JPH0812716B2 - Service stamp card system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for providing various services provided by a store to a customer at the time of buying and selling a product, and accumulates service stamp data according to the customer's payment amount in a memory card. The present invention relates to a service stamp card system that records and provides a service according to the cumulatively recorded service stamp data.

(Technical background of the invention and its problems) Conventionally, various services have been provided in the retail industry to acquire customers. Among them, as a relatively easy method, a retail store issues a predetermined service ticket or service stamp (hereinafter abbreviated as stamps) according to the payment amount of the customer, and when the customer collects a predetermined number of these stamps, in exchange for it. A method of providing a predetermined service such as an amount discount or a gift is widely used. Here, these stamps are
From small ones that each retailer issues independently, to those that form a coalition of retailers to jointly issue and service stamps, or one that specializes in issuing and servicing stamps. There are things that companies do. Here, in the service system using stamps issued by issuing organizations such as federations and companies as in the above example, each member store pays the issuing entity a fee and receives the stamps, and the customer Each time you shop in the store, the member store provides stamps according to the customer's payment amount, the customer collects these stamps and affixes them to a specified mount, and the stamps are sold in a specified number. When it reaches, it sends it to the issuing entity, and the issuing entity confirms the number of the stamps and provides the service such as a gift desired by the customer according to the number on behalf of each member store. .

However, in such a service system using stamps, the cost of (A) the above stamps and the mount on which these stamps are attached is expensive.

(B) It takes time and effort for the customer to arrange the stamps and attach them to the mount, and the stamps are made of small stamp-shaped pieces of paper, and are easily lost.

(C) Member stores must count the small and cumbersome stamps as described above at the time of buying and selling products and provide a predetermined number according to the payment amount, which is not only a great burden on the clerk but also a cashier. It is difficult to flow smoothly.

(D) When a customer receives a service such as a given gift, the issuing entity must accurately confirm the number of stamps attached to the mount sent from the customer, and furthermore, this collection It is necessary to destroy or incinerate the stamps to remove their value, which is troublesome.

(E) Further, it is impossible for the issuer and the member store to accurately grasp the number of stamps collected and the shopping trend of each customer, and the customer cannot perform detailed management.

There are many problems.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to use a card with a memory instead of the stamps and record service stamp data in the memory section of the card. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for customers, member stores and issuers, and to perform detailed customer management, and whether the card is a genuine customer card or forged based on the card-specific data mark written on the card. It is to provide a service stamp card system that determines whether a card is a card.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention provides a store with a stamp terminal for processing a card based on the service stamp system rules,
At the time of giving value in business operation, the authenticity of the magnetic card distributed by recording the identification number to the customer in advance is checked, the predetermined value data is accumulated and recorded, and the value data becomes the predetermined value. The date and time data at the time are also recorded, printed, and output to provide the customer with a value corresponding to the predetermined value data accumulated and recorded.

(Embodiment of the Invention) FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining an outline of a service providing method by a service stamp card system of the present invention.

In the figure, the issuer issues a master card which is, for example, a magnetic card and has a predetermined number of service stamps written and recorded in its magnetic recording portion (step S10), and the recorded data is recorded in each member store that joins the service system. Distribute the master card (step S11).

Each member store pays the price (step S20) and receives the provision of the master card. In addition to the master card, each member store is equipped with a stamp terminal (described later) lent or purchased from the issuing entity, and the master card is inserted into the stamp terminal to insert the master card into the stamp terminal. The service stamp number data recorded in the magnetic recording portion of the card is read, and this data is recorded in the memory portion of the stamp terminal (step S21), and the data in the magnetic recording portion of the master card is erased ( In step S22), the non-reusable process of this master card is performed. On the other hand, each member store has, for example, a magnetic card as a memory for a customer, which has a magnetic recording unit capable of recording the identification number, the number of service stamps provided, and the like. A customer card (described later) is distributed to each customer (steps S23, S24).

