RU2368014C2 - Vending machine for tobacco goods selling - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, control.

SUBSTANCE: vending machine is suggested for selling of cigarettes and other tobacco goods with mechanism of distribution of items contained in it. Vending machine has input device, such as RFID device for data reading, nonvolatile memory and logical control circuit. Usually vending machine is installed behind the bar counter, and customer addresses service person with request to sell a pack of cigarettes. In order to realised such sale of cigarettes from vending machine, service person must pass their RFID card along RFID-reading device of vending machine. RFID-reading device of vending machine received number indicated on card and checks it for compliance with authorised numbers stored in vending machine memory. Only properly authorised person is able to purchase pack of cigarettes from vending machine.

EFFECT: provision of high safety and reliability of access to vending machine.

39 cl, 1 tbl, 6 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine for selling tobacco products, in particular packs of cigarettes and other retail tobacco products, and a method for controlling such a machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, vending machines are used to sell a variety of products, such as cans of drinks, confectionery and other pre-packaged products. One of the drawbacks of the existing vending machines is their high cost and the lack of funds for a potential buyer to purchase them. Another problem with conventional vending machines is the presence of cash in them and, as a consequence, frequent attempts to hack and steal the money in them (especially when installing vending machines in relatively isolated places). Such thefts result in losses to the operator servicing the vending machine and usually to breakdown of the vending machine.

One of the vending machines, which to some extent solves these problems, is described in a document that can be found on the Internet at http://www.ti.com/tiris/docs/solution/pos/vending.shtml. This document proposes the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) cards as an alternative means of payment. The owner of the machine issues RFID cards that contain special information that uniquely identifies the owner of the machine. When a buyer with such a card inserts it into the vending machine, the machine automatically connects to the appropriate server and the purchase price is debited from the buyer's credit card account.

This approach, although it eliminates the need to pay for purchases in cash, requires the use of a very large and complex infrastructure. With this approach, the vending machine should be included in the general network of the credit card system, and the owners of the machines should issue the corresponding RFID cards. Moreover, in addition, the loss or theft of an RFID card is fraught with many unpleasant consequences for buyers.

Vending machines are often used to sell tobacco products. In places like hotels, restaurants, cafes or bars, cigarettes and other tobacco products are currently sold in two ways. In some cases (selling from a vending machine located outside the bar and accessible to customers), a vending machine is provided for use by potential buyers of tobacco products. In these cases, the owner of the hotel, restaurant, cafe or bar enters into a contract with the operator of the vending machine (OTA), which installs a vending machine and is responsible for its operation and for the goods in it. For renting a machine-occupied space, OTA usually pays the landlord a fixed fee for each pack of tobacco sold. Vending machines used in this way are described in EP-A-1426905.

In other cases (selling at the bar counter), packs of cigarettes lie on a shelf or are located in a vending machine located behind the bar counter. In these cases, it is not the buyer who buys the pack of cigarettes; he is brought by one of the attendants after an appropriate payment. The vending machine used in this way is described in GB 2180527.

It should be noted that cigarette vending machines are usually subject to statutory restrictions. It is advisable that owners of hotels, restaurants, cafes or bars can easily agree to all such restrictions. In addition, due to the relatively high cost of packs of cigarettes, it is desirable that hotel owners, restaurants, cafes or bars and / or operators responsible for tobacco vending machines can constantly monitor the number of tobacco products in the machine and access to them.

Summary of the invention

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an automatic machine for selling tobacco products comprising an issuing mechanism, a memory, an input (data) device, and a control logic (device). The authorization data is stored in memory, which contains information about at least two or several different operations related to the operation of the machine, and information about each case (event) of the issue of the product from the machine. The information stored in the machine’s memory indicates at least the date and time of such an event and the identification data of the product issued from the machine. The input device is capable of receiving or generating a request for access to the machine. The control logic compares (verifies the legitimacy) the request with the authorization data stored in memory. The operation with the machine becomes possible only if the request satisfies the authorization data for each specific operation. In such a system, high security and reliable access to the machine are ensured by the implementation of a number of sequential operations. Note that such tobacco vending machines are usually used for the retail sale of cigarettes in accordance with the order of the buyer (for example, a client of a bar, restaurant or other similar establishment), which is performed by someone from the service personnel who has the right to access the machine.

Currently, there are many different systems that can be used as an input device, for example, a keyboard (which in principle can be made as a touch screen), a radio frequency device for reading an identification code, a device for reading data from magnetic cards, a device for reading barcodes, remote control radio receiver and other related devices. To access the machine, users can use devices with relevant information (code keys) or special access devices (for example, cards with a printed barcode), radio frequency identification (RFID) cards, and other similar means).

In one embodiment of the invention, the protection of the machine is based on a role model in which two or more roles are defined with respect to the machine. Then authorization data is specified (specified), which determine the operations allowed for each role. Upon receipt of the request, the control logic determines whether or not the received request corresponds to the authorized data for a particular operation, checking the possibility of access to the execution of this operation of the role associated with the person from whom the request was received.

Note that there are many different ways to associate a role with a requestor. One such way is to directly include the role in the request itself. For example, each role can be associated with a different RFID card or a different key code (depending on the access mechanism used). The user then receives the role assigned to the RFID card or key code, which was used to issue the request and therefore authorized accordingly.

