JP2002215338A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system capable of simplifying hardware and software, for an information recording means. SOLUTION: This system is composed of a card reader-writer 2, on which a card 4 for recording information can be installed, having functions of recording information to the installed card 4, and reading the recorded information, and provided with an external terminal 21 for inputting and outputting data of the information, a first connection line 31 connected to the external terminal 21 of the card reader-writer 2, a second connection line 32 for inputting the information data, a third connection line 31 for outputting the information data sent through the first connection line 31, and a cable 3 having a connection changing over part 30 to which one ends of the first connection line 31, the second connection line 32, and the third connection line 33 are respectively connected, to receive a change over control signal from the card reader-writer 2 for changing the connection of the first connection line 31 to the second connection line 32 or to the third connection lien 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system for recording information on a card and reading the recorded information data to another external device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an information processing system has been put into practical use for recording and managing purchase points of goods, hospital visit information, and the like using a card, a database, and the like possessed by a consumer.

[0003] As such an information processing system, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, data relating to a purchase point of a product is input to a card reader / writer 102 from a data input device 101 such as a POS register. A system has been proposed in which after rewriting the point information of the point card 103, the data of the purchase points is output from the card reader / writer 102 to the database 104, and the recorded data in the database 104 is updated and managed.

[0004] In this information processing system, a card reader / writer 102 functions as information recording means of a point card, and is connected to the input device 101 and the database 104 via a wiring cable or the like.

[0005]

However, in the above information processing system, the card reader / writer 1
02 needs to be provided with a data input terminal 105 and a data output terminal 106. In order to reduce the size of the card reader / writer 102, which is a means for recording card information, it is desirable that the number of external terminals connected to external devices be small.

When the card reader / writer 102 has one external terminal, the communication protocol between the card reader / writer 102 and the input device 101 and the card reader / writer 1
02, if the communication protocol between the databases 104 is different, it is necessary to control the communication by installing software corresponding to each communication protocol in the card reader / writer 102. When switching the data communication, for example, when switching the communication state from data input to data output, it is necessary to switch the software set to the external terminal, which imposes a heavy burden on software control.

The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system which can simplify hardware and software in information recording means.

[0008]

In other words, an information processing system according to the present invention has a function of mounting a card on which information is to be recorded, recording information on the inserted card, and reading the recorded information. Information recording means having an external terminal for inputting and outputting data, a first connection line connected to the external terminal of the information recording means, a second connection line for inputting information data, and information transmitted through the first connection line One end of each of the third connection line and the first connection line, the second connection line, and the third connection line for outputting data is connected, and the first connection line is connected to the second connection line in response to a switching control signal from the information recording unit. Or an information transmission switching unit having a connection switching unit for switching connection to the third connection line.

The information processing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the external terminal of the information recording means functions as a serial port capable of transmitting and receiving a serial signal.

According to these inventions, the connection between the information recording means and the data input device or the data output device can be switched by the information transmission switching means, so that the input and output of information data can be performed through one external terminal of the information recording means. Can be performed.
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of external terminals for inputting and outputting information data in the information recording means, and the hardware of the information recording means can be simplified and the information recording means can be downsized.

Further, since data input and output can be performed at one external terminal of the information recording means, only one software is required to be set at the external terminal, and software control can be simplified.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings do not always match those described. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment includes a card reader / writer 2 and a cable 3.
It is provided with. The card reader / writer 2 is a card 4 held by a consumer who receives a product or service.
Is a device that has a function of writing information of merchandise purchase points on the inserted card 4 and a function of reading the information data.

[0014] The term "mounting" of the card 4 as used herein means that the card 4 is taken into the card reader / writer 2 and the card 4 is inserted or inserted into the card reader / writer 2 to exchange information data. This also includes a state in which information data can be exchanged by bringing the card 4 close to the card reader / writer 2.

As the card 4, a card capable of recording predetermined information data is used. For example, magnetic or IC
A rewritable type is used in which invisible information can be recorded by a memory or the like and visible information can be recorded and rewritten by printing on the card surface.

The card reader / writer 2 has an external terminal 21 for inputting / outputting data relating to merchandise purchase points. The external terminal 21 is connected to the control unit 22, functions as an input terminal for data on a product purchase point transmitted from the external device, and outputs the data of the product purchase point recorded in the control unit 22 to the external device. Functions as a terminal. As the external terminal 21, a serial port for inputting and outputting a serial signal is used.

The control unit 22 built in the card reader / writer 2 controls the entire device of the card reader / writer 2, and is mainly composed of a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM stores various control routines including an information recording routine and a switching control routine.

The cable 3 is configured by connecting one ends of a first connection line 31, a second connection line 32, and a third connection line 33 to a connection switching unit 30, respectively. The cable 3 transmits data relating to a product purchase point from the barcode reader 5 to the card reader / writer 2,
Functioning as information transmission switching means for transmitting the data of the merchandise purchase points recorded in the PC to the host computer 6 from the card reader / writer 2 and switching the first connection line 31 to the second connection line 32 or the third connection line 33. I do.

The connection switching unit 30 includes a card reader / writer 2
The first connection line 31 is switched to the second connection line 32 or the third connection line 33 in response to the switching control signal from the first connection line.
For example, the connection switching unit 30 includes a switch 34 and switches the connection state of the switch 34 in response to a switching control signal from the card reader / writer 2.

The other end of the first connection line 31 is connected to a barcode reader 5 which is an input device for merchandise purchase point data. The barcode reader 5 reads a barcode attached to a product and records information of the barcode.

