JP2002260024A - Online vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] It is possible to operate while visually confirming the positional relationship between the boarding station and the getting off station and the boarding route, and it is easy to select the desired getting off station and the boarding route and to issue a ticket. Provided is an online vending machine capable of shortening required operation time. SOLUTION: A line section information storage mechanism for storing a line section name and a station name and a map coordinate of the station and a connection information storage mechanism for storing map data are provided. By displaying a disembarkation station selection screen or the like with affixed thereon, the user can visually check the positional relationship between the disembarkation station and the disembarkation station and the departure route, thereby selecting a desired disembarkation station or a departure route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ticket issuing machine for executing ticket issuing processing such as a train ticket or a fare ticket designated by a user through an interactive operation with the user in accordance with an instruction from a host computer connected online. In particular, when the express section and the conventional line section are different, and when there are multiple routes from the express stop station to the conventional line drop-off station, the user can use the conventional line drop-off station or conventional line The present invention relates to an online automatic ticketing machine that allows a user to select a boarding route while visually confirming a drop-off station and a boarding route on a map-type screen displayed on the screen of the ticketing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic ticketing machine installed at a railway station or the like, a user refers to a station name of a disembarkation station and a fare table to the disembarkation station, which is posted separately from the automatic ticketing machine. In this case, the fare to the disembarkation station was entered into an automatic ticket issuing machine, and a ticket with a predetermined fare was issued within the range of the entered fare.

[0003] As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-39794, an online connection is made with a host computer, and a ticket is issued through a dialog operation with a terminal operator such as a station counter staff in accordance with an instruction from the host computer. The ticket issuing terminal also displays a 50-sound screen on the screen of the operation terminal, and when the terminal operator selects the first sound of the conventional line getting off station name, the conventional line getting off station name from the station name list starting from that sound Was selected. In general, a similar type of station name will be used for an automatic ticketing machine that displays a list of station names that search for the name of a conventional line drop-off station by sound and selects the desired station name from the list of station names. Unnecessary ticket issuance due to erroneous operation of the user, or the operation time required to find and select a desired station name from the screen becomes longer, thereby hindering efficient operation of the apparatus.

[0004]

According to the prior art, when the express service section and the conventional line drop-off station are different, the station name list starting with the same letter as the first letter is displayed from the displayed list of station names. It is necessary to select a station to get off the line, and the selection of the desired station for getting off the conventional line and the selection of the boarding route for the conventional line are complicated, and the operations required until the user issues the required fare ticket and ticket There has been a problem that the time is lengthened and the efficient operation of the ticketing machine is limited.

An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art, and a user displays a toll ticket in an express use section and a ticket in a conventional line use section including the express use section on a screen of a ticket issuing machine. It is possible to operate while visually confirming the positional relationship between the disembarkation station and the boarding route according to the map-type screen displayed, so that the selection of the target conventional station and the selection of the conventional boarding route can be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an online automatic ticketing machine which is easy to operate, shortens the operation time required for ticketing, and has excellent operability and high investment effect.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an online vending machine of the present invention stores a line section name such as a Tokaido Shinkansen or a Tokaido main line, and the station name and branch station name of the line section. A line information storage mechanism, a map information storage mechanism for storing map data in which one logical display range covers all over Japan for each display level, and a user to select a station to get off on a conventional line or to select a boarding route for a conventional line. A screen display mechanism for operating in the screen guidance system and a data input mechanism are provided, and the user inputs data according to a map-type screen displayed on the screen display mechanism, such as a conventional line getting off station and a conventional line boarding route. By operating the mechanism, it is possible to visually select the positional relationship between the conventional line drop-off station and the conventional line boarding route, and make a selection.

Further, in the present invention, the online automatic ticketing machine is connected to a host computer which stores fee data and the like based on ticketing information input by interactive operation with the user, and the user inputs the information. An online automatic ticketing machine that prints and issues tickets such as fares and tickets for limited express sections, etc. according to the boarding station and getting off station information, based on the express getting off station displayed on the screen of the ticketing machine. A conventional line drop-off station selection screen is used to select the target conventional line drop-off station and express express station (conventional line boarding station)
If there is more than one boarding route to the conventional line drop-off station desired by the user, select the boarding route of the conventional line on the map-based conventional line boarding route selection screen displayed on the screen of the ticketing machine. .

In the present invention, the fare for each boarding route is displayed on the conventional line boarding route selection screen. In addition, the distance for each boarding route is displayed on the conventional line boarding route selection screen.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an online vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an online automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the appearance of the online automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, in the case of issuing a ticket or an express ticket of the target conventional line getting off station by changing to the conventional line from the express getting off station,
A description will be given of an example of an online automatic ticketing machine capable of selecting a conventional line boarding route when there are a plurality of boarding routes to a conventional line getting off station by interactive operation with a user in accordance with a map screen.

