Vending Machine System

Abstract

To provide a vending machine system configured to allow products to be purchased continuously through a user application without canceling short-range wireless communication established with a vending machine.SOLUTION: A vending machine system includes: a vending machine including at least one legacy payment module configured to process payment using cash or a credit card, a wireless communication module configured to execute settlement processing for a product by communicating with a user terminal through short-range wireless communication, and a control module configured to discharge a product when the product is selected and paid for; a service server configured to provide information in units of columns of the vending machine; and a user terminal configured to execute a user application which creates and displays a list of products on sale by matching price information and out-of-stock information received in units of columns from the vending machine with information on product on sale received in units of columns from the service server and requests the vending machine to discharge a selected product after payment of the selected product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine system, and more specifically to a vending machine system that allows products to be purchased via an O2O terminal installed in the vending machine and an app on a user terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] A vending machine is a device that automatically sells products without human intervention. Customers pay by inserting coins, bills, or credit cards, and then press a product selection button on the front of the machine to purchase the product. Generally, vending machines are operated offline, where an operator places products into columns and sets the sales price. When a customer pays the price and selects a product, the product in the selected column is dispensed.

[0003] As such, vending machines are operated offline, making it impossible to provide customized services to users. Furthermore, accurate inventory management is not possible because it is practically difficult for an operator to accurately input the quantity of products when filling a vending machine. Therefore, to address the difficulty of handling cases where products run out during the dispensing process after payment has been completed, vending machines support continuous purchases rather than bundle purchases. Continuous purchases are a method in which products are selected continuously and payments are made individually.

[0004] Korean Patent Application No. 2017-0101772 proposes a method in which an O2O terminal is connected between an existing cash payment module or credit card payment module and a bus, replacing the cash payment module or credit card payment module and communicating with the main controller. This method allows existing offline vending machines to accept payments using a smartphone app by simply adding an O2O terminal without changing the software or hardware of the existing vending machine. However, with this method, if a button on the vending machine is pressed immediately after a payment is made via the app but before selecting a product via the app, the product will be dispensed. This can be a nuisance when someone approaching the vending machine while it is operating fails to check the balance display and attempts to make a purchase. To solve these problems, the time between payment and product selection must be very short, making it difficult to support consecutive purchases with app-based payments. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a vending machine system that allows consecutive purchases of products from a vending machine via a user application on a user terminal.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine system that provides a custom-made service to users of the vending machine.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine system that allows the vending machine to be managed via a user application on a user terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vending machine system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vending machine, a service server, and a user terminal.

[0009] The vending machine includes a plurality of legacy payment modules, a wireless communication module, and a control module. The legacy payment modules may be cash payment modules for cash payments or credit card payment modules for processing payments using credit cards. The wireless communication modules communicate with a user terminal via short-range wireless communication to process payment for products. The control module processes product dispensing in accordance with product selection and payment.

[0010] The service server provides information on products sold by columns in the vending machine.

[0011] The user terminal is a terminal on which a user application is executed, and the user application matches price information and out-of-stock information for each column received from a vending machine connected via short-range wireless communication with information on products sold by each column of the vending machine received from the service server to generate and display a product sales list, and requests the vending machine to dispense the products after processing payment for the selected products. Products can be reselected and purchased consecutively through the user application without disconnecting the short-range wireless communication connection with the vending machine.

[0012] When the user terminal and the wireless communication module are communicatively connected, the control module of the vending machine can ignore the control signal received from the legacy payment module and allow product purchases to proceed only through the user app.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, when a user terminal and the wireless communication module are communicatively connected and a product selection button on the vending machine is activated while a product is being sold via the user app and the user presses the button to select a product, the control module of the vending machine may control the discharge of the product and request a payment process from the user terminal via the wireless communication module.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, when displaying products for sale, a user application executed on a user terminal may determine and display the order of products by reflecting personal preferences analyzed from previous purchase history.

[0015] In addition, the user application executed on the user terminal can check from the service server whether there is a discount sale based on the time, the area where the vending machine is installed, and the user's personal information, process the payment at the discounted amount, and request the vending machine to dispense the product.

