JPH01307354A - Communication control system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the real time processing for a complaint and the centralized management of plural terminal equipments by connecting a terminal equipment being an automatic vending machine and a central processing unit by a telephone line so as to apply talking between the both and the remote control of the terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:A center equipment A consists of a central processing unit 1, a communication terminal equipment (MODEM) 2, an overall controller 3, a central network controller 4 and a telephone line 5. Moreover, a terminal equipment B consists of a telephone set 7, a terminal network controller 8, a communication terminal equipment (MODEM) 10, a terminal controller 9 and an automatic vending machine 11. Then they are connected by the telephone line 6. Since the terminal equipment B and the center equipment A are connected via the communication line 6 in this way, not only the complaint processing is processed in real time but also plural terminal equipments B are managed centralizingly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a vending machine which connects a terminal of the vending machine and a central processing unit through a telephone line, and performs calls between the two and remote control of the terminal. This relates to a communication control method.

(Prior Art) In conventional vending machines, each terminal was used independently.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) The failure occurred because each terminal was used independently.

Complaints from users due to malfunctions, etc. are indirectly conveyed to the vending machine operator via the owner of the store where the vending machine is installed. If it is located in an uninhabited area, it may be difficult to file a complaint.

Complaints such as missing items or change should be handled in real time.

(Means for solving the problem) The vending machine of each terminal is provided with a terminal network control device, a communication terminal device, and a terminal control device, and the central processing device is equipped with a central network control device, a communication terminal device, and a terminal control device. A control device was installed to enable communication between the two parties and remote control of the terminal.

(Function) With the above configuration, if a malfunction or failure occurs on the vending machine side of the terminal, the user can call the vending machine operator's center and report a complaint.

In addition, the center can remotely control the terminals, diagnose failures, repair and take other necessary measures, and also manage the terminals.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows center device A used in this system.
Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of terminal B.

To the center device, central processing unit l1 communication terminal device (modem)2. Comprehensive control device 3. central network control equipment p
t4. and a telephone 5, etc., and the terminal B is composed of a telephone 7. Terminal network control device 81 communication terminal device (
modem)10. Terminal control device f? Y9 and vending machine 1
It is made up of 1st class. The vending machine 11 is of a commonly used type, and is additionally provided with the devices listed below. These are connected by a telephone line 6.

Who uses vending machines? : Coin slot 111 in figure g3
Insert a coin into the box and press the article selection button 113. It is fine if the machine is operating normally, but if the item does not come out due to malfunction, the user presses the complaint button 91, which is a part of the terminal control device 9.

The terminal control device 9 has a microphone and a computer therein, and controls the vending machine of the terminal according to the programmed program. When the terminal control device 9 detects that the complaint button 91 has been pressed, the terminal control device 9 controls the terminal network control device (NC).
U) Issue a call instruction to 8. At the same time, the display 92 displays, for example, “
Please wait for a while" message appears. A similar display can also be made using voice through voice synthesis. The terminal network control device 8 automatically calls the center device A via the telephone line in response to the calling instruction. The person in charge of the center device A can pick up the telephone 5 of the center device A and talk to the telephone 7 of the terminal B on the vending machine side. The voice from the telephone 5 of the center WiA can be heard through the speaker 72 of the vending machine. When the user makes a complaint to the person in charge, the person in charge operates the general control device 8 and issues a command to diagnose the condition of the vending machine. At this time, the telephone 5 and the communication terminal device (hereinafter referred to as modem) 2
Switch the integrated control device 8. The modem 2 sends data via the central network controller 4 to the terminal network controller 8. When the data is transmitted, the terminal network control device 8 switches between the telephone 7 and the modem 10,
The data is transmitted to the terminal control device 9 via the modem IO. The terminal control device 9 decodes the received data and issues a command 2, such as a self-diagnosis I analysis command, to the vending machine 11. Vending machine 1
1 uses an internal control circuit (not shown) to self-diagnose the presence or absence of raw materials, clogging in the raw material transport system, presence or absence of a cup, clogging in the cup transport system, storage status of coins, presence or absence of change, etc. These self-diagnoses can be easily performed using sensors, control circuits, etc. provided in each system.

