JP2010055407A - Communication method, communication system, detection device and radio terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably communicate with desired equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A communication system has a plurality of (three in Fig.1) radio terminal devices 1a to 1c, and a detection device 2. The radio terminal devices 1a to 1c each communicate with the detection device 2 by the following method. The detection device 2 has a detecting means 3 and a pulse outputting means 4. The detecting means 3 detects the radio terminal devices 1a to 1c. The pulse outputting means 4 outputs a pulse inherent to the detection device 2 to the detected radio terminal device 1a. The radio terminal devices 1a to 1c each includes a pulse detecting means 5 and a communicating means 6. The pulse detecting means 5, when detecting the pulse output by the detection device 2, specifies the detection device 2 by verifying the pulse with a pattern of a pulse that is prestored in the radio terminal device 1a. The communicating means 6 starts to communicate with the detection device 2 specified by the pulse detecting means 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication method, a communication system, a detection device, and a wireless terminal device, and in particular, a communication method in which a plurality of wireless terminal devices communicate with the detection device, a communication system, a detection device that communicates with a plurality of wireless terminal devices, and The present invention relates to a wireless terminal device that communicates with a detection device.

  When making a payment using a credit card in a restaurant or a retail store, a POS (Point Of Sales system) to which a payment terminal device is connected is often used. After entering the amount of money into the POS, the clerk passes the credit card through the card reader portion of the terminal device and performs settlement by authenticating to the credit card company.

  For this reason, at the time of accounting, it is common for the customer to go directly to the POS installation location for payment, or for the store clerk to borrow the customer's credit card and move to the POS location for payment. It has been broken.

However, when the credit card is handed over to the store clerk, there is a problem that it is not possible to eliminate the possibility of fraud being performed without the customer looking at it.
Therefore, a method is known in which payment is made at the customer's location using a wireless terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-114892

According to the method described above, for example, after an amount is input to the POS, fraud can be prevented by making a payment at the customer's place using the wireless terminal device on which the amount is displayed.
However, in a store where a plurality of POSs are prepared, the store clerk needs to determine whether the terminal device used by the user is connected to the desired POS (in communication with the desired POS). It was.

Further, when the terminal device is detected by the POS side, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a communication method, a communication system, a detection device, and a wireless terminal device that can reliably communicate with a desired device.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a communication method in which a plurality of wireless terminal devices respectively communicate with a detection device. This communication method is realized by the following means.
The detection unit includes a detection unit that detects that the charging voltage can be supplied to the wireless terminal device, and the pulse output unit outputs a pulse unique to the detection device to the detected wireless terminal device. When the pulse detection means includes a pulse, the detection means is identified by collating with a pulse pattern stored in advance, and the communication means starts communication with the detection apparatus specified by the pulse detection means. .

  According to such a communication method, when the detection unit included in the detection device detects that the charging voltage can be supplied to the wireless terminal device, a pulse unique to the detection device is detected by the pulse output unit. It is output to the wireless terminal device. When a pulse is detected by the pulse detection means provided in the wireless terminal device, the detection device is identified by collating with a pulse pattern stored in advance. And communication is started with respect to the detection apparatus specified by the pulse detection means by the communication means.

  According to the disclosed communication method, the terminal device can communicate only with a specific detection device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the system of the embodiment will be described, and then the embodiment will be described more specifically.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a system according to an embodiment.
The system shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality (three in FIG. 1) of wireless terminal devices 1a to 1c and a detection device 2. Each of the wireless terminal devices 1a to 1c communicates with the detection device 2 by the following method.

The detection device 2 has a detection means 3 and a pulse output means 4.
The detection unit 3 detects the wireless terminal devices 1 a to 1 c by supporting the wireless terminal devices 1 a to 1 c by, for example, a support unit (not shown) of the detection device 2.

Hereinafter, a case where the wireless terminal device 1a is detected will be described.
The pulse output unit 4 outputs the pulse unique to the detection device 2 to the wireless terminal device 1a that has detected the pulse.

Each of the wireless terminal devices 1 a to 1 c includes a pulse detection unit 5 and a communication unit 6.
When the pulse detection means 5 detects a pulse output from the detection device 2, the pulse detection means 5 collates with a pulse pattern stored in advance in the wireless terminal device 1a to identify the detection device 2.

