JP2596289B2 - Card processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card processing apparatus using a refueling card storing the amount of oil such as gasoline for which a fee has been paid in advance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a card refueling system using a refueling card has been proposed as a card refueling system at a gas station. The refueling card used in this system is one in which a customer pays in advance for a certain amount of gasoline, and stores the amount of oil as a residual oil amount. In a refueling system using this refueling card, when refueling is started, preprocessing such as card authentication and buffering of card data is performed, and after refueling is completed, the residual oil amount is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting a current refueling amount. Post-processing is performed.

[0003]

In a typical gas station, a single device (POS terminal device) issues the refueling card, and at the time of refueling, a metering machine for measuring a refueling amount and a staff member. The terminal (external reader / writer) is controlled. Therefore, if the refueling card issuance process is performed during business hours when there are many refueling customers, the POS terminal device is exclusively used in this process, so that control of the weighing machine and control of the external reader / writer cannot be performed. It will seriously hinder sales. For this reason, in such gas stations,
Refueling cards are issued together beforehand after business hours.

[0004] However, in the conventional refueling card system, the refueling card issued with the necessary data stored and the necessary items printed by the POS terminal device can be used from that point of time. If the pre-sales refueling card was lost, the refueling card could be used illegally. As described above, since a large number of refueling cards are issued together after the business hours, there is a danger that serious damage will be caused in the event of theft or the like.

[0005] Further, in the gas station where the card processing device is installed, the issuance of a refueling card can be arbitrarily performed, so that it is not easy to manage the issuance of the refueling card at each gas station. However, there is a drawback that a refueling card may be issued improperly by a staff member.

In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, the present invention can determine whether or not a refueling card is properly sold by determining a valid flag provided on the refueling card and set at the time of card sales at the time of refueling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card processing device capable of improving the safety of a refueling card issued in advance and facilitating issuance management of a refueling card and prevention of fraud.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is configured as follows.

In a card processing apparatus for processing a card having a value storage unit and capable of trading in exchange for the value stored in the value storage unit, a process of writing a predetermined value to the value storage unit when a card is issued. and issuance processing means for issuing processing including, until the time after the card vending issuing cards, the worth using this value to the written card
A permission process means using you allow writing using the information for permitting the transaction, characterized in that the provided.

[0009]

[0010]

The card processing apparatus according to the present invention performs processing such as issuance of a card in which data such as value is stored in a value storage unit. At the time of card issuance, necessary data such as value is written. However, this card cannot be used as it is. Then, until the time of post-card sales of cards issued, the value is written
Allow transactions with this value for inscribed cards
A process for writing information to be performed is performed. This makes the card usable. Thus, when issuing the card, by performing 2-step in the process up to the time of after-sales issues,
There is no need to perform the troublesome task of issuing a card when the card is sold during business hours, and even if the card is issued in advance, there is no fear that the card is unusable because it is not usable.

[0011]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fueling system provided with a card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a plurality of gas stations A, one center B, and a gas card (see FIG. 6) carried by the customer. A POS terminal device 1 is installed in the store of the refueling station A, and a plurality of external readers / writers 2 for operating a refueling staff and a plurality of measuring machines 3 for measuring the amount of refueling are installed outside the store for refueling. .

The POS terminal device 1 includes a CPU 5 as a control device, a ROM connected to the CPU 5, a ROM 7 for storing programs and the like, a RAM 7 for setting a buffer for card data, a control keyboard 8, a display device, and the like. 9, a card reader / writer 10 for reading / writing control data and the like, a printer 11 for printing a summary table and the like, a floppy disk 12 on which a transaction data file is set, and a communication control unit for communicating with the center B via a line. 13, a weighing machine controller 14 for controlling the weighing machine 3 and an interface 15 for controlling the external reader / writer 2 are provided.

FIG. 5 is a partial block diagram of the keyboard 8. 8a is a key switch. The attendant inserts a key into the key switch 8a and rotates the key switch 8a to set the operation of the POS terminal device 1. The set operations include business operations such as management of the weighing machine 3 and the external reader / writer 2, settlement of sales, setting of a refueling card ticketing function (mode), and the like. Rotate the key to the left to set the refueling card issue function.
At the location, but this can only be done with the master key. The master key is owned only by the manager of each store or the manager of the central store. 8b to 8d are function keys, which are a sales key 8b, an issue key 8c and an issue /
This is the sales key 8d. When the refueling card issuance function is set, the issuance key 8c and the issuance / sales key 8d function as mode setting keys, and when each key is pressed, the refueling card issuance processing and the refueling card issuance / sales processing are enabled. When these function keys are depressed during a business operation, the POS terminal device 1 performs a processing operation corresponding to each key. That is, when the issuance key 8c is pressed, a refueling card issuance process is performed in which the card reader / writer 10 receives a new card and issues it as a refueling card.
The refueling card that has been issued is accepted by the writer 10, and processing such as setting of a valid flag (area 40e: described later) is performed to perform a card selling process for making the refueling card usable.
When the issue / sales key 8d is pressed, the refueling card issuing process and the card selling process are performed continuously.

