JP2003117217A - Card processor, method for operating the same and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely input information in a card processor. SOLUTION: When a prepaid card is inserted to a card insertion part 20, a card processor 1 reads, etc., the inserted card by a card reader 21 to discriminate whether the prepaid card is a general card or a member card. When discriminating the card to be the member card, a processing control part 26 sends a command to a light emission control part 24 to instruct lighting of a lamp part 23. A light emission control part 24 lights the lamp part 23 according to the command from the processing control part 26 to light the back light of ten keys provided at an input/output part 22. The processing control part 26 performs processing for ejecting a member card in response to the pressurizing operation of a return button provided at the input/output part 22, and sends a command to the light emission control part 24 to instruct putting out of the lamp part 23. The light emission control part 24 puts out the lamp part 23 in response to the command from the processing control part 26.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card processing device and a card processing method applied to a prepaid card system using a prepaid card including a general card and a membership card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Lending goods and services by using a prepaid card in which money amount information serving as an index of valuable value is recorded,
A prepaid card system that enables payment of sales and the like has been realized. In this prepaid card system, for example, a user purchases a prepaid card corresponding to a predetermined amount of money, and a card processing device for processing the prepaid card consumes (updates) the amount of money information recorded in the prepaid card.

[0003]

In such a prepaid card system, it is possible to use a prepaid card including a membership card that can be used only by a specific user, so that, for example, a prize exchange or a game replay at a pachinko parlor is performed. It is considered to improve the convenience of users in such cases. In this case, the card processing device applied to the prepaid card system is provided with a ten-key unit or the like for inputting a personal identification number corresponding to the membership card and checks the user of the membership card.

Here, when inputting information for checking the user of the membership card, it is clearly recognized that the membership card is inserted into a predetermined card insertion portion and the ten-key portion and the like can be operated. It is desirable to be able to. In addition, it is necessary to reduce erroneous pressing in key operation when inputting information. In particular, in a pachinko parlor or the like that provides a service using a prepaid card system, the lighting inside the parlor may be darker than that of a normal parlor for the purpose of enhancing the effect of the pachinko parlor. In such cases,
There is a risk of incorrect key presses.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a card processing device and a card processing method that can appropriately notify that a membership card has been inserted and can reliably input information. The purpose is to

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a card processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a card processing device for processing a prepaid card including a general card and a membership card. The card insertion means into which the prepaid card is inserted, the discrimination means for discriminating whether the card inserted into the card insertion means is a general card or a membership card, and information for using the membership card. Information input means for inputting, lighting means for illuminating the information input means, and lighting control means for lighting the lighting means when the discrimination means discriminates a membership card.

According to the present invention, when the prepaid card inserted in the card insertion means is determined to be the membership card by the determination means, the illumination means is turned on and the membership card such as a ten-key portion is used. The information input means for inputting information for lighting is illuminated. As a result, it is possible to notify the user or the like that the membership card has been inserted and the input of information by the information input means has been validated.

It is desirable that the lighting control means, after lighting the lighting means, turn off the lighting means in response to an instruction to return the card by a return command signal.

The information inputting means is provided with a stored information notifying means for displaying and displaying to the user the information about the game media accumulated to enable replay with the membership card, and the information input means is the card insertion means. The personal identification number of the membership card inserted into the card is input to the discriminating means, and the discriminating means is permitted to replay with the membership card inserted into the card inserting means based on the personal identification number input by the information inputting means. In this case, the number of payable game media may be displayed on the accumulated information notifying means.

A method of operating a card processing device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a card processing method for processing a prepaid card including a general card and a membership card, and the card to be processed is a general card. Whether there is a membership card, and a step of illuminating the input means for inputting information for using the membership card when it is determined in the determination step that the membership card is present, After illuminating the input means, in response to the return of the card inserted in the card insertion means is instructed, a turn-off step of turning off the illumination is provided,
It is characterized by

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the membership card is used, the input means for inputting information for using the membership card is illuminated. Further, after turning on the lighting means, the lighting means is turned off in response to the instruction to return the card. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately notify the user or the like that the membership card has been inserted into the card insertion means.

