JP2000030128A - Prepaid card system and sub-repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve communication efficiency between a high-order processing means and a ticket issuing or reception means to speedily reflect information of the ticket issuing or reception means on the high-order processing means and to improve processing efficiency in the high-order processing means. SOLUTION: A repeater 3 is installed between a sub-repeater 6 and a plurality of readers/writer 2 at each store S and a settlement center 5. The sub-repeater 6 is installed between a ticket issuing/reception machine 1 and the repeater 3 at every store S. The sub-repeater 6 executes communication with more than one ticket issuing/reception machine 1 under control and collects card information on the ticket issuing/reception of the card issuing/reception machine 1. The repeater 3 executes communication with the sub-repeater 6 and a plurality of reader/riters 2 under control and collects card information on the ticket issuing/reception of the ticket issuing/reception machine 1 and amount information based on the consumed amount of the reader/writer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for processing a prepaid card in accordance with the consumption of money, and more particularly to a prepaid card system and a sub-relay device which can improve the efficiency of communication processing for collecting prepaid card information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A prepaid card system has been realized in which a prepaid card storing amount information corresponding to a monetary value is used for monetary settlement.

In the prepaid card system, services are usually provided in a plurality of stores. For example, each store is provided with a plurality of reading devices and a relay device or the like which is a higher-level processing device of the reading devices. A reading device is a terminal device for using a prepaid card. In this reading device, based on the amount information stored in the prepaid card, the prepaid card is used as a fee for lending game media and selling goods. Consumed. The relay device couples a plurality of reading devices and the like in the store to, for example, a settlement center installed at the issuer of the prepaid card, and communicates with the settlement center to manage the reading devices and process the consumption amount. I do.

[0004] That is, the prepaid card is consumed, for example, by lending game media by using a reading device installed in a store. When the prepaid card is consumed, the reading device counts the amount of consumption and provides the payment processing, and updates the amount information stored in the prepaid card according to the amount of consumption. When the amount information of the prepaid card is updated, if the amount falls within a predetermined remaining amount range, a remaining amount reference hole is punched at a predetermined location corresponding to the remaining amount range of the prepaid card. The sales information of the reading device due to the consumption of the prepaid card is collected, for example, by a relay device, and the relay device compiles the sales information of each reading device under control and transmits the total to the settlement center. In this way, the prepaid card consumption settlement is performed.

[0005] The stored information of the prepaid card includes card identification information (card ID) which is set at the time of card issuance, that is, at the time of encoding, and is not changed by subsequent consumption or the like, a manufacturer code indicating a manufacturer, and a manufacturing date (encoding date). The information includes fixed information such as information, amount information indicating the remaining amount and the like, and fluid information that should be updated as needed by processing such as subsequent consumption such as an error code when an error occurs.

[0006] On the other hand, since the prepaid card has a monetary value, there is a possibility that fraudulent operations such as forgery and alteration may be performed. Therefore, in the reading apparatus, an error is checked at the time of reading and updating of the money amount information and the like, and at the same time, an unusual and illegal prepaid card due to falsification, forgery, illegal use, and the like is detected.
In detecting such fraudulent prepaid cards,
In general, if stored information and punched hole information of a prepaid card, and their histories and the like include inconsistent contents, it is regarded as illegal.

[0007] By the way, the relay device has a plurality of reading devices under its control, and collects sales information, card information, and the like from the plurality of reading devices. Sales information is
The above-described reading device is the amount information relating to the consumption of the prepaid card, and the card information is identification information of a usable prepaid card such as identification information of an unauthorized prepaid card issued in the reading device or a prepaid card to be excluded. .

[0008] The relay device accumulates / processes the sales information collected from the reading device and transfers it to the settlement center. The card information collected from the reading device can be referred to from other reading devices. Provide fraudulent discrimination.

The relay device performs a communication process with a plurality of subordinate reading devices using a polling method or the like for data collection / reference. That is, in the polling method, the relay device sequentially scans and transmits a communication request to a plurality of reading devices, and causes the reading device to transmit data such as sales information and card information as a response to the request.
Also, an inquiry about data such as card information from the reading device is performed in response to the communication request.

[0010] As the system scale increases and the number of reading devices in the system, especially under the relay device, increases, the information processing amount of the relay device increases proportionally. For this reason, the processing time of the collected data in the relay device also increases, and the processing space (that is, the capacity of a hard disk, a memory, or the like) for storing / processing information needs to be increased.

Further, in recent systems, in order to prevent unauthorized use, the use of a prepaid card is restricted in a store, thereby limiting the opportunity for fraud.
In other words, the use of the prepaid card is restricted in principle except for the card purchased at the store's ticketing machine. In order to use a prepaid card purchased at another store, it is necessary to change the magnetic storage content of the prepaid card at the reception machine of the store in advance. That is, only a prepaid card purchased at a ticket issuing machine at the store or a prepaid card purchased at another store and processed by a reception machine at the store can be used by a reading device in the store.

In this case, the relay device communicates with the ticket issuing machine and the receiving machine in the store in the same manner as the reading device, and the card information of the prepaid card issued by the ticket issuing machine in the store and the card information in the store. Collect the card information of the prepaid card accepted by the accepting machine. Therefore, when the prepaid card is set, the reading device first queries the relay device for the card information, and checks whether or not the card information has been issued or accepted at the store. As a result of referring to the relay device, if the ticket corresponds to the prepaid card issued or accepted at the store, the card can be used. If the card does not correspond to the prepaid card issued or accepted at the store, the card cannot be used.

[0013]

As described above, the reading device refers to the relay device for the card information of the set prepaid card and checks whether the ticket is issued or accepted at the store. I do. If the prepaid card does not correspond to a prepaid card issued or accepted at the store as a result of inquiring the relay device, use is not permitted and the card is handled in the same manner as an unauthorized prepaid card.

