Smart vending machine that allows automatic payment at the same time as selecting a product and a method for dispensing products using the same

Abstract

To provide a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment upon selection of articles and a method of discharging articles using the same.SOLUTION: A smart vending machine capable of automated payment upon selection of articles and storing and discharging a plurality of articles includes: a plurality of antenna modules provided on at least a portion of the smart vending machine; a payment module for carrying out the payment process; and a control module for controlling the operation of the smart vending machine. When payment information is acquired through any one of the plurality of antenna modules, the control module transmits the acquired payment information to the payment module, and when payment with the acquired payment information is completed through the payment module, the control module can control so that an article corresponding to any one of the antenna modules among the plurality of articles is discharged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a smart vending machine that allows automatic payment at the same time as product selection, and a product dispensing method using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] A vending machine (automatic vending machine) is a machine that dispenses a product selected by the user after payment is made through a payment method (e.g., cash, credit card, mobile payment, etc.).

[0003] Vending machines are equipped with a wide variety of products, including coffee, drinks, cigarettes, tickets, hygiene products, and adult products, and can be said to be the product of a new distribution structure that has emerged as a result of changes in the marketing environment, such as mass production, mass consumption, and changes in consumption patterns, which have come about as a result of the transition from a labor-intensive industrial structure to a technology-intensive industrial society.

[0004] Depending on their purpose, vending machines are installed in public facilities (schools, facilities, hospitals, parks), terminals (railroad stations, express bus and train stations, airports), as well as buildings (offices, factories, dormitories, rest rooms), entertainment venues (amusement parks, theaters, adult entertainment establishments), and accommodation businesses (guest rooms and lobbies of hotels and inns), where they play an important role as unmanned stores.

[0005] However, conventional vending machines have the inconvenience of requiring multiple steps to purchase a product. For example, when a user wants to purchase a product using a credit card, the user must first insert the credit card into the vending machine, select the product while the credit card is inserted, pay for the product using the credit card, and then dispense the product after the payment has been successfully completed. This multiple steps are inconvenient for the user and take a long time to purchase the product.

[0006] The above-mentioned background art is what the inventors possessed or learned in the process of deriving the contents of the disclosure of this application, and is not necessarily publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of this application. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] One objective of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a smart vending machine and a product dispensing method using the same that can automatically settle and dispense products by simply tagging the product using a payment method, thereby enabling quick payment for the product and thereby enabling more efficient operation of the vending machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to an embodiment, a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection may store and dispense a plurality of products. In one embodiment, the smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection may include a plurality of antenna modules provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine, a payment module that performs a payment process, and a control module that controls operation of the smart vending machine, wherein the control module may transmit the acquired payment information to the payment module when payment information is acquired through one of the plurality of antenna modules, and may control the dispense of a product corresponding to one of the antenna modules among the plurality of products when payment is completed according to the acquired payment information through the payment module.

[0009] In one embodiment, the smart vending machine includes a plurality of product storage spaces for storing the plurality of products, respectively, and the plurality of antenna modules may be matched one-to-one with the plurality of product storage spaces and installed in positions adjacent to the plurality of product storage spaces.

[0010] In various embodiments, the smart vending machine includes a plurality of indicators that are one-to-one matched with the plurality of antenna modules and installed adjacent to the plurality of antenna modules, and the control module controls the indicator matched with the specific antenna module to be displayed when payment information is first acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, and when payment information is acquired again through the specific antenna module while the indicator matched with the specific antenna module is displayed, the control module can transmit the payment information acquired through the specific antenna module to the payment module.

[0011] In one embodiment, the acquired payment information may be information about the payment means collected through one of the antenna modules based on short-range wireless communication technology in response to the payment means being tagged to one of the antenna modules.

[0012] In one embodiment, when specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, the control module determines the inventory status of the product corresponding to the specific antenna module, and transmits the acquired specific payment information to the payment module only if it is determined that the product corresponding to the specific antenna module is in stock based on the determined inventory status.

[0013] In one embodiment, when the same payment information is acquired through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules, the control module transmits only the payment information acquired through the antenna module having the strongest signal strength with the payment means among the two or more antenna modules to the payment module, and when the difference in signal strength with the payment means for the two or more antenna modules is less than a critical value, the control module may control the smart vending machine to output an error notification through a notification output module included in the smart vending machine.