In FIG. 2, the automatic ticket issuing machine 1 has a coin insertion slot 2 for inserting coins, a display input section 3 for displaying a user's operation procedure and the like and inputting data, and a card for inserting a magnetic card which is a credit card. Insertion slot 4, ticket slot 5 for inserting tickets and commuter passes, ticket slot 6 for releasing printed fare tickets and tickets, cash for inserting bills and releasing bills and coin changes A deposit / withdrawal port 7 is provided.

Next, the internal structure of the automatic ticket issuing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a CPU (Cen).
Tral Processing Unit: Central Processing Unit) and M.T. A control mechanism having M (Mein Memory: main storage device) and performing overall control of the automatic ticketing machine 1 by a storage program method, 101 is a ticket for reading a ticket piece such as a ticket or a commuter pass already held by a user. One-side reading mechanism, 102 is a card reading mechanism for reading a magnetic card which is a credit card, and 103 is an external storage device or a non-volatile memory for storing line section names, station names, map coordinates of the stations, and the like according to the present invention. A line section information storage mechanism 104 stores map data for each display level according to the present invention in which the whole of Japan is defined as one logical display range, that is, map data that can display the whole of Japan with one kind of coordinate axis. A map information storage mechanism such as a device or a non-volatile memory, and 105 is a cash deposit / withdrawal for depositing bills or coins and dispensing change with bills or coins. A mechanism 106 is a screen display mechanism for displaying an operation guide screen such as a map-format screen which is a user's operation procedure and the like.
A data input mechanism such as a touch panel type used for data input by the user according to the operation guide screen displayed on the screen 108 prints and outputs a ticket based on ticketing information input by interactive operation with the user. A ticket printing mechanism, 109 is a communication control mechanism for performing on-line control with the host computer, and 110 is a communication line with a host computer (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a table showing one embodiment of line segment information and map coordinates of the automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention.
3A is a line section code table, FIG. 3B is a station code table, and FIG. 3C is a branch station table. FIG. 3 shows a line section name, a station name of the line section, and a branch station. The line section information storage mechanism 103 stores the coded line section code and station code, map coordinates for each display level of the station, and the like. It is remembered. In the present embodiment, examples of the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Tokaido Main Line, and the like in which actual line section names and station names are described are shown. Reference numeral 300 denotes a line section code table that stores line section names such as the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Tokaido Main Line. Reference numeral 301 denotes a station code table, which shows all station names of each line section and coordinate positions on the map data for each display level. The display levels of the map are classified into, for example, an enlargement level, a normal level, and a reduction level. When the display level is the normal level or the reduced level, the map coordinates are not displayed, and thus the station name may not be displayed. When the map coordinates are “00.00” in the station code table 301, it indicates that the station name is not displayed on the screen display of the map data at the display level.

Next, the operation of the automatic ticketing machine having the structure shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The explanation here is a conventional line getting off station selection screen for selecting a conventional line getting off station near Atami when you transfer at Atami station and get off at Gotemba station using Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo station, An example of displaying a map screen for selecting a conventional line boarding route from Atami to Gotemba, selecting a conventional line getting off station on the map screen, and selecting a conventional line boarding route. explain.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention. In this flowchart, the automatic ticketing machine shown in FIG. 1 is used to get on the conventional line from the limited express station to the target conventional line getting off station and the conventional line getting off station when there are a plurality of routes to the conventional line getting off station. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example at the time of selecting a conventional line boarding route according to the screen of a map format. In FIG. 4, the screen display mechanism 106
The user operates the automatic ticketing machine in accordance with the operation guide screen including the map-type screen displayed in the above section, and selects the target conventional line drop-off station and the conventional line boarding route. In the figure, step 402 is FIG. 5A, and step 403 is FIG.
(B), (c), and step 404 will be described with reference to a map-format screen displayed on the screen display mechanism 106 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing one embodiment of various screens displayed on the screen display mechanism. FIG. 5 (a) shows a ticket selection screen, and FIG. 5 (b) shows a conventional line getting off selection screen. , FIG. 5 (c)
5 shows a conventional line getting off station selection diagram, and FIG. 5D shows a conventional line boarding route selection screen. FIG. 5 is an operation guide screen including a map-type screen that displays a user's operation procedure and the like in the processing procedure of FIG. 4. A cancel button 50 is displayed on the ticket selection screen 501.
2. A return button 503 for returning to the previous screen is provided. A conventional line drop-off station selection screen 504 in the form of a map around an express stop station for selecting a conventional line drop-off station includes an enlarge button 506, a normal button 507, and a reduce button 508 indicating the display level of the screen. Further, a cross button 509 for selecting a station name is provided, and a tentacle can be used to select a conventional line drop-off station from a displayed map format showing the vicinity of the conventional line drop-off station. . The conventional line getting off station selection screen 511 is a map type screen when there are a plurality of routes from the conventional line getting on station to the conventional line getting off station as a result of selecting the conventional line getting off station.
The user selects the boarding route from the boarding station of the conventional line to the destination getting off the conventional line on the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512, and the conventional line including the limited express use section of the conventional boarding route required. Print a ticket to the station and get a ticket.
The same button as the screen 504 is provided on the conventional line getting off station selection screen 511 and the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512.

