JP2698999B2 - Charge card system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a charge card system that uses water, gas, electricity, etc. by using a prepaid card.

<Conventional technology> Conventionally, in a single-family house or an apartment house, in order to manage charges for water, gas, electricity, etc. used, a card and a bill are inserted into a card writer, and amount information corresponding to the amount is stored. The money amount information stored in the card is read out and stored by the charge card device provided on the card and provided separately for each door, and the stored amount is reduced according to the amount of water used or the like. There is a charge card system configured to stop the supply of water and the like when the service is stopped.

Generally, in a card used in such a fee card system, information stored in the card is relatively easily copied, and there is a risk that the copied card may be used illegally.

For this reason, conventionally, for example, every time a card supplied to a user such as a water supply is purchased by a card writer in a prepaid manner, a progressive issue number starting from 0 is assigned to the card, and the card is written each time the card is purchased. In the embedded machine, +
1 and the issue number was updated. Then, when the card is inserted into the charge card device, the issue number stored in the card is compared with the issue number already stored in the charge card device, and the issue number incremented by one from the stored issue number is compared. It was configured so that only cards having numbers could be used.

In addition to the case where the N + 1 issuance number is given as described above, a data erasing unit is provided in the charge card device, and after reading the storage information from the card, the storage information of the card is deleted to prevent unauthorized use thereof. Had been adopted.

<Problem to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such a conventional fee card system, when a card is lost or damaged, the issue number of the lost or damaged card becomes unknown when the card is reissued. for that reason,
If the issue number starts from 0, the storage issue number of the charge card device must also be reset, which requires a reset switch, etc., which may reduce the economics and reliability of the device, and reduce the cost of the reset. There was a problem that it takes time and effort.

In addition, when a plurality of card writing machines are used, it is necessary to connect the card writing machines online or the like to exchange information on the issue number, which causes a problem of reduced economic efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charge card system which can simplify the system and prevent use of a copied card.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes at least a prepaid card, a card reader / writer unit, a deposit machine, and a control unit, and at least a purchase price. A card writer for writing amount information corresponding to the information to the card, a card reader for reading the information on the card, a storage for storing information read last time, and a controller for controlling the controlled device. A charge card system comprising: a charge card device, wherein the card writer has date and time information generating means for generating date and time information corresponding to the year, month, day, hour, and minute at the time of purchase. The date and time information is formed so as to be writable on the card, and the fee card device is a date and time information comparing unit that compares previously read date and time information stored in the storage unit with newly read date and time information. Adding means for adding the amount information already stored in the storage unit, the newly read amount information, and the newly read amount information, and the year of the newly read date and time information. If the time of month, day, hour, and minute are longer than the year, month, day, hour, and minute of the previously read date and time information, the newly read amount information is already stored in the storage unit. A charge card system configured to add to the stored amount information.

<Operation> The present invention is configured as described above, and the card writer writes the date and time information from the date and time information generating means to the card together with the price information corresponding to the purchase price at the time of purchase.

The fee card device reads the information on the card and compares the date and time information already stored in the storage unit with the newly read date and time information. When the date and time of the newly read date and time information has passed the date and time of the already stored date and time information, the amount information stored in the card is replaced with the amount information stored in the storage unit. to add.

<Example> First, the outline of the present invention will be described.

As shown in the overall configuration diagram of FIG. 1, the charge card system according to the present invention includes a prepaid card 5 and a card reader / writer unit 11, a deposit machine 12, a control unit 14, and a date and time information generating means 15. Card writing machine 10 and card reader unit
21, a charge card device 20 having a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, and a date / time information comparison unit 24. The controlled device 35 is controlled by the charge card device 20 to supply water or the like. Open and close.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the fee card system according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a water supply company or the like, which has a card issuing machine 3 and a setting / payment machine 7 and the like which are used incidentally to the charge card system. Card issuing machine 3
Issues one card 5 at the time of a supply contract with the user, and the setting / payment machine 7 performs the initial setting of the fee card device 20 and the payment of the fee card device 20 at the time of departure (indicated by a dotted line A). .