[0014] In one embodiment, when specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, the control module can verify whether the antenna module tagged with the payment instrument is the specific antenna module based on the signal strength between the payment instrument and two or more antenna modules installed within a predetermined range centered on the specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules.

[0015] In one embodiment, when specific payment information is acquired through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules, the control module identifies an antenna module tagged with the payment means among the plurality of antenna modules based on signal strength between the two or more antenna modules and the payment means, and when payment for the specific payment information acquired through the payment module is completed, controls to discharge a product corresponding to the identified antenna module.

[0016] In one embodiment, the control module may control a notification output module included in the smart vending machine to output a notification indicating an error when payment information is acquired within a predetermined time through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules.

[0017] In one embodiment, a method for dispensing products through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection is performed through a smart vending machine that stores and dispenses multiple products and is capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection, and may include, when payment information is acquired through any one of multiple antenna modules provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine, transmitting the acquired payment information to a payment module that performs a payment process, and when payment based on the acquired payment information is completed through the payment module, controlling the dispense of a product corresponding to any one of the antenna modules from the multiple products.

[0018] Other specific details of the present disclosure are included in the detailed description and drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The smart vending machine according to one embodiment, which allows automatic payment at the same time as product selection, and the product dispensing method using the same, has the advantage of enabling quick payment for products, thereby enabling more efficient operation of the vending machine.

[0020] The effects of the smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to the embodiment and the product dispensing method using the same are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present disclosure, and therefore the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited solely to the matters depicted in such drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for dispensing a product through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection, performed by a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection, according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram illustrating a product dispensing process according to an embodiment, which is performed simultaneously with product selection and automatic payment. [Figure 6]1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control module included in a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection, according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The various examples described herein are provided for the purpose of clearly explaining the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the technical idea to specific embodiments. The technical idea of ​​the present disclosure includes various modifications, equivalents, alternatives, and embodiments that are selectively combined in whole or in part of the examples described herein. Furthermore, the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is not limited to the various examples and their specific descriptions provided below.

[0023] Terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, may have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs, unless otherwise defined.

[0024] As used herein, terms such as "include," "can include," "comprise," "can comprise," "have," "can have," and the like imply the presence of a target feature (e.g., a function, operation, or component) and do not exclude the presence of additional features. In other words, such terms should be understood as open-ended terms that include the possibility of including a second embodiment.

[0025] In this specification, the singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, the plural expression includes the singular expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. When a part throughout the specification includes a certain element, this does not mean that it excludes other elements, but that it may further include other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0026] Additionally, the terms "module" or "module" used in this specification refer to a software or hardware component, and the "module" or "module" performs a certain function. However, the term "module" or "module" is not limited to software or hardware. A "module" or "module" may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium or to execute on one or more processors. Thus, by way of example, a "module" or "module" may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, as well as at least one of processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, program code segments, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The components and "modules" or "modules" may be combined into fewer components and "modules" or "modules" or further separated into additional components and "modules" or "modules" so that the functionality provided therein can be further separated into additional components and "modules" or "modules."

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a "module" or "unit" may be embodied with a processor and memory. "Processor" should be broadly interpreted to include a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine, etc. In some circumstances, "processor" may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. "Processor" may refer to a combination of processing devices, such as, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Additionally, "memory" should be broadly interpreted to include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. "Memory" may refer to various types of processor-readable media, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage devices, registers, etc. Memory is said to be in electronic communication with a processor if the processor can read information from and / or store information in the memory. Memory that is integrated into a processor is in electronic communication with the processor.

[0028] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated in the context, the terms "first," "second," "initial," "secondary," etc. are used to distinguish one object from another when referring to multiple similar objects, and do not limit the order or importance of those objects.

[0029] As used herein, phrases such as "A, B, and C," "A, B, or C," "A, B, and / or C," or "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and / or C," "at least one selected from A, B, and C," "at least one selected from A, B, and / or C," and the like, may refer to each listed item or all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, "at least one selected from A and B" may refer to (1) A, (2) at least one of A, (3) B, (4) at least one of B, (5) at least one of A and at least one of B, (6) at least one of A and B, (7) at least one of B and A, and (8) both A and B.

