Automatic vending machine program, automatic vending machine system, method and automatic vending machine

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine program, an automatic vending machine system, a method, and an automatic vending machine configured so that a purchaser can grasp stock quantity of a commodity in the automatic vending machine.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine program includes a processor and a memory. The program is executed by a computer which manages an automatic vending machine that includes a display unit for displaying information on a plurality of commodities and sells the commodities to a purchaser. The program includes: a stock quantity acquisition step of acquiring stock quantity of each of the commodities; and a display control step of displaying, on the display unit, the stock quantity of each of the commodities together with the information on the commodities.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine program, a vending machine system, a method, and a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine program, a vending machine system, a method, and a vending machine that allow a purchaser to know the inventory amount of a product by himself / herself. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a vending machine system having a vending machine installed at a predetermined installation location and a computer connected to the vending machine via a network, the vending machine having an imaging unit and a transmission unit that transmits imaging data from the imaging unit, the computer having a receiving unit that receives the imaging data, a traffic volume acquisition unit that analyzes the imaging data received by the receiving unit to acquire the traffic volume at the installation location, a storage unit, and an information recording unit that records in the storage unit installation location traffic volume information that associates position information indicating the installation location with the traffic volume, the vending machine having an inventory volume acquisition unit that acquires the inventory volume of products stored inside the vending machine, and a replenishment command output unit that issues a replenishment command to instruct the replenishing of products based on the inventory volume (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the vending machine described in Patent Document 1, a business operator can appropriately replenish the inventory of products sold by the vending machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-53447 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the vending machine system described in Patent Document 1 and the like, the business operator who installed the vending machine only knows the inventory amount of the product in the vending machine in order to replenish the products. Therefore, even if a certain product is sold out in the vending machine, the purchaser cannot know the inventory amount of the product being sold in the vending machine, so there are cases where the purchaser lines up in front of the vending machine and only finds out at the time when it is their turn to purchase that they cannot purchase that certain product, which is harsh for the purchaser.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine program, a vending machine system, a method, and a vending machine that allow a purchaser to know the inventory amount of a product in the vending machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a vending machine program to be executed by a computer managing a vending machine which has a processor and a memory, and has a display unit capable of displaying information about a plurality of products and sells a plurality of products to purchasers, the vending machine program causing the processor to execute an inventory acquisition step of acquiring the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products, and a display control step of displaying the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products on the display unit together with information about the plurality of products. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the vending machine program, vending machine system, method, and vending machine of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vending machine program, vending machine system, method, and vending machine that allow the purchaser himself to grasp the inventory amount of goods in the vending machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of information provided by the vending machine according to the embodiment; [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the display of product inventory and purchase restrictions by a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional configuration block diagram of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] 2 is a functional block diagram of a server and an information terminal according to the embodiment, and a data structure diagram of a storage unit of the server. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of information provision processing in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the display unit in the process of providing information to the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the display unit in the process of providing information to the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the display unit in the process of providing information to the vending machine according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a modified example of the information provision process in the vending machine system according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the display unit in the process of providing information to the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a modified example of information provision in the vending machine system according to the embodiment. [Figure 13] 11 is a flow diagram of the process of displaying inventory and limiting purchases in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the display unit during purchase restriction processing in the vending machine system according to the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a modified example of the purchase restriction process in the vending machine system according to the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a modified example of the process for displaying inventory amounts on a network in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a modified example of the purchase restriction process in the vending machine system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Embodiment Mode] <Overview of Vending Machine 1> 1 shows an overview of a vending machine system according to this embodiment. The vending machine system 9 includes a vending machine 1, a server 3, and / or a purchaser's information terminal 5. In this case, the vending machine 1, the server 3, and / or the information terminal 5 may be connected via a network 7 to enable two-way communication.

[0010] [Vending machine 1 configuration overview] The vending machine 1 of this embodiment is a vending machine 1 that sells multiple products, and is configured to include a display unit 10 that displays various information, a banknote slot 12 for inserting banknotes, a coin slot 13 for inserting coins, an IC card reader 14 that reads information from the purchaser's IC card, etc., an authentication unit 15 that authenticates the purchaser, a change return slot 16 that returns change, a product removal slot 17 for removing products such as trading cards and goods, and / or a receipt output slot 18 for outputting receipts.

[0011] [Outline of information provided by vending machine 1] Fig. 2 shows an example of an overview of information provided by the vending machine according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b) show an example of an overview of the display on the display unit 10 of the vending machine 1, and Fig. 2(c) shows an example of an overview of a receipt output by the vending machine 1.

[0012] The vending machine 1 is configured to be capable of displaying on the display unit 10 information on a plurality of products it sells and predetermined information that is considered to be useful to a purchaser who purchases the products. This predetermined information is notification information. The notification information may be, for example, advertising information (advertising information related to products, services, predetermined stores, and / or predetermined events, etc.), presentation information (information presented to a purchaser of products, services, predetermined stores, and / or predetermined events, etc.), and / or registration information (for example, information encouraging registration for a specific web service (including registration for a tournament such as a predetermined game tournament, etc.)). As an example, the notification information is various information such as advertising information on products, information on events held in the vicinity of the location where the vending machine 1 is installed, and information on shops existing in the vicinity of the location where the vending machine 1 is installed.

[0013] FIG. 2(a) shows an example in which information 400, information 402, information 404, information 406, and information 408 are displayed on the display unit 10. The vending machine 1 displays these pieces of information on the display unit 10 while waiting for the purchaser to start purchasing, while the purchaser is purchasing the product, and / or while the vending machine 1 is processing the sale of the product. The vending machine 1 prints on a receipt 600 a detail display area 602 showing the details of the product purchased by the purchaser and the details of the payment, and a graphic code 610 including information linked to at least one or all of the pieces of information, and enables the purchaser to take out the product purchased from the product take-out opening 17 and outputs the receipt 600 from the receipt output opening 18 (for example, a receipt 600 as shown in FIG. 2(c)). The graphic code 610 includes, for example, information showing details of at least one or all of the pieces of information displayed on the vending machine 1. For example, the graphical code 610 may include a URL of a predetermined website where details of at least one or all of the information are published, and / or text information indicating details of at least one or all of the information.

[0014] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the vending machine 1 may provide an instruction display area 500 at a predetermined position on the display unit 10, and display a message in the instruction display area 500 to prompt the purchaser to select information (in the example of FIG. 2(b), "Please select the information of your choice" is displayed). The vending machine 1 may also display a message indicating that the purchase or sales process is in progress in a progress display area 510 provided at a predetermined position on the display unit 10 (in the examples of FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), "Product and change are being prepared" is displayed).

[0015] When a purchaser selects one piece of notification information from the multiple pieces of displayed notification information, the vending machine 1 may print on the receipt 600 a detail display area 602 showing details of the product purchased by the purchaser and details of the payment, and a graphic code 610 including information linked to the selected notification information, allowing the purchaser to remove the product purchased by the purchaser from the product removal slot 17, and outputting the receipt 600 from the receipt output slot 18. The graphic code 610 may include, for example, information indicating details of the notification information selected by the purchaser. For example, the graphic code 610 may include the URL of a specific website where details of the notification information selected by the purchaser are published, and / or text information indicating details of the notification information selected by the purchaser.

[0016] For example, the purchaser can read the graphic code 610 printed on the receipt 600 into the information terminal 5 owned by the purchaser to refer to at least one or all of the information displayed on the vending machine 1, or detailed information of the notification information selected by the purchaser. The vending machine 1 does not output the receipt 600 if the purchaser does not want to output a receipt, or if the purchaser does not select any of the notification information displayed on the display unit 10. In this way, the vending machine 1 according to this embodiment allows the purchaser to check information in which the purchaser was interested during the purchase operation at his / her own time using his / her own information terminal 5 after purchasing the product. Furthermore, the vending machine 1 according to this embodiment does not output the receipt 600 if the purchaser does not select to output a receipt, or if the purchaser is allowed to select notification information but does not select the notification information, so that it is possible to prevent a person unrelated to the purchaser from obtaining the receipt 600. In other words, the vending machine 1 can issue the receipt 600 to a purchaser who wants notification information.

[0017] [Outline of inventory display by vending machine 1] Fig. 3 shows an example of an overview of the display of the inventory amount of products and purchase restrictions by the vending machine according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 3(a) shows an example of an overview of the display of the inventory amount of products sold by the vending machine 1, and Fig. 3(b) shows an example of an overview of the purchase restrictions by the vending machine 1.

[0018] The vending machine 1 displays information on multiple products for sale on the display unit 10. For example, when a purchaser selects a product, the vending machine 1 displays a message in the progress display area 510 indicating that the purchaser is selecting a product, and displays the price of the product on the display unit 10 together with an image of the product for sale (product image). The product price is displayed near the product image. In the example of FIG. 3(a), the price of the product corresponding to product image 710 is displayed as price display 720 near product image 710, and the price of the product corresponding to product image 712 is displayed as price display 722 near product image 712. The same applies to the other products.

[0019] Then, the vending machine 1 displays the stock amount of each of the multiple products, that is, the remaining amount of each of the multiple products stored in the vending machine 1, near each product image displayed on the display unit 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the stock amount of the product corresponding to the product image 710 (the amount of the product remaining in the vending machine 1) is displayed as a stock amount display 700 near the product image 710. In the example of FIG. 3(a), the stock amount of the product corresponding to the product image 710 is shown to be "100%". In the same manner, the vending machine 1 displays the stock amounts of the other products as well. For example, the vending machine 1 displays the stock amount of the product corresponding to the product image 712 as a stock amount display 702 near the product image 712 (in the example of FIG. 3(a), the stock amount is "0%", that is, the product corresponding to the product image 712 is sold out).

[0020] Furthermore, the vending machine 1 supplies the server 3 with the inventory amount of each of the multiple products via the network 7. The server 3 then publishes the inventory amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1 on the network. This allows the information terminal 5 to know the inventory amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1. As described above, according to the vending machine 1 of this embodiment, the inventory amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1 can be easily known on the display unit 10 and / or the information terminal 5. Therefore, for example, when a purchaser is waiting in line to purchase a product from the vending machine 1, it becomes easy to know whether or not the purchaser can purchase the product he or she desires from the vending machine 1.

[0021] [Summary of purchase restrictions by vending machine 1] First, in a conventional vending machine system, it is not possible to prevent one purchaser from purchasing a large amount of a specific product, and it may not be possible to ensure that various purchasers have the opportunity to purchase the specific product. On the other hand, the vending machine system 9 according to the present embodiment can provide various purchasers with the opportunity to purchase the specific product. That is, the vending machine 1 can limit the type and / or amount of the product that a purchaser can purchase based on the purchaser's purchase history. Specifically, the server 3 stores the purchase history of the product by the purchaser in association with a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser. The purchaser ID may be, for example, an identification number (identification number that uniquely identifies the IC card) recorded on an IC chip of an IC card (for example, an IC card or credit card that can be used for electronic money settlement) held by the purchaser. Then, the vending machine 1 acquires information of the IC card of the purchaser (for example, the purchaser ID) in the IC card reader 14 before the purchaser purchases a product. The vending machine 1 supplies the acquired information to the server 3 via the network 7. The server 3 refers to the purchase history of the purchaser stored in association with the received purchaser ID, and determines whether or not the purchaser satisfies the conditions (purchase availability conditions) that permit the purchase of at least one of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1. The purchase availability conditions are, for example, a condition that the purchase amount of one product within a specified period is less than a specified amount.

