JP3888659B2 - Vending machine and its management method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine and a management method therefor, and more particularly, to a vending machine and a management method therefor that reduce the work of a product replenisher who replenishes the vending machine in the field.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a vending machine receives a value from a storage medium such as an inserted coin or banknote or a storage medium such as a prepaid card, an electronic money card, or a debit card, and sells or provides a service corresponding to the received value. Is configured to do.
[0003]
By the way, replenishment of goods to the vending machine is usually performed in the following procedure.
[0004]
1) On the day before product replenishment, the inventory status data of the products of all vending machines that are the target of product replenishment is acquired at a centralized management center and replenished to each vending machine from the acquired data. Create replenishment data such as products to be sold and their quantities.
[0005]
2) On the day of product replenishment, based on the replenishment data created by the central management center by the day before the product replenishment, the worker (product replenisher) carries the replenishment product of the vending machine that he / she is responsible for to the location of the vending machine. .
[0006]
3) When the worker arrives at the vending machine to be replenished, the worker obtains the inventory data of the vending machine at the transmission / reception terminal carried by the worker and confirms the current inventory status of the vending machine.
[0007]
4) The product is replenished based on the latest inventory status confirmed in 3).
[0008]
By such an operation, it is possible to accurately replenish the vending machine in charge.
[0009]
That is, in a vending machine managed by a conventional centralized management center, when a vending machine replenishes a product, inventory confirmation of the product is performed twice. The first one is based on the inventory data received at the central management center, and this inventory data is based on the vending machine inventory status up to the previous day. It is not possible to cope with changes in inventory status until the replenished goods are delivered.
[0010]
Therefore, when the worker replenishes the product, the product is replenished accurately by performing a second inventory check at the transmission / reception terminal carried by the worker.
[0011]
By the way, a communication system as shown in FIG. 5 is mainly used for the above-described inventory check of the vending machine, and the communication between the central management center and the vending machine is mainly used for the first inventory check. However, mobile phone communication with a wide communication area is used.
[0012]
On the other hand, for communication between the transceiver terminal carried by the worker and the vending machine, infrared communication that has a small communication area but does not incur communication costs, or narrowband wireless communication that does not incur communication costs is used. It was.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the communication area 43 for infrared communication is extremely small and the infrared rays are weak against shielding objects, workers must communicate with each vending machine one by one to check the stock status as shown in FIG. For example, when replenishing products to vending machines installed on each floor of the building, for example, the inventory status of each vending machine was checked once in each floor to check the inventory, and the products were loaded. There is a problem that there is a lot of waste both in terms of time and labor, preparing replenished products based on the inventory status returned to the car and carrying the products again to the vending machines on each floor to replenish the products. there were.
[0014]
In addition, some vending machines installed side by side may use narrowband wireless communication. By using this communication, multiple vending machines installed side by side from a car loaded with products can be used. Since the inventory data of the machine can be checked in a lump, it can save the worker from having to go to each vending machine one by one to check the inventory, but with the vending machine installed in the building There is a problem in the communication quality when using it for communication, and it is impossible to check the inventory with high reliability.
[0015]
Although it is conceivable to use mobile phone communication for communication between the worker and the vending machine, this method is not preferable because it simply increases the cost due to the generation of communication costs.
[0016]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to keep communication costs low and increase product replenishment efficiency by a product replenisher.
[0017]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that can keep communication costs low and increase product replenishment efficiency by a product replenisher.
[0018]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a management method for a vending machine that can keep communication costs low and can efficiently replenish a product by a product replenisher.
[0019]
The vending machine according to the present invention sequentially updates the inventory data indicating the inventory status of the product in the vending machine that accepts the value from the inserted money or storage medium and sells the product corresponding to the received value. The inventory data at the time point stored in the storage means is stored in the public by communicating with the storage means and the management center of the vending machine connected via the public wireless communication network at a predetermined cycle. First communication means for transmitting to the management center via a wireless communication network at a predetermined cycle, and directly communicating with the portable terminal carried by the product replenisher at the time of product replenishment using spread spectrum wireless communication, The difference data between the previous inventory data transmitted to the management center by the communication means and the inventory data currently stored in the storage means is transmitted to the portable terminal. Characterized by comprising a second communication means.
[0020]
Here, money includes coins, banknotes, and the like, and the storage medium includes prepaid cards, electronic money cards, debit cards, and the like.
[0021]
The product includes various products that can be sold by the vending machine and various services that can be provided by the vending machine.
[0022]
In addition, the inventory data indicating the inventory status of products includes not only inventory data of products directly sold by vending machines but also inventory data of service materials provided for various services provided by vending machines. .
[0023]
In addition, the inventory data stored in the storage means may indicate the inventory amount of the product, or may indicate the amount of service material that is actually sold or provided for various services.
[0025]
Here, as the first communication means that communicates with the management center via the public wireless communication network, wireless communication using the mobile wireless telephone network employed in the mobile phone can be employed.