Every time a customer purchases, they bring a customer card in which this identification number is recorded, and when a store clerk (operator) inserts this card into the stamp terminal at the time of shopping settlement (step S25), this terminal will be described later. Then read the characteristics of the above card and check its authenticity. When the operator operates the ten keys on the terminal to input the number of service stamps according to the purchase amount, the number of service stamps stored in the memory part of the stamp terminal is insufficient for the number of stamps input from the ten keys. If it cannot be subtracted (step S2
6) Return to step S21, insert a new master card as described above, and store the service stamp number again in the memory section of this terminal, while the number of service stamps stored in step S26 is If it is satisfied, the stamp terminal subtracts the input service stamp number from the service stamp number data stored in the memory unit and stores it again (step S27), and the magnetic recording unit of the customer card. The service stamp number entered by the operator from the numeric keypad is added to the issued service stamp number data recorded in the above, and is recorded again, and the service stamp number data is updated (step S30), and this stamp number is displayed on the display unit. Display on and inform the customer. Further, as will be described later, each time the number of service stamps recorded in the magnetic recording part of this customer card reaches a predetermined number, the date is recorded in the magnetic recording part of this customer card, and at the same time, the cumulative stamp at that time is recorded. By printing out the number and returning it to the customer along with the card, the customer will have an estimate of the number of stamps he has collected.

When this date has been recorded a predetermined number of times (the number of service stamps has reached a predetermined number), the customer is provided with a new customer card and at the same time the number of service stamps has reached the predetermined number of free gift exchanges. The card for use can be sent to the above-mentioned issuing entity to enjoy services such as predetermined prizes (steps S13 and S31).

In steps S25 to S27 and S30, as will be described later, when the customer card is inserted into the stamp terminal, the service stamp number data recorded on the customer card and the identification number of the customer are read. If the data of the number of service stamps corresponding to the amount of shopping and the identification number of the member store are transferred and stored in a personal computer (personal computer) externally connected to the stamp terminal, the issuing entity and each The member store can grasp the shopping trend of the customer based on the stored data, and each member store can develop a new sales strategy and finely manage the customer based on the data.

That is, in the service stamp card system of the present invention, the service as described above is provided only by the data magnetically recorded in the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic card like the customer card without using the paper pieces such as the stamps. From issuing and providing service stamps to exchanging for gifts, etc., the above-mentioned issuing entity and each member store reduce the burden on the customer, and by managing this data finely Can be provided.

The structure and operation of the stamp terminal used in the service stamp card system as described above, the customer card made of a magnetic card, and the counterfeit card check mechanism thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings.

2 (A) and 2 (B) are external views of the stamp terminal 100 and its customer display 200 used in the present invention, and the internal structure thereof is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the stamp terminal 100 is driven by inserting a key possessed by the operator into the key switch 114 and operating it. In the stamp terminal 100, the CPU 110 controls the entire operation. Is designed to do. The CPU 110 stores a ROM 111 storing programs and the like, an area for storing the number of stamps read from the master card, and a customer identification number and the number of stamps provided on that day for all customers every time they shop. RAM 112 which has a region and stores the data necessary for information processing such as the number of service stamps and the date, and the necessary data such as an identification number is written and recorded when the customer card 1 including a magnetic card is issued,
The magnetic card reader / writer 10 (described later) that reads the data of the customer card 1 or writes data such as the number of service stamps at the time of shopping, and the customer card 1 inserted into the insertion / exit port 104 is A card transport mechanism 115 for loading into the magnetic card reader / writer 10 and discharging (returning) to the insertion / unload port 104 is connected. Also, C
In the PU 110, a keyboard 101 for inputting data such as the number of service stamps provided to the customer, and data for the number of service stamps key-inputted to the customer display device 20
A built-in display device composed of a liquid crystal, a lamp, etc., which displays together with 0 and also displays the data such as the number of issuable service stamps read and stored from the master card.
3. A printer 102 that prints at a predetermined time and issues a record is connected to notify the customer of the number of service stamps and the like. And again, the CPU 110 reads "card read OK",
A buzzer 113 that informs you of alarms such as "read failure" and "insufficient number of service stamps" with a sound is connected, and information is sent online with a personal computer or center computer connected externally or by batch processing once a day. An interface 116 for exchanging data is connected. Further, the CPU 110 is connected with a counterfeit card check sensor (to be described later) 20 for checking forgery of the inserted customer card 1, and the above-mentioned devices and the like are mutually connected via a bus line 117.

By the way, according to the present invention, the service stamp can be provided by magnetically recording the service stamp number data in the magnetic recording portion of the customer card 1, even if the member store does not provide the printed service stamp as in the conventional case. I am trying. Therefore, in the present invention, the service stamp as described above is provided by software in the above-described configuration.

