Money handling system

Abstract

To provide a currency processing system for smoothly guiding restoration work even when a terminal cannot display an appropriate guide screen.SOLUTION: The money handling machine 2 includes a display unit 4a, a failure detection unit 5 configured to detect a failure in the money handling machine 2, a first storage unit 8 configured to store a first recovery code 8b set in association with each step of a series of recovery operations performed by an operator to recover from the failure at a failure location where the failure is detected by the failure detection unit 5, and first guidance information 8c indicating a content of each step of the recovery operations, and a first control unit 7 configured to cause the display unit 4a to display the first guidance information 8c indicating the content of the step of the recovery operation corresponding to the detected failure, and transmit the first recovery code 8b corresponding to the step of the recovery operation corresponding to the detected failure to the terminal 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a currency handling system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been known currency processing machines that, when a malfunction such as an abnormality in currency transport occurs, notify the operator of the details of the recovery work from the malfunction, and notify the operator of the handling of currency that will be removed from the machine during the recovery work (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-106669 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a currency handling machine equipped with a display unit such as a liquid crystal display with a small display area, when a fault occurs, the display unit displays the details of a series of recovery operations that the operator must perform to recover from the fault, and guides the operator to perform the recovery operations. However, the amount of information that the display unit can display is limited to a few lines of text, and there is a risk that the details of the recovery operations cannot be displayed accurately and clearly on the display unit. Therefore, there has been a demand for a terminal equipped with a display with a large display area that is installed externally to the currency handling machine, and for the details of the recovery operations to be communicated to the operator via this terminal in an accurate and easy-to-understand manner.

[0005] However, in a configuration in which guidance messages and guidance screens, etc. that guide the currency handling machine to perform recovery work are stored in advance, and in the event of a malfunction in the currency handling machine, the currency handling machine sends these to the terminal as necessary, and the terminal displays the received screens, etc., there is a risk of delays occurring due to the transmission and reception of large amounts of data between the currency handling machine and the terminal.

[0006] Therefore, the currency handling machine and terminal each store a code consisting of multiple numbers or the like that is set in association with each step of the recovery work, as well as guidance messages and guidance screens, etc. for each step of the recovery work that correspond to that code; if a malfunction occurs in the currency handling machine, the currency handling machine will display guidance messages corresponding to the code on its LCD display and send only the code to the terminal, and the terminal will display a message screen, etc., corresponding to the received code on its display.

[0007] However, currency handling machines are often customized based on standard specifications to meet user needs, and in such custom machines, the correspondence between codes and prompts may differ for each machine. Meanwhile, the terminal stores the correspondence between codes and prompts, etc., for standard currency handling machines. Therefore, even for the same recovery operation, the code on the currency handling machine and the terminal side code do not necessarily match. If the codes do not match, the prompt screen will not be displayed on the terminal, and the recovery operation may be interrupted.

[0008] Therefore, even if the terminal cannot display an appropriate guidance screen, a technical problem arises that must be solved in order to guide the recovery work smoothly, and the present invention aims to solve this problem. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a currency handling system according to the present invention is a currency handling system comprising a currency handling machine and a terminal communicatively connected to the currency handling machine and capable of controlling the currency handling machine, wherein the currency handling machine has a first display unit, a fault detection unit which detects a fault in the currency handling machine, a first storage unit which stores a first recovery code which is set in association with each step of a series of recovery work to be performed by an operator to recover from the fault detected by the fault detection unit, and first guidance information which indicates the content of each step of the recovery work, and causes the first display unit to display the first guidance information which indicates the content of the step of the recovery work corresponding to the detected fault, and a terminal communicatively connected to the currency handling machine and capable of controlling the currency handling machine, and a first control unit that transmits the first recovery code corresponding to the step of the recovery work to the terminal, wherein the terminal comprises a second display unit having a larger display area than the first display unit, a second memory unit that stores second recovery codes set in association with each step of the recovery work and second guidance information that indicates the content of each step of the recovery work corresponding to the second recovery code, and a second control unit that compares the received first recovery code with the second recovery code stored in the second memory unit, and, if there is no second recovery code that matches the received first recovery code, causes the second display unit to display fallback information that notifies the operator to refer to the first guidance information displayed on the first display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention can smoothly guide recovery work even when the terminal cannot display an appropriate guidance screen. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a currency handling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a currency processing system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a standby screen displayed while the currency processing system is on standby. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an authentication screen displayed before currency processing begins. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main menu screen for selecting currency processing. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen displayed during a deposit process. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a failure recovery mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an authentication screen displayed before starting a failure recovery mode. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen displayed before starting a failure recovery mode. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen that indicates the details of the failure, etc., and is displayed before the failure recovery mode is started. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen displayed during the failure recovery mode, which notifies the user of the first step of the recovery process from a failure that occurred during the banknote deposit process. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen displayed during the failure recovery mode, which notifies the user of the second step of the recovery process from a failure that occurred during the banknote deposit process. [Figure 13] A diagram showing the fallback screen that is displayed during disaster recovery mode. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an authentication screen displayed before the deposit process is resumed. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen displayed during the failure recovery mode, which notifies the user of the contents of the first step of the recovery work from a failure that occurred during a banknote dispensing process. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen displayed during the failure recovery mode, which notifies the user of the content of the second step of the recovery work from a failure that occurred during a banknote dispensing process. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen displayed during the failure recovery mode, which notifies the user of the content of the third step of the recovery work from a failure that occurred during a banknote dispensing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A currency handling system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, hereinafter, when referring to the number, numerical value, amount, range, etc. of components, unless otherwise specified or when it is clearly limited to a specific number in principle, the number is not limited to that specific number and may be greater than or less than the specific number.

