JPH0595586A - Information collecting system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the information collecting system for an automatic vending machine which can collect information without interpose human labor, can reduce initial cost, can be easily applied to the existent automatic vending machine and can execute transmission either from the side of the automatic vending machine or from the side of a center equipment. CONSTITUTION:An information collecting terminal part 15 stores the information concerning an automatic vending machine 100 while exchanging information through a serial communication line 17 to a main control part 11 and based on a call originated from the side of the automatic vending machine 100 or from the side of a center equipment 300, communication is executed through a MODEM 16, telephone line network controller 41 and existent telephone network 200 to the center equipment 300. Thus, the center equipment 300 manages the information stored in the information collecting terminal part 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information collecting system for an automatic vending machine, and more particularly to a system capable of remotely managing information about a plurality of automatic vending machines in a center device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an information collecting system in a vending machine, 1) a main controller of the vending machine is operated to display information about the vending machine, and an administrator copies the information. A system for collecting information on the vending machine 2) An information collecting device such as a handy terminal is appropriately connected to the main device of the vending machine, and the information on the vending machine is extracted from the vending machine using this information collecting device. A system for collecting information about the vending machine by doing so 3) A dedicated line is laid between the vending machine and the center device,
System for collecting information on the vending machine using this dedicated line 4) A telephone line is connected between the vending machine and the center device, and information on the vending machine is sent by calling from the center device. Systems for collecting are known.

However, in the systems 1) and 2), information cannot be collected unless the administrator has to go to the place where the vending machine is installed, which is very time-consuming. There is a drawback that it takes a lot of labor and time when collecting data.

In the system of 3), since it is not necessary for the administrator to go to the place where the vending machine is installed, the labor and time required for collecting information can be saved, but between the vending machine and the center device. There is a drawback that the initial cost increases because a dedicated line must be laid in the.

The system of 4) can collect information only in response to a call from the center device, and therefore cannot collect information in real time. For example, when the vending machine is out of order, the system can handle this. could not.

[0006]

Therefore, the present invention is
Information can be collected without human intervention, the initial cost is low, it can be easily applied to existing vending machines, and it can be sent from either the vending machine side or the center device side. The purpose is to provide an information collection system for vending machines.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, information in a serial communication type vending machine configured by connecting each constituent unit to a main control unit via a serial communication line. In the collection system, an information collection terminal that is connected to the serial communication line and stores information about the vending machine while transmitting and receiving information to and from the main control unit; a modem connected to the information collection terminal; A telephone line network control device connected to the modem, and a center device connected to the telephone line network control device through an existing telephone line and managing the information collected by the information collecting terminal are provided. And

[0008]

The information collecting terminal stores information about the vending machine while transmitting / receiving information to / from the main control unit via the serial communication line, and calls from the vending machine side or from the center device side. Based on the call, it communicates with the center device through a modem, telephone line network control device, and existing telephone line,
As a result, the center device manages the information stored in the information collecting terminal.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information collecting system in a vending machine according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an automatic vending machine 100 is configured such that each constituent unit of the automatic vending machine, that is, a power source section 12, a carrier panel control section 13, and a coin mechanism section 14 are connected to a main control section 11 via a serial communication line 17. It is configured as a connected serial communication type vending machine, and an information collecting terminal unit 15 is further connected to the serial communication line 17. Furthermore, the information collecting terminal unit 15 has a modem 16 R
The modem 16 is connected via a general-purpose communication line such as S-232C, and the modem 16 is connected to a telephone network 200 including terminal stations 21 and 22 via a telephone line network control unit (NCU) 41. A center unit 30 including a personal computer with a modem function via a control unit (NCU) 42
Connected to 0.

Here, the main control unit 11 gives a command to each constituent unit in the vending machine, that is, the power supply unit 12, the transport panel control unit 13, the coin mechanism unit 14 and the information collecting terminal unit 15, and each unit. It transmits and receives data to and from. In this embodiment, an operation procedure and a communication command for communicating with the newly added information collecting terminal unit 15 are added to the main control unit 11 in addition to the well-known control function.

