Vending machine

Abstract

An automated vending machine is provided. Software updates are reliably performed via network connectivity. The vending machine, which sells goods, includes an information terminal. This information terminal connects to the main control unit of the vending machine via USB communication and also connects to an external management server in a communicable manner. Under normal circumstances, the information terminal is in communication mode to communicate with the main control unit and the management server. However, when update software for the main control unit is sent from the management server and the prescribed update conditions are met, the information terminal switches to USB storage mode for software updates of the main control unit. Preferably, the control unit stores the update status in the USB storage area of ​​the information terminal during software updates. When the power supply is interrupted, the information terminal enters communication mode after a prescribed startup process, and the communication mode is maintained or switched to USB storage mode by referring to the update status in the USB storage area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an automatic vending machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the past, in vending machines that sell goods, when updating the software of the main control unit, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory containing the update software was connected to perform the software update (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-271752 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] Furthermore, in recent years, vending machines have been required to provide various value-added services, and they connect to external devices such as management servers via networks. Therefore, it is desirable for software updates in the main control unit of vending machines to also be performed online.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned actual situation, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine that can be reliably updated via network connection.

[0009] Solution for solving the problem

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention relates to a vending machine for selling goods. The vending machine is characterized by having an information terminal. This information terminal connects to any of the vending machine's constituent devices via USB communication and also connects to an external management server in a communicable manner. Normally, the information terminal is set to a communication mode to communicate with the constituent devices and the management server. Furthermore, when the management server sends update software for the constituent devices and the specified update conditions are met, the information terminal is set to a USB storage mode to allow for software updates of the constituent devices.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the constituent device is a main control unit that controls the sale of the goods. When the main control unit performs the software update, it stores the update status in the USB memory area of ​​the information terminal. When the power supply is stopped, the information terminal enters the communication mode after a predetermined startup process. Referring to the update status of the USB memory area, the communication mode is continued or switched to the USB memory mode.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, when the update status of the USB memory area is "updating", the information terminal switches to the USB memory mode; on the other hand, when the update status of the USB memory area is "updating complete", the information terminal continues the communication mode.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the constituent device is a peripheral device connected to the main control unit that controls the sale of the goods, and the peripheral device stores the update result in the storage area of ​​the information terminal when the software update is completed. The information terminal monitors the storage area, and when the update result is stored in the storage area, it restores from the USB memory mode to the communication mode.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] According to the present invention, the information terminal is normally set to communication mode to communicate with the constituent devices and the management server. On the other hand, when the management server sends the update software for the constituent devices and the prescribed update conditions are met, the information terminal is set to USB memory mode to allow the software update of the constituent devices, thus achieving the effect of being able to perform software updates well via the network. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of an automatic vending machine as an embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 The flowchart shown illustrates the processing steps of the software update control process implemented by the information terminal.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of an automatic vending machine as an embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 The flowchart shown is a process flow of software update control implemented by an information terminal. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The preferred embodiments of the vending machine according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] <Implementation Method 1>

[0022] Figure 1This is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The vending machine 10 illustrated here sells beverages, for example, placed in containers such as cans or plastic bottles, as merchandise. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, it has a main cabinet and a front door.

[0023] The main cabinet is a rectangular, insulated shell with an opening on the front surface. Inside, multiple merchandise shelves are installed, with aisles positioned within these shelves. Each aisle is a storage unit for the same type of merchandise, and one or more merchandise shelves are provided depending on the merchandise to be sold.

[0024] The front panel door is a swing-mounted door within the main cabinet, designed to open and close via an opening on the front surface. This front panel door includes a product selection button, a coin insertion slot, and a product retrieval exit. The product selection button is a selection unit for choosing products and is positioned corresponding to product samples. The coin insertion slot is for inserting coins or other currency. The product retrieval exit is an opening for retrieving products from inside the main cabinet and can be opened and closed via a product retrieval door.

[0025] The aforementioned vending machine 10 has a main control unit 10a, which is connected to a heating / cooling device 11, a dispensing device 12, a coin processing device 13, and an information terminal 14.

