JPH0311497A - Managing method for sale of magnetic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately decide the normalcy of a magnetic card by transferring various kinds of data in the card to a host computer when the magnetic card is used, and sending a result collated with issued data to a POS terminal. CONSTITUTION:When a consumer purchases a prepaid card at a shop C and charge is received with card terminal equipment 4, the card is issued from a card issuing device 18 by performing the key operation of the POS terminal 14. The issued data of the card is transferred from the terminal 14 to the host computer 10 via a communication channel 3-3 and communication equipment 12, and is stored in an external memory device. When the card is used at a shop A, the issued data is read with a reader/writer 16, and is transferred to the computer 10 via the POS terminal 14, a communication channel 3-1, the communication equipment 12, and is compared with stored issued data. A collation result is sent to the POS terminal 14 of the shop A. When coincidence is obtained in collation, the terminal equipment 4 performs the liquidation of charge of goods, etc.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for managing the sales of magnetic cards that allows payment of the price of products without using cash, and specifically, a method for managing the sales of the magnetic cards described above. This invention relates to the sales management of magnetic cards at a store that issues and sells magnetic cards directly to consumers under a contract with a card sales company.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic card payment devices that allow payments to be made using magnetic cards are currently used in telephones, automatic ticket vending machines, and the like. The magnetic card used in this magnetic card payment device is called a prepaid card, and can be purchased by paying in advance using a magnetic card payment device installed at a store that sells prepaid cards. This prepaid card is pre-written with data such as advance payment amount, and when purchasing a product, it can be inserted into the card slot of a magnetic card payment device such as a vending machine, and it can be automatically processed by performing operations such as specifying the product. The payment process will be processed accordingly.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

On the other hand, in addition to the above-mentioned prepaid cards, there is a type of prepaid card that is issued by writing various data including a prepaid amount using a magnetic card settlement device when the card is sold. These prepaid cards are sold on consignment, for example, at each store that has a contract with a card sales company (headquarters) that manages sales of prepaid cards.

In this case, if a prepaid card is issued by the magnetic card payment device installed at each store and sold to a consumer, the card sales company will not be able to ascertain the point at which the prepaid card was issued (sold). .

Therefore, we have developed a magnetic card payment system based on the use of this type of magnetic card (prepaid card).
The host computer installed at the IIM card sales company is connected via a communication line to the POS terminals installed at each store that has a contract with this card sales company, and each POS terminal is connected via a communication line.
It is conceivable to use a system that centrally manages product sales, inventory, etc. based on data sent from the S terminal.

In other words, when a magnetic card (prepaid card) is issued at each store and sold to a consumer, the issuance data (date of issue, identification data, etc.) of the magnetic card is sent to the card sales company from the POS terminal of the store. The purpose is to enable the host computer to recognize the fact that the magnetic card was issued by transmitting the information to the host computer installed in the host computer.

However, in the magnetic card payment system described above, problems may occur due to failures in the communication line that connects the POS terminal at each store and the card sales company's host computer, or failures in the POS terminal that is supposed to transfer magnetic card issuance data. Therefore, a situation may arise in which the magnetic card is used to purchase a product even though the issued data has not been transferred to the host computer.

