Automatic vending machine having a control system capable of easily and reliably rewriting a control program in each terminal control unit

• US 7,054,909 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2000
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Naoto, Ohkubo, Masaru, Inokuma, Yoshiaki, Ushigome, Kazuyasu, Kosano, Akiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thanh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/695,231
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/208, 700/240, 700/244, 700/3, 370/398, 370/486, 717/168, 345/716, 448/170
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

In a control system for an automatic vending machine with a controlled device, a terminal control unit controls the controlled device in accordance with a control program. A main control unit is connected to the terminal control unit through a transmission path and controls the terminal control unit through communication with the terminal control unit. The main control unit is provided with a transfer arrangement for transferring a new control program to the terminal control unit through the transmission path. The terminal control unit is provided with a memory and a rewriting arrangement connected to the memory. The memory is for memorizing the first-mentioned control program as a memorized control program. The rewriting arrangement is for rewriting the memorized control program into the new control program at need.

Claims

1. A control system for an automatic vending machine including a controlled device, said control system comprising:

a terminal control unit connected to said controlled device for controlling said controlled device in accordance with a control program; and

a main control unit connected to said terminal control unit through a transmission path for controlling said terminal control unit through communication with said terminal control unit, said main control unit including transfer means for transferring a signal with a new control program to said terminal control unit through said transmission path;

said terminal control unit comprising;

memorizing means for memorizing the first-mentioned control program as a memorized control program; and

rewriting means connected to said memorizing means and said transfer means for rewriting said memorized control program into said new control program.

2. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising transfer rate control means for increasing a data transfer rate of said control program when said control program is transferred from said main control unit to said terminal control unit.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said transfer rate control means is connected to said transmission path and controls said transmission path to have a communication speed increased.

4. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said automatic vending machine further includes another controlled device, said control system further comprising another terminal control unit connected to said other controlled device, said main control unit being connected to said other terminal control unit, said transfer rate control means being connected to said main control unit and controlling said main control unit to suppress the communication between said other control unit and said main control unit when said control program is transferred from said main control unit to the first-mentioned terminal control unit.

5. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said communication is carried out by the use of a normal communication protocol, said transfer rate control means switching said normal communication protocol into a special communication protocol by which said transfer means transfers said new control program to said terminal control unit through said transmission path.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said main control unit comprises input means connected to said transfer means for supplying said new control program to said transfer means.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein said input means is adapted to use of a removable storage medium memorizing said new control program, said input means reading said new control program from said removable storage medium to supply said new control program to said transfer means.

8. The control system according to claim 6, wherein said input means is connected to a communication line for transmitting said new control program, said input means receiving said new control program through said communication line to supply said new control program to said transfer means.

9. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said main control unit comprises judging means connected to said transfer means for judging in response to said new control program whether or not a rewrite of said memorized control program is to be executed, said judging means permitting said transfer means to transmit said new control program towards said terminal control unit when said rewrite is to be executed.

10. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising judging means connected to said transfer means for judging with reference to said signal whether or not said memorized control program should be rewritten, said judging means permitting said rewriting means to access said memorizing means when said memorized control program should be rewritten.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein said judging means judges whether or not said signal includes said new control program directed to said terminal control unit, said judging means permitting said rewriting means to access said memorizing means only when said signal includes said new control program directed to terminal control unit.

12. The control system according to claim 10, wherein said judging means compares version information of said new control program with version information of said memorized control program to permit said rewriting means to access said memorizing means only when the version information of said new control program is updated.

13. The control system according to claim 10, wherein said judging means is included in said main control unit.

14. The control system according to claim 10, wherein said judging means is included in said terminal control unit.

15. The control system according to claim 1, wherein further comprising indicating means connected to said rewriting means for indicating execution of rewriting said memorized control program operation.

16. A control system for an automatic vending machine including a controlled device, said control system comprising:

a terminal control unit connected to said controlled device for controlling said controlled device in accordance with a control program; and

a main control unit connected to said terminal control unit through a transmission path for controlling said terminal control unit through communication with said terminal control unit, said main control unit including a transfer device for transferring a signal with a new control program to said terminal control unit through said transmission path;

said terminal control unit comprising;

a memorizing device for memorizing the first-mentioned control program as a memorized control program; and

a rewriting device connected to said memorizing device and said transfer device for rewriting said memorized control program into said new control program.

17. The control system according to claim 16, further comprising transfer rate control device for increasing a data transfer rate of said control program when said control program is transferred from said main control unit to said terminal control unit.

18. The control system according to claim 16, wherein said main control unit comprises an input device connected to said transfer device for supplying said new control program to said transfer device.

19. The control system according to claim 16, wherein said main control unit comprises a judging device connected to said transfer device for judging in response to said new control program whether or not a rewrite of said memorized control program is to be executed, said judging device permitting said transfer device to transmit said new control program towards said terminal control unit when said rewrite is to be executed.

20. The control system according to claim 16, further comprising a judging device connected to said transfer device for judging with reference to said signal whether or cot said memorized control program should be rewritten, said judging device permitting said rewriting device to access said memorizing device when said memorized control program should be rewritten.