JP2015072621A - Automatic vending machine setting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that can prevent erroneous initial information from being set to an automatic vending machine.SOLUTION: In an automatic vending machine setting system of a practical example, a payment terminal 10 mounted on an automatic vending machine transmits its identification information to a portable terminal 30 when establishing NFC communication with the portable terminal 30. When receiving the identification information from the payment terminal 10, the portable terminal 30 identifies initial information corresponding to the identification information from a memory 40, and transmits the identified initial information to the payment terminal 10. When receiving the initial information from the portable terminal 30, the payment terminal 10 stores the received initial information in a memory 22. This allows the payment terminal 10 to appropriately store the initial information corresponding to its identification information in the memory 22.

Description

  The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a vending machine setting system that sets initial information (for example, installation location information) in a vending machine.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a vending machine setting system. This vending machine setting system includes a vending machine, a server, and a mobile terminal. The server stores in advance vending machine installation location information and vending machine IDs. Before the vending machine is installed at the installation location, the ID and installation location information are not input to the vending machine. When the operator installs the vending machine at the installation location, the operator operates the mobile terminal and inputs the installation location information of the vending machine to the mobile terminal. The portable terminal transmits the input installation location information to the vending machine. The vending machine transmits the installation location information and the IP address of the communication terminal installed in the vending machine to the server. The server identifies the vending machine ID to be given to the vending machine from the installation location information, and transmits the vending machine ID, negative data, and the like to the vending machine. The vending machine performs initial setting according to the information received from the server.

JP 2010-9565 A

  In the vending machine setting system of Patent Document 1, an operator may erroneously input the installation location information of the vending machine to the mobile terminal. In that case, incorrect installation location information is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the vending machine, and as a result, an incorrect ID may be set in the vending machine. In that case, the server may not be able to accurately manage the sales information of each vending machine.

  The present specification provides a technique that can prevent erroneous initial information from being set in a vending machine.

  The vending machine setting system disclosed in this specification is a vending machine setting system that sets initial information in a vending machine. The vending machine setting system has a vending machine and a portable terminal. The vending machine transmits the identification information to the mobile terminal when the vending machine is connected to the mobile terminal so as to be able to communicate with the first memory for storing the identification information for identifying the vending machine, A first control unit that stores initial information received from the portable terminal in a first memory. For each of the plurality of vending machines, the mobile terminal stores a second memory that stores the identification information of the vending machine and the initial information of the vending machine in association with each other, and identification information from the vending machine. A second control unit configured to transmit, to the vending machine, initial information corresponding to the vending machine stored in the second memory.

  In the vending machine setting system described above, when the vending machine is communicably connected to the mobile terminal, the vending machine transmits its own identification information to the mobile terminal. When receiving the identification information from the vending machine, the portable terminal transmits initial information corresponding to the identification information from the second memory to the vending machine. When receiving the initial information from the mobile terminal, the vending machine stores the received initial information in the first memory. Accordingly, the vending machine can appropriately store the initial information corresponding to the identification information of the vending machine in the first memory. By storing the identification information and the initial information in association with each other on the portable terminal, it is not necessary for the worker to input the information to the portable terminal, and it is possible to prevent erroneous initial information from being set in the vending machine. .

The figure which shows typically the structure of the vending machine setting system of an Example. The flowchart which shows the process which the control part of the payment terminal mounted in the vending machine performs. The flowchart which shows the process which the control part of a portable terminal performs. The sequence chart which shows the specific example of the process which a vending machine setting system performs.

  The main features of the embodiments described below are listed. In addition, the technical elements shown below are independent technical elements and exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. .

(Feature 1) When the first control unit transmits the identification information to the mobile terminal, the first control unit outputs result information indicating whether the initial information received from the mobile terminal is stored in the first memory. Also good.

  According to this configuration, the user of the vending machine setting system can know the result of whether or not the initial information is stored in the first memory of the vending machine.