The other end of the second connection line 32 is connected to a host computer 6 which is an output device of merchandise purchase point data via a telephone line or a dedicated line. The host computer 6 functions as a database for recording and managing data of merchandise purchase points recorded in the card reader / writer 2.

The other end of the third connection line 33 is connected to the external terminal 21 of the card reader / writer 2.

Next, the operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control process of the card reader / writer 2 of the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment.

First, referring to FIG.
The bar code attached to the product is read, and the bar code reader records information data of the bar code.

Then, as shown in S10 of FIG. 2, the card reader / writer 2 determines whether or not the card 4 is inserted. In S10, when it is determined that the card 4 is not mounted, the control processing ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S10 that the card 4 has been inserted, the flow shifts to S12, where the external terminal 21 is connected.
Outputs a switching control signal. This switching control signal is
The signal is input to the connection switching unit 30 of the cable 3 through the first connection line 31. Thereby, the connection state of the switch 34 built in the connection switching unit 30 is switched, and the first connection line 3
1 and the second connection line 32 are connected.

Then, the flow shifts to S14 in FIG. 2, where the card reader / writer 2 reads the barcode data.
The purchased product is specified by the read barcode data, and the product purchase points are determined. Therefore, the barcode data is data for determining a product purchase point, and is data on a product purchase point.

Then, the flow shifts to S16, where data processing is performed. The data processing is processing for calculating a product purchase point based on the read barcode data.
As data processing, processing for recording a product purchase point on a memory card (not shown) mounted on the card reader / writer 2 may be performed.

Then, the flow shifts to S18, where a switching control signal is output from the external terminal 21. This switching control signal is input to the connection switching unit 30 of the cable 3 through the first connection line 31. Thereby, the connection state of the switch 34 incorporated in the connection switching unit 30 is switched, and the first connection line 31
And the third connection line 33 are connected.

Then, the flow shifts to S20, where a card process is performed. The card process is a process of recording data of a product purchase point on the card 4 and printing or rewriting the product purchase point.

Then, the flow shifts to S22, where the data of the product purchase point is transmitted from the external terminal 21. This data is transmitted to the host computer 6 through the first connection line 31 and the third connection line 33 and recorded and managed. The data transmission may be performed by interposing a telephone line, a dedicated line, or the like between the third connection line 33 and the host computer 6. In this case, it is possible to record and manage the data of the merchandise purchase points in the host computer 6 installed in a place different from the card reader / writer 2.

The data transmission in S22 may be performed for each card processing or may be performed for a predetermined time.

In reading the barcode data in S14, a plurality of barcode data may be read and the processes of S16 to S22 may be performed in parallel.
Furthermore, after repeating the data processing of S16 and the switching control signal output of S18 a plurality of times, the processing of S20 and subsequent steps may be performed.

As described above, according to the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the connection between the card reader / writer 2 and the barcode reader 5 or the host computer 6 can be switched by the cable 3 having the connection switching unit 30. Therefore, information data can be input and output through one external terminal 21 of the card reader / writer 2. Therefore, there is no need to provide the card reader / writer 2 with a plurality of external terminals 21 for inputting / outputting information data, and the hardware of the card reader / writer 2 can be simplified and the card reader / writer 2 can be downsized.

Also, since data can be input and output at one external terminal 21 of the card reader / writer 2,
Only one piece of software is required to be set to the external terminal 21, and software control can be simplified.

This is particularly effective when the communication protocol between the barcode reader 5 and the host computer 6 is different. That is, even if the communication protocol between the barcode reader 5 and the host computer 6 is different, the barcode reader 5 and the host computer 6 can communicate with each other by performing serial communication with one piece of software installed in the card reader / writer 2. This makes it possible to simplify the hardware and software of the card reader / writer 2.

In this embodiment, the case where the information data to be processed is the data of the product purchase points has been described. However, the information processing system according to the present invention is not limited to this. Is data recorded on payment cards such as cash cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards, commuter passes, tickets, facility use tickets, government service cards,
The data may be data recorded on various cards such as an ID card and a management card. Even in these cases, the same operation and effect as the information processing system 1 described above can be obtained.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection switching between the information recording means and the data input device or the data output device can be performed by the information transmission switching means. Input and output of information data can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of external terminals for inputting and outputting information data in the information recording means, and the hardware of the information recording means can be simplified and the information recording means can be downsized.

Further, since data can be input and output at one external terminal of the information recording means, only one software is required to be set at the external terminal, and software control can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing system 2 ... Card reader / writer (information recording means) 3 ... Cable (information transmission switching means) 4 ... Card 5 ... Barcode reader 6 ... Host computer 30 ... Connection switching unit 31 ... First connection line 32 ... No. Second connection line 33 ... Third connection line 34 ... Switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] An external terminal for inputting / outputting data of the information, the card having information to be recorded thereon being capable of being mounted thereon, having the function of recording the information on the mounted card and reading out the recorded information. Information recording means provided; a first connection line connected to the external terminal of the information recording means; a second connection line for inputting the information data; and outputting the information data transmitted through the first connection line. One end of the third connection line and the first connection line, the second connection line, and one end of the third connection line are connected to each other, and the first connection line is connected to the second connection line in response to a switching control signal from the information recording unit. An information transmission switching unit having a connection switching unit configured to switch connection to the connection line or the third connection line. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said external terminal of said information recording means functions as a serial port capable of transmitting and receiving a serial signal.