Automatic vending machine

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine that can prevent a sales opportunity of a commodity for a user who wants to purchase the commodity from being lost.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine 1 includes: a communication unit 11 that can perform short-range wireless communication with a first portable terminal 2 and a second portable terminal 3; and a control unit 10 that in a communication state in which the communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 are performing transaction communication for performing an individual transaction through short-range wireless communication and the second portable terminal 3 is requesting connection for performing transaction communication through short-range wireless communication to the communication unit 11, disconnects transaction communication between the communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 such that transaction communication between the communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3 can be connected at least based on a first field intensity of the first portable terminal 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of short-range wireless communication with a mobile terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, vending machines capable of short-distance wireless communication with mobile terminals have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses a vending machine that communicates with a mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication. The vending machine includes a motion sensor for measuring the distance to the user. The mobile terminal connects to the vending machine via short-range wireless communication to receive sales promotion information such as point information transmitted by the vending machine and to process payment for the purchase price of products. If the user leaves a predetermined area based on the detection result of the motion sensor, the vending machine disconnects communication with the mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, if the user does not leave the predetermined area after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection result of the motion sensor, the vending machine forcibly disconnects communication with the mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-197592 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Although not explicitly stated in the above Patent Document 1, when a communication unit of a vending machine and a first mobile terminal of a first user communicate via short-range wireless communication to perform an individual transaction, and there is a second user with a second mobile terminal located farther away from the vending machine than the first user, the second user's second mobile terminal cannot communicate via short-range wireless communication with the communication unit of the vending machine until the communication connection via short-range wireless communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first mobile terminal is disconnected.

[0006] However, in a case where there is a first user with a first mobile terminal and a second user with a second mobile terminal, the method described in Patent Document 1 for disconnecting communication between a communication unit of a vending machine and the first mobile terminal based on the detection result of a human presence sensor indicating that the first user has left a predetermined area may not disconnect communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first mobile terminal even if the first user has left the predetermined area, because the detection of the second user by the human presence sensor indicates that the first user has not left the predetermined area. In this case, communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first mobile terminal is disconnected based on the lapse of a predetermined time. Therefore, the communication connection between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first user's first mobile terminal is not disconnected until the predetermined time has passed. Furthermore, although not described in Patent Document 1, there is a case where communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first mobile terminal can be disconnected based on the operation of the first mobile terminal. However, in this case, because the second user cannot operate the first mobile terminal, the second user does not disconnect communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first user's first mobile terminal. As a result, transaction communication between the communication unit of the vending machine and the second mobile terminal of the second user is not established, which may lead to the loss of a sales opportunity for the second user who wants to purchase the product. For this reason, it is desirable to prevent the loss of sales opportunities for users who want to purchase the product.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can prevent users who want to purchase products from losing sales opportunities for products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a communication unit capable of performing short-range wireless communication with a first portable terminal and a second portable terminal; and a control unit that, in a communication state in which the communication unit and the first portable terminal perform transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication and the second portable terminal requests a connection to the communication unit to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication, disconnects the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on at least a first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal in order to enable connection of the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal.

[0009] In a vending machine according to one aspect of the present invention, as described above, the control unit is configured to disconnect transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal in order to enable transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal. Generally, radio wave intensity attenuates inversely proportional to the square of the distance, so the farther the user of the first portable terminal is from the vending machine, the weaker the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal in the communication unit of the vending machine. In other words, the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal in the communication unit of the vending machine changes depending on the distance between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first portable terminal, so the distance between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first portable terminal can be indirectly obtained based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal. Therefore, by the control unit disconnecting the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal, unlike when disconnecting the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the detection result of the human presence sensor, the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal is automatically disconnected based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse. Also, the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal is automatically disconnected based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal without disconnecting the communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on an operation of the first portable terminal. For these reasons, the control unit can appropriately disconnect the communication connection between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first portable terminal. This can prevent a user who wants to purchase a product from losing a sales opportunity for the product.

[0010] In the vending machine according to the first aspect, the control unit is preferably configured to, in the communication state, disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal that is requesting connection to the communication unit for transaction communication via near-field wireless communication, in order to enable connection of the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal. With this configuration, the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal in the communication unit of the vending machine changes depending on the distance between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first portable terminal, and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal in the communication unit of the vending machine changes depending on the distance between the communication unit of the vending machine and the second portable terminal. Therefore, the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal can be more appropriately disconnected based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal owned by a user who does not intend to purchase a product from the vending machine and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal owned by a user who intends to purchase a product from the vending machine. This more effectively prevents loss of sales opportunities for users who wish to purchase a product.

