JP2015072655A - Automatic vending machine id card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ID card system capable of improving setting operability associated with an ID card to be used in an automatic vending machine for executing merchandise sales by using an ID card.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine 2 includes: a magnetic card reader 8 for reading information written in an ID card 5; and a control unit 7 for executing the sales control of merchandise on the basis of the information read by the card reader, and for transmitting/receiving data to/from a server 3. The server 3 has setting data corresponding to the format of information written in the ID card, and transmits the setting data to the control unit 7 in response to a request from the control unit 7. The control unit 7 transmits the setting data received from the server 3 to a control part 6. The control part 6 executes merchandise sales using the ID card on the basis of the received setting data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ID card system of a vending machine that sells products using an ID card.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vending machines installed at company offices and the like have been in a sales form in which products such as beverages are provided using ID cards for individual employees or departments. This ID card is an information recording medium composed of a magnetic card, an IC card, etc., and information for identifying the employee or department as well as information relating to expiration date and availability determination are recorded in a predetermined format (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  The vending machine reads the information written in the ID card and provides (sells) the product if it can be sold. If the ID card is for each employee, the sales price is deducted from the salary of the employee. In the case of an ID card for each department, payment is made from the budget of the department (company).

  In recent years, vending machines installed at various locations are connected to a center (server installation location) so that data can be transmitted and received, and sales information at each vending machine is collectively managed at the center. (For example, see Patent Document 2). The information managed at this center can be used by the management department of the employee's company, which is a client. In particular, when selling with the above-mentioned individual ID card, the data is sent from the vending machine to the center. Is further read by the client and used as information for payroll deduction.

Japanese Patent No. 4507402 Japanese Patent No. 4241775

  Here, when the above-described ID card is an IC card, it is possible to record a very large amount of information, and it is also possible to record data and programs related to product sales in addition to the information on the IC card itself. However, since the information that can be recorded in the magnetic card is only 72 bytes, for example, the information is exclusively identification information, expiration date, sales availability determination information, and the like.

  The format of information recorded on these ID cards is in accordance with the in-house system in each company, and therefore differs depending on the company. Also in the company, the format differs depending on individual employees and departments.

  Therefore, when installing a vending machine, setting data corresponding to the format of the ID card used at the office of the company where the vending machine is installed (which differs depending on the ID card for each individual and department), that is, the ID There has been a demand for improvement, because a program for reading information written on the card is stored in a memory or the like, brought to the installation site, and written in the control unit of the vending machine at the time of installation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problems, and can improve the setting workability corresponding to the ID card used in the vending machine for selling products using the ID card. An object is to provide a secure ID card system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine ID card system of the present invention includes a vending machine that sells products using an ID card and a management device that transmits and receives data to and from the vending machine. The vending machine constructed is configured to read information written in the ID card, and to execute sales control of the product based on the information read by the reading means, and to transmit / receive data to / from the management device. The management device has setting data corresponding to the format of the information written in the ID card, and transmits the setting data to the control device in response to a request from the control device. Is characterized in that it receives the setting data transmitted from the management device, and executes merchandise sales using an ID card using the received setting data.

  In the vending machine ID card system according to the invention of claim 2, in the above invention, the management device includes identification information relating to a plurality of vending machines, and a plurality of types of setting data respectively corresponding to ID cards used in the vending machines. The setting data for the ID card used in the vending machine requested is selected based on the identification information and transmitted to the control means of the vending machine.

  The vending machine ID card system according to the invention of claim 3 is the identification information relating to the vending machine according to the request from the control means of the vending machine when the vending machine is removed. It is characterized by erasing.

  The vending machine ID card system according to the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the control means transmits merchandise sales information to a management apparatus, and the management apparatus manages information collected from the control means. To do.

  The vending machine ID card system according to the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the control means has a plurality of setting data corresponding to a plurality of types of ID cards and can be used by switching each setting data. It is characterized by that.

  The vending machine ID card system according to the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the control means switches and uses setting data in accordance with the format of the ID card read by the reading means.

  According to the vending machine ID card system of the invention of claim 7, in each of the above inventions, the ID card includes an individual card and a department card, and the management device supports the formats of the individual card and the department card. Each of the setting data to be stored is retained.