[0013] Furthermore, when referring to the shape or positional relationship of components, etc., it includes things that are substantially similar or approximate to those shapes, etc., unless otherwise specified or when it is clearly considered otherwise in principle.

[0014] In addition, the drawings may exaggerate characteristic parts to make the features easier to understand, and the dimensional ratios of the components may not be the same as in reality.

[0015] <Configuration of currency processing system> A currency handling system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view showing the exterior of currency handling system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of currency handling system 1. Currency handling system 1 is placed, for example, around a POS register and performs operations such as depositing sales proceeds and dispensing change. Currency handling system 1 includes a currency handling machine 2 and a terminal 3.

[0016] The currency handling machine 2 has a body 2a that is roughly rectangular parallelepiped in shape, and the right side of the page in Figure 1 is the coin handling unit 10 that stores deposited coins and dispenses the stored coins as needed, and the left side of the page in Figure 1 is the banknote handling unit 20 that stores deposited banknotes and dispenses the stored banknotes as needed.

[0017] The coin processing unit 10 has a coin deposit port 11, through which coins are inserted, provided on the front surface of the machine body 2a, and a coin withdrawal port 12, through which stored coins are withdrawn, provided below the coin deposit port 11. The coin withdrawal port 12 also serves as a coin reject port through which rejected coins are dispensed from the machine body 2a.

[0018] The coin processing unit 10 includes a coin transport unit (not shown) that transports coins within the coin processing unit 10, a coin identification unit (not shown) that detects the magnetic properties, image or outer diameter of coins passing over the coin transport unit to identify the coins, and a storage unit (not shown) that can store identified coins according to their denominations. The coin processing unit 10 is configured to be retractable from the machine body 2a. Since the coin processing unit 10 has a known configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0019] The banknote processing unit 20 is provided with a banknote deposit / withdrawal port 21 on the front surface of the body 2a, into which banknotes are inserted in a stacked state. The banknote deposit / withdrawal port 21 also serves as a banknote withdrawal port for dispensing banknotes stored in the banknote processing unit 20. The banknote deposit / withdrawal port 21 is provided with a shutter (not shown) that can be opened and closed. The banknote processing unit 20 is also provided with a banknote deposit reject port 22 below the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 21, through which banknotes that cannot be stored in a stacker (not shown) are fed from within the body 2a during a deposit process (banknotes not to be stored), and a banknote withdrawal reject vault 23, through which banknotes not to be stored are fed from within the body 2a during a withdrawal process.

[0020] The banknote processing unit 20 includes a banknote transport unit (not shown) that transports banknotes within the banknote processing unit 20, a banknote recognition unit that recognizes the denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. of banknotes transported to the banknote transport unit, and a stacker that can store recognized banknotes according to their denomination. The banknote processing unit 20 is configured to be retractable from the machine body 2a. Note that the banknote processing unit 20 has a known configuration, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] The coin processing unit 10 has a display unit 4a and an input unit 4b, which are used to operate the money handling machine 2, arranged side by side on the left side of the coin deposit slot 11. The display unit 4a is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 4a mainly displays text information, such as character strings. The input unit 4b accepts operational input to the money handling machine 2 and is, for example, hardware keys such as arrow keys 4c, a decision key 4d, and a cancel key 4e. When the input unit 4b accepts operational input from an operator, it sends a signal corresponding to the input content to the first control unit 7. The display unit 4a and the input unit 4b may be, for example, a capacitive touch panel display.

