JP7552235B2 - Vending Machine System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine system that can reduce the time lost from the completion of payment processing between a mobile terminal and a payment server to the delivery of a product.

Conventionally, vending machines that sell products using graphical codes such as QR codes (registered trademark) are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vending machine equipped with a deposit section into which coins or other money is deposited, and a display section that displays a two-dimensional code containing product information. In addition to allowing users to purchase products by depositing coins or other money, this vending machine also allows users to purchase products by reading the two-dimensional code using their mobile device.

JP 2006-95547 A

When a mobile terminal reads a graphic code such as a QR code (registered trademark), it connects to a payment server to process the payment and notifies the vending machine of the completion of the payment process in order to dispense the selected product from the vending machine. The vending machine then performs the process of dispensing the selected product after receiving a notification of the completion of the payment from the mobile terminal, or after further accessing the payment server based on the notification of the completion of the payment from the mobile terminal and confirming the payment. This can result in a time loss between the completion of the payment process between the mobile terminal and the payment server and the dispensing of the product.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vending machine system that can reduce the time lost from the completion of payment processing between a mobile terminal and a payment server to the delivery of a product.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a vending machine system that includes a vending machine that sells products, a payment server that processes the payment for the products, and a mobile terminal that is carried by a user who purchases the products and has a payment control unit that controls the payment for the products, and the vending machine, the payment server, and the mobile terminal are capable of communication connection with each other, and the vending machine and the mobile terminal are connected to each other after the user selects a product, the mobile terminal acquires transaction identification information and product information of the selected product from the vending machine, the vending machine performs a pre-payment connection process to connect to the payment server before the payment process for the product between the mobile terminal and the payment server, and monitors the status of the payment process using the transaction identification information, the mobile terminal performs the payment process with the payment server using the transaction identification information, the product information, and user information, and the vending machine receives a payment result notification of the payment process from the payment server to which it is connected and carries out the selected product.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the vending machine displays a readable graphic code that is a graphic representation of the vending machine identification information that identifies the vending machine, the mobile terminal reads the graphic code, and after the vending machine and the mobile terminal are connected for communication, notifies the vending machine of the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphic code, and when the vending machine identification information notified from the mobile terminal matches its own vending machine identification information, the vending machine notifies the mobile terminal of the transaction identification information and the product information.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the mobile terminal acquires link destination information of the payment server during the payment process, and accesses the payment server using the link destination information to perform the payment process.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the vending machine and the mobile terminal cooperate to perform payment processing by the mobile terminal, the vending machine acquires link destination information of the payment server during the payment processing and notifies the mobile terminal of the link destination information, and the mobile terminal uses the link destination information to access the payment server and perform the payment processing.

In the above invention, the pre-payment connection process by the vending machine is characterized by initiating polling of the payment server.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the vending machine and the mobile terminal are communicatively connected via short-range wireless communication, there are multiple vending machines, and each vending machine is disposed in close proximity to each other so that they can be communicatively connected simultaneously via the short-range wireless communication.

The present invention can reduce the time lost from the completion of payment processing between the mobile terminal and the payment server to the removal of the product.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external configuration of a vending machine and a mobile terminal that constitute a vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine system. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using a mobile terminal in the vending machine system. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using a mobile terminal according to the first modification. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using a mobile terminal according to the third modification. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using a mobile terminal and a vending machine according to the fourth modification.

Below, the mode for implementing this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

<Vending machine configuration>
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the external configuration of a vending machine 1 and a mobile terminal 4 that constitute a vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine system 100. As shown in Fig. 2, the vending machine system 100 is connected to the vending machine 1, a payment server 2, and a mobile terminal 4 via a network N. The vending machine 1 and the mobile terminal 4 can be directly connected for communication. The vending machine 1 is an example of a vending machine, and is a vending machine that sells products such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and PET bottled drinks, but may also be a vending machine that sells various products such as a cup-type vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 sells products such as canned drinks and beverages in plastic bottles in either a cold or warm state, and is equipped with an outer door 1b that closes the front opening of the main body cabinet 1a.

A pop-up handle 111 is provided in the middle of the right side of the front of the outer door 1b. The pop-up handle 111 is used to lock the outer door 1b when it is closed. The vending machine 1 is locked by pushing in the pop-up handle 111 when the outer door 1b is closed, and when an unlocking operation is performed, the pop-up handle 111 pops up (protrudes), allowing the outer door 1b to be opened.