The communication unit 6 starts communication with the detection device 2 specified by the pulse detection unit 5.
Thereby, although not illustrated in FIG. 1, even when there are a plurality of detection devices 2, the wireless terminal devices 1 a to 1 c can easily and reliably determine the detection device 2 that has output a pulse, Communication can be performed only with the detection device 2 that has output a pulse.

Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described more specifically.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system according to the embodiment.
The system 100 includes POSs 11 and 12, cradles (detection devices) 21 and 22, settlement terminal devices (wireless terminal devices) 31 and 32, and a center 40.

  The POSs 11 and 12 record product sales information every time a product is sold at a store. For example, if product information is recorded in advance in a host computer (not shown), product information is retrieved based on barcode information and the like at the time of sale, and the purchased product and its amount are recorded accurately on the receipt.

Further, the POSs 11 and 12 can select payment by credit card or debit card in addition to payment by cash.
When payment by card is selected, information on completion of payment is received from the payment terminal device 31 or the payment terminal device 32.

The cradle 21, 22 has a communication function with the connected POS 11, 12. Although a communication form is not specifically limited, For example, RS-232C etc. are mentioned.
The cradle 21 and 22 each have a communication function with the center 40 via the network 10.

  The type of the network 10 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a telephone line (analog line), ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and LAN (Local Area Network).

  The cradle 21 and 22 includes support portions 21a and 22a that support the settlement terminal device 31 or the settlement terminal device 32 placed by placing the settlement terminal device 31 or the settlement terminal device 32, respectively. Yes.

  The cradle 21, 22 has a communication function for communicating with the settlement terminal device 31 or the settlement terminal device 32 placed thereon, and the settlement terminal placed thereon, by placing the settlement terminal device 31 or the settlement terminal device 32, respectively. A charging function for charging the device 31 or the settlement terminal device 32 is provided. 2 illustrates an example in which the cradle 21 communicates with the settlement terminal device 31 and the cradle 22 communicates with the settlement terminal device 32.

Note that the communication mode is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Bluetooth (registered trademark).
The settlement terminal devices 31 and 32 have a function of discriminating the cradle 21 or the cradle 22 on which the settlement terminal devices 31 and 32 are placed by being placed on the cradle 21 and 22, respectively.

  Further, the settlement terminal devices 31 and 32 have a function of wirelessly communicating with the determined cradle 21 and 22, respectively. For example, when the payment terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21, the payment terminal device 31 performs wireless communication only with the cradle 21. Thereafter, when the settlement terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 22, wireless communication is performed only with the cradle 22.

  The payment terminal devices 31 and 32 are each driven by a battery provided therein. The settlement terminal devices 31 and 32 are placed on the cradle 21 and 22, respectively, so that a voltage is supplied from the charging function of the cradle 21 and 22 to charge the battery.

Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, a case where the settlement terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21 will be described as an example.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the function of the cradle. Although FIG. 3 representatively shows the function of the cradle 21, the cradle 22 also has the same function as the cradle 21.

The cradle 21 includes a terminal detection unit 211, a charging voltage supply unit 212, and communication control units 213, 214, and 215.
The terminal detection unit 211 detects that the payment terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21.

  The charging voltage supply unit 212 supplies a charging voltage to the settlement terminal device 31 placed on condition that a condition described later is satisfied. This charging voltage is composed of a unique pulse voltage supplied for a predetermined time and a constant voltage supplied thereafter so that the settlement terminal device 31 placed thereon can discriminate the cradle 21.

  The communication control unit 213 is an interface for communicating with the payment terminal device 31. When a determination result of a pulse voltage described later is received from the settlement terminal device 31, the charging voltage supply unit 212 is notified.

Further, the communication result with the settlement terminal device 31 is transmitted to the POS 11 and the center 40.
The communication control unit 214 is an interface for communicating with the POS 11.
The communication control unit 215 is an interface for communicating with the center 40.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the settlement terminal device.
The settlement terminal device 31 is entirely controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31a. A random access memory (RAM) 31b, a flash-ROM (read only memory) 31c, a graphic processing device 31d, an input interface 31f, and a communication interface 31i are connected to the CPU 31a via a bus 31j.

  The RAM 31b temporarily stores at least part of an OS (Operating System) program and application programs to be executed by the CPU 31a. The RAM 31b stores various data necessary for processing by the CPU 31a. The Flash-ROM 31c stores an OS and application programs. A program file is stored in the Flash-ROM 31c.

