JP2005334151A - Laundry system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laundry system with an improved service property utilizing a personal digital assistant such as a portable telephone set. <P>SOLUTION: In the case that abnormality is generated in one of laundry apparatus 1, abnormality information is transmitted from a data controller 3 through a communication network 5 to a server 4 (means A4). The server 4 specifies a member using the laundry equipment 1 where the abnormality is generated on the basis of the received abnormality information (means A6), and transmits the member information of the member and the abnormality information through the communication network 5 to the personal digital assistant 7 carried by the owner of a laundry store (means A7). Thus, since the user of the laundry equipment 1 where the abnormality is generated can be specified by using the personal digital assistant 7, the owner of the laundry store can apologize to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a laundry system, and more particularly to a laundry system using a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone.

Coin laundry is popular and is used by many people as a facility for easy washing. Coin laundry generally takes the form of unattended business and can be operated 24 hours a day or self-service.
As is clear from the name of the coin laundry, by inserting coins (for example, 100 yen coins or 500 yen coins), laundry machines (washing machines and dryers) can be operated. Also, recently, by inserting a storage medium such as an IC card into a laundry device, it can be used without using coins or banknotes (without cash) using the valuable value stored in that storage medium. Laundry Coin Laundry (Since it does not use coins, it cannot be called “coin laundry” in the strict sense. Have been proposed).

  When an abnormality such as a malfunction of a laundry device occurs in a laundry store, the owner of the laundry store needs to contact a maintenance company to repair the device. For this reason, the owner of the laundry store must wait in the laundry store or hire an administrator to be resident in the laundry store. Because owners who manage multiple laundry stores cannot wait on their own in all laundry stores, it will be necessary to hire an administrator for each laundry store, but in this case, It is uneconomical that wages must be paid to each manager.

Therefore, using a laundry system as disclosed in Patent Document 1, information on abnormality of the laundry device is transmitted to a management device (for example, a personal computer) owned by the owner, and the fact is displayed on the display of the management device. It is conceivable to make a notification such as causing the management device to output an alarm sound. When the owner receives such notification, he / she contacts the maintenance company, directs the employee of the maintenance company to the laundry store where the malfunctioning equipment is installed, repairs the laundry equipment, etc. Can be performed.
Japanese Patent No. 3101456

However, in the laundry system as described above, the owner can know that an abnormality has occurred in the laundry machine, but cannot identify the user of the laundry machine in which the abnormality has occurred. Therefore, it cannot be apologized to the user of the laundry machine, and the serviceability is not sufficient.
The present invention has been made under such background, and an object thereof is to provide a laundry system with improved serviceability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of laundry devices (1) installed in a laundry store and a plurality of laundry devices can communicate with each member registered in advance. A server (4) that stores information and an abnormal information transmission device that can communicate with the server and transmits abnormal information to the server when an abnormality occurs in any of the plurality of laundry devices ( 3), and when the server receives the abnormality information from the abnormality information transmitting apparatus, the server specifies a member specifying means (A6) for specifying the member using the laundry machine in which the abnormality has occurred, and the member specifying A meeting for transmitting member information of the member specified by the means to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the manager of the laundry store where the laundry machine where the abnormality occurred is installed A laundry system comprising an information transmitting means (A7).

The alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
According to this configuration, on the basis of the abnormality information transmitted from the abnormality information transmitting device, the server identifies the member who uses the laundry device in which the abnormality has occurred, and the member information of the member is assigned to the manager of the laundry store. It can be transmitted to a portable information terminal possessed by (for example, the owner). Therefore, since the manager of the laundry store can identify the user of the laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred using the portable information terminal, it is possible to apologize to the user and improve serviceability. To do.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the member information includes an access number for accessing the portable information terminal (8) possessed by the member from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator. This is a laundry system.
According to this configuration, the manager of the laundry store uses the access number (for example, e-mail address) received from the server to access the portable information terminal possessed by the user of the laundry machine where the abnormality has occurred, and apologizes. Can do. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry machine, the user of the laundry machine can be immediately contacted and a quick treatment can be performed, so that serviceability is further improved.