[0011] In this case, the control unit is preferably configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal when the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal is smaller than the first threshold and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal is larger than the second threshold, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal. With this configuration, it is possible to infer that a user of the first portable terminal who has no intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine is sufficiently far from the vending machine when the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal is smaller than the first threshold, and to infer that a user of the second portable terminal who has an intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine is sufficiently close to the vending machine when the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal is larger than the second threshold. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal from being disconnected when the first radio wave intensity is smaller than the first threshold and the second radio wave intensity is larger than the second threshold.

[0012] In the above-mentioned configuration for disconnecting the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity, the control unit is preferably configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal continuously decreasing for a predetermined time and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal becoming greater than a second threshold value, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal. With this configuration, the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal can be quickly disconnected based on the time during which the first radio wave intensity continuously decreases and the second threshold value for the second radio wave intensity, thereby more effectively preventing the loss of a sales opportunity for a user who wants to purchase a product.

[0013] In the configuration for disconnecting the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity, the control unit is preferably configured to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, and to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the second radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference is increased being greater than a second threshold, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal. With this configuration, by performing control to increase the difference in the output values ​​of the radio waves, interference between the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the radio waves output from the second portable terminal can be suppressed, and based on the second radio wave intensity being greater than the second threshold, it can be estimated that a user with the second portable terminal who intends to purchase a product from the vending machine is sufficiently close to the vending machine, and therefore, based on the second radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference is increased being greater than the second threshold, it is possible to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal owned by a user who does not intend to purchase a product from the vending machine. Therefore, the communication connection between the communication unit of the vending machine and the first portable terminal can be easily and appropriately disconnected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide a vending machine that can prevent a user who wants to purchase a product from losing a sales opportunity for the product. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vending machine system including a vending machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine system including a vending machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between a vending machine and a first mobile terminal based on first radio wave intensity and second radio wave intensity according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between the vending machine and the first mobile terminal based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between a vending machine and a first mobile terminal based on first radio wave intensity and second radio wave intensity according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between the vending machine and the first mobile terminal based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between a vending machine and a first mobile terminal based on first radio wave intensity and second radio wave intensity according to a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining control of disconnection of transaction communication between a vending machine and a first mobile terminal based on first radio wave intensity and second radio wave intensity according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] [First embodiment] The configuration of a vending machine system 100 including a vending machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine system 100 includes a vending machine 1 and mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal 2 and a second mobile terminal 3.

[0019] Vending machine 1 is configured to be capable of performing short-range wireless communication with first mobile terminal 2 and second mobile terminal 3. Vending machine 1 is a device for selling products such as beverages, such as canned drinks and PET bottled drinks, food, and other goods.

[0020] The first portable terminal 2 is configured to be able to perform short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 1. The first portable terminal 2 is carried by a first user. The first portable terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone. The second portable terminal 3 is configured to be able to perform short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 1. The second portable terminal 3 is carried by a second user. The second portable terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone.

[0021] Furthermore, the vending machine system 100 is a system that can sell products by payment with electronic money in addition to payment with cash. The vending machine 1, the first mobile terminal 2, and the second mobile terminal 3 are configured to be able to communicate with the management server 4 via a network 6. The management server 4 is also configured to be able to communicate with the payment server 5 via the network 6. The first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3 have a function to perform payment between the management server 4 and the payment server 5 for purchasing products from the vending machine 1 using electronic money. Payment for purchasing products from the vending machine 1 is configured to be performed through communication between the management server 4 and the payment server 5. The payment method for purchasing products from the vending machine 1 is not particularly limited, and any known payment method can be used.

[0022] Furthermore, in the vending machine system 100, each of the first portable terminal 2 and the second portable terminal 3 can use an installed app (application) to perform various operations related to purchasing products from the vending machine 1. For example, each of the first portable terminal 2 and the second portable terminal 3 can use the app to perform operations such as selecting a product from the vending machine 1, selecting a payment method, and using awarded points or coupons to purchase products from the vending machine 1. The app used to perform operations related to purchasing products from the vending machine 1 may be an app provided by a beverage manufacturer or a dedicated app.

[0023] (Vending machine configuration) As shown in Figure 2, the vending machine 1 includes a first vending machine communication unit 11, a second vending machine communication unit 12, and a vending machine control unit 10. The vending machine control unit 10 is an example of a "control unit" in the claims. The first vending machine communication unit 11 is an example of a "communication unit" in the claims.

[0024] The vending machine first communication unit 11 is configured to perform short-range wireless communication with the first mobile terminal first communication unit 21 of the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal first communication unit 31 of the second mobile terminal 3. The short-range wireless communication is, for example, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. The vending machine first communication unit 11 performs short-range wireless communication with the first mobile terminal first communication unit 21 of the first mobile terminal 2 via BLE communication. The vending machine first communication unit 11 also performs short-range wireless communication with the second mobile terminal first communication unit 31 of the second mobile terminal 3 via BLE communication.