[0014] However, the ticket issuing machine or the receiving machine in the store is under the control of the relay device like the reading device, and the card information of the ticket issuing machine or the receiving device is polled by the relay device together with the sales information of the reading device. It is collected by the relay device by communication processing such as the method.

For this reason, when the system scale increases, the number of reading devices under the relay device increases, and the total number of reading devices, ticketing machines, and accepting devices under the relay device increases, the scanning of communication processing by polling or the like increases. Becomes longer,
It takes a lot of time for the relay device to acquire the card information of the ticketing machine and the accepting machine. If the card information of the ticketing machine and the accepting machine is not promptly transmitted to the relay device and the relay device cannot quickly acquire the card information of the ticketing machine and the accepting machine, the user is issued or accepted the ticket. Even if a normal prepaid card is set in the reading device immediately after being received, the card information of the prepaid card is not registered in the relay device, so that the card cannot be used.

[0016] Therefore, it is necessary to transmit the card information of the prepaid card processed by the ticketing machine and the receiving machine in the store to the relay device immediately.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improves the communication efficiency between a higher-order processing means and a ticketing or receiving means so that information on the ticketing or receiving means can be promptly transmitted to the higher-order processing means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prepaid card system and a sub-relay device, which can reflect the information and improve the processing efficiency of the high-order processing means.

[0018]

To achieve the above object, a prepaid card system according to a first aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card for storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. In a prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement, at least one of a ticketing function for issuing the prepaid card and a reception function for receiving a prepaid card issued outside the system, updating card information, and enabling the system to use the card. Ticketing / accepting means having a function, reading means for updating the price information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card and transmitting sales information including the consumption amount, and ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / accepting means. Sub relay means for collecting, editing and holding, and the prepaid card in the reading means; And a host processing unit for collecting and processing ticketing / reception information edited by the above information and the sub relay unit.

According to such a configuration, the sub-relay means collects and edits information from the subordinate ticketing / receiving means between the higher-level processing means and the ticketing / receiving means, and the higher-level processing means Since the information on the ticketing / accepting means edited from the sub-relay means is collected, the communication efficiency is improved and the information on the ticketing / accepting means is immediately reflected on the higher-level processing means, and the processing efficiency of the information in the higher-level processing means is also improved. Can be improved.

Further, the prepaid card system according to the second aspect of the present invention is a prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement using a prepaid card storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. A ticketing / reception unit having at least one of a ticketing function of issuing a prepaid card, at least one of a reception function of receiving a prepaid card issued outside the system and updating card information to enable use in the system; A plurality of reading means for updating according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card and transmitting sales information including the consumption amount; and a first sub-relay for collecting, editing and holding ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception means. Means, and a plurality of reading means provided for each group of the plurality of reading means. A second sub relay unit for collecting and editing sales information in the reading unit, and collecting and processing the sales information and ticketing information of the prepaid card edited by the first and second sub relay units And a higher-level processing unit.

According to such a configuration, the first sub-relay means collects and edits information from the subordinate ticketing / reception means between the higher-level processing means and the ticketing / reception means, and performs the higher-level processing. The means collects information on the ticketing / accepting means edited from the first sub-relay means, and the second sub-relay means comprises a subordinate reading means between the higher-level processing means and the grouped reading means. From the second sub-relay means, the higher-order processing means collects the information on the reading means edited from the second sub-relay means, so that the communication efficiency of the entire system is improved, and The information is more quickly reflected in the higher-level processing means, and the processing efficiency of the information in the higher-level processing means can be further improved.

A sub-relay device according to a third aspect of the present invention has a ticket issuing function of storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value and issuing a prepaid card used for financial settlement, and the system. A ticketing / accepting device having at least one of an accepting function for accepting a prepaid card issued outside and updating the card information and making it usable in the system, and the amount information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card. A reading device that updates and transmits sales information including the consumption amount; a higher-level processing device that collects and processes the sales information of the prepaid card in the reading device and the ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception device; An information collection device for collecting ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception device provided in the prepaid card system including And means, to edit the information collected by said information collecting means, and a editing means to be subjected to transfer to the host processing device.

According to such a configuration, the sub-relay device collects and edits information from the subordinate ticketing / reception device between the host processing device and the ticketing / reception device, and the host processing device Since the information on the ticketing / accepting device edited from the sub-relay device is collected, the communication efficiency is improved, and the information on the ticketing / accepting device can be promptly reflected on the higher-level processing device. Processing efficiency can also be improved.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A prepaid card system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a prepaid card system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The prepaid card system shown in FIG.
A ticket issuing / receiving machine 1, a reading device 2, a relay device 3, a recording device 4, a settlement center 5, and a sub relay device 6 are provided. The recording device 4 and the settlement center 5 are installed at a card issuer D such as a card issuing company and a card manufacturing factory. In general, there are a plurality of stores S corresponding to the card issuer D, and each store S has at least one ticketing / accepting machine 1, a plurality of reading devices 2, and these ticket issuing / receiving machines 1 and reading devices 2 A relay device 3 and a sub-relay device 6 are connected to the settlement center 5.

The ticketing / accepting machine 1 has a ticket issuing function for issuing a new prepaid card to a user and a reception function for rewriting card information of a prepaid card issued in a store other than the store S so that the card can be used in the store S. It has at least one of the functions. That is, ticketing / accepting machine 1
Is configured as one of a ticket issuing machine having only a ticket issuing function, a receiving machine having only a receiving function, and a ticket issuing machine having both of a ticket issuing function and a receiving function.

