JP2023178144A - Ticket issuing device, ticket issuing system, and ticket issuing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a highly convenient ticket vending device in accordance with demand of users and a use situation of a station.SOLUTION: Provided is a ticket issuing device including: a control unit that selects a preferential service to be processed preferentially from among a plurality of services based on degree-of-congestion information and restricts services that can be processed; and a processing unit that processes the selected preferential service.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a ticket issuing device, a ticket issuing system, and a ticket issuing method.

Railway ticket machines are installed at railway stations to issue train tickets and limited express tickets, allowing passengers to purchase tickets according to their destination and the train they are boarding. In recent years, technology has emerged that allows ticket vending machines installed at stations to have the function of issuing non-railway tickets.

There is Patent Document 1 as a technology in which a ticket vending machine at a station has a function of issuing non-railway tickets.
Patent Document 1 states, ``In a vending machine that sells tickets for transportation such as railways and airlines to customers, the purpose is to mediate discount set products to users and enable them to purchase discount set products. 108) Check whether there is a discount set product related to the exit station (101), if it does not exist, display the normal input screen (109), and if it exists, display information about the discount set product (109) By operating the terminal (108), the user who desires the product can input the price (104) and receive a ticket for a discount set product (105) or issue an application form for a discount set product (105). "Automatic machines can also mediate and sell discounted set products, improving customer service and increasing sales at the same time."

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-206493

Patent Document 1 describes a technology for issuing train tickets as a set with tickets for non-railway tickets, but depending on how the ticket vending machine is used, it may happen that the train is about to arrive and you want to purchase a train ticket or limited express ticket. There is a problem in that there are cases where the convenience for users is reduced, such as when ticket vending machines are occupied for purposes other than railway tickets.

An object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient ticket vending device according to user demand and station usage conditions.

A ticketing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a ticketing device capable of processing a plurality of services, and selects and processes a priority service to be processed preferentially from among the plurality of services based on congestion degree information. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control unit that limits the possible services, and a processing unit that processes the selected priority service.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly convenient ticket vending device according to user demand and station usage status.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration in Example 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a station ticket vending machine in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a station server in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a rule table of selective operation start conditions in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a business flow of a station server in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a business flow of a station ticket vending machine in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selective operation flow based on instructions from a higher-level server in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a selective driving flow by the staff terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen image during selective operation in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display of actual station signage in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration in Example 2. FIG.

Users can receive various services provided by sources other than railway companies, such as withdrawing cash from a bank account, through automatic ticket issuing terminals in station premises.

However, if such external services are always available at all ticketing terminals, there is a risk that it will cause congestion and hinder ticket issuance using ticketing terminals. On the other hand, during times when there are few train users, such as during the daytime on weekdays, some of the ticket issuing terminals are dedicated to external services, allowing users to use external services without waiting time.

Therefore, the present invention can improve convenience for station users by selecting and operating ticket issuing terminal functions according to congestion conditions and controlling the number of terminals that can use each function throughout the station.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of this embodiment.
The user 101 sends tickets to the host server 108, administrative server 109, and concert tickets via the station ticket vending machine 102 (a ticket issuing device with a ticket issuing function that can sell tickets for trains, concerts, etc.), the station server 105, and the network 103. It connects to an external server such as the server 110, and instructs and executes the issuance of limited express train tickets and instructs and executes external services.

The ticket issuing terminal 102 connects to a host server 108 and an external server via the station server 105 and the network 103, and issues tickets and provides external services in accordance with input contents from the user 101.

The network 103 is a line for exchanging data between the station ticket vending machine 102, the station server 105, the external server, and the host server 108. It may be wired or wireless.

The station installed signage 104 executes the instruction to switch the screen display at the start and end of the function selection operation issued by the station server 105, and guides station users about the implementation details of the function selection operation of the station ticket vending machine 102.

The station server 105 is connected to the host server 108 via the network 103 and mediates transmission and reception of seat designation information between the station ticket vending machine 102 and the host server 108.

Furthermore, the station server 105 connects to external servers such as the administrative server 109 and the concert ticket server 110, transmits instructions to execute external services from the station ticket vending machine 102, and receives instructions to perform function selection operation from the host server 108. , instructs the station ticket vending machine 102 to perform function selection operation.