[0025] The vending machine second communication unit 12 is configured to be able to communicate with the management server 4 (see FIG. 1) via the network 6.

[0026] The vending machine control unit 10 is configured to control each part of the vending machine 1. The vending machine control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and storage units such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0027] The vending machine control unit 10 is configured to transmit an advertising signal via short-range wireless communication to portable terminals present around the vending machine 1 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. The vending machine control unit 10 is also configured to receive a connection request signal, which is transmitted via short-range wireless communication from the portable terminal in response to the advertising signal, requesting a connection via short-range wireless communication, via the vending machine first communication unit 11. The vending machine control unit 10 is also configured to perform transaction communication via the vending machine first communication unit 11 with one portable terminal to perform an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication.

[0028] In this specification, "transaction communication" means communication for conducting an individual transaction between the vending machine 1 and one mobile terminal, including, for example, communication in which information such as point information awarded by sending it from the vending machine 1 is received by the mobile terminal, and communication for processing the payment for the purchase price of a product by the mobile terminal.

[0029] The vending machine control unit 10 is configured to select one of the multiple portable terminals to connect to for transaction communication via short-range wireless communication with the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1, based on the radio wave strength of a connection request signal from each of the multiple portable terminals to the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 via short-range wireless communication. Specifically, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to control the vending machine 1 to connect to for transaction communication with either the first portable terminal 2 or the second portable terminal 3, whichever portable terminal transmits a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 with a radio wave strength that exceeds a predetermined value.

[0030] Here, the radio wave strength of the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal connected for transaction communication and the radio wave strength of the connection request signal transmitted from each of the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3 vary depending on the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3. In other words, the closer the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2, the stronger the radio wave strength, and the farther the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2, the weaker the radio wave strength. Furthermore, the closer the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second mobile terminal 3, the stronger the radio wave strength, and the farther the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second mobile terminal 3, the weaker the radio wave strength.

[0031] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 in a communication state in which the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication, and the second portable terminal 3 is requesting the vending machine side first communication unit 11 to connect to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication, in order to enable connection of the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3.

[0032] Specifically, in the above communication state, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable connection of the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 being lower than the first threshold value p1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 being higher than the second threshold value p2. Details of the control of disconnection of the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 will be described later.

[0033] Here, the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 is configured to be disconnected, for example, based on the operation of a currency return lever 13 provided on the vending machine 1 for returning currency. Also, the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 is configured to be disconnected, for example, based on the operation of the first portable terminal 2. For example, the first user can also disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 of the vending machine 1 by operating a communication disconnection button displayed on the touch panel of the first portable terminal 2. Note that the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 is configured to be disconnected, for example, based on the completion of a purchase procedure for a product from the vending machine 1 using the first portable terminal 2.

[0034] In the first embodiment, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to, after establishing a communication connection for transaction communication with one of the first and second portable terminals 2 and 3, whose radio wave strength of a connection request signal sent to the vending machine first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication exceeds a predetermined value, perform control to increase the difference between the output value of radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3. Specifically, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to increase the output value of radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 in accordance with the radio wave strength of the short-range wireless communication via the first portable terminal control unit 20 of the first portable terminal 2 connected for transaction communication via short-range wireless communication. The vending machine control unit 10 is also configured to decrease the output value of radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 in accordance with the radio wave strength of the short-range wireless communication via the second portable terminal control unit 30 of the second portable terminal 3 not connected for transaction communication via short-range wireless communication. Details of the control for increasing the difference in the output value of radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the second portable terminal 3 will be described later.

[0035] (Mobile device configuration) The mobile terminals include a first mobile terminal 2 and a second mobile terminal 3. Each of the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3 includes a mobile terminal first communication unit, a mobile terminal second communication unit, and a mobile terminal control unit. Specifically, the first mobile terminal 2 includes a first mobile terminal first communication unit 21, a first mobile terminal second communication unit 22, and a first mobile terminal control unit 20. The second mobile terminal 3 includes a second mobile terminal first communication unit 31, a second mobile terminal second communication unit 32, and a second mobile terminal control unit 30.

[0036] Each of the first mobile terminal first communication unit 21 and the second mobile terminal first communication unit 31 is configured to perform short-range wireless communication with the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1. The short-range wireless communication is, for example, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication.

[0037] Each of the first mobile terminal second communication unit 22 and the second mobile terminal second communication unit 32 is configured to be able to communicate with the management server 4 (see FIG. 1) via the network 6.