The relay device 3 is not limited to one for each store S,
For example, one relay device 3 may be provided for each predetermined area in the store S, for example, for each hall and floor. That is, the relay device 3 includes a sub-relay device 6 and a plurality of reading devices 2 for each store S, a sub-relay device 6 and a plurality of reading devices 2 for each hall in the store S, or a sub-reader for each floor in the store S. It is provided between the relay device 6 and the plurality of reading devices 2 and the settlement center 5. The sub-relay device 6 is a store S
One or more ticketing / reception machines 1 for each hall, one or more ticketing / reception machines 1 for each hall in store S, or one or more ticketing / reception machines 1 for each floor in store S, and relay device 3 And is provided between

In this prepaid card system, a prepaid card manufactured and issued by the card issuer D is sold to the store S, and further sold to the user at the store S.
At the store S, the user can pay for the provision of a service such as lending of a game medium by using a prepaid card.

The provision and payment of the service is performed by using the reading device 2 installed in the store S, and the amount stored as the amount information in the prepaid card is consumed.
The store S accumulates sales information based on the amount of money consumed by the reading device 2 in the relay device 3 and accumulates and processes the information as appropriate. In the store S, the card information of the prepaid card issued or accepted by the ticketing / accepting machine 1 is collected by the sub relay device 6 and edited as appropriate, and the edited card information is transmitted by the relay device 3. Collect and accumulate.

The relay device 3 transmits sales information based on the total consumption amount of the reading device 2 to the settlement center 5 of the card issuer D.
Send to The card issuer D pays each store S an amount corresponding to the amount information received from each store S at the settlement center 5 as a sales amount.

The sub-relay device 6 communicates with one or more ticketing / accepting machines 1 under its control by a so-called polling method or the like to collect card information relating to ticketing / accepting of the ticketing / accepting machine 1. I do. Then, the relay device 3 communicates with the sub relay device 6 and the plurality of reading devices 2 under the relay device 3 by a so-called polling method or the like, and the card information and the reading of the ticketing / accepting device 1 related to the ticketing / acceptance. The price information based on the consumption amount of the device 2 is collected.

A prepaid card used in the prepaid card system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the prepaid card C has a magnetic information storage unit A using a magnetic layer, and the information storage unit A has a money amount information area A1 and another information area A2.

In the money amount information area A1, money amount information such as remaining amount information is recorded. The amount information is a fluid information that is updated, changed or added at any time by use and consumption,
This kind of fluid information other than the amount information, for example, information such as an error code when an error occurs, a store code written at the time of issuing or accepting a ticket in the store S, etc., is written in the other information area A2. The other information areas further include fixed information such as card identification information of the prepaid card C, a manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, and manufacturing date information, which are not changed by consumption once set once at the time of encoding. Information is also written. Such information recorded on the prepaid card C is usually encrypted with a predetermined encryption key.

The recording device 4 is a device for issuing a prepaid card C at the card issuer D. In other words, the recording device 4 sets the encoding information prepared in advance, such as the card identification information of the prepaid card C, the manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, the manufacturing date information, and the like, and then changes by consumption or the like once set at the time of encoding. The fixed information that is not to be written is written in the other information area A2. At the same time, the recording device 4 stores the initial information of the fluid information that is constantly updated, changed or added by use and consumption, such as the amount information such as the remaining amount information, in the amount information area A1 and other information areas if necessary. Write to A2. Recording device 4
Encrypts the information with a predetermined encryption key, writes the information in the amount information area A1 and the other information area A2, and issues the prepaid card C. This recording device 4
The prepaid card C issued by cannot be used as it is, is transported to the store S, is stored in the ticketing / accepting machine 1, and is usable only after a predetermined ticketing process is performed by the ticketing / accepting machine 1. Becomes

The reading device 2 is connected to, for example, a vending machine (not shown) for renting out game media and the like, and the value of the game media and the like provided by the vending machine to the user is stored in the prepaid card C. This is a device for embodying the consumption of the prepaid card C by subtracting it from the remaining amount in the amount information.

When the prepaid card C is set in the reading device 2, first, the money amount information area A of the information storage unit A is read.
1 and the information recorded in the other information area A2 are read out, the remaining amount of the punch holes is detected, and a fraud check process such as ordinary inconsistency detection is performed. That is,
The reading device 2 refers to the relay device 3 for the card identification information of the prepaid card C, checks whether the prepaid card C has been issued or accepted in the store S, and If no card information is registered, it is determined that there is a possibility of fraud or malfunction. The reading device 2 also checks whether there is any inconsistency in the information stored in the information storage unit A of the prepaid card C and the punch hole information, and if there is any inconsistency, the prepaid card C has some injustice or defect. Is determined.

If it is determined that there is a fraud or a defect,
The reading device 2 prevents the use of the prepaid card and ejects it, and transmits detection data including card identification information of the unauthorized prepaid card to the relay device 3. Further, the reading device 2 receives the notification data of the prepaid card information determined as the unauthorized prepaid card by the other reading device 2 from the relay device 3, and immediately receives the prepaid card C based on the notification data, when the prepaid card C is loaded. Prepaid cards are discriminated, used and ejected.

The relay device 3 aggregates the sales information based on the amount processed as the consumption amount in each of the reading devices 2 in the store S, and transmits it to the settlement center 5.

The ticketing / accepting machine 1 is configured as shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a case where the ticket issuing / receiving machine 1 is configured as a ticket issuing machine 1A having only a ticket issuing function, and FIG. 4 is configured as a ticket issuing / receiving machine 1 configured as a receiving machine 1B having only a receiving function. Is shown. Note that the ticketing / accepting machine 1 may be configured as a ticket issuing machine having both the ticket issuing function and the accepting function. In this case, the ticket issuing machine 1A and the accepting machine 1B shown in FIGS. The above configuration is combined.

The ticket issuing machine 1A shown in FIG.
1, ticketing processing unit 12, storage unit 13, reader / writer 1
4, a cash storage unit 15 and a card storage unit 16 are provided.