An exhibition room 112 is provided in the upper front area of the outer door 1b. The exhibition room 112 is for displaying product samples D of products sold by the vending machine 1. The exhibition room 112 is defined by an inner door that is attached to the rear side of the outer door 1b so that it can be opened and closed, and a transparent illuminated panel 114 that is fitted into the front side of the outer door 1b, and users can view the inside of the exhibition room 112 from the front side of the vending machine 1.

Inside the exhibition room 112, three stages 115 for displaying products are arranged vertically, and product samples D are displayed side by side on each stage 115.

The product selection buttons 23 are used to select products, and multiple product selection buttons 23 are provided to correspond to the product samples D. Each product selection button 23 can be displayed with an LED, and is lit when it corresponds to a product that can be purchased for the amount inserted. In addition, in the case of cashless payment, the product selection button 23 is lit in conjunction with pressing the product selection button 23.

In addition, in the middle of the outer door 1b below the exhibition room 112, there are a coin slot 51, a bill slot 53, a display unit 24, a return lever 52, an electronic money reader/writer 36, and a graphic code display unit 25.

The coin slot 51 is an opening for receiving coins. Coins inserted through the coin slot 51 are stored in the coin mechanism (coin processing device) 33 mounted on the inside of the outer door 1b. The coin mechanism 33 organizes the number of coins inserted and sends this to the vending machine main control unit 10 (described below), while dispensing various coins according to commands from the vending machine main control unit 10. The coin mechanism 33 also has a money identification function that identifies the authenticity and denomination of coins.

The bill insertion slot 53 is an opening for accepting bills. Bills inserted through the bill insertion slot 53 are stored in a bill validator (bill processing device) 34 mounted on the inside of the outer door 1b. The bill validator 34 counts the number of bills inserted and sends this to the vending machine main control unit 10, while dispensing the bills according to commands from the vending machine main control unit 10. The bill validator 34 has a money identification function that identifies the authenticity and denomination of bills.

The electronic money reader/writer 36 reads the electronic money loaded onto the electronic money card and writes the electronic money after payment. The electronic money reader/writer 36 also performs a writing process to load the electronic money for change onto the electronic money card. The electronic money reader/writer 36 has an electronic money identification function that detects the electronic money card and identifies whether the electronic money card is valid or invalid and the type of the electronic money card.

The display unit 24 is used to display various information such as on sale, out of change, in preparation, and bill cancellation, as well as the amount inserted and information on various settings.

The return lever 52 is used to instruct the interruption of a transaction. When the return lever 52 is operated, the transaction is interrupted, change etc. is released from the coin mechanism 33 to the coin return port 63, and bills are returned from the bill validator 34 to the bill insertion port 53.

The graphic code display unit 25 displays a graphic code DD such as a QR code (registered trademark) in a readable manner, for example, a sticker on which the graphic code DD is printed. The graphic code DD may be a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode, as long as the information is visualized. This graphic code DD is a graphic representation of the vending machine identification information D1 that identifies the vending machine 1 itself. Note that the information content indicated by the graphic code DD is not limited to the vending machine identification information D1, and may be, for example, the serial number of the communication control unit 20.

In addition, an outlet 62 is provided below the outer door 1b. The outlet 62 is an opening for removing products that have been removed from the product storage rack.

A remote control 35 is also provided inside the outer door 1b. The remote control 35 is used to perform various setting operations and to confirm various sales data, and is equipped with operation keys such as a write key and an end key, as well as an LCD display that displays various setting data and confirmation data. The setting data entered through the remote control 35 is transmitted to the vending machine main control unit 10. The remote control 35 then receives the confirmation data transmitted from the vending machine main control unit 10.

<Vending machine control system>
As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 1 has a vending machine main control unit 10, to which are connected a communication control unit 20, a main body control unit 30, a cooling/heating device 31, a discharge device 32, a coin mechanism 33, a bill validator 34, a remote control 35, an electronic money reader/writer 36, a product selection button 23, and a display unit 24.

The communication control unit 20 has an external communication unit 21 and a short-range wireless communication unit 22. The communication control unit 20 performs communication connection processing with the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2, and in particular executes control processing related to payment processing using the mobile terminal 4. The external communication unit 21 is a communication interface that connects to the payment server 2 via the network N using a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark). The short-range wireless communication unit 22 is a communication interface that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 4. Examples of short-range wireless communication include WiFi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), but Bluetooth (registered trademark), and in particular BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication, are used from the perspective of power consumption.

The main body control unit 30 is connected to the cooling device 31 and the discharge device 32. The main body control unit 30 controls the cooling device 31 and the discharge device 32 under the control of the vending machine main control unit 10.

The cooling device 31 is used to manage the product storage inside the main cabinet in a set state. The cooling device 31 cools the inside of the product storage that is set to be cooled, and heats the inside of the product storage that is set to be heated.

