JP4102784B2 - POS system server, POS system, and control program for POS system server - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, the settlement can be POS system the commodity price by the card relates to the POS system for the server, and the POS system for the server control program, in particular, the ability to prevent unauthorized use by performing a card check to be used for payment It relates to a POS system, for POS system server, and POS system server control program with.

  Conventionally, for example, for the purpose of managing product information such as the number of products and the price of products, a POS (Point Of Sales) system has been built in stores, and credit card companies, etc. There is also known a POS system that is interconnected with a server operated by, and constructed so that payment can be made with a card.

  A POS system capable of such card payment is usually configured to check a card in order to prevent unauthorized use of a card such as a stolen card or a counterfeit card. As an example, this kind of POS system transmits a card reading information used by the card to be used, and the card information read by the card reading device to a credit company server (card company server) and also makes an inquiry from the card company server. It has a POS server that receives the result, and a cash register device that notifies the user or the store clerk via a display or the like when the inquiry result is “NG”.

  Here, the inquiry result “NG” means that the card is suspended. For example, when a card holder (registrant) who notices that the card has been stolen contacts the card company, a card use suspension state occurs. In addition, a card whose use has been suspended due to theft or loss is sometimes called an “accident card”.

  The POS system configured in this manner first transmits card information read by the reading device to the card company server. When the inquiry result from the card company server is received and it is “NG”, that fact is displayed on the display of the cashier apparatus.

The POS system as described above is also disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP-A-8-287161

  In a POS system that can be settled with a card as described above, it is important to prevent unauthorized use of the card.

  In particular, in a POS system of a store such as a self-service gas station, the number of store clerk is small, and basically payment is performed by the user alone. In addition, there are some that can be settled without entering a password for the card.

  In such a POS system, it is difficult for the store clerk to check the behavior of the user, so a malicious user brings multiple cards of other people obtained by theft or acquisition, and tries them one after another. There was a possibility of fraudulent use after judging the validity.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a POS system server, a POS system, and a control program for a POS system server, which can settle a product price by a card and prevent the unauthorized use of the card. Another object of the present invention is to provide a card payment method capable of suppressing unauthorized use of a card even in a system other than a POS system that performs card payment.

  In order to achieve the above object, a server for a POS system according to the present invention is connected to a reading means having a function of reading card information of a card and a cash register means having a display device for displaying a message to a user. A POS system server that makes a card inquiry to the card company server to determine whether or not to accept the card payment, and determines the number of times the card company server is inquired until the payment is completed. Counter means for counting once each time a different card is inquired, and data processing means for controlling the POS system server and the register means, wherein the data processing means is controlled by the counter means. A process for determining whether or not the counted number of times of inquiry has reached a first preset number of times set in advance; When reaching the set count, and is configured to execute a process of transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device with respect to said register means.

  In the POS system server of the present invention configured as described above, at least one reading means for reading card information such as a credit card and at least one cash register means each having a display device are connected to each other, and a card company server The POS system of the present invention is configured by being interconnected with each other.

  In the POS system server and the POS system of the present invention, the number of inquiries to the card company server is counted each time a different card is inquired. When the number of inquiries reaches a predetermined number set in advance, a control signal for displaying a warning message is sent to the register means. Therefore, even if a malicious user brings multiple cards of other people obtained by theft or picking up and tries to try them one after another, the number of times the card is inquired will be the above predetermined number. In other words, when the user tries some cards, a warning message can be displayed on the display device of the cash register means. This makes it difficult for a malicious user to illegally use the card.

  Further, in the POS system server according to the present invention, the data processing means is in a state where the inquiry count of the card whose inquiry result cannot be settled has reached a preset second preset count, It may be configured to execute a process of transmitting the card information of the card that can be settled to the card company server when the inquiry result of another card becomes settled.

  The POS system server according to the present invention further includes storage means for storing card information of the card that can be settled, and the data processing means is configured such that the inquiry count of the card whose inquiry result cannot be settled in advance. A process of storing the card information of the card that can be settled in the storage means when the second set number of times set has been reached and the inquiry result of another card becomes settleable thereafter; Then, when the card that can be settled is used again, a process for transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device to the cash register means is executed. There may be. In this case, the second set number of times can be variously changed, but may be less than the first set number.

  The POS system server according to the present invention further includes timer means for measuring an elapsed time from when the inquiry of the first card is performed, and the data processing means is measured by the timer means. Further, it may be configured to execute a process for displaying a message on the display device based on the elapsed time and the number of inquiries counted by the counter means.

  Furthermore, the counter means only needs to perform counting when a card whose inquiry result is not settled is used, and particularly performs counting when such a card is used continuously. It may be a thing.

