JP6716056B2 - Equipment operation status management system and equipment operation status management method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device operation status management system and a device operation status management method for managing the operation status of a device, and more specifically, a device operation status for managing the operation status of each of a plurality of devices operating for a predetermined time according to a payment fee. The present invention relates to a management system and a device operation status management method.

Examples of machines that operate according to the payment fee include laundry machines such as automatic washing machines, automatic washing and drying machines, and automatic dryers installed in coin-operated laundry stores. In the case of laundry equipment, there are various types of courses (for example, a course in which washing and drying are performed at once, or a course in which only washing and drying are performed), and the user selects one of these courses. To use the equipment. Therefore, the operating time of the device varies depending on the selected course, and the operating time may be a relatively long time of about 20 minutes to 60 minutes. If the device is being used by a user (in operation), the next user who wants to use the device must regularly go to a coin laundry store to check the operation status of the device. .. Therefore, a system that can notify the user of the operating status of the device is desired. Various systems for notifying a user of the operating status of a device have been proposed in the past. For example, a “laundry device operating status monitoring system” and Patent Document 2 disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2007-249510A) are disclosed. There is a "device operation monitoring device" disclosed in (JP-A-2005-163182).

The "laundry device operating status monitoring system" of Patent Document 1 discloses a laundry device installed in a coin laundry, a sensor unit for detecting ON/OFF of the laundry device, and the sensor unit transmitted via the network from the sensor unit. A server that compares the ON/OFF information of the laundry machine with the operating characteristics of the laundry machine stored in advance to determine the operating situation of the laundry machine and publish the operating situation on the network. ing. In this "laundry equipment operation status monitoring system", the operation status of the laundry equipment installed in the coin laundry is surely grasped regardless of the manufacturer of the laundry equipment, and the operation status of the laundry equipment is disclosed on the Web, or By appropriately responding to inquiries from users by e-mail, it is said that the user of the coin laundry does not have to go to the coin laundry to directly check the operating status of the laundry machine (claim 1, paragraph 0008). , Paragraphs 0010-0031, FIGS. 1-6).

The "device operation monitoring device" of Patent Document 2 detects the operating states of a plurality of devices by a detection unit, receives a detection signal from the detection unit, and the device main body monitors the operation status of the device. In a monitoring device, an input terminal is connected to the device body, and the device body notifies the identifier corresponding to the device used by the user and the identifier when the user's notification destination is input from the input terminal. A destination is stored and stored in the first storage unit, and when the detection unit detects that the operation of the device corresponding to the identifier has ended, the notification unit is notified via communication means. There is. In this "device operation monitoring device", the user simply inputs an identifier corresponding to the device to be used in advance by the user and the notification destination of the user from the input terminal, and when the operation of the device to be used is completed, the device main body communicates with the communication means. The communication device as the notification destination of the user is notified via the. As a result, when the operation of the device is completed, it is possible to promptly bring the device into a usable state and increase the operation rate of the device (claim 1, paragraph 0010, paragraph ). 0015 to 0030, see FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5).

JP, 2007-249510, A JP, 2005-163182, A

In the "laundry device operating status monitoring system" of Patent Document 1, the operating status of the laundry device is determined by the voltage at which the power of the laundry device is turned on or off and the operating characteristics of the laundry device (hereinafter referred to as "device characteristics"). .. In general, a variety of laundry machines of various types and models are provided by a plurality of manufacturers, and the characteristics of the machines vary depending on the manufacturers, models, and models. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the device characteristics of various laundry devices to grasp the features of various laundry devices in detail, which requires a great deal of analysis labor and time.

In the "equipment operation monitoring device" of Patent Document 2, a power cord with a plug of the equipment is connected to an AC outlet of a commercial power source through the detection portion, and the power consumption that increases when the equipment is operated is detected by the detection portion. Then, the operating status of the equipment is determined. Therefore, similarly to the “laundry device operation status monitoring system” of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to analyze the device characteristics and grasp the features of various devices in detail, which requires a great deal of analysis labor and time. There is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily and easily operate an operating state of a device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and grasping the device characteristics. An object is to provide a device operation status management system and a device operation status management method that can be managed.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured as follows.

A first device operation status management system of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of devices capable of operating for a predetermined time according to a fee paid, and the plurality of terminal devices. And a host device capable of communicating with each of the terminal devices, each of the plurality of terminal devices outputs to the host device charge collection information indicating collection of the charge when the charge is collected. Each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits a signal according to the fee collected to the corresponding device, and the device that receives the signal starts the operation of the device and operates. The device stops operating when the predetermined time corresponding to the charge has elapsed, and the host device measures the elapsed time from the time when the charge collection information is input as the operating time of the device. A time counting unit, and an operating status determination unit that determines that the device is operating until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time , regardless of the actual operating status of the device , It is a device operation status management system that generates operation status information based on the determination result of the operation status determination unit, transmits the operation status information for each of the plurality of devices to an external device, and manages the operation status.

In the first device operation status management system of the present invention, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time in accordance with the fee paid. The plurality of terminal devices are arranged corresponding to the plurality of devices, respectively, and can communicate with the host device. Each of the plurality of terminal devices has a charge collection information output unit, and the charge collection information output unit outputs charge collection information indicating collection of the charge to the higher-level device when the charge is collected. Each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits a signal according to the collected fee to the corresponding device. The device that receives the signal starts the operation of the device. The operating device stops operating after a predetermined time period according to the charge has passed. In the host device to which the fee collection information has been input, the elapsed time counting unit counts the elapsed time from the point of input of the fee collection information as the operating time of the device. The operation status determination unit of the host device determines that the device is in operation from the start of the time counting by the elapsed time counting unit until the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time. This determination is made regardless of the actual operating status of the device. Then, in the higher-level device, the operating status information is generated based on the determination result of the operating status determining unit, and the operating status of each of the plurality of devices is managed. In other words, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the fee paid, and the elapsed time from the point of time when the higher-level device collects the charge at the terminal device corresponding to each of the plurality of devices until the predetermined time is reached. By measuring the time, the operating statuses of a plurality of devices are managed. The operating status information is transmitted to the external device. Therefore, it is not necessary to grasp the device characteristics as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily manage the operating status of the device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and understanding the device characteristics.

A second device operation status management system of the present invention is a plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of devices capable of operating for a predetermined time according to a fee paid, and the plurality of terminal devices. Each of the plurality of terminal devices, each of the plurality of terminal devices including a host device capable of communicating with each other, and a fee collection including terminal charge information and terminal identification information capable of identifying the terminal device. The higher-level device has a charge collection information output unit for outputting information, and the upper device measures an elapsed time from the time when the charge collection information is input as an operating time of the device, and the plurality of devices. A storage device that stores the operating conditions for each of the plurality of devices including the charge amount in each of the above and the available operating time set according to the charge amount in association with the terminal identification information, and the terminal identification information in the fee collection information. And an operable time specifying unit that specifies the operable time stored in the storage device by comparing the charge amount with the terminal identification information and the charge amount stored in the storage device; and the operable time specifying unit. An operating status determination unit that determines that the device is operating until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time with the specified available operating time as the predetermined time, and the operating status determination unit Is a device operating status management system that manages the operating status of each of the plurality of devices based on the determination result.

In the second device operation status management system of the present invention, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the paid fee. The plurality of terminal devices are arranged corresponding to the plurality of devices, respectively, and can communicate with the host device. Each of the plurality of terminal devices has a charge collection information output unit, and the charge collection information output unit collects the charge amount when collecting the charge and the charge collection information including the terminal identification information that can identify the terminal device. Is output. In the host device to which the fee collection information has been input, the elapsed time counting unit counts the elapsed time from the point of input of the fee collection information as the operating time of the device. In the storage device of the higher-level device, the operating conditions of each of the plurality of devices are stored in association with the corresponding terminal identification information. The operating condition of the device includes the charge amount of each of the plurality of devices and the operable time of the device set corresponding to the charge amount. The operation status determination unit of the higher-level device determines that the device is in operation from the start of time counting by the elapsed time timer until the time measured reaches a predetermined time. At that time, the operable time specifying unit of the higher-level device compares the terminal identification information and the charge amount of the charge collection information with the terminal identification information and the charge amount stored in the storage device of the higher-level device to store the higher-level device. Identify the uptime that is stored in the device. The operation status determination unit of the host device determines whether or not the device is in operation, using the available time specified by the available time specifying unit as a predetermined time. Then, the host device manages the operating status of each of the plurality of devices based on the determination result of the operating status determination unit. In other words, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the fee paid, and the elapsed time from the point of time when the higher-level device collects the charge at the terminal device corresponding to each of the plurality of devices until the predetermined time is reached. By measuring the time, the operating statuses of a plurality of devices are managed. Therefore, it is not necessary to grasp the device characteristics as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily manage the operating status of the device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and understanding the device characteristics. Further, the operable time of the device is specified from the operating condition of the device stored in the storage device of the host device, and the operable time of the specified device is set as a predetermined time to determine whether the device is operating. .. Therefore, even when different operating conditions are set for a plurality of devices, it is possible to manage the operating status of each of the plurality of devices for each operating condition.

