JP2009053848A - Information storage medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly read media with different data formats. <P>SOLUTION: This information storage medium processor is provided with: a data read means for reading data stored in a portable information recording medium; a format storage means for storing a data format; and a determination means for determining readability of the content of the read data based on the format read by the format storage means. This information storage medium processor is provided with: a format input means for inputting the data format of the information storage means; and a format updating means for adding, correcting, or deleting the data format based on the input information, and for updating and storing the format. The determination means determines the content of the data read from the information storage means based on the data format when a new data format is stored by the format updating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information storage medium processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an information storage medium processing apparatus for making it possible to quickly read an input of a different data format.

  Conventionally, an information storage medium processing apparatus that reads data from an information storage medium such as an ID card, a credit card, or a members card and performs predetermined data processing is specified data such as a company name recorded on a card or the like to be read by the apparatus. The recording location of the data (for example, the number of characters from the first character of the recorded data) and the content of the recording are determined to conform to a predetermined data format stored in the device in advance. Cards with data formats that are not accepted cannot be accepted. Therefore, in order to be able to read incompatible card data, a dedicated terminal is installed for each data having a different normal format, and information in the card is read by a user at a predetermined terminal.

In addition, when trying to read a card of a plurality of types of data formats, the terminal stores a plurality of data formats in a storage unit or the like in advance, and the user inputs the type of card to the card. The contents of the card are read based on the corresponding data format (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-138003

  However, in the above-described prior art, it is necessary to grasp the data format of the card to be used in advance and store it in the storage unit in the processing device in advance. For this reason, when it is necessary to read a card in a data format that is not stored in the storage unit after the processing device is installed in the field, the storage unit is renewed so that this data format can be handled by a contractor. It is necessary to request to store a proper data format, and it has not been possible to quickly cope with the above-described unreadable state of the card that occurs in the field.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information storage medium processing apparatus that can be quickly read even when an input has a different data format.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs means for solving the problems having the following characteristics.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a data reading means for reading data stored in a portable information recording medium, a format storage means for storing a data format stored in the information storage medium, and the data reading means. An information storage medium processing apparatus comprising: determination means for determining whether or not data can be read based on the format stored in the format storage means for inputting the data format of the information storage medium Format input means, and based on the information input by the format input means, the data format is added to or modified from the format storage means, or the data format stored in the format storage means is deleted. Update and remember Format update means, and the determination means determines the content of data read from the information storage medium based on the data format when a new data format is stored by the format update means. And

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to quickly read even an input of a different data format. Further, since the format of the information storage medium can be directly stored in the format storage means at the installation site of the apparatus, it is possible to quickly cope with a trouble that the format is not stored.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the determination unit determines whether the data format read from the information storage medium and the data format stored in the format storage unit match, and does not match. An informing means for informing the abnormality is provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and easily determine whether or not data from the information storage medium can be read by the determining means.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the data reading means can switch and read a plurality of information storage media storing information having a plurality of different data formats.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, data of a plurality of different formats can be read by one apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a totaling means for totaling predetermined items based on the contents of the data format read from the information storage medium.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily acquire the data totaling result, and based on this result, it is possible to provide a service with high added value to the user.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly read even an input of a different data format.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an information storage medium processing device used in a fueling system such as a gas station will be described as an example of the information storage medium processing device. A member card (magnetic card) is used as an example of a portable information storage medium.

<Information storage medium processing apparatus: hardware configuration example>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information storage medium processing device according to the present invention. An information storage medium processing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to at least one weighing machine 11-1 to 11-3 in a state where data can be transmitted and received, and a display 12 as a screen display means; A printer 13 as output means, a card reader 14 as information reading means, a card format storage unit 15, and a control device 16 are configured.

  The measuring machines 11-1 to 11-3 are devices for measuring the amount of oil such as gasoline, light oil, heavy oil, kerosene, etc. installed in an oil supply system such as a gas station. The weighing machines 11-1 to 11-3 perform refueling in accordance with an instruction based on refueling permission or refueling information from the information storage medium processing device 10, and output measured data to the control device 16 of the information storage medium processing device 10. To do. In FIG. 1, the number of weighing machines 11 is three, but is not particularly limited in the present invention.

  The display device 12 displays various conditions for allowing the user to input predetermined input conditions such as oil type and amount when refueling, using a touch panel such as a liquid crystal monitor. The indicator 12 displays a message to that effect, a refueling result, and the like at the start and end of refueling based on various conditions set by the user.

