JP2005122622A - Ticket vending machine and ticket vending system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ticket vending machine arranged in a railroad station and capable of improving user's convenience by issuing a checked-in plane ticket to a user who will arrive at airport just before the departure time of an airplane, at the issue of the plane ticket. <P>SOLUTION: The ticket vending machine 1 arranged in the railroad station can issue not only train tickets but also plane tickets. When remaining time up to the departure time of an airplane corresponding to a plane ticket of which the issue is requested is shorter than previously set time, the ticket vending machine 1 issues a checked-in plane ticket. Since a user having a plane ticket of which the remaining time from arrival at the airport up to the departure time of the airplane is short can omit busy check-in procedure after arrival at the airport, user's convenience can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ticket vending machine that is installed at a station and issues a ticket for boarding a railway, and a ticket vending system to which the ticket vending machine is applied.

  Traditionally, airline tickets have been issued by airlines, travel agencies, airports, and the like. For this reason, when a user purchases an air ticket in advance, he / she must go to the airline, travel agency, airport, etc. that issued the air ticket within the business hours, which is inconvenient for the user. there were.

  Therefore, introduction of a reservation system that allows a user to receive an air ticket reserved on the day of departure at an airport, for example, at a counter of an airline company in the airport or a ticket machine installed in the airport, is in progress. Air ticket reservations can be made, for example, by telephone or the Internet. For this reason, the user does not have to go to the place (airline, travel agency, airport, etc.) where the ticket is issued for reservation. In addition, this reservation system notifies the reservation number to the user who has booked the air ticket, and manages the reservation number and the details of reservation (aircraft flight number, user name, etc.) in association with each other at the center. . When the user arrives at the airport on the day of departure, the user goes to the counter of the airline that booked the ticket or the ticket vending machine installed in the airport, telling the staff the reservation number notified at the time of booking, Input into the machine. The user checks whether there is an error in the reservation contents presented by the staff or displayed on the display unit of the ticket vending machine. When the user confirms that there is no mistake in the reservation details, an air ticket with the reservation details is issued. The payment may be made when the ticket issued here is received, or may be made by credit by inputting a credit card number or the like at the time of reservation.

Further, Patent Document 1 proposes that a terminal device that issues an air ticket is installed at a station or the like to further improve convenience for a user who purchases an air ticket.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-134129

  However, the above-described reservation system and the technique proposed in Patent Document 1 improve the convenience of the user who purchases an air ticket in advance, and purchases and makes a reservation in advance. As shown below, the convenience of non-users, for example, users who had to move quickly to their destination using an aircraft due to urgent requirements, was not improved.

  A user who quickly moves to a destination by using an aircraft moves to the airport for the time being, and confirms an aircraft that can be boarded at the airport (the aircraft that has a vacant seat and the destination is the destination). For this reason, even if the user rushes to the airport, there is not always an aircraft that can be boarded immediately.If the waiting time at the airport is long or there is no aircraft that can be boarded, another user such as the Shinkansen In order to use the means of transportation, the user has to move from the airport to the station again, which may waste time.

  Further, as proposed in Patent Document 1, when a terminal device that issues an air ticket is installed at a station, a user can purchase an air ticket at the station. The presence or absence of an aircraft that can be boarded in advance and the departure time when there are aircraft that can be boarded can be confirmed, and time spent in vain after arrival at the airport can be reduced. However, when the user arrives at the airport, the boarding procedure, so-called check-in, must be performed at an airline counter or the like, so the user cannot immediately go to the boarding gate. In this way, when the user arrives at the airport just before the departure time, he / she cannot move to the boarding gate without checking in with an airline counter or the like, and has to move quickly.

  The object of the present invention is to issue a check-in ticket for a user who arrives at an airport just before the departure time of an aircraft when issuing a ticket installed at a railway station. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ticket vending machine with improved convenience and a ticket sales system to which this ticket vending machine is applied.