A program according to a third aspect of the present invention allows a computer to determine whether a prepaid card to be processed is a general card or a membership card, and a membership card in the determination processing. When it is determined that there is a lighting process, the lighting is turned on, and the lighting process of causing the input means to input information for using the membership card to emit light,
After the lighting is turned on in the lighting process, a turning-off process of turning off the light is executed in response to a command to return the card.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, as an example, the card processing device 1 installed adjacent to the gaming machine 2 in a pachinko parlor will be described.

By inserting a prepaid card as a recording medium, the card processing apparatus 1 can lend game media such as pachinko balls, coins and medals. Here, the prepaid cards processed by the card processing device 1 include a general card 10 and a membership card 11.

As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the general card 10 is provided with an area for storing balance information, which is an index of valuable value for lending game media such as pachinko balls, coins, medals, and the like. It is possible to play by renting balls in 2. The general card 10 is composed of, for example, an IC card, and is issued by, for example, a ticket payment machine 3 installed separately from the card processing device 1 at a pachinko parlor,
Provided to users.

The member card 11 is a card provided with a magnetic stripe and an IC chip for recording ID information as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, in addition to the area for storing the balance information, and is used for membership registration. It is provided to the player to allow the player to play a ball by using the game machine 2 or paying a ball. Although ID information is recorded on the magnetic stripe in the figure,
The information may be recorded on the IC. The membership card 11 is issued to a user who has registered as a member, for example, at a counter of a pachinko parlor, and enables the user to accumulate the game media acquired in the game (ball accumulation), and in the subsequent games, play with the coin (replay). Play) is possible. The ID information recorded on the member card 11 is used by the member management system server 5 for the processing for determining whether or not the game with the accumulated coins is permitted. In addition, it is used for a process for specifying the number of game media (the number of accumulated coins) accumulated by a user who has registered the number of accumulated coins as a member.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the card processing apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the card processing device 1 is
Card insertion unit 20, card reading unit 21, input / output unit 2
2, a lighting unit 23, a light emission control unit 24, and a storage unit 25.
And a processing control unit 26. In addition to this, the card processing device 1 may include a bill insertion unit and a coin insertion unit for increasing the balance of the card inserted in the card insertion unit 20 by additional deposit.

The card insertion portion 20 is, for example, an insertion opening for inserting a prepaid card such as a general card 10 or a membership card 11, a roller for taking in and ejecting the inserted card, and a card insertion portion. A sensor for detecting the insertion and notifying the processing control unit 26 is provided.

The card reading unit 21 reads / reads data from / to the prepaid card inserted in the card insertion unit 20.
A reader / writer for writing.

The input / output unit 22 inputs various information to the processing control unit 26 in response to the user's operation, and the processing control unit 26
This is for outputting the information according to the control of and notifying the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the input / output unit 22 has an announcement unit 30 including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, a diode segment, and the like.

The announcement unit 30 switches on / off of each segment or pixel under the control of the processing control unit 26, for example, the number of balls that can be paid out by the membership card 11 inserted in the card insertion unit 20. ,
It is for displaying various information and notifying the user or the like.

The input / output unit 22 includes a ten-key unit 31, a replay button 32, and a confirmation button 3 as shown in FIG.
3, a cancel button 34, etc. are provided. Numeric keypad 31
Responds to the key operation by the user of the membership card 11, and outputs numerical data indicating “0” to “9” to the processing control unit 26.
The information for playing the game using the membership card 11, such as a personal identification number, is input by sending the information to the member.

