JP2002041794A - Method for gold certificate issue and cash loaning by credit card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To greatly lower the cost for cashing service using a credit card by manually performing the cash handling function of an ATM since the cost for the function is relatively large. SOLUTION: Data of the credit card and a password code that a user inputs are inquired of the credit card issuing company and when approval is obtained, a gold certificate issuing machine that issues gold certificate of an amount that the user specifies is provided; and the gold certificate issued by the gold certificate issuing machine is carried to the register counter in a store and the cash is lent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voucher issuing and cash lending method for performing a caching service (retail finance) by a credit card by issuing a voucher.

[0002] Credit cards include cash cards and debit cards issued by banks, credit cards issued by credit companies, membership cards issued by moneylenders, and house cards issued by retailers. Say.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a credit card caching service is provided by an automatic teller machine (ATM) connected online to a host computer of a bank or a credit company. Therefore, in order for a bank or a credit company to provide a caching service to a customer, it is essential to install an ATM.

Further, in order to enhance the convenience of the caching using the ATM, it is necessary to increase the number of installed ATMs and the operating time. However, ATMs have high installation and maintenance costs, and the costs for enabling 24-hour operation are enormous. Therefore, the number of ATMs installed in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores is increasing, but it is not easy to increase the number of ATMs for caching.

The functions of the ATM are mainly divided into a credit card handling function and a cash handling function. The cost of the latter is increasing in the whole.

[0006]

By the way, in many cases, a caching user borrows a relatively small amount of cash (for example, several thousand yen) just before payday, for example. Or,
There are cases in which cash is borrowed from a ATM such as a credit company using a credit card or the like at midnight or on holidays when an ATM such as a bank stops and deposits cannot be withdrawn. As described above, the cashing by the credit card has an advantage that it can be easily performed as if withdrawing a deposit or the like from an ATM, and is expected to be used particularly during a time when a bank or a money lender is closed.

As a method of paying for shopping or paying for services without using cash, there is a method using a credit card or a debit card. However, in order to enable such card-based approval, the store must install a card reader, but it is not easy for small stores to adopt the card reader in terms of initial investment and maintenance costs. In addition, even in large supermarkets,
Attachment of a card reader for making card decisions to all POS registers can be costly and unprofitable.

On the other hand, the use of a credit card or the like for a small purchase at a cashier counter in a supermarket or the like has been hesitant on the user side, and has not been widespread.

In view of the above, the present invention focuses on the fact that the cash handling function of an ATM is relatively large in the cashing service using a credit card, and by performing this function manually, the credit cost can be significantly reduced. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for issuing a voucher by a card and lending cash.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a voucher issuing machine capable of issuing a voucher of a designated face value using a credit card is installed in a store or a shopping district. This voucher issuing machine has the same function as a conventional credit card handling function of an ATM, and a user operates according to a similar procedure, except that a voucher is issued instead of cash.

It is assumed that a voucher can be used only in a store where a voucher issuing machine that issued the voucher is installed or in each store in a shopping district. The voucher can be used as a voucher instead of cash by taking it to a cashier counter at a store. However, this voucher has the property of a “cash voucher” unlike ordinary gift certificates that are treated as securities.However, if you pay for shopping, you will receive cash change and you will not be able to shop. Is paid at its face value. This allows for substantial caching.

A bar code corresponding to the denomination is printed on the cash voucher.
By reading the bar code reader of the register in the same manner as the bar code of the product, the face value indicated on the voucher can be recognized by the POS register.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of a method for issuing a cash voucher and lending cash using a credit card according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(System Configuration) FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration to which the method of the present invention is applied. Here, a system configuration including a retail store 1, a communication center 2, and a plurality of credit card issuing companies 3 is shown. Usually, a plurality of retail stores 1 are accommodated in the communication center 2.

[0015] The retail store 1 has a voucher issuing machine 11 and a POS.
The POS register 12 includes a barcode reader 13. The bar code reader 13 is not limited to the hand type, but may be an installation type. The voucher issuing machine 11 and the POS register 12 of the retail store 1 are connected to the communication center 2, and the communication center 2 and the credit card issuing company 3 are connected via the communication line 4. Note that a public line network or a dedicated line is used for the communication line 4. Details of the computer systems of the communication center 2 and the credit card issuing company 3 are omitted.

