JPH10334283A - Automatic ticket machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the user to simply purchase a reservation ticket at a nearby station used as a commuter or the like by allowing the automatic ticket machine to issue the reservation ticket. SOLUTION: Automatic ticket machines a1 , a2 ,... of each station are connected respectively to station devices A', B',.... The station devices A', B',... are connected to a reservation center C through communication channels. The automatic ticket machines a1 , a2 ,... set the main body to the reservation issue mode and enter a reservation number. Then reservation data relating to reservation number entered among reservation data having been stored in advance in the main body of the automatic ticket machines a1 , a2 ,... are extracted, and when a charge satisfying a purchase monetary amount of the reservation ticket relating to the reservation data extracted by the main body of the automatic ticket machines a1 , a2 ,... is depositted, the reservation ticket is issued. Thus, the user obtains the reservation ticket at a nearby station as a commuter without visit to the reservation center C, then the system provides much convenience.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic ticket vending machine, and more particularly to an automatic ticket vending machine capable of issuing a reservation ticket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a train reservation ticket can be purchased directly at a counter of a station or a travel center (hereinafter referred to as a "reservation center"), or by making a reservation by telephone. After that, it is operated to go to a clerk window of the reservation center and obtain the reservation ticket in exchange for the price.

[0003]

However, when purchasing the above-mentioned conventional reservation ticket, it is necessary to go to a reservation center to purchase the ticket, and the reservation center is located at a specific place such as a large station or downtown. Since there is only
It is inconvenient for a user who does not live near such a specific place or has no office near the reservation center.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ticket vending machine capable of easily purchasing a reservation ticket.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic ticket vending machine according to the present invention is provided with a setting means for setting the main body of the automatic ticket vending machine to a reservation ticket issuing mode and a reservation ticket issuing mode. Input means for inputting a reservation number when
Extracting means for extracting the reservation data relating to the inputted reservation number from the reservation data stored in advance in the automatic ticket vending machine main body, and purchasing the reservation ticket relating to the reservation data extracted in the automatic ticket vending machine main body Issuing means for issuing a reservation ticket when a charge satisfying the amount is input.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a reservation ticket purchasing system to which the automatic ticket vending machine of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a1, a2, ... are automatic ticket vending machines installed at station A, and b1, b2, ... are automatic ticket vending machines installed at station B. Although not shown, similar automatic ticket vending machines are installed at other stations. And vending machines a1, a2,..., B1, b at each station.
2… is an automatic ticket vending machine a provided at each station A, B,…
, B1, b2,... Are respectively connected to station devices A ', B',.

Each of the station devices A ', B',...
A communication network is configured so that data can be exchanged between the reservation center C and each of the station devices A ', B',...

Similar to the conventional reservation system, the reservation center C is connected to terminals such as telephones A, B,... And personal computers B, B,. It is configured to be able to make a reservation using a communication line from.

In order to make a reservation from a terminal such as a telephone, a reservation center C is first called to specify a user such as a telephone number, and a desired ticket is reserved, as in the prior art. When the reservation is made, the user is notified of the reservation number.

The established reservation data is sent to the automatic ticket gates a1, a2 of each station via the station devices A ', B',.
, B1, b2, ... are stored in memories (not shown). This reservation data may be stored in the memory of the station devices A ', B',... At each station. Therefore, in the present invention, the phrase "reservation data stored in advance in the main body of the automatic ticket vending machine" includes the case where it is stored in the memory of each station device A ', B',.

Since the automatic ticket vending machines a1, a2, ..., b1, b2, ... provided at the stations A, B, ... respectively have the same configuration, the automatic ticket vending machine a1 installed at the station A will be described as an example.

The main body of the automatic ticket vending machine a1 (hereinafter referred to as "main body a1
In the center of the front, a touch-panel display screen 1 is provided, and on the left side of the display screen 1, a call button 2a which is pressed when a response is to be made with the attendant, and a purchase operation of tickets and the like are stopped halfway. There is provided a cancel button 2b which is pressed when desired.

A card insertion slot 3a for inserting a card when the purchase price is paid by a card such as a prepaid card, and a bill for inserting the bill when paying the purchase price with the bill are provided in the upper lower part on the front of the main body a1. An insertion slot 3b and a coin insertion slot 3c into which the coin is inserted when the purchase price is paid by a coin are provided.

