JP3607112B2 - Prepaid card bond information confirmation system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a prepaid card bond information confirmation system that is suitable for introduction into a third-party issued card system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a prepaid card system in which cash information is deposited in an information recording card by performing charging or recycling issuance is known.
In this method, the money value is given to the card every time it is deposited.
This monetary value is a credit when viewed from the card issuing company, and if the user consumes the card in the store, this consumption becomes the debt.
[0003]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the card issuing company sells the card medium to the service provider (store) or collects the usage fee and gives the card, and the end user (customer) purchases the card in the store, or In a third-party issued card system that deposits to a card, a credit is incurred when the customer purchases the card or deposits the card, and the card issuing company consumes the customer based on this credit. Pay the debt to the service provider.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 7, this card system is composed mainly of a ticket vending machine, a deposit machine, a reading device, a relay device, etc. installed in the store, and a center (card issuing company).
By the way, the ticket vending machine is a device that issues a card, the depositing device is a device that records deposit information on the card, the reading device is a device that reads and writes information recorded on the card, and the relay device is a device that centrally manages the credit information in the store Yes, the center comprehensively manages bond information of all chain stores.
[0005]
The bond information is collected in the bond database (bond DB) of the relay device when the card is purchased or deposited into the card, and further transmitted to the center.
At this time, from the point of view of the card issuer, when the card is issued / deposited, “there is a claim in the store”.
In other words, “the receivable is in the store” means “the receivable is in the store”.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the credit information is in the store in this way, there is a possibility that the credit information will be lost due to fraudulent acts by the store clerk or customer, equipment failure, etc., and if this happens, the card issuing company will be greatly affected.
In order to prevent this, measures such as improving the tamper resistance of each device or strengthening the encryption method can be considered.
[0007]
However, even if these measures are taken and efforts are made to keep the credit information in the store, only a temporary effect can be obtained due to a decrease in tamper resistance due to the passage of time and the progress of cryptanalysis technology. .
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, there is a method in which the store does not have bond information, and the bond information is notified to the center in real time at the time of ticketing / payment.
[0008]
In this method, the bond information is not held in the store (even if it must be held for a short time), so it is held at the center. The loan information has been finalized, and the above problem does not occur.
However, in this system, there is another problem that communication occurs for each ticket issue / payment, and that much traffic has to be made at the center.
[0009]
In addition, an increase in the number of communications becomes a serious problem in terms of the communication fee burden of the card issuing company or the store.
In addition, in order to establish a card recharge system, it is necessary to incorporate various functions such as authentication technology into the card from the viewpoint of fraud prevention and accident (failure) prevention. Is more expensive than disposable cards.
[0010]
When the cost of the card medium is expensive as described above, the apparent card cost is usually reduced by increasing the number of times of repeated use.
However, if communication is required for each ticket issuance / payment, the communication fee is fixedly required as the running cost of the card, and there is a limit in realizing cost reduction.
[0011]
As a countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 9, when the card balance becomes 0 yen at the store, the 0-yen card is collected and sent to the encoder factory, where data is written and the card is delivered to the store again. A recycling encoding method can be considered.
However, in this method, since the card delivery cost and the encoding cost are generated, there is a limit in realizing the cost reduction as described above.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to determine the prepaid card receivable information inexpensively and safely on the card issuing company side.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a prepaid card receivable information confirmation system according to the present invention includes:
A center that grants the right to use cards up to a certain amount for each service facility;
A prepaid card that can be used within the service facility within the scope of the card usage right given from the center, and a relay device that enables multiple payments to the prepaid card ,
The relay device is installed in the service facility and has means for receiving the card use right from the center .
[0014]
In this configuration, each time a prepaid card is used at a service facility, the receivable information is not fixed, but the total maximum amount that can be used with the prepaid card is preliminarily stored in the center (card issuer side) as receivable information before using the card. Will be confirmed.
For this reason, the bond information is not always in the center, and even if fraudulent acts or equipment failures occur by store clerk or customers, the bond information is not affected at all.
[0015]
The relay device has a transmission unit that collects and transmits the prepaid card usage amount used in the service facility to the center,
The center may include a confirmation unit that confirms bond information within a range of a card use right transmitted to the relay device.
[0016]
In addition, the center includes a determination unit that determines whether the newly requested card usage right or the total amount of the card usage right and the card usage right for inventory is within a preset upper limit amount range. As a result of the determination, if the upper limit is exceeded, a new card usage right may be denied.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a prepaid card bond information confirmation system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a service facility.
