JPS63143696A - Video tape vending/renting apparatus - 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] +a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a videotape sales/rental device that automatically sells or rents out videotapes, and in particular accepts orders for videotapes that are not stored in the device. The present invention relates to a videotape sales/rental device that can be used to

Summary of the Invention The video tape sales/rental device according to the present invention includes a list display means for displaying a list of video tapes that are not stored in the device, and an order reception means for accepting orders from customers based on this list. Furthermore, the videotape is released when the ordered videotape is stored and the customer who made the order is identified.

This enables the unmanned video tape sales/rental device to sell/rent based on orders from customers.

(C) Prior Art Recently, videotape sales/rental devices have been proposed that sell or rent videotapes unattended.

Based on the customer's operation, this device releases a desired videotape from inside the device and sells or rents the videotape desired by the customer.

(d) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Incidentally, since there is a limit to the size of such an apparatus, the number of video tapes that can be stored inside the apparatus is also limited. For this reason, it often happens that the videotape desired by the customer is not stored, and (1) the customer's preferences cannot be met, leading to a decline in service.

■ Customers give up on purchasing or lending, leading to a decline in sales.

There were other drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a videotape sales/rental device that can accept videotape orders from customers.

(Means for Solving Problem e1) This invention includes a list display means for displaying a list of video tapes that are not stored in an apparatus, and a list display means for accepting orders from customers based on the display contents of the list display means. An order receiving means for accepting an identification code input, a notification means for notifying a clerk of contents received by the order receiving means, and an order tape storage section are provided, and when a videotape is stored in the order tape storage section, a customer an identification code setting means for accepting the setting of an identification code; an identification code storage means for storing the identification code inputted by the identification code input means; and a selection of the sale/rental of the videotape stored in the order tape storage section. an identification code input means for accepting an input of a customer's identification code; and a video stored in the order tape storage unit when the input identification code matches an identification code stored in the identification code storage means; The present invention is characterized by comprising: a discharge means for discharging the tape;

(f1 effect) In the videotape sales/rental device of the present invention, when the videotape desired by the customer is not stored in the device, the videotape that can be ordered by performing some operation (for example, pressing an order key, etc.) A list of (list display means) is displayed.The customer can place an order based on this display.The order operation involves specifying the videotape based on the list (entering the tape number, etc.) and entering the customer's identification code. This includes inputting (manually using a numeric keypad or reading a card).The details of the order are notified to the staff by the notification means.

The clerk stores the videotape ordered in accordance with this order in the ordered tape storage section and sets the identification code of the customer who ordered it in the identification code storage means (identification code setting means).

After this, when the customer visits the device again, specifies that the videotape he ordered should be sold/rented, and enters the identification code manually (identification code reception means), the videotape is ejected after the identification code is verified (discharge means). .

That is, the videotape lending device can act as an intermediary between the customer and the staff member to complete the order transaction.

(g) Embodiment FIG. 2 is an external view of the same display device which is an embodiment of the present invention. A display device 6 for displaying the video tapes stored inside the device and a video tape reception lower for discharging and collecting video tapes are provided in the center of the front panel of the video tape rental device main body 1, and on the right side of the front panel. CBr4. displays operating guidance and a list of orderable video tapes. Keyboard for performing various key manual operations 3. Card insertion slot for inserting a Turret card 4. A receipt outlet 5 is installed.

Inside the apparatus, a rack 8 (see FIG. 1) for storing video tapes one by one and a tape transport device 12 (see FIG. 1) are installed. The tape transport device 12 is a rack 8
The video tapes stored in the rack 8 are discharged to the video tape reception lower, and the video tapes returned from the video tape reception lower are stored in the empty shelf of the rack 8.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control section of the videotape lending apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. The CPU 10, which is a control device, includes a memory 11 for storing programs, data, etc., the tape transport device 12, a key-operated device 14 including the keyboard 3, and a card for reading data from a turret card inserted through the card transport port 4. reader 15, the display device 6. A display 16 including a CRT 2, a printer 17 for printing receipts, and a company center 2 where this device is installed.
0. An NCU/modem 13 is connected for communicating with a host computer 21 of a credit card company. The lower right shelf of the rack 8 is set as an ordered tape storage rack 8a for storing video tapes ordered by customers. Further, the memory 11 is provided with a card number storage area lla for storing the card number of the customer who ordered the videotape stored in the ordered tape storage rack 8a. The card number is memorized by one of the staff members.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the keyboard 3. This keyboard 3 has a numeric keypad 30. Correction key 31゜Rental key 32.
It consists of a return key 33 and an order key 34.

During a normal lending transaction, the user presses the lending key 32, inserts the Turret card, and inputs the number of the desired videotape from the numeric keypad 30.

At the time of return, after pressing the return key 33, the videotape to be returned is put into the tape reception lower.