That is, first, in step S21 of FIG. 1, a master card (not shown) made of a magnetic card, such as the customer card 1 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, is inserted into the insertion port 104. Then, the card transport mechanism 115 transports the master card to the magnetic card reader / writer 10 and, as described later, after the authenticity of the master card is checked by the counterfeit card check sensor 20, the master card is checked. The number of service stamps recorded in the magnetic recording section of the RAM is read by the magnetic card reader / writer 10 and stored in the RAM 112.
Is stored. At this time, if the service stamp number is already stored in the RAM 112, it is added to the data and stored again. Then, step S22 in FIG.
In the above, after reading the data, the reader / writer 10 erases the data in the magnetic recording portion of the master card and makes it unusable. You can also

Next, when the operator inserts the customer card 1 into the loading / unloading port 104 at the time of shopping settlement shown in steps S25 to S27 and S30 of FIG. 1, first, the counterfeit card check sensor 20 to be described later detects the customer card 1 The card-specific data is read, and at the same time, the magnetic card reader / writer 10 reads the data of the identification number and the total number of service stamps recorded in the magnetic recording section of the customer card 1, and the processing described later is performed to verify the authenticity of the card 1. Is checked, and if it is “false”, the fact is displayed on the display devices 103 and 200 and the buzzer 113 is displayed.
The alarm is issued at and the card 1 is ejected (returned). Here, if it is confirmed that it is "true", that fact is displayed as described above. Meanwhile, the operator uses the keyboard 10
If the number of service stamps corresponding to the shopping amount input from 1 is within the number of service stamps stored in the RAM 112, the number of stamps input by the key is subtracted from the data in the RAM 112, and the data is stored again. The number of stamps input by the key is added to the service stamp number data recorded in the magnetic recording portion of the customer card 1, and the data is rewritten and recorded by the reader / writer 10, and these data are displayed by the display devices 103 and 200. After confirming with the customer,
It is discharged (returned) from the insertion / exit port 104. Also, the above R
If the number of service stamps stored in AM112 is insufficient for the number of stamps keyed in above, only the operator will be notified and an alarm will be issued to that effect, and data input from the master card will be prompted as described above. . Then, the data of the customer card as described above is transmitted as information to a personal computer or the like connected via the interface 116, separately processed for aggregation and analysis, and used as described above.

Here, every time the number of service stamps recorded on the card 1 exceeds a predetermined number, for example, 100, the stamp terminal 100 stores the date measured by a clock circuit (not shown) in the RAM 112, and The data is recorded in the magnetic recording unit 2. As a result, even when the stamp terminal is used offline, by collecting the magnetic data of the customer card at the time of exchanging the gift, the shopping frequency data of the customer can be obtained. Further, the date and the number of service stamps are printed out by the printer 102 and handed to the customer so that the customer can know the number of stamps held. Further, when the number of service stamps that can be recorded on the card 1 reaches a predetermined number, a new customer card can be issued.

Next, the customer card and its counterfeit card check mechanism will be described. 4 (A) and 4 (B) show the shape of a customer card made of a magnetic card used in the present invention. FIG. 4 (A) shows the front side, and FIG. 4 (B) shows the back side. There is. In FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), reference numeral 1 denotes the customer card, which has a magnetic recording portion 2 along the longitudinal direction at the center upper part on the front side thereof, and a magnetic recording part 2 at the lower center part on the back side. Timing mark 3 along the direction
Also, an invisible light discriminating recording portion including the card-specific data mark 4 is provided. In FIG. 4, the invisible light discriminating recording portion and the magnetic recording portion 2 are arranged on the opposite surfaces of the card, but they may be on the same surface. The magnetic recording unit 2 is similar to the magnetic stripe or the entire surface magnetism in a general magnetic card, and records variable data such as the identification number of each customer, the number of service stamps, and security data. The invisible light discriminating recording portion is composed of two kinds of marks, that is, a timing mark 3 and a card-specific data mark 4, and these data are recorded by being printed using an invisible light absorbing ink.

FIG. 5 shows the spectral characteristics of the invisible light absorbing ink, and 5 is an ink having absorption in the invisible light region, that is, in the infrared region having a wavelength of 700 μm or more, such as IR-750,770,840 manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. Is an ink prepared by mixing in a vehicle, and the ink 5 is used to print and record the timing mark 3 and the card-specific data mark 4 in FIG. 4 (B) at predetermined positions on the card surface. Since the ink 5 exemplified above has some light absorption even in the visible region, the marks 3 and 4 can be visually observed, and therefore the visible light absorption ink 6 is used to cover up the marks 3 and 4 to conceal the marks. To do. The visible light absorbing ink 6 needs to have low absorptivity in the infrared region. This is because in the infrared region, the marks 3 and 4 cannot be read unless there is a difference in characteristics that allows the inks 5 and 6 to be clearly distinguished.

