Automatic vending machine system

Abstract

To reduce introduction cost in settlement processing for a commodity for which settlement is conducted through reading a graphic code.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine system 1 is equipped with an automatic vending machine control unit 11, a settlement server 20, and a portable terminal 30. The portable terminal 30 with a settlement application 35a activated reads a graphical code (D) and communicates with the settlement server 20 to obtain commodity information of a specific automatic vending machine 10 so as to enable commodity selection and a settlement procedure. The settlement server 20 transmits, on condition that the commodity selection and the settlement procedure have been conducted through the portable terminal 30, a settlement instruction to an information terminal 14 provided in the automatic vending machine 10. The information terminal 14 communicates with the automatic vending machine control unit 11 on condition that the settlement instruction has been transmitted from the settlement server 20, and issues a settlement completion notification to the automatic vending machine control unit 11 when the settlement server 20 executes settlement processing. The automatic vending machine control unit 11 puts the selected commodity out on condition that the settlement completion notification has been received from the information terminal 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a vending machine that sells products using a graphical code such as a QR code (registered trademark) is known, and it includes a payment section where money such as coins is paid in, and a display section that displays a graphical code including product information. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition to paying in money such as coins to purchase a product, this vending machine enables the purchase of a product by reading a graphical code with a user's mobile terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the act of reading a graphical code with a mobile terminal to purchase a product is different from the act of purchasing a product through cashless payment via short-range wireless communication that has been used until now (for example, the act of placing an IC card in the communicable area of a reader / writer unit after selecting a product with a product selection button). Therefore, due to an increase in the cost required for the development of the vending machine control unit that controls the operations of each part of the vending machine, the introduction cost in the settlement process of products performed by reading the graphical code has increased.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine system capable of reducing the introduction cost in the settlement process of products performed by reading a graphical code.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine system according to the present invention includes a vending machine control unit provided in a vending machine that sells products, a settlement server that performs settlement processing of the products, and a mobile terminal carried by a user who purchases the products and having a settlement application that can perform settlement processing of the products using a settlement brand. The vending machine system is a vending machine system that includes an information terminal capable of communicating with the vending machine control unit and the settlement server, and displays in a readable manner a graphical code obtained by graphically representing vending machine identification information for identifying itself. The mobile terminal reads the graphical code in a state where the settlement application is activated and communicates with the settlement server to obtain product information regarding the products of the vending machine specified by the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphical code, and enables product selection and settlement procedures. The settlement server sends a settlement instruction to the information terminal on the condition that product selection and settlement procedures have been performed through the mobile terminal. The information terminal communicates with the vending machine control unit on the condition that a settlement instruction has been sent from the settlement server, and notifies the vending machine control unit that the settlement process has been completed when the settlement process is performed by the settlement server. The vending machine control unit is characterized by discharging the selected product on the condition that it has been notified from the information terminal that the settlement process has been completed.

[0007] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine system, when the settlement instruction is sent from the settlement server, the information terminal outputs product selection information to the vending machine control unit, and inputs a response to the product selection information from the vending machine control unit to output mode setting information indicating that settlement is to be performed to the vending machine control unit. Further, by inputting a response to the mode setting information from the vending machine control unit, settlement process information is output to the settlement server, and it is characterized in that it waits for settlement processing at the settlement server.

[0008] Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above vending machine system, the vending machine control unit unloads the selected product on the condition that the mobile terminal is in the vicinity of the vending machine.

[0009] Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above vending machine system, when communication is performed between the information terminal and the vending machine control unit by sending a settlement instruction from the settlement server to the vending machine, the vending machine restricts product selection until a notification indicating that the settlement process has been completed is sent from the information terminal to the vending machine control unit.

[0010] Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above vending machine system, when the vending machine control unit communicates with the information terminal by sending a settlement instruction from the settlement server, the vending machine control unit restricts product selection until a notification indicating that the settlement process has been completed is sent from the information terminal.

[0011] Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above vending machine system, the vending machine control unit restricts product selection from when mode setting information is input from the information terminal until a notification indicating that the settlement process has been completed is sent from the information terminal.

[0012] Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above vending machine system, when another settlement instruction is sent from the settlement server to the information terminal while the vending machine is in a state of restricting product selection, the information terminal sends a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable to the settlement server. When the settlement server receives the product selection unavailable response from the information terminal, the settlement server sends a settlement procedure failure notification indicating that the settlement procedure has failed to another mobile terminal for which product selection and a settlement procedure have been performed due to the sending of the other settlement instruction, and notifies the other mobile terminal that the settlement procedure has failed.

