JP2004054309A - Card and card system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card wherein it is dynamically announced that a card is available to a card owner and a card system for functioning the card. <P>SOLUTION: This card system for operating a card is provided with a receiving means for receiving electromagnetic waves, sonic waves, or light beams, and for supplying a power, and an operating means for dynamically starting a card based on the power supplied by the receiving means. This card system is also provided with a controller for controlling the transmission of the electromagnetic waves, the sonic waves, or light beams, and a transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic waves, sonic waves, or light beams based on the controller. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Kind Code: A1 A card capable of dynamically notifying a card holder that a card can be used, and a card system for making the card function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A cardholder holding a credit card, debit card, electronic money card, or some kind of membership card (hereinafter referred to as a card in the present specification) can provide information as to whether the card can be used at a store or the like. ,
(1) Rewrite display of the name and trademark of the store printed on the surface of the card body, etc. by heat treatment method, etc. (2) Stickers of card companies and stores attached around stores and cash registers, and card holder The information can be obtained from the information examined in the above, an advertisement medium such as a flyer, or an e-mail notifying of the availability of the incoming call to the mobile phone, etc., and is used as a guide for the cardholder when using the card.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
That is, in the conventional method, it is necessary for the cardholder to check whether or not the cardholder can use the card at a card body or a store, and the cardholder needs to recognize the information. In other words, if the cardholder does not know the information, for example, if the cardholder wishing to purchase with a credit card does not know that the card can be used at a store, the cardholder will Instead of making a purchase, the purchase will be made at a store where you can use other cards that you know. Even if you find a product you like at a store, you may not want to ask the clerk to know if you can buy it with a card, and the card holder may give up purchasing the product.
[0004]
As described above, in the case of static information such as information displayed and printed on the card body and a sticker attached to a store or the like, that is, a card that is premised on that the card holder recognizes in advance, the card holder's This means that options for economic activities (purchase of goods, use of services, etc.) are narrowed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the above problems, the present inventor has proposed a card in which a card body dynamically informs the card holder that the card can be used when the card holder is located inside or around a store or the like. Has invented a card system to make it work.
[0006]
The invention of claim 1 is
The card includes a receiving unit that supplies power to the card by receiving an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a light beam, and an operating unit that performs dynamic operation based on the power supplied by the receiving unit.
[0007]
The invention of claim 2 is
The card includes a receiving unit that supplies power to the card by receiving power supplied by the transmitting unit, and an operating unit that performs dynamic operation based on the power supplied by the receiving unit.
[0008]
The invention of claim 3 is
The dynamic operation is a card including any of light emission, blinking, display of characters or graphics, voice transmission, or vibration.
[0009]
The invention of claim 4 is
When performing light emission, blinking, or displaying a character or a graphic as the dynamic operation, the operating means is a light emitting diode or electronic paper, and emits light, blinks, or displays a character or a character on the light emitting diode or electronic paper. It is a card that performs dynamic operation by displaying figures.
[0010]
The invention of claim 5 is
When voice transmission is performed as the dynamic operation, the operation means is a small speaker, and a card that performs dynamic operation by transmitting a voice from the small speaker.
[0011]
The invention of claim 6 is
When performing vibration as the dynamic operation, the operating means is a minimal vibration motor, and is a card that performs dynamic operation by vibrating the minimal vibration motor.
[0012]
The invention of claim 9 is
A card system for operating the card according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control device performs transmission control of an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a light beam, and the electromagnetic wave, the sound wave, This is a card system having a transmitting device for transmitting a light beam.
[0013]
The invention of claim 10 is
A card system for operating the card according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control unit controls electric power supplied by contacting the card, and the card system contacts the card. And a transmitting device for supplying power to the card.
[0014]
According to the first to sixth, ninth, and tenth aspects of the present invention, the card holder holds electromagnetic waves, sound waves, light rays, and the like when the card holder holding the card is located inside or around a store or the like. Receiving thereby causes the card to flash, generate sound, vibrate, etc. With these dynamic operations, the cardholder can recognize that the card can be used at the store, so that the cardholder does not need to know in advance whether or not the store can use the card as before. Become.
[0015]
The invention of claim 7 is
The card is a card having instruction means for further receiving identification information in the receiving means and issuing a signal for instructing the presence / absence of the operation means or an operation pattern based on the received identification information.
