JP2024048455A - vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vending machine and a center server that can promote regional revitalization. [Solution] A vending machine 10 in an embodiment of the present invention is a vending machine 10 connected to a center server 20 so as to be able to communicate with the center server 20, and is equipped with a digital signage unit 12 that functions under the control of the center server 20, a vending unit 13 that sells products selected on the digital signage unit 12, and a purchaser information registration unit 14 that registers purchaser information for products sold by the vending unit 13, and displays a list of products on the digital signage unit 12, and when a product that is eligible for donations is selected from the list of products, a selection screen is displayed that allows the user to select whether to purchase the product as a regular purchase or to receive it as a gift in return for a donation. [Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine and a center server, and in particular to a platform service for vending machines that supports donations such as hometown tax payments.

In recent years, hometown tax vending machines have been attracting attention (see Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). For example, Non-Patent Document 1 introduces an example of a hometown tax vending machine installed at a golf course. With this hometown tax vending machine, a user selects a gift from a digital signage screen, decides on the gift, selects an address input method, enters the address, selects a donation method, and pays the tax. This causes the hometown tax vending machine to print a receipt, which can be exchanged for the gift on the spot.

JP 2022-79543 A

Glowkeyup, "IoT Hometown Tax Vending Machine," searched on September 2, 2022, Internet <URL: https://www.glowkeyup.co.jp/iot>

These types of hometown tax vending machines make it easy to make hometown tax donations, which can help promote regional revitalization. However, the digital signage screens do not provide sufficient explanations of the region and products, and the vending machine is not a self-contained system. In addition, the percentage of people who have actually made a hometown tax donation remains low.

The present invention aims to solve these problems and provide a vending machine and center server that can further promote regional revitalization.

One aspect of the present invention is a vending machine connected to a center server so that it can communicate with the server, and includes a digital signage unit that functions under the control of the center server, a vending unit that sells products selected on the digital signage unit, and a purchaser information registration unit that registers purchaser information for products sold by the vending unit. The digital signage unit displays a list of products, and when a product that is eligible for donations is selected from the list of products, a selection screen is displayed to allow the user to choose whether to purchase the product as a regular purchase or to receive it as a gift in return for a donation.

Another aspect of the present invention is a center server that provides a platform service for vending machines that use the vending machines as antenna shops, and includes a storage unit that stores data for providing the platform service, a platform management unit that transmits and receives data to and from the vending machines, a store owner management unit that individually manages the store owners of the multiple tenants, and an overall management unit that manages the overall operation of the platform service.

The present invention provides a vending machine and center server that can further promote regional revitalization.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a platform according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a platform according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a screen transition diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a data structure diagram of a storage unit of a center server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of a storage unit of a center server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of a storage unit of a center server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a vending machine in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a vending machine in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a vending machine in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a vending machine in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a center server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example. In other words, the embodiment described below can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the embodiment. In the drawings, parts with the same reference numerals represent the same or similar parts unless otherwise specified.

"overview"
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the present invention. In the present invention, a platform service of vending machines installed in urban areas and local governments is provided, which is likened to an antenna shop that supports activities such as local products, tourism, and donations (hometown tax payment).

For example, digital signage on vending machines can be used to introduce the appeal of local specialties and regional products, promoting the sale of local products and tourism. Specialties from multiple regions or specific regions (including specialty product assortments) can also be sold as products in vending machines. Regional coupons and local currency (experience products) from multiple regions or specific regions can also be sold as products in vending machines. Experience products can be used for activities such as sightseeing, dining, and lodging in specific municipalities. People can also make hometown tax donations to multiple regions or specific regions, and receive local specialties, regional coupons, and local currency in return. In this way, a series of platform services can be used to encourage people to move around and stimulate economic activity, thereby promoting regional revitalization.

"Simple antenna shop vending machine"
2 is an explanatory diagram of a vending machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the vending machine 10 is assumed to be a simple antenna shop installed in a prime location such as a train station in an urban area. In general, an antenna shop is a store opened by a company or local government for the purpose of widely introducing the products of the company or the local area and exploring consumer reactions.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the vending machine 10 is a simple antenna shop vending machine that supports hometown tax donations, and is equipped with a touch panel type digital signage on the front. A purchaser U can perform various operations by touching a main screen 1 displayed on the digital signage. A sub-screen 2 may be provided in addition to the main screen 1. Of course, like a general vending machine, a product discharge port 3 for discharging products can also be provided. In addition, it is possible to provide a coin slot, a camera, a speaker, an object sensor, a credit card reader, a QR code reader, an IC card reader, etc.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a promotional video S for the product is displayed at the top of the main screen 1, and a purchase button B corresponding to each product is displayed at the bottom. Details will be described later, but the vending machine 10 is multi-tenanted with one product being treated as one tenant, and is configured so that multiple tenants can share the vending machine 10. "Treatment of one product as one tenant" means that one product is treated as one tenant. Since one product basically corresponds to one purchase button B, it can also be said as a business model in which the vending machine 10 is rented to tenants on a purchase button basis. According to this business model, one vending machine 10 can be used by multiple organizations, and sales management, inventory management, etc. can be shared, making it possible to open a simple antenna shop at a lower cost than in the past. Product replenishment can also be performed by a one-stop management agency, making it possible to significantly reduce personnel man-hours.

