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Description  |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for vending
customized documents. More particularly, the present invention relates to
a self-service system for vending customized documents, such as
return-address mailing labels, business cards, or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
There are various different customized documents, such as return address
mailing labels, business cards, and the like, have been printed in
quantities for sale to customers. While prior known printing techniques
may have been satisfactory for some applications, delays in delivering
such customized materials have not always been tolerable to the customers.
Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a self-service customized
document vending system. Such a system could enable a customer to produce
his or her own customized documents without delay In this regard, the
customer would operate the vending system himself or herself, without the
assistance of the owner of the system, in an automatic mode of operation.
Such vending systems could be installed at many locations, such as a store,
a post office or any other place where the public may frequent. Thus, such
a vending system would not only be able to vend such customized documents
in a rapid manner, but also would be convenient to use and would be
provided at many convenient locations for use by the public.
Such a vending system must not only be convenient to use, but also be
adapted to perform a variety of functions, and be able to exact an
appropriate charge for each such customized document. For example, where
customized documents require special fonts and different shaped sizes
and/or colors, or other special or customized features, separate charges
must be made, depending on the particular type or kind of customized
document. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved
customized document vending system, which is adapted to create documents
of various shapes, fonts and color, and/or specialized features in a
convenient manner, so that the system can be operated by members of the
public. As a result, such a new and improved vending system should not
only be able to produce and to vend a variety of types and kinds of
customized documents, but also it should secure an appropriate payment for
the selected customized document, in an efficient and effective manner.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Therefore, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved system and method for vending customized documents to
customers, such as members of the general public, in a convenient and
efficient manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a new and
improved system and method particularly useful for customized documents,
having a variety of different possible characteristics, such as size,
printing style, color, and others.
It is also an object of the invention to provide such a new and improved
vending system and method to enable an appropriate charge to be made for
the desired customized document.
Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention are
realized by providing a new and improved method and apparatus for vending
customized documents such as mailing labels, business cards, or the like
in a relatively convenient and efficient manner.
A customized document vending system includes an input device for receiving
and storing customized input information for producing and vending
customized documents for the customer. In response to the receipt of the
customized input information, a device generates and supplies cost
information to the customer. Responsive to signals indicative of the
correct payment corresponding to the cost information being received, a
device produces the customized documents.
In the preferred form of the invention, the system is used to produce and
to vend customized documents in the form of return address labels. In such
an arrangement, there is provided self service sales and information
terminals, which include a data processing computer, a bill and coin
acceptor, an interactive communication interface between the data
processing computer and the bill and coin acceptor mechanism, a video
display for displaying sales and inquiry information to the customers, and
a printing to furnish the customer with the requested mailing labels. In
its operation, the system carries out the following steps for producing
and vending labels.
1. Queries from a customer are accepted by the self service sales and
information terminal as to the label type, size, color and printing
format;
2. The terminal solicits any necessary information from the customer in
order to answer the queries;
3. Customer information and queries are transmitted to the data processing
computer;
4. Relevant data are retrieved from data sources, processed and transmitted
to the video terminal for responding to the customer;
5. If the customer elects to make a purchase of label in response to the
data received, the system receives the customers monetary remittance for
the labels requested and returns the required change, if any, to the
customer; and
6. On receipt of the appropriate monetary remittance, the requested labels
are dispensed to the customer.
The computer contains information on various label sizes, print font types
and pricing. The terminal is programmed to audio visually elicit from the
customer the information necessary to provide a label quotation for the
type and size of label requested. If the customer elects to purchase the
quoted label, the terminal accepts the customer's money, returns any
required change and dispenses the requested labels.
The system saves considerable money and time for both the customers and the
printing company. The customer does not have to personally visit or
telephone the printing company in order to obtain a quotation, and the
company does not have to provide sales personnel or equipment operation
personnel, to deal with multiple queries on a one-to-one basis. Since many
of these queries do not result in sales, company time which would
otherwise be wasted is saved.
The terminal may be located at a convenient location, such as at the post
office, supermarkets convenience stores, and so on.