The communication processing section 11 performs a communication process between the ticket issuing machine 1A and the sub-relay device 6. Ticketing processing unit 12
Executes the ticket issuing process in the ticket issuing machine 1A. That is, when cash is inserted into the ticketing machine 1A and the type of the prepaid card C such as a desired denomination is selected, the ticketing processing unit 12 stores the cash in the cash storage unit 15, and stores the cash in the card storage unit 16. The corresponding prepaid card C is taken out, supplied to the reader / writer 14, and information such as a store code required for issuing the prepaid card C is written by the reader / writer 14, and the prepaid card C is discharged. The storage unit 13 stores information necessary for the ticketing processing in the ticketing processing unit 12 in advance, and temporarily stores intermediate information generated in the course of the ticketing processing. When issuing a ticket, the ticketing processing unit 12 sends the prepaid card C to the sub-relay device 6 via the communication processing unit 11 as ticketing information.
Of the card information such as the identification information.

The receiving machine 1B shown in FIG.
1, reader / writer 14, reception processing unit 17, and storage unit 1
8 is provided. Communication processing unit 11 and reader / writer 1
4 is substantially the same as the ticket issuing machine 1A shown in FIG.

The communication processing section 11 performs a communication process between the receiving machine 1B and the sub-relay device 6. Reception processing unit 17
Executes the reception process in the reception device 1B. That is, the reception processing unit 17 stores the prepaid card C issued in the store S other than the store S in the reception machine 1B.
Is set, information such as a required store code for receiving the prepaid card C is rewritten by the reader / writer 14, and the prepaid card C is ejected.
The storage unit 18 stores information necessary for the reception process in the reception processing unit 17 in advance, and temporarily stores intermediate information generated in the process of the reception ticketing process. In addition, reception processing unit 1
7 transmits card information such as identification information of the prepaid card C to the sub-relay device 6 via the communication processing unit 11 as reception information at the time of reception.

The reading device 2 is configured as shown in FIG. The reading device 2 shown in FIG.
1, consumption processing unit 22, storage unit 23, and reader / writer 2
4 is provided.

The communication processing unit 21 performs communication between the consumption processing unit 22 and the relay device 3. The communication processing unit 21 reads out the sales information including the consumption amount information of the prepaid card C in the reading device 2 from the storage unit 23 and transmits the sales information to the relay device 3, for example, as a response to the request command from the relay device 3.

The consumption processing unit 22 is linked to a vending machine (not shown) that performs a consumption operation by providing an article such as a game medium, and the like, and stores the prepaid card C corresponding to the provision of the game medium and the like. Based on the consumption, the storage information such as the amount information of the prepaid card C is updated via the reader / writer 24, and the sales information including the amount information of the consumption is stored in the storage unit 2.
Store in 3. The storage unit 23 stores and stores sales information based on the processing of the consumption amount in the daily consumption processing unit 22.

When inserting the prepaid card C, the reader / writer 24 first checks whether or not the prepaid card C is appropriate. That is, the reader / writer 24C inquires of the relay device 3 whether or not the ticket is issued or accepted at the store S. Further, the reader / writer 24 detects the remaining amount guide punch hole and checks whether there is any inconsistency with the amount information stored in the prepaid card C or the like. If it is determined that the prepaid card C is issued or accepted at the store S and that there is no inconsistency between the remaining amount guide punch hole and the amount information, the prepaid card C is determined to be normal. The writer 24 gives the remaining amount information to the consumption processing unit 22 assuming that the prepaid card C is normal.

If it is determined that the prepaid card C is incorrect, such as when the prepaid card C is not issued or accepted at the store S, or when there is a contradiction between the remaining amount punch hole and the amount information, The reader / writer 24 excludes the prepaid card C as unauthorized and prevents its use.

The amount information read from the prepaid card C is processed by the consumption processing unit 22 and the remaining amount information is written into the storage unit 23. Further, the remaining amount information is updated according to the consumption amount information in the consumption processing unit 22, and similarly, the amount information of the prepaid card C is updated (encrypted as necessary).

When writing new money information by updating the money information, the reader / writer 24 punches a remaining amount guide punch hole as needed based on the updated remaining money.

The relay device 3 is configured as shown in FIG. The relay device 3 shown in FIG.
1, a data collection / transfer unit 32, a storage unit 33, a data storage / processing unit 34, and a database (storage unit) 35.

The communication processing unit 31 includes the data collection / transfer unit 3
2 and the reading device 2 and the sub-relay device 6, and between the data collection / transfer unit 32 and the settlement center 5. For example, the communication processing unit 31 periodically transmits a request command in order to scan the reading device 2 and the sub relay device 6, and responds to the sales command from the reading device 2 and the sub relay device 6. Collect card information related to ticketing / acceptance. In addition, the communication processing unit 31 reads the sales information from the storage unit 33 and transmits the sales information to the settlement center 5 periodically or as a response to a request command from the settlement center 5, for example. Communication processing unit 31
Can exchange other necessary information with the settlement center 5 at any time by an appropriate method.

The data collection / transfer unit 32 includes the communication processing unit 3
After subjecting the sales information and the card information collected from the reading device 2 and the sub-relay device 6 through 1 to required processing, the data is provided to the processing of the data storage / processing unit 34. The data collection / transfer unit 32 extracts the information stored in the database 35 via the data storage / processing unit 34, and
And sends it to the settlement center 5 for settlement processing.
The storage unit 33 stores data necessary for processing of the data collection / transfer unit 32 and the data storage / processing unit 34, and data generated temporarily or as a result in the course of the processing.

The data accumulating / processing unit 34 performs data collection / processing.
The transfer unit 32 performs processing such as tabulation and sorting on the sales information and card information collected from the reading device 2 and the sub relay device 6, and writes the processed information into the database 35. The database 35 stores sales information and card information obtained as a result of the processing of the data storage / processing unit 34.

Further, the sub-relay device 6 is configured as shown in FIG. The sub relay device 6 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a communication processing unit 61, a data collection / transfer unit 62, a storage unit 63, and a data editing processing unit 64.

