JP6792114B2 - How to manage hourly booths and hourly booths - Google Patents

Description

The present invention can be used on the premise that a small room (private room or semi-private room; hereinafter collectively referred to as "booth") partitioned by a wall portion is paid according to the length of stay. Information processing technology for the purpose of processing, and hourly rental booths such as booths for mobile phones to which the technology is applied.

Mobile phones, which appeared in the mid-1980s, became widespread due to miniaturization and multi-functionality, and now most people, regardless of age or sex, have them so that they can easily make and receive calls even when they are out. Became. However, if you try to find a place that does not bother others in public places such as hospitals and libraries, or if you try to find a place that is as quiet as possible while many people come and go, it is difficult to find such a place. Find a place that suits your purpose, especially if you are looking for a place where you can talk about important matters such as business negotiations without fear of being heard by others, or where you can make a call while taking notes or looking at documents. That is very difficult.

As a solution to the above problem, a booth for a mobile phone in which a wall portion forming a closed space or a semi-closed space is provided with sound insulation and sound absorption has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3). See.).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-43765 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-17379 Utility Model Registration No. 3171016

If these booths are installed all over the city, the problems mentioned above will be largely eliminated. However, in reality, it is only used in some public facilities and hotels, and it is not found in stations and commercial facilities where there are many potential needs. The main reason seems to be that the booth does not have a mechanism to generate profits and the cost required for production and installation cannot be recovered.

The present invention focuses on the above problems and promotes the spread of the booth by incorporating a mechanism for requesting payment of a fee according to the time of use into the booth for mobile phones, and uses the mobile phone with it. The challenge is to create an environment that is easy to use.

The second aspect of the present invention is to minimize the loss caused by not paying the fee for the paid booth in which the method of collecting the fee without human labor is introduced, and to secure the profit. Make it an issue.

The hourly rental booth according to the present invention is used for requesting payment of a fee, and has a wall portion forming a space for accepting users, a payment receiving means for accepting payment of the fee, and a user in the space. A detection means for detecting the above, a sound output means for outputting an interfering sound that hinders the use of the booth, and a control unit including a computer are provided.

In the control unit, a certain amount is set as one unit, and the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are associated and registered, and the sound output means is recognized while recognizing the operating states of the payment receiving means and the detecting means. In order to control the operation, the usage management means and the sound output control means described below are provided.

The usage management means detects that a user has entered the space in response to the payment receiving means receiving payment of one unit or more of the fee only after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space. The usable period is set from the time when the payment is made until a predetermined length of time, which varies according to the number of payment units, elapses. In addition, when the payment receiving means re-accepts the payment of one or more units during the set usage period or after the expiration of the usage period, the usage management means can use the service for the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount. To extend.

In the sound output control means, even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the payment receiving means charges one unit or more. The detection means detects the user's withdrawal even if the first condition that the payment is not accepted or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit elapses after the expiration of the available period. When the second condition that the sound is not output is satisfied, the sound output means starts to output the disturbing sound.

Further, the sound output control means is a payment receiving means before the time obtained by adding the allowable time related to the conditions established for the output to the elapsed time from the start of the output of the disturbing sound does not exceed the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. Stops the output of the disturbing sound when the user accepts a charge of one unit or more or the detection means detects the user's exit.

According to the above configuration, by paying a fee of one unit or more, the user stays in the booth until the available period set according to the number of units of the payment amount expires, and makes a call by mobile phone. Can be done. If you feel that you are running out of time while using the service, you can extend the available period by paying an additional fee.

If the user who entered the booth started using the service without paying for it, or if he / she continued to stay without paying an additional fee even after the set availability period expired, the call was made by the sound output means. An obstructive disturbing sound is output, making it difficult to make a call in the booth. When the user who is closed to the disturbing sound pays the fee, the output of the disturbing sound is stopped, the usable period is extended under the same conditions as when the fee is paid properly, and the space inside the booth is in a state where calls can be made. Return.

If the user leaves the booth without paying the interfering sound output, a loss will occur, but the first and second permissible times related to the interfering sound output conditions correspond to the charge for one unit. By making it sufficiently shorter than the time, it will be necessary to pay the fee promptly after entering the room or after the expiration of the available period, and for those who are not willing to pay the fee within the time corresponding to the fee for one unit You can evict and minimize losses. In addition, if the user leaves without paying the fee, the disturbing sound will stop immediately, so that the subsequent use of the booth will not be hindered.

The booth according to the present invention can be used free of charge until a certain length of time elapses after entering the room. If the time available free of charge is less than the length corresponding to the charge for one unit, it can be dealt with within the scope of the above configuration by including the time in the first allowable time. Further, by designing the usage management means and the sound output control means as follows, the length of the period that can be used free of charge can be freely set.

The usage management means sets a predetermined fixed length of time as the initial value of the usable period in response to the detection means detecting that the user has entered the space, and starts the usable period. Depending on whether the payment receiving means accepts payment of one or more units during the subsequent available period or after the expiration of the period, the available period is extended by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount.

The sound output control means can be used for a period of time without satisfying either the first condition that the payment receiving means accepts the payment of one unit or more and the second condition that the detecting means detects the user's withdrawal. When the allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for the unit has elapsed, the output of the disturbing sound by the sound output means is started. Then, when the first condition or the second condition is satisfied before the time obtained by adding the permissible time to the elapsed time from the start of output of the disturbing sound exceeds the time corresponding to the charge for one unit , the disturbing Stop the sound output.

According to the above configuration, the user pays the fee during the free usage period based on the initial value until the time corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount elapses after the expiration of the period. You can use the booth. Also, even if the interference sound is output after the free usage period expires because you did not pay the fee, the interference sound is stopped by paying the fee, and the usage period is treated as if you paid during the free period. Can be extended.

In the present invention, the initial charge after entering the room can be set to an amount that does not care about the number of units. In that case, the usage management means is longer than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit after the detection that the user has entered the space is detected in response to the payment receiving means receiving the payment of the above charge. The available period is set until the specified length of time elapses, and when the payment receiving means re-accepts payment of one unit or more of the fee during the set available period or after the expiration of the period, the payment amount It is designed to extend the usable period by the length corresponding to the number of units of.

The booth sound output control means according to the above design is a payment receiving means even if the first allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit elapses after the detecting means detects that the user has entered the space. The first condition that the company did not accept the payment of the amount that should be accepted for the first payment, or the second allowable time that is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit has passed after the expiration of the available period. Also starts to output the disturbing sound by the sound output means in response to the satisfaction of the second condition that the detection means did not detect the exit of the user. Then, when the disturbing sound is output in response to the satisfaction of the first condition, the time obtained by adding the first allowable time to the elapsed time from the start of the output does not exceed the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. When the payment receiving means accepts the payment of the amount to be accepted for the first payment or the detecting means detects the exit of the user, the output of the disturbing sound is stopped. On the other hand, when the disturbing sound is output in response to the satisfaction of the second condition, the time obtained by adding the second allowable time to the elapsed time from the start of the output does not exceed the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. When the payment receiving means accepts one or more units of charges or the sensor detects the exit of the user, the output of the disturbing sound is stopped.

According to the above design, when it is desired to set a relatively long usable period according to the entrance, the fee to be paid first and the length of the usable period can be freely set regardless of the number of units. In addition, the usable period of the length of multiple units can be set cheaper than the charge for the number of units corresponding to the length, and vice versa, which is more expensive than the length of the usable period set. You can also set the price. The usable period of either setting can be extended by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount according to the receipt of the payment of the additional charge for the predetermined number of units.

The present invention can be applied not only to booths for mobile phones but also to booths used for other purposes. In any booth, general sensors such as motion sensors and photoelectric sensors can be used as means for detecting users in the space, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection signal is processed. It is also possible to use a device having a function and a function of transmitting a processing result to the outside. For example, an image processing system having a photographing function, a function of detecting a human from a generated image, and a function of wirelessly transmitting a detection result to a control unit can be introduced as a user's detection means.

The means for accepting payment of charges is not limited to the money processing machine, and payment of charges by electronic money media may be accepted. For example, payment is accepted by reading information from an electronic money medium such as an IC card and withdrawing the electronic money charged in the electronic money medium, or by communicating with an external management system that supports a postpaid method. A computer system can be introduced. In addition, a plurality of types of devices such as a money processor and a reader / writer for electronic money may be introduced so that the user can select a desired payment method.

The means for outputting the disturbing sound is not limited to a simple speaker or an alarm buzzer, and a computer system having a communication function and a sound output function may be used. Also, by replacing the disturbing sound or by deteriorating the lighting environment inside the booth (dimming the lighting, blinking, etc.), the environment of the space inside the booth can be used from a good environment suitable for use. You may move to a bad environment that hinders you.

If a communication function is provided in the means for detecting the user and the means for accepting the payment, it is not always necessary to deploy the control unit in the booth, and the control unit can be provided in a place away from the booth. In that case, one computer system can function as a control unit for a plurality of booths.

In the present invention, it is desirable to keep the booth quiet in response to payment of the fee, but it is also necessary to inform the user of the remaining time when the booth can be used. In order to solve this problem, it is desirable to install a display unit that displays the remaining time of the usable period and a notification lamp that notifies that the remaining time is running low at an appropriate place in the booth.

According to the present invention, it is possible to manage a booth for a pay mobile phone, which provides a quiet and calm environment for making a call, without having a staff member permanently stationed. This makes it possible to set the usage fee to a reasonable amount and encourage the use of many people, spread the booth as a business that can secure sufficient profits, and solve the problem of people who have trouble finding a place to call. can do.

Further, in the present invention, since the usage fee is collected without human labor, there is a possibility that a person who tries to use the booth without paying the fee may come in, but the environment inside the booth is quickly adversely affected by unauthorized use. By shifting to, it is possible to make it difficult to use the booth, to give up and pay the fee even for those who are not willing to pay the fee, or to leave within the time corresponding to the fee for one unit. Therefore, the loss due to unauthorized use can be minimized, and the profit from the operation of the hourly rental booth can be secured.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the booth for the mobile phone to which this invention was applied. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical composition of a booth. It is a time chart which showed the relationship between the staying time of the user in the booth of 1st Example, and the available period for each case. It is a time chart (with output of disturbing sound) showing the relationship between the user's staying time and the usable period in the booth of the first embodiment for each case. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display in the booth of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display in the booth of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of management in a normal mode of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of management in warning mode of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of time management of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the guidance display of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display at the time of accepting the payment of the charge by the method of withdrawing the point charged in the prepaid type IC card. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display at the time of accepting the payment of the charge for one unit by touch operation of an IC card. It is a time chart which showed the relationship between the staying time of the user in the booth of the 2nd Example, and the available period for each case. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display in the booth of the 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of management in a normal mode of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of management in a normal mode of 2nd Example (the thing which continues to FIG. 14-1). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of management in a warning mode of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of time / charge management of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the guidance display of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure which became the main body of the booth of 3rd Example, and the function which is set in the user terminal by an application program in relation with each other. It is explanatory drawing which showed the transition example of the screen display in the booth of the 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of common management of 3rd Example. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the process which is executed in a booth and a user terminal for authentication of a user terminal in association with 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of charge management of 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point utilization management of 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point utilization management of 3rd Example (the thing which continues to FIG. 22-1). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point-related guidance display of 3rd Example. It is a time chart showing the relationship between the user's staying time and the available period in a booth that does not have a free period for each case. It is a time chart which shows the relationship between the staying time of a user and the available period in another example of a booth which does not have a free period for each case.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the internal configuration of the booth 1 for a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows the electrical configuration of the booth. This booth 1 is installed in places where many people come and go, such as in train stations, commercial facilities, and entrances to office buildings. It is surrounded on all sides by sound-insulating and sound-absorbing walls, and has ceiling and front doors. The main body is a box having (not shown).

A workbench 10 is provided in the internal space of the booth 1, and a tablet-type communication terminal device 2 (hereinafter, abbreviated as "tablet terminal 2") is provided on the top plate together with equipment such as a currency processor 4 and a charger 9. And the signal processing device 3 are deployed. Further, a motion sensor 5 and a photoelectric sensor 6, an alarm buzzer 7, a lighting lamp 8 and the like for detecting a user are provided inside the main body of the booth 1, and sound output to the outside is provided on the outside of the main body. The speaker 11 (hereinafter referred to as “external speaker 11”), the alarm lamp 12 and the like are provided (see FIG. 2). The equipment deployed on the workbench 10 is fixed so that it cannot be easily removed.

The tablet terminal 2 is a general-purpose communication terminal device having a configuration in which a control unit 20 including a computer, a speaker 22, a wireless communication circuit 23, and the like are incorporated in a housing in which a touch panel 21 is provided on the front surface (FIG. 2). See.). By installing a dedicated program in the control unit 20 of the tablet terminal 2, the user can perform signal processing on the control unit 20 for various electronic devices deployed in the booth 1 in cooperation with the signal processing device 3. It will be provided with functions to determine entry / exit of the room, accept payment of fees, set and manage the usable period, and take measures against unauthorized use.