The replay button 32 causes the processing control unit 26 to transmit a replay request signal to the gaming machine 2 in response to the depression of the membership card 11 by the user, so that the member inserted into the card insertion unit 20. It is for instructing to consume the balls of the card 11 and replay. The confirmation button 33 sends a confirmation signal to the processing control unit 26 in response to the pressing of the membership card 11 by the user,
This is for instructing the display of the total number of stored coins on the membership card 11 inserted in the card insertion portion 20.

The cancel button 34 sends a cancel signal to the processing control section 26 in response to the depression of the membership card 11 by the user, so as to instruct cancellation of the personal identification number or the like input using the ten-key section 31. It is a thing.

Returning to FIG. 2, the lighting unit 23 includes the input / output unit 2
It is composed of a light emitting diode, a fluorescent lamp, etc. provided on the back surface of the ten-key part 31 and the like provided in 2, and the card inserted into the card insertion part 20 by making the ten-key part 31 and the like emit light is used as the membership card 11. It is for notifying the person etc.

The light emission control section 24 is provided with a circuit for turning on / off the lamp section 23 in response to a command from the processing control section 26.

The storage unit 25 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory, and is for storing a program that defines the operation of the processing control unit 26, various data, and the like.

The processing control unit 26 is, for example, an LS of several chips.
It is provided with a microcomputer configured by I (Large Scale Integration) and controls the overall operation of the card processing apparatus 1. Further, the processing control unit 26
Communicates with the member management system server 5,
The ID information read from the member card 11 is sent to request the identification number. At this time, the processing control unit 26 is inserted into the card insertion unit 20 when it is possible to play (replay) with the accumulated coins in the membership card 11 based on the signal returned from the membership management system server 5. Information or the like indicating the number of balls that can be paid out with the member card 11 is acquired.

Furthermore, the processing control unit 26, via the relay device 8, the remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of the card inserted in the card insertion unit 20, and the additional amount indicating the amount additionally paid in the card processing device 1. Information, consumption amount information indicating the amount of money consumed by the user to play the game on the gaming machine 2, and the like are sent to the card information management device 4. Further, the processing control unit 26 transmits and receives various signals to and from the gaming machine 2 to request lending of pachinko balls, which are gaming media, and to detect the end of gaming in the gaming machine 2.

Next, a prepaid card system to which the card processing device 1 is applied will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a prepaid card system to which the card processing device 1 is applied. As shown in the figure, this prepaid card system includes, in addition to the card processing device 1, for example, a gaming machine 2, a ticket sales machine 3, a card information management device 4, a member management system server 5, a controller 7, and a relay. And a device 8.

The gaming machine 2 is a pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine, a slot machine, or the like, and pachinko balls, coins, medals, etc. within the range of the remaining amount and the accumulated balls specified by the prepaid card inserted in the card processing device 1. The game medium of is paid out, and the game can be played by the user. For example, the gaming machine 2 is connected from the payout control microcomputer to the card processing device 1 via an interface board, and the payout enable signal, the ball lending preparation signal, and the ball lending completion signal are sent to the card processing device 1. , Send a ball lending signal, etc.
In addition, the gaming machine 2 discharges a pachinko ball or the like, which is a game medium, in response to the replay request signal received from the card processing device 1, and enables the user to play a game.

The ticket sales machine 3 is a general card 1 at each store.
It is for issuing 0. In addition, ticket sales machine 3
May execute a process for increasing the remaining amount of the general card 10 or the membership card 11 in accordance with the additionally deposited amount. The ticket dispenser 3 sends, for example, balance information recorded on the card when the general card 10 is issued, additional amount information indicating the amount of additional deposit, and the like to the card information management device 4 and the like.

The card information management device 4 uses the general card 10
And a computer for managing information and the like recorded in the membership card 11.

The member management system server 5 records information about users who have registered as members, and executes processing for enabling replay using the member card 11. For example, the member management system server 5 executes a process for determining whether or not to allow or disallow a game with coins in response to a request for inquiry of the personal identification number received from the card processing device 1 via the controller 7. Further, the member management system server 5 counts the number of game media accumulated by the member card 11 (the number of accumulated coins).
And the like for specifying.