"platform"
Fig. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a platform in an embodiment of the present invention. This platform is an operating environment necessary for providing platform services for vending machines 10A, 10B, 10C, ... which are likened to antenna shops. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the vending machines 10A, 10B, 10C, ... and the center server 20 are communicatively connected via a network such as the Internet line N. The vending machines 10A, 10B, 10C, ... and the center server 20 cooperate to share information to construct a vending system.

The locations where the vending machines 10A, 10B, 10C, ... (hereinafter collectively referred to as "vending machines 10") are installed are not particularly limited. In other words, if the vending machines 10 are to be used for multi-tenant purposes, it is desirable to install them in prime locations such as within train stations in urban areas, but if the vending machines 10 are to be used exclusively for Region A, they may be installed in accommodation facilities within Region A.

"Feature Description"
4 is a functional block diagram of a platform according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, one vending machine 10 is shown as an example, but the functions of the other vending machines 10 are basically the same. However, the multi-tenant function only needs to be realized in the vending machines 10 installed in urban areas, and does not have to be realized in all vending machines 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine 10 is a device that sells goods, promotes tourism, makes donations, and conducts PR activities, and functionally includes a vending machine management unit 11, a digital signage unit 12, a vending unit 13, a purchaser information registration unit 14, an external interface 15, and the like. The vending machine management unit 11 collects information from other units, performs sales management, payment management, product and inventory management, tenant operation management, sales information linkage management, and the like, and links data with the center server 20. The digital signage unit 12 is an electronic signboard (information transmission system) that functions under the control of the center server 20, and has a content distribution function, a content reception function, a content display function, a content switching function, and the like. The vending unit 13 is a functional unit that sells products selected in the digital signage unit 12, and has product management/expiration date management, a sales function, a payment function, an inventory confirmation function, and the like. The purchaser information registration unit 14 is a functional unit that registers purchaser information of products sold by the vending unit 13, and has a function of collecting information necessary for hometown tax donations, and the like. The external interface 15 is an interface function section that performs functions such as data exchange with the outside of the platform, viewing, and management console, and exchanges information between the vending machine 10 and the purchaser U.

The center server 20 is a device that aggregates data from the vending machines 10 and controls the platform service using cloud services, etc., and functionally includes a memory unit 21, a platform management unit 22, a store owner management unit 23, an overall operation unit 24, an external communication unit 25, an external interface 26, etc. The memory unit 21 is a storage device that stores data for providing the platform service. This storage device may be an external storage device connected to the center server 20 via a network. The platform management unit 22 is a functional unit that sends and receives data between the vending machine 10 and manages other units. The store owner management unit 23 is a functional unit that manages multiple tenant store owners individually, and performs sales management, inventory management, payment management, etc. for each store owner. The overall operation unit 24 is a functional unit that manages the overall operation of the platform service, and performs sales management, inventory management, payment management, etc. The external communication unit 25 is a functional unit that allows viewing of store owner-oriented information aggregated and managed by the platform management unit 22, and sends email notifications of daily sales management results and monthly payment management results. The external interface 26 is an interface function section that handles data linking with external parties, browsing, management consoles, etc., and handles information linking between the center server 20 and exhibitors.

<<Operation Description>>
Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the vending machine 10 in the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a screen transition diagram of the vending machine 10. The operation when a purchaser U purchases a product will be described below with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

First, the main screen 1 of the vending machine 10 is started and the status of the vending machine 10 is ascertained (steps S1 → S2 → S3). If the vending machine 10 is in a normal state, a product list is displayed on the main screen 1, along with product promotion advertisements (steps S4 → S5). For example, as shown in FIG. 6(A), buttons for purchasing "Regional Specialties A" through "Regional Specialties F" are displayed as part of the product list.

Next, when the purchaser U selects "Region A specialty products" while a product list is displayed on the main screen 1 of the vending machine 10, a product purchase purpose selection screen is displayed (steps S6 → S7 → S8). For example, as shown in FIG. 6(B), buttons are displayed to select "regular price" or "hometown tax payment" as the purpose of purchasing the Region A specialty products.

If the purchaser U selects "regular price," the regular price sales process is executed, and if the desired payment method is selected, the payment is executed using that payment method, and the specialty product of Region A is handed over (steps S9A → S10 → S11 → S12). For example, as shown in FIG. 6(D), the payment methods that can be selected are credit card, Pay function (QR code), IC card payment, and cash. Note that QR code is a registered trademark.