[0038] The first mobile terminal control unit 20 is configured to control each unit of the first mobile terminal 2. The second mobile terminal control unit 30 is configured to control each unit of the second mobile terminal 3. Each of the first mobile terminal control unit 20 and the second mobile terminal control unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and storage units such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0039] The first portable terminal control unit 20 is configured to receive, via the first portable terminal first communication unit 21, an advertising signal transmitted from the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 via short-range wireless communication. The first portable terminal control unit 20 is also configured to transmit, via the first portable terminal first communication unit 21, a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication in response to the advertising signal. The first portable terminal control unit 20 is also configured to perform transaction communication for conducting an individual transaction with the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 via the first portable terminal first communication unit 21 via short-range wireless communication. The first portable terminal control unit 20 is also configured, when receiving information regarding the output value of radio waves from the vending machine first communication unit 11, to increase or decrease the output value of radio waves output from the first portable terminal first communication unit 21 based on the received information.

[0040] The second portable terminal control unit 30 is configured to receive, via the second portable terminal first communication unit 31, an advertising signal transmitted by short-range wireless communication from the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1. The second portable terminal control unit 30 is also configured to transmit, via the second portable terminal first communication unit 31, a connection request signal by short-range wireless communication in response to the advertising signal. The second portable terminal control unit 30 is also configured to perform transaction communication for conducting an individual transaction with the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 via the second portable terminal first communication unit 31 via short-range wireless communication. The second portable terminal control unit 30 is also configured, when it receives information regarding the output value of radio waves from the vending machine first communication unit 11, to increase or decrease the output value of radio waves output from the second portable terminal first communication unit 31 based on the received information.

[0041] (Power output of radio waves from the first and second mobile devices) Referring to FIG. 3, the control by the vending machine control unit 10 in the first embodiment to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 will be described.

[0042] Specifically, as the control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3, the vending machine-side control unit 10 is configured to, after establishing a communication connection for transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2, perform control to increase the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 to the first portable terminal 2 via the first portable terminal-side control unit 20. Furthermore, the vending machine-side control unit 10 is configured to, after establishing a communication connection for transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2, perform control to decrease the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 to the second portable terminal 3 with which transaction communication is not connected via near-field wireless communication.

[0043] At time t1, the vending machine side control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to conduct transaction communication with the first mobile terminal 2, of the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3, whose radio wave strength of the connection request signal sent via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0044] Furthermore, at time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to perform control via the first portable terminal control unit 20 to increase the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 in accordance with the radio wave intensity of the short-range wireless communication from the first portable terminal 2 acquired by the vending machine control unit 10. Specifically, at time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 transmits information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 to the first portable terminal first communication unit 21 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. The information regarding the output value of the radio waves is information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 that is set in advance in accordance with the radio wave intensity of the short-range wireless communication from the first portable terminal 2 acquired by the vending machine control unit 10. When the first portable terminal control unit 20 receives the information regarding the output value of the radio waves from the vending machine first communication unit 11, it increases the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal first communication unit 21 based on the information regarding the output value of the radio waves.

[0045] Furthermore, at time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to perform control via the second portable terminal control unit 30 to reduce the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 in accordance with the radio wave intensity of the short-range wireless communication from the second portable terminal 3 acquired by the vending machine control unit 10. Specifically, at time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 transmits information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 to the second portable terminal first communication unit 31 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. The information regarding the output value of the radio waves is information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 that is set in advance in accordance with the radio wave intensity of the short-range wireless communication from the second portable terminal 3 acquired by the vending machine control unit 10. When the second portable terminal control unit 30 receives the information regarding the output value of the radio waves from the vending machine first communication unit 11, it reduces the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal first communication unit 31 based on the information regarding the output value of the radio waves.

[0046] (Disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal) Referring to Figure 3, we will explain the control by the vending machine control unit 10 of disconnecting the transaction communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 in the first embodiment, in a communication state in which the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication, and the second mobile terminal 3 is requesting a connection to the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication.

[0047] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 being smaller than the first threshold value p1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 being larger than the second threshold value p2.

[0048] The first threshold value p1 is set in advance so as to correspond to a first radio wave intensity in a state in which the vending machine control unit 10 has increased the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3. The second threshold value p2 is set in advance so as to correspond to a second radio wave intensity in a state in which the vending machine control unit 10 has increased the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3.

[0049] At time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 initiates a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. Then, after time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 maintains a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2. Furthermore, after time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 continues to receive a connection request signal from the second portable terminal 3 via the vending machine first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, at time t1, the vending machine control unit 10 increases the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3.

[0050] At time t2, the first user leaves the vending machine 1 without purchasing a product from the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t2, the first radio wave strength of the first portable terminal 2 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 decreases as the first user leaves the vending machine 1. Furthermore, after time t2, as the first user moves away from the vending machine 1, the second user approaches the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t2, the second radio wave strength of the second portable terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 increases as the second user moves closer to the vending machine 1.

