vending machine

Abstract

Ensure that software updates are performed successfully online. [Solution] A vending machine 10 for selling products is provided, and includes an information terminal 14 that is connected to the main control unit 10a of the vending machine 10 by USB communication 15 and also connected to an external management server 20 so as to be able to communicate with it. Normally, the information terminal 14 communicates with the main control unit 10a and the management server 20 in communication mode, and when update software for the main control unit 10a is sent from the management server 20 and predetermined update conditions are met, it is used for updating the software of the main control unit 10a in USB memory mode. When the main control unit 10a performs a software update, it stores the update status in the USB memory area 142a of the information terminal 14, and it is preferable that when the power supply is stopped, the information terminal 14 enters communication mode after a predetermined startup process, and refers to the update status of the USB memory area 142a to continue in communication mode or switch to USB memory mode.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a vending machine for selling products, when performing software update of the main control unit, it has been performed by connecting a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory storing the update software (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, it has been demanded to provide various value-added services in vending machines, and vending machines are connected to external devices such as management servers via a network. Therefore, in vending machines, it is desired that software update of the main control unit is also performed online.

[0005] In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of performing software update well online.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine that sells products and includes an information terminal that is connected to any component of the vending machine via USB communication and is also connected to an external management server for communication. The information terminal, under normal circumstances, communicates with the component and the management server in communication mode, and when update software for the component is transmitted from the management server and predetermined update conditions are met, it is used for updating the software of the component in USB memory mode.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the component device is a main control unit that controls the sale of the product, and when the main control unit performs the software update, it stores the update status in the USB memory area of ​​the information terminal, and when the power supply is stopped, the information terminal enters the communication mode after a predetermined startup process, and refers to the update status of the USB memory area to continue the communication mode or switch to the USB memory mode.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the main control unit switches to the USB memory mode when the update status of the USB memory area is in progress, and continues the communication mode when the update status of the USB memory area is complete.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the component device is a peripheral device connected to a main control unit that controls the sale of the product, the peripheral device stores the update result in the storage area of ​​the information terminal when the software update is completed, and the information terminal monitors the storage area and returns from the USB memory mode to the communication mode when the update result is stored in the storage area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, while the information terminal normally communicates with the constituent devices and the management server in communication mode, when the management server sends update software for the constituent devices and predetermined update conditions are met, it is put into USB memory mode for software updates of the constituent devices, thus providing the effect of enabling software updates to be performed online smoothly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of an automatic vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processing details of the software update control process performed by the information terminal shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing details of the software update control process performed by the information terminal shown in Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] <Embodiment 1> Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of an automatic vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The vending machine 10 illustrated here sells beverages in containers such as cans or plastic bottles, and although not explicitly shown in the figure, it is equipped with a main cabinet and a front door.

[0014] The main cabinet is a rectangular, insulated enclosure with an opening at the front. Inside, there are multiple product storage racks, and columns are set between these product storage racks. Each column is a storage unit for products of the same type, and one or more product storage racks are provided depending on the products being sold.

[0015] The front door is a heat-insulating door that is swingably provided on the main body cabinet in a manner of opening and closing the opening on the front of the main body cabinet. On this front door, there are provided product selection buttons, a money insertion slot, and a product outlet. The product selection buttons are selection means for selecting products and are provided corresponding to product samples. The money insertion slot is an insertion slot for money such as coins. The product outlet is an opening for taking out the product carried out from the inside of the main body cabinet and can be opened and closed by a product take-out door.

[0016] The vending machine 10 has a main control unit 10a, and a cooling and heating device 11, a carry-out device 12, a money processing device 13, and an information terminal 14 are connected to this main control unit 10a.

[0017] The main control unit 10a comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the vending machine 10 according to programs and data stored in a storage unit (not shown).

[0018] The cooling and heating device 11 is for managing the products stored in the product storage rack in a set temperature state. The cooling and heating device 11 cools the products in the product storage rack set for cooling while heating the products in the product storage rack set for heating.

[0019] The carry-out device 12 is provided for each column in the product storage rack. When a carry-out command is given from the main control unit 10a, the carry-out device 12 carries out the product at the most downstream position of the corresponding column and enables the carried-out product to be taken out through the product outlet.

[0020] The money processing device 13 is, for example, something called a coin mech or a bill validator, and performs deposit processing and withdrawal processing of the money inserted from the money insertion slot.

[0021] The information terminal 14 is connected to the main control unit 10a via USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication 15. This information terminal 14 is a communication interface that communicates with the management server 20 via the network N by means of a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark), etc., and also communicates with the main control unit 10a. Incidentally, the information terminal 14 also has a function of performing short-range wireless communication with a mobile terminal or the like and performing communication connection processing with the mobile terminal. Examples of short-range wireless communication include Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark). From the perspective of power consumption, it is preferable to use Bluetooth (registered trademark), particularly BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication.

