JP2004199280A - Point service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point service system which efficiently uses points acquired by shopping at a store and the like. <P>SOLUTION: The point service system by which a customer receives predetermined services by using points given in accordance with amount of money used to purchase commodities has: a client identification medium B for identifying the client; a point number storing means C for storing an accumulated point number of each client; a card reader/writer part 4 for reading client identification information stored by the client identification medium B; and a vending machine A for acquiring the accumulated point number of the client from the client identification information and the point number storing means, comparing the accumulated point number of each client with a service point number required for a commodity offered from the service, and discharging the commodity in the case that the accumulated point number of the client is equal to the point number of the commodity or the accumulated point number of the client exceeds the point number of the commodity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a point service system that uses points given according to the purchase price when shopping at a store such as a supermarket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when shopping at supermarkets, etc., points are awarded according to the purchase price, and there is a point service system where customers can receive various benefits and services when the accumulated number of points reaches a predetermined number of points I do.
The benefits and services include, for example, the exchange of goods for the number of points, the conversion of the number of points into money, and the use of the points for payment of the purchase price.
This point service system may have a sales promotion effect that encourages customers to return to the store, and eventually lead to an increase in sales. The point service system has already been introduced in various stores.
[0003]
Usually, the acquired points are used at a cash register when the purchase is settled. Then, when the cash register is crowded, if there is an offer to use the points, the number of points is converted and the purchase price is settled. That is, the point use of the privilege may not be performed efficiently.
[0004]
In addition, a point is given to a product purchased by a vending machine, and a point that can use the point is already known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In that case, the points to be awarded can be used only by the vending machine, and the points of the privilege may not be used effectively.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-259898
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a point service system that can efficiently use points acquired in shopping such as stores. It is in.
For efficient use of points, a point service system that can use points accumulated at a cash register at a vending machine is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means taken by the present invention to achieve the above object is a customer identification medium for identifying a customer in a point service system in which the customer receives a predetermined service using points given according to the price of the product purchase. And a point number storage unit in which the accumulated point number is stored for each customer; and a cumulative point number of the customer obtained from the customer identification medium and the point number storage unit. Compare the number of service points required for the provided product, and if the cumulative number of points of the customer is the same as the number of points of the product, or if the cumulative number of points exceeds the number of points of the product, automatic discharging of the product And a vending machine (claim 1).
As the above-mentioned customer identification medium, for example, a magnetic card or an IC card recording a customer code generally adopted today is cited.
It does not matter where the point number storage means is stored. Of course, it may be in a vending machine.
According to the above-described means, it is possible to receive a service of providing a product from a vending machine using the accumulated number of points given by the purchase of the product.
[0008]
The location where the point number storage means is stored is not limited, but may be stored in the customer identification medium such as a magnetic card or an IC card (claim 2).
In this case, the point number can be recorded and managed on the customer identification medium.
Further, the point number storage means may be stored in a management device capable of communicating with the vending machine (claim 3). The communication means in that case may be either wired or wireless. In this case, by inserting the customer identification medium into the vending machine, the accumulated points for each customer identification information can be stored in the point number storage means stored in the RAM or the like of the management device communicably connected to the vending machine. The number of points is read, and a service corresponding to the accumulated number of points can be provided.
[0009]
The vending machine described above is not limited to vending machines such as tobacco and soft drinks installed inside or outside the store, and may be any vending machine for various commodities existing today. It may be a water purifier that sells water (claim 4).
Further, the vending machine may have a function of selling goods by general cash as well as providing goods by the number of points (claim 5). In this case, the vending machine can be used efficiently.
Note that the vending machine may be a dedicated machine for the point service.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a water purification vending machine A that provides products (purified water) according to the number of accumulated points. A container reader 2 is provided, and a door 3 is provided on the front surface of the container receiver 2 so as to be openable and closable, and a card reader / writer unit 4 in which a customer identification medium B, for example, a magnetic card is inserted, is provided in the center. Whether the accumulated points held by the customer identification medium B inserted in the communication unit 5 for communicating with the device 10 and the customer identification medium B inserted in the card reader / writer unit 4 have reached the number of points at which the vending machine A can receive products. A point lamp 6 for indicating whether or not the coin is inserted, a coin slot 7 for purchasing goods in cash, and water injection buttons 8 and 9 above and below the coin slot 7 are provided.
That is, the water purification vending machine A of the present embodiment has two functions of providing goods, namely, (1) a product can be obtained by the number of points, and (2) a product can be purchased with cash. It is a vending machine.
[0011]
The card reader / writer section 4 reads the accumulated point number of the customer from the customer identification information when a customer identification medium B, for example, a magnetic card is inserted, and overwrites the accumulated points if there is a change.
As shown in FIG. 3, the accumulated point number of the customer of the customer identification information stored in the customer identification medium B is stored in the point number storage means C.
The point lamp 6 is illuminated when the accumulated number of points is sufficient to receive provision of a product.