  According to the present invention, in a vending machine ID card system constructed from a vending machine that sells products using an ID card and a management device that transmits and receives data to and from the vending machine, Reading means for reading information written on the ID card by the vending machine, and control means for executing product sales control based on the information read by the reading means and transmitting / receiving data to / from the management device And the management device has setting data corresponding to the format of the information written in the ID card, and transmits the setting data to the control device in response to a request from the control device. Since the setting data transmitted from the mobile phone is received and the product sales using the ID card are executed using the received setting data, the ID card used in the vending machine is used. The configuration data for de, it is possible to set download from the management apparatus to the control means of the vending machine.

  This eliminates the need for bringing the setting data for the ID card to be used and writing it into the vending machine at the installation site of the vending machine as in the past, and setting workability corresponding to the ID card to be used is eliminated. Significantly improved.

  In this case, as in the invention of claim 2, the management apparatus has identification information relating to a plurality of vending machines and a plurality of types of setting data respectively corresponding to the ID cards used in each vending machine. By selecting the setting data for the ID card used in the vending machine based on the identification information and transmitting it to the control means of the vending machine, the vending machine requested on the management device side Setting data can be selected and transmitted to the control means of the vending machine, and a system corresponding to ID cards of various types of formats can be obtained.

  Further, if the management device erases the identification information related to the vending machine in response to a request from the control means of the vending machine as in the invention of claim 3, the data is erased when the vending machine is removed. Work becomes easy.

  In particular, as in the invention of claim 4, the control means transmits the merchandise sales information to the management device, and the management device uses the management system of the vending machine that manages the information collected from the control means to obtain the ID card. Setting and erasing for use can be performed, and convenience in the vending machine is remarkably improved.

  If the control means has a plurality of setting data corresponding to a plurality of types of ID cards as in the invention of claim 5 and each setting data can be switched and used, the individual of the invention of claim 7 can be used. Convenience is improved in an environment where ID cards of a plurality of formats are used in the same vending machine, such as separate cards and department cards.

  In this case, if the control means switches the setting data according to the format of the ID card read by the reading means as in the invention of claim 6, it is not necessary to switch the setting data one by one. Is further improved.

It is a block diagram explaining the vending machine ID card system of the Example to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the ID card used with the vending machine in FIG. It is a figure which similarly shows the other example of the format of the ID card used with the vending machine in FIG. In addition to the case of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is a figure which shows the other example of the format of the ID card similarly used with the vending machine in FIG. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence of the initial setting work performed with the vending machine ID card system of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the sales operation performed with the vending machine of FIG. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence of the vending machine ID card system performed by the sales operation of FIG. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence of the removal work performed with the vending machine ID card system of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overview of Vending Machine ID Card System 1 In FIG. 1, a vending machine 2 is installed at, for example, a business office W of company A, and a server 3 constituting a management device is, for example, a management company of the vending machine 1 Installed in the center VC. The remote personal computer 4 is installed in the client CL of the management department of the company A, and the vending machine 1, the server 3, and the remote personal computer 4 constitute the vending machine ID card system 1 of the present invention.

  The vending machine 2 stores products such as beverages while cooling or warming them, and sells (provides) the products based on selection by a customer. The control unit 6 controls the sales of these products, and the control unit. 6 and a control unit 7 serving as a communication unit that controls data communication with the server 3. The control unit 6 and the control unit 7 constitute a control unit of the vending machine 2. The vending machine 2 is further provided with a magnetic card reader 8 as a reading means for reading information written on the ID card 5 (magnetic card in the embodiment), and is connected to the control unit 7. Further, the control unit 7 has a terminal unique number (identification information) assigned to each vending machine 2.

  The office W is further provided with a communication adapter 9. The communication adapter 9 can be connected to the control units 7 of a plurality of vending machines 2 installed in the office W via a LAN. The control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 transmits / receives data to / from the server 3 using the communication adapter 9 using a CDMA line in this embodiment. That is, the vending machine 2 becomes a terminal when viewed from the server 3.

