JPH04102994A - Prepaid card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately inform the approach of the end of the service life of a prepaid card by providing the prepaid card system with a reading/writing frequency counting means, a service life detecting means and a service life informing means. CONSTITUTION:The data reading/writing frequency of each prepaid card by individual data reading/writing means is counted by the reading/writing frequency counting means 1 and the frequency data are written in the prepaid card together with residual point data by the data reading/writing means after using an equipment. When the service life detecting means 2 detects that the frequency counted by the means 1 reaches a prescribed value and the service life of the prepaid card approaches its end, the service life informing means 3 informs the approach of the service life of the prepaid card based on the detection signal. Thus, the end of the service life of the prepaid card can be accurately detected and informed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a system for prepaid cars 1 used in hospitals and the like to charge for the use of television receivers, etc.

[Conventional technology]

Various types of prepay I-car systems have been proposed in the past, and charging devices are used to charge fees for viewing a television receiver, using a washing machine, and the like. Some of these charging devices enable the device to be used when a prepaid card is inserted, and after the device is used, the remaining card data is written on the prepaid card and the prepaid card is ejected.

For example, in a paid device that charges a fee for viewing a television receiver, when a prepaid card is inserted as shown in Figure 12, a magnetic spatula is transferred from the prepaid card.
' reads the frequency data, etc., and judges from this data whether or not the prepaid card is valid, and if the prepaid card I~ is not valid, the prepaid card is ejected. If the prepaid card is valid, the television receiver is turned on to enable viewing, and the broadcast signal of each program is sent to the television receiver according to the channel selection signal from the operation panel. and select.

Then, the frequency for the viewing time of the television receiver is counted at the set rate, and the remaining frequency is determined by subtracting the count result of 1 frequency from the frequency data read from the prepaid car. It is determined whether this remaining power is valid (more than the power data per unit viewing time of the television receiver), and if the remaining power data is more than the power data per unit viewing time of the television receiver, the TV When viewing on the television receiver is finished and the television receiver viewing end signal is input from the operation panel, the remaining power data is transferred to the prepaid card using the magnetic spatula I~. Write (rewrite) and eject the prepaid card. Moreover, if the remaining power data becomes less than the power data per unit viewing time of the television receiver, the power card data in the cart is rewritten to the remaining power data and the BriPay L-card is discharged. One prepaid card is initially written with power data of 65,000 degrees, which is equivalent to 65,000 yen, and the power data is rewritten every time you watch the television receiver once. television receiver 60
For example, the temperature increases by 100 degrees Fj1 per minute of viewing. In addition, the above rates are subject to change due to factors such as a 1-increase in commodity prices.

In addition, the prepaid car system does not only charge for viewing on a television receiver, but also for the use of refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, shower equipment, ice makers, water heaters, etc. . Additionally, there are some cards that charge a fee for using multiple types of devices using the same prepaid card, and the rates for each type of device are set individually and are not constant.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the prepaid card system described above, data is read from the prepaid card and data is written to the prepaid card using a magnetic head, so data is read and written to the prepaid card many times until the card has no remaining power. Furthermore, since a prepaid card is rubbed by the magnetic head every time data is read or written by the magnetic head, its lifespan is determined by the number of times the card is rubbed by the magnetic head. Therefore, the life of the prepaid card may end and the prepaid card becomes unusable even though the data on the prepaid card is not lost; in such cases, the prepaid card becomes unusable even though the data on the prepaid card is not lost. Therefore, trouble occurs.

Therefore, by detecting and notifying that the prepaid card's lifespan is near from the prepaid card's frequency data, the prepaid card's lifespan has expired and the prepaid card can no longer be used even though the prepaid card's frequency data has not disappeared. In such cases, troubles may be prevented by taking measures such as replacing a prepaid card whose life has expired with a prepaid card having remaining card data. However, even with this method, the relationship between the lifespan of the prepaid card and the frequency data changes due to changes in the rate, so it is not possible to accurately detect that the lifespan of the prepaid card is nearing, and it is not possible to resolve problems 1 to 1. Not valid. In addition, since the rates for various devices are not constant and the relationship between usage time and frequency data for various devices is not constant, the lifespan of the prepaid card may also be affected when charging for the use of multiple types of devices with the same prepaid card. It is not possible to accurately detect proximity, and it is not effective in solving problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide a prepaid card system that can accurately detect and notify that a prepaid card is nearing the end of its lifespan and is effective in solving problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention reads the frequency data from the prepaid card by inserting the prepaid card using a data reading/writing means, enables the device to be used when this frequency data is valid, and after using the device, the frequency data is In a prepaid card system, the prepaid card system has a charging device that subtracts the number data corresponding to the device usage time from the above to obtain remaining number data, writes this remaining number data on the prepaid card by the data reading/writing means, and ejects the prepaid card, As shown in FIG. 1, the number of times data has been read and written by the data reading/writing means for each prepaid card is counted individually, and the data for that number of times is transferred to the prepaid card by the data reading/writing means after using the device. A reading/writing frequency counting means 1 to be written together with the remaining power data; a life detecting means 2 for detecting that the number of reading/writing times counted by the reading/writing frequency counting means 1 has reached a predetermined number and the life of the prepaid car 1 is approaching; The present invention is provided with a lifespan notification means 3 which notifies that the lifespan of the prepaid card is nearing due to the detection signal of the lifespan detection means 2.

