JPS59226993A - Software selling equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field This invention relates to a software sales device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Today, with the spread of microcomputers, a large amount of various software for games, learning, business, etc. is being sold in large quantities. This software is copied onto a cassette tape or floppy at a software company, and sold via the copied cassette tape or floppy. The Rough 1-Ware company or its sole agent delivered various software products to each store in response to orders.

However, it is difficult for software companies or general distributors to accurately predict what will sell and what will not among various types of software. There have been various problems in managing the inventory of copied tapes and floppies in the cassette 1.

Similarly, various software units ['
/7 There were various problems with product inventory management.

Purpose This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to eliminate the trouble of inventory management of various rough 1 to wear products for each sales store in a software company or general agent, etc. It is possible to supply various types of software according to orders without having to deliver cassette tapes or floppy copies of various types of software to each retailer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a software sales device that allows various software products to be sold without displaying various rough wear products on store shelves.

EXAMPLE An example embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a software vending machine (hereinafter referred to as vending machine 1) 1 as a terminal system is installed at each software store, and each vending machine 1 at each store is a host system 2 installed at a software company. They are connected via a dedicated line, and information is exchanged at any time. The vending machine 1 is provided with an operation table 1ah equipped with various operation keys, switches, etc., and an exhibition section @3 as an exhibition section extending upward is provided on the rear side of the table 1a.

The display device 3 displays, on its front display board 4, the contents 5 of 68 types of software, and in this embodiment, the names of the software and anime-like pictures related to the software, as well as the contents 5. At the top, a product number 6 is displayed for each software. In this embodiment, the software with product numbers 6 from 1 to 20 are various software for games, the software with product numbers 21 to 40 are business software, and the software with product numbers 41 to 60 is learning software. Various types of software are displayed, and software with product numbers 61 to 68 are newly released game, business, and learning software.

In addition, the display device 3 has display lamps 7 (see FIG. 4) disposed inside the display board 4 at a position corresponding to and covering the display boards of each product number 6, and is lit by the medium heat treatment device that is distributed again. It looks like this.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation table 1a has a CRT 8 as a visible display device disposed in the center thereof and is covered with a transparent glass plate 9. The contents of the software purchased by the person and the demonstration screen are displayed.

Rough 1 - Numeric keypad 10 as wear selection means is CRT
8, and is used when selecting desired software from the 68 types of software using product number 6. A speaker 11 is provided above the numeric keypad 10 to generate game sounds, warning sounds, etc.

A start key 12 and a reset key 13 are provided on the front side of the numeric keypad 10, and the start key 12 is connected to the numeric keypad 1.
0 is used when inputting the selected software, and the reset key 13 is used after changing the inputted selected software. Game selection switch 14
．． A business selection switch 15 and a learning switch 16 are provided in front of the start and reset keys 12 and 13, and are used to select software among game, business, or learning software before selecting software with the numeric keypad 10. is used when selecting.

The pair of left and right joysticks 17 and the four joy keys 18 provided between the two joysticks 17 are installed on the front side of the CRT 8. CI'< T 8 Selected software (mainly game software) When the content is executed and displayed, the player operates the game according to the content.

A bill insertion slot 19 is provided on the left side of the CRT 8, into which a thousand yen bill can be inserted. Coin slot 20.
21 is designed to receive a 100 yen coin, 10, and a yen sand layer, respectively. A money display 22 is provided on the left side of the coin slot 20, and displays the total amount of money inserted into the banknote insertion CI 10 and the sand layer slot 20, 21, and the digital key 10.
The product number 6 etc. selected in is displayed. The cash register 1 to the outlet 23 are provided on the back side of the cash display 22, and a receipt store or each software usage number table (sold number table) printed with a printer described later is printed out. .

The cassette tape playback device 24 is configured to take out the receipt [12].
3) and check the purchased software I.ISl! The operation is performed using the return keys KY1. Stop key KY2. iIj raw key KY3. Fast forward key KY4 and recording key KY5
This is done by operating the cassette tape recording NJ raw device 24 as appropriate.
I was installed, and while the software program data was being copied to the cassette tape 25 as a recording medium shown in FIG. It has become.

