JPH0287296A - Prepaid card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the burden of an operator by automatically preparing a prepaid card, to which information such as a membership number and a code number, etc., are recorded, when a shortage is generated in card payment, automatically subtracting the shortage from the card and issuing the card. CONSTITUTION:When a customer does not have an issued prepaid card 1 at a point of time when the shortage is displayed, an additional card key is operated and for the above mentioned prepaid card 1, a card remainder is caused to be 0. After that, the card 1 is discharged and an original card 2 is inserted to a card inserting port 7. A membership number 4c and a code number 4d of the above mentioned prepaid card 1 are automatically written to the original card 2 and goes to be the new prepaid card 1. Then, the above mentioned shortage is subtracted from an amount 4f of the new prepaid card 1 and the card 1 is discharged. Thus, it is not necessary to execute the key input of the membership number or code number in order to issue the new prepaid card 1 and the burden of the operator is reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a prepaid card processing device that can pay for goods or services using a prepaid card, and particularly relates to a prepaid card processing device that can pay for goods or services using a prepaid card, and particularly when a shortage occurs in prepaid card payment. The present invention relates to a prepaid card processing device that improves shortage processing.

[Prior Art] As is well known, monetary information is magnetically recorded in advance on a prepaid card, and a card user purchases this prepaid card by paying a price corresponding to the magnetically recorded monetary information. Then, each time the user uses this prepaid card, for example, at a ticket vending machine, public telephone, etc., an amount corresponding to the usage fee is automatically deducted from the magnetically recorded amount information.

In addition, if the amount information recorded on the prepaid card is less than the total amount, you can pay the insufficient amount in cash or insert an additional prepaid card into the card slot. Paying is done.

It is conceivable to apply a prepaid card having such a prepayment function to general stores. in this case,
Since the payment is collected at the time the card is issued, it is extremely advantageous financially for the store. Further, unlike credit cards, there is no need to perform a credit check on the card, so the efficiency of sales operations can be improved.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, if each store were issued with a prepaid card that can only be used at that store, it would be extremely troublesome for customers as they would have to carry multiple types of cards that differ from store to store. , there is a demand for the issuance of prepaid cards that can be used at multiple stores.

However, it becomes difficult to distinguish prepaid cards from gift certificates, which expand the range of products that can be used, and there is also the problem that if the same card is used by an unspecified number of people, it becomes the same as cash.

In order to eliminate such inconveniences, it may be possible to magnetically record, for example, information identifying the person using the prepaid card on the prepaid card, thereby limiting the number of people who can use the card.

However, if information identifying the user is recorded on the card in this way, it becomes impossible to insert another person's card as an additional card in the event that there is a shortage of money as described above. Therefore, either settle the missing amount in cash, or cancel the card payment, pay and have a new prepaid card with identifying information recorded on it, and use the new prepaid card as an additional card. I needed to.

On the other hand, if a shortage occurs on the store side, it is necessary to issue a new additional card with information identifying the person (customer) using the card at that time, which reduces the efficiency of the entire sales operation.

In this way, if a shortage occurs in card payments and information identifying the user is recorded on the prepaid card, the prepaid card becomes very complicated and difficult for the card user to use.