[0051] At time t3, as the second user approaches the vending machine 1, the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 becomes greater than the second threshold p2.

[0052] At time t4, in response to the first user leaving the vending machine 1, the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 in the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 becomes smaller than the first threshold p1. At time t4, the vending machine control unit 10 disconnects the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the fact that the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 is smaller than the first threshold p1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 is greater than the second threshold p2.

[0053] Then, when the radio wave strength of the connection request signal sent via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the second mobile terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined value, the vending machine side control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the second mobile terminal 3.

[0054] (Control of disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal by vending machine control unit) 4, a sequence diagram will be used to explain how the vending machine control unit 10 controls the disconnection of transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 in the first embodiment. Here, the first user and the first portable terminal 2, who have the first portable terminal 2, are close to the vending machine 1, and the second user and the second portable terminal 3, who have the second portable terminal 3, are located farther away from the vending machine 1 than the first user and the first portable terminal 2. Note that the order of the steps can be reversed or the steps can be performed simultaneously, as long as there are no mutual contradictions.

[0055] In step S1, the vending machine side control unit 10 transmits an advertising signal via short-range wireless communication to the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3 present around the vending machine 1 via the vending machine side first communication unit 11.

[0056] In step S2, the first mobile terminal side control unit 20 transmits a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via the first mobile terminal side first communication unit 21 in response to the advertising signal transmitted from the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication.

[0057] In step S3, the second mobile terminal side control unit 30 transmits a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via the second mobile terminal side first communication unit 31 in response to the advertising signal transmitted from the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication.

[0058] In step S4, the vending machine control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to conduct transaction communication with the first mobile terminal 2 whose radio wave strength of the connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine first communication unit 11 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0059] In step S5, the vending machine side control unit 10 transmits information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the first mobile terminal 2 to the first mobile terminal side first communication unit 21 via the vending machine side first communication unit 11.

[0060] In step S6, the control unit 20 on the first mobile terminal side controls the output value of the radio waves output from the first communication unit 21 on the first mobile terminal side to be increased based on information regarding the output value of the radio waves transmitted from the first communication unit 11 on the vending machine side.

[0061] In step S7, the vending machine side control unit 10 transmits information regarding the output value of the radio waves output from the second mobile terminal 3 to the second mobile terminal side first communication unit 31 via the vending machine side first communication unit 11.

[0062] In step S8, the control unit 30 on the second mobile terminal side controls the output value of the radio waves output from the first communication unit 31 on the second mobile terminal side to be reduced based on information regarding the output value of the radio waves transmitted from the first communication unit 11 on the vending machine side.

[0063] In step S9, the second mobile terminal side control unit 30 transmits a connection request signal with a reduced radio wave output value via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via the second mobile terminal side first communication unit 31 in response to the advertising signal transmitted from the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication.

[0064] In step S10, if the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 is smaller than the first threshold value p1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 is larger than the second threshold value p2, proceed to step S11. Also, if the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 is equal to or larger than the first threshold value p1 or the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value p2, proceed to step S10.

[0065] In step S11, the vending machine control unit 10 disconnects the transaction communication connection with the first mobile terminal 2 via the vending machine first communication unit 11 by short-range wireless communication.

[0066] In step S12, the vending machine control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to conduct transaction communication with the second mobile terminal 3 whose radio wave strength of the connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine first communication unit 11 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0067] (Effects of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0068] In the first embodiment, as described above, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3. Here, since radio wave intensity generally attenuates inversely proportional to the square of the distance, the farther the first user holding the first portable terminal 2 is from the vending machine 1, the weaker the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 at the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 becomes. In other words, the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 at the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 changes depending on the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2. Therefore, the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 can be indirectly obtained based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2. Therefore, by the vending machine control unit 10 disconnecting the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, unlike disconnecting the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the detection result of the human presence sensor, the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 is automatically disconnected based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse. Also, the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 is automatically disconnected based on at least the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 without disconnecting the communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on an operation of the first portable terminal 2. For these reasons, the vending machine control unit 10 can appropriately disconnect the communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2. This makes it possible to prevent a second user who wants to purchase a product from losing a sales opportunity for the product.

[0069] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 in the above communication state, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 that is requesting a connection to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication. As a result, the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 changes depending on the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2, and the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 changes depending on the distance between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second mobile terminal 3. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 and the first mobile terminal 2 based on the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 owned by the first user who has no intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 owned by the second user who has intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine 1. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the loss of a sales opportunity for a product by a second user who wants to purchase a product.

