KR20010016538A - Apparatus and method for service of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device and a method for operating an automatic vending machine are provided to operate the automatic vending machine according to a local wireless communication between the automatic vending machine and a mobile communication terminal. CONSTITUTION: A service device of an automatic vending machine comprises a mobile communication terminal(300), an automatic vending machine(310), a base station(320), a charging system(300) and a managing system(340). An authenticating signal of the mobile communication terminal user is received from the automatic vending machine through a mobile communication network. In conforming the authenticating signal to a previously stored authenticating signal, the checking signal of user authentication is transmitted to the automatic vending machine. Usage information charged of the automatic vending machine is received from the automatic vending machine. A charging is performed by summing up the used charge information of the automatic vending machine and communication charge information of the mobile communication terminal.

Description

Vending machine service apparatus and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SERVICE OF VENDING MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a vending machine service apparatus and method using a short range communication module, and more particularly, to a vending machine service apparatus using a short range communication module for effectively operating or managing a vending machine using a mobile communication terminal. It is about a method.

In general, the vending machine is a device for automatically selling coffee or beverages, and the conventional vending machine is a main controller 101, a product selection panel 102, a temperature sensor 103, cooling as shown in FIG. System 104, coin and bill detector 105, product dispensing mechanism 106, and the like.

The coin and banknote detecting unit 105 of the vending machine having such a configuration detects the total amount of the coins or banknotes inserted into the coin or banknote input port, and transmits the total amount of the coins or banknotes to the main controller 101.

The main controller 101, which recognizes the total amount of coins or banknotes, checks whether it is an amount sufficient to sell one or more products, and waits for the operation of the product selection panel 102 when it is determined that the amount is sufficient.

Subsequently, when the product selection panel 102 for providing a specific product is operated, the main controller 101 drives the product discharging mechanism 106 to dispense the selected product to the product dispensing outlet installed at the bottom of the vending machine.

Here, the main controller 101 detects the internal temperature of the vending machine sensed by the temperature sensor 103, that is, the temperature of the product, and checks whether it is higher than the set reference temperature. Then, the cooling system 104 is selectively driven according to the internal temperature of the vending machine so that the sold product temperature can maintain a constant temperature.

The vending machine described above has the advantage that it can be installed in a public place or a large building and can always provide products such as coffee or beverages, but there has always been a problem of having coins or banknotes for products.

In order to overcome this problem, a vending machine using a mobile communication network and a charge for the communication fee have been proposed.

This vending machine has a configuration as shown in FIG.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine according to the related art using a mobile communication network.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vending machine 202 having a mobile communication module 200, a mobile communication terminal 204, a base station 206, and a charging system 208 are configured.

Here, the mobile communication module 200 is a module for wireless communication between the mobile communication terminal 204 and the base station 206.

The user of the mobile communication terminal 204 transmits a signal for using the vending machine 202 to the base station 206 by performing dialing by inputting a communication number of the vending machine 202 and the like.

The base station 206 requests the mobile communication terminal 204 to input a password for user authentication, performs user authentication through the password input from the mobile communication terminal 204, and then menus the mobile communication terminal 204. Send the information.

The user of the mobile communication terminal 204 transmits the item and quantity selection signal according to the transmitted menu information to the base station 206, and the corresponding operation according to the item and quantity selection signal from the mobile communication terminal 204 of the base station 206. Send the command to the vending machine 202.

The vending machine 202 receives an operation command from the base station 206 through the mobile communication module, thereby discharging the selected quantity of items.

The base station 206 transmits to the billing system 208 the vending machine usage fee information based on the item, the quantity, and the like determined through the call between the mobile communication terminal 204 and the vending machine 202, and the billing system 208 transmits the mobile communication. The sum of call charges and vending machine charges of the terminal 204 is added to the user of the mobile communication terminal 204.

In the conventional vending device using the mobile communication network as described above, when the vending machine is to be used through the mobile communication terminal, the mobile communication terminal performs operations such as user authentication, item and quantity selection with the base station through the mobile communication network. Since there should be a problem that the overload of the mobile communication network occurs.

In addition, conventionally, there is a problem in that a call charge occurs due to a call between a mobile communication terminal and a base station.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to provide a vending machine service apparatus and method for performing the vending machine operation according to the near field communication with the vending machine and the mobile communication terminal. There is a purpose.

1 is an internal configuration diagram of a general vending machine.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine according to the prior art using a mobile communication network.

3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention.

4 is a flow chart for performing the vending machine service of FIG.