  In this case, when the ID card 5 is inserted into the magnetic card reader 8, the control unit 7 reads the information written in the ID card 5 using the magnetic card reader 8, and determines whether or not to sell from the read information. Report to the control unit 6. When the control unit 6 is available for sale, the control unit 6 sells the selected product with the vending machine 2 in the available state. The control unit 6 manages sales data (commodity sales information) in its own vending machine 2, and this control data is transmitted by the control unit 7 to the server 3 via the CDMA line using the communication adapter 9. The server 3 stores and manages the received sales data of each vending machine 2.

  On the other hand, the remote personal computer 4 provided in the client CL has a Web browser, and is configured to be able to send and receive data using the server 3 of the center VC and the Internet line. Reference numerals 11 and 12 are routers for using the Internet line. The remote personal computer 4 downloads the sales data stored in the server 3 and uses it for payroll deduction or sales management (product sales status of the vending machine 2) at the client CL (Company A). With such a management system, the client CL can manage the sales of the vending machine 2.

(2) Format of ID Card 5 Next, FIGS. 2 to 4 show examples of the format of information written on the ID card 5. FIG. Since the ID card 5 of the embodiment is a magnetic card, 72-byte information can be written. For example, the format shown in FIG. 2 is used for the company A, and the format shown in FIG. 3 is used for the company B. It is a format like this. In this case, the ID card 5 in FIG. 2 has a format suitable for the company A's internal system, and the ID card 5 in FIG. 3 has a format compatible with the company B's internal system.

  2 and 3 are ID cards 5 for individual employees, and information (employee name, employee number) for identifying the employee, an expiration date, and the like are recorded. In the case of Company B, a department-specific ID card 5 is also used. The format of the ID card 5 for each department is shown at the right end of FIG. 4, but naturally the format is different from that of the individual ID card 5 of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the information marked with a circle in column I is an item used for sales judgment (sales possible), the information marked with a circle in column II is an item used for refusal judgment (sales impossible), and the column III is circled. Information with is a sales log format.

  In this way, the format of the ID card 5 differs depending on the company, and the format differs depending on the individual and department even in the same company (Company B). Therefore, when the program of the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 is not compatible with the format of the ID card 5 to be used, the information on the ID card 5 cannot be read. Therefore, conventionally, for example, when the vending machine 2 is installed in the office W of the company A, the setting data corresponding to the format of the information written in the ID card 5 of the format of the company A is written in the memory or the like. The program of the control unit 7 was made the program for the company A by writing the setting data written in the memory when the vending machine 2 was installed into the control unit 7, but this work was extremely troublesome.

(3) Initial setting work (setting data download)
Accordingly, in the present invention, the setting data can be set using the management system of the vending machine 2 described above. FIG. 5 shows a communication sequence of the initial setting work in this case. In this figure, the terminal is the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2, and the database is a database configured in the server 3. The DLL is a dynamic link library that the server 3 has, and the initial setting application is a program that the control unit 7 that is a terminal has.

  In addition, setting data corresponding to a plurality of types of ID card 5 formats is stored in the database of the server 3 in advance. In this case, in the embodiment, in addition to the individual card of each company described above, setting data corresponding to the format of the departmental card is also stored. Further, the server 3 includes the vending machines 2 to be installed in the future, and the terminal unique numbers (identification information) of the plurality of vending machines 2 include the setting data corresponding to the ID card 5 used in the vending machine 2 and Assume that they are registered in advance in association with each other.

  For example, when the vending machine 2 is installed in the office W of the company A, after performing each line connection work, the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 is operated to start DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). To do. In this case, the communication adapter 9 is a DHCP server, and the control unit 7 is a DHCP client.

  First, the control unit 7 issues an initial communication 1 request to the initial setting application, and the initial setting application requests the server 3 to write the initial communication start date and time together with the terminal unique number. In response to this, the server 3 creates setting data for formatting the ID card 5 corresponding to the terminal unique number of the vending machine 2 (for company A), and further, the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 Assign an IP address and send it back to the initial setting application. The initial setting application transmits the received setting data to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 returns a reception notification to the initial setting application.

  Next, the server 3 transmits a black list (sales refusal list) to the initial setting application, and the initial setting application receives the data to create sales permission / prohibition list data and distributes it to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 replies to the initial setting application that the sales permission / prohibition list data has been received. Here, the control unit 7 once disconnects communication. Then, the control unit 7 writes the received setting data into its own program, and uses the program for the company A with respect to the format of the ID card 5.

