VENDING MACHINE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100010903A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Jin-woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,508,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A control method of a vending machine which has a display module to display an image stored therein or inputted from the outside is provided. The control method includes: determining whether a door of the vending machine is open; changing an image mode displayed on the display module if it is determined that the door of the vending machine is open; and displaying a certification mode window to certify a user if the image mode is changed.

Claims

1. A control method of a vending machine which has a display module to display an image stored therein or inputted from an outside, the control method comprising:

determining whether a door of the vending machine is open;

changing an image mode of the display module for displaying images if it is determined that the door of the vending machine is open; and

displaying a certification mode window provided to certify a user if the image mode is changed.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the certification mode window comprises an area in which a certification code is inputted and a cursor is displayed in the area.

3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the certification mode window comprises a key pad provided for inputting at least one of letters, symbols and numbers, the control method further comprises:

detecting a touch on the key pad; and

inputting letters, symbols or numbers corresponding to the touch on the key pad in the area in which the certification code is inputted.

4. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the certification mode window comprises a log-in button.

5. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether the door of the vending machine is open comprises determining whether the door of the vending machine is connected with a body of the vending machine mechanically or electrically.

6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the certification mode window comprises a button to move to a certification mode change window provided for changing a certification code, and

the control method further comprises:

determining whether the button is selected by a touch by the user; and

displaying the certification code change window if the button is selected.

7. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the certification code comprises at least one of the letters, the symbols and the numbers.

8. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the inputted certification code is equal to a prestored certification code if the certification code is inputted.

9. The control method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying a maintenance menu to maintain the vending machine if it is determined that the inputted certification code is equal to the prestored certification code.

10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the maintenance menu comprises an item to modify, input, delete or save at least one of a sales volume of a product, a price of the product, an image of the product and a background screen.

11. A vending machine, comprising:

a display unit which displays an image stored therein or inputted from an outside;

a user input unit which receives an input signal from a user;

a door which accommodates the display unit;

a detector which detects whether the door is open; and

a controller which changes an image mode of the display unit for displaying images if it is determined that the door is open.

12. The vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the display unit displays a certification mode window provided for inputting a certification mode to certify the user if the image mode is changed.

13. The vending machine according to claim 12, wherein the certification mode window comprises an area in which the certification code is inputted, and a cursor is displayed in the area.

14. The vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the certification mode window comprises a key pad provided for inputting at least one of numbers, symbols and letters, and the controller inputs the at least one of numbers, symbols and letters corresponding to a touch on the key pad, in the area in which the certification code is inputted if the touch is detected from the user input unit.

15. The vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the certification code window comprises a log-in button.

16. The vending machine according to claim 12, wherein the certification code window comprises a button to select a certification code change window provided for changing the certification code, and the controller controls the display unit to display the certification code change window if the button is selected from the user input unit.

17. The vending machine according to claim 12, further comprising a storage unit to store a preset certification code therein, wherein

the controller determines whether the inputted certification code is equal to the preset certification code.

18. The vending machine according to claim 17, wherein the controller displays a maintenance menu to maintain the vending machine if it is determined that the inputted certification code is equal to the preset certification code, and the maintenance menu comprises an item to modify, input, delete or save at least one of a sales volume of a product, a price of the product, an image of the product and a background screen.

19. The vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the detector detects whether the door of the vending machine is connected with a body of the vending machine mechanically or electrically to determine whether the door is open.

20. A vending machine, comprising:

a display unit that displays information on a product contained in the vending machine;

an interface through which data of the product, corresponding to the information on the product, is received from an outside and transmitted to the outside in a wireless manner;

a storage unit that stores the data of the product; and

a controller that controls the display unit to display the information on the product based on the data of the product, and controls the interface to receive from and transmit to the outside the data corresponding to the information,

wherein the data comprises an image, a price, a quantity and sales data of the product.