In FIG. 4, the external reader / writer 2 includes a card reader / writer 21 into which a refueling card is inserted, a keyboard 22 for operating a clerk, and a printer 23 on which a sales slip is printed.

On the other hand, the center B has a center computer 16 as a control device, a communication control unit 17 connected to the center computer 16 for communicating with the POS terminal device 1, and a storage device 18 in which a master file is set. ,
A printer 19 and a display 20 are provided. The master file stores the sales status of each gas station A, the usage status of all issued fuel cards, and the like. This master file is updated by the transaction data file.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing the structure of the refueling card 4. FIG. The refueling card is issued by the POS terminal device 1 and sold at the gas station A, and is sold at a price substantially equal to the amount of refuelable oil. For example, a refueling card that can refuel 200 liters for the price of 200 liters of gasoline is sold.

FIG. 6 is an external view of the refueling card 4. On the surface of the card, a magnetic stripe 40 for recording a card number, a residual oil amount, and the like, and a printing column 41 for printing a history of refueling by the refueling card are shown. Is set.

FIG. 7 is a partial structural view of the magnetic stripe 40. The magnetic stripe 40 records the card number (area 40a), the expiration date of the card (area 40b), the oil type (area 40c), and the remaining oil amount (area 40d), which are the issue numbers of the refueling card. The oil type indicates the type of regular gasoline, high octane gasoline, diesel light oil, or the like, and is recorded in a coded form. The residual oil amount is the number of liters of the oil amount that can be refueled with this refueling card, and when the card is purchased, the value of its face value (for example, 200 liters) is recorded. The refueling card is inserted into the external reader / writer 2 every time refueling is performed at the refueling station A, and the refueling amount is subtracted from the residual oil amount. The area 40e is a valid flag. This valid flag is a flag for setting the issued refueling card as a valid card, and is set by the POS terminal device when the refueling card is sold.

The card number, expiration date, issuing service station (SS) number, oil amount at face value, and the like are printed on the print column 41 when the card is issued, and a sold print 41a is made when the card is sold. Further, for each refueling, its date, refueling amount and residual oil amount are printed.

The issuance of this refueling card is performed by the following operation. After pressing the issue key 8c of the POS terminal device 1, a new card is inserted into the card reader / writer 10, and the keyboard 8 is operated to input the amount of oil on the face value, the expiration date, and the like. The POS terminal device 1 stores necessary data in a magnetic stripe of the inserted card, prints necessary items in a print column, and issues the refueling card.

The following operations are performed when the refueling card 4 is sold. After the sales key 8b is depressed, the refueling card 4 having been issued is inserted into the card reader / writer 10. The POS terminal device 1 sets the validity flag (area 40e) of the refueling card 4 and prints out the sold 41a in the print column 41 and discharges it. This refueling card 4 is issued to the customer in exchange for the price. In addition,
When the issue / sales key 8d is pressed, the issuing process and the selling process are performed successively.

The following operations are performed during refueling by the refueling card. A clerk receiving the customer's refueling card inserts the refueling card into the card reader / writer 21,
A weighing machine 3 for refueling is selected by pressing a weighing machine selection key included in the keyboard 22. Thereafter, the refueling card is once discharged. This is to make it possible to accept another refueling card during refueling and to manage a plurality of weighing machines 3 with one external reader / writer 2. After refueling is completed, when the post-processing key included in the keyboard 22 is depressed and the refueling card is reinserted, the slip is printed and the data stored in the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 is updated, and Printing is performed. The discharged slip and refueling card are handed to the customer by a clerk, and the transaction is completed.

FIG. 8 is a partial block diagram of the RAM 7.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an input / output buffer. When a refueling card is inserted into the card reader / writer 21 of the external reader / writer 2, the card data is stored in the input / output buffer via the interface 15. The input / output buffer includes a card number storage area (area M1: hereinafter, "area Mi" is referred to as "Mi") and an expiration date storage area (M
2), oil type storage area (M3), residual oil amount storage area (M
4) and corresponds to the storage content of the magnetic stripe 40 of the card 4. In addition, the refueling amount storage area (M
5) is an area for storing the refueling amount sent from the weighing machine 3 that measures the refueling amount. The refueling amount is subtracted to update the residual oil amount in the area M4, and the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 reinserted into the card reader / writer 21.
Is updated with the data in the area M4.