The power supply unit 12 supplies power to each unit of the vending machine 100 including the main control unit 11, and supplies 100V AC power supplied from the outside via the outlet 45 to 24V and 8V DC. It is converted into a power source.

The transport panel control section 13 controls various display devices and operation switches attached to a door (not shown) of the vending machine 100 and controls a merchandise discharging power section in response to a command from the main control section 11. ..

The coin mechanism unit 14 is used in the vending machine 1.
It controls the coins used for 00 and the return of change, and has a function of transmitting deposit information and receiving change amount information according to a command from the main control unit 11.

The serial communication line 17 is composed of an information transmission line and a power supply line for transmitting and receiving information between the main control unit 11 and each unit.

The information collecting terminal unit 15 is a vending machine 100.
Information that the main control unit 11 has, such as sold-out information such as sales information that is generated inside the computer, out-of-change information, information indicating a failure, etc., is temporarily tanked, and the tanked information is used by the modem 16 as necessary. Send data to the modem 1
It has a function of transmitting the data from the center device 300 received via 6 to the main controller 11.

The telephone line network control device 41 is composed of a so-called AA type telephone line network control device capable of automatic transmission and reception.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The system of this embodiment has a center unit 300.
The center device 300 is configured to collect necessary information by either a call from the center vending machine 100 or a call from the vending machine 100 side. Therefore, first, an information collecting operation based on a call from the center device 300 will be described.

When collecting information from the vending machine 100 based on a call from the center device 300, first, the center device 300 extracts the corresponding vending machine 100 according to a preset information collection schedule file. To do. Then, a call is made to the vending machine 100 based on the telephone number of the vending machine 100 registered in the center device 300 in advance, and the telephone line network control device 42, the telephone network 200, and the telephone line network control device 41 are used. Center device 3
00 and the vending machine 100 are connected. As a result, the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the vending machine 100 assigns its own identification code (ID) to the center device 300 via the modem 16, the telephone network controller 41, the telephone network 200, and the telephone network controller 42. Send. In the center device 300, this ID
And a vending machine 1 registered in advance in the center device 300
00, and if the ID is correct, the information tanked in the information collecting terminal unit 15 is used as the center device 30.
Download to a specified storage area of 0.

Here, when there is an automatic vending machine for which information is to be collected, the center apparatus 300 leaves the line with the terminal station 22 of the center apparatus 300 as it is and leaves the terminal station 21. And the next candidate vending machine are only connected, the line is closed between the center device 300 and the next candidate vending machine, and information is taken up in the same manner as above.

When all the data from the target vending machine have been sucked up, the center device 300 disconnects the line and ends this process.

The time for collecting information and the order of collecting information of the target vending machine are preset in the center device 300.

Next, an information collecting operation based on a call from the vending machine 100 will be described. In this case, when the time set in advance in the vending machine 100 comes, the vending machine 100 side calls the center device 300 to connect a line between the vending machine 100 and the center device 300. The time for making a call to the center device 300 is set in the main control unit 11 of the vending machine 100, and a telephone line network control is performed via the information collecting terminal unit 15 and the modem 16 according to a command from the main control unit 11. The device 41 is driven and the transmission operation is started. Then, the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the vending machine 100 transmits its own identification code (ID) to the center device 300 via the modem 16, the telephone line network control device 41, the telephone network 200, and the telephone line network control device 42. Then, the center device 300 compares this ID with the ID of the vending machine 100 registered in advance in the center device 300. If the ID is correct, the information tanked in the information collecting terminal unit 15 is used as the center device 300. Suck it up in a predetermined storage area. Then, when the downloading of information is completed, the line is disconnected and this process is completed.

