WO2012042680A1

WO2012042680A1 - Communication system for automatic vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2012042680A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/072803
Authority: WO
Inventors: 星野　裕樹
Original assignee: 株式会社日本コンラックス
Priority date: 2010-09-28
Filing date: 2010-12-17
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: JP5614859B2; JPWO2012042680A1

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a communication system of an automatic vending machine enabling communication between terminal devices via a local communication network without altering the control program of the automatic vending machine. [Solution] The communication system of an automatic vending machine (1) communicates via a main control unit as a master terminal and a plurality of terminal devices as slave terminals comprising: a backbone communication network (4) connecting the main control unit (5) with each terminal device (2,3,7); a local communication network (6) connecting each terminal device (2,3,7); and a transmitting control means (2a,3a,7a) provided to each terminal device (2,3,7) in order to avoid communication conflict in the local communication network (6). If the transmitting control means (2a, 3a, 7a) receives a transmission permission command TxD sequentially transmitted from the main control unit (5) to each terminal device (2,3,7) and identifies that the transmission permission command TxD is addressed to its own terminal device, the transmitting control means (2a,3a,7a) allows its own terminal device to transmit information to other terminal devices via the local communication network (6).

Description

Vending machine communication system

The present invention relates to a communication system for a vending machine.

The vending machine includes terminal devices such as banknote processing devices and coin processing devices, and these devices are controlled by signals from the main control unit. That is, communication (single master communication) is performed using the main control unit as the master terminal and the terminal device as the slave terminal.

In recent years, electronic money has become widespread, and vending machines equipped with an electronic money payment processing apparatus are increasing. The electronic money settlement processing apparatus has a communication function for connecting to an external network. For this reason, another communication line for connecting the terminal devices is provided, and an infrastructure capable of realizing a new function of transmitting information on the terminal device to the outside without going through the main control unit is being prepared.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for downloading an update program for a terminal device from an external server.
Patent Literature 2 and Patent Literature 3 describe a technique for collecting operation histories of a coin processing device, a bill processing device, and the like on an IC card using an electronic money device.
Patent Document 4 describes a technique of setting a change suppression mode of a coin processing device according to a day of the week and a time zone using an electronic money device.

JP 2001-283304 A JP 2010-033485 JP 2010-102389 A JP 2010-146046 A

However, if communication between terminal devices is attempted through another communication line, the amount of communication processing between the terminals increases, so that the terminal device cannot return a response signal in response to a call signal from the main control unit. May be adversely affected. In addition, as other methods for carrying out communication between terminals, there are a method of providing a new terminal having a communication main control function and a method of remodeling the main control program of the vending machine. In the latter case, there is a communication standard for vending machines, so it cannot be changed for the convenience of the terminal device manufacturer, and this is one factor that hinders the practical application of the above-mentioned prior art. Yes.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a communication system for a vending machine capable of communicating with each other via a local communication network without modifying a control program for the vending machine. With the goal.

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a basic communication for connecting the main control unit and each terminal device in a communication system of a vending machine that performs communication using the main control unit as a master terminal and a plurality of terminal devices as slave terminals. A network, a local communication network connecting the terminal devices, and transmission control means provided in the terminal devices to avoid communication collisions in the local communication network, the transmission control means including the main control unit When receiving the transmission permission command sequentially sent from the terminal device to each terminal device, and recognizing that the transmission permission command is addressed to its own terminal device, the recognized terminal device transmits another command via the local communication network. The terminal device is allowed to transmit information.

According to such a configuration, transmission permission to the local communication network is given to each terminal device in turn using the transmission permission command from the main control unit, so even without modifying the control program of the vending machine, Communication between terminal devices via a local communication network becomes possible.

The transmission control means prohibits transmission to the local communication network when another terminal device is communicating on the local communication network, and transmits when a next transmission permission instruction is sent. It is preferable to determine again whether or not.

According to such a configuration, when another terminal device is transmitting beyond the transmission period, the transmission control unit does not permit transmission to the local communication network even when receiving a transmission permission command from the main control unit. Communication collisions on the communication network can be avoided. That is, when transmission to the local communication network 6 is started, it is only necessary to check whether or not communication is being performed on the local communication network, and the control is simple.