In the invention according to claim 3, when the server (4) receives abnormality information from the abnormality information transmitting device (3), the abnormality information is transmitted to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the administrator. The laundry system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising abnormality information transmitting means (A7).
According to this configuration, the administrator of the laundry store can specify the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the laundry device based on the abnormality information received from the server to the portable information terminal. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry machine, it is possible to immediately contact the user of the laundry machine, and then promptly notify the user of the operation to be performed, thereby further improving the serviceability. .

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the abnormality information transmitting device (3) includes an operation status confirmation means (A1) for periodically confirming the operation status of the plurality of laundry machines (1), and the operation status confirmation means. 4. When it is confirmed that an abnormality has occurred in any of the plurality of laundry machines, the abnormality information is transmitted to the server (A4). The laundry system described in 1.

  According to this configuration, the operation information of the plurality of laundry devices is periodically checked by the abnormality information transmitting device, and if any of the laundry devices has an abnormality, the portable information terminal possessed by the manager of the laundry store To that effect. Therefore, it is not necessary for the administrator to check whether an abnormality has occurred in the laundry machine, and notification is received only when an abnormality has occurred, which is convenient for the administrator.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the server (4) transmits the member information to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means (A7), and then the portable information possessed by the administrator. When an operation start instruction signal is received from the information terminal (A12), it includes an operation start signal transmission means (A13) for transmitting a signal for starting the operation of the laundry machine according to the operation start instruction signal. The laundry system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

  According to this configuration, the administrator can start the operation of a laundry device other than the laundry device in which an abnormality has occurred by operating the portable information terminal. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry machine, it is possible to instruct the user of the laundry machine to replace clothes etc. in the other laundry machine and start the operation of the laundry machine. Serviceability is further improved.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the server (4) transmits the member information to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means (A7), and then the portable information possessed by the administrator. 6. An abnormality canceling signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal for canceling an abnormal state of a laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred when an abnormality canceling instruction signal is received from an information terminal. It is a laundry system described in Crab.

According to this configuration, the administrator can cancel the abnormal state of the laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred by operating the portable information terminal. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry device, the operation of the laundry device can be restarted immediately, so that serviceability is further improved.
In the invention according to claim 7, the server (4) transmits the member information to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means (A7), and then the portable information possessed by the administrator. A use stop signal transmitting means (A13) for transmitting a signal for disabling use of a laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred when a use stop instruction signal is received from an information terminal (A12). It is a laundry system in any one of 1-6.

  According to this configuration, the administrator can disable the use of the laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred by operating the portable information terminal. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry machine, it is possible to prevent the other person from using the laundry machine (the laundry machine in which the abnormality has occurred) thereafter by making the laundry machine unusable immediately. Since it becomes possible, the serviceability is further improved.

  In the invention described in claim 8, the server (4) can store a use point given to each member registered in advance for use of the laundry machine by each member. The server transmits the member information to the portable information terminal (7) possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means (A7), and then receives the point addition signal from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator. In any case (A19), the point addition means (A20) which adds a predetermined point to the member use point specified by the member specification means (A6) is included. The laundry system described.

  According to this configuration, the administrator can add the usage points of the user of the laundry machine in which the abnormality is stored, which is stored in the server, by operating the portable information terminal. Therefore, it becomes possible to add use points as an apologize for the occurrence of an abnormality in the laundry machine, and the serviceability is improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a laundry system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, in this laundry system, a plurality of laundry devices 1 (washing machines and dryers) installed in laundry stores operating in the city and the like are installed in each laundry store and installed in the laundry store. A plurality of laundry machines 1 that are connected to each other and a data controller 3 that is communicably connected are included. Further, this laundry system is provided with a management server 4 provided so as to be able to communicate with a data controller 3 of a laundry store via a communication network 5 (for example, a wireless communication network). Note that there are a plurality of laundry stores provided to communicate with the server 4.

  A person who intends to use this laundry system obtains a member number (for example, an ID code) by performing membership registration in advance, and enters the member number into the laundry device 1 when using the laundry device 1 It becomes. When a coin (for example, a 100 yen coin or a 500 yen coin) is inserted and the laundry machine 1 is used, when the coin is inserted, an operation unit (not shown) provided in the laundry machine 1 is operated, You can enter your membership number. Further, when the laundry device 1 is used without using coins or banknotes (without cash) using a storage medium (for example, an IC card) in which valuable value is stored in advance, the storage medium is laundry. The member number can be input by inserting the device 1 and causing the laundry device 1 to read the member number stored in the storage medium together with the valuable value.

