KR100518356B1 - vending machine for printing and service method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and in particular, it is possible to directly edit and print image files, such as photographs taken by a mobile terminal owned by each customer, but printing configured to enable the transmission and reception of the file through the mobile communication network and billing It is to provide a vending machine and a service method using the same.

To this end, the present invention has a wireless communication module to enable wireless communication while having a unique telephone number, and has a memory unit for temporarily storing image files, such as various pictures or pictures, received from the terminal of each customer, the memory It has an editing module that provides a user interface to enable the editing of various pictures stored in the book or image files such as pictures, and has a billing unit for processing various service costs, and a user for service operation from each customer. Photographic output control means having an operation unit providing an interface; A printing vending machine is provided which is constructed to be linked with the photo output control means and includes printing means for outputting various photo files or picture files according to a request of a customer.

In addition, the present invention includes a first step of receiving a variety of image files stored in the mobile terminal of each customer to provide a service using the printing vending machine; A second step of temporarily storing the received image file in a memory unit; Displaying the temporarily stored image file; A fourth step of performing billing for a corresponding service and requesting a bill when a printing request of the displayed image is generated; And, if the payment for the service is provided, a service method is provided, including a fifth step: in connection with the printing means to print the image to provide to the customer.

Description

Printing vending machine and service providing method using the same {vending machine for printing and service method

The present invention relates to an unmanned vending machine, in particular, to directly edit and print image files, such as photographs taken by the mobile terminal owned by each customer, so as to enable the transmission and reception of the file through the mobile communication network and billing The printing vending machine is configured.

In general, the vending machine is a device that sells various products while operating unattended, rather than selling various goods or service products while the manager (or owner) is constantly resident.

In addition, the vending machine requires only a relatively small space and has the advantage of being easily accessible by the customer.

Recently, various types of the vending machine have been diversified to meet customer's needs. In particular, many vending machines, such as photo cameras (or sticker vending machines), allow customers to directly photograph and print their own pictures. It is in a favorable situation.

At this time, the photo camera is used by various age groups as a device in which a customer directly takes a picture through a camera mounted on the photo camera, edits the taken picture, and outputs the sticker as a sticker.

However, the above-described photo camera was not able to print an image file such as a picture or a picture stored in a mobile terminal, ie, a mobile phone, because the output was made only when a picture was taken.

In particular, in recent years, a camera phone having a photographing and storing function in a mobile phone is not only released, but the demand for a vending machine for printing various images, etc. is increasing, considering that it has gained the popularity of many customers.

Of course, the vending machine can be configured as a computer for reading a diskette, etc., in which various image files are stored, and a printer for printing a photo connected to the computer to output an image.

However, in the above case, each customer was inconvenient to carry out a series of processes for storing image files photographed with a camera phone on the diskette, and payment for the use of the service could only be made through the input of cash. You have a problem.

In addition, if a failure of the vending machine, for example, the lack of paper or the change of shortage, occurs during the use of the vending machine, the customer may call the manager's phone number listed in the vending machine to notify the user of the failure. Have

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, each of the customer has a mobile phone, in particular, receiving a variety of image files stored in the camera phone, the automatic printing that can be provided in real time by outputting the received file to the printer The purpose is to provide a vending machine.

In particular, the present invention provides a printing vending machine that enables the reception of various image files through the mobile communication network to suit the usage environment of the camera phone, and also to pay the bill for the use of the service through the mobile communication network. Its purpose is to.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object has a wireless communication module to enable wireless communication while having a unique telephone number, and temporarily stores image files such as various pictures or pictures received from a terminal owned by each customer It has a memory unit for storing, has an editing module that provides a user interface to edit the image files, such as pictures or pictures stored in the memory unit, has a billing unit for processing a variety of service costs, each Photographic output control means having an operation unit providing a user interface for operating a service from a customer; And, it is built to be linked with the photo output control means, and printing means for outputting a variety of photos or pictures, such as at the request of the customer: provides a printing vending machine, characterized in that it is built.

In addition, the first step of receiving a variety of image files stored in the mobile terminal of each customer in the service providing method of the present invention to provide a service using the printing vending machine; A second step of temporarily storing the received image file in a memory unit; Displaying the temporarily stored image file; A fourth step of performing billing for a corresponding service and requesting a bill when a printing request of the displayed image is generated; And, if the payment for the service is provided in connection with the printing means provides a method comprising the fifth step: printing the image to provide to the customer.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing vending machine of the present invention as described above and a method of providing a service using the printing vending machine will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a printing vending machine according to the present invention.

