JP2007215705A - Card discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card discharging device which can acquire the information regarding the discharging situation of a card. <P>SOLUTION: This card discharging device includes a card discharging section 9, a card identification information detecting section 13, and a card identification information storage section 19. In this case, the card discharging section 9 houses the card loaded with card identification information, and discharges the housed card. The card identification information detecting section 1 detects the card identification information of the discharged card. The card identification information storage section 19 stores the history of the detected card identification information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a card ejection device.

As a conventional card discharging device, there is one that reads a barcode of a card with a barcode before the game starts.
Japanese Patent No. 3151978

  There are various types of cards stored in the card ejector depending on the type of card, the attributes of the card, etc., but it is not possible to know which type of card will be ejected. The type could not be identified.

  In addition, among the cards stored in the card ejecting device, there are cards of a high rare value at a certain ratio such as 1 or 2 out of 250 cards, which are gaining popularity among card purchasers. In such a situation, depending on the store where the card ejection device is installed, there may be an act of extracting only a card with a high rare value in advance before storing the card, and the card installed in such a store There was a problem that no card with high rarity value was discharged from the discharging device, and various types of cards were not sold fairly between stores.

  In the conventional card ejection device, even if it is possible to know the number of cards ejected from the remaining amount of stored cards, information on the card ejection status such as how many types of cards are ejected is obtained. Because it was not possible, it was impossible to provide services according to the type of cards that were ejected, or to grasp the status of card ejection and use it for marketing. In addition, it was impossible to check whether or not the above-mentioned extraction action was performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card ejection device that can acquire information about the card ejection status.

  (1) The present invention is a card ejection device that stores a card to which card identification information is added, detects a card ejection unit that ejects the stored card, and the card identification information of the ejected card. It includes a card identification information detection unit and a card identification information storage unit that stores the detected card identification information.

  Card identification information refers to information stored in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode attached to a card, a magnetic recording medium, an IC chip, etc., and may be a card serial number, card type, It may be information indicating an attribute or the like possessed by the card. Moreover, the card | curd identification information of the discharged | emitted card | curd, the discharge | emission order, the log | history regarding a number, etc. may be sufficient.

  The card identification information detection unit is provided at a position where the card identification information added to the card ejected from the card ejection unit can be read at the time of ejection.

  The card identification information can be detected by using a reader when the card is ejected from the card ejection unit. If the card has a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode attached, it can be detected by an optical scanner. Can be detected. A card with a magnetic recording medium can be detected with a card reader using magnetism, and a card with an IC chip can be detected with a card reader using radio waves.

  According to the present invention, the card identification information of the ejected card is detected, and the detected card identification information is stored, so that information on the card ejection status such as how many types of cards are ejected is acquired. be able to.

  (2) The present invention is a card ejection device that stores a card to which card identification information is added, detects a card ejection unit that ejects the stored card, and the card identification information of the ejected card. A card discharge apparatus comprising: a card identification information detection unit; and a card identification information output unit that outputs a detection result by the card identification information detection unit.

  The detection result may be the detected card identification information itself, or may be character information, image information, audio information, or the like corresponding to the detected card identification information.

  The output may be output to a display unit provided in the card discharge device or may be output to a sound output unit such as a speaker provided in the card discharge device.

  According to the present invention, by outputting the detection result by the card identification information detection unit, it is possible to provide a service according to the type of the discharged card.

  (3) The card ejection device of the present invention is characterized in that the card identification information detection unit detects the card identification information without contacting the ejected card.

  Detecting without contact means that the reading device does not adhere to the card when reading the card identification information, and may be detected optically if the card has a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode attached thereto. However, if the card contains an IC chip, it may be detected using a non-contact type IC card reader.

  According to the present invention, card identification information can be detected without damaging the card such as folding or rubbing by detecting the card identification information without contacting the ejected card.

  (4) The card ejection device of the present invention is characterized in that different types of cards are stored in a random order in the card ejection unit.

  (5) The card ejection device according to the present invention is characterized in that different types of cards are stored in the card ejection unit in a predetermined order.

  (6) The card ejection device according to the present invention further includes a communication processing unit that transmits and receives data via a network, and the communication processing unit stores the card identification information stored in the card identification information storage unit over the network. It transmits to the server connected via this.

  “Connected via a network” may be connected via a communication network such as the Internet, a dedicated line, or PHS, or may be connected via a wired or wireless LAN line.