  The ticket vending machine of the present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

(1) In a ticket machine equipped with a ticket issuing means for issuing a railway ticket based on purchase information of a railway ticket installed at a station and input to the main body by an input means,
A mode switching means for switching the ticket issuing means from a first mode for issuing a train ticket to a second mode for issuing an air ticket when a predetermined input is made to the main body by the input means;
After the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means to the second mode, an air ticket issuance authentication request for requesting authentication of whether or not an air ticket is issued together with the air ticket purchase information input to the main body by the input means. Air ticket issue authentication means for transmitting to the host device and receiving the authentication result for the air ticket issue authentication request from the host device;
If the authentication result received by the above ticket issuing means is that the ticket can be issued, check in the ticket to be issued this time using the departure time and current time of the aircraft on board the ticket that is permitted to be issued. A determination means for determining whether or not the issued ticket can be issued,
The ticket issuing means issues a checked-in air ticket or an unchecked air ticket based on the determination result of the determining means.

  In this configuration, when the mode switching means performs a predetermined input operation on the main body, the mode switching means switches from the first mode for issuing a railroad ticket to the second mode for issuing an air ticket. After switching to the second mode, the airline ticket issuance / authentication means is connected to the purchase information of the airline ticket input to the main body, for example, the flight number of the aircraft, the type of seat, and the host device such as the server device of the airline Require authentication for whether or not an air ticket is issued. Based on the vacant seat of the aircraft specified based on the purchase information, the host device authenticates whether or not the issuance of the requested air ticket is requested, and returns the result to the ticket machine. If the judgment means obtains the authentication result permitting the issuance of the air ticket from the host device, can it be issued with the checked-in air ticket using the departure time and the current time of the aircraft boarding with the air ticket issued this time? Judge whether. For example, if the remaining time obtained by subtracting the current time from the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the boarding pass issued this time is within a predetermined time, for example, within 2 hours, the determination means can issue a checked-in air ticket. . As a result, it is possible to issue a checked-in air ticket to a user who has a relatively short time until the boarding aircraft departs, and this user does not have to move quickly from the airport. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

(2) In a ticket machine equipped with a ticket issuing means for issuing a railroad ticket based on purchase information of a railroad ticket installed at a station and input to the main body by an input means,
A mode switching means for switching the ticket issuing means from a first mode for issuing a train ticket to a second mode for issuing an air ticket when a predetermined input is made to the main body by the input means;
After the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means to the second mode, an air ticket issuance authentication request for requesting authentication of whether or not an air ticket is issued together with the air ticket purchase information input to the main body by the input means. Air ticket issue authentication means for transmitting to the host device and receiving the authentication result for the air ticket issue authentication request from the host device;
If the authentication result received by the above ticket issuing means is that the ticket can be issued, travel from the station where the ticket vending machine is installed to the nearest station of departure of the aircraft on which the ticket is permitted Required time acquisition means for acquiring the required time required for
Whether the ticket to be issued this time can be issued with a checked-in ticket using the required time acquired by the above required time acquisition means, the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket permitted to be issued, and the current time Determination means for determining,
The ticket issuing means issues a checked-in air ticket or an unchecked air ticket based on the determination result of the determining means.

  In this configuration, although substantially the same as (1) above, when the determination means obtains an authentication result permitting issuance of the air ticket from the host device, in addition to the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the air ticket issued this time In terms of determining whether it is possible to issue a checked-in ticket using the time required to travel from the station where the ticket vending machine is installed to the nearest station of the departure point (airport) of the aircraft on board Different. As a result, users who purchase air tickets issued this time will arrive at the railway station to be used as a means of transportation to the airport and purchase the air tickets. It is possible to determine whether or not a checked-in air ticket can be issued according to the time required to move from the station to the nearest station of the departure place (airport) of the aircraft to board. Therefore, in the same way as in (1) above, boarding should take into account the time required for the railway to be used as a means of travel to the airport, as well as for users with a short time to the departure time of the boarding aircraft. Even for users with short time to departure time, it is possible to issue a checked-in air ticket, so it is not necessary to move quickly from the airport, and the convenience of the user can be further improved.

  (3) When the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means from the first mode to the second mode, there is provided display means for displaying a guidance screen for guiding an operation of inputting airline ticket purchase information. ing.

  In this configuration, the display means displays a guidance screen that guides the user to input air ticket purchase information, so that the user can smoothly input air ticket purchase information.

(4) A storage means for storing a required time table that associates the required time required to move from the station where the main body is installed to the nearest station for each departure place of the aircraft,
The required time acquisition means is required to move from the station where the main body of the apparatus is installed to the nearest station of departure of the aircraft boarding with the ticket that is permitted to be issued, according to the required time table stored in the storage means. Get time.