A tape outlet 26 and a change outlet 27 are provided on the front left side of the vending machine 1, and the tape outlet 26 feeds out a copied cassette tape, and the change outlet 27 feeds change. There is.

On the other hand, the host system 2 has a printer 28° CRT.
29 and a keyboard 30 are installed, the printer 28 prints out the usage frequency of each software sold by each store a1 by date of sale, and the CRT 29 similarly displays the usage frequency. It has become.

Next, the electric circuit of the software sales apparatus constructed as described above will be explained according to the electric block circuit diagram shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a host central processing unit M (hereinafter referred to as host CPU) 37 of the host system 2 has a MODEM interface 38. and MODE of vending machine 1 of each store
Through the M interface 39, data is transferred to and from a central processing unit η41 of M1, which will be described later. A magnetic disk 40 as a main storage device is provided in the Bost System 2, and has a storage area for storing source program data of the 68 types of software exhibited in the exhibition device 3, and corresponds to each of the software 1 to JA. A memory area for storing software price data and an IJ for each retailer.
It has a storage area that stores usage frequency data by date of sale of each software for each vending machine. The storage area for storing each program data and the storage area for storing price data of this magnetic disk 40 are determined by the software company's administrator, and the source program data and price data of each software fair are stored in advance. Ru. In addition, the storage area for storing usage frequency data is divided for each vending machine installed at each store.
The storage area divided for each vending machine 1 is further divided for each sales date1, and each storage area divided for each sales date is further divided for each software. It is divided into storage areas that count the number of times it is used (number of sales).

First central processing bag ■ (hereinafter referred to as first C) as a control means
(hereinafter referred to as PU) 41 and a second central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as second CPLI) 42 transfer data to each other and operate according to a predetermined control program.
41 is the host CPU 37. Data and ON signals from human-powered devices such as various keys and switches are input, and command signals from the second CPU are input, and the second CPU
U42 inputs a command signal from the first CPU 4.1.

A memory (hereinafter referred to as demonstration display RAM) 43 which is capable of reading out and changing functions for displaying a demonstration is a display screen for demonstration display created corresponding to each of the 68 types of software displayed on the exhibition device 3. CR
Each demonstration screen data and each software price data to be displayed on T8 are stored in advance.

Memory that can be read and replaced for display (hereinafter referred to as display RA)
M) 44a displays program data of the desired software selected from among the various software displayed on the display device 3 based on the selection switches 1/1.1, 5, 1G and the digital key 10. Bost CPU3
7 and the magnetic disk 40 via the first CPU 41
It is designed to be read out and stored. and,
The first CPU/11 reads the program data from the display RAM/I 4a, and reads the program data from the display RAM/I 4a, and reads the program data from the display RAM/I 4a. The contents of the rough 1-ware (for example, if it is game software, the game) are displayed on the PC 8 without executing the program data.

A readable and replaceable memory for copying (hereinafter referred to as copying RAM) 44I) as a sub-storage device has the same program data as the displaying RAM 44a transferred from the magnetic disk 40, and also displays the demo display. The screen data corresponding to the program data is transferred from the AM 43 at the CPU 43, and the program data and screen data are read out by the second CPU 42. And the second CPI
J42 reads program data and screen data from this copying RAM 44b, and transfers the same data to vending machine 1.
An automatic recording device 45, which is a recording device built in the cassette tape 25, is controlled to copy the data to the cassette tape 25. Na J5
The automatic recording device 45 copies the program data of one software onto one cassette tape 25 of a large number of cassette tapes 25 housed in the vending machine 1 based on the control signal of the second CPU 42. The cassette tape 25 is sent out to the tape outlet 26.

Further, the first CPU 41 detects the banknotes and coins inserted through the banknote insertion slot 19 and the coin input slot 20.21 using a banknote and coin detector 46.47, and selects a specific switch based on the detection signal. input amount data calculated by the counter 48.