FIG. 6 shows how to print the timing mark 3 and the card-specific data mark 4 of FIG. 4 (B). The timing mark 3 is printed on the card surface with the invisible light absorbing ink 5.
Then, the card-specific data mark 4 is printed, and the ink 6 having a small absorption (high reflectance) in the invisible light region is printed thereon in order to conceal the marks 3 and 4. The printing for concealment can be solid printing on the entire surface, but the effect of concealing the mark is further remarkable when an irregular arbitrary pattern is printed. As a result, the card-specific data mark 4 and the timing mark 3 made of the invisible light absorbing ink 5 are not visually recognized, and therefore the existence of these marks 3 and 4 is not clearly recognized. Then, the marks 3 and 4 can be read by irradiating the mark recording surface of the card 1 with infrared rays by the light projecting device and detecting infrared reflected light from the card surface with the light receiving device.

FIG. 7 shows the spectral characteristics of the light emitter and the light receiver, where A is the light receiver and a to c are the light emitter. The characteristics of the light receiver have a peak at about 800 μm, and the light emitter shows three types with peaks at 700 μm, 900 μm, and 1000 μm, but in reality it is 900 μm.
Things seem to be the best.

8 (A) and 8 (B) conceptually show the data flow for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic recording unit 2 of the customer card 1 which is a magnetic card. Is. Stamp terminal 100 above
An example of writing magnetic data such as the identification number and the number of service stamps to the customer card 1 will be described below. First, when writing to the customer card 1, as shown in FIG. The card-specific data read from the marks 3 and 4 printed and recorded in advance in the mark recording section of the card 1 and the variable data to be newly recorded in the magnetic recording section 2, for example, the number of inputted service stamps of 20 are predetermined. The data is converted into security data according to the algorithm of (1) and written in the security data recording unit of the magnetic recording unit 2, and the variable data is written in the magnetic recording unit 2 as it is. And this card 1
As shown in FIG. 8B, the variable data is read out from the magnetic recording unit 2 into the security data according to a predetermined algorithm together with the card unique data read from the mark recording unit. ,
The security data read from the card 1 is collated. As a result, it is determined whether the read card 1 is an authorized customer card or a counterfeit card.

FIG. 9 shows a magnetic card reader / writer 10 for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic card 1 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the card 1. Read the above unique data printed on
1 shows a configuration of a counterfeit card check sensor 20 for checking forgery. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a magnetic card reader / writer for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic recording unit 2 of the customer card 1, and includes a magnetic writing head 11 and a magnetic reading head 12. It also has a magnetic data writing circuit 13 and a magnetic data reading circuit 14. In addition, 20 is a counterfeit card check sensor,
It has a light receiver 22 and a unique data reading circuit 23. 30 more
Is an MPU composed of a microprocessor, etc.
Part 40 is an external device.

To write data to the magnetic recording unit 2 of the customer card 1 in the magnetic card reader / writer 10 of the stamp terminal 100 having such a configuration, first, the unique data of the card 1 is read by the counterfeit card check sensor 20. Check authenticity. Further, the service stamp number data recorded on the card 1 is read from the magnetic recording unit 2 by the magnetic reading head 12 of the magnetic card reader / writer 10 and is input from the service stamp number data stored in the RAM 112 and the keyboard 101. Obtained service stamp number data is added and subtracted by the MPU unit 30 to create variable data to be written, and security data is created by the MPU unit 30 from the previously read card-specific data and the variable data. Then, the variable data and the security data to be newly written are written in the magnetic recording section 2 of the card 1 by the magnetic writing head 11.

When the customer card 1 with the data thus written is applied to the magnetic card reader / writer 10, the card 1 is sent in the scanning direction by a scanning mechanism (not shown), and the magnetic read head of the magnetic card reader / writer 10 is sent. Both the variable data and the security data are read by 12 and given to the MPU unit 30 via the magnetic data reading circuit 14. On the other hand, in the counterfeit card check sensor 20, the light projector 21 illuminates the surface of the magnetic card, and the reflected light is detected by the light receiver 22 and given to the MPU unit 30 via the unique data reading circuit 23. In the MPU unit 30, the variable data and the unique data read from the card 1 are converted into security data by the MPU unit 30 according to a predetermined algorithm, and the security data read from the card 1 is also given to the MPU unit 30. The MPU unit 30 collates the security data obtained by the conversion with the read security data, and outputs whether the card 1 is an authorized customer card or a counterfeit card depending on whether the two match. Is generated, and the authenticity of this card 1 is checked.