  The display unit 12 displays part or all of the card information read by the card reader 14 or the like, or displays a message to that effect when the card is read or if there is an error in the card information. Further, when there is an update process such as addition, correction, or deletion of the data format in the present embodiment, the display unit 12 displays a message to that effect to the user.

  In the present invention, not only the display unit 12 but also a voice output device such as a speaker can be installed, and the user can be notified by voice at the start or end of refueling or when an error occurs.

  The printer 13 prints and outputs a refueling result, a refueling time, user information included in the card information read by the card reader 14 on a print medium. Note that the print medium is, for example, paper (cut paper, roll paper) or the like, and is used for receipts, slips, and the like.

  The card reader 14 reads information recorded on a magnetic recording card such as a member's card or a credit card used by the user. Note that the card reader 14 may be provided with a function of writing (card writer) at a predetermined position in a storable area in the card when applied to a system or the like in which points are added by using the card. Good.

  The card format storage unit 15 stores information read by the card reader 14. Specifically, the card format storage unit 15 stores the contents of data corresponding to different formats as information read by the card reader 14 for each item. Accordingly, since the format of the information storage medium can be directly stored in the format storage unit 15 at the installation site of the apparatus, it is possible to quickly cope with reading of a card in which no data format is stored. The card format storage unit 15 can also store user information, refueling information obtained from the weighing machine 11 and the like in addition to various data formats.

  The control device 16 controls the entire functional configuration of the information storage medium processing device 10. Specifically, the control device 16 acquires the user information read from the card and each measurement data from the weighing machine 11, and displays the refueling result on the display 12 based on the contents, or the user information by the printer 13. If the data format read from the card reader 14 does not exist in the card format storage unit 15, the data format is updated. In addition, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the data format read from the card matches the data format stored in the format storage unit 15, and performs a process such as not performing a refueling process if they do not match. .

<Information storage medium processing apparatus: functional configuration example>
Next, a functional configuration example of the information storage medium processing device 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information storage medium processing device according to the present invention.

  The information storage medium processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes an input unit 21, an output unit 22, a storage unit 23, a data reading unit 24, a format input unit 25, a format update unit 26, a determination unit 27, The notification unit 28, the totaling unit 29, the communication interface unit 30, and the control unit 31 are included.

  The input means 21 accepts input of various instructions such as input of data for refueling by a touch panel method using a liquid crystal monitor or the like from a user or the like, reading of card information using a card reader, and the like. Note that the input unit 21 is not limited to the touch panel system, and for example, a dedicated operation button or the like may be provided, or a microphone or the like may be provided to input by voice.

  The output means 22 outputs various data such as the instruction content input by the input means 21 and the refueling information set based on the instruction content on a liquid crystal monitor, a speaker or the like and outputs the data.

  The output unit 22 has a function as a printing unit that prints and outputs predetermined information on a printing medium such as paper. For example, the output unit 22 outputs refueling information or the like as a receipt or a slip by a printer such as a receipt issuing machine. Can do. Accordingly, the output means 22 includes a liquid crystal monitor, a speaker, a receipt issuing machine, and the like. The liquid crystal monitor described above has both functions of the input means 21 and the output means 22.

  The storage unit 23 stores information such as the format read from the information storage medium such as a card by the data reading unit 24. The storage unit 23 is a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores refueling information generated for each refueling (for example, a refueling time, a refueling amount, a refueling result such as oil type), user information obtained from a card, and the like. In addition, an execution program such as an application in the present invention can be stored, and various data can be input / output as necessary.

  The data reading means 24 reads various data stored in an information storage medium such as a card. The data reading means 24 is composed of, for example, a contact or non-contact type card reader. Further, the data reading means 24 may have a writing function for writing in a predetermined position on the card in order to store the addition of points accompanying the use and the subtraction due to the use of the points in the card.

  The format input means 25 inputs a data format stored in an information storage medium such as a card. The format update means 26 is stored in the storage means 23 based on the format information (for example, format selection and format name described later) stored in the information storage medium input from the format input means 25. Update processing such as addition, correction, or deletion of a certain format is performed, and the data is stored in the storage means 23.

  The determination unit 27 determines whether or not the data can be read based on the data read from the information storage medium and the data format stored in the storage unit 23. Specifically, the determination unit 27 determines the coincidence between the data format read from the information storage medium and the data format stored in the storage unit 23. The coincidence is determined by, for example, data items such as “format selection”, “format name”, and “card check code” described later stored in both data.