The control unit 20 is not limited to the tablet terminal 2, and can be the control unit 20 regardless of the type as long as it is a computer in which a program necessary for performing the processing described later is incorporated. In this case, a display device serving as a display unit (preferably a touch panel that also functions as an operation unit) is connected to the control unit 20.

The wireless communication circuit 23 functions as a communication means when the control unit 20 communicates with the communication terminal of the booth manager, the management server, and the like, and the touch panel 21 functions as a display unit and an operation unit. The speaker 22 functions together with the alarm buzzer 7 as a means for outputting disturbing sounds, which will be described later. In order to clarify the distinction from the external speaker 11, the speaker 22 in the tablet terminal 2 is referred to as an "internal speaker 22" in FIG. 2 and the following description. However, the speaker for outputting the disturbing sound is not limited to the one equipped in the tablet terminal 2, and a dedicated speaker is provided in a suitable place in the booth 1, and this speaker is connected to the tablet terminal 2 via the signal processing device 3. You may connect to.

The signal processing device 3 includes a circuit for communication with the control unit 20 (USB interface or wireless circuit; not shown), an input / output port 30 for connecting an electronic device not included in the tablet terminal 2, and a power supply. A circuit 32, a plurality of switch units 31 connected to the power supply circuit 32, and an AD conversion or DA conversion circuit (not shown) for each electronic device are provided. In this embodiment, among the devices connected to the signal processing device 3, the alarm buzzer 7, the lighting lamp 8, the charger 9, and the alarm lamp 12 are connected to the power supply circuit 32 via individual switch units 31. At the same time, each switch unit 31 is connected to the input / output port 30. Other devices receive power directly from the power supply circuit 32 without going through the switch unit 31, and are also connected to the input / output port 30.

As the charger 9, a charger for smartphones, which has become mainstream as a mobile phone, will be introduced. However, for example, on the premise that the user's own charger or power cable is used, a power outlet for AC100V may be connected to the switch unit 31 instead of the charger 9.

The money processor 4 accepts the input of money in an amount divisible by one unit, with a certain amount as one unit (hereinafter, this input act is referred to as "payment". The money processor 4 has a change payout function. It may be set.), And a deposit signal representing the deposit amount is output to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 determines the entry and exit of a person into the booth 1 based on the input signals from the motion sensor 5 and the photoelectric sensor 6, and while the user is being detected by the motion sensor 5 while continuing to be detected. Depending on the receipt of the above deposit signal, the usable period is set based on the deposit amount indicated by the signal. Until the expiration of this usable period, the inside of booth 1 is maintained in a quiet state (a state in which almost no sound is output from the speakers 22 and 11 inside and outside the room except for the guidance message immediately after entering the room), and the lighting lamp. Power is supplied to 8 and the charger 9.

When the user during the stay makes a deposit again, the money processor 4 that receives the deposit also outputs a deposit signal to the control unit 20 again. The control unit 20 that receives the deposit signal extends the usable period by a length corresponding to the number of units calculated from the deposit amount indicated by the signal.

On the other hand, if the payment signal is not input even after a predetermined allowable time has elapsed from the time when the detection of the user is started or the time when the usable period expires, the control unit 20 makes a disturbing sound that hinders the call. Starts the process of outputting. The initial disturbing sound is a voice message prompting the user to deposit or leave the room from the internal speaker 22, and the volume is gradually increased until the reception of the deposit signal or the exit of the user is detected. When the volume of the voice message reaches the maximum level, the control unit 20 closes the switch unit 31 of the alarm buzzer 7 to operate the alarm buzzer 7, and opens and closes the switch unit 31 of the lighting lamp 8 at fine intervals. The lighting lamp 8 is blinked. Further, if payment or leaving the room of the user is not detected even after the time corresponding to one unit, an alarm sound is output from the external speaker 11 and the alarm lamp 12 is turned on or blinks.

The booth 1 may be provided with a reader / writer 13 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 2) for an IC card, which is an electronic money medium, as a means for accepting payment of usage fees. It is sufficient to install either the money processor 4 or the reader / writer 13 in the booth 1, but it is also possible to install both and let the user choose which one to use.

Like other electronic devices, the reader / writer 13 is also connected to the tablet terminal 2 via the signal processing device 3 and executes reading of information from the IC card and rewriting of information in response to a command from the control unit 20. , The result of the process is notified to the control unit 20. When the reader / writer 13 is deployed, a program for electronic money payment is installed in the control unit 20 together with a program for booth management. The control unit 20 activates a payment program in response to the insertion of the IC card into the reader / writer 13, and while appropriately communicating with an external electronic money management system according to the program, the information read from the IC card. Executes collation and settlement processing of usage charges. However, the configuration for accepting payment by electronic money is not limited to the above, and when a dedicated processing device with a reader / writer and a payment program installed is introduced and payment is accepted by this processing device, the received amount The payment signal indicating the above may be transmitted to the control unit 20.

With the above configuration and control, it is possible to manage the booth 1 by allowing the use only for the length of time according to the deposit amount, without having a staff member permanently stationed, and the booth 1 can be operated without paying a fee. It is also possible to leave the unauthorized user who uses the room at an early stage. However, paying the fee on time while staying at booth 1 is not always a mandatory condition of use, and a slight extraordinary stay may be allowed or a period of free use may be provided.

Hereinafter, three examples will be described of a method of accepting users in the booth 1 having the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and managing the booth so that the booth can be used properly. In these examples, from the viewpoint of promoting the use of booth 1 and contributing to society, booth 1 can be used free of charge until a certain time has passed since entering the room. Hereinafter, the period during which booth 1 can be used free of charge is referred to as a "free period".

<First Example>
The booth 1 of the first embodiment is of a type in which a fee is paid by a method of inserting cash into a money processing machine 4. First, the main parameters used for the control of the first embodiment are defined as follows.

m: Amount of charge for one unit (100 yen in a specific example)
T0: Available time corresponding to the charge for one unit (10 minutes in a specific example)
Ts: Length of free period (hereinafter referred to as "free time". In a specific example, it is 5 minutes.)
RT: Remaining time of the available period (hereinafter, often simply referred to as "remaining time")
NGT: Allowable time that is a condition for the output of disturbing sound (30 seconds in a specific example)
The value of each parameter is not limited to a specific example, and can be freely determined by the manager of the booth 1.

3 and 4 assume some examples of use for booth 1 with the above settings, and the period during which the user stayed at booth 1 (indicated by a bar extending to the right of the page) and the usable period. The relationship with is shown for each case.

FIG. 3A corresponds to a case where a free period of 5 minutes is set according to the detection of entry and the room is used only within that period. In Fig. 3 (b), the charge (100 yen) for one unit is deposited during the free period, and the available period (15 minutes) of the length (15 minutes) obtained by adding the time T0 for one unit to the free time Ts is set. Corresponds to the case. FIG. 3C shows the usable period according to the fact that 100 yen is deposited again before the expiration of the usable period after the 15-minute usable period is set as in the case of FIG. 3 (b). Corresponds to the case where is extended by one unit (10 minutes). In all of the examples (a), (b), and (c), the user keeps the specified usable period, so that the user can make a call with confidence in the booth 1 in a quiet state. can do.

FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) correspond to a case where the user continues to stay in booth 1 without making a deposit even after the expiration of the free period. In all cases, from the expiration of the free period. The output of the disturbing sound is started according to the elapse of the permissible time NGT (30 seconds). In the example of FIG. 4A, the user leaves the room in response to the disturbing sound, and the disturbing sound is stopped accordingly. In the example of FIG. 4 (B), the user makes a deposit after the output of the disturbing sound, and the disturbing sound stops accordingly, and as in the example of FIG. 3 (b), the starting point is 15 when entering the room. The available period for minutes is set.

FIGS. 4 (C) and 4 (D) correspond to a case in which the user did not leave the room even after the usable period of 15 minutes was set by depositing 100 yen and the period expired. Also in these cases, the output of the disturbing sound is started according to the elapse of the allowable time NGT (30 seconds) from the expiration of the usable period. In the example of FIG. 4C, the disturbing sound is stopped when the user leaves the room. In the example of FIG. 4D, the disturbing sound is stopped when the user deposits 100 yen again after the jamming sound is output, and the usable period is one unit (10 minutes) retroactive to the time of the previous expiration. Has been extended.

FIG. 5 (FIGS. 5-1 and 5-2) shows an example of the transition of the guidance screen displayed on the touch panel 21 when the user enters the booth 1 in which the above settings are made.
The screen of FIG. 5 (1) is an initial guidance screen displayed in response to the detection of the user entering the room. Along with this initial guidance screen, a voice guidance that informs the same content as the guidance screen is output from the internal speaker, and the timekeeping process is started almost at the same time as the end of the voice output. In response to the start of the timekeeping process, the display of the touch panel 21 is also switched to the screen having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 (2), and the display of the remaining time RT is started.

In this embodiment, the value of the remaining time RT is updated in units of 5 seconds, and the update is reflected on the guidance screen (FIG. 5 (3)). When a deposit is detected, the time for the number of units calculated from the deposit amount is added to the remaining time RT, and the RT value is updated (FIG. 5 (4)). Regardless of whether the deposit has been made or not, until 5 minutes of the free time has passed, "The free period is in progress." Is displayed on the guidance screen, and after 5 minutes have passed, "The free period is in progress." You can switch from "." To "during the paid period."

If payment is not detected even if the value of the remaining time RT reaches 1 minute, the display column of the remaining time RT on the guidance screen changes to a conspicuous color (for example, yellow) as shown in FIG. 5 (5). At the same time, a message asking you to pay the fee is displayed. The display at this stage is hereinafter referred to as "caution display". When the user completes the payment according to the caution display, the guidance screen returns to the normal display, and the remaining time RT is updated to the value obtained by adding the time for the number of units calculated from the deposit amount (Fig. 5 (Fig. 5). 6)).

As in the examples (A) to (D) of FIG. 4, when the available period expires and the remaining time RT becomes 0, neither deposit nor leaving the room can be detected, the display on the touch panel 21 leaves the room. The screen (FIG. 5 (7)) including the message requesting is switched to. The display at this stage is hereinafter referred to as "warning display". On the warning display screen after the expiration of the available period, the remaining time RT is displayed as a negative value, and when the value reaches -NGT (-30 seconds), the output of the disturbing sound is started (Fig. 5 (8). )). However, if a deposit is detected even after the warning is displayed or after the disturbing sound is output, the remaining time RT is updated to a value with the length corresponding to the deposit amount added, and the updated RT is positive. The screen returns to the normal display according to the value (Fig. 5 (9)). Even if the user leaves the room without paying the fee, the remaining time RT and the display screen are reset according to the stop of the disturbing sound, and the next user is detected again in FIG. 5 (1). The initial guidance screen of is displayed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, regardless of the timing of deposit, the length of time corresponding to the number of units of the deposit amount, starting from the time when entry is detected, plus the free time Ts. The usable period is until ((deposit amount ÷ m) × T0 + Ts) elapses. If an additional deposit is detected after the deposit is completed, the available period set by the first deposit is extended by the number of units (deposit amount ÷ m) corresponding to the additional deposit amount. For additional deposits after the expiration of the available period, the available period will be extended by the same treatment as for additional deposits before the expiration, going back to the time of expiration.

Even if the available period expires and the disturbing sound is output, the disturbing sound can be stopped by making a deposit and the usable period can be extended retroactively to the time of expiration. In this embodiment, in consideration of the case where the user inadvertently delays the payment timing, a warning sound is first displayed instead of outputting a disturbing sound immediately after the expiration of the available period (FIG. 5 (7)). Refer to), and the disturbing sound is output after the permissible period NGT (30 seconds) has elapsed, and the volume of the disturbing sound immediately after the start of output is suppressed.

For malicious users who use booth 1 without the intention of making a deposit, we set up an environment in which calls by mobile phones are not possible by increasing the volume of the output from the internal speaker 22, and users other than calls. Even when the booth 1 is used for the purpose of the above, it is possible to encourage early leaving the room by making the work difficult by operating the alarm buzzer 7 and blinking the lighting lamp 8. In this embodiment, the unauthorized user who is still present is informed of the unauthorized use by outputting a warning sound from the external speaker 11 and lighting / blinking the alarm lamp 12, and further informs the supervisor. Take action according to the method of reporting.

6 to 9 are flowcharts showing the main processing procedures performed by the control unit 20 of the tablet terminal 2. The process for operation management of booth 1 is divided into normal mode management in FIG. 6 and warning mode management in FIG. 7, and the control unit 20 switches these according to the situation and parallels them. The time management shown in 8 and the guidance display shown in FIG. 9 are advanced.