Furthermore, the station server 105 receives instructions to start and end the function selection operation from the station staff terminal 106, transmits them to the station ticket vending machine 102, and instructs the station signage 104 to display the contents of the function selection operation on the screen.

The station staff terminal 106 instructs the station ticket vending machine 102 to start and end the function selection operation via the station server 105.

The host server 108 connects to the station server 105 via the network 103, transmits seat information such as limited express trains input by the user 101 to the station ticket vending machine 102, and sends the station server 105 the function selection operation information as needed. Send start and end instructions.

The administrative server 109 and the concert ticket server 110 are external servers that connect to the station server 105 via the network 103, receive external service execution instructions input by the user 101 into the station ticket vending machine 102, and execute the external service. do.

The external service here refers to services other than those provided by the railway company's server. Examples include, but are not limited to, issuance services such as copying resident records provided by the administrative server 109, which is a server of an administrative organization, and cash withdrawal from a bank account provided by a bank server.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a ticket issuing terminal in the first embodiment.
The communication unit 201 connects to the network 103, requests the seat information for the limited express from the host server 108, transmits ticketing information input by the user 101 through the user input unit 205 to the host server 108, and issues a ticket request. It is sent to the ticketing business processing section 209.

Further, the communication unit 201 transmits the authentication information input by the user to the external server, receives an external service implementation request from the external server, and sends the request to the external service processing unit 210.

Further, the communication unit 201 transmits data obtained by processing the video recorded by the camera unit 206 by the camera video processing unit 208 to the station server 105. At this time, the data processed by the camera video processing unit 208 may be video data or text data such as numerical values.

The control unit 202 receives an instruction for function selection operation from the station server 105, and restricts functions other than the priority function for a certain period of time. The contents of the function selection operation instruction are in a common format for the station server 105, host server 108, and station staff terminal 106, and in any of the processing flows shown in FIG. Sent.

The ticket issuing unit 203 issues a ticket with the content instructed by the ticketing business processing unit 209 or the external service processing unit 210 based on the content input by the user 101 through the user input unit 205.

During normal operation, the screen display unit 204 provides information such as how to use each service to the user 101, and during function selection operation, a screen display as shown in FIG. 9 is performed, and the user 101 can confirm currently available services of the station ticket vending machine 102.

The user input unit 205 receives input from the user 101 and passes the details of issuance of the express ticket and the details of use of external services to the communication unit 201.

The camera unit 206 captures an image of the area around the station ticket vending machine 102 and transmits it to the camera image processing unit 208.

The memory 207 stores programs for the camera image processing section 208, the ticketing business processing section 209, and the external service processing section 210.

The camera image processing unit 208 receives the image of the area surrounding the station ticket vending machine 102 taken by the camera unit 206, processes the image data into an appropriate format, and transmits the image data to the station server 105 through the communication unit 201.

The ticketing business processing unit 209 communicates with the host server 108 through the communication unit 201 based on the content input by the user 101 through the user input unit 205, sends ticketing information to the host server 108, and instructs the ticketing unit 203 to issue tickets. I do.

The external service processing unit 210 communicates with external servers such as the administrative server 109 and the concert ticket server 110 via the communication unit 201, the station server 105, and the network 103. It processes the usage details of the external service, receives external service implementation instructions from the external server, and executes the external service.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the station server 105 in the first embodiment.
The communication unit 301 communicates with the station server 105 and the station ticket vending machine 102 installed at the same station. The communication unit 301 receives data processed by the camera image processing unit 208 from the station ticket vending machine 102, issues an instruction to the station ticket vending machine 102 for function selection operation, receives an instruction for function selection operation from the station staff terminal 106, and sends an instruction to the station ticket vending machine 102 to perform function selection operation. It connects to the host server 108 via the network 103, and receives instructions for function selection operation from the host server 108.

The control unit 302 is a control entity that executes a program stored in the memory 305.

The rule recording unit 303 periodically receives distribution of function restriction rules from the host system via the communication unit 301 and the network 103, and records the received contents.

The ticket vending machine operating status recording unit 304 stores data such as the ticket vending machine operating time and transaction details as log data, and transmits it to the host server 108 via the communication unit 301.

The memory 305 stores the following programs executed by the control unit 302.

The congestion degree processing unit 306 receives the congestion degree data from the station ticket vending machine 102 through the communication unit 301, determines whether to perform the function selection operation, transmits the congestion degree data to the congestion degree prediction unit 307, and determines the congestion degree. The predictive data of the degree of congestion is received from the predicting unit 307, and based on the received predictive data, it is determined whether to perform the function selection driving.