  In addition, when the data format read from the card by the determination unit 27 and the data format stored in the storage unit 23 do not match, the notification unit 28 reports error information indicating the fact. The notification means 28 may be a notification by sound or may display a message to that effect on the display screen. Thereby, the user can recognize quickly and easily that there is a mismatch. Thereby, it is possible to quickly and easily determine whether or not data from an information storage medium such as a card can be read.

  The totaling means 29 totals the content of data read from an information storage medium such as a card, the number of times of use for each card, the amount of fuel, and the total points. Further, when the card has group information or the like, the totaling unit 29 can perform totaling for each group. Note that the counting unit 29 can store the counting result in the storage unit 23, and can also transmit it to the external terminal through the communication interface unit 30. Thus, by providing the totaling means 29, the totalization result of various data can be acquired easily, and a service with high added value can be provided to the user based on this result.

  Moreover, the communication interface means 30 performs transmission / reception of the data with external terminals, such as the weighing machine 11 mentioned above, a personal computer, etc., for example. Accordingly, the communication interface unit 30 outputs, for example, the data format, the refueling information, the totaling result, etc. stored in the storage unit 23 to the external terminal, or the data format, various setting information, and the execution necessary for the refueling system from the external terminal. A program etc. can be acquired. Note that the communication interface unit 30 can arbitrarily communicate with an external terminal regardless of wired or wireless, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), infrared rays, non-contact type, and the like.

  Therefore, the communication interface unit 30 may transmit each data stored in the plurality of fuel supply management devices to a management device that centrally manages the data by wireless communication or the like. Thus, for example, the present invention can be applied to a case where data is collected in one place such as a POS (Point Of Sales) system to centrally manage customer information, the state of the system, and the like.

  The control means 31 controls the entire functional configuration in the information storage medium processing device 10. Specifically, the control means 31 inputs a usable data format by the format input means 25 or is read into the storage means 23 in which the data content read by the data reading means 24 and the data format are stored. The determination unit 27 determines whether or not at least one format matches. Further, when the format is updated by the format update unit 26 by the determination unit 27, the control unit 31 confirms the consistency with the data content of the information storage medium such as a card based on the content of the new data format. Let them judge.

  Further, the control unit 31 allows the data reading unit 24 to switch and read a plurality of information storage media storing information having a plurality of different data formats. As a result, it is possible to quickly read even an input of a different data format.

  In addition, the control means 31 may notify the sound means or screen display by the notifying means 28 when the data format of the card read by the judging means 27 and the data format stored in the storage means 23 do not match. Control is performed such that the result of refueling is totalized by the totaling means 29, and various data are transmitted and received by the communication interface means 30.

  Furthermore, when the control means 31 determines whether or not the data format of the card to which data is input has already been selected by the touch panel or the like as the output means 22, a format setting flag or the like is provided in advance. Whether the format has been selected can be determined by turning the flag ON / OFF. This flag is turned ON after the data format is set, and this ON / OFF information and the like are stored in the storage means 23.

  With the above-described configuration or the like, it is possible to quickly read even an input of a different data format. Further, since the format of the information storage medium can be directly stored in the storage means (card format storage unit) at the installation site of the apparatus, it is possible to quickly cope with a trouble that the format is not stored.

<Specific examples of data format>
Next, the format selection in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format selection screen.

  In the data format example shown in FIG. 3, as examples of items, for example, “format selection”, “format name”, “fixed code”, “card check code”, “group code”, “car number”, “oil number” It consists of “species designation code”, “customer name” and the like.

  In FIG. 3, for example, A format, Company B, Company C, and the format format in the free format (registered trademark) are set. Therefore, on the display screen which is the output means 22, selection buttons 41 to 44 are displayed on a card format selection screen 40 as shown in FIG. 4, and the data format of each user read by the card reader is selected.

  Further, the “format name” shown in FIG. 3 can be assigned for each format setting, and this name can be confirmed on the screen of POS or the like, for example, to know which format is currently used. it can. For example, in FIG. 3, the data position where the “format name” is stored can be described up to, for example, 16 full-width character strings, but is not particularly limited in the present invention.

  Further, the “fixed code” shown in FIG. 3 designates a portion having the same content in all the cards used. Specifically, it is used for ID code, petroleum certification, and the like. The data position where the “fixed code” is stored is arbitrarily set, for example, between 2 and 70 characters from the beginning, and the data length is composed of 1 to 3 alphanumeric characters.

