Vending machine and control method thereof

• US 9,508,210 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Jin-woo
• Primary Examiner(s): YU, ARIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/476,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,737 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 an electronic machine which has a display module to display an image stored therein or inputted from an outside device, the control method comprising:

detecting that a door of the electronic machine is open; and

changing an image screen of the display module accommodated in the door in response to the detection that the door of the electronic machine is open,

wherein the changing comprises displaying a certification mode window provided to certify a user of the electronic machine.

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 a log-in button image is displayed in the certification mode window, the log-in button image arranged to be selected in order to determine whether the inputted certification code is the same as a prestored certification code.

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

6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein a button image is displayed in the certification mode window, the button image arranged to be selected to move to a certification mode change window provided for changing a certification code, and the control method further comprises:

detecting that the button image is selected by a touch by the user; and

displaying the certification code change window in response to the detection that the button image 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

detecting that 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 electronic 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. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic machine comprises a vending machine.

12. An electronic machine, comprising:

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

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

a door which accommodates the display unit;

a detector which detects that the door is open; and

a controller which changes an image screen of the display unit in response to the detection that the door is open,

wherein the display unit displays a certification mode window provided for inputting a certification mode to certify the user.

13. The electronic 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 electronic 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 electronic machine according to claim 13, wherein a log-in button image is displayed in the certification mode window, the log-in button image arranged to be selected in order to determine whether the inputted certification code is the same as a prestored certification code.

16. The electronic machine according to claim 12, wherein a button image is displayed in the certification code window, the button image arranged to be selected to move to 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 image is selected from the user input unit.

17. The electronic 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 electronic machine according to claim 17, wherein the controller displays a maintenance menu to maintain the electronic 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 electronic machine according to claim 12, wherein the detector detects that the door of the electronic machine is connected with a body of the electronic machine mechanically or electrically to detect that the door is open.

20. The electronic machine according to 12, further comprising:

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

a storage unit that stores the data of the product;

wherein the display unit displays the information on the product,

wherein the controller 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 device the data corresponding to the information, and

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

21. The electronic machine according to claim 12, wherein the electronic machine comprises a vending machine.