JP2005115558A - Information providing service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of offering new information providing services by using an information distribution system. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises local installation equipment 120 attached to an automatic vending machine 100, comprising a display 121, a speaker 127, a microphone 126, a camera 125, and a receiver 123 as a user information input means; a server 300 connected to the local installation equipment 120 via an optical fiber communication network 200; and an operation center 400 connected via the optical fiber communication network 200, in which an operator is stationed. A user is authenticated by the receiver 123 of the local installation equipment 120 and, if the user is a registered user, the operation center 400 is connected with the local installation equipment 120, the conversation is done with the operator at the operation center 400 by a video telephone system, necessary information is retrieved, and the retrieval results are displayed or notified to the display 121 and the speaker 127 of the local installation equipment 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an information providing service using a means for authenticating an individual and an information distribution system that distributes various types of information using local installation equipment attached to vending machines installed in various places or installed alone. About the system.

  Vending machines are installed everywhere regardless of city or suburbs. In particular, the density of installation is high in a downtown area, and in the suburbs, it is often installed at a necessary place such as a bus stop where people gather. This vending machine operates 24 hours a year, and it has been proposed to use this as a medium.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a vending machine in which displays and speakers are provided in vending machines installed in various places and used as advertisements and other notification media.

  Patent Document 2 also proposes a vending machine in which a display is installed on the outer door of a vending machine cabinet to provide information services such as nearby attractions and tourist information where the vending machine is installed. ing.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, when a user inserts money and presses a service selection button corresponding to an information service whose saleable lamp is lit, a signal is sent to the control mechanism, and the selected information service is supported. A vending machine that displays the information on a display or a speaker is disclosed, and the information has a function of receiving from the center via a telephone line.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a system for connecting a mobile phone, a vending machine, and remote communication means to perform a remote payment transaction.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a cash settlement system that can easily perform settlement processing for a small payment using a communication device such as a mobile phone and a vending machine.

  In Patent Document 6, in response to a vending machine location inquiry sent from a vending machine user's mobile phone to a server provided in the vending machine management center via a network, A method is disclosed in which a map in the vicinity of a user position is detected from a placed vending machine location display map and displayed on the display of the user's mobile phone via a network from a server.

  In Patent Document 7, a barcode requesting permission for the vending machine to be purchased is requested from the cellular phone to the server, and the server corresponds to the barcode corresponding to the identification information of the vending machine on the cellular phone. An apparatus is disclosed in which a vending machine permits the purchase of a product by replying and causing a bar code reader provided in the vending machine to read the bar code.

Japanese Patent No. 2965248 (page 4, left column, FIG. 14) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-270061 (page 2-3, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-21459 (right column of page 2-page 3, FIG. 1) JP 2001-283124 A JP 2002-99861 A JP 2002-133504 A JP 2002-140756 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, a vending machine is provided with a display or a speaker, or a person is identified by a mobile phone and the price is settled by a predetermined method. It was the distribution of information on the road, and users only received information.

  Therefore, the applicant first uses a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal as an input device, and uses vending machines scattered in various places as well as locally installed devices for various uses as if they were output devices of the user. Then, an information distribution system capable of distributing desired information to locally installed devices was developed and applied for as Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-306972.

  The contents include a local installation device having at least a display, a speaker, and a camera, and a data center that transmits and receives signals on the local installation device and an information communication network such as a public line network, a specific line network, or a wireless communication network, Search for information requested to be distributed by using a terminal such as a mobile phone or a portable information terminal carried by the user, and an Internet connection function of the terminal or a call function of the mobile phone, from the data center. An information distribution system comprising means for distributing to the display and speaker of the locally installed device, and charging means for charging the cost for the provided information.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of performing a new information providing service using the previously proposed information distribution system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an information providing service system according to the present invention includes a locally installed device including a display, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and user information input means, a public line network, an optical fiber communication network, a specific line network, or User information is input via the information communication network such as a wireless communication network by the local installation device, an operation center that transmits and receives audio signals, image signals, and various data, and the user information input means of the local installation device. The user information is transmitted to the operation center via the information communication network, and the operation center determines whether or not the user information is included in the registered user information registered in advance. And the user recognition means converts the user information into registered user information. Using a dialog start means for displaying on the display of the locally installed device to start a dialog with the operator of the operation center, and the display, speaker, microphone and camera of the locally installed device. Video telephone means for allowing the user to have a conversation with the operator of the operation center in an interactive manner, and information retrieved by the operator based on information requested or information distribution requested by the user by the video telephone means Is provided to a display and a speaker of the locally installed device.