[0012]
The water injection buttons 8 and 9 are operation buttons with different water injection amounts. For example, the water injection button 8 is for 2 liters and the water injection button 9 is for 4 liters. The number of points required to receive the water purification service is predetermined for each water injection amount, and if the accumulated points are sufficient to receive the service, the water injection buttons 8 and 9 are activated. It is configured to light.
Since the water purification vending machine A of this embodiment can purchase purified water even with cash, the purchase amount is set for each amount of water injected. When the corresponding water injection buttons 8 and 9 are turned on and the desired water injection button 8 or 9 is pressed, purified water is injected into the container 1 from the water purification device 11 and the water injection amount reaches a predetermined amount (2 liters or 4 liters). Then, the injection is stopped. That is, the water purification vending machine A is controlled by a control unit having a well-known vending function, and quantitatively sells purified water.
[0013]
The door 3 provided on the front surface of the container mounting portion 2 can be manually opened around a hinge on one side, and is automatically closed by a spring force when closed. .
Then, the closed state of the door 3 is maintained by the lock mechanism 12, and when the lock mechanism 12 is ON, the door 3 cannot be opened. The lock mechanism 12 is constituted by an electromagnetic solenoid and can be locked (fixed) or released.
[0014]
The management device 10 has a RAM having a hardware configuration equivalent to that of a normal personal computer, and stores the point number storage unit C, a product file in a store, and the like in the RAM. Further, the management device 10 is configured to be able to communicate with the POS terminal 16 in the store, and can share the accumulated points with the use of the POS terminal. Note that the POS terminal includes a card reader / writer, and calculates points according to the purchase price and adds the points to the customer's cumulative points.
Further, in the vending machine, the point service file D, which defines which product is to be provided as a service and how many points are required to provide the service, is stored in the management device 10 described above. Or in the RAM of the vending machine (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).
[0015]
The point service file D is necessary when there are a plurality of products to be provided with a service. In the case of the water purification vending machine A of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The required number of points is 100 points, and the number of points required to provide one liter of purified water is 200 points.
If the target product for service provision is determined to be one type of product and the number of points required to receive the product is also determined, the point service file D may not be created.
[0016]
In addition, the water purification apparatus 11 provided in the water purification vending machine A has one end connected to a water pipe 13 for supplying tap water as raw water, and the other end side of the container mounting portion of the water purification vending machine A. 2 and a reverse osmosis membrane-type filtration means is provided between the water pipe 13 and the water injection port 14 for supplying water between the water pipe 13 and the filtration means. An operating member is provided in each of a pipe (not shown) and a water injection pipe (not shown) between the filtration means and the water inlet 14.
That is, tap water is subjected to primary purification using an activated carbon filter or the like, and then purified water is applied to a container 1 using a reverse osmosis membrane filter. Then, in order to suppress the propagation of various bacteria around the reverse osmosis membrane filter, purified water (pure water) is returned to the inlet of the reverse osmosis membrane filter and circulated at predetermined time intervals, and the reverse osmosis membrane type filtration means is used to circulate the water. The irrigation pipe line leading to is cleaned. The washing water is drained from a water distribution pipe 15 connected to a drain port opened in the mounting plate of the container mounting section 2.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the water purification vending machine A. The CPU controls the entire apparatus by reading and executing an operation program stored in a ROM.
The RAM is a rewritable memory provided with a work area necessary for the operation of the CPU and storing various setting data.
The depositing unit detects that a predetermined coin (or bill) has been deposited, and notifies the CPU to that effect.
The card reader / writer reads the accumulated point number of the customer from the customer identification information when a customer identification medium B, for example, a magnetic card is inserted, and overwrites the information if there is a change.
The communication unit communicates with the management device, and may use a dedicated line using the Internet. In addition, either wired or wireless may be used.
The water purification control unit controls the water purification device 11 such as electromagnetic valves, pumps, flow meters, and the like incorporated in the water purification device 11.
The door lock solenoid locks (fixes) or releases the door lock mechanism.
The container detection sensor detects whether or not the container 1 is placed at a position where water can be injected (for example, immediately below a water inlet). As this sensor, for example, a sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver is generally used.
The 2 liter SW is a switch for selecting an amount of purified water to receive (or purchase) a service, and is a key switch for injecting 2 liters of purified water.
The 4 liter SW is a switch for selecting the amount of purified water to receive (or purchase) the service, and is a key switch for injecting 4 liters of purified water.
The point lamp is a lamp that lights when the accumulated points are sufficient to receive the service.
The above-described water purification control unit, door lock solenoid, container detection sensor, 2 liter SW, 4 liter SW, and point lamp are connected to the CPU, ROM, RAM, deposit unit, card reader / writer unit, Connected to the department.
[0018]
Next, an outline of the operation of the CPU when the point service is used in the water purification vending machine A will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is started by turning on the power of the water purification vending machine A.
S1: The card reader / writer unit 4 reads the customer identification medium (for example, a magnetic card) B, and confirms the accumulated points acquired by the customer up to the present.