In other embodiments of the invention, an indirect approach is used where each user is allocated his or her own serial number. The entire set of numbers for all users is stored in the machine’s memory as part of the authorization data with each number associated with a specific role. In this case, each access means (key code, RFID card, etc.) is assigned a registration number identifying the user using it, and this number is part of the request entered into the machine. For example, the number can be encoded into a readable RFID card or barcode, or included in the keypad request code typed on the keyboard. Obtaining a serial number allows the control logic to determine the role of the person who made the request, and on the basis of a certain role to allow or not to allow him to perform the relevant operation.

In other embodiments, a tobacco machine is provided that utilizes a non-role authorization model. In these options, the authorization data simply specifies the operations that correspond to each set of registration numbers (in these options there are no roles that perform an intermediate function and link the number and the operation).

By the method described above, a large number of operations can be performed and monitored in a cigarette vending machine. Such operations include, for example, replenishing the stock of products located in the machine, changing the price of products sold, selling products from the machine and performing administrative tasks, such as adding new authorization data to the system (in particular, adding a new user to it or deleting employees from the list non-working staff).

Note that in some embodiments, the user can specify a specific operation when issuing a request (perhaps not explicitly, depending on the method of entering the request). In this case, in accordance with the authorization data specified in the request, the user may or may not allow this operation. In the case when the initial request does not specify the performance of any particular operation, the authorization data can be used to prohibit the execution of all operations. If then the user tries to perform a specific operation, then the possibility of its implementation is determined in accordance with authorization.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an automatic machine for selling tobacco products, in which the information stored in the memory contains a role and / or registration number of a person who performs a certain operation depending on the authorization model used. (Note that storing the numbers in memory makes it possible to clearly identify the various registration numbers of maintenance personnel that are tied to the same role). In addition, information about other events can be stored in the machine’s memory, for example, about replenishment of products loaded into the machine, adding new users, and other necessary information. Obviously, such information stored in memory can be used to fully verify access to the machine. Such an opportunity is very useful for internal control of the stock of tobacco products stored in the machine, as well as for verifying compliance with any important regulatory requirements.

Proposed in one embodiment of the invention, the automatic machine for the sale of tobacco products has one or more data ports that are designed to access information stored in the memory of the machine. These data ports can be used to output information stored in memory to a local printer or to transfer them to a network of a remote control system. These data ports can also be used to synchronize information stored in the machine memory with a portable computer (laptop) or a computer designed to perform some special functions. It should be noted that any cigarette vending machine can support one or more of these paths for outputting and transmitting information. Typically, information stored in the machine memory is output in the form of corresponding reports. Such reports may be of different temporal nature (i.e. they can be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.).

The data port can also be used to enter data into a tobacco sales machine of the invention, as well as to change its configuration. The data port can, for example, be used to set prices for certain types of tobacco products and / or download permissions from external sources for performing certain operations by different users or roles. Such data loading from external sources can be performed in various ways, for example, by synchronizing with a laptop and / or connecting a remote control system to the network.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling the above-described tobacco product vending machine. According to this method, authorization data regarding at least two different operations performed on the machine is entered into the machine memory. The received request for the right to access the machine is compared with the data stored in the machine's memory to verify its legitimacy. After receiving the request, permission to perform the corresponding operation is given only if the request satisfies the authorization data for this particular operation.

It must be emphasized that such a method can be used to control all of the above cigarette vending machines described in various embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention also provides an automatic machine for selling packs of cigarettes and other similar products (for example, packaged in packs of cigars). The machine proposed in one embodiment of the invention comprises a dispensing mechanism, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, memory, and a control logic. The RFID reader is used to access the number from the RFID card, and the memory is used to store a set of numbers that allow the use of an issuing mechanism. Depending on the availability in the group of authorization numbers of a number read from an RFID card, the control logic circuitry enables or disables the issuing mechanism.

In one embodiment, the sale of cigarettes and the loading of new products into the machine is controlled by a control system based on a role-based protection model. In this embodiment, access to the machine is carried out by a special code recorded on the RFID token or card. Each time products are removed from the machine, the date and time of such an event are recorded and information about this is stored in the local memory of the machine. The information stored in the memory of the machine may contain information about the price and data from which compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes or from which row the product was dispensed. To replenish stocks of products located in the machine and change their prices, you can use other roles used in the control system and encoded on RFID cards.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the tobacco sales machine has at least one data port for local and remote access to information stored in the machine's memory. To receive local reports, you can connect a thermal printing device (printer) to this data port. The information stored in the machine’s memory is usually obtained in the form of reports of different formats, which provide information on the sales volume for a certain period of time (during the day, week, month, etc.), the number of products received by a particular user (according to information contained in the RFID card), the number of products issued of a particular brand (by the compartment number from which the product was issued), as well as information on the actual number of products in the machine and their cost).

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a cigarette vending machine in which to access and dispense cigarettes from the vending machine, it is necessary to have an RFID card with a specific set of numbers that are read by an RFID reader in the RFID machine. The registration number read from the card is compared with the access-permitting set of numbers that is stored in the machine’s memory. Buying cigarettes from the machine is possible only if the registration number read from the card matches one of the dialing numbers that allows access to the machine, which is stored in the machine's memory.