[0026] The main control unit 10a controls the operation of each part of the vending machine 10 in a unified manner according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit (not shown).

[0027] The heating / cooling device 11 is used to manage the goods stored in the goods storage rack at a set temperature. The heating / cooling device 11 cools the goods in the goods storage rack that is set to be cooled, and heats the goods in the goods storage rack that is set to be heated.

[0028] Each aisle in the merchandise storage rack is equipped with a transfer device 12. When the main control unit 10a issues a transfer command, the transfer device 12 moves the merchandise at the downstream position of the corresponding aisle out, and the moved merchandise can be retrieved through the merchandise retrieval outlet.

[0029] The currency processing device 13, for example referred to as a coin mechanism or banknote reader, is used for receiving and paying currency inserted from the currency inlet.

[0030] The information terminal 14 connects to the main control unit 10a via USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication 15. This information terminal 14 is a communication interface that connects to the management server 20 and the main control unit 10a via a network N, for example, through a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark). Furthermore, the information terminal 14 also has the function of performing communication connection processing with portable terminals, etc., via short-range wireless communication. Short-range wireless communication includes Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), but from a power consumption point of view, Bluetooth (registered trademark) is preferred, and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication is particularly preferred.

[0031] The aforementioned information terminal 14 includes an update processing unit 141, which stores update software provided from the management server 20 in the USB memory area 142a of the terminal storage unit 142. This allows for software updates to the main control unit 10a when predetermined update conditions are met. Here, "meeting update conditions" refers to situations where an update date and time provided by the management server 20 along with the update software has been received, or where an update command has been provided separately from the management server 20.

[0032] The update processing unit 141 selectively switches between communication mode and USB storage mode. Normally, it operates in communication mode, while under certain update conditions, it switches to USB storage mode. This communication mode is used for sending and receiving commands with the main control unit 10a and the management server 20. Furthermore, the update processing unit 141 switches to communication mode after a predetermined startup process, provided that the USB power supply from the main control unit 10a is stopped in USB storage mode.

[0033] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 The flowchart shows the processing content of the software update control process implemented by the information terminal 14. The operation of the vending machine 10 will be explained while describing this software update control process. Furthermore, it is assumed that the information terminal 14 is in communication mode.

[0034] In this software update control process, the update processing unit 141 of the information terminal 14 determines whether an update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S101). If no update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S101: "No"), the update processing unit 141 repeats this determination process.

[0035] If an update software is sent from the management server 20 (step S101: "Yes"), the update processing unit 141 stores the update software in the USB memory area 142a (step S102) and determines whether the update conditions are met (step S103). For example, the update processing unit 141 determines whether an update command was provided separately from the management server 20. If the update conditions are not met (step S103: "No"), the update processing unit 141 repeats the determination process.

[0036] If the update conditions are met (step S103: "Yes"), the update processing unit 141 switches to USB memory mode (step S104). Thus, by switching the update processing unit 141 to USB memory mode, the main control unit 10a performs USB detection, thereby enabling the update processing unit 141 to perform software updates (step S105). Since the update processing unit 141 is set to USB memory mode and can perform software updates, the main control unit 10a stores the update status (updating in progress or update complete) in the USB memory area 142a of the information terminal 14.

[0037] The update processing unit 141, which is capable of performing software updates, determines whether the power supply has been stopped (step S106). Furthermore, the power supply stoppage here could be due to a power outage caused by a power cut, or the stoppage of USB power supply from the main control unit 10a. If the power supply has not been stopped (step S106: "No"), the update processing unit 141 can perform software updates by repeating this determination process.

[0038] When the power supply is stopped (step S106: "Yes"), the update processing unit 141 switches to communication mode after the prescribed startup process is performed (step S107), and refers to the update status of the USB memory area 142a (step S108).

[0039] The update processing unit 141, referring to the update status of the USB memory area 142a, determines the update status, that is, whether the update is complete and whether it is in progress (steps S109 and S110).

[0040] If the update is complete (step S109: "Yes"), the update processing unit 141 determines whether the update was successful (step S111). If the update was successful (step S111: "Yes"), the update processing unit 141 sends the update version and other update results to the management server 20 (step S112), and then returns to end the current processing. Thus, the management server 20 can recognize that the software update of the main control unit 10a was successful.

