JP2000315281A - Ic card timer device built into electric appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC card timer device built into electric appliance which uses a piece of information storage medium in common and can be applied to various kinds of electric appliances in a wide range. SOLUTION: An IC card which records a viewable number of times or the like is fitted to a timer body 3 incorporated into a television 4. When the IC card is inserted in a card insertion/ejection port 31, the viewable number of times is read by a reader/writer part, the television 4 is controlled by a control part so that it becomes available. When the television 4 is turned on, a viewed time is measured and, at the same time, the viewable number of times of the IC card 1 are subtracted. When the viewable number of times become zero, the television 4 is controlled so that it cannot be viewed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC which uses an IC card to pay for various electric devices such as a television and a video in hospitals and hotels, etc. and uses the IC card to settle the usage fee. Regarding the card timer device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an electric device built-in type IC card timer device in which the available frequency is recorded on an IC card and inserted into a timer main body so that various electric devices can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a hospital or the like, there is a technology using a magnetic card type timer as a technique for adjusting the viewing fee of an electric device, for example, a television set, in a hospital room for an inpatient. In this magnetic card system, a magnetic card preliminarily recording the possible viewing (usable) frequency of the television is inserted into a timer to enable viewing within a predetermined time corresponding to the possible viewing frequency recorded on the magnetic card. In particular,
The viewing time from when the TV is turned on is measured with a timer, and the viewable frequency of the magnetic card is subtracted according to the time, and when the remaining frequency is exhausted, the TV viewing is disabled. .

[0003]

In recent years, each patient in a hospital room has been equipped with a dedicated television, telephone, and refrigerator, and the range of use of dedicated electrical equipment has been expanding. However, since the storage capacity of the conventional magnetic card is about several tens of bytes, only a small amount of data, which is about the number of times the television can be viewed, can be recorded. In other words, various types of electric equipment can store only information of the degree of availability for each type. Therefore, only one type of electric device can be used with one magnetic card, and it is difficult to expand the use range of the electric device with one card. To cope with this, magnetic cards may be created for each type of electrical equipment. However, in this case, the number of magnetic cards increases, and the use of the cards and the settlement process after use are complicated.

[0004] In addition, at present, there is a tendency that a patient's television viewing time is increasing, so that it is required to make a difference in the television viewing time for each patient depending on the number of hospitalization days of the patient and other circumstances. In addition, there is a strong demand for expansion of information provision by television. For example, attempts have been made to provide not only ordinary television broadcasts but also treatments, medical examinations, and other information to patients on televisions. In response to such a demand, the timer control based on the magnetic card method cannot appropriately cope with the limited available storage capacity.

In view of the above situation, the present inventors have changed the information storage medium from a magnetic card to an IC card, thereby greatly increasing the storage capacity and expanding the application range of various electric devices. . That is, the present invention provides an electric device built-in type IC card timer device that can use a variety of electric devices in a wide range by using one information storage medium in common and can appropriately respond to the above-mentioned demands. It is intended to do so.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an IC card which purchases a frequency of use of an electric device, records the frequency on an IC card, inserts the IC card into a timer body, and enables the use of the electric device. A timer device, wherein the main body of the timer has an insertion / ejection port of the IC card, a reader / writer section for reading and rewriting the usage frequency recorded on the IC card, and a frequency for displaying the usage frequency of the IC card. The display unit controls the electric device to be usable when a valid IC card is inserted into the insertion / ejection port, measures the usable time when the electric device is powered on, and responds to the usable time. A control unit that subtracts the usable frequency of the IC card from the electronic device and controls the electric device to be unusable when the usable frequency is exhausted, wherein the timer main body is built in the electric device. The features.

In the present invention, first, an IC card in which an ID code is recorded in advance is distributed to a user of an electric device. Next, the user purchases the degree of availability of the electric device and records it on the IC card. After recording, by inserting this IC card into one timer main body, a plurality of various electric devices can be widely used. The timer main body of the present invention is built in each electric device, and includes a reader / writer unit and a control unit, and can connect a plurality of various electric devices to one timer main unit. In the reader / writer section of the timer body, the available frequency and the cumulative purchase frequency recorded on the IC card are read and rewritten. The control unit controls the electric device to be usable only when a valid IC card is inserted into the reader / writer unit. Further, the usage time when the electric device is turned on is measured, and the available frequency of the IC card is subtracted as the time elapses.