(Feature 2) The first control unit may transmit the result information to the portable terminal. When the portable terminal receives the result information from the vending machine, the portable terminal includes a display unit that displays a result indicating whether or not initial information corresponding to the first memory of the vending machine is stored according to the received result information. Further, it may be provided.

  According to this configuration, the user of the vending machine setting system can know the result of whether or not the initial information is stored in the first memory by looking at the display unit of the mobile terminal.

(Feature 3) The mobile terminal and the vending machine may be connected by NFC communication.

  According to this configuration, unlike other communication methods such as a method of performing packet communication using a network, communication costs are not required for communication between the mobile terminal and the vending machine. In addition, if the mobile terminal and the vending machine have an NFC communication interface, NFC communication can be performed using the existing NFC communication interface. There is no need for special equipment for communication between the two.

(Feature 4) The mobile terminal may further include a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of identification information and a plurality of initial information stored in the second memory.

  According to this configuration, the user of the vending machine setting system can check the contents of the plurality of identification information and the plurality of initial information stored in the second memory by looking at the display unit of the mobile terminal. it can.

(System configuration: Fig. 1)
A vending machine setting system 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a vending machine 4, a mobile terminal 30, a PC 60, and a server 80. The vending machine setting system 2 is a system for setting initial information (for example, an IP address) in the vending machine 4.

  The vending machine 4 is equipped with a payment terminal 10 capable of electronic money settlement. The payment terminal 10 includes an operation unit 12, a display unit 14, a control unit 16, a wireless interface (I / F) 18, an NFC (Near Field Communication) interface (I / F) 20, and a memory 22. In FIG. 1, only one vending machine 4 is illustrated, but actually, a plurality of vending machines 4 are provided.

  The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of keys. A user of the vending machine 4 (for example, an administrator of the vending machine 4) can input various information to the payment terminal 10 by operating the operation unit 12. The display unit 14 displays various information.

  The control unit 16 executes various processes according to programs in the memory 22. Details of processing executed by the control unit 16 will be described in detail later.

  The wireless I / F 18 is an interface for wireless connection with the Internet 6. A server 80 is connected to the Internet 6. Therefore, the payment terminal 10 can communicate with the server 80 wirelessly via the wireless I / F 18 and the Internet 6.

  The NFC I / F 20 is an interface for executing NFC communication (short-distance wireless communication) with an IC card that can use electronic money, the mobile terminal 30, and the like. Hereinafter, media and devices that can execute NFC communication with the payment terminal 10 such as an IC card and the mobile terminal 30 may be referred to as “NFC devices”.

  The memory 22 stores various programs. The memory 22 stores identification information (for example, a MAC address) 24 unique to the payment terminal 10. In this embodiment, the identification information 24 unique to the payment terminal 10 is the MAC address of the payment terminal 10. In another example, the identification information 24 may be a manufacturing number of the payment terminal 10. Furthermore, the memory 22 has an area for storing initial information (for example, an IP address, installation location information, negative data, which will be described later).

  The portable terminal 30 is carried by an operator who performs initial setting of a vending machine, for example. The portable terminal 30 includes an operation unit 32, a display unit 34, a control unit 36, an NFC I / F 38, and a memory 40. In FIG. 1, only one portable terminal 30 is illustrated, but a plurality of portable terminals 30 may be provided.

  The operation unit 32 includes a plurality of keys. A user (for example, a worker) of the mobile terminal 30 can input various information to the mobile terminal 30 by operating the operation unit 32. The display unit 34 displays various information (for example, identification information 42 and initial information 44 in the memory 40).

  The control unit 36 executes various processes according to the program in the memory. The contents of the processing executed by the control unit 36 will be described in detail later.

  The NFC I / F 38 is an interface for executing NFC communication with the payment terminal 10 and the PC 60.

