JP2008015691A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine which can perform settlement with a recording medium with the identification information of a plurality of settlement services recorded thereon, and has improved convenience. <P>SOLUTION: The vending machine for selling a plurality of types of commodities stored inside a main body cabinet 1 is provided with: a commodity selection button 11 which is installed for each settlement service for one type of commodity and alternatively selects commodity and a settlement service; and a vending machine control part 30 for, when the commodity and the settlement service is selected through the commodity settlement button 11, performing settlement processing with an electronic money card 20 with the identification information of a plurality of settlement services recorded thereon, based on the identification information of the selected settlement service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine that performs a settlement process with a recording medium such as an IC card.

  Various electronic payment systems have been provided in which valuable value information is recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card, so-called “electronic money card”, and the value of goods and services is settled using this valuable value information. Has been. Since these electronic payment systems do not need to have cash at the time of payment, there are advantages such as ease of payment processing not only on the user side but also on the store side. In addition, security is also taken into consideration, and mutual authentication processing is performed with the electronic payment module prepared in the electronic payment terminal device, and only when the mutual authentication is established, the electronic payment processing is performed on the electronic money card. Will be implemented. That is, in the electronic money card, predetermined security is ensured by recording valuable value information in a secure storage area that can be read and written only by an electronic settlement module for which mutual authentication has been established.

  Here, most of the electronic payment modules described above are uniquely developed in each electronic payment system, and mutual authentication is not established with an electronic money card with a different electronic payment system. It is also impossible to read and write valuable information. Therefore, for example, even if the user owns an electronic money card that is compatible with the electronic payment system of one payment operator, the electronic payment terminal device on the store side is compatible with the electronic payment system of another payment operator. When the electronic payment module is provided, the electronic money card presented by the user cannot be handled and electronic payment cannot be performed.

  In recent years, recording media (IC cards, mobile phones, etc.) on which a plurality of electronic payment service information are recorded have become widespread, and in order to support such recording media, the number corresponding to each electronic payment system on the store side. It is possible to solve this problem by preparing only an electronic payment terminal device. However, on the store side, a large space is required for installing a plurality of electronic payment terminal devices, and the introduction cost is enormous. As a result, the original convenience of electronic payment is significantly impaired. Become.

  Therefore, a payment brand is read from a recording medium on which a plurality of payment service information such as the IC card is recorded, and a single payment brand is selected from the various payment brands that are read, so that a transaction is made. There has been proposed a portable terminal device that enables electronic settlement with an electronic terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-267551

  However, in the portable terminal device as described above, when the user side uses the IC card, it must always be carried, and it cannot be said that it is excellent from the viewpoint of convenience. At present, there is no vending machine capable of electronic payment with a recording medium on which a plurality of payment service information is recorded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vending machine capable of making payments with a recording medium on which a plurality of payment service information is recorded and improving convenience. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided for each of a plurality of settlement services for one type of product in a vending machine that sells a plurality of types of products accommodated in the machine. And a product selection means for alternatively selecting a product and a settlement service, and a recording medium on which identification information of a plurality of settlement services is recorded when the product and the settlement service are selected through the product selection means, And payment processing means for performing payment processing based on identification information of the selected payment service.

  According to the present invention, when a product and a payment service are selected through a product selection means provided for each of a plurality of payment services for one type of product, the recording medium on which the identification information of the plurality of payment services is recorded. Since payment processing is performed based on the identification information of the selected payment service, payment can be made with a recording medium in which the identification information of a plurality of payment services is recorded, and the user can It is sufficient that only the medium is held, and the convenience can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 schematically show a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a simplified explanation of the internal configuration. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention. The vending machines illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 are for selling products such as canned beverages and plastic bottled beverages, and are provided with a main body cabinet 1.

  The main body cabinet 1 is formed as a rectangular heat-insulating housing whose front surface is open. Inside the main body cabinet 1, a plurality of columns 2 are juxtaposed side by side, left and right. Each column 2 stores the same type of product along the vertical direction. A product unloader 3 is provided below the column 2. The product carry-out machine 3 carries out the products at the lowest level of the product group stored in the corresponding column 2 one by one when a command is given. The product taken out rolls a product shooter (not shown) or the like and then reaches a product outlet 10 described later.

  The vending machine is provided with an outer door 4 at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1. The outer door 4 opens and closes the front opening of the main body cabinet 1. On the front side, the display window 5, the coin insertion slot 6, the bill insertion slot 7, the amount indicator 8, the coin return slot 9, the commodity outlet 10, A product selection button 11, a card display 12, a reader / writer unit 13, and a card invitation lamp 14 are provided. On the rear side of the outer door 4, a coin processor 15 (see FIG. 3), a coin collection box (not shown). 1), a bill processing machine 16 (see FIG. 3) is provided.

