JPH08287324A - Totaliozing method for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a totalizing method for automatic vending machines which can improve gathering operation for totalizing information of the respective automatic vending machines without using a host computer. CONSTITUTION: A totalizing command B is sent from a specific automatic vending machine 1a to other automatic vending machines 1b-1n through a communication network 2 and the totalizing information of the automatic vending machines 1b-1n is gathered at the specific automatic vending machine 1a through the communication network 2, so an operator only visits the specific automatic vending machine 1a to obtain the totals of the automatic vending machines 1b-1n.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine totaling method for totaling the operating states of a plurality of vending machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When it is necessary to add up the operating statuses of a plurality of vending machines, an operator sets each vending machine to 1
Data is collected by patrol one by one. When the installation location is an intelligent building or the like, a vending machine system is constructed as shown in FIG.

A vending machine 1a installed on a location,
1b, ..., 1n are connected to a host computer 3 via a communication network 2 and each vending machine 1a.
1 to 1n each perform a sales process and are operating normally.

The host computer 3 has a total command transmission function 4 and a polling selection function 5,
When the totaling instruction A is given to the host computer 3, the host computer 3 transmits the totaling command B to the vending machines 1a to 1n via the communication network 2 to perform the polling selection.

The vending machine which has received the totaling command B executes its own totaling routine to totalize its own operating state, and transmits totaling information such as sales and failures to the host computer 3 via the communication network 2. To do.

The host computer 3 which receives the totalization information from each vending machine stores the totalization result as a totalization result, and the stored totalization result is subjected to predetermined processing, processed, analyzed, and output.

Each of the automatic vending machines 1a to 1n mentioned here is, for example, a ticket vending machine which can use a prepaid card or a depositing machine which deposits money into the prepaid card.

[0008]

In the aggregation method employing the host computer 3 and the communication network 2 as described above, the operator does not need to visit each vending machine one by one, but the workability is good, but The laying of a communication line between the vending machine and the host computer 3 and the host computer 3 are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine totaling method capable of improving the operation of collecting total information of each vending machine 1a to 1n without using the host computer 3.

[0010]

According to the method of totalizing vending machines according to claim 1, when totaling the operating states of the respective vending machines, the respective vending machines are connected to a communication network and a specific vending machine is connected. Other vending machines that have transmitted the aggregation command from the communication network to the communication network and performed polling selection, and that have detected the aggregation command of the communication network,
It is characterized in that a self-counting routine is executed to collect the operation status of the self and the total information is collected in the specific vending machine via a communication network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the vending machine totaling method is as follows:
When totaling the operating status of each vending machine, each vending machine is connected to the communication network, and the specific vending machine sends the totaling command and the password of the group to which the specific vending machine belongs to the communication network. The other vending machines that received polling selections from the communication network and received the communication network aggregation command and password collated the passwords of the groups to which they belong and the received passwords, and the vending machine that detected the password match. The present invention is characterized in that the counting routine is executed only for a limited number of times to count the driving states of the driver, and the counting information is collected in the specific vending machine via the communication network.

[0012]

According to the structure of claim 1, a specific vending machine transmits a totaling command to another vending machine via the communication network, and totaling information of the other vending machines is transmitted via the communication network. As it collects on a particular vending machine, the operator only needs to visit the particular vending machine and obtain it including a tally of other vending machines connected to the communication network.

According to the structure of claim 2, since the specific vending machine transmits the totaling command and the group password to the other vending machines via the communication network,
Only the total of the vending machines of the group to which the specific vending machine of the plurality of groups connected to the same communication network belongs can be collected in the specific vending machine.

[0014]

The following is a description of the totaling method of the vending machine according to the present invention, based on specific embodiments. It should be noted that components having the same functions as those of the conventional example shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, each of the vending machines 1a to 1n has a total command transmission function 4 and a polling selection function 5, which are connected to each other via a communication network 2.