In this embodiment, different roles are used to control the machine. Each role is tied to one or more operations authorized for execution. Each registration number is associated with one of the roles. An example of such a role is the role that refers to replenishment, and therefore, a user who has a number on the RFID card related to this operation can open the machine and load new cigarettes into it. Another role can serve as the owner of the machine. The user, whose RFID card contains the role number of the owner of the machine, gets access to the machine’s memory and can add new numbers associated with the corresponding roles to the stored number set in it. Another role in the role management model proposed in this embodiment of the invention may be the role of the buyer. A user whose RFID card contains the number corresponding to the role of the buyer can always get access to the machine and buy from it the cigarettes he needs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The following detailed description of various examples of a possible embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which the same numbers denote similar elements and which show:

figure 1 - axonometric projection in front view of the proposed in one embodiment of the invention of an automatic machine for the sale of tobacco products;

figure 2 - axonometric projection in front view in an exploded view of the machine for the sale of tobacco products, shown in figure 1;

figure 3 is a perspective view in front view of the machine for the sale of tobacco products, proposed in another embodiment of the invention;

figure 4 - axonometric projection in front view in a disassembled form of the machine for the sale of tobacco products, shown in figure 3;

figure 5 is a diagram of one of the possible uses of the proposed in the invention machine for the sale of tobacco products, shown in figures 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing one example of a sequence of operations performed using the tobacco product vending machine of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 and 2 show an automatic machine for the sale of tobacco products, proposed in the first embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 and 4 shows a machine for the sale of tobacco products, proposed in the second embodiment of the invention. Structurally, both of these options have much in common, and therefore can be described together.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a tobacco sales machine 10 has a central chamber 8 located inside a housing consisting of an upper panel 52, a lower panel 35, and a rear panel 50. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the housing panels are made of aluminum or composite material based on aluminum (for example, consisting of two sheets of aluminum separated by a layer of plastic). The panels are interconnected with 28 stainless steel screws. It is obvious that in addition to aluminum, which has high strength and rigidity, the housing of the machine for selling tobacco products proposed in the invention can also be made of other materials (for example, acrylic).

A lock 44 is located on the rear wall 50 of the housing. By opening the lock with a special key, you can remove the rear panel 50 and (if necessary) the upper panel and open the internal chamber 8 of the housing. The need for access to the inner chamber of the housing usually arises when performing work related to servicing the machine. The lock 44 opened by the key is also used to turn off the access protection system for tobacco products located in the machine, for example, when it malfunctions.

In the central chamber 8 of the machine there is one or several devices 18 for storing and dispensing cigarettes, which are made in the form of cartridges in which packs of cigarettes sold through the machine are stacked. Note that cigarettes are usually produced in waterproof packaging, which ensures their safety in case of water leakage, which can occur in the place where the machine is installed. Each device 18 for storing and dispensing cigarettes has several compartments 12 into which certain packs of cigarettes are stacked. The machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has one device 18 for storing and dispensing cigarettes with six compartments 12, and the machine shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has two devices 18 for storing and dispensing cigarettes, each of which has three compartments 12 It is obvious that the automatic tobacco selling machine according to the invention, depending on its size and location, may have a different number of different construction devices for storing and dispensing cigarettes with different brands and different numbers of cigarettes contained therein.

Usually in one compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes packs of cigarettes of the same grade are placed, which have the same price. Therefore, different compartments can be used to sell cigarettes at different prices, which depends on the brand of cigarettes. Cigarettes purchased from the vending machine (one pack) come out of 12 different compartments through the windows on the front of the vending machine 10. When buying cigarettes, the buyer sees all cigarettes located at the front edge of the compartments and can buy any pack (without hesitation, of course, unless, of course, this is not particularly necessary, about the actual number of cigarettes loaded into the machine).

On the bottom panel 35 of the machine casing, rubber shoes 24 are fixed, which serve as supports for installing the machine on a suitable base. In addition, a slot is made in the bottom panel (not shown in the drawings) through which wire 26 passes, which is used to connect the machine to an external electrical network. The wire is connected to a transformer 42, 110 V to 220 V, from which all the electrical equipment of the machine works. In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an automatic machine 10 for selling tobacco products with a NiCd battery (not shown in the drawings), from which it can operate in the absence of voltage in an external electrical network.

On the front panel of the machine there is a lock 20 with three working positions: off, on and alarm. When the lock is in the alarm position, the vending machine cannot be used to sell cigarettes, and any attempt to access the vending machine triggers an audible alarm. You can also put the machine into an inoperative position by disconnecting the wire 26 from the external electrical network. It should be noted that in one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an automatic machine for selling tobacco products with an additional alarm system that is configured to trigger upon any unauthorized actions (for example, when trying to penetrate the device issuing a cigarette by hand).

Port 22 is located on the front panel of the machine for serial data exchange. This port can be used to enter into the machine 10 different data and control commands and output data from the machine (see more details below). Obviously, the data ports do not have to work on the principle of wired communication, but also work on a different principle of data transfer, for example, on the principle of parallel communication or wireless communication using the Blue tooth technology (Bluetooth). Note that, in fact, the inventive tobacco sales machine may have several data ports. Additional data ports can be located in the same place where the power cord exits the machine.

On the front panel of the machine there are also several push or touch keys 15. These keys are used when buying from the machine 10 packs of cigarettes inside it. Each key has an identifier (number) showing which compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes when a button is pressed, a buyer can buy cigarettes. In addition, LED 16 is located in each key. The LED does not light if there are no cigarettes in the corresponding compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes.

