JPH0269863A - Inquiring system for trust of card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of times to inquire trust of card center by transmitting only the card number of a code coinciding with an abbreviated code to the card center for trust inquiry. CONSTITUTION:At the card center 4, a troubled card number file 5 is retrieved for the inputted card number 2, and it is decided whether the card number in question is a troubled card number or not, and it is replied to a card terminal machine 1, and simultaneously, if it is not the troubled card number, the common code of one digit is calculated by a number of digits abbreviating method from the card number in a state that each troubled card number corresponding to the inputted abbreviated code is added with the one digit, and is replied to the terminal machine 1 of the inputted abbreviated code. Then, the corresponding abbreviated code of the abbreviated code memory 1b of the card terminal machine 1 is converted into the abbreviated code of the digits more by one digit. Thus, in the case where the same card number 2 is inputted again to the card terminal machine 1, possibility that this card number 2 is transmitted to the card center 4 decreases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a card credit inquiry system for checking whether or not a card in question is an accident card when a product is sold using a card.

[Prior Art] Currently, it is possible to pay for purchases with a credit card at many stores. When selling products using a credit card, for example, if the card payment amount exceeds a certain amount, or when all card payments occur,
It is necessary to confirm that the card in question is not a lost card, a stolen card, or an accidental card such as a card whose use has been suspended due to default, etc.

The card credit inquiry system that investigates the creditworthiness of a card generally consists of a card center where the accident card number is registered and a CAT (Credit Authorization Terminal) connected online to the card center via a telephone line. It is configured. Further, in some cases, a credit terminal that performs sales registration processing using a card and issues credit slips may be equipped with a credit inquiry function that allows the credit card to be sent to the card center in time.

In such a card credit inquiry system, when the card number of a card brought by a customer is input from a card terminal using a keyboard or a card league, the input card number is transmitted to a card center. The card center has an accident card number file in which the card numbers of all accident cards are registered, and if the card number input from each card terminal is not registered as an accident card number, it is sent to the corresponding card terminal. Return a response for permission to use the card. On the other hand, if the corresponding card number is registered as an accident card number, a refusal response indicating that the card cannot be used is returned to the corresponding card terminal. The card terminal displays or prints out a message that is returned from the card center and corresponds to the approval response or rejection response.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the guard credit inquiry system configured as described above still has the following problems.

That is, each time a card payment occurs, the card terminal calls the card center via the telephone line, and after a call loop is formed between the card terminal and the card center, the card number is sent to the card center. do. Therefore, you will have to call the card center each time.
A problem arises in that call charges increase and maintenance costs for the entire card terminal increase.

Furthermore, since credit inquiries are made to the card center for all cards, a certain amount of time is required for communication, reducing work efficiency and making customers wait for a long time.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, if all the accident card numbers of the accident cards registered at the card center are stored on the card terminal side, it is not necessary to inquire the card number to the card center each time. do not have. However, in recent years, as the number of issued cards has increased, the number of accident cards has also increased, so if all accident card numbers were to be stored on the card terminal side, it would require a huge amount of storage capacity. I need. As a result, not only the overall size of the card terminal becomes larger, but also the manufacturing cost increases significantly.

The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and
By storing the accident card number registered at the card center as a small-digit abbreviated code and sending only the card number with a code that matches this abbreviated code to the card center, the card number can be stored without significantly increasing storage capacity. In addition, it is possible to prevent the same card number that is not an accident card from being repeatedly sent to the card center as much as possible, and as a result, the number of credit inquiries to the card center can be reduced, communication costs can be reduced, and the work efficiency of credit inquiries can be improved. The purpose is to provide a card credit inquiry system.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention, as shown in FIG. In a card credit inquiry system that sends information to a card center 4 connected via a telephone line 3 to check whether or not the accident card number corresponds to an accident card number registered in an accident card number file 5 of this card center, a card terminal The machine 1 includes a code conversion means 1a that converts an input card number into a shortened code having fewer digits than a specified number of digits using a predetermined number of digit compression method, and a A shortened code memory 1b stores only shortened codes having different codes from among the shortened codes obtained by compressing each accident card number using a digit number compression method, and a shortened code converted by a code converting means. A code search means IC that searches the short code memory, and only when the code search means searches for the same short code, sends the input card number together with the converted short code to the card center for credit inquiry. A card number transmitting means 1d, a determining means 1e that determines that the card is not an accident card if the code search means does not search for the same abbreviated code, and an abbreviated code memory in response to an abbreviated code change command input from the card center. Short code changing means 1f for changing the corresponding short code of
On the other hand, an accident card for searching the card center 4 for an accident card number corresponding to an input short code when the card number input from the card terminal is not registered in the accident card number file. A number search means 4a, a code addition means 4b for adding one digit obtained by the digit number compression method common to each accident card number searched by this accident card search means to the corresponding shortened code, and this code. It is provided with a shortened code change command sending means 4c for sending the shortened code added by the adding means to the card terminal as a shortened code change command.