When an abnormality occurs in the vending machine 100, regardless of the time set in the center device 300, the vending machine 100 immediately calls and informs the center device 300 of the fact. .. That is, the vending machine 1
When an abnormality occurs in 00, and this is recognized by the main device 11 of the vending machine 100, a command from the main control unit 11 causes the telephone line network control device 41 to operate via the information collecting terminal unit 15 and the modem 16. Drive and start the transmission operation. When a line is connected to the center device 300, the vending machine 100 transmits its own ID to the center device 300, and the center device 300 checks this ID and the center device 300 confirms that this is correct. The vending machine 100 is requested to send information. When the information transmitted from the vending machine 100 is received by the center device 300,
The center device 300 outputs this information to a display and a console and outputs this information to the center device 30.
The failure history is stored in a predetermined storage area within 0. When the storage in the center device 300 is completed, the line is disconnected and this process ends.

Also, when the above abnormality is recovered, the automatic vending machine 100 makes a call by the same processing procedure as described above and notifies the center device 300 of that fact.

As described above, in this embodiment, the center device 300 is configured to collect the necessary information regardless of whether the call is made from the center device 300 or the vending machine 100 side. The center device 300 can collect various information possessed by the vending machine automatically and reliably from a remote place without human intervention, and also has information about the occurrence of an abnormality with immediacy.
You can get acquainted with quickly.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the information collecting terminal unit 15 is configured as a terminal for serial communication, information is transmitted / received to / from the information collecting terminal unit 15 by slightly changing the program of the main control unit 11. Will be possible.

Further, in this embodiment, the telephone line network control device 41 is connected to the outside of the vending machine 100.
This may be provided inside the vending machine 100. Although only one vending machine is shown in FIG. 1, as is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, it is assumed that information is collected from a plurality of vending machines. Should be understood.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the information collecting system in the vending machine according to the present invention. This embodiment is suitable for application in the case where a plurality of vending machines are installed in the same place. When a plurality of vending machines are installed at the same or close locations, a modem and a telephone line network control device are connected to each of the plurality of vending machines, and the vending machine shown in FIG. However, in this case, as many modems and telephone line network control devices as the number of vending machines are required, and telephone lines to be used are required as many as the number of vending machines.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when a plurality of vending machines are installed at the same or close locations,
One specific vending machine of the plurality of vending machines is used as a master vending machine, and only this master vending machine is connected with a modem and a telephone line network control device, and other vending machines are not connected. The slave vending machine is connected to the master vending machine via a serial communication line, and information is transmitted to the center device through the master vending machine.

In FIG. 2, the vending machine 101 is a master vending machine, and the vending machines 102 and 103 are slave vending machines. The master vending machine 101 has substantially the same configuration as the vending machine 100 shown in FIG. Slave vending machines 102 and 103 are master vending machines 1
The information collection terminal unit 15 of No. 01 is replaced by the information transfer device 18, and the information transfer device 18 is connected to the information collection terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 101 via the serial communication line 19. In FIG. 2, for convenience of description, parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The information transfer device 18 reads the information stored in the main control section 11 of the slave vending machines 102 and 103 by a command from the information collecting terminal section 15 of the master vending machine 101, and serially communicates this information. Transfer to the information collecting terminal unit 15 via the line 19.

The serial communication line 19 is constructed by the well-known polling / selecting method.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows.

That is, the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 101 sequentially selects the information transfer devices 18 of the slave vending machines 102 and 103 at appropriate timings, and selects the selected slave vending machine 102, By giving a command to the information transfer device 18 of the slave vending machine 103, the information stored in the main control section 11 of the slave vending machines 102 and 103 is transferred via the serial communication line 19 to the information collecting terminal section 15 of the master vending machine 101. Information to the slave vending machines 102 and 103 and the master vending machine 101.
The information is collected in the information collecting terminal unit 15.

Here, a line is connected between the center device 300 and the master vending machine 101 by either a call from the center device 300 or a call from the master vending machine 101, and the master vending machine is connected. The ID of the machine 101 is checked in the center device 300, and if the ID is correct, the center device 300 starts sucking up the tanked information in the information collecting terminal unit 15. Here, the information about the master vending machine 101 and the information about the slave vending machines 102 and 103 are also tanked in the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 101. Information about the vending machines 102 and 103 is also taken up by the center device.