  The server 4 includes a member information management unit 41, an operation status management unit 42, and a point management unit 43. At the time of member registration, member information such as a member number, name, gender, date of birth and e-mail address is stored in the member information management unit 41 for each member. The data controller 3 periodically checks the operating status of the plurality of laundry machines 1 installed in the laundry store. For each laundry machine 1, the membership number of the member who uses the laundry machine 1, the laundry machine 1 represents the amount of usage data corresponding to the operation details of 1 and the operation status of the laundry machine 1 (indicating that it is operating normally, that an abnormality has occurred, and if an abnormality has occurred, the content of the abnormality) Signals and the like are periodically transmitted to the server 4 via the communication network 5. Based on the signal received from the data controller 3, the server 4 manages information related to the operation status of each laundry machine 1 by the operation status management unit 42.

  In this laundry system, a member can obtain a use point for using the laundry machine 1 and receive a privilege according to the accumulated value (server point) of the use point. That is, when the server 4 manages server points for each member by the point management unit 43 and receives data of the usage amount according to the operation content of the laundry machine 1 from the data controller 3, the server 4 responds to the usage amount. The used points are added to the server points of the member. Members will receive benefits based on server points (for example, charging to storage media of valuable value according to server points, paying out money according to server points (point redemption process), distribution of content via the Internet, etc.) Can receive.

  As described above, the data controller 3 periodically checks the operating status of the plurality of laundry devices 1 installed in the laundry store (A1), and confirms that any one of the laundry devices 1 is abnormal. In the case of (A2), the data controller 3 is provided with the abnormality information (information of the abnormality, the number of the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality has occurred, information on the operating status of the laundry machine 1 when the abnormality has occurred), and the like. Stored in a memory (not shown) (A3).

  Thereafter, the abnormality information stored in the memory of the data controller 3 is also transmitted to the server 4 via the communication network 5 (A4), and the server 4 that has received the abnormality information sends the abnormality information to the operation status management unit 42. Store (A5). Then, the server 4 is based on the number of the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality included in the received abnormality information has occurred, and the member number of the member using the laundry machine 1 managed by the operation status management unit 42. Then, after identifying the member who uses the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality has occurred (A6), the member information of the member stored in the member information management unit 41 and the abnormality information stored in the operation status management unit 42 Is transmitted to the portable information terminal 7 (for example, mobile phone) possessed by the owner of the laundry system via the communication network 5 (A7). At this time, the member information and the abnormality information are also transmitted to a management device (for example, a personal computer) installed in a system company (office) of the laundry system managed by the owner.

  Upon receiving the member information and the abnormality information from the server 4, the member information and the abnormality information are displayed on the display unit 71 of the portable information terminal 7 of the owner. And the user (member) of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred can be confirmed (A8). In this case, the owner uses the e-mail address included in the member information to access the mobile information terminal 8 (for example, a mobile phone) possessed by the user via the communication network 5, and is generated by e-mail. In addition to explaining the contents of the abnormality that has occurred, it is requested that the clothes be moved from the laundry device 1 where the abnormality has occurred to another laundry device 1 (A9).

  The user who has received the e-mail from the owner's portable information terminal 7 confirms the text (contents of the abnormality that has occurred or an instruction to move the clothes) displayed on the display unit 81 of the portable information terminal 8, For example, the clothes are moved to the laundry machine 1 installed next to the laundry machine 1 where the abnormality has occurred (A10). When the fact that the clothes have been moved and the number of the laundry machine 1 to which the clothes are to be moved are returned from the user's portable information terminal 8 to the owner's portable information terminal 7 via the communication network 5 by e-mail, By looking at the text displayed on the display unit 71 of the portable information terminal 7, it can be confirmed that the replacement of the clothing has been completed (A11).

  After that, the owner operates the portable information terminal 7 to operate the laundry device 1 to which the clothes are moved for free operation without inserting coins or using valuable value (driving start instruction signal), A signal (usage stop signal) for making the generated laundry machine 1 unusable is transmitted to the server 4 via the communication network 5 (A12). Then, the server 4 transmits these signals received from the owner's portable information terminal 7 to the data controller 3 via the communication network 5 (A13).

