JP2004246427A - Portable voting terminal device and portable image reading/printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which permits more persons to vote using voting cards without increasing a counter, a vending machine and the like. <P>SOLUTION: An HHT 10 recognizes the description of a vote from image data of a voting card B read with an R/P unit 20, and makes a request of a server 32 for voting based on the recognized description of the vote via an access point 33 and a communication network 31. If the server 32 accepts the request, the HHT 10 makes the R/P unit 20 print a receipt R as a voting ticket. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for enabling a voter to use a voting card to vote on a race result of a race competition such as a horse race or a bicycle race.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Race competitions represented by horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and auto racing are widely enjoyed as one type of entertainment. In such competitions, betting tickets can be purchased in anticipation of the race results. As a result, there are many people who enjoy it as a betting object.
[0003]
Heretofore, voting tickets have been purchased by filling in a voting card for voting with a bet type, a race result expected to be won by the bet type, and a voting amount. However, at present, by registering as a member, a terminal device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer (PC) can perform voting without cash via a communication network.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-015348 A [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If a voting card is used, voting must be performed at a polling counter or vending machine. However, the places where they are installed and the number of them are limited. There are usually many votes for the race nearing the deadline, such as the next race. The time between races is not very long. Many people actually watch the race. For this reason, it is common for many people seeking voting during the race to flood the counters and vending machines. For this reason, many people are unable to meet the deadline for voting.
[0006]
In voting using a terminal device such as a mobile phone, unlike a counter or vending machine, it does not have to be lined up. For this reason, there is no chance that you will not be able to meet the deadline because you wait until your turn comes. However, the voting requires complicated operations. For this reason, those who are accustomed to voting with a voting card and those who think that complicated operations are troublesome tend to be avoided. From the viewpoint of considering such people, it is considered important that more people can vote using the voting card.
[0007]
As a matter of course, by increasing the number of tellers and vending machines, more people can use a voting card to vote in a shorter time. However, the cost for that is enormous. The number of voting people (purchasing voting tickets) varies greatly depending on the race, the date of the event, and the like, and existing counters and vending machines are often sufficient to respond. For this reason, it is also important to make it possible for more people to vote using a voting card without increasing such items.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for enabling more people to vote using a voting card without increasing the number of tellers and vending machines.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The portable voting terminal device according to the first to third aspects of the present invention is used to enable a voter to use a voting card to vote on a result of a race event such as a horse race or a bicycle race. It is assumed that the following means are provided.
[0010]
The portable voting terminal device according to the first aspect provides an image reading means for reading an image on a voting card and an external device connected via a communication network to a voter from an image read by the image reading means. It comprises voting request means for requesting voting with the voting content entered on the voting card, and voting content printing means for printing and outputting the voting content of the voting requested by the voting request means.
[0011]
A portable voting terminal device according to a second aspect, in addition to the configuration according to the first aspect, further includes: a voting content display unit that requests voting request means or displays voting content of the requested voting; Operating means for changing the voting content displayed by the voting device, and the voting request means can request the external device to vote with the voting content changed by operating the operating means. .
[0012]
The portable voting terminal device according to a third aspect further includes, in addition to the configuration according to the first or second aspect, information reading means for reading identification information for identifying a voter recorded on a recording medium. The voting request means, when requesting a voting, transmits the identification information read by the information reading means to an external device for collecting a price associated with the voting.
[0013]
The portable voting terminal device according to any one of the first to third aspects includes, on the portable terminal device, a reading unit that reads an image on a voting card, and a printing unit that prints and outputs voting contents. And a portable image reading and printing device connected thereto.
[0014]
A portable image reading and printing device according to the present invention is a portable device that can be used by connecting to a portable terminal device, and includes an image reading unit that can read an image formed on a medium, And a control means for communicating with the portable terminal device and controlling the image reading means and the printing means.
[0015]
A portable voting terminal device of the present invention reads an image on a voting card, requests an external device connected via a communication network to vote on the voting content entered on the voting card, and Print and output the contents. Thus, by using the voting terminal device, more people can vote using the voting card without increasing the number of counters and vending machines.