When the collection of all the information tanked in the information collecting terminal unit 15 is completed, the line is disconnected and this process is completed.

According to this structure, when a plurality of vending machines are installed at one installation place, it is not necessary to equip each vending machine with a modem and a telephone line. Information can be sent and received by a plurality of vending machines with one modem simply by connecting the two with a serial communication line.

FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment of the present invention constructed by utilizing a no ringing line.
When one center device collects information from a large number of vending machines, it takes a considerable time if a normal ringing line is used. Therefore, in this embodiment, the center device is configured to use a no ringing line so that information can be collected quickly.

In FIG. 3, a vending machine 104 is an automatic vending machine which can automatically receive an incoming call according to a no ringing procedure.
The vending machine 104 has the same configuration as the vending machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 except that an NCUMODEM 16a in which a modem and a telephone network controller are integrated is used. The NCUMODEM 16a is connected to the terminal 21a to which the NRT device 23 of the telephone network 200 is added via the ANRNCU 43 which is a telephone line network control device for no ringing.

The automatic vending machine 105 is an automatic vending machine that can only make automatic calls. Although the structure of the automatic vending machine 105 is the same as that of the automatic vending machine 104, the automatic vending machine 105 is connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) 44 by a two-wire system. It is connected to the terminal station 21a of the telephone network 200 via.

In such a structure, the center device 300
The vending machine having the same configuration as the vending machine 104 can be connected to the vending machine through the telephone line network control unit (C-NCU) 42a, the telephone network 200, and the ANRNCU 43 by the no ringing procedure. It is possible to speed up the collection of information from seed vending machines.

Further, the automatic vending machine having the same structure as the automatic vending machine 105 can only make an automatic call.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention in which a telephone can be connected to the vending machine and a normal telephone call can be made using the telephone line connected to the vending machine. It is a thing.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine 1
NCUMODEM 16b of 06 is terminal 1 for telephone connection
60, and the telephone 400 is connected via this terminal 160.

The detailed configuration of the NCUMODEM 16b is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In FIG. 5, an NCUMODEM 16b is an OFF-hook detection circuit 161, which detects an off-hook of the telephone 400 connected via a terminal 160, and an NCUMO.
It is composed of a DEM unit 162 and a line switching unit 163. In this configuration, when the off-hook detection circuit 161 does not detect the off-hook of the telephone 400,
The line switching unit 163 receives NCUM by the signal of the line 164.
It is switched to select the ODEM unit 162, and information can be collected from the vending machine 106. But O
When the FF hook detection circuit 161 detects the off-hook of the telephone 400, the line switching unit 1 outputs the signal on the line 164.
63 is switched to select the line 165 side,
In this case, a line is connected to the telephone 400 via the line 165, the OFF hook detection circuit 161, and the terminal 160, and telephone communication by the telephone 400 becomes possible.

That is, in this configuration,
Even if the vending machine 106 is transmitting information, the telephone 40
When 0 is off-hook, the telephone call by the telephone 400 becomes possible, and the telephone call can be prioritized by the telephone 400. If the telephone 400 goes off-hook while the vending machine 106 is transmitting information, the information transmission from the vending machine 106 is interrupted and communication is not established. In this case, the telephone 400 ends the call. After that, a program for transmitting information again is installed.

FIG. 6 is a master vending machine 10 which is connected to the ANRNCU 43, can be connected to the line by a no ringing procedure, and can be connected to a slave vending machine.
7. Slave vending machine 108, PB which is connected to master vending machine 107 via serial communication line 19a and functions as a slave vending machine of master vending machine 107.
A master vending machine 109 that is connected to the X44 and can only make automatic calls and can be connected to a slave vending machine, is connected to the master vending machine 109 via the serial communication line 19b, and is a slave automatic vending machine of the master vending machine 109. Fig. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention configured to include a slave vending machine 110 that functions as a vending machine.