For example, if the cup is clogged, the data will be sent to the terminal controller 9. Modem 10. Terminal network control device 8, central network control device 4. It is transmitted to the general control device 3 via the modem 2. The person in charge of the center device A can confirm the location of the failure on the terminal device B side based on the received data. Thereby, in this case, the general control device rj! will issue a cup using the terminal. A command is issued from t3, and this command is transmitted to the terminal control device 9 via the opposite route.
Perform the operation to take out the cup. Despite this operation, if the cup is still occupied, the person in charge of the center device A transmits data to the terminal network control device 8 of the terminal B, switches the modem 10 and the telephone 7, and at the same time Also at A, the modem 2 and telephone 5 are switched, and the person in charge can make necessary calls with the user. For example, it is possible to say or display on the display 92, "The vending machine has broken down. We will refund your money, so please take the change from the outlet." After that, connect modem 2 and IO again, set the data transmission state, and terminal @B
When a command to dispense change is sent to the vending machine 11, change is dispensed from the change opening 112.

In addition, in addition to those listed in the above explanation, there are also raw materials for vending machines that use the no-ringing service.

It can also be used for remote monitoring of money, calls between vending machine management service personnel and center personnel, etc. By sending appropriate commands from the central processing unit 1, necessary information from each terminal can be transmitted to the center unit ptA, allowing centralized management of a large number of vending machines.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the central network control unit (NCtJ) 4 or terminal network control unit (NCU) 8 used in the center device A or terminal device BK. The configurations of both are -1, etc., and the operations are the same. Here, N CtJ 8 on the terminal B side will be explained as an example. M
CII 8 is a control circuit 81. Calling signal detection section 82. Bush button (FB) signal receiving section 83. DC circuit 84. The control circuit 81 is composed of a switch 85 and the like, and the control circuit 81 includes a calling signal detecting section 82, an FB signal receiving section 88. The switch 85KW is connected to the central network controller 4 via a telephone line. The DC circuit 84 is connected to the control circuit 81 and the FB
It is connected to the signal receiving section 83 and further connected to the modem 10 of the terminal via a transformer.

When a command for automatic transmission is sent from the terminal control device 9 to the NCU 8, the DC circuit 84 is closed, and then a PR signal number 4 or a PAJ redial (PD) signal is dialed.

At this time, the telephones 7 are connected in parallel. Therefore, after this, when the other party answers using the telephone 5, the call can be made. In this state, the PB double signal, for example, %hlt, continues for more than 1 second.
When the B signal receiving unit 83 receives the signal, the control circuit 81 switches the switch 85 to improve the data communication quality, and the telephone 7
disconnect the circuit. Thereafter, data communication is performed by modem 2. of center device A and terminal device B. This is done independently of NCU 4.8 via IO. The PB signal receiving section 88 is connected to the circuit at a high impedance, for example, several ohms or more, and is connected so as to have little influence on the line impedance of 600 ohms, so that it does not interfere with data communication, for example, FSX communication. If the next KPB signal, for example %BI, is received continuously for more than 1 second,
This time, the switch 85 is changed over to enable a telephone conversation using the telephone set 7.

Note that the sending of the PB signal 1A' or 18' from the center device A is performed from the control circuit 81 via the DC circuit 84.

These line connection procedures are performed in accordance with technical standards for connection of telephone line terminal equipment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an example of the entire system. Steps 101 to 11G are steps on the terminal side, and steps 201 to 206 are steps on the center device side.

When the user presses the complaint button in step 7'101, a necessary display is made in step 102, and at the same time or subsequently, a conversation with the center device A is entered in step 1o3. In step 201, the connection is switched to a modem, and in step 20211C, a self-diagnosis command is sent.

In step 104, data corresponding to the command from the center device is received, and in step 105, the telephone is disconnected and switched to modem connection.

The data is decoded in step 106 and step 107
Perform a self-diagnosis. Step 108 Sends the data of the self-diagnosis results to the center device, and the center device judges the results in step 208, and performs remote control (telecontrol) based on the results.
issue a directive for implementation.

Based on this, the terminal device performs telecontrol in step 109, and the result is sent to the center device A. In step 205, the center device sends a telephone connection command for terminal B, in step 206 the center device is switched to a telephone conversation state, and in step 110 terminal B is also switched to a telephone conversation state.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, terminals and a center device are connected through a communication line, and it is possible not only to process complaints in real time but also to centrally manage multiple terminals. . By adding some equipment to a conventional vending machine, a convenient 1D control system can be easily constructed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram of the center device, Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of the terminal, and Figure 4 is the NC used there.
It is a block diagram of U. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of the system.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device comprising a means for switching between data communication and telephone calls, an automatic vending means, and a means for controlling them; a means connected to the terminal device through a communication line and for switching between data communication and telephone calls; and a terminal. A communication control system for a vending machine having a means for controlling the machine and a center device consisting of a central processing unit