[0013] Also, in the vending machine system of the present invention, when another payment instruction is sent from the payment server while the information terminal is in a state where the vending machine restricts product selection, the information terminal sends a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable to the payment server. When the payment server receives the product selection unavailable response from the information terminal, it repeats sending the other payment instruction until a predetermined retry time elapses, and notifies another mobile terminal where product selection and payment procedures were performed due to the sending of the other payment instruction that the payment procedure is being repeated.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, when a mobile terminal reads a graphical code posted on a vending machine while the payment application is activated and communicates with a payment server, it acquires product information regarding products of the vending machine specified by the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphical code, enables product selection and payment procedures, the payment server sends a payment instruction to an information terminal provided in the vending machine on the condition that product selection and payment procedures have been performed through the mobile terminal, the information terminal communicates with a vending machine control unit provided in the vending machine on the condition that a payment instruction has been sent from the payment server, and when payment processing is performed by the payment server, notifies the vending machine control unit that the payment processing is complete. Since the vending machine control unit discharges the selected product on the condition that it has been notified from the information terminal that the payment processing is complete, even when purchasing a product by reading a graphical code with a mobile terminal, it is sufficient to provide an information terminal in the vending machine and have the information terminal communicate with the vending machine control unit, minimizing the development of the vending machine control unit and reducing the development cost. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the introduction cost in the payment processing of products performed by reading a graphical code.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the vending machine system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of a vending machine system which is an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine system 1 illustrated here has a vending machine 10, a settlement server 20, and a mobile terminal 30 connected via a network N such as the Internet.

[0018] The vending machine 10 sells beverages contained in containers such as cans and plastic bottles as products, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a main body cabinet 10a and a front door 10b. The main body cabinet 10a is a rectangular heat-insulating housing having an opening (not shown) on the front. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, a plurality of product storage racks are provided inside the main body cabinet 10a, and columns are set in these product storage racks. A column is a storage unit in which the same type of product is stored, and one or a plurality of product storage racks are provided according to the products to be sold.

[0019] The front door 10b is a heat-insulating door that is swingably provided on the main body cabinet 10a in a manner of opening and closing the opening on the front surface of the main body cabinet 10a. A product outlet 10c and a graphical code display section 10e are provided on this front door 10b.

[0020] The product outlet 10c is an opening for taking out the product carried out from the inside of the main body cabinet 10a, and can be opened and closed by a product take-out door 10d.

[0021] The graphical code display section 10e is for posting in a readable manner a QR code (registered trademark), etc. indicating vending machine identification information such as the machine number for identifying the vending machine 10. For example, it is a thing with a sticker printed with a graphical code D attached. The graphical code D may be a two-dimensional code like a QR code (registered trademark), or may be a bar code, as long as the information is graphically represented.

[0022] The above vending machine 10 has a vending machine control section 11, and a cooling and heating device 12, a carry-out device 13, and an information terminal 14 are connected to this vending machine control section 11.

[0023] The vending machine control section 11 comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the vending machine 10 according to programs and data stored in a storage section (not shown).

[0024] The cooling and heating device 12 is for managing the products stored in the product storage rack in a set temperature state. The cooling and heating device 12 cools the products in the product storage rack set for cooling, while heating the products in the product storage rack set for heating.

[0025] The carry-out device 13 is provided for each column in the product storage rack. When a carry-out command is given from the vending machine control section 11, this carry-out device 13 carries out the product at the most downstream position of the corresponding column, and enables the carried-out product to be taken out through the product outlet 10c.

[0026] The information terminal 14 includes a communication unit 141, an information generation unit 142, and a short-range wireless communication unit 143. The communication unit 141 includes an internal communication unit 141a and an external communication unit 141b. The internal communication unit 141a is a communication interface that communicates, such as transmitting and receiving data, with the vending machine control unit 11. The external communication unit 141b is a communication interface that connects to the settlement server 20 via the network N by a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark).

[0027] The information generation unit 142, details of which will be described later, generates product selection information and mode setting information from the content of the settlement instruction when a settlement instruction is output from the settlement server 20.

[0028] The short-range wireless communication unit 143 is a communication interface that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 30. Examples of short-range wireless communication include WiFi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), and Bluetooth (registered trademark), particularly BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication, is used from the perspective of power consumption.

