and the host computer 200 is performed periodically without linking to the sales timing of the product, the keyword acquisition status holding unit 125 is provided. If the communication can be performed in real time, the acquisition status may be recorded in the host computer 200 when the product is sold without providing the holding unit 125.
[0034]
The first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the customer acquires all the keywords prepared in advance as the prize providing conditions. However, for example, acquiring a predetermined number of keywords or more, or acquiring a specific keyword, Various conditions can be set according to the content of the prize, such as not requiring the acquisition of a keyword.
[0035]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the keyword provided by each vending machine is only one keyword corresponding to the vending machine among the plurality of keywords, but a plurality of keywords are provided. Is also good. In this case, for example, one may randomly extract one of a plurality of keywords and provide the keyword.
[0036]
Further, by recording the number of prize offerings on an IC card or a host computer, the number of prize offerings to one customer may be limited. Further, when a keyword is distributed from a host computer to a vending machine, information on a prize providing period may be transmitted, and each vending machine may perform the above operation only during the prize providing period.
[0037]
Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an IC card having an IC chip has been exemplified as a recording medium possessed by a customer, but the present invention is not limited to this. In recent years, IC chips can be mounted on various devices due to the miniaturization of IC chips, and devices mounted with these IC chips may be used as recording media. For example, a mobile phone or a PDA terminal equipped with an IC chip is exemplified. Further, the communication between the recording medium and the vending machine may be a contact type or a non-contact type. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the IC card functioning as an electronic wallet has been described as an example. However, the IC card may not have the function of the electronic wallet.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, each time a customer purchases a product, one of a plurality of product purchase information is recorded on a recording medium, an acquisition status storage device, or a host computer of the customer. . Then, when the acquisition status of the product purchase information becomes a predetermined condition, a prize can be provided to the customer. That is, the vending machine needs to purchase the product a plurality of times in order for the customer to obtain the prize, so that the sales of the product can be promoted. In addition, since it has a kind of game characteristic that a plurality of merchandise purchase information must be collected, entertainment is high, customer attraction is increased, and sales promotion can be promoted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a vending machine network system. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of a vending machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of payment data. FIG. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a data format of an IC card. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a prize providing method. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of a vending machine.
100 vending machine, 110 card reader / writer, 111 antenna, 112 card R / W controller, 113 communication controller, 114 settlement controller, 120 main controller, 121 communication controller, 122 ... Sales control unit, 123 ... Sales information database, 124 ... Distribution keyword holding unit, 125 ... Keyword acquisition status holding unit, 130 ... Product unloading device, 200 ... Host computer, 300 ... Network, 400 ... IC card

Claims (10)

A method of providing prizes to customers who make multiple purchases from a vending machine,
Preparing a plurality of different product purchase information indicating that the product was purchased and different from each other in advance,
When a vending machine sells a product to a customer, the vending machine is connected to a recording medium such as an IC card owned by the customer or an acquisition status storage device provided in the vending machine or a host computer connected via a network. Record one item of product purchase information,
A vending machine capable of providing a prize to the customer when the acquisition status of the product purchase information recorded in the recording medium, the acquisition status storage device, or the host computer satisfies a predetermined condition. Sweepstakes providing method using In advance, one product purchase information is associated with each of a plurality of vending machines, and each vending machine stores the plurality of product purchase information in a distribution information storage device,
Each vending machine, when selling a product to a customer, stores the product purchase information corresponding to itself among the product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device in the recording medium or the acquisition status storage device or the host computer. 2. A method for providing a prize using a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the prize is recorded. In advance, each vending machine stores the plurality of product purchase information in the distribution information storage device,
Each vending machine randomly selects one piece of product purchase information from a plurality of pieces of product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device when selling a product to a customer, and records the product purchase information in the record. 2. The prize providing method using a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the prize is recorded in a medium, an acquisition status storage device, or a host computer. 4. The prize providing method using a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the commodity purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device is received from a host computer. The prize providing method using a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each vending machine provides a stored product as a prize product to a customer under predetermined conditions. In a vending machine equipped with a sales control device for controlling sales of products stored in a product storage section,
A read / write device for reading / writing information from / to a recording medium such as an IC card owned by a customer;
A communication device that communicates with a host computer via a network;
A distribution information storage device storing at least one or more product purchase information indicating that the product has been purchased,
The sales control device distributes the distribution to a recording medium such as an IC card owned by the customer or an acquisition status storage device provided in a vending machine or a host computer connected via a network when selling the product to the customer. A vending machine comprising recording means for recording one item of product purchase information among product purchase information stored in an information storage device. In advance, one product purchase information is associated with each of a plurality of vending machines,
The recording means records product purchase information corresponding to itself from the plurality of product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device in the recording medium, the acquisition status storage device, or a host computer. 6. The vending machine according to 6. The recording means randomly selects one piece of product purchase information from a plurality of pieces of product purchase information stored in the distribution information storage device, and stores the product purchase information in the recording medium or the acquisition status storage device or the host computer. 7. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the vending machine records. 9. The vending machine according to claim 6, further comprising means for receiving product purchase information from a host computer using the communication device and storing the product purchase information in the distribution information storage device. The sales control device provides stored products to the customer when the acquisition status of the product purchase information recorded in the recording medium, the acquisition status storage device, or the host computer satisfies a predetermined condition. The vending machine according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein

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