[0016]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a card performs a dynamic operation | movement and notifies a cardholder, operation | movement by various patterns becomes possible. This makes it possible to determine the card functions that can be used, such as operating with the operation pattern A at a point card in a certain chain store and operating with the operation pattern B at a store where a credit card can be used.
[0017]
The invention of claim 8 is
A card having setting contents changing means for changing whether or not the operation of the command means is performed or changing the operation pattern based on information received from a setting device for reading / writing the card in contact or non-contact.
[0018]
The invention of claim 11 is
The card system is a card system having a setting device that causes the card to change the presence or absence of an operation of the card and an operation pattern.
[0019]
According to the eighth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily change the operation pattern as described above, and it is possible to match the card holder's preference.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An example of the system configuration of the card 10 and the card system 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the system configuration diagrams of FIGS.
[0021]
A card system 1 for dynamically operating the card 10 is installed in a store or the like, and includes a transmitting device 3 and a control device 2.
[0022]
The transmitting device 3 is a device that transmits an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, a light beam, or the like to the main body of the card 10 as power supply to the card 10, and an output and an output direction (for example, a store) predetermined by the control device 2 (described later). When the transmitter 3 is provided at the entrance, the effective range is within a radius of 1 meter from the entrance, and when the transmitter 3 is provided at the cash register, the effective range is within 1 meter from the cash register. And so on). Output direction for transmitting electromagnetic waves, etc. has directivity, fluctuations in output due to the provision of reflectors, barriers, etc., natural conditions such as rain and fog, and artificial conditions such as interior and decoration in stores, etc. May be in an ambiguous range. The transmitting device 3 may be a contact type, instead of a non-contact type as described above. That is, the power may be supplied from the transmitting device 3 to the card 10 by causing the transmitting device 3 to make contact with or insert the card 10.
[0023]
The control device 2 is a device for controlling transmission of an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave or a light beam transmitted from the transmission device 3, and controls, for example, an electromagnetic wave to be transmitted, an output of 10 watts, an output direction on a concentric circle, and the like. . Under such control, the transmitting device 3 transmits an electromagnetic wave at an output of 10 watts from the transmitting device 3 concentrically.
[0024]
The card 10 may be a credit card, a debit card, an electronic money card, a membership card of a store or the like owned by a card holder, and is preferably an IC card having an IC chip, but may be a magnetic card. The card 10 has a receiving unit 11 and an operating unit 12.
[0025]
When the card 10 is a non-contact type, the receiving unit 11 is a unit that receives an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a light beam transmitted from the transmitting device 3 of the card system 1 and supplies power to the card 10. For example, when receiving an electromagnetic wave, an antenna or the like is used as the receiving means 11. When the card 10 is affected by a magnetic field, power is generated in the antenna (receiving means 11) by the principle of electromagnetic induction, and the power is transmitted to the card 10. Will be supplied. Power may be supplied by receiving a sound wave or a light beam. When the card 10 is of a contact type, the card 10 is supplied with power from the transmitting device 3 and supplied to the card 10 by causing the transmitting device 3 to contact or insert the card 10.
[0026]
The operating unit 12 is a unit that dynamically operates the card holder based on the power supplied by the receiving unit 11. For example, a light emitting diode or electronic paper is used as the operating means 12 when light emission, blinking, or display of characters or graphics is performed as dynamic operation, and the operating means 12 is used when voice transmission is performed as dynamic operation. It is preferable that the operating means 12 is a micro vibration motor when the vibration is performed as a dynamic operation.
[0027]
【Example】
Next, an example of the process flow of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the simplest case in which the card 10a operates dynamically and makes a notification by an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, a light beam, or the like received from the card system 1a will be described.
[0028]
The person in charge of the store or the like installs the card system 1a in the store or outside the store and sends the transmission medium of the electromagnetic wave, sound wave or light beam (electromagnetic wave or the like) transmitted from the transmission device 3 and the output, output direction, and the like to the control device 2. And set (S100). If power is supplied to the card 10a in a contact type instead of a non-contact type, the setting is performed.
[0029]
After the setting of the control device 2, the transmitting device 3 transmits an electromagnetic wave or the like based on the setting set in S100 (S110). When the cardholder holds the card 10a and enters the validity range set as described above, the receiving means 11 of the card 10a receives an electromagnetic wave or the like (S120).
[0030]
Upon reception of S120, the receiving means 11 supplies power to the card 10a. When the card 10a is of a contact type, the receiving means 11 supplies power to the card 10a when the card 10a is contacted or inserted into the transmitting device 3.