The congestion level prediction unit 307 analyzes the congestion level data received from the station ticket vending machine 102 through the communication unit 301, predicts the future level of congestion, and transmits the predicted data to the congestion level processing unit 306.

The ticket vending machine operating status monitoring unit 308 monitors the operating status of the station ticket vending machine 102 and records data such as operating time and transaction details as log data in the ticket vending machine operating status recording unit 304 for discrepancies.

The staff terminal processing unit 309 receives instructions from the station staff terminal 106 and starts and ends the function selection operation.

The higher-level server instruction processing unit 310 receives instructions from the higher-level server 108 and starts and ends the function selection operation.

FIG. 4 is an example of the rule recording unit 303 for setting the number of specialized vehicles and prescribed time when performing function selection operation. By specifying the content for each station, appropriate processing can be performed according to the usage status of each station. In the first embodiment, a case will be described in which five station ticket vending machines 102 are installed at a station.

Application conditions 401 define application conditions for each rule. It does not have to be an exclusive condition. For crowded times, holiday mornings, holiday evenings, paydays, etc., the date, time, and number of people conditions for determining congestion can be determined in advance. Further, regarding concert information, information on the dates of concerts held around the relevant station may be obtained from the concert ticket server 110 as appropriate.

Priority 402 defines the priority of the rule. In this embodiment, the priorities are 1, 2, 3, . . . in ascending order. The application conditions 401 are checked in order from the rule with the highest priority. Rules with the same priority function 403 are not applied at the same time. Rules with different priority functions 403 are applied in order of priority. However, this should be applied so that there is always one device that can use all the functions. The priority function 403 defines the function to be specialized in the rule.

The number of specialized devices 404 defines the number of devices to which the priority function 403 is applied in the rule. In this embodiment, the upper limit of the number of specialized machines 404 is five. Function limit time 405 defines the time until the function selection operation ends.

The continuation condition 406 is a condition for determining whether to continue the function selection operation even after the function limit time 405 determined for each rule has elapsed since the station ticket vending machine 102 started the function selection operation. Establish. For example, for the rules for congestion, a condition for the number of people to be judged as being crowded may be set, and the continuation condition 406 may be that the condition for the number of people is satisfied even after the function limit time 405 has elapsed.

Further, for example, in a rule such as the day of a concert or payday, the continuation condition 406 may be set to be until a certain time or date. The determination as to whether the continuation condition 406 is satisfied is made by making a determination at a predetermined timing for each rule between the start of the function selection operation and the elapse of the function limit time 405.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the business flow of the station server 105. While the station ticket vending machine 102 is performing the function selection operation, it is expressed that the station server 105 is also performing the function selection operation. Similar expressions are used for the start, end, etc. of function selection operation.

Once the station server 105 starts operating, it continues normal operation (S501).

Thereafter, information on the degree of congestion is periodically received from the station ticket vending machine 102 (S502).

The station server 105 receives an instruction for function selection operation from the station staff terminal 106 , receives an instruction for function selection operation from the host server 108 via the network 103 , or compares it with the application condition 401 in the rule recording unit 303 . , the application condition 401 is satisfied, it is determined that the start condition for the function selection operation is satisfied, and the function selection operation is started (S503).

The processing for starting the function selection operation includes instructing the station ticket vending machine 102 to start the function selection operation, instructing the station signage 104 to display the details of the function selection operation on the screen, and instructing the station staff terminal 106 to start the function selection operation. Contains notifications. The order of the start processing may be, for example, a notification to the station staff terminal 106, a screen display instruction to the station signage 104, and an instruction to the station ticket vending machine 102 to start the function selection operation.

If the conditions for starting the function selection operation are satisfied, the station server 105 starts the function selection operation (S504).

After starting the function selection operation, the station server 105 continues the function selection operation (S505).

Even during function selection operation, the station server 105 periodically receives information on the degree of congestion from the station ticket vending machine 102 (S506).

The station server 105 ends the function selection operation when the termination condition for the function selection operation is satisfied (S507). Here, satisfying the termination condition means receiving an instruction to terminate the function selection operation from the host server 108, receiving an instruction to terminate the function selection operation from the station staff terminal 106, or notifying the rule recording unit 303 that the function selection operation is terminated. Regarding the rule, it means that any of the conditions is satisfied when the function limit time 405 has elapsed and the application condition 406 is not satisfied.