In addition, in each district which divided supply area such as water supply,
A plurality of card writing machines 10 (A, B... N) capable of writing money information and date and time information on the card 5 are provided. Furthermore,
The fee card device 20 is installed in each house 33,
The charge card device 20 is connected to the shut-off valve 36 and the pulse generator 37 of the controlled device 35.

Then, the user inserts the card 5 supplied at the time of contract into the card writer 10 (A, B... N) together with bills, writes the amount and date and time information on the card 5, and inserts the card 5 into the charge card device. Insert into 20. As a result, the date and time information of the card 5 is read, and the date and time information already stored is compared with the mutual date and time. If the newly read date and time information has elapsed, the read amount information is already read. It is added to the stored amount information. Then, the usage amount is subtracted based on a signal from the pulse generator 37 when the water supply or the like is used, and the shutoff valve 36 is closed when the usable amount becomes zero.

The amount of money, date and time of payment, and the like of the card writing machines 10 (A, B... N) are stored in each of the card writing machines 10 by providing a payment journal or a removable RAM card and the like, and sold. Management (indicated by dotted line B) is performed. Further, the remaining amount of the usable amount due to the user's retirement or the like is settled by connecting the setting / settlement machine 7 to the charge card device 20 and reading the stored amount information. Further, the charge system setting card 6 managed by the business entity 1 stores the charge system and its additional number information, and is used for setting the charge system for the card writer 10.

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams showing an example of a circuit configuration of one embodiment of the card writer 10 and the fee card device 20 of the fee card system according to the present invention. In the embodiment, a case in which the system is applied to water supply will be described.

The card 5 is made of a magnetic card that can be used repeatedly, and corresponds to a unique number for specifying the water supply company 1, the presence or absence of sewage, water supply and drainage conditions such as a caliber, a device number for specifying the fee card device 20, and a purchase price. Information such as price information, date and time information at the time of purchase, fee system and an additional number for specifying the date of enforcement can be written therein. Then, at the time of the supply contract, each information of the unique number, the water supply / drainage condition, and the device number is written by the card issuing machine 3 and supplied to the user.

The card writer 10 includes a card reader / writer unit 11, a depositing machine 12, a storage unit 13, date and time information generating means 15, a display unit 16 related to operations at the time of depositing, a purchase confirmation button 17, a printer unit.
It mainly includes a controller 18 connected to the controller 18 and performing information processing and the like.

The card reader / writer unit 11 is a motor-driven card reader / writer configured to read magnetic information of the card 5 and to write predetermined magnetic information. When the card 5 is inserted, the unique number and device number information are read from the card 5 and output to the control unit 14, and the amount information, date and time information,
The additional number information of the fee system is formed to be written on the card 5.

The depositing machine 12 is a depositing machine dedicated to 1,000-yen banknotes, and is configured to output payment information corresponding to the number of inserted banknotes K to the control section 14.

The storage unit 13 includes a RAM and a ROM for storing the charge system set by the charge system setting card 6, the serial number thereof, a device number for each payment, amount information corresponding to the amount of money, date and time information, and a CPU program. It is composed of

The control unit 14 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that controls each unit of the device. Then, the unique number read from the card 5 is compared with the unique number for verification stored in the storage unit 13 to determine whether or not payment can be made. In addition, deposit machine 12
Based on the operation of the purchase confirmation button 17, information such as the amount information and the date and time information from the date and time information generating means 15 is output to the card reader / writer unit 11 and the printer unit 18.

The date and time information generating means 15 includes a crystal clock based on the oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator, and is configured to output a date and time that match the calendar year. Then, the year, month, day, hour, and minute when the purchase confirmation button 17 is operated are output to the control unit 14 as date and time information signals.