[Function] In the card credit inquiry system configured as described above, each accident card number registered in the accident card number file of the card center is stored as a shortened code of few digits in the short code memory of the card terminal. There is. Note that if you convert multiple accident card numbers with the specified number of digits into abbreviated codes with several digits less than the specified number of digits, naturally there is a possibility that multiple identical abbreviated codes will occur, but in this case, only the -1 abbreviated code is the abbreviated code. stored in memory.

Then, when the card number is input into the card terminal, this card number is converted into an abbreviated code.

If this shortened code is not stored in the shortened code memory, the corresponding card number will not be registered as an accident card number at the card center. Therefore, there is no need to send this card number to the card center for usage inquiry.

On the other hand, if the abbreviated code is registered in the abbreviated code memory, the card number may have been registered as an accident card number at the card center, so this card number and the abbreviated code of this card number cannot be trusted. All you have to do is send it to the card center for inquiry.

As a result, the probability of a card actually transmitting its card number to the card center among all handled cards decreases.

Furthermore, at the card center, the accident card number file is searched using the input card number, it is determined whether or not the corresponding card number is an accident card number, and the result is sent back to the card terminal. , a common one-digit code is calculated from each accident card number corresponding to the input shortened code using the above-mentioned digit reduction method,
The one digit is added to the input abbreviation code and sent back to the card terminal. Then, the corresponding abbreviated code in the abbreviated code memory of the card terminal is converted into an abbreviated code with one digit more. Therefore, if the same card number is input into the card terminal again, there is little possibility that the card number will be sent to the card center.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the card terminal 1 and the card 2 in the card credit inquiry system of the embodiment. In addition,
In this embodiment, a card terminal 1 applied to CAT
The case is shown below. Further, the case where card 2 is a credit card is shown.

A card insertion slot 12 for a card reader that reads card information such as a card number magnetically recorded on the card is formed on the front surface of the card terminal 1, and a display 13 and a keyboard 14 that display various information such as credit inquiry results are formed. There is also a paper (journal) for recording credit inquiry results at the top.
A paper outlet 15 for a printer for printing is formed. Sara.

The card terminal 1 is connected to a card center 4 via a telephone line 3 and a telephone company switching office.

The keyboard 14 includes, in addition to a number key 14a, for the operator to manually enter a card number when dealing with a card without a magnetic stripe.
Various function keys 14, such as a set key, a send key for forcibly sending a card number, and a setting key used to set a shortened code to the shortened code memory in the storage unit.
b is provided.

Further, a card 2 that can be handled by the card terminal 1 is provided with a magnetic stripe 2a on which card information including a card number, a personal identification number, a card issuing company code, etc. is magnetically recorded. Furthermore, the card holder's name 2b and card number 2c are written on the front surface of the card 2. Note that the card number 2c of the card 2 is indicated by numerical data having prescribed digits, such as 16 digits, for example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the card terminal 1 and the card center 4. As shown in FIG. That is, card terminal 1
In the figure, 18 is a CPU that executes various data processing on data input from the keyboard 14 or card reader, and this CPU 1g is connected via a pass line 19 to a ROM 2 that stores a control program. Also includes a RAM 21 whose memory contents are held by a battery and which stores various variable data, a keyboard input circuit 22 into which various data are input from the keyboard 14, a display driver 23 which sends display data to the display 13, and a card reader 24. A card input circuit 25 into which card information is input, a printer driver 27 which sends print data to a printer 26 which prints credit inquiry results etc. on recording paper, and an NCU connected online to the card center 4 via the telephone line 3. /MODEM communication control circuit 28
etc. are connected.

Further, the card center 4 is constituted by a kind of host computer, and as shown in the figure, variable data such as a ROM 42 for storing control programs and an accident card number file are sent to a CPU 41 that executes various information processing via a bus input. A RAM 43 for storing data, a communication control circuit 44 connected to the card terminal 1 via the telephone line 3, and an accident card number setting/setting for the accident card number file.
A keyboard 45 or the like is connected to perform manual release.