[0022] The terminal 3 is installed on the top surface of the machine body 2a. The terminal 3 is equipped with an operation display unit 31, which is, for example, a capacitive touch panel display. The operation display unit 31 is larger than the display unit 4a, has a relatively larger display area, and can display a larger amount of information. The operation display unit 31 can display visual information including at least one of still images and videos, in addition to text information.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the currency handling machine 2 is equipped with a fault detection unit 5 and a status acquisition unit 6. The fault detection unit 5 detects the occurrence of various faults, such as malfunctions, within the currency handling machine 2. Furthermore, when the fault detection unit 5 detects a fault, it sends an error signal indicating the location and nature of the fault to the first control unit 7. The status acquisition unit 6 acquires the status of the components that make up the currency handling machine 2, in particular the recovery status of the part where the fault occurred, and includes various sensors such as a sensor that detects the withdrawal of coin processing unit 10, a sensor that detects jamming of banknotes, etc., or a sensor that detects the opening and closing of a cover.

[0024] The money handling machine 2 comprises a first control unit 7 that controls its operation, and a first storage unit 8 in which various information necessary for the operation of the money handling machine 2 is stored.

[0025] The first control unit 7 is a computer configured, for example, by a CPU, memory, etc. The first control unit 7 controls each of the components that make up the money handling machine 2. The functions of the first control unit 7 may be realized by operating using hardware, or may be realized by controlling using software. The first control unit 7 controls various operations of the money handling machine 2 in accordance with operation inputs by an operator received by the input unit 4b and detection results from the fault detection unit 5, etc. The first control unit 7 is equipped with a determination unit 7a. Details of the determination unit 7a will be described later.

[0026] The first memory unit 8 is, for example, a storage device. The first memory unit 8 stores an error code 8a, a first recovery code 8b, and first guidance information 8c. The error code 8a is a code consisting of, for example, multiple numbers and symbols, which is set for each type of failure that may occur in the money handling machine 2. The error code 8a corresponding to the type of failure detected by the failure detection unit 5 is displayed on the display unit 4a and the operation display unit 31. The first recovery code 8b is a code consisting of, for example, multiple numbers, which is set in association with each step of a series of recovery operations performed by the operator to recover the money handling machine 2 from a failure. The first guidance information 8c is displayed on the display unit 4a to instruct the operator on the content of each step of the recovery operations. For example, the first guidance information 8c includes a text code consisting of, for example, multiple numbers, which is set in association with each step of the recovery operations, and text information (guidance message) consisting of, for example, a character string, which, when displayed on the display unit 4a, notifies the operator of the content of the recovery operations step associated with the text code.

[0027] The terminal 3 is equipped with a second control unit 32 that controls its operation. The second control unit 32 is a computer configured with, for example, a CPU, a memory, etc. The second control unit 32 controls each of the components that make up the terminal 3. The functions of the second control unit 32 may be realized by operating using hardware, or may be realized by controlling using software. The second control unit 32 controls various operations of the terminal 3 in response to operation inputs by an operator received by the operation display unit 31. The second control unit 32 is equipped with a code comparison unit 32a. Details of the code comparison unit 32a will be described later.

[0028] The terminal 3 includes a second storage unit 33 that stores various information necessary for the operation of the terminal 3. The second storage unit 33 is, for example, a storage device. The second storage unit 33 stores an operation screen or the like that includes a plurality of icons or the like that are registered in advance in accordance with initial settings or operator operations. The second storage unit 33 also stores a second recovery code 33a, second guidance information 33b, fallback information 33c, and the like.

[0029] Here, like the first recovery code 8b, the second recovery code 33a is a code consisting of, for example, multiple numbers that is set in association with each step of a series of recovery operations to recover the money handling machine 2 from a failure. Note that the first recovery code 8b may differ for each money handling machine 2 because it can be changed as needed when customizing a standard money handling machine 2, whereas the second recovery code 33a is set for a standard money handling machine 2, so the first recovery code 8b and the second recovery code 33a do not necessarily match. Note that the second recovery code 33a is not limited to a standard money handling machine 2, and may be set for, for example, specific firmware of the money handling machine 2.

[0030] The second guidance information 33b is displayed on the operation display unit 31 to instruct the operator on the content of each step of the recovery work, and includes, for example, a text code and a visual code consisting of, for example, multiple numbers that are set in association with each step of the recovery work, text information (guidance message) consisting of, for example, a string of characters that, when displayed on the operation display unit 31, notifies the operator of the content of the step of the recovery work associated with the text code, and visual information (guidance screen) including, for example, at least one of a still image and a video, that, when displayed on the operation display unit 31, notifies the operator of the content of the step of the recovery work associated with the visual code.

[0031] The fallback information 33c is displayed on the operation display unit 31 when the first recovery code 8b and the second recovery code 33a do not match, and includes, for example, a text code and a visual code consisting of a plurality of numbers, text information consisting of, for example, a character string linked to the text code, and visual information including, for example, at least one of a still image and a video linked to the visual code. Details of the fallback information 33c will be described later.

[0032] In addition, the second memory unit 33 stores first authentication information 33d, which is the authentication number of at least one or more operators who are authorized to operate the currency handling system 1, and second authentication information 33e, which is the authentication number of at least one or more operators who are authorized to execute the failure recovery mode described below.