[0070] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 being smaller than the first threshold value p1 and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 being larger than the second threshold value p2. As a result, when the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 becomes smaller than the first threshold value p1, it can be inferred that the first user with the first portable terminal 2 who has no intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 is sufficiently far from the vending machine 1, and when the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becomes larger than the second threshold value p2, it can be inferred that the second user with the second portable terminal 3 who has an intention of purchasing a product from the vending machine 1 is sufficiently close to the vending machine 1. Therefore, when the first radio wave intensity becomes smaller than the first threshold value p1 and the second radio wave intensity becomes larger than the second threshold value p2, it can be possible to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2. This can more effectively prevent the loss of a sales opportunity for a second user who wants to purchase a product.

[0071] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the vending machine side control unit 10 performs control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3, and is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the second radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference is increased becoming greater than the second threshold value p2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3 to be connected. As a result, by controlling to increase the difference in the output values ​​of the radio waves, interference between the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the second portable terminal 3 is suppressed, and based on the second radio wave intensity being greater than the second threshold p2, it can be estimated that the second user who has the second portable terminal 3 and who intends to purchase a product from the vending machine 1 is sufficiently close to the vending machine 1. Therefore, based on the second radio wave intensity being greater than the second threshold p2 in a state in which the difference is increased, it is possible to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 owned by the first user who does not intend to purchase a product from the vending machine 1. Therefore, the communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 can be easily and appropriately disconnected.

[0072] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Unlike the first embodiment described above, which is configured to disconnect transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the first threshold value p1 and the second threshold value p2, the vending machine 1 in the second embodiment will be described as being configured to disconnect transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the first radio wave strength decrease time and the second threshold value p2. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0073] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 to enable connection of the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 continuously decreasing for a predetermined time tp and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becoming greater than a second threshold p2, in a communication state in which the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication and the second portable terminal 3 is requesting connection to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication.

[0074] Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to, after establishing a communication connection for transaction communication with either the first portable terminal 2 or the second portable terminal 3, whichever portable terminal sends a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the first vending machine communication unit 11 with a radio wave intensity that exceeds a predetermined value, perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3. A description of the control by the vending machine control unit 10 to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the second portable terminal 3 will be omitted here.

[0075] (Disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal) Referring to Figure 5, we will explain the control by the vending machine control unit 10 of disconnecting the transaction communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 in the second embodiment, in a communication state in which the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication, and the second mobile terminal 3 is requesting a connection to the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 to perform transaction communication via short-range wireless communication.

[0076] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 continuously decreasing for a predetermined time tp and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becoming greater than a second threshold p2.

[0077] The predetermined time tp during which the first radio wave intensity continues to decrease is preset with respect to the first radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3 has been increased by the vending machine control unit 10. As an example, the predetermined time tp is 3 seconds. Note that the predetermined time tp is not limited to 3 seconds, and may be shorter or longer than 3 seconds.

[0078] In addition, as in the first embodiment described above, the second threshold value p2 is pre-set to correspond to the second radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first mobile terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second mobile terminal 3 is increased by the vending machine side control unit 10.

[0079] At time t5, the vending machine control unit 10 initiates a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. Then, after time t5, the vending machine control unit 10 maintains a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2. Furthermore, after time t5, the vending machine control unit 10 continues to receive a connection request signal from the second portable terminal 3 via the vending machine first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, at time t5, the vending machine control unit 10 increases the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal 2 and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal 3.

[0080] At time t6, the first user leaves the vending machine 1 without purchasing a product from the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t6, the first radio wave strength of the first portable terminal 2 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 decreases as the first user leaves the vending machine 1. Furthermore, after time t6, the second user approaches the vending machine 1 as the first user moves away from the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t6, the second radio wave strength of the second portable terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 increases as the second user approaches the vending machine 1.

[0081] At time t7, as the second user approaches the vending machine 1, the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 becomes greater than the second threshold p2.

[0082] As the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 continues to decrease from time t6, at time t8, which is a predetermined time tp after time t6, the vending machine side control unit 10 disconnects the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the fact that the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 continues to decrease for the predetermined time tp and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becomes greater than the second threshold value p2.

[0083] Then, when the radio wave strength of the connection request signal sent via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the second mobile terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined value, the vending machine side control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the second mobile terminal 3.

[0084] (Control of disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal by vending machine control unit) 6, a sequence diagram will be used to explain how the vending machine control unit 10 controls the disconnection of transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 in the first embodiment. Here, the first user and the first portable terminal 2, who have the first portable terminal 2, are close to the vending machine 1, and the second user and the second portable terminal 3, who have the second portable terminal 3, are located farther away from the vending machine 1 than the first user and the first portable terminal 2. Note that the order of the steps can be reversed or the steps can be performed simultaneously, as long as there are no mutual contradictions.