  The control program for the POS system server of the present invention is connected to a reading means having a function of reading card information of a card and a cash register means having a display device for displaying a message to the user. And a control program for a POS system server that makes a card inquiry to the card company server to determine whether or not the card payment is possible. The POS system server stores the number of inquiries to the card company server. , A process of counting each time a different card is inquired until settlement is completed, and determining whether the counted number of inquiries has reached a preset first set number of times A control signal for displaying a message on the display device when the processing and the number of inquiries reaches the first set number of times; It is intended to execute the process of transmitting relative means.

According to the server for the POS system of the present invention, the number of inquiries is counted when inquiries to the card company side are successively made with different cards for settlement, and the number of inquiries reaches a predetermined number. In addition, it is possible to construct a POS system that displays a warning message to the user via the display device of the cash register means, and the POS system is unlikely to be used illegally. If the control program for the POS system server according to the present invention is installed in a computer prepared for the server, for example, the computer can be used in the same manner as the POS system server of the present invention .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a POS system according to the present invention.

  The POS system 1 of this embodiment is constructed in a store such as a self-service gas station, for example, and is interconnected to the card company server 50 via a network 100 such as the Internet. The POS system 1 also includes a credit card reading device 10 that reads card information (such as a card number), a cash register device 20 that displays product prices and card inquiry results, and card information read by the credit card reading device 10. Is sent to the card company server 50, and receives the inquiry result from the card company server 50. Although not shown, the POS server 30 has a gasoline refueling device for the user to refuel gasoline in a self-service manner. Yes.

  The general operation of the POS system 1 configured as described above in the normal state is as follows. First, the user inputs a settlement method (cash payment / card payment) via the cash register device 20. In the case of card payment, the user causes the credit card reading device 20 to read the card. Then, the POS system 1 makes an inquiry about the card to the card company server 50. Next, after the POS system 1 determines that the inquiry result can be settled, gasoline is supplied from the gasoline refueling device. Then, information on the commodity price corresponding to the amount of gasoline supplied is transmitted to the card company server as sales information. Through the series of steps described above, payment by card can be made.

  Next, each component of the POS system 1 will be described.

  The credit card reading device 10 is connected to the input / output unit 31 of the POS server 30 and has a function of reading card information and a function of transmitting the read card information to the input / output unit 31.

  The cash register apparatus 20 has a display (not shown) for displaying product prices and card inquiry results. Further, for example, it is connected to a gasoline refueling device (not shown) so that a commodity price corresponding to the amount of gasoline refueled can be displayed. The cash register device 20 is connected to the input / output unit 31 similarly to the credit card reading device 10 and has a function of transmitting information on the commodity price to the input / output unit 31 as sales information.

  In FIG. 1, only one credit card reading device 10 and one cash register device 20 are shown, but a plurality of credit card reading devices 10 and cash register devices 20 may be arranged in the store.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the POS server 30 will be described. The POS server 30 is an information processing device composed of a personal computer or the like, and has functions for collecting sales information from the cash register device 20, managing the inventory of goods (in this case, gasoline), and checking the cards used. ing.

  The POS server 30 is connected to the credit card reading device 10, the cash register device 20, and the like, and is input via the input / output unit 31 and the input / output unit 31 that transmits and receives information to and from the devices 10 and 20. A data processing unit 32 for processing various types of information and various types of information in the POS server 30, storage units 34 to 36 connected to the data processing unit 32 and storing various types of information, and the card company server 50 via the network 100. And a data communication unit 33 for transmitting and receiving information. An input device 40 such as a keyboard is connected to the input / output unit 31 of the POS server.

  The input / output unit 31 receives card information and sales information from the credit card reading device 10 and the cash register device 20, respectively. The input / output unit 31 is connected to the data processing unit 32 and has a function of transmitting the input card information and sales information to the data processing unit 32. Further, the input / output unit 31 is configured to receive input information from the input device 40. Details of the input information will be described later.

  Each of the storage units 34 to 36 is a storage medium such as a memory or a hard disk, and is divided into a reference information storage unit 34, a counter information storage unit 35, and a warning flag information storage unit 36.

The reference information storage unit 34 stores information about what kind of operation the POS system 1 performs as a whole when a user performs an inquiry operation for different cards a plurality of times. In the present embodiment, reference information for executing the following operation is stored. Here, “accident inquiry” refers to an inquiry for checking whether the card is a card whose use has been suspended (accident card).
[Criteria 1]: When the accident inquiry with different cards is 10 times or more, confirmation or warning is given to the user via the display of the cash register apparatus 20.
[Criteria 2]: When an accident inquiry with a different card is 5 times or more and the result of the subsequent accident inquiry is settled (“OK”), a warning flag is set in association with the card information of the card. . Then, the POS server 30 transmits the card information with the warning flag to the card company server 50.