  In this configuration, the required time required to move from the station where the main body is installed to the nearest station of the airport where the boarding aircraft departs is obtained by searching for the required time table stored in the storage means. be able to.

  (5) The determination means is a predetermined time obtained by subtracting the required time acquired by the required time acquisition means from the remaining time until the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket permitted to be issued. If it is within, it is determined that the ticket issued this time can be issued with a checked-in ticket.

  In this configuration, the time obtained by subtracting the required time acquired by the required time acquisition means from the remaining time until the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket that is permitted to be issued, that is, the ticket to be issued this time is purchased. It is possible to determine whether a checked-in air ticket can be issued according to the time from when the user arrives at the airport until the aircraft departs.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to issue a checked-in air ticket for a user having a relatively short time until the departure time of the boarded aircraft, the user is busy for the check-in process from the airport. It is not necessary to move, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a ticket vending machine and a ticket vending system to which the ticket vending machine is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a ticket selling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a ticket machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, and 2 is an airline server where the airline manages the issuance status of airline tickets for each aircraft. The airline server 2 corresponds to the airline ticket issue management device referred to in the present invention. A ticket vending machine 1 is installed at each railway company's station, and issues railway tickets and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a counting device that counts ticket issuing information such as a ticket issued by the ticket vending machine 1 for each station, and reference numeral 4 denotes a railway company server. In FIG. 1, railway companies A and B are shown. Reference numeral 5 denotes a railway center that aggregates various information from each railway company. In the ticket sales system of this embodiment, the airline server 2 and the railway center 5 are connected by a network X using a dedicated line, and data communication is possible between the two devices. Reference numeral 6 denotes an air ticket issuing device that is installed at the airport and issues an air ticket. Reference numeral 7 denotes an airport server that performs processing such as restricting the air ticket issuing to the air ticket issuing device 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a travel agent that issues an air ticket. The travel agent 8 is provided with a reservation terminal (not shown) that can access the airline server 2. The reservation terminal of the travel agency 8 and the airline server 2 are connected by a network Y using a dedicated line. Reference numeral 9 denotes a personal computer (PC) owned by a user who reserves an air ticket, which can access the airline server 2 via the Internet Z.

  Since the processing related to the purchase of an air ticket at the agency 8, the reservation of the air ticket via the Internet Z by the PC 9, and the purchase of the air ticket at the air ticket issuing device 6 installed at the airport is known, it will be described here. Is omitted. In the ticket vending system shown in FIG. 1, in a ticket vending machine 1 installed at a station, a user is not only a train ticket, but also an airline ticket for an aircraft, an airline counter in an airport, and an airline ticket issuing device 6. You can also purchase a ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a ticket at.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the ticket vending machine. The ticket vending machine 1 includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the main body, an operation unit 12 that performs input operations on the main body, a display unit 13 that displays a screen corresponding to the operation state of the main body and operation guidance for the user, A coin processing unit 14 for processing coins inserted into the main body, a banknote processing unit 15 for processing banknotes inserted into the main body, a card processing unit 16 for processing cards inserted into the main body, a train ticket, A ticket issuing unit 17 that issues an airline ticket for an aircraft and a communication unit 18 that communicates with a host device are provided. The operation unit 12 includes a touch panel provided on the screen of the display unit 13. The coin processing unit 14 performs denomination discrimination on the coins inserted into the main body from the coin insertion slot 14a, and the banknote processing unit 15 performs denomination discrimination on the banknotes input into the main body from the banknote insertion slot 15a. Moreover, the coin processing unit 14 and the banknote processing unit 15 also perform processing such as change change. The card processing unit 16 reads information recorded on a card inserted into the main body from the card insertion slot 16a. The ticket vending machine 1 sends an airline ticket issuance authentication request from the communication unit 18 to the airline server 2 via the counting device 3, the railway company server 4, the railway center 5, and the network X. The airline server 2 transmits the authentication result for the airline ticket authentication request, the vacant seat information for each aircraft, etc. to the request from the ticket vending machine 1 via the network X, the railway center 5, the railway company server 4, and the aggregation device 3. Reply accordingly.

