JP3442719B2 - Point card processing system, host computer, point card terminal, terminal, specific customer extraction method, and recording medium storing program for performing point card processing - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to detection of a specific customer in a point card processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, shopping centers and commercial districts,
Points service provided by restaurants etc. is given points according to the purchase price of the customer, and the customer can use the points accumulated by himself or herself to receive a discount on the price of the next purchase product or give some kind of privilege. It is a system that can be obtained. Recently, a point card is mainly composed of a magnetic card to write point information, and the accumulated point information can be rewritten on the surface of the magnetic card and can be visually confirmed.

The information stored in the point card is, for example, a member number, additional points, accumulated points, visit date,
Messages and the like from the store are stored, and the stored data is configured to be visible as shown in FIG.

The point card processing at the store is performed as follows. At the time of checkout at the cash register, the clerk inserts the point card of the store user into the point card terminal. Points are added according to the amount of sales this time, and the point data is saved in the point card. At this time, if the accumulated points exceed the reference value set in the point card terminal (for example, a person who presents a gift), the display screen of the point card terminal displays “person who presents a gift”, Notify that the points have exceeded the standard value. The clerk who saw this, as a gift recipient,
Give the present you have prepared.

According to such a conventional method, it is possible to simply grasp the user whose points exceed the reference value. However, for example, an illegal user or a registered address has an error, and direct mail cannot be delivered. There is a problem that it is not possible to grasp a specific user such as identification of a person. In addition, in order to know these specific users, it is not possible to connect to the host computer online every time it is used to make a credit inquiry like a credit card, and to identify specific users based on the information. Although it is possible, it is not necessary to use such a large scale system with a mere point service, and if such a configuration is adopted, it will take even more trouble and time for a customer who uses a credit card for payment. There was a problem of making it possible.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to detect a specific customer in a loyalty card processing system with a simple structure, detect an illegal user, and provide a special service.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a point card processing system of the present invention connects a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals through a communication network to perform point card processing. In the point card processing system, a customer information database, a reading means for reading customer information registered in the customer information database, and a specific customer among the customers registered in the customer information database are stored in the host computer. Specific customer information database that stores information of a specific customer, a flag list that defines a flag for identifying the specific type, and a user ID of a specific customer among the customers registered in the customer information database.
And a specific customer information creating means for creating a specific customer information database by adding flags in the flag list, and a sending means for sending the specific customer information database and the flag list to the point card terminal. Then, in the point card terminal, registration means for registering the specific customer information database and flag list transmitted from the host computer, reading means for reading the information stored in the point card, and reading by the point card reading means. User ID and user ID in the specific customer information database registered by the registration means
And a notifying means for notifying corresponding specific information by referring to the flag list when the information corresponding to the user ID read from the point card exists in the specific customer information database. And a deletion unit for deleting the user ID notified by the notification unit from the specific customer information database.

Further, the point card processing system of the present invention is characterized in that the point card terminal has deletion notifying means for notifying the host computer of the user ID deleted from the specific customer information database by the deleting means.

The point card processing system of the present invention is characterized in that the host computer has deletion means for deleting the user ID notified by the deletion notification means of the point card terminal from the specific customer information database. .

Further, the transmitting means of the point card processing system of the present invention is characterized in that when the point information of the customer is received from the point card terminal, it transmits to the point card terminal.

Further, the notification means of the point card processing system of the present invention is characterized by being a display means or an alarm generation means.

The communication network of the point card processing system of the present invention is characterized by being the Internet.

Further, the point card processing system of the present invention is characterized in that instructions for creating / updating the contents of the specific customer information database or flag list of the host computer are given via a communication network or the Internet.

Further, the host computer of the present invention is a customer information database and is registered in this customer information database in a point card processing system in which at least one or more point card terminals are connected through a communication network to perform point card processing. A reading means for reading the customer information, a specific customer information database for storing the information of a specific customer among the customers registered in the customer information database, and a flag for identifying the specific type. A flag list and a specific customer information creating unit for reading a user ID of a specific customer among the customers registered in the customer information database and adding a flag in the flag list to create a specific customer information database; The specific customer information database and the flag list are Wherein the at timing and a transmission means for transmitting to said point card terminal.

