JP2006056225A - Point card and point card processor for processing this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point card in which game information is invisibly stored when it is issued and then, the game information is successively visibly displayed, and a point card processor. <P>SOLUTION: The point card is composed of a point column printed with point marks, a game column printed with game information, and a storing part for storing invisibly the point information and the game information. The point card processing apparatus stores the game information and the point conversion rate in a storing region, converts an amount of money used into the point to give the point, prints the point mark in the point column and stores it in the storing part, and get access to the storing part to successively visibly print the game information corresponding to the number of point marks in the game column. In addition, the game information and the like stored in a setting card are stored in a storing region of the point card processing apparatus, and the game information and the like are written in the storing part of an unused point card to issue the point card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention belongs to a point card, which is issued at the first use of a customer by a store, gives points according to the customer's usage amount, and becomes a cash voucher or a gift when the total point exceeds a reference value, It belongs to a point card to which game information is added and a point card processing apparatus for processing the card.

  In stores and restaurants (hereinafter referred to as “shops”), points are given according to the customer's usage amount, and customers can receive discounts on product prices by accumulating points. Point cards that can be exchanged for are widely used.

  The point card is issued when the customer uses the card for the first time at the store. Each time a customer who owns a point card uses the store, points are awarded at a point conversion rate corresponding to the amount of use, and are displayed on the point card by printing or the like. When the total point of the point card reaches a predetermined reference value, it can be used as a cash voucher or exchanged for a prize. The total points of the point card are stored in a storage unit such as a magnetic storage unit or an IC chip provided on the card, for example, and checked that the total point has exceeded the reference value by checking with the storage unit. indicate. As described above, the point card has an advantage that a customer can acquire a cash voucher or a prize by adding points, and a store can expect the customer to acquire.

  There are also point card systems that add game elements to point cards. For example, as the game element, there is a point card with a game in which a plurality of game squares such as a bingo game displaying game information are arranged in addition to the point column. With such a point card with a game, every time a customer uses a store, points are given at a point conversion rate corresponding to the amount of money used, and characters such as numbers or letters are randomly assigned for each certain amount of money used. Displayed on the game screen by printing or the like. When the same character is lined up vertically, horizontally, or in a name, or when the same number of characters or more are displayed, bonus points for winning the game are awarded or the amount of the voucher is increased. Depending on the type of character, different bonus points are given and the amount of cash vouchers is increased by changing the game winning grade.

In Patent Document 1, a game winning probability (probability of winning in a game) and a point conversion rate (amount of money used and a conversion ratio of points) are set for each store, and game information is recorded invisibly. A point card with a game issued by a point card issuing company of another organization is disclosed. The store only needs to purchase a point card with a game in which the winning information is invisible and can save the burden of setting the winning probability and the point conversion rate.
JP-A-9-245089, FIGS. 2 to 4, paragraphs 0034 to 0040, and the like.

  At first glance, it is efficient for a store to purchase a card from a point card issuing company as in Patent Document 1, but for example, when the customer attraction level is low, the winning probability and point conversion rate from the store side. Reissuing a game point card with a changed winning probability or point conversion rate has been extremely troublesome for a point card issuing company.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a novel point card that enables a store side to issue a point card with game information by freely changing a winning probability, a point conversion rate, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a point card processing apparatus for processing this.

  The present invention for solving the above problems is configured as follows. In other words, the point card includes a point column for printing a point mark by converting the amount used, points, a game column for printing game information according to the number of point marks in the point column, and point information displayed in the point column. And a storage unit for invisibly storing game information printed in the game field.

  The point card processing device for processing the above point card stores the input game information and the point conversion rate in the storage area, converts the use amount into points using the point conversion rate, and gives points. Point or a point mark corresponding to the added value is printed in the point column and stored as point information in the storage unit, and game information corresponding to the number of point marks is sequentially and visually displayed in the game column. It is configured to print. Also, the game information stored in the setting card having the storage area is read out by the point card processing device and stored in the storage area, and the game information is written in the storage unit of the unused point card to issue the point card. You can also.

  In the present invention, game information invisibly stored in a point card is merely visibly displayed sequentially according to the amount used in the store, so a general-purpose point card processing device is prepared in the store. It is possible to play a game by itself, and it is not necessary to prepare hardware or software for playing a game on the spot by generating random numbers. The game information such as winning information and the point conversion rate may be set in several stages and recorded, for example, in a storage area of a setting card capable of magnetic storage. During the sales period, the point card after changing the game information and point conversion rate in the storage area of the point card processing device by passing the setting card through the point card processing device according to the discount time zone during the sales period Can be issued, or points can be added to the issued point card by converting points according to the amount used.

