JPH1139547A - Automatic vending machine system provided with reservation function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a purchaser to surely purchase a desired article without worrying about the presence/absence of stock by preferentially providing a reserved article to the purchaser who made the reservation and normally providing a non-reserved article. SOLUTION: When the purchaser supplies an IC card to the IC card reader- writer of a reservation terminal 21 for instance, resolvable article information is written from a reservation server 3. When the purchaser selects the article A for instance, the reservation processing of the article A from the reservation terminal 21 is executed in the reservation server 3 and the reservation information of the article A is transmitted to an automatic vending machine 11 and the reservation terminal 21 . The article A is managed as the reserved product in the automatic vending machine 11 , and in the reservation terminal 21 , prepaid information equivalent to the price of the article A is subtracted and new prepaid information and the reservation information are written. When the purchaser goes to the automatic vending machine 11 and supplies the IC card to the IC card reader-writer, the reservation information is read and the article A is provided to the purchaser.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine system having a reservation function for pre-sale of possessed goods, and more particularly, to a possessed commodity utilizing a reservation terminal connected to a network. The present invention relates to a vending machine system with a reservation function for pre-sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as a vending machine for selling possessed products, when a purchaser inputs money corresponding to the price of a desired product, and when the product is selected, the purchaser purchases the product. There was a thing which offered the product to.

[0003]

However, in a conventional vending machine, the stock of a desired product does not always exist there. I had to go to where it was set up. In addition, since the types of products held are limited, it has not been possible to reliably purchase desired products.

On the other hand, in conventional vending machines, products are replenished in accordance with sales. However, since the number of products that can be sold depends on the place where the vending machine is installed, the number of products sold by a certain number of vending machines increases. , It was necessary to determine the number of products to be refilled. The sales of merchandise in vending machines cannot be known unless the number of sold merchandise in each vending machine is checked manually, and is not managed collectively. As a result, not only is labor and labor costs required for investigating the sales to increase, but also inefficient replenishment of products according to the sales results in excess inventory or shortage of products.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has an object to solve such a conventional problem from the standpoint of a purchaser and a seller. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine system with a reservation function capable of reliably and efficiently purchasing products, and selling products efficiently and efficiently in terms of labor and labor costs.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine system with a reservation function according to the present invention. Products that are offered on a regular basis and products that are not reserved are offered normally.

With such a configuration, when a buyer tries to purchase a desired product and reserves one of the products held by the vending machine, the buyer is not allowed to purchase the desired product. Means that products other than the reserved product are normally provided, but the reserved product is not provided. For example, when three items A are held and one of them is reserved, up to two of them can be provided to buyers other than the buyer who made the reservation.

[0008] On the other hand, the reserved purchaser is provided with the reserved product preferentially in addition to the usual offer of the product other than the reserved product. This claim 1
In the invention described in the description, "to provide normally" refers to presenting a product other than the reserved product and its price, and specifying the presented one of the products and inputting money corresponding to the price of the specified product by the buyer. Is to provide the specified product when

A vending machine system with a reservation function according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the first aspect, wherein the reservation information on the reserved product is stored in a portable storage medium. A reservation terminal provided with a reservation information writing means for writing, and a vending machine provided with a reservation information reading means for reading the reservation information from the storage medium, which manages a reservation state of a product held by the vending machine. The reservation management device provides the reservation information relating to the product to the reservation terminal and the vending machine in response to a request for reservation of the product by the reservation terminal, wherein the reservation terminal Writing the reservation information provided by the reservation management device into the storage medium,
The vending machine manages the corresponding product as a reserved product separately from a normal product based on the reservation information provided by the reservation management device, and based on the reservation information read from the storage medium. Then, the reservation product is provided.

[0010] With such a configuration, in order for the purchaser to purchase a desired product and make a reservation for the product, the reservation terminal is used, and the reservation information writing means provided in the reservation terminal owns the product. And a request for reservation of a desired product from the reservation management device.

[0011] Then, the reservation management device receives a request from the reservation terminal, and when the requested product is a reservable product, reservation information on the product is provided to the reservation terminal and the vending machine. In the reservation terminal, the provided reservation information is written in the given storage medium. on the other hand,
In the vending machine, products corresponding to the provided reservation information are managed as reserved products.