The terminal device includes at least one of an electronic money settlement processing device that processes electronic money, a bill processing device that processes banknotes, and a coin processing device that processes coins.

The communication system of the vending machine according to the present invention further includes a human body detection sensor for detecting a human body, and the transmission control unit cancels the sleep mode when the sleep mode is canceled by a signal command from the human body detection sensor. A command is sent to the other terminal device via the local communication network.

According to such a configuration, when the user approaches the vending machine, the sleep mode of the electronic money settlement processing device, the banknote processing device, and the coin processing device is automatically canceled. The device can be kept in the sleep mode, which helps to save power.

The terminal device includes the electronic money settlement processing device, the banknote processing device, and the coin processing device, and the electronic money settlement processing device downloads an update program from a management server provided outside, and The transmission control means of the money settlement processing device sends the update program to the banknote processing device and the coin processing device via the local communication network.

According to this structure, it can update at any time with the program of a banknote processing apparatus and a coin processing apparatus, and it is useful for the improvement of a performance.

The terminal device includes the electronic money settlement processing device, the banknote processing device, and the coin processing device. The electronic money settlement processing device receives time information from a management server provided outside, and the electronic money settlement processing device The transmission control means of the settlement processing device sends the time information to the banknote processing device and the coin processing device via the local communication network.

According to this configuration, it is possible to add an accurate time to the log information of each terminal device, which is useful for improving maintenance accuracy.

According to the present invention, transmission permission to the local communication network is given to each terminal device in turn using a transmission permission command from the main control unit, so even without modifying the control program of the vending machine, Communication between terminal devices via a local communication network becomes possible.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of the communication system of the vending machine which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of FIG. It is a time chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the communication system of the vending machine of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the communication system. It is a figure which shows the modification of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which the control part of a terminal device performs. It is a figure explaining the cancellation | release procedure of sleep mode. It is a sequence diagram which shows the cancellation | release procedure of sleep mode. It is a figure explaining the download procedure of an update program. It is a sequence diagram which shows the download procedure of an update program. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a continuation of FIG. 10. It is a figure explaining the transmission procedure of time information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the transmission procedure of time information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a communication system of a vending machine according to the present invention.
The vending machine 1 includes a coin processing device 2 and a bill processing device 3 as terminal devices, and these

devices

2 and 3 are connected to a main control unit 5 via a backbone communication network 4. Further, the coin processing device 2 and the banknote processing device 3 are connected by a local communication network 6 different from the backbone communication network 4. The local communication network 6 is a half-duplex transmission line and may be dedicated for data transmission without transmitting a control signal. Each of the

terminal devices

2 and 3 includes control units (transmission control means) 2a and 3a and

local communication modules

2b and 3b. The

control units

2a and 3a perform control so as to avoid communication collision in the local communication network 6.

FIG. 2 shows a vending machine capable of electronic money settlement.
This vending machine 1 has an electronic money settlement processing device 7 added as a terminal device. The electronic money settlement processing device 7 is connected to the management server 10 via the communication terminal module 8 and the mobile communication network 9. Since other components are the same as those in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the electronic money settlement processing device 7 is represented as VT, the coin processing device 2 as CM, and the banknote processing device 3 as BV.

The coin processing device (CM) 2 performs processing such as determining whether a coin is correct or not, accepting it, and paying it out. The banknote processing device (BV) 3 performs processing such as banknote authenticity determination and acceptance. The electronic money payment processing device (VT) 7 performs payment processing using electronic money and notifies the management server 10 of the result. The main control unit 5 controls all of the terminal devices including the coin processing device (CM) 2, the banknote processing device (BV) 3, and the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7.