[0016]
If you request or change the voting content of the requested voting, and if you can request the external device to vote with the changed voting content, promptly and appropriately It is possible to respond. When reading identification information for identifying a voter recorded on a recording medium and requesting a vote, if the identification information is transmitted to an external device, a cashless vote is possible.
[0017]
The portable image reading and printing apparatus according to the present invention can control reading of an image formed on a medium and printing on a recording medium while communicating with an external device such as a portable terminal device. It is. Thereby, it is possible to read a voting card and print a voting ticket.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a portable voting terminal device (hereinafter abbreviated as “voting terminal device”) according to the present embodiment.
[0019]
The voting terminal device is supposed to be used for selling a voting ticket using a voting card, carried by a salesperson. As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile terminal device (HHT) 10 and a portable image reading and printing device (hereinafter referred to as an “R / P unit”) connected to the HHT 10 and having an image reading function and a printing function according to the present embodiment. 20).
[0020]
The operation for the HHT 10 is usually performed by hand. That is, it is common to hold the HHT 10 with one hand and perform the operation with the remaining hand. Accordingly, when performing an operation, both hands are blocked, so that the R / P unit 20 is attached to, for example, a belt or the like so that it can be carried.
[0021]
When the sales person sells a voting ticket by carrying the HHT 10 and the P / R unit 20, a vending machine that automatically releases a counter and a voting ticket is newly provided by using the sales person. If not, more people will be able to vote with a voting card, that is, purchase a voting ticket. Changes in the number of voting ticket buyers can be dealt with by increasing or decreasing the number of salespeople. Since there is no place restriction, the purchaser can purchase a voting ticket anywhere the salesperson is located. It will also be able to offer new services such as going to the place where the purchaser is located and selling voting tickets. It is possible to sell voting tickets at extremely low cost as compared with a case where a counter or a vending machine is newly installed. Hereinafter, the HHT 10 and the R / P unit that provide such an effect will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the HHT 10 and the R / P unit 20 that constitute the voting terminal device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the HHT 10 has a bar code reader 11 that can read a bar code formed on the membership card C, a display unit 12 that is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and wireless communication for performing wireless communication. The HHT 10 includes a unit 13, an operation unit 14 having operators such as various switches, a wired communication unit 15 for performing wired communication, and a control unit 16 for controlling the entire HHT 10.
[0023]
The member card C is issued to a registered person or temporarily lent to a customer who has paid in advance. In the present embodiment, by reading the identification information recorded on the card C in the form of a barcode, a betting ticket can be purchased without cash. The identification information is, for example, a member ID.
[0024]
The other R / P unit 20 includes a printing unit 21 that feeds out the loaded roll paper, performs printing, and issues a receipt R, a reading unit 22 that can read a mark written on a voting card B, and a power switch. And the like, and a control unit 24 for controlling the entire unit 20. When voting is performed, the receipt R is output as a betting ticket.
[0025]
The HHT 10 uses the wireless communication unit 13 to communicate with, for example, an access point (AP) 33 connected to a communication network (eg, LAN) 31. The communication network 31 is connected to a server 32 that performs processing related to voting. The HHT 10 requests voting by transmitting, to the server 32, the voting content written on the voting card B read by the R / P unit 20 via the AP 33 and the communication network 31, and sends the content to the server 32. Register. When the registration is performed in this manner, the receipt R is output to the R / P unit 20 as a betting ticket.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of the R / P unit 20. FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B is a side view.
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the unit 20 is provided with a battery storage section 41 for storing a battery on the left side when viewed from the front, and a switch constituting the operation section 23 and an LED on the right side. Have been. A roll paper storage section 42 for storing roll paper is provided below the central portion, and a printing section 24 is provided above the roll paper storage section 42. The printing unit 24 is, for example, a thermal printer, feeds out roll paper and performs printing, and outputs the printed portion as a receipt R. The receipt R is discharged from between the roll paper storage unit 42 and the printing unit 24, as shown in FIG.