[0012] Then, the purchaser goes to the place where the vending machine is installed with the self-owned storage medium in which the reservation information is written, and uses the storage medium as the reservation information reading means provided in the vending machine. When given, the vending machine provides the purchaser with a product corresponding to the read reservation information.

In the invention according to claim 2,
The storage medium is a storage medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a FD, a compact disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, and paper, and is read by a computer regardless of an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading method. The storage medium includes any storage medium that is possible and portable.

In practice, a magnetic card is used for the storage medium because it can be manufactured at low cost. However, there is a possibility that the stored information of the magnetic card is relatively easily copied and falsified. Therefore, in order to make it difficult to copy and falsify the stored reservation information, the storage medium includes an IC.
(Integrated Circuit) cards are preferably used.

Further, a vending machine system with a reservation function according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the second aspect, wherein the reservation management device is
In response to providing the reservation information, the vending machine includes a time information providing unit that provides time information indicating a period during which a product reservation is valid to the vending machine. The information processing apparatus further includes a reservation canceling unit that manages, as a normal commodity, the reserved commodity for which a reservation valid period has elapsed based on the provided time information.

[0016] With this configuration, the vending machine manages the reserved commodities with a time limit. In other words, the reserved product is managed as a reserved product by the vending machine until the time during which the reservation is valid elapses based on the time information provided from the reservation management device. When a certain time has elapsed, the product is managed as a normal product by the reservation canceling means.

In this case, the time information is provided only to the vending machine. For example, in order to notify the buyer using the reservation terminal of the time at which the reserved product can be purchased, You may make it provide also to a reservation terminal. The time during which the reservation is valid may be set in advance, or may be made variable by having the buyer pay a predetermined reservation money.

As described above, in the case where the merchandise held by the vending machine can be reserved, if buyers who do not come to pick up the reserved merchandise after making reservations continue, this time, the reverse is performed. In addition, it is not only impossible to efficiently provide a product to a purchaser who does not intend to purchase a reserved product, but also sales of the product are reduced. Therefore, in order to cope with this, for example, as in the invention according to claim 3, it is only necessary to provide a time limit for the reserved product and manage it. Further, for example, when a purchaser has reserved a desired product, payment of money corresponding to the price of the product may be requested.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the second or third aspect, the reservation management device provides the reservation information. A control information providing unit that provides control information for controlling the vending machine to the reservation terminal, wherein the reservation terminal transmits the control information provided by the control information provision unit to the control information providing unit. There is provided control information writing means for writing to a storage medium, and the vending machine is controlled based on the control information read from the storage medium.

With such a configuration, when the purchaser makes a reservation for a product using the reservation terminal, the control information is provided by the control information providing means together with the reservation information to the storage medium of the purchaser by the control information writing means. Control information is written.
And when the vending machine is given the storage medium,
It is controlled based on the read control information.

For example, for a vending machine that generates one product using a plurality of materials, information indicating how to use the plurality of materials is used as control information. Then, the vending machine generates one product by using each material according to the control information. That is, the purchaser can not only make a reservation for a product, but also generate a product according to his / her preference and purchase it.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine system with a reservation function according to the second, third, or fourth aspect of the present invention. And the reservation terminal corresponds to the price of the reserved product from the prepaid information stored in the storage medium in response to the reservation information being written to the storage medium by the reservation information writing means. And a prepaid information subtracting means for subtracting the prepaid information.

With this configuration, after the purchaser has reserved the product using the reservation terminal, the reservation information is written into the storage medium by the prepaid information subtracting means provided in the reservation terminal. As the data is written, the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved product is subtracted from the prepaid information stored in the storage medium. This allows
The price of the reserved product will be paid.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine system with a reservation function according to the second, third or fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the storage medium stores prepaid information in advance. The vending machine reads the reservation information from the storage medium by the reservation information reading means, and corresponds to the price of the reserved product from the prepaid information stored in the storage medium. And a prepaid information subtracting means for subtracting the prepaid information.

With such a configuration, after the purchaser has reserved the product using the reservation terminal, the reservation information is read from the storage medium by the reservation information reading means by the prepaid information subtracting means provided in the vending machine. In accordance with the reading, the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved product is subtracted from the prepaid information stored in the storage medium. Thereby, the price of the reserved product is paid.