Next, operation | movement of the communication system of the vending machine 1 is demonstrated using the time chart of FIG.
In the vending machine 1 of FIG. 2, single master communication is performed with the main control unit 5 as a master terminal and the

terminal devices

2, 3, and 7 as slave terminals. In general single master communication, a master terminal sends a transmission permission command to each slave terminal in turn, and the slave terminal receives this transmission permission command and starts transmission. Since the master terminal transmits the transmission permission command to each slave terminal in order, the transmissions of the plurality of slave terminals do not collide. In the present invention, the transmission permission command issued by the master terminal is used as a trigger for transmission right transfer when each slave terminal communicates with the local communication network 6.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 5 sequentially transmits an interrogation signal TxD (transmission permission command) to each terminal device CM2, BV3, VT7 at a predetermined time interval, and a response signal Ack to this is transmitted. The terminal devices CM2, BV3, and VT7 return to the main control unit 5.
As a result, the following processing is performed.
1. The terminal devices CM2, BV3, and VT7 receive the interrogation signal TxD from the main control unit 5, transmit the response signal Ack, and obtain the transmission right for communication on the local communication network 6.
2. The terminal devices CM2, BV3, and VT7 lose the transmission right when the main control unit 5 transmits the multiplied signal TxD to the other terminal devices.
3. The terminal devices CM2, BV3, and VT7 check whether other terminal devices are communicating on the local communication network 6 at the time of transmitting the response signal Ack. do not do.

By the way, a time lag may occur between a command transmitted on the local communication network 6 and its response, or commands from different terminal devices may be repeatedly transmitted to the same terminal device. The ID may be attached to the data command and the response command corresponding to the ID.

Next, the operation of the communication system of the vending machine 1 will be specifically described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.
The terminal device CM2 receives the interrogation signal TxD from the main control unit 5 (step T1) and returns a response signal Ack (step T2). However, at that time, the other terminal devices are not communicating on the local communication network 6. The terminal device CM2 acquires a transmission right simultaneously with the transmission of the response signal Ack, and starts data transmission (ID = C1) to the terminal device VT7. Next, the terminal device BV3 acquires the transmission right simultaneously with the transmission of the response signal Ack (step T4), but since the terminal device CM2 transmits over the transmission period T at that time, the terminal device BV transmits the data. Is not performed (see FIG. 3).

Then, the terminal device BV3 waits until the next transmission permission command is sent from the main control unit 5 and the next transmission right is obtained, and determines again whether or not transmission is possible. In step T10, since no other terminal device is communicating on the local communication network 6, the terminal device BV3 starts data transmission (ID = C1) to the terminal device VT7. In step T6, the terminal device VT7 returns a response signal Ack to the terminal device CM, and the same ID as the transmission data of the terminal device CM2 is attached to this response signal Ack. Similarly, in step T12, the response number Ack is transmitted from the terminal device VT7 to the terminal device BV3.

Next, the sequence diagram of FIG. 5 will be described.
The difference from FIG. 4 is that the response signal Ack is returned from the same terminal device to different terminal devices.
That is, the terminal device CM2 transmits data (ID = C1) to the terminal device VT7 in step T22, and the terminal device BV3 transmits data (ID = B2) to the terminal device VT7 in step T24. The terminal device VT7 that has received these data needs to return the response signal Ack. However, since the terminal device BV3 transmits over the transmission period T in step T26, the response signal Ack is not transmitted here. . In step T32, the terminal device VT7 obtains the next transmission right, attaches ID = C1 and B2 to the terminal devices CM2 and VT7, respectively, and simultaneously returns a response signal Ack.

FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure executed by the

control units

2a, 3a, and 7a of each terminal device.
First, when reception in the local communication network 6 is started (step S1), the process waits until a transmission permission command is received from the backbone communication network 4 (step S2). When the transmission permission command is received, the name of the terminal device having the transmission right is updated (step S3). Next, it is determined whether or not the transmission permission command is addressed to the own terminal (step S4), and if it is recognized that the command is addressed to the own terminal, whether there is transmission data to the local communication network 6 or not. Is determined (step S5). If there is transmission data, it is determined whether other terminal devices are communicating on the local communication network 6 (S6). If not, the transmission processing is executed (step S6), and step S2 is performed. Return to. If there is no transmission data in step S5, or if another terminal device is communicating on the local communication network 6 in step S6, the process immediately returns to step S2.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the transmission permission command is not addressed to the own terminal, it is determined whether or not there is received data from the local communication network 6 (step S8). Is determined to be addressed to the own terminal (step S9), and if it is determined to be addressed to the own terminal, a reception process is executed (Sstep 10), and the process returns to step S2. If it is determined in step S8 that there is no received data, or if it is determined in step S9 that the received data is not destined for the own terminal, the process immediately returns to step S2.

