JP2999333B2 - Vending machines and data loaders - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine and a data loader for collecting and setting data of the vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some vending machines record sales or sales results or setting contents as data in an internal memory. Conventionally, these data are managed by an absolute address management system. FIG. 10 shows a case where data stored in a conventional vending machine 21 is written to another vending machine 22 via a data loader 23.
In the collection of the data loader 23, each data is transferred from the vending machine 21 together with the absolute address. In the next setting, the data collected from the data loader 23 is transferred together with the absolute address and written to the vending machine 22. The system versions of the vending machines 21 and 22 are both A. As described above, data can be transferred between the vending machines 21 and 22 having the same version.

[0003]

However, if the vending machines that transfer data have different versions, the compatibility of the data is lost and the data cannot be transferred. FIG. 11 shows a case in which the versions are different from each other due to a version upgrade or the like. When the data read from the vending machine 24 to the data loader 23 is written into the vending machine 25, the versions are different from each other. The number of data bytes and the like are different, and even if written, incorrect data is obtained.

For this reason, there has been an inconvenience that data transfer between vending machines is limited to the case where the versions are the same. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of collecting and setting sales and sales data even between vending machines having different system versions. Machine and data loader.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine for storing sales and setting data in a memory. It is characterized by comprising means for managing data in units and means for transferring data in the memory to the data loader in units of blocks.

A second invention is a data loader for reading sales and setting data from a vending machine and transferring the data to another vending machine. And a means for notifying the operator if the versions are different, and a means for creating a shortage of transfer data based on the input of the operator when the versions are different.

A third invention is a data loader for reading sales and setting data from a vending machine and transferring the data to another vending machine. In the data loader, sales and setting data written by an absolute address management method are automatically sold. When the data is transmitted from the vending machine, the vending machine is provided with a means for converting the data into a block management system and transferring it to another vending machine.

[0008]

In the vending machine of the first invention, the sales and the writing of the setting data to the memory of the vending machine are managed in units of blocks, and the data in the memory is transferred to the data loader in units of blocks. .

In the data loader according to the second invention, the version of the vending machine that transmitted the data and the version of the vending machine to which the data is transferred are compared, and if different, the operator is notified of the fact and the transfer is performed. The data shortage is created based on the input data of the operator and sent to the transfer destination.

In the data loader of the third invention, when sales and setting data written by the absolute address management system is transmitted from the vending machine, the data is converted to the block management system and then converted to another automatic management system. Sent to the vending machine and written.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory views showing a memory management system for a vending machine according to the first invention. In FIG. 1, setting data and sales data in a vending machine are written in a memory 6.

The memory 6 has a table information area 6a.
And a data area 6b. In the data area 6b, actual setting data and sales data are written in block units. The table information area 6a stores data for managing individual blocks in the data area 6b.

FIG. 2 shows the table information area 6a in more detail, and shows the number of bytes of the entire block, the block number, the number of data in the block, and the structure (number) of data in the block. Numerical values are sequentially written and configured. By managing the memory 6 in the vending machine in this way, it is possible to easily change an absolute address, add or delete a block, etc. in the vending machine. As a result, even if the vending machine is upgraded, data compatibility with the vending machine of the previous version is improved, and data collection / setting of the data loader for the vending machine becomes easy.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the data loader of the second invention. The figure shows that the data of the vending machine 7 of the old version is read by the data loader 8 and then written to the vending machine 9 of the new version. Specifically, the vending machine 7 is connected to the data loader 8, and the table information and data are read from the memory of the vending machine 7 and stored in the data loader 8. Then
The vending machine 9 is connected to the data loader 8. Here, the data loader 8 compares the versions of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 and checks whether the versions match.

If they match, the read data is written to the memory of the vending machine 9 as it is. If they do not match, the operator is informed that the versions are different by notifying means (not shown), and the table information of the vending machine 7 already stored in the data loader 8 is compared with the table information of the vending machine 9. After the data to be written is matched with the vending machine 9, the data is written to the vending machine 9. At this time, when newly creating data, it is based on the input contents from the operator.

FIG. 4 shows a data loader 8 according to the second invention.
Is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 with different versions, and further showing a case where the number of data in the block is further reduced. That is, the data read from the vending machine 7 to the data loader 8 is composed of four blocks, and the vending machine 9 to which data is written is composed of three blocks. Therefore, in the data loader 8, the block 4 is deleted from the read data, new data including three blocks is created, and the data is written to the vending machine 9.

FIG. 5 shows a data loader 8 according to the second invention.
Is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 having different versions, and further showing a case where the number of data in the block is further increased. That is, the data read from the vending machine 7 to the data loader 8 is composed of three blocks, and the vending machine 9 to which the data is written is composed of four blocks.

In this case, the data loader 8 notifies the operator that the versions of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 do not match by notifying means (not shown), and also displays that the data is insufficient. I do.
Next, the data loader 8 writes the data of the blocks 1 to 3 read from the vending machine 7 to the vending machine 9 and waits for an input of a set value from an operator.
The data of the missing block 4 is created and then written to the vending machine 9.

FIG. 6 shows a data loader 8 according to the second invention.
Is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 in different versions, and further shows a case where the structure of some blocks is different. That is, block 2,
Regarding the block No. 4, the structures of the read block and the written block are different from each other. In this case, the data loader 8 notifies the operator that the versions of the vending machine 7 and the vending machine 9 do not match by notifying means (not shown), and also displays that the structure of the data block is different.