  The memory 40 stores various programs. Further, the memory 22 has, for each of the plurality of vending machines 4, identification information 42 unique to the payment terminal 10 of the vending machine 4 and initial information 44 to be set in the payment terminal 10 of the vending machine 4. Are stored in association with each other. In this embodiment, the identification information 42 is the MAC address of each payment terminal 10. In another example, the initial information 44 may be a serial number of each payment terminal 10. In this embodiment, the initial information 44 includes an IP address set in each payment terminal 10, installation location information indicating the installation location of each vending machine 4, negative data, and the like. The negative data is ID data of an IC card that does not permit a settlement process (an IC card registered in a so-called black list or an IC card that is treated as lost).

  The PC 60 manages identification information and initial information stored in the memory 40 of the mobile terminal 30. For each of the plurality of vending machines 4, the PC 60 corresponds to identification information 42 unique to the payment terminal 10 of the vending machine 4 and initial information 44 to be set in the payment terminal 10 of the vending machine 4. I remember it. The PC 60 transmits the identification information 42 and the initial information 44 to the portable terminal 30 by executing NFC communication with the portable terminal 30. When receiving the identification information 42 and the initial information 44, the control unit 36 of the portable terminal 30 stores the received identification information 42 and the initial information 44 in the memory 40.

  The server 80 is connected to the Internet 6. The server 80 can transmit and receive various information (for example, sales performance information of the vending machine 4) with the payment terminal by performing wireless communication with the payment terminal 10 via the Internet 6.

  Subsequently, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a process (setting process) executed by the control unit 16 of the payment terminal 10 and a process (initial information transmission process, information display) executed by the control unit 36 of the mobile terminal 30 Processing) will be described.

(Setting process executed by the control unit 16 of the payment terminal 10; FIG. 2)
The setting process of FIG. 2 is performed when a vending machine 4 that has not been initially set is newly installed and the power of the vending machine 4 is turned on. When the power of the vending machine 4 is turned on, power is supplied to the payment terminal 10 and the setting process of FIG. 2 is started. In S10, the control unit 16 monitors that NFC communication is established with the NFC device. For example, when the user (worker) of the mobile terminal 30 brings the mobile terminal 30 close to the payment terminal 10, the distance (for example, less than 10 cm) that the NFC I / F 38 of the mobile terminal 30 and the NFC I / F 20 of the payment terminal 10 can communicate with each other. ) As a result, NFC communication is established between the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 via the NFC I / Fs 20 and 38. In this case, the control unit 16 determines YES in S10, and proceeds to S12.

  In S12, the control unit 16 transmits the identification information 24 in the memory 22 (that is, the identification information of the payment terminal 10) to the communication partner NFC device using the established NFC communication. The transmitted identification information 24 is received by the portable terminal 30 as will be described later.

  Next, in S14, the control unit 16 monitors that initial information to be set in the payment terminal 10 is received within a predetermined time. As will be described later, when the mobile terminal 30 receives the identification information 24, the mobile terminal 30 transmits, from the memory 40, initial information associated with the same identification information as the identification information 24 to the payment terminal 10 ( (See S36 in FIG. 3). The initial information transmitted from the portable terminal 30 is received by the control unit 16 of the payment terminal 10 via the NFC I / F 20. In this case, the control unit 16 determines YES in S14, and proceeds to S16. On the other hand, when the portable terminal 30 cannot identify the initial information associated with the same identification information as the identification information 24, the portable terminal 30 transmits error information to the payment terminal 10 (see S38 in FIG. 3). In this case (that is, when payment terminal 10 receives error information), control unit 16 determines NO in S14, skips S16, and proceeds to S18. In addition, when the NFC communication partner of the payment terminal 10 is an NFC device (for example, an IC card) other than the mobile terminal 30, the NFC device cannot transmit either initial information or error information to the payment terminal 10. . In this case, the monitoring process in S14 times out, and the control unit 16 determines NO in S14 and proceeds to S18.