  In the present invention, a user who uses the system performs user registration in advance, and the system management company issues an ID card in which an ID code such as a magnetic card or an IC card is recorded to the registered user. Alternatively, an ID signal by infrared rays or Bluetooth of a mobile phone may be registered as a registered user identification signal.

  When using this system, the user causes the user information input means of the locally installed device to read the ID code of the ID card or the identification signal emitted from the user portable device such as a mobile phone. The user information input means transmits the input user information to the server via the information communication network. The server searches whether the received user information exists in a database of registered user information registered in advance, and if there is a corresponding one, displays a service start signal on the display of the locally installed device and An instruction signal is sent to the operator waiting at the center.

The user and the operator have a direct conversation by a videophone interactive method using a display, a speaker, a microphone, a camera attached to the locally installed device, and an operation center device (camera-equipped personal computer). The operator asks necessary information from the user. As a result, even a user who is unfamiliar with information retrieval and computer operation is informed of the contents of desired information to the operator, and the operator narrows down appropriate terms that are keys for information retrieval. When the keyword is determined, the operator searches for information using a computer of the operation center, distributes the search result to the local installation device of the vending machine, and outputs it to a display or a speaker.
Although the operator is assumed to be a human at this stage, it is also possible to introduce a voice recognition software and develop a system in which the operator interacts with the user by a virtual character operator using computer graphics.
It is effective to attach locally installed equipment to vending machines installed in various places where people gather, but in restaurants, bus stops, station premises, tourist information centers where vending machines cannot be installed, etc. Can be installed alone. In this case, a panel type terminal housed in a waterproof case can be installed outdoors.

  According to the present invention, when the server is automatically accessed by using an ID signal from an ID card or a mobile phone, after authenticating the user and connecting to the operation center when authenticated as a member, An operator appears on the display of the installed device, and the local installed device and the operator can directly talk on the screen and voice by the videophone system. As a result, it is possible to search and acquire information using an unprecedented outdoor dialogue method, and to construct a simple search system that can be used by the elderly and children, which has never been known as a voice dialogue method. It becomes possible.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to the present embodiment.
This system includes a vending machine 100, a server 300 and an operation center 400 connected via an optical fiber communication network 200. The vending machine 100 includes a local installation device 120 having a function of an outdoor personal computer in addition to a vending machine unit 110 that sells beverages and the like. The local installation device 120 includes a display 121 such as a CRT, a liquid crystal display, and a plasma, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 122, a receiver 123 for user authentication, a communication between the vending machine 100 and the optical fiber communication network 200. A communication control unit 124, a WEB camera 125, a microphone 126, a speaker 127, an emergency button 128, and a surveillance camera 129. The server 300 can be accessed from the main PC 320 and can remotely control video distribution to each locally installed device 120, volume adjustment, and movement of the monitoring camera 129.
It should be noted that the installation location of the vending machine 100 includes not only so-called outdoors but also places where ordinary people can come and go, such as underground malls and inside public facilities.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the vending machine 100 is an information distribution system that incorporates the CPU 122, has the display 121, and is based on the optical fiber communication network 200. Moreover, the surveillance camera 129 is standard equipment. The communication line includes a low-speed line such as a public line network and a medium and high-speed line such as ADSL. In this embodiment, a dedicated line of the optical fiber communication network 200 is used to implement high-speed and large capacity. . Therefore, the communication band can be allocated from the terminal of the vending machine 100 to each individual, a condominium resident, and a building resident (including a company) using a hub or a router.

  In this embodiment, a user who uses this system performs user registration in advance, and the system management company issues a non-contact type IC card in which an ID code is recorded to the registered user. As other ID cards, magnetic cards, contact type IC cards, cards that record optically read barcodes can also be used, or ID signals by infrared or Bluetooth of mobile phones are used as registered user identification signals. You may register.

In this embodiment, the receiver 123 is interlocked with a non-contact type IC card. When the user carrying the non-contact type IC card approaches the receiver 123 within 10 cm, for example, the receiver 123 side A signal is transmitted to the server 300. The server 300 authenticates and confirms the signal, and accesses the operation center 400 to connect the locally installed device 120 of the vending machine 100 and the operation center 400.
A user in front of the locally installed device 120 and an operator stationed at the operation center 400 receive information provided by conversation using a videophone system using the display 121, the microphone 126, and the speaker 127, and the operator requested the contents. Is displayed on the display 121 of the locally installed device 120 from the operation center 400, and if necessary, sound is output from the speaker 127.