[0029] The settlement server 20 performs the settlement process for the products of the vending machine 10. Note that the settlement server 20 of the present embodiment also has a function of managing and operating the vending machine 10.

[0030] The mobile terminal 30 is a terminal device carried by a purchaser of a product such as a smartphone, and has an operation display unit 31, an Internet communication unit 32, a short-range wireless communication unit 33, a code reading unit 34, and a terminal control unit 35.

[0031] The operation display unit 31 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and is an input / output interface that performs operation input of various data and display output of various data, such as displaying an operation screen of a settlement application 35a described later.

[0032] Similar to the external communication unit 141b, the Internet communication unit 32 is a communication interface that communicates and connects with the settlement server 20 via the network N using a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark). The short-range wireless communication unit 33 is a communication interface that performs short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 10 using a communication method such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The code reading unit 34 reads and digitizes the graphical code D of the vending machine 10.

[0033] The terminal control unit 35 comprehensively controls each part of the mobile terminal 30 according to programs and data stored in a storage unit (not shown) and has a settlement application 35a. The settlement application 35a performs settlement control of goods between the vending machine 10 and the settlement server 20 and is a brand-free application capable of performing settlement control for a plurality of settlement brands.

[0034] Figure 3 is a sequence diagram showing the settlement processing procedure in the vending machine system 1 shown in Figure 1. As a premise, it is assumed that the settlement server 20 stores sales product information such as the sales products, sales prices, and out-of-stock status of the sales products for each machine number of the vending machine 10.

[0035] The mobile terminal 30 activates the settlement application 35a (step S101). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 30 uses the settlement application 35a to read the graphical code D posted on the graphical code display unit 10e (step S102). Thereby, the mobile terminal 30 acquires the machine number, which is the vending machine identification information, and performs short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 10 (step S103).

[0036] Thereafter, the mobile terminal 30 requests the settlement server 20 for product price information through the Internet communication unit 32 and the network N (step S104). The settlement server 20 sends out the sales products, sales prices, etc. as a response to the product price information through the network N (step S105).

[0037] When the mobile terminal 30 receives the product price information sent from the payment server 20, as shown in FIG. 4, it causes the operation display unit 31 to display the products for sale and the selling prices, and waits for the selection of products. Then, when the selection of a product is received (step S106), it sends the selected product information such as the product name and amount to the payment server 20 (step S107).

[0038] The payment server 20 that has received the selected product information sends the payment brand amount information including a plurality of payment brands to the mobile terminal 30 (step S108). When the mobile terminal 30 receives the payment brand amount information, as shown in FIG. 5, it displays the selected product and the list of a plurality of payment brands, and waits for the selection of an arbitrary payment brand. Then, when an arbitrary payment brand is selected (step S109), the mobile terminal 30 makes a payment request to the payment server 20 as if the payment procedure has been completed (step S110).

[0039] The payment server 20 that has received the payment request sends a payment instruction to the information terminal 14 of the vending machine 10 with the corresponding machine number via the network N (step S111). This payment instruction includes the information of the selected product.

[0040] The information terminal 14 that has input the payment instruction through the external communication unit 141b communicates with the vending machine control unit 11 as follows.

[0041] The information terminal 14 generates product selection information from the product information included in the payment instruction through the information generation unit 142 (step S112), and sends the generated product selection information to the vending machine control unit 11 through the internal communication unit 141a (step S113). This product selection information corresponds to the information that is sent to the vending machine control unit when the product selection button for selecting a product is pressed in a conventional vending machine.

[0042] The vending machine control unit 11 that has input the product selection information responds to the information terminal 14 with the product selection information (step S114). As a result, the information terminal 14 generates mode setting information through the information generation unit 142 (step S115), and sends the generated mode setting information to the vending machine control unit 11 through the internal communication unit 141a (step S116). This mode setting information corresponds to the information indicating that the settlement is in progress at the reader / writer unit in the conventional vending machine.

[0043] The vending machine control unit 11 that has input the mode setting information enters the selection restriction mode for restricting the selection of products (step S117), and responds to the information terminal 14 with the mode setting information (step S118).

[0044] As a result, the information terminal 14 sends a setting notification requesting the execution of the settlement process to the settlement server 20 through the external communication unit 141b and the network N (step S119). The settlement server 20 that has input the setting notification executes the settlement process (step S120), and then sends a settlement process completion notification through the network N (step S121).

