JP2009003597A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine, capable of setting the suspension of use of an electronic money settlement service also on the automatic vending machine side. <P>SOLUTION: With the provision of the electronic money settlement service, the automatic vending machine includes an electronic money settlement control section for performing settlement processing by use of the electronic money settlement service using a recording medium having a loaded electronic money, and a main control section for selling commodities accommodated in the machine, on completion of the settlement by the above settlement control section. The suspension of use of the electronic money settlement service is settable to the electronic money settlement control section from the main control section side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that performs settlement processing with a plurality of electronic money stored in a recording medium such as an IC card.

In recent years, recording media (IC cards, mobile phones, etc.) in which payment service information using a plurality of electronic money is recorded have become widespread. Devices that read out such information from a recording medium and perform a settlement process are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-301780 A

  By the way, in order to set a plurality of electronic money settlement services in an operating state, an opening procedure is required to authenticate with each electronic money management server and recognize that it is a legitimate terminal. However, it was impossible to temporarily stop the electronic money settlement service due to some problems on the vending machine side.

  In addition, even if an abnormality occurs on the electronic money payment service side, the electronic money payment service cannot be stopped unless an abnormality is detected on the electronic money payment service side. However, when a plurality of electronic money payment services are installed, other normal payment services cannot be used, which is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can be set to stop using an electronic money payment service even on the vending machine side.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with an electronic money settlement service, and an electronic money which performs settlement processing using the electronic money settlement service on a recording medium equipped with electronic money. In a vending machine comprising a payment control unit and a main control unit that sells products stored in the machine after payment is completed in the payment control unit, the use of the electronic money payment service is stopped from the main control unit side. Can be set for the electronic money settlement control unit.

  In addition, the suspension of use of the electronic money payment service can be input with the remote control of the vending machine, and when multiple types of electronic money payment services are provided, the suspension of use can be set for each electronic money payment service. It is characterized by.

  In addition, the use of electronic money payment service can be stopped or stopped using a lamp, and if there are multiple types of electronic money payment services, select an electronic money payment service from multiple types. A selection button is provided for each electronic money settlement service, and a lamp indicating availability or suspension of use is incorporated in the selection button.

  Furthermore, the use stop period can be set.

  According to the vending machine equipped with the electronic money settlement service of the present invention, it is possible to set the electronic money settlement service to be stopped on the vending machine side, without performing communication with the electronic money management server. Since the electronic money payment service can be temporarily stopped, the administrator of the vending machine can easily stop the electronic money payment service by a simple operation when he / she wants to stop the electronic money payment service for some reason. There is an effect.

  In addition, if multiple electronic money payment services are installed, it can be stopped for each electronic money payment service, so that only the electronic money payment service in which the malfunction occurred cannot be used. By making it effective, inconvenience for the user can be minimized.

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

  FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine illustrated here is for selling commodities such as canned drinks and plastic bottled drinks.

  In FIG. 2, the vending machine 201 is formed as a rectangular heat insulating casing having an open front, and a plurality of columns (not shown) are accommodated therein.

  On the front surface of the vending machine 201, there is an exhibition room 202 for displaying a product sample 202a inside, a coin insertion slot 203, a money return lever 204, a bill insertion slot 205, an integrated display 206 for displaying the deposit amount, a coin return, etc. A mouth 207, a product outlet 208, a product selection button 209, and an electronic money operation display unit 101 are provided.

  The electronic money operation display unit 101 includes electronic money selection buttons 101A, 101B, and 101C, a display unit 102, and an antenna unit 103.

  The electronic money selection buttons 101A, 101B, and 101C are provided for electronic money settlement services to be applied, for example, three types of electronic money settlement services of A money, B money, and C money, and are pressed to select a settlement service. It is a button switch that has an LED that is not explicitly shown in the figure, blinks only the available electronic money selection buttons, and lights the LED when pressed to improve user operability. is there.

  The display unit 102 displays a settlement amount, a user response, and the like, but may also be used as the integrated display 206 of the vending machine 201.

  When the electronic money card MC is arranged in a predetermined access area (communication available area), the antenna unit 103 can read / write information from / to the IC chip of the electronic money card MC, and electronic money settlement described later. Information can be transmitted / received to / from the control unit 100. When the electronic money card MC is placed in a predetermined access area, the antenna unit 103 outputs a signal indicating that the electronic money card MC is held to a later-described electronic money settlement control unit 100. The antenna unit 103 has a built-in display mechanism (not shown in the figure), and blinks the LED when it becomes readable, and lights up when the electronic money card MC is placed in a predetermined access area. Is.

  The electronic money settlement control unit 100 includes settlement control units 100A, 100B, and 100C for each electronic money settlement service. Programs and data recorded in advance in a memory (not shown), commands given from the vending machine main control unit 200 described later, This system performs overall control of electronic payment processing according to information, and also performs communication processing related to opening / closing of stations with an electronic money management server that is a higher-level center. A payment service can be used.