Each step of the normal mode management in FIG. 6 is coded by a combination of N and a number, and each step of the warning mode management in FIG. 7 is coded by a combination of E and a number. Each step of management is coded by a combination of C and a number, and each step of the guidance display in FIG. 9 is coded by a combination of D and a number. Hereinafter, the main processing flow will be described with reference to the figure numbers and step codes, with appropriate cases.

Until the user's entry is detected by the input signals from the motion sensor 5 and the photoelectric sensor 6, the entry detection process of step N1 of the normal mode management in FIG. 6 is only repeated. When the entry is detected and step N1 becomes "YES", the control unit 20 saves the time when the entry is detected in the memory (step N2), and displays the initial guidance screen shown in FIG. 5 (1) on the touch panel 21. A voice message having the same content as the guidance on this screen is output from the internal speaker 22 (step N3). Then, the initial value Ts (5 minutes of the length of the free period) is set in the remaining time RT (step N4), and each module of time management and guidance display is started (step N5).

In the time management module (FIG. 8), the process of subtracting 5 seconds from the remaining time RT is repeated every time 5 seconds elapse based on the internal clock provided in the tablet terminal 2 (steps C1 and C2). In the guidance display module (Fig. 9), it is checked whether the remaining time RT is 1 minute or less in the first step D1, but the remaining time RT immediately after the start of this module is larger than 1 minute (about). Since 5 minutes), step D1 becomes “NO” and proceeds to step D3 via step D2, and a normal guidance display (see FIGS. 5 (2) and (3)) indicating the remaining time RT is performed.

While the above time management and guidance display are being performed, in the normal mode management of FIG. 6, a loop of input of a deposit signal, detection of leaving the room, refund operation, and determination processing regarding the remaining time RT (step N6 → N7 → N8) → N9 → N6) is repeated. When the deposit signal from the money processor 4 is detected at a predetermined time, step N6 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step N10, and the control unit 20 determines the number of units calculated from the deposit amount indicated by the deposit signal. The remaining time RT is updated by multiplying (deposit amount ÷ m) by the time length T0 (15 minutes in a specific example) for one unit and then adding the multiplied value to the current value of RT. If the deposit is made while the remaining time RT is greater than 1 minute, the procedure of the guidance display in FIG. 9 does not change, and steps D1 → D2 → D3 are repeated, but step N10 accompanies the deposit. Is executed and the remaining time RT increases, the increase is reflected in the display of the remaining time RT on the guidance screen (changes from (3) to (4) in FIG. 5).

If the user's exit from the room is detected by the signals from the motion sensor 5 and the photoelectric sensor 6 before the remaining time RT reaches −NGT, step N7 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to step N11, and the control unit 20 , The remaining time RT is compared with the time T0 for one unit. When the remaining time RT is less than one unit (step N11 is “NO”), the control unit 20 proceeds from step N11 to step N15 to reset RT to zero, and in the following step N16, time management and guidance display are displayed. The module is terminated and the external speaker 11 outputs a thank-you message to the user. Further, the control unit 20 saves the entry / exit detection time, staying time, deposit amount, etc. in the storage area of the history information of the memory (step N17), and returns to the first step N1.

When the user deposits a plurality of units, the requirement may end with the remaining time RT being one unit or more, and a refund operation may be performed on the money processing machine 4. For this refund operation, steps N8 and N18 become "YES" and the process proceeds to step N19, and the unit of money corresponding to the remaining time RT is paid out from the money processor 4, and the loop of steps N6 to N9 is entered. Return. After that, normally, leaving the room is detected and step N7 becomes “YES”, and the above-mentioned steps N11 → N15 → N16 → N17 are executed.

If the user forgets the refund operation and leaves the room even though there is one unit or more of the remaining time RT, step N7 and step N11 become "YES" and proceed to step N12, and the control unit 20 is operated from the external speaker 11. A voice message indicating "there is a balance" is output, and the patient waits for re-entry until one minute has passed (steps N13 and N14). When the user who notices the voice returns to booth 1 and performs a refund operation, the process according to the above-mentioned steps N8 → N18 → N19 proceeds after step N13 becomes “YES”, and the refund process is performed. Will be done.

If entry is not detected even after 1 minute has passed from the voice output of "with balance", step N13 is "NO" and step N14 is "YES", and the control unit 20 sets the next user. In order to accept, the process proceeds to step N15, the remaining time RT is reset to zero, and steps N16 and N17 are further executed to return to step N1. In this case, the fee will be excessively collected, but if the administrator of booth 1 is requested to refund later, it can be dealt with by collating with the history information saved in step N17. .. In this embodiment, the time to wait for re-entry is set to 1 minute, but when the influence on new users is emphasized, it may be a short time of, for example, about 5 to 10 seconds.

The management in the normal mode of FIG. 6 can be continued until the remaining time RT reaches −NGT (-30 seconds), but in the guidance display of FIG. 9, when the remaining time RT reaches 1 minute, steps D1 → D5 → The process proceeds in the procedure of D7 → D8, and the screen of the touch panel 21 is switched to the caution display (see FIG. 5 (5)). Further, when the remaining time RT becomes 0, the process proceeds in the procedure of steps D1 → D5 → D6 → D9, and the screen is switched from the caution display to the warning display (see FIG. 5 (7)).

When the payment is made after the caution display or the warning display, and the management step N10 in the normal mode is executed accordingly and the remaining time RT exceeds 1 minute, step D1 is "NO" in the guidance display of FIG. When D2 becomes "YES", the process proceeds to step D4, and the caution display or the warning display is canceled. After that, by proceeding to step D3, the normal guidance display is restored, and the RT value updated by the deposit is displayed.

When the remaining time RT becomes -NGT or less without detecting deposit or leaving the room, step N9 of the normal mode management becomes "YES", and the process shifts to the warning mode management of FIG. 7, and in the first step E1. The control unit 20 starts a process of outputting a disturbing sound due to a voice message from the internal speaker 22.

After that, the control unit 20 repeats the output of the voice message while increasing the voice volume step by step (steps E3 → E4 → E5) until the remaining time reaches −T0 (-10 minutes in the specific example), and repeats this process. When the number of times reaches a predetermined maximum value, the alarm buzzer 7 is activated (steps E3 → E6 → E7).

Each time the control unit 20 executes step E3 → E4 → E5 or step E3 → E6 → E7 for one cycle, the control unit 20 checks the detection of deposit and exit and the remaining time RT (steps E8, E9, E2). When the payment is detected, step E8 becomes "YES", and the control unit 20 stops the disturbing sound in step E10 and then returns to the normal mode management. Immediately after this return, step N10 is executed and the remaining time RT is updated. Also in the guidance display of FIG. 9, the procedure of steps D1 → D2 → D4 → D3 is executed according to the update of the remaining time RT due to the detection of payment, the warning display is canceled, and the normal guidance display is restored. Then, the remaining time RT updated in step N10 is displayed (change from the screen of FIG. 5 (8) to the screen of FIG. 5 (9)).

If the user's exit from the room is detected without the payment being detected after the output of the disturbing sound, step E9 of the management during the warning mode is “YES”. In response to this, the control unit 20 resets the remaining time RT to zero (step E11), stops the disturbing sound (step E12), ends each module of time management and guidance display (step E13), and saves the history information (step E13). E14) is executed in order, and then the process returns to step N1 in the normal mode. Through this series of processes, after the unauthorized user leaves the room, the next user can be immediately accepted.

If neither deposit nor leaving the room is detected even if the remaining time RT reaches -T0 (excessive stay for one unit), the control unit 20 proceeds from step E2 to step E15, and from the external speaker 11. Start outputting the warning sound. Further, the control unit 20 proceeds to step E16 to notify the administrator that unauthorized use has been performed by a method such as sending an e-mail to the administrator registered in the memory, and then an error mode. Move to.

Although the error mode is not shown, the time management and guidance display modules are also stopped, the guidance screen is set to the frozen state, and the internal and external speakers 22, 11 and the alarm buzzer 7 continue to sound. As a result, the attention of the people around the booth 1 is directed to the booth 1, so that if the unauthorized user has an ordinary nerve, there is a high possibility that the unauthorized user will leave the booth 1. Even after leaving the room, it is noisy and you can not talk until the error mode is canceled, so it seems that well-meaning people who want to use booth 1 will give up entering the room, but just in case, until the error mode is canceled The money processing machine 4 is set to a state in which payment is not accepted (even if money is inserted, it is returned).

Upon receiving the report, the manager's staff arrives at booth 1 to check the situation, and if no abnormality is found inside booth 1, the error mode is canceled. As a result, the control unit 20 returns to the initial state in which step N1 of the normal mode management (FIG. 6) is repeated, and can accept the user again.

By the way, according to the procedures of FIGS. 6 and 7, the remaining time RT is reset to zero according to the detection of the user leaving the room (steps N15 and E11), and according to the subsequent entry detection (step N1). It will be available again from the free period. Also, even if the remaining time RT becomes negative, if you leave the room before the value reaches -NGT, you can avoid the output of disturbing sound, so the act of leaving the room once after the expiration of the free period and re-entering the room immediately There is a possibility that some people will try to repeat. Even a person who has made a certain amount of deposit may attempt to reuse the free period by re-entering the room immediately after leaving the room due to the expiration of the available period.

However, in this embodiment, when leaving the room is detected before the output of the disturbing sound, a thank-you message is always output from the external speaker 11 (step N16 in FIG. 6), which is a check against these actions. Booth 1 is set up in a place where many people come and go, so by outputting a thank-you message at a volume that can be heard by the people around you, it is possible to make it psychologically difficult to re-enter the room for repeated use during the free period. it can. Although omitted in the flowchart, even for users who left the room without making a payment after the warning was displayed, the message "Please refrain from re-entering the room" is output when the room is detected, and the alarm lamp 12 blinks for a certain period of time. By making it possible, it is possible to attract the attention of the surrounding people and make it difficult to re-enter the room.

Of course, it seems that there are people who ignore these checks and repeat fraudulent use without hesitation, so use only during the free period or leave the room when the remaining time RT becomes close to 0 or negative value. If the number of consecutive times exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is desirable to notify the manager and the manager who receives the report goes to the site to check the situation.

<Modified example (1) of the first embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the usage fee for booth 1 was paid in cash, but as a modified example, the fee can be paid using a prepaid IC card in which numerical data corresponding to the monetary value is stored. You can also do it. Hereinafter, the modified embodiment will be briefly described by expressing this numerical data as "points" and storing the points as "charge". In the following description including this embodiment, it is assumed that one point has a monetary value (100 yen) for one unit.

The points are charged outside the booth 1 by a method specified by the IC card administrator (payment with a dedicated charging machine, credit card payment, etc.). The booth 1 has a reader / writer 13 (see FIG. 2) that accepts IC cards and is of a type that can hold the IC card until the booth 1 is used up, for example, a card insertion slot and a card transport mechanism that communicates with the card insertion slot. The reader / writer 13 is provided so as to have an IC card inserted through the card insertion slot and take in the IC card inside to perform reception processing.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a transition of the screen of the touch panel 21 when a prepaid IC card is accepted. The normal guidance screen has the same configuration as that of FIG. 5 (FIG. 10 (1)), but when the IC card is inserted into the reader / writer 13 and the points charged in the IC card are read, the number of points to be withdrawn from the IC card is increased. The display is switched to the operation screen (FIG. 10 (2)) that accepts the input. When the user completes the input of the number of points on this screen, the control unit 20 causes the reader / writer 13 to perform a process of rewriting the number of points in the IC card to the deducted value, and the points are deducted. Set the usable period according to the number of points. When this setting is completed, the screen of the touch panel 21 returns to the normal guidance screen again, and the remaining time RT is also updated to a value to which the time length corresponding to the withdrawn point is added (FIG. 10 (3)). ). The IC card taken into the reader / writer 13 is ejected when the points are withdrawn. If you want to extend the usable period, you can withdraw points in the same way as above by inserting the IC card into the reader / writer 13 again.

Although FIG. 10 shows an example of accepting an IC card during the free period, the IC card can be accepted even after the expiration of the free period, as in the case of cash. Further, the medium for storing points is not limited to an IC card, and a mobile communication terminal in which an IC chip serving as an electronic money medium is embedded may be used. Alternatively, a prepaid card in which points are written as magnetic information may be used, and a reader / writer for the magnetic card may be deployed in the booth 1. In addition, in any storage medium, the amount data itself is charged, and when one or more units of money are withdrawn from it, the time corresponding to the withdrawn amount is added to the remaining time RT. It may be.

Not limited to the prepaid type, it is also possible to accept a postpaid type IC card, have the user input the deposit amount, and set the usable period according to the deposit amount after completing the payment process according to the input.

<Modified example (2) of the first embodiment>
In this modification (2), a reader / writer 13 of a type that reads and writes information by receiving a touch by an IC card is used, and the fee is paid for each unit by a method of paying the fee for one unit with one touch. (After entering the room, the charge for one unit will be deducted, and the usable period will be extended one unit at a time). The IC card may be either a prepaid type or a postpaid type, but it is preferable that any type can be used.