[0027]
The reading unit 22 that reads the voting card B is provided on the back side of the printing unit 24 when viewed from the front, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Above it, an insertion slot for inserting the voting card B is provided, and an ejection slot for discharging the voting card B inserted in the insertion slot is provided below. Thereby, the reading unit 22 reads the (image of) the voting card B inserted from the insertion port and discharged through the discharge port.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, as described above, the R / P unit 20 is connected to the HHT 10 to realize a portable voting terminal device. In other words, the R / P unit 20 is connected to the HHT 10 to realize the voting terminal device. The hardware required for the voting terminal device includes a reading unit 22 that reads an image (an image, in this case, a marked mark, etc.) of the voting card B, and a printing unit 21 that prints a receipt R (voting ticket). Except for this, the HHT is generally provided. In other words, it is possible to further reduce the cost of purchasing the voting terminal device by making it possible to divert including the HHT used up to that time. In such a case, the communication network or the like that has been used up to that point can be used as it is, so that the cost can be further reduced.
[0029]
Some HHTs include a printing unit. However, an HHT with a printing section is larger than one without it. If it is large, it is not only heavy but also hard to hold. For such a reason, usability is reduced. The reason why the printing unit 21 is mounted on the R / P unit 20 is that it is not necessary to use an inconvenient HHT.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the HHT 10, the R / P unit 20, and the server 32 when voting by the voting card B is performed. This is an excerpt focusing on the process related to voting, and shows an example of the flow. Next, in such a case, the processing executed by them and the method of selling betting tickets will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0031]
In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4, the HHT 10 and the R / P unit 20 include, for example, a CPU that configures the control units 16 and 24 executes a program stored in a ROM that configures the HHT 10 and the R / P unit 20. It is realized by a CPU mounted thereon executing a program stored in a hard disk device or the like.
[0032]
The salesperson carrying the voting terminal device sells a voting ticket, for example, while being at a predetermined place or moving in a predetermined sales area. For this reason, a voting applicant, that is, a purchasing applicant who wishes to purchase a voting ticket using the voting card B, goes to a place where a salesperson is present and requests sale of the voting ticket.
[0033]
The salesperson requested to sell the voting ticket receives, for example, a request for the presentation of the membership card C, and causes the barcode reader 21 of the HHT 10 to read the barcode. The HHT 10 reads a bar code of the card C when an operation to a predetermined switch configuring the operation unit 24 is performed or when the HHT 10 detects that the card C is inserted into a reading groove of the card C, The result is transmitted to the server 32 (step SH1).
[0034]
The server 32, which has received the bar code reading result, for example, the member ID from the HHT 10, authenticates by comparing the ID with that of the registered member, and transmits the authentication result to the HHT 10 (step SS1). If the member is confirmed by the authentication, the balance of usable money, the presence or absence of refund, and the like are further confirmed, and these are also transmitted to the HHT 10 together. Here, the following description will be made on the assumption that the member can be confirmed.
[0035]
The HHT 10 that has received the authentication result from the server 32 confirms that the member is a member, and causes the display unit 12 to display a voting screen, and instructs the R / P unit 20 to shift to the normal mode (step SH2). Although not specifically shown, the voting screen also displays the presence or absence of a refund, the balance, and the like.
[0036]
The R / P unit 20 normally shifts to a standby mode in order to suppress power consumption. Accordingly, when the shift to the normal mode is instructed from the HHT 10, the shift to the normal mode is performed according to the instruction (step SR1). In the transition to the normal mode, the reading unit 22 is activated so that the voting card B can be read.
[0037]
The salesperson confirming that the voting screen is displayed on the display unit 12 causes the R / P unit 20 to read the voting card B received from the purchaser. Therefore, after activating the reading unit 22, the R / P unit 20 waits for the voting card B to be inserted from the insertion slot (see FIG. 3), reads the voting card B, and reads the image data. The data is transmitted to the HHT 10 (step SR2).
[0038]
Upon receiving the image data from the R / P unit 20, the HHT 10 recognizes the contents of the voting entered on the voting card B, and transmits a result of the recognition to the server 32 as voting data, thereby requesting a voting (step). SH3).
