JPH05250534A - Ticket issuing terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a ticket issuing terminal equipment for trains or the like superior in data input operability. CONSTITUTION:A ticket issuing terminal equipment 1 is provided with plural kinds of input devices 12 to 14, and an operation guide prepared correspondingly to each input device is selectively used to input information for ticket issue. An input information analysis program operated in the terminal generates request telegraphic message in a common form independently of kinds of input devices and inquires of a center device and receives response telegraphic message from the center to display the received telegraphic message or to execute the print operation of a ticket.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket issuing terminal device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a ticket issuing terminal device for issuing a railway ticket that is connected to a central processing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of means have been proposed as means for operating guidance in a ticket issuing terminal device. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-177186 proposes a method of performing operation guidance by using synthetic voice. According to this method, the guidance can be announced in synchronization with the input state of the operator. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-95687 proposes a system that uses map information for boarding / alighting stations and route designation. This method is effective as a means for facilitating the search of the target station when the operator knows the physical positional relationship between the designated stations in advance.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ticket issuing terminal device, only a uniform operating environment can be provided regardless of the proficiency level, operation record, individuality, etc. of each operator regarding terminal operation. There is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ticket issuing terminal device capable of selecting different operating environments according to each operator or operation purpose.

To provide the functions that can be provided. With this,
The operator himself / herself can select the input means and the operation guide, and the preferable operability can be realized.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of input means are provided for one ticketing terminal device, and an independent operation guidance information output means is provided for each input means. It is characterized in that the operation guide corresponding to the input means selected by the operator is output in advance.

[0007]

According to the present invention, each operator can select a desired one from a plurality of input means, and input operation of information necessary for issuing a ticket according to the operation guide corresponding to the selected input means. Can be executed. Since the ticketing request information transmitted to the central processing unit must be uniform regardless of the input means, the ticketing terminal device analyzes the input information from each input means for each input means and The data is edited and transmitted to the central processing unit. The central processing unit performs data processing according to the ticketing request information transmitted from the terminal regardless of the type of input means, and returns the reply information or the ticketing command information to the requesting terminal device. Each terminal device
The received information is displayed or the ticket is printed according to the received information from the central processing unit.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a series of train tickets required for issuing tickets.
The present invention is provided with an information input operation and a ticket printing function.
An example of the configuration of the ticket terminal device is shown. Terminal device 1 is already installed
Completed information, information input menus and other guidance information
Display screen (CRT) 2 for displaying and the above display screen
Video memory for storing display information to be output to
(VRAM) 3 and stores various control programs
Main memory 4 and a pre-printer for printing and outputting tickets
And the operator 5 for inputting route information and the like.
Multiple types of input devices (keyboard 12, pointing
Input device 13, multi-item input device 14) and this
Switch for selecting one of these input devices
And the control program read from the main storage device 4.
Central processing unit (CPU) 8 for executing the system and control
To store information used in the course of program execution
A secondary storage medium 9 including, for example, a hard disk,
A system bus 6 for connecting these modules to each other
Consists of.

In this embodiment, a series of information (hereinafter, referred to as a telegram) necessary for issuing a ticket generated by the terminal device is transmitted from the interface module 7 to the communication network 10 as necessary.
Is transmitted to the central processing unit (center) 11 via.
The center 11 analyzes a message received from the terminal, executes a predetermined data process, and transmits a message including response information to the terminal device 1. The terminal device 1 performs, for example, an operation of displaying the content of the received electronic message, a next information input process, or issuing a boarding ticket or a designated ticket by the printer device 5 according to the content of the electronic message received from the center.

A feature of the above embodiment is that a plurality of types of input devices 12, 13, 14 are provided. The keyboard (KB) 12 is a general-purpose input means capable of inputting numbers, kana, alphabets and the like. The pointing device (PD) 13 is for pointing an arbitrary position on the CRT 4, and includes a pointing device such as a mouse, a touch panel, and a pen point. The multi-item input device (SKS) 14 is a device that displays menu items that can be selected at that time on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display and gives an input instruction by pressing a portion corresponding to the input item. The display contents can be sequentially and automatically switched according to the input item.

For example, in the case of inputting "boarding station" which is one item of the electronic message, a trained operator may enter the station name as KB12.
You can enter it directly from. If the route name to which the "boarding station" belongs is known from the operator's knowledge or the request contents of the customer (ticket requester), select the corresponding route from the "route name menu" displayed on the SKS 14, and then It is also possible to display the station name belonging to the route on SKS 14 and select the target boarding station from these. In addition, when the customer knows only the geographical outline position of the station, it is possible to display the route map information of the corresponding area on the screen and specify or search the target station by PD13 on the displayed route. is there.