The point card terminal of the present invention is transmitted from the host computer in a point card processing system for connecting a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals through a communication network to perform point card processing. Registration means for registering the specific customer information database and flag list, reading means for reading information stored in the point card, user ID read by the point card reading means, and specific customer information database registered by the registration means If there is information corresponding to the user ID read from the point card in the specific customer information database and the comparing means for comparing the user ID in the above, the flag list is referred to and the corresponding specific information is displayed. Notification means to notify and this notification hand The user ID notified by, characterized in that it has a deletion unit that deletes from the specific customer information database.

Further, the terminal of the present invention is connected to the host computer via the Internet in a point card processing system for connecting a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals via a communication network to perform point card processing. Means for inputting an instruction to create a specific customer information database to be commonly set for all the point card terminals, and creation of a specific customer information database to be set only for a specific point card terminal among the point card terminals Means for inputting an instruction, and writing the common settings for all terminals and the specific terminal settings in the host computer via the Internet.

The specific customer extraction method of the present invention is a point card processing system in which a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals are connected via a communication network to perform point card processing. Create specific customer information database by extracting specific customer information from the database,
At the same time as transmitting the point information accumulated during the point card processing from the point card terminal to the host computer, the specific customer information database is received from the host computer and read from the point card during the point card processing in the point card terminal. It is characterized in that the user ID is compared with the user ID in the specific customer information database, and if the corresponding user ID exists, it is judged as a specific customer and extracted.

In addition, the point card terminal of the present invention
A program to create information for extracting a fixed customer
Computer-readable storage medium storing RAM
Flag the flag for identifying the specific type.
Stored in the customer information database
The customer information that is stored, and the customer information
A specific customer among the customers registered in the news database
Read out the user ID of the corresponding user in the flag list
Create a specific customer information database by adding a flag
Specific customer information creating means and the specific customer information database
Card and the flag list, the point card terminal
From the point card terminal and the sending means to send to
When the deletion notice is received, the specified customer information database
Means to delete the information of the corresponding user ID in the
Read by a computer that stores a program for execution
It is characterized by being a removable storage medium.

In addition, the point card terminal of the present invention is specially provided.
A computer program that stores a program for extracting fixed customers.
Is the computer-readable storage medium a host computer?
Specific customer information database and flag list sent from
And the point card that you read
User ID and user ID in the specific customer information database
And the user information in the specific customer information database.
If the ID exists, the server based on the flag list
A means to notify the service information provided, and the above notification once
Regarding the user ID, is it the specific customer information database?
Means to delete the corresponding information from the
User ID deleted from the database and notification of deletion before
To execute the means to send to the host computer.
Computer-readable program for storing
It is a storage medium.

[0020]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The point card processing system of the present invention comprises a host computer 1, a point card terminal 2,
The terminal 4 is connected by a line such as the Internet or the public line 3.

In the host computer 1, a customer information database 11 that stores information on customers who own the point card 100, registration means 12 that registers information in the customer information database 11, and the customer information database 1
1 for reading customer information, a specific customer information database 14, a service providing flag list 15 for defining an identification flag of the specific customer, the specific customer information database 14 and the service providing flag list 1
5, the specific customer information creating means 16 for creating / adding 5, the deleting means 17 for deleting a part or all of the contents of the specific customer information database 14 and the service providing flag list 15, and the created specific customer information database for the points. Specific customer information transmitting means 1 for transmitting to the card terminal 2
Have eight.