In the RAM 43 of the card center 4, as shown in FIG. 4, each card number (accident card number) [KO, Kl,
..., K14. An accident card number file 43a that stores the number K15] is formed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each 16-digit accident card number [KO, Kl, . . . , K
14. Each abbreviated code [BC] or [ABC] obtained by converting K15 code into a two-digit or three-digit code is stored corresponding to the corresponding accident card number.

Various calculation methods can be used to compress the number of digits to convert a card number with a specified number of 16 digits into a 2-digit or 3-digit abbreviated code, but in this example, for example, [A] is The second lowest number [K1] and [B]
is the lowest digit of the sum of 15 numbers from 1 to KI5, and [C] is the lowest digit of the card number [KO]
It is said that

Therefore, the short code is a two-digit short code [B C]
In this case, if many accident card numbers are registered in the accident card number memory 43a, the lowest digit [KO
It is conceivable that there are a plurality of accident card numbers in which the numbers 3 are equal and the lowest digit numbers of the sum of the 15 upper digits are the same. As a result, there are a plurality of accident card numbers that have different accident card numbers but have the same shortened code.

Furthermore, in the RAM 43 of the card center 4, in addition to the accident card number file 43a, an input card number memory 43b1 temporarily stores the card number and short code input from the card terminal 1;
3c is formed.

On the other hand, in the RAM 21 of the card terminal 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a shortened code memory 21a is formed.

This short code memory 21a stores a two-digit or three-digit short code [B C] or [ABC] corresponding to the 16-digit accident card number registered in the accident card number file 43a of the card center 4. has been done. However, the same abbreviation code will not be set twice. Also,
As will be described later, the lower two-digit abbreviation code [B C] or the same abbreviation code cannot be set at the same time, so the abbreviation code memory 21H of the card terminal 1 can store up to 100 abbreviation codes [B C] or [B C]. ABC] are stored.

The setting and deletion of each two-digit short code in the short code memory 21a can be carried out by the operator by key operations on the keyboard 14, or by a setting command from the card center 4 via the telephone line 3. It is possible to carry out this method.

In the RAM 21, the aforementioned shortened code memory 21 is stored.
In addition to a, there is a card information memory 21b that temporarily stores the card information read by the card reader 24, and a card number memory 21C1 that temporarily stores the card number included in the card information or the card number keyed in from the keyboard 14. A shortened code buffer 21d and the like for temporarily storing shortened codes are formed.

The CPU 18 of the card terminal 1 then executes the credit inquiry process for the card 2 according to the flowchart in FIG.

When the flowchart of FIG. 6 starts and the card 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 12 in step S1, the card information stored in the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 is read by the card reader 24 and stored in the RAM 21. card information memory 2
1b.

Then, the card number is obtained from the card information memory 21b.

A 16-digit card number is extracted from card information consisting of a password, card issuer code, etc. and stored in the card number memory 21c. Then, proceed to the next step 82.

In addition, if the card 2 is not inserted into the card insertion slot 12 at S1 and the 16-digit card number is key-input by the combination key operation of the number key 14a and the set key of the keyboard 14 at S3, the The card number is stored in the card number memory 21C. Then, proceed to S2.

1 stored in the card number memory 21c in S2.
A two-digit abbreviated code [XY] is calculated from the six-digit card number [KO-ni 15] using the digit number compression method described above, and is stored in the abbreviated code buffer 21d. Thereafter, the lower two digits of the two-digit or three-digit abbreviated code in the abbreviated code memory 21a are searched using the calculated two-digit abbreviated code [X Y]. If the same shortened code with the lower two digits does not exist in the shortened code memory 21a in S4, it is determined that the corresponding card number is not registered as an accident card number in the accident card number file 43a of the card center 4, and S
5, the display 13 displays the card usable message. Further, the printer 26 prints out the card number and usable message stored in the card number memory 21c on recording paper. That's one card 2
Since the credit inquiry process has been completed, the process returns to Sl and waits for the next card 2 to be inserted into the card insertion slot 12.