Furthermore, the issuance data recorded on the magnetic card used to purchase the product may be forged, resulting in cases where the content is inherently impossible. When such a trouble occurs, the card sales company needs to promptly investigate the cause.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a magnetic card that can instantly determine whether or not a magnetic card used for purchasing a product has been legally sold. The purpose is to provide a sales management method.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a POS installed in a plurality of stores that sell products under contract with a card sales company that sells and manages magnetic cards that can settle the price of products without using cash. The terminal is connected via a communication line to a host computer installed at the card sales company that centrally manages product sales, inventory, etc. of the plurality of sales outlets, and a magnetic PO of the retailer when the card is issued and sold.
In a magnetic card sales management method, the sales of magnetic cards are settled based on sales data including magnetic card issuance data transferred from an S terminal to a host computer, wherein the sold magnetic cards are transferred to the plurality of sales stores. When the magnetic card is used to purchase products at any of the stores, the various data including the sales data of the magnetic card are transmitted through the communication line through the POS terminal of the store, similar to the sales data of the magnetic card at the time of sales of the magnetic card. The host computer stores the issuance data in its memory when the magnetic card is sold, and when the sold magnetic card is used at any of the above-mentioned stores. PO of the store where it was used
The issuing data transferred from the S terminal is compared with the issuing data already stored in the memory, and the matching results are sent to the POS terminal of the store where the magnetic card was used, and the matching results are received. Retailer's PO
The S terminal is characterized by determining whether or not the magnetic card is legally sold based on the verification results.

[Effect]

A host computer is installed at a card sales company that manages the sales of magnetic cards that allow you to pay for products without using cash, and it is installed at multiple stores that sell products under contract with card sales companies. By connecting the POS terminal through a communication line, a magnetic card payment system is constructed in which payment for products is made between each store and the card sales company using a magnetic card.

Sales data including issuance data when a magnetic card is issued and sold, as well as various data including the settlement amount when the sold magnetic card is used to purchase a product, the above sales data, etc. POS installed at the store at the time the magnetic card was sold or used
The data is transferred from the terminal via a communication line to a host computer installed at the card sales company.

On the other hand, on the host computer side, the issuance data of the magnetic card sent when the magnetic card is sold is stored in the memory. After that, when the sold magnetic card is used at one of the multiple stores that have a contract with the card sales company, the issuance data transferred from the POS terminal of the store where it was used and the issuance data already stored in the memory are stored. The magnetic card is compared with the issuance data, and the result of the comparison is sent to the POS terminal of the store where the magnetic card was used. The POS terminal of the store that receives this verification result determines whether or not the magnetic card is legally sold based on the verification result.

According to the present invention, when a trouble occurs when a magnetic card is used and the result of matching the issued data recorded on the magnetic card with the issued data stored in the memory of the host computer does not fail. This makes it possible to quickly investigate the cause.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic card payment system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, a contract is made with card sales company 1 that sells and manages magnetic cards, and the product (
A plurality of stores 2 that sell products (including magnetic cards) are installed with magnetic card terminal devices 4 that issue magnetic cards and settle product charges. The magnetic card terminal device 4 of each of these stores 2 has a communication speed vA3-1.3.
-2.3-3 is connected to the communication device 12 installed in the card sales company 1, and the communication device 12 is connected to the sales of products,
It is connected to a host computer 10 that centrally manages inventory and the like.

The communication device 12 is composed of a modem and modulator (MODEM), a line control device that controls connection of a communication line, and the like.

Moreover, the magnetic card terminal device 4 has a POS terminal 14,
Magnetic card continuous writing device 16 and magnetic card issuing device 1
8 and a barcode reader 20.

Next, the specific configuration of the magnetic card terminal device is shown in FIG.
In the same figure, the POS terminal 14 has a cable 5.
A barcode reader 20 is connected via a cable 6, a magnetic card continuous writing device 16 is connected via a cable 7, and a magnetic card issuing device 1 is connected via a cable 7. The POS terminal 14 is provided with a numeric keypad 8, a function key 9, a display 11 for displaying amounts, etc. on the front, and is also provided with an external display 113. Furthermore, a cash storage box 15 is provided at the lower front of the POS terminal 14 so that it can be taken out and put in there. The magnetic card continuous writing device 1
6 is provided with a card insertion/ejection port 17.

When a prepaid card 19, which is a magnetic card, is inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 17, the magnetic card successive writing device I6 reads the magnetic stripe (
The card 19 can read variable information such as the amount written on the card (details will be described later) and identification information unique to the card 19 such as a serial number, and send it to the POS terminal 14 via the cable 6. The POS terminal 14 is designed so that the user can enter the amount using the numeric keypad 8 and operate the function key 9 to make the payment based on the variable information of the prepaid card 19 that has already been read. Further, the POS terminal 14 is capable of storing information at the time of payment in the prepaid card 19 together with specific information.

