JPH05282534A - Card terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a card terminal equipment which can control a protocol with communication with a host system as an object. CONSTITUTION:A data processing means 22 generates transmission data on a data format fitted to a communication procedure which the specified host system specified by system identification information requests based on system identification information included in the read result of a card by a card controller 16. Furthermore, a communication control means 23 starts communication control programs 24a and 24b realizing communication with the host system specified by system identification information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card terminal device used in stores in the distribution / retail market.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the distribution and retail markets, in addition to cash payment, credit card payment is used. Credit card (hereinafter simply referred to as card)
When making a payment using, it is necessary to prepare a card terminal device for reading the information stored in the card and inputting the payment amount.

[0003] In a store such as a department store having a large number of sales floors, settlement processing is carried out for each sales floor.
Card terminals are installed in each sales floor. When these card terminal devices obtain the information necessary for the payment processing, they perform communication with the host system that centrally manages the usage status of the card, and complete the payment processing. The communication with the host system is centrally controlled by the host device installed in the store like the card terminal device. Each card terminal device
The communication control with the higher-level device is executed without being aware of the host system of each card issuing company.

FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of a conventional card transaction system. The card transaction system shown in the figure is an AD host system 1a provided for each card issuing company AD.
1d, a common network 2, a communication line 3, a host device 4, a local communication line 5, and n card terminal devices T1, T2, ... Tn.

Each of the A to D host systems 1a to 1d is composed of a host computer or the like installed in a data management facility or the like of a card issuing company. The common network 2 is composed of a dedicated line or the like for carrying out communication between the A to C host systems 1a to 1c and the host device 4 based on a protocol negotiated between the A to C host systems 1a to 1c. Is done. The communication line 3 is based on a communication procedure (protocol) unique to the D host system 1d, and the D host system 1d and the host device 4
It is composed of a public line or the like for carrying out communication between the two.

The host device 4 is a card terminal device T1 to Tn.
And a common network 2 and a communication line 3 (A to D host systems 1a to 1d), that is, a communication control device for performing protocol control. The card terminal devices T1 to Tn include a card reader for reading data stored in the card C, a keyboard for inputting a payment amount, etc., a display device for displaying various data, and a host device 4. It is provided with a communication control device and the like for performing a protocol process associated with communication.

By the way, the card C stores system identification information composed of numerical information for identifying the issuing company, and based on this system identification information, the host device 4 is a host to be communicated with. System (protocol)
Specify.

The operation procedure of the card transaction system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a conventional operation procedure. For example, A
Card C issued by company A that manages host system 1a
Is attached to the card terminal device T1, and the contents of the card C are read by the card terminal device T1 (step S1). Furthermore, the clerk who operates the card terminal device T1 inputs data such as the amount of payment processing and gives an instruction to carry out communication (step S2).

The card terminal device T1 generates transmission data to be transmitted to the host device 4 (step S3), and performs local communication according to the protocol agreed between the host device 4 and the card terminals T1 to Tn. , Between the host device 4 and the local communication line 5 (step S
4).

Upon receiving the data from the card terminal device T1, the host device 4 recognizes the system identification information set in the received data and identifies the host system to be communicated with (step S5). When the identification of the host system is completed, this host system (A host system 1a)
The transmission data corresponding to the protocol for realizing the communication with the A host system 1a is generated according to the protocol (common protocol) using the common network 2 (step S6) (step S7).

In the B and C host systems 1b and 1c, the common protocol communication is performed in the same procedure. Further, with respect to the D host system 1d, communication by a unique protocol using the communication line 3 is carried out.

[0012]

As described above, since the host device 4 realizes communication with a plurality of host systems having different protocols, it corresponds to each protocol control and each protocol. Although the process of generating the transmission data is used for implementation, it causes an increase in the cost when introducing the card transaction system to a device other than the card terminal device that is absolutely necessary for reading the data stored in the card C, and further the installation space There was a problem that we had to secure The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card terminal device capable of carrying out protocol control for communication with a host system.

[0013]

A card terminal device according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of host systems each requesting a different communication procedure, and a card for using any one of the host systems is mounted to store data. A card controller for reading, data processing means for generating transmission data in a data format suitable for the communication procedure required by any one of the host systems according to the system identification information read from the card, and according to the system identification information. And a communication control means for selecting any one of the host systems and activating a corresponding communication control program.

[0014]

According to this device, the data processing means transmits the data format suitable for the communication procedure required by the host system specified by the system identification information, based on the system identification information included in the card reading result by the card control device. Generate data. Further, the communication control means activates a communication control program that realizes communication with the host system specified by the system identification information.

[0015]

1 is a block diagram of a card terminal device according to the present invention. CPU of the card terminal device TN shown in the figure
The (processor) 11 includes a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a keyboard 14, a display 15, and a card control device 1.
6, a first communication mechanism 17, and a second communication mechanism 18 are provided.