[0033] The money handling machine 2 and the terminal 3 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the communication units 9, 34. That is, the first control unit 7 of the money handling machine 2 transmits various signals to the terminal 3 and executes predetermined processing based on the signals sent from the terminal 3. Furthermore, the second control unit 32 of the terminal 3 executes predetermined processing, such as displaying a predetermined operation screen on the operation display unit 31, based on the signals sent from the money handling machine 2, and transmits various signals to the money handling machine 2 in response to operation inputs by the operator that are accepted by the operation display unit 31. Note that communication between the communication units 9, 34 may be either wireless or wired communication.

[0034] <Currency handling method> Next, the procedure for recovering from a fault in the money handling machine 2 while it is processing money will be explained using as an example a case where a fault occurs that prevents the shutter of the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 21 from opening or closing during the deposit process of loose banknotes.

[0035] First, when the currency handling system 1 is on standby, the first control unit 7 displays a standby screen S1 shown in Fig. 3 on the operation display unit 31. The standby screen S1 includes text and still images that guide the operator using the currency handling system 1 to perform authentication. When the operation display unit 31 accepts a press input on the standby screen S1 by the operator, the second control unit 32 displays an authentication screen S2 shown in Fig. 4 superimposed on the standby screen S1 displayed on the operation display unit 31.

[0036] The authentication screen S2 includes a numeric keypad icon G10, which is a plurality of numeric buttons corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, an indicator G11 that displays the numbers entered by pressing the numeric buttons, an icon G12 labeled "Enter" for confirming the entered numbers, an icon G13 labeled "C" for erasing the entered numbers, and an icon G14 labeled "Clear Window" for returning to the standby screen S1. The authentication screen S2 also includes a guidance display area G15 that displays text prompting the operator to enter an authentication number. The operator enters an authentication number consisting of a plurality of numbers assigned to them by pressing the numeric keypad icon G10, and after entering the numbers, presses the icon G12 labeled "Enter" to confirm the entered authentication number.

[0037] The second control unit 32 compares the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S2 with each authentication number in the first authentication information 33d stored in the second storage unit 33 in advance.

[0038] If the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S2 matches each authentication number in the first authentication information 33d, the second control unit 32 switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the authentication screen S2 to the main menu screen S3 shown in Fig. 5. On the other hand, if the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S2 does not match each authentication number in the first authentication information 33d, the second control unit 32 continues to display the authentication screen S2 on the operation display unit 31.

[0039] The main menu screen S3 is an operation screen that allows the operator to select various processes that can be performed by the money handling machine 2. The main menu screen S3 includes icons G20 to G25 labeled "Change Dispensing," "Deposit (Settlement)," "Exchange," "Inquiry," "Expense Processing (Minor Processing)," "Back," etc.

[0040] When the operation display unit 31 receives an operation input from the operator to one of the icons G20 to G25 in the main menu screen S3 displayed on the operation display unit 31, the second control unit 32 sends a signal to the currency processing machine 2 via the communication units 9, 34 to realize the function corresponding to the selected icon, and displays an operation screen on the operation display unit 31 to realize the function corresponding to the selected icon.

[0041] For example, when the "Deposit (Settlement)" icon G21 on the main menu screen S3 is pressed, the second control unit 32 sends a signal to start the deposit process to the currency handling machine 2 via the communication units 9, 34, and switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the main menu screen S3 to the confirmation screen S4 shown in Figure 6, on which the deposit amount can be confirmed.

[0042] The confirmation screen S4 includes a deposit amount display area G30 that displays the total amount of loose banknotes deposited during the deposit process, a voucher amount display area G31 that displays the amount to be deposited (voucher amount) that was previously entered, a surplus / deficit amount display area G32 that displays the surplus / deficit amount of the total deposited amount compared to the voucher amount, an icon G33 labeled "Complete" that confirms the deposit process, and an icon G34 labeled "Cancel" that cancels the deposit process.

[0043] When the first control unit 7 receives a signal from the terminal 3 to start a deposit process, it drives the banknote processing unit 20 to start the deposit process mode. In the deposit process mode, first, a motor (not shown) that drives the shutter of the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 is driven to open the shutter that had been closing the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21, thereby opening the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 so that banknotes can be received. In the failure recovery mode below, an example will be described in which a failure occurs in the opening operation of the shutter of the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21. Figure 7 shows a flowchart showing the procedure in the failure recovery mode.