  Note that these standards are merely examples, and the contents of the standards 1 and 2 can be changed by inputting numerical values as input information from the input device 40 as necessary. It is more preferable that various operation patterns can be selected in addition to numerical values.

  The counter information storage unit 35 stores the number of executed inquiry operations. Further, the card information whose inquiry result is that payment is not possible (“NG”) is stored.

  The warning flag information storage unit 36 is not an essential component in the POS system 1, but stores card information to which a warning flag is attached as necessary. Preferably, in addition to the card information, date and time information at the time when the warning flag is set is also stored.

  The data processing unit 32 has a function of receiving information from the credit card reading device 10, the cash register device 20, and the input device 40 via the input / output unit 31. Further, it has a function of writing / reading information to / from each of the storage units 34-36. Further, it has a function of transmitting / receiving information to / from the card company server 50 via the data communication unit 33. It also has a function of sending a control signal for displaying a predetermined warning message to the cash register apparatus 20.

  The data processing unit 32 also has a timer 32a and a counter 32b.

  The timer 32a measures the time when a certain user uses the POS system 1 of the present embodiment and generates elapsed time information. Specifically, information on the elapsed time from the time when the first card is inquired is generated.

  The counter 32b counts the number of inquiry operations performed by the POS system 1 (POS server 30) with respect to the card company server 50 to generate the number information. Specifically, the count is performed once every time a different card is inquired until the settlement is completed.

  An example of the operation of the POS system 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In this type of POS system capable of card payment, in addition to “accident inquiry”, “credit inquiry” which is an inquiry about the card usage limit is generally performed, but the explanation is simplified. Therefore, it is assumed that “credit inquiry” is not performed in the following operation. In order to explain the basic concept of the present invention first, an operation example in which the timer 32a and the warning flag information storage unit 36 are not used will be described.

  First, a user who visits a gas station operates the cash register device 20 to select a payment method. Here, “card payment” is selected.

  Next, the user causes the credit card reading device 10 to read the first card (step S1). Thereby, the card information is read into the credit card reading device 10, and the credit card reading device 10 transmits the card information to the input / output unit 31 of the POS server 30.

  Next, the data processing unit 32 receives the card information via the input / output unit 31, and transmits the card information to the card company server 50 via the data communication unit 33 (step S2). The data processing unit 32 also drives the timer 32a almost simultaneously with sending the card information to the card company server 50. As a result, generation of information on the usage time of the POS system 1 by the user is started. The timing for driving the timer 32a is not particularly limited.

  Next, the card company server 50 determines whether the card is an accident card based on the card information received via the network 100, and sends the result back to the POS server 30 (step S3). Here, the inquiry result is “NG”.

  Next, the data processing unit 32 receives the inquiry result from the card company server 50 via the data communication unit 33 and displays a message corresponding to the inquiry result on the display (not shown) of the cash register apparatus 20 based on the inquiry result. (Step S4).

  The counter 32b of the data processing unit 32 counts the number of inquiry operations when the inquiry result is sent back from the card company server 50, and generates the number information. Then, the data processing unit 32 stores the number information and the card information of the used card in the counter information storage unit 35.

  A series of steps so far is one inquiry operation in the POS system 1. Thereafter, the user performs different credit card inquiry operations one after another through the same process. The number of times of the inquiry operation is counted by the counter 32b as described above and stored in the counter information storage unit 35.

  The operation of the POS system 1 when the inquiry operation by the user is the 10th time and the inquiry result from the card company server 50 is “NG” (step S23) is as follows.

  First, after receiving the inquiry result from the card company server 50, the data processing unit 32 determines that the inquiry operation is the tenth time. Further, the reference information storage unit 34 is searched based on the frequency information (step S24), and the operation corresponding to [Reference 1] is performed. That is, the data processing unit 32 transmits a control signal to the cash register device 20 via the input / output unit 31, whereby the cash register device 20 displays a confirmation and warning message for the user on the display (step S25). .

  Further, when the inquiry operation by the user is 5 times or more and the subsequent inquiry result is “OK” (for example, when the result of “OK” is obtained in the sixth inquiry operation (step S33)). The operation of the POS system 1 is as follows.