[0030] As used herein, the phrase "based on" is used to describe one or more factors that influence the decision, judgment, act, or behavior described in the phrase or sentence containing that phrase, and does not exclude additional factors that influence the decision, judgment, act, or behavior.

[0031] As used in this specification, the expression that a certain component (e.g., a first component) is "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component) may mean that the certain component is directly coupled or connected to the other component, or that the certain component is coupled or connected via a new other component (e.g., a third component).

[0032] As used herein, the expression "configured to" may have meanings such as "set to," "capable of," "modified to," "made to," "capable of," etc., depending on the context. The expression is not limited to the meaning of "specially designed in hardware," and may refer, for example, to a processor configured to perform a specific operation, or a generic-purpose processor that can perform that specific operation by executing software.

[0033] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings and the description of the drawings, identical or substantially equivalent components may be designated by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the following description of various embodiments, duplicated descriptions of identical or corresponding components may be omitted, but this does not mean that the components are not included in the embodiments.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a smart vending machine that allows automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams illustrating components of a smart vending machine that allows automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to one embodiment.

[0035] 1 to 3, a smart vending machine 100 (hereinafter referred to as "smart vending machine 100") capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to one embodiment can store and dispense multiple products.

[0036] In one embodiment, the smart vending machine 100 may be implemented in a form that allows automatic payment simultaneously with product selection. To this end, the smart vending machine 100 may include a plurality of antenna modules 110, a payment module 120, a control module 130, a product discharge unit 140, a plurality of indicators 150, and a notification output module 160.

[0037] Here, the smart vending machine 100 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is according to one embodiment, and its components are not limited to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, but may be added, changed, or deleted as necessary.

[0038] In one embodiment, multiple antenna modules 110 may be provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine.

[0039] Here, the multiple antenna module 110 may be a communication module used in EMV Contactless Payment.

[0040] EMV contactless payment is a standard for NFC, a contactless payment technology for financial IC cards, and refers to a technology that allows payments to be made using credit cards, debit cards, and mobile devices such as smartphones without physically contacting the payment terminal.

[0041] EMV contactless payment technology was introduced between 2004 and 2006 by EMVCo, a global credit card company alliance that serves as the de facto international standardization organization for payment technology, and is based on ISO / IEC 14443.

[0042] EMV contactless payment is a payment method that does not require physical contact; it can be made by simply bringing the device within 2-3 cm of the device.

[0043] In one embodiment, the multiple antenna modules 110 can collect payment information from a payment instrument. The multiple antenna modules 110 can recognize a payment instrument that is within close proximity (e.g., 2-3 cm) and can acquire payment information from the payment instrument using near field communication technology (e.g., NFC technology).

[0044] For example, when a specific payment instrument approaches a nearby location, the multiple antenna modules 110 can activate the EMV chip included in the payment instrument using short-range wireless communication technology and obtain pre-stored payment information from the activated EMV chip.

[0045] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of antenna modules 110 may be matched one-to-one with a plurality of product storage spaces that store a respective plurality of products, and as shown in FIG. 1, each of the plurality of antenna modules 110 may be installed in a position adjacent to the matched product storage space, but is not limited to this.

[0046] As an example, if multiple product storage spaces are arranged in four rows and three columns as shown in FIG. 1, four antenna modules 110 may be installed, one for each row, or three antenna modules 110 may be installed, one for each column.

[0047] In one embodiment, the payment module 120 may perform a payment process. For example, when the payment module 120 acquires payment information from the control module 130 (described below), the payment module 120 may perform a payment process based on the acquired payment information.

[0048] Here, the payment module 120 may be configured as an antenna set equipped with a multi-EMV contactless payment chip that can be connected to the outside, but is not limited thereto.

[0049] In one embodiment, the control module 130 may control the operation of components included in the smart vending machine 100 .