Further, if another application condition with a high priority is satisfied during the selection operation, the selection operation corresponding to the application condition with the high priority may be started.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a business flow of a ticket vending machine regarding selective driving.
Once the station ticket vending machine 102 starts operating, it continues normal operation (S601).

During operation, the station ticket vending machine 102 periodically transmits data related to the degree of congestion at the station processed by the camera image processing unit 209 to the station server 105 (S602).

If the station server 105 satisfies any of the conditions for starting the function selection operation (S503), the station ticket vending machine 102 receives the function selection operation start instruction sent from the station server 105 and starts the function selection operation ( S603, S604).

After starting the function selection operation, the station ticket vending machine 102 continues the function selection operation (S605).

The station ticket vending machine 102 periodically transmits data regarding the degree of congestion to the station server 105 even during the function selection operation (S606).

If the station server 105 satisfies any of the function selection operation termination conditions (S507), the station ticket vending machine 102 receives the function selection operation termination instruction sent from the station server 105 and returns to normal operation (S607). ).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow when the host server 108 issues instructions to the station server 105 to start and end function selection operation.
If, for some reason, an event (hereinafter referred to as a congestion event) occurs in which the effect of congestion avoidance is expected by performing function selection operation across multiple stations, a message is sent from the host server 108 to the station server 105 of the target station. In response, an instruction to perform function selection operation is transmitted.

For example, if a personal accident occurs on another route or at another railway operator, the station ticket vending machine 102 may prioritize ticket sales and refund processing. The host server 108 continues normal operation (S701). A congestion event occurs (S702).

The host server 108 determines whether a congestion avoidance effect can be expected by implementing the function selection operation, and if so, determines the stations to be subjected to the function selection operation (S703).

When the host server 108 determines to implement the function selection operation, it instructs the station server 105 of the target station to implement the function selection operation (S704). The congestion event ends (S705).

The host server 108 instructs the station server 105 of the target station to end the function selection operation, not only immediately, but also by setting an end time (S706).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of implementing and canceling function selection operation based on instructions from the station staff terminal 106.
Instructions from the station staff terminal 106 are processed with priority over function selection operation determined by the station server 105 and function selection operation determined by the host server 108 (FIG. 7).

The station staff terminal 106 inquires of the station server 105 about the status of the function selection operation through the staff's operation (S801).

If the station server 105 is in function selection operation, it can be forcibly terminated by an instruction from the station staff terminal 106 (S802).

When forcibly ending the function selection operation of the station server 105, the station staff terminal 106 instructs the station server 105 to terminate the function selection operation (S803).

When the station staff terminal 106 has forcedly terminated the function selection operation, it notifies the host server 108 that the function selection operation of the station server 105 has been terminated (S804). Thereby, the host server 108 can accurately grasp the operating status of the station server 105 and station ticket vending machine 102 at the station.

When the station server 105 is in normal operation, the station staff terminal 106 can cause the station server 105 to start function selection operation (S805).

When instructing the station server 105 to start the function selection operation, the station staff terminal 106 sets information such as the priority function 403, the number of specialized machines 404, and the function limit time 405, and instructs the station server 105 to start the function selection operation. Instruct (S806).

When the station staff terminal 106 causes the station server 105 to start the function selection operation, the station staff terminal 106 informs the host server 108 of the start of the function selection operation and the implementation details such as the priority function 403, the number of specialized machines 404, and the function limit time 405. (S807).

If the station staff terminal 106 does not cause the station server 105 to start the function selection operation, the station staff terminal 106 continues normal operation (S808).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen image of the ticket vending machine display 901 while the station ticket vending machine 102 is performing the function selection operation.
The display content 902 is a part for lighting a lamp, and the color informs the user 101 that a specific priority function is being performed. For example, red may represent ticketing services, yellow may represent concert tickets, and green may represent bank transactions. It is not a special priority function and does not turn on during normal driving.

When a priority function is in progress, display content 903 notifies that it is the priority function and indicates the time at which the function selection operation of the priority function ends.

Display content 904 shows an explanation that guides how to use a service other than the priority function.