On the other hand, when "Hometown Tax Donation" is selected by purchaser U, the Hometown Tax Donation process is executed, and when the desired payment method is selected, the payment is made using that payment method and the specialty product of Region A is handed over (steps S9B → S10 → S11 → S12). This specialty product of Region A is a gift in return for the Hometown Tax Donation. In the Hometown Tax Donation process, purchaser information and tax system usage information are registered, and the contents can be finally confirmed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (C), the following points are confirmed on the screen: whether the address and name on the resident's card are correct, whether the correct use of the donation has been selected, whether a One-Stop Special Application Form is required, and whether the purchaser lives in the local government, and if they are correct, the checkboxes are checked.

Comparison with conventional technologies
According to the embodiment of the present invention, various problems that arise when using a general vending machine can be solved. Among them, problems 1 to 6 that are considered to be particularly characteristic and the solving methods thereof will be described below.

First, we will explain problem 1 and how to solve it. In a typical vending machine, it is necessary to provide as many options (purchase buttons) as there are combinations of products and sales formats that can be sold. As the combinations become more complex, donation-type and hometown tax payment-compatible vending machines cannot sell products at normal prices. In contrast, in an embodiment of the present invention, local governments can sell local specialty products, local coupons, and local currency (experience products) at the vending machine 10. The user can select on the touch panel whether to purchase the local specialty products, local coupons, and local currency as normal merchandise at a set price, or to donate them as hometown tax payment. When making a donation as hometown tax payment, the user is given the local specialty products, local coupons, and local currency that are eligible for hometown tax payment in return, and the vending machine 10 collects information necessary for hometown tax payment and exchanges the information necessary for hometown tax payment procedures with the local government.

Next, we will explain the second problem and how to solve it. A typical vending machine is operated by one organization per vending machine, which means that the installation costs and know-how required in urban areas are high. If multiple organizations use one vending machine to reduce costs and operations, it is not possible to automatically handle product management, sales management, and revenue management for the multiple organizations individually. In contrast, in the embodiment of the present invention, a digital signage-type vending machine 10 is used to support activities such as local government PR activities, product sales, tourism promotion, and securing donation resources. A multi-tenant service is provided so that multiple local governments can share the vending machine 10, and one-stop support is provided for operations such as product sales, payment, and delivery.

Next, we will explain problem 3 and how to solve it. In a typical vending machine, individual payment must be made for each product due to the vending machine's processing. In the case of cash, the amount inserted can be stored in the vending machine, but when purchasing, an operation such as pressing a purchase button is required for each product to be purchased. In contrast, in an embodiment of the present invention, a digital signage-type vending machine 10 is used, and purchased products and return gifts can be paid for simultaneously if they are the same procedure. As with EC (Electronic Commerce) sites, the concept of a shopping cart is adopted and payment is made for the shopping cart. In addition, the quantity of products placed in the shopping cart can be changed. This allows payment for multiple local specialties/return gifts to be completed in a single payment, which can simplify the procedure if the process is the same, especially if it is the same process, such as registering information for hometown tax donations.

Next, we will explain problem 4 and how to solve it. In a typical vending machine, the purchaser U selects and purchases a product, which is "one-way communication from the provider to the purchaser U." In other words, the provider cannot obtain opinions or needs from the purchaser U. In contrast, in an embodiment of the present invention, after product payment and before delivery, the purchaser U can be asked to press a selection button on a touch panel, and opinions can be collected. For example, it is possible to conduct a survey on the touch panel or to donate a portion of the purchase price.

Next, we will explain problem 5 and how to solve it. With a typical vending machine, a customer may have difficulty selecting a product, or may end up purchasing the same products over and over again. This makes it difficult to increase customer U's motivation to purchase or to broaden their product horizons. In response to this, in an embodiment of the present invention, a roulette-style product selection button is displayed on the digital signage unit 12, and when the roulette-style product selection button is selected, a product can be selected at random from among products at a uniform price.

Next, problem 6 and its solution will be described. A typical vending machine does not have a "win function" that increases purchasing motivation, and therefore cannot provide special winning products (gacha) other than those in the product list. In contrast, in an embodiment of the present invention, products that are not displayed in the product list on the digital signage unit 12 are provided for free or with a fee. In other words, the machine has a win function when purchasing a product, and can provide additional prizes (gacha) with a winning setting that are not displayed on the digital signage unit 12. Services such as fortune-telling or omikuji may also be provided.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the target users are local organizations such as local governments that need to promote regional revitalization (especially economic revitalization and confirmation of local financial resources), and hometown tax donations are promoted, but the target users are not limited to local organizations such as local governments, and donations are not limited to hometown tax donations. For example, the target users are all kinds of organizations such as shopping streets and shopping malls, and it is also possible to apply the system to sales or donations within these organizations.

《Detailed explanation of functions》
The embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below. The functions described below are also realized by the functional units in FIG.

As already explained, the platform management unit 22 of the center server 20 and the vending machine management unit 11 of the vending machine 10 are configured to share information. This allows data to be collected from the vending machines 10 in the center server 20 for centralized and integrated management. When installing the vending machines 10, the platform can be easily expanded without affecting the overall configuration. A vending machine 10 can be added by inserting a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card into the vending machine 10, or by directly connecting the internet line N via an Ethernet line.