  In S <b> 16, the control unit 16 stores the received initial information in the memory 22. Thereby, initial information is set in the payment terminal 10. As a result, the control unit 16 can transmit and receive various information to and from the server 80 via the wireless I / F 18 and the Internet 6.

  Next, in S <b> 18, the control unit 16 causes the display unit 14 to display a result indicating whether or not initial information is stored in the memory 22. When the initial information is stored in the memory 22 in S <b> 16, in S <b> 18, the control unit 16 causes the display unit 14 to display a result (setting success) indicating that the initial information is stored in the memory 22. On the other hand, if the initial information is not stored in the memory 22 as in the case where the initial information cannot be received from the communication partner (NO in S14), the control unit 16 stores the initial information in the memory 22 in S18. The display unit 14 displays a result (setting failure) indicating that there was not. Accordingly, the user of the vending machine setting system according to the present embodiment can know the result of whether or not the initial information is stored in the memory 22 by looking at the display unit 14 of the payment terminal 10.

  Next, in S20, the control unit 16 uses the established NFC communication to transmit result information indicating whether or not the initial information is stored in the memory 22 to the NFC device of the communication partner. As will be described later, for example, when the communication partner is the mobile terminal 30, the mobile terminal 30 receives the result information. When the portable terminal 30 receives the result information, the portable terminal 30 displays the result (setting success or setting failure) on the display unit 34 according to the received result information. When S20 ends, the control unit 16 ends the setting process of FIG.

(Initial information transmission processing executed by the control unit 36 of the portable terminal 30; FIG. 3)
The initial information transmission process of FIG. 3 is performed when the user (worker) of the mobile terminal 30 performs initial setting of the newly installed vending machine 4. When the user of the portable terminal 30 operates the operation unit 32 and inputs a predetermined setting start operation, the control unit 36 starts monitoring in S30.

  In S <b> 30, the control unit 36 monitors that NFC communication is established with the payment terminal 10. When the user of the mobile terminal 30 brings the mobile terminal 30 close to the payment terminal 10, the mobile terminal 30 approaches a distance (for example, less than 10 cm) at which the NFC I / F 38 of the mobile terminal 30 and the NFC I / F 20 of the payment terminal 10 can communicate with each other. As a result, NFC communication is established between the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 via the NFC I / Fs 20 and 38. In this case, the control unit 36 determines YES in S30, and proceeds to S32.

  In S32, the control unit 36 receives the identification information 24 (see S12 in FIG. 2) of the payment terminal 10 transmitted from the payment terminal 10 using the established NFC communication.

  Next, in S34, the control unit 36 determines whether or not the initial information corresponding to the identification information 24 received in S32 has been specified. Specifically, the control unit 36 specifies the same identification information as the identification information 24 from the memory 40 and specifies initial information associated with the identification information. When the same identification information as the identification information 24 exists in the memory 40, the control unit 36 can specify initial information corresponding to the identification information 24 from the memory 40. In this case, the control unit 36 determines YES in S34, and proceeds to S36. In S <b> 36, the control unit 36 transmits the identified initial information to the payment terminal 10. When S36 ends, the process proceeds to S40. On the other hand, when the same identification information as the identification information 24 does not exist in the memory 40, the control unit 36 cannot specify the initial information corresponding to the identification information 24 from the memory 40. In this case, the control unit 36 determines NO in S34, and proceeds to S38. In S <b> 38, the control unit 36 transmits error information to the payment terminal 10. When S38 ends, the process proceeds to S40.

  In S <b> 40, the control unit 36 receives result information (see S <b> 20 in FIG. 2) from the payment terminal 10. Next, the control unit 36 causes the display unit 34 to display a result (setting success or setting failure) as to whether or not initial information is stored in the memory 22 according to the result information. The user of the vending machine setting system 2 can know the result of whether or not the initial information is stored in the memory 22 of the payment terminal 10 by looking at the display unit 34 of the mobile terminal 30. When S42 ends, the control unit 36 ends the initial information transmission process of FIG.