[0039]
The server 32 to which the voting is requested in this way confirms whether or not the voting content indicated by the voting data is appropriate. If the voting content is confirmed to be appropriate, the server 32 accepts the request and registers the content. (Step SS2). Thereafter, the HHT 10 is instructed to print the confirmed voting content on the receipt R (step SS3). At this time, print data indicating print contents is transmitted to the HHT 10.
[0040]
Although not specifically shown, if the server 32 confirms that the content of the vote is not appropriate, the server 32 notifies the HHT 10 of the fact and transmits the content of the vote to request correction or cancellation of the request. Upon receiving the notification, the HHT 10 causes the display unit 12 to display the voting content received from the server 32.
[0041]
The salesperson presents the contents of the voting to the purchaser and checks whether there is an error, and selects one of the correction and the cancellation. If the correction of the content is selected, the operation unit 14 is operated to make the desired correction by the purchaser, and then the corrected voting content is transmitted to the server 32. On the other hand, if cancel is selected, an operation to select it is performed. When such an operation is performed, the HHT 10 notifies the server 32 of the fact and cancels the requested voting.
[0042]
Note that the voting content may be displayed on the display unit 12 before transmission to the server 32 so that the purchaser can confirm the content. As the voting data indicating the content, the image data received from the R / P unit 20 may be transmitted to the server 32 as it is. That is, the server 32 may be made to recognize the voting content entered in the voting card B.
[0043]
The HHT 10 instructed to print from the server 32 controls the R / P unit 20 to print a receipt R (here, the receipt R to be a betting ticket) (step SH4). The control instructs the R / P unit 20 to start, for example, the printing unit 21 and then transmits the print data received from the server 32 or the print data created based on the print data to the R / P unit 20. This is done in the form of instructing printing.
[0044]
The other R / P unit 20 prints the receipt R according to the instruction of the HHT 10 (step SR3). The salesperson gives the roll paper discharged as a receipt R to the purchaser. In this way, the purchase applicant receives a voting ticket for one voting card B.
[0045]
The salesperson who has given the receipt R to be a voting ticket operates a switch for instructing the end of voting unless there is another voting card B. From this, the HHT 10 determines whether or not the switch has been operated in step SH5 following step SH4. When the operation is performed by the salesperson, the determination is YES, and the server 32 and the R / P unit 20 are notified of the determination (step SH6). With this notification, a series of processes executed by the HHT 10 for one purchaser ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step SH2 to prepare for reading the next voting card B.
[0046]
The server 32 that has received the notification terminates a series of processes for one purchaser, similarly to the HHT 10 (step SS4). The other R / P unit 20 shifts to a standby mode in which the reading unit and the printing unit 20 are stopped in order to suppress power consumption (step SR4).
[0047]
In the present embodiment, the server 32 transmits an instruction to print the receipt R and print data. Although not particularly shown, the end notification to the R / P unit 20 of the HHT 10 is made by the server 32 instructing the HHT 10 to shift to the standby mode in step SS4. The reason why the process (operation) to be performed by the R / P unit 20 on the server 32 side is instructed in this manner is to simplify the processing to be performed by the HHT 10 and reduce the data amount of the program. This is to make it easier.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, the R / P unit 20 is connected to the HHT 10 for realizing a voting terminal device, but the unit 20 may be connected to something other than the HHT. Specifically, a notebook or tablet personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), or the like may be used. The voting terminal device may be realized by integrating them. In addition, since it can be easily installed and removed, it may be used in a fixed installation form instead of being carried by a salesperson.