[0022] If the server 3 determines that the purchase conditions are met, the vending machine 1 enables the sale of each of the multiple products to the purchaser. On the other hand, if the server 3 determines that the purchase conditions are not met, the vending machine 1 restricts the sale of at least the products for which the purchase conditions are not met to the purchaser. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(b), while a message indicating that the purchaser is selecting a product is being displayed in the progress display area 510 when the purchaser selects a product, the vending machine 1 displays a purchase availability indicator 730 saying "Purchaseable" for a product for which the purchase conditions are met (for example, the product corresponding to product image 714 in FIG. 3(b)) near the product image 714, thereby enabling the purchaser to purchase the product. On the other hand, for a product for which the purchase conditions are not met (for example, the product corresponding to product image 716 in FIG. 3(b)), the vending machine 1 displays a purchase availability indicator 732 saying "Not Purchaseable" near the product image 716, thereby prohibiting the purchaser from purchasing the product. Specifically, the vending machine 1 prohibits a purchaser from selecting a product that is "unavailable for purchase."

[0023] In this way, according to the vending machine 1, it is possible to set a limit on the amount of a product that a particular purchaser can purchase in one purchase operation, thereby providing more consumers with the opportunity to purchase the product.

[0024] The information terminal 5 is a terminal device that can be operated by a user. The information terminal 5 may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet compatible with a mobile communication system. In addition, the information terminal 5 may be, for example, a personal computer (PC) and / or a notebook PC. In this embodiment, the information terminal 5 is preferably a smartphone from the viewpoint of ease of carrying and ease of operation by the user. Furthermore, the network 7 is a communication network such as a mobile phone network and / or the Internet. The network 7 may also include a communication network such as a wired LAN and a wireless LAN, or a network including short-range wireless communication. The vending machine 1 and the vending machine system 9 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below, but the names and numerical values ​​in the above and following descriptions are merely examples, and it is noted that the present invention is not limited to these proper names and numerical values, and that these proper names and numerical values ​​do not necessarily relate to real proper names and numerical values.

[0025] <Details of Vending Machine 1 and Vending Machine System 9> Fig. 4 shows an example of an outline of the functional configuration of a vending machine according to this embodiment. Fig. 5 shows an example of an outline of the functional configuration of a server according to this embodiment, an example of an outline of the functional configuration of an information terminal, and an example of an outline of the data configuration of each storage unit of the server. Specifically, Fig. 5(a) shows an example of the functional configuration of the server 3, Fig. 5(b) shows an example of the functional configuration of the information terminal 5, and Fig. 5(c) shows an example of the data configuration of the information storage unit 30 and the purchaser information storage unit 31.

[0026] The vending machine system 9 according to this embodiment is configured to include at least one vending machine 1 and a server 3. The one or more vending machines 1 and the server 3 are connected to each other via a network 7 so as to be able to communicate with each other bidirectionally. The vending machine system 9 may further include an information terminal 5 for a purchaser or the like. In the following explanation, for the sake of simplicity, an example in which the vending machine system 9 is configured with one vending machine 1 and one server 3 will be mainly explained.

[0027] [Vending machine 1 configuration overview] As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine 1 includes a display unit 10 that displays various information, a display control unit 100 that controls the display of the display unit 10, an input unit 102 that accepts input from a purchaser, an input acquisition unit 108 that acquires input operations by the purchaser, a location information supply unit 110 that supplies information on the location where the vending machine 1 is installed to the server 3, an inventory acquisition unit 112 that acquires the inventory amount of each of a plurality of products, a purchase availability condition determination unit 114 that determines whether the purchaser can purchase the products, a purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 that acquires a purchaser ID of the purchaser, a purchaser information update unit 118 that updates information about the purchaser, a product selection unit 120 that selects a product based on an instruction from the purchaser, and a payment method identification unit 122 that identifies a payment method based on an instruction from the purchaser. The vending machine 1 includes a sales control unit 124 that processes payment for the product, a notification information determination unit 126 that determines notification information to be displayed on the display unit 10 or accepts the purchaser's selection of notification information displayed on the display unit 10, a code generation unit 128 that generates a graphic code, an output unit 130 that outputs a receipt, a product removal unit 132 that enables removal of the product, an information acquisition unit 134 that acquires notification information, an information reading unit 136 that reads information from an IC card or the like, a payment execution information generation unit 138 that generates information that instructs the execution of payment in the server 3, a vending machine side communication unit 140 that communicates with the outside, a vending machine control unit 142 that controls the operation of each component of the vending machine 1, and a product information storage unit 144 that stores information about a plurality of products. The vending machine side communication unit 140 supplies various information received from a predetermined component of the vending machine 1 to the server 3 and / or the information terminal 5, and supplies various information received from the server 3 and / or the information terminal 5 to a predetermined component of the vending machine 1.

[0028] [Outline of the configuration of the server 3 and the information terminal 5] The server 3 manages information on multiple products sold by the vending machine 1 and manages the purchase history of purchasers of multiple products. As shown in Fig. 5(a), the server 3 has an information storage unit 30 that stores notification information, a purchaser information storage unit 31 that stores information about purchasers, an information supply unit 32 that supplies notification information to the vending machine 1, an information disclosure unit 34 that publishes the inventory amount of products in the vending machine 1, a server-side communication unit 36 ​​that communicates with the outside, and a server control unit 38 that controls the operation of each component of the server 3. The server-side communication unit 36 ​​supplies various information received from a specific component of the server 3 to the vending machine 1 and / or the information terminal 5, and supplies various information received from the vending machine 1 and / or the information terminal 5 to a specific component of the server 3.

[0029] 5(b), the information terminal 5 has an information terminal display unit 50 that displays various information, an information terminal input unit 52 that accepts input of various information from the purchaser, an information terminal storage unit 54 that stores various information, an information terminal side communication unit 56 that communicates with the outside, and an information terminal control unit 58 that controls the operation of each component of the information terminal 5. The information terminal side communication unit 56 supplies various information received from predetermined components of the information terminal 5 to the vending machine 1 and / or the server 3, and supplies various information received from the vending machine 1 and / or the server 3 to predetermined components of the information terminal 5.

[0030] The vending machine system 9 may not only have the above-mentioned multiple components in the same device or location physically, but may also have some of the above-mentioned multiple components installed in physically separate locations. In this case, each component may be connected by a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the vending machine 1 may have an external server 3 perform some of the functions of the components. The server 3 may be configured as one or more servers. In this case, the vending machine system 9 is configured by combining the vending machine 1, the components of one server, and the components of another server. In addition, the method of allocating the multiple functions required to realize the vending machine system 9 according to this embodiment to one or more hardware may be appropriately determined in consideration of the processing capacity of each hardware and / or the specifications required for the vending machine system 9. In addition, various information (notification information, etc.) stored in the information storage unit 30 may be updated according to instructions from a business operator who operates the server 3 or information acquired by the business operator, or may be updated as needed by acquiring various information from a predetermined server outside the server 3.

[0031] [Vending machine 1 configuration details] (Display unit 10, display control unit 100) The display unit 10 is controlled by the display control unit 100 and displays information on a plurality of products sold in the vending machine 1 and a plurality of predetermined pieces of information as images (still images and / or video), text, etc. Specifically, the display unit 10 displays various processing results, product images of the plurality of products sold in the vending machine 1, information on the vending machine 1 such as the price of each product, the stock amount of each product, whether each product is available for sale, information prompting the purchaser to perform a predetermined action, sales progress information of the products, and / or a plurality of predetermined pieces of information such as notice information. The display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to output various processing results in each component, information on the vending machine 1, and / or a plurality of predetermined pieces of information as data in a predetermined format, still images, video images, and / or text. The display unit 10 can also output information received from an external server 3. The vending machine 1 may be configured to include an audio output unit such as a speaker that outputs audio corresponding to the various pieces of information. The display unit may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0032] (Input unit 102, input surface 104, input control unit 106) The input unit 102 accepts input of a predetermined instruction, operation, etc. from a purchaser. The input unit 102 supplies the instruction to a predetermined component of the vending machine 1. Each component that accepts the instruction performs a predetermined function. The input unit 102 is an input device (e.g., a touch panel, a motion sensor, etc.) for accepting an operation input from a purchaser. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the input unit 102 is a touch panel included in the vending machine 1. The touch panel may be capable of detecting multi-touch, or may be a non-contact touch panel. Specifically, the touch panel as the input unit 102 has an input surface 104 to which operations, etc. from a purchaser are input, and an input control unit 106 that acquires information regarding the operation input to the input surface 104. The touch panel is arranged on top of the display unit 10, and the surface of the touch panel corresponds to the input surface 104.

[0033] For example, an area for accepting a predetermined instruction is displayed on the display unit 10, and the input surface 104 detects the predetermined instruction at a position designated by a purchaser's operation on that area of ​​the input surface 104 (for example, a touch operation, a tap operation, a slide operation, etc.). The input surface 104 supplies the detected information, i.e., information indicating the predetermined instruction at the detected position, to the input control unit 106. As an example, the display unit 10 displays an area for accepting the selection of a product that the purchaser wishes to purchase, an area for accepting the selection of notification information that the purchaser wishes, etc. The input control unit 106 obtains the information indicating the predetermined instruction from the input surface 104, and supplies the information to a predetermined component of the vending machine 1.

[0034] (Input Acquisition Unit 108) The input acquisition unit 108 acquires an operation input made by the purchaser on the input surface 104. That is, the input acquisition unit 108 acquires information indicating various operation inputs by the purchaser inputted on the input surface 104 via the input control unit 106. The input acquisition unit 108 supplies the acquired information indicating the various operation inputs to other predetermined components.

[0035] (Position information supply unit 110) The location information supplying unit 110 supplies location information indicating the location where the vending machine 1 is installed to the information supplying unit 32 of the server 3. The location information supplying unit 110 supplies the location information to the information supplying unit 32 via the vending machine side communication unit 140 and the network 7. The location information supplying unit 110 may be configured to include, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS), and supplies the location information acquired by the GPS to the server 3. The location information supplying unit 110 may also supply the server 3 with location information input to the location information supplying unit 110 by the business operator who installs the vending machine 1.

[0036] (Stock quantity acquisition unit 112, product information storage unit 144) The inventory amount acquiring unit 112 acquires the inventory amount of each of the multiple products stored in the vending machine 1. For example, the inventory amount acquiring unit 112 can be configured to include a predetermined sensor that counts the inventory amount of each product. The inventory amount acquiring unit 112 can also acquire the inventory amount of each of the multiple products in real time. The inventory amount acquiring unit 112 supplies inventory amount information indicating the acquired inventory amount to the display control unit 100 and the information disclosure unit 34 of the server 3.

[0037] The product information storage unit 144 stores information about the product in association with a product ID that identifies the product. The information about the product is, for example, information such as the product name, an image of the product, and / or the price of the product. The display control unit 100 uses the inventory information indicating the inventory amount acquired by the inventory amount acquisition unit 112 to display the inventory amount of each of the multiple products stored in the product information storage unit 144 on the display unit 10 in real time. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the display control unit 100 displays the inventory amount of each product near the product image of each product. Examples of a method for displaying the inventory amount include a percentage (the ratio of the remaining amount of one product to the maximum amount of one product that can be stored in the vending machine 1), the number of remaining units, and the like. In this embodiment, it is preferable to display the inventory amount as a percentage from the viewpoint of making it easier for a purchaser who refers to the display unit 10 to visually grasp the inventory amount of the product. The display control unit 100 may display the inventory amount of the product on the display unit 10 in the form of a numerical value and / or a graph (for example, a bar graph or a pie chart) corresponding to the numerical value.

[0038] There is no limitation on the products sold by the vending machine 1, but examples of the products include trading cards that can be used in a specified card game, goods such as key chains and stuffed toys, and food and beverages. When selling trading cards and the like by the vending machine 1, a plurality of trading cards may be sold as one pack, and one pack may be sold as one product. The various information stored in the product information storage unit 144 may be updated by the business operator that installs the vending machine 1, or may be updated remotely by the server 3 via the network 7 at any time.