In the present invention, the same ticket request content is controlled so that the same format of electronic message is generated irrespective of the difference in the type of input means and the operation method described above.
This function is realized by the input information analysis program 16. The input information analysis program 16 analyzes various input information, generates a message 17, and then communicates with the center 11.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic flowchart of the input information analysis program 16. The processing contents of each step in this flowchart are as follows. Process 201: This is a process when the terminal is started, and specifically,
Initial processing such as network connection processing and data file version check is executed. One of them is
There is an input device initialization process. Here, in order to enable input operations from a plurality of input devices, the CRT 2 and SK are
The initial menu is displayed in S14. The initial menu includes
For example, the type of ticket desired to be issued is displayed. FIG. 3 shows an example of the initial screen of the CRT 2 and FIG. 4 shows an example of the initial screen of the SKS 14.

Process 202: An input operation is performed based on the contents of the initial screen displayed in process 201. On the initial screen of the CRT 2 (FIG. 3), by entering a number from the KB 12, the screen changes to the corresponding business screen. For example, "0
When "1" is input, the CRT 2 becomes a ticket sale screen.

In the example of FIG. 4, the contents of the SKS 14 are vertically 8
The items (1 to 8) and the horizontal items (a to h) can display 64 items on one screen at the same time. This display content is
It changes sequentially according to the input information. In the present invention, the number of display items is not particularly limited.

Here, for example, if "a1" is selected,
The display content of the CRT 2 is the same ticket sale screen as when "01" is input from the KB 12. In addition, SKS14
Also displays an item menu for ticket sales.

Process 203: A state of waiting for input from the operator. If the input device switching operation is performed, the process proceeds to step 204, and if valid information other than that is input, the process proceeds to step 205.

Process 204: If the input means and the input guidance display means have a one-to-one correspondence, this processing is meaningless. This process is effective, for example, when switching between a normal guide menu and a map on the CRT 4 for display. In this example, the PD 13 is displayed by displaying the map on the screen by the input mode switching means 15 while the input information from the KB 12 is valid until now.
Validate input from.

Process 205: If the input means is KB12, the process proceeds to process 206, and if not, the process proceeds to process 207.

Process 206: The contents input from the KB are analyzed and corresponding message information is generated.

Process 207: If the input means is the PD 13, proceed to process 208; otherwise, process 20.
Proceed to 9.

Process 208: The contents input from the PD are analyzed and corresponding message information is generated.

Process 209: In the present embodiment, the types of input means are KB12, PD13 and SKS14. Therefore, if the input is not from PD13 in process 207, it can be uniquely determined to be the input from SKS14. .. Therefore, in this example, the input information is analyzed on the assumption that the input is from the SKS, and the corresponding electronic message information is generated.

Process 210: As a result of analysis of input information,
If it is a “message transmission request”, the process proceeds to step 211, otherwise returns to step 207 to wait for the next input operation.

Process 211: Send a message to the center 11.

Process 212: Waiting for response information from the center 11 is entered.

Process 213: The process corresponding to the content of the response information from the center is executed. For example, screen display processing such as an error message when there is a deficiency in the electronic message, a seat securing success / failure message when a designated ticket is issued, etc. is performed.

Process 214: For example, a ticket printing / ticket issuing process, an input message saving process, a resetting process, and other termination processes are executed.

Process 215: If a process end command has been input, this program is terminated. If not, the process returns to process 202 to carry out the next work, and the job confirmation waiting state is entered.

The terminal device of the present invention is provided with a plurality of types of input means to provide a characteristic operating environment or guidance information for each input means, and the center is provided with a predetermined data regardless of the type of the input means. -It is characterized in that it can generate a telegram format message. Therefore, the particularly main processing steps in the above program flow chart are the processings 204, 206, and 208 performed corresponding to the input means, and the method of realizing the other steps is not particularly specified. Needless to say, the types of input means are not limited to the above-mentioned three types, and other types can be applied.

The operation of the device of the present invention will be described below by taking a ticket issuing business as an example. FIG. 5 shows the process 202.
An example of the CRT 2 ticket sale screen displayed in FIG. The display screen of the CRT 2 has the following three areas 501-
It is divided into 503.

Area 501: An input information display screen, which displays information necessary to sell a ticket.

Area 502: a guide display screen for displaying guide information of the item currently input. There are various possible ways to display the guide information,
In this example, a two-digit number is displayed and the corresponding number is KB1.
By inputting from 2, the corresponding information can be set in the corresponding item column.

Area 503: A system message screen, on which response information from the center and operational error messages managed by the terminal are displayed.