[For production]

The number of times data has been read and written by the data read/write means for each prepaid card is counted as M1 by the read/write count counting means 1, and the data for that number of times is written to the prepaid card together with the remaining power data by the data read/write means after the device is used. It will be done. Further, the life detecting means 2 detects that the number of reads/writes counted by the reading/writing number counting means 1 has reached a predetermined number and the life of the prepaid card is approaching, and the life notifying means 3 is activated by the detection signal of the life detecting means 2. Notifies you that your prepaid card is nearing the end of its lifespan.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment is a hospital prepaid card system used by inpatients and their attendants in hospitals, and charges a fee for viewing on a television receiver 11 using a charge charging device 12.

The antenna 13 receives television broadcast signals of a plurality of channels, and the television broadcast signals from the antenna 3 are transmitted through a distributor 14 to a tuner 15, which selects the television broadcast signals of each channel. The independent broadcasting device 16 includes a video tape recorder, a television camera, a microphone, etc., for recording and reproducing the television broadcast signal from the distributor 14, and receives the reproduction signal from the video tape recorder and the video signal from the television camera. and an audio signal from the microphone as a broadcast signal of a channel different from the television broadcast channel. This independent broadcasting device] Broadcast signal from 6 and tuner 1
The broadcast signal from 5 is transmitted to the control section 18 by the RF switch 17.
One of them is selected and inputted to the television receiver 11 according to a control signal from the
Turn on/off the power of 1. The display/operation section 20 is the third
As shown in the figure, the TV button 21. Channel down button 22. Channel up button 23. Channel indicator 24. Remaining power indicator 25. It has a card life indicator 26 and the like, and the prepaid card is inserted and ejected through a card insertion slot 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a prepaid card is inserted into and ejected from a card reader/writer 28 used for paying viewing on the television receiver 11 through the cart insertion slot 27. The rate is arbitrarily set by a switch or the like so that, for example, the viewing time of the television receiver 1 is 36 seconds, 54 seconds, 72 seconds, etc. per degree unit.

In the card reader/writer 28, a prepaid card is inserted from the card insertion slot 27 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, as shown in FIG.
Conveyed (insertion and ejection) by a conveyance system (not shown) along
The magnetic head 3o magnetically reads and writes data to the prepaid card, and the thermal head 31 records marks on the prepaid card. Also, sensors 32, 33, 34
detects a prepaid card at each predetermined position on the card transport path 29. As shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d), the magnetic head 30 consists of a write magnetic head 30a and a read magnetic head 30b, and a modulation/demodulation circuit 35 is operated by a control section in synchronization with a write clock from a write tarlock generation circuit 36. Data is written into the prepaid card by modulating the data from 18 and outputting it to the write magnetic head F30a via the amplifier 37. Further, data is read from the prepaid card by the reading magnetic head 30b, and a read signal from the reading magnetic head 30b is demodulated by the modulation/demodulation circuit 35 via the amplifier 38 and output to the control section 18. A motor drive circuit 39 is a card transport DC motor 4 that drives the transport system.
0 is driven by the motor forward rotation signal MF and the motor reverse rotation signal MF from the control section 18. Cart position detection circuit 4] sends detection signals from sensors 32, 33, 34 to car 1 to control unit 1.
8, and the thermal spatula 1 drive section 42 drives the thermal head 31 based on the signal from the control section 18 to record a mark on the prepay card. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a 3 mm wide magnetic stripe 44 is provided on the lower surface of the prepaid card 43 at a position 9 mm from one side edge in parallel to the insertion direction of the prepaid cards 1 to 43. Data is read and written to the 1-write 44 by the magnetic head 30 . In addition, the magnetic stripe 44 of the prepaid card 43 records ID data unique to each prepaid card, frequency data corresponding to time, reading/writing frequency data (use frequency data), etc. Initially, frequency data is data of a certain frequency. The usage count data is O. This use count data is incremented by 1 each time the prepaid card 43 is inserted into the charging device 2 and used, and becomes data indicating the number of times data is read and written by the magnetic bed 30 (number of uses). Further, as shown in FIG. 7, ten mark recording positions P1 to PIO are provided on the upper surface of the prepaid card 43 at regular intervals in parallel to the insertion direction of the prepaid card 43, and the control unit 18 controls the prepaid card 43. The thermal head drive unit 42 drives the thermal head 31 according to the remaining power to record marks at mark recording positions P1 to P], 0.