A first device operation status management method of the present invention is a device operation status management method for managing the operation status of each of a plurality of devices that can be operated for a predetermined time according to a fee paid. A process of determining whether or not the fee has been received by a plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of the devices, and determining that the fee has been received by at least one terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices. When the terminal device outputs the charge collection information indicating the collection of the charge, the elapsed time from the time when the charge collection information is input in the host device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of terminal devices. A process of measuring the operating time of the device, a process of transmitting a signal according to the fee collected to the corresponding device in each of the plurality of terminal devices, and a device of the device receiving the signal. The process of starting operation, the process of stopping operation when the predetermined time according to the charge has elapsed in the operating device, and the elapsed time from the time when the charge collection information is input in the upper device Until the predetermined time is reached, a process of determining that the device is operating regardless of the actual operating condition of the device, and generating operating condition information based on the determination result in the host device, And a step of transmitting the operating status information for each of a plurality of devices to an external device .

In the first device operation status management method of the present invention, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time in accordance with the fee paid. In each of the plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices, it is determined whether or not the fee has been collected. When it is determined that the charge has been received by at least one of the plurality of terminal devices, the terminal device outputs the charge collection information indicating the collection of the charge. The host device that can communicate with each of the plurality of terminal devices measures the elapsed time from the time when the fee collection information is input as the operating time of the device. Each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits a signal corresponding to the collected fee to the corresponding device. Start operating the device at the device that received the signal. When a predetermined time corresponding to the charge has passed in the operating device, the operation is stopped. Furthermore, in the higher-level device, it is determined that the device is in operation from the time when the fee collection information is input until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time. This determination is made regardless of the actual operating status of the device. The host device generates operating status information based on the determination result of the operating status determination unit, and manages the operating status of each of the plurality of devices. In other words, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the fee paid, and the elapsed time from the point of time when the higher-level device collects the charge at the terminal device corresponding to each of the plurality of devices to the predetermined time By measuring the time, the operating statuses of a plurality of devices are managed. The operating status information is transmitted to the external device. Therefore, it is not necessary to grasp the device characteristics as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily manage the operating status of the device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and understanding the device characteristics.

A second device operation status management method of the present invention is a device operation status management method for managing the operation status of each of a plurality of devices that can be operated for a predetermined time according to a fee paid. A process of determining whether or not the fee has been received by a plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of the devices, and determining that the fee has been received by at least one terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices Sometimes, the process of outputting the charge amount received by the terminal device and the charge receiving information including the terminal identification information that can identify the terminal device, and the charge receiving process in the host device that can communicate with each of the plurality of terminal devices. When the information is input, one of the plurality of devices is specified based on the terminal identification information of the charge collection information, and the operable time of the specified device is specified based on the charge amount of the charge collection information. Then, the specified operable time is set to the predetermined time of the specified device, and the elapsed time from the time when the fee collection information is input is measured as the operating time of the specified device. And a step of determining that the specified device is in operation until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time in the host device.

In the second device operating status management method of the present invention, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the fee paid. The plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices respectively determine whether or not the fee has been collected. When it is determined that the fee has been received by at least one of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, the fee collection information including the fee amount received by the terminal apparatus and the terminal identification information that can identify the terminal apparatus is output. When the charge collection information is input, the host device that can communicate with each of the plurality of terminal devices identifies one of the plurality of devices based on the terminal identification information of the charge collection information and also charges the charge collection information. The operating time of the specified device is specified based on. The specified operable time is set to the predetermined time of the specified device. Further, in the host device, the elapsed time from the time when the fee collection information is input is counted as the operating time of the identified device. Further, in the host device, it is determined that the specified device is in operation until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time. In other words, each of the plurality of devices is operated for a predetermined time according to the fee paid, and the elapsed time from the point of time when the higher-level device collects the charge at the terminal device corresponding to each of the plurality of devices until the predetermined time is reached. By measuring the time, the operating statuses of a plurality of devices are managed. Therefore, it is not necessary to grasp the device characteristics as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily manage the operating status of the device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and understanding the device characteristics. In addition, one of the plurality of devices is specified by the terminal identification information of the charge collection information, and the available time of the specified device is specified by the charge amount of the charge collection information, and the available time of the specified device. Is determined as a predetermined time to determine whether the device is in operation. For this reason, even when different operating conditions (amount of charge and a predetermined operating time) are set for a plurality of devices, it is possible to manage the operating status of each of the plurality of devices for each operating condition.

In the device operation status management system and the device operation status management method of the present invention, it is possible to easily and easily manage the operation status of a device without requiring a large amount of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and grasping the device characteristics. The effect is obtained.

It is a schematic diagram showing a device operating status management system of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view of an automatic dryer which shows an example of the equipment which comprises the equipment operating condition management system of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic dryer of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the terminal device which comprises the apparatus operating condition management system of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a compound device in which a higher-level device that constitutes the device operation status management system of FIG. 1 is incorporated. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a host device and an IC card issuance charge/exchange machine in the complex device of FIG. 5. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an IC card issuing charge/money changer that constitutes the multifunction apparatus of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of device operating conditions stored in the host device of FIG. 6. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the server apparatus which comprises the apparatus operating condition management system of FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a device operating status disclosed by the server device of FIG. 9. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device of FIG. 3. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the terminal device of FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host device in FIG. 6. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server device of FIG. 9. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation|movement of the equipment operating condition management system of FIG.

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

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 shows a device operation status management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device operation status management system 1 is for managing the operation status of the coin laundry device 2 installed in the coin laundry store 30. The device operating status management system 1 includes a plurality of devices 2 that operate for a predetermined time according to a payment fee, a plurality of terminal devices 4 arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices 2, and a plurality of terminal devices 4. It includes a higher-level device 5 that can communicate with each other and that is connected to the public network 12, and a server device 8 that is connected to the public network 12. In addition, although it is actually configured to include a plurality of coin laundry stores 30, it is assumed that there is only one coin laundry store 30 here for simplification of description. Further, in the present embodiment, a description will be given on the assumption that the high-level equipment 5 is the multi-functional equipment 7 having the functions of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6.

On the other hand, in the public network 12, it is possible to browse the remote management device 10 that manages the device operating status management system 1 and the device operating status disclosure information MOP, which will be described later and is published on the public network 12 by the device operating status management system 1. The fixed terminal 14 and the mobile terminal 15 are connected. The remote management device 10 and the fixed terminal 14 are personal computers having a CPU, a memory, a hard disk drive, a display device, and the like. The mobile terminal 15 is a mobile terminal having a CPU, a memory, a solid state drive, a display device, and the like.

(machine)
First, the device 2 installed in the coin laundry store 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As the device 2, the automatic washing and drying machines 2a and 2d, the automatic washing machines 2b and 2e, and the automatic drying machine 2c are installed. Here, an automatic dryer 2c will be described as an example of the device 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic dryer 2c includes a box-shaped casing 102 having a front plate 103. At the center of the front plate 103, a circular opening 104 through which an object to be dried such as clothes can be taken in and out is formed, and a circular door 106 that covers the opening 104 is openably and closably attached. A box-shaped drying chamber 112 is formed inside the housing 102, and a cylindrical drum 114 into which an object to be dried is put is arranged inside the drying chamber 112. The drum 114 is arranged in a laid-down state and has an opening 114a that is concentric with and faces the opening 104 of the housing 102. A plurality of through holes (not shown) are formed in the peripheral wall 114b of the drum 114, and the inner space of the drum 114 and the inner space of the drying chamber 112 communicate with each other through the plurality of through holes. The rear side of the drum 114 is closed by a rear wall 114c, and a cylindrical rotating shaft 115 that protrudes outward (in other words, the rear side of the housing 102) is provided at the center of the rear wall 114c. Has been.