Each of the automatic vending machines 1a to 1n referred to here is, for example, a ticket vending machine which can use a prepaid card or a depositing machine which deposits money into the prepaid card.

When the operator visits the vending machine 1a and gives a totaling instruction A, the vending machine 1a executes its own counting routine to totalize its own operating state and obtain totaling information such as sales and breakdowns. At the same time, the totaling command B is transmitted to the other vending machines 1b to 1n via the communication network 2 to perform polling selection.

The other vending machines 1b to 1n that have received the totaling command B execute their own totaling routines to totalize their own operating states and send totaling information B such as sales and breakdowns to the totaling command B. The data is transmitted to the vending machine 1a that has been set via the communication network 2.

The vending machine 1a, which has received the total information from the other automatic vending machines 1b to 1n, stores the total information together with its own total information as a total result or writes it in the printer or the handy terminal carried by the operator.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the vending machine 1a can be simply input by visiting any one of the plurality of vending machines 1a to 1n connected to the communication network 2 and inputting the counting instruction A. It is possible to obtain the total information of 1n.

The operator, who has obtained the total information of the automatic vending machines 1a to 1n, returns to the center, inputs the total result into the host computer 3, and performs a predetermined process by the host computer 3 to process and analyze the result. Is output.

In the above embodiment, the total command transmission function 4 and the polling selection function 5 are provided in all of the vending machines 1a to 1n, but at least one vending machine connected to the communication network 2 is provided. The same effect can be expected by providing the total command transmission function 4 and the polling selection function 5.

In the above embodiment, the total information of all the other vending machines connected to the communication network 2 is collected in the vending machine which inputs the totaling instruction A. When different groups of vending machines are connected, a specific vending machine sends a totaling command and the password of the group to which the specific vending machine belongs to the communication network 2 to perform polling selection. However, the other vending machines connected to the communication network 2 collate the password of the group to which they belong and the received password, and execute the counting routine only for the vending machine which has detected the coincidence of the passwords. By summing up its own driving condition and transmitting the count information to the specific vending machine via the communication network 2. In particular vending machine tabulation command B has been input, it can be collected only by the summary information of the vending machine of the group to which the self belongs.

[0024]

According to the structure of claim 1, a specific vending machine transmits a totaling command to another vending machine via a communication network, and totaling information of the other vending machines is transmitted via the communication network. Since the information is collected in the specific vending machine by the operator, the operator only needs to visit the specific vending machine and obtain the result including the aggregation result of the other vending machines connected to the communication network.

Therefore, the totaling can be performed without using the host computer, and it is not necessary to install the host computer and the communication line connected to the host computer.

According to the configuration of claim 2, since the specific vending machine transmits the totaling command and the group password to the other vending machines via the communication network,
2. A specific vending machine can collect only aggregated information of vending machines of a group to which the specific vending machine belongs among a plurality of groups connected to the same communication network. In addition, the same communication network can be shared by a plurality of groups of vending machines having different owners.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic vending machine system that adopts a counting method for an automatic vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine system that adopts a conventional vending machine totaling method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a to 1n Vending machine 2 Communication network 4 Aggregation command transmission function 5 Selection function A Aggregation instruction B Aggregation command D Aggregation information

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. When totaling the operation status of each vending machine, each vending machine is connected to a communication network, and a specific vending machine transmits a totaling command to the communication network to perform polling selection and communication. The other vending machines that detect the network tally command execute their own tally routines to tally their own operating status and collect tally information to the specific vending machine via the communication network. How to count machines. 2. When totaling the operating status of each vending machine, each vending machine is connected to a communication network, and a totaling command and a password of a group to which the specific vending machine belongs are connected from a specific vending machine. Other vending machines that have transmitted the polling selection to the communication network and received the total command and password of the communication network collate the password of the group to which they belong and the received password, and detect the password match. The vending machine totaling method of executing the totaling routine only for the vending machine, totaling the operation status of the self vending machine, and collecting the totalized information in the specific vending machine via the communication network.