FIG. 11 shows an example of transition of the guidance screen when the payment processing of electronic money corresponding to one unit is executed each time the IC card is touched. In this embodiment, the initial guidance screen shown in FIG. 11 (1) and the voice message output at the same time indicate that a touch operation of the IC card is required when the IC card is used beyond the free period. To. The same notification is made on the display screen of the remaining time after that (FIGS. 11 (2) and (3)).

The control unit 20 receives a touch operation of the IC card by the reader / writer 13 and reads the information of the card, so that the control unit 20 performs payment processing according to the type of the card (in the case of the prepaid type, from the charged electronic money Withdraw the amount for one unit, and if it is a post-pay type, notify the card management system of the usage amount for one unit and check the response from the management system.) When the settlement is completed, the control unit 20 changes the remaining time RT of the usable period to a value obtained by adding 10 minutes to the current value, and updates the display of the guidance screen according to the change.

For example, if the payment is accepted by touching the IC card during the free period, the guidance screen changes from FIG. 11 (3) to FIG. 11 (4) according to the remaining time RT addition process. , The available period will be extended. Even when the guidance screen is switched to the warning display due to a timeout (RT <0) (FIGS. 11 (5) and (6)), if the payment is accepted by touching the IC card, the remaining time RT Is added, RT returns to a positive value, the warning display is eliminated, and the normal guidance screen is restored in the flow as shown in FIGS. 11 (6) → (7).

Except for accepting payment by electronic money instead of cash, even in scenes other than the case shown in FIG. 11, such as the stage of caution display before warning display and when the output of disturbing sound is started in addition to warning display. , Control by the same algorithm as in the first embodiment is performed. Therefore, the user can use the booth for the unit of time corresponding to the paid fee even after the free period ends, regardless of the payment timing.

<Second Example>
The booth 1 of the second embodiment is intended to accept payment of charges for post-pay type IC cards by a method different from the above-described modified examples (1) and (2). In this embodiment, a card reader 13 of a type that can hold the IC card until the use of the booth 1 is finished is used, the booth 1 can be used by accepting the IC card from the user, and the IC card is returned. Depending on what is said, the fee will be settled according to the time spent in the booth.

The basic usage conditions are the same as those in the first embodiment.
The parameters for managing this usage are defined as follows.
m: Amount of charge for one unit (100 yen in a specific example)
T0: Available time corresponding to the charge for one unit (10 minutes in a specific example)
Ts: Free time (length of free period. In a specific example, it is 5 minutes.)
T: Length of time the user stays in booth 1 (hereinafter referred to as "staying time") FT: Remaining time of the free period or available period determined by settlement (hereinafter simply referred to as "remaining time"). )
VL: Usage fee (renewed every time the free period or one unit of time elapses)
NGT: Allowable time that is a condition for the output of disturbing sound (30 seconds in a specific example)

Also in the second embodiment, first, a time chart of a typical case will be shown and described.
FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) correspond to a case where the IC card is accepted during the 5-minute free period, so that the booth 1 can be used continuously even after the free period ends. In the example of FIG. 12A, the charge for one unit (100 yen) is settled because the return operation is performed before the elapsed time from entering the room reaches 15 minutes. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 12B, since the return operation was performed after the elapsed time from entering the room exceeded 15 minutes, the charge for 2 units (200 yen) was settled. In both (a) and (b), the user has the right to stay in booth 1 until the time corresponding to the settled charge elapses after the settlement.

In FIG. 12 (c), since the IC card was not inserted into the card reader / writer 13 even after the expiration of the free period, the output of the disturbing sound was started according to the elapse of the allowable time NGT (30 seconds). This corresponds to the case where the IC card is inserted after that. When the acceptance of the IC card is completed, the disturbing sound is stopped and the user is allowed to use the booth 1. After that, as in the example of FIGS. 12A and 12B, the charge settlement process is performed according to the IC card return operation.

In the example of FIGS. 12 (d) and 12 (e), the IC card was accepted and the charge was settled at the same timing as in FIG. 12 (a), but the usable period (15 minutes) determined by the charge settlement was set. Since the user did not leave the room even after the expiration date, a disturbing sound was output. In the example of FIG. 12D, the disturbing sound is stopped because the user leaves the room in response to the output of the disturbing sound. In the example of FIG. 12 (e), the user inserts the card again after the disturbance sound is output, the jamming sound is stopped when the card is accepted, and the card can be used retroactively to the time when the previous usable period expires. Extension of the period is allowed.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the transition of the guidance screen displayed on the touch panel 21 of the second embodiment. On the screen of this embodiment, the elapsed time from the time when the user's entry into the booth 1 is detected is displayed as the staying time T, and a message having different contents is displayed depending on the situation.

FIG. 13 (1) is a guidance screen displayed during the free period immediately after entering the room. FIG. 13 (2) is a caution display screen that starts one minute before the expiration of the free period, and displays a message including notification of the remaining time FT of the free period. FIG. 13 (3) is a warning display screen displayed when the IC card is not accepted even after the free period has expired, and a message prompting the user to insert or leave the room is displayed. ..

When the IC card is inserted into the reader / writer 13 under the display of any of the screens (1), (2) and (3) above and the reception is completed, the screen displays the end button 29 as shown in FIG. 13 (4). It can be switched to the one with the included configuration. When the end button 29 is operated, the charge is settled accordingly, and the screen is switched to a display (FIG. 13 (5)) that informs the remaining time FT until the usable period confirmed by the settlement expires. Be done.

FIG. 13 (6) is a caution display screen that starts when the remaining time FT after settlement reaches 1 minute, and FIG. 13 (7) shows the screen according to the remaining time FT becoming 0. This is a warning display screen that can be switched from the caution display.

The control unit 20 of the second embodiment switches between the normal mode management shown in FIG. 14 (FIGS. 14-1 and 14-2) and the warning mode management shown in FIG. 15 according to the situation. , In parallel with the progress, the time / charge management module shown in FIG. 16 and the guidance display module shown in FIG. 17 are executed. Hereinafter, the main processing flow in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the figure number and the step code of each figure.

Until the user enters booth 1, the first step N21 of the normal mode management in FIG. 14 is repeated. When the entry is detected and step N21 becomes "YES", the control unit 20 saves the entry time (step N22), and performs the same initial guidance screen (see FIG. 5 (1)) and voice as in the first embodiment. (Step N23) is executed. Next, the control unit 20 sets the free time Ts (5 minutes in the specific example) to the remaining time FT (step N24), and starts the time / charge management of FIG. 16 and the guidance display of FIG. 17 (step N25).

In the time / charge management of FIG. 16, in the first step C11, the initial value 0 is set in the stay time T and the usage charge VL, and a flag indicating that the free period has expired (hereinafter, “free used flag””. Is set to off (ie, during the free period). After that, every time 5 seconds elapse, the process of adding 5 seconds to the staying time T and the process of subtracting 5 seconds from the remaining time FT are repeated until the remaining time FT becomes 0 (steps C12 to C16). .. When the remaining time FT becomes 0 (step C16 is "YES"), the free used flag is set to on (step C17), and the charge m for one unit is set in the usage charge VL (step C18). ..

In the time / charge management after the free used flag is on, that is, after the free period ends, the process proceeds in the order of steps C12 → C13 → C14 → C19 → C21 every 5 seconds. After that, until the acceptance of the card is not completed, the process proceeds from step C21 to step C25, the remaining time FT is subtracted, and then the process returns to step C12. As a result, the remaining time FT is updated to a negative value. After the acceptance of the card is completed, step C21 becomes "YES" and step C22 becomes "NO" until the settlement process is performed, and the process returns to step C12. Furthermore, each time the staying time (T-Ts) after the end of the free period becomes a multiple of T0 in these series of processes, step C20 is executed before proceeding from step C19 to C21, and the value for one unit in the charge VL. m is added.

In the guidance display module of FIG. 17, while the free used flag is off and the card acceptance is not completed, the process related to the procedure of steps D11 → D12 → D13 → D14 until the remaining time FT becomes 1 minute. Is repeated, and the guidance screen during the free period (see FIG. 13 (1)) is displayed. When the remaining time FT of the free period reaches 1 minute without accepting the card, the process proceeds in the procedure of steps D11 → D12 → D13 → D20 → D21, and the guidance screen is shown in FIG. 13 (2). You can switch to the caution display shown in. Further, if the IC card is not accepted even after the free used flag is turned on because the remaining time FT becomes 0, the process is performed in the procedure of step D11 → D12 → D18 → D19 → D22 → D23. Is progressing, and the guidance screen is switched to the warning display shown in FIG. 13 (3).

Under the above time / charge management and guidance display execution, in the normal mode management in FIG. 14, step N26 is performed until the card insertion or the user leaving the room is detected, or until the remaining time FT becomes -NGT. The determination loop in the order of → N35 → N43 → N44 → N26 is repeated. When the insertion of the IC card is detected, step N26 becomes "YES", and the card acceptance process of step N27 (according to the procedure of electronic money settlement processing (not shown)) is executed. In conjunction with this, step D11 of the guidance display in FIG. 17 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to step D15, and the guidance screen is switched to the display after receiving the card (see FIG. 13 (4)).

In the normal mode management in FIG. 14, when the card acceptance process of step N27 is completed, the determination loop of steps N28 → N35 → N43 → N28 is repeated thereafter. When the operation of the end button 29 on the screen after receiving the card (FIG. 13 (4)) is detected, step N28 becomes "YES" and proceeds to step N30 via step N29, and the usage fee VL at that time. The process of settling the payment (also according to the procedure of the electronic money settlement process) is executed. When the settlement is completed, the control unit 20 proceeds to step N31 and executes an operation for calculating the difference between the length of the available period calculated from the settled charge VL and the current stay time T, and the difference obtained is calculated. The remaining time FT is updated according to the value. Then, the state before accepting the IC card is returned (step N32), and the IC card is returned to the user by causing the reader / writer 13 to eject the IC card (step N33).

In the guidance display of FIG. 17, after the step D15 is executed in response to the completion of acceptance of the IC card, the determination processes of steps D16 and D24 are repeated until the settlement is completed. When the settlement is completed, the process proceeds from step D16 to step D17, and the guidance screen is switched to the display after settlement (see FIG. 13 (5)).

In the normal mode management when both the reception of the IC card and the operation of the end button 29 are performed during the free period, step N29 after step N28 becomes "YES" in response to the operation of the end button 29. Becomes "NO" and the process proceeds to step N34, and the card acceptance process is cancelled. After that, the process proceeds to step N33 and the IC card is returned. In conjunction with this, in the guidance display of FIG. 17, step D24 becomes “YES” and returns to step D11.

In the time / charge management module of FIG. 16, the card is accepted during the paid period, but the card is not settled, and every 5 seconds elapses, steps C12 → C13 → C14 → C19 → (C20) → The procedure of C21 → C22 → C12 is executed. During this period, if the settlement and the remaining time FT update processing (steps N30, N31) are performed in the normal mode management, the charge VL is cleared to zero by executing step C23 before returning from step C22 to step C12. To. After that, with the execution of the management step N32 in the normal mode, the processing proceeds in the order of steps C12 → C13 → C14 → C19 → (C20) → C21 → C25, and the remaining time FT is subtracted.

In the normal mode management of FIG. 14, after the processing (steps N31 to N33) after the settlement of the usage fee is executed, the determination loop of steps N35 → N43 → N44 → N26 → N35 is repeated.

If the user's departure is detected before the free period or the remaining time FT after the settlement process becomes -NGT, step N35 becomes "YES", step N36 becomes "NO", and the process proceeds to step N37. The remaining time FT is reset to zero. Further, the control unit 20 ends each module of time / charge management and guidance display, outputs a thank-you message from the external speaker 11 (step N38), and records the time of detection of entry / exit, staying time, deposit amount, and the like. Save as information (step N39), and then return to the first step N21.

If the IC card is accepted but the exit is detected before the charge VL settlement process is completed, steps N35 and N36 become "YES" and the process proceeds to step N40, indicating that the IC card has been forgotten. A voice message telling is output from the external speaker 11. After that, the control unit 20 waits for the detection of entering the room until 1 minute elapses (steps N41 and N42), and when the entry is detected (step N41 is “YES”), the process proceeds to step N28 while 1 minute If the entry cannot be detected even after the lapse of time (step N41 is "NO" and step N42 is "YES"), the mode shifts to the card forgetting response mode (not shown). In the card forgotten correspondence mode, a new user is prevented from entering the room by notifying the administrator and outputting a message notifying the unavailability from the internal speaker 22. When the administrator arrives at booth 1, removes the card from the reader / writer 13, and performs the reset process, the process returns to the first step N21 of the normal mode management. The waiting time of 1 minute in step N42 can also be changed for the same purpose as in the first embodiment.