Areas M6, M7 and M8 are a continuous flag, an issue flag and an issue / sale flag, respectively. Of these, the issue flag (M7) and issue / sale flag (M8) are flags that are set or reset when the refueling card ticketing function is set. When the issuance flag (M7) is set, the POS terminal device 1 can perform refueling card issuance processing. When the issuance / sales flag (M8) is set, the POS terminal device 1 performs refueling card issuance / sales. Continuous processing becomes possible. These issue flags (M
7) and the issue / sales flag (M8) are backed up by a battery, and their stored contents are saved even when the power is turned off. On the other hand, the continuous flag (M6) is a flag for storing that the refueling / sales key 8d has been pressed during the business operation. The POS terminal 1 sets the continuous flag (M6)
And perform continuous processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the POS terminal 1 when the key switch 8a is turned to the "set" position to set the refueling card ticketing function. When the key switch 8a is rotated to the "set" position, a clear key (not shown) on the keyboard 8 is issued at steps n40 (hereinafter, step ni is simply referred to as ni), n42, n44 and n46. Key 8
c, Depress / issue key 8d and key switch 8a
Wait until it is determined to be off.

When the clear key is depressed, the flow advances to n41 in the judgment of n40, the issue flag (M7) and the issue / sales flag (M8) are reset, and the standby routine (n40,
n42, n44, n46). When the issue key 8c is pressed, the process proceeds to n43 according to the judgment of n42, and the issue flag (M
Set 7) and return to the standby routine. When the issue / sales key 8d is pressed, the process proceeds to n45 according to the determination of n44 and the
The sales flag (M8) is set, and the process returns to the standby routine.
When the key switch 8a is turned off, the operation ends (n46).

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the refueling card issuing process of the POS terminal device 1. n1 to n3 and n4 and n5 are standby routines. In step n1, it is determined whether the sales key 8b has been pressed. At n2, it is determined whether the issuance flag (M7) is set / reset. If it has been set, the process proceeds to n3 to determine whether or not the issuance key 8c has been pressed. In n4, it is determined whether the issue / sale flag (M8) is set or reset.
Then, it is determined whether the issue / sales key 8d has been pressed. That is, whether or not the issue key 8c and the issue / sales key 8d are pressed is determined by the flag (M7, M8) corresponding to each key.
Is determined only when is set.

When it is determined in step n1 that the sales key 8b has been pressed, the flow advances to step n6 to perform a refueling card sales processing subroutine. After the processing, the process returns to the waiting routine (n1 to n5).

When it is determined in step n3 that the issue key 8c has been pressed, the flow advances to step n7 to execute a refueling card issuing process subroutine. After the processing, the process returns to the waiting routine.

It is assumed that the issue / sales key 8d has been depressed.
When the judgment is made at 5, the continuous flag (M6) is set at n8, and the refueling card issuance processing subroutine is first performed, and then the refueling card sales processing subroutine is performed. Thereafter, the continuation flag (M6) is reset and the process returns to the standby routine.

FIG. 2A shows the refueling card issuing process subroutine. Issue key 8c or issue / sale key 8
When the operation proceeds to this operation by pressing d, the insertion of a new card to be issued as a refueling card is accepted at n20, and the amount of oil on the face value (the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance) from the numeric keypad included in the keyboard 8 (N
21).

Here, this oil amount is set to, for example, 100 liters or 200 liters, and sold to customers as 100 liter cards or 200 liter cards. That is, instead of issuing a refueling card according to the amount paid by the customer, the refueling card is sold for the set amount of oil.

Next, the input oil amount is recorded as a residual oil amount in a residual oil amount storage area (area 40d) of the card, and at the same time, card data such as a card number and an expiration date are stored in each area (n22). The same contents are printed in the print column 41 on the front side (n23). Thereafter, the continuous flag (M6) is referred to (n24). If the continuous flag (M6) is reset, the card is ejected (n25).
Returning to the main routine, if the continuation flag (M6) is set, since the continuous processing is performed by pressing the issue / sales key 8d, the flow returns to the main routine without ejecting the card.

FIG. 2B shows the refueling card sales processing subroutine. Sales Key 8b or Issue / Sale Key 8
When the operation proceeds to this operation by pressing d, first, the continuous flag (M6) is referred to at n30. If the continuation flag (M6) is reset, the issued refueling card is accepted, and then the process proceeds to (n31) n32. If the continuation flag (M6) is set, the refueling card issuance processing subroutine is started. Since it is a continuous process and the refueling card is still inserted in the card reader / writer 10, the process proceeds to n32.