  As game information, for example, game squares are arranged vertically and horizontally, game marks such as numbers and letters are assigned, and sequentially visualized according to point data, and the same game in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal directions in the game squares. When the marks are lined up or when a predetermined number or more of the same game marks are displayed, bonus points can be given as “winning” or the amount of the voucher is increased, and in other cases, “lost” can be set. The game information is set in advance in the set card before issuing the point card, and the game information is stored invisible on each point card before issuing the point card. When using the total number of points as a condition for visualizing game information, set the number of display unit points necessary to visualize one of the game marks, and visualize the game mark every time the reference point is reached You can do it.

  As the game information storage unit that stores the game information invisible, for example, a magnetic storage unit such as a magnetic stripe or a semiconductor storage unit such as an IC chip can be used. After the winning probability and the point conversion rate are individually set on the store side, the game information can be stored by writing the game information in the game information storage unit of the unused point card. When a point card is issued to a customer at a store, individual information such as a store number, a branch number, a date / management number, and the like can be stored in the storage unit in addition to the game information. Further, in order to visually print (display) a point mark, a game mark, etc. on the point card, printing by a printer, thermal recording by a thermal head or the like on a thermal recording layer, or the like can be employed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to execute a game in which game information is sequentially displayed in a store by using a point card that stores game information invisible at the time of issuance. As a result, the store only needs to prepare a general-purpose point card processing device that does not have an arithmetic function, and the game processing of point cards can be remarkably simplified.

  The game information such as winning information and the point conversion rate can be set in several stages and recorded in a storage area of a setting card such as a magnetic storage card. By doing so, the store side can easily set the game information and the point conversion rate in the storage area of the point card processing device by passing the setting card through the point card processing device according to the sales period and the discount time zone. The above point card can be issued after being changed, and points can be added to the already issued point card by converting points according to the point conversion rate changed according to the amount of use.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a point card in the present embodiment. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of winning patterns of game information in the present embodiment. In the heat-sensitive recording layer on the surface side of the point card 1 in this embodiment, an individual information column 10, a point column 11, and a game column 12 are provided.
The individual information column 10 displays store-side individual information such as the issue date, issue number, and expiration date. In the point column 11, up to 100 point marks 11a assigned at a point conversion rate corresponding to the usage amount are displayed. In the game cells 12a and 12c in the game column 12, game marks 12b and 12d such as numbers, characters, or figures are displayed for each fixed number of point marks 11a based on the game information. The point card 1 incorporates a magnetic stripe (not shown). When the point card 1 is issued, the game information and the individual information are stored in the storage unit of the point card 1, and the point mark 11a is stored when the point card 1 is operated. The point information including the total number is stored in the storage unit of the point card 1.

  Hereinafter, the winning patterns of the game marks 12b and 12d printed in the game column 12 will be exemplified. In FIG. 2, the game cell 12a is composed of 6 cells in 2 rows and 3 columns, and the number as the game mark 12b of the winning pattern is 3 for 1 first prize and 3 for 2 characters. When printed, 2nd prize is won, and when 3 characters are printed, 3rd prize is awarded. In all other cases, it is lost. In FIG. 3, the game cell 12c is composed of 5 cells excluding the four corners from 3 rows and 3 columns, and the crown mark as the game mark 12d of the winning pattern is the first prize, the crown when five crown marks are printed. When 4 marks are printed, 2nd prize is won, and when 3 crown marks are printed, 3rd prize is won. In all other cases, it is lost. In addition to the above-described game, for example, a game cell having 3 rows and 3 columns may be arranged to perform a bingo game. Note that the type of game is determined by the game information stored on the point card processing device side.

Next, the configuration of the point card processing device will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the point card processing apparatus in the present embodiment. The point card processing device 2 that issues the point card 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 20, a storage unit 21 that stores and stores game information, point conversion rate information, and the like in which a winning probability is set for each store, Input unit 22 such as a keyboard, reader / writer 23 for storing game information in the storage unit of the point card 1, thermal for displaying characters and the like in the individual information column 10, the point column 11 and the game column 12 of the point card 1 A printing unit 24 including a head, a monitor unit 25 for displaying a work state, an insertion port 26 for inserting the point card 1 into the point card processing device 2, and for discharging the point card 1 from the point card processing device 2. And a discharge port 27.
Note that the point card processing device 2 can be connected to a post register 3 equipped with a barcode reading device, for example, so that manual input such as a usage amount can be automated.

  Next, setting of the point card processing device 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the setting mode of the point card processing apparatus in this embodiment. To set the point card processing device 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the point card processing device 2 is activated to enter the setting mode (a), and a game information setting card magnetically storing game information is inserted from the insertion slot 26. After inserting (b), the game information is read out by the reader / writer 23, the game information is written in the storage unit 21 of the point card processing device 2 (c), and then discharged from the outlet 27 (d).

