JP2006236197A - Charge processing system and charge processing method using recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charge processing system capable of automatically performing, when balance correction of a card is needed, the balance correction in using the card. <P>SOLUTION: In this system adapted to execute charge processing based on balance information recorded in the card 10, a central system 40 delivers correction information for ensuring the matching property with the balance information in the card 10 to a local server 30. The local server 30 confirms, in general use of the card 10, whether or not correction is needed, and writes correction information to the card 10 which needs the correction, thereby ensuring the matching property with the balance information managed in the central system 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fee processing system that uses a recording medium such as an IC card, for example, and performs usage fee processing including charging processing.

  In recent years, for example, when using services such as railroads or purchasing goods, a billing process (collection or payment process) and settlement using a recording medium (hereinafter simply referred to as a card) such as an IC card or a magnetic card. A system for performing processing has been put into practical use.

  In such a system, it is necessary to manage the balance (available amount) that can be used by the card. As this management system, a system that executes so-called prepaid processing and billing processing by a central system that is online connected to the card terminal device, and the balance information held in the card, billing processing and settlement processing based on the balance information Are roughly divided into methods for executing

  The former method is a method represented by so-called web money. The card only holds number information (identification information), and the balance information (value information) is held and managed by the central system. On the other hand, the latter method is a method applied to highway cards (highway prepaid cards), telephone cards, and watermelons (Suica). In this method, balance information (value information) is held in the card.

  Among these methods, from the viewpoint of convenience and processing efficiency, a non-contact method using a card holding balance information is becoming widespread. This non-contact method is a method in which billing processing is performed without contact between a card and a system that performs payment processing. However, in the non-contact method, since processing speed is required, online processing in the central system is difficult. On the other hand, a situation such as a data processing omission in wireless communication or a billing processing error due to speed processing is likely to occur. In addition, since the service provider uses a charging form that dynamically changes by taking advantage of the electronic charging method, system errors are likely to occur. For this reason, it is necessary to correct the balance information after the billing process.

  Normally, in the balance management method using a card, the balance information in the card is positive, but in the case of the non-contact method, it is assumed that the accounting process is inconsistent. Information needs to be managed.

In short, correction of balance information is required in order to maintain consistency between balance information in the card and balance information in the central system. Conventionally, for a ticket having a prepaid function, a method has been proposed in which a balance is replenished at the same time as fare adjustment at a ticket gate of a station (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, when a shortage of balance in the card occurs, a method for guiding the fact by voice or the like has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-70676 A JP 2002-304646 A

  In the method of the above-mentioned prior art document 1, when there is a need to replenish a balance for a boarding ticket, credit relating to settlement is performed, and the balance is replenished based on the credit result. Therefore, when a mismatch between the ticket balance and the original correct balance occurs due to a mistake in billing processing or the like, it is not possible to make a correction for ensuring the consistency.

  In the method of Prior Art Document 2, the card user goes to a specific terminal device installation location to correct the balance, and the card balance is corrected there. Therefore, troublesome correspondence is required for the card user.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fee processing system capable of automatically performing the balance correction when the card is used when the balance of the card needs to be corrected.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, balance information is automatically corrected when the card is used by distributing to a local system including correction information for ensuring consistency with balance information recorded on a card (recording medium). It is a fee processing system.

  A fee processing system according to an aspect of the present invention is a system for executing fee processing based on balance information recorded on a recording medium, a storage means for storing balance information for each recording medium, and a recording medium recorded on the recording medium. Correction processing means for generating correction information for correcting the balance information, and means for transmitting the correction information to a device for rewriting the balance information of the recording medium. It is a configuration.

  With the system of the present invention, it is possible to provide a fee processing system capable of automatically performing the balance correction when the card is used when it is necessary to correct the balance of the card.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a system according to the present embodiment.

  This embodiment assumes a fee processing system that uses a card 10 containing a recording medium such as an IC card to perform fee processing such as billing processing and settlement processing. This system is roughly divided into a central system 40 that executes fee processing and a local system connected to the central system 40 via a communication line.

  The local system includes a terminal device 20 and a local server 30. The terminal device 20 writes balance information or the like associated with the billing process to the card 10 used by the user at the time of use, or reads the balance information or the like. As a specific example, the terminal device 20 corresponds to, for example, a ticket vending machine such as a station or a terminal installed at a toll gate such as an expressway.