Then, based on this input amount data and the price data, the first CPU 41 causes the second CPU 42 to read the program data and the screen data for Demosis 1 to Rage 3 1 from the RAM 4.4b for the Bee. Along with issuing
A command signal for driving the automatic recording device 45 and copying the same program data to the cassette tape 25 is output. Roughly speaking, the first CPU/11 displays the afterglow amount on the money display 22 based on the input amount data, and controls the receipt printer 49 installed in the vending machine 1 to print.

The point pair circuit 550 controls the first CPU 41.
; The display device 3 is lit up in stages (68 display lamps 7 for each predetermined group or in a predetermined one).
The two display lamps 7 stop blinking. The υ/A converter 51 converts the digital control signal of the first CPU 41 into an analog signal, and sends the analog signal to the amplifier 52.
The game name or warning sound is outputted to the speaker 11 via the .

Next, the operation of the rough 1 to wear vending apparatus constructed as described above is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[This will be explained according to the 70th V-to of J41 and J42.

Now, when the power switch (not shown) of the vending machine 1 is turned on, the second CPU 41 becomes able to exchange information with the host CPU 37 via a dedicated line. )15. A game selection switch (hereinafter referred to as a game switch) 14 or a learning selection switch (hereinafter referred to as a learning switch) 16 is turned on.

Now, when the purchaser turns on the game switch 14 to purchase 1 square of game software, the first CPU 41 instructs the product number 6 to specify the content 5 of each game software displayed on the display device 3. The display lamp 7 corresponds to 1 to 20, and the display lamp 7 corresponding to the product number 6 corresponding to game software, which is newly released software with product number 61 to 68, is turned on.

Next, the purchaser selects the desired software from among the various game software indicated by the display lamp 7 on the display device 3, and enters the product number 6 in the numeric keypad. At the same time as this product number is input, the first CPU 4-1 displays product number 6 on the money display 22 and then waits for the star 1 to key 13 to be turned on. When the start key 12 is turned on, the first CPU
In response to this ON signal, the 711 flashes only the display lamp 7 corresponding to the product number 6 of the selected software, and displays the demonstration screen data and price data of the selected software to the RΔ1V143 for demonstration display.
H-eye J, put it out.

Based on this demo screen data, the first CI) U41 displays the demonstration screen for Rough 1 to Wear on ('; [Please insert the payment when making your purchase.] Please send the message to C.
Displayed on R King 8. Therefore, the purchaser must purchase this
-You will be able to decide whether to purchase the selected software by looking at the Résillon screen.

Next, the first CPU=llll1 waits for the reset key 13 or the input of the money. Then, if you want to change the selected software in this state and turn on the press key 13, the first CPtJ 41 stops displaying OR'T8 and stops the blinking operation of the blinking display lamp 7, Wait for input of product number 6 of the newly selected software. On the other hand, in order to purchase the software, the purchaser inserts the money into the bill insertion slot 19 or coins D 20 .

21, the first CPU 41 compares the input amount data outputted from the counter 48 with the price data. When the input amount data is equal to or higher than the price of the rough 1-ware, the first CPU 4
1, instead of the message displayed on the CRT8, display the message "Thank you very much J" on the CRT8.
At the same time, the receipt printer 49 is driven and controlled to print out the receipt from the receipt output port 23.

Also, at this time, when the first CPU 41 compares the input amount with the price data and determines that change is necessary, it releases the change to the change outlet 27.

The first CPU 41 for both Printer 1 and Outer 1 displays and copies the program data of the selected software from the magnetic disk 40.
The host CPLJ is stored in '4'b via the storage line.
A command signal is output to 37. In response to this command signal, the host I-CP U37 reads out the source program data corresponding to the selected rough 1 to wear from the magnetic disk 4, and transfers it to the first CPU 41 via the dedicated line. -ru. The first CP IJ 4.1 displays this program data once and stores it in the RAM 44a, 4 for "bee".
It is stored in 4b. Next, the first CPU 41 reads out the screen data for Demosis 1 to Rage 31 corresponding to the J-gram data from the demo display RAM 43 and stores it in the copy RAfvl 141).

