JP2022166277A - Automatic adjustment system according to prepayment method in using facility, and method for using facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjustment system according to a prepayment method that, when a customer uses a warm bath facility and other service facilities, can receive a usage charge when the customer enters the facility in order to minimize facility investment and labor cost and thereby to prevent in advance trouble that the usage charge exceeds an amount of money carried by the customer during adjustment.

SOLUTION: In an adjustment system, a reception 1 is provided near an entrance of a facility, the reception 1 includes a wrist band 3 that is worn by a customer 2 who visits the facility and is attached with a No (number), and the wrist band 3 is attached with a bar code or an IC tag. A management terminal machine connected with a management server 7 is installed at the reception 1, and various service facilities 4 are installed and readers capable of reading the No of the wrist band 3 are provided in the facility. The system receives a charge amount applied to a basic charge and a facility usage charge when the customer 2 enters the facility to promote cashlessness in the facility and simplify charge adjustment operations, thereby improving quality of security related to reception of charges and reducing cost.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention is a settlement system that allows a customer to receive the usage fee and the service and usage fee consumed in the facility in advance when using a hot bath facility or other service facility, and the customer can settle the usage fee using the settlement terminal when the use is completed. It relates to how to use the facilities of

Today, there are many facilities such as hot bath facilities in the world, and various settlement systems have been used as a method of paying a fixed basic fee for using these facilities and various usage fees not included in the basic fee. Existing. These settlement systems are developed for the purpose of improving service to customers and streamlining operations.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, various settlement systems in hot bath facilities have been known. For example, the following methods are commonly used. First, when a user (customer) makes a reception at the front desk, he or she receives a payment settlement band from a staff member. This payment settlement band holds a bar code or IC tag that can identify the user, and is called a wristband.

Before the wristband is handed over to the customer, the unique number of the wristband is registered as the usage record of the customer in the management server of the facility by the management terminal at the reception. Every time the user uses various incidental facilities in the building, the attendant of the incidental facility reads the customer's wristband No. with the reader of the incidental facility and transmits it together with the usage data to the management server. In the management server, usage details and usage charges are recorded in the customer's usage record corresponding to the wristband number.

When the customer finishes using the facility and leaves, if the customer presents his/her wristband to the receptionist, the receptionist reads the unique number of the wristband from the management terminal and transmits it to the management server. The usage amount is displayed on the management terminal, and the attendant informs the customer of the usage amount and settles the bill.
FIG. 3 shows an overview of this settlement system.

The "automatic fare adjustment machine utilization facility management system" according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-140970 provides a footwear key with a barcode that can identify the user in each footwear locker that stores the footwear of the user (customer), A management server is installed to read the bar code attached to the customer's footwear key with the management terminal at the reception and manage the entry and exit of the user and the usage fee. Each time a user uses the facility, the barcode attached to the user's shoe key is read by the reader of the terminal installed in each ancillary facility, and the usage amount is entered. Updating the usage amount recorded for that customer record on the server. When the customer completes the use of the facility, if the customer reads the bar code attached to the shoe key with the automatic payment machine, the usage amount recorded in the customer's record is displayed on the automatic payment machine. The customer confirms the usage amount and pays the price, and the settlement is completed.

The customer who has completed the payment can open the exit gate by reading the bar code of the shoe key at the exit gate.
FIG. 4 shows an overview of this system.
"Automatic payment machine utilization facility management system" according to JP 2007-140970

As described above, various payment methods (settlement methods) for using facilities are known. However, the conventional settlement method is a deferred payment settlement method in which the usage fee is paid when leaving the building. If this system is adopted, facilities such as opening and closing gates and surveillance cameras are installed to prevent customers from leaving the building without paying, which increases the construction and maintenance costs of the entire system.
In addition, in order to constantly advise and support customers so that these facilities can be used correctly, a dedicated staff member is required, which may increase personnel costs.
In order to minimize such equipment investment and labor costs, the present invention is configured so that usage charges can be received at the time of entering the building, and it is possible to prevent troubles such as the customer's usage amount exceeding the money on hand at the time of payment. To provide a possible advance payment settlement system.

The settlement system according to the present invention first prepays a basic fee, which is an admission fee for one customer, and a desired charge amount (any amount of 0 yen or more can be paid in advance) by cash or a cashless payment means such as a card.
The attendant takes out an arbitrary wristband, reads the number of the wristband with the reading device of the management terminal, prepares the usage record of the customer in the management server, and hands the wristband to the customer. The clerk inputs the received amount into the management terminal and creates the customer record.