[0039] (Purchase condition determination unit 114, purchaser ID acquisition unit 116, information reading unit 136) First, the information reading unit 136 reads predetermined information including information that can identify the purchaser, such as information recorded in a predetermined IC card held by the purchaser (e.g., a purchaser ID), predetermined authentication information (such as a predetermined payment graphic code or payment execution information described later) displayed on the information terminal display unit 50 of the information terminal 5 held by the purchaser, and / or biometric authentication information (such as a face image or biometric information) that identifies the purchaser. The information reading unit 136 can be configured to include, for example, an IC card reader 14 that reads information recorded in an IC chip, an imaging unit that reads predetermined image information such as a graphic code (two-dimensional code), a short-range wireless communication unit that acquires predetermined authentication information from the information terminal 5 by short-range wireless communication, and / or an authentication unit 15 that can perform face authentication of a person. The imaging unit and / or the authentication unit 15 may be provided integrally with or separately from the IC card reader 14, or may be provided at a location away from the vending machine 1. Also, the information reading unit 136 may be provided at a location away from the vending machine 1, and the location where various information for specifying or identifying the purchaser is obtained may be separate from the location where the product is sold (i.e., the location where the vending machine 1 itself is installed). Alternatively, the information reading unit 136 may be provided on a surface (for example, the side of the housing of the vending machine 1) different from the surface on which the display unit 10 of the vending machine 1 is provided. This allows the location where the step of specifying or identifying the purchaser is provided to be separated from the location where the step of processing the purchase of the product and providing the product is provided. Therefore, for example, while one purchaser is reading information that can identify the purchaser in the information reading unit 136, another purchaser who has already read information that can identify the purchaser can select a product or perform a purchase operation, and the time required for each of the purchasers lined up at the vending machine 1 to perform the purchase operation can be shortened.

[0040] Then, the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 acquires a purchaser ID capable of identifying the purchaser from the information recorded on the IC card held by the purchaser read by the information reading unit 136. The purchaser ID may be, for example, an identification number recorded on the IC card held by the purchaser. The purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 may also use various information capable of identifying the purchaser, i.e., predetermined authentication information and / or biometric authentication information, as the purchaser ID. The purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 supplies the acquired purchaser ID to the purchaseable condition determination unit 114.

[0041] The purchaseable condition determination unit 114 determines, based on the purchaser ID, whether or not the purchaseable condition, which is a condition under which the purchaser identified by the purchaser ID is permitted to purchase multiple products, is satisfied. Specifically, the purchaseable condition determination unit 114 determines, based on the purchase history of at least one product among the multiple products by the purchaser identified by the purchaser ID, whether or not the purchaseable condition, which is a condition under which the purchaser is permitted to purchase at least one product among the multiple products, is satisfied. That is, the purchaseable condition determination unit 114 determines, based on the purchase history of at least one product among the multiple products by the purchaser (i.e., before the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 acquires the purchaser ID), whether or not the purchaseable condition is satisfied. Note that the purchaseable condition determination unit 114 may be included in the server 3. In this case, the purchaseable condition determination unit 114 included in the server 3 manages the purchaseable conditions.

[0042] Here, the purchase condition is a condition under which, if the condition is met, a purchaser can purchase one product or all products. For example, the purchase condition may be a condition that the number of purchases of one product within a specified period is less than a specified number. If this condition is met, the purchaser is permitted to purchase the one product. The specified period and the specified number of purchases can be set appropriately. For example, if the specified period is "one day" and the specified number is "three", the purchase condition indicates that the number of products that a purchaser can purchase in "one day" is up to "three". Therefore, if a purchaser has already purchased "three" products in "one day", the purchase condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchaser does not satisfy the purchase condition, and if a purchaser has purchased "less than three" products in "one day", the purchase condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchaser satisfies the purchase condition.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, when the purchase enabling conditions are managed by the purchase enabling conditions determination unit 114 of the server 3, the purchase enabling conditions may be the following conditions. That is, the purchase enabling conditions may be a condition that the total number of purchases of one product purchased in a predetermined period from each of the multiple vending machines 1 is less than a predetermined number. Specifically, the total number of purchases by a purchaser of one product sold in the nth vending machine in a predetermined period is less than a predetermined number. n (n is a positive integer.) In this case, if the total number of items to be purchased is "Z", then the purchase condition is Z=X1+X2+···+X nand the condition that Z is less than a predetermined number is the purchase possible condition. As an example, in a case where vending machines 1 are installed at multiple locations and one product is sold at each vending machine 1, the condition may be that the total number of purchases of the one product by a purchaser at each vending machine 1 is less than a predetermined number within a predetermined period. If this condition is met, the purchaser is permitted to purchase the one product at each vending machine 1. For example, assume that the predetermined number for one product is "10 units" and the predetermined period is "one day." In this case, after the purchaser purchases "5 units" of the one product at the first vending machine 1 and "5 units" of the one product at the second vending machine 1 in "one day," the purchase possible condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchase possible condition is not met by the purchaser. On the other hand, after the purchaser purchases "five units" of one product from the first vending machine 1 in "one day" and "four units" of the same product from the second vending machine 1, the purchase condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchaser satisfies the purchase condition. The purchase condition determination unit 114 supplies information indicating the determination result to the product selection unit 120.

[0044] (Product selection section 120) The product selection unit 120 selects a product for sale from the information of multiple products displayed on the display unit 10 based on a selection operation by the purchaser. That is, when a purchaser performs an operation to select a specific product (for example, an operation such as tapping on a product image displayed on the display unit 10, such an operation being referred to as a "selection operation") via the input unit 20 while the display unit 10 is displaying product images of multiple products, the product selection unit 120 selects the selected specific product as a product for sale.

[0045] Here, the product selection unit 120 may make the selection of the product to be sold by the purchaser less favorable when the purchase availability condition received from the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 is not satisfied, compared to when the purchase availability condition is satisfied. The disadvantageous content is specifically a content that imposes a restriction on the purchase of at least one product among the multiple products (for example, a restriction that prohibits the purchaser from selecting the product to be sold from the multiple products even if the product to be sold is in stock, a restriction that limits the purchase quantity to a predetermined quantity or less, etc.), a content that does not display a specific product among the multiple products (for example, a product with high rarity, or a pack that contains or is likely to contain a trading card with high rarity when multiple trading cards are sold as one pack, etc.) on the display unit 10, etc. Note that, when the product selection unit 120 executes the disadvantageous content, the product selection unit 120 may cause the display unit 10 to display the disadvantageous content. For example, when a specific product is prohibited from being selected as a product for sale, the product selection unit 120 displays, via the display control unit 100, a message indicating that the product is prohibited from being selected near the product image of the product on the display unit 10, as shown in Fig. 3(b). In addition, the multiple products sold by the vending machine 1 may include products that are purchasable when a purchasing condition is met, and products that are purchasable regardless of whether or not the purchasing condition is met (products for which the purchasing condition is not determined, products for which there are no restrictions on purchasing). For example, products that are purchasable without determining the purchasing condition may be products that are less likely to sell out within a predetermined period of time compared to products for which the purchasing condition must be determined.

[0046] Furthermore, when the purchase availability conditions are met, the product selection unit 120 allows the purchaser to freely select a product for sale based on a selection operation from information on multiple products displayed on the display unit 10. Even in this case, the product selection unit 120 may set an upper limit on the number of types of products that can be purchased in one purchase operation and / or the number of each product that can be purchased. The product selection unit 120 supplies information on the selected product to the payment method identification unit 122, the sales control unit 124, and the notification information determination unit 126.

[0047] (Payment method identification unit 122) When the product selection unit 120 selects a product for sale, the payment method specification unit 122 specifies the payment method for the product for sale based on a specified operation by the purchaser (i.e., an operation in which the purchaser specifies a specific payment method from among one or more payment methods). Specifically, the payment method specification unit 122 causes the display unit 10 to display one or more payment methods for the product for sale to the purchaser. Then, the payment method specification unit 122 specifies one payment method from among one or more payment methods based on the specified operation of the purchaser received via the input unit 102. Examples of the payment method include a payment method by cash, a payment method by electronic money, a payment method by credit card, and / or a payment method via a specific shopping site registered in advance by the purchaser (for example, a method in which the purchaser registers credit card information on the site in advance, and the price of the vending machine 1 is paid using the credit card information registered on the site). The payment method specification unit 122 supplies information indicating the payment method specified by the specified operation to the sales control unit 124, the notice information determination unit 126, and the payment execution information generation unit 138.

[0048] (Sales control unit 124) The sales control unit 124 executes a payment process (also called a sales process) for the price of the product to be sold, based on the payment method specified by the payment method specification unit 122 for the payment of the price for the product to be sold selected by the product selection unit 120. The sales control unit 124 supplies information indicating the progress of the payment process to the display control unit 100, the notification information determination unit 126, and the product removal unit 132. Note that the sales process may be a process from the selection of the product to be sold, after the payment is inserted, until the payment process for the price is completed.

[0049] (Notification information determination unit 126) The notification information determination unit 126 determines notification information to be displayed on the display unit 10 from the multiple pieces of notification information acquired by the information acquisition unit 134. The notification information determination unit 126 determines at least one piece of notification information to be displayed on the display unit 10 from the multiple pieces of notification information when a product to be sold is selected, when a payment method is specified, or during the period from when the payment process is started to when the payment process is completed by the sales control unit 124. As an example, the notification information determination unit 126 may determine, from among the multiple pieces of notification information, notification information related to products sold by the vending machine 1 (including information determined based on the amount of stock), notification information related to the location where the vending machine 1 is installed (including tourist information for the location and within a predetermined range from the location), notification information related to predetermined stores, etc. in the vicinity of the location where the vending machine 1 is installed, notification information related to an online shopping site and products sold on the site, and / or notification information related to products scheduled to be sold within a predetermined period from the date and time of purchase of the product by the purchaser, services scheduled to be provided, or events scheduled to be held (including game tournaments), etc., as the notification information to be displayed on the display unit 10. The notification information determination unit 126 supplies the code generation unit 128 with predetermined identification information associated with the determined notification information.

[0050] The notification information determination unit 126 can also accept, via the input unit 102, a selection instruction by the purchaser of at least one piece of notification information from the multiple pieces of notification information displayed on the display unit 10 (i.e., an operation in which the purchaser selects notification information by tapping on the notification information displayed on the display unit 10, etc.). Specifically, when the display control unit 100 receives information from the product selection unit 120 that the purchaser has selected a product (a product for sale), when the display control unit 100 receives information indicating a specified payment method from the payment method specification unit 122, or when the display control unit 100 receives information indicating the start of execution of a settlement process from the sales control unit 124, the display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to continue the display until the settlement process by the sales control unit 124 is completed. In this case, the notification information determination unit 126 accepts, via the input unit 102, a selection instruction by the purchaser of at least one piece of notification information from the multiple pieces of notification information. The notification information determination unit 126 supplies the code generation unit 128 with predetermined identification information associated with the selected notification information. The notification information may be of a content that allows the purchaser to have an interest in the notification information for a short period of time (i.e., when the product to be sold is selected, when the payment method is specified, or during the time from when the payment process is started to when the payment process is completed). For example, the notification information may not be detailed information, but may be information that triggers the purchaser to request confirmation of detailed information (for example, information represented only by a predetermined heading or keyword).

[0051] Here, the notification information includes the following examples. a) Information determined based on the location where the vending machine 1 is installed. a-1) Information introducing specific shops located near the location. a-2) Information regarding game tournaments being held in the vicinity of the location (including, for example, tournament participation information regarding participation in a game tournament). a-3) Other information relating to the vicinity of the location (food information, tourist information, etc.). b) Information regarding new products, etc. c) Information about certain shopping sites on the web. d) Information about movies, events, etc.