A drive unit 44 of the automatic dryer 2c is arranged below the housing 102. The drive unit 44 includes a drum motor 116, a blower 117, and a heater 120. A belt 119 is stretched between the output shaft 116 a of the motor 116 and the rotary shaft 115 of the drum 114, and the rotational driving force of the motor 116 is transmitted to the drum 114 via the belt 119. The blower 117 is driven by the blower motor 118 and discharges an airflow toward the heater 120. The heater 120 heats the airflow discharged from the blower 117 and introduces the heated airflow into the drying chamber 112. During operation of the automatic dryer 2c, the drum 114 is rotated by the motor 116, and the heated airflow is sent into the inside of the drying chamber 112 by the blower 117 and the heater 120. The heated airflow is introduced into the drum 114 through a through hole formed in the peripheral wall 114a of the drum 114, and the object to be dried stored in the drum 114 is warmed and dried.

A display device 108, operation buttons 110, and a coin sorting device 3 are arranged above the front plate 103 of the housing 102. The amount of payment and the operating state of the automatic dryer 2c are displayed on the display device 108, and the operation of the automatic dryer 2c is started by pressing the operation button 110. The coin sorting device 3 determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin CN inserted in the coin insertion port 122, returns the false coin to the coin return port 126, and deposits the genuine coin in the safe 128 arranged in the housing 102. Hold on. The coin sorting device 3 has a return lever 124, and the coin CN inserted by operating the return lever 124 is returned to the coin return port 126. Further, the coin sorting device 3 has a coin acceptance signal generation unit 232 that outputs the first coin signal Sc1 corresponding to the inserted true coins, as shown in FIG. The coin sorting device 3 functions as a coin receiving device 3A that receives the coins CN inserted into the coin insertion port 122 and outputs the first coin signal Sc1 corresponding to the received coins CN.

A device control device 40 that controls the operation of the automatic dryer 2c is arranged in the upper left portion of the housing 102. As shown in FIG. 3, the device control device 40 includes a main control unit 202, a storage device 204, a drive control unit 206, an input/output control unit 208, and a fee collection unit 210. The main control unit 202 controls the drive control unit 206 according to the operating condition OC stored in the storage device 204 in order to enable the operation of the automatic dryer 2c. The operating condition OC includes a preset operable time (hereinafter referred to as an operable time Teo) for each paid amount of money.

The drive control unit 206 controls ON/OFF of rotation of the drum motor 116 and ON/OFF of rotation of the blower motor 118 according to a command from the main control unit 202. Further, the drive control unit 206 controls on/off of the heater 120 so that the internal temperature of the drying chamber 112 is maintained at a predetermined value. The input/output control unit 208 displays predetermined information on the display device 108 according to a command from the main control unit 202, and outputs operation information corresponding to the operation of the operation button 110 to the main control unit 202.

When the first coin signal Sc1 or the second coin signal Sc2 output from the coin signal output unit 245 of the terminal device 4 described later is input, the fee collection unit 210 receives the first coin signal Sc1 or the second coin signal Sc2. Based on, the payment amount is determined, and the charge collection information Dcr including the payment amount is output to the main control unit 202. The main control unit 202 to which the fee collection information Dcr is input controls the drive control unit 206 according to the operating condition OC stored in the storage device 204. That is, the device control apparatus 40 starts the operation of the automatic dryer 2c at the time when the operation button 110 is operated, and at the time when the available operation time Teo corresponding to the charge amount of the charge collection information Dcr elapses. The drive unit 44 is controlled so as to end the operation of.

Like the automatic dryer 2c, the automatic washing and drying machines 2a and 2d and the automatic washing machines 2b and 2e are configured to include the coin sorting device 3, the operation button 110, the display device 108, the device control device 40, and the drive unit 44. It In other words, each of the plurality of devices 2 installed in the coin laundry store 30 is configured to include at least the coin sorting device 3, the operation button 110, the display device 108, the device control device 40, and the drive unit 44.

(Terminal device)
Next, the terminal device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The terminal device 4 is arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices 2, and enables payment to the device 2 with so-called electronic money using the IC card CD. In this embodiment, a non-contact type IC card is used as the IC card CD. The IC card CD incorporates a semiconductor integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as IC) 16 including a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The IC 16 stores at least the charge amount CV relating to the amount paid in advance.

As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 4 includes a box-shaped casing 130 having a rectangular shape in front view, a display device 134 and operation buttons 136 arranged in front of the casing 130. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 4 includes a card reading/writing device 132, a terminal control device 240, a coin signal output unit 245, a coin signal input unit 246, and a wireless device, which are respectively disposed inside the housing 130. The communication device 260 is further included.

The display device 134 is composed of a segment type or dot type display device using a light emitting diode, a fluorescent display tube, a liquid crystal panel or the like. The display device 134 displays information such as a charge amount and an error of the device 2 set by operating the operation button 136.

The operation button 136 is used to set the amount of charge to be paid by the device 2 (hereinafter, referred to as charge CR). Specifically, the storage unit 244 of the terminal control device 240 stores a plurality of preset charge amounts CR, and one of the plurality of charge amounts CR is displayed on the display device each time the operation button 136 is pressed. It is sequentially displayed on 134. For example, in the case of the automatic dryer 2c, the charge amount CR of 100 yen, 200 yen, and 300 yen is stored in the storage unit 244, and "100", "200", and "300" each time the operation button 136 is pressed. The display is switched in the order of, and the operation button 136 is further pressed to return to the display of "100", and the same display is switched thereafter.

The card reading/writing device 132 reads/writes information from/to the IC 16 of the IC card CD by transmitting/receiving radio waves to/from the IC card CD. That is, the card reading/writing device 132 reads the charge amount CV stored in the IC card CD. The card reading/writing device 132 also writes the charge amount CV calculated by the charge calculation unit 256 of the terminal control device 240.

As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal control device 240 includes a main control unit 242, a storage unit 244, a display control unit 248, an input control unit 250, a read/write control unit 252, a charge acceptance/rejection determination unit 254, and a charge calculation unit 256. And a fee collection information output unit 258. The main control unit 242 executes input/output of various information to/from the storage unit 244, and at the same time, realizes a predetermined function of the terminal device 4, a display control unit 248, an input control unit 250, and a reading/writing control unit 252. The charge collection acceptance/rejection determination unit 254, the charge calculation unit 256, the charge collection information output unit 258, the coin signal output unit 245, and the coin signal input unit 246 are operated.

The storage unit 244 stores at least the terminal identification information TID that can identify the terminal device 4 and a plurality of charge amounts CR that can be set according to the operation of the operation button 136. The terminal identification information TID is information that can identify any one of the plurality of terminal devices 4 corresponding to the plurality of devices 2, and for example, a terminal identification number or the like is used.

The display control unit 248 controls the display device 134 based on the display information output from the main control unit 242, and causes the display device 134 to display various information. That is, one of the plurality of charge amounts CR stored in the storage unit 244 is output from the main control unit 242 to the display control unit 248, and the display control unit 248 displays the charge amount CR on the display device 134. .. Further, when it is determined by the charge acceptance determination unit 254, which will be described later, that the charge cannot be received, information indicating that the balance of the charge amount CV is insufficient is output from the main control unit 242 to the display control unit 248, and the display control unit 248. Displays on the display device 134 information indicating that the balance is insufficient.

The input control unit 250 outputs the input information according to the operation of the operation button 136 to the main control unit 242. That is, as described above, the display device 134 displays any one of the plurality of charge amounts CR stored in the storage unit 244. Every time the operation button 136 is pressed, the input control unit 250 outputs the input information to the main control unit 242. The main control unit 242 controls the display control unit 248 each time the input information is input, whereby the charge amount CR displayed on the display device 134 is sequentially changed.

The read/write control unit 252 controls the card reading/writing device 132 to read the charge amount CV from the IC card CD and output it to the main control unit 242, and at the same time, the charge amount CV after calculation in the charge calculation unit 256 is calculated. When output from the main control unit 242, the charge amount CV is output to the card reading/writing device 132. Further, the reading/writing control unit 252 outputs the charge amount confirmation information for fixing the charge amount CR displayed on the display device 134 to the main control unit 242 at the timing of reading the charge amount CV from the IC card CD. The main control unit 242 to which the charge confirmation information is input determines the charge amount CR output from the main control unit 242 to the display control unit 248 at that time as the payment charge, and the charge amount CR and the read charge amount. The CV is output to the charge acceptance determination unit 254.

When the main control unit 242 outputs the charge amount CR and the charge amount CV, the charge amount acceptance/rejection determination unit 254 compares the charge amount CR and the charge amount CV to determine whether the charge amount can be received. That is, if the charge amount CV is equal to or more than the charge amount CR (CV≧CR), the charge acceptance determination unit 254 determines that the charge amount can be received, and if the charge amount CV is less than the charge amount CR (CV<CR), the charge amount is charged. The collection acceptance determination unit 254 determines that the fee collection is impossible. The toll acceptance determination unit 254 outputs the determination result to the main control unit 242.