That is, by providing a plurality of external output terminals in the timer main body, it is possible to connect to a plurality of various electric devices installed outside. In this case, the subtraction rates of various electric devices can be individually set in advance for each electric device. Based on the subtraction rate, the available frequency is subtracted for each electric device. For example, when the electric device is a television, a refrigerator, or the like, the subtraction can be made according to the elapse of use time (in the case of a telephone, the number of uses). The available frequencies of the IC card for various electric devices can be accumulated at any time, and the set value of the subtraction rate can be arbitrarily changed (including the subtraction rate of zero) by the accumulated value of the available frequencies. In this case, the subtraction function corresponding to each output terminal, that is, the subtraction function for each electric device such as a television, a refrigerator, and a telephone can be cut off independently of each other.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An effective I
When the power of the electric device is turned on while the C card is inserted, the available frequency and the cumulative purchase frequency recorded on the IC card are read by the reader / writer unit, and these values are displayed on the frequency display unit. Is done. At the same time, the usage time of the electric device is measured, and the usage frequency is subtracted at a predetermined subtraction rate as the usage time elapses. that time,
The subtraction rate is set according to the cumulative purchase frequency. Then, when the electric device is used for a predetermined use time and the available frequency of the IC card is exhausted, the control unit controls the electric device to be in an unusable state.

[0010] An IC card as an information recording medium can record data several tens of times or more larger than the storage capacity of a magnetic card. For this reason, in the memory of the IC card, a large number of usage numbers of various electric appliances and other information can be recorded. Therefore, if the patient has one IC card, various types of electric devices can be used in a wide range. In this case, the IC card has a function of printing frequency information, and it is also possible to print available frequencies and the like on a printing surface.

[0011] Electric appliances, for example, televisions in some hospital rooms have a treatment information channel for providing care information and the like.
The treatment information is broadcasted by the patient's selection. When the treatment information is recorded in the memory of the IC card, the treatment information is read by the reader / writer unit and output to the television. The writer reads the ID code of the IC card, selects the most appropriate treatment information, and broadcasts it on a television.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, an IC card having an IC module having a memory is provided with an ID for user identification.
Record the code and distribute it to the patient, record the viewable frequency and cumulative purchase frequency of the TV on the IC card with the frequency adjustment device, load the IC card into the timer body built in the front of the TV, and watch the TV. This is an example in which the present invention is applied to a medical television viewing system that enables the use.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the television viewing system 10, an ID code unique to a patient is first recorded in the memory of the IC card 1 at the hospital bureau A, and the IC card 1 is distributed to the patient. You. Next, at the TV viewing possible frequency purchase place B, the frequency settlement device 2
The viewable frequency of the television 4 is recorded on the card 1, and the television 4 can be used using the IC card 1. When watching the television 4 at the television viewing location C such as a hospital room, the IC card 1
By mounting the, the television 4 can be viewed. Finally, when the payment is made due to the discharge of the patient or the like, the payout of the viewing frequency is performed by the frequency adjustment device 2 at the TV viewing remaining number adjustment place D.

The hospital bureau A has a personal computer 11 connected to a reader / writer unit 12, and a frequency settlement device 2 is installed at a place B where television can be viewed. As shown in FIG. 3, the frequency adjustment device 2 includes a money processing unit 21, a keyboard 22, a reader / writer unit 23, and a display unit 24. The money processing unit 21 includes a coin slot 21a, a bill slot 21b, and a money return slot 21c, which are money slots.
have. The money processing unit 21 of the present embodiment also functions as a means for repaying a money amount corresponding to the viewable frequency from the money return port 21c, that is, a return settlement processing unit. The keyboard 22 is used for inputting a desired purchase frequency, a frequency settlement condition such as sale and return, or a refund condition. The reader / writer unit 23 has a card insertion / ejection port 23a, and can record the viewable frequency of the television 4 in the memory of the IC card 1. Display 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes the amount of money or the keyboard 2 inserted into the slot 21a.
The number and the like input in step 2 are displayed.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation section 41 for operating the television and a speaker 4 for outputting sound are provided on the front side of the television 4.
2 are provided. The operation unit 41 is provided with a power switch 41a for turning on / off the power of the television 4, a volume adjustment switch 41b for adjusting the volume, and a channel change switch 41c for changing the channel. still,
The operation of the television 4 may be performed by a remote controller.

As shown in FIG. 4, an insertion / ejection port 31 of the IC card 1 is provided on the front face of the timer body 3 built in the television 4.
And a frequency display section 32. As shown in FIG. 5, a switchable detachable button 34 for card lock is attached to the front side of the insertion / ejection opening 31. In the locked state, the IC card 1 in the insertion / ejection port 31 can be fixed.
Can be discharged. The frequency display unit 32 displays the viewable frequency of the IC card 1 in seven segments.