The communication processing section 61 includes a data collection / transfer section 6
2 and the ticket issuing / receiving machine 1 and between the data collection / transfer unit 62 and the relay device 3. Communication processing unit 61
For example, in order to scan a plurality of ticketing / accepting machines 1 configured as one or both of the ticket issuing machine 1A and the accepting machine 1B,
The request command is transmitted sequentially and periodically, and as a response to the request command, card information relating to ticketing / acceptance in the ticketing / accepting machine 1 is collected. Further, the communication processing unit 61
For example, as a response to a request command from the relay device 3, the card information that has been edited by the data editing processing unit 64 is read from the storage unit 63 and transmitted to the relay device 3. The communication processing unit 61 transmits other necessary information,
It is possible to exchange with the ticketing / accepting machine 1 or the relay device 3 at any time by an appropriate method.

The data collection / transfer unit 62 includes the communication processing unit 6
Card information collected from ticketing / accepting machine 1 via
After performing the required processing, it is stored in the storage unit 63. The data editing processing unit 64 appropriately edits the card information collected by the data collection / transfer unit 62 and stored in the storage unit 63 so that the card information can be easily processed in the relay device 3.
3 is stored again.

The data collection / transfer unit 62 extracts the edited card information, sends it out to the relay device 3 via the communication processing unit 61, processes the data in the relay device 3 such as counting and sorting, and outputs the processed data to the database 35. Serve for storage.

The storage section 63 stores data necessary for the processing of the data collection / transfer section 62 and the data editing processing section 64, and data generated temporarily or as a result in the course of the processing.

Next, the processing in the above-described prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a ticket issuing process in the ticket issuing machine 1A constituting the ticket issuing / receiving machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The ticket issuing process shown in FIG. 8 is started each time cash is inserted into the ticket issuing machine 1A.

The ticketing processing unit 12 of the ticketing machine 1A detects the amount of money to be inserted and stores it in the cash storage unit 15 (step S1), and waits for a user's instruction to select a card type (step S2). A comparison is made with a predetermined price of the prepaid card C designated and selected (step S
3). Prepaid card C of the type for which the input amount is selected
(Step S)
4) If the inserted amount is equal to or more than the consideration, the prepaid card C corresponding to the designated type is taken out of the card storage unit 16 and set in the reader / writer 14 (step S).
5).

The ticketing processing section 12 writes the reader / writer 14 on the prepaid card C taken out of the card storage section 16.
The ticketing information such as a required ticketing number and a store code is written and made usable via the PC, and card information based on the ticketing information is stored in the storage unit 13.
(Step S6). Further, the ticketing processing section 12 causes the reader / writer 14 to eject the new prepaid card C which has been subjected to the ticketing information processing and becomes usable (step S7), ends the processing, and returns to the standby state.

In step S4, if the inserted amount is less than the value of the selected prepaid card C, the buzzer
An error display is performed using a means such as a light emission display or a character display (step S8), and the process ends.

Next, the accepting machine 1 constituting the ticketing / accepting machine 1
The reception process in B will be described with reference to FIG. The reception process shown in FIG. 9 is started each time the prepaid card C is set in the reception machine 1B.

The reception processing unit 17 of the reception machine 1B determines whether the set prepaid card C can be subjected to reception processing (one corresponding to a reception processing object issued at a predetermined other store S, etc. Is checked (step S11). If it is determined that the card is a prepaid card C for which reception processing can be performed (step S12), the reception processing unit 17 receives the prepaid card C and provides necessary information such as a ticketing number and a store code via the reader / writer 14. Is rewritten to make it usable, and the card information based on the reception information is stored in the storage unit 18 and transmitted to the sub-relay device 6 via the communication processing unit 11 (step S13). Further, the reception processing unit 17 causes the reader / writer 14 to eject the prepaid card C which has been subjected to the information updating process and becomes usable (step S1).
4), end the process and return to the standby state.

In step S12, if the set prepaid card C is improper, the reception processing unit 17 displays an error using means such as a buzzer, light emission display, or character display. (Step S15),
The prepaid card C is ejected from the reader / writer 14 without updating the information (step S16), and the process ends and returns to the standby state. In this case, the discharged prepaid card C cannot be used in the store S.

Next, the consumption processing in the above-described prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The consumption process shown in FIG. 10 is started each time the prepaid card C is set in the reader / writer 24 of the reading device 2.

When the processing is started, the consumption processing section 22 of the reading device 2 executes a card check processing for checking whether the set prepaid card C is normal or not (step S21). That is, first, the reader / writer 24
To check the card information of the prepaid card C,
The consumption processing unit 22 is connected to the relay device 3 via the communication processing unit 21.
A query is made as to whether or not a ticket is issued or accepted at the store S. Further, the consumption processing unit 22 detects through the reader / writer 24 whether or not there is a contradiction in the position of the remaining amount guide punch hole and the stored information.

At this time, if a ticket has not been issued or accepted at the store S, or if a contradiction has been detected in the position of the remaining approximate punch holes and stored information, it is determined that the prepaid card is abnormal. . When an abnormality is detected by the reader / writer 24, it is determined that the prepaid card C is illegal, and after displaying an irregularity or an error display, an abnormal / illegal process such as stopping the operation of the system is executed.

If no abnormality is detected by the reader / writer 24, the consumption information is read out by the consumption processing unit 22 via the reader / writer 24, and if necessary, the variable amount information is decrypted using a predetermined encryption key. The balance of the prepaid card C is confirmed from the information and stored in the storage unit 23 (step S22). If there is the remaining amount, it is checked whether or not there is an end request from the user by pressing the end switch (not shown) (step S23). If there is no end request, a consumption request by pressing the consumption switch (not shown), for example, It is checked whether there is a request to rent a game medium (step S24). For example, in the case of a gaming system or the like, the end switch is a card return switch that requests a card return, and the consumption switch is
A lending switch for requesting lending of game media.

In step S24, if there is a consumption request from the user, the user is caused to consume the game medium by renting out a game medium or the like (step S25). The consumption processing unit 22 updates the balance stored in the storage unit 23 such that the consumption amount is subtracted from the original balance and the result of the subtraction is used as a new balance (step S26).

