JPH103572A - Automatic vending machine with guiding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an automatic vending machine to detect and communicate a place where a person or an article is present in a place where the set number of the automatic vending machines is large such as an amusement part. SOLUTION: When a child is lost, the number of an ID number transmitter 20 owned by a person who wants to know where he is present is inputted to a near automatic vending machine 10, and a guidance is instructed from a guidance requesting part 12. Then, the ID number and an automatic vending machine number read from a storage part 16 are transmitted through a communication line 40 to a center 30. In the center 30, the automatic vending machine which receives the signal of the ID number making the guidance request is retrieved from received data from each automatic vending machine 10 previously stored in a storage part 33 by a retrieving part 32, and the receiving time and position information is transmitted to the automatic vending machine making the guidance request. The automatic vending machine instructing the guidance outputs the place where the person is present from a displaying part 14 and a voice outputting part 15, based on the position information from the center. Thus, the place where the child is present or the moving time can be easily recognized from the automatic vending machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine with a guide device (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine) for guiding a location in a specific area such as an amusement park.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a person loses his or her belongings in a large amusement park or theme park, or loses his belongings, he or she can search for it, go to an information center and call it, I was delivering it. And when they were stolen, they had to wait for the goods to come out.

[0003]

There are the following problems in the conventional countermeasures against lost or misplaced objects. As mentioned above,
You have to move and search for lost children because you do not know where they are. In addition, it is often not possible to immediately remember the place where one has been left behind.

[0004] In such a case, it is convenient if there is a device that is provided in the immediate vicinity to indicate the location of a person or a thing. On the other hand, in amusement parks, etc., the number of vending machines for beverages etc. is large, and vending machines can be found immediately anywhere. However, conventional vending machines do not have a function of detecting and indicating the location of a person or object. An object of the present invention is to make a vending machine detect a location of a person or an object and notify the vending machine in a place such as an amusement park where a large number of vending machines are installed.

[0005]

A vending machine with a guide device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of vending machines communicating with a center via a communication line, and a plurality of portable identification numbers for constantly transmitting identification numbers by radio. Sending means, each vending machine has a receiving means for receiving the identification number from the identification number sending means, a storing means for storing its own vending machine number, and a guidance instructing means for instructing and inputting a guidance request. Input means for inputting an identification number of a guidance target at the time of a guidance request, and output means for outputting position information received from the center. When there is no guidance request from the guidance instruction means, the identification information received from the identification number sending means is provided. The number, the reception time, and the vending machine number are transmitted to the center. When a guidance is requested, the identification number of the guidance target, the vending machine number, and the guidance request signal by the input means are transmitted to the center. After that, the location information is received and output from the center, and the center has transmitted the storage means for sequentially storing the identification number, the reception time, and the vending machine number, and the same identification number as the guidance target identification number. A search means for searching for a vending machine number of the vending machine, and a position information storage means for storing position information corresponding to each vending machine number, when a guidance request signal is not received from the vending machine,
The identification number, the reception time, and the vending machine number transmitted from the vending machine are stored in the storage means, and when the guidance request signal is received, the position information for the vending machine number searched by the search means and the vending Data reception time from the
The information is sent to the vending machine that requested the guidance.

[0006] Thus, in a place such as an amusement park where a large number of vending machines are installed, the location of a person or an article is reported by the vending machine as follows. In other words, when you get lost,
When the user inputs the number of the identification number sending means of the person who wants to know the location to a nearby vending machine and gives a guidance instruction, the identification number and the vending machine identification number are sent to the center. The center searches the received data from each vending machine accumulated up to that time for a vending machine that has received the signal of the identification number requested for guidance, reads out the position information of the vending machine by the position information storage means, and reads the reception time. At the same time, the data is transmitted to the vending machine that requested the guidance. The vending machine that has instructed the guidance request outputs the whereabouts by the output means based on the position information from the center.

Further, if the output means for outputting the position information is at least one of the display means showing the location of the guidance target and the voice reporting means showing the voice, the person and the object are surely provided. Know where you are. Also, if the identification number sending means is at least one of a magnetic card and a communication card using infrared light, the identification number sending means is carried.

Further, if the position information is set to be position data corresponding to an area where each vending machine can receive a transmission signal from the identification number transmission means, guidance can be provided only by transmitting simple data from the center. The requested location is output.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. This device is a vending machine 1
0, ID number transmitter 20, center 30, and vending machine 1
0 and a communication line 40 between the center 30. In addition,
Although there are usually a plurality of vending machines, ID number sending machines, and telephone lines, only one is shown in the figure.

The vending machine 10 includes a vending machine control unit 11 for controlling the entire vending machine, and the following equipment is connected to the vending machine control unit 11.
That is, the guidance request unit 12 for inputting and instructing the guidance request, I
A receiving unit 13 for receiving an ID number transmitted from the D number transmitter 20, a display unit 14 including a liquid crystal display or a graphic display for displaying a map and character data from the center, and a voice for outputting voice data from the center. Output unit 1
5, a storage unit 16 for storing the own station vending machine number, and a vending machine transmitting / receiving unit 17 for exchanging data with the center. Although the vending machine 10 has a functional configuration as a normal vending machine, it is omitted in the figure.

The center 30 has a center control unit 31 for controlling the entire center, and the following devices are connected to the center control unit 31.
That is, the center side transmitting / receiving section 34 for exchanging data with the vending machine 10, the searching section 32 for searching the vending machine number based on the ID number received from the vending machine side, the ID number / reception time / vending machine number / map data / map data / character data / voice The storage unit 33 stores data.