The CPU 11 controls each part of the card terminal device TN. ROM12 is C
It stores programs, data, and the like referenced by the PU 11. The RAM 13 is used to temporarily store the reading result of the card C and communication data. The keyboard 14 is provided with numerical keys for inputting a payment amount and the like, various command keys, and the like. Display 1
Reference numeral 5 is for displaying the reading result of the card C, the settlement processing amount, and the like.

The card control device 16 is provided with, for example, a magnetic head or the like for reading the data stored in the card C. The first communication mechanism 17 is an interface that performs signal conversion accompanying protocol control of communication via the common network 2 shown in FIG. The second communication mechanism 18 is an interface that performs signal conversion accompanying protocol control of communication via the communication line 3 shown in FIG.

The CPU 11 has a card reading control means 2
1, a data processing unit 22, a communication control unit 23, and first and second communication control programs 24a and 24b are provided. The card reading control means 21 controls reading of data stored in the card C mounted in the card control device 16.

The data processing means 22 specifies the protocol corresponding to the host system to be communicated based on the system identification information included in the read data under the control of the card read control means 21, and the transmission data corresponding to this protocol. Is to control the generation of. The communication control means 23 controls to selectively activate a communication control program for controlling a protocol corresponding to communication, based on the system identification information.

When the system identification information has contents indicating the A to C host systems 1a to 1c, the data processing means 22
Transmission data in a data format corresponding to the common protocol in the common network 2 is generated, and in the case of the content indicating the D host system 1d, transmission data in a data format corresponding to the unique protocol in the communication line 3 is generated. The communication control means 23 activates the first communication control program 24a when the system identification information indicates the A to C host systems 1a to 1c, and the second communication control program 24 when the system identification information indicates the D host system 1d.
Start b.

The first communication control program 24a drives the first communication mechanism 17 and performs protocol control according to a common protocol. Second communication control program 2
4b drives the second communication mechanism 18 and performs protocol control according to a unique protocol.

A card transaction system using the card terminal device TN having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the card transaction system according to the present invention. In the figure, as compared with the card transaction system previously described in FIG. 2, the host device 4 and the local communication line 5 are deleted, and the card terminal device TN (card terminal devices TN1 to TNn) is directly connected to the common network 2 and the communication line 3. The difference is that is connected.

The operation of the card terminal device TN of the present invention in the card transaction system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to the present invention. For example, when the card C issued by the company A that manages the A host system 1a is attached to the card control device 16,
The card reading control means 21 drives the card control device 16 to read the data stored in the card C (step S11). Further, a staff member who operates the card terminal device TN1 operates the keyboard 14 to input data such as the amount of payment processing and give an instruction for communication (step S1).
2).

Upon receipt of the instruction, the data processing means 22 recognizes the system identification information included in the read data of the card C, and specifies the data format of the protocol (common protocol in this case) corresponding to this identification information (step). S13), transmission data composed of the read data of the card C and the input data of the keyboard 14 is generated according to this data format (step S14).

Further, the communication control means 23 is activated, the communication control program corresponding to the system identification information (in this case, the first communication control program 24a) is specified (step S15), and activated (step S16). The first communication control program 24a drives the first communication mechanism 17, transmits the transmission data generated by the data processing means 22 to the common network 2, and communicates with the host system (A host system 1a) (step). S17).

In the B and C host systems 1b and 1c as well, communication by the common protocol is carried out in the same procedure. Regarding the D host system 1d, transmission data is generated in accordance with the data format of the unique protocol corresponding to the communication line 3 in step S14, and further in step S16, the second communication control program 2
4b is activated, and the communication that drives the second communication control mechanism 18 is performed.

As described above, the data terminal device TN
In the above, the protocol control for directly communicating with the host system is executed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The card terminal device may be configured not only to perform the payment process using a card but also to have a function of a cash register for realizing the payment process using cash, for example.

[0029]

As described above, according to the card terminal device of the present invention, in order to realize the communication with the host system, the transmission data is generated and the protocol is controlled according to the data format required by the host device. Since it is not necessary to prepare a special device in order to do so, it is possible to realize reduction in cost and installation space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a card terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional card transaction system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a conventional operation procedure.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a card transaction system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU (processor) 16 card control device 21 card reading control means 22 data processing means 23 communication control means 24a first communication control program 24b second communication control program

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card control device which is connected to a plurality of host systems each of which requires a different communication procedure, and which is equipped with a card for using one of the host systems to read data, and a card control device which reads data from the card. According to the system identification information, a data processing unit that generates transmission data of a data format suitable for the communication procedure required by the host system, and selects any of the host systems according to the system identification information. A card terminal device, comprising: a communication control means for activating a corresponding communication control program.