The operation of the card processing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This card processing device 1
Executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 10, and enables the game with the gaming machine 2 within the range of the remaining amount and the accumulated coins recorded in the prepaid card such as the general card 10 and the membership card 11. The processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 10 will be described below.

The processing control unit 26 reads the operation program from the storage unit 25 and executes it in response to a timer interrupt, for example, to start the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, when the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion portion 20, the card processing device 1 detects this with a sensor or the like and starts the card insertion processing shown in FIG. The inserted card is read (step S1).

The processing control unit 26 determines whether the prepaid card is the membership card 11 or the general card 10 according to the reading result of the card reading unit 21 (step S2). For example, the processing control unit 26 uses the card reading unit 21.
Discriminates whether or not the magnetic stripe is detected from the result of reading the card inserted in the card inserting section 20.
The processing control unit 26 determines that the card is the membership card 11 when the card inserted in the card insertion unit 20 has a magnetic stripe and the ID information can be acquired, for example.
On the other hand, the processing control unit 26 determines that the card is the general card 10 when the card inserted into the card insertion unit 20 does not have the magnetic stripe and the ID information cannot be acquired.

In the processing control unit 26, the card is a general card 1
When it is determined that the number is 0 (general in step S2), a predetermined process that enables playing using the general card 10 is executed (step S3).

On the other hand, when the processing control unit 26 determines that the card is the membership card 11 (member in step S2), it sends a command to the light emission control unit 24 to instruct the lighting unit 23 to turn on. The light emission control unit 24 turns on the backlight of the ten-key unit 31 included in the input / output unit 22 by turning on the lamp unit 23 according to the instruction from the process control unit 26 (step S4). In this way, it is possible to notify the user or the like that the membership card 11 has been inserted into the card insertion unit 20 and the input of numerical data by the ten-key unit 31 has been validated.

The user who inserts the card presses a ball lending button (not shown) provided in the gaming machine 2, for example, when he / she selects play by ball rental. In response to the button operation, the button operation processing shown in FIG. 6 is executed, and it is detected in step S12 that the ball lending button has been pressed.

The flow advances to step S31 in FIG.
The balance of the card is checked (step S31), and if there is a balance, the game machine 2 pays out balls (step S32), the balance is updated (step S33), and play by ball rental is possible. Become.

At this time, the processing control section 26 responds to the ball lending completion signal sent from the gaming machine 2, for example, and the card reading section 2
By controlling 1, the balance information obtained by subtracting and updating the amount (or frequency) consumed by the paid-out ball rental amount,
Write it on the membership card 11. Further, the processing control unit 26
May perform various processes such as subtracting and updating the balance information of the card and notifying the card information management device 4 of the balance information of the subtracted and updated card.

On the other hand, in the case of selecting the play with the accumulated coins, the user presses the ten-key portion 31 and performs an operation for inputting data such as a personal identification number. In response to the operation of the ten-key pad, the button operation detection process of FIG. 6 is started, and the operation of the ten-key pad is detected in step S13. In response to this detection, the flow proceeds to step S41 of FIG. 9 to determine whether or not four digits have been input, and wait for input of four digits of data (step S41).
When the four-digit numerical data is input from the numeric keypad 31 (step S41; YES), the processing control unit 26 sends the input data to the member management system server 5 together with the ID information of the member card 11 and the member information. Is requested to request a password inquiry (step S42). The processing control unit 26 uses the ID read in advance from the membership card 11.
When the information is transmitted to the member management system server 5 and four-digit numerical data is input from the ten-key unit 31,
The numerical data may be sent to the member management system server 5. The processing control unit 26 determines the card insertion unit 2 based on the information returned from the member management system server 5.
It is determined whether or not replay with the card inserted into 0 is permitted (step S43).