In this embodiment, the master vending machine 107 can be connected to the line by the ARNNCU 43 according to the no ringing procedure, and the information of the slave vending machine 108 is transmitted via the information transfer device 18 of the slave vending machine 108. By appropriately tanking the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 107, the information of the slave vending machine 108 is sent to the center device 300 via the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 107. can do.

Further, the master vending machine 109 is a PBX.
The information of the master vending machine 109 can be sent to the center apparatus 300 to the center apparatus 300 by an automatic call from the master vending machine 109 via 44, and the information of the slave vending machine 110 can be sent to the center apparatus 300. By appropriately tanking the information collection terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 109 via the information transfer device 18 of 110,
The information of the slave vending machine 110 can be sent to the center device 300 via the information collecting terminal unit 15 of the master vending machine 109.

Further, the master vending machine 107 makes a call from the center device 300 side or the master vending machine 107.
The information is sent to the center device 30 by any call from the side.
Information can be sent to 0.

The vending machines 107, 108, 10
The details of information transmission from 9, 110 are the same as those already described.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since various information on vending can be arbitrarily acquired even from a remote place, it is no longer necessary for the administrator to know the situation of the vending machine unless the administrator goes to the place where the vending machine is installed. Management of automatic vending machines becomes possible. In addition, since the information of the vending machine is acquired without human intervention, it is very convenient especially when managing a large number of vending machines at one place.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information collecting system in an automatic vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the information collecting system in the vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the information collecting system in the vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of still another embodiment of the information collecting system in the vending machine according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing details of an NCUMODEM of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the information collecting system in the vending machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Main Control Section 12 Power Supply Section 13 Transport Panel Control Section 14 Coin Mechanism Section 15 Information Collection Terminal 16 Modem 16a, 16b NCUMODEM 17 Serial Communication Line 18 Information Transfer Device 19 Serial Communication Line 21, 22, 22a Terminal Station 23 NRT Device 41, 42, 42a Telephone line network controller 43 ANRNCU 44 Private branch exchange (PBX) 45 Outlet 100, 104, 105, 106 Vending machine 101, 107, 109 Master vending machine 102, 103, 108, 110 Slave vending machine 161 OFF Hook detection circuit 162 NCUMODEM unit 163 Line switching unit 200 Telephone network 300 Center device 400 Telephone

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information gathering system in a serial communication type vending machine configured by connecting each constituent unit to a main control unit via a serial communication line, wherein the main control unit is connected to the serial communication line. An information collecting terminal that stores information about the vending machine while transmitting and receiving information to and from the modem, a modem connected to the information collecting terminal, a telephone line network control device connected to the modem, and the telephone line network. An information collecting system in a vending machine, comprising: a center device which is connected to a control device through an existing telephone line and manages information collected by the information collecting terminal. 2. A constitution in which each constituent unit is connected via a first serial communication line, which is connected to the first serial communication line and transmits / receives information to / from the first main control unit. A serial communication type first vending machine having an information collecting terminal for storing information about the vending machine, and each constituent unit connected to a second main controller via a second serial communication line. And connected to the second serial communication line and to the information collecting terminal of the first vending machine via a third serial communication line,
A second vending machine of the serial communication system having an information transfer device for transferring information on the vending machine to the information collecting terminal of the first vending machine while transmitting and receiving information to and from the second main control section. Machine, a modem connected to the information collecting terminal, a telephone line network control device connected to the modem, and a telephone line network control device connected via an existing telephone line to the information collecting terminal. An information collecting system in a vending machine, comprising: a center device that manages stored information and information collected by the information transfer device. 3. The telephone line is connected to the telephone line network control device through a no ringing telephone line network control device, and the telephone line is a no ringing line. Information gathering system for vending machines in Japan. 4. The information collecting system in a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the telephone network controller has a telephone connection terminal. 5. The telephone line network control device connects an off-hook detection circuit for detecting off-hook to a telephone connected to the telephone connection terminal, and connects the telephone line to the telephone corresponding to a detection output of the off-hook detection circuit. The information collecting system in a vending machine according to claim 4, further comprising a switching circuit for switching to a terminal side.