  The card identification information may be transmitted collectively when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied.

  According to the present invention, by sending stored card identification information to a server connected via a network, the card discharge status such as how many kinds of cards have been discharged at a remote location via the network. Information about can be obtained.

  (7) The present invention is a card identification information totaling system including a card ejection device and a server connected via a network, wherein the card ejection device stores and stores a card to which card identification information is added. A card ejection unit for ejecting the card, a card identification information detection unit for detecting the card identification information of the ejected card, a card identification information storage unit for storing the detected card identification information, and A communication processing unit that transmits the card identification information to the server, and the server totals the communication processing unit that receives the card identification information transmitted from the card ejection device and the received card identification information. And a card identification information totaling unit for performing the processing.

  The process of aggregating card identification information is to calculate the card identification information sent from each card ejection device in one, and calculate the number of cards ejected for each card ejection device. Alternatively, the number of cards ejected for each type of card may be calculated, or both. In addition, the ratio of a specific type of card to the total discharged cards may be calculated, or may be obtained by a process of counting whether or not a specific type of card has been discharged.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire information about the card discharge status of each card discharge device at a remote location via the network by performing a process of counting the received card identification information.

  (8) The card identification information tabulation system according to the present invention further includes a tabulation result determination unit that performs a process of determining a tabulation result by the card identification information tabulation unit based on a predetermined determination condition. And

  The process of determining the aggregation result based on a predetermined determination condition refers to a process of determining whether or not the aggregation result of the card identification information history matches a predetermined determination condition.

  The predetermined determination condition may be, for example, a condition that determines the type, number, or order of cards to be stored or ejected, or a condition that defines a ratio of a specific type of card included in the stored or ejected cards. Alternatively, it may be a condition that stipulates that a particular type of card should be stored or ejected.

  In general, the card discharge device has a predetermined pattern of cards to be discharged at the time of card shipment for reasons of production management and to ensure fairness at the time of shipment. Such a card order pattern may be set, and the result of counting may be determined based on this pattern to check whether a particular type of card has been removed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check the card discharge status of each card discharge device from various angles at a remote place via a network by performing a process of determining the counting result based on a given determination condition. it can.

  (9) In the card identification information totaling system according to the present invention, the totaling result determining unit stores information relating to at least one of the type and number of cards to be stored in the card ejection device as the predetermined determination condition. The determination process is performed based on the information.

  The storage information is information that defines at least one of the type and number of cards to be stored at the time of storage in each card ejection device, and is information that serves as a determination condition for determining the total result.

  The process of determining based on the stored information refers to a process of determining whether or not the contents of the stored information match with each other by comparing the total result with the contents of the stored information, whereby the card is stored in the card ejection device. It is possible to obtain a determination result for confirming whether or not the card has been previously removed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check whether various types of cards are sold fairly in each card ejecting device from a remote location via the network by performing a process of determining the counting result based on the stored information. it can.

  (10) The present invention is an article information totaling system including an article discharge apparatus and a server connected via a network, wherein the article discharge apparatus stores different types of articles at random and stores the stored articles. An article discharge section for discharging the article, an article identification information detection section for detecting the article identification information added to the discharged article, an article identification information storage section for storing the detected article identification information, and the stored A communication processing unit that transmits article identification information to the server, and the server totals the communication processing unit that receives the article identification information sent from the article discharge device and the received item identification information. And an article identification information totaling unit that performs processing.

  Article identification information refers to information stored in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode attached to an article, an IC chip, etc., and may be the serial number of the article, the type of article, the attribute of the article, etc. It may be information indicating. Further, it may be the article identification information of the discharged articles, the order of discharge, the history regarding the number of sheets, and the like.

  The article identification information detection unit is provided at a position where the article identification information added to the article discharged from the article discharge unit can be read at the time of discharge.

  The article identification information can be detected by using a reading device when the article is discharged from the article discharge section, and can be detected by an optical scanner if the article has a barcode attached thereto. In addition, an article incorporating an IC chip can be detected by a reader using radio waves.

  According to the present invention, in the article discharging apparatus in which various types of articles are discharged at random by performing the process of counting the received article information, the number of articles of what type is discharged. Information on the discharge status can be obtained from a remote location via a network.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. In addition, this embodiment demonstrated below does not unduly limit the content of this invention described in the claim. In addition, all the configurations described in the present embodiment are not necessarily essential configuration requirements of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a card ejection device 1 according to the present embodiment. A display unit 2 is disposed at the upper front of the card ejection device 1, and an operation unit 3 is disposed below the display unit 2. In addition, two buttons 4, 5, 6 are arranged on the left and right of the operation unit 3.