  The “card check code” is used to determine whether the card can be used in POS or the like. The “card check code” can be used for card registration. The data position where the “card check code” is stored is arbitrarily set, for example, between 2 and 70 characters from the beginning, and the data length is composed of 1 to 7 characters.

  The “group code” is used for card registration and grouping. When the group code is set to “0 (none)”, all cards are handled as one group. The data position where the “group code” is stored is arbitrarily set, for example, from 0 (none) or 2 to 70 characters from the top, and the data length is composed of 0 to 4 single-byte alphanumeric characters. The

  The “car number” is used for card registration and totalization by card. The data position where “vehicle number” is stored is arbitrarily set between 2 and 70 characters from the beginning, for example, and the data length is composed of 1 to 6 single-byte alphanumeric characters.

  The “oil type designation code” is used to designate an oil type that can be used with this card when refueling. As the “oil type designation code”, for example, one liquid type, two liquid types, and all liquid types can be set for a one-byte alphanumeric character code. In addition, when there is no “oil type designation code” frame, all liquid types can be used. The data position where the “oil type designation code” is stored is arbitrarily set, for example, from 0 (none) or 2 to 70 characters from the beginning.

  “Customer name” is customer name data printed on receipts, refueling slips, daily reports, monthly reports, and the like. If there is no “customer name” data, it is not printed on a print medium such as paper. In addition, when a katakana character is designated for the customer name, it is possible to switch between kana notation and alphanumeric notation using SI / SO (shift-in / shift-out) codes. The data position where the “customer name” is stored is arbitrarily set, for example, from 0 (none) or 2 to 70 characters from the beginning, and the data length is composed of 0 to 20 characters in half-width katakana. The

  Here, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is used as an input screen of the fueling system. That is, when the refueling system is turned on and the card format (data format) is not initially set, the refueling card format selection screen 40 is displayed from the menu screen or the like. Then, for example, a card format (specified format) of a predetermined company scheduled to be used at a POS such as a predetermined gas station is selected by the selection buttons 41 to 43. Note that the data formats of Company A to Company C shown in FIG. 4 are registered in advance.

  If a card with a data format not listed (not applicable to Company A to Company C) is planned to be used, the selection button 44 is selected and set in advance to an external storage medium (for example, a USB memory). The specified card format is read in so that it can be specified with a card format other than the one provided in the refueling system.

  The items that can be specified as the format are, for example, the items shown in FIG. 3 described above. By setting the position, data length, data content, etc. of the refueling card data on a personal computer or the like that can be connected to the refueling system, the items can be specified. Make it possible to specify other than the refueling card format. In the present embodiment, the capacity as shown in FIG. 3 is determined assuming the capacity of a magnetic card such as a member's card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an IC (Integrated Circuit) with a large card capacity is used. ) Method cards can be applied by expanding each item.

<Information storage medium processing device 10: refueling processing procedure>
Next, the refueling processing procedure in the information storage medium processing apparatus 10 will be described using a flowchart. In the execution process procedure shown below, a process procedure at startup and a process procedure at normal time will be described below.

<Oil supply procedure at startup>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a refueling procedure at the time of activation. When the system is turned on (S01), it is first determined whether or not a card format has been selected (S02). In this case, for example, a format setting flag of a card format is provided, and it can be determined by whether this flag is ON. If the card format has not been selected (NO in S02), for example, a card format selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (S03).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a specified format has been selected by the process of S03 (S04). If selected (YES in S04), the specified format is set to the format at the time of card reading (S05), and the format is set. The completed flag is turned on (S06).

  Further, in the process of S04, if the specified format is not selected (NO in S04), it is determined whether or not the free format is selected (S07), and if the free format is selected (YES in S07). The format setting screen is displayed (S08), and it is determined whether or not a free format has been selected (S09).

  If no free format is input (NO in S09), the process waits until a free format is input. If a free format is input in the process of S09 (YES in S09), the free format is stored in the card format storage unit (S10), and the free format is set to the format for reading the card (S11).

  Next, a card reading instruction is displayed (S12), and it is determined whether or not a card has been read (S13). If the card has not been read (NO in S13), the process waits until it is read. If the card is read in the process of S13 (YES in S13), it is determined whether or not the card format matches the free format (S14).