The POS terminal 14 sends information such as the amount after payment to the magnetic card reading/writing device 16 via the cable 6, and can rewrite the information such as the amount on the magnetic stripe of the prepaid card 19. ing. The magnetic card successive writing device 16 is a prepaid card 19.
Write information such as the amount of 800 yen on the magnetic stripe,
After that, the prepaid card 19 can be ejected from the card insertion/ejection port 17.

The magnetic card issuing device 18 is removably provided with a storage box 22 for storing a magnetic card 21 on which no data has been written yet. Also, magnetic card issuing device 1
8 is provided with a card ejection port 23. Magnetic card issuing device 1 day is when issuing a card.
Variable information such as the amount of money and unique information such as the identification code (TD) of the magnetic card 21 are written on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 21, and unique information unique to the card such as the amount of money and the type of card is printed on the surface of the magnetic card 21. It has become.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an issued magnetic card (prepaid card) 19 used in the magnetic card payment system to which the present invention is applied. The prepaid card 19 is a flexible card made of thin plastic, paper, etc., and has an area 24 on its surface for displaying the payment amount and the payment status, as shown in Figure 3N). In addition, other necessary information (sales amount, issued note name, etc.) is printed.

Furthermore, a trouble mark area 25A is provided on the right side of the area 24 of the prepaid card 19, and the issue data of the used prepaid card (date of issue, name of issuing store, identification data, etc.) is stored in the memory of the host computer 10. A punch hole can be punched in this trouble mark area when a trouble occurs, such as when the data does not match the data stored in the trouble mark area. Further trouble mark area 2
An area 25B is provided below 5A in which unique information such as a serial number is printed.

And, on the back of the prepaid card 19, there is a
) as shown in the magnetic stripe 2 as a magnetic recording medium.
6 is provided. This magnetic stripe 26 has a second
Identification code ID and code C as shown in Figure (III)
d is recorded. Here, the identification code ID is a code unique to each prepaid card for identifying each card, and for example, a serial number is used. Further, the code Cd includes data such as the payment amount, the date of issue of the card, and the name of the store selling the card.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a specific configuration of the magnetic card continuous writing device 16 in the magnetic card payment system shown in FIG. In the figure, a pair of feed rollers 45, 46 are rotatably provided at a position corresponding to the card insertion/ejection port 17, and a reading/writing head 40 is provided adjacent to the rollers 45, 46. There is.

This read/write head 40 reads information written on the magnetic stripe 26 of the prepaid card 19 and writes information on the magnetic stripe 26 of the prepaid card 19 after the payment is completed. A reflective photo coupler 48 is provided next to the read/write head 40 . A pair of rollers 49 and 50 are provided next to the photocoupler 48. A punch mechanism 51 is provided on the right side of the rollers 49 and 50 in the drawing.

The punch mechanism 51 is a mechanism that punches holes at predetermined positions in the trouble mark area 25 in accordance with the use of the prepaid card 19. A pair of rollers 52 and 53 are provided on the right side of the punch mechanism 51 in the drawing.

Some rollers 54,55 are provided at a certain distance from the rollers 52,53. An endless belt 5 is provided between the roller 52 and the roller 54.
The 6th bet has been passed. An endless belt 57 is passed between the roller 53 and the roller 55. The lower half of the outer circumference of the belt 56 is the belt 57
It comes into contact with the upper half of the outer periphery. A card contact detection sensor 58 that also serves as a stopper is provided on the right side of the rollers 53 and 55 in the drawing. The rollers 45, 46, 49, 50, and 52
．． 53 and rollers 54 and 55 are connected to the output shaft of a step motor 59 via a mechanism not shown.