  First, the data processing unit 32 determines that the inquiry operation is the sixth time, searches the reference information storage unit 34 (step S34), and thereafter performs an operation corresponding to [Reference 2]. That is, the data processing unit 32 sets a warning flag in association with the card information of the card for which the result of “OK” is output (step S35). In parallel, the data processing unit 32 transmits a control signal permitting refueling to a gasoline refueling device (not shown) (step S36). Thereafter, the data processing unit 32 receives sales information, which is information on the price of goods corresponding to the amount of gasoline supplied. Then, the card information of the card for which the warning flag is set in the previous process is transmitted to the card company server 50 together with the sales information. As a result, the card company server 50 receives information on a card suspected of unauthorized use. Therefore, after that, the card company confirms by, for example, contacting the registrant of the card (step S28), thereby suppressing the spread of damage due to unauthorized use of the card.

  Here, the transmission of the sales information and the card information to the card company server 50 may be executed for each case, or several items may be executed collectively. May be. In addition, as described above, the configuration in which the sales information and the card information are transmitted collectively has an advantage in that the number of transmissions can be reduced.

  Further, in the above-described operation example, the POS system 1 repeatedly performs “accident inquiry” as an inquiry operation. However, not only “accident inquiry” but also “credit inquiry” that is an inquiry regarding the card usage limit. It may be repeated. Even if the POS system 1 performs “credit inquiry”, it is sufficient to set [reference 1] and [reference 2] as described above according to the number of times of the inquiry operation. There is no difference.

  As described above, according to the POS system 1 of the present embodiment, it is assumed that a malicious user brings a plurality of other people's cards obtained by theft or acquisition and tries to try them one after another. Even so, when the number of card inquiries reaches the tenth time, in other words, when the user tries the tenth card, a warning message can be displayed on the display of the cash register device 20, which is malicious. This makes it difficult for unauthorized users to use the card illegally.

  Next, another operation example of the POS system 1 using the warning flag information storage unit 36 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in the operation of [Criteria 2] described above, in step S37, the data processing unit 32 transmits the card information with the warning flag set to the card company server 50 together with the sales information, and the card information is sent to the warning flag. The information is recorded in the information recording unit 36.

  By the way, a card with a warning flag as described above is a card whose inquiry result is “OK” after repeating the inquiry operation several times, and there is a high possibility of unauthorized use. It is conceivable that the user will come to refuel again. Therefore, the POS system 1 performs the following operation using the card information stored in the warning flag information storage unit 36.

  That is, the data processing unit 32 determines whether the card information read from the credit card reading device 10 matches the card information with the flag stored in the warning flag information storage unit 36. If they match, a control signal for displaying a warning message is transmitted to the cash register apparatus 20. As a result, a predetermined warning message is displayed on the cash register apparatus 20. Note that the content of the warning message may be, for example, a level that displays the date and time information of the previous card use.

  By displaying such a warning message, the user recognizes that there is a history of refueling, so that continuous unauthorized use using the card is less likely to be performed.

  Further, the POS system 1 may operate as follows as yet another example. In the above-described operation example, the POS server 1 operates so as to transmit the card information of the card with the result of “OK” to the card company server 50 when [Criteria 2] is satisfied. Instead of transmitting to the card company server 50, the card information may be stored in the warning flag information storage unit 36. The card company server 50 may periodically access the warning flag information storage unit 36 and check the card information with the flag stored therein, for example.

Next, a usage example of the timer 32a will be described. [Criteria 1] and [Criteria 2] in the operation example described above are based on only the number of inquiries to the card company server 50, but from the inquiry of the first card generated by the timer 32a. You may set a reference | standard also using the information of elapsed time together. A reference example in which information of elapsed time is added as a condition is as follows.
[Standard 11]: When an accident inquiry with a different card is performed 10 times or more within 30 minutes, confirmation or warning is given to the user via the display of the cash register apparatus 20.
[Standard 12]: If an accident inquiry with a different card is 5 or more times within 30 minutes and the result of the subsequent accident inquiry is settled (“OK”), a warning is associated with the card information. Set the flag.

  As described above, by including the condition of the elapsed time from the inquiry of the first card in the reference, unauthorized use of the card can be more reliably suppressed.

  In addition, it is desirable that the method of counting the number of inquiries in [Criteria 1] and [Criteria 2] is variously changed according to the form of unauthorized use. When trying to use a card illegally, usually, after several cards are continuously inquired as “NG”, if there is even one card that becomes “inquiry”, the settlement is completed and the transaction ends. There is a high possibility of being. However, even if, for example, the first inquiry is “NG” and the second inquiry is “OK”, the settlement with the card is canceled and the validity of the card is further determined. It is also possible that other cards will be used. In order to suppress such injustices, the method of counting the number of inquiries is not limited to the case where cards with an inquiry result of “NG” are consecutive, but the number of inquiries is counted even when the cards continue intermittently. May be. In this case, in addition to the condition for the number of inquiries, the condition for the elapsed time from the inquiry for the first card may be combined.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking the POS system 1 used for a self-service gas station as an example. However, the POS system or the POS system server of the present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and various modifications can be made. .