When the determination result indicating that the toll collection is possible is input to the main control unit 242, the main control unit 242 outputs the charge amount CR determined as the payment amount and the read charge amount CV to the charge calculation unit 256. At the same time, the determined charge amount CR and the terminal identification information TID stored in the storage unit 244 are output to the charge collection information output unit 258. In addition, the main control unit 242 instructs the coin signal output unit 245 to output the second coin signal Sc2 corresponding to the determined charge amount. On the other hand, when the result of determination that charge collection is not possible is input to the main control unit 242, the main control unit outputs information indicating the balance shortage of the charge amount CV to the display control unit 248. As a result, the display device 134 displays information indicating that the balance is insufficient. In this case, the output to the fee collection information output unit 258 of the main control unit 242 is not executed.

When the charge amount CR and the charge amount CV are output, the charge calculation unit 256 subtracts the charge amount CR from the charge amount CV, and the subtraction result is a new charge amount CV (in other words, the updated charge amount CV). It outputs to the main control part 242 as CV). The updated charge amount CV is output from the main control unit 242 to the reading/writing control unit 252, and written in the IC card CD by the card reading/writing device 132.

When the main control unit 242 outputs the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR, the charge collection information output unit 258 outputs the charge collection information CRI including the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR to the wireless communication device 260. To do.

The coin signal output unit 245 generates a second coin signal Sc2 corresponding to the first coin signal Sc1 output by the coin acceptance signal generation unit 232 of the coin sorting device 3 based on the instruction of the main control unit 242, and responds to the coin signal Sc2. Output to the device 2. That is, when the output command of the second coin signal Sc2 is input from the main control unit 242 to the coin signal output unit 245, the coin signal output unit 245 causes the second coin signal Sc2 corresponding to the charge amount CR included in the output command. Is output. The "second coin signal Sc2 corresponding to the first coin signal Sc1" means that the charge collection unit 210 of the device 2 corresponding to the terminal device 4 indicates that both the first coin signal Sc1 and the second coin signal Sc2 are coin signals. It means that the waveforms, the amplitudes, or the signal widths are not necessarily the same.

The coin signal input unit 246 detects the input of the first coin signal Sc1 output from the coin acceptance signal generation unit 232 of the coin sorting device 3 of the device 2 and outputs the detection signal DS to the main control unit 242. By counting the detection signals DS input by the main control unit 242, the denomination and the number of coins CN inserted into the coin sorting device 3 can be confirmed. In other words, the main control unit 242 acquires the charge amount CR paid in the coin sorting device 3 based on the detection signal DS. The acquired charge amount CR is the charge collection information output unit 258 from the main control unit 242 together with the terminal identification information TID as in the case of the charge payment by the IC card CD (in other words, the charge payment by the electronic money). Is output to. That is, the main control unit 242 compares the charge amount CR acquired based on the detection signal DS with the plurality of charge amount CR stored in the storage unit 244, determines the paid charge amount CR, and is determined. The charge amount CR and the terminal identification information TID stored in the storage unit 244 are output to the charge collection information output unit 258. In other words, the main control unit 242 determines the charge amount CR and the terminal identification information TID only when the charge amount CR acquired based on the detection signal DS matches any of the plurality of charge amounts CR stored in the storage unit 244. If they do not match, the main control unit 242 does not output the charge amount CR and the terminal identification information TID.

Further, the coin signal input unit 246 can output the input first coin signal Sc1 to the coin signal output unit 245 under the control of the main control unit 242. That is, when the coin signal output unit 245 does not output the second coin signal Sc2, the first coin signal Sc1 is output to the coin signal output unit 245. When the first coin signal Sc1 is input to the coin signal output unit 245, the coin signal output unit 245 outputs the first coin signal Sc1 to the corresponding device 2. On the other hand, when the coin signal output unit 245 outputs the second coin signal Sc2, the coin signal input unit 246 stops the output of the first coin signal Sc1. When the first coin signal Sc1 is input to the coin signal input unit 246 during the period in which the output of the first coin signal Sc1 is stopped, the count value based on the detection signal DS output from the coin signal input unit 246 is the storage unit 244. Memorized in. Then, when the stop of the output of the first coin signal Sc1 is released (in other words, when the coin signal output unit 245 does not output the second coin signal Sc2), based on the count value stored in the storage unit 244. The coin signal output unit 245 outputs the second coin signal Sc2. This series of operations is brought about by the control of the main control unit 242 with respect to the coin signal output unit 245 and the coin signal input unit 246. This can prevent the first coin signal Sc1 output from the coin sorting device 3 and the second coin signal Sc2 generated by the coin signal output unit 245 from being simultaneously input to the fee collection unit 210 of the device 2, Even when the terminal device 4 is added to the device 2 having the coin sorting device 3, the compatibility can be maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first coin signal Sc1 output from the coin sorting device 3 of the device 2 is input to the fee collection unit 210 of the device 2 via the terminal device 4. Further, the second coin signal Sc2 generated by the terminal device 4 is also input to the fee collection unit 210 of the device control device 40 of the device 2. In this way, by interposing the terminal device 4 between the coin sorting device 3 and the device control device 40, the installation of the terminal device 4 on the existing device 2 becomes easy. That is, in the existing device 2, the output of the coin sorting device 3 is electrically connected to the input of the device control device 40. In this configuration, the output of the coin sorting device 3 is connected to the coin signal input unit of the terminal device 4. The output of the coin signal output unit 245 of the terminal device 4 may be electrically connected to the input of the device control device 40.

The wireless communication device 260 is communicably connected to the host device 5. In other words, the wireless communication device 260 has a function of transmitting/receiving data to/from the higher-level device 5. The wireless communication device 260 transmits the charge collection information CRI output from the charge collection information output unit 258 to the higher-level device 5 based on the transmission command from the main control unit 242.

(Complex device)
Next, the composite device 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the composite device 7 also has the functions of the host device 5 and the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6.

First, the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 will be described. The IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 issues an IC card CD, charges electronic money to the issued IC card CD, and exchanges bills or high-value coins (500 yen coins) into low-value coins (100 yen coins). And execute.

As shown in FIG. 5, the complex device 7 includes a box-shaped casing 140, a display device 141 including a liquid crystal panel, a touch panel 143 that constitutes an input device 142 together with the display device 141, a coin sorting device 146, and a coin dispensing device. It is configured to include a device 147, a bill depositing device 150, a card processing device 152, and a control unit 154.

The display device 141 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and is arranged in the upper portion on the front surface side of the housing 140. Various kinds of information are displayed on the display device 141, and an operation button 162 is appropriately displayed. For example, selection buttons 163 for "issue card", "charge", "confirm balance" and "exchange" are displayed. A touch panel 143 is overlaid on the surface of the display device 141, and the display device 141 and the touch panel 143 form an input device 142 in accordance with the display of the operation buttons 162. When the selection button 163 is displayed as the operation button 162, the user operates the selection button 163 to specify a predetermined operation in the IC card issuance charge/exchange machine 6.

The coin sorting device 146 is arranged in the left center portion on the front surface side of the housing 140. The coin sorting device 146 has a vertically long slit-shaped coin input port 164, a rectangular coin return port 165, and a return lever 166 for returning coins to the coin return port 165 by a user's operation. The coin sorting device 146 discriminates the authenticity and denomination of coins inserted into the coin insertion port 164, returns the false coins to the coin return port 165, and deposits the genuine coins in the coin safe 167. Store in. The coin sorting device 146 outputs a coin signal according to the determined denomination when the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 164 is a true coin.

The coin dispensing device 147 separates coins stored in bulk in a storage container (not shown) one by one and dispenses them to the coin dispensing outlet 148. In this embodiment, the coin dispensing device 147 dispenses 100-yen coins as exchange coins.

The bill depositing device 150 is arranged in the central portion on the front side of the housing 140. The banknote depositing device 150 has a banknote slot 167 having a horizontally long slit shape, a banknote identifying section 168 located near the banknote slot 167, and a banknote storage section 169 located below the banknote slot 167. There is. The banknote depositing device 150 discriminates the authenticity and denomination of the banknote inserted into the banknote slot 167 by the banknote discriminating section 168, returns the counterfeit banknote to the banknote slot 167, and stores the genuine banknote in the banknote storage section 169. To do. The bill depositing device 150 outputs a bill signal when the bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 167 is a genuine bill.