The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and
When a shortfall occurs in a card payment, a card with information identifying the card user is automatically created with a simple keystroke, and at the same time, the shortfall amount is deducted from the card and issued. The additional card issuance work can be performed within a series of sales operations for one customer, and the separate card issuance work can be omitted.
An object of the present invention is to provide a prepaid card processing device that can reduce the burden on an operator and greatly improve the efficiency of the entire sales operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention reads amount information recorded on a prepaid card inserted through a card insertion slot with a card reader/writer, and performs sales operations for one customer. In a prepaid card processing device that subtracts the obtained total amount of the customer from the amount information and writes the deducted amount information on the prepaid card with a card reader/writer and outputs the prepaid card, the prepaid card is inserted from the card insertion slot. a card information reading means for reading the member number and PIN number recorded in the card along with the amount information, a shortfall amount display means for displaying the shortfall amount when the total amount exceeds the read amount information, and a shortfall amount display means for displaying the shortfall amount. A card information saving means for temporarily storing the membership number and PIN read by the card information reading means in a card information buffer in response to a later additional card key operation; and a card insertion slot in response to an additional card key operation. zero amount information writing means for writing zero amount information into the prepaid card inserted into the card, and additional card information for reading the card information recorded on the additional card newly inserted into the card insertion slot after the additional card key is operated. A reading means and the card information read by the additional card information reading means are used to determine whether the additional card is a prepaid card with amount information, membership number, and PIN recorded, or a 1 yuan card with only amount information recorded. A card determining means for determining whether the card is a card, and when the card determining means determines that the card is the original card, the member number and PIN stored in the card information buffer are written on the original card and the card is converted into a prepaid card. a new card ejecting means for deducting the insufficient amount from the amount information recorded on the prepaid card generated by the prepaid card generating means, and a card determining means to determine that the card is a prepaid card. When it is determined, the card ejecting means subtracts the insufficient amount from the amount recorded on the prepaid card and ejects the prepaid card.

Further, in another invention, in addition to the above-mentioned means, a payment instruction to pay the insufficient amount by a method other than the additional card is input within a period from the operation of the additional card key until the additional card is inserted into the card insertion slot. Then, it is equipped with a payment method transition means that transitions to the corresponding payment processing.

[Operation] Each prepaid card used in the prepaid card processing device configured as described above has a membership number and a password for identifying the user, in addition to amount information, recorded thereon. Further, in stores where this prepaid card processing device is installed, original cards with only amount information recorded are prepared.

Then, when the prepaid card with the amount information, membership number, and PIN recorded is inserted into the card slot of the prepaid card processing device, the card information such as the amount information, membership number, and PIN stored in the prepaid card is read. It will be done. For example, when a sales operation for one customer is performed using the keyboard, the total amount for that customer is compared with the amount information read from the prepaid card, and if a shortage occurs, the shortage is displayed.

Then, when the additional card key is operated, zero amount information is written into the previously inserted prepaid card.

When the original card is inserted as an additional card into the card slot, the membership number and PIN of the previous card are written on the original card, and the insufficient amount is deducted from the amount information before being ejected as a prepaid card. .

Therefore, sales processing and card issuance processing are automatically executed within a series of sales operations.

On the other hand, when a prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot as an additional card, the insufficient amount is subtracted from the amount information of the prepaid card and the card is discharged.

Further, in another invention, even if there is a shortage of money and the additional card key is pressed after determining that the additional card will be used to pay, for example, cash, credit card, etc. are not available until the additional card is inserted into the card slot. By inputting a payment instruction such as payment, you can change to the corresponding payment method.

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

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are diagrams showing a prepaid card 1 and an original card 2 used in the prepaid card processing device of the embodiment. The prepaid card 1 has messages 3 written on it, such as [Shopping Card] 1, the name of the issuing company indicating that it is a prepaid card, and the face value [50,000 yen], and a magnetic stripe 4 on which card information is magnetically recorded. There is. Furthermore, a punch hole 5 is punched to indicate an approximate balance status that changes depending on the usage status of the prepaid card 1.

In the magnetic stripe 4, as shown in FIG.
Issuer code 4a indicating store).

The date of issue 4b, the card holder's membership number 4c, a password 4d, a card number 4e that is continuous for all cards, an amount 4f as amount information, etc. are recorded.

On the other hand, the original card 2 has the same configuration as the prepaid card 1, with a message 3 having the same content written thereon and a magnetic stripe 4 formed thereon. Note that the punch holes 5 are not punched.