[0085] The processing of steps S21 to S29, step S31 and step S32 is the same as the processing of steps S1 to S9, step S11 and step S12 in the first embodiment described above, in which the vending machine control unit 10 controls the disconnection of the transaction communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2, and therefore will not be explained further.

[0086] In step S30, if the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 continues to decrease for the predetermined time tp and the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 becomes greater than the second threshold p2, proceed to step S31. Also, if the first radio wave intensity of the first mobile terminal 2 does not continue to decrease for the predetermined time tp or the second radio wave intensity of the second mobile terminal 3 is equal to or less than the second threshold p2, proceed to step S30.

[0087] The other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0088] (Effects of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0089] In the second embodiment, as described above, the vending machine control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3, based on the fact that the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 has continuously decreased for the predetermined time tp and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 has become greater than the second threshold value p2. This allows the transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 to be quickly disconnected based on the time during which the first radio wave intensity decreases and the second threshold value p2 for the second radio wave intensity, thereby more effectively preventing the loss of a sales opportunity for a product by a second user who wishes to purchase a product.

[0090] The other effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0091] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Unlike the first embodiment described above, which is configured to disconnect transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the first threshold value p1 and the second threshold value p2, the vending machine 1 in the third embodiment will be described as being configured to disconnect transaction communication between the vending machine first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the second radio wave intensity becoming greater than the first radio wave intensity. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0092] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 so as to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3 to be connected based on the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becoming greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 in a communication state in which the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication and the second portable terminal 3 is requesting the vending machine side first communication unit 11 to connect to the transaction communication via short-range wireless communication.

[0093] In the third embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the vending machine side control unit 10 does not perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first mobile terminal 2 and the second mobile terminal 3 after establishing a communication connection to perform transaction communication with either the first mobile terminal 2 or the second mobile terminal 3, whichever mobile terminal has a radio wave strength of a connection request signal sent via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 that exceeds a predetermined value.

[0094] (Disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal) Referring to Figure 7, we will explain the control of the vending machine control unit 10 to disconnect the transaction communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 in the third embodiment, in a communication state in which the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2 are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via short-range wireless communication, and the second mobile terminal 3 is requesting the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 to connect to conduct transaction communication via short-range wireless communication.

[0095] The vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2, based on the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becoming greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the second portable terminal 3 to be connected.

[0096] At time t9, the vending machine control unit 10 initiates a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2 via the vending machine first communication unit 11. Then, after time t9, the vending machine control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the first portable terminal 2. Furthermore, after time t9, the vending machine control unit 10 continues to receive a connection request signal from the second portable terminal 3 via the vending machine first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication.

[0097] At time t10, the first user leaves the vending machine 1 without purchasing a product from the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t10, the first radio wave strength of the first portable terminal 2 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 decreases as the first user leaves the vending machine 1. Furthermore, after time t10, as the first user moves away from the vending machine 1, the second user approaches the vending machine 1. Therefore, after time t10, the second radio wave strength of the second portable terminal 3 in the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 increases as the second user approaches the vending machine 1.

[0098] At time t11, in response to the first user leaving the vending machine 1 and the second user approaching the vending machine 1, the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 relative to the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 becomes greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2. At time t11, based on the fact that the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 has become greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, the vending machine control unit 10 disconnects the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 in order to enable the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3 to be connected.

[0099] Then, when the radio wave strength of the connection request signal sent via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the second mobile terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined value, the vending machine side control unit 10 establishes a communication connection to perform transaction communication with the second mobile terminal 3.

[0100] (Control of disconnection of transaction communication between vending machine and first mobile terminal by vending machine control unit) 8, a sequence diagram will be used to explain how the vending machine control unit 10 controls disconnection of transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2 in the third embodiment. Here, the first user and the first portable terminal 2, who have the first portable terminal 2, are close to the vending machine 1, and the second user and the second portable terminal 3, who have the second portable terminal 3, are located farther away from the vending machine 1 than the first user and the first portable terminal 2. Note that the order of the steps can be reversed or the steps can be performed simultaneously, as long as there are no mutual contradictions.

[0101] The processing of steps S41 to S44, step S47 and step S48 is the same as the processing of steps S1 to S4, step S11 and step S12 in the first embodiment described above, in which the vending machine control unit 10 controls the disconnection of the transaction communication connection between the vending machine first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 and the first mobile terminal 2, and therefore will not be explained further.

[0102] In step S45, the second mobile terminal side control unit 30 transmits a connection request signal via short-range wireless communication to the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via the second mobile terminal side first communication unit 31 in response to the advertising signal transmitted from the vending machine side first communication unit 11 via short-range wireless communication.

[0103] In step S46, if the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 is greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, proceed to step S47. On the other hand, if the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 is not greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, proceed to step S46.