[0045] The information terminal 14 that has input the settlement process completion notification from the settlement server 20 notifies the vending machine control unit 11 of the settlement process completion (step S122). This notification of the settlement process completion from the information terminal 14 to the vending machine control unit 11 corresponds to the notification that the settlement process has been performed at the reader / writer unit in the conventional vending machine.

[0046] The vending machine control unit 11 that has input the settlement process completion notification releases the selection restriction mode (step S123), drives the delivery device 13 of the corresponding column, and delivers the corresponding product (step S124). The delivered product becomes retrievable from the product outlet 10c.

[0047] Thereafter, the information terminal 14 sends a product delivery notice to the payment server 20 through the external communication unit 141b and the network N (step S125). The payment server 20 that has received the product delivery notice sends a payment result notice to the mobile terminal 30 (step S126). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 30 displays a product retrieval available display on the operation display unit 31 to indicate that the product can be retrieved (step S127). As a result, the user carrying the mobile terminal 30 recognizes that the product can be retrieved and can retrieve the product through the product outlet 10c.

[0048] Thereafter, the mobile terminal 30 terminates this process by disconnecting the short-range wireless communication with the payment server 20 (step S128).

[0049] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure when a payment request is made from another mobile terminal 30a when the vending machine control unit 11 is in the selection restriction mode in FIG. 3.

[0050] The vending machine control unit 11 enters the selection restriction mode (step S201). Thereafter, the payment server 20 that has received a payment request from another mobile terminal 30a sends another payment instruction to the information terminal 14 of the vending machine 10 corresponding to the machine number via the network N (step S202).

[0051] The information terminal 14 that has received another payment instruction through the external communication unit 141b generates product selection information from the product information included in the other payment instruction through the information generation unit 142 (step S203), and sends the generated product selection information to the vending machine control unit 11 through the internal communication unit 141a (step S204).

[0052] Since the vending machine control unit 11 that has received the product selection information is in the selection restriction mode, it sends a product selection unavailable response to the information terminal 14 (step S205). As a result, the information terminal 14 sends a product selection unavailable response to the settlement server 20 via the external communication unit 141b and the network N (step S206). The settlement server 20 that has received the product unavailable response sends a settlement procedure failure notice to the mobile terminal 30 (step S207). As a result, the mobile terminal 30 displays a settlement failure message composed of the words "The settlement has failed" on the operation display unit 31 as shown in FIG. 8 (step S208). Consequently, it is possible to notify the purchaser carrying the mobile terminal 30 that the settlement procedure has failed.

[0053] As described above, in the vending machine system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the mobile terminal 30 reads the graphical code D posted on the vending machine 10 while the settlement application 35a is activated and communicates with the settlement server 20, it acquires product information regarding the products of the vending machine 10 specified by the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphical code D, enables product selection and settlement procedures, the settlement server 20 sends a settlement instruction to the information terminal 14 provided in the vending machine 10 on the condition that product selection and settlement procedures have been performed through the mobile terminal 30, the information terminal 14 communicates with the vending machine control unit 11 on the condition that a settlement instruction has been sent from the settlement server 20, and when settlement processing is performed by the settlement server 20, notifies the vending machine control unit 11 that the settlement processing has been completed, and the vending machine control unit 11 ejects the selected product on the condition that it has been notified from the information terminal 14 that the settlement processing has been completed. As a result, even when purchasing a product by reading the graphical code D with the mobile terminal 30, it is sufficient to provide the information terminal 14 in the vending machine 10 and have the information terminal 14 communicate with the vending machine control unit 11, and the development of the vending machine control unit 11 can be minimized to reduce the development cost. Therefore, according to the vending machine system 1 described above, it is possible to reduce the introduction cost in the settlement processing of products performed by reading the graphical code D.

[0054] In particular, in the vending machine system 1, when a settlement instruction is sent from the settlement server 20 to the information terminal 14, the information terminal 14 outputs product selection information to the vending machine control unit 11, and inputs a response to the product selection information from the vending machine control unit 11, thereby outputting mode setting information indicating that settlement is to be performed to the vending machine control unit 11. Further, by inputting a response to the mode setting information from the vending machine control unit 11, settlement processing information is output to the settlement server 20, and the settlement server 20 waits for settlement processing. Therefore, the communication between the information terminal 14 and the vending machine control unit 11 can be approximated to the communication between the reader / writer unit and the vending machine control unit in a conventional vending machine. Also, by this, the improvement of the vending machine control unit 11 can be minimized, and the introduction cost in the settlement processing of products performed by reading the graphical code D can be reduced.