5 is a flowchart for performing management of a vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

300: mobile communication terminal 302: first short-range communication module

310: Vending Machine 312: Second Near Field Communication Module

314: mobile communication module 316: database

318: main controller 320: base station

330: billing system 340: management system

The present invention for achieving the above object is a vending service method according to a mobile communication terminal having a first short range wireless communication module and a vending machine having a second short range communication module, wherein the mobile communication terminal is a base station through a wireless communication network And the base station is connected to the charging system and the management system via a wired network, wherein the mobile communication terminal transmits a use request signal to the vending machine through the first local area communication module, and the vending machine is connected to the second local area communication. As the menu information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal according to the request signal received through the module, the mobile communication terminal transmits a selection signal for the menu information and a user authentication signal to the vending machine through the first local area communication module. Indicates that the transmitted authentication signal corresponds to the pre-stored authentication signal. To provide an automatic vending machine service apparatus and method for performing product sales according to the select signal has its characteristics.

In addition, another feature of the present invention is that the vending machine stores the sales history information according to the product sales in the internal storage area, and transmits the sales history information stored for a set time to the base station is connected to the sales history information through the wired network The present invention provides a vending machine service apparatus and method for summing a vending machine usage fee and a communication fee of a mobile communication terminal according to the sales history information.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine service method including a vending machine and a mobile communication terminal, wherein the authentication signal of a mobile communication terminal user is received from the vending machine through a mobile communication network, and the authentication signal corresponds to a previously stored authentication signal. The vending machine fee information and the mobile communication terminal received by receiving the vending machine usage fee information according to the vending machine vending service performed on the user authentication confirmation signal after transmitting the user authentication confirmation signal to the vending machine. Charges according to the sum of the communication fee information of the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication terminal is provided with a short-range wireless communication module, the mobile communication terminal through the short-range wireless communication module through the user authentication signal to the vending machine Vending machine An apparatus and method for performing a service are provided.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the vending machine service apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for performing the vending machine service according to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention includes a mobile communication terminal 300, a vending machine 310, a base station 320, a charging system 330, and a management system 340.

Here, the mobile communication terminal 300 collectively refers to a general mobile phone, PCS and TRS, and performs a near field communication with a mobile communication module (not shown) and a vending machine 310 for wireless communication through the base station 320. And a first short range wireless communication module (302).

The vending machine 310 may include a second short range wireless communication module 312 for short range wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 300, a mobile communication module 314 for mobile communication with a base station 320, and a short range wireless communication. And a database 316 for storing user authentication information and transaction history information according to short-range wireless communication.

In addition, the vending machine 310 is configured to include a main controller 318 for controlling the overall operation according to the short-range wireless communication and mobile communication.

The base station 320 receives transaction history information and management information transmitted from the vending machine 310 through a wireless network, and transmits the transaction history information and management information to the billing system 330 and the management system 340 connected through a wired network, for example, the Internet. Is configured to.

Here, the base station 320 includes a memory and a server for performing a vending service according to short-range wireless communication between the vending machine 310 and the mobile communication terminal 300.

Base station 320 is also configured to send a management request signal from management system 340 to vending machine 310 via a wireless network.

The billing system 330 adds the charge of the vending machine 310 to the call rate of the mobile communication terminal 300 according to the transaction history information transmitted from the base station 320 connected through the wired network. 300) configured to impose on the user.

In addition, the management system 340 is configured to transmit a management request signal to the vending machine 310 through the base station 320, and receives the management information according to the management request signal through the base station 320.

Referring to the operation of the vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, the user of the mobile communication terminal 300 is a user who has registered a service for using the vending machine 310 through the mobile communication terminal 300 to the base station 320, and authentication information for the user of the mobile communication terminal 300. Is stored in database 316 via wireless network communication between base station 320 and vending machine 310.

Here, the authentication information is user information that is allowed to use the vending machine 310 service according to the usage history of the user of the mobile communication terminal 300, the payment history of the user, etc., and includes at least one of a phone number, serial number, and password information of the mobile communication terminal. It is configured to include.

At this time, the authentication information stored in the database 316 of the vending machine 310 is added and deleted through the wireless network communication with the base station 320.

The user of the mobile communication terminal 300 transmits a use request signal for using the vending machine 310 to the vending machine 310 through the first short range wireless communication module 302.

The vending machine 310 receives the use request signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 300 through the second short range wireless communication module 312.

Here, the first to second short range wireless communication module 312 is a Bluetooth system operating in the Industrial, Science and Medial (ISM) band frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band that does not require a license.

The Bluetooth system enables wireless data communication between various information devices such as a mobile communication terminal and a notebook PC in a short range (10m to 100m).