  The display window 5 is a window for allowing the user to visually recognize the product sample 17. The coin slot 6 is an opening through which a user inserts coins. The coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 6 are identified by the coin processor 15 and then stored in the coin collection box. The banknote insertion slot 7 is an opening for a user to insert a banknote. The banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 7 is identified by the banknote processing machine 16. The bill insertion slot 7 has a function for returning bills that could not be identified by the bill processor 16. The amount display 8 is for displaying the amount of money input. The coin return port 9 is an opening for returning to the user a coin that could not be identified by the coin processor 15 or a coin to be changed. Moreover, the coin return slot 9 has a function for returning the coins inserted through the coin slot 6 when the user operates the return lever 18. The product outlet 10 is an opening through which a user takes out the product in the column 2 carried out by the product carry-out machine 3.

  The product selection button 11 is a push button switch for the user to select a purchased product, and is prepared for each product sample 17 that is visually recognized through the display window 5. The product selection button 11 is a product selection means that is provided for each of a plurality of settlement services for one type of product and that alternatively selects a product and a settlement service. In the present embodiment, there are four types of products, α, β, γ, and δ, and there are three types of payment services (payment brands) that can be handled: “A”, “B”, and “C”. In this case, for the product α, a button for which the payment service is “A”, a button for which the payment service is “B”, and a button for which the payment service is “C” are prepared. The same applies to the products β, γ, and δ. When each product selection button 11 is pressed by the user, the product selection button 11 is assigned to the product and the information regarding the settlement service is output to the vending machine control unit 30 described later as a product etc. signal.

  The card display 12 is for displaying the price of the product corresponding to the product selection button 11 when the product selection button 11 is pressed by the user.

  The reader / writer 13 reads / writes information from / to the electronic money card 20 when the electronic money card 20 is arranged in a predetermined communicable area.

  Here, the electronic money card 20 is a non-contact type IC card including an IC chip, and includes a control unit 21 and a memory 22 as shown in FIG. When a predetermined request is made during the settlement process, the control unit 21 responds with information recorded in the memory 22 in response to the request. In the memory 22, a plurality of payment service information and transaction history are recorded. The settlement service information has a card identification code (identification information) and valuable value information. The card identification code is a code that can specify a settlement service (settlement brand) by a settlement operator, and is recorded in a plain text state in the shared area 22a set in the memory 22 in advance. The valuable value information is electronic valuable value information used as a price when making a settlement, and is recorded in an encrypted state in a secure storage area 22 b set in the memory 22 in advance. These card identification code and valuable value information are recorded in association with each payment brand. The transaction history is a history of payment performed between the user and the payment operator via the electronic payment system, and is recorded in the shared area 22a set in advance in the memory 22, and is associated with each payment brand. It is recorded. The electronic money card 20 in the present embodiment is a recording medium on which a plurality of (for example, three) payment service information is recorded. Specifically, payment service information for payment brands “A”, “B”, and “C” is recorded. Thus, in the present embodiment, the reader / writer unit 13 that can read and write information in a non-contact state with respect to the memory 22 of the electronic money card 20 that is an IC card is applied.

  The card attraction lamp 14 is provided in the vicinity of the reader / writer unit 13, and is intended to attract the electronic money card 20 to the communicable area of the reader / writer unit 13 by flashing.

  The vending machine has a vending machine control unit 30 and a communication device 35 in addition to the above components. The vending machine control unit 30 performs overall control of the vending machine. The vending machine control unit 30 has an electronic payment module as particularly relevant to the present invention, and gives electronic payment processing for each payment brand to the module. Process.

  The electronic settlement module uses an authentication key for performing a mutual authentication process required when accessing the secure storage area 21b of the electronic money card 20 and valuable value information recorded in the secure storage area 21b of the electronic money card 20. Security information of the electronic payment system, such as an encryption key required for the encryption process. In this embodiment, one electronic payment module corresponding to an electronic payment system with a different payment brand is provided. The authentication system employed by each electronic payment module is unique to each electronic payment system including security information such as an authentication key and an encryption key, and is not compatible with each other. In the following, an electronic payment module corresponding to the electronic payment system of the payment brand “A” is referred to as “first module 31”, and an electronic payment module corresponding to the electronic payment system of the payment brand “B” is referred to as “second module 32”. The electronic payment module corresponding to the electronic payment system of the payment brand “C” will be referred to as a “third module 33”.