The screen includes the following input item areas.

Area 504: Boarding Date Input Area Area 505: Boarding Station Input Area Area 506: Alighting Station Input Area Area 507: Adult Number Input Area Area 508: Child Number Input Area Areas 509-514: Route Route Input Area Area 515 : Discount rate input area FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are screens when the boarding station “Tokyo” is specified from the KB 12 on the boarding ticket input screen as an example of the operation when the operator knows the station name of the boarding station. Shows the transition of.

Screen 601: Shows a state in which the cursor is positioned in the boarding station input area (area 505).

Screen 602: Shows a state in which “TO”, which is the acronym for “Tokyo”, is input from the KB 12. In response to this operation, the guide menu display area 502 displays a list of station names starting with “TO”. If the next character of the station name is input to the boarding station input area 505 in this state, the station names displayed in the list are further narrowed down.

Screen 701: "Tokyo" from the list of station names
The code number “08” corresponding to is input.

Screen 702: Shows a state in which "Tokyo" is input in the boarding station input area 505 by the input operation of the code number "08" and the cursor is moved to the next input item, the exit station input area 506.

8 and 9 show an example of an operation in which the operator knows the route name to which the destination station belongs and narrows down the destination station based on the route name. The screen transition when "Tokyo" is specified is shown.

State 801: Shows the initial menu of SKS. Here, if the item 802 "ticket" is selected, the screen changes to the next ticket sales screen.

State 803: a ticket sales screen, where the operator selects any of the items 804-806, the value of the selected day is set in the boarding date input area. If you select any of items 807-813,
Transition to the state 901 (FIG. 9). When any of the items 814-816 is selected, the boarding and alighting stations are set in the boarding station input area 505 and the boarding station input area 506, respectively. These items are used to reduce input work for ticket types that are frequently requested. When any of the items 817-819 is selected, the discount rate corresponding to the discount amount input area 515 is set. When any one of the items 820-825 is selected, a value corresponding to the number of people input areas 507 and 508 is set. As described above, in the SKS 14, input is possible regardless of the cursor position displayed on the CRT 2. An example in which “Tokaido Line” 807 is selected is the state 901 in FIG. 9.

State 901: Station names 902-908 belonging to the selected route are displayed on the SKS 14. here,
When “Tokyo” 902 is selected, the corresponding station is input in the boarding station input area 505. Similarly, a menu of the selected route may be displayed on the CRT 2 so that the corresponding number can be input.

10 and 11 show an example of an operation for inputting the boarding station with reference to the map displayed on the screen. In response to the input mode switching operation by the input mode switching means 15, the map display screen 1001 shown in FIG.
It is displayed above T2. When the station name "Tokyo" displayed here is selected by the PD 13, the boarding station confirmation screen 1 in which "Tokyo" is set in the boarding station column as shown in FIG.
Transition to 101. Here, when the confirm button 1102 is selected, the display of the CRT 2 transits to the boarding station confirming screen 702 described with reference to FIG. 7.

The input mode is effective when the geographical position of the target station is known. In addition to the above-mentioned boarding station, it is also possible to collectively input and specify the alighting station, route, etc. using the map information.

Next, the structure of a data file required to generate a common data format message from the information input from the above-mentioned three types of input means, and its control method will be described.

FIG. 12 shows the control content for accepting an input from the SKS 14 or the KB 12 in the state where the pre-processing 201 is completed, that is, the control content of the work confirmation processing in the processing 202. The initial screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the CRT 2. The SKS 14 also displays the initial input items shown in FIG.

In the memory MM4, KB12, S
Management tables 1201 and 1202 that are referred to in order to analyze the input information from the KS 14 are prepared. The initial screen management table 1201 is for managing the input information from the KB 12. Information to be managed includes numbers (code data) input from the KB12,
It is a business-specific data file name corresponding to this. The initial input item management table 1202 stores file names for each business in correspondence with the items in the SKS 14.

In the present embodiment, the input information from the SKS 14 is a two-dimensional coordinate value within the SKS 14 of the selected item. In this case, in the initial input item management table 1202, the management file name for each business is managed corresponding to the management item represented by the two-dimensional coordinates (x, y).

By referring to these tables, the input information from the KB 12 and the SKS 14 is analyzed, the corresponding business management file is searched, the display contents of the SKS 14 and the CRT 12 are updated according to the contents, and necessary information is displayed. Expand to MM4.

Next, the processing contents (processing 206, 208, 209) corresponding to each input means to be executed after the work is decided.
Will be described.

FIG. 13 shows detailed information of the management file for each business. Each business file includes a CRT drawing information field 1301, a KB input management information field 1302,
SKS input management information field 1303, PD input management information field 1304, and message information field 1
It consists of 205.