S2: Referring to the point service file D stored in the RAM, it is determined whether the points are sufficient when providing the service with the accumulated points. If the point is insufficient [NO], the process proceeds to S3, and the customer identification medium B is discharged from the card reader / writer unit 4. If the point is sufficient [YES], the process proceeds to S4.
S4: Since the accumulated points have reached the points necessary for receiving the service, the point lamp 6 is turned on.
For example, when the accumulated points are 100 points or more and less than 200 points, only the point lamp 6 next to the 2 liter water injection button 8 is turned on. If the accumulated points are 200 points or more, the point lamp 6 next to the 2 liter and 4 liter water injection buttons 8, 9 is turned on, and the process proceeds to S5.
S5: It is determined whether or not the water injection buttons 8, 9 next to the point lamp lit in S4 have been pressed. If the result is [YES], the process proceeds to S7. If a signal indicating that the water injection button has been pressed is not received within a predetermined time, that is, if [NO], the process proceeds to S6, and the customer identification medium B is discharged from the card reader / writer unit 4.
S7: The amount of water corresponding to the water injection button pressed in S5 is injected.
S8: The points for receiving the water injection service are subtracted from the accumulated points. When the accumulated points are stored in the customer identification medium B (when the point number storage means is stored in the customer identification medium), the data of the accumulated points is overwritten and changed, and the point number storage means is stored in the management device. If there is, the data in the management device is overwritten and changed.
S9: The service has been provided, and the customer identification medium B is discharged from the card reader / writer unit 4.
[0019]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without changing the gist of the invention.
(1) The vending machines that provide products according to the number of points are not limited to water purifiers, but may be vending machines for various kinds of products that exist today, such as soft drinks and tobacco in stores.
(2) The card reader / writer for reading the customer identification information stored in the customer identification medium need not always be provided in the vending machine. For example, the card reader / writer unit may be separate from the vending machine.
(3) The installation location of the vending machine is not limited to the inside of the store, but may be outside the store. When installed outside the store, the service can be provided even after the store is closed (out of business hours).
(4) Cumulative points are the same as the purchase price if 1 point per purchase price of 1 yen, so the purchase price may be accumulated, and not the total purchase price but a specific service target product May be the total amount of money.
(5) In order to indicate whether or not the number of points at which a product can be provided has been reached, the point lamp is used to indicate that the number has been reached. For example, a display unit such as an LCD is provided in a vending machine, and the display unit is provided. May be displayed.
(6) Two types of water injection buttons, 2 liters and 4 liters, are provided, but not limited to two types, but three or more types of water injection buttons may be provided.
(7) When the customer identification medium is read by the card reader / writer unit and the predetermined number of points are accumulated, the point lamp is turned on, and when the signal indicating that the water injection button is pressed within the predetermined time is not received, When the customer identification medium is ejected, for example, a customer identification medium ejection switch is provided, and when a signal indicating that the switch is pressed is received, the customer identification medium is ejected from the card reader / writer unit. You may.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the service point system of the present invention, the points acquired and accumulated by shopping at the store can be used by the vending machine. Thus, it is not necessary to line up at a cash register or the like, and the service can be provided in a short time, so that efficient service can be provided.
In addition, since the number of options for using points increases, it is possible to contribute to sales promotion of stores.
If the vending machine is a vending machine that provides purified water, water required for daily life can be received as a service, so that high-quality services can be provided to customers.
Further, according to the configuration of the fifth aspect, the vending machine can be used efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a vending machine used for a service point system of the present invention, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a partially cutaway rear view.
FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram showing a system configuration of the vending machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a point number storage unit.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a point service file.
5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between a vending machine and a management device, wherein FIG. 5A is a configuration in which a point number storage means is provided in the vending machine itself, and FIG. This is a configuration in which devices are arranged.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a service point system by the water purification vending machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
A: Vending machine B: Customer identification medium C: Point number storage means D: Point service file 4: Card reader / writer unit 5: Communication unit 10: Management device

Claims (5)

In a point service system in which a customer receives a predetermined service using points given according to the price of a product purchase,
A customer identification medium for identifying the customer,
Point number storage means in which the accumulated point number is stored for each customer;
Reading means for reading customer identification information stored in the customer identification medium;
The customer's accumulated point number is obtained from the customer identification information and the point number storage means, and the accumulated point number of the customer is compared with the number of service points required for a product provided as a service. A vending machine that discharges the product if the number of points is the same as the number of points of the product or the cumulative number of points exceeds the number of products,
A point service system comprising: 2. The service point system according to claim 1, wherein the point number storage unit is stored in the customer identification medium, and the reading unit includes a writing unit. 2. The service point system according to claim 1, wherein said point number storage means is stored in a management device capable of communicating with a vending machine. The service point system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a product provided as a service of the vending machine is drinking water. The service point system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vending machine has a function of selling goods by cash as well as providing goods by the number of points.

Images