[0041] In the event of an update failure (step S111: "No"), the update processing unit 141 sends an error message indicating update failure to the management server 20 (step S113), and then returns to terminate the current processing. Thus, the software update failure of the main control unit 10a can be identified on the management server 20 side.

[0042] If an update is in progress in steps S109 and S110 (step S109: "No", step S110: "Yes"), for example, if a power outage occurs during the update, the update processing unit 141 switches to USB memory mode (step S114) and repeats the processing after step S105.

[0043] Therefore, the main control unit 10a can perform software updates again, avoiding the software update from being terminated during the update process.

[0044] As explained above, according to the vending machine 10 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the information terminal 14 is normally set to communication mode to communicate with the main control unit 10a and the management server 20. On the other hand, when the update software for the main control unit 10a is sent from the management server 20 and the prescribed update conditions are met, the information terminal 14 is set to USB memory mode to allow the software update of the main control unit 10a to be performed. Therefore, the software update can be performed well through the network.

[0045] According to the aforementioned vending machine 10, the information terminal 14 enters communication mode after startup processing when the power supply is interrupted. It switches to USB memory mode when the update status of the USB memory area 142a is "updating," and continues in communication mode when the update status of the USB memory area 142a is "updating complete." Therefore, for example, in the event of a power outage during a software update, switching to USB memory mode allows the software update to be performed again. Furthermore, if the update status of the USB memory area 142a is "updating complete," the management server 20 can identify whether the software update was successful or failed, thus preventing adverse situations caused by the inability to determine the result of the software update.

[0046] <Implementation Method 2>

[0047] Figure 3 This is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the vending machine as Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the vending machine 10 of Embodiment 1 described above, and their descriptions are omitted where appropriate.

[0048] The vending machine 10' illustrated here is a vending machine that sells beverages, for example, placed in containers such as cans or plastic bottles, as merchandise. It has a main control unit 10b, which is connected to a heating / cooling device 11, a dispensing device 12, a coin handling device 13, peripheral equipment 16, and an information terminal 17.

[0049] The main control unit 10b controls the operation of each part of the vending machine 10' according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit (not shown). The peripheral device 16 is any component of the vending machine 10', such as a sound box.

[0050] The information terminal 17 connects to the main control unit 10b via USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication 18a, and also connects to the peripheral device 16 via USB communication 18b. This information terminal 17 is a communication interface that connects to the management server 20 and the main control unit 10b and peripheral device 16 via a network N, for example, through a communication method such as LTE (trademark). Furthermore, the information terminal 17 also has the function of performing short-range wireless communication with portable terminals to handle communication connections. Short-range wireless communication includes Wi-Fi (trademark) and Bluetooth (trademark), but from a power consumption perspective, Bluetooth (trademark) is preferred, and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication is particularly preferred.

[0051] The aforementioned information terminal 17 includes an update processing unit 171, which stores update software provided from the management server 20 in the update software storage area 172a of the terminal storage unit 172. This allows for software updates to the peripheral device 16 when specified update conditions are met. Here, "meeting update conditions" refers to situations where an update date and time provided by the management server 20 along with the update software has been received, or where an update command has been provided separately from the management server 20.

[0052] The update processing unit 171 selectively switches between communication mode and USB storage mode. Normally, it operates in communication mode, while under certain update conditions, it switches to USB storage mode. This communication mode is used for sending and receiving commands with the main control unit 10b and the management server 20. Furthermore, the update processing unit 171 switches to communication mode after a predetermined startup process, provided that the USB power supply from the main control unit 10b is stopped in USB storage mode.

[0053] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3The flowchart shown illustrates the processing steps of the software update control process implemented by the information terminal 17. The operation of the vending machine 10' will be explained alongside the software update control process. Furthermore, it is assumed that the information terminal 17 is in communication mode.

[0054] In this software update control process, the update processing unit 171 of the information terminal 17 determines whether an update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S201). If no update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S201: "No"), the update processing unit 171 repeats this determination process.