[0031]
The operating unit 12 performs dynamic operation based on the electric power supplied by the receiving unit 11, and notifies the card holder that the card 10a can be used (S130). When performing light emission, blinking, or displaying characters or graphics as dynamic operation, the operating means 12 is a light emitting diode or electronic paper, and the light emitting diodes or electronic paper emits light, blinks, or displays characters or graphics. When voice transmission is performed as a dynamic operation, a small speaker is used as the operating unit 12, and the small speaker transmits some sound. When the vibration is performed as a dynamic operation, the operation means 12 is a micro vibration motor, and the vibration of the micro vibration motor informs the card 10a holder that the card 10a can be used. It becomes.
[0032]
Embodiment 2
Next, when the card 10b operates dynamically, the presence or absence of the operation or the operation pattern may be changed. For example, when a card 10b having a plurality of functions is combined, for example, a point card and a credit card of a certain chain store are combined, an operation pattern A is used when a point card of the chain store is usable, and when a credit card is simply usable. Describes a case where the dynamic operation of the card 10b is changed, such as performing the operation pattern B. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted for simplification.
[0033]
The transmitting device 3 of the card system 1a is a device that transmits power for supplying power to the card 10b, such as an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a light beam, to the main body of the card 10b and also transmits identification information. As described above, when the point card of a certain chain store and the credit card are combined as the card 10b, the operation pattern A is used when the point card of the chain store is available, and the operation is performed when the credit card is simply available. When it is predetermined to perform pattern B, the chain store transmits the identification information 1 from the transmission device 3, and transmits the identification information 2 from the transmission device 3 when a credit card can be used. . This identification information can be arbitrarily set as the entire card system 1a, but it is preferable that the identification information and the operation pattern do not overlap. This is to avoid confusion among cardholders.
[0034]
The card 10b has a receiving unit 11, a commanding unit 13, and an operating unit 12. When the card 10b is a non-contact type, the receiving means 11 receives the electromagnetic wave, sound wave or light beam transmitted from the transmitting device 3 of the card system 1a and supplies power to the card 10b. In the case of the type, the card 10b is supplied with power from the transmitting device 3 and is supplied to the card 10b by contacting or inserting the card 10b into the transmitting device 3. It is also a device that receives identification information.
[0035]
The commanding means 13 identifies the presence or absence of an operation or the operation pattern of the operating means 12 based on the identification information received by the receiving means 11, and determines whether or not to operate, and if so, what operation pattern to operate. This is a means for issuing a signal instructing the operating means 12 to the operating means 12. Therefore, the command means 13 stores the correspondence between the identification information and the operation pattern. FIG. 6A shows a conceptual diagram of the correspondence. In the above example, when the receiving unit 11 receives the identification information 1 from the transmitting device 3, the instruction unit 13 issues a signal instructing the operating unit 12 to perform the operation pattern A, and the receiving unit 11 When the identification information 2 is received from the transmitting device 3, the command means 13 issues a signal instructing the operating means 12 to perform the operation pattern B.
[0036]
The operating unit 12 is a unit that performs dynamic operation based on the power supplied by the receiving unit 11 and the signal received from the command unit 13. In the above example, for example, when an operation pattern A signal is received, blinking is performed every second, and when an operation pattern B signal is received, blinking is performed every 0.5 second. It becomes. In addition to a common operation pattern such as blinking, a plurality of dynamic operations such as blinking and sound transmission, blinking and vibration, and sound transmission and vibration may be combined.
[0037]
Hereinafter, an example of a process flow in such a case will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The person in charge of the store or the like installs the card system 1a in the store or outside the store and sends the transmission medium of the electromagnetic wave, sound wave or light beam (electromagnetic wave or the like) transmitted from the transmission device 3 and the output, output direction, and the like to the control device 2. Is set (S200). If power is supplied to the card 10b by a contact type instead of a non-contact type, the setting is performed. At the time of this setting, the user also sets which identification information the store or the like transmits, that is, which function of the card 10b the card holder can use in the store or the like (S210). ). For example, settings such as the use of a point card and the use of a credit card are performed.