At the center server 20, the administrator providing the service performs sales management, payment management, product and inventory management, tenant operation management, and sales information linkage management for tenant store owners. Tenant store owners have the function of accessing the center server 20 and monitoring the management status of each tenant store (provision of management services for multi-tenant functions).

Specifically, the administrator who provides the service has the function of issuing accounts for the center server 20 to the tenant store owners and granting viewing authority for the necessary management functions. The administrator also has the function of informing the tenant store owners of sales data and information necessary for hometown tax donations via the center server 20, email, etc. in a timely manner (daily, etc.). The administrator also has the function of updating the center server 20 daily for information on sales management, inventory management, payment management, etc., and allowing the tenant store owners to view the information. The administrator also has the function of downloading the viewing screen and viewing information. The administrator also has the function of allowing the tenant store owners to view monthly payment results. The administrator also has the function of automatically making payments and billing to the tenant store owners via the center server 20, email, etc. based on the monthly payment results. For example, the administrator makes a payment report by deducting the product's rental fee and product sales commission from the product sales, and carries out the payment process.

The vending machine 10 sells local specialty products or local coupons/local currency (hereinafter referred to as local specialty products). When purchasing a local specialty product, the purchaser U selects the local specialty product displayed on the digital signage unit 12 using the touch panel, and then has the function of deciding whether to proceed with payment for the local specialty product as a product sale at a predetermined price, or to proceed with the procedure for donation and receipt of a gift as hometown tax payment and payment. If payment for the local specialty product is to be proceeded with as a product sale, the payment function is utilized. If payment for the local specialty product is to be proceeded with the procedure for donation and gift as hometown tax payment, the information required for hometown tax payment is obtained from the external interface 15.

Information required for hometown tax donations includes, for example, name, current address, shipping address, selected use of donations, consent to receiving one-stop tax payment application materials (selecting whether or not to consent to being sent an application form), confirmation that the person is not a resident of an area that is unique to the region (selecting whether or not they live there), consent to all of the above and other information specified by the local government, and consent to making hometown tax donations (selecting whether or not they agree). Name, current address, and shipping address are automatically obtained through information sharing from the external interface 15. If evidence is required, the necessary documents will be requested at the time of the one-stop application.

Methods of information linkage from the external interface 15 include, for example, direct registration, QR code registration, and IC card reading. Direct registration refers to registering information using a touch panel. QR code registration refers to reading the QR code displayed on the digital signage unit 12 with a smartphone or the like, and inputting information from a website for information registration to register the information. IC card reading refers to inserting an IC card in a contactless or contactless manner and reading the information. Examples of IC cards include My Number cards and transportation IC cards. For example, the chip of the My Number card may be read and information may be registered via near field communication. Also, the My Number card may be read with a smartphone, and only the necessary information may be registered via wireless LAN, near field communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near field communication), etc. Also, the chip of a transportation IC card such as ICOCA or Suica, especially a named IC card or a commuter pass, may be read, and information may be registered via near field communication, etc. Also, information may be registered by having a dedicated physical device that reads the chip of the transportation IC card recognize it. Also, other IC cards may be used in addition to the My Number card and the transportation IC card. For example, information may be registered by having a dedicated physical device that reads the chip of the transportation IC card recognize the chip of the other IC card. Also, a camera provided in the vending machine 10 and an app installed in a smartphone may be used to perform OCR recognition of the information written on the card, and the information may be registered via Bluetooth, NFC, wireless LAN, etc.

The vending machine 10 generates sales history information and sends it to the center server 20, which manages the sales history information. The vending machine 10 deletes the sales history information as appropriate and does not retain it. The sales history information here includes transaction information, payment information, hometown tax payment information, etc.

The vending machine 10 has payment methods such as cash, IC card (credit card, transportation IC card, etc.), and QR code payment/Pay function. Providing such a variety of payment methods makes it easy for the purchaser U to make payments. It also has a function to pay for multiple products at the same time, like an EC shopping cart.

The vending machine 10 has a so-called gacha function. For example, a "product button" is provided to automatically select a product from among the multiple products in the vending machine 10, and by pressing the product button, a product can be identified from the product list through random/AI analysis (purchase history, characteristic understanding using an AI camera), etc., and the purchase procedure can be proceeded to. In addition, as a winning function of the vending machine 10, it has a function to provide prizes (gacha) at a set frequency when a product is purchased. In addition, if certain conditions are met with the vending machine 10 (purchase amount, specific product, etc.), it has a function to display and sell a product list that allows new optional unique products that are not in the product list to be purchased additionally. In addition, after a product is purchased, it has a function to display variable information such as fortune-telling and fortune-telling on the digital signage unit 12 and provide the information to the purchaser U.