[0050] In one embodiment, the control module 130 may perform a product dispensing method based on automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection. For example, when payment information is acquired through one of the plurality of antenna modules 110, the control module 130 may transmit the payment information to the payment module 120, and when payment according to the payment information is completed through the payment module 120, the control module 130 may control the product dispensing unit 140 to dispense a product corresponding to one of the plurality of antenna modules 110. A more detailed method for such a product dispensing method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0051] In one embodiment, the indicators 150 may be matched one-to-one with the antenna modules 110 and may be located adjacent to the antenna modules 110 .

[0052] In one embodiment, the plurality of indicators 150 may be displayed by control commands from the control module 130. For example, the plurality of indicators 150 may be, but are not limited to, LEDs.

[0053] In one embodiment, the notification output module 160 can output a notification according to a control command from the control module 130. For example, the notification output module 160 can be, but is not limited to, a speaker that outputs a notification in the form of audio.

[0054] 1 may be a vending machine manufactured in a form capable of performing automatic payment simultaneously with product selection, but is not limited thereto, and smart vending machine 100 may refer to a form in which components for performing automatic payment simultaneously with product selection are applied to an existing vending machine capable of storing and dispensing products. For example, smart vending machine 100 may be a form in which multiple antenna modules 110, payment modules 120, and control modules 130 are applied to an existing vending machine.

[0055] When implemented in this manner, the control module 130 may communicate with a controller installed inside the existing vending machine through serial communication, and may be implemented in a form that requests the controller installed inside the existing vending machine to dispense the product when the product is paid for using payment information acquired from the plurality of antenna modules 110. Hereinafter, a method for dispensing a product through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection performed through the smart vending machine 100 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for dispensing a product through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection, which is performed by a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection, according to one embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process for dispensing a product through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection, in one embodiment.

[0057] 4 and 5, in step S110, the control module 130 may acquire payment information through one of the plurality of antenna modules 110.

[0058] Here, the payment information acquired through any one of the antenna modules 110 is information collected based on short-range wireless communication technology in response to a payment means being tagged to any one of the antenna modules 110 (e.g., by direct contact or approaching within an adjacent location), and may be, for example, but is not limited to, information on the payment means collected through any one of the antenna modules 110 (e.g., credit card number, expiration date, other security information, etc.).

[0059] In various embodiments, the control module 130 can control the notification output module 160 to output a notification indicating an error when payment information is acquired through two or more of the multiple antenna modules 110 within a predetermined time.

[0060] In step S120, the control module 130 transmits the payment information acquired through step S110 to the payment module 120, thereby controlling the payment module 120 to perform a payment process according to the payment information. For example, when payment information is acquired from any one of the antenna modules 110, the control module 130 transmits product information (e.g., price information) and payment information corresponding to any one of the antenna modules 110 to the payment module 120, thereby allowing the payment module 120 to settle the price for the product based on the payment information.

[0061] Here, the product corresponding to any one of the antenna modules 110 may be a product stored in a product storage space that is pre-matched with any one of the antenna modules 110 .

[0062] In this case, if the multiple antenna modules 110 are not matched one-to-one with multiple product storage spaces, but one antenna module 110 is installed for each row and / or column, the control module 130 can identify the location of the product that the user wishes to purchase based on the number of times the payment method is tagged to the antenna module 110.

[0063] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when multiple product storage spaces are arranged in four rows and three columns and one antenna module 110 is installed in each of the four rows, if the payment means is tagged once through the antenna module 110 installed in row 1, the control module 130 can determine that the product the user wishes to purchase is stored in the product storage space arranged in row 1, column 1; and if the payment means is tagged three times through the antenna modules 110 installed in row 2, the control module 130 can determine that the product the user wishes to purchase is stored in the product storage space arranged in row 2, column 3.

[0064] In one embodiment, when payment information is first acquired through a specific antenna module 110 among the multiple antenna modules 110, the control module 130 controls the indicator 150 matched with the specific antenna module 110 to be displayed, and when payment information is acquired again through the specific antenna module 110 while the indicator 150 matched with the specific antenna module is displayed, the control module 130 can transmit the payment information acquired through the specific antenna module 110 to the payment module 120.