[0018]
The service facility 1 is a facility that provides services to the general public, such as department stores, supermarkets, retail stores, restaurants, or entertainment facilities that provide goods sales (product sales) or entertainment services. A deposit machine, a reading device (not shown), a relay device, etc. are installed.
[0019]
The ticket vending machine is a device that issues a prepaid card such as an IC card to a user of the service facility 1 for a fee. When cash is inserted, the ticket vending machine issues a prepaid card on the ticket surface corresponding to the inserted amount.
The depositing machine is a device that charges cash information to a prepaid card. When a prepaid card and cash are inserted, the prepaid card can be used up to an amount obtained by adding an insertion amount to a balance at the time of insertion.
[0020]
The reading apparatus is an apparatus attached to a product sales or entertainment service providing device, and when a user receives a product sales or service using a prepaid card, the price is offset from the card balance.
The relay device is connected to a ticket vending machine, a deposit machine, and a reading device, and centrally manages these devices, a card usage right database for managing card usage rights given by the center, and a prepaid used in the service facility. The sending means for collecting and transmitting the card usage amount to the center, and the issuance / payment of the prepaid card that can be used in the service facility within the range of the card usage right given by the center. It has a control means and a card usage right inventory display function.
[0021]
The card use right means the value as electronic money that can be added to the card medium delivered from the card issuing company, and permits the use of a card up to a certain amount for each service facility.
For example, if you have a card usage right of 50 million yen as the amount used for one week, deposit the total amount of each prepaid card issued at the ticket vending machine and each prepaid card with the deposit machine Until the total deposit amount reaches 50 million yen, recycling ticketing and charging can be done freely in the service facility 1.
[0022]
In this embodiment, the card usage right is transmitted and received between the relay device, the center, etc., and the “card usage right” in this case means “card usage right information” including usage amount information below. I decided to.
[0023]
The center (card issuing company) determines whether the total amount of the confirmation means for determining the receivable information within the range of the card usage right transmitted to the relay device and the newly requested card usage right or the card usage right for the inventory. Determining means for determining whether the amount is within a preset upper limit range, and if the result of the determination exceeds the upper limit amount, a new card usage right may be denied. it can.
[0024]
In other words, when a card usage right order is received from the relay device, a predetermined usage right check is performed by the judging means. If the result is “OK”, the card usage right is transmitted to the relay device and the bond information is confirmed. I do.
For example, (1) when the service facility 1 is notified that the usage right check is “OK”, (2) when the card usage right is transmitted to the service facility 1, and (3) the service facility 1 is confirmed. This is done when the card usage right is received.
[0025]
Next, a mechanism for determining bond information in this system will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, this system sells the total value of electronic money separately from the card medium from the card issuer, which is the card issuer, to the stores A, B, which are service facilities 1, The store B employs a method in which the value purchased is divided and sold at the time of ticketing / payment.
[0026]
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the value is sold / purchased between the issuer and the store A, and the value sold to the issuer is sold between the store A and the user. Are sold / purchased, that is, a prepaid card is issued and a prepaid card is deposited.
The value purchased by the store A decreases each time ticketing / payment is performed, but this can be regarded as a movement of value.
FIG. 4 shows a state where the value moves from the center to the prepaid card.
[0027]
Next, processing performed between the center, the relay device, and the ticket vending machine / pay-in machine will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, between the center and the relay device, first, the relay device orders the card usage right from the center (S11).
Then, the determination means checks the upper limit of the card usage right that has been ordered, the card usage right for the inventory, the consumption status of the card usage right, etc. (S12).
[0028]
As a result of such usage rights check, even if the card usage right that has been ordered exceeds the preset maximum amount, or the card usage right that has been ordered is less than the maximum amount, the card usage right If the total amount of the right and the stock of the card usage right already given to the service facility 1 exceeds the set upper limit, the card usage right is denied and predetermined error processing is performed ( S13).
[0029]
On the other hand, if the result of the usage right check is “OK”, the card usage right corresponding to the order amount is transmitted to the relay device (S14), and the bond information is confirmed (S15).
The relay device that has received the card use right checks whether there is a contradiction in the contents of the received data (S21), and if there is a contradiction, performs a predetermined error process (S22). Sets the card usage right in the memory and enables ticketing / payment at the ticket vending machine / payment machine (S23).