  The ticket vending machine 1 stores a required time table 20 shown in FIG. 4 in a memory provided in the control unit 11 or a storage medium (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4A, this required time table 20 may be a table in which the required time required to move from each station to the nearest station is associated with each airport that is the departure point of the aircraft. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), it may be a table that associates the time required for moving from the station where the ticket vending machine 1 is installed to the nearest station of each airport that is the departure point of the aircraft. In the case of the required time table 20 shown in FIG. 4A, the same required time table is stored in each ticket vending machine 1, so that when the required time table changes, one table is rewritten. The rewritten table can be updated simply by overwriting each ticket machine 1. On the other hand, when the required time table shown in FIG. 4B is used, the storage capacity of the ticket vending machine 1 required to store the required time table 20 can be reduced.

  Next, the operation of the ticket vending machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ticket vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The ticket vending machine 1 of this embodiment displays on the display unit 13 a screen that allows the user to select one of a ticket (ordinary ticket), a contact ticket, a coupon ticket, a commuter pass, and an air ticket purchase as an initial screen. (See FIG. 6). The initial state is a ticket issuing mode for issuing a railway ticket (the first mode referred to in the present invention). As shown in FIG. 6, a mode selection button for selecting a mode corresponding to a ticket to be purchased is displayed on the left side of the screen displayed on the display unit 13. The ticket vending machine 1 shifts to a mode corresponding to the mode selection button pressed by the user.

  When a bill or a coin is inserted without selecting the mode selection button (s1), the ticket vending machine 1 executes a railroad ticket (ordinary ticket) issuance process (s2). When the mode selection button of the contact ticket is pressed (s3), a contact ticket issuing process is executed (s4). If the coupon ticket mode selection button is pressed (s5), a coupon ticket issuing process is executed (s6). When the commuter pass mode selection button is pressed (s7), a commuter pass issuance process is executed (s8). Further, when the air ticket mode selection button is pressed (s9), the air ticket issuing process is executed (s10).

  The above-mentioned ticket issuing process relating to s2, the connecting ticket issuing process relating to s4, the coupon ticket issuing process relating to s6, and the commuter pass issuing process relating to s8 are well-known and will not be described here. The airline ticket issuing process will be described.

  7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the air ticket issuing process. When the air ticket mode selection button is pressed in s9, the ticket vending machine 1 switches to the air ticket issuing mode (second mode in the present invention), and the screen displayed on the display unit 13 is shown in FIG. To the airline selection screen shown in FIG. 9 (s11). The user selects an airline by pressing the button on the desired airline from the airline buttons displayed on the display unit 13. When the user selects an airline (s12), the ticket vending machine 1 displays on the display unit 13 a screen for accepting the boarding date, departure point, and destination using the aircraft (see FIG. 10) ( s13), an input by the user is accepted for these items (s14). FIG. 10 shows a screen when accepting the boarding date input, and the user inputs the boarding date by pressing a number button displayed at the bottom of the screen.

  Although not shown, a kana button is displayed instead of the numeric buttons when accepting the input of the departure place and the destination.

  When the boarding date, departure place, and destination are input by the user, the ticket vending machine 1 selects an inquiry about vacant seat information including the boarding date, departure place, and destination input this time in the communication unit 18 in s12. Is transmitted to the airline server 2 of the selected airline (s15). The inquiry about the vacant seat information transmitted from the ticket vending machine 1 in s15 is received by the airline server 2 via the counting device 3, the railway company server 4, the railway center 5, and the network X. The airline server 2 transmits vacant seat information to the ticket vending machine 1 for each aircraft corresponding to the current vacant seat information inquiry. When the ticket vending machine 1 receives the vacant seat information from the airline server 2 (s16), it displays a screen based on the currently received vacant seat information on the display unit 13 (see FIG. 11) (s17). As shown in FIG. 11, the vacant seat information includes, for each seat type (in this case, special seats and ordinary seats), there are sufficient vacant seats (○), few vacant seats remain (△), and no vacant seats (full seats). (Yes) (x) is displayed in three stages.

  The user selects an aircraft by pressing any one of the flight number buttons in the screen display shown in FIG. Further, when the “next” button displayed at the lower left of the screen is pressed, the same display is made for an aircraft with a later departure time (an aircraft not displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 11).