The data processing computer stores information on the label types and
prices and is programmed to gather a predetermined sequence of information
from a customer on the labels in which the customer is interested and to
process the information and transmit back to the video terminal from the
customers information. Subsequently, the terminal is programmed to accept
an order for the offered labels from the customer, to collect payment and
to vend the labels to the customer.
Thus, a customer is asked pertinent questions on the types of labels
desired, the quantity desired and the information necessary to process a
quotation for that particular type of label selected. The gathered
information is sent to the computer where the quotation is processed and
transmitted back to the video terminal. The customer is then given an
opportunity to purchase the selected labels. If a set of labels are
desired, the system accepts the customer's money, verifies the correct
amount has been received, returns any necessary change, and prints and
vends the requested mailing labels with the information requested by the
customer.
In view of the foregoing, the system of the present invention enables
customized documents to be produced and vended to a customer. Since the
document is customized, various different parameters of documents can be
accounted for and thus charged the client, in a convenient, self-service
mode of operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention and
the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention
itself will be best understood by reference to the following description
of the embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a customized document vending system, which is
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the video subsystem of the vending system of
FIG. 1; and
FIGS. 3-10 are flowchart diagrams of software programs used for controlling
the system of FIG. 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,
there is shown a self-service customized document vending system 10, which
is constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which is
adapted to produce and to vend customized documents in the form of return
address mailing labels. While mailing labels are shown and described
herein, it should also be understood that other customized documents may
also be produced and supplied by the vending system of the present
invention.
Considering now the inventive label making system 10 in greater detail with
reference to FIG. 1, the system 10 generally includes a self service sales
and information terminal housing 11, which encloses a personal computer
CPU 12. The personal computer CPU 12 is an IBM PS-2 Model 25 or equivalent
and includes a video subsystem 15, a keyboard 17 and a storage unit (not
shown). THe video subsystem 15 includes a conventional video monitor 29.
The video subsystem 15 is manufactured by IBM for use with the IBM PS-2
Model 25 personal computers.
The keyboard 17 is similar to a conventional keyboard utilized with the
PS-2 Model 25 system except that the keyboard 17 has certain keys disabled
such as the ALT/DELETE keys. The personal computer CPU 12 is connected to
an interface unit 13 for enabling a customer user of the system to solicit
sales information and to purchase various types of printed documents in
the form of customized mailing labels. The sales and information terminal
11 is installed at various convenient locations, such as post offices,
shopping malls, and so on.
The terminal 11 is designed to provide the same level of service as would a
well-informed sales representative and to interface with the customer by
means of the communications and peripheral communication subsystem 14.
The interface unit 13 is also connected to the system peripherals that
includes a bill/coin acceptor 18, printer 19, and customer activation
switch 20.
The interface unit 13 enables the personal computer CPU 12 to sense the
activation of a customer activation switch 20 and to coordinate the
operation of the bill/coin acceptor 18 with the other peripheral units of
the system 10.
The bill/coin acceptor 18 includes a Mars Electronics Model TRC 6000 Coin
Acceptor and a Model L020-U4C Bill Acceptor. The printer 19 is a Hewlett
Packard LaserJet Model IIP.sup.D or the equivalent. Model
There is also an optional feature (not shown) which includes a modified
interface unit 13 and bill/coin acceptor 18 for allowing the system to
accept standard credit cards in lieu of bills and coins.
Considering now the interface unit 13 in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 1, the interface unit 13 links the various peripheral units with the
personal computer coin 12. In this manner, the personal computer CPU 12 is
able to coordinate the operation of the bill/coin acceptor 18 with the
other peripheral units of the System. The interface unit 13 includes a
conventional communication subsystem RS232 serial circuit (not shown) for
converting the signals received from the coin/bill acceptor 18 acceptable
to the personal computer CPU 12. The interface unit 13 also converts the
bill/coin acceptor 18 signals into proper formatting for processing by the
personal computer CPU 12, such as ASCII format.