In the guidance display of FIG. 17, the display is switched to the display after the settlement according to the completion of the settlement process (step D16 → D17), and then step D18 while the remaining time FT updated by the settlement is greater than 1 minute. → D11 → D12 → D18 loop is repeated. When the remaining time FT is 1 minute or less, the display is switched to the caution display by the procedure of step D18 → D19 → D20 → D21, and when the remaining time FT is 0 minutes or less, the procedure of step D18 → D19 → D22 → D23. Switches the display to a warning display. During this period, in the time / charge management of FIG. 16, the procedure of step C12 → C13 → C14 → C19 → (C20) → C21 → C25 is executed every 5 seconds, and the remaining time FT is updated to a negative value. The update is also reflected on the warning display screen. If neither the insertion of the IC card nor the exit of the room is detected after that, in the normal mode management of FIG. 14, step N44 in the determination loop of step N26 → N35 → N43 → N44 → N26 has a remaining time FT of −. When it reaches NGT, it becomes "YES" and shifts to the management in the warning mode shown in FIG. Even if the insertion or exit of the IC card is not detected even after the free period has expired, the same procedure as above is executed, step N44 of the normal mode management becomes "YES", and the warning mode management in FIG. 15 is performed. Move to.

In the warning mode management in FIG. 15, as in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment, the output of the disturbing sound by the voice message is started (step E21), and the message is repeatedly output while increasing the volume stepwise (step E23). → E24 → E25), and when the number of outputs reaches the maximum value, the operation of the alarm buzzer 7 is started (steps E23 → E26 → E27). This process is repeated with the determination process of steps E28, E29, and E22 in between, and when the insertion of the IC card is detected at a predetermined time point (step E28 is "YES"), the control unit 20 stops the disturbing sound. (Step E34). After that, the process returns to the normal mode management, and the card acceptance process in step N27 is executed.

If the user's departure is detected in the management during the warning mode, step E29 is "YES". In response to this determination, the control unit 20 sets the remaining time FT to zero (step E30), stops the disturbing sound (step E31), ends each module of time / charge management and guidance display (step E32), and records the history information. After executing the save (step E33), the process returns to the first step N21 of the normal mode.

If the time T0 for one unit elapses from the expiration of the usable period without detecting the insertion or exit of the IC card in the warning mode management, step E22 becomes “YES”. In response to this determination, the control unit 20 operates the external speaker 11 and the alarm lamp 12 (step E35), notifies the administrator (step E36), and shifts to the error mode when these are completed. .. The error mode has the same contents as those described in the first embodiment.

As described above, even in the second embodiment, if the insertion or exit of the card cannot be detected even after the free period or the available period determined by the settlement has expired, it is allowed as in the first embodiment. When the time NGT has elapsed, the output of the disturbing sound is started. However, if the user inserts the card, the disturbing sound can be stopped promptly, so that the user who is willing to pay the fee will not be seriously hindered. On the other hand, for users who are not willing to pay the fee even if the output of the disturbing sound is started, it is difficult to make a call by gradually increasing the volume of the voice message and greatly strengthening the disturbing sound by the warning buzzer 7. It is possible to leave the room within the time corresponding to the charge for one unit.

In the second embodiment, the IC card used for payment is a post-pay type in order to stably collect a fee according to the length of stay when the use of the booth is terminated, but a prepaid type IC Even if it is a card, it can be used after confirming that the points are charged. However, for that purpose, it is necessary to adjust the algorithm so that the stay for more than the number of charged points is not allowed. For example, in response to the update of the charge VL in steps C18 or C20 of the time / charge management (FIG. 16), the charge VL and the amount converted from the number of points charged in the accepted IC card. If both of them match, it is preferable that the processing (steps N30 to N33) related to the settlement of the normal mode management (FIG. 14) is executed without waiting for the end operation.

<Third Example>
In booth 1 of the third embodiment, points that can be converted into monetary value are charged to a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as "user terminal") possessed by the user, and the charged points are consumed. It allows you to pay the usage fee.

FIG. 18 shows a system configuration that is the main point of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, by introducing a dedicated application program into the smartphone, the smartphone is made to function as a user terminal 200 including a communication processing unit 201, a display control unit 202, a point processing unit 203, a storage unit 204, and the like. The user terminal 200 can be used as a mobile phone for a call, but a device different from the mobile phone used for the call can also be used as the user terminal 200. Further, the user terminal 200 can be a device (for example, a tablet terminal or a small personal computer owned by the user) that satisfies the operating environment of the application program, not limited to the smartphone.

The system 100 for point processing on the booth 1 side is composed of a control unit 20, a touch panel 21, a money processor 4, a motion sensor 5, a photoelectric sensor 6, a router 14 for a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), and the like. It is composed. The devices other than the router 14 are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, and there is no change in the overall configuration of the booth 1. That is, the control unit 20 and the touch panel 21 are included in the tablet terminal 2, and the money processor 4, the motion sensor 5, and the photoelectric sensor 6 are connected to the control unit 20 via the signal processing device 3 (omitted in FIG. 18). Has been done.

The wireless LAN router 14 is for communicating the user terminal 200 that has entered the booth 1 with the control unit 20. As long as it satisfies this purpose, it may be replaced with other communication means (for example, a wireless communication circuit for Bluetooth (registered trademark) provided in the tablet terminal 2 and the user terminal 200), not limited to the wireless LAN router 14.

In the storage unit 204 of the user terminal 200, the serial number (hereinafter referred to as "app ID") given by the download center at the time of downloading the application program and the value of the charged points are stored. These pieces of information are transmitted by the communication processing unit 201 to the control unit 20 of the booth 1, and after the authentication process described later is completed, the control unit 20 transmits a command (hereinafter referred to as "point update command") for instructing the point update. Then, after the command is received by the communication processing unit 201, the point processing unit 203 executes the command to update the points in the storage unit 204.

The display control unit 202 causes the touch panel (not shown) of the user terminal 200 to display an operation screen, a point inquiry screen, and the like. The information input on the operation screen is transmitted by the communication processing unit 201 to the control unit 20 of the booth 1.

The control unit 20 of the booth 1 detects the user's entry into the booth 1 by the motion sensor 5 and the photoelectric sensor 6, and the identification code unique to the booth 1 from the user terminal 200 (hereinafter referred to as "booth ID"). ) And the user terminal 200 are allowed to communicate in response to the connection request including the application ID. Further, the control unit 20 withdraws the points charged in the user terminal 200 to use the booth 1 (hereinafter, this is referred to as "point use"), and a predetermined amount of cash is inserted into the money processing machine 4. It is possible to charge the user terminal 200 with a number of new points commensurate with the input amount.

However, points can be used and charged only while the user is staying at booth 1. When it is detected that the user has left the booth 1, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 erases the points and application IDs received from the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200 is still within the wireless reach. However, the access from the user terminal 200 is not accepted.

Even in the third embodiment, the booth 1 can be used free of charge until a certain time (5 minutes in the specific example) elapses from the detection of entering the room. In addition, for users who do not have a mobile communication terminal that functions as a user terminal 200 or users who have run out of charged points, it is possible to use the same cash payment as in the first embodiment. ..

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 18, in the third embodiment, both the control unit 20 of the booth 1 and the user terminal 200 communicate with the external management server 300 to enhance the security of the transaction. Can be done. For example, by storing the backup information of the storage unit 204 of each user terminal 200 in the management server 300, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 receives the backup information from the user terminal 200 when authenticating the connection request from the user terminal 200. The information can be queried to the management server 300. Further, when the user changes the model of the user terminal 200, the points charged in the previous device can be easily transferred to the new device by the backup information of the management server 300.
However, even if the management server 300 is not provided, the progress of the basic processing is not hindered. Therefore, in the following specific example, an example in which the management server 300 is not installed will be described.

Here, the main parameters used in the third embodiment are defined as follows.
m: Amount of charge for one unit (100 yen in a specific example)
T0: Available time corresponding to the charge for one unit (15 minutes in a specific example)
Ts: Free time (length of free period. In a specific example, it is 5 minutes.)
RT: Remaining time of the available period (hereinafter, simply referred to as "remaining time")
NGT: Allowable time that is a condition for the output of disturbing sound (30 seconds in a specific example)
P: Value of points charged to the user terminal 200 (By consuming 1 point, one unit can be used.)
The last parameter other than P has the same concept as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a part of the transition of the guidance screen displayed on the touch panel 21 of the booth 1 of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, after the initial screen having the same contents as shown in FIG. 5 (1) and the voice guidance are performed, the menu selection screen as shown in FIG. 19 (a) is displayed. When the "charge points" button 25 or the "use points" button 26 in the menu selection screen is touched, the screen is switched to the guidance screen as shown in FIG. 19 (a). This guidance screen is intended to require the user to start the application of the user terminal 200 and request the input of the booth ID, and the booth ID (KK001) to be input is also displayed.

According to the above guidance, when the user enables the wireless communication function of the user terminal 200, starts the application, and inputs the booth ID on the launched screen, the user terminal 200 is connected to the wireless LAN of the booth side system 100. , The input booth ID is transmitted to the control unit 20. When the control unit 20 confirms that the received booth ID is correct, the control unit 20 permits access to the user terminal 200 and switches the display of the touch panel 21 to one corresponding to the menu selected on the menu selection screen.

Specifically, when the "charge points" button 25 (hereinafter referred to as "charge button 25") is touched, it is shown in FIG. 19 (c) after the authentication by the guidance screen of FIG. 19 (a) is completed. You can switch to the charge amount selection screen. Here, when the user selects the charge amount and makes a deposit to the money processing machine 4, the display is switched from the guidance screen to the charge completion screen as shown in FIG. 19 (d), and the user is charged. You will be informed of the number of points completed and charged as well as the number of points you currently have. In the charge processing of this embodiment, service points equivalent to 10% of the deposit amount are given.

When the "use points" button 26 (hereinafter referred to as "point use button 26") is touched, the screen is switched to the guidance screen shown in FIG. 19 (f) after the authentication by the guidance screen in FIG. 19 (a) is completed. Then, the remaining time RT, the current value of the point P, and the like are notified. The display content of this guidance screen changes according to the situation, and when the free period expires and the points P are withdrawn, the remaining time RT increases again as shown in FIG. 19 (g).

When the point P is 0 and the remaining time RT is 1 minute or less, a caution display screen as shown in FIG. 19 (c) is displayed, and when the remaining time RT is 0 minutes or less, it is shown in FIG. 19 (ke). A warning display screen like this is displayed. On the caution display and warning display screens, a button 25a for additional charge of points (hereinafter referred to as "additional charge button 25a") and a button 27a for selecting cash payment are displayed.

When cash payment is selected by touching the button 27 in the menu selection screen of FIG. 19 (a) or the button 27a of the caution display or warning display screen (FIG. 19 (ku) (ke)), the control unit 20 is switched to a mode of executing a program for cash payment. Since the screen displayed after that is the same as that of the first embodiment, the illustration and detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 20 shows a procedure of processing (hereinafter referred to as “common management”) commonly performed in the booth 1 from the detection of entry to the transition to the processing according to the selection of the menu. FIG. 21 shows a procedure of processing by the control unit 20 of the booth 1 and a procedure of processing by the user terminal 200 regarding the authentication process when the charge button 25 or the point use button 26 is touched on the screen of FIG. 19 (a). Shown in association with each other. FIG. 22 shows a procedure of processing after authentication is completed when the charge button 25 is touched (hereinafter, referred to as “charge management”), and FIG. 23 (FIGS. 23-1 and 23-2) shows the point use button 26. The procedure of the process after the authentication is completed (hereinafter referred to as "point usage management") when is touched is shown. FIG. 24 shows a procedure related to display control (hereinafter referred to as “point-related guidance display”) executed in parallel with charge management or point usage management.

The control unit 20 of the booth 1 of the third embodiment corresponds to a program for executing the algorithms shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, a program for managing time, a program for managing during warning mode, and "cash payment". The program for is registered. Since the procedure of processing by these programs is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, it is not shown, and the explanation is omitted or only a simple content.

First, the common management of FIG. 20 will be described. The procedure from steps S1 to S4 is the same as in FIG. 6 (first embodiment), and the entry time is saved (step S2) according to the detection of the user's entry (step S1 is “YES”). , Initial notification (step S3), initial setting of remaining time RT (step S4) is executed.

Next, the control unit 20 activates the menu selection screen shown in FIG. 19 (a) (step S5), and starts the time management module (step S6). Since the time management module updates the remaining time RT every 5 seconds, as in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, the illustration is omitted. However, the time management of this embodiment is interrupted while the charge management of FIG. 22 is being executed, and is resumed from the process immediately before the interruption when the charge management is completed.