[0022] The above information terminal 14 has an update processing unit 141 that stores the update software provided by the management server 20 in the USB memory area 142a in the terminal storage unit 142 and is used for software update of the main control unit 10a when a predetermined update condition is satisfied. Here, cases where the update condition is satisfied include when the update date and time provided by the management server 20 together with the update software have elapsed, or when an update command is separately given by the management server 20, etc.

[0023] This update processing unit 141 can be alternatively switched between a communication mode for communicating commands with the main control unit 10a and the management server 20, etc., and a USB memory mode. In the normal state, it is in the communication mode, and when the above update condition is satisfied, it becomes the USB memory mode. Incidentally, when the update processing unit 141 is in the USB memory mode, it switches to the communication mode after a predetermined startup process on the condition that the supply of USB power from the main control unit 10a has stopped.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the software update control process implemented by the information terminal 14 shown in FIG. 1. The operation of the vending machine 10 will be described while explaining such software update control process. Incidentally, on the premise, it is assumed that the information terminal 14 is in the communication mode.

[0025] In this software update control process, the update processing unit 141 of the information terminal 14 determines whether or not an update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S101). If no update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S101: No), the update processing unit 141 repeats this determination process.

[0026] If the management server 20 sends update software (step S101: Yes), the update processing unit 141 stores the update software in the USB memory area 142a (step S102) and determines whether the update conditions are met (step S103). For example, the update processing unit 141 determines whether a separate update command has been given from the management server 20. If the update conditions are not met (step S103: No), the update processing unit 141 repeats this determination process.

[0027] If the update conditions are met (step S103: Yes), the update processing unit 141 switches to USB memory mode (step S104). When the update processing unit 141 switches to USB memory mode in this way, the main control unit 10a performs USB detection, and the update processing unit 141 is then put into use for software updates (step S105). As the update processing unit 141 is put into use for software updates in USB memory mode, the main control unit 10a stores the update status (update in progress or update completed) in the USB memory area 142a of the information terminal 14.

[0028] The update processing unit 141, which is then used for the software update, determines whether or not the power supply has been cut off (step S106). The power supply being cut off here includes, for example, the cessation of power supply due to a power outage or the cessation of USB power supply from the main control unit 10a. If the power supply is not cut off (step S106: No), the update processing unit 141 is used for the software update by repeating this determination process.

[0029] If the power supply is interrupted (step S106: Yes), the update processing unit 141 switches to communication mode after a predetermined startup process is performed (step S107) and checks the update status of the USB memory area 142a (step S108).

[0030] The update processing unit 141, which refers to the update status of the USB memory area 142a, determines the update status, that is, whether the update is complete or not, and whether the update is in progress or not (steps S109, S110).

[0031] If the update is complete (step S109: Yes), the update processing unit 141 determines whether the update was successful or not (step S111). If the update was successful (step S111: Yes), the update processing unit 141 sends the update results, such as the updated version, to the management server 20 (step S112), and then returns the procedure to terminate the current process. This allows the management server 20 to recognize that the software update of the main control unit 10a was successful.

[0032] If the update fails (step S111: No), the update processing unit 141 sends an error result indicating the update failed to the management server 20 (step S113), and then returns to the previous step to terminate the process. This allows the management server 20 to recognize that the software update of the main control unit 10a has failed.

[0033] If the update is in progress in steps S109 and S110 (step S109: No, step S110: Yes), for example, if a power outage occurs during the update, the update processing unit 141 switches to USB memory mode (step S114) and repeats the process from step S105 onwards.

[0034] According to this, the main control unit 10a can perform the software update again, and it is possible to avoid the software update being terminated midway through the process.

[0035] As described above, according to the vending machine 10, which is Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the information terminal 14 normally communicates with the main control unit 10a and the management server 20 in communication mode, and when the management server 20 sends update software for the main control unit 10a and the predetermined update conditions are met, it is put into USB memory mode for updating the software of the main control unit 10a, so that software updates can be performed online smoothly.

[0036] According to the vending machine 10 described above, when the power supply is interrupted, the information terminal 14 enters communication mode after a startup process. If the update status of the USB memory area 142a is in progress, it switches to USB memory mode. However, if the update status of the USB memory area 142a is complete, it continues in communication mode. Therefore, if a power outage occurs during a software update, for example, it will switch to USB memory mode to allow the software update to be performed again. Furthermore, if the update status of the USB memory area 142a is complete, the management server 20 can recognize whether the software update was successful or failed, thereby preventing malfunctions caused by a prolonged state where the result of the software update cannot be determined.

[0037] <Embodiment 2> Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Note that components identical to those of the vending machine 10 in Embodiment 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0038] The vending machine 10' illustrated here sells beverages in containers such as cans or plastic bottles, and has a main control unit 10b to which a cooling / heating device 11, a dispensing device 12, a money processing device 13, peripheral devices 16, and an information terminal 17 are connected.

[0039] The main control unit 10b comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the vending machine 10' according to the program and data stored in a memory unit (not shown). Peripheral devices 16 can be any component of the vending machine 10', such as a voice box.