[0030]
When cash is inserted into the ticket issuing machine / payment machine (S31), the ticket issuing machine / payment machine transmits cash information to the relay device (S32).
Then, the control means checks the stock status of the card usage right (S33), performs a predetermined error process when there is no stock for the received amount information (S34), and issues a ticket when there is stock. / Payment is permitted (S35), the amount corresponding to the amount information is subtracted from the card usage right set in the memory, and the card usage right is updated (S36).
[0031]
In this way, the stock of card usage rights gradually decreases as ticketing / payment is performed, and eventually becomes zero.
When the inventory becomes zero, the relay device transmits a stop command to the ticket issuer / payment machine so as not to issue or deposit a ticket.
[0032]
For this reason, the service facility 1 orders the card usage right from the center before the inventory becomes zero, for example, by periodically checking the stock status of the card usage right displayed on the relay device.
By the way, if a new card usage right is given while the card usage right is in stock, it becomes possible to use the combined value.
[0033]
As described above, in the prepaid card receivable information confirmation system according to this embodiment, the receivable information is confirmed at the center.
For this reason, not only is the credit information always on the card issuer side, but even if a store clerk or user misappropriates the device, the credit information that has been confirmed at the center has no effect, Even if the relay device breaks down, the situation where the bond information is lost cannot occur.
[0034]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, even though the claim information is fixed at the center, the amount information is not sent to the center at the time of ticketing / payment. Therefore, compared to a system (see FIG. 8) employing such a configuration. As a result, the number of communications between the center and the relay device is remarkably reduced, and an increase in traffic traveling at the center is also suppressed.
[0035]
Further, since the prepaid card can be repeatedly used in the service facility 1, the card delivery cost and the encoding cost are not generated unlike the case where the recycling encoding method (see FIG. 9) is adopted.
As described above, according to the prepaid card bond information confirmation system according to the present embodiment, it becomes possible to manage bond information at a low cost and safely on the card issuing company side.
[0036]
In the present invention, the prepaid card issuance / payment into the prepaid card is possible only within the range of the card usage right given by the center, so the relay device is used for the prepaid card used in the service facility. The usage amount may be collected and transmitted to the center, and the center may determine the usage amount received from the relay device as bond information within the scope of the card usage right.
The prepaid card of the present invention may be of any type as long as it is an information recording card such as a magnetic card, an optical card, a magneto-optical card, etc. in addition to an IC card.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the receivable information is always in the center (card issuing company side), and it is not necessary to transmit the receivable information to the center in real time for each ticket issue / payment. Since card delivery costs and encoding costs are not incurred, bond information can be managed inexpensively and safely on the center side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a prepaid card bond information confirmation system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which value as electronic money is sold in the bond information confirmation system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in more detail the value purchase / sale between a card issuer and a store and between a store and a user.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which value moves from a center to a prepaid card.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of processing performed between a center, a relay device, and a ticket vending machine / payment machine.
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a card system using a prepaid card issued by a third party type.
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a card system for managing bond information by a relay device.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a card system that manages bond information at the center by transmitting the bond information to the center in real time.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a so-called recycle encoding method.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 service facilities

Claims (5)

A center that grants the right to use cards up to a certain amount for each service facility;
A prepaid card that can be used within the service facility within the scope of the card usage right given by the center, and a relay device that enables multiple payments to the prepaid card ,
A prepaid card receivable information confirmation system, wherein the relay device is installed in the service facility and has means for receiving the card use right from the center . The relay device has a transmission means for collecting and transmitting to the center the amount of use of the prepaid card used in the service facility,
2. The prepaid card receivable information confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the center has a confirmation means for confirming receivable information within the range of the card usage right transmitted to the relay device. The center has a determination means for determining whether the newly requested card usage right or the total amount of the card usage right and the card usage right for the inventory is within a preset upper limit amount, 3. The prepaid card bond information confirmation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the result of the determination exceeds the upper limit, a new card usage right is denied. A relay device connected to a center that grants the right to use cards up to a certain amount for each service facility,
A relay apparatus comprising: a control unit that allows a prepaid card that can be used in a service facility to be issued / paid to a prepaid card a plurality of times within a range of a card use right given by the center. 5. The relay apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a transmission unit that collects and transmits the prepaid card usage amount used in the service facility to the center.

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