  For example, when the user wants to request a taxi, even if he / she does not know where he / she is, the IP address is assigned to the locally installed device 120 of the vending machine 100 and the location can be specified. The operator can tell the taxi company where to install the vending machine 100. Also, the name of the client can be seen from the member list, so the taxi company can be notified of who made the request.

This system has crime prevention, monitoring and reporting functions.
When the emergency button 128 installed on the vending machine 100 is pressed, the surveillance camera 129, the WEB camera 125, and the microphone 126 are operated to access the police, etc., and respond to emergencies and accidents through video and audio. it can.
The monitoring camera 129 provided as a standard in the present embodiment is movable within a range of 100 m from the locally installed device 120 and can be remotely operated, and can be monitored on a 24-hour monitor. ing.

The server 300 is provided with a vending machine information collection unit 310 that can collect vending machine information using the optical fiber communication network 200 so that billing information and aggregate information can be transmitted to the server 500 of the advertiser or beverage manufacturer. I have to.
The vending machine information collection unit 310 collects information such as the number and price of products sold by the vending machine unit 110, the manufacturer name of the advertisement displayed on the display 121, and the time.

By using this, the following business can be developed.
1. Information distributed on the display 121 is partially returned to the installation site as an advertising fee. In-house advertisements at installation sites will be distributed free of charge.
2. All devices installed and connected to vending machines are once purchased by trading companies and service providers, and rented to agencies and the like. This rental price is guaranteed by the headquarters.
3. In general, traditional beverage manufacturers have adopted a system that returns the amount of beverage sold at a vending machine. However, here, in addition to paying a fixed electricity bill, it does not return the revenue from the vending machine. The system will return the revenue from the advertisement distribution fee of this service to the installation location and agency.
4). The installation of a display in a vending machine limits the places where there is media value, so many people gather and install around the place where they come and go, but such places can be obtained and many drinks can be sold.
5). From this vending machine revenue, the installation fee, surveillance camera fee, distribution system cost should be borne by the installation site even if the installation site electricity fee, device rental fee, optical fiber communication fee, communication network configuration fee, device insurance fee are borne. It can be used without any problems.

  In addition, when a local installation device is not attached to a vending machine and is installed alone, it replaces the vending machine revenue, instead of the revenue from the vending machine, the advertisement fee for the advertisement displayed on the display of the local installation device and the hotel or taxi that gains profit by providing information By deducting costs from back margins from partners such as companies and play spots, operations can be performed without burdening the installation site.

  Further, the CPU 122 and the display 121 can be detachable so that they can be easily combined with other models.

  The present invention enables information retrieval and acquisition by an unprecedented outdoor dialogue method, and information distribution using a locally installed device that can be used by elderly people and children, which is unprecedented as a voice dialogue method. It can be usefully applied as a system.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Vending machine 110 Vending machine part 120 Local installation apparatus 121 Display 122 CPU (central processing unit)
123 Receiver 124 Communication Control Unit 125 Web Camera 126 Microphone 127 Speaker 128 Emergency Button 129 Surveillance Camera 200 Optical Fiber Communication Network 300 Server 310 Vending Machine Information Collection Unit 320 Main PC
400 Operation center 500 Advertiser and beverage maker server

Claims (4)

A locally installed device comprising a display, speakers, microphone, camera and user information input means;
A server connected to the locally installed device via an information communication network such as a public line network, an optical fiber communication network, a specific line network, or a wireless communication network;
An operation center connected via the information communication network and where an operator is stationed,
User recognition means for determining whether or not the user information is included in registered user information registered in advance via the information communication network when user information is input by the user information input means of the locally installed device When,
When the user recognition unit determines that the user information is included in the registered user information, the operation center and the locally installed device are connected, and a display, a camera, a microphone, and a speaker of the locally installed device are used. Videophone means capable of having conversations with the operator of the operation center in an interactive manner;
And means for distributing information retrieved by the operator to the display and speaker of the locally installed device based on information requested or distributed by the user by the videophone means. Information provision service system.   The information providing service system according to claim 1, wherein the information search target of the operator is a web server of an information provider registered in advance.   The information providing service system according to claim 1, wherein the locally installed device is detachably attached to the vending machine.   4. The information providing service system according to claim 3, wherein the server includes means for collecting the number and amount of products sold by the vending machine.

Images