[0065] That is, the control module 130 takes into consideration that when a product is selected, paid for, and dispensed from a vending machine, the product cannot be returned, and when payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module 110, an indicator matching the specific antenna module 110 is displayed, allowing the user to confirm that the product they selected is correct. If payment information is acquired again through the same antenna module 110, the control module 130 proceeds with payment for the product, thereby preventing the user from paying for the wrong product.

[0066] In various embodiments, when specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module 110 among the multiple antenna modules 110, the control module 130 can determine the inventory status of the product corresponding to the specific antenna module 110, and can transmit the specific payment information to the payment module 120 only when it is determined that the product corresponding to the specific antenna module 110 is in stock.

[0067] In various embodiments, when the same payment information is acquired through two or more of the multiple antenna modules 110, the control module 130 can transmit to the payment module only the payment information acquired through the antenna module 110 having the strongest signal strength with the payment means among the two or more antenna modules 110.

[0068] For example, if there are many types and quantities of products to be sold through the smart vending machine 100, the number of antenna modules 110 installed in the smart vending machine 100 will be large in accordance with the types and quantities of products, and therefore the antenna modules 110 may be installed in very close proximity to each other.

[0069] In this way, when antenna modules 110 are installed very close to each other, even if a payment method is tagged to a specific antenna module 110, the payment method may be recognized not only by the specific antenna module 110 but also by other antenna modules 110 installed in nearby locations, and payment information may be collected.When this situation occurs, the control module 130 obtains the same payment information from multiple antenna modules 110, which creates a problem in that it is difficult to accurately identify the product the user is trying to purchase.

[0070] At this time, near field communication (e.g., NFC) is performed within a very short distance, and even if the difference in distance to the payment means is small, there is a large difference in the strength of the signal transmitted and received with the payment means. Taking this into consideration, the control module 130 determines that the antenna module 110 with the strongest signal strength with the payment means is the antenna module 110 to which the payment means is tagged, and provides only the payment information obtained from that antenna module 110 to the payment module 120.

[0071] Meanwhile, when the difference in signal strength between two or more antenna modules 110 that have acquired the same payment information and the payment means is less than a critical value, i.e., when the same payment information is acquired from two or more antenna modules 110 and the signal strength between the payment means and the payment means is determined to be similar, the control module 130 may control the notification output module 160 to output an error notification (e.g., a notification guiding the user to re-tag the payment means) in consideration of the difficulty in accurately determining which antenna module 110 is tagged with the payment means.

[0072] In various embodiments, when specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module 110 among the multiple antenna modules 110, the control module 130 can verify the presence or absence of a tag for the specific antenna module based on the signal strength between two or more antenna modules 110 installed within a predetermined range centered on the specific antenna module 110 among the multiple antenna modules 110 and the payment means.

[0073] For example, the control module 130 can determine the origin of the signal detected from the three antenna modules 110 based on the triangulation method using the signal strength between the payment instrument and three antenna modules 110 installed within a predetermined range centered on a specific antenna module 110, and can verify whether the antenna module 110 tagged with the payment instrument is the specific antenna module 110 by comparing the origin of the signal with the installation location of the specific antenna module 110.

[0074] In various embodiments, when the same payment information is acquired through multiple different antenna modules 110 within a predetermined time, the control module 130 groups multiple products corresponding to the multiple different antenna modules 110 into one group and transmits information about the grouped multiple products (e.g., product type, quantity, and price) and payment information to the payment module 120, thereby allowing the payment module 120 to make a collective payment for the multiple products grouped into one group.

[0075] In step S130, the control module 130 may control the product corresponding to any one of the plurality of products to be discharged when payment according to the payment information is completed through the payment module 120 based on the payment information transmitted to the payment module 120 through step S120. For example, when payment for the product is completed based on the payment information acquired through any one of the antenna modules 110, the control module 130 may control the product discharge unit 140 to discharge the product stored in the product storage space matched to any one of the antenna modules 110.

[0076] In one embodiment, when specific payment information is acquired through two or more of the multiple antenna modules 110, the control module 130 can identify the antenna module among the multiple antenna modules 110 to which the payment means is tagged based on the signal strength between the two or more antenna modules 110 and the payment means, and when payment for the specific payment information is completed through the payment module 120, control the discharge of the product corresponding to the identified antenna module 110.