-h, second CI) U 42 is R for this copy.
A M 44. The automatic recording device 45 is controlled to read out the program data stored in the program data stored in the cassette tape 25 and the data stored in the cassette tape 25.
Avoid copying the demonstration data and program data. Let people know that you are copying this.

If they have not finished, they continue their operations.

Now, when the copying is completed, the second CPU 42 records the copied caretape 25 on the automatic recording device 45.
After performing an operation to avoid ejecting the cassette tape to the tape ejection port 26, the process moves on to checking whether or not ejection of the cassette tape is completed.

Eventually, when the cassette 1-tape 25 is ejected to the tape ejection port 26 and the game ends, the first CPU 41 updates the number of uses of the copied software and records it on the magnetic disk 40 for each vending machine 1. Add the usage frequency data of the clothes stored by sales date 1 to 1.CPU 3
A command signal is output to 7. Then, in response to this command signal, the host CPU 37 updates the usage frequency data of the corresponding solenoid 1 to wear stored on the magnetic disk 40.

After the usage frequency data has been updated, the first CPU 41 determines whether to purchase another copy of the same software copied to the ejected cassette tape 25 or to newly select and purchase another desired software. Wait for the purchase operation by the buyer to decide whether to purchase or not.

In this state, when the purchaser inserts the money into the bill insertion slot 19 or the coin insertion slot 20.21 in order to purchase another copy of the same software, the first CPU 41 outputs the input amount data output from the counter 48. and the price data.

When the input amount reaches or exceeds the price of the item 1 to wear, the first CPU 41 displays the demo screen 9 price and the message "Thank you for your continued support" on the CRT 8 in the same manner as described above.

At this time, the first CPU 41 drives and controls the receipt printer 49 in the same way as described in 1) to print out the receipt from the receipt outlet 23 and, if change is required, releases the change to the change outlet 27. let When the cash register 1- is printed out, the second CPU 42
reads the program data stored in the copy RAM 44b and starts copying it to the cassette tape 25 in the same manner as described above, while the first CPU 41 reads the program data stored in the copy RAM 44b and starts copying it to the cassette tape 25. The program data will be read and executed on the CRTa. Then, when the copying and the game are completed, the usage frequency data of the magnetic disk 40 is updated in the same manner as in the case described above, and the purchaser has the purchase operation again.

Note that if the purchaser wishes to select software for business or learning, he/she may turn on the business switch 15 or the learning switch 16, respectively. When the business switch 15 is turned on, the display lamps 7 corresponding to the product numbers 21 to 40 and the product numbers 6 to 61 indicate the various business software among the display lamps 7 of the display device 3. The indicator lamp 7 corresponding to the product number 6, which is a newly released Sono 1~ware of ~68 and corresponds to business software, is controlled in a point-to-point manner. On the other hand, when the learning switch 16 is turned on, the display lamps 7 corresponding to the product numbers 41 to 60 and the display lamps 7 corresponding to the product numbers 61 to 60 indicate software for various types of science students among the display lamps 7 of the display device 3. The indicator lamp 7 corresponding to product number 6, which is newly released software of 68 and corresponds to learning software, is controlled in pairs.

After making the selection as described above, the desired software is copied to the cassette tape 25 by performing the same operations as described above, and the contents of the software are displayed on the 110CR page 8. Similarly, the usage frequency of the sold software is recorded on the magnetic disk 40 of the host system 2 by date of sale.

Incidentally, if the software company wants to know the usage frequency of each software sold by each vending machine 1, it can be found by operating the keyboard 30 of the host system 2. In this case, in response to an input signal from the keyboard 30, the host CPLJ 37
Read predetermined usage frequency data and price data from 0,
Based on both data, post system 2 CRT29
In addition to displaying the number of plays and sales of each rough 1-wear by sales date in the selected vending machine 1,
The usage frequency and sales volume of each software that drives and controls the printers 28 of Boss 1 to System 2 are printed out by sales date.