[0026]
The vending machine management method according to the present invention is the vending machine management method for receiving a value from an inserted currency or storage medium and selling a product corresponding to the received value. Transmits the inventory data indicating the inventory status of the vending machine to the management center at a predetermined cycle by communicating with the management center remotely located from the vending machine via a public wireless communication network. In addition, the product replenisher for the vending machine communicates with the vending machine using spread spectrum wireless communication using a portable terminal carried by the product replenisher when replenishing the product for the vending machine. The difference data between the inventory data transmitted from the vending machine to the management center and the current inventory data is received, and the difference data and the management center And performing replenishment of products to the vending machine based on the signal the previous inventory data of the vending machine.
[0027]
Here, the portable terminal can be configured to collectively receive and collect the difference data of a plurality of vending machines distributed and arranged at a short distance of the portable terminal using the spread spectrum wireless communication. .
[0028]
Here, the plurality of vending machines includes a vending machine distributed on the same building, for example, each floor in the building.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a communication system of a vending machine configured by applying SS wireless communication to communication between a vending machine and a transceiver carried by a worker.
[0031]
In FIG. 1, the communication system of the vending machine includes a central control center 1, vending machines 21 to 24 equipped with a mobile radio telephone communication device 2b and an SS radio communication device 2a, transmission / reception terminals 3 carried by workers, a mobile phone base. Consists of station 5.
[0032]
The vending machines 21 to 24 are further provided with storage means such as a RAM (not shown) for sequentially storing and updating stock data indicating the stock status of the product, and this stock data is updated whenever the product is sold, for example. The
[0033]
The communication area 41 for mobile wireless telephone communication is arbitrarily expanded via the mobile telephone base station 5 and other mobile telephone base stations (not shown), so that the central management center 1 uses this mobile wireless telephone network to You can get inventory data of all vending machines you manage, including vending machines.
[0034]
The transmission / reception terminal 3 includes the SS wireless communication device 3a, and performs communication using the SS wireless communication with the SS wireless communication device 2a included in the vending machine.
[0035]
The worker communicates with the vending machine using the transmission / reception terminal 3 and acquires the current inventory data from the vending machine.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the SS radio communication apparatuses 2a and 3a, and in particular, performs SS radio communication by the direct sequence (DS) method.
[0037]
In FIG. 2A, the DS system will be described below with the SS wireless communication apparatus 2a as the transmission side and the SS wireless communication apparatus 3a as the reception side.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the SS wireless communication devices 2a and 3a perform modulation (signal modulation) for placing a signal on a carrier wave at the time of transmission and perform demodulation (signal demodulation) with respect to the signal modulation at the time of reception. a-1 and modulation (spread modulation) for spreading the frequency spectrum of the signal over a wide band using a code sequence called a spread code at the time of transmission, and the same signal as the spread code used for the spread modulation at the time of reception Is formed by a spread modulation / demodulation unit a-2 that performs demodulation (spread demodulation) in order to restore the original spectrum to the original narrow band.
[0039]
FIG. 2B illustrates the power spectrum of a signal after signal modulation, spread modulation, and spread demodulation of the desired signal. 2B correspond to the signals s61 to s65 in the respective units shown in FIG. 2A.
[0040]
First, in the SS radio communication apparatus 2a, the desired signal is modulated by the signal modulation / demodulation unit a-1 to the signal s61 having the power spectrum 61, and further spread and modulated by the spread modulation / demodulation unit a-2 to the signal s62 having the power spectrum 62. As described above, the frequency band of the desired signal is spread from the band B1 to the band B2 by the spread modulation, so that the power spectrum density per frequency of the desired signal is lowered. The SS wireless communication device 3a receives a signal s63 having a power spectrum 63 in which noise from peripheral devices and interference waves due to multipath fading are carried on a spread-modulated desired signal. The desired signal is spread and demodulated by passing the signal carrying noise and interference wave through the spread modulation / demodulation unit a-2, and the spectrum component is concentrated in the narrow band, whereas the bandwidth of the noise and interference wave is It is possible to obtain a signal s64 having a power spectrum 64 that has been diffused and converted into noise with a very low power spectral density. The desired signal s65 before demodulation is extracted by passing the signal s64 through the band filter a-3, and the desired signal can be obtained by demodulating the signal s65 by the signal modulation / demodulation unit.
[0041]
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the SS wireless communication devices 2a and 3a that perform SS wireless communication by the frequency hopping (FH) method.
[0042]
In FIG. 3, the FH method will be described with the SS wireless communication device 2a as a transmission side and the SS wireless communication device 3a as a reception side.
[0043]
SS wireless communication apparatuses 2a and 3a have the same basic configuration as that shown in the DS system shown in FIG. 2 (a). In the DS system, the power spectrum is spread by multiplying the desired signal that has been signal-modulated by a direct spreading code. On the other hand, in the FH system, by controlling the frequency synthesizer a-4 according to the spreading code pattern (hopping pattern), by switching discretely a finite number of carrier frequencies in a fixed cycle, The power spectrum of the desired signal is spread over a wide band.