When the user inserts the credit card 5 into the voucher issuing machine 11 and inputs a personal identification number and a borrowed amount, the credit card 5 is transmitted to the communication center 2 via the communication line 4 together with the card number and other card data. The communication center 2 connects to the credit card issuing company 3 corresponding to the card data and inquires about the credit status of the credit card user. The credit card issuing company 3 checks the credit status of the credit card user, and if there is no problem, sends the authentication number via the communication center 2 to the voucher issuing machine 11.
To be transmitted. When the authentication number is returned, the voucher issuing machine 11 issues a voucher 6 on which a borrowing amount and a barcode indicating the same are printed, and further transmits voucher issuing information to the communication center 2.

The user who has obtained the voucher 6 presents the voucher at the cashier counter of the retail store 1. The clerk at the cashier counter reads the barcode of the cash voucher with the barcode reader 13 and processes the barcode in the same manner as cash corresponding to the face value, for example. That is, if the total purchase amount of the user is equal to or less than the par value, change is paid in cash, and if the user is not shopping, the entire par value is paid in cash. Thereby, substantial caching is performed.

The voucher use information of the voucher used in the POS register 12 is transmitted to the communication center 2 via the communication line 4. The communication center 2 checks the voucher issuing information transmitted from the voucher issuing machine 11 with the voucher use information transmitted from the POS register 12 to confirm whether the issued voucher has been used. When the issued vouchers are used, the issuance (use) status of the vouchers is totaled for each credit card issuing company 3 and the total amount of the issued (used) vouchers is requested to each credit card issuing company 3. The credit card company 3 pays the charged amount to the communication center 2, and further, the communication center 2 pays the issued (used) voucher equivalent to the retail store 1.

Here, the shopping or cashing using the issued voucher differs from the ordinary use of a credit card, etc., in that the credit card issuing company 3 makes a request to the user with a fee equivalent to the interest rate added to the face value of the voucher. Therefore, the credit card issuing company 3 can make a payment to the retail store 1 with the full face value of the cash voucher or with a fee. However, the cost (commission) for the communication center 2
Will be borne by either the retail store 1 or the credit card issuing company 3 or both. Communication center 2
Is the voucher issuing machine 11 of the retail store 1 and the credit card issuing company 3
May be divided into a function of processing communication between the server and a function of mediating billing and payment for issuing and using a voucher, and may be configured as another institution. In particular, the latter organization may be configured as a virtual headquarters accommodating a wide range of franchise chains to individual shops.

(Structure of the voucher issuing machine 11) FIG. A display unit 21 using a liquid crystal screen or the like, a card slot 2
2, an input operation unit 23 using ten keys and the like, and a cash voucher output port 24 are arranged.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal configuration of the voucher issuing machine 11. The voucher issuing machine 11 includes a processing unit 31 that executes a voucher issuing processing program, and an input / output control unit (I /
O) Display unit 21 and input operation unit 2 connected via 32)
3. Card insertion / reading unit 33, voucher printing / output unit 3
4 and a storage unit 35 and a communication control unit 36 connected to the processing unit 21. The communication control unit 36 controls communication with the communication center 2 via the communication line 4.

FIG. 4 shows a display example on the display unit 21 of the cash voucher issuing machine 11. Before the credit card 5 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, a standby state is displayed by the message "Please insert a card." Shown in FIG. When the credit card 5 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, the card insertion / reading unit 33 detects the insertion, and the display changes to "Please input a password" shown in FIG. 4 (b). Next, when the password is entered by operating the numeric keypad of the input operation unit 23, the display changes to "Please enter the amount to be issued" shown in FIG. 4 (c). Next, when the amount is input by operating the numeric keypad of the input operation unit 23, the processing unit 31 of the voucher issuing machine 11
Card data such as a card number, a password and a price are transmitted from the communication control unit 36 to the communication center 2. Depending on the setting of the credit card, whether the password is correct or not may be determined and the mode may be shifted to the money input mode.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the voucher 6 printed and issued by the voucher issuing machine 11. The voucher 6 has the following minimum requirements: • Amount • Card number • Card issuing company name (card issuing company ID) • Authentication number • Location of the vending machine (voucher issuing machine ID) along with a barcode You. In addition, * indicates the usable range of the voucher, and is used, for example, for determining that a voucher issued at another store cannot be used.