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the magnetic stripe 4 of the original card 2 has only the issuing company code 4a, card number 4e, and amount 4f magnetically recorded in predetermined areas. The amount 4f magnetically stored in the original card 2 is the written face value of, for example, 50,000 yen.

By writing the issue date 4b, membership number 4c of the purchaser (card holder), and password 4d on the magnetic stripe 4 of this original card 2, the prepaid card 1 shown in FIG. 2(a) is obtained.

In addition, prepaid card 1 has membership number 4c and pin number 4.
As mentioned above, the purpose of recording d is to identify the person who can use this prepaid card 1, to show that it is different from cash or gift certificates, and to confirm the membership number and PIN number. This is to make it possible to reissue the card if it is lost.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a prepaid card processing device 6 in which each of the cards 1 and 2 is used. A keyboard 7 is provided on the front surface of the housing, and a card insertion slot 81 and display section 9 are provided on the top.

Furthermore, this prepaid card processing device 6 includes a pin pad 10 and a recording paper 11 for the customer to input a personal identification number.
A printer 12 for printing sales amounts and the like is connected via a cable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the keyboard 7 includes numeric keys 13 . for inputting numerical data. In addition to the confirmation key 14 for confirming entered numerical data, there is also a subtotal key 15.
8. A sales total key 15b for totaling the entered sales amount for one customer, an additional card key 15c for declaring that if a shortage occurs, the shortage amount will be paid with an additional card, and a shortfall amount can also be paid in cash. Various function keys 15 are provided, such as a cash payment key 15d1 for declaring payment and a credit payment key 15e for declaring payment of the insufficient amount by credit.

Further, this keyboard 7 is provided with a business changeover switch 16 which is operated by an operator using a key. and,
This task changeover switch 16 selects and sets various tasks such as [sales], [inspection], and [accounting].

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the prepaid card processing device 6. As shown in FIG.

A ROM 27 that stores a control program via a pass line 26 to the CPU 25 that executes various information processing;
RAM that stores various variable data such as sales summary files
28, a keyboard 7, a communication control circuit 30 consisting of an NCU/MODEM connected online via a telephone line to a card center 29 consisting of a host computer of a card issuing company, a display section 9 that displays input numerical data and various operation guides; Each card 1, 2 inserted from card insertion slot 8
a card reader/writer 31 that reads and writes information to and an interface 3 connected to the pin pad 10;
2. An interface 33 and the like connected to the printer 12 are connected.

Further, each drive voltage VD, vc is supplied from a power source 34 to each of the above-mentioned electronic components.

As shown in FIG. 6, the RAM 28 includes a sales total file 28a for totaling the sales amount of products sold with the prepaid card 1, a total memory 28b1 for calculating the total amount of sales for one customer, and a card reader/writer 31.
Card information memory 28 that stores card information read by
C1 Display buffer 28d1 that stores the display data to be displayed on the display section 9 Print buffer 28e1 that stores the print data to be printed on the recording paper 11 by the printer 12 Temporarily stores the shortfall amount when there is a shortfall due to card payment Shortage amount memory 28f1 A card information buffer 28g and the like are formed to temporarily store card information of the previously inserted prepaid card 1 when paying the shortfall amount with an additional card.

The CPU 25 is programmed to execute sales processing operations according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flowchart starts, and at S (step) 1 the keyboard 7 is pressed.
If the job changeover switch 16 is set to the [Sales] job, the display unit 9 displays an operation guide for [Card Insertion]. When the prepaid card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 8, the card reader/writer 31 records the issuing company code 4a, issue date 4b, and membership number on the magnetic stripe 4 of the prepaid card 1 in S2. 4c, PIN number 4d, card number 4e, amount of money 4g, etc. are read. Then, store the read card information in RAM2.
8 is stored in the card information memory 28c. Next, in step 83, it is checked from the card information stored in the card information memory 28c whether or not the inserted prepaid card 1 is a usable card.

