JPH04195489A - Commutation ticket issuing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the service to customers and rationalize the operation by using a main communication means, and reading a form wherein issue operation contents are entered by handwriting by a reader and sending the contents to a remote operation board that a clerk operates by a communication device. CONSTITUTION:On the remote operation board 3, the clerk begins to operate after a customer on the side of the issuing device 1 inserts the application form into an application form insertion slot. Namely, the clerk sets information required to issue a ticket by using a CRT 35 for condition input and a keyboard 36 while referring to the contents of the application form displayed on a display CRT 34. The issuing device 1 can, therefore, issue not only a continuous commutation ticket, but also a new commutation ticket. If there is an indeterminate entry in the contents of the application form, the clerk inquires the customer about the part by using a microphone 31 and hears the customer's answer through a speaker 32. Consequently, the service to the customer is improved and the issuing operation for commutation tickets, etc., can be rationalized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a commuter pass issuing device used in transportation facilities such as railways and buses.

(Prior Art) Generally, in transportation facilities such as railways and buses, when issuing commuter passes, new commuter passes and continuing commuter passes are issued. Issuance of such commuter passes is performed by a commuter pass issuing device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional commuter pass issuing device.

This figure shows a commuter pass issuing office. That is, at the counter 20 of the commuter pass issuing office, an issuing device 21 is provided on the customer side, and an operation panel 22 is provided on the clerk's side.

The issuing device 21 is a device for issuing a continuous commuter pass. This issuing device 21 issues a commuter pass based on the magnetic information recorded on the back side of the old commuter pass 23.

That is, when the customer inserts the old commuter pass 23 that he or she brought into a predetermined insertion slot, the issuance process is automatically performed.

The operation panel 22 is a device for an attendant to issue a new commuter pass. That is, the customer hands the commuter pass application form 24 filled out by himself or herself to the clerk at the counter, and the clerk receives the application form 24 and operates the operation panel 22 according to the contents.

The details of issuing the commuter pass by the issuing device 21 and the operation panel 22 are sent to the management device 25.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems.

That is, in the conventional device, inputting a new commuter pass into the device is complicated, and it is not appropriate for the customer to operate the device by himself, but it is necessary for the clerk to operate the new commuter pass. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a new commuter pass at a counter where an attendant is present, making it impossible to save the labor required by the attendant.

It is also conceivable to install a commuter pass issuing device that can only issue tickets continuously at a remote location such as a bus office. However, there was a problem in that it was inconvenient to only be able to issue continuously.

The present invention has been developed with the above points in mind, and although it is operated by the customer, it enables not only continuous issuance but also new issuance and refunds, which could only be handled at the staff counter. The purpose is to provide a ticket issuing device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The commuter pass issuing device of the present invention allows the customer to handwrite the details of the issuance operation on a sheet of paper, read the sheet with a reading device, and send it to a remote control panel using a communication device. A main means of communication for requesting the staff member to issue a commuter pass, and auxiliary communication for the staff member to ask the customer about the written part if the issuance operation details sent by the main communication means are not clear. It is characterized by comprising means.

(Function) In the commuter pass issuing device of the present invention, the customer uses the main communication means to have the reading device read a sheet containing handwritten issuance operation details and send it to the remote control panel where the staff member is located using the communication device. send. As a result, the customer is not required to perform complex machine operations associated with complex transaction details. Furthermore, if the communication by the main communication means is insufficient, it can be supplemented by the auxiliary communication means. In the manner described above, it is possible to improve services to customers and to streamline operations.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the commuter pass issuing device of the present invention.

In this figure, an issuing device 1 is connected to a remote control panel 3 via a line control device 2.

The issuing device 1 is mainly installed in a station, a business office, etc., and is operated by a customer for the purpose of purchasing a commuter pass. This issuing device l includes a main communication means 11 and an auxiliary communication means 12.1.
It is equipped with 3rd class.

The main communication means 11 allows the customer to handwrite the details of the issuance operation on a sheet of paper, read the sheet with the reading device 52, and send it to the remote control panel 3 through the communication device 51, thereby requesting the staff member to issue a commuter pass. Let's do it. The reading device 52 is
It is provided inside the issuing device 1, and receives and takes application forms from an application form insertion slot via a conveyance path (not shown). This reading device 52 is comprised of, for example, an image reader equipped with a CCD or the like, and converts the image on the application form into image data. The communication device 51 transmits the image data output by the reading device 52 to the remote control panel 3 via the line control device 2.
Performs communication control for sending to.

The auxiliary communication means 12 includes a microphone 41, a speaker 42, and the like. The microphone 41 is well-known and converts the customer's voice into an analog electrical signal. This signal is sent to the speaker 32 provided on the remote control panel 3 via the communication device 51 and the line control device 2, and is reproduced as audio by the speaker 32. Further, the speaker 42 is for reproducing the voice analog electrical signal of the staff sent from the microphone 31 provided on the remote control panel 3 via the line control device 2 and the communication device 51 into voice and transmitting the same to the customer. .

The auxiliary communication means 13 includes a television camera 43, a CRT 44 with a touch sensor, and the like. As is well known, the television camera 43 consists of a lens, a COD, etc., and captures images of the customer and outputs a video signal. This video signal is transmitted to the communication device 5
1 and the line control device 2 to the remote control panel 3. The remote control panel 3 reproduces the video from the sent video signal and displays it on the display CRT 34.

These auxiliary communication means 12, 13 are used by the staff to ask the customer about the written part when the issuance operation details on the application form sent by the main communication means 11 are not clear. These auxiliary communication means 1
2. Of the items listed in 13, television cameras, etc. may be omitted.