When it is determined that the replay has been rejected (NG in step S43), the processing control unit 26 terminates the processing as if an incorrect personal identification number is input, and executes a predetermined error processing. In this error processing, for example, a personal identification number can be input a predetermined number of times, and if a correct personal identification number is not input within the number of times, a predetermined input promotion mark (not shown) is turned off. Then, the replay by the membership card 11 inserted in the card insertion portion 20 is disabled. Even in this case, membership card 1
Playing with ball rental is possible by consuming the balance of 1. At this time, each time the processing control unit 26 determines that the replay is rejected, the processing control unit 26 may temporarily eject the membership card 11 inserted into the card insertion unit 20 and wait until it is inserted again.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the replay is permitted (OK in step S43), the processing control section 26 causes the announcement section 30 to display the number of coins that can be paid out (step S44).

Here, when the user operates the re-play button in order to play the coins, the button operation processing of FIG. 6 is started, and the processing control unit 26 detects that the re-play button 32 has been pressed. (Step S14), the flow proceeds to step S51 in FIG.

Here, the processing control unit 26, step S5.
In step 1, it is determined whether or not the member authentication is OK, and if it is OK (step S51; YES), it is determined whether or not there is a payoutable deposit amount remaining (step S52), and if it is present (step S52). ; YES), a replay request signal is sent to the gaming machine 2, and the game machine 2 dispenses the accumulated balls (step S5).
3). At this time, the processing control unit 26 displays on the announcement unit 30 the number of balls that can be paid out after subtracting the number of balls paid out by the gaming machine 2 (step S54),
A signal is sent to the member management system server 6 or the like to notify that the accumulated balls have been consumed.

On the other hand, in step S51, the member authentication is NG.
That is, or when it is determined in step S52 that there is no remaining payable ball storage amount, an alarm or the like is given if necessary, and the process is ended.

In this way, the user can use the membership card 1
Using 1, the game can be advanced by appropriately selecting the play by ball rental and the play by ball storage.

When the user selects the replay with the accumulated coins, if the number of accumulated coins that can be paid out with the membership card 11 inserted in the card insertion unit 20 becomes 1 or less, the replay button is pressed in step S52. It will be invalidated and you can only play with ball rental by consuming the remaining amount.

When the user finishes the play, the user presses a return button (not shown) provided in the input / output unit 22. By this pressing operation, the button detection process of FIG. 6 is executed, it is detected in step S11 that the return button has been operated, and the flow proceeds to step S21 of FIG.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the backlight is on. If the backlight is on (step S21; YES), the process controller 26 causes the light emission controller 24 to operate.
To instruct to turn off the light unit 23 turned on in step S5 (step S22). The light emission control unit 24 turns off the backlight of the ten-key unit 31 included in the input / output unit 22 by turning off the lamp unit 23 according to the instruction received from the processing control unit 26.

On the other hand, if the backlight has already been turned off in step S21 (step S21; NO), it means that the return button has been erroneously operated, and the process ends.

As described above, according to the present invention,
The card inserted in the card insertion part 20 is the membership card 11
In this case, the lighting unit 23 provided as the backlight of the ten-key unit 31 is turned on and turned off when the membership card 11 is discharged.

This makes it possible to appropriately notify the user that the membership card 11 has been inserted into the card insertion section 20 and the data input from the ten-key section 31 has been validated. In particular, in a pachinko parlor or the like in which the lighting in the store is darker than that in a normal store, it is possible to reduce the erroneous pressing of the numeric keypad 31. Therefore, the information can be surely input. Further, while the membership card 11 is being inserted into the card insertion portion 20, the ten-key portion 31 emits light, so that a pachinko parlor staff or the like can easily confirm the user who is playing a game using the membership card 11. And manage customers easily.

In the above embodiment, the card processing device 1
However, it was explained that it is installed adjacent to the gaming machine 2 in the pachinko parlor, but the invention is not limited to this, and any device that has a mechanism for inputting information for using a membership card is equivalent to the numeric keypad part. It is applicable to the device.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the "saving coins" assuming that the game medium is a pachinko ball have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the "saving coins" when the game medium is a coin or a medal, for example. The same can be applied to the “savings medal”.