Further, a vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 7 of the present invention manages the amount of money of a purchaser in the vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, 3 or 4. A money management unit is connected to the network, the storage medium stores unique information for using the purchaser's money, and the reservation terminal writes the reservation to the storage medium by the reservation information writing unit. As the information is written, the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product is calculated from the amount of money of the buyer managed by the amount management unit based on the unique information stored in the storage medium. An amount subtracting means for subtracting the amount is provided.

With such a configuration, after the purchaser has reserved the commodity using the reservation terminal, the reservation information is written into the storage medium by the reservation information writing means by the amount subtraction means provided in the reservation terminal. Accordingly, the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product is subtracted from the amount of money of the buyer managed by the amount management means based on the unique information stored in the storage medium. Thereby, the price of the reserved product is paid.

Further, a vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 8 of the present invention manages the amount of money of a purchaser in the vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, 3 or 4. An amount management unit is connected to the network, the storage medium stores unique information for using the purchaser's money, and the vending machine reads the reservation from the storage medium by the reservation information reading unit. As the information is read, the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product is calculated based on the amount of money of the buyer managed by the amount management unit based on the unique information stored in the storage medium. An amount subtracting means for subtracting the amount is provided.

With this configuration, after the purchaser has reserved the commodity using the reservation terminal, the reservation information is read from the storage medium by the reservation information reading means by the amount subtraction means provided in the vending machine. Accordingly, based on the unique information stored in the storage medium, the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product is subtracted from the amount of money of the purchaser managed by the amount management means. Thereby, the price of the reserved product is paid.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vending machine system with a reservation function according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a vending machine system with a reservation function according to the present invention connects reservation terminals and vending machines installed in various places to a reservation server as shown in FIG. This is applied to pre-purchase merchandise held in a vending machine at a terminal.

In the figure, vending machines 11 ₁ to 1 _n that can purchase goods by an IC card storing prepaid information and reservation information described later, and goods held in the vending machines 11 ₁ to 1 _n Terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _n for reserving
And it is connected to the reservation server 3 which manages the reservation status of instruments held in the vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n through the data transmission line 4.

The vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n, as shown in FIG. 2, the product supply device which provides a product when purchaser to accumulate goods is determined that paid the amount of a given monetary 1
a, an IC card reading / writing device 1b for reading and writing prepaid information and reservation information for an IC card, and a touch panel 1 as a human interface capable of inputting data and displaying data
c, product providing device 1a, IC card reading / writing device 1
b, an interface unit 1d for inputting and outputting data to and from the touch panel 1c and the outside, a main storage device 1e capable of reading and writing data, and an arithmetic processing unit 1f for controlling arithmetic and the entire system. In addition, the interface unit 1d, the main storage device 1e, and the arithmetic processing unit 1f are mutually connected by a bus which is a signal line for transmitting data.

The reserved terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n is a touch panel having, as shown in FIG. 3, the IC card reader / writer 2b having an IC card reader / writer 1b the same function, the touch panel 1c same function 2c, an IC card read / write device 2b, a touch panel 2c, and an interface 2d for inputting and outputting data to and from the outside; a main storage device 2e having the same function as the main storage device 1e; and the same as the arithmetic processing device 1f. And an arithmetic processing unit 2f having a function.
e and the arithmetic processing unit 2f are mutually connected by a bus which is a signal line for transmitting data.

The reservation server 3, as shown in FIG.
Vending machine 1₁~ 1_nAnd reservation terminal 2 ₁~ 2_nAnd data
Interface unit 3d for inputting / outputting data, and a main storage device
A main storage device 3e having the same function as the main storage device 1e;
And an arithmetic processing unit 3f having the same function as the device 1f.
Interface unit 3d, main storage device 3e
And the arithmetic processing unit 3f transmits a signal for transmitting data.
They are interconnected by a bus that is a highway.

The main storage devices 1e to 3e are provided with a ROM in which control programs for the arithmetic processing devices 1f to 3f are stored in a predetermined area in advance, and data read from the ROM and arithmetic operations of the arithmetic processing devices 1f to 3f. And a RAM for storing various calculation results.

The arithmetic processing unit 2f is composed of a microprocessing unit MPU and the like, and is stored in a predetermined area of the ROM of the main storage device 2e in response to an IC card being given to the IC card reading / writing device 2b. A predetermined program is started, and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed.

That is, the processing unit 2f executes the processing as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the process proceeds to step S1, and shifts the information about the reservable products of products vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n are held read from the reservation server 3, the step S2 Then, the selection of the product to be reserved is input via the touch panel 2c.