[0038]
For example, when the point card of a certain chain store and the credit card are combined as the card 10b and the point card of the chain store is available, the operation pattern A is used. When the pattern B is predetermined, if the store or the like is a store that can use a point card, the identification information 1 is set. If the store or the like is a store that can use a credit card, the identification information 2 is set. Make the settings for
[0039]
After the setting of the control device 2, the transmitting device 3 transmits electromagnetic waves and the like and identification information based on the settings set in S200 and S210 (S220). When the cardholder holds the card 10b and enters within the set effective range, the receiving means 11 of the card 10b receives the electromagnetic wave and the like and the identification information (S230). Therefore, in the above example, the chain store transmits the identification information 1 from the transmission device 3, and transmits the identification information 2 from the transmission device 3 when a credit card can be used.
[0040]
Upon reception of S230, the receiving unit 11 supplies power to the card 10b. When the card 10b is of a contact type, the receiving means 11 supplies power to the card 10b when the card 10b is contacted or inserted into the transmitting device 3.
[0041]
Further, at the time of reception in S230, the receiving means 11 also receives the identification information, and the command means 13 identifies the presence or absence or the operation pattern of the operating means 12 based on the identification information received by the receiving means 11, and A signal is issued to the operating means 12 to instruct whether or not to perform the operation, and if so, in what operation pattern the operation is to be performed (S240). Therefore, in the above example, when the receiving means 11 receives the identification information 1 from the transmitting device 3, the command means 13 issues a signal instructing the operating means 12 to perform the operation pattern A, and the receiving means 11 When the identification information 2 is received from the transmitting device 3, the command means 13 issues a signal instructing the operating means 12 to perform the operation pattern B. If the identification information indicates that the operating unit 12 does not need to operate, the process ends without issuing any signal to the operating unit 12.
[0042]
The operating unit 12 dynamically operates based on the power supplied by the receiving unit 11 and the signal received from the command unit 13, and notifies the card holder that the card 10b can be used (S250). At the time of this dynamic operation, in the above example, for example, when the signal of the operation pattern A is received, blinking is performed every 1 second, and when the signal of the operation pattern B is received, every 0.5 second. The operation such as blinking is performed. In addition to a common operation pattern such as blinking, a plurality of dynamic operations such as blinking and sound transmission, blinking and vibration, and sound transmission and vibration may be combined.
[0043]
As in the first embodiment, when performing light emission, blinking, or displaying a character or a graphic as a dynamic operation, a device that performs such a dynamic operation includes a light emitting diode or electronic paper as the operation unit 12. When the light emitting diode or the electronic paper emits light, blinks, or displays characters or graphics, and performs voice transmission as a dynamic operation, the operating means 12 is a small speaker, and the small speaker is a small speaker. Make a call. When the vibration is performed as a dynamic operation, the operation means 12 is a minimal vibration motor, and the vibration of the minimal vibration motor notifies the card holder that the card 10b can be used. Become.
[0044]
Embodiment 3
Next, a case will be described in which the card system 1b is further provided with a setting device 4 capable of changing the presence / absence of the operation of the operating means 12 and the operation pattern in the card 10c of the second embodiment. The description of the same parts as those of the first or second embodiment is omitted for simplification.
[0045]
The card system 1b further includes a setting device 4 in addition to the card systems 1a of the first and second embodiments.
[0046]
The setting device 4 is a device that can read / write the card 10c in a contact or non-contact manner, and is a device that changes presence / absence of an operation and an operation pattern in the card 10c. For example, the presence / absence of an operation and the operation pattern are changed by changing the correspondence between the identification information and the operation pattern stored in the instruction unit 13. The setting device 4 is preferably installed in a space such as around a cash register or an entrance in a store or the like, or in an empty space in a store or the like so that the card holder can easily make contact, insertion or non-contact.
[0047]
The card 10c has a setting content changing unit 14 in addition to the card system 1b of the first or second embodiment. The setting content changing unit 14 changes presence / absence of an operation of the card 10 c received by the receiving unit 11 from the setting device 4 and changes an operation pattern. For example, the correspondence between the identification information and the operation pattern stored in the instruction unit 13 is changed.
[0048]
Hereinafter, an example of the process flow in such a case will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0049]
The card holder who wishes to change the setting content causes the setting device 4 of the card system 1b to read the card 10c by contact, insertion or non-contact (S300). The card holder inputs the setting contents to be changed to the setting device 4 that has read the card 10c. For example, the operation pattern C is changed to perform the operation pattern C for a store or the like where a credit card can be used, and to the operation pattern D for a store or the like where a point card can be used (S310). The order of S300 and S310 is arbitrary, and may be performed in the reverse order. Further, only S300 may be performed without performing S310. That is, the setting contents held in advance by the setting device 4 may be selected and applied by causing the setting device 4 to read the card 10c without inputting the setting contents by the card holder. In this case, the setting contents are set in the setting device 4 in advance.