Similarly, for the conversion rate information that determines the point conversion rate according to the usage amount, after starting the point card processing device 2 and setting the mode (a), the conversion rate setting card that magnetically stores the conversion rate information After inserting from the insertion slot 26 (e), the point conversion rate is read by the reader / writer 23, the point conversion rate is written in the storage unit 21 of the point card processing device 2 (f), and then discharged from the discharge port 27 ( d). For individual information on the store side, the point card processing device 2 is activated and set to the setting mode (a), an individual information setting card is inserted from the insertion slot 26 (g), and the individual information is read by the reader / writer 23. After the individual information is written in the storage unit 21 of the point card processing device 2 (h), it is discharged from the discharge port 27 (d).
Further, the conversion rate information and the individual information can be written into the storage unit 21 of the point card processing device 2 by directly inputting from the input unit 22. Using these setting cards is an effective method from the viewpoint of easily and reliably changing settings on the store side (without setting errors).

  Also, a plurality of game information and several point conversion rates are set, recorded on a plurality of game information setting cards and a plurality of conversion rate setting cards, and replaced as necessary. Information, conversion rate information, and individual information can be updated individually. Each of these setting cards can be created in advance by connecting a ROM writer to a device other than the point card processing device 2, for example, a personal computer. In particular, for game information, it is necessary to create a game information setting card that is composed of combinations of different game marks for the winning pattern and the non-winning pattern, and calculated so that the ratio of the winning pattern and the non-winning pattern becomes a desired value. There is. Since it is difficult to set game information in the point card processing apparatus 2 that does not have a calculation function, it is an effective method to use a widely used personal computer. Furthermore, there is a case where the store side wants to use an original game mark. However, if a game mark setting card is created by a personal computer, only the game mark can be changed.

  Next, issuance of point cards by the point card processing device 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the issuing mode of the point card processing apparatus in this embodiment. To newly issue the point card 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the point card processing device 2 is activated to enter the issue mode (i), and then the unused point card 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 26 (j). The CPU 20 reads game information and individual information from the storage unit 21 by the reader / writer 23. The read game information is written in the storage unit of the unused point card 1 and, in the case of the game shown in FIG. 2, the game mark 12 b is set to one of the game squares 12 a of the game column 12 in the point card 1 by the printing unit 24. Are printed (k). The read individual information is also written in the storage unit of the unused point card 1 and printed in the individual information column 10 of the point card 1 by the printing unit 24 (l). Finally, the point card 1 is discharged from the discharge port 27 and the point card 1 is issued to the customer (m).

  Next, the operation of the point card 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the point mode of the point card processing apparatus in this embodiment. In order to give points to the point card 1, as shown in FIG. 7, after starting the point card processing apparatus 2 to enter the point mode (o), the point card 1 deposited from the customer is inserted (p). Subsequently, the usage amount is input from the input unit 22 or the post register 3 (q), and the points to be given are calculated from the point conversion rate stored in the storage unit 21 (r). The reader / writer 23 reads the point information stored in the storage unit of the point card 1, writes and updates the added value with the added point in the storage unit, and prints the point mark 11 a in the point column 11 of the point card 1. (S).

Next, it is compared whether the updated point information exceeds the display unit of game information (for example, every 20 points) (t), and if the updated point information exceeds the display unit of game information, the leader The writer 23 reads the game marks 12b and 12d to be printed from the game information stored in the storage unit of the point card 1, and prints them in the game column 12 for visualization (u). When all the game squares 12a and 12c are printed in this way, it is determined whether the combination of the game marks 12b and 12d is a winning pattern or a non-winning pattern (v). Then, if the game is a winning pattern, the cash voucher is increased according to the grade (w), and the added points are not allowed to be added and discharged from the outlet 27 (x). When the updated point information exceeds the display unit of the game information (t), and if it does not exceed the display unit of the game information, the point card 1 is removed from the outlet 27 in a state where points can be added. Discharge and finish (x).

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of a point card. It is explanatory drawing of the winning pattern of game information. It is explanatory drawing of the winning pattern of game information. It is a block diagram of a point card processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the setting mode of a point card processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the issue mode of a point card processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the point mode of a point card processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Point Card 10 Individual Information Field 11 Point Field 11a Point Mark 12 Game Field 12a Game Mass 12b Game Mark 12c Game Mass 12d Game Mark 2 Point Card Processing Device 20 CPU
21 Storage Unit 22 Input Unit 23 Reader / Writer 24 Printing Unit 25 Monitor Unit 26 Insertion Port 27 Discharge Port 3 Post-registration

Claims (3)

A point field that prints the point mark by converting the usage amount into points,
A game field for sequentially printing game information according to the number of point marks in the point field;
A storage unit for invisibly storing the point information displayed in the point column and the game information printed in the game column;
The point card characterized by having. A point card processing device for processing the point card according to claim 1,
Store the input game information and point conversion rate in the storage area,
Use the point conversion rate to convert the usage amount into points and give points,
A point mark corresponding to the given point or its added value is printed in the point column and stored as point information in the storage unit,
A point card processing device for accessing the storage unit and sequentially printing game information corresponding to the number of point marks in a game column.   The game information stored in a setting card having a storage area is read by a point card processing device, stored in the storage area, the game information is written in a storage unit of an unused point card, and a point card is issued The point card processing device according to claim 2.

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