The interface unit 13 of the peripheral communication subsystem 14 is
programmed to detect the presence of a prospective customer via an
actuation device 20. When the actuation device 20 of the terminal 11 is
activated, a customer detection signal is transmitted via the interface
unit 13 to the video subsystem 15, which operates to commence playing a
pre-arranged video presentation.
Considering now the video subsystem 15 in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 2, the video subsystem 15 basically comprises a video controller 26
associated with a memory 27 for controlling operation of the video
subsystem 15, a read only memory or software unit 28, and a video monitor
29. The video subsystem 15 is connected to the interface unit 13 so that
the operation of the video subsystem 15 presentation may be coordinated
with the operation of the bill and coin acceptor 18, and printer 19.
Considering now the operation of the video subsystem 15 in greater detail
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the video subsystem 15 via the personal
computer CPU 12, commences the preprogrammed video presentation stored in
the storage unit (not shown) once the interface unit 13 transmits a
customer detection signal to the personal computer CPU 12. The video
presentation then solicits and allows the customer to enter information at
various points via the keyboard terminal 17 and messages displayed on the
monitor screen 29.
The personal computer 12, processes the information it receives from the
interface unit 13 and sends information back to the interface unit 13.
Information received back from the data processing personal computer 12,
for example, a printing label quotation, is also displayed on the monitor
29.
The video subsystem 15 via the personal computer CPU 12 then continues the
presentation asking the customer whether or not he or she wishes to make a
purchase. If a purchase order is entered, the customer places an
appropriate amount of money comprised of bills and coins in the bill and
coin mechanism 18. The type of money inserted in the bill and coin
mechanism 18 is transmitted to the data processing personal computer 12
via the interface unit 13. The personal computer CPU 12 upon receipt of
the type of money received calculates the amount of money inserted into
the bill and coin mechanism 18 to determine whether an appropriate amount
of money has been remitted by the customer. If an inappropriate amount of
money has been received or an insufficient amount of money has been
received, the personal computer 12 transmits a signal that causes the
video monitor 29 to display a message requesting that a correct amount of
money be inserted into the bill and coin mechanism 18. Upon receipt of an
appropriate amount of money, the requested mailing labels are vended via
the label printer 19.
Considering now the operation of the system 10 in greater detail, in
connection with the following description of the software residing in the
personal computer and in the video subsystem with reference to FIGS. 3-10,
the customer upon actuating the terminal actuation device 20, is
confronted with a series of messages which appear on the video screen,
solicits data, displays answers, and gives instructions about the use of
the system, and generally creates the impression of dealing with a live
person. These operations are under the master control of the personal
computer 12.
The data processing personal computer 12 includes the storage unit (not
shown) for storing program information and information on labels or prices
for various types and quantities of labels. The data processing personal
computer 12 operates in response to program instructions to: (1) perform
label quotation calculations in response to customer information received
from the keyboard terminal 17; (2) to send quotation data to the interface
unit 13 so that the video controller 26 will display such data on the
video monitor 29; (3) and to receive monetary information from the bill
and coin acceptor 18 for payment approval or disapproval.
If a customer makes a purchaser order after inserting the appropriate
amount of money, the data processing personal computer 12 stores the label
information and sends instruction to the label printer 19 to print an
appropriate amount of labels.
The various programs for carrying out the operations of the terminal 11 are
of a "menu type" and can best be understood with reference to the flow
diagram of FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the sequence of operations
carried out at the sales terminal 11 by the data processing personal
computer 12, in response to input from the keyboard terminal 17.
The sequence of operations basically comprises the following steps:
1. terminal waits detection of a customer;
2. terminal actuated by customer;
3. information gathering message played;
4. customer selects labels and enters necessary information;
5. customer entered information displayed on monitor for editing and
corrections by customer;
6. customer makes corrections if any;
7. system prompts customer for quantity of labels desired;
8. information relayed to data processing personal computer;
9. data processing personal computer forms label quotation calculations,
and relays the information back to the video terminal;
10. information given to customer on monitor screen;
11. customer asked if he or she wishes to make purchase;
12. if customer wishes to purchase label payment is received and relayed to
the data processing person computer center;
13. the data processing personal computer determines whether the
appropriate payment has been received for the requested labels and if
change is required or a different monetary bill is required;
14. if additional money is required or if a different bill is required the
amount or bill information is communicated to the terminal and displayed
to the customer; and
15. if proper payment is made, the order is taken and a set of labels are
issued to the customer at the terminal.