[0049]
(Supplementary Note 1) A portable device for allowing a voter to use a voting card to vote for a race result of a race event such as a horse race or a bicycle race,
Image reading means for reading an image on the voting card;
Voting request means for requesting voting with the voting content entered on the voting card by the voter from an image read by the image reading means, to an external device connected via a communication network,
Voting content printing means for printing and outputting the voting content of the voting requested by the voting request means,
A portable voting terminal device comprising:
[0050]
(Supplementary Note 2) Voting content display means requesting by the voting request means or displaying the voting content of the requested voting;
Operating means for changing the voting content displayed by the voting content display means,
The voting request unit can request the external device to vote with the voting content changed by the operation on the operation unit,
3. The portable voting terminal device according to claim 1, wherein:
[0051]
(Supplementary Note 3) further comprising information reading means for reading identification information for identifying the voter recorded on a recording medium,
The voting request unit, when requesting the voting, transmits identification information read by the information reading unit to the external device for collection of a price accompanying the voting,
3. The portable voting terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
[0052]
(Supplementary Note 4) The voting content display means can display the voting content of the voting confirmed on the external device side at the request of the voting request means,
4. The portable voting terminal device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
[0053]
(Supplementary Note 5) The portable voting terminal device includes a reading unit that reads an image on the voting card and a printing unit that prints and outputs the contents of the voting on a portable terminal device. Are connected to each other,
The portable voting terminal device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, characterized in that:
[0054]
(Supplementary Note 6) A portable device that can be used by being connected to a portable terminal device,
Image reading means capable of reading an image formed on a medium,
Printing means for printing on a recording medium,
A communication unit that communicates with the portable terminal device, and controls the image reading unit and the printing unit.
A portable image reading and printing apparatus comprising:
[0055]
(Supplementary Note 7) The image reading means may target a voting card for voting for a race result of a race competition such as a horse race or a bicycle race as the medium for reading the image.
7. The portable image reading and printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the portable voting terminal device of the present invention reads an image on a voting card, and votes an external device connected via a communication network with the voting content entered on the voting card. And print and output the contents of the vote. Therefore, by using the voting terminal device, it is possible for more people to perform voting using the voting card without increasing the number of tellers and vending machines.
[0057]
If you request or change the voting content of the requested voting, and if you can request the external device to vote with the changed voting content, promptly and appropriately Be able to respond. When reading identification information for identifying a voter recorded on a recording medium and requesting a vote, if the identification information is transmitted to an external device, a cashless vote can be performed.
[0058]
The portable image reading and printing apparatus of the present invention can control reading of an image formed on a medium and printing on a recording medium while communicating with an external device such as a portable terminal device. . For this reason, reading of a voting card and printing of a voting ticket can be performed. Thereby, it can be used for realizing the portable voting terminal device of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a portable voting terminal device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an HHT and an R / P unit constituting the voting terminal device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an R / P unit 20.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by an HHT, an R / P unit, and a server when voting is performed by a voting card.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Mobile terminal device (HHT)
11 Barcode reader 12 Display unit 13 Wireless communication unit 14, 23 Operation unit 15 Wired communication unit 16, 24 Control unit 20 Portable image reading and printing device (R / P unit)
21 printing unit 22 reading unit 31 communication network 32 server 33 access point (AP)
B Voting card C Membership card R Receipt

Claims (5)

A portable device for allowing a voter to use a voting card to vote for a race result of a race event such as a horse race or a bicycle race,
Image reading means for reading an image on the voting card;
Voting request means for requesting voting with the voting content entered on the voting card by the voter from an image read by the image reading means, to an external device connected via a communication network,
Voting content printing means for printing and outputting the voting content of the voting requested by the voting request means,
A portable voting terminal device comprising: Voting content display means for displaying the voting content of the voting requested or requested by the voting request means,
Operating means for changing the voting content displayed by the voting content display means,
The voting request unit can request the external device to vote with the voting content changed by the operation on the operation unit,
2. The portable voting terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: Further comprising information reading means for reading identification information for identifying the voter recorded on a recording medium,
The voting request unit, when requesting the voting, transmits identification information read by the information reading unit to the external device for collection of a price accompanying the voting,
3. The portable voting terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: The portable voting terminal device is connected to a portable terminal device, a reading unit that reads an image on the voting card, and a portable image reading and printing device that includes a printing unit that prints and outputs the voting content. It is configured,
The portable voting terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A portable device that can be used by being connected to a portable terminal device,
Image reading means capable of reading an image formed on a medium,
Printing means for printing on a recording medium,
A communication unit that communicates with the portable terminal device, and controls the image reading unit and the printing unit;
A portable image reading and printing apparatus comprising:

Images