[0044] <Disaster Recovery Mode> When the fault detection unit 5 detects that a fault has occurred in the shutter of the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 (step ST1), it transmits a signal to the first control unit 7. The signal sent from the fault detection unit 5 includes at least the location of the fault and the type of fault. When the first control unit 7 receives the signal sent by the fault detection unit 5, it interrupts the deposit processing mode and then transmits recovery target information, which is a signal notifying that a fault has occurred in the money handling machine 2, to the terminal 3 via the communication units 9, 34 (step ST2). The recovery target information includes at least the location of the fault and an error code indicating the type of fault.

[0045] When the second control unit 32 receives the recovery target information sent by the currency handling machine 2, it displays the authentication screen S5 shown in Figure 8 superimposed on the confirmation screen S4 of the operation display unit 31 to notify the operator that a failure has occurred (step ST3).

[0046] The authentication screen S5 includes a numeric keypad icon G40, which is a plurality of numeric buttons corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, an indicator G41 that displays the numbers entered by pressing the numeric buttons, an icon G42 labeled "Enter" that confirms the entered numbers, and an icon G43 labeled "C" that deletes the entered numbers. The authentication screen S5 also displays a text display area G44 that notifies the operator that a failure has occurred and prompts the operator to enter an authentication number. The operator enters an authentication number consisting of a plurality of numbers assigned to them by pressing the numeric keypad icon G40, and after entering the numbers, presses the icon G42 labeled "Enter" to confirm the entered authentication number.

[0047] The second control unit 32 compares the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S5 with each authentication number in the second authentication information 33e stored in the second storage unit 33 in advance.

[0048] If the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S5 matches any of the authentication numbers in the second authentication information 33e, the second control unit 32 switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the authentication screen S5 to the confirmation screen S6 shown in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the operator's authentication number input via the authentication screen S5 does not match any of the authentication numbers in the second authentication information 33e, the second control unit 32 cancels the authentication number displayed on the indicator G41 of the authentication screen S5.

[0049] The confirmation screen S6 includes a guidance display area G50 displaying a string of characters that guides the operator to instruct the operator to start the fault recovery mode, an icon G51 labeled "Execute" that starts the fault recovery mode, an icon G52 labeled "Cancel" that returns to the authentication screen S5, and a visual information display section G53 that displays a still image that resembles the currency processing machine 2.

[0050] When the operation display unit 31 receives a press on the icon G51 labeled "Execute" on the confirmation screen S6 (step ST4), the second control unit 32 switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the confirmation screen S6 to a guidance screen S7 shown in FIG. 10, which notifies the user of the details of the problem, etc.

[0051] The guidance screen S7 displays, one above the other, a failure location display area G60 that displays the location of the failure and the processing that was in progress when the failure occurred, a handling display area G61 that displays the handling of the cash removed from the failure location during the recovery work, and a notification area G62 that notifies the user whether the cash removed from the failure location during the recovery work should be stored inside the machine or removed outside the machine, depending on the handling of the cash. Here, the handling of cash refers to either "banknotes to be handled outside the machine," which are banknotes whose deposit into the money handling machine 2 has not been confirmed, or "banknotes to be handled inside the machine," which are banknotes whose deposit into the money handling machine 2 has been confirmed.

[0052] The guidance screen S7 illustrated in Figure 10 notifies in the fault location display area G60 that a fault has occurred in the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 during deposit processing, notifies in the handling display area G61 that the banknotes in the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 are to be handled outside the machine, and notifies in the notification area G62 that the banknotes removed from the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 should be taken out of the machine.

[0053] The second control unit 32 also sends a signal to start the failure recovery mode to the currency handling machine 2 via the communication units 9 and 34 (step ST5). When the first control unit 7 receives a signal from the terminal 3 instructing the start of the failure recovery mode, it starts the failure recovery mode (step ST6). In the failure recovery mode, the operator is instructed on the content of each step of the series of recovery work that the operator must perform to recover from the failure, thereby facilitating smooth recovery from the failure.

[0054] Specifically, first, when the currency handling machine 2 receives a periodic inquiry from the second control unit 32 regarding the recovery status of the location where the failure occurred, the status acquisition unit 6 acquires the recovery status of the location where the failure detection unit 5 detected the failure, and the judgment unit 7a judges at predetermined intervals whether the failure has been recovered based on the results acquired by the status acquisition unit 6 (step ST7).

[0055] In addition, the confirmation of the recovery status of the faulty location by the status acquisition unit 6 and the judgment unit 7a does not have to be performed when the currency processing machine 2 receives a periodic inquiry from the terminal 3 regarding the recovery status of the faulty location, but may also be performed automatically, for example, at predetermined intervals.