(Information display process executed by the control unit 36 of the portable terminal 30)
Although not shown, the information display process is performed when the user (worker) of the mobile terminal 30 operates the operation unit 32 and inputs a predetermined information display operation. When an information display operation is input, the control unit 36 causes the display unit 34 to display the contents of a plurality of identification information 42 and a plurality of initial information 44 stored in the memory 40. The user of the mobile terminal 30 can check the contents of the plurality of identification information 42 and the plurality of initial information 44 stored in the memory 40 by looking at the display unit 34 of the mobile terminal 30.

(Specific example: FIG. 4)
With reference to FIG. 4, the operation | movement of each terminal in the case of setting initial information to the payment terminal 10 in the vending machine setting system 2 of a present Example is demonstrated. When the user of the mobile terminal 30 brings the mobile terminal 30 close to the payment terminal 10, the mobile terminal 30 approaches a distance (for example, less than 10 cm) at which the NFC I / F 38 of the mobile terminal 30 and the NFC I / F 20 of the payment terminal 10 can communicate with each other. Thereby, NFC communication is established between the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 (YES in S10 of FIG. 2, YES in S30 of FIG. 3).

  When the NFC communication is established, the payment terminal 10 transmits the identification information of the payment terminal 10 to the portable terminal 30 using the NFC communication (S12 in FIG. 2). The portable terminal 30 receives the identification information of the payment terminal 10 (S32 in FIG. 3). Next, the mobile terminal 30 specifies initial information corresponding to the identification information of the payment terminal 10 from within the memory 40.

  When the mobile terminal 30 specifies the initial information corresponding to the identification information of the payment terminal 10 from the memory 40 (YES in S34 in FIG. 3), the specified initial information (IP address, setting location information, negative data, etc.) is stored. The NFC communication is used to transmit to the payment terminal 10 (S36 in FIG. 3).

  When the payment terminal 10 receives the initial information (YES in S14 in FIG. 2), the payment terminal 10 stores the initial information in the memory 22 (S16 in FIG. 2). The payment terminal 10 displays a result (setting success) indicating that the initial information is stored in the memory 22 on the display unit 14 (S18 in FIG. 2). Thereafter, the payment terminal 10 uses NFC communication to transmit result information indicating a successful setting to the mobile terminal 30 (S20 in FIG. 2).

  When the portable terminal 30 receives the result information (S40 in FIG. 3), the result (setting success) indicating that the initial information is stored in the memory 22 is displayed on the display unit 34 according to the result information (in FIG. 3). S42).

  On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 30 cannot specify the same identification information as the identification information received from the payment terminal 10 from within the memory 40, the mobile terminal 30 specifies initial information to be set in the payment terminal 10. (No in S34 of FIG. 3). In this case, the mobile terminal 30 transmits error information to the payment terminal 10 using NFC communication (S38 in FIG. 3).

  When the payment terminal 10 receives the error information (NO in S14 of FIG. 2), the payment terminal 10 displays a result (setting failure) indicating that the initial information is not stored in the memory 22 on the display unit 14 (FIG. 2). S18). Thereafter, the payment terminal 10 uses NFC communication to transmit result information indicating a setting failure to the mobile terminal 30 (S20 in FIG. 2).

  When the portable terminal 30 receives the result information (S40 in FIG. 3), the result indicating that the initial information is not stored in the memory 22 (setting failure) is displayed on the display unit 34 according to the result information (FIG. 3). S42).

