JP2008250497A - Service provision system, service provision method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent a user who receives the offer of a service by using his or her belongings from leaving those belongings. <P>SOLUTION: This service provision system includes a service providing device which offers a service by directly using user's belongings and a settlement device which settles the value of a service provided by the service providing device. The service providing device is provided with a decision means for deciding whether or not user's belongings are left; and a notification means for notifying the settlement device when deciding that the user's belongings are left. The settlement device is provided with a notification means for receiving notification from the notification means, and for notifying the operator of the settlement device that the user's belongings are left in settling the value of the service to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology in which a user receives a service using his / her own thing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technology in which a user receives a service using his / her own thing is known. For example, a convenience store or the like prints data recorded on an electronic medium such as a DVD or a memory card owned by a user or a copy service that provides a copy using a manuscript owned by the user. This is the print service. However, when receiving such services on a device used by an unspecified large number of people, after receiving copy and print services, there is a possibility that documents and electronic media remain set and misplaced. is there.

Conventionally, in order to prevent such misplacement, an apparatus such as a copier that provides a service is equipped with an object sensor, and when the user leaves, the presence or absence of a document is detected and the document remains. In this case, the user is notified of the warning sound (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-67482

  However, since the notification by the warning sound described above can be heard by all the surrounding people, it becomes an irritating sound for people around the user other than the user. Moreover, since the user himself / herself is also noticed, there is a case where it is embarrassed.

  If the user is too focused on the copy result or the print result, or if the user is busy with time, the user may not notice the warning sound. In addition, the store side must store misplaced items such as manuscripts and electronic media that are left behind on the device, and the storage method, storage period, and owner do not appear. It is necessary to pay attention to handling such as disposal methods, which is not desirable.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide an effect that the user leaves the thing when the user is provided with the service using his / her own thing. It is to provide a technology to prevent this automatically.

In order to achieve the above object, a system according to the present invention provides:
A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
A service providing system including:
The service providing apparatus includes:
Determining means for determining whether or not the user's thing remains;
A notification means for notifying the payment apparatus when it is determined by the determination means that the user's thing remains;
With
The settlement device
Informing means for notifying the operator of the settlement apparatus that the user's thing remains when receiving the notification from the notifying means and paying the consideration for the service to the user. It is characterized by providing.

In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention comprises:
A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
Providing a service by controlling the service,
In the service providing apparatus, a determination step of determining whether or not the user's thing remains,
A notification step in which the service providing device notifies the settlement device of the determination result of the determination step;
In response to the notification in the notification step, when the payment device settles the price for the service to the user, the operator of the payment device is notified that the user's thing remains. An informing process for informing;
It is characterized by including.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention provides:
A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
A service providing program for providing services by controlling
In the service providing device,
A determination step of determining whether or not the user's thing remains;
A notification step of notifying the settlement apparatus of the determination result of the determination step;
And execute
In the payment device,
A notification step of notifying the operator of the payment apparatus that the user's thing remains when receiving the notification in the notification step and paying the consideration for the service to the user. Is executed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a user receives provision of a service using his / her thing, it can prevent effectively that user leaving the thing.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copy service system as a first embodiment of a service providing system according to the present invention. The copy service system includes a copy machine 102 that performs copying in a store that provides a copy service, and a register 101 for clearing the fee for the used copy service. The copy machine 102 and the register 101 are connected via a network. It is connected. The copier 102 functions as a service providing apparatus that provides a service by directly using a user's thing (here, a manuscript), and the register 101 functions as a settlement apparatus that settles the price of the service provided by the service providing apparatus. To do.

  Next, a procedure for using the copy service will be described. FIG. 2 shows an example of a use start screen (user interface) for starting use of the copy service. The use start screen is displayed on the panel or display of the copier body. The screen is composed of a service content and a charge display, and a start button and an end button, and the user can use the copy service by pressing the start button.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for using the copy service. In FIG. 3, first, the user presses the “start button” on the screen shown in FIG. 2 (step S301) to start the copy service and simultaneously recognize the copy service by the current user. A recognition code is issued (step S302). Here, each time a copy service is started, a new different recognition code is issued. When the copy service is started, the user performs a copy operation (step S303). The copying operation is a general operation of setting a document, pressing a copy button after setting a mode such as the number of copies and reduction / enlargement on the panel of the copying machine.