As shown in FIG. 6, a reader / writer unit 35 and a control unit 36 are provided behind the insertion / ejection port 31 and the frequency display unit 32 of the timer main body 3, respectively. The reader / writer unit 35 reads and rewrites the viewable frequency of the IC card 1 inserted from the insertion / ejection port 31. When the valid IC card 1 is inserted into the reader / writer unit 35, the control unit 36
Is controlled to be viewable. Then, when the power of the television 4 is turned on, the counting of the viewing time is started, and the IC card 1 is counted according to the elapse of the counting time.
Is controlled so as to subtract the viewable frequency. In particular, when the number of viewable frequencies has disappeared due to the viewing progress of the predetermined time, control is performed so that the television 4 cannot be viewed, that is, the power is not turned on.

As shown in FIG. 7, the circuit configuration of the timer main body 3 is such that a CPU 37 serving as a central control means of each section, a reader / writer section 35, a display control circuit 38, and a television control circuit 39 are provided in the control section 36. The display control circuit 38 and the television control circuit 39 are connected to the frequency display 3 respectively.
2. Connected to the television 4. Further, the CPU 3
The refrigerator control circuit 51 and the telephone control circuit 61 are connected to 7 via an output terminal.

Next, the operation of the system 10 will be described.
First, the hospital secretariat A inserts the unrecorded IC card 1 into the reader / writer 12, records predetermined data from the personal computer 11 in the memory of the IC card 1, and distributes this to the hospitalized patient. The data recorded at this time includes the I
There are D code, treatment information, consultation information, and advertising information.
For example, as treatment information, there is information on restricted food intake in dietary treatment and care care information, and as consultation information, hospitalization date, disease name, medication, medication use method, consultation time,
There is nursing care information for the attendant. Also, as advertising information,
There is in-hospital shop information and product commercials.

Next, the patient uses the IC card 1 to purchase the viewable frequency of the television 4 at the TV viewable frequency purchase location B. Here, the insertion / ejection port 2 of the frequency adjustment device 2
When the IC card 1 is inserted into 3a, the IC card 1 is transported to the reader / writer unit 23. Next, the patient inserts money into the coin insertion slot 21a and inputs a desired purchase frequency from the keyboard 22. The purchase frequency and the inserted amount are displayed on the display unit 24. Then, the IC card 1 is stored in the IC card 1 by the reader / writer unit 23 for a predetermined period in the past.
For example, the cumulative purchase frequency for one month is updated and recorded. After the recording, the IC card 1 is returned from the insertion / ejection port 23a, and the change is returned from the return port 21c.

When the patient wants to watch the television 4 in the hospital room, the IC card 1 may be inserted into the insertion / ejection port 31 of the timer body 3. Then, after confirming the insertion of the card, the processing in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. Frequency subtraction is performed.

The flow after the card is inserted will be described in more detail. First, the viewable frequency and the cumulative purchase frequency of the IC card 1 are read by the reader / writer unit 35 of the timer main body 3, and the values are displayed on the frequency display unit 32. You. As a result, when there is no balance of the number of viewable frequencies, the television 4 is set in an inoperable state.
Can be operated. When the patient turns on the power switch 41a of the television 4, this signal is transmitted to the control unit 36.
And the viewing time when the power is turned on is counted. The viewing frequency of the IC card 1 is calculated according to the count time. That is, the viewing frequency is decremented every time a fixed time elapses, the recording is updated by the reader / writer unit 35, and the viewing frequency is immediately displayed on the frequency display unit 32.
Here, the rewriting of the viewing frequency may be performed collectively when the IC card 1 is ejected, instead of every time a fixed time elapses.

The control unit 36 can arbitrarily set the frequency subtraction rate based on the cumulative purchase frequency of the IC card 1. For example, when the cumulative purchase frequency exceeds a predetermined value, the frequency reduction ratio is set lower than usual. That is, normally, for example, it is decremented once every one minute, whereas when the cumulative purchase frequency is large, it is decremented once every one minute and thirty seconds. In this way, as the cumulative purchase frequency is larger, the frequency subtraction rate per unit time is reduced, so that a long-term hospitalized patient or a multi-hour viewer can purchase the viewable frequency at a lower price.

When all of the purchased predetermined viewable frequencies are subtracted, the control unit 36 determines that the viewable frequency of the IC card 1 has run out. Then TV 4
Is set to a state in which viewing is disabled. When the viewing of the television 4 is stopped, by unlocking the detachable button 34,
The power of the television 4 is turned off at the same time as the IC card 1 is forcibly ejected.

Since the television 4 has a treatment information channel, an advertisement information channel, and a consultation information channel in addition to a normal television broadcast channel,
Desired information is output to the television screen according to the patient's selection. For example, if a treatment information channel is selected,
The treatment information is read by the reader / writer unit 35 and transmitted to the television 4 side. In addition, when the advertisement information channel is selected, the reader / writer 3
At 5, the viewable frequency of the IC card 1 is added by the frequency corresponding to the viewing time. According to this, the audience rating of the advertisement information can be increased.