On the front panel of the machine for selling tobacco products according to the invention, there is also a small display 11 made on LEDs, in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or in the form of another corresponding device. The display 11, which is usually used to display the current time, can also be used to play any other information on it. For example, when one of the keys is pressed, the price of the pack of cigarettes located in the compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes associated with this key is displayed. Display 11 can also be used to display the state of the machine, for example, when the alarm system is triggered.

The machine 10 also has a device 30 for reading data from an RFID card or token. The device 30, which reads from cards or tokens, is connected to the mechanism for dispensing cigarettes (see below) and guarantees access to cigarettes located in the machine only to those persons whose token or card contains the proper information. In other words, only persons who have RFID cards or tokens giving them the right to work or use the machine can use it.

Not only RFID cards or tokens can be used to access the tobacco vending machine of the invention. For this, for example, you can use magnetic key tokens, barcodes, code keys and touch panels and / or some types of biometric means. However, it is best to use RFID cards for user identification, the advantage of which is their relatively low cost of reprogramming.

A variety of cigarette delivery mechanisms (not shown in the drawings) can be used in an automatic machine 10 for selling tobacco products according to the invention, which are issued to authorized users by one of the packs located in the automatic machine. Such mechanisms are well-known in and of themselves, and, for example, after appropriate payment, they give out properly paid cigarettes to users. Usually a paid pack of cigarettes falls into the tray 38 (figure 2), from which the buyer takes it. In the machine for selling tobacco products proposed in the invention, other mechanisms for dispensing purchased cigarettes can be used, for example, an opening door located on the front panel, through the opening of which the user can get cigarettes purchased by him from the machine. (Note that in vending machines 10 installed behind the bar, in which the buyer does not have direct access to cigarettes, the requirements for protecting the dispensing mechanism from unauthorized access may not be as stringent as in vending machines located outside the bar).

The cigarette vending machine 10 also has one or more printed circuit boards 30, 31. A microprocessor is assembled on the printed circuit boards 30, 31, for example, a digital signal processing processor (DSP) or a specialized application specific integrated circuit (PSIS), as well as volatile and non-volatile memory . As a non-volatile memory, random access memory (RAM) is usually used, and as a non-volatile memory - flash memory, a hard disk and / or other appropriate device for storing data. Printed circuit boards 30, 31 have corresponding programs and microprocessor hardware embedded in memory devices that ensure the operation of the machine (see below) for these programs. Programs are usually stored in non-volatile memory and loaded in the appropriate way into RAM by the system processor.

It should be noted that shown in Fig.1-4 construction options of the machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products should be considered only as examples of a possible implementation of the invention. Specialists can easily imagine other design solutions related, in particular, to the choice of structural materials, devices, layout and quantity of various components and other features of a particular design. For example, the tobacco vending machine 10 of the invention may be equipped with a keyboard for entering various data and / or a display (usually an LCD panel) for visual reproduction thereof. Such a display can be used to reproduce the contents of reports with sales information and stimulating messages during prolonged shutdowns of the machine.

Figure 5 shows the use of the proposed in the invention machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products in bars or other similar places. Typically, the purchase of a pack of cigarettes begins with the fact that the buyer 103 makes a corresponding request to the bartender 101 or to another person from the service personnel. Depending on the situation, the buyer pays (arrow 191) cigarettes at the time of request or by check after receiving cigarettes.

The bartender or machine operator 101 typically has its own RFID token or card 102. Such tokens are usually similar to credit cards, although in principle they can be of any size and shape. For more convenient handling, the RFID card may have a device for attaching to a keychain, waist belt, etc. Each card has its own registration number (ID) 107, which is stored in a memory card made in the appropriate manner on the card. On one side of the card, you can take a photo of a person who can legally use the card, and on the other side print instructions for its use. Note that the bartender 101 can use the card 102 for other purposes, for example, as a pass, to mark the time of arrival and departure, etc. In this case, if necessary, the means of access to the machine 10 for selling cigarettes can be integrated into the general protection and control system of the organization in which the machine is installed. This feature eliminates the need for duplication of cards and simplifies the process of tracking the use of cards.

In order to use the card, the operator 101 must hold or attach the card 102 to the machine 10. The RFID reader 30 located on the front side of the machine 10 (Fig. 1) reads (arrow 190) its card number 107 from the card 102. (It should be noted that the technology for using RFID cards is well known to specialists and therefore the procedure for activating card 102 and reading relevant data from it does not require a special description).

In the machine 10 for selling cigarettes, the registration number 107 read out from the card is compared with the group of roles 108 stored in the memory and, based on the results of this comparison, the operator receives or does not gain access to cigarettes in the machine. Roles 108 are described in more detail below. In some cases, for additional verification and authorization of the card, the operator must hold his RFID card 102 against the reader 30 for a certain time (for example, for 4 seconds). If a comparison of the registration number 107 of the card with the data of role 108 showed that the operator 101 has the right to access the machine and that all other relevant criteria are satisfied, then the machine gives the operator the packet of cigarettes he needs. The operator 101 transfers the packet of cigarettes received from the machine to the buyer 102.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to use RFID cards 102 into which the role level of the operator 101 is encoded. In this case, the machine 10 only confirms the correspondence of the encoded role with the desired task. If the encoded role and task correspond, the operator can perform the operation allowed to him (for example, get a pack of cigarettes from the machine). In the memory of RFID cards used in this embodiment of the invention for authorized use of the machine, it is not necessary to store the identifier (number) of a particular operator 101. However, usually, a number is used in the cards, which is used in the machine 10 for each transaction. This makes it possible to track the use of the machine by each of its users.