Then, for example, if the issuing company code is a code of another company, this prepaid card 1 cannot be used, so a message "unusable" is displayed on the display section 9, and then the card is ejected.

If the prepaid card 1 inserted in S3 is a normal card, the display unit 9 displays an operation guide for [input a password]. When a 4-digit password, for example, is input by the customer's key operation on the pin pad 10, it is checked whether the password matches the password 4d stored in the card information memory 28c. If they do not match, [Enter PIN]
Display the operating instructions and wait for the PIN to be entered again. If the password does not match even after the password is entered three times, it is determined that the card is an accident card, a message "Unusable" is displayed, and the card is ejected.

If the PIN numbers match, the card information memory 28 is stored in S4.
The amount 4f of c is displayed as the card balance.

Next, the amount of the product purchased by the customer is entered using the numeric key 13, and when the displayed amount is determined to be correct and the confirmation key 14 is entered, the amount is stored in the total memory 28b.
Add to the total amount. Further, the printer 12 prints out the amount on recording paper (receipt paper) 11. Then, when the sales total key 15b is operated in S5,
Now that we have finished processing the total sales amount for one customer,
The total amount stored in the total memory 28b is displayed on the display section 9, and the total amount is printed out on the recording paper 11.

Then, in S6, the total amount is stored in the card information memory 28.
Confirm that the card balance is equal to or less than the card balance indicated by amount 4f of c. If it is less than the card balance, the total amount is subtracted from the amount 4f to obtain the balance. Then, the updated balance is displayed, and the balance is written into the card information memory 28c as a new amount 4f.

Then, the new amount 4f stored in the card information memory 28c is transferred to the card insertion slot 8 by the card reader/writer 31.
is written in the corresponding area of the magnetic stripe 4 of the prepaid card 1 inserted into the card.

Next, the process advances to 816 in FIG. 8, where the card information memory 28c
Membership number 4c, card balance (amount 4f) on record sheet 1
1. Print it out and discharge it (issue a receipt). next,
The total amount is registered and totaled in the sales total file 28a, and the total memory 28b is cleared.

Finally, in S17, the prepaid card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 8 is ejected, and the sales processing operation using the prepaid card 1 for one customer is completed.

Also, if the card balance is less than the total amount at S6, S
Execute the shortage processing from 7 onwards. That is, in S7, the card balance is subtracted from the total amount to calculate the shortage amount, and the shortage amount is stored in the shortage amount memory 28f of the RAM 28. Then, in S8, the insufficient amount is displayed on the display section 9, and the customer waits for selection of whether to pay the insufficient amount with an additional card or in cash.

When the additional card key 15c is input in S9, it is determined that the insufficient amount will be paid with an additional card, and the amount of 4f is transferred to the prepaid card 1 currently inserted into the card insertion slot 8.
Set to 0 and write. Then, this prepaid card 1 is ejected. Next, at 811, the card information memory 28c
The card information of the ejected prepaid card 1 stored in is stored in the card information buffer 28g.

After that, the display section 91 displays an operation guide for [insert additional card]. In S20, the cash payment key 15c or the credit payment key 15e, which indicates to cancel payment of the insufficient amount using the additional card and change to cash or credit payment, is not input, and a new card is inserted into the card insertion slot 8. When the card is inserted, the card information stored in the card is read in S12 and stored in the card information memory 28c. and,
At S513 and S18, it is determined whether the inserted card is the original card 2 or the prepaid card 1 based on the card information stored in the card information memory 28c. Card information includes issue date and membership number.

If the password does not exist, it is the original card 2, so the member number 4c is stored in the card information buffer 28g.

The password 4d is read out and written into the card information memory 28c together with the current issue date 4b separately supplied from a clock circuit.

The process then proceeds to FIG. 8, where the amount 4f from the card information memory 28c is read out and displayed. Next, in S14, if this card balance (amount 4f) is greater than or equal to the shortage amount in the shortage amount memory 28g, a balance is calculated by subtracting the previous shortage amount from this amount 4f. Then, the balance will be displayed. Therefore, this balance is stored in the card information memory 28.
Write to the corresponding area of c. Then, the issue date 4b is newly stored in the card information memory 28c in S15.