[0056] If the determination unit 7a determines that the failure has not been recovered (No in step ST7), the determination unit 7a determines which step of the recovery work should be performed based on the recovery status acquired by the status acquisition unit 6. The correspondence between the recovery status of the failed location acquired by the status acquisition unit 6 and each step of the recovery work is pre-stored in the first storage unit 8, and the determination unit 7a retrieves which step of the recovery work should be performed from the first storage unit 8 based on the recovery status of the failed location acquired by the status acquisition unit 6. Next, the first control unit 7 retrieves from the first storage unit 8 first guidance information 8c corresponding to the step of the recovery work determined by the determination unit 7a, and displays it on the display unit 4a together with an error code 8a included in the recovery target information (step ST8). Next, the first control unit 7 transmits a first recovery code 8b corresponding to the step of the recovery work determined by the determination unit 7a to the terminal 3 via the communication units 9 and 34 (step ST9). Note that the order of steps ST8 and ST9 is not limited as described above.

[0057] The code comparison unit 32a compares the received first recovery code 8b with the second recovery code 33a stored in the second storage unit 33 (step ST10). If there is a second recovery code 33a that matches the received first recovery code 8b (Yes in step ST10), the second control unit 32 calls up, from the second storage unit 33, second guidance information 33b that indicates the content of the recovery work process corresponding to the second recovery code 33a that matches the first recovery code 8b, and displays, on the operation display unit 31, a guidance screen that displays text information and visual information that are respectively linked to the text code and visual code of the second guidance information 33b (step ST11).

[0058] 11 and 12 show an example of a combination of guidance screens S8 and S9 corresponding to two steps in a series of recovery operations for a failure that has occurred in the shutter of the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21. The guidance screen S8 shown in Fig. 11 corresponds to the first step of pushing in the coin processing unit 10 while pulling the locking member provided on the right side surface of the banknote processing unit 20, with the banknote processing unit 20 pulled out from the body 2a. The guidance screen S9 shown in Fig. 12 corresponds to the second step of pressing the cancel key 4e of the input unit 4b after the first step.

[0059] When the terminal 3 receives a first recovery code 8b corresponding to the first step from the currency handling machine 2, and the code comparison unit 32a compares this first recovery code 8b with the second recovery code 33a stored in the second memory unit 33, and the code comparison unit 32a finds that a second recovery code 33a matching this first recovery code 8b is stored in the second memory unit 33, the second control unit 32 displays a guidance screen S8 shown in Fig. 11 on the operation display unit 31. The guidance screen S8 includes a text information display area G70 that notifies the user of the content of the first step using a character string, and a visual information display area G71 that notifies the user of the content of the first step using a still image.

[0060] Furthermore, when the terminal 3 receives a first recovery code 8b corresponding to the second step from the currency handling machine 2, and the code comparison unit 32a compares this first recovery code 8b with the second recovery code 33a stored in the second memory unit 33, and the code comparison unit 32a finds that a second recovery code 33a matching this first recovery code 8b is stored in the second memory unit 33, the second control unit 32 displays a guidance screen S9 shown in Fig. 12 on the operation display unit 31. The guidance screen S9 includes a text information display area G80 that notifies the content of the second step using a character string, and a visual information display area G81 that notifies the content of the second step using a still image.

[0061] The guidance screens S8 and S9 include a failure location display area G72, G82 that shows the location of the failure notified in the recovery target information, an error code display area G73, G83 that shows the error code 8a, and a handling display area G74, G84 that shows the handling of the banknote. Also, the three sets of two-digit numbers G75, G85 displayed in the lower left of the guidance screens S8 and S9 shown in Figures 11 and 12 correspond, from left to right, to the first recovery code 8b and the text code and visual code included in each piece of second guidance information 33b, respectively.

[0062] In this way, the process of recovery work from a failure that has occurred in the currency processing machine 2 is displayed on the operation display unit 31 via the first recovery code 8b and the second recovery code 33a in a relatively wide display area using visual information such as still images, thereby reducing the amount of data communication between the currency processing machine 2 and the terminal 3 while visually notifying the operator of the contents of the recovery work process, allowing the worker to carry out the recovery work smoothly.

[0063] On the other hand, if the code comparison unit 32a compares the first recovery code 8b received by the terminal 3 with the second recovery code 33a stored in the second memory unit 33 and finds that the second recovery code 33a matching the first recovery code 8b does not exist in the second memory unit 33 (No in step ST10), the second control unit 32 calls up the fallback screen S10 displaying the fallback information 33c shown in Figure 13 from the second memory unit 33 and displays it on the operation display unit 31 (step ST12).

[0064] The fallback screen S10 includes a text information display area G90 in which text information is displayed that urges the operator to refer to the first guidance information 8c displayed on the display unit 4a when there is no second recovery code 33a that matches the received first recovery code 8b and to proceed with the recovery work, and a visual information display area G91 in which visual information, which is a still image, is displayed that urges the operator to refer to the first guidance information 8c displayed on the display unit 4a and to proceed with the recovery work.