The discharge device 32 is used to manage the bend solenoids and sold-out switches provided for each rack. The main body control unit 30 discharges products from the rack in accordance with discharge commands sent from the vending machine main control unit 10. The discharge device 32 also outputs a sold-out signal to the main body control unit 30 when all products stored in the rack have been discharged.

The coin mechanism 33, bill validator 34, remote control 35, electronic money reader/writer 36, product selection buttons 23 and display unit 24 have been described above and will not be described here.

The vending machine main control unit 10 has a sales control unit 11 and a memory unit 12. The sales control unit 11 performs dispensing of the product selected by the product selection button 23, settlement processing, etc. In addition, the vending machine main control unit 10 notifies and downloads sales data, setting data, etc., to a management server (not shown) via the external communication unit 21. The memory unit 12 has vending machine identification information D1.

<Mobile terminal control system>
As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 4 has an operation display unit 41, an external communication unit 42, a short-range wireless communication unit 43, a code reading unit 47, a storage unit 44, and a control unit 45. The operation display unit 41 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and is an input/output interface that performs operation input of various data and display output of various data, for example, display of an operation screen of a payment application. The external communication unit 42 is a communication interface that communicates with the payment server 2 via the network N by a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark), similar to the external communication unit 21. The short-range wireless communication unit 43 is a communication interface that performs short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 1 by using a communication method such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The code reading unit 47 reads the graphic code DD of the vending machine 1 and converts it into data. The storage unit 44 stores user information D2.

The control unit 45 is a control unit that controls the entire mobile terminal 4, and has a payment control unit 46. The payment control unit 46 controls product payments between the vending machine 1 and the payment server 2, and is realized by a payment app.

<Payment processing using a mobile terminal>
3 is a sequence diagram showing the payment processing procedure using the mobile terminal 4 by the vending machine system 100. As shown in FIG. 3, first, the vending machine main control unit 10 of the vending machine 1 detects the selection of a product by pressing the product selection button 23 (step S110). Then, the vending machine main control unit 10 notifies the communication control unit 20 of the product information of the selected product (step S120). The product information includes the product number and the product price. Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 4 starts the payment application (step S130) and reads the graphic code DD displayed on the vending machine 1 selling the product (step S140).

Then, the communication control unit 20 receives notification of the product information from the vending machine main control unit 10 and establishes communication with the mobile terminal 4 (step S150). This communication is established, for example, by short-range wireless communication such as BLE.

Then, the mobile terminal 4 notifies the communication control unit 20 of the information indicated by the read graphic code DD, i.e., the vending machine identification information (step S160). The communication control unit 20, which has received this vending machine identification information, performs a connection determination as to whether the received vending machine identification information matches the vending machine identification information D1 held by its own vending machine 1 (step S170). This connection determination is performed in order to confirm whether the vending machine selling the selected product is connected to the vending machine using the vending machine identification information, since when multiple vending machines 1 are adjacent or placed in close proximity, they can simultaneously connect to other vending machines via short-range wireless communication. Therefore, the information indicated by the graphic code DD only needs to be information that can be used to distinguish the vending machine from other vending machines from which the selected product has not been selected. Here, if the vending machine identification information does not match in the connection determination, the process ends with an error process.

If the vending machine identification information matches in the connection determination, the communication control unit 20 notifies the mobile terminal 4 of the transaction identification information (step S180). This transaction identification information is information that identifies a transaction related to the sale of a product, and includes, for example, the vending machine identification information D1 and the transaction serial number.

Furthermore, the communication control unit 20 notifies the mobile terminal 4 of the product information (step S140). This product information includes the product number and product price, as described above.

Then, the communication control unit 20 performs pre-payment connection processing to connect to the payment server 2 before the payment processing of the product between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2 (step S200), and starts monitoring the status of the payment processing using the transaction identification information.

Then, the mobile terminal 4 performs payment processing with the payment server 2 using the received transaction identification information, product information, and its own user information D2 (step S210).

When the payment process between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2 is completed, the communication control unit 20, which has already connected to the payment server 2 and is monitoring the status of the payment process, directly obtains a payment result notification from the payment server 2 (step S220). This payment result notification includes the payment result (payment completion), transaction identification information, and product information. Upon receiving this payment result notification, the communication control unit 20 notifies the vending machine main control unit 10 of the payment result notification (step S230). Upon receiving the payment result notification, the vending machine main control unit 10 delivers the product for which payment has been completed (step S240), notifies the communication control unit 20 of the completion of product delivery, and ends this process. Upon receiving the notification of the completion of product delivery, the communication control unit 20 ends the payment process for the selected product.