[0016] Furthermore, the user application running on the user terminal can receive and provide targeted advertisements from the service server that reflect the products sold by the vending machine connected via short-range wireless communication, the location and usage time of the vending machine, and the user's personal information.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, when a control module of a vending machine recognizes that a product being sold is out of stock, the control module may transmit out-of-stock information to a service server via a user application of a user terminal connected via short-range wireless communication. When price change information of a product being sold by the vending machine is input to the service server, the control module may receive the changed price information from the service server via a user application of a user terminal connected by communication with the vending machine and transmit the price information of the vending machine.

[0018] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the vending machine system may further include an administrator terminal, and an administrator application executed on the administrator terminal may connect to the vending machine via short-range wireless communication and input or modify column-specific price information for the vending machine. The administrator application may also connect to a service server and input or modify product information, including product-specific price information and inventory information, in response to an administrator's input. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the vending machine system of the present invention, consecutive purchases are possible when purchasing products from a vending machine via a user application on a user terminal.

[0020] Furthermore, the vending machine system of the present invention can provide a custom-made service to users of the vending machine.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the vending machine system of the present invention, the vending machine can be managed via a user application on a user terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine system according to one aspect. [Figure 2] 1 shows a concept of the configuration of an internal bus of a vending machine in a vending machine system according to one aspect. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a procedure for purchasing a product from a vending machine using a user application of a vending machine system according to one aspect. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a procedure for repeatedly purchasing products from a vending machine using a user application of a vending machine system according to one aspect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The above and additional aspects are embodied in the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the components of each embodiment can be combined in various ways within the embodiments unless otherwise stated or inconsistent. Each block in a block diagram may represent a physical component in some cases, or may represent a portion of the function of a single physical component or a logical representation of a function spanning multiple physical components. In some cases, the entity of a block or a portion thereof may be a set of program instructions. These blocks may be embodied in whole or in part by hardware, software, or a combination of these.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine system according to one aspect, and FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of the internal bus configuration of a vending machine in the vending machine system according to one aspect.

[0025] A vending machine system 10 according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vending machine 100, a service server 200, and a user terminal 300.

[0026] Vending machine 100 is a device that can be installed in various locations and automatically sells various products, and includes a cash and / or credit card payment means, a product selection button, a product discharge outlet, and a cash return means on the front of the main body.

[0027] The vending machine 100 includes a plurality of legacy payment modules, a wireless communication module 140, and a control module 110.

[0028] The legacy payment module may be a cash payment module 120 that processes payments by inserting cash such as coins or bills, or a credit card payment module 130 that processes payments by inserting a credit card. The vending machine 100 may include either one or both of the cash payment module 120 and the credit card payment module 130 as legacy payment modules. As shown in FIG. 2, the legacy payment module is assigned an independent address and connected to the internal bus of the vending machine 100, similar to conventional vending machines.

[0029] The wireless communication module 140 communicates with the user terminal 300 via short-range wireless communication to process payment for merchandise. The short-range wireless communication used by the wireless communication module 140 may be Bluetooth (registered trademark) (BLE) or ZigBee (registered trademark), with Bluetooth being preferred. The wireless communication module 140 is a terminal that performs online-to-offline (O2O) services by transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 300 via short-range wireless communication to process payments online and receive merchandise offline. The wireless communication module 140 may include a configuration for short-range wireless communication internally, or may have a module for processing short-range wireless communication attached in the form of a dongle. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication module 140 is connected to the internal bus of the vending machine 100 and operates at a separate, independent bus address, similar to a legacy payment module.

[0030] The wireless communication module 140 may be communicatively connected to a user terminal 300 (described later) for O2O services to transmit and receive data.

[0031] The control module 110 processes product dispensing in response to product selection and payment. The control module 110 controls the vending machine 100 for product dispensing via an O2O service, i.e., via the wireless communication module 140, in addition to controlling the vending machine for product dispensing via a conventional legacy payment module. The control module 110 is also connected to the internal bus of the vending machine 100. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control module 110 polls every 500 msec to check whether a message has been received via bus communication. Messages received by the control module 110 include a control message requesting the dispensing of the selected product and a message requesting information about the vending machine 100. The control module 110 also manages the connection of payment methods connected to the internal bus. That is, if a product is being sold via one of the payment methods, the cash payment module 120, the credit card payment module 130, or the wireless communication module 140, polling may be performed for only that module. Generally, the bus communication method of the vending machine 100 uses a half-duplex serial communication method, but is not limited to this.