[0104] The other configurations of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0105] (Effects of the third embodiment) In the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0106] In the third embodiment, as described above, the vending machine side control unit 10 is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 based on the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becoming greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, in order to enable the transaction communication between the vending machine side first communication unit 11 and the second portable terminal 3 to be connected. As a result, the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2 in the vending machine-side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 changes depending on the distance between the vending machine 1 and the first portable terminal 2, and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 in the vending machine-side first communication unit 11 of the vending machine 1 changes depending on the distance between the vending machine 1 and the second portable terminal 3. Therefore, when the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becomes greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, it can be estimated that the second portable terminal 3 owned by the second user who intends to purchase the product from the vending machine 1 is closer to the vending machine 1 than the first portable terminal 2 owned by the first user who does not intend to purchase the product from the vending machine 1. Therefore, when the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal 3 becomes greater than the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal 2, the transaction communication between the vending machine-side first communication unit 11 and the first portable terminal 2 can be disconnected. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent the loss of a sales opportunity for a second user who wishes to purchase a product.

[0107] The other effects of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0108] [Variations] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above description of the embodiments, and further includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0109] For example, in the above first to third embodiments, an example was shown in which the vending machine control unit is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine control unit may be configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal based only on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal if it receives a connection request signal requesting connection that is transmitted by short-range wireless communication from the second portable terminal in response to an advertising signal via the first vending machine communication unit.

[0110] In the first embodiment, the vending machine control unit is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal when the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal is lower than the first threshold and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal is higher than the second threshold. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine control unit may be configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal when the decrease rate of the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal exceeds a predetermined decrease rate and the increase rate of the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal exceeds a predetermined increase rate.

[0111] In the second embodiment, the vending machine control unit is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal when the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal becomes greater than the second threshold value. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine control unit may be configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the first vending machine communication unit and the first portable terminal when the rate of increase in the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal exceeds a preset rate of increase.

[0112] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the vending machine control unit was configured to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the vending machine control unit does not have to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal.

[0113] In the first and second embodiments, the vending machine control unit is configured to increase the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and decrease the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine control unit may be configured to increase the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal or decrease the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal.

[0114] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the vending machine control unit is configured to increase the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and decrease the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine first communication unit may include an amplifier and an attenuator (not shown), and may be configured to amplify the signal received from the first portable terminal and send it to the vending machine control unit, and attenuate the signal received from the second portable terminal and send it to the vending machine control unit.

[0115] In addition, in the third embodiment, an example was shown in which the vending machine control unit is configured not to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the third embodiment, the vending machine control unit may be configured to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal.

[0116] In addition, in the first to third embodiments, an example was shown in which the vending machine is provided with two mobile terminals, a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal, which are capable of performing short-range wireless communication with the vending machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vending machine may be configured to be capable of performing short-range wireless communication with three or more mobile terminals.

[0117] In the first to third embodiments, the first and second mobile terminals are smartphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first and second mobile terminals may be handheld terminals or information terminals other than smartphones.

[0118] In addition, in the first to third embodiments, the short-range wireless communication is BLE communication, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a communication method other than BLE communication may be used as the short-range wireless communication, or infrared communication or optical communication may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 1. Vending Machine 2. First mobile device 3. Second mobile device 10 Vending machine control unit (control unit) 11 Vending machine first communication unit (communication unit) p1 First threshold p2 Second threshold tp predetermined time

Claims

1. a communication unit capable of performing short-range wireless communication with the first portable terminal and the second portable terminal; a control unit that, in a communication state in which the communication unit and the first portable terminal are performing transaction communication to conduct an individual transaction via the short-range wireless communication and the second portable terminal is requesting a connection to the communication unit to perform the transaction communication via the short-range wireless communication, disconnects the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on at least a first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal, in order to enable connection of the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal.

2. 2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured, in the communication state, to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal that is requesting a connection to the communication unit to perform the transaction communication via the short-range wireless communication, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal.

3. 3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal, based on the first radio wave intensity of the first portable terminal being smaller than a first threshold and the second radio wave intensity of the second portable terminal being greater than a second threshold, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal to be connected.

4. 3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the first radio wave strength of the first portable terminal continuously decreasing for a predetermined period of time and the second radio wave strength of the second portable terminal becoming greater than a second threshold value, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal to be connected.

5. The vending machine described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control to increase the difference between the output value of the radio waves output from the first portable terminal and the output value of the radio waves output from the second portable terminal, and to disconnect the transaction communication between the communication unit and the first portable terminal based on the second radio wave intensity in a state in which the difference is increased becoming greater than the second threshold value, in order to enable the transaction communication between the communication unit and the second portable terminal to be connected.

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