  When the copy operation is completed, the “end button” on the screen is pressed (step S304). When the end button is pressed, a slip in which the bar code recording the content, number of copies, fee, and information of the recognition code issued in step S302 is output (step S305). The user receives the output slip (step S306) and pays the usage fee for the copy service at the clearing counter. That is, the copier 102 here includes a printing unit that functions as a recording unit that records the provided service in a slip as a service recording medium. Here, the slip is used as a medium for recording the service, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other media such as a magnetic card may be used.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a slip that is output when the copy service ends. The slip describes the contents and fee of the copy work performed by the user, and the identification code issued at the start of the copy service. Further, a bar code 401 incorporating information obtained by encoding the contents of the copy work, the charge, and the recognition code is described.

  Next, a procedure for clearing the usage fee for the copy service will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for adjusting the usage fee for the copy service. In FIG. 5, the user first brings the slip (FIG. 4) to the clearing counter. The service provider (clerk) working at the clearing counter reads the barcode of the slip using the barcode reader of the register 101 and decodes the content of the slip (step S501). The contents to be decrypted are the contents of the copy operation, the fee, and the recognition code incorporated in the barcode. It is determined from the decrypted contents whether the slip is a usage fee for the copy service (step S502). If it is determined in step S502 that the fee is not a usage fee for the copy service, a normal settlement process is performed according to the contents of the slip (step S511), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the charge for using the copy service is a result of decoding the recognition code, the copying machine 102 used by the user is recognized from the decoded recognition code (step S503). Further, document detection as to whether a document is placed on the recognized copier 102 is executed via the network (step S504). Through this series of processing, the register 101 discriminates the reading means for reading the information stored in the slip as the service recording medium and the user who should return the remaining item based on the information read by the reading means. It functions as a discrimination means. Furthermore, it also functions as a notifying means for notifying the operator that the user's thing remains in accordance with the result of the determination by the determining means. Specifically, the CPU in the register 101 functions as each unit by executing a predetermined program and controlling the display and the speaker.

  On the other hand, when the copy machine 102 receives the document detection command from the register 101 and uses it as a trigger to determine whether or not the user's thing remains, and determines that the user's thing remains, , Notify the register. Specifically, the CPU provided in the copier 102 functions as a determination unit by executing a predetermined program, and further functions as a notification unit by controlling the I / O interface.

  The register 101 receives the result of document detection (step S505), and determines whether there is a document based on the result of document detection (step S506). If it is determined that there is a document, it is determined that the document has been misplaced, and a warning that the document has been forgotten is displayed on the screen of the register 101. Alternatively, the service provider (clerk) is notified by issuing a warning sound (step S507). In response to the warning from the register, the service provider notifies the user of the copy service that is performing settlement that “the manuscript has been left behind” (step S508). In other words, the operator of the register 101 as a payment device indicates that the user's thing remains when the user pays the service price upon receiving a notification from the notification means inside the copier 102. Is notified. A CPU, a display, a speaker, and the like in the register 101 function as this notification means.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S506 that there is no document, the process proceeds to step S509 without warning or the like. In step S509, the copy service fee is displayed on the register 101, which is a normal clearing process, the copy service fee is received from the copy service user (step S510), and the process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the original reading device portion of the copier 102. The document detection process in step S504 in FIG. 5 is performed in the document reading device portion of the copier 102 shown in FIG. The document reading apparatus has a document table 602 on which a document is placed, a pressure plate 601 for pressing the document, and a document detection sensor 603, and the document detection sensor 603 detects the document table 602 so that the document is on the document table 602. It is determined whether or not. That is, the document detection sensor 603 functions as a determination unit that determines whether a user's thing remains in the service providing apparatus.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a document placement forget notification screen in step S507 of FIG. 7 is displayed as a warning on the display device included in the register 101. The service provider (clerk) can know that the user who is clearing the usage fee for the copy service has left the manuscript on the copier. If the service provider tells the user that he / she has misplaced the manuscript, he / she will surely notice that the manuscript has been misplaced, and the user himself / herself will collect the misplaced manuscript without being seen by a third party. Is possible.