When a dedicated charging amount input device is installed, when the customer himself/herself deposits the basic charge and the charging amount into the device, a record of the customer is created in the management server, and a list corresponding to the record of the customer is obtained from the device. A wristband with a band number is ejected and the customer accepts it.
A basic charge, which is the minimum charge for one person, is required for a customer, but an arbitrary amount of money is charged for a person who may purchase additional services or goods other than the basic charge.

When a customer who has entered the building uses or receives services at ancillary facilities in the building, the customer or a staff member reads the customer's wristband number with the reading device of the terminal, and the list number is sent to the management server and recorded in the customer's usage record. Along with being recorded, the customer's charge amount balance is displayed on the terminal.
Next, if the customer or staff enters the usage fee or service fee within the displayed charge amount, the usage fee or service charge is sent to the management server and deducted from the balance of the charge amount, and the terminal has a printing function. In this case, a receipt recording the wristband number, the amount used and the charge balance, the terminal number, the time of use, etc. is output.

The customer can also add the charge amount after the fact if necessary. In this case, if the wristband number is read by the charge terminal in the building and the additional charge amount is paid, the list number and the additional charge amount are sent to the management server, recorded in the corresponding customer record, and the charge balance of the customer is updated. Then, the additional charge amount, the updated charge balance, the terminal number, and the processing time are output on the receipt.

When the customer leaves the building, if the wristband number is read by the automatic payment machine, the wristband number is sent to the management server, and the management server searches for the corresponding customer record and displays the customer's usage details and charge amount balance. Output to screen and receipt.
At this time, if there is a charge balance, the balance can be paid out in cash from the automatic payment machine.
By the way, it is preferable to use the wristband as a means of identifying a customer, but biometric authentication can be used instead of the wristband.
Also, in some cases, a staff member uses a management terminal at the reception instead of the automatic payment machine.

The settlement system of the present invention does not cause a problem that a visiting customer leaves the building without paying the fee. Therefore, the capital investment required for the system of the conventional method is unnecessary, and a low-cost settlement system can be constructed.
In addition, the customer does not overspend by exceeding the budget in the hall. In other words, a system that you can enjoy within your budget. In addition, at the time of payment, troubles such as the amount of money used by the customer exceeding the amount of money in his/her possession can be prevented.

1 is an overview showing a settlement system according to the present invention; A specific example showing a wristband. An overview showing a traditional checkout system. An overview showing a traditional checkout system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the settlement system of the present invention, 1 is a reception provided in the hall, 2 is a customer, 3 is a wristband, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are facilities installed in the hall, 5 denotes a charge terminal installed at an appropriate place in the hall, 6 denotes an automatic fare adjustment machine, and 7 denotes a management server. Here, the form of the wristband 3, the types of facilities 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, and the specific structures of the charge terminal 5 and the automatic payment machine 6 are not limited.

By the way, in the settlement system of the present invention, the basic charge and the charged amount are paid at the reception desk 1 when entering the building. The basic fee is the fee required for all visitors, and the charge amount is within the range of the arbitrary charge amount paid, and the rest of the charge amount is refunded when leaving the facility. is. Of course, in the event that the charge amount initially deposited is insufficient, an additional fee (additional charge) can be deposited into the charge terminal 5 on the way.
At the reception 1, the customer pays the basic charge and the charge amount, and the wristband 3 is handed over to the customer 2 so that the customer 2 can wear the wristband 3. - 特許庁

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the wristband 3 described above. The wristband 3 shown in the figure is provided with a shoe locker key 8 for opening the shoe box, but it may be configured without the shoe locker key 8. FIG. A central part 9 of the wristband 3 is provided with a unique number 10 and has a readable bar code 11 or an IC tag, which can be worn by a customer who visits the museum.
The bar code 11 provided on the wristband 3 is read by a reading device of the terminal of the management server 7, and it is determined that the customer is a specific customer.

The attendant receives the basic charge and the charge amount desired by the customer (0 yen or more) from the visiting customer, takes out an arbitrary wristband 3, reads the wristband number with the management terminal, and stores the usage record of the customer on the management server 7. After creating it, pass it to the customer. Next, if the charge amount is entered, it is recorded as a usage record for the customer.

If a dedicated charging amount input device is installed, when the customer deposits the basic charge and charging amount into the device, the customer's record is created in the management server 7, and the device corresponds to the customer's record. The wristband 3 having the wristband number to be issued is ejected and the customer can receive it.
By the way, the basic charge is the minimum required charge for using the facility. For example, if our hotel is a hot bath facility, the admission fee corresponds to this basic fee.