Next, the process proceeds to step S3, where information about the selected product is transmitted to the reservation server 3, and the process proceeds to step S4, where reservation information indicating that the selected product has been reserved is received from the reservation server 3. Judge whether or not
If it is determined that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S5. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S4.
Move to

In step S5, the prepaid information is read from the IC card by the IC card reading / writing device 2b, and the flow advances to step S6 to subtract the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved commodity from the read prepaid information. Then, the process proceeds to step S7, _where the installation locations of the vending machines ₁₁ to 1n from which the reserved products can be obtained, the prices of the products, and the new prepaid information obtained by subtraction are displayed on the touch panel 2c.
To be displayed. In step S5, if the amount of money obtained from the read prepaid information does not correspond to the price of the reserved product, a message that the reserved product cannot be purchased is displayed on the touch panel 2c for this reason. The process ends.

Next, the process proceeds to step S8, where new prepaid information and reservation information are written in the IC card.
The process proceeds to step S9, in which the sales of the products are totaled, and the series of processes ends.

On the other hand, the arithmetic processing unit 3f comprises a microprocessing unit MPU and the like, and has a main storage unit 3e.
A predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM is started, and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is always executed.

That is, the arithmetic processing unit 3f executes the processing as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step S11, reads the availability of the product from the vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n, the process proceeds to step S12,
Reserve terminals 2 ₁ determines from either the reserved terminal of to 2 _n whether an inquiry of the product information in step S1, when it is determined that an inquiry, it proceeds to step S13, otherwise When it is determined, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S13, the information on the reservable product is transmitted to the reservation terminal inquired about, and step S13 is executed.
Proceeds to 14, when determining whether there is a reservation request items from step S3 from either reserved terminal of the reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n, it is determined that there is reservation request goods, step The process proceeds to step S15, but if it is determined that this is not the case, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0045] In step S15, executes the reservation processing for products for which the reservation request, the process proceeds to step S16, and the automatic vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n that owns the reservation terminal and items for which the reservation request The reservation information is transmitted to step S
Move to 11.

On the other hand, the arithmetic processing unit 1f comprises a microprocessing unit MPU or the like, and stores it in a predetermined area of the ROM of the main storage device 1e in response to an IC card being given to the IC card reading / writing device 1b. A predetermined program is activated, and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed.

That is, the processing unit 1f executes the processing as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to step S21 to read the reservation information from the IC card, and proceeds to step S22 to determine whether there is a reserved product corresponding to the read reservation information, When it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step S23,
The corresponding reserved product is provided, and a series of processes is terminated.

However, when it is determined in step S22 that the reserved product does not exist, the process proceeds to step S24 to display on the touch panel 1c that the reserved product does not exist, and to execute a process for selling the product normally. , A series of processing ends. Here, the process of selling a product normally presents a product other than the reserved product and its price among the products held, and has designated the product and put in money corresponding to the price of the specified product. At times, a designated product is provided.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
First, by the purchaser to use any of the reservation terminal of the reservation terminal 2 ₁ ~2 _n, vending machine ₁ 1 ~1 _n
A case in which a user purchases a product held by a user will be described.

First, the buyer purchases the vending machine 1₁~ 1_nBut
When you try to make a reservation purchase for the goods you have,
Is, for example, the reservation terminal 2₁This is used as
Owns the IC card read / write device 2b provided
Give an IC card. Then, the reservation terminal 2₁so
Reads information on products that can be reserved from the reservation server 3.
It is. In this case, the reservation server 3
Vending machines 1₁~ 1 _nRead the stock status of the product from
Products that are rare and can be reserved based on this
Information is reserved terminal 2₁Sent to.

Next, when the buyer attempts to make a reservation purchase of any of the products that can be reserved (for example, the product A) and selects it, the information on the product A is transmitted to the reservation server 3. The reservation server 3, item A from the reservation terminal 2 ₁
When information is received, together with the reservation processing for the product A is performed, for example, when a commodity A is held in the vending machine 1 _1, the vending machine 1 ₁ and the reservation terminal 2 ₁
Then, the reservation information of the product A is transmitted.

[0052] In the automatic vending machine 1 _1, based on the transmitted reservation information, while the commodity A are managed as a reserved commodity,
In the reservation terminal 21 ₁ , the prepaid information is read from the given IC card, the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the product A is subtracted from the read prepaid information, and the new prepaid information and the transmitted reservation information are subtracted. Is written on the IC card. And vending machine 1 ₁
Is displayed on the touch panel 2c, and the sales of the product A are totaled.