The card processing device 152 is arranged in the left center portion on the front surface side of the housing 140. The card processing device 152 has a horizontally elongated slit-shaped card inlet/outlet 170, a card reading/writing unit 171 located near the card inlet/outlet 170, and a card storage unit 172 located behind the card inlet/outlet 170. doing. The card processing device 152 pays out the IC card CD stored in the card storage unit 172 to the card inlet/outlet 170, and outputs information to the IC card CD to be dispensed and the IC card CD inserted into the card inlet/outlet 170. Read and write. The reading and writing of the information is executed by the card reading/writing unit 171.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 154 includes a main control unit 271, a display control unit 272, an input control unit 273, a bill deposit control unit 274, a card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, and a coin deposit counting unit 278. The coin payout control unit 280, the wireless communication device 282, the storage device 284, the elapsed time counting unit 286, the operating condition determination unit 288, and the wired communication device 290 are included. The main control unit 271 and the storage device 284 are used to realize the respective functions of the host device 5 and the IC card issuance charge/exchange machine 6. The display control unit 272, the input control unit 273, the bill deposit control unit 274, the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, the coin deposit counting unit 278, and the coin dispensing control unit 280 are the functions of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6. Used to realize. The wireless communication device 282, the elapsed time counting unit 286, the operating status determination unit 288, and the wired communication device 290 are used to realize the function of the higher-level device 5.

(IC card issuance charge, money changer)
First, the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 will be described. The main controller 271 executes input/output of various information to/from the storage device 284, and at the same time, realizes a predetermined function of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6, a display controller 272, an input controller 273, a bill. The deposit control unit 274, the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, the coin deposit counting unit 278, and the coin dispensing control unit 280 are operated.

The display control unit 272 controls the display device based on the display information output from the main control unit 271, and causes the display device 141 to display various information and operation buttons 162. The main controller 271 outputs display information based on the information stored in the storage device 284. As the operation button 162, for example, the selection buttons 163 for “issue card”, “charge”, “confirm balance” and “exchange” are displayed.

The input control unit 273 outputs the information input to the input device 142 to the main control unit 271. When the “issue card”, “charge”, “balance check”, and “exchange” selection buttons 163 are displayed on the display device 141 as the operation buttons 162, operation information corresponding to the selected operation button 162 is displayed on the main control unit. 271.

The banknote deposit control unit 274 controls the operation of the banknote depositing device 150, and outputs the banknote depositing information deposited in the banknote depositing device 150 to the main control unit 271. The main control unit 271 to which the banknote deposit information is input issues a predetermined operation command to the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 or the coin dispensing control unit 280 according to the operation information input from the input control unit 273. Output. That is, when “issue card”, “charge” or “balance check” is selected, an operation command is output to the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, and when “exchange” is selected, coins are selected. An operation command is output to the payout control device 280.

The card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 operates the card processing device 152 based on the operation command output from the main control unit 271. That is, the main control unit 271 issues a card issuing command for issuing a new IC card CD, a card update writing command for updating and writing the charge amount in the IC card CD inserted in the card entrance/exit 170, and a card entrance/exit. Any one of card reading commands for reading the charge amount from the IC card CD inserted in 170 is output. When the card issuing command is output, the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 causes the card processing device 152 to dispense the IC card CD stored in the card storage unit 172 of the card processing device 152 from the card slot 170. To control. In this case, the card payout command includes the banknote deposit information, and the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 causes the card processing device 152 to execute the writing of the charge amount according to the banknote deposit information. Control. The card processing device 152 operates the card reading/writing unit 171 to write the charge amount to the IC card CD. In this way, a new IC card CD in which the charge amount is written is paid out. When the card renewal writing command is output, the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 renews the total amount of the charge amount according to the banknote deposit information included in the card renewal writing command and the existing charge amount. Write as a special charge amount. That is, the card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 controls the card processing device 152 to read the charge amount from the IC card CD inserted into the card slot 170. The card processing device 152 operates the card reading/writing unit 171 to read the existing charge amount stored in the IC card CD (hereinafter referred to as “existing charge amount”) and read/write/write the existing charge amount read. It outputs to the payout control unit 276. The card read/write/payout control unit 276, to which the existing charge amount is input, outputs the existing charge amount to the main control unit 271 and adds a value obtained by adding the charge amount of the card renewal write command to the existing charge amount. The card processing device 152 is controlled so as to execute the writing of the updated charge amount (hereinafter referred to as the updated charge amount). Then, the card processing device 152 executes the writing of the updated charge amount. When the card read command is output, the card read/write/payout control unit 276 controls the card processing device 152 to read the charge amount. The card processing device 152 operates the card reading/writing unit 171 to read the existing charge amount stored in the IC card CD, and sends the read existing charge amount to the card reading/writing/paying control unit 276. Output. The card read/write/payout control unit 276 to which the existing charge amount is input outputs the existing charge amount to the main control unit 271.

The coin deposit counting unit 278 counts the coin signal output from the coin sorting device 146 and outputs the counting result to the main control unit 271. In other words, the coin deposit counting unit 278 outputs the amount information of the true coins inserted into the coin sorting device 146 to the main control unit 271.

The coin payout control unit 280 controls the operation of the coin payout device 147 based on the coin payout command output from the main control unit 271. The coin payout command includes the number of coins paid out, and the coin payout device 147 pays out the coins of the number of coins paid out to the coin payout exit 148.

(IC card issuance charge, operation of money changer)
Next, the operation of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step ST1, it is determined whether the selection button 163 has been operated. In other words, whether any one of the “issue card”, “charge”, “balance check” and “exchange” selection buttons 163 is displayed on the display device 141 as the operation button 162 and one of the selection buttons 163 is operated. It is determined whether or not. When it is determined that the selection button 163 has been operated, the process proceeds to the next step ST2. When it is determined that the selection button 163 has not been operated, step ST1 is repeatedly executed, and the operation waiting state of the selection button 163 is maintained.

In the next step ST2, it is determined whether or not the selection button 163 operated in step ST1 is "issue card". When it is determined that the card is issued, the process proceeds to step ST3, and when the selection button 163 is other than that, the process proceeds to step ST7.

In step ST3, it is determined whether or not the charge amount is fixed. That is, the card issuance selection information is input from the input control unit 273 to the main control unit 271. In this case, the main control unit 271 outputs the amount selection information to the display control unit 272, and the display control unit 272 causes the display device 141 to display a plurality of amount selection buttons 163 as operation buttons 162. For example, selection buttons 163 of "1000 yen", "2000 yen", "3000 yen" and "5000 yen" are displayed. In this state, when any one of the plurality of money amount selection buttons 163 is operated, it is determined that the charge money amount is fixed, and the process proceeds to the next step ST4. Step ST3 is repeatedly executed until the amount selection button 163 is operated. In other words, the state of waiting for the operation of the amount selection button 163 is maintained.

In the next step ST4, it is determined whether or not the deposit has been completed. That is, it is determined whether or not the bill corresponding to the charge amount determined in step ST3 has been paid by the bill depositing device 150. The main controller 271 compares the banknote deposit information output from the banknote deposit controller 274 with the confirmed charge amount to determine the completion of deposit. When it is determined that the deposit is completed, the process proceeds to the next step ST5, and when it is determined that the deposit is not completed, step ST4 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the state of waiting for deposit is maintained until the deposit is completed.

In the next step ST5, the writing of the charge amount to the new IC card CD and the payout of the IC card CD are executed. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs a card issuing command to the card reading/writing/paying control unit 276. The card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, to which the card issuing command is input, controls the card processing device 152 to dispense the IC card CD stored in the card storage unit 172 of the card processing device 152 from the card slot 170. At the same time, the card processing device 152 is controlled to write the charge amount determined in step ST3 into the IC card CD to be paid out. The card processing device 152 writes the charge amount into a new IC card CD and pays it out from the card entrance/exit 170.

In the next step ST6, information indicating that the processing is completed is displayed on the display device 141. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs the processing end information to the display control unit 272, and the display control unit 272 causes the display device 141 to display a display based on the processing end information. For example, information indicating the charge amount and issuance of a new card is displayed on the display device 141. After execution of step ST6, the process returns to step ST1.

In step ST7, which is executed when it is determined that the card is not issued in step ST2, it is determined whether or not the selection button 163 operated in step ST1 is “charge”. If it is determined to be “charge”, the process proceeds to step ST8, and if it is determined to be not “charge”, the process proceeds to step ST12. In other words, if the “balance confirmation” and “exchange” selection buttons 163 are selected, the process proceeds to step ST12.

In step ST8, as in step ST3, it is determined whether or not the charge amount is fixed. When it is determined that the charge amount is fixed, the process proceeds to step ST9, and when it is determined that the charge amount is not fixed, step ST8 is repeatedly executed.

In the next step ST9, as in the case of step ST4, it is determined whether or not the deposit is completed. If it is determined that the deposit is completed, the process proceeds to step ST10, and if it is determined that the deposit is not completed, step ST9 is repeatedly executed.