With each purchase of a pack of cigarettes, the machine registers all the details of the purchase in memory 109. The data stored for each specific transaction usually includes the date and time of the transaction, registration number 107 of the RFID card used to authorize the purchase, and the compartment number from which the pack was sold cigarettes (by which you can then determine the brand of cigarettes sold). Note that in addition to number 107, card 102 may contain information about the card holder (for example, his name, position, or number in the staffing table), which can be obtained from the memory of the machine 10 and recorded in memory, for example, during setup.

In some embodiments, the inventive tobacco vending machine 10 is equipped with a special device that records all cigarette purchase facts. For this, for example, you can use the signal that occurs when the incident beam of light incident on the cigarette tray 38. Such a signal, confirming the fact that a purchased pack of cigarettes fell into the tray, can be used as a command for recording information about an event that has occurred in memory 109 and changing the registered stock of cigarette packs in the machine.

The machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products can be connected via a network 120 to a remote machine (shown in FIG. 5 by an auxiliary office 130 or a local area network administration service). To connect the machine with the auxiliary office via network 120, you can use a local communication network (for example, Ethernet), a bus (for example, a universal serial USB bus), landline or mobile phone, and other means of communication. In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of cigarette vending machines 10 are connected to each other according to a sequential polling scheme that provides reliable access to all of the vending machines included in such a system.

The presence of the communication line 120 provides the sales analyst 140 in the office 130 with access to the memory records 109 about the operation of a particular vending machine 10. This remote access to the vending machine can be used for different purposes. For example, constantly monitoring sales, an operator or a tobacco company at the right time can determine the need for replenishing cigarette stocks in one or another machine 10. Sales data can also be used for audit or marketing purposes (in particular, to compare machines located in different places, and definitions of various factors on which the volume of sales depends to one degree or another).

Figure 6 shows a block diagram of the operations performed when buying a pack of cigarettes from the proposed in the invention machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products. The purchase process begins with the request of the buyer to buy one pack of cigarettes (step 210). The service provider who has accepted this order leads with his RFID card 102 along the front wall of the machine 10, which receives information about the registration number 107 of the card 102 (step 215). Comparing the card number with the role data 108 stored in the machine’s memory (step 220), the machine determines the right of the card holder to purchase the pack of cigarettes he needs (step 225).

If the cardholder does not have the right to buy cigarettes in this machine, the machine does not fulfill the request and does not give the cardholder the requested pack of cigarettes (step 228). Note that the machine may store in the memory records 109 details of a false attempt, such as the time and date of the request and the registration number or name of the operator who made the request. Usually, the machine’s memory stores all the details of the requested transaction with information about the results of its authorization.

In the case when the user registration number 107 coincides with one of the role numbers 108 stored in the machine’s memory, then after step (225), the machine proceeds to the next operation. In this case, the machine gives the operator the desired pack of cigarettes (step 235), which the operator passes to the buyer (step 240). At the same time, the machine 10 registers all the details of the transaction (step 230), which remain in the machine’s memory, and then are used for verification and analysis.

The table shows the role information 108 for various persons, one way or another involved in the maintenance and use of the proposed in the invention machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products. The table, in particular, shows the various classes of roles, the functions that these roles should fulfill, and the restrictions imposed on them to access the machine.

User group Role Role functions Restrictions on access to the machine Vending machine owner Administration and resolution of issues related to the use of the system Identification of new users, adjustment of the list of users and exclusion from the list of unwanted users; replenishment of cigarettes; receiving / printing system reports (if possible). Possibility to sell cigarettes in the same way as maintenance staff Access to perform any functions Service staff Selling cigarettes to customers Removing cigarettes from a vending machine and printing reports of their own sales Access restricted by removing cigarettes from the vending machine Tobacco seller Tobacco stocks and sales analysis Refill cigarettes, receive / print sales reports (if possible) Unable to access cigarette extraction and adjust user information Sales Analyst (and other related issues) Sales Data Analysis Receiving / printing reports, possibly remotely (if there is a remote communication system) Access is only available to sales data. Administrator System management Setting parameters for all other groups in the local memory of the machine Access to perform any functions

The specific method for controlling and handling the automatic tobacco sale machine 10 proposed in the invention depends on its connection to external systems (see FIG. 5). A tobacco vending machine in one embodiment of the invention may be configured to operate at three levels, as described below.

The first level (stand-alone machine) - at this level, a stand-alone machine is essentially a trading module with its own memory. Using an RFID key, each user is assigned a unique identification number (ID). To access the reporting information of memory 109 about sales for a certain period of time, the owner of the machine and / or administrator can make a static report in a hard format (for example, through a communication channel with a printer).

The second level (pre-programmed reports) provides the same functions as the first level, but with two additions:

a) the possibility of obtaining pre-programmed and prescribed reports (see details below); and

b) the ability to connect the machine through port 22 of serial data transmission or through another communication line with an external device, such as a laptop, handheld computer or other appropriate device.

Transaction memory 109 may be loaded into the memory of an external device for further analysis and interrogation.

The third level (the ability to communicate with the machine in real time) provides the same functions as the first level, but with the following additions:

a) continuous real-time communication with an external network, such as a local area network (LAN) 120;

b) the possibility of two-way data exchange between the network and the machine;

c) the ability to request data in real time and receive information about orders received both in the machine and through the network, for example, in office 130.