Alternatively, the date of issue, expiration date, serial number, etc. may be described. The expiration date and the serial number can be used for preventing forgery and unauthorized use of a voucher described later.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the POS register 12. The POS register 12 has a barcode reader 13
Is attached, and each bar code printed on the voucher 6 is read. Here, the cash voucher 6 is treated in the same manner as cash, like a normal gift certificate, and when shopping is not performed, cash is paid as the full face value, and when shopping, the difference to the face value is given as “change”, It may be handled in the same way as purchase by a credit card, and may take a form corresponding to each accounting processing method, such as passing the par value or the difference to the par value in cash as “temporary payment”. In the latter case, the user operates the "-" key used for withdrawal processing from the cash box of the register when returning the product.

As shown in FIG. 7, the POS register 12 issues a receipt A for normal shopping, a payment note B for paying out the entire amount of the voucher, and a receipt C indicating that the voucher has been used. Has functions. When a purchase is made and a cash voucher is used for settlement, a receipt A and a receipt C are issued. In the case where payment of the entire amount of the voucher is requested without shopping, a payment note B and a receipt C are issued.

(Other System Configuration) In the above system, the communication center 2 uses the voucher issuing information of the voucher issuing machine 11 and P
The configuration is such that the voucher use information in the OS register 12 is collated to confirm whether the issued voucher has been used. For this reason, if an expiration date is set for a voucher, a voucher that has been issued but has not been used within the expiration date is invalidated, and can be treated as if the voucher was not issued. In this case, the communication center 2 does not charge the credit card issuing company or pay the retailer,
There is no charge from the credit card issuing company to the card user.

The POS register 12 does not have a communication function, and the communication center 2 uses the voucher issuing information of the voucher
If the voucher use information in the OS register 12 cannot be collated, it can be handled by treating the issued voucher 6 in the same manner as cash, like a normal gift certificate. This is effective when the voucher issuing machine 11 is shared in a shopping street or the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a voucher issuing store 7 in which a voucher issuing machine 11 is installed is provided at one place in a shopping district, and in other stores 8, the voucher 6 is treated in the same manner as cash. It will be possible to participate in this system even at stores that do not have it. The cash voucher 6, which is treated in the same manner as cash, may be cashed at an appropriate cash exchange (for example, the above-mentioned virtual headquarters) 9.

In addition, the cash exchange 9 inputs the voucher issuance information from the communication center 2 and tallies the issuance status of the vouchers for each credit card issuing company 3 irrespective of whether the issued vouchers are used or not, and The total amount of the issued vouchers may be requested to the issuing company 3 to receive the payment. By doing so, the cashing process with the cash voucher 6 can be performed efficiently. However, in this system, once the voucher is issued, the communication center 2 makes a request to the credit card issuing company, pays to the store, and sends the credit card issuing company to the card user regardless of whether the voucher is used. Since the request is made, the processing when the voucher is not used becomes complicated.

FIG. 9 shows a first method of preventing forgery of a voucher. The ticket issuing machine 11 and the POS register 12 are connected via a signal line 41. A serial number generator 4 using, for example, random number generating means for the communication center 2
2, and notifies the voucher issuing machine 11 of the serial number and the expiration date together with the authentication number. The serial number and the expiration date are printed on the cash voucher 6 and are also notified to the POS register 12 via the signal line 41 and stored.

When the cash voucher 6 brought by the user is read by the bar code reader 13 of the POS register 12, the cash voucher 6
Is compared with the serial number notified from the voucher issuing machine 11 in advance, and if both match, the voucher is treated as valid. The POS register 12 automatically erases the serial number after the expiration date, so that the voucher after the expiration date cannot be compared with the serial number and is treated as invalid. Further, by automatically deleting the serial number of the once-validated voucher, the copied voucher can be invalidated.

FIG. 10 shows a second method of preventing forgery forgery. The communication center 2 includes, for example, a serial number generator 42 using random number generating means, and notifies the serial number and expiration date along with the authentication number to the cash voucher issuing machine 11 and the POS register 12 via the communication line 4. This serial number and expiration date are printed on the voucher 6 and
It is also stored in the OS register 12. Hereinafter, similarly to the first method, it is possible to determine validity / invalidity using the expiration date and the serial number.