  A monitor 31e is connected to the graphic processing device 31d. The graphic processing device 31d displays an image on the screen of the monitor 31e in accordance with a command from the CPU 31a. A numeric keypad 31g is connected to the input interface 31f. The input interface 31f transmits a signal sent from the numeric keypad 31g to the CPU 31a via the bus 31j.

The battery 31h is connected to the power supply circuit 31k of the payment terminal device 31, and supplies a driving voltage to each unit.
The communication interface 31 i transmits / receives data to / from the cradle 21 or the cradle 22.

  With the hardware configuration as described above, the processing functions of the present embodiment can be realized. Although FIG. 4 shows the hardware configuration of the payment terminal device 31, the payment terminal device 32 can also be realized with the same hardware configuration. In order to communicate with the cradle 21, 22 in the system having such a hardware configuration, the following functions are provided in the payment terminal device 31.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the payment terminal device. In FIG. 5, the function of the payment terminal device 31 is representatively shown, but the payment terminal device 32 has the same function as the payment terminal device 31.

  The payment terminal device 31 includes a charging voltage detection unit 311, a charging pulse pattern storage unit 312, a charging pulse determination unit 313, a determination cradle information storage unit 314, a communication control unit 315, a payment unit 316, and a charging unit 317. And have.

The charging voltage detector 311 detects that a charging voltage for charging the battery 31 h is supplied from the cradle 21 or the cradle 22.
The charge pulse pattern storage unit 312 stores in advance a unique pulse voltage pattern included in each of the cradle 21 and 22.

  When the charging voltage is a pulse voltage, the charging pulse determination unit 313 checks the pulse voltage pattern with reference to the pulse voltage pattern stored in the charging pulse pattern storage unit 312, and the payment terminal device 31. The cradle on which is placed is discriminated between the cradle 21 and 22.

The determination cradle information storage unit 314 stores information for identifying the cradle determined by the charge pulse determination unit 313 (hereinafter referred to as “determination cradle”).
The communication control unit 315 is an interface for communicating with the determination cradle, and notifies the determination cradle of the determination result of the pulse voltage.

  The settlement unit 316 operates in conjunction with the POS 11. Specifically, the sales amount input to the POS 11 is settled with the center 40 via the discrimination cradle at the time of settlement. At this time, the credit card is read and the settlement information is transmitted to the POS 11. In addition, after the settlement process is completed, a receipt is issued.

The charging unit 317 charges the battery 31h with a constant voltage supplied from the determination cradle.
Next, the voltage supplied by the charging voltage supply unit 212 and the charging voltage supply unit included in the cradle 22 will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a voltage supplied by the charging voltage supply unit.
As shown in FIG. 6A, at time T1 when the terminal detection unit 211 detects the payment terminal device 31 or the payment terminal device 32, the charging voltage supply unit 212 outputs the detection signal A and the charging voltage A. The detected payment terminal device is supplied.

  Then, at a time T2 when a signal indicating that the cradle is determined from the settlement terminal device 31 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time T1, the supply of the pulse voltage is stopped, and then a constant voltage is supplied.

  6B, at time T3 when the terminal detection unit of the cradle 22 detects the payment terminal device 31 or the payment terminal device 32, the charging voltage supply unit of the cradle 22 receives the detection signal B and The charging voltage B is supplied to the detected payment terminal device.

  Here, the charging voltage B is different from the charging voltage A in the cycle of the pulse voltage. At a time T4 when a signal indicating that the cradle has been determined is received from the settlement terminal device 31 after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time T3, the supply of the pulse voltage is stopped, and then a constant voltage is supplied.

Next, processing (discriminating processing) in which the settlement terminal device 31 discriminates the cradle 21 when the settlement terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a processing flow showing the discrimination processing.

First, when the payment terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21, the terminal detection unit 211 detects the payment terminal device 31 (step S1).
Next, the charging voltage supply unit 212 performs processing to be described later, and supplies the detection signal A and the charging voltage A (step S2).

  When detecting the detection signal A, the charging voltage detection unit 311 of the settlement terminal device 31 notifies the charging pulse determination unit 313 that the charging voltage A is supplied. The charge pulse determination unit 313 compares the pulse pattern stored in the charge pulse pattern storage unit 312 with the pulse voltage of the charging voltage A to determine the cradle 21 on which the settlement terminal device 31 is placed ( Step S3).