Further, a reflective photo coupler 47 for detecting insertion of the prepaid card 19 is provided close to the card insertion/ejection port 17 .

The above-mentioned read/write head 40 via the recording/reproducing circuit 42,
It is connected to the control circuit 60. Photo coupler 47
．． 48, a punch mechanism 41, a step motor 49,
The card contact detection sensor 58 is connected to a control circuit 60, respectively. In the magnetic card continuous writing device 16, a control circuit 60 is connected to the POS terminal 14 via the cable 6.

Next, the specific configuration of the magnetic card issuing device 18 in the magnetic card payment system shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. It can be attached to and detached from the stepped portion 81 of 80. The main body 8 is also provided in the storage box 22.
A hole 85 is provided in the bottom portion 82 of the roller 82 so that a portion of the rollers 83 and 84 protrudes when the roller 83 is mounted on the stepped portion 81 of the roller. Furthermore, a notch 86 is provided on the side surface of the storage box 22 in contact with the bottom 82, through which only one magnetic card 21 can pass.

An intake port 87 for receiving the magnetic card 25 is provided on the side surface of the stepped portion 81 of the main body 80. Said intake port 8
7 and the card ejection port 23 is a roller 88.
~93 are provided. The rollers 88 to 93 are
They are provided at such intervals that both ends of the magnetic card 21 can be sandwiched between them, and endless belts 94 and 95 are placed between them.

A printer 96 for printing unique information such as a serial number on a specific area on the surface of the magnetic card 21 is provided between the rollers 89 and 90 and the rollers 90 and 91. An auxiliary plate 97 used during printing is provided at the bottom of this printer 96. Said roller 9
A recording head 98 is provided between the rollers 92 and 93 and the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 21 to write variable information such as the balance amount and identification data (unique information 1) such as a serial number. ing. the printer 96;
The write heads 98 and 99 are connected to the control circuit 100, and write information from the control circuit 100 to the magnetic card 2.
5 magnetic stripes 26 and 27 can be written to.

The rollers 83 and 84 are connected to the step motor 101 via a mechanism not shown. Further, the rollers 88 to 93 are connected to a step motor 102 via a mechanism not shown. The step motor 101 is connected to a control circuit 100 and is driven under the control of the control circuit 100.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the host computer in the magnetic card payment system shown in FIG. 1.

In the figure, a host computer 10 is equipped with a CRT display 71, a processing device 70 that has a built-in floppy disk device 72, an external storage device 75 connected to the processing device 70 via a cable 74, and an external storage device 75 connected to the processing device 70 via a cable 78. The printer 7 connected to the processing device 70
It consists of 9. The processing device 70 also includes a communication device 1 connected to the communication device 12 via a cable 76.
2 is connected to a POS terminal 14 via communication lines 3-1 to 3-3.

The processing device 70 of the host computer 10 processes information sent via the communication lines 3-1 to 3-3,
While storing necessary information in the external storage device 75,
It is designed to be printed out from a printer 79 as needed.

That is, the host computer 10 collects information from the POS terminal 14 and performs aggregation processing. The host computer 10 stores the unique information and is able to manage the amount of money on the prepaid card 19 based on the unique information until this amount becomes zero.

A keyboard input device 22 is connected to the processing device 70 in the host computer 10 via a cable 21 . Each time a payment is made using the prepaid card 19, the POS terminal 14 transmits the unique information of the prepaid card 19 and the remaining amount after payment to the communication line 3-1.
~3-3, it can be sent to the host computer 10.

Next, the operation of the magnetic card payment system to which the present invention is applied, shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, is illustrated in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(C).
This will be explained with reference to the flowchart.