That is, the printing vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is largely configured to include a photo output control means 110 and the printing means 120.

Here, the picture output control means 110 is a wireless communication module 111, a memory unit 112, an editing module 113, a charging unit 114, an operation unit 115 and a display unit 116 Included.

The wireless communication module 111 is a module implemented to enable wireless communication while the photo output control unit 110 has a unique telephone number, and may be a general mobile communication module.

In addition, the memory unit 112 temporarily stores image files such as various pictures or pictures received from the mobile terminal (hereinafter referred to as a "camera phone") 200 of each customer.

That is, the memory unit 112 is a kind of memory capable of recording and storing data, editing, and deleting the data.

In addition, the editing module 113 provides a user interface for editing various image files stored in the memory unit 112.

In this case, the editing module 113 may be a program provided for editing the image file.

In addition, the charging unit 114 is configured to perform processing for various service costs, and may be set such that any predetermined cost is charged when a request for initial service use is performed. Depending on the capacity, the usage time, or the type of paper used for printing, the charging may be set differently.

In this case, the type of paper used for printing may be a general paper used for printing a general image, a paper for printing a photo, a paper for a sticker using an attachable sticker, or the like.

In addition, the operation unit 115 is configured to provide a user interface for service operation from each customer, and may be a keyboard, a touch pad, a key pad, or the like.

Of course, if the camera phone 200 that the customer has a state in communication with the printing vending machine of the present invention may use the camera phone 200 in place of the operation unit.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is presented that the connection portion 117 is further included in the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine of the present invention described above.

At this time, the connection unit 117 is configured to be connected to each other by the camera phone 200 and the data cable 117a each customer has a service, the service for outputting pictures without using a mobile communication service It is possible.

Photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine of the present invention as described above may be configured as a computer capable of using the Internet in a wireless environment, such as a mobile computer or a pocket PC.

However, in order to provide a smooth service of the present invention, that is, to provide a service using a mobile communication network, the mobile communication phone number must be provided.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, the picture output control means 110 for the vending machine is capable of wireless communication through the mobile communication network, and the program for processing various operations can be built in, and the user can perform various operations. A device having an interface and a display portion, for example, a PDA, is shown.

In this case, the display unit 116 may be included in the photo output control means 110 as described above, it may be replaced with a separate enlarged screen from the photo output control means 110. .

And, the printing means 120 constituting the printing vending machine of the present invention is built in connection with the photo output control means 110 to receive data to be printed from the photo output control means 110, the customer's request According to the configuration, it is configured to output image files such as various photographs or pictures.

In this case, the connection between the printing means 120 and the photo output control means 110 may be performed through a line print terminal (LPT), or may be performed through a network connection.

At this time, the printing means 120 has a photo tray 121 to output the image file to the photo paper, and a sticker tray 122 to output the image file on the sticker paper It is configured to have.

Of course, although not shown, a general tray may be further included to enable printing on plain paper.

The following will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrating a series of processes for providing a service through the printing vending machine of the present invention having the above-described configuration.

First, after taking a picture with the camera phone 200 owned by the customer, if you want to print through the printing vending machine of the present invention, that is, the picture stored in the customer owned camera phone 200, that is, the image file is automatically printed Transmission to the wireless communication module 111 of the picture output control means 110 of the vending machine.

At this time, the customer may transmit the image file to the telephone number of the picture output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine using a multimedia message service (MMS) provided by the mobile communication network.

That is, if the customer transmits the image file to the photo output control means 110 of the printing vending machine through the MMS service using the camera phone 200, the wireless communication module 111 of the photo output control means 110 is moved. The image file is received through the MMS service provided in the communication network (S110).

Here, the phone number of the picture output control means 110 is preferably displayed on the display unit 116, or by writing on the outer surface of the printing vending machine so that the customer can easily recognize.

Of course, if there is a separate connection unit 117 in the printing vending machine, that is, if the data cable 117a is connected to enable data communication with the photo output control means 110, the customer may connect the data cable 117a to the camera phone. After direct connection to the 200 may be transmitted to the picture output control means 110 through the connected communication environment.