  Next, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine main control unit 200 and the electronic money settlement control unit 100, and the configuration thereof will be described below.

  First, the vending machine main control unit 200 that controls the unique functions of the vending machine includes a memory 200a, and the basic operations of the vending machine, such as product selection, money processing, product carry-out, and setting, according to programs and data stored in advance. The system performs overall control of each operation such as functions, and is connected to a coin mech 211, a bill validator 212, a product carry-out device 213, an integrated display 206, a product selection button 209, a remote controller 210, and the like.

  The remote controller 210 sets various functions of the vending machine, and in this embodiment, the electronic money settlement services A, B, and V are provided to the electronic money settlement control unit 100 via the vending machine main control unit 200. The validity / invalidity of C can be set.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing processing control of the electronic money settlement service, and a processing procedure when all the electronic money settlement services are validated will be described.

  First, as an initial setting, after the power supply of the vending machine 201 is turned on, when an opening request is transmitted from the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to the electronic money management server, it is confirmed that the electronic money management server is a valid terminal, Key information or the like is transmitted from the money management server to the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to be usable, and the initial setting is completed.

  Here, in the vending machine 201 in the product selection standby state, the electronic money settlement control unit 100 transmits to the vending machine main control unit 200 that the electronic money settlement services A, B, and C are valid. (SQ301).

  Thereafter, when the product selection button 209 is pressed by the user, a product selection signal is output to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ302). The vending machine main control unit 200 transmits the settlement price together with the product selection information as the selected product data to the electronic money settlement control unit 100 (SQ303), keeps the selected product selection button 209 lit, and the integrated display The cash price is displayed on 206 (SQ304).

  Next, the electronic money settlement control unit 100 displays on the display unit 102 an indication that the user should select an electronic money settlement service to be settled for the user, and causes the electronic money selection buttons 101A, 101B, and 101C to blink. The user is notified that all electronic money settlement services are valid (SQ305).

  Next, the user selects an electronic money selection button to be used in the three types of electronic money settlement services. For example, when the electronic money selection button 101A is pressed (SQ306), only the electronic money selection button 101A is lit. Thus, the antenna unit 103 blinks (SQ307).

  Next, when the user holds the electronic money card MC over the antenna unit 103 (SQ308), the antenna unit 103 changes from blinking to lighting state (SQ309), and settlement of the commodity price selected by the electronic money settlement control unit 100 is performed. Is performed (SQ310).

  When this settlement is normally performed, the settlement result is transmitted from the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ311).

  Next, the vending machine main control unit 200 transmits a product carry-out signal to the product carry-out device 213, and the product carry-out device 213 causes the product take-out port 208 to carry out the product (SQ312).

  Next, a request for displaying the remaining amount of the electronic money card MC is transmitted from the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ313), and the vending machine main control unit 200 sends a remaining amount display signal to the integrated display 206. And the remaining amount of the electronic money card MC is displayed for a certain period of time on the integrated display 206 (SQ314), and the current settlement processing control is terminated.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing processing control for invalidating the electronic money payment service. Here, when all of the electronic money payment services installed in the vending machine 201 are in the open (valid) state, For example, processing for invalidating the electronic money settlement service A will be described below.

  First, the remote controller 210 is used to switch to a mode for setting the validity / invalidity of the electronic money settlement service, and the remote controller 210 is operated to input to invalidate the electronic money settlement service A (SQ401). Transmits data invalidating the electronic money settlement service A to the electronic money settlement control unit 100 (SQ402).

  Next, on the electronic money settlement control unit 100 side, invalid data of the electronic money settlement service A from the vending machine main control unit 200 is stored in the memory, and the electronic money settlement control unit 100 sends each electronic device to the vending machine main control unit 200. As the state of the money settlement service, it is transmitted that the electronic money settlement service A is “invalid” and the electronic money settlement services B and C are in the “valid” state (SQ403).

  Thereafter, when the product selection button 209 is pressed by the user, a product selection signal is output to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ404). The vending machine main control unit 200 transmits the settlement price together with the product selection information to the electronic money settlement control unit 100 (SQ405), keeps the selected product selection button 209 lit, and displays the cash price on the integrated display 206. Is displayed (SQ406).

  Next, the electronic money settlement control unit 100 displays on the display unit 102 an indication that the user should select an electronic money settlement service to be settled for the user, and causes the electronic money selection buttons 101A, 101B, and 101C to blink. The user is notified that all electronic money settlement services are valid (SQ407).

  Next, the user selects an electronic money selection button to be used in the three types of electronic money settlement services. For example, when the electronic money selection button 101B is pressed (SQ408), only the electronic money selection button 101B is lit. Then, the antenna unit 103 blinks (SQ409).

