JPH06119551A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to execute trial listening without additionally preparing a sound source for trial listening by acquiring digitized vending music information from a host computer, storing the information, and in the case of executing trial listening, reproducing the stored information. CONSTITUTION:Fresh commodity information is received from the host computer 6 through a MODEM 81 and a communication line 7 and stored in a RAM 82 and its operating information is transmitted to the computer 6. When key entery is executed from a touch panel 84, a genre selection menu is displayed on a display 88 to present it to a user. Contents such as the price of a specified commodity and music names stored in the commodity are displayed to be confirmed by a user. When a music name key is depressed to command the trial listening of the music, MIDI data stored in a RAM 82 are reproduced by a music reproducing device 86 so that the user can listen the music of the MIDI data to the commodity. In this constitution, the trial listening of a music to be sold can be executed without preparing a sound source for trial listening separately from that for sales.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine installed in a street, a store, or a store.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vending machine that sells music information cannot listen to music information, which is a product, so that the user of the vending machine purchases the product without confirming the content of the product. In order to solve such a problem, an automatic vending machine capable of trial listening has been proposed, but in this automatic vending machine, the vending machine automatically sells music information that is a product in a recording medium such as a compact disc in advance. I kept it on board. In addition, the products held in the vending machine were sealed by packaging or the like.

[0003]

However, if the user wants to listen to the contents of the music information that is a product, the music information stored in the product itself cannot be reproduced.
There was a problem that a sound source to be played for trial listening had to be provided separately from the one for sale. In addition, when selling a new song, a staff member must prepare in advance so that the user can listen to the song to be sold in advance.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the first object thereof is to provide a sound source for trial listening separately from that for sale.
The purpose is to provide a vending machine that can listen to music information for sale. A second purpose is to allow a staff member to listen to a new song without having to operate the vending machine to prepare a new song.

[0005]

To achieve this object, the vending machine of the present invention comprises a storage means for digitizing and storing music information to be sold, and a reproducing means for reproducing music information to be sold. It also has a selling means for recording the music information to be sold in a storage medium for sale.

[0006]

In the automatic vending machine of the present invention having the above structure, the storage means stores the digitized music information for sale. The reproduction means reproduces the music information for sale stored in the storage means so that the user can listen to the product. The sales means records the music information for sale stored in the storage means on a storage medium such as a compact disk or a magnetic disk,
It is sold by handing it to the user.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic vending system using the MIDI data vending machine 8 embodying the present invention. The MIDI data vending machine 8 is connected to the host computer 6 via the communication line 7. Since it is connected, digital music information for sale can be
It can be supplied to the DI data vending machine 8.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the MIDI data vending machine 8 embodying the present invention.

The CPU 85 for controlling the entire vending machine includes a memory 85a for temporarily storing control programs and data. The CPU 85 includes a modem 81 for receiving MIDI data to be sold from a host computer, a RAM 82 for storing MIDI data received from the host computer, a touch panel 84 for operating a vending machine and designating songs to be purchased. , MID
A music reproducing device 86 including a well-known synthesizer 86a, an amplifier 86b, and a speaker 86c for reproducing music from I data, and a commodity selling device for writing MIDI data specified by a user onto a floppy disk and then carrying it out for sale. 87, a display 88 for displaying information on MIDI data to be sold and an operation method, and a depositing device 89 for receiving a predetermined fee. The commodity selling device 87 includes an FD storage device 87a for storing a pre-formatted floppy disk for writing the MIDI data to be sold, and an FD writing device for writing the selected MIDI data on the floppy disk. The loading device 87b and the FD unloading device 87c for unloading the floppy disk in which the MIDI data is written and delivering it to the user.

The operation of the MIDI data vending machine 8 configured as above will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows the MIDI data vending machine 8 described above.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a process in which a product is sold after the power is turned on. In step 1 (hereinafter referred to as S1), when the MIDI data vending machine is powered on, it starts operating. Next, in S2, the device is initialized so that it can be used by various devices connected to the CPU. When the initialization is completed, new product information is received from the host computer 6 via the modem 81 and the communication line 7 as S3, and is stored in the RAM 82 and the RAM 82.
The operating information stored in the host computer 6 is transmitted to the host computer 6.