[0055] In the vending machine system 1, product selection, settlement, and delivery are performed while the mobile terminal 30 and the information terminal 14 are connected by short-range wireless communication. Thus, the vending machine control unit 11 delivers the selected product on the condition that the mobile terminal 30 is close to the vending machine 10. Therefore, according to the vending machine system 1, it is possible to avoid a situation where a product is taken out by a person unrelated to the purchaser.

[0056] According to the vending machine system 1, since the vending machine control unit 11 restricts product selection from when mode setting information is input from the information terminal 14 until a notification (settlement processing completion notification) indicating that the settlement processing is completed is made from the information terminal 14, it is possible to avoid competition in product sales.

[0057] In particular, in the vending machine system 1 described above, when another payment instruction is sent from the payment server 20 while the information terminal 14 is in a state where the vending machine 10 restricts product selection (selection restriction mode), the information terminal 14 sends a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable to the payment server 20. The payment server 20 sends a payment procedure failure notice indicating that the payment procedure has failed to another mobile terminal 30a, notifying the other mobile terminal 30a that the payment procedure has failed. Therefore, other purchasers operating the other mobile terminal 30a can be made aware that the payment procedure could not be completed.

[0058] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, it was assumed that the payment server 20 stores sales product information such as the products for sale, selling prices, and out-of-stock status of the products for sale for each machine number of the vending machine 10. However, in the present invention, when the payment server receives a request for product price information from a mobile terminal, the payment server may input sales product information such as the products for sale, selling prices, and out-of-stock status of the products for sale of the corresponding vending machine.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, when a payment instruction is sent from the payment server 20, after the information terminal 14 generates product selection information and sends it to the vending machine control unit 11, the information terminal 14 generates mode setting information and sends it to the vending machine control unit 11. However, in the present invention, when a payment instruction is sent from the payment server, after the information terminal generates mode setting information and sends it to the vending machine control unit, the information terminal may generate product selection information and send it to the vending machine control unit.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, the vending machine control unit 11 is in the selection restriction mode that restricts product selection from when the mode setting information is input from the information terminal 14 until a notification (payment process completion notification) indicating that the payment process has been completed is received from the information terminal 14. However, in the present invention, product selection may be restricted from when the product selection information is input from the information terminal until a payment process completion notification is received from the information terminal. That is, in the present invention, when the vending machine control unit communicates with the information terminal by a payment instruction being sent from the payment server, product selection may be restricted until a notification indicating that the payment process has been completed is received from the information terminal. Further, in the present invention, instead of the vending machine control unit restricting product selection, the vending machine may be made to restrict product selection by the information terminal not accepting other payment instructions from the payment server.

[0062] Although not mentioned in the above-described embodiment, in the case where selection means such as product selection buttons are provided on the front door of the vending machine, when the vending machine control unit is in the selection restriction mode, the vending machine control unit may restrict the input of a selection signal by pressing the product selection button.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, it was exemplified that the mobile terminal 30 and the information terminal 14 are connected by short-range wireless communication on the condition that the mobile terminal 30 is close to the vending machine 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be changed as follows.

[0064] That is, it may be conditional that the GPS (Global Positioning System) information of the mobile terminal and the location information of the vending machine approximately match (within a few meters or the like). Further, when an input means such as a product selection button is provided on the front door of the vending machine, it may be conditional that the purchaser performs an input operation on the input means. Furthermore, when a display is provided on the front door of the vending machine, during the settlement processing procedure, it may be conditional that random numbers or the like are displayed on the display and the numbers or the like displayed on the mobile terminal are input. Moreover, when a human presence sensor is provided in the vending machine, it may be conditional that it is detected by the human presence sensor. Also, when imaging means such as a camera is provided in the vending machine, it may be conditional that the same person is imaged for a certain period of time or more by image recognition control.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, when another settlement instruction is sent from the information terminal 14 to the settlement server 20 in a state where the vending machine control unit 11 is in the selection restriction mode, a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable is sent to the settlement server 20. When the settlement server 20 inputs the product selection unavailable response, a settlement procedure failure notification is sent to another mobile terminal 30a to notify the other mobile terminal 30a that the settlement procedure has failed. However, in the present invention, the following can also be done.