The display unit 16 is made up of a fluorescent display tube, and displays a deposit amount and various messages under the control of the control unit 14. The purchase confirmation button 17 is a push button switch for deciding the purchase by inserting the bill K into the deposit machine 12. The printer section 18 comprises a two-station printer capable of separately printing a receipt and a deposit journal.
During the operation of, the amount, date and time and the device number
Print on receipt paper and deposit journal paper respectively,
It is configured to issue a receipt L.

The charge card device 20 includes a card reader unit 21 and a storage unit 22.
A card insertion switch 25, and a card insertion display 26, a numerical display 27, a card error display 28, a remaining amount warning display 29, and a device abnormality display 30, each of which displays an operation state of the apparatus.
An emergency switch 31 for controlling a shut-off valve 36 in an emergency, a control unit 23 connected thereto for performing information processing, etc.,
And is configured to operate with a built-in battery (not shown).

The card reader 21 is a manually inserted card reader capable of reading the magnetic information of the card 5. Then, when the card 5 is inserted, the amount information, date and time information, and other information stored in the card 5 are read, and these are read by the control unit.
It is configured to store the data in the storage unit 22 via the storage unit 23.

The storage unit 22 is a RAM that stores a unique number for collation, a water supply / drainage condition, a device number, a fee system and its additional number, a price information, date and time information, a CPU program, and the like, which are initially set by the setting / payment machine 7. And ROM.

The control unit 23 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that controls each unit of the apparatus and performs processing of the date / time information comparison unit 24. Then, each information read from the card 5 is compared with each information set and stored in the storage unit 22 to perform date and time comparison based on date and time information and other information processing.
In the date / time information comparison process, the read date / time information is compared with the already stored date / time information by a date / time information comparing unit, and when the read date / time information has elapsed, the read money amount information is stored in the storage unit 22. Is added to the amount information. Further, a pulse signal from the pulse generator 37 of the controlled device 35 is received, and a water usage fee corresponding to the pulse number data is subtracted,
The latest balance value is converted to a usable water amount corresponding to the amount and output to the numerical value display 27. Further, when the remaining value becomes 0, a signal for closing the shutoff valve 36 is output.

The card insertion switch 25 is composed of a push button switch. By operating the card insertion switch 25, the power of the card reader unit 21 is turned on, and the card insertion display is turned on.
26 is formed so as to blink to indicate that the card 5 can be inserted. The numerical value display 27 is formed so as to numerically display the usable remaining amount corresponding to the amount of money stored in the storage unit 22. The card error indicator 28 is formed so as to blink and display a card error when the inserted card 5 is determined to be unacceptable by the control unit 23. The remaining amount warning indicator 29 is formed so as to blink when the available remaining amount of water at the stored remaining value falls below a predetermined remaining amount warning value. Device error indicator
Numeral 30 is formed so as to blink when the signal line from the pulse generator 37 of the controlled device 35 is disconnected and when the battery voltage is low, thereby indicating a device abnormality. In addition, device error indicator
At the time of the blinking of 30, the control unit 23 is controlled to close the shutoff valve 36. The emergency switch 31 is a switch for temporarily enabling the water supply when the available remaining amount reaches 0 when the remaining amount is not scheduled, or when urgent use is desired when the remaining amount is 0, and is operated once. Then, it is formed so that it cannot be used until the next time the card 5 is inserted. The date and time information at the time of device setting, the remaining alarm value,
The emergency supply amount when operating the emergency switch 31 is set and
Initialized by the payment machine 7.

The controlled device 35 includes a shutoff valve 36 and a pulse generator 37, and is installed in a water supply path. The shut-off valve 36 is made up of an electromagnetic valve and is controlled by the control unit 23 to open and close the pipeline, and a pulse generator
37 is configured to generate a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of water used and supply it to the control unit 23.

Next, the operation of the fee card system thus configured will be described.

First, in each card writing machine 10 (A, B... N), the charge system and the serial number are set and stored by the charge system setting card 6.

In addition, the card issuing machine 3 uses a unique number, water supply and drainage conditions,
The card 5 storing the device number information is supplied from the business entity 1 to the user. Then, in the user's house 33, the control unit 23 of the fee card device 20 includes the shut-off valve 3 of the controlled device 35.
6, the pulse generator 37 is electrically connected.