  The local server 30 performs data communication with the terminal device 20, outputs write information (such as correction information described later) to the terminal device 20, and inputs information read from the terminal device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the local server 30 includes a correction information database (DB) 300 that stores correction information for correcting the balance information of the card 10, and periodically uses the card 10 usage information 200. Send to.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the central system 40 has a usage information database (DB) 400 that stores usage information transmitted from the local server 30, and executes fee processing such as billing processing and settlement processing. Further, as will be described later, the central system 40 has correction information database (DB) 410 that generates correction information for consistency with balance information in the card 10 and stores the correction information.

(Price processing procedure)
The fee processing procedure according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 together with FIG.

  For example, when the user inserts the card 10 into the terminal device 20, for example, the local server 30 executes a billing process (payment process for the usage fee) according to the use (purchase of service or goods) (step S1). Further, the local server 30 executes prepaid processing on the card 10 in response to a user request.

  Here, a unique medium identification number (denoted as medium ID) is assigned to the card 10. The local server 30 generates usage information (billing information and balance information in a narrow sense) associated with the billing process together with the medium ID of the card 10 from the terminal device 20, and transmits it to the central system 40 (step S2). The billing information includes the amount of the usage fee, the item, the date of use, the place of use (where the terminal 20 is installed), and the like. The balance information is information indicating a balance amount after billing (amount that can be used by the user). In the case of prepaid processing, the usage information is balance information.

  When receiving the usage information (including the medium ID) transmitted from the local server 30, the central system 40 stores the usage information in the usage information database 400 (step S11). The central system 40 uses the usage information stored in the usage information database 400 to execute various fee processing such as prepaid processing, settlement processing, or payment aggregation processing.

  In the present embodiment, the central system 40 checks the usage information for each medium ID, extracts information to be corrected, such as a leakage of billing information due to a processing system error or data transmission loss, and generates correction information (step) S12). That is, a mismatch occurs between the balance information recorded in the card 10 and the balance information grasped by the central system 40 due to an error in billing information. The correction information corresponds to balance change information for correcting the inconsistency.

  Further, the correction information includes not only the occurrence of an error in billing information but also additional correction information such as prepaid accumulation information from an Internet website or the like, and prepaid accumulation information corresponding to point addition or the like. That is, since the actual balance amount is increased by the prepaid accumulation information, the balance information recorded in the card 10 is inconsistent.

  The central system 40 generates correction information with the medium ID and the code number of the correction information added, and stores it in the correction information database 410 (step S13). The central system 40 transmits the correction information stored in the correction information database 410 to the local server 30 at an appropriate frequency (or periodically) (step S14). Here, when there are a plurality of local servers 30, the central system 40 distributes all or some of the local servers 30.

  On the other hand, the local server 30 stores the correction information distributed from the central system 40 in the correction information database 300 (step S3). Each time the user requests use of the card 10, the local server 30 refers to the correction information database 300 to check whether there is a medium ID to be corrected (steps S7 and S4). That is, when the usage request card 10 is inserted, the terminal device 20 reads the medium ID from the card 10 and outputs it to the local server 30.

  When the medium ID to be corrected exists in the correction information database 300 (when hit), the local server 30 notifies the user before normal use (billing process or prepaid process) and corrects the process. Is executed (step S5). That is, the local server 30 writes correction information in the card 10 via the terminal device 20 (step S8).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the local server 30 refers to the correction history information 100 stored in the card 10 and determines whether or not the same code number as the code number of the current correction information exists. To check. That is, when the correction information is written in the card 10, the local server 30 records the code number of the correction information in the card 10 as the correction history information 100. This prevents the correction process from being executed twice.

  After writing the correction information to the card 10, the local server 30 transmits correction completion information indicating that the correction processing has been completed to the central system 40 (step S6). The correction completion information includes a medium ID to be corrected, correction billing information (balance change information), and a code number of the correction information. Note that the local server 30 shifts to normal use processing (billing processing and prepaid processing) of the card 10 after the correction processing is completed.