[0032] The control module 110 may have product inventory information for each product column of the vending machine 100, but in many cases, the administrator who manages the vending machine 100 does not input this information accurately, making it impossible to predict in advance when a product will be out of stock in a particular column, and it is common to manage out-of-stock situations based on whether there is any product to be dispensed from that column.

[0033] When purchasing a product with cash or credit card using a legacy payment module, the product is purchased by pressing a product selection button, and the out-of-stock item is displayed on the product selection button, etc., and the control module 110 does not process the payment even if the product selection button for the out-of-stock item is pressed. However, in the case of an O2O service via the wireless communication module 140, if the payment occurs outside the vending machine, a situation may arise where the payment must be canceled. For example, when selling a single product in a bundle, there may be a case where the product column in the vending machine 100 does not have enough stock for the number of items in the bundle, and the payment for the bundle sale or a partial payment must be canceled.

[0034] The control module 110 may also transmit information about the vending machine, particularly unique information that can identify the vending machine 100, to the user terminal 300 connected via the wireless communication module 140. Since multiple vending machines 100 may be installed in the same location and it is necessary to distinguish between the vending machines 100 when purchasing products from the vending machines 100 through O2O services, unique information that can identify the vending machine 100 is necessary.

[0035] The service server 200 manages a large number of vending machines 100 installed in various locations. The service server 200 can manage information about the products sold by each vending machine 100, as well as price information and inventory information for those products. An administrator who manages each vending machine 100 connects to the service server 200 and inputs information about the products sold by the vending machines 100 under his / her management and information about the vending machines 100.

[0036] The service server 200 provides column-by-column product information of the vending machine 100 to a user application of a user terminal 300 that is attempting to purchase a product from the vending machine 100 using the O2O service. The product information may include product type, inventory quantity, price information, etc.

[0037] The user terminal 300 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, etc., on which a user application is executed. The user terminal 300 is communicatively connected to the vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication, and is connected to the service server 200 via a 4G or 5G wireless network or an internet network using Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0038] The user application communicates with the vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication. When multiple vending machines 100 are installed in the same location, a user can select a vending machine 100 through a user interface (UI) provided by the user application and communicate with the selected vending machine 100. When the user application communicates with the vending machine 100, it can receive information from the vending machine 100 that can identify the vending machine 100.

[0039] When a user application is connected to a vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication, it checks whether a product can be purchased via O2O and requests and receives column-specific price information and out-of-stock information from the vending machine 100. The user application also sends a column-specific product sales information request message, including information that identifies the vending machine 100, to the service server 200, and receives column-specific product sales information for the connected vending machine 100 from the service server 200. The user application matches the column-specific price information and out-of-stock information received from the vending machine 100 with the column-specific product sales information received from the service server 200, and configures a user interface for product sales to display the products for sale. If the data included in the column-specific out-of-stock information received by the user application from the vending machine 100 indicates an out-of-stock status, the configured user interface displays the product in that column as unavailable for selection. The user application of the user terminal 300 processes payment for the product selected by the user in the displayed product selection user interface, and then requests the vending machine 100 to dispense the product via the connected short-range wireless communication. In the case of a typical purchase, once the product is dispensed, the short-range wireless communication connection between the vending machine 100 and the user terminal 300 is released. However, if the user selects a consecutive purchase service or selects to purchase another product before the wireless communication connection is released, it is possible to purchase products consecutively without releasing the short-range wireless communication connection with the vending machine 100.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure for purchasing a product from a vending machine using a user app in a vending machine system according to one aspect. Referring to FIG. 3, a user executes the user app on a user terminal 300 to purchase a product from a vending machine 100 using an O2O service. When the user app is executed, it attempts to establish a short-range wireless connection with a nearby vending machine 100 (S1000). If there are multiple nearby vending machines 100 that provide O2O services, the user must select the vending machine 100 from which the user wishes to make a purchase via the user app. When the short-range wireless connection is established, the user app receives vending machine identification information from the vending machine 100. After establishing the connection, the user app checks with the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100 whether the vending machine 100 is available for use (S1010). This is a procedure for checking whether the vending machine 100 is currently being used by another user for the O2O service or is currently selling products via a legacy payment module. The wireless communication module 140 checks with the control module 110 whether the vending machine 100 is available for use (S1011). If the control module 110 responds that the vending machine 100 is available for use, i.e., that no other users are currently purchasing products (S1012), the wireless communication module 140 transmits the response to the user application (S1013). After confirming that the vending machine 100 is available for use, the user application requests the vending machine 100's column-specific price information and out-of-stock information (S1020) from the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100. The wireless communication module 140 transmits the request for column-specific price information and out-of-stock information to the control module 110 (S1021), receives the column-specific price information and out-of-stock information from the control module 110 (S1022), and transmits the request to the user application (S1023). The user application requests the service server 200 for information on products sold by column along with the vending machine's identification information (S1030), and receives the column-specific product information from the service server 200 (S1031). The user application matches the column-specific price information and out-of-stock information received from the vending machine 100 with the column-specific product information received from the service server 200, and configures and displays a product selection user interface.When the user selects a product through the product selection user interface, the user application performs payment processing by requesting payment approval from the payment server (S1040) (S1050, S1051). After processing the product payment, the user application requests the wireless communication module to eject the products (eject products from a specific column) (S1060), and the wireless communication module 140 transmits this to the control module 110 (S1061). The control module 110 controls the ejection of the products in accordance with the received product ejection request (S1070), and then responds with a product ejection completion message to the wireless communication module 140 (S1080), and the wireless communication module 140 transmits the product ejection completion message to the user application (S1081). The user application maintains the short-range wireless communication connection for a certain period of time and then releases the connection (S1090).