In addition, the Bluetooth system can simultaneously communicate with several mobile communication terminals.

Meanwhile, short-range wireless communication between the mobile communication terminal 300 and the vending machine 310 may be performed by a home RF (Infrared Data Association) system or an infrared data association (IRDA) in addition to the Bluetooth system.

Next, a short range wireless communication setting between the mobile communication terminal 300 and the vending machine 310 according to the first and second short range wireless communication modules 312 will be described in detail.

The vending machine 310 is set as a short range wireless communication module at the request of the user of the mobile communication terminal 300, and the second short range wireless communication module 312 of the vending machine 310 is used to communicate with the address of the vending machine 310. The reference clock signal is transmitted to the first short range wireless communication module 302 of the mobile communication terminal 300.

The first short range wireless communication module 302 transmits a page signal to the second short range wireless communication module 312 according to the address of the vending machine 310 and the communication reference clock signal. 312, the mobile communication terminal 300 and the vending machine 310 are in a short range wireless communication connection state as the response signal ACK according to the page signal is transmitted to the first short range wireless communication module 302.

After the short-range wireless communication connection state between the vending machine 310 and the mobile communication terminal 300 is established through the above-described process, the vending machine 310 may use product type and price information available through the second short-range wireless communication module 312. The menu information including the transmits to the mobile communication terminal (300).

The mobile communication terminal 300 receives menu information, and selects one of a desired product type, for example, sugar coffee, prim coffee, black coffee, milk coffee, cola, cider, and the like according to the received menu information. The selection signal is sent to the vending machine 310.

In addition, the user of the mobile communication terminal 300 inputs authentication information, that is, password information, for user authentication with the vending machine 310 and transmits the same to the vending machine 310.

In this case, the mobile communication terminal 300 transmits user authentication information such as telephone number and serial number (ESN: Electronic Serial Number) information of the mobile communication terminal 300 to the vending machine 310 in addition to the password information input by the user. do.

The main controller 318 of the vending machine 310 determines whether password information, telephone number or serial number information received through the second short range wireless communication module 312 is the same as user authentication information stored in the database 316. do.

When the received information is the same as the information stored in the database 316, the main controller 318 authenticates the user of the mobile communication terminal 300 inputting the product type and quantity selection signal, and accordingly the mobile communication terminal 300 It outputs a control signal for the discharge of the product according to the type and quantity of the product transmitted from.

The vending machine 310 discharges products according to the number of product types selected according to the control signal of the main controller 318.

In addition, the main controller 318 stores usage history information of the vending machine 310 according to short-range communication from the mobile communication terminal 300 in the database 316.

Here, the usage history information includes information such as a phone number, product type, quantity, shipping time, etc. of the mobile communication terminal 300.

Subsequently, the main controller 318 stores the usage history information of the vending machine 310 according to short-range communication with the mobile communication terminal 300 in the database 316 for a preset time, and when the set time reaches the set time, the mobile communication module ( The usage history information stored through the wireless network communication through the 314 is transmitted to the base station 320.

The base station 320 receives the usage history information from the vending machine 310 and transmits the received information to the charging system 330 connected through the Internet.

The billing system 330 sums the call charges of the mobile communication terminal 300 and the vending machine 310 usage charges according to the transaction history information and charges the entire rate accordingly to the mobile communication terminal 300. Here, the call charge is a general communication charge incurred according to a phone call using the mobile communication terminal 300.

Meanwhile, the vending machine 310 of the present invention transmits user authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal 300 to the base station 320 through the mobile communication module 314, and the base station 320 transmits the transmitted user authentication information. It is apparent that the user authentication may be performed by comparing the previously stored authentication information with the user and performing user authentication and then transmitting the user authentication confirmation signal to the vending machine 310.

In addition, the vending machine 310 and the management system 340 is pre-set management item information for vending machine management, the main controller 318 of the vending machine 310 continuously checks the set item, The management information is transmitted to the base station 320 through the mobile communication module 314.

Here, the management item includes a variety of items, such as sales information and inventory information of the type and quantity of products sold, the temperature of the vending machine 310, the door open.

The base station 320 transmits management information, sales and inventory information to the management system 340 connected through the Internet.

Meanwhile, the main controller 318 of the vending machine 310 performs a preset item check operation according to a management request signal from the management system 340, and manages the management information 340 through the base station 320. You can also send

In the vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention, the short range wireless communication mode is set by the first short range wireless communication module 302 of the mobile communication terminal 300 and the second short range wireless communication module 312 of the vending machine 310. The vending machine 310 may be serviced by a product selection button (not shown) and a quantity selection button (not shown).