[0040] The information terminal 17 is connected to the main control unit 10b via USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication 18a, and also connected to the peripheral device 16 via USB communication 18b. This information terminal 17 is a communication interface that communicates with the management server 20 via the network N using a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark), and also communicates with the main control unit 10b and the peripheral device 16. The information terminal 17 also has a function to perform short-range wireless communication with mobile terminals and perform communication connection processing with mobile terminals. Short-range wireless communication can be Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark), but from the viewpoint of power consumption, it is preferable to use Bluetooth (registered trademark), especially BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication.

[0041] The information terminal 17 has an update processing unit 171 that stores update software provided by the management server 20 in the update software storage area 172a of the terminal storage unit 172, and provides the update processing unit 171 for updating the software of the peripheral device 16 when predetermined update conditions are met. The conditions for meeting the update conditions include when the update date and time provided by the management server 20 along with the update software has elapsed, or when a separate update command is provided by the management server 20.

[0042] The update processing unit 171 can switch between a communication mode, which communicates with the main control unit 10b and the management server 20, such as sending and receiving commands, and a USB memory mode. Normally, it is in communication mode, and switches to USB memory mode when the above update conditions are met. When the update processing unit 171 is in USB memory mode, it switches to communication mode after a predetermined startup process, provided that the USB power supply from the main control unit 10b is stopped.

[0043] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing details of the software update control process performed by the information terminal 17 shown in Figure 3. The operation of the vending machine 10' will be explained while describing this software update control process. It should be assumed that the information terminal 17 is in communication mode.

[0044] In this software update control process, the update processing unit 171 of the information terminal 17 determines whether or not an update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S201). If no update software has been sent from the management server 20 (step S201: No), the update processing unit 171 repeats this determination process.

[0045] If the management server 20 sends update software (step S201: Yes), the update processing unit 171 stores the update software in the update software storage area 172a (step S202) and determines whether the update conditions are met (step S203). For example, the update processing unit 171 determines whether a separate update command has been given from the management server 20. If the update conditions are not met (step S203: No), the update processing unit 171 repeats this determination process.

[0046] If the update conditions are met (step S203: Yes), the update processing unit 171 switches to USB memory mode (step S204). When the update processing unit 171 switches to USB memory mode in this way, the peripheral device 16 performs USB detection, and the update processing unit 171 is made available for software update (step S205). With the update processing unit 171 available for software update in USB memory mode, the peripheral device 16 performs the software update, and when the software update is completed, the update result is stored in the updated software storage area 172a.

[0047] The update processing unit 171, which is then used for software updates, monitors whether the update results are stored in the update software storage area 172a (step S206) and determines whether the update is complete or not (step S207). If the update is not complete (step S207: No), the update processing unit 171 repeats this determination process and is used for software updates.

[0048] If the update results have been stored and the update is complete (step S207: Yes), the update processing unit 171 switches to communication mode after a predetermined startup process is performed (step S208) and sends a reset instruction to the main control unit 10b (step S209). As a result, the main control unit 10b resets all devices, including the peripheral devices 16.

[0049] After the main control unit 10b performs a reset, the update processing unit 171 of the information terminal 17 enters communication mode after a predetermined startup process, sends the update result to the management server 20 (step S210), and then returns the procedure to terminate the current process. This allows the management server 20 to recognize that the software update of the peripheral device 16 has been completed.

[0050] As described above, according to the vending machine 10', which is Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the information terminal 17 normally communicates with the peripheral device 16 and the management server 20 in communication mode, and when the management server 20 sends update software for the peripheral device 16 and the predetermined update conditions are met, it is put into USB memory mode for software updates of the peripheral device 16, so that software updates can be performed online smoothly.

[0051] The configurations in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above are functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically represented as shown. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device and configuration data is not limited to those shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage situations, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 10...Vending machine, 10a...Main control unit, 11...Refrigeration unit, 12...Dispensing unit, 13...Money processing unit, 14...Information terminal, 141...Update processing unit, 142...Terminal storage unit, 142a...USB memory area, 20...Management server, N...Network.

Claims

1. A vending machine that sells products, The vending machine is equipped with an information terminal that is connected via USB communication to any of its components and is also connected to an external management server for communication. The vending machine is characterized in that, under normal circumstances, the information terminal communicates with the constituent devices and the management server in communication mode, and when the management server transmits update software for the constituent devices and predetermined update conditions are met, it is used for updating the software of the constituent devices in USB memory mode.

2. The aforementioned components are a main control unit that controls the sale of the aforementioned products, When the main control unit performs the software update, it stores the update status in the USB memory area of ​​the information terminal. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the information terminal enters the communication mode after a predetermined startup process when the power supply is stopped, and continues the communication mode or switches to the USB memory mode by referring to the update status of the USB memory area.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the main control unit switches to the USB memory mode when the update status of the USB memory area is in progress, and continues the communication mode when the update status of the USB memory area is complete.

4. The aforementioned components are peripheral devices connected to the main control unit that controls the sale of the product. When the software update is completed, the peripheral device stores the update result in the storage area of ​​the information terminal. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the information terminal monitors the storage area and returns from the USB memory mode to the communication mode when an update result is stored in the storage area.

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