When the processing up to step S6 is completed, the control unit 20 waits for the menu selection operation while checking the exit from the room and the remaining time RT (steps S7 to S10). When the user leaves the room without selecting a menu (step S7 is "YES"), the process proceeds to step S11 to clear the menu selection screen, and then the determination process of step S12 (at this stage, "NO" determination). ) And save the history information (step S14), and return to step S1. In addition, if the user continues to stay without selecting the menu and does not leave the room even after the NGT of the allowable time has elapsed from the expiration of the free period, step S10 becomes "YES" and a warning is given. Move to management in mode.

When the "cash payment" button 27 is touched on the menu selection screen (FIG. 19 (a)) (step S9 is "YES"), the mode is switched to the cash payment mode, which is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The same processing is executed.

When the charge button 25 or the point use button 26 on the menu selection screen is touched, step S8 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to the authentication process of FIG. 21 (1). In order to proceed with this processing, it is necessary to communicate with the user terminal 200 that has entered the booth 1 and activated the processing program shown in FIG. 21 (2).

Similar to FIG. 20, the step of the authentication process on the booth 1 side in FIG. 21 (1) is assigned a code (continuous relationship from FIG. 20) by a combination of S and a number, and the user terminal in FIG. 21 (2). The processing step on the 200 side is coded by a combination of U and a number. The details of the authentication process will be described below while associating both flowcharts.

First, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 switches the display of the touch panel 21 to the guidance screen shown in FIG. 19 (a) (step S15). When the user in the booth 1 activates the user terminal 200 at the timing before and after this display switching, the communication processing unit 201 of the user terminal 200 detects the radio in the booth 1, and the display control unit linked to this is detected. By 202, a booth ID input screen (not shown) is launched (step U1).

When the user reads the booth ID displayed on the guidance screen of booth 1 (FIG. 19 (a)) and inputs it to the above input screen, step U2 becomes "YES" in the user terminal 200 and the process proceeds to step U3. , The connection request including the input booth ID and the application ID in the storage unit 204 is transmitted to the control unit 20. Upon receiving this transmission, the control unit 20 on the booth 1 side confirms that the booth ID of its own device is included in the connection request (step S16 is “YES”), and transmits a communication permission notification to the user terminal 200. (Step S17). Upon receiving this notification, the user terminal 200 whose step U4 is "YES" is set to include the booth ID and the application ID in the transmission information to the control unit 20, and in the first transmission, step U5, The value of the point P stored in the storage unit 204 of the own device is transmitted to the control unit 20.

Upon receiving the above transmission from the user terminal 200, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 stores the application ID and the point value P in the transmission information in the memory (steps S18 → S19), and transmits an authentication completion notification to the user terminal 200. Then (step S20), the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24 is started (step S21). After that, if the above authentication process is executed in response to the touch of the charge button 25, the process proceeds from step S21 to the charge management of FIG. 22, and the authentication process is executed in response to the touch of the point use button 26. If so, the process proceeds from step S21 to the point usage management shown in FIG.

In the user terminal 200, step U6 becomes “YES” in response to receiving the authentication completion notification from the control unit 20 of the booth 1, and the process shifts to the point update processing module. This module receives a point update command from the control unit 20 of the booth 1 and increases or decreases the points in the storage unit according to the command. Although not shown, it will be briefly mentioned in the following explanation of the processing on the booth 1 side. I will decide. Even while the point update process is being executed on the user terminal 200, the user can use the user terminal 200 for the purpose of making a telephone call, and starts and uses another application (email software, browser, etc.). You can also do it.

From here, the process after the authentication process when the charge button 25 on the menu selection screen is touched will be described. In this case, the charge management of FIG. 22 is started in parallel with the point-related guidance display (FIG. 24) started in step S21 of FIG. 21, and step D101 of the point-related guidance display is "YES" in accordance with this, and the step. When D102 becomes “NO”, the process proceeds to step D103, and the charge amount selection screen (see FIG. 19 (c)) is displayed. In the charge management of FIG. 22, the selection of the charge amount is accepted on this screen (step S101), and the money processor 4 is instructed to accept the deposit of the selected amount (step S102).

When it is determined that the payment acceptance is completed by the payment signal from the money processing machine 4 operated in response to the above instruction (step S103 is "YES"), the control unit 20 starts from the payment amount and the charge m for one unit. The value P ⁺ of the point to be charged is calculated by multiplying the number of units to be calculated by the weight for the service (1.1 in this embodiment) (step S104). Further, the control unit 20 transmits a point update command instructing the point addition for the P ⁺ value to the user terminal 200 (step S105).

In the user terminal 200 that has received the above command, the point processing unit 203 executes an operation of adding P ⁺ notified by the command to the point P in the storage unit 204, updates the point P, and updates the communication processing unit 201. A response signal notifying that the update is completed is transmitted to the control unit 20. Upon receiving this transmission, the control unit 20 updates the point P in the memory of its own device to the same value (P + P ⁺ ) (steps S106 → S107). In the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, after executing step D103, the loop of step D101 → D102 → D104 → D101 is repeated, but when the update of the above point P is completed, step D104 is “YES”. Then, the process proceeds to step D105, and the display is switched to the charge completion screen shown in FIG. 19 (d).

In the charge management of FIG. 22, after the point P is updated, step S108 becomes “NO” and the process proceeds to step S109. The timing of this step S109 is adjusted so that it is executed after 1 to 2 seconds have elapsed from the display switching in step D105. By this step S109, the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24 is completed, and (a) of FIG. The display is returned to the menu selection screen shown in). After that, the process returns to the loop of steps S7 to S10 during common management in FIG. If the exit is detected and step S7 becomes "YES", the control unit 20 proceeds to step S11 to clear the menu selection screen. Further, as the communication with the user terminal 200 is performed in the authentication process, charge management, etc. by this stage, step S12 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S13, and the information acquired from the user terminal 200 (specifically). The application ID and point P) are deleted. Further, in step S14, the detection time and the staying time at the time of entering and exiting are saved as history information, and then the process returns to step S1.

From here, the procedure of the process after the authentication is completed when the point use button 26 is touched on the menu selection screen of FIG. 19A will be described. In this case, the point usage management of FIG. 23 (FIGS. 23-1 and 23-2) is started together with the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, and the control unit 20 controls the current value P of the points stored in the memory. (Step S201) and compare its value with 0 (step S202).

When the point usage management of FIG. 23 is started when the free period is sufficiently left, if the point P is larger than 0 (step S202 is “YES”), the remaining time RT and the detection of leaving the room are checked thereafter. The determination process (steps S203, S208) is repeated. On the other hand, in the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, the procedure of proceeding from step D106 to step D108 and returning to step D106 after step D101 becomes "NO" is repeated for the purpose of notifying the remaining time and the number of remaining points. The normal guidance display (see (f) in FIG. 19) is maintained.

After that, even if the remaining time RT of the free period becomes 1 minute or less and step D106 becomes "YES", as long as the point P is larger than 0, step D107 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step D108. The normal guidance display is maintained.

In the point usage management of FIG. 23, when the remaining time RT becomes 0 when the point P is larger than 0, step S203 becomes “NO” and the process proceeds to step S204, so that the user terminal 200 is in the storage unit 204. A point update command is sent instructing the point P to be updated to a value subtracted by 1. When a response indicating that the subtraction process is completed is received from the user terminal 200 that has executed this command (step S205 is "YES"), the control unit 20 performs the same update to the point P in the memory (the same update is performed). Step S206), the remaining time RT is updated to the value obtained by adding the usage time T0 for one unit to the current value (step S207).

In the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, according to the update of the remaining time RT in step S207, the state of repeating steps D106 and D108 is returned, and the normal guidance display is continued.

However, when the updated point P becomes 0 and the remaining time RT reaches 1 minute, the process proceeds in the procedure of step D106 → D107 → D109 → S110 → D112, as shown in FIG. 19 (ku). The display can be switched to the caution display screen. Further, when the remaining time RT becomes 0 minutes or less, the process proceeds in the procedure of step D106 → D107 → D109 → D113 → D114, and the display is switched to the warning display screen as shown in FIG. In addition to the additional charge button 25a, a cash payment button 27a is also provided on the caution display and warning display screens.

In the point usage management of FIG. 23, the determination loop of steps S202 → S213 → S214 → S202 is entered according to the point P becoming 0. When the remaining time RT is greater than 0, that is, when the additional charge button 25a is touched during the caution display, step S213 and step S214 become "YES", then step S215 also becomes "YES", and step S216 occurs. move on. After the remaining time RT becomes 0 minutes or less, that is, when the additional charge button 25a is touched under the warning display, step S213 becomes "NO" and then step S215 becomes "YES" and step S216. Proceed to. In either case, the charge management of FIG. 22 is executed as a subroutine here.

In the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, step D111 or step D115 becomes “YES” in response to the operation of the additional charge button 25a, and the process proceeds to step D101, and further proceeds from step D101 to step D102 to step D103. As a result, the display is switched from the caution display or warning display screen (FIG. 19 (c) (ke)) to the charge amount selection screen (FIG. 19 (c)). Hereinafter, charge management and point-related guidance display proceed in the same procedure as described above, and additional points P ⁺ with a value corresponding to the deposit amount received by the user are charged (steps S103 to FIG. 22). S107). After the update of the point P is completed, step S108 becomes “YES”, the control unit 20 ends charge management, proceeds to step S217 of point utilization management, and checks the value of the remaining time RT. Since the time management is interrupted while the charge management is being executed, the determination target here is the remaining time RT immediately before the transition to the charge management.

If the remaining time RT is greater than 0, the process proceeds from step S217 to step S202. The determination in step S202 is "YES" by the point P updated in the charge management, and thereafter, the determination processing in steps S203 and S208 is repeated until the remaining time RT becomes 0 or the exit is detected.

If the remaining time RT immediately before shifting to charge management is 0 or less (when additional charge is selected after the warning is displayed), step S217 immediately after returning to point usage management is "NO". Become. In response to this determination, the control unit 20 immediately executes steps S204, S205, S206, and S207. By this procedure, one charged point is deducted, and one unit of time T0 is added to the remaining time RT. To.

In the point-related guidance display of FIG. 24, the process proceeds from step D101 to step D106 according to the completion of the additional charge, and proceeds to step D108 directly from the step D106 or via step D107. By this procedure, the guidance display for the purpose of notifying the possessed points and the remaining time RT is performed again.

When cash payment is selected on the caution display or warning display screen, step S218 of the point usage management becomes "YES", and the mode shifts to the normal mode of cash support management. The specific transition destination is step N6 in FIG. 6, and the remaining time RT is updated when a deposit signal is input in response to the fact that one unit or more of cash has been inserted into the money processor 4 (step). N10), the process will continue according to the procedure shown in FIG. The guidance display is also switched to the procedure shown in FIG. 8, and the guidance screen for cash payment is displayed.

With reference to the point usage management of FIG. 23 again, a case where the point P is larger than 0 and the exit is detected before the remaining time RT becomes 0 will be described. In this case, steps 202, S203, and S208 become “YES” in order, the process proceeds to step S209, and the remaining time RT is reset to zero. Further, the control unit 20 erases the point P and the application ID stored in the memory of the own device (step S210), ends the time management and the point-related guidance display, and outputs a thank-you message from the external speaker 11 (step). S211), entry / exit detection time, staying time, point usage amount, etc. are saved as usage history information (step S212). After that, the process returns to the first step S1 of the common management and waits for a new user to enter the room.

When the remaining time RT reaches -NGT without selecting additional charge or cash payment when the point P is 0, in the point usage management, steps S202 and S213 become "NO", and steps S215 and S218 also It becomes "NO" and proceeds to step S219, and this step S219 becomes "YES" and shifts to the management in warning mode (not shown).

In the warning mode management, it is determined whether or not additional charge or cash payment has been selected each time the disturbance sound output process (corresponding to steps E2 to E7 in FIG. 7) is repeated for one cycle. When the additional charge is selected, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S217 of the point utilization management after executing the charge management of FIG. 22 as a subroutine. When cash payment is selected, the control unit 20 waits for the payment to be made and proceeds to step N10 of the cash-enabled normal mode management (FIG. 6). In either case, the output of the disturbing sound is stopped when the selected process is completed. However, if the remaining time RT reaches -T0 without receiving a specific payment, the control unit 20 outputs a warning sound from the external speaker 11 and lights / blinks the warning lamp 12. Notify the administrator, and then switch to error mode.

According to the point usage management shown in FIG. 23, if sufficient points are charged to the user terminal 200, the points are 1 by executing steps S204 to 207 after the free usage period has expired. It will be deducted and the usable period will be extended by one unit T0. After that, each time the usable period expires, points will be deducted one by one and the usable period will be extended by one unit T0. In addition, even when the points become 0, the usable period can be extended by making an additional charge or cash payment.

On the other hand, even if the available period expires, if there is no charge or cash payment and no exit can be detected, the output of the disturbing sound starts when the remaining time RT of the available period reaches -NGT. Will be done. However, even at that stage, the disturbing sound can be stopped by charging, paying cash, or leaving the room.