The vending machine 10 not only sells products, but also has an information collection function to collect feedback and opinions from the purchaser U. For example, when paying for a product, the vending machine 10 has a function to prompt the purchaser U via a touch panel to indicate whether or not they agree to donate a portion of the purchase price, to answer a questionnaire about the purpose of the purchase, and to acquire information to be used for donation and marketing activities.

The vending machines 10 connected to the platform can be set to handle room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen products depending on the products they handle. They also have the ability to switch between settings.

The digital signage unit 12 uses videos and photos to promote the characteristics of local organizations such as the local government that sells the specialty products and regional coupons sold by the vending machine 10, the products handled by the vending machine 10, and the results of donations made when hometown tax payment is selected. In addition to such promotional activities, the touch panel visually supports purchases and is easy to use.

The digital signage unit 12 can display a main screen 1 and a sub-screen 2. The main screen 1 and the sub-screen 2 can be switched between each other, allowing them to be used for PR activities and product purchasing purposes. The sub-screen 2 is used for registering and confirming information when making hometown tax donations.

The vending machine management unit 11 aggregates information from three units: the digital signage unit 12, the vending unit 13, and the purchaser information registration unit 14. After performing temporary processing here, the information is uploaded to the center server 20, where it is managed. The vending unit 13 manages the number of items put in for each product, the number of items sold, the number of items in stock, the expiration date, the payment amount, etc. After the purchaser information registration unit 14 registers the information required when using hometown tax donations, the vending machine management unit 11 integrates the purchaser information and product data, and uploads the information to the center server 20.

<<Specific data example>>
7 to 9 are diagrams showing the structure of data stored in the storage unit 21 of the center server 20 in the embodiment of the present invention. Of course, these data are merely examples.

Figure 7 (A) shows the transmission data that the center server 20 sends to the vending machine 10. As shown in Figure 7 (A), this transmission data includes setting information, inventory information, and the like. Setting information is information for setting up the vending machine 10. Inventory information is information related to the inventory of products handled by the vending machine 10. Setting information and inventory information each include the information listed in the right column in the figure. The words "Vending machine DB" written in parentheses after the words "Vending machine information" in the figure mean that the vending machine information is obtained from the vending machine DB.

Figure 7 (B) shows the received data that the center server 20 receives from the vending machine 10. As shown in Figure 7 (B), this received data includes transaction information, payment information, hometown tax information, gacha information, survey information, delivery information, etc. Transaction information is information about a transaction carried out at the vending machine 10. Payment information is information about a payment carried out at the vending machine 10. Hometown tax information is information about hometown tax registered at the vending machine 10. Gacha information is information indicating the winning result of gacha at the vending machine 10. Survey information is information indicating the survey response result at the vending machine 10. Delivery information is information indicating the completion result of delivery at the vending machine 10.

Figure 8 shows transaction management information for the administrator who provides the service. This transaction management information is an aggregation of received data, and as shown in Figure 8, includes transaction information, payment information, hometown tax payment information, gacha information, survey information, delivery information, vending machine DB, vending machine tenant DB, product DB, product management DB, local government DB, and purchase form DB. Transaction information to delivery information are as described above. The vending machine DB is a database related to the vending machine 10. The vending machine tenant DB is a database related to the tenants of the vending machine 10. The product DB is a database related to products. The product management DB is a database related to product management. The local government DB is a database related to local governments. The purchase form DB is a database related to product purchase forms.

Figure 9 shows transaction management information for tenant store owners. This transaction management information is provided to each tenant store owner based on the transaction management information in Figure 8, and as shown in Figure 9, includes transaction information, payment information, hometown tax information, gacha information, survey information, delivery information, monthly transaction information, etc. Transaction information to delivery information are as described above. Monthly transaction information is information about monthly transactions sent from the business operator to the tenant store owner.

By storing such data in the center server 20 and having the center server 20 and the vending machines 10 share information, a multi-tenant function can be realized. That is, the basic data flow is that all data is managed by the center server 20, and when the vending machine 10 is started up, setting information and the like is read from the center server 20 into the vending machine 10. Thereafter, when a transaction occurs at the vending machine 10, transaction information and the like is sent from the vending machine 10 to the center server 20 and aggregated, and the entire operation is carried out based on the aggregated data (see Figure 8). Access rights are set for the aggregated data, and each tenant can use their own data (see Figure 9) by entering a local government ID and password, etc.

"Example"
10 to 13 are flow diagrams showing the operation of the vending machine 10 in the embodiment of the present invention. The flow diagrams include basic operations and optional operations. First, the basic operations will be explained, and then the optional operations will be explained together.

First, a start-up screen is displayed on the vending machine 10, setting information (or update differences) and various DBs are read from the center server 20 to the vending machine 10, and a product list screen and product videos are displayed (steps S21 → S22 → S23 → S24). Since the setting information and contents of the various DBs are managed for each vending machine 10, it is possible, for example, to operate the vending machine 10 with different settings or display a screen with different contents depending on the region in which the vending machine 10 is installed.

