KR980004191A - Data vending machine and its management method - Google Patents

Abstract

It sells various data and programs such as music materials, games, etc. through the vending machine. When the buyer selects the desired information data, he retrieves the selected information, checks the buyer's payment method such as a card and cash with a password, and then It is characterized by transferring the selected information data file to the purchaser's equipment, so that the buyer can use various data or programs, which are intangible products that depended only on communication, through the data vending machine without using computer communication or the Internet. It is possible to easily purchase data files without increasing time and when purchasing various data or programs through data vending machines, purchase price can be paid by a card with a password. , Sell over network Because the management information data, it is not necessary that the seller or the manager to attend to find individual data vending machines to vending management data automatically maintained at a low cost in order to compensate for the items sold.

Description

Data vending machine and its management method

Since this is an open matter, no full text was included.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for managing a data vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing a data vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3F are operation flowcharts schematically showing a method of managing a data vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A to 4E are operation flowcharts schematically showing a control method of a data vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (23)

Information selection means for allowing a buyer to select desired data and programs; Display means for displaying a menu of information to be selected by the purchaser; A fee collection means for detecting a variety of information of the fee payment means input by the purchaser to settle the fee; Control means set therein to control the overall operation of the device according to a control algorithm; Data storage means for storing various data and program files for sale; And a data output means for transmitting the information data file selected by the purchaser through the information selection means among the data stored in the data storage means to an external recording medium. The data vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a network connection means for network connection with an external server that recognizes usage charges or manages a device. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information selecting means comprises: a keyboard for selecting information according to a key input code of a purchaser; And a touch screen for selecting information according to a contact on a screen output from the display means. The data vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the toll collection means comprises one or more of an RF card reader, a magnetic card reader, a prepaid card reader, a bar code reader, and the like. The data output means according to claim 1, further comprising: first data output means for transmitting the information data file selected by the purchaser to an external recording medium such as a floppy disk; Second data output means for transmitting to a data-only medium such as an MPEG music player; And a third data output means for transmitting to an external device such as a laptop. The server according to claim 2, wherein the server comprises: a data database in which various latest information data files other than the information data file stored in the data storage means are recorded; A data vending machine comprising a buyer database in which various information and passwords of cards for paying by a buyer are recorded. The data vending machine according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the toll collection means further comprises a coin and bill reader comprising a coin inlet, which can be used by mixing coins of different values, and a bill inlet composed of a bill identifier and an inlet. . Initializing each device when the power is input, accessing a server through a network, and outputting an information data file sales demo screen along with preparing to sell the information data file; Outputting various information menu screens so that a buyer can select desired information when a purchase signal of a buyer's information data file is authorized; Retrieving the selected information data file when the buyer selects the desired information, and updating the information data file of the vending machine by receiving the information data file from the server if the selected information data file is not found; Confirming the payment means of the buyer to settle the fee and transmitting the information data file selected by the buyer to the buyer's device; After checking whether there is more information data that the buyer wants, if there is a request for other information data, the information data file selected by the above process is transmitted to the purchaser's device. Data vending machine control method comprising the step of outputting a screen. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining whether the received signal is a status transmission command signal or an information data file transmission signal of the data vending machine when the signal from the server is received; Transmitting the current state of the data vending machine to the server when the state transfer command signal of the data vending machine is performed in the step; And updating the information data file stored in the data vending machine with the latest information data file if the information data file transmission signal is present. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying a failure when the server is not connected through the network in the step. The method according to claim 8, wherein the confirmation of the purchaser's information data file purchase signal in the step uses a signal that the buyer's device for receiving the buyer's key input signal or information data file via a keyboard or touch screen is connected to the data vending machine. Data vending machine control method, characterized in that made. The data vending machine control method according to claim 8, wherein in the step, when the means for paying the purchaser is a card, information data is sold only when there is a confirmation signal from the server. The data vending machine according to claim 8, wherein in the step, when the purchaser's payment means is cash, such as coins and bills, the purchaser pays the fee if the purchaser's confirmation signal is in the state where the input amount is more than the sales amount of the information data. Control method. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a signal retransmission request signal to the server if it is not confirmed whether the signal received from the server is a status transmission command signal or an information data file transmission signal of the data vending machine. Vending machine control method. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of outputting a demo screen after outputting an error message that the server cannot sell the information data file because the fee is not settled if the payment means of the buyer is not confirmed by the server. Data vending machine control method. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein if there is a balance after billing in the step, the information data file is transmitted to the purchaser's device and returned. The method of claim 16, wherein the balance is returned in the first step, and the coins are sequentially returned from the highest price. A manager server for controlling an overall operation for unattended management of information sold using a communication network; A communication operation server managing various types of data provided according to a signal applied from the manager server; A data database, which is a collection of operational data in which information sold is integrated; A buyer database, which is a set of operational data in which a buyer card number and a password are stored in order to confirm the identity of the buyer; A data vending machine database, which is a set of operational data in which state information of the data vending machine is integrated and stored; Load management means for managing an externally connected communication line to prevent congestion of each external communication line connected to the communication network; A data vending machine management apparatus, comprising: network connection means interconnected with respective external communication devices having different transmission methods to enable transmission and reception of information. Initializing a server and a database if there is an operator's signal for managing the data vending machine; Detecting whether there is a connection signal capable of initiating data transmission and reception between the terminal and the communication line; Managing the data vending machine by transmitting and receiving data through the network if the access signal detected in the step is a signal from the data vending machine; Managing a data database by a local area network if the access signal detected in the step is a data database management signal for modifying, adding, and deleting data to be sold; Managing a buyer database by a local area network if the access signal detected in the step is a buyer database management signal for modifying, adding, and deleting information such as a number and password of a buyer card; If the access signal detected in the step is a data vending machine database management signal for modifying, adding and deleting the state information of the data vending machine, the data vending machine comprising the step of managing the data vending machine database by a local area network. How to manage. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data vending machine management comprises: checking the status of the data vending machine upon initial network connection, updating the information data of the data vending machine, and recording the status information accordingly in the data vending machine database; ; Detecting and transmitting the requested data from the data database if there is a data request signal from the data vending machine and recording the information in the data vending machine database; If there is a fee payment confirmation signal from the data vending machine, comparing the information with the information in the buyer database and transmitting the confirmation signal at the same time and recording the information in the buyer database, and if not, transmitting an error signal; If it is a status request signal of the data vending machine database, giving a status transfer command to the data vending machine to record the received status information in the data vending machine database; If the data vending machine is off, the data vending machine management method comprising the step of ending the management of the data vending machine. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data database management in the step includes: updating information in the data database if there is an updater signal for adding, modifying, and deleting new data; Transmitting data database information such as names of various recorded materials if there is a data database status transmission signal; If the data database management release signal is received, the data vending machine management method comprising the step of terminating the data database management. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein in the step of managing the buyer database, if there is an updater signal for adding, modifying and deleting the buyer card number and password, updating the buyer information recorded in the buyer database; Transmitting buyer database information such as numbers and passwords of various recorded buyer cards when there is a buyer database status transmission signal; And if the buyer database management release signal is terminated, terminating the management of the buyer database. 20. The data vending machine database management of claim 19, further comprising: updating information recorded in the data vending machine database if there is an updater signal for adding, modifying, and deleting the data vending machine management information; Transmitting state information of various recorded data vending machines if a data vending machine database status transmission signal is present; And ending the data vending machine data management if there is a data vending machine database management release signal. ※ Note: The disclosure is based on the initial application.