Service provision support system, server and computer program

• US 6,819,976 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kimura, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/200,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/233, 700/237, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A vending machine includes a request receiving portion for receiving request information of products desired by a user; a receipt number issuing portion for issuing receipt number information for each of the received request information; an information storing portion for storing the request information in connection with the receipt number issuing portion, a receipt number transmitting portion for transmitting receipt number information to the terminal designated by the user who made the request, a receipt number obtaining portion for obtaining the receipt number information from the terminal of the user who came to the front of the vending machine, a job information extracting portion for extracting the request information corresponding to the obtained receipt number information from the information storing portion and a job controlling portion for controlling the product to be ejected to an outlet portion in accordance with the extracted request information.

Claims

1. A vending machine that ejects a product stored therein in response to an instruction of a user, comprising:

first transmission means for transmitting a product ordering screen to a user terminal for display thereby, via a network, in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal;

means for receiving request information written on the product ordering screen displayed by the user terminal and transmitted from the user terminal;

means for issuing identifying information corresponding to the received request information;

means for storing the received request information in connection with the corresponding identifying information;

second transmission means for transmitting the issued and stored, corresponding identifying information to a terminal designated by the user;

means for obtaining the corresponding identifying information, received by the designated terminal, when the designated terminal is afforded access to the vending machine;

means for extracting, from the storing means, the stored request information corresponding to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining means, and

means for controlling ejection of a product in accordance with the extracted request information.

2. A vending machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the designated terminal is the user terminal.

3. A vending machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the user terminal is a portable terminal.

4. A vending machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the user terminal is product ordering terminal and the designated terminal is a product procuring terminal.

5. A vending machine that ejects a product stored therein in response to an instruction of a user, comprising:

a first transmitter transmitting a product ordering screen to a user terminal for display thereby, via a network, in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal;

a receiver receiving request information written on the product ordering screen displayed by the user terminal and transmitted from the user terminal;

a first unit issuing identifying information corresponding to the received request information;

a memory storing the received request information in connection with the corresponding identifying information;

a second transmitter transmitting the issued and stored, corresponding identifying information to a terminal designated by the user;

a second unit obtaining the corresponding identifying information, received by the designated terminal, when the designated terminal is afforded access to the vending machine;

an extractor extracting, from the memory, the stored request information corresponding to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining unit; and

a controller controlling ejection of a product in accordance with the extracted request information.

6. A vending machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the designated terminal is the user terminal.

7. A vending machine as recited in claim 6, wherein the user terminal is a portable terminal.

8. A vending machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the user terminal is product ordering terminal and the designated terminal is a product procuring terminal.

9. A method of operating a vending machine that ejects a product stored therein, in response to an instruction of a user, comprising:

transmitting a product ordering screen to a user terminal for display thereby, via a network, in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal;

receiving request information written on the product ordering screen displayed by the user terminal and transmitted from the user terminal;

issuing identifying information corresponding to the received request information;

storing the received request information in connection with the corresponding identifying information;

transmitting the issued and stored, corresponding identifying information to a terminal designated by the user;

obtaining the corresponding identifying information, received by the designated terminal, when the designated terminal is afforded access to the vending machine;

extracting, from the memory, the stored request information corresponding to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining unit; and

controlling ejection of a product in accordance with the extracted request information.

10. A vending machine as recited in claim 9, wherein the designated terminal is the user terminal.

11. A vending machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the user terminal is a portable terminal.

12. A vending machine as recited in claim 9, wherein the user terminal is product ordering terminal and the designated terminal is a product procuring terminal.

13. A storage storing a machine-readable program controlling a vending machine to eject a product stored therein in response to an instruction of a user by:

transmitting a product ordering screen to a user terminal for display thereby, via a network, in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal;

receiving request information written on the product ordering screen displayed by the user terminal and transmitted from the user terminal;

issuing identifying information corresponding to the received request information;

storing the received request information in connection with the corresponding identifying information;

transmitting the issued and stored, corresponding identifying information to a terminal designated by the user;

obtaining the corresponding identifying information, received by the designated terminal, when the designated terminal is afforded access to the vending machine;

extracting, from the memory, the stored request information corresponding to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining unit; and

controlling ejection of a product in accordance with the extracted request information.

14. A vending machine as recited in claim 13, wherein the designated terminal is the user terminal.

15. A vending machine as recited in claim 14, wherein the user terminal is a portable terminal.

16. A vending machine as recited in claim 13, wherein the user terminal is product ordering terminal and the designated terminal is a product procuring terminal.