If the vending machine 10 is equipped with a human sensor and/or camera, it may display a product video when it cannot recognize a person at close range, and display a product list screen when it can recognize a person at close range (steps S25 → S26). As a result, when a product is selected by the purchaser U from the product list screen, a screen is displayed to confirm whether or not the product is correct (steps S27 → S28 → S30). At this time, if the product has been selected by mistake, a cancel button or the like is pressed, and the screen returns to the initial screen before the transaction (steps S31 → S24). On the other hand, if the product has been selected correctly, a confirmation button or the like is pressed, and the screen returns to the product list screen (steps S31 → S26).

Next, a screen is displayed to confirm whether the quantity of the selected product is sufficient as one unit (step S32). At this time, if the quantity of the selected product is to be changed, the purchase quantity is increased by pressing the plus/minus button or the like, and the purchase quantity of the selected product is determined (steps S33->S34). On the other hand, if the quantity of the selected product is sufficient as one unit, the purchase quantity is determined as is (step S34).

Next, a screen is displayed to confirm whether there are any other products to purchase (step S35). At this time, as described above, products that are the same procedure can be registered in the purchase cart, so if there are products to purchase, the purchase cart is saved and additional products are selected (step S36 → S26). On the other hand, if there are no products to purchase, the purchase cart is saved as is (step S37).

Next, a screen is displayed that allows the user to select whether the purpose/form of purchase is a donation (hometown tax payment) or a regular purchase (step S38). At this time, if hometown tax payment is selected, a confirmation screen for the hometown tax payment procedure is displayed, and when information from the external interface 15 is read, the name, address, and municipality ID of residence are identified, and the municipality ID of the item in the cart is identified (steps S39 → S40 → S41 → S42 → S43).

Then, the local government ID of the residence is compared with the local government ID of the item in the cart, and if the two IDs are the same, a screen is displayed to select whether or not to purchase the item as a regular item (normal merchandise) (steps S44 → S45). It is preferable to display the price of the regular item on this screen. At this time, if it is selected not to purchase the item as a regular item, the screen returns to the initial screen before the transaction (step S24), and if it is selected to purchase the item as a regular item, a screen for selecting the payment method is displayed (step S48).

On the other hand, the municipality ID of residence is compared with the municipality ID of the item in the cart, and if the two IDs are different, the information required for hometown tax payment is confirmed, and a screen is displayed to confirm whether the donation details are correct (steps S44 → S46 → S47). At this time, if there is an error in the donation details, a confirmation screen for the hometown tax payment procedure is displayed (step S39), and if the donation details are correct, a screen for selecting the payment method is displayed (step S48).

Next, when a payment method is selected, the payment is executed using that payment method (step S49). As described above, the purchased product and the return gift can be paid for simultaneously if they are the same procedure.

The number of products/gifts in the cart is then calculated and managed, and products/gifts are handed over one at a time, after safety checks, until the remaining number of products/gifts to be handed over becomes 0 (steps S60 → S61 → S62 → S63 → S64 → S60 → S61 → ...). Then, when all products/gifts have been handed over for that purchaser U, a record of the transaction results is sent to the center server 20, the transaction is terminated, and the screen returns to the initial screen before the transaction (steps S65 → S66 → S67 → S68 → S24).

Although not mentioned in the above explanation, when a product is selected, it is determined whether the product is eligible for hometown tax donations, and if the product is not eligible for hometown tax donations, a screen for selecting a payment method (step S48) may be displayed without displaying a screen for selecting whether the purchase purpose/type is hometown tax donation or regular merchandise (step S38). For example, whether a product is eligible for hometown tax donations can be determined based on whether a local government code is linked to the product information (see Figures 7(A) and 8). Alternatively, since the purchase type code includes information indicating whether the product is eligible for merchandise, hometown tax donations, or other, it may be possible to determine whether the product is eligible for donations based on the purchase type code (see Figure 8).

Next, optional operations will be described. For example, when a purchaser U selects a product from the product list screen, a roulette-style product selection button may be displayed, and when the button is pressed, a product may be automatically selected at random from products with a uniform price (steps S28 → S29). This makes it possible to provide a bonus service that enhances the desire to purchase.

In addition, when payment is made for regular merchandise only, a gacha lottery may be held at a predetermined set frequency (steps S50 → S51 → S52). For example, a "product button" may be provided to automatically select a product from among multiple products in the vending machine 10, and when the product button is pressed, a product may be identified from a list of products and added to the cart as a product that has won the gacha. At this time, the product may be identified randomly, but if the product is identified through AI analysis, it is possible to provide a product that matches the preferences of purchaser U based on purchase history and characteristics captured by an AI camera.

In addition, a product that can be purchased only when the payment amount meets certain conditions may be set as a bonus product (steps S53 → S54 → S55 → S56). For example, if a purchase of 100,000 yen or more is made, a local round-trip taxi flat-rate ticket worth 30,000 yen may be purchased for 10,000 yen. This makes it possible to display and sell a product list that allows the purchase of new optional, unique products that are not included in the product list if certain conditions (purchase amount, specific product, etc.) are met.