Thereafter, communication is started and the result is notified to the determined cradle 21 (step S4).
The cradle 21 that has received the result switches the pulse voltage to the charging voltage (constant voltage) and supplies it to the settlement terminal device 31 (step S5).

This is the end of the description of the discrimination process.
Next, the process of step S2 (pulse voltage supply process) will be described in detail.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the pulse voltage supply process.

First, based on the payment information received from the POS 11, it is determined whether or not another payment terminal apparatus is in the process of payment (step S11).
When the payment process is not in progress (No in step S11), a pulse voltage is supplied (step S12). Thereafter, the processing after step S3 shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

On the other hand, when the settlement process is being performed (Yes in step S11), the process waits for a predetermined time (step S13). Then, it transfers to step S11 and performs the process of step S11 again.
This is the end of the description of the pulse voltage supply process.

Next, an example of payment processing will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a payment process.
First, at the time of accounting, when a customer tells the store clerk that he wants to pay by credit card, the store clerk takes out a slip 51 in which product information is written from the customer's table and causes the POS 11 to read the product information.

The POS 11 adds the amount corresponding to the read information, calculates the total amount after reading the information of all products, and calls the amount.
The store clerk operates the POS 11 to select credit settlement, removes the settlement terminal device 31 placed on the cradle 21, and moves to the customer table.

  When the clerk receives the credit card 52 from the customer, the clerk causes the payment terminal device 31 to read the card information on the spot. Then, the customer operates the numeric keypad 31g to input a predetermined password. As a result, settlement processing is performed with the center 40.

After the settlement, the store clerk gives the customer the receipt 61 on which the total amount is described.
Next, specific processing of each device in the settlement processing shown in FIG. 9 will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the settlement process.

First, when the settlement terminal device 31 is placed on the cradle 21, a discrimination process is performed.
Thereafter, at the time of accounting, the store clerk takes out a slip on which the product is written from the customer's table and inputs or reads the contents described in the slip into the POS 11 (step S21).

The processing amount is determined by placing or reading the amount described in the slip into the POS 11 (step S22).
Thereafter, when the POS 11 selects credit settlement by the operation of the store clerk, the cradle 21 is notified that the POS 11 is the amount and the credit settlement (step S23), and the cradle 21 is currently settled on the cradle 21. The device 31 is notified of the amount and the credit settlement (step S24).

  Then, the clerk removes the payment terminal device 31 from the cradle 21 and carries it to the passenger seat. Then, the card information of the credit card received from the customer is read into the payment terminal device 31 (step S25), and when the PIN is input by the customer (step S26), the payment unit 316 embeds the card information of the credit card. The read portion is read, and the card information is transmitted to the cradle 21 (step S27).

The communication control unit 214 of the cradle 21 transmits card information to the center 40 (step S28).
Thereafter, when a settlement end response is received from the center 40 via the cradle 21 (steps S29 and S30), the settlement unit 316 issues a receipt (step S31). This receipt is given to the customer by the store clerk.

Further, the settlement unit 316 notifies the processing result with the center 40 to the POS 11 via the cradle 21 (steps S32 and S33).
This is the end of the description of the processing.

  As described above, according to the system 100 of the present embodiment, the payment terminal devices 31 and 32 can communicate only with the specific cradle 21 and 22 by performing the discrimination process.

  Further, since the settlement terminal device and the cradle are not associated in advance, when the settlement terminal device is placed on the cradle, the cradle on which the settlement terminal device is placed is determined. It can be used regardless of whether it is placed on the cradle 21 or 22. In addition, since a special operation for associating is unnecessary, the store clerk can save extra time.

  In addition, when the determination function is provided on the cradle side, when the payment terminal device is placed on another cradle, a means for canceling the association between the cradle and the payment terminal device is required. Then, since the cradle is determined on the settlement terminal device side, the configuration can be simplified.

  Further, by performing the pulse voltage supply process, the pulse voltage is not supplied to the payment terminal apparatus 32 when the payment terminal apparatus 31 is executing the payment process. As a result, payment processing is always performed with one payment terminal device. Therefore, for example, in the payment processing in FIG. 10, it is confirmed whether or not the payment terminal device that transmitted the payment information is the payment terminal device 31. The processing to be performed can be omitted.