  When the ticket vending machine 1 accepts the selection of the flight number by the user (s18), the time required from the station where the apparatus main body is installed to the nearest station of the departure point (airport) of the selected aircraft is shown in FIG. It is acquired from the required time table shown in (A) or (B) (s19), and it is determined whether or not the user can board the selected aircraft (s20). In s20, the remaining time until the departure time of the selected aircraft (the time from the present to the departure of the aircraft) is compared with the required time acquired in s19, and the remaining time is more constant than the required time acquired in s19. If it is time, for example, 30 minutes or more, it is determined that boarding is possible, and if it is less than a certain time, it is determined that boarding is not possible (no matter how fast the user is in a hurry). If the ticket vending machine 1 determines that it is not possible to board the aircraft selected this time in s20, it displays that fact on the display unit 13 and returns to s17 to accept the reselection of the flight name by the user.

  On the other hand, when the ticket vending machine 1 determines that the boarding is possible in s20, the screen (see FIG. 12) for accepting the selection of the seat type is displayed on the display unit 13 (s21), and the user selects the seat type. Accept (s22). When the ticket vending machine 1 accepts the selection of the seat type in s22, it displays an input screen (see FIG. 13) for user information (user name, age, sex, and telephone number) on the display unit 13 (s23). . The screen displayed in s23 is a screen for selecting a user information input method, as shown in FIG. In the ticket vending machine 1 of this embodiment, a card issued by an airline (airline company card) and a card issued by a railway company (railway company card) are inserted into the ticket vending machine 1 main body. Input is possible. In other words, a user who owns an airline card or a railroad company card can easily input user information simply by inserting the card into the ticket vending machine 1. When the airline card or the railway company card is inserted into the main body, the ticket vending machine 1 reads the card number recorded on the card. Then, this card number is transmitted to the card issuing center, and user information is acquired from the card issuing center.

  A user who does not own an airline card or a railway company card selects no card on the display screen shown in FIG. 13 and directly inputs user information to the ticket vending machine 1.

  When the ticket vending machine 1 accepts the input of user information (s24), it displays the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 14 (s25) and accepts confirmation by the user (s25). When there is confirmation by the user (when the confirmation button on the screen is pressed) (s26), the ticket vending machine 1 transmits an authentication request about whether or not an airline ticket is issued to the airline server 2 (s27). The authentication request for whether or not the ticket is issued includes a flight number, a seat type, user information, and the like. Similar to the above-mentioned vacant seat information inquiry, the counting device 3, the railway company server 4, and the railway center 5 And sent to the airline server 2 via the network X. The airline server 2 authenticates whether or not an airline ticket is issued in response to the authentication request sent this time, and returns the authentication result to the ticket vending machine 1.

  When the ticket vending machine 1 receives the authentication result from the airline server 2 (s28), if the authentication result is that the ticket cannot be issued, the ticket machine 1 displays a message on the display unit 13 that the ticket cannot be issued (s29). , S30), notifies the user to that effect. Then, the ticket vending machine 1 switches the operation mode of the main body to the ticket issuing mode (s39), and ends this processing. At this time, the initial screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 13 of the ticket vending machine 1.

  If the authentication result from the airline server 2 is that the ticket can be issued, the ticket vending machine 1 displays a payment screen (see FIG. 15) for the user on the display unit 13 (s31). Prompt to deposit money. The user can pay for the price with, for example, cash, a credit card, or a prepaid card. When the price is deposited, the ticket vending machine 1 determines whether it is possible to issue a checked-in air ticket (s33). In s33, for example, the time obtained by subtracting the required time to the nearest station of the departure place (airport) of the aircraft acquired in s19 from the remaining time until the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the issued ticket is a predetermined time. For example, if it is within 2 hours, it is determined that the checked-in ticket can be issued, and otherwise it is determined that the checked-in ticket cannot be issued.

  As for the required time acquired in s19, the required time acquired from the required time table 20 may be used as it is, but the delay time may be considered in consideration of the train operation status at that time. If the remaining time until the departure time of the aircraft on board the ticket machine 1 is within a predetermined time, for example, 2 hours, the checked-in air without considering the required time. It may be determined that the ticket can be issued, and otherwise determined that it cannot be issued.