[0065] The fallback screen S10 also includes a failure location display area G92 that shows the location of the failure notified in the recovery target information, an error code display area G93 that shows the error code included in the recovery target information, and a handling display area G94 that displays the handling of cash removed from the failure location. Also, the three sets of two-digit numbers G95 displayed in the lower left of the fallback screen S10 shown in Figure 13 correspond, from left to right, to the first recovery code 8b, a text code corresponding to the text information displayed in the text information display area G90, and a visual code corresponding to the visual information displayed in the visual information display area G91, respectively.

[0066] Returning to step ST7, if the determination unit 7a determines that the failure has been resolved (Yes in step ST7), the first control unit 7 transmits failure resolution information, which is a signal informing the money handling machine 2 that the failure has been resolved, to the terminal 3 via the communication units 9 and 34 (step ST13). Subsequently, the first control unit 7 ends the failure resolution mode (step ST14).

[0067] When the second control unit 32 receives the fault resolution information sent by the money handling machine 2, it displays the authentication screen S11 shown in Figure 14 on the operation display unit 31 and notifies the operator that the fault has been resolved (step ST15).

[0068] The authentication screen S11 includes a numeric keypad icon G100, which is a plurality of numeric buttons corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, an indicator G101 that displays the numbers entered by pressing the numeric buttons, an icon G102 labeled "Enter" that confirms the entered number, an icon G103 labeled "C" that deletes the entered number, and an icon G104 labeled "Cancel." The authentication screen S11 also displays a text display area G105 that notifies the operator that the failure at the failed location has been resolved. The operator enters an authentication number, which is made up of a plurality of numbers assigned to them, by pressing the numeric keypad icon G100, and then presses the icon G102 to confirm the entered authentication number.

[0069] The second control unit 32 compares the authentication number of the operator input via the authentication screen S11 with each authentication number of the first authentication information 33d stored in the second storage unit 33 in advance.

[0070] If the operator's authentication number entered via the authentication screen S11 matches any of the authentication numbers in the first authentication information 33d, the second control unit 32 switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the authentication screen S11 to the confirmation screen S4 shown in Figure 6 on which the deposit amount can be confirmed, resumes the deposit process, and sends a signal to resume the deposit process to the money handling machine 2 via the communication units 9, 34. When the first control unit 7 receives the signal to resume the deposit process from the terminal 3, it drives the banknote processing unit 20 to resume the deposit process mode.

[0071] On the other hand, if the operator's authentication number entered via the authentication screen S11 does not match any of the authentication numbers in the first authentication information 33d, the second control unit 32 cancels the authentication number entered on the authentication screen S11. Furthermore, if the second control unit 32 receives input by pressing the "Cancel" icon G104, the second control unit 32 switches the screen displayed on the operation display unit 31 from the authentication screen S11 to the confirmation screen S4 that was displayed before the failure occurred.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the guidance screens S8 and S9 displayed on the operation display unit 31 are automatically transitioned depending on the result of acquisition of the recovery state from the failure by the status acquisition unit 6 and the judgment result of the judgment unit 7a, but multiple guidance screens may also be transitioned in sequence manually by the operator.

[0073] 15 to 17 show an example of a combination of guidance screens S12 to S14 corresponding to three consecutive steps in the recovery work for a jam that has occurred in the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 during a banknote dispensing process. The guidance screen S12 shown in Fig. 15 corresponds to the first step of rotating the knob provided on the right side of the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21 clockwise with the banknote processing unit 20 pulled out from the machine body 2a, the guidance screen S13 shown in Fig. 16 corresponds to the second step of checking that no banknotes remain in the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 21, and the guidance screen S14 shown in Fig. 17 corresponds to the third step of pushing the banknote processing unit 20 back into the machine body 2a.

[0074] The guidance screen S12 includes a text information display area G110 that notifies the user of the contents of the first step using text strings, and a visual information display area G111 that notifies the user of the contents of the first step using a still image. The guidance screen S13 includes a text information display area G120 that notifies the user of the contents of the second step using text strings, and a visual information display area G121 that notifies the user of the contents of the second step using a still image. The guidance screen S14 includes a text information display area G130 that notifies the user of the contents of the third step using text strings, and a visual information display area G131 that notifies the user of the contents of the third step using a still image.

[0075] Furthermore, the guidance screens S12 to S14 include failure location display areas G112, G122, G132 that show the location of the failure notified in the recovery target information, error code display areas G113, G123, G133 that show the error code 8a, and handling display areas G114, G124, G134 that show the handling of the banknote. Furthermore, three sets of two-digit numbers G115, G125, G135 displayed at the bottom left of the guidance screens S12 to S14 correspond, from left to right, to the first recovery code 8b, the text code and visual code of each piece of second guidance information 33b, respectively.

[0076] In Figures 15 to 17, by pressing arrow icons G116, G126, and G136 located below the visual information display areas G111, 121, and 131, the operator can manually transition between guidance screens S12 to S14 according to the progress of the recovery work.