In the CRT drawing information field 1301,
Information indicating the drawing position on the screen for the input item required for the work and the control information of the cursor are stored.
The KB input management information field 1302, the SKS input management information field 1303, and the PD input management information field 1304 store management information corresponding to the respective input means.

When the business is designated, the input information analysis program 16 sends the message information 1 of the business file corresponding to the business.
305 is copied to the message table 17 in the MM4, and the management information 1302-1304 corresponding to each input is expanded in the MM4. Here, the electronic message table 17 is a table that manages items that need to be input in the relevant business. After that, the input information is analyzed based on the management information corresponding to the input means, and the constituent elements of the message are accumulated in the message table 17.

The processing corresponding to each input means will be described below by taking the ticket sale management file 1203 as an example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the designation control system of the boarding station by KB12. According to the position of the cursor, the corresponding item in the input item-based management table 1401 is referred to, and the process corresponding to the input information is performed. The input item management table 1401 manages a message and a guidance information pointer for each input item. From the work screen,
If you can directly enter a message, describe the matching condition of the input information in the message field in the table. For example, when the cursor is located in the boarding date input area 504 and the input information from the KB 12 is a numerical value, the input numerical value is written in the boarding day input area 504, and the input numerical value is set in the boarding date information field of the electronic message table 17. .. In this example, if the input is numeric information, it is determined as valid input information and data is set in the message table.However, numbers that cannot be input as calendar days or calendar days when tickets are not sold If the condition is true, the condition determination process may be executed so as to invalidate the input.

Further, as in the case of the boarding station input shown in FIG. 7,
When narrowing down the station name list in stages, 1402, 1
A chain management table such as 403 is required. The input information analysis program 16 refers to the message field of the input item-specific management table 1401 corresponding to the input area where the cursor is located, and if it is "NULL", it refers to the chain management table 1402 pointed to by the guide information pointer. Here, the input contents are compared with the items of the chain management table 1402.

The chain management table 1402 of this embodiment is provided with a secondary chain table 1403 that manages station information with the kana as the first character corresponding to one character. In this case, since the electronic message is not determined in the chain table 1402, the table is configured to have an electronic message and guidance information pointer for each kana character. If the corresponding message does not exist, the message field is "NULL".
The pointer to the secondary chain table having the station information with the initials of the kana character is stored in the guidance information pointer field. If "TO" is entered from the KB12, follow the guidance information pointer and select the station starting with "TO".
The next chain table 1403 is searched, and the search content is displayed on the screen according to the guidance display field. by this,
As shown on the screen 702, a list of station names starting with “TO” is displayed in the guide display area.

When the number "08" is entered here, the corresponding station "Tokyo" is displayed on the screen, and the corresponding message code "Touki" is stored in the boarding station information in the message table. In this way, desired information can be input from the KB 12. It is conceivable that the chain management table further has continuous layers, but even in that case, the same control as the processing described above can be applied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the control of the input from the SKS 14. Similar to the above, an input item-based management table 1501 and a chain table 1502 exist, and in the input item-based management table 1501, SKS1
The two-dimensional coordinate information for specifying the display position of No. 4 and the input content corresponding to each display item are managed.

For example, the state 8 of the SKS 14 shown in FIG.
In item a1 of 03, the input content is “boarding date” and the display content is “today”, and the corresponding message information “920101”
Is managed. Therefore, when this item is selected, “920101” is stored in the message table 17. On the other hand, when the item b1 is selected, the content field indicating the item to be input is "boarding station" and the message field is "NULL". Therefore, the chain table 1502 is set based on the guidance information pointer. Referenced. C1 in SKS14 according to the chain table 1502
Display data corresponding to the subsequent positions are output. As a result, the display state of the SKS 14 becomes 901. Here, when “c1” is selected, the corresponding station name “Tokyo” is displayed in the boarding station input area 505 of the CRT 2, and the message “Touki” corresponding to the boarding station input position of the message table 17 is stored.

Next, input control from the PD 13 will be described with reference to FIG. Input item management table 16
Reference numeral 01 manages coordinate information in the CRT 2 of the drawn object and a telegram for each drawn object. This example shows an example in which the drawing object is only the station, and the drawing object and the electronic message are uniquely associated with each other. Now, the coordinate information input from the PD 13 is (x,
y), the input coordinates and the coordinate information of the station w (x
w, yw) are compared.

