JP2000048253A - Information output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable desired information to be freely obtained whenever and wherever a user is outside and to easily and inexpensively enable the construction of a system. SOLUTION: A display part 2 having display screens of a CRT or a liquid crystal display(LCD), a storage part 3 for storing desired electronic data, an input part 4 for inputting indicating information from an operator, and a printing part 5 for performing printing output are an incorporated into an existing automatic vending machine. Then, on the basis of the indicating information from the operator, information stored in the storage part 3 is displayed in the display part 2, printed and outputted by the printing part 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information output system for outputting desired information from an intermediary device using an intermediary device such as a vending machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a variety of information such as news, leisure information, and information required by individuals has been mainly obtained by newspapers, magazines, TV (television), radio, and the like. . In recent years, with the spread of personal computers (personal computers), many Internet communications have been performed, and required information has been obtained through communication lines.

In the conventional information providing system as described above, the place where information is obtained is limited, for example, the place where a television or a personal computer is arranged. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult to obtain necessary information or useful information when going out. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an information output system that can freely obtain desired information anytime and anywhere, such as when going out, and that can easily and inexpensively construct a system. It is intended to provide.

An information output system according to the present invention is configured as follows. (1) An information output system for outputting desired information from an intermediary device using an intermediary device such as a vending machine, the display device having a variable display content, and various information related to an installation location or an operator of the intermediary device. Storage means for storing desired digitized data according to the situation, and input means for inputting instruction information of an operator, wherein the desired information stored in the storage means is stored based on the instruction information of the operator. Information is displayed. (2) In the configuration of the above (1), a printing means for printing and outputting information contents is provided. (3) In the configuration of the above (1) or (2), information desired by the operator is obtained via a communication line. (4) In any one of the constitutions (1) to (3), an image for an advertisement is displayed when no instruction information is input by the operator.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information output system according to the present invention, showing a case where the system is configured in a vending machine. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the entire system, and includes a CPU, a ROM, and an R
It is composed of AM and the like. 2 is CR with variable display contents
A display unit (display means) using a T or an LCD, a storage unit (storage means) 3 for storing desired digitized data according to various situations relating to an installation place of the vending machine or an operator, and 4 An input unit (input means) 5 for inputting operator's instruction information is a printing unit (printing means) for printing and outputting information contents. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes a voice control unit having a speaker or the like for controlling a voice output, and 7 denotes a CD-ROM drive or the like for loading the various electronic data and image data for advertisement into the storage unit 3. The information input unit has a communication control unit for communicating with an external device, and a line control unit for inputting information desired by an operator via a communication circuit. They are connected via a system bus 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an external structure of a vending machine having the above system configuration.
In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a vending machine, 12 denotes a sample space in which samples of articles for sale are arranged, and 13 denotes a display screen of the display unit 2, here a CRT display screen. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 14 denotes an advertising space for advertisement, 15 denotes an outlet for selling goods, 16 denotes a coin slot, 17 denotes a ten-key keyboard of the input unit 4, 18 denotes a printout outlet from which printed matter is discharged, and 19 denotes a printout outlet. This is the coin return slot. At present, vending machines that handle beverages such as juice and beer, food and other daily necessities such as clothing are rapidly spreading throughout the country,
Its market size is about 3 trillion yen. This vending machine has a large size and shape of the housing, takes up space, and tends to be avoided from installation in terms of safety.
In recent years, it has been rapidly extended as described above due to the relationship between convenience and human rights costs. In the present embodiment, such vending machines widely used in various parts of the country are used, with the added value "information" added thereto, and desired information is output from the vending machines. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of this system. The control processing shown in this flowchart is performed by the CPU of the control unit 1 in FIG.
Is executed according to the control program stored in. First, in the present system, when there is no input of instruction information by the operator, an image for advertisement is displayed on the screen 13 of the display unit 2 (step S1). When an operator inputs an instruction from the input unit 4 (step S2), a menu screen for information provision guidance is displayed (step S3), and a selection input by the operator is waited (step S4). When there is a selection input, the display is switched to the input screen display (step S).
5) Wait for operator's instruction input. Next, when the instruction input of the operator is confirmed (step S6), the data table is searched (step S7), and the presence or absence of data is confirmed (step S8). Then, if there is data, the search data is displayed (step S9). When the end of the search is confirmed by the instruction of the operator (step S10), the searched data is printed out on paper and output (step S11). In this way, desired information can be freely obtained anytime and anywhere if this system is adopted in a nearby vending machine even when going out. In addition, since the present system can use an existing vending machine, system construction can be realized easily and at low cost. Here, in the present embodiment, the case where the hardware is built in the vending machine 11 has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other intermediary devices, and both media can be used with other media using a communication line. The present invention can be applied to a case where information is provided by performing head-to-head communication. Examples of other media include those utilizing various functions such as a communication karaoke, a game machine, a CATV, a TV phone, a facsimile, a mobile communication, a car navigation, a cash dispenser, and a TV with a communication device. Further, the operator's instruction input can adopt a ten-key system or a touch panel system, so that anyone can easily obtain information. In addition, as a setting place, a place where a vending machine can be basically installed is good, and the indoor and semi-indoors are mainly used. For example, a place where an unspecified number of people gather, such as inside a station, an airport, a gas station, a convenience store, a fast food store, a family restaurant, a local government, a hospital, a hotel, a police box, a bank, a bus / taxi stand, and a tourist facility is preferable. . Then, information can be selected and provided according to the installation location. For example,
Area map, gourmet, shopping, fashion,
Movie and music tickets, events, books, hotels, weather,
Information such as sports, fortunes, health, financial technology, amusement, game software, and newspapers can be provided according to the situation of the user.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely obtain desired information anytime and anywhere, such as when going out, and it is possible to easily and inexpensively construct a system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the vending machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of the system according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Display part 3 Storage part 4 Input part 5 Printing part 6 Voice control part 7 Information input part 8 Communication control part 9 Line control part 10 System bus 11 Vending machine 17 Numeric keyboard 18 Printout port

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information output system for outputting desired information from an intermediary device using an intermediary device such as a vending machine, the information output system comprising: a display unit having a variable display content; An information output system for displaying desired information stored in the storage means. 2. The information output system according to claim 1, further comprising printing means for printing and outputting information contents. 3. The information output system according to claim 1, wherein information desired by an operator is obtained via a communication line. 4. The information output system according to claim 1, wherein an image for advertisement is displayed when no instruction information is input by an operator.