On the other hand, the charge amount is the charge for services that individual customers receive according to their preferences, such as meals, massages, and vending machine usage fees in the hall, and the amount differs for each service. Some customers may not need these individual services at all.
In FIG. 1, 4a, 4b, 4c, . represents the facility.

When a customer 2 uses an incidental facility, the wristband 3 is applied to a bar code 11 or an IC tag reader provided in the facility 4c and read. The read bar code 11 or IC tag is sent to the management server 7, and the incidental facility usage fee is deducted from the charged amount recorded in the customer record. If the balance of the charge amount is insufficient, the facility cannot be used.

By the way, a charge terminal 5 is installed in the hall, and the charge amount can be added using this charge terminal 5. - 特許庁That is, when a customer wants to use ancillary facilities in the building, if the charge amount paid at the reception 1 is insufficient and the facility cannot be used, the required amount is charged using the charge terminal 5 provided at an appropriate place in the building. can be deposited to increase the charge balance.

When the customer leaves the building, if the automatic payment machine 6 reads the number of the wristband 3, the usage details and amount of the charge amount will be displayed on the screen provided in the automatic payment machine 6, and if there is a balance, be refunded. After paying the bill, the customer can return the wristband to a designated place and leave the facility.
The customer can pay by having the automatic payment machine 6 read the number of the wristband 3 himself, but it is also possible to pay using the management terminal installed at the reception.

In addition, although the wristband 3 is suitable as a means for specifying the customer, biometric authentication can be performed instead of the wristband 3. For example, an authentication device is installed at the reception 1, facilities 4a, 4b, .

1 Reception 2 Customer 3 Wristband 4 Facility 5 Charge terminal 6 Automatic payment machine 7 Management server 8 Foot locker key 9 Central part 10 Unique number 11 Barcode

Claims (10)

In the settlement system where necessary fees are paid in advance when customers use hot bath facilities and other services, a reception desk is set up near the entrance of the building, and customers who visit the facility wear it and use the facility and manage it individually. For this purpose, identification marks such as barcodes or IC tags are provided on the wristbands with No (unique number) attached, and there is a management terminal connected to the management server at the reception, and the incidental facilities in the building A reading device capable of reading the number of the wristband is provided, and a charge terminal capable of adding the charge amount is provided at an arbitrary place in the building, and the charge terminal can read the number of the wristband. A prepayment settlement system comprising a reading device, connected to a management server and an automatic settlement machine, and realizing customer identification management and automatic settlement upon leaving the building. 2. The prepayment settlement system according to claim 1, wherein a device capable of biometric authentication for identifying a specific customer is provided in place of said wristband. 3. A prepayment settlement system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the charge to be paid by the customer at the reception consists of a basic charge and a charge amount used when using the facilities in the building. 4. The prepayment checkout system according to claim 1, wherein said wristband is provided as a lock on a boot box for storing undergarments (shoes). 4. The advance payment settlement system according to claim 1, wherein said wristband is placed on a shelf at the reception desk and handed to a visitor. 4. A prepayment settlement system according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein a dedicated charge input device is installed, and said wristband is ejected from said device when the customer pays the charge. In the method for customers to use hot bath facilities and other services in the facility, the customer receives a wristband with a No (unique number) at the reception in the facility, pays the fee in advance, and pays the fee in advance. ) or the customer himself/herself operates the management terminal or charge/receipt device to enter the number of the wristband and the amount paid by the customer into the file of the management server, and the customer makes purchases at the vending machines and stores located in the building. or receive services such as massage, the identification mark such as a barcode or IC tag attached to the wristband is read by the reading device of the facility, and the charge amount paid as a deposit is deducted. When leaving the building, the customer's identification mark such as a barcode or IC tag attached to the wristband is read from the management server by reading the identification mark such as the barcode or IC tag provided on the wristband with the automatic payment machine or the reader of the management terminal A method of using a facility characterized by referring to the usage history and the usage amount, and refunding the remaining balance if any. 8. The facility usage method according to claim 7, wherein biometric authentication is used to identify a specific customer in place of the wristband. When the wristband is provided with a lock in the shoe box, the customer who visits the museum puts the shoes in the shoe box and puts the extracted wristband in the file of the management server together with the wristband number. 9. The method of using the facility according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the amount of money is input. 10. The method of using a facility according to claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9, wherein the fee paid by the customer at the reception consists of a basic fee and a charge amount that can be used freely within the facility.

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