Here, a selection display section displayed for selection from among the screens of the screen display mechanism 106 shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), for example, "Express train and boarding" in FIG. 5 (a). Purchase ticket (Tokyo → Atami) ”is a data input mechanism 1 shown in FIG.
07 is a key input unit, and the user can input selected information by touching the selection display unit.

Hereinafter, the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 will be described. In FIG. 4, in step 401, when the boarding station and the getting off station in the limited express section are selected by using the automatic ticket issuing machine 1 as in the past, the selection control mechanism 100 determines the toll ticket information and gets off the toll ticket section. It is determined whether or not there is a conventional line connecting to the station, and if there is a conventional line connecting line, the screen display words of "Buy an express ticket and a ticket (another station)" are edited and FIG. The ticket selection screen 501 of a) is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106. When the ticket selection screen (a) is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106, when the user tentacles “Buy an express ticket and a ticket (other station)” from the data input mechanism 107, that is, the express use section If the user selects to purchase a ticket to a conventional line disembarkation station different from the fare ticket section and the fare ticket section, in step 402, the user selects a conventional line disembarkation station name from a map to select the name of the conventional line disembarkation station. A next station selection screen 504 is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106. Alternatively, a conventional line drop-off station selection screen 511 around the target conventional line drop-off station is displayed by a user operation.

In step 402, when the user touches “Buy an express ticket and a ticket (other station)”, the user refers to the line area code table 300 and gets off the express (Tokaido Shinkansen) drop-off station ( For example, Atami) is obtained, and based on this, a line section name (for example, Tokaido Line) connected to a limited express station (for example, Atami of the Tokaido Shinkansen) is obtained by referring to the branch station table 302. Next, from the line section name (for example, Tokaido Main Line) of the line section code table 300 to the station code table 3
In addition to storing the 01 line section name (Tokaido Main Line) and the conventional line boarding station (Atami), each station in the ascending and descending directions with the conventional line boarding station (Atami) as a base point is set as a drop-off station candidate for each station. Remember. At this time, branching to another line section is determined for each station stored as a drop-off station candidate, and when branching to another line section, the branching station connected to another line section is referred to by referring to the branching station table 302. (For example, Kofu and Numazu) are stored as branch station candidates. The drop-off station candidates and the branch station candidates to be stored are, for example, up to 15 stations based on the conventional line boarding station (Atami).

The display of the conventional line drop-off station selection screen 504 is performed by reading map information data of one logical display range from the map information storage mechanism 104 and referring to the map coordinates defined in the station code table 301. Paste the drop-off station candidates on the logical screen and get on the conventional line at the station (Atami)
Is determined based on the map coordinates defined in the station code table 301 so that the image can be displayed at the optimum position of the screen display mechanism 106, and is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106. In step 403, a line drop-off station selection screen 504 is displayed, and the display position of the logical screen is changed by a tentacle of the cross button 509 displayed on the conventional line drop-off station selection screen 504, thereby changing the conventional line drop-off station selection screen. 511 is displayed. Then, the disembarkation station selection screen 51 is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106.
When "1" is displayed, the user inputs the desired getting-off station (Gotemba) using the cross button 509,
The conventional branch boarding route selection screen 512 is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106 in the same procedure as the display of the stored branch station candidate on the getting-off station selection screen 504 in step 402.

In step 403, the conventional route is 1
In other cases, the display of the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512 is skipped. When the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512 is displayed on the screen display mechanism 106, the user selects the desired route, that is, the branch station name, and determines the line section to the conventional line getting off station and the transfer station.

When the user selects a desired conventional line boarding route on the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512 displayed on the screen display mechanism 106, the user selects the conventional station boarding route from the boarding station in the limited express section in step 405. The ticket information to the conventional line getting off station desired by the user via the conventional line transfer station selected by the user is determined, and the ticket information and the step 5
01 and edits the toll ticket information determined in step 01
The ticket information and the fare ticket information are transmitted to the host computer via the communication line 9 and the communication line 110, and the ticket information printed from the ticket surface information received from the host computer is printed by the ticket printing mechanism 108 to issue the ticket and the fare ticket.