Next, a case will be described in which the purchaser actually obtains the pre-purchased merchandise. First, the buyer, after that reserved the commodity A, with the IC card of self-owned reservation information has been written, went to the vending machine 1 ₁ that hold the products A, I of furnishing to this
The IC card is given to the C card reading / writing device 1b. Then, in the automatic vending machine _1, the reservation information is read from the IC card. At this time, since the product A corresponding to the reservation information is managed as the reserved product, the product A is provided to the purchaser. As a result, the purchaser acquires the pre-purchased product A.

The vending machine ₁ other than the vending machine 11
_{In the case of 2} to 1 _n , the reservation information is read from the IC card even if the purchaser gives the IC card to the IC card reading / writing device 1 b provided thereto, but the commodity A corresponding to the reservation information is regarded as the reserved commodity. Since the item is not managed, the process of selling the item normally without providing the item A is executed.

[0055] In addition, in the automatic vending machine ₁ 1 ~1 _n, also buyers other than buyers have reserved purchasing the products to give the IC card to the IC card reader / writer 1b, reservation information to the IC card Is not stored, the process of selling the product is executed normally.

[0056] Also, if the amount of money obtained by the prepaid information read does not correspond to the price of goods to be reserved, in the reservation terminal 2 _1, along with the fact that the goods can not be purchase is displayed on the touch panel 2c The IC card is returned to the buyer without rewriting the prepaid information.

[0057] In this way, the book trade of products the automatic vending machine ₁ 1 ~1 _n are held, so as to provide preferentially to the purchaser reserved, other than the reservation commodity product, Since the product is normally sold, the purchaser can surely purchase the desired product without worrying about the presence or absence of the stock.

[0058] In particular, the vending machine _{1 1 ~1 n,} and a reservation terminal 2 ₁ ~2 _n, connected to the reservation server 3, reservation server 3
In, reservation terminal 2 ₁ in response to an inquiry of the goods by ~2 _n, the reservation information of the product, the automatic vending machine ₁ 1 ~1 _n and there was the inquiry reservation terminal 2 holds the goods
Send to ₁ to 2 _n, the reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n, writes the transmitted reservation information in the IC card, the vending machine ₁ 1 -
In _1n , based on the transmitted reservation information, the corresponding product is managed as a reserved product separately from the normal product, and the reserved product is provided based on the reservation information read from the IC card. The reservation status of the product can be managed collectively by the reservation server 3. Therefore, it is possible to sell the product advantageously and efficiently in terms of labor and labor costs.

The prepaid information is stored in the IC card in advance, and the reservation terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _{n use} the IC card reading / writing device 2b to write the prepaid information to the IC card. Since the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved product is subtracted from the prepaid information stored in the card, the purchaser can purchase the product smoothly without purchasing a product and changing the purchase. On the other hand, the management can easily manage the inventory of the product.

Further, since the IC card is used as the storage medium for storing the prepaid information and the reservation information, the prepaid information is less likely to be duplicated or falsified than the magnetic card, and can be operated safely by the manager. Can be.

[0061] In the above embodiment, in order to manage the reserved commodity in the vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n has been configured so as not provided particularly time limit is not limited thereto, provided time limit The configuration may be made in such a manner.

In this case, the reservation server 3, as the time information providing means according to the third aspect, transmits the time information indicating the time when the reservation of the product is valid in response to the transmission of the reservation information, and Vending machines held 1 ₁ to 1 _n
Vending machine 1 for sending to the time information
₁ to 1 _n are as reservation canceling means according to claim 3, wherein, based on the received time information, it is sufficient to manage the reserved commodity has elapsed reservation is valid time as a normal product. The time during which the reservation is valid may be set in advance, or may be made variable by having the buyer pay a predetermined reservation money.

Note that this is a case where this is combined with the above embodiment, and the IC
If the prepaid information on the card is subtracted, and the buyer comes to pick up the product and the time for which the reservation is already valid has elapsed, the buyer can use the vending machine ₁₁
To 1 _n or reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n to the furnishing of the IC card reader / writer 1b, when given the self IC card in 2b, and that the goods can not purchase by the reservation time of the product has passed In addition to the notification, the prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved product may be added to the read prepaid information.