The point card terminal 2 is installed in each store scattered all over the country, and the specific customer information database 21 transmitted and received from the host computer 1, the service provision flag list 22, and this identification. Registration means 23 for registering the customer information database 21 and service provision flag list 22, reading means 24 for reading the contents of the specific customer information database 21 and service provision flag list 22, and specific customer information database 21.
And a deletion means 25 for deleting a part or all of the contents of the service provision flag list 22, a deletion notification means 26 for notifying the host computer 1 of the deletion contents, and reading the possession information of the point card 100 owned by the customer, Reading / writing means 27 for writing various information to the point card 100, and point information 28 for storing the point information.
And the addition / subtraction means 29 for performing addition / subtraction processing of points as necessary, and the latest added / subtracted point value as point information 2
8, a writing means 30 for storing the point information 28, a point information transmitting means 31 for transmitting the stored point information 28 to the host computer 1, and a comparing means 32 for comparing the user ID of the point card 100 and the user ID of the specific customer information database. As a result of this comparison, when the corresponding user ID is present in the specific customer information database, the alarm generating means 33 generates an alarm as necessary and the display means 34 for displaying a message.

The terminal 4 uses a browser function, for example, to register and read the customer information database 11 of the host computer 1 from a remote location, and to create a specific customer information database 14 and a service provision flag list 15 It has an input means 41 for inputting.

Next, the point card 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
An example of the data content of will be described. The point card 100 stores, for example, a membership number, points added this time, cumulative total, date of visit, message, branch name, and the like. The member number is the user ID that is sequentially given to the customer who became a member, and the points added this time are the points that have been added at this store, and the cumulative total is the latest number of points held. The store visit date is the last store visit date, the message is the description of advertisement information, contact information, etc. from the store, and the branch name means the name of the store that issued the card.

Next, the customer information database 11 of the host computer 1 and the specific customer information database created by the host computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
3 (a) is, with the contents of the customer information database 11, for example, user ID, name, address, telephone number, sex, date of birth, holding point value and the like are stored. Figure 3
(B) shows the contents of the specific customer information database 14, which is 3
b1 is a flag indicating the service to be provided, and 3b2
Is the user ID of the customer who receives the provided service. FIG. 3C shows the content of the service provision flag list, 3c3 is a flag indicating the service used in the specific customer information database 14, and 3c4 is the meaning of the flag. For example, the flag “1” indicates “unauthorized user”, and when this user ID is detected in the future, processing such as invalidating the point card can be performed.

The flow of processing will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data registration process in the host computer 1. In the host computer 1, when there is a request for addition to the service provision information flag list from the input means of the terminal 4, a new flag is added to the existing service provision information flag list 15 (S41). Thereby, a new flag, for example, “5” or “VIP member” can be added as shown in FIG. When there is a new member registration request, the new member is registered in the existing customer information database 11 (S42). If there is a request to add a newly registered customer or a customer who has already been registered to the specific customer information database 14, the contents of the customer information database 11 and the contents of the service provision information flag list 15 are used to specify the specific customer. Information database 1
4 is updated (S43).

Next, the data transmission / reception processing in the host computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. It waits until there is a data transmission / reception request from the point card terminal 2. When a transmission request such as a telephone call is received from the point card terminal 2 (S51), the latest point information 28 stored in the point card terminal 2 is received first. Based on the received latest point information 28 data, the contents of the customer database 11 are updated in the host computer 1 (S52). Next, if there is a delete notification from the point card terminal 2 that the user ID for which the service provision is completed and the flag information thereof is deleted, the user ID to be deleted is received and deleted (S53). After that, the latest specific customer information database 14 and the service provision information flag list 15 are transmitted to the point card terminal 2 (S54).

Next, the flow of the point card terminal processing will be described with reference to FIG. When the customer presents the point card 100 (S61), the point card possession information is read (S62). If an error occurs here, a read error occurs (S63) and the system waits until the point card is presented again.