[0077] If an error such as a malfunction occurs in a specific antenna module 110, even if a payment method is tagged to the specific antenna module 110, payment information cannot be collected through the specific antenna module 110, and as a result, there is a problem that the product corresponding to the specific antenna module 110 cannot be paid for or discharged.

[0078] In consideration of this, the control module 130 can identify (e.g., triangulate) the antenna module 110 corresponding to the location where the payment instrument is tagged based on the signal strength between the multiple antenna modules 110 from which payment information is acquired and the payment instrument, and when payment based on the payment information is completed, the control module 130 can prevent product sales from being hindered due to errors in some antenna modules 110 by discharging the product from the product storage space matched with the identified antenna module 110. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the control module 130 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0079] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control module included in a smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection according to an embodiment.

[0080] 6, a control module 130 according to an embodiment may include one or more processors 131, a memory 132 into which a computer program 135a executed by the processor 131 is loaded, a bus 133, a communication interface 134, and a storage 135 for storing the computer program 135a. Only components related to the embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated in FIG. 6. Therefore, a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains would understand that other general-purpose components may be included in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0081] The processor 131 controls the overall operation of each component of the control module 130. The processor 131 may be configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), or any other type of processor widely known in the technical field of the present disclosure.

[0082] Furthermore, the processor 131 can perform operations for at least one application or program for performing a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the control module 130 can include one or more processors.

[0083] In various embodiments, the processor 131 may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory, not shown) and a ROM (Read-Only Memory, not shown) for temporarily and / or permanently storing signals (or data) processed within the processor 131. The processor 131 may also be implemented in the form of a system on chip (SoC) including at least one of a graphics processing unit, RAM, and ROM.

[0084] The memory 132 stores various data, instructions, and / or information. The memory 132 can load a computer program 135a from the storage 135 to perform the methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. When the computer program 135a is loaded into the memory 132, the processor 131 can perform the methods / operations by executing one or more instructions constituting the computer program 135a. The memory 132 may be embodied as a volatile memory such as a RAM, although the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0085] The bus 133 provides a communication function between the components of the control module 130. The bus 133 may be implemented as various types of buses such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

[0086] The communication interface 134 supports wired / wireless internet communication for the control module 130. The communication interface 134 may also support various communication methods other than internet communication. To this end, the communication interface 134 may be configured to include a communication module that is well known in the art of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the communication interface 134 may be omitted.

[0087] The storage 135 may non-temporarily store a computer program 135a. When a product discharge process is performed through the control module 130 with automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection, the storage 135 may store various information required to provide the product discharge process with automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection.

[0088] Storage 135 may be configured to include non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), flash memory, etc., a hard disk, a removable disk, or any form of computer-readable recording medium commonly known in the technical field to which this disclosure pertains.

[0089] The computer program 135a may include one or more instructions that, when loaded into the memory 132, cause the processor 131 to perform the methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. That is, the processor 131 can perform the methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present disclosure by executing the one or more instructions.

[0090] In one embodiment, the computer program 135a may include one or more instructions for performing a method for dispensing a product through automatic payment performed simultaneously with product selection, including a step of transmitting the acquired payment information to a payment module that performs a payment process when payment information is acquired through one of a plurality of antenna modules provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine, and a step of controlling the dispense of a product corresponding to one of the antenna modules among the plurality of products when payment based on the acquired payment information is completed through the payment module.

[0091] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by hardware, or in a combination thereof. The software module may reside in Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Flash Memory, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium commonly known in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

[0092] The components of the present disclosure may be embodied as a program (or application) and stored on a medium to be executed in conjunction with a computer, which is hardware. The components of the present disclosure may be implemented as software programming or software elements. Similarly, embodiments include various algorithms embodied as a combination of data structures, processes, routines, or other programming constructs, and may be implemented in programming or scripting languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, assembler, etc. Functional aspects may be embodied as algorithms executed by one or more processors.