With such a configuration, the reserved products will not be held in the vending machines ₁₁ to 1 _n for a long time, so that ordinary products can be efficiently supplied to buyers who do not intend to purchase the reserved products. Can be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the purchaser who has reserved the product is configured to use the reservation information as the information for receiving the reserved product. For example, the control information for controlling the vending machines ₁₁ to 1 _n holding the reserved products may be used.

[0066] In this case, the reservation server 3, as control information providing means according to claim 4, in response to transmitting the reservation information, so as to transmit the control information to the reserved terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n, Reservations terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n are as control information writing means according to claim 4, IC card reader / writer 2b
To write the control information transmitted to the IC card by, 1 ₁ to 1 _n vending machines, based on the control information read from the IC card, it suffices to be controlled. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
In a vending machine that produces one product by mixing the materials, the control device adjusts the mixing ratio of the materials A to D based on the control information read by the IC card reading / writing device 1b. To At this time, the control information includes, for example, as shown in FIG.
And the respective amounts a ₁ , b ₁ , c ₁ , d ₁ [g] and the respective temperatures a ₂ , b ₂ , c ₂ , d ₂ [° C.].

With such a configuration, the purchaser can not only make a reservation for a product, but also generate a product according to his / her preference and purchase it. Further, in the above embodiment, in response to reserve a product with the reserved terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n, so as to subtract a prepaid information corresponding to the price of reserved commodity from the prepaid information stored in the IC card Vending machine 1 ₁
Depending on the provision of the reserved product to the buyer in ~ 1 _n , IC
The prepaid information corresponding to the price of the reserved product may be subtracted from the prepaid information stored in the card.

With such a configuration, it is possible to purchase a product smoothly without purchasing a product, thereby avoiding a change. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration is made such that a pre-paid card can be used to make a reservation purchase of a product. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a credit card or a cash card can be used in addition to the above. The amount management center for managing the amount of money possessed by the buyer is connected to a reservation server 3 via a network, and the reservation terminal 2 is used as the amount subtraction means according to claim 6. ₁ to 2 _n
As goods are booked at or vending machines 1 ₁
In accordance with the provision of the reserved product to the purchaser at ~ 1 _n, it is possible to make a reservation purchase of the product by subtracting the amount of money corresponding to the price of the product from the purchaser's account or the like. .

With such a configuration, on the buyer side,
By purchasing the product, it is possible to purchase the product smoothly without changing, and on the management side, inventory management of the product becomes easier.

Further, in the above embodiment, the IC
Although the configuration is not such that the amount of money obtained by the prepaid information stored in the card is increased, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration may be such that the amount of money obtained by the prepaid information of the IC card is increased. Good.

In this case, the vending machines ₁₁ to 1
the _n or reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n, further money such as bills recovered, and the amount reader reading the amount provided, the amount of money read in amounts reader, IC card reader / write Is added to the amount of money obtained from the prepaid information read by the loading devices 1b and 2b, and the prepaid information corresponding to the added new amount of money is stored in the IC card by the IC card reading / writing devices 1b and 2b. What is necessary is just to write.

With such a configuration, even if the prepaid information is lost as in the prior art, the prepaid information can be added by newly adding money, so that the card can be used effectively. Yes, it is easy to use.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 in the arithmetic processing units 1f to 3f, all of them are stored in advance in the ROMs of the main storage units 1e to 3e. The description has been given of the case where the program is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The program is stored in a main storage device 1e to 3e from a storage medium storing a program indicating these procedures.
May be loaded into the RAM and executed.

Here, the storage medium is RAM, ROM,
Any storage medium such as an FD, a compact disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, or paper, which can be read by a computer regardless of an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading method. It includes a storage medium.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 executed by the arithmetic processing units 1f to 3f has been described in the case of being constituted by software. Thus, a configuration may be adopted in which electronic circuits such as a comparison circuit, an arithmetic circuit, and a logic circuit are combined.

In the above embodiment, the IC card reading / writing device 1b corresponds to the reservation information reading means described in claim 2, and the IC card reading / writing device 2b corresponds to the reservation information writing device described in claim 2. The reservation server 3 corresponds to the reservation management device according to the second aspect, and steps S6 and S8 correspond to the prepaid information subtraction means according to the fifth aspect.