When ordering a tape that is not stored, the user presses the order key, inserts the Turret card, and then inputs the desired tape number from the list of orderable tapes displayed on the CRT 2 using the numeric keypad 30. After this, a receipt is printed and released.

When renting an ordered videotape, the user presses the rental key 32, inserts a credit card, causes the device to read the card number, and presses the order key.

When a tape is stored in the ordered tape storage rank, the tape is released.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control section of the videotape rental apparatus. (5) in the same figure shows the order reception operation, (B) in the same figure shows the operation during the order tape storage operation, and (C) in the same figure shows the order tape lending operation.

When the order key 34 is pressed, the operation shown in the figure starts. At step nl (hereinafter, step ni will be simply referred to as n+), insertion of a credit card is accepted, and whether or not the inserted card is valid is determined at step n2. If the card is valid as a result of the determination, a list of orderable video tapes is displayed on the CRT 2 (n3). This list may be stored in the memory 1, or may be transmitted from the center 20 each time. At n4, the key input from the customer is accepted, and if valid information is input (n5), the input tape number and the customer's credit card number are sent to the center 20. At n6), a receipt for order completion is issued. (n7), returns the card (n8), and ends the operation. In addition, if the inserted card is invalid (n2),
If the key power is invalid (n5), the process goes directly to n8, returns the card, and ends the operation.

The same figure (explains the operation of Bl. The center 20 that receives the order
The staff member goes to the specified machine and stores the ordered videotape in the ordered tape storage section 8a. This operation starts when the clerk opens the panel and stores the ordered videotape in the ordered tape storage rack 8a, and receives the customer's card number input from the numeric keypad 30 (n 10
). The card number entered is the card number of the customer who ordered the videotape. This card number is stored in the card number storage area lla and the operation ends (return to normal operation: n1l).

When the customer presses the rental key 32, the operation shown in FIG. If so, the key input is accepted at n22.If the input key is the order key 34, it is assumed that this is a lending transaction for the ordered videotape, and the input key is input at n2.
4 or less, the process proceeds to the operation, and if any other key (numeric keypad 30) is pressed, the process proceeds to the normal operation since it is normal lending.

At n24, the card number of the inserted credit card is compared with the card number stored in the card number storage area. If the comparison results (n25) match, the video tape stored in the ordered tape storage rack 8a is ejected from the video tape reception lower (n26), the card is returned (n27), and the operation ends. If the inserted card is an invalid card or if the card number of the inserted credit card and the card number stored in the card number storage area 11a do not match, proceed directly to n27 and return the card. Finish the action.

CRT2. The displays 1G and n3 correspond to the list display means of the present invention, and the keyboard 3. The card reader 15, nl, and n4 correspond to the order receiving means of the present invention, and the NCU
/Modem 13 and n6 correspond to the notification means of the present invention, and the order tape storage rack 8a corresponds to the order tape storage section of the present invention.

The numeric keypad 30 and nlo correspond to the identification code setting means of the present invention, and the card number storage area lla corresponds to the identification code storage means of the present invention.

The card readers 15 and n20 correspond to the identification code input means of the present invention, and the tape transport device 12 and n24 to n26 correspond to the discharge means of the present invention.

Although this embodiment has been described with respect to a videotape lending device, it can also be implemented in a videotape vending device with almost the same configuration. Also, in this embodiment, one order tape storage rank is provided, but it is also possible to use a plurality of stages to accommodate a plurality of orders at the same time.

fh1 Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, video tapes that are not stored in the device can be displayed on the list display means, and orders from customers can be accepted on the order reception means, so that the device can be unmanned. It is possible to respond to the customer's tastes even when the customer's preference is high, and it is possible to always provide the videotape that the customer desires.

This makes it possible to provide the same services as in-store even when the store is closed, contributing to improved customer service and increased sales.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a block diagram and an external view of a control section of a videotape lending device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure shows a keyboard of the videotape lending device;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the videotape lending device, in which the figure shows the order reception operation, the figure (Bl shows the operation during the order tape storage operation, and the figure (C) indicates the order tape lending operation. 2-CRT, 3-keyboard, 8a-order tape storage rank, 11a-card number storage area, 15-card reader, 20-center.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A list display means for displaying a list of video tapes that are not stored in the device; an order reception means for receiving an order from a customer based on the display contents of the list display means; and an order reception means for receiving an identification code input from the customer; A notification means for notifying a staff member of contents received by the reception means, and an order tape storage section are provided, and an identification code setting means for receiving the setting of a customer's identification code when a videotape is stored in the order tape storage section. and an identification code storage means for storing the identification code inputted by the identification code input means; and an identification code storage means for storing the identification code inputted by the identification code inputting means; An identification code input means for receiving an identification code, and a release means for ejecting the videotape stored in the order tape storage unit when the input identification code matches an identification code stored in the identification code storage means. A videotape sales/rental device characterized by: