KR20020004251A - System for automatic selling machine service using mobile terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A vending machine service system using a mobile terminal is provided to make it possible to conveniently use an automatic vending without inserting money and, from a view point of machine owners, to expect increase of sales and to prevent burglars, thereby the management cost being reduced. CONSTITUTION: The vending machine service system includes a vending machine(210), a mobile communication system(220) and a vending machine managing system(230). The automatic vending machine(210) has a function to wirelessly receive and transmit data and is radio connected to the vending machine managing system(230) via the mobile communication system(220). When the vending machine managing system(230) receives a call via the mobile communication system(220) from a mobile terminal(30), it transmits information massage to the mobile terminal(30) and then receives a service request from the mobile terminal(30). A user inputs information of the user, information of the vending machine, and service rate. At this time, the vending machine managing system(230) transmits a signal instructing a sale corresponding to the rate requested by the user to the vending machine(210) via mobile communication system(220). Thus, the user can use the vending machine(210) without inputting actual money.

Description

Vending machine service system using a mobile terminal {System for automatic selling machine service using mobile terminals}

The present invention relates to a vending machine service system, and more particularly, to a service system in which a vending machine can be used using a mobile terminal and a fee is charged later so that the vending machine can be used more conveniently.

With the rapid development of communication technology, communication services using mobile terminals such as cellular, personal communication services (PCS), personal digital assistants (PDA), and IMT-2000 have been greatly activated. Prevalence is also greatly increasing.

On the other hand, due to the convenience of merchandise sales and purchase, in addition to coffee and beverages, many kinds of items such as cup noodles and clothing are sold in vending machines, and the types of goods sold through vending machines continue to increase. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a conventional vending machine, and an operation process of the vending machine 10 will be briefly described with reference to the drawing.

When a user puts a coin or banknote into the input device 11, the amount of the usage fee input by the input amount checking device 12 is confirmed. The amount confirmed by the input amount checking device 12 is displayed on the display device 13 attached to the case of the vending machine 10, and the button 14 indicating the item that can be purchased at the current input amount is lit. It comes in. Then, the user presses the corresponding button to select the desired article, the article is discharged to the discharge port 16 by the article discharge device 15, the user receives the desired article.

Here, the name of each component of the vending machine 10 used in FIG. 1 is used arbitrarily, regardless of the name used to mean a component that is used in the vending machine 10 to perform the corresponding function. Shall be.

However, in order to use the conventional vending machine 10, the user must have a change or banknotes (currently only 1000 won bills), the factor that is inconvenient to use the vending machine due to the use of the change mainly It is working.

In addition, the operator of the vending machine is always feeling anxiety due to frequent cash theft, and the inconvenience of managing the change is very large. This is a significant factor that limits the activation of vending machines.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, it is possible to use a vending machine using a mobile terminal to provide a vending machine service system to be able to use the vending machine more conveniently by charging later. Its purpose is to.

In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine service system using a mobile terminal according to the present invention has a function of wirelessly receiving an operation signal including information on a service amount and processing the service amount as input. More than one vending machine; When the connection from the mobile terminal is requested, the vending machine management receives user information, service amount, and vending machine information from the mobile terminal through a predetermined guide message, and transmits an operation signal including the service amount to the corresponding vending machine. system; And a mobile communication system connecting the vending machine and the mobile terminal to the vending machine management system.

The vending machine may be configured to wirelessly transmit information on whether the product sale is normally performed after selling the product according to the operation signal to the vending machine management system so that the vending machine management system records the service performance result. have.

The role of the vending machine management system of the vending machine service system may be configured to be performed by a unified messaging processing system (UMS) that interworks with the mobile communication system. In this case, the vending machine management system is preferably configured to determine the information of the user who requested the current service through the subscriber information of the mobile communication system.

At this time, the fee for using the vending machine service is to be charged by the mobile communication system, and the mobile communication system receives information about the service provision from the vending machine management system, and the vending machine service fee is added to the user's mobile communication service using fee. You will be charged an additional fee.

In addition, the role of the vending machine management system may be configured to be performed in a web server connected to the mobile terminal and a wireless internet network through the mobile communication system. In this case, the vending machine management system and the vending machine is preferably configured to be connected through a dedicated line.

At this time, the user information is to include a user ID (ID) and password registered in the web server, the vending machine management system to grasp the information of the user using the service through the user ID and password to the service every predetermined period Configure to charge the fee.

On the other hand, the identification of the vending machine is to be made as an identification code uniquely assigned to each vending machine, the vending machine information to be input by the user is configured to include the identification code of the vending machine.

1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a conventional vending machine;

2 is a block diagram of a vending machine service system according to the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine equipped with a wireless transceiver;

4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless transceiver;

5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the operation of the vending machine management system;

6 is a block diagram of an embodiment using a Unified Messaging Processing System (UMS),

7 shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment using a web server.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10,210: vending machine 11: feeder

12: input amount checking device 13: display device

14: button for sale 15: product discharge device

16: outlet 30: mobile terminal

211: wireless transceiver 220: mobile communication system

230: Vending machine management system 231: Unified messaging processing system

232: web server 800: wireless Internet network

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine service system according to the present invention, and includes a vending machine 210, a mobile communication system 220, and a vending machine management system 230.

Here, the vending machine 210 includes a function of transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, and is connected to the vending machine management system 230 wirelessly through the mobile communication system 220. In addition, the mobile terminal 30 includes all mobile communication terminals such as cellular, personal mobile communication (PCS), PDA, and IMT-2000.

When a call is connected from the mobile terminal 30 through the mobile communication system 220, the vending machine management system 230 transmits a vending machine service request from the mobile terminal 30 while transmitting a guide message to the mobile terminal 30. Receive.

At this time, the information input by the user in order to receive the service should include user information, service amount, and vending machine information. In this case, the user information is required to charge a fee for the use of the vending machine later, the service amount is information about the amount the user wants to use the vending machine, and the vending machine information indicates what vending machine the user wants to use. Information to inform.

When the user inputs the above information by using the mobile terminal 30, the vending machine management system 230 requests the vending machine 210 to perform sales for the amount requested by the user through the mobile communication system 220. Sends an operation signal indicating that

Then, the vending machine 210 operates in the same manner as the amount of money input even if there is no actual input of the usage fee, and the user can use the vending machine 210 through the same process as the case of inputting the usage fee. Charges for the vending machine 210 are later billed to the user collectively and delivered to each vending machine operator.

That is, the user calls the vending machine management system 230 by using the mobile terminal 30 to request the use of the vending machine 210, and the vending machine management system remotely operates the vending machine 210 to operate it. In this case, the vending machine is billed to the user at once, and the vending machine is delivered to the operator of the vending machine.

In order to help understanding, an embodiment of using the vending machine service system according to the present invention from the user's point of view will be described.

The user enters a specific phone number (eg, "* 99") into the mobile terminal 30 and presses a call button. Then, you will hear a guide message from the vending machine management system 230, and enter their password, the unique number of the vending machine 210, the service amount according to the guide message. At this time, each input information may be divided into # buttons.

And, if the input is correct according to the input confirmation message of the vending machine management system 230, press 1, otherwise, press 2 and input again. When the user presses the first button, the requested amount is immediately displayed on the display of the vending machine 210, and the sales process of the vending machine 210 starts to use the vending machine 210.

Meanwhile, the service requested by the user may not be the same as the actual service. In other words, after the user requests a service amount of 1,000 won, the user may use only 400 won and not use the rest, and the result of the operation at the vending machine may not be the same as that requested by the user for the first time. can be different.

Therefore, the vending machine 210 sells the goods according to the operation signal transmitted from the vending machine management system 230 and then wirelessly transmits the information on whether the sale of the goods is normally performed to the vending machine management system 230 so that the vending machine management system ( It is desirable to allow 230 to grasp the service performance result.

3 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention, wherein the input amount checking device 12 of the vending machine as shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the wireless transceiver 211 in addition to the existing input device 11.

In other words, the input amount checking device 12 has a service amount included in the operating signal not only when the charge is input to the input device 11 but also when the operation signal is wirelessly received from the mobile communication system 220. Treat it as injected. That is, the input amount checking device 12 operates with respect to the corresponding service amount both when the charge is input to the input port and when the operation signal is received by the wireless transceiver 211.

An embodiment of configuring the wireless transceiver 211 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. The operation signal in the form of a wireless signal received through the antenna 211-1 is electrically transmitted from the signal converter 211-2. After the signal is converted into a digital signal, the data extracting unit 211-3 restores the digital data, and the data analyzing unit 211-4 analyzes the digital data to extract the service amount, and then the input amount checking device 12. Tell it to.

In addition, the data relating to the operation result of the vending machine 210 is converted into a predetermined code in the reporting data generation unit 211-6. Examples of the reporting items include the amounts actually sold in the vending machine and the items sold. There may be a variety of kinds, such as whether the actual discharge from the product outlet of the vending machine. The data processor 211-5 converts the digital data generated by the report data generator 211-6 into data for transmission, and converts the digital data into a wireless signal by the signal converter 211-2 to antenna 211-1. Is sent via).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an operation of the vending machine management system, and a process of operating the vending machine management system 230 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart.

First, the vending machine management system 230 waits for a call to be connected from the user's mobile terminal 30 through the mobile communication system 220 (S510).

Step S510 is a process of calling a specific phone number using the mobile terminal 30 in the vicinity of the vending machine 210 that the user wants to use. The call sent from the mobile terminal 30 is transmitted to the vending machine management system 230 via the mobile communication system 220, and a call path is established between the mobile terminal 30 and the vending machine management system 230.

The vending machine management system 230 receives the user information, the vending machine information, and the service price information while transmitting a guide message regarding the use of the vending machine to the mobile terminal 30 having the call path set (S520).

Step S520 is a process of inputting information about who the user is, information about a vending machine to be used, and an amount of money to be used from the user's point of view. The vending machine information is information for informing the vending machine management system 230 of which the vending machine 210 is, and means a code uniquely assigned to each vending machine. This code is attached to the case of the vending machine 210 to be visible.

In operation S520, the vending machine management system 230 that receives the user information, the vending machine information, and the information about the service amount from the mobile terminal 30 transmits an operation signal to the vending machine 210 to operate on the service amount. The operation signal includes information regarding a service amount (S530).

This signal is received from the wireless transceiver 211 of the vending machine 210 as described above, the vending machine 210 receiving the signal is in the same state as the state that the charge is input through the input device 11 Becomes Then, the display device 13 of the vending machine 210 displays the service amount desired by the user and at the same time the button 14 for sale is lit and the user uses the vending machine 210 through the same method as the existing procedure. do. That is, the user can use the vending machine 210 even if there is no current fee.

On the other hand, the vending machine 210 transmits the information on the sales result to the vending machine management system 230 through the wireless transceiver 211 when the service related to the service amount is terminated, the vending machine management system 230 is a database The service performance information is recorded (S540).

Then, the vending machine management system 230 determines whether a predetermined billing period is reached (S550), and when the billing period is reached, performs the billing for each user by using the information recorded in the database (S560).

As described above, the vending machine 210 is associated with the mobile communication system 220. As shown in FIG. 6, the role of the vending machine management system 230 is an integrated messaging processing system interworking with the mobile communication system 220. (UMS: Unified Massaging System, 231) is preferably configured to perform.

In this case, since the mobile communication system 220 has personal information (eg, name, address, etc.) of the mobile subscribers in its subscriber information database 221, the mobile communication system 220 may request the current service without receiving any user information from the user. Know your information. The service information database 231-1 is a database for recording information related to service provision. Of course, an emergency situation such as loss or theft of the mobile terminal may occur, so that user identification information such as a password can be configured to be more preferably implemented.

In addition, the usage fee of the vending machine 210 is configured to be billed by integrating into the telephone bills issued by the mobile carrier to subscribers of each mobile terminal. In addition, by transferring the usage fee of the vending machine service among the integrated charges, the vending of the vending machine can be efficiently performed.

On the other hand, the current wireless Internet technology is rapidly developing, it can be configured to provide a service system according to the present invention over the wireless Internet.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vending machine management system 230 may be implemented as a web server 232 connected to the wireless Internet network 800, and may be connected to the mobile terminal 30 through the wireless Internet network 800. do. Of course, the wireless Internet network also includes a mobile communication system. In this case, the web server 232 and the vending machine 210 may be connected through a dedicated line, and the web server 232 and the vending machine 210 exchange operation signals and product sales result information through the dedicated line.

In this case, the user information to be input by the user includes a user ID (ID) and a password registered in the web server 232. In other words, the web server 232 has a subscriber information database 232-2 for recording information of users subscribed to it, thereby identifying the user. Then, the vending fee of the vending machine is charged to the corresponding users every certain period of time, and then transferred to the vending machine operators.

By using the present invention, the vending machine user can use the vending machine without actually inputting a fee, so that the vending machine can be used very conveniently. In addition, the operator of each vending machine can increase the sales, prevent theft of cash, and reduce the vending machine management costs.

In addition, the mobile communication service provider can obtain the interest income from the sales profit and the charge of the service usage fee according to the increase in the call volume, and the service provider providing the service according to the present invention is dependent on the profit and the call charge according to the sale and maintenance of the device. Revenues can be earned through fees for services, and fees for using services. Therefore, there is an effect that the vending service can be further activated.

Claims (9)

At least one vending machine having a function of wirelessly receiving an operation signal including information on a service amount and processing the service amount as input; When the connection from the mobile terminal is requested, the vending machine management receives user information, service amount, and vending machine information from the mobile terminal through a predetermined guide message, and transmits an operation signal including the service amount to the corresponding vending machine. system; And And a mobile communication system for connecting the vending machine and the mobile terminal to the vending machine management system. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the vending machine wirelessly transmits information on whether the product sale is normally performed after the product sale according to the operation signal to the vending machine management system so that the vending machine management system records the service performance result. Vending machine service system using a mobile terminal, characterized in that. The vending machine service system of claim 2, wherein the role of the vending machine management system is configured to be performed by a unified messaging processing system (UMS) that interoperates with the mobile communication system. 4. The vending machine service system of claim 3, wherein the vending machine management system is configured to determine information of a user who has requested a current service through subscriber information of the mobile communication system. The mobile communication system of claim 4, wherein the fee for using the vending machine service is charged by the mobile communication system, and the mobile communication system receives information about the service provision from the vending machine management system and adds the service to the user's mobile communication service using fee. Vending machine service system using a mobile terminal, characterized in that configured to charge the additional charge. The vending machine service system of claim 2, wherein the role of the vending machine management system is configured to be performed in a web server connected to the mobile terminal and a wireless internet network through the mobile communication system. 7. The vending machine service system of claim 6, wherein the vending machine management system and the vending machines are configured to be connected through a dedicated line. The system of claim 6, wherein the user information includes a user ID (ID) and a password registered in the web server, and the vending machine management system identifies a user's information using a service through the user ID and password for a predetermined period of time. The vending machine service system using a mobile terminal, characterized in that configured to charge the service usage fee every time. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the vending machine is made as an identification code uniquely assigned to each vending machine, and the vending machine information includes the identification code of the vending machine. Vending machine service system using a mobile terminal, characterized in that configured.