As S4, the service menu shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 88 to show the user what the MIDI data vending machine 8 can service. At S5, it is checked whether or not there is a key input from the touch panel 84 by the user. When there is no key input in S5 (S5
5: No input) proceeds to S16. In S16, it is checked whether or not a request for communication has arrived from the host computer 6. In S16, if the request for communication has not arrived (S16: no request), the process returns to S5 and the input from the touch panel 84 is checked. In S16,
If the request for communication has arrived from the host computer 6 (S16: request is made), the process returns to S3, and data is transmitted / received to / from the host computer 6.

If there is a key input from the touch panel 84 in S5 and the genre-specific search key 84a is designated (S5: genre search key), the process proceeds to S6.
As S6, the genre selection menu shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display 88, and the type of music genre of MIDI data to be sold is presented to the user. At S7, it is checked whether or not there is a key input from the touch panel 84 by the user. If there is no key input in S7 (S7: no input), the process of S7 is repeated until it is input. S
When the stop key 84b is touched in step 7 (S7:
The (stop key) returns to the process of S4. If the classic key 84c is touched in S7 (S7: classic key), the process proceeds to S8, and a product containing MIDI data belonging to the classic genre is presented.

As in S6, in S8, a product menu (not shown) containing the classic MIDI data is displayed on the display 88 to allow the user to select it. At S9, it is checked whether or not there is a key input from the touch panel 84 by the user. If there is no key input in S9 (S9
9: No input) waits for the input of the process of S9 repeatedly. When the stop key is touched in S9 as in S7 (S9: stop key), the process returns to S4. S
When the product displayed in the menu is designated in S9 (S9: product key), the process proceeds to S10. As S10,
The price of the specified product and the MIDI stored in the product
Display 88 of product contents consisting of data song titles
Display it on the screen and let the user confirm. In addition to the product contents, this screen also displays three types of keys, a confirm key, a song name key, and a stop key.

As S11, the operation waits until the key displayed on the screen is touched. When the cancel key is touched in S11 and an instruction to stop selecting the product is given (S1
1: Stop key) returns to the processing of S4 and finishes the selection of the product. When the song title key is touched in S11 and an instruction to listen to the song is instructed (S11: song name key),
The process of S17 is performed. In S17, the MIDI data stored in the RAM 82 is reproduced using the music reproducing device 86. By the process of S17, the user is a product M
You can audition the songs in the IDI data. When the reproduction of the MIDI data is completed in S17, the process returns to S11. When the confirmation key is touched in S11 and an instruction to purchase the product is given (S11: confirmation key)
Pays the price of the product designated in S12 to the deposit device 8
Receive from 9

As S13, a floppy disk for writing the MIDI data, which is a product, is stored in the FD storage device 8
7a to FD writing device 87b. As S14, the MIDI data stored in the RAM 82 is FD
Writing to the floppy disk is performed by the writing device 87b. In S15, the floppy disk in which the MIDI data is written is set to MI by the FD carry-out device 87c.
It is carried out from the DI data vending machine 8 and given to the user. After that, the process returns to S3 and waits for an input from the next user.

In the MIDI data vending machine which operates as described above, it is possible to listen to the music of MIDI data to be sold even if a sound source for trial listening is not provided separately from the one for sale.

Further, since the new song data is automatically stored in the RAM after being transmitted from the host computer, it is possible for the staff not to prepare the vending machine for the audition before the sale. it can.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, music information to be sold as a product can be reproduced, so that the product can be auditioned without preparing another sound source for auditioning. There is an advantage that can be done. Also,
There is an advantage that it is not necessary to operate the vending machine so that a staff member can listen to a song to be sold in advance before selling a new song or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an automatic vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic vending system which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a MIDI data vending machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU of the MIDI data vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of a screen when a method of searching for products is specified in the MIDI data vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display state when a genre of a song is designated in the MIDI data vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 81 modem (communication means) 82 RAM (storage means) 86 music playback device (playback means) 87 product sales device (sale means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine capable of listening to music information for sale before sale, the communication means for acquiring digitized music information for sale from a host computer, and the communication means. Storage means for storing the acquired music information, reproduction means for reproducing the music information acquired from the storage means, and storage of the music information acquired from the storage means in a storage medium for sale to users. And a vending machine for sale.