  The data controller 3 that has received the signal from the server 4 transmits a signal to the designated laundry device 1 (the laundry device 1 to which the clothes are moved) based on the operation start instruction signal, and the laundry device 1 is free-running. And a signal is transmitted to the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred based on the use stop signal, and the laundry machine 1 is put into a use stop state (A14). After that, the data controller 3 sends a signal (operation information) that the free operation of the laundry machine 1 to which the clothes are to be moved and a signal that the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality has occurred has been suspended. Then, the data is transmitted to the server 4 via the communication network 5 (A15).

  The server 4 that has received the signal from the data controller 3 updates the operating status of the laundry machine 1 that is the destination of the clothing stored in the operating status management unit 42 to information indicating that it is operating normally, The operating status of the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality stored in the operating status management unit 42 has been updated is updated to information indicating that it is in a use suspended state (A16). Thereafter, the server 4 communicates information indicating that the laundry device 1 to which the clothes are to be moved is operating normally (free operation) and information indicating that the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred is in a suspended state. It transmits to the owner's portable information terminal 7 via the network 5 (A17). As a result, the display unit 71 of the owner's portable information terminal 7 indicates that the laundry device 1 to which the clothes are moved is operating normally (free operation) and that the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred is in a use suspended state. A message to the effect is displayed, and the owner can confirm the information (A18).

  After that, the owner operates the portable information terminal 7 to apologize to the user of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred, and sends a signal for adding the server point of the user via the communication network 5. It transmits to the server 4 (A19). Receiving this signal, the server 4 adds a predetermined usage point (a usage point or a certain usage point according to the content of the abnormality that has occurred) to the server point of the user stored in the point management unit 43. As a result, the server point is updated (A20).

  The updated server point data is transmitted from the server 4 via the communication network 5 to the owner's portable information terminal 7 and the portable information terminal 8 of the user of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred (A21). As a result, the updated server points are displayed on the display unit 71 of the owner's portable information terminal 7 and the display unit 81 of the portable information terminal 8 of the user of the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred. A later server point can be confirmed (A22).

  In this embodiment, on the basis of the abnormality information transmitted from the data controller 3 to the server 4, the server 4 identifies the member who uses the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred (A6), and the member's member Information can be transmitted to the portable information terminal 7 owned by the owner of the laundry store (A7). Therefore, since the owner of the laundry store can specify the user of the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality has occurred using the portable information terminal 7, it is possible to apologize to the user, and the serviceability is improved. improves.

  In addition, the owner of the laundry store uses the access number (for example, an e-mail address) received from the server 4 to access the portable information terminal 8 possessed by the user of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred and apologizes. (A9). Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry device 1, the user of the laundry device 1 can be immediately contacted and prompt treatment can be performed, so that serviceability is further improved. However, the access number is not limited to the e-mail address, and may be, for example, the telephone number of the portable information terminal 8 possessed by the user of the laundry machine 1.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the owner of the laundry store can specify the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the laundry machine 1 based on the abnormality information received from the server 4 to the portable information terminal 7 (A8). Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry machine 1, it is possible to immediately contact the user of the laundry machine 1 and promptly notify an operation to be performed by the user thereafter. improves.

  In addition, the operation status (operation status) of the plurality of laundry devices 1 is periodically checked by the data controller 3 (A1), and if any one of the laundry devices 1 becomes abnormal, the owner of the laundry store owns it. This can be notified to the portable information terminal 7 (A4, A7). Therefore, it is not necessary for the owner to bother confirming whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the laundry device 1, and notification is received only when an abnormality has occurred, which is convenient for the owner.

  In this embodiment, the owner can start the operation of the laundry device 1 other than the laundry device 1 in which an abnormality has occurred (the laundry device 1 to which the clothes are moved) by operating the portable information terminal 7. (A12). Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry device 1, it is possible to instruct the user of the laundry device 1 to replace other clothes with the laundry device 1 and start the operation of the laundry device 1. Therefore, serviceability is further improved.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the owner can disable the use of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred by operating the portable information terminal 7 (A12). Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry device 1, the laundry device 1 is immediately disabled so that other people can use the laundry device 1 (the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred) thereafter. Since this can be prevented, serviceability is further improved.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the owner operates the portable information terminal 7 to store the use points of the user of the laundry machine 1 in which the abnormality is stored (stored) in the point management unit 43 of the server 4 ( Server points) can be added. Therefore, it becomes possible to add usage points as an apologize for the occurrence of an abnormality in the laundry machine 1, and the serviceability is improved.