Then, it is checked whether or not the updated balance is "0" (step S27). If the balance is "0", a message to that effect is displayed (step S2).
8) The process proceeds to an end process for ending the consumption process (step S29). After the end processing, the consumption processing ends, and the process returns to the standby state.

In step S22, if there is no remaining amount of the prepaid card C or if the remaining amount cannot be confirmed, the process immediately jumps to step S29 to execute an end process. If the end request is recognized in step S23, the process immediately jumps to step S29 to execute the end process.

If there is no consumption request in step S24, the flow returns to step S23 to wait for an end request or a consumption request. In step S27, even when the remaining balance does not become “0” and the remaining balance remains, the process returns to step S23 to wait for an end request or a consumption request.

FIG. 11 shows details of the end processing in step S29 in FIG. When the ending process is started, based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 23 at that time, the money amount information such as the balance amount in the money amount information area A1 of the information storage unit A of the prepaid card C (if necessary). An update is written (for example, by encryption using a predetermined encryption key) (step S31), and it is checked whether or not the remaining amount after the update is a necessary amount for punching a remaining amount punch hole (step S32).

The remaining amount required for punching the punch hole is the amount of money newly entered in an area of the remaining area printed on the prepaid card C as a frequency value, which is different from the previous area. If the amount is such, the remaining amount guide hole is punched by the reader / writer 24 (step S33). After punching the remaining standard punch holes, the prepaid card C is discharged from the reader / writer 24 (step S34). Then, the process ends, and the process returns to the consumption process.

If it is determined in step S32 that the remaining amount after the update is not the amount required for punching the remaining standard punch holes, step S33 is skipped and step S33 is skipped.
Then, the flow goes to 34 to discharge the prepaid card C.

As described above, in this prepaid card system, the sub relay device 6 is installed between the relay device 3 and the ticket issuing / receiving machine 1.

The sub-relay device 6 performs a communication process using a polling process or the like with the ticketing / accepting device 1 under the sub-relay device 6. Then, the sub-relay device 6 appropriately edits the card information relating to ticketing / acceptance collected by communication, and transmits the card information to the relay device 3. Also at the time of transmission to the relay apparatus 3, communication processing using polling processing or the like is performed between the relay apparatus 3 and the sub relay apparatus 6.

Since the sub-relay device 6 processes only the ticketing / accepting device 1 independently of the reading device 2, the communication time for collecting card information relating to ticketing / acceptance can be reduced. Therefore, the prepaid card C is not rejected by the reading device 2 as being improper even immediately after the ticketing / accepting machine 1 issues or accepts a ticket. In addition, since the number of processes of the sub-relay device 6 itself is smaller than that of the relay device 3, the sub-relay device 6 can be operated using an inexpensive CPU (central processing unit) or the like.

Since the collection of the card information of the ticketing / accepting machine 1 by the sub-relay device 6 is independent of the collection of the sales information of the reading device 2 by the relay device 3, the sub-relay device 6
At any time, the card information of the ticketing / accepting machine 1 can be collected in real time, and as a result, the card information can be transmitted to the relay device 3 at an early stage.

Further, the work area for editing the collected data in the relay device 3 can be reduced, and the system can be scaled up accordingly. Also, the C of the relay device 3 is substantially performed by the distributed processing of the relay function.
The load on the PU can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the preliminary editing is performed in the sub-relay device 6, the relay device 3 only needs to collect the information on which the preliminary editing process has been performed in the sub-relay device 6 almost simply. The speed of the data collection process in the system is increased.

In the relay device 3, the frequency of communication with the sub-relay device 6 to which the ticketing / accepting device 1 belongs is made higher than the frequency of communication with each of the reading devices 2, and polling is performed. , Communicate at near real-time,
If card information is collected, faster and more efficient data collection processing becomes possible.

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a prepaid card system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The prepaid card system shown in FIG. 12 includes a ticket issuing / receiving machine 1, a reading device 2, a relay device 3, a recording device 4, and a settlement center 5 similar to those shown in FIG. Further, in this case, in addition to the first sub-relay device 6A similar to the sub-relay device 6 of FIG. 1, one or more second sub-relay devices 6B are provided.

The recording device 4 and the settlement center 5 are installed at a card issuer D such as a card issuing company and a card manufacturing factory. In general, there are a plurality of stores S corresponding to the card issuer D, and each store S has at least one ticketing / accepting machine 1, a plurality of reading devices 2, and these ticketing / receiving devices 2.
A relay device 3 and a sub-relay device 6 (6A and 6B) for connecting the reception machine 1 and the reading device 2 to the settlement center 5 are provided.

The ticketing / accepting machine 1 rewrites the ticketing function for issuing a new prepaid card to the user and the card information of the prepaid card issued at a store other than the store S so as to be usable at the store S. It has at least one of the functions.

The number of relay devices 3 is not limited to one for each store S,
For example, one relay device 3 may be provided for each predetermined area in the store S, for example, for each hall and floor. That is, the relay device 3 is the first sub relay device 6 for each store S.
A and one or more second sub-relay devices 6B, the first sub-relay device 6A and one or more second
Or the first sub-relay device 6A and one or more second sub-relay devices 6B for each floor in the store S, and the settlement center 5.

[0091] The first sub relay device 6A is
The number of ticketing / reception machines 1 or more, the number of ticketing / reception machines 1 for each hall in the store S or the number of ticketing / reception machines 1 for each floor in the store S, and the relay device 3 It is provided between them.

The second sub-relay device 6B includes a plurality of reading devices 2 for each group obtained by grouping a plurality of reading devices 2 for each store S into a plurality of reading devices 2, and a plurality of reading devices 2 for each hall in the store S. A plurality of reading devices 2 each of which is grouped by a plurality of units, or a plurality of reading devices 2 each of which a plurality of reading devices 2 of each floor in the store S are grouped,
It is provided between the relay device 3.