In addition, although not shown, if the printing vending machine includes a near field wireless data communication module, the camera phone 200 may be connected to the photo output control means 110 by using the module to perform data communication. The image file may be set to be transmitted to the photo output control means 110 through a connected communication environment.

Then, when the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine receives the image file transmitted from the camera phone 200 of the customer by the above-described process, the received image file is a memory unit 112 In the temporary storage (S120).

In addition, the photo output control unit 110 operates the program for displaying the received image file to display the image file through the display unit 116 (S130).

If the image file is not a single photograph but a plurality of photographs, display is performed for each of the details, or all of them are displayed at a time and a request is made to select a photograph to be printed.

In addition, if a request for a service for editing a photo occurs according to a customer's need while the image file is displayed as described above, the photo output control unit 110 operates the editing module 113 to edit the image file. It provides an interface environment for (S140).

At this time, the interface environment may be an interface environment provided by driving a photo editing program provided by a conventional general photo vending machine, or may be an interface environment provided by driving an image editing program provided by computer related technologies. It may be.

And, if the editing of the specific picture by the above process is completed, the photo output control means 110 is the display unit 116, such as the type of printing paper for printing the image of the edited photo, and the like Ask to make a selection.

In this case, the type of the print paper may be largely classified into a photo paper, a sticker paper, a plain paper, and the like, but may be set to be classified by size.

Then, if the above-described selection of the type of printer paper and the number of outputs are made, and the printing request is performed, the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine performs printing of the selected photo or image through the charging unit 114. Before performing the charge for the service provision costs (S150).

At this time, the charging is performed by setting the service cost based on at least one of the number of edits, the output capacity (the number of prints), the use time of the device, and the paper used for printing.

Of course, the charge of the above-described service cost may be set to be charged only at the time of actual output as described above, but may be set such that the basic usage fee is charged when a request for the first service is made.

Then, the photo output control means 110 notifies the customer of the established service cost and requests payment of the cost, that is, payment (S160).

In this case, the payment may be performed by directly injecting cash or the like, but in this case, since a failure such as a shortage of change may occur as a conventional general vending machine, the payment may be performed by the customer. It is suggested that the mobile communication fee be charged.

In other words, it is preferable that the customer's telephone number is input and charged to the usage fee for the telephone number.

In addition, as described above, when the service charge of the printing vending machine is charged to the mobile communication fee of the customer, it is preferable to make the payment through the payment approval process.

In this case, the payment approval process may be a general approval process for mobile phone payment.

That is, the payment is to be performed only when the approval signal for the payment is received through the authorized mobile communication service provider or the service provider in the mobile communication network that performs separate charging.

For example, when a customer calls a wireless communication module 111 of a photo output control means 110 of a printing vending machine to a camera phone 200 that a customer has, such as a telephone payment service, and requests for a fee approval, the photo output is performed. For example, the control unit 110 requests the payment of the service fee charged based on the caller's phone number, and if the customer's payment is selected, the service fee is charged to the mobile communication fee of the corresponding phone number. Can be.

Of course, the amount charged by the mobile operator to the customer may be set such that the revenue is partially distributed with the mobile communication provider, for example, 700 services.

Then, if the payment for the service cost is completed by a series of processes as described above, the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine controls the printing means 120 to perform the printing of the image file requested to be output Be sure to

At this time, the printing means 120 receives information about the type of paper (including the size of the paper), the number of prints, etc. from the photo output control means 110 to select and output the trays 121 and 122 corresponding thereto. Perform and provide to the customer (S170).

On the other hand, the printing vending machine of the present invention is not capable of performing only the printing of the image file.

For example, as described above, after editing the image file arbitrarily by the customer, a service of downloading the image file to the camera phone 200 of the customer or the mobile phone of another customer may be provided.

This is possible because the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine is made of a PDA or the like that can provide a service through a mobile communication network.

That is, when the customer requests downloading of the edited image as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the photo output control unit 110 constituting the printing vending machine uses the multimedia message service (MMS) provided by the mobile communication network. The image file may be transmitted to the camera phone 200 of the customer.

In addition, when a request for downloading the edited image is generated, the mobile device receives a phone number of a mobile phone to be downloaded, and transmits the image file using the MMS to the corresponding phone number. The image file can also be sent to a cell phone.