Below are described in more detail all the operations supported by the proposed in the invention machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products and performed by various persons, one way or another related to its maintenance and use.

1. System configuration

The initial configuration of the tobacco machine vending machine of the invention is described below by the administrator during installation of the machine in the place of use. After the configuration of persons servicing the system, you can familiarize yourself with all the details associated with its operation and use.

When configuring the system, the administrator first puts the machine in working condition (that is, it connects it to the electrical network and sets the lock 20 to the “on” position with the key). After that, the administrator connects his laptop to machine 10 and runs the setup program on it. In addition, the administrator applies at least 4 seconds his RFID card to the reader of the machine. At this time, the laptop receives information about the machine number, which can be transferred from the laptop to the device for centralized data collection.

Then the administrator enters various configuration data into the machine. First, these data are transferred to the appropriate configuration program available on the personal computer, and then the configuration settings are loaded into the machine. The administrator, in particular, enters into the machine the date, time and name of the institution where the machine is installed, and the codes of one or more owners of the institution. Typically, the administrator also enters into the machine data on the role of replenishing the stocks of tobacco products sold through the machine and configures the reporting system. The reporting form usually depends on the availability and method of connecting the machine to the external network or on the level of the machine (see above). Typically, the administrator also enters into the machine information about the brand and price of a pack of cigarettes for each compartment, although in principle this can be done by the owner of the institution in which the machine is installed.

After loading into the machine all the above information, the display 11 of the machine should show the exact time. Usually, after this, the administrator tests the machine, in particular, checks the operation of the mechanism for issuing cigarettes and the operation of the reporting system and makes sure that the display 11 shows the exact time.

Note that for machines of the 2nd and 3rd level, the system configuration can be fully or partially performed from a remote computer. After activating the machine 10, the administrator can enter into the system data for connecting the machine 10 to one or more remote systems, for example, through a network 120 with an auxiliary office 130 (see Fig. 5). The administrator can then use this network 120 to transfer one or more of its configuration parameters to the machine 10. For example, a standard report format developed for all tobacco vending machines that are under common control can be transferred to a vending machine.

2. User configuration

After the configuration of the machine installed on the site, the owner of the institution (or rather, the person assigned to the role of the owner of the institution) enters additional users into the memory of the machine. At the same time, in particular, the owner of the establishment determines 10 persons responsible for the sale of cigarettes in it for the machine installed in it.

In one embodiment of the invention, when configuring the user, the owner of the establishment first enters the data of his card into the machine memory as a form of identification. Note that prior to authorization, the card must be attached to the RFID reader of the machine for a certain time. (This eliminates the possibility of accidental authorization, which may occur if the owner of the institution simply swipes his card along the reader). Then the owner of the institution activates the corresponding numbers of RFID tokens for the persons assigned to him to work with the machine from his staff, and after that determines the roles corresponding to their numbers (or other settings) for each token. The owner of the institution can test the RFID tokens himself and make sure that they work reliably. In addition, the owner of the establishment can verify that the tokens correspond exactly only to those persons from the service personnel who have a certain level of access to the machine (for example, they can sell cigarettes inside the machine, but they cannot perform functions that require large rights , for example, add or remove users from the machine’s memory).

It should be noted that the handling of service personnel cards is an ongoing process and, if necessary, as staff are laid off or new employees are hired, the staff of the operating staff can be constantly changed. To do this, for example, the owner of the establishment, as necessary, can redistribute authorized cards between persons who somehow work with an automatic machine for selling tobacco products. At the same time, however, it is better to constantly monitor which of the service personnel at a given time is using one or another RFID card. Information about this can be stored in the memory of a remote computer or in the memory 106 of the automatic machine 10 for the sale of tobacco products.

Note that usually the owner of the institution determines the roles himself and distributes the cards between persons who are somehow connected with the maintenance and use of the machine. For example, to replenish cigarette stocks in a vending machine, the owner of the establishment can activate and transfer an RFID token to a representative of a cigarette company.

3. Refill cigarettes in the machine

As cigarettes are sold, the supply of cigarettes in the machine must be periodically replenished. The replenishment of cigarette stocks in the machine is usually carried out by the owner of the establishment or by a representative of the company selling cigarettes, which, like the owner of the establishment, has the right to access the machine. Another possibility of replenishing cigarettes in a vending machine is related to the presence in the control system of the vending machine of a role that is responsible for replenishing a cigarette supply, and the presence of one or more persons from the service personnel of corresponding RFID tokens that support this function. (Such tokens can be used in addition to or together with the card of the owner of the institution and / or the card, which is located at the representative of the company selling cigarettes who is responsible for replenishing the cigarettes in the machine).

To replenish the supply of cigarettes in the machine with an appropriately authorized RFID card 102, run along the RFID reader 30 of the machine. After checking the rolls, the machine opens and the cardholder gains access to the device 18 for storing and dispensing cigarettes and replenishes the supply of cigarettes in it. After replenishing the supply of cigarettes, the operator reconfigures the system and enters into it data on the actual number of cigarettes of different brands located in each compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes. Then the operator closes the machine and puts it into working condition. Note that information about the operation performed to replenish the supply of cigarettes in the machine (in particular, the date, time, and card number of the person who performed this operation) can be stored in the memory of 109 machines.