In addition to selling the product, feedback and opinions from the purchaser U may be collected (steps S57->S58). For example, when paying for the product, the purchaser U may be prompted via a touch panel to indicate whether or not they agree to donate a portion of the purchase price, to answer a questionnaire about the purpose of the purchase, etc. This makes it possible to obtain information to be used in donation and marketing activities.

After purchasing a product, variable information such as a fortune slip or divination may be displayed on the screen and provided to the purchaser U (step S59). This makes it possible to provide a bonus service that increases the purchaser's motivation.

<Hardware configuration example>
FIG. 14 is a hardware configuration diagram of the center server 20 in the embodiment of the present invention. The center server 20 is a computer that provides a platform service for the vending machine 10, with the vending machine 10 being treated as an antenna shop. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, a processor 20A, a memory 20B, a storage unit 20C, an IF (Interface) unit 20D, an input/output unit 20E, and a reading unit 20F are connected to each other via a bus 20I so that they can communicate with each other. The processor 20A is an arithmetic processing device that performs various controls and calculations. The memory 20B is a volatile memory that stores various data and programs. The storage unit 20C is a non-volatile memory that stores various data and programs. The IF unit 20D is a functional unit that controls communication with other terminals. The input/output unit 20E is an input device that inputs data and an output device that outputs data. The reading unit 20F is a device that reads out data and programs recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Of course, other hardware may be provided according to the content of the service. In practice, cloud PaaS (Platform as a Service) or the like may be utilized.

Characteristic configuration and effects of the present invention
As described above, the vending machine 10 in the embodiment of the present invention is a vending machine 10 connected to the center server 20 so as to be able to communicate with the center server 20, and includes a digital signage unit 12 that functions under the control of the center server 20, a vending unit 13 that sells products selected in the digital signage unit 12, and a purchaser information registration unit 14 that registers purchaser information of products sold by the vending unit 13. The digital signage unit 12 displays a list of products, and when a product that corresponds to a donation is selected from the list of products, a selection screen is displayed for selecting whether to purchase the product as a normal product or to receive it as a gift in return for the donation. As a result, the appearance of the vending machine 10 is the same as a general one, so that even a purchaser U who has never made a donation such as a hometown tax payment can easily use it, and it is possible to promote regional revitalization. Of course, there is no particular limitation on whether the "vending machine" referred to here has a product discharge outlet 3.

In addition, by sharing information between the center server 20 and the vending machine 10, the vending machine 10 can be configured as a multi-tenant machine with one product per tenant, allowing multiple tenants to share the vending machine 10. This allows one-stop support for product sales, payment, delivery, and other operations, making it possible for individual tenants to set up simple antenna shops at low cost.

It is also possible to provide a shopping cart that allows payment for multiple products at once, and to register the information required for donations for multiple products in the same process. This not only simplifies the process of purchasing products, but also simplifies the process of making donations such as hometown tax payments, by eliminating the need to repeat the same steps.

In addition, after the payment for the product and before the product is delivered, a touch panel-type question process may be added to the digital signage unit 12 to collect the opinions of the product purchaser U. This makes it possible to effectively use the collected data for marketing analysis and for deciding on the use of donations. Since opinions are collected during the waiting time between the payment for the product and the delivery of the product, this also has the effect of reducing the burden on the purchaser U.

In addition, a roulette-style product selection button may be displayed on the digital signage unit 12, and when the roulette-style product selection button is selected, a product may be randomly selected from products with a uniform price. This may increase the purchase motivation of the purchaser U and broaden the product field.

In addition, products that are not displayed in the product list on the digital signage unit 12 may be offered for a fee or free of charge. This can further increase the purchase motivation of the purchaser U.

Furthermore, when a product is selected on the digital signage unit 12, the local government that manages the product in association with it is checked, and if there is no local government that manages the product in association with it, it is determined that the product is not eligible for donations, and payment can proceed without displaying the selection screen. Alternatively, since the purchase type code includes information indicating whether the product is eligible for physical sales, hometown tax donations, or other, it may be possible to determine whether the product is eligible for donations from the purchase type code. In this way, when a product that is not eligible for donations is sold, the selection screen is not displayed, making it possible to handle both products that are eligible for donations and those that are not.

Also, the purchaser U's municipality ID is identified based on the purchaser information registered by the purchaser information registration unit 14, and the municipality ID is compared with the municipality ID of the product. If the two IDs are the same, a selection screen is displayed in which the regular price is displayed and the purchaser can choose whether or not to purchase the product in regular sales. If regular sales is selected, payment can proceed. In other words, since hometown tax payments cannot be made to the municipality in which the purchaser U resides, in such a case it is possible to display the regular price and encourage the purchaser to purchase the product as a regular item.