  According to the present embodiment, even if the user forgets to place a manuscript, he / she is notified of forgetting the manuscript at the time of payment for the usage service, and the service provider can reliably and conspicuously notify the user that the manuscript has been forgotten. it can. Thus, since there is no misplacement of the manuscript, the service provider does not need to keep the misplaced manuscript. In addition, since the user is notified of the misplacement of a manuscript by recognizing a slip issued especially when the copying operation is completed by the user, for example, when the user temporarily leaves the place, an erroneous notification is made. There is no.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the method of notifying the user himself / herself of the misplacement of the document via the service provider has been described. However, in the present embodiment, when the next user uses the copy service, the next one is used. The user who has misplaced the document is notified of the misplacement of the manuscript via the user.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy service use start screen when a document is left. After the previous copy service user ends the copy service, the original detection process described in step S504 in FIG. 5 is performed, and if there is an original remaining, a copy service use start screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Is displayed. On the screen, a message for notifying that a document is left in the copier 102, a “forget document notification button”, and a “start button” are displayed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a misplaced document collection unit. When the user of the copy service starts copying, if the previous user's original is left on the copier 102, the user who intends to use the copy service from now on will see the copy service use start screen (FIG. 8) “Forget original document notification button” is pressed (step S901). When the “document forgotten notification button” is pressed, the service provider (clerk) is notified that there is a document forgotten (step S902). Specifically, a forgetting document notification command is transmitted from the copier 102 to the register 101 via the network.

  At the same time, the recognition code issued when the previous user uses the copy service is recorded as the forgotten document recognition code (step S903). The service provider (clerk) notified that there is a forgotten manuscript collects the manuscript that has been left behind in the copier (step S904), and ends the process.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for returning the document collected in step S904 of FIG. In FIG. 10, first, the copy service user brings the slip (FIG. 4) to the clearing counter, and at the clearing counter, the service provider (clerk) reads the barcode of the slip using the barcode reader of the register, The contents of the slip are decoded (step S1001). The contents to be decrypted are the contents of the copy operation, the fee, and the recognition code incorporated in the barcode. It is determined from the decrypted content whether the slip is a usage fee for the copy service (step S1002). If it is determined in step S1002 that the fee is not a usage fee for the copy service, normal settlement processing is performed according to the contents of the slip (step S1009), and the processing is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S1002 that the usage fee is for the copy service, a recognition code is acquired from the decrypted content (step S1003). It is determined whether there is a notification of forgetting document shown in step S902 in FIG. 9 (step S1004), and the forgetting document recognition code recorded in step S903 in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is (step S1005). If there is a matching recognition code, a “forget original” message is displayed on the register screen (step S1006). The service provider (store clerk) hands over the document collected in step S904 in FIG. 9 to the user of the copy service that is performing settlement (step S1007). The copy service fee is displayed in a register which is a normal clearing process (step S1008), the copy service fee is received from the copy service user (step S1009), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is no recognition code that matches the recognition code of the slip in step S1005, the process proceeds to step S1008. On the other hand, if there is no misplacement notification in step S1004, the process proceeds to step S1008.

According to the present embodiment, even when the user forgets to place a manuscript, forgetting of the manuscript is also notified when the charge for the use service is settled, and the service provider notifies the user of the forgetting manuscript. Thus, since there is no misplacement of the manuscript, the service provider does not need to keep the misplaced manuscript.
In the above embodiment, the copy service for reading a document and printing the copy has been described. However, the document is similarly applied to a scan service for storing image data obtained by reading a document in a predetermined storage device. It is possible to warn of misplacement.

(Other embodiments)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the system for preventing the misplacement of the copy original in the copy service has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the purpose of preventing the misplacement of the copy original. With the same configuration, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove an electronic medium as a data recording medium such as a DVD or a memory card. If the service provider tells the user that he / she has misplaced the electronic media, he / she will be sure that he / she has misplaced the electronic media, and the user will collect the misplaced electronic media without being seen by a third party. It becomes possible.