[0066] That is, when the settlement server inputs a product selection unavailable response from the information terminal, it repeats sending other settlement instructions until a predetermined retry time (for example, about 3 minutes) elapses, and at the same time, sends a settlement in progress notification to other mobile terminals, and displays "Settling / Please wait a moment" on the operation display unit 31 of the other mobile terminals to notify that the settlement procedure is being repeated. After that, when the retry time has elapsed, the settlement server sends a settlement procedure failure notification to other mobile terminals. On the other hand, when the selection restriction mode of the vending machine control unit is released and a setting notification is input from the information terminal before the retry time has elapsed, the settlement server performs the settlement process, sends a settlement success notification to other mobile terminals, and displays "Settlement successful / Thank you" on the operation display unit to notify the settlement success.

[0067] Each configuration illustrated in the above embodiment is functionally schematic and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. That is, the form of distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage situations, etc.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1... Vending machine system, 10... Vending machine, 10a... Main body cabinet, 10b... Front door, 10c... Product outlet, 10d... Product extraction door, 10e... Graphic code display unit, 11... Vending machine control unit, 12... Heating and cooling device, 13... Conveyor device, 14... Information terminal, 141... Communication unit, 141a... Internal communication unit, 141b... External communication unit, 142... Information generation unit, 143... Short-range wireless communication unit, 20... Settlement server, 30... Mobile terminal, 31... Operation display unit, 32... Internet communication unit, 33... Short-range wireless communication unit, 34... Code reading unit, 35... Terminal control unit, 35a... Settlement application, D... Graphic code, N... Network.

Claims

1. A vending machine control unit provided in a vending machine for selling goods, A settlement server for performing settlement processing of the goods, A mobile terminal carried by a user who purchases the goods and having a settlement application capable of performing settlement processing of the goods using a settlement brand, A vending machine system comprising: The vending machine includes an information terminal capable of communicating with the vending machine control unit and the settlement server, and displays a graphical code obtained by graphically representing vending machine identification information for identifying itself in a readable manner. The mobile terminal reads the graphical code in a state where the settlement application is activated and communicates with the settlement server to obtain product information regarding the goods of the vending machine specified by the vending machine identification information indicated by the graphical code, and enables product selection and settlement procedures. The settlement server sends a settlement instruction to the information terminal on the condition that product selection and settlement procedures have been performed through the mobile terminal. The information terminal communicates with the vending machine control unit on the condition that a settlement instruction has been sent from the settlement server, and notifies the vending machine control unit that the settlement process has been completed when the settlement process is performed by the settlement server. The vending machine control unit ejects the selected goods on the condition that it has been notified that the settlement process has been completed from the information terminal. A vending machine system characterized by this.

2. When the settlement instruction is sent from the settlement server, the information terminal outputs product selection information to the vending machine control unit, inputs a response to the product selection information from the vending machine control unit, outputs mode setting information indicating that settlement is to be performed to the vending machine control unit, and further inputs a response to the mode setting information from the vending machine control unit, thereby outputting settlement processing information to the settlement server and waiting for settlement processing at the settlement server. The vending machine system according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The vending machine control unit features the vending machine system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it delivers the selected product on the condition that the mobile terminal is in proximity to the vending machine.

4. When the vending machine communicates with the information terminal and the vending machine control unit upon receiving a payment instruction from the payment server, the vending machine system according to claim 1 is characterized in that it restricts product selection until the information terminal notifies the vending machine control unit that the payment process is complete.

5. When the vending machine control unit communicates with the information terminal upon receiving a payment instruction from the payment server, the vending machine system according to claim 4 is characterized in that it restricts product selection until the information terminal notifies that the payment process is complete.

6. The vending machine control unit features the vending machine system according to claim 2, characterized in that it restricts product selection from the time it receives mode setting information from the information terminal until the information terminal notifies that the payment process is complete.

7. When another payment instruction is sent from the payment server to the information terminal while the vending machine restricts product selection, the information terminal sends a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable to the payment server. When the payment server receives the product selection unavailable response from the information terminal, the vending machine system according to claim 4 is characterized in that it sends a payment procedure failure notice to other mobile terminals where product selection and payment procedures have been performed due to the sending of the other payment instruction, notifying them that the payment procedure has failed.

8. When another payment instruction is sent from the payment server to the information terminal while the vending machine restricts product selection, the information terminal sends a product selection unavailable response indicating that product selection is unavailable to the payment server. When the payment server receives the non - selectable response for the product from the information terminal, it repeats the sending of the other payment instructions until a predetermined retry time has elapsed, and notifies the other mobile terminal where the product selection and payment procedure that caused the sending of the other payment instructions were performed that the payment procedure is being repeated. The vending machine system according to claim 4, characterized in that.

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