In this prepaid card system, a prepaid card manufactured and issued by the card issuer D is sold to the store S, and further sold to the user at the store S.
At the store S, the user can pay for the provision of a service such as lending of a game medium by using a prepaid card.

The provision and payment of this service is performed using the reading device 2 installed in the store S, and the amount stored as the amount information on the prepaid card is consumed.
The store S collects the card information of the prepaid card issued or received by the ticketing / accepting machine 1 at the first sub-relay device 6A and edits the card information as appropriate, and sends the edited card information to the relay device 3. Collect and accumulate. In addition, the store S collects the sales information based on the amount of money consumed by the reading device 2 in the second sub-relay device 6B, tabulates and edits the information as appropriate, and sends the tabulated and edited sales information to the relay device 3. Collect and accumulate.

The relay device 3 transmits sales information based on the total consumption amount of the reading device 2 to the settlement center 5 of the card issuer D.
Send to The card issuer D pays each store S an amount corresponding to the amount information received from each store S at the settlement center 5 as a sales amount.

The first sub-relay device 6A communicates with one or more subordinate ticketing / accepting machines 1 by a so-called polling method or the like, and issues the ticketing / accepting machine 1 in the ticketing / accepting machine 1.
Collect card information for acceptance. The second sub-relay device 6B communicates with one or more subordinate reading devices 2 by a so-called polling method or the like, and
Collect sales information related to consumption in. Then, the relay device 3 communicates with the subordinate first sub-relay device 6A and one or more second reading devices 2 by a so-called polling method or the like, and issues a ticket / issued ticket / accepted device 1. Card information relating to the reception and sales information based on the consumption amount of the reading device 2 are collected.

The recording device 4 is a device for issuing a prepaid card C at the card issuer D. The prepaid card C issued by the recording device 4 cannot be used as it is, is transported to the store S, is stored in the ticketing / accepting machine 1, and is subjected to a predetermined ticketing process by the ticketing / accepting machine 1. It can only be used after

The reading device 2 is connected to, for example, a vending machine (not shown) for renting out game media and the like, and the prepaid card C stores the value of the game media and the like provided by the vending machine to the user. This is a device for embodying the consumption of the prepaid card C by subtracting it from the remaining amount in the amount information.

When the prepaid card C is set, the reading device 2 first refers to the relay device 3 for the card identification information of the prepaid card C, and the prepaid card C is stored in the store S. It is checked whether the ticket is issued or accepted, and if the card information corresponding to the relay device 3 is not registered, it is determined that there is a possibility of fraud or malfunction. In addition, the reading device 2 checks whether there is any inconsistency in the information stored in the information storage section A of the prepaid card C, the punch hole information, and the like. Is determined.

When it is determined that there is a fraud or a defect,
The reading device 2 prevents the use of the prepaid card and ejects it, and transmits detection data including card identification information of the unauthorized prepaid card to the relay device 3. Further, the reading device 2 receives the notification data of the prepaid card information determined as the unauthorized prepaid card by the other reading device 2 from the relay device 3, and immediately receives the prepaid card C based on the notification data, when the prepaid card C is loaded. Prepaid cards are discriminated, used and ejected.

The relay device 3 aggregates the sales information based on the amount processed as the consumption amount in each of the reading devices 2 in the store S, and transmits it to the settlement center 5.

The ticketing / accepting machine 1 is constructed in substantially the same manner as in FIGS. 3 and 4, except that the communication processing unit 11
Alternatively, communication is performed between the reception processing unit 17 and the first sub-relay device 6A. The reading device 2 is configured in substantially the same manner as in FIG. 5, but the communication processing unit 21 includes a consumption processing unit 22 and a second processing unit.
Communication with the sub-relay device 6B. Further, the relay device 3 is configured in the same manner as in FIG.
Between the data collection / transfer unit 32 and the first and second sub-relay devices 6A and 6B, and the data collection / transfer unit 3
2 and the settlement center 5 are communicated.

The first sub-relay device 6A is configured in the same manner as in FIG. 7, and the communication processing unit 61 includes a data collection / transfer unit 62
Between the ticket issuing / receiving machine 1 and the data collection / transfer unit 6
2 and the relay device 3 are communicated. The second sub-relay device 6B is configured substantially in the same manner as the first sub-relay device 6A in FIG. 7, except that a plurality of devices are usually provided in the system, and the information to be collected is Ticketing /
The difference from the configuration in FIG. 7 is that the sales information is not the card information related to the reception but the sales information related to the consumption in the reading device 2 and the collected sales information is transmitted to the relay device 3. That is, the communication processing unit 61 is provided between the data collection / transfer unit 62 and the reading device 2 and the data collection / transfer unit 6.
2 and the relay device 3 are communicated.

That is, the first sub-relay device 6A is installed between the relay device 3 and all the ticket issuing / receiving machines 1, and the second sub-relay device 6 is provided between the relay device 3 and the reading devices 2 of each group. The relay device 6B is installed. First sub-relay device 6A
Performs communication such as a polling method with the ticketing / accepting machine 1 under its control. The second sub relay device 6B includes:
Communication such as polling is performed with the subordinate reading device 2. Then, the first and second sub-relay devices 6A
And 6B edit the data collected by the communication and transmit the edited data to the relay device 3. The relay device 3 performs communication such as polling with the first and second sub-relay devices 6A and 6B under its control to collect data.

In this way, since the number of ticketing / accepting devices 1 or reading devices 2 under control of each of the first and second sub-relay devices 6A and 6B is small, the communication time can be reduced. It can be shortened effectively. Therefore,
Immediately after issuance or acceptance by the ticketing / accepting machine 1,
The prepaid card C is not rejected by the reading device 2 as being inappropriate. In addition, the first and second sub-relay devices 6A and 6B have a small number of objects to be processed.
It can be operated using an inexpensive CPU or the like.