  If the card format matches the free format (YES in S14), the format setting flag is turned ON (S15). If the card format does not match the free format (NO in S14), a reading error is displayed (S16), the storage of the format is erased (S17), and the process returns to S04 for subsequent processing. In the process of S16, the user may be notified of an error by voice.

  In the above-described processing of S07, when the free format is not selected (NO in S07), the processing returns to S04 and the subsequent processing is performed. If the card format has already been selected in the process of S02 (YES in S02), the process is terminated after the process of S06 is completed or after the process of S15 is completed.

<Oil supply procedure in normal time>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a refueling procedure in a normal state. First, an initial screen is displayed from a menu screen or the like (S21), and it is determined whether or not card data has been input (S22). If the card data is input (YES in S22), it is next determined whether or not various ID data such as the fixed code, the card check code, and the oil type designation code are correct (S23).

  Next, when the ID data is not correct (NO in S23), the process returns to S21 and waits. At this time, since the ID data is not correct, a message indicating that processing cannot be performed may be displayed on the screen. If the ID data is correct (YES in S23), an input instruction for refueling information (nozzle type, refueling amount, etc.) is displayed (S24).

  Next, based on the input instruction displayed in the process of S24, it is determined whether refueling information has been input (S25). If refueling information has not been input (NO in S25), the process returns to S24 to be described later. Perform the process. In addition, when refueling information is input in the process of S25 (YES in S25), refueling permission and refueling information are transmitted to the designated nozzle (S26). Thereby, refueling can actually be started.

  If no card data is input in the process of S22 described above (NO in S22), it is determined whether actual fueling information is input (S27). Here, the actual refueling information is composed of nozzle type, oil type, quantity, card number, time, and the like, and is designated when printing daily reports, monthly reports, and the like. If the actual refueling information is not input in the process of S27 (NO in S27), the process returns to S21 and the subsequent process is performed.

  Further, when actual refueling information is input in the process of S27 (YES in S27), the actual refueling information (nozzle type, oil type, quantity, card number, time, etc.) is retrieved from the storage means (S28), The corresponding actual fuel supply information is extracted, and for example, a slip or the like is printed out (S29). Further, after the processing of S26 and S29 is completed, the normal processing is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly read even an input of a different data format. Further, since the format of the information storage medium can be directly stored in the storage means (card format storage unit) at the installation site of the apparatus, it is possible to quickly cope with a trouble that the format is not stored.

  In addition, since the free format can be registered, for example, it is not necessary to force the use of a specific refueling company format, and a free format in which data is freely arranged can be designated. For this reason, for example, the manager of the refueling facility can use an existing card as the refueling ID, and the running cost of card management can be reduced. Further, since it can be easily applied to POS and the like, and it is not necessary to rewrite the POS application, the time for creating the application can be reduced, and the time until the fuel supply facility can be operated can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to rewrite the POS application, the time for creating the application is reduced, and the time until the fueling facility is operated can be reduced.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the information storage medium processing apparatus in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the information storage medium processing apparatus in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data format. It is a figure which shows an example of a format selection screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the oil supply process sequence at the time of starting. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the oil supply process sequence in the normal time.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information storage medium processing apparatus 11 Weighing machine 12 Display 13 Printer 14 Card reader 15 Card format memory | storage part 16 Control apparatus 21 Input means 22 Output means 23 Storage means 24 Data reading means 25 Format input means 26 Format update means 27 Judgment means 28 Notification means 29 Counting means 30 Communication interface means 31 Control means 40 Format selection screen 41-44 Selection button

Claims (4)

Data reading means for reading data stored in a portable information recording medium, format storage means for storing a data format stored in the information storage medium, and contents of the data read by the data reading means in the format storage An information storage medium processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not reading is possible based on a format stored in the unit;
Format input means for inputting the data format of the information storage medium;
Based on the information input by the format input means, the data format is added to or modified in the format storage means, or the data format stored in the format storage means is deleted, and the format is updated and stored. Format update means,
The determination means determines the content of data read from the information storage medium based on the data format when a new data format is stored by the format update means. .   Providing a notifying means for determining the coincidence between the data format read from the information storage medium by the determining means and the data format stored in the format storing means, and notifying an abnormality when they do not match; The information storage medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The data reading means includes
3. The information storage medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of information storage media storing information having a plurality of different data formats can be switched and read.   4. The information storage medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a totaling unit that totals predetermined items based on the contents of a data format read from the information storage medium.

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