In the next step ST10, the reading of the existing charge amount from the IC card CD and the writing of the updated charge amount based on the charge amount determined in step ST8 are executed. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs a card renewal writing command to the card reading/writing/paying control unit 276. The card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276, to which the card update/writing command is input, controls the card processing device 152 to read the existing charge amount from the IC card CD inserted into the card inlet/outlet 170, and reads it. The updated charge amount obtained by adding the charge amount of step ST7 to the existing charge amount thus obtained is controlled. The card processing device 152 writes the updated charge amount on the IC card CD, and then pays out the IC card CD from the card entrance/exit 170.

In the next step ST11, as in the case of step ST6, information indicating that the processing is completed is displayed on the display device 141. For example, information indicating the existing charge amount, the additional charge amount, and the update charge amount is displayed on the display device 141. After execution of step ST11, the process returns to step ST1.

In step ST12, which is executed when it is determined that it is not "charge" in step ST7, it is determined whether or not it is "balance check". If it is determined to be "balance confirmation", the process proceeds to step ST13, and if not "balance confirmation", the process proceeds to step ST15. In other words, when the "exchange" selection button 163 is selected, the process proceeds to step ST15.

In step ST13, reading of the existing charge amount stored in the IC card CD is executed. That is, the main controller 271 outputs a card read command to the card read/write/payout controller 276. The card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 276 to which the card reading command is input controls the card processing device 152 to execute the reading of the charge amount. The card processing device 152 operates the card reading/writing unit 171 to read the existing charge amount stored in the IC card CD, and sends the read existing charge amount to the card reading/writing/paying control unit 276. Output. The card read/write/payout control unit 276 to which the existing charge amount is input outputs the existing charge amount to the main control unit 271.

In the next step ST14, the charge balance display is executed based on the existing charge amount. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs the balance display information based on the existing charge amount to the display control unit 272, and the display control unit 272 causes the display device 141 to display the display based on the balance display information. After execution of step ST14, the process returns to step ST1.

The case where it is determined in step ST11 that it is not "balance confirmation" is the case where the "exchange" selection button 163 is selected in step ST1. In this case, it is determined in step ST15 whether the deposit has been completed. That is, when a banknote is inserted into the banknote depositing device 150 or a high-value coin is inserted into the coin sorting device 146, the main control unit 271 outputs the banknote depositing information or the coin depositing counting unit which is output from the banknote depositing control unit 274. Completion of deposit is determined based on the counting result output from 278. If it is determined that the deposit is completed, the process proceeds to step ST16, and if it is determined that the deposit is not completed, step ST15 is repeatedly executed.

In the next step ST16, coins are paid out. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs a coin payout command to the coin payout control unit 280 based on the bill deposit information output from the bill deposit control unit 274 or the counting result output from the coin deposit counting unit 278. The coin payout control unit 280, to which the coin payout command is input, operates the coin payout device 147 based on the number of coins paid out included in the coin payout command. In this way, the coin payout device 147 pays out the coins of the coin payout number.

In the next step ST17, as in the case of step ST6, information indicating that the processing is completed is displayed on the display device 141. For example, the number of coins dispensed by the coin dispensing device 147 and the amount of exchange are displayed. After execution of step ST17, the process returns to step ST1.

As described above, in the IC card issuance charge/exchange machine 6, any one of “card issuance”, “charge”, “balance check”, and “exchange” is selected in ST1, and depending on the selected process. Steps ST2 to ST6, steps ST7 to ST11 or steps ST12 to ST14 are selectively executed. As a result, the function of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 is realized.

(Host device)
Next, the host device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The host device 5 includes a main control unit 271 of the control unit 154, a wireless communication device 282, a storage device 284, an elapsed time counting unit 286, an operating condition determination unit 288, and a wired communication device 290.

The main control unit 271 executes input/output of various information to/from the storage device 284, and also realizes a predetermined function of the higher-level device 5, a wireless communication device 282, an elapsed time counting unit 286, and an operating status determination unit 288. And the wired communication device 290 is operated.

The wireless communication device 282 is communicably connected to each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. In other words, it has a function of transmitting/receiving data to/from each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. When receiving the fee collection information CRI transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices 4, the wireless communication device 260 outputs the fee collection information CRI to the main control unit 271. When the charge collection information CRI is input from the wireless communication device 260, the main control unit 271 outputs a timekeeping start command to the elapsed time counting unit 286 and outputs an operating status determination command to the operating status determination unit 288. The clocking start command and the operation status determination command are output corresponding to each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. In other words, the main control unit 271 outputs a timing start command and an operation status determination command for each of the plurality of terminal devices 4.

As described above, the charge collection information CRI transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices 4 includes the terminal identification information TID that can identify the terminal device 4 that is the transmission source and the charge amount CR collected by the terminal device 4. There is. As shown in FIG. 8, the storage device 284 stores the charge amount CR and the available operating time Teo associated with each terminal identification information TID as the operating conditions OC of the respective devices 4. As described above, the operating conditions OC are also stored in the respective storage devices 204 of the plurality of devices 2. In the device 2 corresponding to the terminal device 4 specified by the terminal identification information TID, the operating condition OC stored in the storage device 204 and the operating condition OC stored in the storage device 284 match. The main control unit 271 compares the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR included in the input charge collection information CRI with the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR stored in the storage device 284, and stores them in the storage device 284. The available operating time Teo is specified. For example, when the terminal identification information TID of the fee collection information CRI is “0001” and the fee amount of the fee collection information CRI is “300 yen”, the available operating time Teo is identified as “30 minutes”. In other words, the main control unit 271 functions as the available time specifying unit 291 that specifies the available time Teo. The main control unit 271 outputs an operation status determination command including the specified operable time Teo to the operation status determination unit 288.

The elapsed time counting unit 286 measures the elapsed time Te according to the timing start command output from the main control unit 271. In other words, the elapsed time counting unit 286 measures the elapsed time Te from the time when the fee collection information CRI is input to the main control unit 271. The measured elapsed time Te is output from the elapsed time measuring unit 286 to the operating status determination unit 288. The elapsed time counting unit 286 measures the elapsed time Te for each time counting start command corresponding to each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. In other words, the elapsed time counting unit 286 is configured to be able to measure a plurality of elapsed times Te in parallel.

The operating status determination unit 288 determines the operating status of each of the plurality of devices 2 in accordance with the operating status determination command output from the main control unit 271. As described above, the operating status determination command includes the available operating time Teo. The operating status determination unit 288 compares the elapsed time Te output from the elapsed time counting unit 286 with the available time Teo, and determines that the device 2 is operating until the elapsed time Te reaches the available time Teo. Then, it is determined that the operation of the device 2 is completed when the elapsed time Te reaches the operable time. The operation status determination unit 288 outputs the operation status determination result (that is, whether the device 2 is “in operation” or “stopped”) to the main control unit 271. Further, the operation status determination unit 288 outputs a value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time Te from the available operation time Teo to the main control unit 271 as the remaining operation time Tr. The operating status determination unit 288 determines the operating status for each operating status determination command for each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. In other words, the operation status determination unit 288 is configured to be able to determine the operation statuses of the plurality of devices 2 in parallel. As a result, the main control unit 271 determines whether each of the plurality of devices 2 associated with the terminal identification information TID is in the “operating” or “stopped” state and the plurality of devices 2 is in the “operating” state. The remaining operating time Tr of can be managed. The operation status information OSI including the “operating” or “stopped” state of the plurality of devices 2 managed in this way and the remaining operating time Tr of the “operating” device 2 is output from the main control unit 271. ..

The wired communication device 290 is connected to the public network 12. By the wired communication device 290, the host device 5 is communicatively connected to the server device 8 and the remote management device 10 via the public network 12. The operating condition information OSI output from the main controller 271 is input to the wired communication device 290. The wired communication device 290 transmits the input operating status information OSI to the server device 8 via the public network 12. Further, the operating condition OC of the device 2 is transmitted from the remote management device 10 to the wired communication device 290. The wired communication device 290 outputs the received operating condition OC to the main controller 271. The main control unit 271 outputs the input operating condition OC of the device 2 to the storage device 284 and stores it. Therefore, the administrator of the laundry store 30 can set the operating conditions of the device 2 using the remote management device 290.

(Server device)
Next, the server device 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The server device 8 includes a communication device 302, a storage device 304, and a public device 306.

The communication device 302 is connected to the public network 12. By the communication device 302, the server device 8 is communicatively connected to the host device 5, the plurality of fixed terminals 14 and the plurality of mobile terminals 15 via the public network 12. The communication device 302 receives the operating status information OSI transmitted from the upper level device 5, and outputs the received operating status information OSI to the storage device 304. Further, the device operating status disclosure information MOP output from the disclosure device 306 is input to the communication device 302.