  Next, the control unit 7 starts the Web browser with the fixed IP address assigned to itself, and makes an initial communication 2 request to the initial setting application. The initial setting application returns a reception notification to the control unit 7, and then registers the date / time and status acquisition in the request table of the database with respect to the server 3. The communication monitoring program of the server 3 requests the DLL, and the DLL receives the request and transmits date / time setting data to the control unit 7. In response to this, the control unit 7 returns a date / time setting completion notice to the DLL.

  Next, the DLL issues a sales data collection request to the control unit 7, and the control unit 7 transmits the sales data of the vending machine 2 acquired from the control unit 6 to the DLL. The DLL returns a sales data reception notification to the control unit 7.

  Next, the control unit 7 makes an initial communication 3 request to the initial setting application, and the initial setting application makes an initial communication completion date write request to the master database and the initial setting database of the database of the server 3. Thereafter, the initial setting application returns to the control unit 7 that the initial communication 3 has been completed. The above is the initial setting work.

(4) Sales operation Next, the operation of product sales in the vending machine 2 will be described. 6 shows a flowchart of the sales operation executed in the vending machine 2, and FIG. 7 shows a communication sequence between the vending machine 2 and the server 3 executed in the sales operation. When the control unit 7 detects the ID card 5 by the magnetic card reader 8 in step S1 of FIG. 6, the format of the ID card 5 set in the initial setting operation described above is read in step S2, and the ID card 5 is used in step S3. Judgment is made.

  If the information written in the ID card 5 detected in step S3 cannot be used, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S10 to wait for the ID card. If it is determined in step S3 that the card is an individual card for Company A, the control unit 7 proceeds from step S5 to step S7 to notify the control unit 6 that the card is an individual card together with a notification that the product can be selected. send. The control unit 6 receives this notification, receives a product selection by the user, carries out the product in step S8, and ends the transaction in step S9. Then, the process proceeds to step S10.

  If the ID card 5 determined in step S3 is a departmental card, the control unit 7 proceeds from step S6 to step S7, and sends a notification that the product can be selected to the control unit 6 as being a departmental card. . The control unit 6 receives this notification, receives a product selection by the user, carries out the product in step S8, and ends the transaction in step S9. Similarly, the process proceeds to step S10.

  Data of merchandise sales using the ID card 5 in the vending machine 2 is collected by the server 3 in the sequence of FIG. That is, the server 3 periodically sends a collection request for sales data to the control unit 7 together with the terminal unique number to the IP address. In response to this, the control unit 7 transmits the sales data managed by the control unit 6 to the server 3. In addition, the server 3 transmits a date / time synchronization request to the control unit 7, and the control unit 7 receives the date / time synchronization request to synchronize the date and time, and returns a receipt notification to the server 3. Further, the server 3 transmits a status acquisition request to the control unit 7. In response to this, the control unit 7 acquires the current operating state of the vending machine 2 from the control unit 6 and sends it back to the server 3. The server 3 registers the received data in the database. The data managed by the server 3 is used by the client CL as described above.

  As described above, the server 3 has setting data corresponding to the format of the information written in the ID card 5 and transmits the setting data to the control unit 7 in response to a request from the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2. At the same time, the control unit 7 receives the setting data transmitted from the server 3 and executes merchandise sales using the ID card 5 using the received setting data, so that it is used in the vending machine 2. Setting data for the ID card 5 can be downloaded from the server 3 to the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 and set.

  This eliminates the need for bringing the setting data for the ID card 5 to be used and writing it into the vending machine at the installation site of the vending machine as in the prior art, and setting work corresponding to the ID card 5 to be used. Is significantly improved.

  In particular, the server 3 has a terminal unique number relating to a plurality of vending machines 2 and a plurality of types of setting data respectively corresponding to the ID cards 5 used in each vending machine 2, and the vending machine requested. Since the setting data for the ID card 5 used in the machine 2 is selected and transmitted to the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2, the setting data for the vending machine 2 requested on the server 3 side is selected. It becomes possible to transmit to the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2, and the system is compatible with ID cards 5 of various formats.