In this embodiment, the vending machine 1 performs pre-payment connection processing to connect to the payment server 2 before the product payment processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2, and monitors the status of the payment processing using transaction identification information and receives a payment completion notification directly from the payment server 2. This eliminates the need for communication processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the communication control unit 20, or payment confirmation processing between the payment server 2, and reduces the time loss from the completion of the payment processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2 to the removal of the product.

In addition, in this embodiment, even if multiple vending machines 1 are placed close to each other and each vending machine 1 is capable of connecting to the mobile terminal 4 via short-range wireless communication, each vending machine 1 displays a graphic code DD indicating each vending machine's identification information, and the mobile terminal 4 reads this graphic code DD to confirm that the vending machine identification information matches, so that erroneous communication connections with vending machines 1 for which no product has been selected can be avoided. As a result, even if multiple vending machines 1 are placed close to each other, product sales errors do not occur, and users who purchase products can purchase products reliably and quickly.

<Modification 1>
In the above embodiment, the graphic code DD was displayed on the assumption that multiple vending machines 1 were placed in close proximity to each other. However, in this modified example 1, the graphic code DD is not used, and the vending machine identification information is obtained directly from the vending machine 1 using short-range wireless communication, and payment processing is performed.

Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing the payment processing procedure using the mobile terminal 4 according to the first modification. As shown in Figure 4, in the first modification, the graphic code DD is not used in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 3, and therefore the process of reading the graphic code in step S140, the process of notifying the graphic code information in step S160, and the connection determination process in step S170 are deleted. The mobile terminal 4 then directly obtains the vending machine identification information D1 in the transaction identification information in step S180 by short-range wireless communication. The other processes are the same as those in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 3 and are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this modified example 1, it is assumed that multiple vending machines 1 are not placed in close proximity, and even if the graphic code DD is not used, the vending machine 1 performs pre-payment connection processing to connect to the payment server 2 before the product payment processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2, monitors the status of the payment processing using transaction identification information, and receives a payment completion notification directly from the payment server 2. This eliminates the need for communication processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the communication control unit 20, or payment confirmation processing between the payment server 2, and therefore reduces the time loss from the completion of the payment processing between the mobile terminal 4 and the payment server 2 to the removal of the product.

<Modification 2>
In the above embodiment and variant 1, the pre-payment connection process by the vending machine 1 to the payment server 2 is always connected from the start of connection until the payment completion notification is received, but in variant 2, the pre-payment connection process from the vending machine 1 to the payment server 2 is performed by polling. That is, the communication control unit 20 performs the pre-payment connection (step S200) after notifying the mobile terminal 4 of product information (step S190) by polling. With the pre-payment connection in step S200, the communication control unit 20 starts polling the payment server 2 to monitor the completion of payment, and ends the polling when it receives a payment result notification (step S220).

<Modification 3>
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using a mobile terminal 4 according to the third modification. As shown in FIG. 5, in the third modification, instead of the payment processing (step S210) in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 3, a payment processing in step S210a is performed. The payment server 2 has a server of a payment business operator and a server of an acquirer that mediates between the payment business operator and the vending machine 1. In the payment processing in step S210a, link destination information of the payment business operator of the payment server 2 is acquired from the acquirer of the payment server 2 during the payment processing, and the payment business operator of the payment server 2 is accessed using the link destination information to perform the payment processing. The link destination information notified by the acquirer is information for creating a dynamic graphic code to be displayed on the vending machine 1, but in the third modification, a dynamic graphic code is not created and displayed, and only the data of the notified link destination information is used. This dynamic link destination information is updated at regular intervals.

Specifically, in the payment process of step S201a, the mobile terminal 4 first performs a bulk order by notifying the acquirer of the payment server 2 of the transaction identification information, product information, vending machine identification information, and the user's own user information (step S211). In response, the acquirer of the payment server 2 notifies the mobile terminal 4 of link destination information for creating a graphic code (step S212).

The mobile terminal 4 accesses the payment service provider that is the link destination of the payment server 2 indicated by the notified click destination information (step S216), and receives a payment request notification from the payment service provider of the payment server 2 (step S217). The mobile terminal 4 then performs payment processing with the payment service provider (step S218), receives a payment success notification from the payment service provider of the payment server 2 (step S219), and ends the payment processing.

In this modified example 3, the same processing as the payment processing using the dynamic graphic code that is normally displayed on the vending machine 1 can be performed without displaying this dynamic graphic code, thereby improving security. In addition, since this modified example 3 performs a process to read the graphic code DD, the same reading operation as the payment processing using the dynamic graphic code is performed, so the user does not feel uncomfortable with the payment processing operation.