At n32, an effective flag (area 40e) set on the magnetic stripe 40 of the inserted refueling card 4 is set, and the floppy disk 12
(N3)
3). Next, the sold card 41a is printed on the print column 41 on the card surface (n34), and the refueling card is ejected (n34).
35), end the operation. The attendant issues the refueling card 4 to the customer in exchange for the paid price.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the POS terminal 1 when refueling with the refueling card 4. When the refueling card 4 is inserted into the card reader / writer 21 of the external reader / writer 2 at n60, the card data is read (n61) and it is determined whether or not the valid flag (area 40e) is set. Yes (n6
2). If the valid flag is set, the process proceeds to n63 and below. The card data read at n61 is stored in the input / output buffer. Input / output buffer is for multiple weighing machines 3
, That is, in order to store card data of a plurality of refueling cards inserted into the external reader / writer 2, each of which is distinguished by the stored refueling card number as an identification number. You. In n63,
It is checked from the card data whether the inserted refueling card is valid (whether it is within the validity period, the remaining oil amount is not 0, etc.).
Go to 5. If the valid flag (area 40e) has been reset, or if the card is invalid, the card is directly ejected (n74), and the operation ends.

At n65, selection of the weighing machine 3 by the weighing machine selection key is accepted, and a refueling permission signal is output to the selected weighing machine 3 via the weighing machine controller 14 (n6).
6). Thereafter, the card reader / writer 21 is instructed to once eject the refueling card (n67). The refueling card is ejected, but the input / output buffer storing the card data of the refueling card is held. The process waits until the refueling is completed in n68, and when the refueling is completed, the refueling amount is received from the meter 3 (n69), and a new residual oil amount is calculated by subtracting the refueling amount (n70). This residual oil amount is stored in the residual oil amount storage area (M4) of the input / output buffer allocated in n61. That is, the residual oil amount read from the inserted refueling card 4 is rewritten to the new residual oil amount. Here, re-insertion of the refueling card is requested, and when the re-fueling card is re-inserted when the post-processing key is pressed, the new residual oil amount is written in the area 40d of the magnetic stripe 40 (n72). That is, the contents of the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input / output buffer are written. Data relating to the transaction (transaction data) is written to the transaction data file (floppy disk 12) (n73), and the operation is terminated after the card is ejected (n74).

N9 corresponds to the card selling means of the present invention, and n62 corresponds to the card determining means of the present invention.

As described above, in this card refueling system, processing such as storage (encoding) of the card data and printing on the front side is performed beforehand (outside of business hours) to issue a refueling card. An effective flag of the refueling card is set to enable use at the time of refueling. As a result, even if the refueling card is issued with the card data stored and printed on the front side, it cannot be used unless the validity flag set at the time of sale is used, so that the security of the issued refueling card can be improved. it can. This makes it possible to issue a large number of refueling cards in advance,
Since the refueling card can be issued outside business hours, the operation efficiency of the POS terminal device can be improved.

Further, since it is possible to set whether or not refueling card issuance (issue / sales) processing can be performed for each refueling station (POS terminal device 1), management of refueling card issuance is facilitated, and unauthorized use by a staff member or the like is facilitated. Can be prevented from being issued.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the
Issue cards in advance of business hours to avoid congestion
And it is not possible to issue a card outside business hours.
There is no worry about being used right.

[0042]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a card processing main routine of a POS terminal installed at a gas station in a card refueling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a refueling card issuing process subroutine and a refueling card selling process subroutine of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a refueling card processing function setting operation of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the card refueling system.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of a keyboard of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a refueling card of the card refueling system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a magnetic stripe of a refueling card.

FIG. 8 is a partial configuration diagram of a RAM of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of the POS terminal device at the time of refueling by the refueling card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A-fuel station B-center 1-POS terminal device 2-external reader / writer 3-weigher 4-fuel card 8-keyboard 8a-key switch 8b-sale key 8c-issue key 8d-issue / sales key 40- Magnetic stripe 41-printing column

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical indication location G07F 7/08 G07F 7/08 S (56) References JP-A-60-245079 (JP, A) JP-A-61-188664 (JP, A) JP-A-60-55487 (JP, A) JP-A-61-226873 (JP, A) JP-A-61-193284 (JP, A) JP-A-62-128387 (JP, A) JP-A-61-235994 (JP, A) JP-B-54-37462 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A card processing device having a value storage unit for processing a card which can be transacted in exchange for the value stored in the value storage unit, wherein when the card is issued, a predetermined value is stored in the value storage unit. information permitting the issuance processing means for issuing process including a process of writing, until the time after the card vending issuing cards, the transaction using the value to the card in which the value is written
Card processing apparatus characterized in that a, a use for authorization processing means you allow writing use.