  The vending machine setting system 2 according to the present embodiment has been described above. As described above, in this embodiment, when the payment terminal 10 establishes NFC communication with the mobile terminal 30, it transmits its own identification information to the mobile terminal 30 (S12 in FIG. 2). When receiving the identification information from the payment terminal 10, the portable terminal 30 specifies the initial information corresponding to the identification information from the memory 40, and transmits the specified initial information to the payment terminal 10 (S36 in FIG. 3). When receiving the initial information from the mobile terminal 30, the payment terminal 10 stores the received initial information in the memory 22. Thereby, the payment terminal 10 can appropriately store the initial information corresponding to its own identification information in the memory 22. In the present embodiment, it is necessary for the user (worker) of the mobile terminal 30 to input information to the mobile terminal 30 by storing the plurality of identification information 42 and the plurality of initial information 44 in association with each other in the mobile terminal 30. Thus, it is possible to prevent erroneous initial information from being set in the payment terminal 10.

  Further, in the vending machine setting system 2 of the present embodiment, the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 are connected by NFC communication. According to this configuration, unlike other communication methods such as a method of performing packet communication using a network, no communication cost is required for communication between the payment terminal 10 and the mobile terminal 30. Moreover, since the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 can perform NFC communication using the existing NFC I / F, there is also a special facility for performing communication between the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30. unnecessary.

  The correspondence between the configuration of this embodiment and the description of the claims is described. The memory 22 of the payment terminal 10 and the memory 40 of the mobile terminal 30 are examples of “first memory” and “second memory”, respectively. The control unit 16 of the payment terminal and the control unit 36 of the mobile terminal 30 are examples of a “first control unit” and a “second control unit”, respectively.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. For example, the following modifications may be included.

(Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the control unit 36 of the mobile terminal 30 receives a plurality of identification information 42 and a plurality of initial information 44 from the PC 60 by performing NFC communication with the PC 60. Identification information 42 and a plurality of initial information 44 are stored in the memory 40. The method for storing the plurality of identification information 42 and the plurality of initial information 44 in the memory 40 is not limited to this, and may be arbitrary. For example, an external storage medium in which a plurality of identification information 42 and a plurality of initial information 44 are stored in advance is connected to the mobile terminal 30, and the control unit 36 of the mobile terminal 30 receives a plurality of identification information 42 and a plurality of information from the external storage medium. The initial information 44 may be read out and stored in the memory 40.

(Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 are connected by NFC communication. For example, the payment terminal 10 and the portable terminal 30 may be connected by an arbitrary communication method such as a wired connection. Generally speaking, it is sufficient that the vending machine and the mobile terminal can communicate with each other.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

2: Vending machine setting system 4: Vending machine 6: Internet 10: Payment terminal 12: Operation unit 14: Display unit 16: Control unit 18: Wireless I / F
20: NFC I / F
22: Memory 24: Identification information 30: Mobile terminal 32: Operation unit 34: Display unit 36: Control unit 38: NFC I / F
40: Memory 42: Identification information 44: Initial information 60: PC
80: Server

Claims (5)

A vending machine setting system for setting initial information in a vending machine,
I have a vending machine and a mobile device,
Vending machines
A first memory for storing identification information for identifying the vending machine;
A first control unit that, when the vending machine is communicably connected to the portable terminal, transmits identification information to the portable terminal, and stores initial information received from the portable terminal in the first memory; Has
Mobile devices
For each of the plurality of vending machines, a second memory that stores the identification information of the vending machine and the initial information of the vending machine in association with each other,
A second control unit that, when receiving identification information from the vending machine, transmits initial information corresponding to the vending machine stored in the second memory to the vending machine; Vending machine setting system.   The first control unit outputs result information indicating a result of whether or not initial information received from the mobile terminal is stored in the first memory when the identification information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The vending machine setting system described. The first control unit transmits the result information to the mobile terminal,
When the portable terminal receives the result information from the vending machine, the portable terminal includes a display unit that displays a result indicating whether or not initial information corresponding to the first memory of the vending machine is stored according to the received result information. The vending machine setting system according to claim 2, further comprising:   The vending machine setting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the portable terminal and the vending machine are connected by NFC communication.   The vending machine setting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the portable terminal further includes a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of identification information and a plurality of initial information stored in the second memory. system.

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