The steps will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring now to FIG. 3, after the system has been powered up, a terminal
program READY will automatically start from enter instruction 300 and then
proceed to a decision instruction 301 to await system actuation by a
customer. When a customer actuates the activation switch 20, such as an
infrared detection device, of the terminal 11, the interface unit 13 is
activated and sends a signal to the personal computer CPU 12. When the CPU
12 receives the actuation signal, the program advance to instruction 302
to call the subroutine PROCESS that permits video subsystem 15 to play
back a sales presentation. Once the subroutine PROCESS has been executed,
the program returns to the ready state (instruction 300) waiting for a new
customer.
Considering now the subroutine PROCESS in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 4, the subroutine PROCESS is entered from the READY routine at
instruction 400 and proceeds to instruction 401.
The program instruction 401 sets the transaction timer to 5 minutes. The
program then proceeds to instruction 402 and calls the subroutine SELECT
which will be described hereinafter in greater detail. While in the SELECT
subroutine, the program will prompt the customer to select an item from
its menu that includes various types of labels and other printed matter
such as business cards, resumes, and letterhead paper. When the type of
printed matter has been selected by the customer, the program proceeds to
instruction 403 and sets a Query counter to one. The program then proceeds
to instruction 304 and calls the QUERY subroutine which will be described
hereinafter in greater detail. While in the QUERY subroutine a series of
pertinent questions appear on the monitor 29 for the particular type of
material selected by the customer. The program prompts the customer to
respond to each question. The customer enters responses from the keyboard,
the responses are shown on the monitor screen. Once all the pertinent
information is entered, the program proceeds to instruction 405 to
reformat the customer's input and to display the entered information for
customer verification so the customer may make any necessary changes to
the information previously entered into the system. The program proceeds
to decision instruction 406 to determine if the customer has completed
editing. If an editing completed signal has not been received the program
proceeds to instruction 407 to determine whether the transaction time has
elapsed. If no answer is received from the customer within the
predetermined transaction time limit, the program assumes the customer has
left the terminal and proceeds to instruction 408 that return the system
to the ready state (instruction 200) to wait for the next customer. If the
timer has not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction 405 so the
customer may continue the editing process. Once the information has been
edited, the program then proceeds to instruction that increments the Query
counter. The program then proceeds to instruction 411 and calls the
subroutine QUANTITY which will be described hereinafter in greater detail.
While in the QUANTITY subroutine the program requests the customer to
enter the quantity of materials required so that a determination may be
made that the system has a sufficient quantity of printing materials to
fill the customer's order if placed.
If the quantity required by the customer exceeds the available supply, the
system will display a message on the monitor notifying the customer of the
lesser quantity that may be ordered. If the customer desires to purchase
the lesser quantity indicated the program proceeds to instruction 308. If
no response is received the system returns to the ready state.
Once the available and ordered quantity has been determined, the program
proceeds to instruction 308 and calls the subroutine STYLE to determine if
any special options are required by the customer such as typestyle,
formats, etc. The subroutine STYLE will be described hereinafter in
greater detail.
Once all the necessary information has been gathered at the terminal that
includes type, data, style and quantity, the program proceeds to
instruction 413 so that the interface unit 13 may transmit the gathered
information to the data processing personal computer 12 via interface 13.
The instruction 413 calls the subroutine CALCULATE that will be described
hereinafter in greater detail. The personal computer 12 performs the
desired quote calculation, and sends the quotation information back to the
terminal for display on the video monitor 29. This information is also
transmitted to the coin and bill acceptor 18.