  That is, the present invention can also be applied to a commercial printing system that provides a print service for printing data recorded on a data recording medium such as a DVD or a memory card. In this case as well, as with the copy service described in the first and second embodiments, the printer charges for printing according to the contents of the print service, and information on the charge and the identification code of the print service is included in the slip. Print. Thereafter, the register reads the information printed on the slip and presents the charged fee to the service user. Usually, the user pays the presented fee and the service is completed. On the other hand, when an electronic medium such as a DVD or a memory card is left in the printer, as in steps S507 to S508 described in the first embodiment, the printer that has detected it is connected via the network. Notify the register to that effect. Alternatively, the next user of the printer is notified that the electronic media has been forgotten on the same screen as in FIG. 8, and the electronic media is sent to the true user through the same processing as in steps S <b> 1004 to S <b> 1007 in FIG. 10. To return.

  Even if the user of the print service misplaces the electronic media, this is notified to the charge settlement of the use service, and is notified to the user from the service provider side. As a result, the user is surely aware that the electronic media has been misplaced, and the user can collect the misplaced electronic media without being viewed by a third party.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described system including a copier and a printer. A system in which a user can place, insert, or attach his / her property once to receive a service, and the user may forget to take the property as it is. It can be applied to any existing system.

  The present invention also provides a service providing program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. Achieved. Accordingly, the program code itself installed in the computer in order to realize the functional processing of the present invention by the computer is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk. Further, there are MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  In addition, there is a usage method in which a client PC browser is used to connect to an Internet site and a program according to the present invention itself or a file including an automatic installation function is downloaded to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program according to the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the scope of the present invention. Further, the program according to the present invention may be encrypted and stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed to users. This is realized by having a user who has cleared a predetermined condition download key information to be decrypted from a homepage via the Internet, execute the encrypted program by using the key information, and install it on a computer. It is also possible.

  Further, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, even when the program according to the present invention is written in the memory provided in the function expansion unit of the PC and the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the program, Included in the category.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copy service system as a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the utilization start screen for starting utilization of a copy service. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the utilization procedure of a copy service. It is the figure which showed an example of the slip output at the time of termination of copy service It is a flowchart which shows an example of the adjustment procedure of the usage fee of a copy service. It is a block diagram showing an example of document detection. It is a figure which shows an example of the notification of a document misplacement. It is a figure which shows an example of a copy service utilization start screen when the original is left in the system as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a unit for collecting a misplaced document. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a document return procedure.

Explanation of symbols

101 Register 102 Copier 401 Bar Code 601 Pressure Plate 602 Document Stand 603 Document Detection Sensor

Claims (7)

A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
A service providing system including:
The service providing apparatus includes:
Determining means for determining whether or not the user's thing remains;
A notification means for notifying the payment apparatus when it is determined by the determination means that the user's thing remains;
With
The settlement device
Informing means for notifying the operator of the settlement apparatus that the user's thing remains when receiving the notification from the notifying means and paying the consideration for the service to the user. A service providing system comprising: The service providing apparatus includes:
Comprising recording means for recording information relating to the provided service on a service recording medium;
The settlement device
Reading means for reading information stored in the service recording medium for settlement;
Based on the information read by the reading means, a determination means for determining a user who should return the remaining object,
With
The said notification means notifies the operator of the said payment apparatus that the said user's thing remains according to the determination result in the said determination means. Service provision system. The service providing device is a copier;
The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit includes a sensor that determines whether or not a user's document remains in the copier. The service providing device is a printer;
The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit includes a sensor that determines whether or not a user data recording medium remains in the printer.   The service providing system according to claim 2, wherein the recording means records the service provided to the user as a barcode and prints it on a slip, and the reading means reads the barcode and recognizes the service. . A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
Providing a service by controlling the service,
In the service providing apparatus, a determination step of determining whether or not the user's thing remains,
A notification step in which the service providing device notifies the settlement device of the determination result in the determination step;
In response to the notification in the notification step, when the payment device settles the price for the service to the user, the operator of the payment device is notified that the user's thing remains. An informing process for informing;
A service providing method comprising: A service providing device that provides services by directly using the user's things;
A payment device for paying the price of the service provided by the service providing device;
A service providing program for providing services by controlling
In the service providing device,
A determination step of determining whether or not the user's thing remains;
A notification step of notifying the settlement apparatus of a result of the determination in the determination step;
And execute
In the payment device,
A notification step of notifying the operator of the payment apparatus that the user's thing remains when receiving the notification in the notification step and paying the consideration for the service to the user. A service providing program characterized in that the program is executed.

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