  Next, when the user holds the electronic money card MC over the antenna unit 103 (SQ410), the antenna unit 103 changes from blinking to lighting state (SQ411), and settlement of the commodity price selected by the electronic money settlement control unit 100 is performed. Is performed (SQ412).

  When this settlement is normally performed, the settlement result is transmitted from the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ413).

  Next, the vending machine main control unit 200 transmits a product carry-out signal to the product carry-out device 213, and the product carry-out device 213 causes the product take-out port 208 to carry out the product (SQ414).

  Next, a request for displaying the remaining amount of the electronic money card MC is transmitted from the electronic money settlement control unit 100 to the vending machine main control unit 200 (SQ415), and the vending machine main control unit 200 sends a remaining amount display signal to the integrated display 206. , The remaining amount of the electronic money card MC is displayed for a certain period of time on the integrated display 206 (SQ416), and the current settlement processing control is terminated.

  As another configuration, even if the user mistakenly presses the electronic money settlement button 101A that is turned off, the antenna unit 103 does not blink and the electronic money settlement control unit 100 causes an error to the display unit 102. It is also possible to send an error message indicating that the display unit 102 cannot be selected, and display the fact that the electronic money payment service A cannot be selected on the display unit 102 from the standby state. Good.

  In addition, it may be possible to set the electronic money settlement service unusable period using a timer or calendar. In this case, when the unusable period elapses, it automatically switches from invalid to valid state. It is possible to prevent the electronic money settlement service from being forgotten to be returned while being disabled.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the electronic money payment service invalid setting is configured to be set by the remote controller 210 mounted on the vending machine 201. However, a command from a handy terminal or a network is used. If it is a vending machine, the electronic money settlement service may be disabled by a command from the management center.

It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the vending machine main control part and electronic money payment control part in embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed typically the vending machine in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the payment process control in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the payment process control in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Electronic money settlement control part 101 Electronic money operation display part 101A, 101B, 101C Electronic money selection button 102 Display part 103 Antenna part 200 Vending machine main control part 201 Vending machine 206 Integrated display 209 Goods selection button 210 Remote control 213 Goods delivery apparatus MC electronic money card

To achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with an electronic money settlement service, and an electronic money settlement is performed by using the electronic money settlement service on a recording medium equipped with electronic money. In the vending machine comprising: a control unit; and a main control unit that sells a product stored in the machine upon completion of settlement by the electronic money settlement control unit, the electronic money settlement control unit includes electronic money management The electronic money payment service is opened / closed via the server, and the main control unit sends the electronic money payment service stop data to the electronic money payment control unit without going through the electronic money management server. and means for transmitting the electronic money payment controller receives the inactive data, electron started broadcasting state without communicating with the electronic money management server And controlling so as to temporarily decommissioned Natick settlement services.

Furthermore, the use stop period can be set.

According to the vending machine equipped with the electronic money settlement service of the present invention, the vending machine main control unit transmits the use stop data of the electronic money settlement service to the electronic money settlement control unit without going through the electronic money management server. The electronic money settlement control unit receives the use stop data and controls to temporarily stop the use of the electronic money settlement service in the open state without performing communication with the electronic money management server. In addition, since the electronic money payment service can be temporarily stopped, it can be easily stopped by a simple operation when the administrator of the vending machine wants to stop the electronic money payment service due to some complaint. There is an effect.

Next, the electronic money settlement control unit 100 displays on the display unit 102 a message indicating that an electronic money settlement service to be settled for the user is selected , and blinks the electronic money selection buttons 101B and 101C. The user is notified that the money settlement service is valid (SQ407).

Next, the user selects an electronic money selection button to be used in the two types of electronic money settlement services. For example, when the electronic money selection button 101B is pressed (SQ408), only the electronic money selection button 101B is lit. Then, the antenna unit 103 blinks (SQ409).

As another configuration, even if the user mistakenly presses the electronic money selection button 101A that is turned off, the antenna unit 103 does not blink and the electronic money settlement control unit 100 gives an error to the display unit 102. It is also possible to send an error message indicating that the display unit 102 cannot be selected, and display the fact that the electronic money payment service A cannot be selected on the display unit 102 from the standby state. Good.

Claims (6)

An electronic money payment control unit that has an electronic money payment service and performs payment processing using the electronic money payment service on a recording medium equipped with electronic money, and is accommodated in the aircraft upon completion of payment by the payment control unit In a vending machine equipped with a main control unit that sells
A vending machine characterized in that the electronic money settlement control unit can be set to stop using the electronic money settlement service from the main control unit side. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the use stop of the electronic money settlement service is input by a remote control of the vending machine. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of types of electronic money settlement services are provided, and the suspension of use can be set for each electronic money settlement service. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the use or suspension of the electronic money settlement service is notified by a lamp. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, further comprising a selection button for selecting an electronic money settlement service from a plurality of types, wherein the selection button includes a lamp indicating whether the service can be used or stopped. 6. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a use suspension period can also be set.

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