  A coin insertion slot 7 is disposed below the operation unit 3. A card discharge port 8 is disposed at the lower front portion of the card discharge device 1.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the card ejection device 1. A card discharge unit 9 is arranged inside the card discharge device 1 so as to be positioned above the card discharge port 8.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the card discharge unit 9 and the card discharge port 8. A card stock 10 is arranged inside the card discharge unit 9, and the cards 11 are stored in the card stock 10 in a state of being stacked vertically, and the cards 11 are discharged one by one as the roller 12 rotates. A card identification information detector 13 is attached to the opposite surface of the roller 12 so that the card identification information of the card to be ejected can be read.

  When the card identification information is read, the card stopper 14 is raised so that the card identification information detection unit 13 can read the card identification information reliably. When the reading of the card identification information is completed, the card stopper 14 is removed, and the card 11 is discharged to the card discharge port 8.

  FIG. 4 is another example of a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the card discharge unit 9 and the card discharge port 8. Here, the roller 12 temporarily stops rotating after moving the card 11 to a position where the card identification information of the card 11 can be read, and resumes rotation after the card identification information has been read to discharge the card 11 to the card discharge port 8.

  FIG. 5 is an example of functional blocks of the card ejection device 1 of the present embodiment. The card ejection device 1 according to the present embodiment only needs to include at least the processing unit 15, the storage unit 16, and the card ejection unit 9, and the other blocks can be optional components.

  Here, the processing unit 15 performs various processing such as control of the card ejection device 1, instruction instruction to each functional block, image processing, and sound processing, and the functions thereof are various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.). Alternatively, it can be realized by hardware such as ASIC (gate array or the like) or a given program.

  The operation unit 3 receives the operation data input by the purchaser and performs a process of notifying the processing unit 15 of the operation data, and the function can be realized by hardware such as a lever and a button.

  The coin receiving unit 17 performs processing for detecting coin insertion from the purchaser and notifying the processing unit 15.

  The storage unit 16 is a work area for the processing unit 15 and the like, functions as a main memory and a frame buffer, and can be realized by hardware such as a RAM.

  The display unit 2 outputs an image or the like corresponding to the detected card identification information, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a CRT or LCD.

  The sound output unit 18 outputs sound corresponding to the detected card identification information, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a speaker.

  The card discharge unit 9 stores a card and discharges the card when coin insertion is detected or when operation data is input, and includes a card stock 10 and a card identification information detection unit 13, respectively. The card stock 10 is a place where cards are stored, and the card identification information detection unit 13 detects card identification information of the discharged card.

  The storage unit 16 includes a card identification information storage unit 19. The card identification information storage unit 19 stores a history of card identification information detected by the card identification information detection unit 13.

  The communication processing unit 20 transmits and receives data via a network, and its function can be realized by various processors, hardware such as a communication ASIC, or a given program.

  Here, the communication processing unit 20 transmits the history of card identification information stored in the card identification information storage unit 19 to a server connected via a network.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the card ejection device 1 of the present embodiment.

  First, when a coin is inserted, the coin receiving unit 17 detects the coin (S1), and the card is discharged from the card discharge unit 9 (S2). If the card is discharged from the card discharge unit 9, the card identification information detection unit 13 detects the card identification information (S3), and writes the detected card identification information in the card identification information storage unit 19 (S4). If a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied (S5), the communication processing unit 20 transmits the history of card identification information stored in the card identification information storage unit 19 to the server via the network (S6). Here, the predetermined transmission condition may be a condition that transmission is performed when all the cards stored in the card stock 10 are discharged, or a condition that transmission is performed when there is a transmission request from the server.

  In this way, by detecting the card identification information of the discharged card and storing the history of the detected card identification information, it is possible to grasp the card discharge status such as how many types of cards have been discharged. You can check whether various types of cards are sold fairly. In addition, by sending the stored history of card identification information to a server connected via a network, it is possible to grasp the card ejection status at a remote location via the network.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the card identification information totaling system 21 of the present embodiment.