In this way, in this embodiment, a desired rough 1-
When a software is selected, the price of the selected software and a screen for Demosis 1 to Ration are displayed on the CRT8, so the purchaser can decide whether to purchase the selected software by looking at the price and screen. .

Furthermore, when the desired software is selected using the numeric keypad 10, the source programs for the corresponding rough 1~ware stored in the magnetic disk 40 of the boss 1~system 2 are displayed and displayed on the vending machine 1 via a dedicated line. Copy RAM44
a, 441).

Then, if you insert the amount corresponding to the price of the software displayed on the CRT8, you can use the RΔM4b for copying.
The program data of the selected software is read out from the cassette tape 25, which has not been copied yet, and is supplied to the purchaser.The software company then sells the various software products copied to the cassette tape. Inventory management becomes much easier as the time and effort required to deliver products to each retailer is reduced, and each retailer can also sell various software products without displaying them on the shelves, making inventory management much easier.

Furthermore, each time the software program data is copied to the cassette tape 25, the usage frequency data of the corresponding software stored on the magnetic disk 40 of the host system 2 is updated. (use of software in each vending machine 1)
The number of sentences can be displayed on the CRT 29 or printed on paper, and the software company can grasp the sales status of each vending machine 1 and each software in each vending machine 1.

In the software vending apparatus described in this embodiment, the software program data is copied onto the cassette tape 25, but it may also be copied onto a floppy disk and the floppy disk may be supplied to the purchaser. Further, in the embodiment described above, information was exchanged between the host system 2 and each vending machine 1 via a dedicated circuit, but this may also be carried out via a telephone line. When the amount is equal to or more than the price of the software, the program data of the software is
The operation of copying to the tape 25 is started, but the copying may be started when a specific switch, for example, the start key 12 is pressed.Furthermore, software can be sold using a credit card. You can do it like this.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the sale of one software is completed, there is an operation to input money to purchase the same software again, and each switch 14 to purchase another software. 15. If tc is configured to wait for one of the operations in 16 and then end the operation, but if both operations are not performed after a certain period of time, purchase another new software 1. Each switch 1 for
It may be possible to terminate the process by having only the operations 4.15.16.

Further, in the above embodiment, the demonstration screen data is also read out from the demonstration display RAM 43 and copied to the program data copied to the caret tape 25, but the demonstration screen data is also stored in the magnetic disk 40. , display the same screen data as well as the source program data, and
The data may be transferred to the AMs 44a and 44b and copied to a cassette tape along with the source program.

Effects As detailed above, the present invention stores a plurality of types of rough 1~ware program data in the main storage device of the host system, and stores the nub storage device in the terminal system operatively connected to the boss 1~ system. (), and when the desired software is selected from among each software using the software selection means provided in the terminal system, the program data of the selected software T is transferred from the main storage device to the 1JB storage device. When a specific switch installed in the terminal system is activated, the program data stored in the device is transferred to the recording medium by the recording device, so the rough 1-U. - Eliminate the trouble of inventory management of various software products for each sales outlet of a company or general agent, etc., and sell each tape or floppy copy of various software in response to an order. In addition to being able to supply various types of software without having to deliver them to stores, each retailer also saves the trouble of inventory management of various software products, and can stock various software products from 1 to 1 piece. It is effective to sell various types of rough 1-wear without displaying them on store shelves.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a software sales device embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electrical block circuit diagram of the software sales destination device, and FIGS. It is a flowchart from +7-1 showing the operation.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A host system l\(2) having a main memory bag @(40) for storing program data of a plurality of types of software.
), and a plurality of terminal systems (1) operatively connected to the host system (2), and the terminal system (1) is configured to execute a desired rough 1-system from among the plurality of types of software. a selection means (10) for selecting and covering the wear; and when software is selected by the selection means (10), a selection means (10) for selecting the selected rough 1 to wear 1 from the main storage device (40); A rib storage device (4411) for storing the transferred program data, and a recording device (4411) for recording the program data stored in the rib storage device (44b) onto a recording medium (25).
45); and means (41, 42) for disabling the recording device (45) from recording on the recording medium (25) unless a specific switch (50) is activated. software sales equipment.