In the lower lower part of the front of the ticket vending machine main body a1, a change coin discharge port 4a, a change tag discharge port 4b, and a ticket issuing port 5 for discharging tickets, reservation tickets and tickets are provided. .

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes a microcomputer (C
(PU), which controls the main body a1 and controls each unit of the present invention. Its electrical configuration is shown in FIG.

The CPU 10 is configured to perform arithmetic processing using working data and a control program stored in the memory 11, and the communication control unit 1
The data is exchanged with the reservation center C via the communication center 2. Further, the CPU 10 includes a variable display unit 13 that drives and controls the display of the display screen 1,
, A coin processing unit 15 for checking the coin inserted from the coin slot 5, and a bill processing unit 16 for checking the banknote inserted from the bill insertion slot 6. And a ticket issuing unit 1 for issuing a commuter pass
7 and a staff operation unit 18 provided on the back side of the main body 1 and having a numeric keypad operated by a staff during maintenance and inspection.
A change processing unit 19 for discharging change to the change discharge port 9;
A card processing unit 20 for processing cards such as prepaid cards is connected.

Next, a control operation for issuing a reservation ticket from the main body a1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user who has reserved the reserved ticket touches the button of the reserved ticket on the display screen 1 (Yes at Step 100; hereinafter, the steps are referred to as "S"), the display screen 1 is displayed.
Changes from the display of the account button group for the ordinary ticket to the ten key screen for inputting the reservation number, and the reservation number can be input.

The reservation number is obtained by the user from the reservation center C, and is, for example, the telephone number of the user, and in any case, is a number for specifying the user and the contents of the reservation ticket. The reservation number does not have to be a number,
It may be a letter or symbol such as an alphabet. Therefore, in this case, characters and symbols are also displayed on the display screen 1. In the present invention, the “reservation number” includes such characters and symbols.

When the user inputs the reservation number (Yes at S102 and S104), the reservation data relating to the inputted reservation number is extracted from a memory (not shown) of the station device A '(or the memory 11 of the main unit a1). You. Then, based on the extracted data, the ticket issuing unit 17 creates a reservation ticket (Yes at S106, S108, S110).

Of course, if the reservation data corresponding to the inputted reservation number is not extracted, the reservation ticket cannot be issued, and the fact is indicated on the display screen 1 (S108).
No, S109).

The created reservation ticket is provided on condition that an amount that satisfies the purchase price of the reservation ticket has been inserted into the main body a1.
It is discharged and issued to the ticket issuing port 5 (Yes at S112, S1
14).

When a contract is made between the user and the reservation center C to pay the purchase price of the reservation ticket from the user's bank account, the above-described money input is omitted. . Therefore, in the present invention, "when a fee that satisfies the purchase price of the reservation ticket is entered" includes such payment by credit.

As described above, the user can obtain the reservation ticket at the nearest station used for commuting without having to go to the reservation center, which is extremely convenient.

[0026]

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic ticket vending machine comprising: a setting means for setting a main body to a reservation ticket issuing mode; an input means for inputting a reservation number when the reservation ticket issuance mode is set; Extracting means for extracting the reservation data relating to the inputted reservation number from the stored reservation data, and when a charge that satisfies the purchase price of the reservation ticket relating to the reservation data extracted to the main body is entered, Since the ticket issuance means for issuing a reservation ticket, the user can obtain the reservation ticket at the nearest station used for commuting without having to go to the reservation center, which is extremely convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a reservation system when applied to an automatic ticket vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a main body.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a controller.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display screen 2a Call button 2b Cancel button 3a Card slot 3b Bill insertion slot 3c Coin slot 4a, 4b Discharge slot 5 Ticket issue slot 6 Controller a1, a2 ..., b1, b2 ... The body (body) of an automatic ticket vending machine A ', B' ... Station device C Reservation center Telephone B Personal computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A setting means for setting a main body of an automatic ticket vending machine to a reservation ticket issuing mode; an input means for inputting a reservation number when the automatic ticket vending machine is set to the reservation ticket issuing mode; Extracting means for extracting the reservation data relating to the inputted reservation number from the inputted reservation data, and when a charge satisfying the purchase price of the reservation ticket relating to the extracted reservation data is inputted to the main body of the vending machine. And an issuing means for issuing the reservation ticket.