In the third embodiment, communication between the user terminal 200 and the control unit 20 of the booth 1 is possible only while the user is staying in the booth 1. Further, since the point P and the application ID acquired from the user terminal 200 are also deleted when the exit is detected (step S13 or S210), there is no possibility of confusion in the processing for the next user. However, the point P and the application ID may be included in the history information saved in step S14 or step S212 in order to deal with any trouble at a later date. Alternatively, the management server 300 shown in FIG. 18 may store the usage history for each user terminal 200.

In the third embodiment, points are automatically deducted each time the remaining time RT of the usable period becomes 0, and the usable period is extended. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a complicated settlement process as in the second embodiment. There is no. Further, since the charge process can be performed when the booth 1 is started to be used or during the use, the convenience is greatly enhanced.

In order to allow the user terminal 200 to access the control unit 20 of the booth 1, the booth ID is displayed on the guidance screen on the screen of the example (a) in FIG. 19 so that the user terminal 200 can be input to the user terminal 200. However, instead of this, for example, if a two-dimensional code representing the booth ID is displayed on the guidance screen and this code is read by the two-dimensional code reader (software) of the user terminal 200, the burden of input work is burdened. Can be reduced. Alternatively, the two-dimensional code in which the application ID and the point P are embedded is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 200, the display screen is read by the two-dimensional code reader (software) provided in the tablet terminal 2, and the user terminal 200 It is also possible to eliminate the need to enter the booth ID by collating with the transmitted information.

The information to be input to the user for authentication is not limited to the booth ID, and an authentication code randomly generated by the control unit 20 of the booth 1 may be displayed on the guidance screen and input. Further, when the position information of the user terminal 200 can be acquired, the position information of the user terminal 200 is transmitted instead of the authentication code such as the booth ID, and this position information is matched with the position of the booth 1. The user terminal 200 may be allowed to communicate with the control unit 20 of the booth 1.

When the screens of FIGS. 19 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are displayed, a guidance message corresponding to the content of each screen may be output from the internal speaker 22. Further, regarding these screens, by transmitting information for display control from the control unit 20 of the booth 1 to the user terminal 200, the same screens are displayed on the touch panel of the user terminal 200, and operations are accepted here. You can also.

In the flowchart, the flow is complicated, so it is omitted. However, if the user first charges points after entering the room and then selects to use points, the authentication process is performed for the first charge selection (FIG. 21). Although (1) and (2)) are performed, the authentication process for the selection of the second point use may be skipped and the process may shift to the point use management (FIG. 23). If the remaining number of points P becomes 0 after the point use is selected, the user can leave the room by always displaying the additional charge button 25a on the guidance screen regardless of the value of the remaining time RT. By selecting the additional charge button 25a before, the charge management of the subroutine can be activated and the charge can be performed.

If there is an IC card having the same function as the user terminal 200 of the third embodiment, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 can charge new points by communicating with the IC card via the reader / writer 13. You can use the charged points. Further, not limited to IC cards, for example, a card in which a two-dimensional code representing identification information is printed on the surface is distributed as a dedicated card for booth 1, and the identification information of each card and the number of charged points are distributed to the management server 300. You may register in. Then, the control unit 20 of the booth 1 authenticates by accessing the management server 300 by the identification information read from the card, and subsequently communicates with the management server 300 to obtain the point P registered in the server 300. By updating, it is possible to manage the charge of points and the use of points in the same manner as in the third embodiment.

<Settings common to each embodiment>
In the first to third embodiments, when the permissible time of 5 minutes and 30 seconds (first permissible time) including the free time has elapsed from entering the room, or from the expiration of the usable period determined by the deposit amount, 30 When the permissible time of seconds (second permissible time) has elapsed, the output of the disturbing sound is started, and each permissible time can be adjusted by the administrator as appropriate.

For example, in order to minimize the loss due to fraudulent use, it is necessary to stop fraudulent use within the time T0 for one unit, and in particular, it is necessary to leave the fraudulent user who does not intend to make a deposit as soon as possible. .. From these viewpoints, it is desirable to set the value of NGT corresponding to the time obtained by subtracting the free time Ts from the first allowable time and the second allowable time to 0 or a value close to 0. However, although there is no intention of unauthorized use, it is also necessary to give consideration to users who take time to organize their luggage and pass the usable period. Considering both circumstances, the allowable time from the expiration of the free period or the paid usable period to the output of the disturbing sound NGT requires at least 20 to 30 seconds, and it is adjusted within the range of at most 1 minute. It seems reasonable to do.

In any of the embodiments, the usable period for a plurality of units can be set on the premise that the fee is paid appropriately, and the extension of the usable period can be repeated. However, if it is necessary to prevent the booth 1 from being monopolized by the user for a long time, the maximum value of the usable period may be set and the use exceeding this maximum value may not be permitted. For example, in the case of the first embodiment, when the total value of the deposit amount reaches the value corresponding to the maximum value of the usable period, the money processor 4 does not accept the deposit after that and uses it. It is advisable to notify by a caution display or voice message that the possible period cannot be extended. In the case of the second embodiment and the third embodiment, for example, when the value obtained by subtracting the free time Ts from the staying time reaches the maximum value, the same notification is given, and in the second embodiment, compulsory settlement is performed. The process can be executed, and in the third embodiment, the process for extending the usable period (steps S204 to S207 in FIG. 23, etc.) can be skipped.

In the first to third embodiments, the usable period is set based on the unit corresponding to the deposit amount regardless of the deposit timing, but the length of the usable period varies depending on the deposit timing. You may let me. For example, if payment is accepted within the free period after entering the room, the available period may be updated by the time obtained by adding the service time of a predetermined length to the time T0 for one unit.

In the first to third embodiments, the computer of the tablet terminal 2 is used as the booth management control unit 20, and various electronic devices are connected to the control unit 20 via the signal processing device 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. A computer in which algorithms for signal processing and management for various electronic devices are incorporated may be added to the configuration of the signal processing device 3 of 2 and the computer may function as a control device.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the control unit 20 is made to execute all the programs for managing the booth 1, but communicates with electronic devices such as sensors 5 and 6, money processor 4, and reader / writer 13. If the functions are provided and the disturbing sound output means also has a control function and a communication function, these devices can share information processing to some extent. It is also possible to provide a management computer outside the booth 1 and input / output signals by communicating with each electronic device. In this case, it is possible to manage the plurality of booths 1 on one computer.

In each example, a free period of 5 minutes was set, but only the space inside the booth can be used free of charge, and in each example, the deposit operation (inserting money into the money processor 4 and the reader / writer 13) It is desirable to open the switch 31 for the charger 9 until the IC card is inserted or the operation of selecting the use of the charged points is performed. The switch 31 for the lighting lamp 8 is closed from the detection of entry to the detection of exit, except when the alarm buzzer 7 sounds, so that the inside of the booth 1 is illuminated while the user stays. It is desirable to.

According to the booth 1 of each embodiment, the user can talk calmly in a quiet environment by paying a fee commensurate with the staying time. In addition, since the workbench 10 is installed, it becomes easy to take notes during a call and to spread and check the materials for purposes other than the call (sending / receiving e-mail, browsing the Internet, PC work, etc.). Booth 1 can also be used to use the workbench 10 in. Further, since the charger 9 is connected to the power supply circuit 31 after payment, the charging work can be freely performed, and the convenience is further enhanced.

The free period time Ts may be longer than 5 minutes (for example, 10 minutes for one unit), and conversely, as a setting without a free period (Ts = 0), a predetermined length shorter than one unit after entering the room. The output of the disturbing sound may be started when neither deposit nor leaving the room is detected before the permissible time of. In that case, as shown in FIG. 25, the usable period for the deposit for the first unit may be set longer than the subsequent extension time.

In FIG. 25, a 15-minute usable period is set for the first unit of deposit (100 yen) after entering the room, and the usable period is extended by 10 minutes per unit for subsequent additional deposits. This is a case-by-case representation of the relationship between the user's staying time and available period for the booth 1 set to be such. In the booth of this example, the user is required to deposit one unit or more of the fee after entering the room until the allowable time of about 90 seconds elapses.

FIG. 25A corresponds to a case in which a charge (100 yen) for one unit is deposited within the permissible time after entering the room, and a usable period of 15 minutes is set by the deposit. FIG. 25 (b) corresponds to the case where the charge (200 yen) for two units is collectively deposited within the allowable time after entering the room, and by this, the extension of 10 minutes is added to the first 15 minutes. A 25-minute availability period is set.

In FIG. 25 (c), the charge for one unit is deposited in the same manner as in the example of FIG. 25 (a), and after the usable period of 15 minutes is set, the charge for one unit is charged again within the period. This corresponds to a case where the available period has been extended by 10 minutes due to the deposit. In any of the examples (a), (b) and (c), the user leaves the room before the remaining time RT of the available period becomes 0.

FIG. 25 (d) corresponds to a case in which a disturbing sound is output due to the fact that the charge was not paid within the permissible time after entering the room. In this example, after the output of the disturbing sound, a charge for one unit is paid, and the disturbing sound is stopped accordingly, and the usable period of 15 minutes is set as in the example of FIG. 25 (a).

Similar to the example of FIG. 25 (a), FIG. 25 (e) is used even if the usable period of 15 minutes is set by depositing the charge (100 yen) for one unit and then the period expires. This corresponds to the case where the person did not leave the room. The permissible time after the expiration of the usable period is set to about 30 seconds, which is the same as in the first embodiment, and if no additional deposit or exit can be detected within this permissible time, a disturbing sound is output. To be started. In the example of FIG. 25 (e), one unit of charge is paid after the output of the disturbing sound, the disturbing sound is stopped accordingly, and the usable period is extended by 10 minutes retroactively to the time of the previous expiration. There is. As a result, the user is allowed to use the booth 1 until 25 minutes have passed since he / she entered the room, as in FIGS. 25 (b) and 25 (c).

In the cases of FIGS. 25 (d) and 25 (e), even if the user leaves the room without paying the output of the disturbing sound, the disturbing sound is promptly stopped and the booth 1 returns to the initial standby state. ..

<About conversion to a place rental business other than the telephone booth>
The booth management method described by the first to third embodiments and modifications can be used not only for the purpose of making a telephone call but also for personal computer work, document organization, video conferencing, and the like. In addition, if the booth body is made slightly wider and chairs are installed, it can also function as a booth for rest. Furthermore, by applying each example, the labor of the manager can be greatly increased for the management of private rooms that have an area exceeding the level of small rooms or places that are used for a long time, such as self-study booths and meeting booths. Can be reduced to.

Since booths used for purposes other than these telephones are often required to have a quiet environment, it is said that a disturbing sound will be emitted to users who do not pay the fee or who do not leave the room even after the available period has expired. The method is highly effective in encouraging payment of fees and leaving the room. Also, even in a booth that is supposed to make a sound like a karaoke box, it is difficult to continue using it if an unintended sound is output, so there is a way to make a disturbing sound against unauthorized use. It is considered to be effective as well.

However, countermeasures against unauthorized use, including telephone booths, are not limited to disturbing sounds. For example, if at least a part of the wall of the booth is made transparent, it will be difficult to work by turning off or blinking the lights, and it will inform people outside the booth that they are misusing it, making it difficult to sit down. Can be set. Also, if the booth door is an automatic door, if neither the deposit operation nor the exit can be detected even after the expiration of the available period, the door will be opened and the exit will be urged by the volume heard outside. You can play a voice message and drive yourself into a state where you can't stay any longer.

If the management staff is located relatively close to the booth installation location, notify the management staff at the same timing as the output of disturbing sounds, etc., and direct the management staff to the booth. May be good. Alternatively, a surveillance camera may be installed in the right place in the booth so that a staff member can be directed when it becomes clear that fraudulent activity is being carried out.

For booths that are used mainly for purposes other than telephone calls, the staying time may be relatively long, but by adjusting parameters such as the charge m for one unit and the time T0, the first to third implementations will be carried out. The use of booth 1 can be managed in the same manner as in the example and the example of FIG.

If the average staying time is expected to be a plurality of units, a fee for a plurality of units may be collected at the first time, and the available period of the length corresponding to the number of units may be initially set. For example, if the minimum charge is 300 yen, a 30-minute usable period is set according to the deposit of the minimum charge after entering the room, and after that, the usable period is 10 minutes for each unit charge (100 yen). Can be set to be extended.

The amount of the initial charge may be set without being associated with the unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, a 30-minute usable period is set by accepting a deposit of 500 yen after entering the room, and then 10 minutes are used for each unit of deposit (100 yen). It can be set so that the possible period is extended. Since the extension method and the output control of the disturbing sound are the same as those of the previous embodiments, they are shown only. In the example of FIG. 26, the initial charge is higher than the unit-converted charge, but of course, the initial charge may be set to be lower than the unit-converted amount. The unit for extending the usable period is not limited to 100 yen for 10 minutes, and for example, in the case of FIG. 26, it may be 200 yen for 15 minutes.