As described above, a certain degree of counterfeiting prevention effect can be obtained only by a method that can be used only in a store or a shopping street where a voucher is issued or a method in which an expiration date is set to, for example, several hours. Can be

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cash voucher is simply installed to check a credit card and issue a voucher, and the voucher issued there is taken to a cashier counter in a store to lend cash. Can receive.

That is, by using a method of withdrawing cash from a cash register in a cash register by interposing a cash voucher in cashing by a credit card, a similar cashing service can be provided by a cash voucher issuing machine which is cheaper than an ATM. In addition, a caching service can be provided at a low cost only by installing one or several voucher issuing machines in a large-scale supermarket or a shopping street so that the issued vouchers can be handled. In addition, users do not have to worry about using a credit card at the cashier counter, they can not only shop like a conventional gift certificate, but also borrow cash as if they get change. it can.

Further, by restricting the range of use of the voucher or by using the expiration date or the serial number, it is possible to prevent the forgery or unauthorized use of the voucher.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external configuration of a cash voucher issuing machine 11;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a cash voucher issuing machine 11;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of a display unit 21 of the cash voucher issuing machine 11;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a voucher printed and issued by the voucher issuing machine 11;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a POS register 12;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a receipt, a payout, and a receipt issued by the POS register 12.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a system configuration to which the method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first method of preventing counterfeiting of a voucher.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second method for preventing forgery counterfeiting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 retail store 2 communication center 3 credit card issuing company 4 communication line 5 credit card 6 cash voucher 7 voucher issuing store 8 store 9 cash exchange 11 cash voucher issuing machine 12 POS register 13 bar code reader 21 display section 22 card insertion port 23 input operation section 24 cash voucher output port 31 processing unit 32 input / output control unit (I / O) 33 card insertion / reading unit 34 cash voucher printing / output unit 35 storage unit 36 communication control unit 41 signal line 42 serial number generator

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A credit card issuing machine for inquiring a credit card issuing company for data of a credit card and a personal identification number inputted by a user, and, when approval is obtained, issuing a voucher with a par value designated by the user. A cash voucher issuing and cash lending method using a credit card, wherein the cash voucher issued from the cash vending machine is brought to a cashier counter in a store to receive cash lending. 2. A communication center is arranged between the cash voucher issuing machine and the credit card issuing company, and this communication center establishes connection between the cash voucher issuing machine and a credit card issuing company corresponding to the inserted credit card. 2. A method for issuing a cash voucher and lending a cash using a credit card according to claim 1, wherein the method performs a data inquiry and a notification of approval. 3. The cash voucher is printed with a barcode indicating a face value, and is recognized as a cash voucher by reading the barcode with a barcode reader provided in a register of the store. A method for issuing a cash voucher and lending cash using the credit card according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The voucher issuing machine notifies the communication center of voucher issue information of the issued voucher, and the register notifies the communication center of voucher use information of the used voucher,
The communication center collates the voucher issuance information with the voucher use information, requests the credit card issuing company for the total amount of the vouchers that have been used, and uses the amount paid for the voucher. 4. A method for issuing a cash voucher and lending cash using a credit card according to claim 2 or 3, wherein payment is made to a designated store. 5. The credit card according to claim 1, wherein the cash voucher can be used only in a store where the cash voucher is installed or in a designated store near the store. Issuance of cash vouchers and cash lending methods. 6. A unique serial number is given to the voucher for each issuance, and the validity of the voucher is determined by checking the serial number.
3. The method for issuing a cash voucher and lending cash using a credit card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method is to judge whether or not the certificate is invalid. 7. Notifying a serial number and an expiration date of the voucher to the voucher issuing machine and a register of the store,
The voucher issuing machine writes the serial number and the expiration date in a bar code on the voucher that issues the bar code, and the register reads the serial number and the expiration date from the voucher with a bar code reader, and compares it with the serial number notified in advance. 7. The method for issuing a cash voucher and lending cash using a credit card according to claim 6, wherein the validity / invalidity is determined and the serial number whose validity period has expired is erased to make collation impossible.