  The card identification information totaling system 21 of this embodiment includes a card ejection device 1 and a server 22, and the card ejection device 1 and the server 22 are connected via a network 23 such as the Internet. The network 23 may be the Internet, a dedicated line, a communication network such as PHS, or a wired or wireless LAN line. The card discharge device 1 may be a card vending machine dedicated to card sales or a card game machine having a game function.

  The server 22 includes a communication device 24 that is connected to the network 23 and transmits / receives data, a host computer 25 such as a workstation, and a database 26.

  The communication device 24 is constituted by a modem, a terminal adapter, a router, or the like. Data is exchanged between the card discharge device 1 and other server devices via a communication line such as a telephone line, an ISDN line, or a dedicated line. Send and receive.

  FIG. 8 is an example of functional blocks of the server 22 of the card identification information totaling system 21 of this embodiment.

  The server 22 of the card identification information totaling system 21 includes a host computer 25 and a database 26.

  The host computer 25 includes a processing unit 27, a storage unit 28, and a communication processing unit 29.

  The communication processing unit 29 exchanges data with the card ejection device 1 and the database 26 and has both a transmission function and a reception function. However, the transmission / reception function may be realized by being distributed between the transmission unit and the reception unit. .

  The processing unit 27 performs various processing based on the received processing request, and its function can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.) or ASIC (gate array, etc.), or a given program. .

  The processing unit 27 includes a card identification information totaling unit 30 and a totaling result determining unit 31. The card identification information totaling unit 30 performs a process of totaling the history of card identification information sent from the card ejection device 1 and writes the total result to the database 26. The counting result determination unit 31 performs processing for determining the counting result based on the storage information read from the database 26, and outputs the determination result.

  The database 26 includes a communication processing unit 31 that transmits / receives data to / from the host computer 25, and an information storage unit 35 that stores the total result 33 and the storage information 34 in a usable state. Functions as an information database.

  The information storage unit 35 is a CPU-readable storage medium such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and is realized by a RAM, a hard disk (magnetic disk), a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, or the like.

  Here, the total result 33 of the history of the card identification information sent from each card discharge device 1 is stored in the total result database in association with each card discharge device 1. In the storage information database, storage information 34 that defines the type and number of cards to be stored in each card discharge device 1 is stored in association with each card discharge device 1.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the card identification information history 36 sent from the card ejection device 1.

  The card identification information history 36 includes a device ID 37, a discharge number 38, and a card ID 39. The ejection number 38 represents the order in which the cards are ejected after storing the card, and the card ID 39 is information included in the card identification information to identify the type of card. Here, it is shown that the card ejection device having the device ID 37 “1” has ejected a total of 250 cards in the order of cards such as the card ID 39 “C” “F” “H”.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of information stored in the tabulation result database.

  The tabulation result database stores a tabulation result 33 such as a device ID 40, a card ID 41, and the number of ejected sheets 42 for each card ejection device. The card ID 41 is information that is included in the card identification information and identifies the type of card. Here, it is shown that the number of cards with the card IDs 41 “A” to “Z” having been discharged from the card discharge device 1 having the device ID 40 “1” is the same as the discharge number 42.

  Here, the card identification information totaling unit 30 totals the card identification information history 36 shown in FIG. 9 sent from the card ejection device 1 having the device ID 37 “1”, so that the total of the total results 33 shown in FIG. The tabulation result of the part relating to the device ID 40 “1” can be obtained.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of information stored in the stored information database.

  The storage information database stores storage information 34 such as a device ID 43, a card ID 44, and a stored number 45 for each card discharge device. The card ID 44 is information included in the card identification information and identifies the type of card, and the stored number 45 represents the number to be stored for each card. Here, it is shown that the card ejection device having the device ID 43 “1” should store the number of cards with the card IDs 44 “A” to “Z” at the storage number 45 at the time of storage.

  Here, the counting result determination unit 31 performs processing for determining the counting result 33 in FIG. 10 based on the storage information 34 in FIG. 11, so that the cards to be stored in each card ejecting apparatus 1 are actually stored. It is possible to output a determination result of whether or not everything has been stored and discharged. For example, in the storage information 34 of FIG. 11, the storage number 45 of the card ID 44 “A” of the device ID 43 “1” is “2”, but the card ID 41 “A” of the device ID 40 “1” in the counting result 33 of FIG. Since the number of ejected sheets 42 is “1”, a determination result indicating that one card with the card ID 44 “A” is not stored in the card ejecting apparatus 1 having the apparatus ID 43 “1” is output. Similarly, a determination result indicating that two cards with the card ID 44 “B” are not stored in the card ejection device 1 having the device ID 43 “2” is output.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the server 22 of the card identification information totaling system 21 of this embodiment.