  The communication device 35 communicates with the management center 40 that manages the vending machine through a wireless line or the like.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the vending machine when the electronic money card 20 is used to settle and purchase a product from the vending machine according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, a description will be given of a case where the product α is settled and purchased with the settlement brand “B.” Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing contents of the vending machine. The operation of the vending machine will be described.

  In order to purchase the product α with the payment brand “B”, the user presses the product selection button 11 to which the payment brand “B” is assigned with the product α. Then, a product etc. signal relating to the product α and the settlement brand “B” is output from the pressed product selection button 11 to the vending machine control unit 30 (SQ101), and the product and the settlement brand are determined. The vending machine control unit 30 having input the output product etc. signal displays the price of the product α through the card display 12 (SQ102), and identifies the electronic payment module as the second module 32 (SQ103).

  The vending machine control unit 30 that has identified that the electronic payment module is the second module 32 makes a balance request to the second module 32, and the reader / writer unit 13 is in a card reading state by a card capture command from the second module 32. (SQ104, SQ105, SQ106). In addition, the vending machine control unit 30 makes the card invitation lamp 14 blink after making a balance request to the second module 32 (SQ107). Accordingly, the user can understand that the electronic money card 20 held by the user may touch the reader / writer unit 13.

  When the electronic money card 20 is held in the reader / writer unit 13 in the card reading state (SQ108), a card capture response is given from the electronic money card 20 to the second module 32 through the reader / writer unit 13 (SQ109). A mutual authentication process is performed between the electronic money card 20 and the second module 32 (SQ110).

  When mutual authentication between the electronic money card 20 and the second module 32 is established, the second module 32 gives an instruction to read the balance of the electronic money card 20 to the reader / writer unit 13, and the electronic money card 20 responds accordingly. The balance of the money card 20 is given to the vending machine control unit 30 through the reader / writer unit 13 and the second module 32 (SQ111, SQ112, SQ113).

  If the balance of the electronic money card 20 is equal to or greater than the payment amount, the vending machine control unit 30 gives the electronic money card 20 a subtraction instruction for valuable value information corresponding to the payment amount through the second module 32 and the reader / writer unit 13. Subtraction processing of valuable value information corresponding to the payment amount is performed in the money card 20 (SQ114, SQ115, SQ116).

  Thereafter, the result of the subtraction process performed on the electronic money card 20 is given as a subtraction response to the vending machine control unit 30 through the reader / writer unit 13 and the second module 32, and the current electronic settlement is completed (SQ117, SQ118). Thereafter, the vending machine control unit 30 carries out one product α from the column 2 in which the product α is stored through the product / goods unloader 3 (SQ119). Thereby, the carried-out product α is guided to the product outlet 10, and the user can receive the product α from the product outlet 10. The same settlement process is performed for other settlement brands “A, C”.

  As described above, according to the vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention, payment can be made with the electronic money card 20 in which the identification information of the plurality of payment brands “A, B, C” is recorded. In addition, the user only has to hold the electronic money card 20, and convenience can be improved. In particular, in the vending machine, by changing the allocation of the product selection button 11 and adding an electronic payment module to the vending machine control unit 30, it is possible to support electronic payment with the electronic money card 20. There is no need for additional hardware, and costs can be reduced.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the product samples 17 may be displayed grouped for each payment brand, and the product selection buttons 11 may be arranged grouped for each payment brand accordingly.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electronic money card 20 is exemplified as an example of a recording medium on which identification information of a plurality of payment brands is recorded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a mobile phone It may be a terminal device.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention is useful for performing a settlement process with a recording medium such as an IC card.

It is the perspective view which showed typically the vending machine in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed simply the internal structure of the vending machine in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the vending machine in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the electronic money card typically. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the processing content of the vending machine in embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed typically the modification of the vending machine in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Product Selection Button 13 Reader / Writer Unit 20 Electronic Money Card 21 Control Unit 22 Memory 22a Shared Area 22b Storage Area 30 Vending Machine Control Unit 31 First Module 32 Second Module 33 Third Module

Claims (1)

In a vending machine that sells multiple types of goods contained in the aircraft,
A product selection means provided for each of a plurality of settlement services for one type of product and for selectively selecting the product and the settlement service;
Payment in which payment processing is performed based on identification information of a selected payment service with a recording medium in which identification information of a plurality of payment services is recorded when a product and a payment service are selected through the product selection unit A vending machine comprising a processing means.

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