  In particular, the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 transmits the sales data of the product to the server 3, and the server 3 uses the management system of the vending machine 2 that manages the information collected from the control unit 7. Since the setting for using the card 5 can be performed, the convenience in selling products using the vending machine 2 is remarkably improved.

(5) Removal work Next, the work at the time of removing the vending machine 2 will be described. FIG. 8 shows a communication sequence of this removal work. When removing the vending machine 2 installed at the office W of the company A for replacement or abolition, first, the removal communication 1 is transmitted from the control unit 7 to the initial setting application. The initial setting application returns a receipt notification and transmits a physical removal start writing to the server 3.

  Thereafter, the initial setting application registers a sales data collection request to the server 3. In response to this, the DLL of the server 3 sends a sales data collection request to the control unit 7, and the control unit 7 transmits the sales data of the vending machine 2 acquired from the control unit 6 to the DLL. The DLL returns a sales data reception notification to the control unit 7.

  Next, the control unit 7 transmits the removal communication 2 to the initial setting application. The initial setting application makes a physical removal completion write request to the initial setting database of the database of the server 3, and makes a physical removal information write request to the master database. In response to this, the server 3 deletes the terminal unique number and sales data related to the vending machine 2. Thereafter, the initial setting application returns to the control unit 7 that the removal communication 2 has ended. On the vending machine 2 side, the control unit 6 deletes the sales data held by itself. The above is the removal work.

  As described above, if the server 3 deletes the terminal unique number (identification information) related to the vending machine 2 in response to a request from the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2, the vending machine 2 is removed. Data erasure work at the time becomes easy.

(6) Coexistence of a plurality of setting data In the above embodiment, one setting data is written to one vending machine 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the setting data corresponding to the individual card described above is used. The control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 may hold both the setting data corresponding to the department card. In that case, both of the setting data are downloaded from the server 3.

  Then, the administrator of the business office (for example, company B) can manually use the setting data to switch both the individual card and the department card with the same vending machine 2. .

  The control unit 7 determines whether the ID card 5 is an individual card or a department card from information written in the ID card 5 detected by the magnetic card reader 8, and automatically switches and uses the setting data. You may do it. This eliminates the need to switch the setting data one by one, further improving convenience.

  Note that the above is not limited to individual or department, but for example, setting data for company A and setting data for company B are downloaded to the control unit 7 of the vending machine 2 and the IDs of both companies are downloaded. The card 5 may be usable.

  In the embodiment, a magnetic card has been described as an example of the ID card 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also effective for a contact or non-contact type IC card.

1 Vending machine ID card system 2 Vending machine 3 Server (management device)
4 Remote PC 5 ID card 6 Control unit (control means)
7 Control unit (control means)
8 Magnetic card reader (reading means)
9 Communication adapter

Claims (7)

Vending machines that sell products using ID cards;
Built from a management device that transmits and receives data to and from the vending machine,
The vending machine reads information written on the ID card, executes sales control of products based on the information read by the reading means, and transmits / receives data to / from the management device Control means,
The management device has setting data corresponding to the format of information written in the ID card, and transmits the setting data to the control unit in response to a request from the control unit.
The control means receives the setting data transmitted from the management device, and executes merchandise sales using the ID card using the received setting data. The management device has a plurality of types of setting data respectively corresponding to identification information relating to the plurality of vending machines and the ID card used in each vending machine,
2. The setting data for the ID card used in the requested vending machine is selected based on the identification information and transmitted to the control unit of the vending machine. Vending machine ID card system.   The automatic management machine according to claim 2, wherein when the vending machine is removed, the management device erases identification information regarding the vending machine in response to a request from a control unit of the vending machine. Vending machine ID card system.   The said control means transmits merchandise sales information to the said management apparatus, This management apparatus manages the information collected from the said control means, The said in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vending machine ID card system.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a plurality of the setting data corresponding to a plurality of types of the ID cards, and can be used by switching each setting data. A vending machine ID card system according to any one of the above.   6. The vending machine ID card system according to claim 5, wherein the control means switches and uses the setting data in accordance with the format of the ID card read by the reading means.   The ID card includes an individual card and a department card, and the management device holds the setting data corresponding to the formats of the individual card and the department card, respectively. The vending machine ID card system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images