That is, when the short range wireless communication modules are set by the first and second short range wireless communication modules 302 and 312, the vending machine 310 becomes a service performing state, and the user of the mobile communication terminal 300 inputs the use price. The vending machine 310 can be used in the following procedure.

The product purchase method of the automatic sales service apparatus according to the present invention configured and operated as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The user of the mobile communication terminal 300 transmits a use request signal to the vending machine 310 through the first short range wireless communication module 302 (S400).

The vending machine 310 receives a use request signal from the mobile communication terminal 300 through the second short range wireless communication module 312, and accordingly, transmits menu information including the type and price information of the available products. The terminal 300 transmits the data to the terminal 300 (S402).

Subsequently, the mobile communication terminal 300 transmits a desired product type and quantity selection signal and user authentication information to the vending machine 310 by the menu information transmitted from the vending machine 310 according to short-range communication (S404).

In this case, the user authentication information includes a phone number, serial number, and password information of the mobile communication terminal 300.

The vending machine 310 compares the user authentication information of the mobile communication terminal 300 transmitted in the above step S404 with the user authentication information previously stored in the database 316 (S406).

If the user authentication information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 300 and the user authentication information in the database 316 in the step (S406) is the same (S408), the vending machine 310 discharges the quantity of products according to the selection signal. (S410).

Subsequently, the vending machine 310 stores sales details through short-range communication with the mobile communication terminal 300 in the internal database 316 (S412).

That is, the vending machine 310 stores the sales history information including the telephone number, the product type, the quantity, the shipping time and the fee information of the mobile communication terminal 300.

Vending machine 310 stores the sales history information of the product according to the short-range communication with the mobile communication terminal 300 for a predetermined period, and after a predetermined time (S414) stored sales history information to the mobile communication module 314 The base station 320 transmits to the base station 320 through the wireless network (S416).

The base station 320 transmits the transmitted sales history information to the billing system 330 through a wired network (S418), and the billing system 330 is based on the telephony fee of the mobile communication terminal 300 and the transmitted sales history information. Charges that add up the product charges for using the vending machine 310 by the mobile communication terminal 300.

5 is a flowchart for performing management of the vending machine service apparatus according to the present invention.

First, management items for management of the vending machine 310 are set in the vending machine 310 and the management system 340.

The main controller 318 of the vending machine 310 continuously performs a check according to the set item (S500), and stores the management information accordingly in the database 316 (S502).

Subsequently, the main controller 318 continuously checks the time at which the management item is checked and is stored, and when the time reaches a preset time (S504), the main controller 318 transmits the management information stored in the database 316 to the mobile communication module 314. The base station 320 transmits the data to the base station 320 through step S506.

The base station 320 receives the management information and transmits the management information to the management system 340 connected through the wired network (S508).

The management system 340 grasps the state of the vending machine 310 located at a remote location by the management information transmitted through the base station 320 (S510).

The vending service apparatus and method according to the present invention constitute a short range wireless communication module capable of short-range communication between a mobile communication terminal and a vending machine, and use a vending machine by the short range wireless communication module.

Therefore, when the vending machine is used by the mobile communication terminal without cash, the present invention has an effect that the inconvenience of use due to the overload of the existing wireless communication network can be solved by the vending machine using the local area communication.

In addition, since the vending machine is used by the local area network without using the wireless communication network, the present invention also has the effect of eliminating the burden on the communication fee due to the use of the wireless communication network.

In addition, according to the present invention, the mobile terminal user can use the vending machine more conveniently without cash by the terminal, and the vending machine installer can improve the profit according to the increase in the use of the vending machine.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

Claims (15)