When the card is normally read, it is checked whether or not the user ID read from the point card 100 exists in the latest specific customer information database 21 received from the host computer 1 (S64).
Here, if the corresponding user ID does not exist, the point addition / subtraction processing is performed as usual, and the result is transmitted to the host computer 1. Therefore, the addition / subtraction processing result is accumulated in the point information 28 (S65), and the point card is again stored. Will be on standby until is presented. Here, if the corresponding user ID exists in the specific customer information database 21, an alarm is generated as necessary (S66) and the service instruction content is displayed on the screen (S67). For example, when the user ID “000123” is read, since the flag “1” is stored as shown in FIG. 3B, when the alarm occurs, the display screen displays “Lost list (illegal use). There is a risk of injury) ”.

Based on the alarm generation and the instruction on the displayed screen, the operator determines whether to continue the point card processing or to return the card and interrupt the processing (S6).
8). If the processing is not continued at this point, the card is returned and waits until the point card 100 is presented again. For example, if the user is an unauthorized user, he / she informs the customer to that effect and discards the point card.

When the processing is to be continued, the clerk who confirms the display provides the corresponding service (S69).
For example, if the winner of the prize A, the prepared prize A
Will be handed to the customer, or if the customer does not receive the direct mail, he / she will be notified and the registration procedure will be performed again at the new address.

Since the same service is not provided again to the user ID that has completed the service provision, the corresponding user ID is deleted from the specific customer information database 21.
In order not to provide the same service at other stores,
Specific customer information database 11 in host computer 1
In order to reflect the above, the point card processing (S65) is performed as usual, after the deletion instruction data for the host computer 1 is created (S70), and the standby state is set until the next point card is presented.

Next, the data transmission / reception processing of the point card terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. At a preset transmission time of the point card terminal 2, for example, at 3:00 am after the store is closed (S71), an access request is made to the host computer 1 such as making a call by telephone (S72). When the connection with the host computer 1 is confirmed, the point card terminal 2 transmits the point information 28 accumulated on that day to the host computer 1 (S73).
Next, the deletion instruction data of the user ID which has already completed the service provision is transmitted to the host computer 1 (S74).
Next, the latest specific customer information database 14 and the provision information flag list 15 updated by the host computer 1 are received, and the specific customer information database 21 and the provision information flag list 22 of the point card terminal 2 are registered (S75). After that, it waits until the designated transmission time is reached.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, a specific customer information database 15 in the host computer 1 is input from the input means of the terminal 4.
A method of creating the will be described. First, when the browser is started up on the terminal 4, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Reference numeral 81 is for collectively setting all the stores and all terminals, and is a setting for transmitting the specific customer information database 14 and the provided information flag list 15 to all chain stores such as restaurants spread nationwide, for example. . Here, as the card print message 82, “Graduation / Enrollment celebration /
By accepting reservations for welcome and farewell parties, etc.,
The point card terminal 2 to which this is sent can print this message on the point card during the point card addition / subtraction process. Also, membership point 8
3 is input in this item when, for example, 10 points are given as a service at the time of joining. Point magnification 84
Means, for example, only during the limited period of the 5th anniversary of the store opening, 1.2
Enter this item to add a percentage.

The lost user ID 85 is an item for registering the user ID of the customer who lost the point card.
When the point card having the user ID described here is used, it means that the user is an unauthorized user. User IDs "000123" and "0" entered in this item
The flag "1" is set in "01333" as shown in FIG. The prize A winner 86 is an item for registering a user ID that presents the prize A, and the user ID “010771” input in this item has a flag “2” as shown in FIG. 3B. Is set. Like the prize A, the prize B winner 87 is an item for registering a user ID that presents the prize B, and in the case of this all-shop / all-terminal batch designation, there is no person corresponding to this service.

The DM non-arrival 88 is an item for registering a user ID that has sent a direct mail but did not arrive because the destination is unknown, and the user ID entered in this item.
A flag "4" is set in "022301" as shown in FIG. 91 is for setting the point card terminal 2 of only one specific store, for example,
Special customer information database 14 special for Kawasaki No. 1 store only
And the provision information flag list 15 is set.