[0052] Furthermore, when multiple pieces of notification information include tournament participation information regarding participation in a specific game tournament, and the information selected and instructed by the purchaser is the tournament participation information, the notification information determination unit 126 may accept purchaser identification information that identifies the purchaser in response to an operation by the purchaser, and execute acceptance of registration for participation in the tournament. Here, the purchaser identification information is information that the purchaser has registered in advance on the server of the organizer who is hosting the game tournament, and may be a player ID and password that identify the game player, etc. Furthermore, the tournament participation information is, for example, information such as the name of the game tournament, the tournament date and time, the location, the tournament organizer, and tournament participation qualifications.

[0053] The acceptance of registration for participation in the tournament may be the registration of purchaser identifying information to a server for the game tournament. For example, when the information selected and instructed by the purchaser is tournament participation information, the notification information determination unit 126 makes a request to the server for the game tournament and causes a screen for tournament participation registration to be displayed on the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100. The notification information determination unit 126 may then register the purchaser identifying information to the server for the game tournament based on the purchaser identifying information input by the purchaser via the input unit 102, and may execute the purchaser's registration for participation in the tournament. Furthermore, when the information selected and instructed by the purchaser is tournament participation information, the notification information determination unit 126 may supply access information to the server for participation in the tournament to the code generation unit 128.

[0054] (Code generation unit 128, code storage unit 129) The code generating unit 128 generates a graphic code such as a two-dimensional barcode. Instead of generating a graphic code, the code generating unit 128 may output a preregistered graphic code (in this case, the code generating unit 128 functions as a code output unit). For example, a graphic code including information indicating detailed contents of each of the notification information and / or access information (e.g., URL information) that can access a predetermined server that publishes the detailed contents of each of the notification information may be associated with each of the multiple notification information. The code generating unit 128 may include a code storage unit 129 that stores graphic code information in association with each of the multiple notification information. For example, the code storage unit 129 stores the URL of a web page that publishes the detailed contents of the notification information in association with the notification information displayed on the display unit 10. The code generating unit 128 supplies the URL to the output unit 130 as graphic code information.

[0055] Furthermore, when the announcement information determination unit 126 receives a selection instruction, the code generation unit 128 may generate a graphic code including information indicating detailed contents of the selected announcement information and / or access information for accessing a predetermined server that publishes the detailed information. That is, each of the multiple announcement information is previously associated with details of each announcement information and access information to a predetermined server that publishes the details of each announcement information. The code generation unit 128 refers to the access information associated with the selected announcement information and generates information (graphical code information) about the graphic code including the access information. Furthermore, when the announcement information determination unit 126 does not receive a selection instruction, that is, when there is no selection instruction, the code generation unit 128 does not generate graphic code information. Note that, when the code generation unit 128 receives access information to a server for participation in a predetermined game tournament from the announcement information determination unit 126, it generates graphic code information including the access information. The code generation unit 128 supplies the generated graphic code information to the output unit 130. When the notification information determination section 126 receives a selection instruction, the code generation section 128 may supply the graphic code information stored in the code storage section 129 to the output section 130 in association with the information for which the selection instruction has been given.

[0056] (Output unit 130) The output unit 130 outputs a receipt on which payment information and the like of the product purchased by the purchaser are printed. The output unit 130 outputs the receipt from the receipt output port 18. Specifically, after the sales control unit 124 completes the payment process, the output unit 130 outputs a receipt on which a graphic code is printed based on graphic code information generated by the code generation unit 128, the graphic code information including access information to a predetermined server that publishes the content of the notification information that the notification information determination unit 126 has caused to be displayed on the display unit 10, or the content of the notification information for which the notification information determination unit 126 has accepted a selection instruction, and the receipt on which information regarding the payment process is printed. On the other hand, if there is no instruction to output a receipt from the purchaser or if the notification information determination unit 126 has not accepted a selection instruction, the output unit 130 does not print information regarding the payment process on the receipt and does not output the receipt itself.

[0057] If the graphical code on the receipt output by the output unit 130 contains access information to a server for participation in a specific game tournament, the purchaser can register to participate in the tournament by having the information terminal 5 read the graphical code. That is, by having the information terminal 5 read the graphical code, the information terminal 5 accesses the server for that game tournament. The server for the game tournament then displays a screen on the information terminal display unit 50 that accepts registration to participate in the game tournament. The purchaser can register to participate in the game tournament by entering purchaser identification information, i.e., a player ID and password, on this screen and registering with the server for the game tournament.

[0058] (Product removal section 132) After the payment process is completed by the sales control unit 124, the product removal unit 132 enables the product for sale to be removed from the vending machine 1. The product removal unit 132 enables the product purchased by the purchaser to be removed from the product removal opening 17. This allows the purchaser to remove the purchased product (the product for sale) from the product removal opening 17.

[0059] (Information acquisition unit 134) The information acquisition unit 134 acquires a plurality of pieces of notification information stored in an information storage unit 30 of the server 3, which will be described later, based on the location information supplied to the server 3 by the location information supply unit 110. The information acquisition unit 134 supplies the acquired plurality of pieces of notification information to the display control unit 100 and the notification information determination unit 126. The display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display at least a part or all of the plurality of pieces of notification information acquired by the information acquisition unit 134.

[0060] (Payment execution information generation unit 138) The payment execution information generating unit 138 generates payment execution information including an instruction to execute payment for the product purchased by the purchaser at the vending machine 1 at a predetermined site where the purchaser has registered in advance. The payment execution information generating unit 138 may generate payment execution information when the payment method specifying unit 122 specifies a payment method via a predetermined shopping site where the purchaser has registered in advance. For example, the server 3 may be a server that controls the operation of a shopping site where a registered purchaser can purchase products online, and the server 3 and the vending machine 1 may be communicably connected via the network 7. The server 3 stores in advance information on the purchaser (e.g., credit card information, etc.) related to a payment method for products that is completed online. For example, as described later, the server 3 has a purchaser information storage unit 31 that stores the credit card information of the registered purchaser in association with the purchaser ID of the registered purchaser. Then, the payment execution information generating unit 138 generates payment execution information including an instruction to execute a payment process related to the purchase of the product at the vending machine 1 on the server 3 in response to a request from the purchaser.

[0061] Then, the payment execution information generating unit 138 supplies the generated payment execution information to the information terminal 5 of the purchaser. For example, the payment execution information generated by the payment execution information generating unit 138 of the vending machine 1 can be supplied to the information terminal 5 via the network 7 or short-distance wireless communication. The server 3 may also have the payment execution information generating unit 138. In this case, the payment execution information generating unit 138 of the server 3 may supply the payment execution information generated in response to an instruction from the information terminal 5 of the purchaser or the vending machine 1 that has accepted a request from the purchaser to the information terminal 5 via the network 7 based on a request operation by the purchaser, or may display the payment execution information on the information terminal display unit 50 in response to an access from the information terminal 5 to the server 3. In addition, when the server 3 has the payment execution information generating unit 138, the payment execution information may be supplied to the information terminal 5 of the purchaser in response to a request from the purchaser before the purchaser purchases a product from the vending machine 1.

[0062] Then, when a payment method for the product purchased by the purchaser is specified as a payment method for processing the payment on the server 3, that is, when the payment method specification unit 122 specifies a method for processing the payment on the server 3, the sales control unit 124 performs the payment processing based on the payment execution information supplied to the information terminal 5. For example, the payment execution information generation unit 138 generates a payment graphic code including the payment execution information and supplies it to the information terminal 5. Then, based on the operation of the purchaser, the information reading unit 136 reads the payment graphic code from the information terminal 5. The sales control unit 124 obtains information related to the payment graphic code read by the information reading unit 136, and performs the payment processing on the server 3 based on the payment execution information included in the payment graphic code.

[0063] (Purchaser information update unit 118) The purchaser information update unit 118 updates the purchaser ID and / or purchase history of the purchaser stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 of the server 3, which will be described later. The purchaser information update unit 118 supplies predetermined information to the purchaser information storage unit 31 via the network 7, and updates various pieces of information stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31. The purchaser information update unit 118 can also update various pieces of information stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with the purchaser ID read by the information reading unit 136. Furthermore, the purchaser information update unit 118 updates the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 based on information indicating the products purchased by the purchaser in the vending machine 1 and the purchase quantity of the products.

[0064] [Server 3 configuration details] (Information storage unit 30) As shown in FIG. 5(c), the information storage unit 30 stores multiple pieces of notification information in association with location information indicating a location. The location information may be associated with a vending machine ID that identifies the vending machine 1. The information storage unit 30 may also store inventory information of the vending machine 1 identified by the vending machine ID in association with the vending machine ID (i.e., information regarding the type and amount of each of multiple products stored in the vending machine 1). The information storage unit 30 can also store notification information collected by the server control unit 38 from an external server or the like. The information storage unit 30 supplies the stored notification information in association with the location information received from the location information supply unit 110 to the information supply unit 32.

[0065] (Purchaser information storage unit 31) As shown in FIG. 5(c), the purchaser information storage unit 31 stores information about the purchaser (purchaser information) and information about the purchase history of each of a plurality of products by the purchaser in association with a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser. The purchaser information includes, for example, the name or nickname of the purchaser, the purchaser's email address, the telephone number of the information terminal 5 held by the purchaser, information about the purchaser's credit card, membership information of a predetermined member site (for example, an online shopping site operated and controlled by the server 3) (for example, a member ID and password registered in the predetermined member site, or a payment graphic code as predetermined authentication information issued only to the purchaser on the site), and / or biometric authentication information of the purchaser (for example, information about a face image used for face authentication). Note that, instead of the identification information recorded in a predetermined IC card, any of the purchaser information, for example, predetermined authentication information or biometric authentication information, may be used as the purchaser ID. In addition, when the server 3 is a server that controls the operation of a shopping site where registered members can purchase products online, the purchaser ID may be an ID that identifies the registered member purchaser. The purchase history information is information on the purchase history of each of a plurality of products by a purchaser, and includes information such as the purchase date and time of each product, the purchase amount, and / or the purchase location (vending machine ID of the vending machine 1 where the purchase was made), etc. In response to a request from a specific component of the vending machine 1 and / or information terminal 5, the purchaser information storage unit 31 provides the specific component with the stored specific information.

[0066] Here, the purchase possible condition determination unit 114 determines whether or not the purchase possible conditions are met based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31. That is, the purchase possible condition determination unit 114 can compare the purchaser ID acquired by the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 via the network 7 with the purchaser ID stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31, and determine whether or not the purchase possible conditions are met based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with the purchaser ID.

[0067] Furthermore, the purchaser information update unit 118 may compare the purchaser ID acquired by the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 via the network 7 with the purchaser ID stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31, and if the purchaser ID is not stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31, may newly store the purchaser ID in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in response to an instruction from the purchaser received via the input unit 102. In this case, if the purchaser ID is newly stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31, the product selection unit 120 may enable the purchaser to select a product for sale from information on multiple products displayed on the display unit 10 based on a selection operation by the purchaser. In other words, the purchaser may be registered in the server 3, and the product may be purchased in the vending machine 1.

[0068] Furthermore, if the server 3 is a server that controls the operation of a shopping site where registered purchasers can purchase products online, the display control unit 100 may check whether or not the purchaser is registered as a member, based on the input of the purchaser received via the input unit 102. Then, the display control unit 100 may vary the information of multiple products displayed on the display unit 10 based on whether or not the purchaser is registered as a member. For example, if the purchaser is registered as a member, the display control unit 100 may display product images of all products on the display unit 10, and if the purchaser is not registered as a member, the display control unit 100 may display only product images of some products on the display unit 10 (i.e., the sale of certain products to purchasers who are not registered as members may be restricted).

[0069] (Information Supply Department 32) The information supply unit 32 supplies the notification information stored in the information storage unit 30 in association with the location information received from the location information supply unit 110 to the information acquisition unit 134 of the vending machine 1 via the server-side communication unit 36. The location information supply unit 110 may supply the vending machine ID instead of the location information of the vending machine 1 to the information supply unit 32 via the vending machine-side communication unit 140. In this case, the information supply unit 32 supplies the notification information stored in the information storage unit 30 in association with the vending machine ID to the information acquisition unit 134.