Alternatively, to replenish the supply of cigarettes in the machine, you can not use the RFID card system. To access the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes, for example, you can use a special key lock 44 (figure 2), which you can open the machine. In this option, after replenishing the supply of cigarettes in the machine, the operator must press a special button. When this button is pressed, the memory 109 of the machine receives information that each compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes is completely filled with cigarettes. The machine for selling tobacco products according to the invention can also be equipped with special sensors that automatically record the number of packs of cigarettes in each compartment of the device for storing and dispensing cigarettes, followed by registration of this information in the memory 109 of the machine.

4. Sale of cigarettes

Cigarettes are sold from the vending machine according to the scheme shown in FIG. 6, and begins with the customer contacting the bartender or other person of their attendants, who extracts a pack of cigarettes ordered from the vending machine. As a rule, this operation is performed by one of the attendants, although, in principle, the owner of the institution can do this.

Consider this operation in more detail, assuming that the machine is connected to the appropriate external networks and is in working condition. In accordance with the order received from the buyer, a person from the service personnel (for example, a bartender or a waiter) presses one of the keys 15, and the display 11 gives him information about the cost of a pack of cigarettes and the number of cigarettes in the corresponding compartment of the device for storing and issuing cigarettes . After that, the bartender or the attendant passes his RFID token along the reader of the machine. At this point, the machine receives information about the number of the token. In one embodiment of the invention, after reading the number of the token, the machine emits a sound signal, and the read number is compared by the authorized numbers stored in the machine’s memory.

If the token number matches one of the numbers that allow the token holder to access the cigarettes in the machine, the machine goes into purchase mode and the LEDs 16 of all cigarette compartments turn green. After that, the attendant (bartender) presses one of the keys 15 corresponding to the brand of cigarettes ordered by the buyer. At this point, the LEDs of all the other compartments go out and the sound signal confirms the choice made by the discusser. As a result of the dispensing mechanism, a certain pack of cigarettes falls into the tray. The attendant takes this pack of cigarettes and passes it to the buyer. At the same time, all the information about the purchased pack of cigarettes and the number of the token of the discussing person are recorded in the memory of the 109 machine. After that, the machine goes into standby mode for the next purchase.

5. Reporting

The system supports various types of reports, including daily, weekly and monthly. Each report usually indicates the reporting period of time, as well as the date and time of the report. Local reports issued daily usually contain information about current purchases and allow the owner of the establishment to constantly monitor the conformity of sales to his payment system. Based on such reports, the owner of the establishment may at any time stop selling cigarettes for a certain time, or at least for a certain time before receiving a report, stop servicing the machine. Report results are processed and archived by the operator using various data compression programs. Archiving data allows you to generate reports covering quite long periods of time, for example, weekly, monthly or quarterly. In one embodiment of the invention, access and processing of archived data is performed monthly. If desired, however, depending on the amount of memory of the automatic machine for selling tobacco products proposed in the invention, any reporting schedule can be drawn up. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an automatic machine for selling tobacco products with a memory capacity of about 1 megabyte, in which you can store all the sales information for approximately 10 full stocks of cigarettes loaded into the machine.

Local reports are usually received by an authorized person, for example, the owner of the institution, activating the machine with his RFID token. In one embodiment of the invention, in order to receive a report, the owner of the establishment must hold his authorized RFID token for 4 seconds against a reader of an idle machine. After that, the owner of the institution enters the appropriate instructions into the machine and gets access to the local report he needs. Note that the owner of the establishment can first connect a printer to the machine and print the local report he needs. After receiving the report, the owner of the institution can exit the system.

As noted above, machines of the 2nd and 3rd level have additional communication capabilities. Such machines 10 make it possible to transfer report data stored in their memory 109 to the central office for analysis and questioning of machine owners in order to place orders for certain tobacco products.

The choice of the report form is usually carried out by pressing the corresponding touch key of the machine. In one of the options, in order to print a local report on the printer, the operator, after authorizing his RFID token, presses the touch key of the first report. Another key can be used to transfer report data to a remote computer.

In one embodiment, the first level report (local report) includes the following data:

Report Date and Time

The owner of the institution

Volume of sales

User ID

Number of packs sold

The compartment number of the device for storing and issuing cigarettes (brand of cigarettes)

Total

The number of packs of cigarettes sold by this user

The number of packs sold by a given user from a specific compartment

The total number of packs sold from the compartment

The total number of packs sold

The following data is usually included in a monthly report:

Report Date and Time

Report period user ID

The number of packs sold from a specific compartment of a device for storing and dispensing cigarettes

The total number of packs sold from the compartment

In addition, the system allows you to receive reports on the stock of cigarettes in the machine, based on data on the total number of cigarettes sold during the reporting period from a specific compartment of the device for storing and issuing cigarettes (cigarettes of a certain brand), which include the following data:

Report Date and Time

Initial supply of cigarettes in the compartment (see drawings above)

The number of packs sold from the compartment

The number of remaining packs

Note that machines of different levels can support different (or additional) report forms. For example, in one embodiment, automata of the 2nd or 3rd level can usually transmit via an appropriate cable, for example, via the data port 22, the initial information from the local memory 109 of the automaton to a third party. A third party, using the appropriate program, processes the received data. For vending machines of the 3rd level, data from local memory 109 in real time via a land line can be transferred to the central office for detailed analysis and preparation of orders for cigarettes.

In conclusion, we note that all the detailed options discussed for a possible implementation of the invention are purely illustrative. Within the scope of the invention limited by the claims below, those skilled in the art can make a variety of changes and improvements to these variations.