X-mx <xw <x + mx ∩ y-my <yw <y + my ... When Expression 1 is satisfied, it is determined that the input information of the PD 13 specifies the station w, and the boarding of the message table 17 is performed. The corresponding message is stored at the station input position. Where mx and my are PD
When the input coordinates are within the margin range from the reference station coordinates, Expression 1 indicates the function of determining that the corresponding station is selected.

When a map is displayed at a plurality of scales or when a list of station names is displayed based on the instruction information on the map, the chain table is used as in the case of control by other input means. May be provided. Further, in this embodiment, in order to simplify the description, only one item is input in the PB13, and when inputting from the PD13, the screen 50 is displayed.
1, the operation example in which the cursor is positioned at the item position to be input and the input switching unit 15 instructs the input from the PD 13 has been described. With this method, PD1
When the input operation is performed in 3, it is necessary to return to the screen 501 again after the input operation for one item, move the cursor to the position for the next input, and select the PD 13 by the input switching unit 15 again. Since this makes the operation complicated, it may be possible to specify an input item on the screen 1001.
That is, regardless of the position of the cursor, when the PD 13 is selected by the input switching unit 15, a screen 1001 is displayed so that the input items other than the station can be displayed / selected in the map information, and the input items can be selected before the input is started. Be able to give instructions.

Further, as a modified example of the present invention, a plurality of modes of operation guidance may be prepared for the same input means. For example, when inputting the boarding station from KB12,
Instead of the station name search in the order of kana as described above, it is possible to present an operation screen in which the message code can be directly input so that an operator who is familiar with the message code can quickly perform the input operation. This is the input means SKS14 or K
This can be realized by making it possible to operate the items and buttons for selecting the guidance function when switching B12.

[0068]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the operator can select from a plurality of types of input operation environments.
Since you can select the operating environment that suits the situation and enter information,
It becomes possible to efficiently issue tickets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a ticket issuing terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart showing the operation of the ticket issuing terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an input initial screen of the display device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an input initial screen of a multi-item input device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen for selling a ticket.

FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 1) showing a screen transition when an operation for selling a ticket is performed from a keyboard.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 2) showing screen transitions when an operation for selling a ticket is performed from the keyboard.

FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 1) showing a screen transition when an operation for selling a ticket is performed from a multi-item input device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (part 2) showing a screen transition when an operation for selling a ticket is performed from the multi-item input device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) showing a screen transition when an operation for selling a ticket is displayed on the display device with the route map information and is performed by the pointing device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram (part 2) showing a screen transition when an operation for selling a ticket is displayed on the display device as route map information and is performed by a pointing device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship of management files searched at the time of initial input.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a management file for each input unit and each job.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a table referred to when an input operation is performed from a keyboard.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a table referred to when an input operation is performed from a multi-item input device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a table configuration referred to when a pointing device input operation is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Terminal device, 2: CRT (display device), 3: VRAM
(Video memory), 4: MM (main storage device), 5: output device (printer), 6: system bus, 8: CPU (main storage device), 9: HD (secondary storage medium), 10: communication line Net, 11: central center, 12: KB (keyboard), 13: PD (pointing device), 14:
SKS (multi-item input device), 15: input mode switching means, 16: input information analysis program, 17: message table, 301: CRT initial screen, 401: SKS initial screen, 1201: initial screen management table, 1202: existing Input item management table, 1203: ticket ticketing business data file, 1204: express ticket ticketing business data file, 1204: commuter ticketing business data file, 1
205: ticket ticketing business data file, 1206:
Data file for sleeping ticket issuing, 1301: CRT drawing information for ticket issuing business, 1302: KB for ticket issuing business
Input management information, 1303: SKS input management information for ticketing business, 1304: PD input management information for ticketing business, 1305: Electronic message management information for ticketing business.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masafumi Hori 1 Ikegami Ichigami, Haruoka-cho, Owari-shi, Aichi Hitachi Asahi Factory (72) Inventor Isamu Machida Ikegami 1-haru, Owari-shi, Aichi Hitachi, Ltd. Asahi Plant (72) Inventor Tetsuo Machida 1099 Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Inside Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory, Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshikazu Shigeshi 1-2-13, Shirahata, Urawa-shi, Saitama (72) Inventor Yoshinao Endo 1-45-3 Hikarimachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ticket issuing terminal device connected to a center device, comprising a plurality of types of input means, preparing independent operation guide information for each input means, and peculiar to each selected input means. Display guidance information to prompt the operator to input information for ticketing, edit the input information from each input means into a telegram having a common format, send it to the center device, and receive the telegram from the center device. A ticket issuing terminal device which outputs a ticket according to the following. 2. The ticket issuing terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the input means includes at least a keyboard and a pointing device, and operation guidance corresponding to the pointing device includes route map information.