[0070] (Information Disclosure Section 34) The information disclosure unit 34 discloses the inventory amount of each of the multiple products in the vending machine 1 acquired by the inventory amount acquisition unit 112 on a predetermined website on the network. In response to an access from the information terminal 5 via the network 7, the information disclosure unit 34 enables the inventory amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1 to be displayed on the information terminal 5. In this case, the information disclosure unit 34 can display the inventory amount on the information terminal 5 in real time. This allows a purchaser who has the information terminal 5 to check the inventory amount of each product sold in the vending machine 1 from a location away from the vending machine 1. In addition, the information disclosure unit 34 may provide a time lag based on the inventory amount in the timing of disclosing the inventory amount according to the inventory amount of each of the multiple products in the vending machine 1. For example, when the inventory amount of a product sold in the vending machine 1 drops from 100% to 80%, the inventory amount of the product may be disclosed on the network, and after the disclosure, the inventory amount may be disclosed on the network in real time. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which purchasers rush to the vending machine 1 as soon as the product in the vending machine 1 is replenished. The information disclosure unit 34 may be included in a server other than the server 3.

[0071] Furthermore, the information disclosure unit 34 may determine whether or not to restrict viewing of the stock amount of a plurality of products in the vending machine 1, based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with the purchaser ID of the purchaser who accessed the server 3. For example, the information disclosure unit 34 may refer to the purchaser's purchase history, and when the number of purchases of a certain product within a predetermined period is less than a predetermined number, make the stock amount of the certain product viewable on the network. On the other hand, the information disclosure unit 34 may refer to the purchaser's purchase history, and when the number of purchases of a certain product within a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, make the stock amount of the certain product unviewable on the network. In this way, the vending machine system 9 can easily provide opportunities to purchase a certain product by purchasers other than purchasers who have already purchased the certain product up to the maximum number that can be purchased.

[0072] Furthermore, the information disclosure unit 34 may be configured to have a blacklist that registers purchaser IDs that are prohibited from viewing the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 on the network. When there is an information terminal 5 that has requested the server 3 to refer to the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 via the network 7, the information disclosure unit 34 first obtains the purchaser ID of the purchaser who possesses this information terminal 5 from the information terminal 5. Then, the information disclosure unit 34 may refer to the obtained purchaser ID, and if the referenced purchaser ID is registered on the blacklist, the information disclosure unit 34 may prohibit the information terminal 5 from referring to the inventory amount, or may permit the information terminal 5 to refer to the inventory amount if the referenced purchaser ID is not registered.

[0073] <Processing flow of vending machine system 9> [Information provision processing flow] Fig. 6 shows an example of the process flow in the vending machine system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 6 shows an example of the process flow for providing information from the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9. Figs. 7 to 9 show examples of displays on the display unit 10 in the process for providing information from the vending machine 1 included in the vending machine system 9.

[0074] First, the location information supplying unit 110 supplies the server 3 with location information indicating the location where the vending machine 1 is installed (Step 10. Hereinafter, step will be abbreviated as "S"). For example, the location information supplying unit 110 acquires location information indicating the location where the vending machine 1 is installed by GPS, and supplies the location information to the information supplying unit 32 of the server 3 via the vending machine side communication unit 140, the network 7, and the server side communication unit 36. The information supplying unit 32 supplies multiple pieces of notification information stored in the information storage unit 30 in association with the location information to the information acquiring unit 134 of the vending machine 1 via the server side communication unit 36, the network 7, and the vending machine side communication unit 140. As a result, the information acquiring unit 134 acquires one or multiple pieces of notification information (S12).

[0075] The location information supply unit 110 may supply the server 3 with location information of the location where the vending machine 1 is installed based on an operation by the business operator who installs the vending machine 1. Furthermore, if multiple pieces of notification information are stored in the information storage unit 30 in association with a vending machine ID, the location information supply unit 110 may supply the vending machine ID instead of the location information to the information supply unit 32. In this case, the information supply unit 32 supplies the multiple pieces of notification information stored in the information storage unit 30 in association with the vending machine ID to the information acquisition unit 134. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 134 may acquire the notification information via a predetermined device and / or storage medium owned by the business operator who installs the vending machine 1.

[0076] Then, the display control unit 100 displays the plurality of pieces of notification information acquired by the information acquisition unit 134 on the display unit 10 (S14). For example, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the display control unit 100 divides the display unit 10 into a plurality of regions and displays the notification information in at least one of the regions. As an example, the display control unit 100 provides an information display area 150 for displaying notification information in an area near the center of the display unit 10. Then, during a period (standby period) in which the purchaser does not purchase a product, the display control unit 100 sequentially displays the plurality of pieces of notification information in the information display area 150 of the display unit 10. Note that during the standby period, the display control unit 100 may set the area of ​​the display unit 10 other than the information display area 150 as a product display area that displays a product image of the product (in the example of FIG. 7(a), a product display area 162 is provided above the information display area 150, and a product display area 164 is provided below the information display area 150). Here, the display control unit 100 may display the product images displayed in the product display area 162 and the product display area 164 in an inconspicuous manner during the standby period, from the viewpoint of making the notification information displayed in the information display area 150 stand out. For example, the display control unit 100 may display the product images displayed in the product display area 162 and the product display area 164 in a blurred or semi-transparent manner. Furthermore, the display control unit 100 may set one or more information display areas and one or more product display areas in predetermined areas of the display unit 10, without being limited to the example of FIG. 7(a).

[0077] Subsequently, until a purchase request is made by the purchaser (i.e., during a waiting period), the display control unit 100 continues to display the notification information in the information display area 150 as shown in FIG. 7(a) (No in S16). On the other hand, when a predetermined input instruction is received from the purchaser via the input unit 102 (Yes in S16), the display control unit 100 displays product images of multiple products sold by the vending machine 1 on the display unit 10 as shown in FIG. 7(b) and prompts the purchaser to select a product (S18). The display on the display unit 10 at this time is a product selection screen display. Note that the input instruction may be, for example, a tap operation on the display unit 10 by the purchaser. In the example of FIG. 7(b), for example, a product image 710 and a price display 720 are displayed together, and a product image and a price display are displayed on the display unit 10 for each of the multiple products. In addition, the display control unit 100 causes the progress display area 510 of the display unit 10 to display information indicating the next step that the purchaser should take (in the example of FIG. 7(b), the text "Please select a product" is displayed).

[0078] Next, the product selection unit 120 accepts a selection operation of a product for sale by the purchaser from among the multiple product images (S20). The product selection unit 120 waits until a selection operation is performed (No in S20). On the other hand, when the product selection unit 120 accepts a selection operation of a specific product by the purchaser via the input unit 102, it selects the product corresponding to the product image selected by the purchaser as a product for sale (Yes in S20). The product selection unit 120 supplies information on the product for sale and information indicating that the product for sale has been selected to the payment method specification unit 122, the sales control unit 124, and the notification information determination unit 126. The notification information determination unit 126 determines at least one or all of the notification information from the multiple notification information acquired by the information acquisition unit 134 as the notification information to be displayed on the display unit 10 (S22).

[0079] The payment method specification unit 122 specifies the payment method of the fee adopted by the purchaser in purchasing the product. For example, the payment method specification unit 122 causes the display unit 10 to display information indicating a plurality of payment methods via the display control unit 100 as shown in FIG. 8(a). In the example of FIG. 8(a), the display unit 10 displays a payment method display 800 (displaying "Payment by cash"), a payment method display 802 (displaying "Payment by electronic money"), and a payment method display 804 (displaying "Payment at member site"), and further displays the product image of the product selected by the purchaser and the price of the product as a selected product image 900 based on the information on the product for sale received from the product selection unit 120. In addition, information prompting the purchaser to select a payment method is displayed in the progress display area 510 of the display unit 10 (in the example of FIG. 8(a), the text "Please select a payment method" is displayed). The payment method specification unit 122 accepts the selection of the purchaser accepted via the input unit 102 and specifies the payment method (S24).

[0080] Then, the sales control unit 124 accepts the payment of the price by the purchaser based on the payment method specified by the payment method specification unit 122 (S26), and starts the payment process for the product to be sold (i.e., the sales process) (S28). For example, if the purchaser selects to pay with cash, the sales control unit 124 counts the cash inserted into the bill insertion slot 12 and / or the coin insertion slot 13, and starts the sales process. Also, if the purchaser selects to pay with electronic money, the sales control unit 124 starts the sales process based on information read from a predetermined IC card that the purchaser has brought into contact with the IC card reader 14. In this case, the sales control unit 124 can display information indicating that the sales process is in progress in the progress display area 510 of the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100 (for example, in the examples of FIG. 8(b) and FIG. 9(a), the text "Product and change are being prepared" is displayed).

[0081] If the purchaser selects to pay on the member site, the sales control unit 124 executes the following process.

[0082] First, in this case, it is assumed that the server 3 is a server that operates a shopping site where registered purchasers can purchase products online. This site may be a site operated by a business that handles the products sold by the vending machine 1 or an affiliate of the business. The purchaser then registers as a member on this site in advance. In the member registration, the server 3 stores and registers the purchaser's credit card information and information on the purchaser's information terminal 5 (e.g., telephone number, email address, etc.) in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser. Then, the sales control unit 124 requests the payment execution information generation unit 138 to generate payment execution information including an instruction to execute payment for the products purchased from the vending machine 1 based on the credit card information registered in advance on the site. In response to the request, the payment execution information generation unit 138 generates a payment graphic code including the payment execution information. Then, the payment execution information generation unit 138 supplies this payment graphic code to the purchaser's information terminal 5 via the network 7 or short-distance wireless communication, so that it can be displayed on the information terminal display unit 50. Alternatively, the payment execution information generating unit 138 may make the generated payment graphic code displayable on a website, and may make the payment graphic code displayable on the information terminal display unit 50 when the information terminal 5 accesses the website. Next, the information reading unit 136 reads the payment graphic code displayed on the information terminal display unit 50. Then, the sales control unit 124 starts the sales processing on the server 3 by starting the payment processing on the server 3 based on the payment execution information included in the payment graphic code read by the information reading unit 136.

[0083] If the payment process on the server 3 cannot be completed based on this payment execution information (for example, if the credit card has expired), the sales control unit 124 may display on the display unit 10 that the payment process could not be completed and terminate the sales process. If the payment process cannot be completed based on this payment execution information, the sales control unit 124 may control the payment method identification unit 122 to prohibit the purchaser from selecting a payment method on the member's site, and may once again execute step S24, that is, the step of identifying the payment method to be used by the purchaser.

[0084] Next, while the sales control unit 124 is executing the sales process, the display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display the announcement information determined by the announcement information determination unit 126 (S30). The display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display one or more pieces of announcement information determined to be displayed by the announcement information determination unit 126. For example, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the display unit 10 displays a plurality of pieces of announcement information, namely, information 400 (information indicating the release date of a predetermined product), information 402 (information indicating that a predetermined game tournament will be held), information 404 (information regarding shops existing near the vending machine 1), information 406 (information regarding a movie to be released), and information 408 (information regarding an online shop where online shopping can be performed by registering as a member). Note that, although a plurality of pieces of announcement information are displayed on the display unit 10 in the example of FIG. 8(b), only one piece of announcement information may be displayed on the display unit 10 based on the decision of the announcement information determination unit 126.