On receipt of the quotation the program proceeds to instruction 414 and
calls the subroutine VERIFY that will be described hereinafter in greater
detail. While in the VERIFY subroutine, the customer is asked if he or she
wants to purchase the requested labels based on the quotation. If the
answer is no, the customer is thanked and the terminal returns to the
ready state at instruction 200 to wait for the next customer. If the
answer is yes, the program prompts the customer to insert the appropriate
amount of payment for the requested materials and the payment verification
process is completed by the subroutine VERIFY. If the customer fails to
insert the proper amount of money within the predetermined transaction
time the program returns to the ready state at instruction 200 to wait for
the next customer. If the customer inserts money into the coin and bill
acceptor 18, the bill and coin acceptor 18 transmits the information
regarding the amount of money that it has received from the customer to
the data processing personal computer 12 for verification of the proper
sum. The data processing personal computer 12 determines that the customer
has inserted a bill that is too large to remit change. The computer 12
instructs the bill and coin acceptor to return the inserted money to the
customer. If the bill is too large a message will be displayed notifying
the customer and requesting a smaller bill. If the requested amount is not
inserted into the coin and bill acceptor 18 the program returns to the
ready state. This procedure results in either rejection or acceptance of
payment, and corresponding data is transmitted from the data processing
personal computer 12 to the interface unit 13 so the appropriate response
may be displayed on the video terminal 29.
If payment is accepted the bill and coin acceptor 18 sends an accept signal
and the program displays the total amount paid and then proceeds to
instruction 415 where the label information previously collected is
transmitted to the interface unit 13 and a label print sequence is
initiated. The label information sent by the data processing personal
computer 12 to the label printer 19 to cause the labels to be printed and
dispensed to the customer. The program proceeds to instruction 415.
Instruction 415 calls the subroutine QUERY which will be described
hereinafter in greater detail. While in the subroutine the customer is
asked to respond to a series of demographic questions. The program returns
to the READY state if the customer does not respond. After the customer
answers the questions, the answers are stored and the program returns to
the ready state.
The sequence of operations carried out by the data processing personal
computer 12 in performing quotation calculations, carrying out payment
verification, and issuing label commands, will now be described with
reference to the flow diagram parts, shown in FIGS. 5-10.
Considering now the subroutine SELECT in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 5, the subroutine SELECT is entered at instruction 500 from the
process subroutine and proceeds to instruction 502 which prompts the
customer to select an item from the menu. The program then proceeds to
instruction 503 to determine whether the customer has selected labels that
the response is new the program proceeds to instruction 504 to determine
whether the customer has selected business cards. If the customer has not
selected business cards, the program proceeds to instruction 505 to
determine whether the customer has selected another product such as a
resume or letterhead paper. If the response is no, the program proceeds to
instruction 506 to determine whether the transaction timer has elapsed. If
the timer has not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction 502 and
again prompts the customer to select an item from the menu. This process
continues looping between constructions 502 to 506 until the customers
either actually made a selection or until the timer has elapsed. In the
event the timer has elapsed, the program will proceed from instruction 506
to instruction 513 which will return the system to the ready state. If the
customer has selected a label, the program will exit the loop at
instruction 503 and proceed to instruction 520 and will set a product
counter to a quantity that designates that labels were selected. The
program proceeds from instruction 520 to instruction 523 which returns the
program to the process SUBROUTINE. If the customer has selected cards, the
program proceeds from instruction 504 to instruction 521 which sets the
product counter to a member product counter to a number that designates
that the customer has selected cards. The program proceeds from
instruction 521 to instruction 523 to return the program to the process
subroutine. If the customer has selected some other product, the program
proceeds from instruction 505 to instruction 522 that sets the product
counter to a number that designates the other products selected by the
customer. After the product counter has been set in instruction 522, the
program proceeds to instruction 523 which returns the program to the
process subroutine.
Considering now the subroutine QUERY in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 6, the subroutine QUERY is entered from the subroutine process at
instruction 600. Upon entering the subroutine, the program proceeds | | |