In the above description, the express use section and the conventional line use section are different, that is, a map-type screen is used when selecting a conventional line drop-off station and selecting a conventional line boarding route in a different arrival side section. Although the present embodiment is an example, a display of a drop-off station selection screen in the form of a map in which a drop-off station candidate and a fee and a distance to each drop-off station candidate are displayed based on the boarding station can be handled by applying the present embodiment. .

That is, on the conventional line boarding route selection screen 512, a route from “Atami” via “Kofu” to “Gotemba” and a route from “Atami” via “Numazu” and “Gotemba” There are routes to go to, but in this case, as reference data when the user selects a route, the distance for each branch station,
Fees (fare or express fare) may be displayed. For example,
The distance and fare when passing through "Kokufu" and "Numazu" are "Kofu: Akm, B yen", "Numazu: Ck"
m, D circle ".

Further, the required time may be displayed. If there is an express train and a regular train in the route, the shortest required time may be displayed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the names of all the line sections such as the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Tokaido line, and the names of all the stations and branch stations of each line section are stored in the line section information storage mechanism 103 and displayed. The map information storage mechanism 104 stores map data in which the whole of Japan is one logical display range for each level, and the user operates according to the map-type operation guide screen displayed on the screen of the automatic ticket vending machine, so that the user can get off the station. It is possible to visually confirm the positional relationship between the train and the boarding route on a map screen. Therefore, according to the present invention, versatility with excellent operability that can be applied to a wide range of ticketing business by shortening the operation time required for unnecessary ticketing due to erroneous operation of the user and the ticketing operation of the intended fare ticket and ticket. The automatic ticketing machine with high price can be obtained.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the line area information including the map coordinates and the map data are stored in the online automatic ticketing machine in advance, so that the user can get around the destination station. By displaying a map-based disembarkation station selection screen and multiple boarding routes to the disembarkation station on the screen in a map format, the user can visually identify the desired disembarkation station and boarding route on a map-type operation guidance screen. You can select while checking. In addition, the user operates the automatic ticket issuing machine while checking the positional relationship with the boarding station according to the map-format screen, so that the fare ticket of the limited express section of the complicated boarding route and the conventional line drop-off station including the limited express section Since it is possible to issue a ticket up to the above, it is possible to shorten the operation time required for issuing an unnecessary ticket due to a user's erroneous operation and for issuing a desired fare ticket and a ticket. This also makes it possible to obtain a highly versatile automatic ticketing machine applicable to a wide range of ticketing services.

In the present invention, the limited express refers to a train that does not stop at each station but stops only at a selected station, and includes the Shinkansen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an online automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the appearance of the online automatic ticketing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table showing one embodiment of line section information and map coordinates of the automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the automatic ticket issuing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one embodiment of various screens displayed on the screen display mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic ticket-issuing machine, 2 ... Coin slot, 3 ... Display input part, 4
... Card insertion slot, 5 ... Ticket insert, 6 ... Ticket discharge, 7
... Cash deposit and withdrawal slot, 100 ... Control mechanism, 101 ... Ticket piece reading mechanism, 102 ... Card reading mechanism, 103 ... Line information storage mechanism, 104 ... Map information storage mechanism, 105 ... Cash deposit and withdrawal mechanism, 106 ... Screen display Mechanism 107 data input mechanism 108 ticket printing mechanism 109 communication control mechanism
110 ... communication line.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junko Kito 1-16-5 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo F-term in Hitachi Information Systems Co., Ltd. (reference) 3E026 AA06 CA01 CA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An online automatic ticketing method for printing and issuing a ticket or a toll ticket in an express train section in accordance with input boarding station and getting-off station information, the first automatic ticketing method being displayed on a screen of a ticketing machine. A step of selecting a desired second disembarkation station from a disembarkation station selection screen for selecting a second disembarkation station in a map format based on the disembarkation station, and from the first disembarkation station to the second disembarkation station And selecting a boarding route from a map-like boarding route selection screen displayed on the screen of the ticket issuing machine when there are a plurality of boarding routes. 2. A line section information storage section for storing a line section name, a station name and a branch station name of the line section, and a map information storage section for storing map data in which one logical display range covers the whole of Japan for each display level. And a screen display unit for operating the selection of a boarding station, a disembarkation station and a boarding route in a screen guidance system, and a data input unit, based on a map-format screen displayed on the screen display unit. An online automatic ticketing machine, wherein the operator selects the boarding route from the first disembarkation station to the second disembarkation station by operating the data input unit. 3. The online automatic ticket issuing machine according to claim 2, wherein the fee for each boarding route is displayed on the map-format screen. 4. The online automatic ticketing machine according to claim 2, wherein the distance for each boarding route is displayed on the map screen.