[0044]
On the reception side, the frequency synthesizer a-4 is controlled based on the same hopping pattern as that on the transmission side, and spread demodulation is performed.
[0045]
Therefore, the spectrum distribution spread by the FH method is instantaneously the same as a narrowband modulation signal that occupies only a specific frequency band, but a wideband signal with a low power spectral density that occupies a wideband when observed for a long time. Can be considered.
[0046]
According to such an SS wireless communication system, the influence of noise and interference waves can be removed on the receiving side, and furthermore, since the power spectrum density of the transmission signal is small, it becomes a noise source for peripheral equipment. Or inconveniences that cause crosstalk.
[0047]
Therefore, for example, even when the vending machines 21 to 24 are installed on each floor in the building, the worker uses the transmission / reception terminal 3 to obtain the inventory status data of each vending machine from the outside of the building. It can be acquired in a batch without being affected by noise from peripheral devices or multipath fading due to the building structure.
[0048]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of product replenishment to a plurality of vending machines arranged in a building using the system shown in FIG.
[0049]
The flow of product replenishment work to the vending machine in FIG. 4 will be described below.
[0050]
1) The central management center obtains inventory data of each vending machine to be replenished by using mobile wireless telephone communication by the day before the replenishment of the product, and prepares a replenished product based on the acquired inventory data.
[0051]
This replenished product is prepared with an extra in consideration of changes in the inventory status of the vending machine from when the inventory data of the vending machine is acquired at the central management center until the product is actually replenished. The
[0052]
2) On the day of product replenishment, the operator carries the replenished product to the building where each vending machine subject to product replenishment is installed. And the present inventory data of the some vending machine arrange | positioned in a building using SS radio | wireless communication from the outside of a building are acquired collectively.
[0053]
This inventory data may be, for example, difference data between inventory data acquired by the central management center and current inventory data.
[0054]
3) Based on the acquired current inventory data or difference data, the worker carries the replenished goods to each vending machine arranged in the building and replenishes the goods.
[0055]
By such a method, the worker can efficiently and accurately go to the vending machine without repeatedly going back and forth between each vending machine installed indoors and the replenishment goods prepared outdoors. Can be replenished.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since SS wireless communication is used for communication between the vending machine and the transmission / reception terminal carried by the worker, it is difficult to be disturbed by noise or the like without incurring communication costs. Communication with high communication quality can be performed, and for example, the efficiency of replenishment of merchandise by workers such as when replenishing merchandise to a plurality of vending machines installed on each floor in the building can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system of a vending machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of an SS wireless communication apparatus based on a DS method and a change in a signal from transmission to reception.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an SS wireless communication apparatus using an FH method.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow of product replenishment to the vending machine adopting the vending machine and its management method according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication system of a conventional vending machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central management center 2a SS radio | wireless communication apparatus 2b Mobile phone communication apparatus 2c Infrared communication apparatus 3a SS radio communication apparatus 3b Infrared communication apparatus 3 Wireless terminal 5 Mobile phone base station 21, 22, 23, 24 Vending machine 41 Mobile phone communication area 42 SS wireless communication area 43 Infrared communication area a-1 Signal modulation / demodulation unit a-2 Spreading modulation / demodulation unit a-3 Bandpass filter a-4 Frequency synthesizer

Claims (4)

In a vending machine that accepts value from input money or storage media and sells products corresponding to the accepted value,
Storage means for sequentially updating and storing inventory data indicating the inventory status of the product;
The inventory data at the point of time stored in the storage means is exchanged via the public wireless communication network by communicating with the management center of the vending machine connected via the public wireless communication network at a predetermined cycle. First communication means for transmitting to the management center at a predetermined cycle;
Directly communicate with the portable terminal carried by the product replenisher using spread spectrum wireless communication when the product is replenished, and the previous inventory data transmitted to the management center by the first communication means and the current storage means stored in the storage means A vending machine comprising: second communication means for transmitting difference data from inventory data to the portable terminal. In a management method of a vending machine that accepts value from input money or storage media and sells products corresponding to the accepted value,
The vending machine communicates with a management center remotely located from the vending machine via a public wireless communication network, and stores inventory data indicating the stock status of the vending machine in a predetermined cycle. And send it to the management center
When a product replenisher for the vending machine replenishes the vending machine, the vending machine communicates with the vending machine using spread spectrum wireless communication using a portable terminal carried by the product replenisher. The difference data between the inventory data sent to the management center by the machine and the current inventory data is received,
A vending machine management method comprising: replenishing the vending machine with products based on the difference data and previous inventory data of the vending machine received at the management center. The portable terminal of claim 2, wherein the collecting collectively receiving the difference data of a plurality of vending machines which are distributed over a short distance of the mobile terminal by using the spread spectrum wireless communication How to manage vending machines. 4. The vending machine management method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of vending machines are vending machines distributed on each floor in the same building.

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