[0093] As described above, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will understand that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be understood to be illustrative and not limiting in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims that follow rather than the detailed description, and all modifications and variations that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts should be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0094] The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive, and many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art, particularly upon consideration of the drawings, specification, and claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language used in this specification has been chosen primarily for ease of reading and for instructional purposes, and may not be chosen to delineate or limit the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0095] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed or to make it exhaustive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

[0096] Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by this detailed description, but rather by any claims in an application based thereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 100:Smart vending machine 110: Antenna module 120: Payment module 130: Control module 140: Product discharge department 150: Indicator 160: Notification output module

Claims

1. In smart vending machines that store and dispense multiple products, The smart vending machine is a plurality of antenna modules provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine; a payment module that performs the payment process; and a control module for controlling the operation of the smart vending machine; The control module When payment information is acquired through one of the plurality of antenna modules, the acquired payment information is transmitted to the payment module; When the payment is completed according to the payment information acquired through the payment module, a product corresponding to any one of the antenna modules among the plurality of products is controlled to be discharged; The control module also When payment information is acquired through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules, an antenna module having the greatest signal strength between the two or more antenna modules and the payment means is identified as an antenna module tagged with the payment means among the plurality of antenna modules; transmitting the acquired payment information to the payment module through the identified antenna module; When the payment for the payment information acquired through the payment module is completed, a product corresponding to the identified antenna module is discharged. A smart vending machine capable of automatic payment at the same time as product selection, characterized in that, when a difference in signal strength between the two or more antenna modules and the payment means is less than a critical value, an error notification is output through a notification output module included in the smart vending machine.

2. The smart vending machine is a plurality of product storage spaces for storing the plurality of products, The plurality of antenna modules include: The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection according to claim 1, characterized in that it is matched one-to-one with the plurality of product storage spaces and installed in a position adjacent to the plurality of product storage spaces.

3. The smart vending machine is a plurality of indicators that are one-to-one matched with the plurality of antenna modules and are installed adjacent to the plurality of antenna modules; The control module When payment information is first acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, an indicator matched with the specific antenna module is displayed; 3. The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection according to claim 2, wherein, when payment information is acquired again through the specific antenna module while an indicator matched with the specific antenna module is displayed, the payment information acquired through the specific antenna module is transmitted to the payment module.

4. The acquired payment information is 2. The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection as described in claim 1, wherein the information about the payment means is collected through one of the antenna modules based on near-field wireless communication technology in response to the payment means being tagged to one of the antenna modules.

5. The control module When specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, determining an inventory status of a product corresponding to the specific antenna module; 2. The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection according to claim 1, wherein the acquired specific payment information is transmitted to the payment module only when it is determined that the product corresponding to the specific antenna module is in stock based on the determined inventory status.

6. The control module 2. The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection as described in claim 1, wherein, when specific payment information is acquired through a specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules, it verifies whether the antenna module tagged with the payment means is the specific antenna module based on signal strength between the payment means and two or more antenna modules installed within a predetermined range centered on the specific antenna module among the plurality of antenna modules.

7. The control module 10. The smart vending machine capable of automatic payment simultaneously with product selection according to claim 1, wherein, when payment information is acquired within a predetermined time through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules, a notification output module included in the smart vending machine is controlled to output a notification informing of an error.

8. A method carried out through a smart vending machine that stores and dispenses multiple products and allows automatic payment at the same time as product selection, When payment information is acquired through one of a plurality of antenna modules provided in at least a portion of the smart vending machine, transmitting the acquired payment information to a payment module that performs a payment process; and and controlling the product corresponding to any one of the antenna modules to be dispensed from among the plurality of products when the payment is completed according to the payment information acquired through the payment module. Including, When payment information is acquired through two or more antenna modules among the plurality of antenna modules, identifying an antenna module having the highest signal strength between the two or more antenna modules and the payment means as an antenna module tagged with the payment means among the plurality of antenna modules; transmitting the acquired payment information to the payment module through the identified antenna module; When the payment for the payment information acquired through the payment module is completed, controlling the product corresponding to the identified antenna module to be discharged; When a difference in signal strength between the two or more antenna modules and the payment means is less than a threshold value, controlling the smart vending machine to output an error notification through a notification output module included in the smart vending machine; The method for discharging merchandise by automatic payment, which is carried out simultaneously with the selection of the merchandise, further includes:

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