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a procedure for making consecutive purchases of products from a vending machine using a user app in a vending machine system according to one aspect. Referring to FIG. 4, a user executes the user app on a user terminal 300 to purchase products from a vending machine 100 using an O2O service. When the user app is executed, a short-range wireless communication connection with a nearby vending machine 100 is attempted (S2000). If there are multiple nearby vending machines 100 that provide the O2O service, the user must select the vending machine 100 from which the user wishes to make a purchase via the user app. When the short-range wireless communication connection is established, the user app receives vending machine identification information from the vending machine 100. After the connection is established, the user selects consecutive purchases via the user app (S2010). The user app then checks with the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100 whether the vending machine 100 is available for use (S2020). The wireless communication module 140 checks with the control module 110 whether the vending machine 100 is available for use (S2021). If the control module 110 responds that the vending machine 100 is available for use, i.e., that no other users are currently purchasing products (S2022), the wireless communication module 140 transmits the response to the user application (S2023). After confirming that the vending machine 100 is available for use, the user application requests the vending machine 100's column-specific price information and out-of-stock information (S2030) from the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100. The wireless communication module 140 transmits the request for column-specific price information and out-of-stock information to the control module 110 (S2031), receives the column-specific price information and out-of-stock information from the control module 110 (S2032), and transmits the request to the user application (S2033). The user application requests information on products sold by column along with the vending machine's identification information from the service server 200 (S2040), and receives the column-specific product information from the service server 200 (S2041). The user application matches the column-specific price information and out-of-stock information received from the vending machine 100 with the column-specific product information received from the service server 200, and configures and displays a product selection user interface.When the user selects a product through the product selection user interface, the user application performs payment processing by requesting payment approval from the payment server (S2060, S2061). After processing the product payment, the user application requests the wireless communication module to eject the product (eject the product from the column containing the selected product) (S2070), and the wireless communication module 140 transmits this to the control module 110 (S2071). The control module 110 controls product ejection in accordance with the received product ejection request (S2080), then responds with a product ejection completion message to the wireless communication module 140 (S2090), and the wireless communication module 140 transmits the product ejection completion message to the user application (S2091). The user application waits for a set time until the user reselects a product. When the user reselects a product (S2100), the user application repeats the process from S2110, requesting price information by column and out-of-stock information for the vending machine 100 from the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100. If the user does not reselect a product within the set time or selects to end the continuous purchase, the user application disconnects the short-range wireless communication with the vending machine 100 (S2120), thereby ending the continuous purchase.

[0042] When the user terminal 300 and the wireless communication module 140 are communicatively connected, the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 can ignore the control signal sent from the legacy payment module and proceed with product purchases only through the user app.