[0055] If an update software is sent from the management server 20 (step S201: "Yes"), the update processing unit 171 stores the update software in the update software storage area 172a (step S202) and determines whether the update conditions are met (step S203). For example, the update processing unit 171 determines whether an update command was provided separately from the management server 20. If the update conditions are not met (step S203: "No"), the update processing unit 171 repeats the determination process.

[0056] If the update conditions are met (step S203: "Yes"), the update processing unit 171 switches to USB memory mode (step S204). Thus, by switching the update processing unit 171 to USB memory mode, the peripheral device 16 performs USB detection, thereby enabling the update processing unit 171 to perform software updates (step S205). Since the update processing unit 171 is set to USB memory mode and can perform software updates, the peripheral device 16 performs a software update, and upon completion of the software update, the update result is stored in the update software storage area 172a.

[0057] The update processing unit 171, which is capable of performing software updates, monitors whether the update result is stored in the update software storage area 172a (step S206) and determines whether the update is complete (step S207). If the update is not complete (step S207: "No"), the update processing unit 171 can perform software updates by repeating this determination process.

[0058] If the update is completed and the update result is stored (step S207: "Yes"), the update processing unit 171 switches to communication mode after performing the prescribed startup process (step S208) and sends a reset instruction to the main control unit 10b (step S209). As a result, the main control unit 10b resets all devices, including the peripheral device 16.

[0059] After being reset by the main control unit 10b, the update processing unit 171 of the information terminal 17 enters communication mode after the prescribed startup process, sends the update result to the management server 20 (step S210), and then returns to end the current processing. Thus, the management server 20 can recognize that the software update of the peripheral device 16 is complete.

[0060] As explained above, according to the vending machine 10' which is embodiment 2 of the present invention, the information terminal 17 is normally set to communication mode to communicate with the peripheral device 16 and the management server 20. On the other hand, when the management server 20 sends the update software for the peripheral device 16 and the prescribed update conditions are met, the information terminal 17 is set to USB memory mode to allow the software update of the peripheral device 16, so that the software update can be performed well through the network.

[0061] Furthermore, the structures in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above are functional outlines and do not necessarily need to be physically represented as illustrated structures. That is, the way in which the data of each device and structure is distributed / unified is not limited to the illustrated method, and all or part of each device and structural element can be functionally or physically distributed / unified in any unit according to various usage conditions, etc.

[0062] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0063] 10: Vending machine; 10a, 10b: Main control unit; 11: Heating / cooling device; 12: Dispensing device; 13: Currency processing device; 14: Information terminal; 141: Update processing unit; 142: Terminal storage unit; 142a: USB storage area; 16: Peripheral equipment; 17: Information terminal; 171: Update processing unit; 172: Terminal storage unit; 172a: Update software storage area; 18a, 18b: USB communication; 20: Management server; N: Network.

Claims

1. An automatic vending machine for selling goods, characterized in that, The vending machine is equipped with an information terminal that connects to any of its constituent devices via USB communication and also communicates with an external management server. The information terminal is normally set to communication mode to communicate with the constituent devices and the management server. On the other hand, when the management server sends the update software for the constituent devices and the specified update conditions are met, the information terminal is set to USB storage mode to allow software updates for the constituent devices.

2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aforementioned equipment is the main control unit for controlling the sale of the goods. When performing the software update, the main control unit stores the update status in the USB memory area of ​​the information terminal. When the power supply is interrupted, the information terminal enters the communication mode through a prescribed startup process. The communication mode is continued or switched to the USB memory mode by referring to the update status of the USB memory area.

3. The automatic vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the update status of the USB memory area is "updating", the information terminal switches to the USB memory mode; on the other hand, when the update status of the USB memory area is "updating complete", the information terminal continues the communication mode.

4. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The constituent equipment is a peripheral device connected to the main control unit that controls the sale of the goods. Once the software update is complete, the peripheral devices will store the update results in the storage area of ​​the information terminal. The information terminal monitors the storage area, and when the update result is stored in the storage area, it reverts from the USB memory mode to the communication mode.

Images