[0085] Then, the notification information determination unit 126 causes the display unit 10 to output a screen for confirming whether or not to output the notification information displayed on the display unit 10 (S32). For example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), a confirmation message is output in the instruction display area 502 of the display unit 10 (in the example of FIG. 9(a), "Print the information?" is displayed). Furthermore, the notification information determination unit 126 causes an instruction receiving area 504 for receiving an instruction to output the notification information and an instruction receiving area 506 for receiving an instruction not to output the notification information to a predetermined location on the display unit 10. In the example of FIG. 9(a), an icon displaying "Yes" is placed in the instruction receiving area 504, and an icon displaying "No" is placed in the instruction receiving area 506. Then, when the notification information determination unit 126 receives an instruction from the purchaser for the instruction receiving area 504 via the input unit 102 (Yes in S32), it supplies identification information indicating one or more pieces of notification information displayed on the display unit 10 to the code generation unit 128.

[0086] The code generating unit 128 generates graphic code information including the received identification information (S34). Alternatively, the code generating unit 128 outputs a graphic code registered in advance for the notification information. The graphic code information includes access information to a site where detailed contents of each of the one or more pieces of notification information are published. Then, the code generating unit 128 supplies the graphic code information to the output unit 130. Next, when the sales process by the sales control unit 124 is completed, or when the output unit 130 becomes able to output a receipt after the sales process is completed (S36), the output unit 130 outputs a receipt on which a graphic code corresponding to the graphic code information and payment information of the product are printed, and the product removal unit 132 provides the product to the purchaser by making the product purchased by the purchaser removable from the product removal slot 17 (S38). In this case, the sales control unit 124 displays a message on the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100 to prompt the purchaser to receive the product and the receipt. For example, the sales control unit 124 displays predetermined text information ("Sorry to keep you waiting! Please take your product, change, and receipt" in the example of FIG. 9(b)) in a predetermined information display area 152 of the display unit 10 as shown in FIG. 9(b). If there is change for the purchaser, the sales control unit 124 returns the predetermined change to the purchaser through the change return port 16. The sale of the product by the vending machine 1 is completed when the purchaser takes out the product from the product take-out port 17 and receives the receipt (for example, the receipt as shown in FIG. 2(b)) output from the output unit 130 (S40). The purchaser can access a predetermined website on which the detailed contents of one or more pieces of notice information are published by reading the graphic code printed on the receipt output by the output unit 130 with the information terminal 5. This allows the purchaser to check the detailed contents of one or more pieces of notice information at their own time using the information terminal 5 after purchasing a product from the vending machine 1.

[0087] On the other hand, when the notification information determination unit 126 receives an instruction from the purchaser in the instruction receiving area 506 via the input unit 102 (No in S32), it does not supply identification information indicating the notification information to the code generation unit 128, and waits until the end of the sales process by the sales control unit 124. Then, when the sales process by the sales control unit 124 is completed (S42), the product removal unit 132 provides the product to the purchaser by making the product purchased by the purchaser removable from the product removal opening 17 (S44). If there is change for the purchaser, the sales control unit 124 returns a predetermined amount of change to the purchaser from the change return opening 16. When the purchaser removes the product from the product removal opening 17, the sale of the product by the vending machine 1 is completed (S40).

[0088] The display control unit 100 may display a thank you screen on the display unit 10 in response to the end of the sale (for example, displaying text such as "Thank you for your purchase"). The sales control unit 124 may also cancel the sale of the product based on an instruction from the purchaser to cancel the purchase received via the input unit 102, even after the payment of the purchase price has been received from the purchaser, as long as the sale process is not completed (before the product removal unit 132 makes the product available for removal).

[0089] In the above description, the notification information is displayed on the display unit 10 in S30, but the notification information may be displayed on the display unit 10 from any timing between steps S20 and S30. In this case, the display control unit 100 displays at least one piece of notification information on the display unit 10 together with a plurality of product images (for example, two areas may be provided, one for displaying product images and the other for displaying notification information).

[0090] [Variation 1 of the flow of information provision processing] Fig. 10 shows an example of a modified process flow in the vending machine system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 10 shows modified example 1 of the process flow for providing information by the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9 (a process flow for selecting desired notification information from multiple pieces of notification information). Fig. 11 shows an example of a display on the display unit 10 in the process for providing information by the vending machine 1 included in the vending machine system 9.

[0091] The flow of the first modification example described in Fig. 10 includes substantially the same steps as the flow described in Fig. 6, except that S22 in the flow described in Fig. 6 does not exist and the processing from S20 onwards is different. Therefore, detailed description will be omitted except for the differences.

[0092] First, the processes from S10 to S20 are almost the same as the flow described in Fig. 6. Then, in the step of Yes in S20, the product selection unit 120 supplies information on the product to be sold to the payment method specification unit 122 and the sales control unit 124. Next, the steps from S24 to S28 are almost the same as the flow described in Fig. 6.

[0093] Next, while the sales control unit 124 is executing the sales process, the display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display the multiple pieces of announcement information determined by the announcement information determination unit 126 (S50). Then, the announcement information determination unit 126 allows the purchaser to receive an instruction to select information from the multiple pieces of announcement information displayed on the display unit 10 via the input unit 102. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the display unit 10 displays multiple pieces of announcement information, that is, information 400, information 402, information 404, information 406, and information 408. Furthermore, the display control unit 100 causes information that prompts the purchaser to select information to be displayed in the instruction display area 500 of the display unit 10 (in the example of FIG. 11, "Please select your favorite information" is displayed). Note that the announcement information determination unit 126 may cause the instruction display area 500 to display, via the display control unit 100, that the selection of announcement information is optional and / or that the product can be purchased without selecting announcement information.

[0094] When the notification information determination unit 126 receives an instruction to select notification information from the purchaser via the input unit 102 (Yes in S52), it causes the display unit 10 to output a screen for confirming whether or not the notification information selected by the purchaser is to be output (S54). For example, it causes a confirmation message to be output in the instruction display area 502 of the display unit 10 as in FIG. 9(a). Furthermore, the notification information determination unit 126 causes an instruction receiving area 504 for receiving an instruction to output the selected notification information and an instruction receiving area 506 for receiving an instruction not to output the selected notification information, in a predetermined position on the display unit 10. Then, when the notification information determination unit 126 receives an instruction from the purchaser for the instruction receiving area 504 via the input unit 102 (Yes in S54), it supplies identification information indicating the selected notification information to the code generation unit 128.

[0095] The code generating unit 128 generates graphic code information including the received identification information (S56). The code generating unit 128 supplies the generated graphic code information to the output unit 130. After S56, the steps S36, S38, and S40 described in FIG. 6 are executed. On the other hand, when the notification information determining unit 126 receives an instruction from the purchaser for the instruction receiving area 506 via the input unit 102 (No in S54), it does not supply the identification information indicating the selected notification information to the code generating unit 128, and waits until the end of the sales process by the sales control unit 124. Then, when the sales process by the sales control unit 124 is ended (S42), the steps S44 and S40 described in FIG. 6 are executed.

[0096] Furthermore, if the notification information determination unit 126 does not receive an instruction to select notification information from the purchaser (No in S52), it waits until the end of the sales process by the sales control unit 124. Then, the steps of S42, S44, and S40 described above are executed.

[0097] In the above description, the display unit 10 is caused to display a plurality of pieces of notice information in S50, but the display unit 10 may display a plurality of pieces of notice information at any timing between steps S14 and S50. In this case, the display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display a plurality of pieces of notice information together with a plurality of product images (for example, two areas may be provided, one for displaying product images and the other for displaying notice information). In this case, the notice information determination unit 126 may determine the notice information to be displayed on the display unit 10 at any timing, even before the settlement process is started by the sales control unit 124, or before the settlement process is completed, and may also receive an instruction to select notice information from the purchaser.

[0098] [Variation 2 of the flow of information provision processing] Fig. 12 shows an example of a modified example of the process flow in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 12 shows modified example 2 of the process flow for providing information in the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9.

[0099] The flow of the first modification example described in Fig. 12 includes substantially the same steps as the flow described in Fig. 6, except that the processes from S16 to S22 in the flow described in Fig. 6 are different. Therefore, detailed description will be omitted except for the differences.

[0100] 12, it is assumed that the server 3 is a server that operates a website where registered members can purchase products online. An example is shown in which the product image displayed on the display unit 10 is changed when the purchaser selects a product that the purchaser wants to purchase, based on whether the purchaser is a member of the website or not.

[0101] First, when a predetermined input instruction is received from a purchaser via the input unit 102, the vending machine control unit 142 checks whether or not the purchaser is registered as a member of the site (S60). For example, the vending machine control unit 142 can check whether or not the purchaser is registered as a member by collating the purchaser ID (e.g., a purchaser ID recorded in an IC chip such as an IC card or credit card) acquired via the information reading unit 136, information about the member registered by the purchaser when registering as a member on the site (e.g., a member ID and password, or a payment graphic code issued only to the purchaser on the site), and / or the purchaser's biometric authentication information with the information stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 of the server 3.

[0102] When the vending machine control unit 142 confirms that the purchaser is a registered member (Yes in S60), it causes the display unit 10 to display product images of multiple products, including special products, via the display control unit 100, and prompts the purchaser to select a product (S62). Next, the product selection unit 120 accepts the selection operation of a product to be sold by the purchaser from multiple product images, including special products (S64). The product selection unit 120 waits until a selection operation is performed (No in S64). On the other hand, when the product selection unit 120 accepts the selection operation of a specific product by the purchaser via the input unit 102, it selects the product corresponding to the product image selected by the purchaser as a product to be sold (Yes in S64). Then, the product selection unit 120 supplies information on the product to be sold and information indicating that the product to be sold has been selected to the payment method identification unit 122, the sales control unit 124, and the notification information determination unit 126. The subsequent steps are the same as those from S22 onwards described in FIG. 6.

[0103] Here, special products are, for example, products with low sales quantities, highly rare products, products sold only during a specific period (limited time products), products sold only in specific regions, products that can only be purchased by purchasers who are registered members of the site, etc.

[0104] On the other hand, if the vending machine control unit 142 determines that the purchaser is not a registered member (no in S60), it causes the display control unit 100 to display product images (excluding product images of special products) of multiple products being sold in the vending machine 1, and prompts the purchaser to select a product (S18). The subsequent steps are the same as those from S20 onwards described in FIG. 6.

[0105] In this way, in the information provision flow according to the modified example 2, the vending machine 1 can present the special product only to purchasers who are registered as members of a specific site. This makes it possible to prevent a situation where purchasers compete to purchase the special product, compared to a case where purchasers who are not registered as members of a specific site can freely purchase the special product from the vending machine 1.

[0106] [Flow of inventory display and purchase limit processing by vending machine 1] Figures 13 and 14 show an example of the process flow in the vending machine system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Figure 13 shows an example of the process flow for displaying the inventory amount and limiting purchases of the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9. Also, Figures 14(a) to (c) each show an example of the display on the display unit 10 in the process of limiting purchases of the vending machine 1 included in the vending machine system 9.

[0107] First, the inventory amount acquisition unit 112 acquires inventory amount information indicating the inventory amount of each of the multiple products stored in the vending machine 1 (S70). The inventory amount acquisition unit 112 supplies the acquired inventory amount information to the display control unit 100. Using the acquired inventory amount information, the display control unit 100 displays the inventory amount of each of the multiple products near the product image of each product displayed on the display unit 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(a) (S72). In addition, the inventory amount acquisition unit 112 supplies the inventory amount information to the information disclosure unit 34 of the server 3 via the vending machine side communication unit 140, the network 7, and the server side communication unit 36 ​​(S72). The information disclosure unit 34 uses the acquired inventory amount information to disclose the inventory amount of each of the multiple products in the vending machine 1 on the network. As an example, the information disclosure unit 34 may indicate the position of the vending machine 1 on map information, and display the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 on the map in response to a user's designation instruction for the position.