FIG. 10 shows an image of guidance regarding the operating status of the station ticket vending machine 102 by the station signage 104 while the station ticket vending machine 102 is performing function selection operation, and an image of how the station ticket vending machine 102 is used by the user 101 at that time. This is a diagram.

By looking at the station signage 104, the user 101 can select and use a ticket vending machine that can reliably perform the desired transaction. In the first embodiment, the guidance is provided on the station signage 104, but the medium need not be limited to digital displays; the guidance may be written on paper or the like and posted, or the guidance may be distributed to the mobile phone etc. owned by the user 101. I don't mind.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the overall configuration in the second embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the station server 105 was assumed to be physically located within the station premises. In the second embodiment, a host server 108 connected to the station ticket vending machines 102 and 103 via the network 103 operates as a ticket vending machine operation management system for each station. The other configurations are the same as the overall configuration example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

According to the above embodiment, convenience for station users can be improved by selecting and operating ticket issuing terminal functions depending on the congestion situation and controlling the number of terminals that can use each function throughout the station. can.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all the configurations described.

Further, it is also possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations. In addition, information such as programs, tables, files, etc. that realize each configuration can be stored in a memory, a recording device such as a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD. can.

101 User 102 Station ticket vending machine 103 Network 104 Station signage 105 Station server 106 Station staff terminal 107 Station camera 108 Host server 109 Administrative server 110 Concert ticket server 208 Camera image processing section 209 Ticketing business processing section 210 External service processing section 303 Rule recording Section 306 Congestion degree processing section 307 Congestion degree prediction section

Claims (10)

A ticket issuing device capable of processing multiple services,
a control unit that selects a priority service to be processed preferentially from among the plurality of services based on congestion degree information and limits the services that can be processed;
a processing unit that processes the selected priority service;
A ticket issuing device characterized by having: The processing unit includes:
a camera image processing unit that processes camera images taken by the camera;
A ticketing processing department that handles train ticketing operations;
an external service processing unit that processes external services;
The camera image processing section includes:
generating the congestion degree information from the camera image;
The control unit includes:
selecting either the ticketing service or the external service as the priority service based on the congestion degree information;
The ticketing business processing department is
Processing ticketing operations for the train selected as the priority service;
The external service processing unit includes:
The ticket issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the external service selected as the priority service is processed. The external service processing unit includes:
3. The ticket issuing device according to claim 2, wherein the external service processes at least issuance of concert tickets, bank transactions, or administrative services of a government agency. The control unit includes:
Select the priority service from among the plurality of services by referring to a rule table including applicable conditions for processing the priority service including the congestion information, the priority of the service, and the number of ticket issuing devices processing the service. The ticket issuing device according to claim 1, wherein a priority service is selected. The ticket issuing device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the priority service and the end time of the priority service. Multiple ticketing devices capable of processing multiple services,
A ticketing system comprising: a host server connected to a plurality of ticketing devices via a network;
The ticket issuing device includes:
a control unit that selects a priority service to be processed preferentially from among the plurality of services based on congestion degree information and limits the services that can be processed;
a processing unit that processes the selected priority service;
The upper server is
It has a congestion degree processing section and a rule recording section, and the congestion degree processing section includes:
generating congestion degree information around the ticket issuing device;
The rule recording section is
storing a rule table including applicable conditions for processing the priority service including the congestion degree information, the priority of the service, and the number of the ticket issuing devices processing the service;
The control unit of the ticket issuing device includes:
The priority service is selected from among the plurality of services by referring to the congestion degree information generated by the congestion degree processing unit and the rule table, and the number of ticket issuing devices is allocated to the selected priority service. decide,
The processing unit of the ticket issuing device includes:
A ticketing system characterized in that the priority service is processed using the allocated number of ticketing devices. A station signage is further connected to the network,
The station signage is
7. The ticket issuing system according to claim 6, wherein the service that can be processed is guided to the user for each ticket issuing device. The upper server is
7. The ticketing system according to claim 6, further comprising a station server located within a station premises. The ticket issuing device includes:
7. The ticketing system according to claim 6, wherein the priority service and the end time of the priority service are displayed. A ticketing method that performs ticketing processing using a ticketing device capable of processing multiple services, the method comprising:
selecting a priority service to be processed preferentially from among the plurality of services based on congestion degree information and limiting the services that can be processed;
processing the selected priority service;
A ticketing method characterized by having the following.

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