The storage device 304 stores the operating status information OSI output from the communication device 302. The stored operating status information OSI is output to the public device 306 according to the output command of the public device 306.

The public device 306 creates the device operational status public information MOP based on the operational status information OSI stored in the storage device 304. As the device operation status public information MOP, as shown in FIG. 10, “operation status” and “remaining time” associated with “device numbers” of the plurality of devices 2. The "device number" is associated with the terminal identification information TID. The disclosure device 306 publishes the created device operation status disclosure information MOP on the public network 12 via the communication device 302. As a result, it becomes possible to browse the device operation status public information MOP at the fixed terminal 14 and the mobile terminal 15 described above.

(Operation of equipment operation status management system)
Next, the operation of the device operation status management system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15. First, the operation of the device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the fee has been collected by the device 2. That is, the fee collection unit 210 determines payment of the predetermined fee based on the first coin signal Sc1 or the second coin signal Sc2 output from the corresponding terminal device 4. If the predetermined fee has been paid, the fee collection unit 210 determines that the fee has been collected, outputs the fee collection information Dcr including the received and delivered fee amount CR to the main control unit 202, and then proceeds to the next step S12. If the predetermined fee has not been paid, the fee collection unit 210 determines that the fee has not been collected, and step S11 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the state is in a standby state until the charge collection unit 210 determines that the charge is to be collected.

In the next step S12, the main control unit 202 sets the operating condition OC of the device 2. As described above, the operating condition OC is stored in the storage device 204 of the device 2. The main control unit 202 sets the operable time Teo of the device 2 based on the charge amount CR of the input charge collection information Dcr and the operating condition OC stored in the storage device 204.

In the next step S13, the operation of the device 2 is started. That is, the main control unit 202 outputs a drive start command to the drive control unit 206, and the drive control unit 206 operates the drive unit 44.

In the next step S14, the main control unit 202 determines whether the operating time To of the device 2 is less than the operable time Teo. When the operating time To is less than the available operating time Teo, the operation of the device 2 is continued, and step S14 is repeatedly executed. When the operating time To is equal to or more than the operating time Teo, the process proceeds to step S15, and the operation of the device 2 is ended. That is, when the main control unit 202 outputs a drive stop command to the drive control unit 206, the drive control unit 206 stops the operation of the drive unit 44. After that, the process returns to step S11, and the processes of steps S11 to S15 are repeatedly executed.

Next, the operation of the terminal device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the fee has been collected. That is, the main control unit 242 determines whether or not to collect the fee, based on the determination result by the fee collection availability determination unit 254 or the detection signal DS from the coin signal input unit 246. In the case of the determination based on the detection signal DS, the payment amount is determined by counting the detection signal DS, and the determination is made by comparing the payment amount and the charge amount CR stored in the storage unit 244. If it is determined that the fee has been received, the process proceeds to step S22. When it is determined that the fee has not been received, step S21 is repeatedly executed. In other words, it will be in a standby state until the fee is collected.

In the next step S22, it is determined whether or not the payment of the charge is electronic money (in other words, payment using the IC card CD). In the case of payment by electronic money, the process proceeds to step S23, and in the case of payment without electronic money (that is, payment by coin CN), the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S23, the second coin signal Sc2 is output from the coin signal output unit 245, and then the process proceeds to step S25. In step S24, the first coin signal Sc1 is output from the coin signal output unit 245, and then the process proceeds to step S24. The first coin signal Sc1 and the second coin signal Sc2 output from the coin signal output unit 245 are input to the fee collection unit 210 of the device 2.

In the next step S25, the fee collection information CRI is transmitted from the wireless communication device 260. The transmitted fee collection information CRI is received by the upper level device 5. After execution of step S25, the process returns to step S21, and the processes of steps S21 to S25 are repeatedly executed.

Next, the operation of the higher-level device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the fee collection information CRI has been received by the wireless communication device 282. That is, when the charge collection information CRI is output from the wireless communication device 282 to the main control unit 271, it is determined that the main control unit 271 has received the charge collection information CRI, and the process proceeds to step S32. When the charge collection information CRI is not output from the wireless communication device 282 to the main control unit 271, the main control unit 271 determines that the charge collection information CRI is not received, and step S31 is repeatedly executed. In other words, it is in a standby state until the fee collection information CRI is received.

In the next step S32, the available operating time Teo of the device 2 is specified. That is, the main control unit 271 to which the charge collection information CRI is input, the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR included in the charge collection information CRI and the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount stored in the storage device 284 as the operating condition OC. By comparing with CR, the available operating time Teo in which the terminal identification information TID and the charge amount CR match is specified.

In the next step S33, time counting of the elapsed time Te is started. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs a time counting start command to the elapsed time counting unit 286, and the elapsed time counting unit 286 starts counting time. The measured elapsed time Te is output to the operation status determination unit 288.

In the next step S34, it is determined whether the elapsed time Te is less than the operable time. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs an operation status determination command to the operation status determination unit 288, and the operation status determination unit 288 outputs the operation possible time Teo and the elapsed time counting unit 286 included in the operation status determination command. The elapsed time Te is compared to determine whether the elapsed time Te is less than the operable time Teo. When it is determined that the elapsed time Te is less than the workable time Teo (Te<Teo), the process proceeds to step S35, and when it is determined that the elapsed time Te is the workable time Teo or more (Te≧Teo) Advances to step S38.

In step S35, the operating status determination unit 288 determines that the operating status is “operating”, and the determination result is output from the operating status determination unit 288 to the main control unit 271. In the next step S36, the operation status determination unit 288 calculates the remaining operation time Tr, and the remaining operation time Tr is output from the operation status determination unit 288 to the main control unit 271. Further, in step S37, the operating status information OSI is transmitted from the wired communication device 290. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs the operation status information OSI obtained by associating the determination result (“in operation”) output from the operation status determination unit 288 and the remaining operation time Tr with the terminal identification information TID to the wired communication device 290. The wired communication device 290 transmits the operating status information OSI to the server device 8 via the public network 12. After execution of step S36, the process returns to step S34, and steps S34 to S37 are repeatedly executed until it is determined in step S34 that the elapsed time Te is equal to or more than the operable time Teo. As a result, the operating status information OSI is updated.

In step S38 executed when it is determined in step S34 that the elapsed time Te is equal to or longer than the operable time period Teo, it is determined that the operation of the device 2 is completed. In other words, the operating status is determined to be “stopped”, and the determination result is output from the operating status determination unit 288 to the main control unit 271. In the next step S39, the counting of the elapsed time is ended. That is, the main control unit 271 outputs a time stop command to the elapsed time counting unit 286, and the time counting by the elapsed time counting unit 286 ends. At this time, the elapsed time Te of the elapsed time counting unit 286 is reset (Te=0). In the next step S40, the operating status information OSI is transmitted from the wired communication device 290. That is, the main control unit 271 performs wired communication of the operating status information OSI obtained by associating the determination result (“stopped”) output from the operating status determining unit 288 and the remaining operating time Tr (Tr=0) with the terminal identification information TID. The information is output to the device 290, and the wired communication device 290 transmits the operating status information OSI to the server device 8 via the public network 12. After execution of step S40, the process returns to step S31, and the processes of steps S31 to S40 are repeatedly executed.

Next, the operation of the server device 8 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the communication device 302 has received the operating status information OSI. If it is determined that the operating status information OSI has been received, the process proceeds to step S52. If it is determined that the operating status information OSI has not been received, step S51 is repeatedly executed. In other words, it is in a standby state until the operating status information OSI is received.

In the next step S52, device operation status disclosure information MOP is created. That is, the disclosure device 306 creates the device operation status disclosure information MOP based on the operation status information OSI stored in the storage device 304. In the next step S53, the device operation status disclosure information MOP created in step S52 is disclosed. That is, the disclosure device 306 outputs the device operation status disclosure information MOP to the communication device 302, and the communication device 302 discloses the device operation condition disclosure information MOP on the public network 12. The published device operation status disclosure information MOP can be browsed by the fixed terminal 14 and the mobile terminal 15 shown in FIG. After execution of step S53, the process returns to step S51, and the processes of steps S51 to S53 are repeatedly executed. As a result, the device operation status public information MOP is updated.

Next, the interaction between the device 2, the terminal device 4, the host device 5, and the server device 8 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S101, a fee for using the device 2 is collected in the terminal device 4. In the next step S102, the terminal device 4 outputs the first coin signal Sc1 or the second coin signal Sc2 to the corresponding device 2. In the subsequent step S103, the terminal device 4 transmits the fee collection information CRI to the higher-level device 5.