Card information including a membership number 4c, a password 4d, and an amount 4f is written into the card currently inserted into the card insertion slot 8.

Next, the process proceeds to step 316, where the membership number and card balance (amount 4f) in the card information memory 28c are printed out on the recording paper 11 by the printer 12.

Further, if the card balance is again less than the insufficient amount in S14, the process returns to 87 in FIG. 7, a new insufficient amount is calculated again, and it is stored in the insufficient amount memory 28g. Then, the new insufficient amount is displayed again.

Furthermore, if the membership number 4c and PIN number 4d are recorded in the card information memory 28c at 318 in FIG. Confirm that the membership number and PIN number match the previously inserted prepaid card 1's membership number and PIN number. Then, the process advances to FIG. 8, and the card balance of the newly inserted prepaid card 1 is displayed.

If the membership number and password do not match, "Card cannot be used" is displayed on the display section 9, the corresponding prepaid card 1 is ejected, and the process returns to S9 to wait for the next key operation.

Furthermore, in the case where the cash payment key 15d or the credit payment key 15e is keyed in instead of the additional card key 15c in S19, and in the case where the cash payment key 15d or the credit payment key 15e is keyed in in S20, , the insufficient amount is printed out on the record 11 and discharged (receipt issued).

Then, the total amount is registered and totaled in the sales total file 28a, and a balance of 0 is written on the prepaid card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 8, and the card is discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cards that can be handled by the prepaid card processing device 6 configured as described above include cards that have already been magnetically recorded with a membership number 4C and a password 4d in addition to the amount 4f. Issued prepaid card 1
and an original card 2 in which the membership number 4c and password number 4d are not recorded.

When performing a sales operation for one customer, after inserting the issued prepaid card 1 into the card insertion slot 8, the customer is asked to input a personal identification number.

After that, enter the amount of each product and finally operate the sales total key 15b.The total amount will be displayed.Then, the balance obtained by subtracting the total amount from the card balance will be displayed, and the balance will be displayed. is written to the prepaid card 1 as a new card balance and discharged.

If the card balance is less than the total amount,
The amount of the shortage will be displayed. If the customer brings the issued prepaid card 1, additional card key 15
When you press c, the previous prepaid card 1 is rewritten to have a card balance of 0 and then ejected. After that, insert the new prepaid card 1 into the card insertion slot 8 as an additional card.
When the card is inserted into the prepaid cart 1, the insufficient amount is deducted from the card balance of the prepaid cart 1 and the card is discharged.

That is, when using the prepaid cards 1 consecutively, it is not necessary to input the password for the second and subsequent prepaid cards 1. Although no input operation is required, it is confirmed that the membership number and password match, so it is impossible to use another person's prepaid card 1 as an additional card.

Additionally, if the customer does not bring the issued prepaid card 1 when the insufficient amount is displayed, additional card key 1 will be added.
After operating the key 5c to eject the previous prepaid card 1 with the card balance set to 0, the original card 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 8. Then, the membership number 4C and PIN 4d of the previous prepaid card 1 are automatically written to this original card 2, and it becomes a new prepaid card 1, and the remaining amount of money will be calculated from the amount 4f of this new prepaid card 1. is deducted and discharged.

That is, in this prepaid card processing device 6, in a series of sales processing operations for one customer, sales processing using an original prepaid card and processing for issuing a new prepaid card are executed. Therefore, there is no need to key-in a membership number or PIN to issue a new prepaid card 1, so the work efficiency of card issuance can be greatly improved, and by extension, the work efficiency of the entire sales operation can be greatly improved. .

Further, when issuing an additional card, there is no need to manually enter the membership number or password, so erroneous operations can be prevented in advance and the reliability of the entire device can be improved.