[0108] Next, the vending machine 1 waits until the purchaser makes a request to purchase the product (No in S74). On the other hand, when a predetermined input instruction (an instruction requesting a purchase, for example, an instruction by tapping on a predetermined area or any area of ​​the display unit 10) is received from the purchaser via the input unit 102 (Yes in S74), the vending machine control unit 142 prompts the purchaser to provide a purchaser ID. As an example, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the vending machine control unit 142 displays notification information in the information display area 154 of the display unit 10 to prompt the purchaser to provide a purchaser ID (in the example of FIG. 14(a), text information "Please read your ID" is displayed in the information display area 154, and text information "Confirming purchase conditions" is displayed in the progress display area 510). Next, the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 acquires the purchaser ID recorded in a predetermined IC card held by the purchaser read by the information reading unit 136 (S76). The purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 supplies the acquired purchaser ID to the purchase condition determination unit 114. Note that, instead of the purchaser ID, information about the member registered by the purchaser when registering as a member on a site where the registered purchaser can purchase products online, biometric authentication information of the purchaser, or the like may be used.

[0109] Here, the server 3 has a purchaser information storage unit 31 that stores the purchase history of the product by the purchaser identified by the purchaser ID in association with the purchaser ID (or information on the member or biometric authentication information). Then, the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 refers to the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with the purchaser ID acquired by the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116. The purchase availability condition determination unit 114 checks whether the purchase availability condition is satisfied based on the purchase history (S78). Then, when the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchase availability condition is satisfied (Yes in S80), it executes the steps from S18 onward in the flow described in FIG. 6. On the other hand, when the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchase availability condition is not satisfied (No in S80), it causes the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100 to display that the predetermined product cannot be purchased (S82), and ends all processing. However, the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 may display that only some products cannot be purchased, rather than all products. In this case, the steps from S18 onwards described with reference to FIG. 6 may be executed only for the remaining products that can be purchased.

[0110] For example, as shown in Fig. 14(b), the purchase possibility condition determination unit 114 causes the display unit 10 to display that a product that satisfies the purchase possibility condition can be purchased, and causes the display unit 10 to display that a product that does not satisfy the purchase possibility condition cannot be purchased. In the example of Fig. 14(b), a purchase possibility display 730 (in the example of Fig. 14(b), text information saying "Purchase Possible" is displayed) is displayed near the product image 714 to indicate that the product corresponding to the product image 714 can be purchased, and a purchase possibility display 732 (in the example of Fig. 14(b), text information saying "Purchase Unavailable" is displayed) is displayed near the product image 716 to indicate that the product corresponding to the product image 716 cannot be purchased. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14(c), the purchase condition determination unit 114 may cause products that satisfy the purchase conditions to be displayed on the display unit 10 (in FIG. 14(c), for example, the product corresponding to product image 718 is available for purchase, and product image 718 of the product is displayed), and may not cause products that do not satisfy the purchase conditions to be displayed on the display unit 10 (in FIG. 14(c), for example, the product corresponding to product image 740 is not available for purchase, and product image 740 of the product is not displayed. For ease of explanation, the fact that product image 740 is not displayed is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 14(c).

[0111] [Modification 1 of the process flow for displaying inventory and limiting purchases by vending machine 1] Fig. 15 shows an example of a modified example of the process flow in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 15 shows modified example 1 of the process flow for limiting purchases of the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9.

[0112] The flow of the first modification example described in Fig. 15 has substantially the same steps as the flow described in Fig. 13, except for the processing between S76 and S78 in the flow described in Fig. 13. Therefore, detailed description will be omitted except for the differences.

[0113] In S76, the purchaser ID acquisition unit 116 acquires the purchaser ID read by the information reading unit 136, and supplies it to the purchase possible condition determination unit 114. Then, the purchase possible condition determination unit 114 first checks whether the acquired purchaser ID is already stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 of the server 3, that is, whether it is already registered (S90). When the purchase possible condition determination unit 114 checks that the acquired purchaser ID is already stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 (Yes in S90), the steps from S78 onwards are executed.

[0114] On the other hand, when the purchase enabling condition determination unit 114 confirms that the acquired purchaser ID is not stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 (No in S90), it confirms with the purchaser whether or not to store the purchaser ID in the purchaser information storage unit 31 (S92). For example, the purchase enabling condition determination unit 114 causes the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100 to display information asking the purchaser whether or not to register the purchaser ID. Then, when an instruction to register the purchaser ID is received from the purchaser via the input unit 102 (Yes in S92), the purchase enabling condition determination unit 114 executes a purchaser registration process by storing the purchaser ID in the purchaser information storage unit 31 (S94). Thereafter, the steps from S78 onwards described in FIG. 13 are executed.

[0115] On the other hand, when an instruction not to register a purchaser ID is received from the purchaser via the input unit 102 (No in S92), the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 can end the process and prevent the purchaser from purchasing the product. In this case, instead of ending the process, the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 may prevent the purchase of only some products (for example, special products that can only be purchased by purchasers who have registered a purchaser ID) rather than all products. In this case, the process from Yes in S80 onwards may be executed for the remaining products that can be purchased.

[0116] [Modification 2 of the process flow for displaying inventory and limiting purchases by vending machine 1] Fig. 16 shows an example of a modified process flow in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 16 shows modified example 2 of the process flow for displaying the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9 on the network.

[0117] The flow of the second modification example described in Fig. 16 has substantially the same steps as the flow described in Fig. 13, except for the processing in S72 in the flow described in Fig. 13. Therefore, detailed description will be omitted except for the differences.

[0118] First, the inventory amount acquisition unit 112 acquires inventory amount information for each of the multiple products stored in the vending machine 1 (S70). The inventory amount acquisition unit 112 supplies the acquired inventory amount information to the information disclosure unit 34 via the vending machine side communication unit 140, the network 7, and the server side communication unit 36. Next, the information disclosure unit 34 uses the received inventory amount information to prepare for disclosing the inventory amount of each of the multiple products stored in the vending machine 1 on the network. At this stage, the information disclosure unit 34 only executes the disclosure preparation and does not disclose the inventory amounts on the network.

[0119] If an information terminal 5 that accesses the server 3 exists, the server control unit 38 judges whether the user who owns the information terminal 5 can view the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 on the network (S100). If the server control unit 38 judges that the user satisfies the viewing condition (or the purchase condition) (Yes in S100), the information disclosure unit 34 permits the user to view the inventory amount information on the information terminal 5 (S102), and enables the inventory amount of the vending machine 1 to be displayed on the information terminal 5. In this case, the information disclosure unit 34 may display products that can be purchased only when the user judges that the user satisfies the viewing condition and products that can be purchased even if the user does not satisfy the viewing condition in a distinguishable manner. On the other hand, if the server control unit 38 judges that the user does not satisfy the viewing condition (No in S100), it restricts (typically prohibits) the information disclosure unit 34 from viewing the inventory amount information on the information terminal 5 of the user, and executes the viewing restriction of the inventory amount on the information terminal 5 of the user (S104).

[0120] For example, the server control unit 38 acquires the purchaser ID (or information on the member or biometric authentication information) of the user (i.e., purchaser) who owns the information terminal 5 from the information terminal 5 via the information terminal side communication unit 56, the network 7, and the server side communication unit 36. Then, the server control unit 38 refers to the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit 31 in association with the acquired purchaser ID. The server control unit 38 judges whether the purchase history satisfies a predetermined viewing condition. The viewing condition may be, for example, a condition that allows viewing of the stock amount when the purchase history of the user for the product indicates that the purchase amount is less than the predetermined purchase amount, in which a purchase amount that a user can purchase for a product within a predetermined period is predetermined, and that prohibits viewing of the stock amount when the purchase history of the user for the product indicates that the purchase amount has reached the predetermined purchase amount. In other words, the viewing condition may be a condition that allows viewing when the quantity of a product purchased by a user does not reach the upper limit of the predetermined purchase amount, and may be the same as the purchase condition. If the server control unit 38 determines that the purchase enabling conditions are met, step S102 is executed, and if it determines that the purchase enabling conditions are not met, step S104 is executed.

[0121] [Variation 3 of the process flow for displaying inventory and limiting purchases by vending machine 1] Fig. 17 shows an example of a modified example of the process flow in the vending machine system according to the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 17 shows modified example 3 of the process flow for limiting purchases of the vending machine 1 in the vending machine system 9.

[0122] The flow of the third modification example described in Fig. 17 has substantially the same steps as the flow described in Fig. 13, except that the processes in S18 and S82 in the flow described in Fig. 13 are different. Therefore, detailed description will be omitted except for the differences.

[0123] First, the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 checks whether the purchase availability condition is met based on the purchase history of the purchaser (S78). Then, when the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchase availability condition is met (Yes in S80), the display control unit 100 causes the display unit 10 to display product images of all products sold by the vending machine 1, allowing the purchaser to select a desired product from among all the products (S110). In this case, the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 may display, on the display unit 10 via the display control unit 100, products that are purchaseable only when the purchase availability condition is met and products that are purchaseable even if the purchase availability condition is not met, in a distinguishable manner. The steps from S110 onwards are the same as the steps from S20 onwards.

[0124] On the other hand, if the purchase availability condition determination unit 114 determines that the purchase availability condition is not met (No in S80), the display control unit 100 displays product images of specific products (specific products) among the products sold by the vending machine 1 on the display unit 10, and allows the purchaser to select only the specific products (S112). The steps from S112 onwards are the same as the steps from S20 onwards. Here, the specific product may be a product with no limit on the purchase quantity. For example, the specific product may be a normal product excluding highly rare products, a product priced below a certain amount, and / or a popular product.

[0125] [program] Each of the components of the vending machine system 9 according to this embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 17 can be realized by having a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) execute a program (i.e., a vending machine program), that is, by software processing. Also, it can be realized by writing a program in advance into hardware as an electronic component such as an integrated circuit (IC). Note that software and hardware can also be used together.

[0126] That is, the vending machine program according to the present embodiment is a vending machine program to be executed by a computer that has a processor and a memory, has a display unit capable of displaying information on a plurality of products and a plurality of predetermined information, and manages a vending machine that sells a plurality of products. The vending machine program according to the present embodiment can be incorporated in advance, for example, in an IC or a ROM. The vending machine program can also be provided as a computer program by recording a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or a semiconductor recording medium in an installable or executable format. The recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD. Furthermore, the vending machine program can be stored in advance in a computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and can be provided by downloading via the communication network.

[0127] The vending machine program according to this embodiment works on the CPU and the like to execute the vending machine program in accordance with the display unit 10, information storage unit 30, purchaser information storage unit 31, information supply unit 32, information disclosure unit 34, server side communication unit 36, server control unit 38, information terminal display unit 50, information terminal input unit 52, information terminal storage unit 54, information terminal side communication unit 56, information terminal control unit 58, display control unit 100, input unit 102, input acquisition unit 108, and position information supply unit 110, all of which are described with reference to FIGS. , inventory acquisition unit 112, purchase eligibility condition determination unit 114, purchaser ID acquisition unit 116, purchaser information update unit 118, product selection unit 120, payment method identification unit 122, sales control unit 124, notification information determination unit 126, code generation unit 128, code storage unit 129, output unit 130, product removal unit 132, information acquisition unit 134, information reading unit 136, payment execution information generation unit 138, vending machine side communication unit 140, vending machine control unit 142, and product information storage unit 144.

[0128] [Effects of the embodiment] The vending machine system 9 according to this embodiment displays on the display unit 10 a number of pieces of notice information (advertising information) based on the location where the vending machine 1 is installed while the purchaser is purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 and / or while the vending machine 1 is waiting and not purchasing a product. When the purchaser purchases a product from the vending machine 1, the vending machine system 9 outputs a receipt on which a graphic code is printed that enables the purchaser to take out the product and includes information (e.g., a URL) of a specific website from which the purchaser can understand the details of the notice information displayed on the display unit 10. The user can read the graphic code printed on the receipt with the information terminal 5 and check the details of the notice information selected by the user on the specific website. Thus, according to the vending machine system 9, since a graphic code including information such as a URL of a website from which the purchaser can understand the details of the notice information displayed on the display unit 10 while the purchaser is purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 is printed on the receipt, the purchaser can take his / her time to check the information that interests him / her after the purchase. Furthermore, the vending machine system 9 does not output a receipt if the purchaser does not select to output the number of pieces of notice information displayed on the display unit 10. As a result, the vending machine system 9 can prevent a person unrelated to the purchaser from taking away a receipt for an item purchased by the purchaser.