  If the ticket vending machine 1 determines that the checked-in ticket cannot be issued in s33, the ticket vending machine 1 issues a non-checked-in ticket (a normal ticket or an air ticket that can be redeemed at the airport airline counter). Issued by the ticket issuing unit 17 (s37), the issued ticket information (ticketing information) is transmitted to the airline server device 2 (s38), the operation mode of the main body is switched to the ticket issuing mode in s39, and the process is switched to s1. Return. This ticketing information is also transmitted to the airline server 2 via the counting device 3, the railway company server 4, the railway center 5, and the network X. The airline server 2 uses this ticketing information to manage the ticketing information of the tickets issued by the ticket vending machine 1 for each aircraft.

  If the ticket vending machine 1 determines in s33 that a checked-in ticket can be issued, a confirmation screen is displayed to confirm to the user whether to issue a checked-in ticket or an unchecked ticket. The information is displayed on the display unit 13 (see FIG. 16) (s34), and an input indicating whether the user wishes to issue a checked-in ticket or an unchecked ticket is accepted (s35). If the user's request received at s35 is to issue an unchecked airline ticket, the ticket vending machine 1 executes the above-described processing of s37 to s39, and returns to s1. On the other hand, if the user accepting s35 wishes to issue a checked-in air ticket, the ticket machine 1 issues a checked-in air ticket (s36) and issues it to the airline server device 2 in s38. The air ticket information is transmitted, the operation mode of the main body is switched to the ticket issuing mode in s39, and the process returns to s1.

  Thus, in the ticket sales system of this embodiment, an air ticket can be purchased with the ticket vending machine 1 installed in the station. In addition, even if you rush to the airport where you will be departing from now on, you can issue a checked-in ticket for users who have a short remaining time from the airport to the departure of the aircraft. It is possible to eliminate the need for the check-in procedure after the user arrives at the airport, thereby improving the convenience for the user. In addition, it is determined whether or not a checked-in ticket can be issued in consideration of the time required for the user to reach the nearest station of the airport, so it is affected by the place (station) where the ticket is purchased. It is possible to provide a uniform service to each user. In addition, even if the user rushes to the airport, an aircraft ticket is not issued for an aircraft that is not in time for departure, so there is no problem of purchasing an air ticket for an aircraft that the user cannot board. Moreover, since the operation guide concerning the purchase of an air ticket is displayed on the display unit 13 for the user who purchases the air ticket, the user can smoothly operate the air ticket. Here, since the checked-in air ticket is issued at the ticket vending machine 1 installed at the station, it may be the same standard as the railroad ticket, or the standard used in the air ticket. May be. However, in the case of a ticket issued according to the same standard as a railway ticket, there are cases where it can be read by the gate device at the boarding gate when boarding an aircraft, and it may not be read. As a boarding exchange ticket, a ticket exchange device that exchanges a ticket issued in accordance with a standard ticket used in an air ticket may be used in the vicinity of the gate device at the boarding gate.

  In the above description, the ticket vending machine 1 stores the required time table 20, but it may be stored in the counting device 3 or the railway company server 4. In this case, the ticket vending machine 1 acquires the time required for the movement from the station where the main body is installed to the nearest station of the designated airport as needed from the device storing the required time table 20.

  In the above embodiment, the ticket vending machine 1 determines whether or not the checked-in air ticket is issued. However, when the airline server 2 authenticates whether or not the air ticket is issued in response to the authentication request sent from the ticket vending machine 1. Alternatively, it may be determined whether or not a checked-in air ticket is issued and the determination result is transmitted to the ticket vending machine 1. In this case, the airline server 2 may be configured to acquire the required time from the station where the ticket vending machine 1 that has transmitted the authentication request for whether or not to issue the airline ticket this time is installed to the nearest station of the airport. Moreover, what is necessary is just to perform by the method mentioned above about the determination of the issuance possibility of a checked-in air ticket.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the ticket sales system which is embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ticket vending machine which is an embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a required time table. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the airline ticket issuing process in the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the airline ticket issuing process in the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of the ticket vending machine which is embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-ticket vending machine 2-airline server 11-control unit 12-operation unit 13-display unit 17-ticket issuing unit 18-communication unit 20-required time table

Claims (6)