On the other hand, if the same shortened code with the lower two digits is detected from the shortened code memory 21a in S4, the partner's shortened code to be compared in S6 is either the two-digit shortened code [BCl] or the three-digit shortened code [ABC]. Determine whether If it is a three-digit abbreviated code [ABC], the third-digit code [W] is calculated using the above-described digit number compression method for the card number stored in the card number memory 21c. And 3
The digit abbreviation code [WXY] is stored in the abbreviation code buffer 21d.
It is checked whether it matches the previous three-digit abbreviation code [ABC]. If they do not match, the corresponding card number has not been registered in the accident card number Fufui 43H of the card center 4, so proceed to S5 and display the display 1.
3 displays the card usable message.

On the other hand, if the 3-digit abbreviated code [WXY] and [ABC] are equal, and if the other party's abbreviated code is the 2-digit abbreviated code [BCl] in S6, the corresponding card number is registered in the card center 4. Therefore, the corresponding card number and the shortened code in the shortened code buffer 21d are transmitted to the card center 4 via the communication control circuit 28 and the telephone line 3 for credit inquiry.

When a response is input from the card center 4 in S7, the type of the response is checked. If the response is an approval response, the display 13 will display a message indicating that the card can be used. Furthermore, the card number memory 21 is printed on the recording paper by the printer 26.
The card number and usable message stored in c are printed out. Then, return to Sl.

On the other hand, if the response is a rejection response, the corresponding card number is registered in the card center 4 as an accident card number, so the display 13 displays the message "Card unusable". Further, the printer 26 prints out the card number and unusable message stored in the card number memory 21c on recording paper. Then, return to Sl.

Furthermore, when a short code change command is input from the card center 4 in S8, the two-digit short code [BCl] in the short code memory 21a corresponding to the two-digit short code stored in the short code buffer 21d is input. , is rewritten to the 3-digit abbreviation code [AB] included in this abbreviation code change command.

Further, the CPU 41 of the card center 4 executes a credit response process for the card number input from the card terminal 1 according to the flowchart in FIG.

When the flowchart is started and the card number and short code are input from the card terminal 1 at Ql, - once each memory 4
3b and 43c. Then, the accident card number file 43a is searched using the input card number, and when the same card number is found in Q2, a rejection response is returned to the corresponding card terminal 1.

If the same card number is not retrieved in Q2, a permission response is returned to the corresponding card terminal 1. If the short code entered in Q3 is a 2-digit short code [XY] or 3
Check whether it is the digit abbreviation code [WXY]. If it is a 3-digit abbreviation code, the process returns to Ql without doing anything and waits for the next card number and abbreviation code to be input from the card terminal 1.

If the 2-digit abbreviated code [XY] is found in Q2, retrieve this 2-digit abbreviated code [XY] from the accident card number file 43a.
] Search for the 16-digit accident card number corresponding to (BC). If there is one accident card number retrieved in Q4, a three-digit abbreviation code [ABC] of this accident card number is calculated and sent to the card terminal 1 as an abbreviation code change command.

If there are multiple accident card numbers detected in Q4, calculate the 3-digit abbreviation code for each of all the detected accident card numbers, and only when all the abbreviation codes match, will the corresponding one be calculated. The abbreviated code [ABC] is transmitted to the corresponding card terminal 1 as an abbreviated code change command. If they do not match, the process returns to Ql without transmitting each calculated short code and waits for the next card number and short code to be input from the card terminal 1.

In the card credit inquiry system constructed in this manner, the customer inputs the card number 2c of the card 2 he/she brought with him or her using the keys on the keyboard 14 at the card terminal 1, or inserts the card 2 into the card insertion slot. 12, and the card information stored on the magnetic stripe 2a is read by a card reader 24. Then, if the two-digit abbreviated code [XYl] of the corresponding card number is not registered in the lower two digits of each abbreviated code in the abbreviated code memory 21a, it is determined that this card 2 can be used unconditionally, and a message indicating that is displayed on the display 13 and printed on recording paper, which is then discharged from the paper discharge port 15. Therefore, in this case, the corresponding card number is not sent to the card center 4 for credit inquiry.

On the other hand, if the short code [XYl of the corresponding card number is registered in the lower two digits of each short code in the short code memory 21a, and the registered short code is 3 digits, 3-digit short code [
WXY] is calculated, and only when the three-digit abbreviated code matches, the input card number is transmitted together with the abbreviated code to the card center 4 for credit inquiry. Then, depending on the response from the card center 4, a display is printed to indicate whether the card is usable or unusable.