  In the embodiment described above, the cash register device 20 and the credit reading device 10 are configured separately, but they may be provided integrally as one cash register device. In addition, when there is a store clerk even at a self-service gas station, a register device 20 for the store clerk may be provided so that a warning message can be displayed for the store clerk. In addition to the display (not shown), the cash register device 20 includes a speaker and the like, and is configured to display a warning message on the display and to emit a warning sound and a voice message from the speaker. Also good. Further, it may be configured such that the contents of [Reference 1] and [Reference 2] can be changed from the register device 20 instead of the input device 40.

  The card payment method of the present invention is applicable to various systems in which a card such as a credit card can be used and self-settlement is performed.

It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the POS system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the POS system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 POS system 10 credit card reading device 20 cash register device 30 POS server 31 input / output unit 32 data processing unit 32a timer 32b counter 33 data communication unit 34 reference information storage unit 35 counter information storage unit 36 warning flag information storage unit 40 input device 50 Card company server 100 network

Claims (13)

A reading means having a function of reading card information of the card and a cash register means having a display device for displaying a message to the user are connected, and the card is inquired of the card company server. A POS system server that determines whether or not card payment is possible,
Counter means for counting the number of inquiries to the card company server as one time each time a different card is inquired until settlement is completed;
Data processing means for controlling the POS system server and the cash register means,
The data processing means includes
A process of determining whether or not the number of inquiries counted by the counter means has reached a first set number of times set in advance;
For a POS system configured to execute a process of transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device to the register means when the number of inquiries reaches the first set number of times server. The data processing means includes
Payment can be made when the number of inquiries for a card whose inquiry result is not settled has reached the preset second preset number, and the inquiry result for another card can be settled. The POS system server according to claim 1, wherein the POS system server is configured to execute a process of transmitting card information of a valid card to the card company server. A storage means for storing card information of the card that can be settled;
The data processing means includes
Payment can be made when the number of inquiries for a card whose inquiry result is not settled has reached the preset second preset number, and the inquiry result for another card can be settled. Storing the card information of the correct card in the storage means;
Thereafter, when the card that can be settled is used again, a process for transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device to the cash register means is executed. 2. The POS system according to 2. Timer means for measuring the elapsed time from when the first card is inquired;
The data processing means includes
The processing for displaying a message on the display device is executed based on the elapsed time measured by the timer means and the inquiry count counted by the counter means. 4. The server for a POS system according to any one of 3 to 3.   The POS system server according to claim 1, wherein the counter means counts when a card whose settlement result is not settled is used.   2. The POS system server according to claim 1, wherein the counter unit counts when a card whose settlement result cannot be settled is continuously used.   The POS system server according to claim 2, wherein the second set number of times is smaller than the first set number.   The POS system server according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the card is a credit card.   The POS system server comprising: the POS system server according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and the reading unit and the register unit connected to the POS system server at least one by one respectively. And a POS system in which the card company server is interconnected. A reading means having a function of reading card information of the card and a cash register means having a display device for displaying a message to the user are connected, and the card is inquired of the card company server. POS system server control program for determining whether or not card payment is possible,
In the POS system server,
A process of counting the number of inquiries to the card company server once every time a different card is inquired before the settlement is completed;
A process for determining whether the counted number of times of inquiry has reached a first set number of times set in advance;
A control program for a server for a POS system, which executes a process of transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device to the register means when the inquiry count reaches the first set count. In the POS system server,
Payment can be made when the number of inquiries for a card whose inquiry result is not settled has reached the preset second preset number, and the inquiry result for another card can be settled. The POS system server control program according to claim 10, further causing a process of transmitting card information of a valid card to the card company server. In the POS system server,
Payment can be made when the number of inquiries for a card whose inquiry result is not settled has reached the preset second preset number, and the inquiry result for another card can be settled. Storing the card information of the correct card in the storage means;
12. The POS according to claim 11, further comprising: a process of transmitting a control signal for displaying a message on the display device to the cash register when the settlement-enabled card is used again. System server control program. In the POS system server,
Processing to measure the elapsed time since the first card was inquired,
The process for displaying a message on the display device is further executed based on the measured elapsed time and the inquiry count counted by the counter unit. The control program of the server for POS systems of description.

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