  Depending on the content of the abnormality that occurred in the laundry device 1 such as poor ignition during the operation of the laundry device 1 (for example, a dryer), the operation of the laundry device 1 (the laundry device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred) is resumed. There are cases where there is no problem even if it is allowed. Therefore, the owner operates the portable information terminal 7 to transmit a signal (abnormality cancellation instruction signal) for canceling the abnormal state of the laundry device 1 in which an abnormality has occurred to the server 4, thereby causing the laundry in which the abnormality has occurred. The signal for resuming the operation of the device 1 may be transmitted from the server 4 to the data controller 3 via the communication network 5. According to such a configuration, the owner can cancel the abnormal state of the laundry machine 1 in which an abnormality has occurred by operating the portable information terminal 7. Accordingly, when an abnormality occurs in the laundry device 1, the operation of the laundry device 1 can be restarted immediately, so that serviceability is further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
The plurality of laundry devices 1 installed in the laundry store are not limited to the configuration capable of communicating with the server 4 via the data controller 3 and the communication network 5. For example, each of the plurality of laundry devices 1 is independently connected to the server 4 via the communication network 5. Communication may be possible. In this case, when an abnormality occurs in any of the laundry devices 1, the abnormality information may be transmitted from the laundry device 1 to the server 4 via the communication network 5.

  The communication network 5 between the data controller 3 and the server 4 is not limited to a wireless communication network but may be a wired communication network. In this case, the user of the laundry machine 1 can connect the portable information terminal 8 to the laundry machine 1 to be used, and the communication between the portable information terminal 8 and the server 4 can be performed by the data controller 3 and the communication network 5 (wired). It may be possible to carry out via a communication network.

  The portable information terminals 7 and 8 are not limited to mobile phones, and may be other portable information terminals such as PHS and PDA.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a laundry system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Laundry equipment 3 Data controller 4 Server 7 (owner's) personal digital assistant 8 (member's personal digital assistant)

Claims (8)

A plurality of laundry devices installed in a laundry store;
A server capable of communicating with the plurality of laundry devices and storing member information for each registered member;
An abnormality information transmitting device that is communicable with the server and transmits abnormality information to the server when an abnormality occurs in any of the plurality of laundry machines,
The above server
A member identifying means for identifying a member using the laundry machine in which an abnormality has occurred when the abnormality information is received from the abnormality information transmitting device;
Member information transmitting means for transmitting member information of the member specified by the member specifying means to a portable information terminal possessed by the manager of the laundry store where the laundry device in which the abnormality has occurred is installed. And a laundry system.   2. The laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the member information includes an access number for accessing a portable information terminal held by a member from a portable information terminal held by an administrator.   3. The server according to claim 1, further comprising: abnormality information transmitting means for transmitting the abnormality information to the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator when the abnormality information is received from the abnormality information transmitting device. The laundry system described. The abnormality information transmitting device is
Including an operation status confirmation means for periodically confirming the operation status of the plurality of laundry devices,
The abnormality information is transmitted to the server when the operation status confirmation means confirms that an abnormality has occurred in any of the plurality of laundry machines. A laundry system according to any one of the above.   The server transmits the member information to the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means, and then receives the operation start instruction signal from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator. The laundry system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising operation start signal transmission means for transmitting a signal for starting operation of the laundry device according to the signal.   When the server receives member information from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator after transmitting the member information to the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means, an abnormality has occurred. The laundry system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an abnormality canceling signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal for canceling an abnormal state of the laundry machine.   When the server receives member information from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator after the member information is transmitted to the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means, an abnormality has occurred. The laundry system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a use stop signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal for making the laundry equipment unusable. The server can store, for each member registered in advance, a use point given to each member using the laundry machine,
After the member information is transmitted to the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator by the member information transmitting means and the server receives the point addition signal from the portable information terminal possessed by the administrator, the server identifies the member by the member identifying means. The laundry system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising point adding means for adding a predetermined point to the specified use point of the member.

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