As in the example of FIG. 26, even when the usable period of one unit or more is set by the charge set regardless of the number of units, the allowable time after entering the room is set from the length of the initial usable period. By setting it short enough, those who do not intend to pay the fee can be evacuated early and the fee can be collected stably. By making the permissible time after the expiration of the usable period sufficiently shorter than the time corresponding to one unit, it is possible to stably collect the additional charge. From this point of view, it is better not to lengthen the time corresponding to the charge for one unit too much.

In each example of FIG. 26, the permissible time after entering the room is set to about 90 seconds, and the permissible time after the expiration of the usable period is set to about 30 seconds, as in the example of FIG. The setting of the allowable time is not limited to this, but by setting each allowable time to a time sufficiently shorter than the time corresponding to one unit, the initial charge will be stably collected and the charge will be paid. It is possible to minimize the loss by leaving the missing person early.

In addition, management that combines existing business methods, such as introducing a membership system and providing members with IC cards and application programs for mobile terminals 200 at a discounted price, can be managed. You can also do it.

1 Mobile phone booth 2 Tablet terminal 3 Signal processing device 4 Money processing machine 5 Human sensor 6 Photoelectric sensor 7 Alarm buzzer 11 External speaker 12 Alarm lamp 13 IC card reader / writer 20 Control unit 21 Touch panel 22 Internal speaker

Claims (9)

The walls that form the space that accepts users,
Payment receiving means for accepting payment of charges and
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and
A sound output means that outputs disturbing sounds that hinder the use in the booth,
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the operation of the sound output means is controlled while recognizing the operating states of the payment receiving means and the detecting means. It is an hourly rental booth equipped with a control unit that has the function of
The control unit
Only after the detection means detects that a user has entered the space, the payment receiving means has received payment of one or more units of payment, and the user has entered the space. The available period is set until a predetermined length of time, which varies according to the number of units of the payment amount, elapses, and the payment receiving means charges one unit or more during the set available period or after the expiration of the period. When the payment is accepted again, the usage management means for extending the available period by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount, and
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the payment receiving means accepts the payment of one unit or more of the charge. The detection means did not detect the user's exit even after the first condition that the user did not exist, or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit after the expiration of the available period. The output of the disturbing sound by the sound output means is started in response to the second condition being satisfied, and the time obtained by adding the allowable time related to the condition satisfied with respect to the output to the elapsed time from the start of the output of the disturbing sound. The output of the disturbing sound is stopped when the payment receiving means accepts one or more units of the fee or the detecting means detects the exit of the user within the time corresponding to the fee for one unit. With sound output control means,
An hourly rental booth to be equipped. The walls that form the space that accepts users,
Payment receiving means for accepting payment of charges and
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and
A sound output means that outputs disturbing sounds that hinder the use in the booth,
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for the one unit and the time for a certain length are associated and registered, and the operation of the sound output means is performed while recognizing the operating states of the payment receiving means and the detecting means. It is an hourly rental booth equipped with a control unit that has a function to control.
The control unit
In response to the detection means detecting that the user has entered the space, a predetermined fixed length of time is set as the initial value of the usable period, the usable period is started, and the subsequent use is performed. Usage management that extends the available period by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount in response to the payment receiving means receiving payment of one or more units of charges during the possible period or after the expiration of the period. Means and
The available period and the one unit without satisfying both the first condition that the payment receiving means has accepted the payment of one unit or more and the second condition that the detecting means has detected the exit of the user. The time obtained by adding the permissible time to the elapsed time from the start of the output of the disturbing sound by starting the output of the disturbing sound by the sound output means according to the elapse of the permissible time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge of A sound output control means that stops the output of the disturbing sound when the first condition or the second condition is satisfied before the time corresponding to the charge for one unit is exceeded.
An hourly rental booth to be equipped. The walls that form the space that accepts users,
Payment receiving means for accepting payment of charges and
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and
A sound output means that outputs disturbing sounds that hinder the use in the booth,
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for the one unit and the time for a certain length are associated and registered, and the operation of the sound output means is performed while recognizing the operating states of the payment receiving means and the detecting means. It is an hourly rental booth equipped with a control unit that has a function to control.
The control unit
It is detected that the user has entered the space only after the detection means has detected that the user has entered the space and the payment receiving means has received payment of a predetermined amount of charges. The available period is set until a predetermined length of time, which is longer than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses, and one unit of the payment receiving means is used during the set available period or after the expiration of the period. When the payment of the above charges is accepted again, the usage management means for extending the usable period by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount and
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the charge of the amount that the payment receiving means should accept for the first payment. The detection means will leave the user even if the first condition that the payment is not accepted or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit elapses after the expiration of the available period. When the second condition that the sound is not detected is satisfied, the sound output means starts to output the disturbing sound, and when the first condition is satisfied, the disturbing sound is output. Payment of the amount to be accepted by the payment receiving means for the first payment before the time obtained by adding the first allowable time to the elapsed time from the start exceeds the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. The output of the disturbing sound is stopped when the detection means detects the exit of the user, and when the disturbing sound is output in response to the satisfaction of the second condition, the output is started. Whether the payment receiving means accepts one or more units of charges before the time obtained by adding the second allowable time to the elapsed time exceeds the time corresponding to the charges for one unit, or the detecting means leaves the user. The sound output control means for stopping the output of the disturbing sound upon detection of
An hourly rental booth to be equipped. The walls that form the space that accepts users,
Payment receiving means for accepting payment of charges and
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and
A sound output means that outputs disturbing sounds that hinder the use in the booth,
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the operation of the sound output means is controlled while recognizing the operating states of the payment receiving means and the detecting means. It is an hourly rental booth equipped with a control unit that has the function of
The control unit
Only after the detection means detects that a user has entered the space, the payment receiving means receives payment for one unit, and after the detection that the user has entered the space is detected. The available period is set to the time corresponding to the charge for one unit or until a certain length of time longer than that time elapses, and the payment receiving means is set during the set available period or after the expiration of the period. A usage management means that extends the available period by the length corresponding to the charge for one unit in response to the re-acceptance of payment for the unit.
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the payment receiving means accepts the payment for the charge for one unit. The detection means did not detect the user's exit even after the first condition that the user did not exist, or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit after the expiration of the available period. The output of the disturbing sound by the sound output means is started in response to the second condition being satisfied, and the time obtained by adding the allowable time related to the condition satisfied with respect to the output to the elapsed time from the start of the output of the disturbing sound. The output of the disturbing sound is stopped when the payment receiving means accepts the fee for one unit or the detecting means detects the exit of the user before the time corresponding to the fee for one unit is exceeded. With sound output control means,
An hourly rental booth to be equipped. At the hourly rental booth according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It is further equipped with a charger or power outlet and a switch for connecting these to the power supply.
The control unit switches the switch unit from the open state to the closed state in response to the payment receiving means receiving the payment of the fee for the first time after the detecting means detects that the user has entered the space. Further equipped with means,
Hourly rental booth. It is a method executed to allow a user to use the space in response to a user entering a booth having a space partitioned by a wall portion.
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and a payment receiving means for receiving payment of a usage fee are provided in the booth.
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the function of recognizing the operating state of the payment receiving means and the detecting means and the sound output in the booth. Or in a computer system that has the ability to control the lighting environment in the booth.
Only after the detection means detects that a user has entered the space, it is detected that the user has entered the space in response to the payment receiving means receiving payment of one unit or more. The usable period is set from the time until the lapse of a predetermined length of time that varies according to the number of payment units.
Depending on whether the payment receiving means re-accepts payment of one or more units of charges during the set available period or after the expiration of the period, the available period is as long as the number of units of the payment amount. Extend,
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the payment receiving means accepts the payment of one unit or more of the charge. It is said that the detection means did not detect the user's exit even after the first condition that there was no such thing or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit after the expiration of the usable period. When the second condition is satisfied, the environment in the space is shifted from a good environment suitable for use to a bad environment that hinders use by deteriorating the output of disturbing sound or the lighting environment.
One unit or more of the payment receiving means before the time obtained by adding the permissible time related to the conditions established for the transition to the elapsed time after the transition to the adverse environment does not exceed the time corresponding to the charge for the one unit. When the payment of the fee is accepted or the detection means detects the exit of the user, the factor of the bad environment in the space is released and the good environment is restored.
A method of managing hourly booths, which is characterized by this. It is a method executed to allow a user to use the space in response to a user entering a booth having a space partitioned by a wall portion.
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and a payment receiving means for receiving payment of a usage fee are provided in the booth.
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the function of recognizing the operating state of the payment receiving means and the detecting means and the sound output in the booth. Or in a computer system that has the ability to control the lighting environment in the booth.
In response to the detection means detecting that the user has entered the space, a predetermined fixed length of time is set as the initial value of the available period, and the available period is started, and then the available period is started. The available period is extended by the length corresponding to the number of units of the payment amount in response to the payment receiving means receiving the payment of the fee of one unit or more during or after the available period of the period. And
The payment acceptance means the first condition and the left detecting means is not satisfied any of the second condition that was detected leaving the user the available period and the one unit that has received the payment of a fee of more than one unit Evil that hinders the use of the environment in the space from a good environment suitable for use by deteriorating the output of disturbing sound or the lighting environment according to the elapse of an allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge of Move to the environment
After the transition to the adverse environment, the first condition or the second condition is satisfied before the time obtained by adding the allowable time to the elapsed time from the transition does not exceed the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. To release the factors of the bad environment in the space and restore the good environment.
A method of managing hourly booths, which is characterized by this. It is a method executed to allow a user to use the space in response to a user entering a booth having a space partitioned by a wall portion.
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and a payment receiving means for receiving payment of a usage fee are provided in the booth.
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the function of recognizing the operating state of the payment receiving means and the detecting means and the sound output in the booth. Or in a computer system that has the ability to control the lighting environment in the booth.
Only after the detection means detects that a user has entered the space, the payment receiving means has entered the space in response to receiving payment of a predetermined amount of charges. Set the usable period as the period from when it is detected until a predetermined length of time, which is longer than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses.
Depending on whether the payment receiving means re-accepts payment of one or more units of charges during the set available period or after the expiration of the period, the available period is as long as the number of units of the payment amount. Extend,
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the amount to be accepted by the payment receiving means for the first payment. The detection means causes the user to leave even if the first condition that the payment of the fee is not accepted or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the fee for one unit elapses after the available period has expired. When the second condition that the space is not detected is satisfied, the environment in the space is changed from a good environment suitable for use to a bad environment that hinders the use by deteriorating the output of disturbing sound or the lighting environment. Let me
When the transition to the adverse environment occurs in response to the elapse of the first allowable time, the time obtained by adding the first allowable time to the elapsed time from the transition is added to the charge for the one unit. The factor of the adverse environment in the space is that the payment receiving means accepts the payment of the amount to be accepted for the first payment or the detecting means detects the exit of the user before the corresponding time is exceeded. To restore the good environment,
When the transition to the adverse environment occurs in response to the elapse of the second permissible time, the time obtained by adding the second permissible time to the elapsed time from the transition is added to the charge for the one unit. When the payment receiving means accepts the payment of one unit or more of the fee within the corresponding time or the detecting means detects the exit of the user, the factor of the adverse environment in the space is released and it is good. Restore the environment,
A method of managing hourly booths, which is characterized by this. It is a method executed to allow a user to use the space in response to a user entering a booth having a space partitioned by a wall portion.
A detection means for detecting a user in the space and a payment receiving means for receiving payment of a usage fee are provided in the booth.
With a certain amount as one unit, the charge for one unit and the time for a certain length are registered in association with each other, and the function of recognizing the operating state of the payment receiving means and the detecting means and the sound output in the booth. Or in a computer system that has the ability to control the lighting environment in the booth.
Only after the detection means detects that a user has entered the space, it is detected that the user has entered the space in response to the payment receiving means receiving payment for one unit. Set the usable period as the time corresponding to the charge for one unit or the time until a certain length of time longer than that time elapses.
The available period is extended by the length corresponding to the charge for one unit in response to the payment receiving means re-accepting the payment for the charge for one unit during the set available period or after the expiration of the period. And
Even if the first permissible time, which is shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit, elapses after the detection means detects that the user has entered the space, the payment receiving means accepts the payment for the charge for one unit. It is said that the detection means did not detect the user's exit even after the first condition that there was no such thing or the second allowable time shorter than the time corresponding to the charge for one unit after the expiration of the usable period. When the second condition is satisfied, the environment in the space is shifted from a good environment suitable for use to a bad environment that hinders the use by deteriorating the output of disturbing sound or the lighting environment, and the bad environment. The payment receiving means charges for one unit before the time obtained by adding the permissible time related to the conditions established for the transition to the elapsed time after the transition to is not exceeding the time corresponding to the charge for one unit. When the payment is accepted or the detection means detects the exit of the user, the factor of the bad environment in the space is released and the good environment is restored.
A method of managing hourly booths, which is characterized by this.

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