Claims (39)

1. Machine for the sale of tobacco products containing
issuing mechanism
a memory capable of storing authorization data related to at least two different operations related to the operation of the machine, and information about each case of issuing the product from the machine, including at least the date and time of such an event and identification data issued from the machine of the product,
an input device adapted to receive a request for access to the machine, and
control logic capable of comparing the request with the authorization data stored in memory so that the operation is allowed only if the request satisfies the authorization data for this particular operation. 2. The machine according to claim 1, in which the input device includes a keyboard. 3. The machine according to claim 1, in which the input device includes an RFID reader. 4. The machine according to claim 1, in which the input device includes a reader of magnetic cards or tokens. 5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a barcode reader. 6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a receiver for receiving data from a remote control device. 7. The machine according to claim 1, in which two or more roles are defined for performing various operations on the machine, the operations permitted for each of the roles being determined based on authorization data, and the control logic determines whether the request matches the authorization data for a particular operation , checking the validity of the operation by the role associated with the person who made the request to perform this operation. 8. The machine according to claim 7, in which
the request contains the registration number of the person who made it,
authorization data includes a set of registration numbers, each of which is associated with one of the roles, and
the control logic provides access of authorization data to the machine’s memory and finds in the set of numbers the registration number of the person who made the request, while the role associated with the person who made the request is tied to the registration number stored in the machine’s memory. 9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the request includes a role associated with the person making the request. 10. The machine according to claim 1, in which one of the operations includes replenishment of the stock in the machine. 11. The machine according to claim 1, in which one of the operations includes changing the price information stored in the machine's memory. 12. The machine according to claim 1, in which one of the operations includes the issuance of tobacco products from the machine. 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the control logic circuit enables or disables the issuing mechanism depending on the correspondence of the request received by the machine with authorization data for the issuance of tobacco products from the machine. 14. The machine according to claim 1, in which the information stored in the machine’s memory includes at least one role associated with the person making the request. 15. The machine of claim 1, wherein the information stored in the machine memory includes at least one number associated with the person making the request. 16. The machine according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one data port for external access to information about events that are stored in the machine's memory. 17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the at least one data port is configured to be used to transfer one or more configuration options for its configuration to the machine from an external data system. 18. The machine according to claim 1, in which the request determines a separate operation to be performed. 19. A method of controlling the operation of an automatic machine for the sale of tobacco products, in which
storing in the machine memory authorization data relating to at least two different operations associated with the operation of the machine, receive a request for access to the machine,
check the compliance of the request with the authorization data stored in the machine’s memory and give permission to perform the operation only if the request satisfies the authorization data associated with the execution of this particular operation, and
save in the machine memory information about each permitted operation with the issuance of the product from the machine, containing at least the date and time of the operation and identification data of the issued product. 20. The method according to claim 19, in which one or more roles associated with the operation of the machine are determined, and based on the authorization data, operations permitted for each of the roles are determined, and when verifying the compliance of the request with the authorization data stored in the machine’s memory, it is determined that whether the operation is performed for the role associated with the person who made the request to perform it. 21. The method according to claim 20, in which the request contains the registration number of the person who made it, the authorization data includes a set of numbers, each of which is associated with one of the roles, and when determining the operations allowed to perform each of the roles, the authorization data is accessed memory of the machine and find in the set of numbers the registration number of the person making the request, while the role associated with the person making the request is tied to the registration number stored in the machine’s memory. 22. The method according to claim 20, in which the request includes a role associated with the person who made the request. 23. The method according to claim 19, in which one of the operations includes replenishing the stock in the machine. 24. The method according to claim 19, in which one of the operations includes changing the price information stored in the memory of the machine. 25. The method according to claim 19, in which one of the operations includes the issuance of tobacco products from the machine. 26. The method according A.25, in which the issuing mechanism is turned on or off, depending on the compliance of the request received in the machine with authorization data for issuing tobacco products from the machine. 27. The method according to claim 19, in which one of the operations includes adding new registration numbers to the authorization data. 28. The method according to claim 19, in which one of the operations includes linking registration numbers to roles. 29. The method according to claim 19, in which the information stored in the memory of the machine includes at least one role associated with the person who made the request. 30. The method according to claim 19, in which the information stored in the memory of the machine includes at least one registration number associated with the person who made the request. 31. The method according to claim 19, in which use the data port for external access to information stored on the machine about permitted operations. 32. The method according to p, in which through the data port to the machine transmit data from one of the external systems of one or more configuration options for its configuration. 33. The method according to claim 19, in which additionally stored information stored in the memory of the machine to the local printer. 34. The method according to claim 19, in which additionally output information stored in the memory of the machine via an external communication network. 35. The method according to claim 19, in which generate reports based on information stored in the memory of the machine and containing data relating to different periods of time of the machine. 36. The method according to claim 19, in which data or information stored in the memory of the machine is synchronized with a laptop or handheld computer. 37. The method according to claim 19, in which the request determines the operation to be performed. 38. The method according to claim 19, which is used to service the machine installed behind the bar. 39. A machine for the sale of tobacco products containing
means for storing in the machine authorization data relating to at least two different operations related to the operation of the machine, one of which includes the issuance of products from the machine, and the other is replenishment of the products contained therein,
means for receiving a request for access to the machine,
Means for checking the compliance of the request with the authorization data stored in the machine’s memory and issuing permission to perform the operation only when the request satisfies the authorization data for this particular operation.

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