According to the communication system of the present embodiment, transmission permission to the local communication network 6 is given to each terminal device in turn using the transmission permission command from the main control unit 5. Even without remodeling, communication between terminal devices via the local communication network 6 becomes possible.

Further, each terminal device checks whether or not communication is being performed on the local communication network 6 when the response signal Ack is transmitted, and if the communication is not performed, transmission to the local communication network 6 may be started. Easy to control.

On the other hand, there is a method of performing single master communication by setting the priority order for the transmission right of each terminal device, but each terminal device recognizes the existence of other terminal devices and has a higher priority order than itself. In addition, it is necessary to perform a complicated process such as identifying the absence of data, and since all terminal devices must have the functions of a master terminal and a slave terminal, the volume of the program increases.

On the other hand, multi-master communication in which all terminal devices can transmit equally is conceivable, but it is necessary to perform arbitration processing to avoid communication collision (collision), which is difficult to implement in a CPU that does not support arbitration.

Next, a specific example using the communication system of the present embodiment will be described.
In the vending machine 1 of FIG. 7, the human body detection sensor 12 is provided in the banknote processing device (BV) 3, and the sleep mode of each terminal device is canceled in the following procedure.
1. The sleep mode of the banknote processing device (BV) 3 is canceled by the detection signal of the human body detection sensor 12.
2. The bill processing device (BV) 3 sends a sleep mode release command to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 and the coin processing device (CM) 2 via the local communication network 6, and the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7. The sleep mode of the coin processing device (CM) 2 is canceled.

Next, this will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.
When the consumer moves in front of the vending machine 1, the human body detection sensor 12 is activated to cancel the sleep mode of the banknote processing device (BV) 3. When the banknote processing device (BV) 3 obtains the transmission right, a leap mode release request command (01,02) is sent from the banknote processing device (BV) 3 via the local communication network 6 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7. Are sent to the coin processing device (CM) 2 and the sleep mode of the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 and the coin processing device (CM) 2 is released.

The electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 and the coin processing device (CM) 2 return a response signal (01, 02) to the banknote processing device (BV) 3 when the transmission right is obtained. Note that the order of the sleep mode cancellation processing and response signal transmission is reversed between the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 and the coin processing device (CM) 2, but this is the case with the coin processing device (CM) 2. This is because the transmission right is obtained before the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7.

According to such a configuration, when the consumer leaves the vending machine 1, it is only necessary to put each terminal device in a sleep mode (a state in which only a control circuit necessary for communication is operating), which is useful for power saving. .
In this embodiment, the human body detection sensor 12 is provided in the banknote processing device (BV) 3, but from the banknote insertion detection sensor of the banknote processing device (BV) 3, the coin insertion detection sensor of the coin processing device (CM) 2, and the like. The sleep mode of each terminal device may be canceled by this signal.

In the case of the vending machine 1 that does not include the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 shown in FIG. 1, the sleep of the coin processing device (CM) 2 by the sleep mode release command from the banknote processing device (BV) 3. You can cancel the mode.

In the vending machine 1 of FIG. 9, the update program is downloaded from the management server 10 to the banknote processing device (BV) 3 in the following procedure.
1. An update program is sent from the management server 10 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 via the mobile communication network 9.
2. An update program is sent from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the banknote processing device (BV) 3 via the local communication network 6.
3. An update program is sent from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the coin processing device (CM) 2 via the local communication network 6.

Next, this will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS.
When the program update command of the bill processing device (BV) 3 is sent from the management server 10 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 and the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 returns a response signal Ack, the management server 10 Transmission of the update program to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 is started. The update program is divided into N data blocks and transmitted, and a response signal Ack is returned each time transmission of each data block is completed. The update program is stored in the memory of the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7.

When the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 sends an update request command (01) to the bill processing device (BV) 3, the bill processing device (BV) 3 transmits a bill acceptance prohibition state signal to the main control unit 5. When the banknote processing device (BV) 3 returns a response signal Ack (01) to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7, an update program is transmitted from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the banknote processing device (BV) 3. Is started. The update program is transmitted by being divided into N data blocks so as to be within the transmission period T. When transmission of each data block ends, a response signal Ack is returned each time. When the last data block N is received, the banknote processing device (BV) 3 performs a program update process and restarts the system.