Here, in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a consumer purchases a prepaid card at store 0 and uses the prepaid card to shop at store A. First, when the magnetic card terminal device 4 of store 0 receives the payment for the prepaid card, the numeric keypad 8 and function key 9 of the POS terminal 14 are operated, and the prepaid card 19 is issued by the magnetic card issuing device 1 (step 200. 201.202)
. That is, in response to a command given from the POS terminal 14, the control circuit 100 rotates the step motor 102 to rotate the rollers 83, 84, thereby taking out only one magnetic card 25 and sending it into the main body 80. The control circuit 100 stops the step motor 102 when one magnetic card 25 is taken out. Then,
The control circuit 100 rotates the step motor 101 to rotate the rollers 88 to 93, thereby printing the unique information given from the POS terminal 14 when the magnetic card 25 comes under the printer 96.

Furthermore, when the magnetic card 25 comes to the position of the write head 98.99, variable information such as the remaining amount, serial number that is identification data, date of issue, store, etc. are transferred to the magnetic card 21. Write in stripes. The prepaid card 19 on which this data has been written is then ejected from the card ejection port 30.

Next, from the POS terminal 14 to the host computer 10 via the communication line 3-3 and the communication device 12, the data includes the issuance data (identification data, date of issue, and data indicating the store) of the prepaid card 19 issued at 0 stores. Various data are transferred (step 203).

On the other hand, on the host combinator 10 side, the processing device 70 receives the issuance data of the prepaid card 19 transferred from the POS terminal 14 of store 0, and stores it in the external storage device 75 (steps 400 and 401).

Next, when the prepaid card 19 sold at store 0 is used to purchase a product at store A, the prepaid card 19 is sold at store 0.
The issuance data and other data written on the magnetic stripe 26 when the card is issued are read by the magnetic card successive writing device 16 of the magnetic card terminal device 4,
The read data is transferred to the host computer 10 via the POS terminal 14, communication line 3-1, and communication device 212 (steps 300 and 301). That is, in order to purchase a product, the customer carries it to the checkout location and inputs the gold seal of the product using the numeric keypad 8 of the POS terminal 14.

Then, the input amount is displayed on the amount display 11 and the external display 13.

Next, it is determined whether the prepaid card 19 has been inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 17 of the magnetic card successive writing device 16. Here, when the photocoupler 47 detects that the prepaid card 19 has been inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 17, the control circuit 60 rotates the step motor 59 until the prepaid card 19 contacts the contact sensor 58. . As a result, variable information such as the amount of money and unique information such as identification data are read from the magnetic stripe 26 of the prepaid card 19 via the read/write head 40.

The data read in this way is sent to the host computer 10.

On the other hand, the host computer 10 side receives the data written on the magnetic stripe 26 of the prepaid card 19 from the magnetic card terminal device t4 of store A, and among these data, identifies the identification data ID, the date of issue, and the store. The issuance data such as data indicating the prepaid card is compared with the issuance data of the prepaid card already stored in the external storage device 75 (steps 402 and 403).

Next, the processing device 7o in the host combinator 10 sends the above verification result to the POS terminal 14 of store A (step 404).

On the other hand, the POS terminal 14 in the magnetic card terminal device 4 of store A is connected to the communication device W12 by the processing device 70, and the communication @line 3-
1, and it is determined whether or not the issued data matches (step 303).
.

If the issued data match, the magnetic card terminal device 4 settles the price of the product, writes predetermined data after the settlement on the magnetic stripe of the prepaid card 19, and sends the prepaid card 19 via the communication line 3-1. Transfer to the host computer 10 (steps 303 and 304).

On the other hand, as a result of comparing the issued data of the prepaid card 19, if it is determined that they do not match, a punch hole is punched in the trouble mark area 25A of the prepaid card 19 by the punch mechanism 51 in the magnetic card continuous writing device 16 ( Step 3o5). This trouble mark area 2
Prepaid card 19 with a punch hole in 5A is A.
The card is picked up at the store, sent to Kibe (card sales company) 1, and the consumer is given a new prepaid card. (Steps 306.307).

Also, on the host computer 10 side, the processing device ff170
If the issuance data of the prepaid card 19 match, the sales amount of the prepaid card is stored in the memory area of store A in the external storage device 75 (step 406). If the issuance data of the prepaid cards 19 do not match, the trouble check routine is executed to investigate the cause of the trouble (step 407).
).