Hereinafter, the operation of the card writer 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At step 1, it is determined whether the card 5 or card 6 has been inserted into the card reader / writer unit 11, and the determination is YES.
If so, proceed to step 2 and if no, repeat step 1.

In step 2, the stored information of the card 5 or 6 is read, and the read unique number is compared with the unique number for verification.
Subsequently, in step 3, if the two unique numbers match, the process proceeds to step 4, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step 14.

At step 14, the message "card unusable" is displayed on the display 16, and the program proceeds to step 15. At step 15, the card 5 or 6 is returned, and the program returns to step 1.

In step 4, it is determined whether or not the inserted card is the charge system setting card 6. If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 5, and if it is YES, the process proceeds to step 16. In step 5, the message in the "payable" state is displayed on the display 16, and
Subsequently, in step 6, when the bill K is inserted into the deposit machine 12,
Calculate the number of inserts, display the deposit amount on the display 16 and step 7.
Proceed to.

In step 7, it is determined whether or not the number of the deposited banknotes K is 29. If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 8, and if the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 9. Purchase confirmation button in step 8
It is determined whether or not the button 17 has been pressed. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 9; otherwise, the process returns to step 6.

In step 9, when 29 bills K are inserted, the bills K
Prevent additional insertions. Subsequently, in step 10, the date and time information, amount information and device number information of the date and time generating means 15 when the purchase confirmation button 17 is operated are stored in the storage unit 12, and these are printed on the receipt and the deposit journal paper by the printer unit 18. You. Next, a receipt L is issued in step 11, and the process proceeds to step 12.

In step 12, the amount information corresponding to the deposit amount, the date and time information, the charge system stored and stored and the serial number are written in the cart. When the card writing is completed,
At 13, the card 5 is returned and the process returns to step 1.

On the other hand, in step 16, the charge system of the charge system setting card 6 and its additional number information are read and stored. Subsequently, in step 17, the read charge system and its serial number information are rewritten to the already stored fee system and its serial number information, and the settings are updated and stored. Next, at step 18, the fee system setting card 6 is returned, and the process returns to step 1.

Next, the operation of the fee card device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 20, the setting / payment machine 7 is connected to the charge card device 20, and information such as a unique number for verification, water supply / drainage conditions, equipment number, charge system and its additional number, date and time information at the time of setting, etc. , Are initialized and stored in the storage unit 22.

Subsequently, the remaining amount of the water supply available at step 21 (0 at the time of setting) is displayed on the numerical value display 27. In step 22, the presence or absence of a break in the signal line from the controlled device 35 is detected. If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 23, and if the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 3.
Go to 9. At step 39, the device abnormality indicator 30 is turned on and off. Then, at step 40, the shut-off valve 36 is closed, and the routine proceeds to step 28.

At step 23, it is determined whether or not the battery voltage has dropped to a predetermined value. If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 24, and if the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 41. In step 41, the device error indicator
The flashing of 30 is performed, and then the shutoff valve 36 is closed in step 42 and the process returns to step 21.

In step 24, the control unit 23 counts the pulse input from the pulse generator 37, and then in step 25, subtracts the amount of water corresponding to the pulse input from the remaining amount. At step 26, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of available water is 0 or less. When the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 27, and when the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 40 to close the shutoff valve 36.

At step 27, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is equal to or less than the set remaining amount alarm value. When the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 28, and when the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 43. In step 43, the remaining amount warning indicator 29 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step 28.

At step 28, it is determined whether or not the card 5 has been inserted into the card reader section 21. If the determination is YES, step 29 is performed.
And if NO, return to step 21.

In step 29, each information stored in the card 5 is read. In step 30, the read unique number and the unique number for verification are compared, and if they match, the step is performed.
Proceed to 31; if not, proceed to step 44. Step
At 31, the read device number is compared with the verification device number. If they match, the process proceeds to step 32, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step 44. At step 32, the read water supply / drainage condition information is compared with the verification water supply / drainage condition information. If they match, the process proceeds to step 33, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step 44.