(Variation of the Invention) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the operator inputs the number of service stamps corresponding to the purchase amount of the customer at the time of shopping by operating the keyboard of the stamp terminal. If you connect to an electronic cash register or a POS system through an interface and store the number of service stamps issued for the shopping amount in the memory part of the stamp terminal beforehand, it will be input to the electronic cash register or POS system when the customer pays for the purchase. According to the purchase amount data, the stamp terminal can automatically write and record the number of service stamps to be issued on the inserted customer card.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as a method of knowing the number of service stamps provided by the customer, it is provided by printing out each time the number of stamps reaches a predetermined number, but, for example, in the margin of the customer card, You may make it print, fill-in display, or make a hole.

Also, in the above-mentioned embodiment, each member store pays the price and receives an issue of the master card in which a predetermined number of service stamps are recorded from the issuer, but the center computer of the issuer and each member store If the stamp terminal is connected online, the issuing entity can detect the number of service stamps issued by the member store without using the master card, and the fee may be billed later.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which the service stamp is provided at the time of shopping by the customer is shown, but this is not limited to shopping, and in a broad sense, for example, when developing a film or using an amusement park. Needless to say, it can be used for value distribution when buying and selling goods or during commercial transactions.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a large-scale example in which the issuing entity performs the service providing business on behalf of the retail store is shown, but it goes without saying that the retail store can directly perform the service providing business.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which the magnetic card is used as the memory medium for recording the data regarding the master card and the customer card is shown, but the semiconductor memory is used.
It goes without saying that IC cards can be used as well.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the service stamp card system of the present invention, (A) a magnetic card with a memory function is used as a customer card, and a stamp terminal is used to make a purchase according to the purchase amount when shopping. Since the number of service stamps is only magnetically recorded, the above stamps and the mount to which these stamps are attached are unnecessary, which is economical.

(B) The customer does not need to organize the stamps and attach them to the mount, and since this customer card is a suitable size of, for example, a cash card, there is no risk of loss.

(C) A member store can provide a predetermined number of service stamps according to the purchase amount by a simple operation of entering the stamp terminal key when the customer pays for the purchase. It will flow smoothly.

(D) When a customer receives a service such as a given gift, the issuing entity simply reads the data recorded in the memory section of the customer card sent from the customer with a magnetic card reader / writer to obtain a service stamp. It is possible to accurately check the quantity of the card and to invalidate the card at the same time after reading, so there is no need to discard or incinerate this card.

(E) Also, since the customer-specific card has the card-specific data mark recorded in the mark recording section as described above,
The variable data read from the magnetic recording unit is converted into security data according to a predetermined algorithm together with the card unique data read from the mark recording unit, and can be collated with the security data read from the customer card. This makes it possible to determine whether the read customer card is a legitimate customer card or a counterfeit card.

(F) Further, since the identification number of each customer is recorded on the customer card as described above, it is only necessary to simultaneously read this identification number together with the number of service stamps provided at the time of shopping settlement, and the issuing entity and the member store. Can accurately grasp the number of service stamps collected by each customer and shopping trends, and can perform detailed management for each customer, and can make data and systemize the entire service providing system including gift exchange.

(G) Further, according to the present invention, the cumulative number such as the number of service stamps is rewritten and recorded in the memory part of the customer card, and the date when the cumulative number reaches a predetermined quantity is adjusted to the memory part of the card. By recording the data, even if the stamp terminal is used as a stand-alone, the data in the card memory can be collected by collecting the data in the card memory at the time of exchanging the free gift, and the customer management can be performed at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of a service stamp card system of the present invention, FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are external views of a stamp terminal and its customer display device used in the present invention, and FIG. A block diagram showing an internal configuration example of a stamp terminal, FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are front and back views of a customer card used in the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 9 are forgery of the customer card. It is a figure for explaining a prevention system. 1 ... Customer card, 2 ... Magnetic recording part, 3 ... Timing mark, 4 ... Card-specific data mark, 10 ... Magnetic card reader / writer, 20 ... Counterfeit card check sensor, 100 ... Stamp terminal .

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A card having at least a rewritable recording section for recording variable data including cumulative recording of value data and security data, and a card-specific data mark on which card-specific data is recorded, Security data is created from the variable data and the unique data according to a predetermined algorithm, and the created security data is collated with the security data recorded in the recording unit, and when they match, the security data is recorded in the recording unit. A service stamp card system that enables rewriting of stored data. 2. The service stamp card system according to claim 1, wherein an identification number is recorded in advance when the card is distributed. 3. The date and time data at the time when the value data reaches a predetermined value when the predetermined value data is accumulated and recorded on the card, and the data is printed and output. The service stamp card system according to item 1.