The collection of card information of the ticketing / accepting machine 1 by the first sub-relay device 6A and the collection of sales information of the reading device 2 by the second sub-relay device 6B are independent of each other.
And the first and second sub-relay devices 6A by the relay device 3
And 6B are independent of the collection of card information and sales information. For this reason, the first sub-relay device 6A can always collect the card information of the ticketing / accepting device 1 in real time, and the sales information of the reading device 2 is also grouped into the reading devices 2, and the first sub-relay device 6A groups the sales information of the reading devices 2. Since the information is collected via the second sub-relay device 6B, the card information can be transmitted to the relay device 3 early.

Further, the work area for editing the collected data in the relay device 3 can be reduced, and the system can be scaled up accordingly. Also, the C of the relay device 3 is substantially performed by the distributed processing of the relay function.
The load on the PU can be reduced.

Further, the first and second sub-relay devices 6A
And 6B perform preliminary editing of the collected data, so that the relay device 3 almost simply collects the information subjected to the preliminary editing processing in the first and second sub-relay devices 6A and 6B. Thus, the speed of the data collection process as a whole can be increased.

In the relay device 3, the frequency of communication with the first sub-relay device 6A to which the ticketing / accepting device 1 belongs is determined by the communication with the second sub-relay device 6B to which the reading device 2 belongs. If the communication is performed at a timing close to the real time by polling or the like at a frequency higher than the frequency and the card information is collected, a faster and more efficient data collection process can be performed.

The prepaid card is not limited to a magnetic card, but may be an IC card. In this case, the IC card has an IC chip that stores information stored in the information storage unit A in a memory.

The prepaid card system of the present invention can be realized by using an ordinary computer system without configuring as a dedicated prepaid card system. For example, by installing a computer system from a medium (floppy disk, CD-ROM, or the like) storing a program for executing the above-described operation, a system for executing the above-described processing can be constructed. By the installation, the program is stored in a medium such as a hard disk in the computer system, configures the system, and is provided for execution.

The medium for supplying the program to the computer is not limited to a storage medium in a narrow sense, but may be a communication line,
Like a communication network and a communication system, it may be a storage medium in a broad sense including a communication medium that temporarily and fluidly stores information such as a program.

For example, the program may be registered in an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server provided on a communication network such as the Internet, and distributed to an FTP client via the network. The program may be registered in a board system or the like and distributed via a network. Then start this program and run the OS
The above processing can be achieved by executing under the control of the (Operating System). Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing the program while transferring the program via the communication network.

[0114]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The sub relay unit collects and edits information from the subordinate ticket issuing / receiving unit between the upper processing unit and the ticket issuing / receiving unit, and the ticket processing / reception edited from the sub relay unit by the upper processing unit. By collecting the information of the means, the communication efficiency between the higher-order processing means and the ticketing or accepting means is improved, and the information of the ticketing or accepting means is immediately reflected in the higher-order processing means, and the processing efficiency in the higher-order processing means is improved. It is possible to provide a prepaid card system and a sub-relay device that can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a prepaid card system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a ticket issuing machine constituting a ticket issuing / receiving machine in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a receiving machine constituting the ticketing / receiving machine in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a reading device in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a relay device in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a sub relay device in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a ticketing process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a reception process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a consumption process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an end process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a prepaid card system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ticketing / reception machine 1A ticketing machine 1B reception machine 2 reading device 3 relay device 4 recording device 5 settlement center 6 sub-relay device 6A first sub-relay device 6B second sub-relay device 11 communication processing unit 12 ticket processing unit 13 Storage unit 14 Reader / writer 15 Cash storage unit 16 Card storage unit 17 Reception processing unit 18 Storage unit 21 Communication processing unit 22 Consumption processing unit 23 Storage unit 24 Reader / writer 31 Communication processing unit 32 Data collection / transfer unit 33 Storage unit 34 Data storage / processing unit 35 Database 61 Communication processing unit 62 Data collection / transfer unit 63 Storage unit 64 Data editing processing unit C Prepaid card D Issuer S Store

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07F 7/08 M

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card system for performing a monetary settlement using a prepaid card storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value, a ticketing function for issuing the prepaid card, and a ticketing function outside the system. Ticketing / receiving means having at least one of a receiving function of accepting the prepared prepaid card and updating the card information and making the card usable in the system; and updating the price information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card; Reading means for transmitting sales information including the consumption amount; sub-relay means for collecting and editing ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception means; and sales information and the sub-information for the prepaid card in the reading means. Upper-level processing means for collecting and processing ticketing / reception information edited by the relay means; A prepaid card system comprising: 2. A prepaid card system for performing a monetary settlement using a prepaid card storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value, a ticketing function for issuing the prepaid card, and a ticketing function outside the system. Ticketing / accepting means having at least one of an accepting function for accepting the prepared prepaid card and updating the card information and making it usable in the system; and updating the price information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card. A plurality of reading means for transmitting sales information including an amount of money; a first sub-relay means for collecting and editing and holding ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception means; and a group of the reading means grouped by a plurality of pieces. A second service for collecting, editing and holding sales information in the reading means of each group; Prepaid card, comprising: a relay unit; and a higher-level processing unit that collects and processes the sales information and ticketing information of the prepaid card edited by the first and second sub-relay units. system. 3. A ticketing function for storing card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value and issuing a prepaid card used for monetary settlement, and accepting a prepaid card issued outside the system to receive card information. And a ticketing / accepting device having at least one of the accepting functions that can be used in the system, and updating the amount information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card, and transmitting sales information including the amount of consumption. A pre-paid card system comprising: a reading device for reading and a higher-level processing device for collecting and processing the sales information of the prepaid card in the reading device and the ticketing / reception information in the ticketing / reception device; Information collecting means for collecting ticketing / reception information in a receiving device, and information collected by the information collecting means. Edit the sub relay apparatus characterized by comprising, an editing unit to be subjected to transfer to the host processing device.