When the system restart is completed, the banknote processing device (BV) 3 transmits a response signal Ack that has not yet received the standby command to the main control unit 5 and receives a standby command from the main control unit 5. The update result (10) is transmitted from the banknote processing device (BV) 3 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7, and the response signal Ack (10) is transmitted from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the banknote processing device (BV) 3. ) Is sent. Finally, the update result is transmitted from the electronic money settlement processing apparatus (VT) to the management server 10, and the response signal Ack is transmitted from the management server 10 to the electronic money settlement processing apparatus (VT) 7. Note that the update program is downloaded to the coin processing device (CM) 2 in the same procedure.

According to this structure, it can be updated at any time by the program of the banknote processing device (BV) 3 and the coin processing device (CM) 2, which is useful for improving the performance.

In the vending machine 1 of FIG. 12, time information is sent from the management server 10 to each terminal device in the following procedure.
1. Time information is sent from the management server 10 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 via the mobile communication network 9.
2. Time information is sent from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the banknote processing device (BV) 3 via the local communication network 6.
3. Time information is sent from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the coin processing device (CM) 2 via the local communication network 6.

Next, this will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.
When time information is sent from the management server 10 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7, the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 returns a response signal Ack and executes time update processing. When the time update process ends, the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 sends a time update request command (01) to the banknote processing device (BV) 3, and the banknote processing device (BV) 3 sends the electronic money settlement processing device (VT). ) A response signal Ack (01) is returned to 7. When the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 sends the time information (01) to the bill processing device (BV) 3, the bill processing device (BV) 3 sends a response signal Ack (01 to the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7. ) Is returned and the time update process is executed. In the same procedure, time information is sent from the electronic money settlement processing device (VT) 7 to the coin processing device (CM) 2 and time update processing is executed.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible.
For example, in the above embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the coin processing device is CM as the terminal device, the banknote processing device is BV, and the electronic money settlement processing device is VT. Needless to say, devices are also installed in vending machines as terminal devices.
Furthermore, using the communication system of the present invention, the operation history of the terminal device can be collected in an IC card or transmitted to a management server.

1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Coin handling equipment (CM)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Banknote processing apparatus (BV) 4 ... Core communication network 5 ... Main control part 6 ... Local communication network 7 ... Electronic money payment processing apparatus (VT) 8 ... Communication terminal module 9 ... Mobile communication network 10 ... Management server

Claims

In the communication system of the vending machine that performs communication using the main control unit as a master terminal and a plurality of terminal devices as slave terminals,
A backbone communication network connecting the main control unit and each terminal device;
A local communication network connecting the terminal devices;
Transmission control means provided in each of the terminal devices to avoid communication collision in the local communication network,
When the transmission control unit receives a transmission permission command sequentially sent from the main control unit to each terminal device and recognizes that the transmission permission command is addressed to its own terminal device, the recognized terminal device A communication system for a vending machine, which permits transmission of information to another terminal device via the local communication network.
The transmission control means prohibits transmission to the local communication network when another terminal device is communicating on the local communication network, and a next transmission permission instruction is sent from the main control unit. 2. The communication system for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein whether or not transmission is possible is determined again at the time of arrival.
The terminal device includes at least one of an electronic money settlement processing device that processes electronic money, a banknote processing device that processes banknotes, and a coin processing device that processes coins. The communication system of the vending machine described in 1.
A human body detection sensor for detecting the human body;
The transmission control means, when the sleep mode is canceled by a signal command from the human body detection sensor, sends a sleep mode cancellation command to the other terminal device via the local communication network. The communication system of the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The terminal device includes the electronic money settlement processing device, the banknote processing device, and the coin processing device,
The electronic money settlement processing apparatus downloads an update program from a management server provided outside,
4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the transmission control means of the electronic money settlement processing device sends the update program to the bill processing device and the coin processing device via the local communication network. Communications system.
The terminal device includes the electronic money settlement processing device, the banknote processing device, and the coin processing device,
The electronic money settlement processing device receives time information from a management server provided outside,
4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the transmission control means of the electronic money settlement processing device sends the time information to the bill processing device and the coin processing device via the local communication network. Communications system.