  The central system 40 confirms the completion of the correction process by receiving the correction completion information from the local server 30. Then, the central system 40 deletes the correction information (including the code number of the correction information) that has been corrected from the correction information database 410 (step S15). Thereby, the central system 40 can remove the correction information for which the correction processing has been completed from the correction information to be distributed next time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the central system 40 distributes correction information (balance change information) for correcting inconsistencies with balance information in the card 10 to the local server 30 on a regular basis, for example. . The local server 30 writes correction information distributed to the corresponding card 10 when the user uses the card 10.

  Thereby, the balance information in the card 10 is automatically updated without the user being particularly conscious. Accordingly, the balance information in the card 10 can ensure consistency with the balance information managed by the central system 40 even if a billing processing error occurs.

  According to this embodiment, the following specific effects can be obtained.

  First, as a merit of the business operator who operates the system, the balance information in the card 10 can be automatically corrected, so that it is possible to reduce labor such as notification regarding correction to the user of the card 10. At least, there is no need to install a correction window or a dedicated terminal device. Furthermore, even in the case of an anonymity card 10 without personal registration, the correction process can be performed.

  On the other hand, as a user's merit, since the balance information in the card 10 is automatically corrected to an appropriate state without the user being aware of it, the user has to bother to the window and the terminal device for the correction. There is no need to visit. In addition, since automatic correction processing in the card 10 can be realized, it is easy to realize various services such as prepaid increase processing via the Internet and prepaid increase processing according to point addition or the like.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the system regarding this embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence of the system regarding this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... card, 20 ... terminal device, 30 ... local server, 40 ... central system,
300 ... Correction information database (DB), 400 ... Usage information database (DB),
410 ... Correction information database (DB).

Claims (8)

In a fee processing system that executes fee processing based on balance information recorded on a recording medium,
Storage means for storing balance information for each recording medium;
Correction processing means for generating correction information for correcting the balance information in order to maintain consistency with the balance information recorded on the recording medium;
A fee processing system comprising: means for transmitting the correction information to a device that rewrites balance information of the recording medium when used. Correction information storage means for storing the correction information generated by the correction processing means for each recording medium;
Means for invalidating correction information corresponding to the recording medium stored in the correction information storage means after correction of balance information of the recording medium based on the correction information is executed; The fee processing system according to claim 1, wherein: Each recording medium has usage information storage means for storing usage information including balance information,
The correction processing means generates the correction information when a state occurs that is inconsistent with balance information recorded on a recording medium with reference to the usage information. The charge processing system described in the section. A local system that executes billing processing based on balance information recorded on a recording medium;
A central system connected to the local system via a communication line, receiving usage information including balance information associated with the billing process transmitted from the local system, and executing usage fee processing based on the usage information; Have
The central system is
Storage means for storing the identification information of the recording medium included in the usage information and the balance information in association with each other;
Correction processing means for generating correction information for correcting the balance information in order to maintain consistency with the balance information recorded on the recording medium;
A fee processing system comprising: means for transmitting the correction information to the local system. The local system is
Means for communicating with a terminal device for rewriting the balance information on a recording medium;
5. The fee processing system according to claim 4, wherein the terminal device is controlled to rewrite balance information recorded on the recording medium based on the correction information transmitted from the central system. The central system is
Correction information storage means for storing the correction information for each identification information;
When the correction of the balance information of the recording medium based on the correction information is notified from the local system, the correction information corresponding to the recording medium stored in the correction information storage unit is invalidated 5. The fee processing system according to claim 4, further comprising: means. A charge processing method applied to a charge processing system that executes charge processing based on balance information recorded on a recording medium,
Storing balance information for each recording medium;
Generating correction information for correcting the balance information in order to maintain consistency with the balance information recorded on the recording medium;
A fee processing method for executing a procedure including a step of transmitting the correction information to an apparatus for rewriting balance information of the recording medium. A local system that executes billing processing based on balance information recorded on a recording medium;
A charge that includes a central system that is connected to the local system via a communication line, receives use information including balance information that is transmitted from the local system and accompanies the charge process, and executes charge processing based on the use information A charge processing method applied to a processing system,
The central system is
Storing the identification information of the recording medium included in the usage information and the balance information in association with each other;
Generating correction information for correcting the balance information in order to maintain consistency with the balance information recorded on the recording medium;
A fee processing method comprising: executing a procedure including a step of transmitting the correction information to the local system.

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