Next, the data loader 8 is connected to the vending machine 7
Since the data structures of the blocks 1 and 3 read from the vending machine are the same, they are written to the vending machine 9 as they are, the input of the set values from the operator is waited, and the data of the blocks 2 and 4 are created to prepare the vending machine. Write to 9.

As described above, the data loader 8 of the second invention
Compares the vending machine 7 for reading the data with the vending machine 9 for writing the data, and when the versions do not match, notifies the operator by a notification means and prompts the input of the setting data. Thus, the operator can transfer the data only by inputting the requested data only when notified, without worrying about the version. Even if the versions do not match, by inputting the missing setting data, a missing block is created and the data can be transferred.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the data loader according to the third invention. The memory of the vending machine 11 is managed by an absolute address system, and the memory of the vending machine 12 is managed by a block management system. The data loaders 13 to which the vending machines 11 and 12 are connected read the respective memories and collect data.

The data loader 13 is used for the vending machine 11
In addition to dividing the data read in the absolute addressing method into block units, table information for each block is created and stored together. Thus, all the data read from the vending machines 11 and 12 are stored by the block management method. Also,
The stored data can be written to connected vending machines in block units as needed. As a result, data can be freely transferred even between vending machines having different memory management methods.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a communication procedure performed between the vending machine configured as described above and the data loader. As shown in the figure, first, a vending machine issues a data loader standby command to a data loader. When the data loader is connected, the data loader receives the standby command and returns a response to the vending machine. Next, the data loader issues an address data request command to the vending machine.

The vending machine that has received the address data request command transmits address information to the data loader if the internal memory management system of the vending machine is an absolute address system. In the case of the block management method, password information is transmitted. The data loader contains address information,
The memory management method in the counterpart vending machine is determined depending on which of the password information is received, and an A / B vending machine determination flag in FIG. 9 described later is set. By providing this flag, data of a plurality of vending machines having different memory management methods can be mixed and stored in one data loader.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a memory management method in the data loader. This data loader
As in the case of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the memory is divided into blocks, and a vending machine data management area for storing management information for each block is provided.

In the figure, the vending machine data management area stores management information for each vending machine. In the case of absolute address management, the contents of the management information include an A / B vending machine determination flag, a model code, a vending machine side address information size, a vending machine side address information pointer, a vending machine data size, and a vending machine data pointer. In the case of block management, the information includes an A / B vending machine determination flag, a model code, a vending machine data size, and a vending machine data pointer.

The vending machine data storage area is configured by the contents specified in the vending machine data management area, and specific sales and setting content data are written in block units. As described above, in the past, sales / sales data could not be collected / set unless the vending machines were of the same version. However, by using the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be freely performed regardless of the model and version. Data transfer becomes possible. Thereby, the handling of data in the vending machine is facilitated, and the workability is improved.

[0029]

As described above, according to the vending machine of the first invention, the sales and the writing of the setting data to the memory of the vending machine are managed in units of blocks, and the data in the memory is managed in units of blocks. By transferring the data to the data loader, it is possible to collect and set sales and setting data even between vending machines having different system versions.

According to the data loader of the second invention, the version of the vending machine that transmitted the data is compared with the version of the vending machine of the transfer destination, and if different, the operator is notified of the difference, and Insufficient data is created based on the data input by the operator and sent to the transfer destination.
As a result, the operator can collect and set the sales and setting data without worrying about the version of the vending machine from the beginning, thereby improving the usability.

According to the data loader of the third invention, when the sales and setting data written by the absolute address management system is transmitted from the vending machine, the data is converted to the block management system and then converted to another automatic management system. It can be sent to the vending machine and written. As a result, vending machines of the absolute address management system, which could not transfer data only between vending machines of the same version,
It is possible to collect and set sales and setting data with another arbitrary vending machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory management system in a vending machine of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of FIG. 2 in detail.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a data loader according to a second invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another operation of the data loader according to the second invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another operation of the data loader according to the second invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another operation of the data loader according to the second invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the data loader according to the third invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a communication procedure performed between a vending machine and a data loader.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a memory management method in the data loader.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data transfer in a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data transfer in a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Memory 6a Table information area 6b Data area 7 Vending machine 8 Data loader 9 Vending machine 11 Vending machine 12 Vending machine 13 Data loader

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Futa Yanagiya 1-10-4 Tamahira, Hino-shi, Tokyo Fuji Electric Microcomputer Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine which stores sales and setting data in a memory, means for managing writing of sales and setting data to a memory in units of blocks, and data in the memory to a data loader in units of blocks. A vending machine comprising: means for transferring; 2. A data loader that reads sales and setting data from a vending machine and transfers the data to another vending machine, and compares the version of the vending machine from which the data is read with the vending machine of the transfer destination. A data loader, comprising: means for notifying the operator when the versions are different, and means for creating a shortage of transfer data based on the input of the operator when the versions are different. 3. A data loader for reading sales and setting data from a vending machine and transferring the data to another vending machine, wherein the sales and setting data written by the absolute address management system is transmitted from the vending machine. A data loader comprising means for converting the data to a block management system and transferring the data to another vending machine when the data is received.