In a ticket machine equipped with a ticket issuing means for issuing a railway ticket based on the purchase information of the railway ticket installed at the station and input to the main body by the input means,
A mode switching means for switching the ticket issuing means from a first mode for issuing a train ticket to a second mode for issuing an air ticket when a predetermined input is made to the main body by the input means;
After the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means to the second mode, an air ticket issuance authentication request for requesting authentication of whether or not an air ticket is issued together with the air ticket purchase information input to the main body by the input means. Air ticket issue authentication means for transmitting to the host device and receiving the authentication result for the air ticket issue authentication request from the host device;
If the authentication result received by the above ticket issuing means is that the ticket can be issued, check in the ticket to be issued this time using the departure time and current time of the aircraft on board the ticket that is permitted to be issued. A determination means for determining whether or not the issued ticket can be issued,
The ticket issuing means is a ticket machine that issues a checked-in air ticket or an unchecked air ticket based on the determination result of the determining means. In a ticket machine equipped with a ticket issuing means for issuing a railway ticket based on the purchase information of the railway ticket installed at the station and input to the main body by the input means,
A mode switching means for switching the ticket issuing means from a first mode for issuing a train ticket to a second mode for issuing an air ticket when a predetermined input is made to the main body by the input means;
After the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means to the second mode, an air ticket issuance authentication request for requesting authentication of whether or not an air ticket is issued together with the air ticket purchase information input to the main body by the input means. Air ticket issue authentication means for transmitting to the host device and receiving the authentication result for the air ticket issue authentication request from the host device;
If the authentication result received by the above ticket issuing means is that the ticket can be issued, travel from the station where the ticket vending machine is installed to the nearest station of departure of the aircraft on which the ticket is permitted Required time acquisition means for acquiring the required time required for
Whether the ticket to be issued this time can be issued with a checked-in ticket using the required time acquired by the above required time acquisition means, the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket permitted to be issued, and the current time Determination means for determining,
The ticket issuing means is a ticket machine that issues a checked-in air ticket or an unchecked air ticket based on the determination result of the determining means.   A display means for displaying a guidance screen for guiding an input operation of airline ticket purchase information when the mode switching means switches the ticket issuing means from the first mode to the second mode. 2. Ticket vending machine described in 2. Storage means for storing a required time table that associates the required time required to move from the station where the main body is installed to the nearest station for each departure point of the aircraft,
The required time acquisition means is required to move from the station where the main body of the apparatus is installed to the nearest station of departure of the aircraft boarding with the ticket that is permitted to be issued, according to the required time table stored in the storage means. The ticket vending machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein time is acquired.   The determination means may determine that the time obtained by subtracting the required time acquired by the required time acquisition means from the remaining time until the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket issued is within a predetermined time. The ticket vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the ticket issued this time is determined to be issueable with a checked-in ticket. A ticket machine equipped with a ticket issuing means for issuing a railroad ticket based on purchase information of a railroad ticket installed at the station and input to the main body by the input means;
An airline ticket issuance management device for managing the issuance of airline tickets,
A ticket sales system in which the ticket vending machine and the airline ticket issue management device are arranged so as to be capable of data communication,
When a predetermined input is made to the main body by the input means at the ticket machine, the ticket issuing means is switched from the first mode for issuing a railway ticket to the second mode for issuing an air ticket. Mode switching means, and
An authentication request transmitting means for transmitting an air ticket issue authentication request for requesting authentication of whether or not an air ticket is issued together with the purchase information of the air ticket input to the main body by the input means to the air ticket issue management device;
The airline ticket issuance management device comprises airline ticket issuance authentication means for authenticating whether or not an airline ticket issuance request corresponding to the airline ticket issuance authentication request transmitted by the authentication request transmission means,
Further, if the authentication result of the air ticket issuing authentication means is acceptable for issuing an air ticket to one of the ticket vending machine or the air ticket issuance management device, the issuance is permitted from the station where the ticket vending machine body is installed. Required time acquisition means for acquiring the time required to travel to the nearest station of the departure place of the aircraft boarding with the air ticket, and
Whether the ticket to be issued this time can be issued with a checked-in ticket using the required time acquired by the above required time acquisition means, the departure time of the aircraft boarding with the ticket permitted to be issued, and the current time A determination means for determining,
The ticket issuing system of the ticket vending machine is a ticket selling system that issues a checked-in air ticket or an unchecked air ticket based on the determination result of the determining means.

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