Here, as the card print message,
"A welcome and farewell party is at our shop! TEL No. 000-000
By inputting "0" or the like, the point card terminal 2 to which this is sent receives the point card addition / subtraction process.
As shown in FIG. 2, the point card 1
00 can be printed. The prize B winner 93 was not set at all stores and all terminals at once,
For example, as a service provided only at the Kawasaki No. 1 store, if it is desired to give a gift B to a specific member who works in the Kawasaki area for a new store celebration, this gift user ID is registered. User ID "0001" entered in this item
The flag "3" is set to "24", "000128", and "000130". Batch setting for all stores and terminals,
Any of the settings for each terminal can be set by checking the registration button. The terminal 4 may be directly connected to the host computer 1,
For example, the processing can be performed in a remote place via the Internet or the like.

[0038]

According to the present invention, when the point information is transmitted from the point card terminal 2 to the host computer 1, which has been conventionally performed once a day, the latest specific customer information database is received from the host computer. ,
The normal point card processing is not hindered at all, and the specific customer can be immediately detected with a simple configuration. Furthermore, by notifying the higher-level computer 1 of the user ID for which service provision has already been completed, it is possible to avoid problems such as service provision being performed at another store.

Since the specific customer information database can be created / updated by a browser via the Internet, it is possible to easily change the setting from a remote place at any time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Point card configuration example

FIG. 3 (a) Customer information database (B) Contents of data sent from the host computer (C) Meaning of flag

[Figure 4] Upper computer data registration processing

[Figure 5] Host computer data transmission / reception processing

[Figure 6] Point card processing

[Figure 7] Point card terminal / data transmission / reception processing

[Figure 8] Screen display example

[Explanation of symbols]

1-Host computer 11 ... Customer information database 12 ... Registration means 13-reading means 14 ... Specific customer information database 15-Service provision flag list 16 ... Specific customer information creation means 17 ... Delete means 18 ... Specific customer information transmission means 2. Point card terminal 21 ... Specific customer information database 22 ... Service provision flag list 23 ... Registration means 24 ... Reading means 25 ... Deleting means 26 ... Delete notification means 27 ... Reading / writing means 28 ... Point information 29 ... Addition / subtraction means 30 ... Writing means 31: Point information transmission means 32 ... Comparison means 33 ... Alarm generating means 34 ... Display means 35 ... Notification means 3 ... Line 4 ... Terminal 100-Point card 81 ... Batch setting for all stores and terminals 82 ... Card print message 83 ... Membership points 84-Point multiplication factor 85: Lost person 86 ... Prize A Winner 87 ... Prize B Winner 88 ... DM not arrived 89 ... Register button 91 ... Setting for each terminal 92 ... Card print message 93 ... Prize B Winner

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Koichi Sato Inventor, Koichi Sato 66-2 Horikawa-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Toshiba Engineering Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-7-210763 (JP, A) JP-A-1 -321560 (JP, A) JP-A-3-290798 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/12 G06F 17/60