A mobile communication terminal having a short range wireless communication module; A short range wireless communication module, receiving a service request signal and a user authentication signal from the mobile communication terminal, performing user authentication according to the user authentication signal, and providing an automatic sales service to an authenticated user, A vending machine for transmitting service fee information corresponding to the provided vending service through a mobile communication network; A server for performing billing by integrating the service charge information received from the vending machine through the mobile communication network by integrating the telephony charge information of the mobile communication terminal. Wireless network based vending machine service system comprising a. In the vending machine service performing method including a vending machine and a mobile communication terminal, Receiving an authentication signal of the mobile communication terminal user from the vending machine through a mobile communication network; Transmitting a user authentication confirmation signal to the vending machine when the authentication signal corresponds to a previously stored authentication signal; Receiving vending machine fee information according to the vending service of the vending machine performed on the user authentication confirmation signal from the vending machine; Performing charging based on the sum of the received vending machine usage fee information and communication fee information of the mobile communication terminal; Including but not limited to: The mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication terminal has a short range wireless communication module, the mobile communication terminal through the short range wireless communication module, the method of performing a vending machine service, characterized in that for transmitting the user authentication signal to the vending machine. . In the vending machine service performing apparatus including a vending machine and a mobile communication terminal, A memory in which a program is stored; A processor coupled to the memory to execute the program; The processor is Receiving an authentication signal of the mobile communication terminal user from the vending machine through a mobile communication network; Transmitting a user authentication confirmation signal to the vending machine when the authentication signal corresponds to a previously stored authentication signal; Receiving vending machine fee information according to the vending service of the vending machine performed on the user authentication confirmation signal from the vending machine; Performing charging based on the sum of the received vending machine usage fee information and communication fee information of the mobile communication terminal; Configured to run The mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication terminal includes a short range wireless communication module, the mobile communication terminal through the short range wireless communication module, the vending machine service performing apparatus characterized in that for transmitting the user authentication signal to the vending machine. . Automatic vending service through a vending machine having a second short range wireless communication module in the terminal having a first short range wireless communication module, wherein the second short range wireless communication module performs short range wireless communication with the first short range wireless communication module. In the method of performing, Initiating near field communication with the second near field communication module using the first near field communication module; Providing the user authentication data to the vending machine using short-range wireless communication. Including but not limited to: The vending machine performs an automatic sales service to the user after authenticating a user according to the provided user authentication data, and transmits charging information corresponding to the automatic sales service to a charging system corresponding to the terminal. How to perform auto sales service on terminal. The method of claim 4, wherein And the user authentication data includes at least one of a telephone number, a serial number, and a password of the terminal. The method of claim 4, wherein The vending machine stores the billing information according to the vending service for a predetermined period of time, and transmits the billing information to the billing system when the set period has elapsed. The method of claim 4, wherein And the billing information includes at least one of a phone number of the terminal, a product type, a quantity served by the vending machine, a shipment time of the product, and a use price information. The method of claim 4, wherein The first and second short-range wireless communication module is a method for performing automatic sales service in a terminal, characterized in that the short-range wireless communication is performed by at least one interface protocol of Bluetooth, home RF or IRDA. And a second short range wireless communication module in a vending machine having a first short range wireless communication module, wherein the second short range wireless communication module performs short range wireless communication with the first short range wireless communication module. In the method of performing the sales service, Short-range wireless reception of a menu selection signal and an authentication signal from the mobile communication terminal through the first short-range wireless communication module; Performing an automatic vending service according to the mobile communication terminal when the received authentication signal corresponds to a previously stored authentication signal; Transmitting the charging information according to the performed vending service to a charging system corresponding to the mobile communication terminal; Method of performing vending service in a vending machine comprising a. The method of claim 9, Storing the charging information for a predetermined time and transmitting the charging information to a charging system corresponding to the mobile communication terminal; The vending service performing method in the vending machine further comprising. An apparatus for performing a vending machine service according to a mobile communication terminal, The mobile communication terminal Mobile communication means for setting use service of a vending machine through a base station corresponding to the mobile communication terminal; First short range wireless communication means for performing short range wireless communication with the vending machine by the set service; Means for transmitting a user authentication signal to the vending machine via the first short range wireless communication means. Including, The vending machine receives a user authentication signal from the mobile communication terminal through a second short-range wireless communication means, performs user authentication according to the received authentication signal and a pre-stored authentication signal, and then automatically sends the user authentication signal to the mobile communication terminal user. And perform charging service, and store charging information corresponding to the automatic selling service and transmit the charging information to the charging system corresponding to the mobile communication terminal at regular intervals. The method of claim 11, And the user authentication signal includes at least one of a telephone number, a serial number, and a password of the mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 11, And the billing information includes at least one of a phone number of the mobile communication terminal, a type of product sold, a quantity, a time of release of the product, and a use price information. The method of claim 11, And the first and second short range wireless communication modules perform short range wireless communication using at least one interface protocol of Bluetooth, home RF, or IRDA. In the vending machine service performing apparatus according to short-range wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal, The vending machine Short-range wireless communication means for receiving a menu selection signal and an authentication signal from the mobile communication terminal by short-range wireless communication; Means for performing user authentication by comparing the authentication signal received through the short range wireless communication means with a previously stored authentication signal; Means for performing an automatic vending service to the user authenticated mobile communication terminal user; Means for storing the billing information according to the automatic vending service and transmitting the billing information to a billing system corresponding to the mobile communication terminal at regular intervals; Automatic sales service performing apparatus comprising a.