[0077]

As described above, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the present invention, it is possible for a purchaser to reliably purchase a desired product without worrying about the presence or absence of stock. The effect is obtained.

Further, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the second aspect of the present invention, the reservation status of the goods held by the vending machine can be managed collectively by the reservation management device. In addition, it is possible to obtain an effect that a product can be sold effectively and efficiently in terms of labor and labor costs.

Further, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the reserved product is not held by the vending machine for a long time, the purchaser who does not intend to purchase the reserved product. In addition, an effect that ordinary products can be efficiently provided is also obtained.

Further, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 4 of the present invention, the purchaser not only reserves the product, but also generates a product according to his / her taste and purchases the product. The effect of being able to do so is also obtained.

Further, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the fifth or seventh aspect of the present invention, the purchaser does not change by purchasing the product, and purchases the product smoothly. On the other hand, the manager can easily manage the stock of the product.

Further, according to the vending machine system with a reservation function according to the sixth or eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to purchase goods smoothly without purchasing change of goods. The effect is also obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reservation server 3.

5 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the arithmetic processing unit 2f of the reservation terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _n.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by an arithmetic processing unit 3f of the reservation server 3.

7 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the vending machine 1 ₁ to 1 _n of the processing unit 1f.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ₁ to 1 _n Vending machine 2 ₁ to 2 _n Reservation terminal 3 Reservation server 4 Data transmission path 1a Product providing device 1b, 2b IC card reading / writing device 1c, 2c Touch panel 1d to 3d Interface unit 1e to 3e Main memory Equipment 1f to 3f Arithmetic processing unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine system with a reservation function, wherein a reserved product is provided preferentially to a buyer who makes a reservation, and a non-reserved product is normally provided. 2. A vending machine comprising a reservation terminal having a reservation information writing means for writing reservation information relating to a reserved product on a portable storage medium, and a reservation information reading means for reading the reservation information from the storage medium. Is connected to a reservation management device that manages a reservation state of a product held by the vending machine, and the reservation management device responds to a request for reservation of the product by the reservation terminal, and Providing information to the reservation terminal and the vending machine, the reservation terminal,
The vending machine writes the reservation information provided by the reservation management device into the storage medium, and the vending machine sets the corresponding product as a reserved product based on the reservation information provided by the reservation management device. 2. The vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 1, wherein the reservation product is provided separately based on the reservation information read from the storage medium. 3. The reservation management apparatus further comprises: time information providing means for providing time information indicating a period during which a product reservation is valid to the vending machine in response to providing the reservation information; The vending machine further includes a reservation canceling unit that manages, as a normal product, the booked product that has passed a reservation valid period based on the time information provided by the time information providing unit. The vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2. 4. The reservation management apparatus further comprises: control information providing means for providing control information for controlling the vending machine to the reservation terminal in response to providing the reservation information; Comprises control information writing means for writing the control information provided by the control information providing means to the storage medium, wherein the vending machine is controlled based on the control information read from the storage medium. The vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The pre-paid information is stored in advance in the storage medium, and the reservation terminal stores the pre-paid information in the storage medium in response to the reservation information being written into the storage medium by the reservation information writing means. 5. A vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, further comprising a prepaid information subtracting means for subtracting said prepaid information corresponding to the price of said reserved product from said prepaid information. 6. The vending machine stores prepaid information in advance in the storage medium, and stores the prepaid information in the storage medium in response to the reservation information being read from the storage medium by the reservation information reading means. 5. A vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, further comprising a prepaid information subtracting means for subtracting said prepaid information corresponding to the price of said reserved product from said prepaid information. 7. An amount management means for managing the amount of money of the buyer is connected to the network, the storage medium stores unique information for using the money of the buyer, and the reservation terminal is In response to the reservation information being written into the storage medium by the reservation information writing means, the purchaser managed by the money amount management means based on the unique information stored in the storage medium. 5. The vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, further comprising an amount subtracting means for subtracting the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product from the amount of money. 8. An amount management means for managing the amount of money of the buyer is connected to the network, the storage medium stores unique information for using the money of the buyer, and the vending machine The reservation information is read from the storage medium by the reservation information reading means, based on the unique information stored in the storage medium, the purchaser managed by the amount management means, 5. The vending machine system with a reservation function according to claim 2, further comprising an amount subtracting means for subtracting the amount of money corresponding to the price of the reserved product from the amount of money.