Here, the reasons why the issuance data recorded on the magnetic stripe 26 at the time of issuance of the prepaid card 19 and the prepaid card issuance data already stored in the external storage device 75 of the host computer 10 do not match are as follows.
For example, even though the prepaid card 19 has been legitimately issued and sold, due to a malfunction in the POS terminal in the magnetic card terminal device 4 that issued the prepaid card, a malfunction in the JJ communication line, a malfunction on the host computer side, etc. There may be a case where the data is not stored in the host computer's external storage device. Furthermore, there may be a case where an unissued magnetic card is stolen together with the magnetic card issuing device, and the prepaid card issued without permission is used to purchase a product.

By executing the trouble check routine, the cause of the trouble is determined based on the data written on the magnetic stripe of the prepaid card punched in the trouble mark area 25A.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, sales data including issuance data when a magnetic card is issued and sold, the settlement amount when the sold magnetic card is used for purchasing a product, and the above-mentioned sales When the magnetic card is sold or used, various types of data including data are sent to the card sales company via communication lines from the POS terminal installed at the store that contracts with the card sales company and sells the product. At the same time, the host computer stores the issuance data of the magnetic card that was sent when the magnetic card was sold in memory, and then the magnetic card that was sold is transferred to the host computer. When used at one of the multiple retailers under contract with the sales company, the issued data transferred from the POS terminal of the used retailer is compared with the issued data already stored in memory, The verification results are sent to the POS terminal of the store where the magnetic card was used, and the POS terminal of the store that receives the verification results determines that the magnetic card has been legally sold based on the verification results. According to the present invention, it is configured to determine whether or not! 〃If a problem occurs in which the issued data recorded on the magnetic card does not match the issued data stored in the memory of the host computer when a magnetic card is used, the cause of the problem must be immediately identified. It becomes possible to investigate the

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a 7022 diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic card payment system to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of a magnetic card terminal device, and Fig. 3 is a 7022 diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic card payment system to which the present invention is applied FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an issued prepaid card used in the magnetic card settlement system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a magnetic card issuing device of the magnetic card payment system shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a host computer of the magnetic card payment system shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the magnetic card payment system to which the above is applied. 1...Card sales company, 2...Seller, 3-1~3
-3...Communication line, 4...Magnetic card terminal device, 1
0...Host computer, 12...Communication device, 1
4... POS terminal, 16... Magnetic card successive writing device, 18... Magnetic card issuing device. Figure 3 24 Figure 7 (A) Terminal processing (store 0) Figure 7 (B) Terminal processing (store A) Figure 7 (C)

Claims (1)

[Claims] We have contracted with a card sales company that sells and manages magnetic cards that allow you to pay for products without using cash, and have POS terminals installed at multiple stores selling products and installed at the card sales company. When a host computer that centrally manages product sales, inventory, etc. of the plurality of stores is connected via a communication line, and a magnetic card is issued and sold at one of the plurality of stores, In a magnetic card sales management method, the sales proceeds of magnetic cards are settled based on sales data including magnetic card issuance data transferred from a POS terminal of the store to a host computer, wherein the sold magnetic card is When a magnetic card is used to purchase a product at one of multiple stores, various data including the sales data of the magnetic card are stored at the store's POS terminal in the same way as the sales data of the magnetic card at the time of sales of the magnetic card. The data is transferred to the host computer via a communication line, and when the magnetic card is sold, the host computer stores the issuance data in its memory, and the sold magnetic card is used at any of the above-mentioned stores. The issuance data transferred from the POS terminal of the store where the magnetic card was used is compared with the issuance data already stored in memory, and the verification results are transferred to the POS terminal of the store where the magnetic card was used. and the POS terminal of the store that receives the verification result determines whether the magnetic card is legally sold or not based on the verification result. Management method.