Finally, when the patient adjusts the viewing frequency due to discharge from the hospital or the like, the IC card 1 may be inserted into the frequency adjusting device 2 and the return button on the keyboard 22 may be operated. Then, in response to the information indicating that the viewable frequency is returned, the reader / writer unit 23 reads the remaining frequency of the IC card 1 and
An amount corresponding to the viewable frequency is returned from the money return slot 21c. The IC card 1 after payment is a frequency payment device 2
Will be collected.

A timer body 3 of the same type as in the present embodiment.
In addition to the television 4, each of the timers 3 incorporated in the television 4 can be provided independently in a pay electric device in the hospital such as a video, a telephone, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. An output terminal is provided, and the refrigerator 5 and the telephone 6 are connected to the output terminal via a refrigerator control circuit 51 and a telephone control circuit 61, respectively, as shown in FIGS. The subtraction rates of the television 4, the refrigerator 5, and the telephone 6 are set to different predetermined values in advance.

Therefore, the available frequencies of the television 4, the refrigerator 5 and the telephone 6 are subtracted based on the respective subtraction rates according to the use time or the use frequency. In addition, when using the electrical equipment, the respective usage frequencies of the television 4, the refrigerator 5, and the telephone 6 are accumulated at any time by the timer main body 3, and the respective subtraction rates are changed to desired values according to the total available frequency. It is possible. In the present embodiment, the subtraction functions of the television 4, the refrigerator 5 and the telephone 6 can be cut off independently of each other if necessary.

As described above, according to the above-described configuration, if the user has one IC card 1, the user can share the IC card 1 with the timer body 3 of various electric devices, thereby expanding the range of use of the electric devices. Further, if the data information is recorded on the IC card 1 so that the shopping at the in-hospital store can be settled by card, the shopping can be carried out without carrying cash, and the convenient pre-bayd function and credit function can be provided. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the timer main body is provided horizontally below the television, but the mounting place and the mounting direction of the timer main body are not limited. Yes, for example, the timer body may be attached to the side of the electric device in a vertical position. When the IC module has a CPU, the CPU may be configured to perform arithmetic processing on subtraction of the viewing frequency and the like. Further, various information may be prepared in the television 4 in advance, and when each channel is selected, the information may be output to the television 4. In this case, the ID code of the IC card 1 is read by the reader / writer unit 35, and then the most suitable treatment information or the like is selected and output to the television 4.

[0031]

According to the present invention, an IC card having a larger storage capacity than a magnetic card can be used commonly for various electric devices, so that a user has one IC card. If so, various types of electric equipment can be easily used, and the settlement process after use can be easily and collectively performed. In particular, when the electric device is a television, a difference can be made in the frequency subtraction rate in accordance with the frequency of purchasing the IC card, and a discount service for a long time user or the like can be provided. In addition, the user can easily receive a lot of useful information in the hospital room.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a television according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram illustrating a television viewing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a frequency adjustment device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a timer main body.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a reader / writer section of the timer body.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the timer main body.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a timer main body.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a settlement process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating connection between a timer main body and various electric devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC card 10 Television viewing system 12 Hospital bureau reader / writer 11 Personal computer 2 Frequency adjustment device 21 Cash processing unit 22 Keyboard 23 Reader / writer unit of frequency adjustment device 23 Display unit 21a Coin slot 21b Bill slot 21c Return slot 3 Timer Main unit 31 Card insertion / ejection slot 32 Frequency display unit 34 Detach / reset button 35 Reader / writer unit of timer main unit 36 Control unit 37 CPU 38 Display control circuit 39 TV control circuit 4 TV 41 Operation unit 41a Power switch 41b Volume control switch 41c Channel change switch 42 Speaker 5 Refrigerator 51 Refrigerator control circuit 6 Telephone 61 Telephone control circuit A Hospital secretariat B TV viewing frequency purchase place C TV watching place D TV viewing remaining balance settlement place

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An IC card timer device which purchases the degree of availability of an electric device, records it on an IC card, inserts the IC card into a timer body, and enables the use of the electric device. A timer writer unit having an insertion / ejection port for the IC card, a reader / writer unit for reading and rewriting the available frequency recorded on the IC card;
A frequency display unit for displaying a usable frequency of the card, and controlling the electric device to be usable when a valid IC card is inserted into the insertion / ejection port, and setting a usable time when the electric device is powered on. Measure and IC according to the available time
A control unit for subtracting the usable frequency of the card and controlling the electric device to be unusable when the usable frequency is exhausted, wherein the timer main body is built in the electric device. Built-in device type IC card timer device. 2. The timer main body has a plurality of output terminals connected to various electric devices, and sets a subtraction rate of a usable frequency of an IC card individually for each of the various electric devices. The IC card timer device according to claim 1.