The prepaid cards such as the general card 10 and the membership card 11 are not limited to IC cards, and various card-shaped recording media can be adopted. Further, the process for discriminating between the general card 10 and the membership card 11 can be arbitrarily changed.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the game machine 2 has explained that the game can be played by paying out balls, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the card processing device 1 discharges balls. Then, the player may be allowed to play the ball. Further, the flowcharts of the processes executed by the control unit 26 are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, and can be arbitrarily changed within a range in which similar processes can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the operation program has been described as being stored in the storage unit 25 in advance.
It is not limited to this. That is, the operation program may be recorded and distributed in a computer-readable recording medium such as an FD, a CD-ROM, an IC memory or the like. Further, the operation program may be recorded in a file system of a server or the like on the network, and may be downloaded to the computer, for example, by superimposing it on a carrier wave.

[0063]

According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately notify the user that a membership card has been inserted and to input information without fail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a general card and a membership card processed by a card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an announcement unit, a numeric keypad unit, which is provided in the input / output unit,
It is a figure which shows a replay button, a confirmation button, and a cancellation button.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a prepaid card system to which a card processing device is applied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card processing device 2 game machines 3 ticket sales machine 4 Card information management device 5 Member management system server 6 hole computer 7 controller 8 relay devices 10 general cards 11 membership card 20 Card insertion part 21 Card reading department 22 Input / output section 23 Light section 24 Emission control unit 25 memory 26 Processing control unit 30 announcement department 31 Numeric keypad 32 Replay button 33 Confirm button 34 Cancel button

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toru Iijima             4-1-2, Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo             Motohashi Muromachi 4-chome Building Japan Leisure Card             System Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shun Kitahara             4-1-2, Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo             Motohashi Muromachi 4-chome Building Japan Leisure Card             System Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Ikegami             4-1-2, Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo             Motohashi Muromachi 4-chome Building Japan Leisure Card             System Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C088 BA88 BB01 BB07 BB11 BB21                       BB23 BB31 CA02 CA27 CA31                       EA41

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card processing device for processing a prepaid card including a general card and a membership card, wherein a card insertion means into which the prepaid card is inserted, and a card inserted into the card insertion means is a general card. Or a membership card, an information input means for inputting information for using the membership card, an illumination means for illuminating the information input means, and a membership card by the determination means. A card processing device comprising: a lighting control unit that lights the lighting unit when it is determined that the card processing device is present. 2. A return instruction signal receiving means for receiving a return instruction signal for instructing the return of the card inserted in the card inserting means, wherein the lighting control means turns on the illuminating means and then returns the return means. The card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating means is turned off in response to the instruction signal receiving means receiving the return instruction signal. 3. A stored information notifying unit for displaying information about a game medium accumulated to enable replay with a membership card and notifying a user, wherein the information input unit is the card. The personal identification number of the membership card inserted into the insertion means is input, and the discrimination means permits replay with the membership card inserted into the card insertion means based on the personal identification number input by the information input means. The card processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the case of being played, the number of payable game media is displayed on the accumulated information notifying means. 4. A card processing method for processing a prepaid card including a general card and a membership card, comprising a determination step of determining whether the processing target card is a general card or a membership card. When it is determined that the membership card is a membership card, an illumination step of illuminating the input means for inputting information for using the membership card, and an illumination step of illuminating the input means, and then inserted. A turn-off step of turning off the lighting means in response to an instruction to return the existing card. 5. A discriminating process for discriminating whether the prepaid card inserted into the card inserting means is a general card or a membership card in a computer; and when it is discriminated as a membership card in the discriminating process. ,
In response to a lighting process of turning on the lighting and causing the information input means for inputting information for using the membership card to emit light, and turning on the lighting in the lighting process, and then returning the card. And a program for executing a turning-off process for turning off the lighting.