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. A point card processing system for connecting a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals via a communication network to perform point card processing, wherein the host computer has a customer information database and a customer information database. Reading means for reading registered customer information, and among the customers registered in the customer information database,
A specific customer information database that stores information of a specific customer, a flag list that defines a flag for identifying the specific type, and a customer registered in the customer information database,
Specific customer information creating means for reading a user ID of a specific customer and adding a flag in the flag list to create a specific customer information database; and transmitting the specific customer information database and the flag list to the point card terminal. Registering means for registering the specific customer information database and flag list transmitted from the host computer to the point card terminal; reading means for reading information stored in the point card; User ID read by card reading means
And comparing means for comparing the user ID in the specific customer information database registered by the registration means, and the information corresponding to the user ID read from the point card in the specific customer information database, A point card processing system characterized by having notifying means for notifying corresponding specific information by referring to the flag list, and deleting means for deleting the user ID notified by the notifying means from the specific customer information database. . 2. The point card according to claim 1, wherein the point card terminal has deletion notifying means for notifying the host computer of a user ID deleted from the specific customer information database by the deleting means. Processing system. 3. The high-order computer has deletion means for deleting the user ID notified by the deletion notification means of the point card terminal from the specific customer information database. Point card processing system described in. 4. The point card processing system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits the point information of the customer to said point card terminal when receiving the point information of the customer from said point card terminal. 5. The point card processing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is a display means or an alarm generation means. 6. The point card processing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is the Internet. 7. The point card processing system according to claim 1, wherein instructions for creating / updating the contents of the specific customer information database or flag list of the host computer are issued via a communication network or the Internet. 8. A customer information database and a customer registered in the customer information database in a point card processing system for connecting a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals through a communication network to perform a point card processing. Reading means for reading information, and among the customers registered in the customer information database,
A specific customer information database that stores information of a specific customer, a flag list that defines a flag for identifying the specific type, and a customer registered in the customer information database,
A specific customer information creating unit that reads a user ID of a specific customer and adds a flag in the flag list to create a specific customer information database; and the specific customer information database and the flag list at the fixed timing. A host computer having a transmitting means for transmitting to a card terminal. 9. A point card processing system for connecting a host computer and at least one or more point card terminals through a communication network to perform point card processing, wherein a specific customer information database and a flag list transmitted from the host computer are displayed. Registration means for registering, reading means for reading information stored in the point card, and user ID read by the point card reading means
And comparing means for comparing the user ID in the specific customer information database registered by the registration means, and the information corresponding to the user ID read from the point card in the specific customer information database, A point card terminal characterized by comprising notifying means for notifying corresponding specific information by referring to a flag list, and deleting means for deleting the user ID notified by the notifying means from the specific customer information database. 10. A host computer and at least one or more point card terminals are connected via a communication network,
In a point card processing system for performing point card processing, means for connecting to the host computer via the Internet, for inputting an instruction to create a specific customer information database to be commonly set for all the point card terminals, and the point card. Among the terminals, there is a means for inputting an instruction to create a specific customer information database that should be set only in a specific point card terminal, and the common settings for all terminals and the specific terminal settings are written in the host computer via the Internet. A terminal characterized by. 11. A host computer and at least one or more point card terminals are connected via a communication network,
In a point card processing system for performing point card processing, the host computer extracts specific customer information from the customer information database to create a specific customer information database, and the point information accumulated during the point card processing from the point card terminal. To the host computer, and at the same time receives the specific customer information database from the host computer, and at the time of processing the point card in the point card terminal, the user ID read from the point card and the user ID in the specific customer information database. And a corresponding customer ID is present, it is determined to be a specific customer, and the specific customer is extracted. 12. A specific customer is extracted using a point card terminal.
Remember the program to create the information to send
A computer readable storage medium,
Set a flag to identify a specific type in the flag list.
Means to be defined and registered in the customer information database
Means for reading customer information, and the customer information data
User of a specific customer among the customers registered in the base
Read the ID and set the corresponding flag in the flag list.
Specified customer to add and create specific customer information database
Customer information creating means, the specific customer information database, and
The flag list is sent to the point card terminal.
Sending means to notify and delete notification from the point card terminal
In the specific customer information database,
And execute the means to delete the information of the corresponding user ID.
Computer readable program for storing
A capable storage medium. 13. A specific customer can be extracted using a point card terminal.
Computer reading that stores the program for sending out
Storage medium, which can be transmitted from a host computer
Registered specific customer information database and flag list
Means for recording and users in point cards that have been read
Compare the ID with the user ID in the specific customer information database.
The user ID in the specific customer information database
If present, the service offering based on the flag list
Means for notifying the service information and the user who once notified
For ID, refer to the specific customer information database
Means for deleting information to be stored, and the specific customer information data
User ID deleted from the base and deletion notification
The means for causing the computer to send
Computer-readable storage medium storing programs
body.