The center server 20 in the embodiment of the present invention provides a platform service for the vending machine 10, with the vending machine 10 being treated as an antenna shop, and includes a storage unit 21 that stores data for providing the platform service, a platform management unit 22 that transmits and receives data to and from the vending machine 10, a store owner management unit 23 that manages store owners of multiple tenants individually, and an overall management unit 24 that manages the overall operation of the platform service. This provides one-stop support for operations such as product sales, payment, and delivery, making it possible for individual tenants to open simple antenna shops at low cost.

In the above description, a selection screen is displayed to select whether to purchase the product as a normal product or to receive it as a gift in return for a donation, but this function is not essential. That is, the vending machine 10 in the embodiment of the present invention is a vending machine 10 connected to the center server 20 so as to be able to communicate with the center server 20, and includes a digital signage unit 12 that functions under the control of the center server 20, a vending unit 13 that sells the product selected in the digital signage unit 12, and a purchaser information registration unit 14 that registers purchaser information of the product sold by the vending unit 13. The center server 20 and the vending machine 10 may be configured to cooperate with each other in information linkage, so that the vending machine 10 can be used as a multi-tenant machine with one product and one tenant, and can be shared by multiple tenants. It goes without saying that the above-mentioned multi-tenant function can be realized with such a configuration.

The present invention can be realized as a platform (vending system) including such a vending machine 10 and center server 20, as a vending method in which each of the characteristic functional units included in such a vending machine 10 and center server 20 is a step, or as a vending program for causing a computer to execute those steps. Of course, such a vending program can be installed in a computer via a computer-readable recording medium such as the vending machine 10 or center server 20, or via a network such as the Internet line N.

Other Embodiments
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the description and drawings forming a part of the disclosure are illustrative and should not be understood as limiting. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Vending machine 11 Vending machine management unit 12 Digital signage unit 13 Vending unit 14 Purchaser information registration unit 20 Center server 21 Memory unit 22 Platform management unit 23 Exhibitor-specific management unit 24 Overall operation unit 25 External communication unit N Internet line

One aspect of the present invention is a vending machine connected to a center server and capable of communicating with the center server, the vending machine management unit comprising: a vending machine management unit that exchanges information with the center server; a digital signage unit that functions under control from the center server via the vending machine management unit ; a vending machine unit that sells products selected in the digital signage unit; and a purchaser information registration unit that registers purchaser information of products sold by the vending unit. The vending machine displays a list of products on the digital signage unit, and when a product that is eligible for donation is selected from the product list, a selection screen is displayed on the digital signage unit to allow the user to choose whether to purchase the product through regular sales or to receive it as a gift in return for a donation. The purchaser information registration unit identifies the purchaser's municipality of residence ID based on the purchaser information registered by the purchaser information registration unit, compares the municipality of residence ID with the municipality ID of the product, and if the two IDs are the same, displays the regular price and then displays a selection screen on the digital signage unit to allow the user to choose whether to purchase the product through regular sales. If purchase through regular sales is selected, payment proceeds .

Claims (9)

A vending machine connected to a center server so as to be able to communicate with the center server,
a digital signage unit that functions under the control of the center server;
a vending unit that sells a product selected on the digital signage unit;
a purchaser information registration unit that registers purchaser information of the product sold by the vending unit,
A list of products is displayed on the digital signage section, and when a product that is eligible for donation is selected from the list of products, a selection screen is displayed for selecting whether to purchase the product as a normal product or to receive it as a gift in return for the donation. The vending machine according to claim 1, configured such that the center server and the vending machine share information to allow the vending machine to be used by multiple tenants, with one product being treated as one tenant, making the vending machine a multi-tenant machine. The vending machine according to claim 1, which is provided with a shopping cart that allows payment for multiple items at once, and allows registration of the information required for the donation for multiple items in a single process. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a touch panel-type question process added to the digital signage unit after payment for the product and before delivery of the product, to collect the opinions of the purchaser of the product. The vending machine of claim 1, which displays a roulette-style product selection button on the digital signage section, and randomly selects a product from among uniformly priced products when the roulette-style product selection button is selected. The vending machine according to claim 1, which provides products not displayed in the product list on the digital signage unit, either for a fee or free of charge. The vending machine according to claim 1, when a product is selected on the digital signage unit, checks for a local government that manages the product in association with the product, and if there is no local government that manages the product in association with the product, determines that the product is not eligible for donations and proceeds to payment without displaying the selection screen. The vending machine according to claim 1, which identifies the purchaser's local government ID based on the purchaser information registered by the purchaser information registration unit, compares the local government ID with the local government ID of the product, and if the two IDs are the same, displays a selection screen that displays the regular price and allows the user to select whether or not to purchase the product in normal sales, and proceeds to payment if the user selects to purchase the product in normal sales. A center server that provides a platform service for a vending machine in which the vending machine according to claim 2 is treated as an antenna shop,
a storage unit for storing data for providing the platform service;
A platform management unit that transmits and receives data between the vending machine and the platform management unit;
A store owner management unit that manages store owners of the plurality of tenants individually;
and an overall operation unit that manages the overall operation of the platform service.

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