[0050]
The setting device 4 accepts this change and transmits it to the setting content changing means 14 of the card 10c in a contact or non-contact manner. The change of the setting content transmitted from the setting device 4 is received by the receiving means 11 of the card 10c, and the setting content changing means 14 instructs the correspondence between the identification information and the operation pattern in the command means 13 according to the change. Change relationships. FIG. 6B is a conceptual diagram when the correspondence relationship in FIG. 6A is changed using the third embodiment.
[0051]
Through the above process, before the change, the operation of the operation pattern A was performed when the identification information 1 was received, and the operation of the operation pattern B was performed when the identification information 2 was received. When the identification information 1 is received, the operation pattern C is performed, and when the identification information 2 is received, the operation unit 12 of the card 10c performs the operation of the operation pattern D.
[0052]
Each means and database in the present invention are only logically distinguished in their functions, and may have the same physical or practical area. Needless to say, a data file may be used instead of the database, and the description of the database includes the data file.
[0053]
In carrying out the present invention, a recording medium storing a software program for realizing the functions of the present embodiment is supplied to the system, and the system computer is realized by reading and executing the program stored in the recording medium. It's natural.
[0054]
In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program is recorded naturally constitutes the present invention.
[0055]
As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a magnetic disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.
[0056]
When the computer executes the readout program, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system or the like running on the computer executes one of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program. It goes without saying that a case may be included in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing all or part of the processes.
[0057]
Further, after the program read from the recording medium is written to a nonvolatile or volatile recording means provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program is read by the instruction of the program. On the basis of this, it goes without saying that the arithmetic processing device or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even if the cardholder does not previously recognize a store or the like where the card can be used as in the related art, if the cardholder is located inside or around the store or the like, the card body can be used. Enables a cardholder to dynamically operate a cardholder and a card system for making it function. This allows the cardholder to dynamically inform the cardholder that the card can be used, even if the cardholder does not know that the card can be used, even if he has abandoned the purchase at the store. As a result, it is less likely that stores lose sales opportunities to cardholders.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a card system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the card of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the process flow of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the process flow of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a correspondence between an operation pattern and identification information.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Card system 2: Control device 3: Transmitting device 4: Setting device 10: Card 11: Receiving means 12: Operating means 13: Command means 14: Setting contents changing means

Claims (11)

Receiving means for supplying power to the card by receiving electromagnetic waves, sound waves or light rays,
Operating means for performing dynamic operation based on the power supplied by the receiving means. Receiving means for supplying power to the card by receiving power supplied by the transmitting means;
Operating means for performing dynamic operation based on the power supplied by the receiving means. As the dynamic operation,
The card according to claim 1, wherein the card includes one of light emission, blinking, display of a character or a graphic, voice transmission, and vibration. When performing light emission, blinking, or displaying characters or graphics as the dynamic operation, the operation means is a light emitting diode or electronic paper,
The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the card operates dynamically by emitting light, blinking, or displaying characters or graphics on the light emitting diode or electronic paper. When making a voice call as the dynamic operation,
The operating means is a small speaker,
The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein dynamic operation is performed by transmitting voice from the small speaker. When performing vibration as the dynamic operation,
The operating means is a minimal vibration motor,
The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a dynamic operation is performed by vibrating the minimal vibration motor. The card is
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit configured to further receive the identification information in the receiving unit, and to issue a signal indicating whether or not the operation unit operates or an operation pattern based on the received identification information. Item 7. The card according to any one of Items 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting content changing unit configured to determine whether or not the command unit is operated or to change an operation pattern based on information received from a setting device for reading / writing the card in contact or non-contact. The card according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A card system for operating the card according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A control device for controlling transmission of electromagnetic waves, sound waves or light rays,
A transmitting device for transmitting an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a light beam based on the control device. A card system for operating the card according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A control device for controlling power supplied by contacting the card,
A transmitting device for supplying power to the card by contacting the card. The card system comprises:
11. The card system according to claim 9, further comprising a setting device for causing the card to change the presence / absence of an operation of the card and an operation pattern.

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