In step 33, the read date / time information is compared with the already stored date / time information. If the former is longer than the latter, the process proceeds to step 34, and if NO, the process proceeds to step 44.
Proceed to.

At step 34, the additional number of the read charge system and the additional number of the check fee system are compared, and if they match, the process proceeds to step 35, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step 45. At step 45, the fee system and its additional number are rewritten and stored in the storage unit 22 as a new fee system and its additional number, and the process proceeds to step 35.

In step 35, the read amount information is displayed on the numerical display 27 as the purchased water amount (purchased amount). Step 36
Then, the purchase amount is added to the remaining amount of water stored in the storage unit 22, and the total value is displayed on the numerical value display 27 as the available water amount (new remaining amount). Subsequently, in step 37, it is determined whether or not the new remaining amount is greater than 0. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 38, and if the determination is NO, the process returns to step 21. At step 38, the shut-off valve 36 is opened, the water pipe is made usable, and the process returns to step 21.

On the other hand, at step 44, the card error display 28 is blinked to display a card error, and the process returns to step 21.

The processing in step 33 corresponds to the date and time information comparing means of the present invention, and the processing in step 36 corresponds to the adding means.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and the embodiment can be changed without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the order of year, month, day, hour, and minute of date and time information may be rearranged and stored as needed. Also, year, month,
The display values of the day, hour, and minute may be replaced with symbols such as alphabets and stored.

<Effect of the Invention> The charge card system according to the present invention is configured as described above, and sets a number for specifying the issuance of a prepaid card as date and time information based on a time and date that progresses moment by moment. Since the date and time information specified by the date and time when the card was purchased is read by the charge card device and compared with the already stored date and time information, the identification number of the issue number was correctly identified and copied. Use of the card can be prevented.

If the card is lost or damaged and reissued,
Since the purchase price of the card can be specified by the date and time information after the reissue time, continuous operation can be performed as compared with the date and time information stored in the fee card device. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a switch for resetting the storage issue number of the charge card device as in the conventional example, so that the device can be configured simply and labor for resetting can be omitted.

Furthermore, even when a plurality of card writing machines are used, the card issue number is set at the date and time of purchase, so that the user can use any of the card writing machines and issue each card writing period. The exchange of numbers is not required, and the entire system can be configured economically.

In addition, since the charge card device does not require a data removing unit, it is possible to reduce battery consumption and to provide an effect that the entire device can be economically and simply configured.
In addition, by setting the date and time that progresses from time to time as the card issue number, it is possible to operate without problems even in a system in which data must be erased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the operation of a fee card system according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of a card writer, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the charge card device, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card writing machine, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the charge card device. 5 ... Card, 10 ... Card writer, 11 ... Card reader / writer unit, 12 ... Payment machine, 14 ... Control unit, 15 ... Date and time information generating means, 20 ... Charge card device, 21 ... Card reader unit, 22 storage unit, 23 control unit, 24 date / time information comparison unit, 35 controlled device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A prepaid card and a card reader
A card writer that has a writer unit, a depositing machine, and a control unit and writes at least amount information corresponding to the purchase amount to the card; a card reader unit that reads information on the card; and stores information read last time. A charge card system having a storage unit and a control unit for controlling a controlled device, wherein the card writer is configured to store the year, month, day, hour, and minute at the time of purchase. Date and time information generating means for generating corresponding date and time information, the date and time information is formed to be writable on the card, and the charge card device is newly added to the previously read date and time information stored in the storage unit. Date and time information comparing means for comparing the read date and time information, and adding means for adding the newly read amount information and the amount information already stored in the storage unit; Date If the time of year, month, day, hour, and minute of the time information is longer than the time of year, month, day, hour, and minute of the date and time information previously read, the newly read amount information Is added to the money amount information already stored in the storage unit.