In step S104, the device 2 to which the first coin signal Sc1 or the second coin signal Sc2 is input starts operating. On the other hand, in step S105, the host device 5 starts measuring the elapsed time Te. In step S106 in the host device 5, the host device 5 transmits the operating status information OSI to the server device 8. In step S107, the server device 8 publishes the device operating status public information MOP on the public network 12 based on the received operating status information OSI. At this point, it is made public that the device 2 is “in operation”.

In step S108, the device 2 ends the operation for a predetermined time. In step S110, almost at the same time as the operation of the device 2 ends, the time counting of the elapsed time Te in the host device 5 ends. The host device 5 that has finished the time measurement transmits the operating status information OSI to the server device 8 in step S111. In step S112, the device operating status public information MOP is published on the public network 12 based on the operating status information OSI received by the server device 8. At this point, it is disclosed that the device 2 is “down”.

As described above, in the device operation status management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, for the plurality of terminal devices 4 arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices 2, and for each of the plurality of terminal devices 4. And a higher-level device 5 capable of communication. Each of the plurality of devices 2 is operated for a predetermined time according to the paid fee. Each of the plurality of terminal devices 4 has a charge collection information output unit 258, and the charge collection information output unit 258 collects the charge amount CR when collecting the charge and the terminal identification information that can specify the terminal device 4. The charge collection information CRI including the TID is output. In the higher-level device 5 to which the charge collection information CRI has been input, the elapsed time counting unit 286 measures the elapsed time Te from the time of inputting the charge collection information CRI as the operating time of the device 2. The storage device 284 of the higher-level device 5 stores the operating conditions OC of each of the plurality of devices in association with the corresponding terminal identification information TID. The operating condition OC of the device 2 includes the charge amount CR of each of the plurality of devices 2 and the available operating time Teo of the device 2 set corresponding to the charge amount CR. The operation status determination unit 288 of the higher-level device 5 determines that the device 2 is operating from the start of the time measurement by the elapsed time measurement unit 286 until the time count Te reaches a predetermined time. At this time, the main control unit 271 of the higher-level device 5 functions as the available time specifying unit 291 and the terminal identification information TID of the charge collection information CRI and the charge amount CR, and the terminal stored in the storage device 284 of the higher-level device 5. The available time Teo stored in the storage device 284 of the higher-level device 5 is specified by comparing the identification information TID and the charge amount CR. The operating status determination unit 288 of the host device 5 determines whether the device 2 is operating with the available operating time Teo specified by the available operating time specifying unit 291 as the predetermined time. Then, the host device 5 manages the operating status of each of the plurality of devices 2 based on the determination result of the operating status determination unit 288. In other words, each of the plurality of devices 2 is operated for a predetermined time in accordance with the paid fee, and the upper level device 5 reaches the predetermined time from the point of collection of the charge in the terminal device 4 corresponding to each of the plurality of devices 2. By measuring the elapsed time Te of, the operating statuses of the plurality of devices 2 are managed. Therefore, it is not necessary to grasp the device characteristics as in the above-mentioned conventional technique. Therefore, the operating status of the device 2 can be managed easily and easily without requiring a great deal of analysis labor and time required for analyzing and grasping the device characteristics. Further, the available operating time Teo of the device 2 is specified from the operating condition OC of the device 2 stored in the storage device 284 of the higher-level device 5, and the device 2 operates with the specified available operating time Teo of the device 2 as a predetermined time. It is determined whether it is in the middle. Therefore, even when different operating conditions OC are set for the plurality of devices 2, it is possible to manage the operating status of each of the plurality of devices 2 for each operating condition OC.
(Modification)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be appropriately modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the composite device 7 having the function of the IC card issuing charge/exchange machine 6 is provided with the function of the higher-level device 5, but the higher-level device 5 can be realized by a computer. In that case, this can be realized by configuring the software so that the CPU has the functions of the elapsed time counting unit 286, the operation status determination unit 288, and the available time specifying unit 291. Further, it is of course possible that the communication between the plurality of terminal devices 4 and the host device 5 is wired communication.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used for an operation status management system and a management method of an apparatus that operates for a predetermined time according to a predetermined fee, for example, for managing the operation status of a laundry machine in a coin laundry store where the laundry machine is installed. Use is preferred.

1 Operation Status Management System 2 Equipment 3 Coin Sorting Equipment 4 Terminal Equipment 5 Host Equipment 6 IC Card Issuing Charge/Currency Exchange Machine 7 Complex Equipment 8 Server Equipment 10 Remote Management Equipment 12 Public Network 14 Fixed Terminal 15 Mobile Terminal 30 Coin Laundry Store 40 Equipment Control device 44 Drive unit 102 Housing 103 Front plate 104 Opening 106 Door 108 Display device 110 Operation button 112 Drying chamber 114 Drum 114a Opening 114b Peripheral wall 114c Rear wall 115 Rotating shaft 116 Motor 116a Output shaft 117 Blower 118 Blower motor 119 Belt 120 Heater 122 Coin insertion slot 124 Return lever 126 Coin return slot 128 Safe 130 Housing 132 Card reading/writing device 134 Display device 136 Operation button 140 Housing 141 Display device 142 Input device 143 Touch panel 146 Coin sorting device 147 Coin dispensing device 148 Coin payout outlet 150 Banknote depositing device 152 Card processing device 154 Control unit 162 Operation button 163 Selection button 163 Amount selection button 164 Coin insertion port 165 Coin return port 166 Return lever 167 Coin safe 167 Banknote insertion port 168 Banknote identification part 169 Banknote storage part 170 card entry/exit 171 card reading/writing section 172 card storage section 202 main control section 204 storage apparatus 206 drive control section 208 input/output control section 210 charge collection section 232 coin receipt signal generation section 240 terminal control apparatus 242 main control section 244 storage Unit 245 Coin signal output unit 246 Coin signal input unit 248 Display control unit 250 Input control unit 252 Read/write control unit 254 Fee collection acceptance determination unit 256 Fee calculation unit 258 Fee collection information output unit 260 Wireless communication device 271 Main control unit 272 Display control unit 273 Input control unit 274 Banknote deposit control unit 276 Card reading/writing/dispensing control unit 278 Coin deposit counting unit 280 Coin dispensing control unit 282 Wireless communication device 284 Storage device 286 Elapsed time counting unit 288 Operating status determination unit 288 Operating condition determination unit 290 Wired communication device 290 Remote management device 291 Available operating time specification unit 302 Communication device 304 Storage device 306 Public device CD IC card CN Coin CR charge amount CRI charge receipt information CV charge amount DS detection signal Dcr charge receipt information MOP Equipment operating status public information OC Operating condition OSI Operating status information Sc1 1st coin No. Sc2 Second coin signal Te Elapsed time Teo Operating time TID Terminal identification information To Operating time Tr Operating remaining time

Claims (2)

A plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of devices capable of operating for a predetermined time according to the fee paid,
A host device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of terminal devices,
Equipped with
Each of the plurality of terminal devices has a charge collection information output unit that outputs charge collection information including the charge amount collected when collecting the charge and terminal identification information that can identify the terminal device,
The higher-level device sets an elapsed time counting unit that measures an elapsed time from the time when the fee collection information is input as an operating time of the device, a charge amount in each of the plurality of devices, and the charge amount according to the charge amount. Storage device that stores the operating conditions of each of the plurality of devices including the available operating time in association with the terminal identification information, the terminal identification information and the charge amount in the fee collection information, and the terminal identification stored in the storage device An available time specifying unit that specifies the available time stored in the storage device by comparing information and a charge amount, and the available time specified by the available time specifying unit as the predetermined time An operating status determination unit that determines that the device is operating until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time,
A device operation status management system for managing the operation status of each of the plurality of devices based on the determination result of the operation status determination unit. A device operation status management method for managing the operation status of each of a plurality of devices that enables operation for a predetermined time according to the fee paid,
A process of determining whether or not the fee has been received in a plurality of terminal devices arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of devices,
When it is determined that the fee has been received by at least one of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, the fee collection information including the fee amount received by the terminal apparatus and the terminal identification information that can identify the terminal apparatus is output. The process,
When the fee collection information is input, a host device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses identifies one of the plurality of devices based on the terminal identification information of the fee collection information and collects the fee. The operating time of the specified device is specified based on the charge amount of information, the specified operating time is set to the predetermined time of the specified device, and the charge collection information is input. And the process of measuring the elapsed time from the time as the operating time of the specified device,
In the host device, a process of determining that the specified device is operating until the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time,
A device operation status management method comprising:

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