[0043] That is, the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 manages the connection of the payment methods connected to the internal bus, so that when a product is sold using one of the payment methods, the cash payment module 120, the credit card payment module 130, and the wireless communication module 140, it polls only that module and ignores control signals generated from the other modules. Therefore, when a user is purchasing a product through a user app on the user terminal 300 to use an O2O service, product payment through the legacy payment module is blocked.

[0044] According to another aspect of the present invention, when the user terminal 300 and the wireless communication module 140 of the vending machine 100 are communicatively connected and a product is selected by pressing the product selection button of the vending machine 100 when selling a product via a user app of the user terminal 300, the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 may control the discharge of the product and request payment processing from the user terminal 300 via the wireless communication module 140.

[0045] When a user stands in front of the vending machine 100 and presses the product selection button on the vending machine 100 instead of the user app to purchase a product, the payment for the product is not completed, but the product is first dispensed from the vending machine 100, and when the dispense is complete, the user app is notified of this and payment for the product can be made. In other words, when a product is available for purchase via the user app, the user can press the product selection button on the vending machine 100 to purchase the product, and payment for the product is made via the user app as an O2O service.

[0046] According to another aspect of the present invention, when displaying products for sale, a user application executed on a user terminal 300 may determine the order of products based on personal preferences analyzed from previous purchase history, and may configure and display a user interface in that order.

[0047] In other words, if a user repeatedly uses the same vending machine 100 or uses a vending machine 100 that sells the same type of product as a vending machine 100 that the user frequently used in the past, the user app may reflect personal preferences analyzed using previous purchase history, change the product arrangement, and configure and display a user interface so that the user can easily select frequently purchased products.

[0048] In addition, the user application executed on the user terminal 300 can check from the service server 200 the product sales time, the area where the vending machine is installed, and whether or not there is a discount sale based on the user's personal information, process the payment at the discounted amount, and request the vending machine 100 to dispense the product.

[0049] The administrator can set discount sales for the vending machine 100 for users who connect to the service server 200 and purchase products using the O2O service. The administrator can set discounts for specific products during specific time periods. The administrator can also set discount sales only for vending machines 100 installed in specific areas. The administrator can also set discount sales using personal information of users, such as gender and age.

[0050] When receiving information about products for sale from the service server 200, the user application executed on the user terminal 300 may also receive information about made-to-order discount sales, and may process payment for the products at a discounted sales price set regardless of the sales price of the vending machine 100.

[0051] An example of a discount sale offered by the vending machine system 10 is a bundle discount sale. A bundle discount sale is a sale in which an additional product is provided when a certain number of products are purchased. For example, a 2+1 bundle discount sale is a sale in which one additional product is given as a gift when two products are purchased. In such a bundle discount sale, after a payment is processed by the user app, a request for product delivery is continuously sent to the vending machine 100. If the product runs out due to a shortage, the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 detects the out-of-stock status and transmits out-of-stock information to the user app via the wireless communication module 140. A user app that receives out-of-stock information during a bundle discount sale can request and receive a 1+1 discount coupon or a free coupon for the product from the service server 200.

[0052] The user application executed on the user terminal 300 can receive and provide targeted advertisements from the service server 200 that reflect the products sold by the vending machine 100 connected via short-range wireless communication, the location of the vending machine, usage time, and the user's personal information.

[0053] According to another aspect of the present invention, when the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 recognizes that a product to be sold is out of stock, the control module 110 may transmit out-of-stock information to a user application of the connected user terminal 300 via short-range wireless communication. The user application that receives the out-of-stock information may transfer the out-of-stock information to the service server 200.

[0054] After a purchase of a product from the vending machine 100 is processed via a user application executed on the user terminal 300, a particular product may become out of stock. In this case, the control module 110 of the vending machine 100 may recognize the out-of-stock status of that column and transmit out-of-stock information to the user application via the wireless communication module 140. The user application that receives the out-of-stock information from the vending machine 100 transmits the out-of-stock information of that vending machine 100 to the service server 200 so that the service server 200 can notify the administrator.

[0055] The user application is connected to the vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication, receives identification information of the vending machine 100, and then requests and receives price information and out-of-stock information for each column from the vending machine 100. At this time, if the information included in the out-of-stock information indicates that a specific column is out of stock, the user application transmits this information to the service server 200 so that the service server 200 can notify the administrator.