As the ID number transmitter 20, a magnetic card, a communication card using infrared rays, or the like is used.
The D number is recorded, and the ID number is constantly transmitted wirelessly. A telephone line or a wireless line is used as the communication line 40. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing the main operation of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the operation of the vending machine 10 at the time of transmission, FIG. 3 shows the operation of the vending machine 10 at the time of reception, and FIG.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, a case where two people go to a large amusement park to play will be described. First of all, at the time of admission, the staff in charge ID one by one
The number transmitter 20 is received. When the person having the ID number sending device 20 passes near the vending machine 10, the vending machine 10 receives the ID number by the receiving unit 13, and transmits the ID number, the ID number receiving time, the own station vending machine number, and the telephone line 40. Then, the data is transmitted to the center 30 (FIG. 2, step S20, branch N, step S22).

This data is received by the center 30 by the center-side transmitting / receiving section 34 and stored in the storage section 33 as a database by the center control section 31 (FIG. 4, step S).
40 branches N, step S43). Later, they are separated. At this time, one vending machine 1 installed nearby
The ID number of the ID number transmitter 20 of the partner to be searched is input from the guidance request unit 12 of 0. By this operation, the vending machine 10 detects that a guidance request has been made (FIG. 2, step S20, branch Y), and inputs the ID number, reception time,
The self-station vending machine number / guidance request signal is transmitted to the center 30 (FIG. 2, step S21).

When this data is received by the center 30, it is determined that there is a guidance request (FIG. 4, step S40, branch Y).
The search unit 32 searches for a vending machine number that has transmitted the same ID number as the received ID number previously (FIG. 4, step S41). In other words, this search is to search for the number of a vending machine to which the person who is looking for has approached. Next, the retrieved vending machine number, map data indicating the installation location of the vending machine, the ID number reception time, and predetermined character / voice data are returned to the vending machine 10 that has requested guidance (FIG. 4, step S42).

The vending machine 10 receiving this reply data,
Based on the transmitted data, map data, characters, ID
The number reception time and the vending machine number are displayed on the display unit 14 and output to the audio output unit 15 (FIG. 3, step S30). By the above operation, by inputting a guidance request from a nearby vending machine, the vending machine searches for the location of the partner and reports the location. In addition, since the location and time of the other party are output, the route of the movement can be easily understood and found. Further, if an ID number transmitter is attached to the belongings, the location and the like can be immediately known even in case of misplacement or theft, as in the case of a person.

The map information for display is stored in advance in the storage unit 16 of each vending machine, and from the center,
The area number indicating the whereabouts of the partner to be searched for, that is, only the position data corresponding to the range in which the vending machine can receive the signal from the ID number transmitter may be transmitted and displayed. Similarly, for the voice, only the position data may be transmitted from the center and inserted into a predetermined notification announcement pattern to be output.

[0018]

According to the present invention, when the center receives the guide request signal from the vending machine, the center receives the guidance request signal from the vending machine and stores the received data from each vending machine in accordance with the identification number for which the guide was requested. Search and notify the receiving time and vending machine location information to the vending machine that requested the guidance,
The vending machine which has requested the guidance outputs this position information. Thus, in a place such as an amusement park where the number of vending machines installed is large, the vending machine can detect the location of a person or a product and notify the vending machine of the location.

Thus, since the location and the moving time of the partner can be known, it is not necessary to search for and walk. Also, if an identification number transmitter is attached to the belongings, even if the luggage or the like is misplaced or stolen, the place and the moving place can be immediately identified and easily searched. In addition, if the location of the guidance target is notified by an image or voice, the location of a person or an object can be surely determined.

Further, if the identification number sending means is a magnetic card or a communication card using infrared rays, the identification number sending means can be easily carried. Further, if the position information is transmitted as position data indicating an area where each vending machine can receive the transmission signal from the identification number transmission means, the center transmits only simple data and receives the location where the guidance request was issued. Can be output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of transmission on the vending machine side.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of vending machine side reception;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of transmission and reception on the center side.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: vending machine, 11: vending machine control unit, 12: guidance request unit, 13: receiving unit, 14: display unit, 15: voice output unit,
Reference numeral 16: storage unit, 17: vending machine side transmission / reception unit, 20: ID number transmitter, 30: center, 31: center control unit, 32 ...
Retrieval unit, 33: storage unit, 34: center side transmission / reception unit, 40
…telephone line.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine for communicating with a center via a communication line, and a plurality of portable identification number transmitting means for constantly transmitting an identification number wirelessly. Receiving means for receiving the identification number from the identification number sending means, storage means for storing its own vending machine number, guidance instruction means for instructing and inputting a guidance request, and inputting for inputting the identification number of the guidance target at the time of guidance request Means, and output means for outputting the position information received from the center. When there is no guidance request from the guidance instruction means, the identification number, reception time and vending machine number received from the identification number sending means are sent to the center. When there is a guidance request, after transmitting the identification number of the guidance target, the vending machine number and the guidance request signal to the center by the input means, receiving and outputting the position information from the center, The center comprises: a storage means for sequentially storing the identification number, the reception time, and the vending machine number; and a search means for searching for the vending machine number of the vending machine which has transmitted the same identification number as the guidance target identification number. A location information storage means for storing location information corresponding to each vending machine number, and when the guidance request signal is not received from the vending machine, the identification number transmitted from the vending machine, the reception time, and the vending When the guidance request signal is received, the position information corresponding to the vending machine number searched by the search means and the data reception time from the vending machine are stored in the storage unit. A vending machine with a guide device, which is transmitted to a vending machine. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the output means for outputting the position information comprises:
A vending machine with a guidance device, which is at least one of display means shown by an image and voice notification means shown by a voice. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the identification number sending means is at least one of a magnetic card and a communication card using infrared rays. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the position information is position data corresponding to an area where each vending machine can receive a signal from the identification number transmitting means. vending machine.