  First, when the card identification information history 36 is received from the card ejection device 1 (S7), the card identification information totaling unit 30 performs a process of totaling the card identification information history (S8) and writes the total result 33 to the database 26. (S9). The counting result determination unit 31 reads the counting result 33 and the storage information 34 from the database 26 (S10), performs a process of determining the counting result 33 based on the storage information 34 (S11), and outputs the determination result (S12).

  In this way, by collecting and determining the history of received card identification information, it is possible to grasp the discharge status of the card at a remote place and check whether various types of cards are sold fairly. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, terms cited as broad or synonymous terms in the description in the specification or drawings can be replaced with broad or synonymous terms in other descriptions in the specification or drawings.

It is a whole perspective view of the card discharge apparatus of this embodiment. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of a card discharge apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of a card | curd discharge part and a card | curd discharge port. It is another example of the longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of a card | curd discharge part and a card | curd discharge port. It is an example of the functional block of the card discharge apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating an example of the process of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a structure of the card identification information total system of this embodiment. It is an example of the functional block of the server of the card identification information totaling system of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the log | history of card identification information. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the information memorize | stored in the total result database. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the information memorize | stored in the stored information database. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating an example of the process of the server of the card identification information total system of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Card Ejector 9 Card Ejector 13 Card Identification Information Detector 15 Processing Unit (Card Ejector)
16 storage unit 19 card identification information storage unit 20 communication processing unit (card ejection device)
21 Card Identification Information Total System 22 Server 25 Host Computer 26 Database 27 Processing Unit (Host Computer)
29 Communication processing unit (host computer)
30 Card Identification Information Total Unit 31 Total Result Determination Unit 32 Communication Processing Unit (Database)
33 Total result 34 Stored information 35 Information storage unit

Claims (10)

A card ejector,
A card ejecting unit for storing a card to which card identification information is added, and ejecting the stored card;
A card identification information detector for detecting the card identification information of the discharged card;
A card identification information storage unit for storing the detected card identification information;
A card discharge device comprising: A card ejector,
A card ejecting unit for storing a card to which card identification information is added, and ejecting the stored card;
A card identification information detector for detecting the card identification information of the discharged card;
A card identification information output unit for outputting a detection result by the card identification information detection unit;
A card discharge device comprising: In claim 1 or 2,
The card identification information detection unit
A card ejecting device for detecting the card identification information without contacting the ejected card. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The card ejection unit stores different types of cards in a random order. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The card ejection unit stores different types of cards in a predetermined order. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
A communication processing unit that transmits and receives data via a network;
The communication processing unit
A card ejection device, wherein the card identification information stored in the card identification information storage unit is transmitted to a server connected via a network. A card identification information totaling system including a card ejection device and a server connected via a network,
The card ejector is
A card ejecting unit for storing a card to which card identification information is added, and ejecting the stored card;
A card identification information detector for detecting the card identification information of the discharged card;
A card identification information storage unit for storing the detected card identification information;
A communication processing unit for transmitting the stored card identification information to the server,
The server
A communication processing unit for receiving the card identification information sent from the card ejection device;
A card identification information totaling unit that performs processing for totalizing the received card identification information;
Including a card identification information totaling system. In claim 7,
The server
A card identification information totaling system, further comprising: a totaling result determination unit that performs a process of determining a totaling result by the card identification information totaling unit based on a predetermined determination condition. In claim 8,
The counting result determination unit
The card identification information totaling system characterized in that, as the predetermined determination condition, a determination process is performed based on stored information that defines information on at least one of the type and number of cards to be stored in the card ejection device. An article information totaling system including an article discharge device and a server connected via a network,
The article discharging apparatus is:
An article discharger for randomly storing different types of articles and discharging the stored articles;
An article identification information detection unit for detecting article identification information added to the discharged article;
An article identification information storage unit for storing the detected article identification information;
A communication processing unit that transmits the stored item identification information to the server,
The server
A communication processing unit that receives the article identification information sent from the article discharge device;
An article identification information totaling unit that performs processing for totalizing the received article identification information;
An article information totaling system comprising:

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