[0077] In this way, the currency handling system 1 according to this embodiment is a currency handling system 1 comprising a currency handling machine 2 and a terminal 3 communicatively connected to the currency handling machine 2 and capable of controlling the currency handling machine 2, the currency handling machine 2 comprising a display unit 4a, a fault detection unit 5 which detects faults in the currency handling machine 2, a first storage unit 8 in which are stored first recovery codes 8b which are linked to each step of a series of recovery work carried out by an operator to recover from a fault detected by the fault detection unit 5, and first guidance information 8c which indicates the content of each step of the recovery work, and a display unit 4a which displays the first guidance information 8c which indicates the content of the step of the recovery work corresponding to the detected fault, and a first recovery code 8b which corresponds to the step of the recovery work corresponding to the detected fault. and a first control unit 7 that transmits a code 8b to the terminal 3. The terminal 3 is configured to include an operation display unit 31 having a larger display area than the display unit 4a, a second memory unit that stores second recovery codes 33a that are set in association with each step of the recovery work and second guidance information 33b that indicates the content of each step of the recovery work corresponding to the second recovery code 33a, and a second control unit 32 that compares the received first recovery code with the second recovery code 33a stored in the second memory unit 33, and, if there is no second recovery code 33a that matches the received first recovery code 8b, causes the operation display unit 31 to display a fallback screen S10 that displays fallback information 33c that notifies the operator to refer to the first guidance information 8c displayed on the display unit 4a.

[0078] According to this configuration, even if the first recovery code 8b and the second recovery code 33a relating to the same recovery work step do not match, the terminal 3 displays the fallback screen S10 including the fallback information 33c on the operation display unit 31, so that the operator can smoothly continue the recovery work in accordance with the first guidance information 8c displayed on the display unit 4a.

[0079] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention also covers such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1: currency processing system, 2: currency processing machine, 2a: machine body, 3: terminal, 4a: display unit, 4b: input unit, 5: fault detection unit, 6: status acquisition unit, 7: first control unit, 7a: judgment unit, 8: first memory unit, 8a: error code, 8b: first recovery code, 8c: first guidance information, 9: communication unit (of currency processing machine), 10: coin processing unit, 11: coin deposit slot, 12: coin withdrawal slot, 20: banknote processing unit, 21: banknote deposit / withdrawal slot, 22: banknote deposit reject slot, 23: banknote withdrawal reject box, 31: operation display unit, 32: second control unit, 32a: code comparison unit, 33: second memory unit, 33a: second recovery code, 33b: second guidance information, 33c: fallback information, 33d: first authentication information, 33e: second authentication information, 34: communication unit (of terminal)

Claims

1. A currency handling system comprising: a currency handling machine; and a terminal communicatively connected to the currency handling machine and capable of controlling the currency handling machine, The currency handling machine includes: A first display unit; a fault detection unit that detects a fault in the money handling machine; a first storage unit that stores a first recovery code that is set in association with each step of a series of recovery operations that an operator performs to recover from a failure in a location where a failure has been detected by the failure detection unit, and first guidance information that indicates the content of each step of the recovery operations; a first control unit that causes the first display unit to display the first guidance information indicating the content of the recovery work process corresponding to the detected failure, and transmits the first recovery code corresponding to the recovery work process corresponding to the detected failure to the terminal; Equipped with The terminal a second display unit having a larger display area than the first display unit; a second storage unit that stores second recovery codes that are set in association with the respective steps of the recovery work, and second guidance information that indicates the content of the respective steps of the recovery work that correspond to the second recovery codes; a second control unit that compares the received first recovery code with the second recovery code stored in the second storage unit, and, if there is no second recovery code that matches the received first recovery code, causes the second display unit to display fallback information that notifies the operator to refer to the first guidance information displayed on the first display unit; A currency handling system comprising:

2. The currency handling machine includes: a status acquisition unit that acquires a recovery status of the failed location from the failure; a determination unit that determines which step of the restoration work the restoration state at the failure location acquired by the state acquisition unit corresponds to; Furthermore, The currency handling system described in claim 1, characterized in that the first control unit displays the first guidance information corresponding to the recovery work step determined by the judgment unit on the first display unit each time the judgment unit makes a judgment, and transmits the first recovery code corresponding to the recovery work step determined by the judgment unit to the terminal.

3. The currency handling system according to claim 2, wherein the status acquisition unit acquires the recovery status at the failure location at predetermined time intervals.

4. The currency handling system of claim 2, characterized in that the status acquisition unit acquires the recovery status at the failed location each time it receives an inquiry about the recovery status at the failed location from the terminal.

5. the first guidance information is text information, The currency handling system according to claim 1 , wherein the second guidance information includes at least visual information.

Images