Furthermore, if it is determined that the accident card number is not an accident card number after being sent to the card center 4, each accident card number that has the corresponding abbreviation code of the card center 4 has a common three-digit abbreviation code [ABC]. card terminal 1 as long as
The corresponding two-digit abbreviated code [BC] in the abbreviated code memory 21a is rewritten to the three-digit abbreviated code [ABC].

As a result, when the same card number is entered into the card terminal 1 again, the third digit code [W] of the shortened code of the corresponding card number will be changed to the third digit code of the stored three-digit shortened code. Since there is a high probability that the card number is different from [A], the corresponding card number is not sent to the card center 4 and is sent to the card terminal 1.
It is determined that it can be used at this stage.

In this way, only when the abbreviated code of the input card number is stored in the abbreviated code memory 21a, it is only necessary to make a credit inquiry to the card center 4 for the corresponding card number. Therefore, the probability of a card actually transmitting its card number to the card center 4 among all handled cards is greatly reduced, so that the call charges for using the telephone line 3 can be significantly reduced. Therefore, maintenance costs for the entire card credit inquiry system can be reduced.

Furthermore, since communication time can be omitted, work efficiency can be improved, and the percentage of customers who have to wait for a long time can be reduced, so that the service to customers can be improved. Furthermore, if the card is not an accident card, the probability that the card will be sent to the card center twice in a row decreases, thereby eliminating the customer's sense of suspicion.

Furthermore, as in the example, the shortened code [BC] or [A
BC], the short code memory 21a only needs to have a capacity to store up to 100 short codes [BC] or [ABC].
Manufacturing costs do not increase significantly compared to conventional devices.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, the abbreviated code is composed of two or three digits, but the number of digits can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the rate of actually transmitting the card number to the card center 4 and the storage capacity.

Furthermore, in the card terminal of the card credit inquiry system of the embodiment, the case where only the credit inquiry of the card 2 such as CAT is performed has been explained, but it can also be applied to a credit terminal that actually performs sales registration using the card 2. Needless to say.

Furthermore, the card 2 that can be handled by the card terminal 1 is not limited to a credit card, but may also be a bank card or a prepaid card on which a card number is recorded.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the card credit inquiry system of the present invention, an abbreviated card memory is provided in the card terminal machine for storing the accident card number registered at the card center as a small-digit abbreviated code, Only card numbers with codes matching this shortened code are sent to the card center for credit inquiries.

Furthermore, repeated transmission of the same card number to the card center, which is not an accident card, is suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, the number of credit inquiries to the card center can be reduced without significantly increasing the storage capacity, thereby reducing communication costs and improving the work efficiency of credit inquiries. Furthermore, service to customers can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, Figs. 2 to 7 show a card credit inquiry system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. tJ2 is an external view of the card terminal; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration, FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the storage contents of the storage section, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation. 1...Card terminal machine, 2...Card, 2c...Card number, 3...Telephone line, 4...Card center,
12...Card insertion slot, 13...Display unit, 14...
・Keyboard 18.41...CPU, 21.43...
・RAM. 21a... Short code memory, 21b... Card information memory, 21c... Card number memory, 21d...
・Shorten code buffer, 24...Card league, 26
...Printer, 43a...Accident card number file.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A card number (2) having a specified number of digits inputted into a card terminal (1) is transmitted to a card center (4) connected to this card terminal via a telephone line (3). In the card credit inquiry system that checks whether or not the accident card number corresponds to the accident card number registered in the accident card number file (5) of this card center, the earlier card terminal (1) code conversion means (1a) for converting a number into a shortened code having a number of digits less than the specified number of digits using a predetermined number of digit compression method; a shortened code memory (1b) that stores only shortened codes having mutually different codes among the shortened codes compressed by the digit number compression method;
code search means (1c) for searching the abbreviated code memory using the abbreviated code converted by the code converting means; and code searching means (1c) for searching the abbreviated code memory using the abbreviated code converted by the code converting means; A card number transmitting means (1d) that transmits the converted short code together with the converted short code to the card center for credit inquiry, and a judgment that determines that the card is not an accident card if the same short code is not searched by the code search means. means (1e); and short code changing means (1f) for changing the corresponding short code in the short code memory in response to a short code change command input from the card center, the card center (4) , accident card number search means (4a) for searching for an accident card number corresponding to the input short code when the card number input from the card terminal is not registered in the accident card number file;
and code addition means (4b
), and abbreviated code change command transmitting means (4c) for transmitting the abbreviated code added by the code adding means to the card terminal as a shortened code change command. system.