<Modification 4>
Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a payment processing procedure using the mobile terminal 4 and the vending machine 1 according to the fourth modification. As shown in Fig. 6, in the third modification, payment processing in step S210b is performed instead of the payment processing (step S210a) in the sequence diagram shown in Fig. 5. In the fourth modification, the vending machine 1 and the mobile terminal 4 cooperate to perform the payment processing by the mobile terminal in step S210a. During the payment processing, the vending machine 1 acquires link destination information of the payment business operator from the acquirer of the payment server 2 and notifies the mobile terminal 4 of the link destination information, and the mobile terminal 4 uses the link destination information to access the payment business operator of the payment server 2 and performs the payment processing.

Specifically, in the payment process of step S201b, the communication control unit 20 first performs a bulk order by notifying the acquirer of the payment server 2 of the transaction identification information, product information, vending machine identification information, and user information of the mobile terminal 4 (step S213). In response, the acquirer of the payment server 2 notifies the communication control unit 20 of link destination information for creating a graphic code (step S214). The communication control unit 20 then notifies the mobile terminal 4 of the notified link destination information (step S215).

Then, similar to step S210a, the mobile terminal 4 accesses the payment service provider that is the link destination of the payment server 2 indicated by the notified click destination information (step S216), and receives a payment request notification from the payment service provider of the payment server 2 (step S217). The mobile terminal 4 then performs payment processing with the payment service provider (step S218), receives a payment success notification from the payment service provider of the payment server 2 (step S219), and ends the payment processing.

In this fourth modification, as in the third modification, the same processing as the payment processing using the dynamic graphic code that is normally displayed on the vending machine 1 can be performed without displaying this dynamic graphic code, thereby improving security. In addition, the load on the mobile terminal 4 can be reduced.

In addition, in the above-mentioned modified examples 3 and 4, as in modified example 1, payment processing can be performed without using the graphic code DD.

In addition, the configurations illustrated in the above embodiments and variations are merely functional schematics, and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various usage conditions, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Vending machine 2 Payment server 4 Mobile terminal 10 Vending machine main control unit 11 Sales control unit 12, 44 Memory unit 20 Communication control unit 21, 42 External communication unit 22, 43 Short-range wireless communication unit 23 Product selection button 24 Display unit 25 Graphical code display unit 30 Main body control unit 31 Refrigeration device 32 Discharge device 33 Coin mechanism 34 Bill validator 35 Remote control 36 Electronic money reader/writer 41 Operation display unit 45 Control unit 46 Payment control unit 47 Code reading unit 100 Vending machine system D1 Vending machine identification information D2 User information DD Graphical code N Network

Claims (5)

A vending machine system comprising: a vending machine that sells products; a payment server that performs payment processing for the products; and a mobile terminal that is carried by a user who purchases the products and has a payment control unit that controls payment for the products, wherein the vending machine, the payment server, and the mobile terminal are capable of being connected to one another for communication,
The vending machine displays a readable graphic code that is a graphic representation of vending machine identification information that identifies the vending machine,
After the user selects a product, the vending machine and the mobile terminal are connected to each other for communication;
the mobile terminal reads the graphic code, and after communication between the vending machine and the mobile terminal is established, notifies the vending machine of the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphic code;
If the vending machine identification information notified from the mobile terminal matches its own vending machine identification information, the vending machine notifies the mobile terminal of transaction identification information and product information of the selected product;
the vending machine performs a pre-payment connection process for connecting to the payment server before a payment process for the product between the mobile terminal and the payment server, and monitors a status of the payment process using the transaction identification information;
The mobile terminal performs a payment process between the mobile terminal and the payment server using the transaction identification information, the product information, and the user information.
The vending machine system is characterized in that the vending machine receives a payment result notification of the payment process from the payment server to which it is connected and dispenses the selected product. The vending machine system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the mobile terminal acquires link destination information of the payment server during the payment processing, and uses the link destination information to access the payment server and perform the payment processing. the vending machine and the mobile terminal cooperate to perform a payment process by the mobile terminal,
the vending machine acquires link destination information of the payment server during the payment process and notifies the mobile terminal of the link destination information;
2. The vending machine system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal accesses the payment server using the link destination information to perform payment processing. 4. The vending machine system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-payment connection process by the vending machine is the start of polling of the payment server. The vending machine and the mobile terminal are communicatively connected by short-range wireless communication,
The vending machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the vending machines are multiple and each vending machine is arranged in close proximity to each other so as to be simultaneously communicatively connected via the short-range wireless communication.

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