[0056] When an administrator connects to the service server 200 and inputs information on price changes of products sold by the vending machine 100, i.e., when price changes of products sold by the vending machine 100 are input to the service server 200, the service server 200 transmits the changed price information of the vending machine 100 via the user application of the user terminal 300 that is communicatively connected to the vending machine 100, thereby enabling the vending machine 100 to update the price.

[0057] After receiving the information about the change in the price of the product for sale, the service server 200 may transmit the changed price information to the vending machine 100 via the user application of the initially connected user terminal 300. The service server 200 may notify the user application that requested the information about the product for sale of the changed price information, and at this time, the user application transmits the received changed price information to the vending machine 100.

[0058] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the vending machine system 10 may further include an administrator terminal 400.

[0059] The administrator can connect to the vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication through an administrator app running on the administrator terminal 400 at the location where the vending machine 100 to be managed is installed, and input or modify column-by-column price information of the vending machine 100.

[0060] In addition, the administrator can connect to the service server 200 via the administrator app and input or modify product information, including price information and inventory information for each product. In this case, if the administrator terminal 400 is connected to the vending machine 100 that modified the information via short-range wireless communication, the service server 200 transmits price information for the column of products whose price information has been changed to the administrator app, and the administrator app that receives this information can transmit the modified price information to the vending machine 100 via short-range wireless communication.

[0061] While the present invention has been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto and should be construed to encompass various modifications that may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art. The claims are intended to encompass such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10: Vending machine system 100: Vending machine 110: Control module 120: Cash payment module 130: Credit card payment module 140: Wireless communication module 200: Service server 300: User terminal 400:Administrator terminal

Claims

1. a vending machine including: one or more legacy payment modules for processing payments using cash or credit cards; a wireless communication module for communicating with a user terminal via near field communication to process payment for products; and a control module for processing the dispensing of products in accordance with product selection and payment; a service server that provides column-by-column product information for vending machines; and a user terminal running a user application that matches column-specific price information and out-of-stock information received from the connected vending machine with column-specific product information received from the connected vending machine from the service server to generate and display a product sales list, and requests the vending machine to dispense the product after processing payment for the selected product, The user terminal transmits a column-by-column product information request message including the vending machine identification information received from the vending machine connected to the user terminal to the service server, and receives the column-by-column product information of the vending machine connected to the user terminal from the service server; A vending machine system that allows a user to reselect products and make consecutive purchases without disconnecting the vending machine via near field wireless communication through the user app.

2. The vending machine system of claim 1 , wherein when the user terminal and the wireless communication module are communicatively coupled, the control module ignores a control signal received from the legacy payment module.

3. 2. The vending machine system of claim 1, wherein the user terminal and the wireless communication module are communicatively connected, and when a product is selected by pressing a product selection button on the vending machine during product sales via the user app, the control module controls discharge of the selected product and requests payment processing from the user terminal via the wireless communication module.

4. The vending machine system according to claim 1 , wherein the user application determines and displays the order of products to be sold, reflecting personal preferences analyzed from previous purchase history.

5. The vending machine system of claim 1, wherein the user application checks from the service server whether there is a discount sale based on the time, the area where the vending machine is installed, and the user's personal information, processes the payment at the discounted amount, and requests the vending machine to dispense the product.

6. 2. The vending machine system of claim 1, wherein the user application receives and provides targeted advertisements from a service server that reflect products sold by the vending machine connected via short-range wireless communication, the location of the vending machine, usage time, and personal information of the user.

7. 2. The vending machine system of claim 1, wherein when a product being sold is out of stock, the control module transmits out-of-stock information to the user application connected via short-range wireless communication, and the user application transmits the out-of-stock information to the service server.

8. 2. The vending machine system of claim 1, wherein when a change in the price of a product sold by a vending machine is input to the service server, the service server transmits the changed price information to the vending machine via the user application communicatively connected to the vending machine.

9. The vending machine system according to claim 1 , further comprising an administrator terminal connected to the vending machine via short-range wireless communication and running an administrator application for inputting or modifying column-specific price information for the vending machine.

10. The vending machine system according to claim 9 , wherein the administrator application connects to a service server and inputs or modifies product information including product-specific price information and inventory information in response to an input from the administrator.

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