In addition, in this embodiment, it is also possible to settle the insufficient amount in cash.

Furthermore, I decided to pay the shortfall amount with an additional card,
If you have operated the additional card key 15c, but it becomes necessary to change the insufficient amount to another payment method such as cash or credit card payment, as long as the additional card is not inserted into the card insertion slot 8, By operating the cash payment key 15d or credit payment key 15e, it is possible to settle the insufficient amount using the corresponding payment method.

In this way, the opportunity to choose a payment method increases, so
Operability can be further improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the prepaid card processing device of the present invention, when a shortage occurs in card payment,
With a simple key operation, a prepaid card is automatically created in which information such as a membership number and PIN number for identifying the card user is recorded, and the missing amount is automatically deducted from the prepaid card and issued. ing. Therefore, the additional prepaid card issuance work can be performed within a series of sales operations for one customer, and the card issuance work that is normally performed separately can be omitted. As a result, the burden on the operator can be reduced and the efficiency of the entire sales operation can be significantly improved.

Furthermore, since the opportunity to select a payment method for the insufficient amount increases, operability can be further improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 show a prepaid card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external view of the prepaid card and the original card, and FIG. 2 is an external view of the prepaid card and the original card. 3 is an external view showing the prepaid card processing device, FIG. 4 is a key arrangement diagram of the keyboard, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the prepaid card processing device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing each memory formed in the storage section, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation. 1... Prepaid card, 2... Original card, 4...
・Magnetic stripe, 4a...Issuing company code, 4C・
... Membership number, 4d... PIN number, 4f... amount,
6... Prepaid card processing device, 7... Keyboard, 8... Card insertion slot, 9... Display unit, 10...
- Bin pad, 12... Printer, 13... Number key 15b... Sales total key 15c... Additional card, 15d... Cash payment key 25 - CPU,
28-RAM, 28a--sales total file, 28C--card information memory, 28f--shortage money memory, 28g--card information buffer, 31...
・Card reader writer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The card reader/writer (31) reads the amount information recorded on the prepaid card (1) inserted from the card insertion slot (8), and the total amount of money for that customer is obtained by performing sales operations for one customer. is subtracted from the amount information, and the prepaid card processing device writes the deducted amount information on the prepaid card by the card reader/writer and outputs the amount information, wherein the prepaid card is recorded on the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion slot. Card information reading means (S2) for reading the membership number (4c) and PIN number (4d) together with the amount information
and insufficient amount display means (S8) for displaying the insufficient amount when the total amount exceeds the read amount information.
and the additional card key (1) after the missing amount is displayed.
5c) Card information saving means (S1) for temporarily storing the membership number and password read by the card information reading means in the card information buffer (28g) in response to the operation.
1), zero amount information writing means (S10) for writing zero amount information into the prepaid card inserted into the card insertion slot in response to the additional card key operation, and after the additional card key operation Additional card information reading means (S12) reads the card information recorded on the additional card newly inserted into the card insertion slot, and the additional card is read using the card information read by the additional card information reading means. A card determination means (2) for determining whether the card is a prepaid card (1) on which amount information, membership number, and PIN are recorded, or an original card (2) on which only amount information is recorded.
S13, S18) When the card is determined to be the original card by the card determination means, a prepaid card is generated by writing the membership number and PIN stored in the card information buffer into the original card to make it a prepaid card. means(
S15), and a new card ejecting means (s15 to
S17), and card discharging means (S18 to S17) for deducting the insufficient amount from the amount of money recorded on the prepaid card when the card is determined to be a prepaid card by the card determining means (S18 to S17). Prepaid card processing equipment. (2) If a payment instruction to pay the insufficient amount by a method other than the additional card is entered within the period from the operation of the additional card key until the additional card is inserted into the card slot, the payment method will proceed to the corresponding payment process. The prepaid card processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer means (S20).