  In the system 100 according to the present embodiment, the case where the payment terminal apparatuses 31 and 32 use the function of communicating only with the specific cradle 21 or 22 for the payment process has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The communication method, communication system, detection device, and wireless terminal device of the present invention have been described based on the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each part is the same. Any structure having a function can be substituted. Moreover, other arbitrary structures and processes may be added to the present invention.

In addition, the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) of the above-described embodiments.
The above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In that case, a program describing the processing contents of the functions of the settlement terminal devices 31 and 32 is provided. By executing the program on a computer, the above processing functions are realized on the computer. The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device include a hard disk device (HDD), a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape. Examples of the optical disc include a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM (Random Access Memory), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and a CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWritable). Examples of the magneto-optical recording medium include MO (Magneto-Optical disk).

  When distributing the program, for example, a portable recording medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded is sold. It is also possible to store the program in a storage device of a server computer and transfer the program from the server computer to another computer via a network.

  The computer that executes the program stores, for example, the program recorded on the portable recording medium or the program transferred from the server computer in its own storage device. Then, the computer reads the program from its own storage device and executes processing according to the program. The computer can also read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program. In addition, each time the program is transferred from the server computer, the computer can sequentially execute processing according to the received program.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the system of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the system of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a cradle. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a payment terminal device. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a payment terminal device. It is a figure which shows an example of the voltage which a charging voltage supply part supplies. It is a processing flow which shows a discrimination | determination process. It is a flowchart which shows a pulse voltage supply process. It is a figure which shows an example of a payment process. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a payment process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a-1c Radio | wireless terminal apparatus 2 Detection apparatus 3 Detection means 4 Pulse output means 5 Pulse detection means 6 Communication means 10 Network 11 POS
21, 22 Cradle 31, 32 Payment terminal device 40 Center 100 system 211 Terminal detection unit 212 Charging voltage supply unit 213, 214, 215 Communication control unit 311 Charging voltage detection unit 312 Charging pulse pattern storage unit 313 Charging pulse discrimination unit 314 Discrimination cradle Information storage unit 315 Communication control unit 316 Settlement unit 317 Charging unit

Claims (6)

In a communication method in which a plurality of wireless terminal devices each communicate with a detection device,
The detection device comprises
Detecting means detects the wireless terminal device;
The pulse output means outputs a pulse unique to the detection device to the detected wireless terminal device,
The wireless terminal device comprises
When the pulse detection means detects the pulse, the detection device is identified by collating with the pulse pattern stored in advance in the wireless terminal device,
A communication unit starts communication with the detection device specified by the pulse detection unit;
A communication method characterized by the above.   The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the pulse output unit stops outputting the pulse by communication started by the communication unit and supplies a charging voltage to the detected wireless terminal device.   The pulse output means outputs the pulse when the wireless terminal device is not performing a communication process with another wireless terminal device when the wireless terminal device is detected. Communication method. In a communication system having a plurality of wireless terminal devices and a detection device with which each of the plurality of wireless terminal devices communicates,
The detection device includes a detection unit that detects the wireless terminal device;
A pulse output unit that outputs a pulse unique to the detection device to the detected wireless terminal device;
The wireless terminal device
When detecting the pulse, a pulse detection unit that identifies the detection device by collating with the pulse pattern stored in advance in the wireless terminal device;
A communication unit that starts communication with the detection device identified by the pulse detection unit;
A communication system characterized by the above. In a detection device that communicates with a plurality of wireless terminal devices,
A detection unit for detecting the wireless terminal device;
A pulse output unit that outputs a pulse unique to the detection device to the detected wireless terminal device, stops outputting the pulse by a notification from the wireless terminal device, and supplies a charging voltage to the detected wireless terminal device; ,
A detection apparatus comprising: In a wireless terminal device that communicates with a detection device,
A storage battery,
When detecting a unique pulse output from the predetermined detection device among the plurality of detection devices, a pulse detection unit that identifies the detection device by collating with the pulse pattern stored in advance in the wireless terminal device;
A communication unit for starting communication with the detection device identified by the pulse detection unit;
A charging unit that charges the storage battery with a charging voltage supplied from the detection device after starting the communication;
A wireless terminal device comprising:

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