Of course, the service for editing the image file and the download of the image file is preferably charged for the cost, and the payment of the cost is preferably to be paid by the receiver so as to be charged to the mobile communication fee of the customer who requested the service. .

In addition, the present invention, if the failure of the printing vending machine (for example, lack of paper, lack of change, lack of ink, paper jams, etc.) occurs as shown in the flow chart of Figure 5 attached to the photo output control means 110 forming a printing vending machine 110 ) May also perform a service of notifying an error occurrence situation through a short message (SMS) or an automatic response message to a communication terminal (eg, a mobile phone) of the administrator of the printing vending machine through the wireless communication module 111.

This is also possible because the photo output control means 110 constituting the printing vending machine of the present invention is made of a PDA or the like.

As described above, the printing vending machine and the service providing method using the same according to the present invention have the following effect.

First, the service of the present invention receives a variety of image files stored in each mobile phone, in particular, the camera phone each customer has, the output of the received file to the printer can be provided in real time, thereby improving the customer service satisfaction effect Have

Second, the present invention enables the reception of various image files through the mobile communication network to suit the use environment of the camera phone, and the billing of the service use can also be made through the mobile communication network using a separate computer It has the advantage that a printing vending machine can be built without the system.

1 is a schematic view showing a printing vending machine of the present invention and a service providing state using the same

2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a service providing process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart schematically showing a series of processes performed by a customer in order to receive the service of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a series of processes that are differently performed according to a download or printing request of an edited image during a service providing process of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart schematically showing a series of processes performed when a printing vending machine malfunctions during a service providing process of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110. Photo output control means 111. Wireless communication module

112. Memory section 113. Editing module

114. Accounting section 115. Control panel

116. Display section 117. Connection section

120. Printing means 200. Camera phone

Claims (13)

Having a unique telephone number and having a wireless communication module that receives or transmits an image file using a multimedia messenger service (MMS) of a mobile communication network, images such as various pictures or pictures received from a terminal owned by each customer It has a memory unit for temporarily storing files, and has an editing module for providing a user interface to edit the image files such as pictures or pictures stored in the memory unit, and the billing unit for processing the various service costs A photo output control means having an operation unit for providing a user interface for operating a service from each customer; And, Printing means is built to be linked to the photo output control means, the printing means for outputting a variety of photo files, picture files, etc. according to the customer's request. delete The method of claim 1, The printing means And a photo tray for outputting image files on a photo paper and a sticker tray for outputting the image files on a sticky paper. A first step of receiving various image files transmitted from a mobile terminal of each customer by a wireless communication module using a multimedia messenger service (MMS) of a mobile communication network; A second step of temporarily storing the received image file in a memory unit; Displaying the temporarily stored image file; A fourth step of performing a billing for a corresponding service and requesting payment when a printing request of the displayed image is generated; And, When the payment for the service is paid, the method comprising: a fifth step: printing the image in association with the printing means and providing it to the customer; providing a service using a printing vending machine. delete delete The method of claim 4, wherein After the process of the third step is performed And when the request for editing the displayed image file is made, operating the editing module to provide an interface environment for editing the image file, thereby providing a service for editing the image file according to the needs of the customer. How to use a vending machine to provide services. The method of claim 7, wherein The image file edited through the editing module Method of providing a service using a printing vending machine, characterized in that to be retransmitted to the customer's mobile terminal through the MMS service, or to be printed and output at the request of the customer. The method of claim 4, wherein The charge for the service of the fourth stage A method of providing a service using a printing vending machine, characterized in that the service cost is determined based on at least one of the number of edits, the number of outputs, the output capacity, the use time of the machine, the paper used for printing. The method of claim 4, wherein The service charge for the service of the fourth stage Method of providing a service using a printing vending machine, characterized in that to be charged in addition to the communication fee for the mobile terminal of the customer. The method of claim 4, wherein When a first service request is made through each customer's mobile terminal, the method further includes the step of charging the basic service use amount and charging the charged amount. Way. The method of claim 4, wherein In the fifth image printing process A method of providing a service using a printing vending machine, characterized by requesting a selection of at least one of plain paper, photographic paper, and sticker paper so that the image can be printed on the selected paper. The method of claim 4, wherein The printing vending machine further includes a step of continuously checking whether an error such as a paper shortage of the printing means occurs during each step and notifying the error occurrence situation to a communication terminal of an administrator when an error occurs. How to provide services.