[0129] In addition, the vending machine system 9 may display multiple pieces of notification information based on the location of the vending machine 1 on the display unit 10 while the purchaser is purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 and / or while the vending machine 1 is waiting for a product to be purchased, and may accept the selection of notification information desired by the purchaser. When the purchaser desires to obtain notification information and purchases a product from the vending machine 1, the vending machine system 9 may output a receipt on which a graphic code including information on a specific website from which the purchaser can obtain details of the selected notification information is printed, which allows the purchaser to take out the product. Thus, according to the vending machine system 9, while the purchaser is purchasing a product from the vending machine 1, information that the purchaser is interested in is displayed on the display unit 10, and when the purchaser selects the displayed information, a graphic code including information such as the URL of a website from which the purchaser can obtain details of the information is printed on the receipt, so that the purchaser can take his or her time to check the information that he or she is interested in after the purchase. In addition, the vending machine system 9 does not output a receipt if the purchaser does not select one of the multiple pieces of notification information displayed on the display unit 10. As a result, the vending machine system 9 can prevent a person unrelated to the purchaser from taking away a receipt for an item purchased by the purchaser.

[0130] Furthermore, the vending machine system 9 can display the stock amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1 on the display unit 10 by using a predetermined sensor provided in the vending machine 1. As a result, the vending machine system 9 allows a purchaser lining up in front of the vending machine 1 to purchase a product to roughly predict whether or not the stock of a product will be sold out when it is the purchaser's turn to purchase a product by comparing the number of people lining up with the stock amount displayed on the display unit 10. Therefore, the vending machine system 9 can give a purchaser an opportunity to consider whether or not to wait in line in front of the vending machine 1 to purchase a product.

[0131] Furthermore, the vending machine system 9 can publish on the network the stock amount of each of the multiple products sold in the vending machine 1. This allows a purchaser to check the stock amount of the vending machine 1 by accessing the server 3 using the information terminal 5, making it easier for the purchaser to seize the opportunity to purchase the product.

[0132] Furthermore, the vending machine system 9 can restrict the sale of products to a purchaser based on the purchase history of the purchaser. For example, the vending machine system 9 can set an upper limit on the purchase quantity of one product, and by referring to the purchaser's purchase history, if the purchaser has already purchased an amount of one product that reaches the upper limit, the vending machine 1 can prohibit the sale of the one product. This can prevent a situation in which one purchaser purchases a large amount of one product and other purchasers cannot purchase the product. Furthermore, the vending machine system 9 can prevent some or all of the product images of multiple products to be displayed on the display unit 10 from being displayed based on the purchase history of the purchaser. For example, the vending machine system 9 can set an upper limit on the purchase quantity of one product, and by referring to the purchaser's purchase history, if the purchaser has already purchased an amount of one product that reaches the upper limit, the vending machine 1 can prohibit the display of the product image of the one product. As a result, if a purchaser has already purchased an amount of a certain product that reaches the upper purchase quantity limit, the vending machine system 9 can prevent the sale of that product to that purchaser in the vending machine 1, thereby ensuring an opportunity for other purchasers to purchase the product.

[0133] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, the technical elements of the above-described embodiments may be applied alone, or may be divided into multiple parts such as program parts and hardware parts and applied.

[0134] The vending machine system according to this embodiment may also be referred to in the following appended claims, which should not be confused with the claims.

[0135] (Additional note 1) A vending machine having a display unit capable of displaying information on a plurality of commodities and selling the plurality of commodities to a purchaser, an inventory acquisition unit that acquires an inventory amount of each of the plurality of products; a display control unit that displays the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products together with information on the plurality of products on the display unit in real time; A vending machine equipped with (Additional note 2) a purchase availability condition determination unit that determines whether or not a purchase availability condition, which is a condition under which the purchase of at least one type of product among the plurality of products is permitted, is satisfied based on a purchase history of at least one type of product among the plurality of products by the purchaser; a product selection unit that selects a product to be sold from the information on the plurality of products displayed on the display unit based on a selection operation by the purchaser; Further comprising: The vending machine described in appendix 1, wherein the product selection unit makes the selection of the product to be sold by the purchaser less favorable when the purchase conditions are not met compared to when the purchase conditions are met. (Additional note 3) the product selection unit, when the purchase enabling condition is satisfied, enables the purchaser to select the product to be sold from the information of the plurality of products displayed on the display unit based on a selection operation of the purchaser; The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the disadvantageous content prohibits the purchaser from selecting the product for sale from the plurality of products if the purchase availability conditions are not met. (Additional note 4) a payment method specification unit that specifies a payment method for the product on sale based on a specific operation of the purchaser; a sales control unit that performs a payment process for the price of the product to be sold based on the specified payment method; a product removal unit that enables the sale target product to be removed after the payment process is completed; The vending machine according to claim 2 further comprising: (Additional note 5) a server that manages information on the plurality of products sold by the vending machine is connected to the vending machine via a network; The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the server publishes the inventory amount acquired by the inventory amount acquisition unit on a network. (Additional note 6) a server that manages purchase histories of purchasers of the plurality of products sold in the vending machine is connected to the vending machine via a network; the server has a purchaser information storage unit for storing a purchase history of each of the plurality of products by the purchaser; 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the purchase condition determination unit determines whether the purchase condition is met based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit. (Additional note 7) A purchaser ID acquisition unit that acquires a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser; a purchaser information update unit that updates the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit; and the purchaser information storage unit stores the purchase history of the purchaser in association with the purchaser ID; when the purchaser ID acquired by the purchaser ID acquisition unit is not stored in the purchaser information storage unit, the purchaser information update unit newly stores the purchaser ID in the purchaser information storage unit in response to an instruction from the purchaser; The vending machine described in claim 6, wherein the product selection unit enables selection of the product for sale from the information of the multiple products displayed on the display unit based on the selection operation of the purchaser when the purchaser ID is newly stored in the purchaser information storage unit. (Additional note 8) a server that manages information on the plurality of products sold in the vending machine and manages the purchase history of the purchaser is connected to the vending machine via a network; an information disclosure section that discloses the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products in the vending machine on a network; Further comprising: the server includes a purchaser information storage unit that stores a purchase history of each of the plurality of products by the purchaser in association with a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser; The vending machine described in claim 2, wherein the information disclosure unit determines whether or not to restrict viewing of the inventory quantity of the multiple products in the vending machine based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit in correspondence with the purchaser ID of the purchaser who accessed the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1. Vending Machines 3 Server 5. Information terminal 7 Network 9. Vending Machine System 10 Display section 12 Bill slot 13 Coin slot 14 IC card reader 15 Certification Units 16 Change return slot 17 Product removal port 18 Receipt output port 20 Input section 30 Information storage section 31 Purchaser information storage section 32 Information Supply Department 34 Information Disclosure Department 36 Server side communication section 38 Server control section 50 Information terminal display unit 52 Information terminal input section 54 Information terminal storage unit 56 Information terminal communication section 58 Information terminal control unit 100 Display control unit 102 Input section 104 Input Surface 106 Input control section 108 Input acquisition unit 110 Location information supply unit 112 Inventory acquisition department 114 Purchase availability condition determination section 116 Purchaser ID acquisition department 118 Purchaser Information Update Department 120 Product Selection Section 122 Payment Method Specification Section 124 Sales Control Department 126 Notification Information Decision Department 128 Code Generator 129 Code storage section 130 Output section 132 Product removal section 134 Information Acquisition Department 136 Information reading unit 138 Payment execution information generation unit 140 Vending machine communication unit 142 Vending machine control unit 144 Product information storage section 150, 152, 154 Information display area 162, 164 Product display area 400, 402, 404, 406, 408 Information 500, 502 Instruction display area 504, 506 Instruction reception area 510 Progress display area 600 receipts 602 Details display area 610 Graphic Code 700, 702 Inventory amount display 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 740 Product images 720, 722 Price display 730, 732 Purchase availability display 800, 802, 804 Payment method display 900 Selected Product Images

Claims

1. A vending machine program to be executed by a computer that has a processor and a memory, has a display unit capable of displaying information on a plurality of products, and manages a vending machine that sells the plurality of products to purchasers, The vending machine program causes the processor to: an inventory acquisition step of acquiring an inventory amount of each of the plurality of products; a display control step of displaying, on the display unit, the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products together with information on the plurality of products; A vending machine program that executes the following:

2. a purchase availability condition determination step of determining whether or not a purchase availability condition, which is a condition for permitting purchase of at least one type of product among the plurality of products, is satisfied based on a purchase history of at least one type of product among the plurality of products by the purchaser; a product selection step of selecting a product to be sold from the information of the plurality of products displayed on the display unit based on a selection operation by the purchaser; Further comprising:

2. The vending machine program according to claim 1, wherein the product selection step makes the selection of the product to be sold by the purchaser less favorable when the purchase condition is not satisfied compared to when the purchase condition is satisfied.

3. the product selection step allows the purchaser to select the product to be sold from the information of the plurality of products displayed on the display unit based on a selection operation of the purchaser when the purchase enabling condition is satisfied; 3. The vending machine program according to claim 2, wherein the disadvantageous content is content that prohibits the purchaser from selecting the product for sale from among the plurality of products when the purchase enabling condition is not satisfied.

4. a payment method specification step of specifying a payment method for the product to be sold based on a specific operation of the purchaser; a sales control step of performing a payment process for the price of the product to be sold based on the specified payment method; a product removal step of making the product available for sale available for removal after the payment process is completed; The vending machine program of claim 2 , further comprising:

5. a server that manages information on the plurality of products sold by the vending machine is connected to the vending machine via a network; 2. The vending machine program according to claim 1, wherein the server makes the inventory amount acquired in the inventory amount acquisition step public on a network.

6. a server that manages purchase histories of purchasers of the plurality of products sold in the vending machine is connected to the vending machine via a network; the server has a purchaser information storage unit for storing a purchase history of each of the plurality of products by the purchaser; 3. The vending machine program according to claim 2, wherein said purchase enabling condition judging step judges whether or not said purchase enabling condition is satisfied based on said purchase history stored in said purchaser information storage unit.

7. A purchaser ID acquisition step of acquiring a purchaser ID for identifying the purchaser; a purchaser information update step of updating the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit; Further comprising: the purchaser information storage unit stores the purchase history of the purchaser in association with the purchaser ID; When the purchaser ID acquired in the purchaser ID acquisition step is not stored in the purchaser information storage unit, the purchaser information update step newly stores the purchaser ID in the purchaser information storage unit; 7. The vending machine program according to claim 6, wherein the product selection step enables selection of the product for sale from the information of the plurality of products displayed on the display unit based on the selection operation of the purchaser when the purchaser ID is newly stored in the purchaser information storage unit.

8. a server that manages information on the plurality of products sold in the vending machine and manages the purchase history of the purchaser is connected to the vending machine via a network; an information disclosure step of disclosing the inventory amount of each of the plurality of products in the vending machine on a network; Further comprising: the server includes a purchaser information storage unit that stores a purchase history of each of the plurality of products by the purchaser in association with a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser, The vending machine program according to claim 2, wherein the information disclosure step determines whether or not to restrict viewing of the inventory amount of the multiple products in the vending machine based on the purchase history stored in the purchaser information storage unit in correspondence with the purchaser ID of the purchaser who accessed the server.

9. A vending machine system comprising means for executing all the steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method implemented on a computer having a control unit and a storage unit, the processor executing all of the steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A vending machine comprising a control unit and a storage unit, the control unit executing all of the steps executed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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