The CRT 44 with a touch sensor displays a video signal output from the television camera 33 of the remote control panel 3 and customer guidance information sent from the remote control panel 3. Display control in this case is performed by display control means 53. A task selection means 45 is displayed on this CRT 44 with a touch sensor. The business selection means 45 uses a touch sensor to detect when a customer touches a corresponding part with a finger or the like, and sends selection information to the remote control panel 3. This selection information is information that the customer can easily select, such as whether the type of commuter pass is new or continued.

Further, the issuing device 1 is equipped with the following.

The banknote insertion slot 14 carries in the banknotes inserted by the customer for payment of the commuter pass.

The brought in banknotes are counted by a counting means (not shown) and stored in the banknote storage. The coin insertion slot 15, like the bill insertion slot 14, carries coins inserted by the customer to pay for a commuter pass into the coin insertion slot 15. The coins brought in are also counted by a counting means (not shown) and stored in the coin storage in the same way as banknotes. The change issuing slot 16 is for giving change for the issued commuter pass and payment amount to the customer. The old commuter pass insertion slot 17 is for collecting the old commuter pass when the customer purchases a continuing commuter pass. The card insertion slot 18 is where a customer inserts a prepaid card or credit card when making a transaction instead of cash.

The remote control panel 3 is operated by a dedicated staff member. The remote operation panel 3 is operated by a staff member when the customer on the issuing device I side inserts an application form into the application form insertion slot. That is, the clerk refers to the contents of the application form displayed on the display CRT 34 and uses the condition input CRT 35 and keyboard 36 to set information necessary for ticket issuance.

As a result, the issuing device 1 issues not only continuous commuter passes, but also
New commuter passes can also be issued. If the contents of the application form displayed on the display CRT 34 contain unclear descriptions, the staff member uses the microphone 31 to ask the customer about that part. The customer's answer can be heard through the speaker 32.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system using the device of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the issuing device l is installed at stations, business offices, etc.
There are n units, and m remote control panels 3.

That is, the relationship between the issuing device 1 and the remote control panel 3 shown in FIG. can. Further, a line control device 2 to which the issuing device 1 and the remote control panel 3 are connected is connected to a host computer via a communication line such as a public line or a private line.

Next, the operation of the above-described device will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the apparatus according to the present invention.

The order of operations is that first, the customer enters the new/
Continuation is selected (step Sl).

If it continues (step S2), the issuing device reads the information recorded on the face of the ticket from the magnetic data when the customer inserts the old commuter pass, similar to conventional issuing devices (step S3), and confirms the contents of the ticket. (step S4), and a new commuter pass can be issued (step S5.56).
)6 If the customer selects new (step S7), the issuing device transmits video information such as the customer's face captured by a television camera to the remote control panel. The remote control panel displays the sent video information on the CRT (step S8). The staff member provides operational guidance using the CRT of the issuing device while viewing the image displayed on the CRT (step S9). On the other hand, the customer inserts an application form for purchasing a commuter pass into the application form insertion slot according to the operational guidance of the staff while viewing video information such as the face of the staff member through a television camera (step S1.0). The issuing device reads the application form as image data and sends it to the remote control panel. At the remote control panel, the contents of the application form are displayed on the CRT (step 511). The clerk sets the ticket face information based on the contents of the application form displayed on the CRT of the remote control panel (step 512), and transmits it to the issuing device.

At this time, if any part of the application form displayed on the CRT is unclear or if the customer has made a mistake, the staff member uses a microphone or a television camera to ask the customer about those parts. In response, customers also use the microphone and television camera on the issuing device to answer the staff's questions. After completing such procedures, the customer checks the contents of the ticket displayed on the CRT and, if the contents match the application form, inserts cash or a prepaid cart (step S5). The issuing device does not perform cash counting processing 1, and if it is possible to issue a commuter pass, issues a commuter pass (step S6).

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the issuing operation of a new commuter pass is performed by a distant clerk is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other complicated operations such as refund of a commuter pass, etc. The present invention can also be applied to cases in which such processing is carried out by a distant staff member. Furthermore, it can be applied not only to the issuance of commuter passes, but also to cases such as the issuance of passports containing multiple itineraries.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the commuter pass issuing device of the present invention has a main communication means that allows a customer to communicate for complex transactions with a simple operation, and a communication method of the main communication means. Since an auxiliary communication means for providing assistance is provided, the following effects can be obtained.

■Complicated processes such as issuing new commuter passes and refunding commuter passes can be performed using issuing devices without staff. This makes it possible to streamline the issuance of commuter passes and the like while improving service to customers.

■Since it is possible to control multiple issuing devices with one remote control panel, the number of staff members can be reduced, resulting in significant labor savings on the commuter pass issuer's side.

Furthermore, tasks that are difficult to automate, such as counter operations at travel agencies, can now be realized by using two-way communication between automated equipment and staff.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a commuter pass issuing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional commuter pass issuing device, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system using the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure by the apparatus of the present invention. ■...Issuing device, 2...Line control device, 3...Remote control panel, 11...Main communication means, 12.13...Auxiliary communication means. Patent applicant Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Main communication in which a customer writes the issuance operation details by hand on a sheet of paper, reads the sheet with a reading device, and sends it to a remote control panel through a communication device, thereby requesting an attendant to issue a commuter pass. and an auxiliary communication means for an attendant to ask the customer about the written part when there is a written part that is not clear in the issuance operation details sent by the main communication means. Publishing device.