Control unit] 8 is a channel down button 22. The tuner 15 and R are activated by the signal from the channel up button 22.
Control the F switch 17 to change the reception channel (channel to be viewed) on the television receiver 11]1 Each time the channel down button 22 is pressed, the television broadcasts 1.2.3...11.12 and Select the broadcasting channels to move down in sequence, and
Each time the channel up button 22 is pressed, channels 1, 2, 3... 11, 12 of television broadcasting and independent broadcasting channels are selected to move upward in sequence, and the selected channel is displayed as a channel. vessel 24
to be displayed. Further, the control unit 18 causes the remaining power of the prepaid card inserted through the card insertion slot 27 to be displayed on the remaining power display 25.

FIG. 8 shows a part of the processing flow of the control section 18.

When the prepaid card 43 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27 and detected by the sensor 32, as shown in FIG. The output signal is output to the motor drive circuit 39 to rotate the cart transporting DC motor 40 in the direction of taking in the cart, and after the car 1 to detection signals PH3 from the sensor 34 are turned on, the card detection signal P from the sensor 32 is turned on. When turned off, the card conveying DC motor 40 is braked via the motor drive circuit 39 to stop it, thereby completing the prepaid card loading. Then, while the prepaid car 1- is being loaded, when the detection signal circle 13 from the sensor 34 to the car 1 is on, the prepaid card 43 is read by the magnetic head 3.
Data is read by 0b and this data is sent to amplifier 3.
8. The input data is input to the control unit 18 via the modulation/demodulation circuit 35, and the control unit 18 stores the input data including this usage count data in a memory, compares the usage count data with a fixed value, and determines that the prepaid car 1<43 is the usage limit. Determine whether it has reached (near the end of its lifespan) or not. When the usage count data reaches a certain value and it is determined that the prepaid card 1/43 has reached its usage limit (nearing the end of its lifespan), the control unit 18 lights up the cart lifespan indicator 26 to indicate that the prepaid card 43 has reached its usage limit. Displays that the usage limit has been reached (nearing the end of its life).
A motor reversal signal MB is output to the motor drive circuit 39 to rotate the card conveyance DC motor 40 in the ejection direction, thereby ejecting the prepaid car 1 from the cart insertion slot 27. In this case, the control unit] 8 is connected to the sensor 32 as shown in FIG.
Approximately 2 seconds after the prepaid card detection signal P from
Motor 40 is stopped. The person who inserted the prepaid card from the card insertion slot 27 knows that the prepaid card 43 has reached its usage limit (near the end of its lifespan) when the cart life indicator 26 lights up, and the person who inserts the prepaid card into the card insertion slot 27 informs the administrator of this embodiment that the prepaid card 43 has reached its usage limit (near the end of its lifespan). 43 and have them exchange it for another prepaid card with the same frequency data. As a result, even though the frequency data of prepaid cards 1 to 43 has not disappeared (the frequency has not become less than the frequency corresponding to the unit viewing time of the television receiver 11), the life of the prepaid card 43 has expired and the prepaid card can no longer be used. The trouble caused by this will be resolved.

Further, if the usage count data does not reach a certain value and it is determined that the prepaid card 43 does not reach the usage limit, the control unit 18 checks the data and frequency data in the input data and determines whether the inserted card is a valid prepaid card. Determine whether or not. If the control unit 18 determines from the ID data that the inserted card is not a valid Bripay cart, or if the frequency data in the input data is not less than the frequency data corresponding to the unit viewing time of the television receiver 11. In this case, the motor reversal signal MB is outputted to the motor drive circuit 39 in the same manner as described above to rotate the cart transporting DC motor 40 in the ejection direction and eject the prepaid car F43 from the cart insertion [27].

It is determined that the inserted card is a valid prepaid card from the ID data in the input data, and it is determined that the frequency data in the input data is greater than or equal to the frequency data corresponding to the unit viewing time of the television receiver 11. In this case, the control section 18 causes the power supply control section 19 to turn on the power of the television receiver 11 to enable viewing of the television receiver 11, and presses the channel down button 22. on the display/operation section 20. Tuner 15. in response to the input signal from channel up button 23. By controlling the RF switch 17, the antenna 13. a television broadcast signal from the independent broadcasting device 16 to the television receiver 1;
Select independent broadcast signal. The control unit 18 controls the television receiver 11 while the television receiver 11 is viewing the television receiver 11.
The frequency corresponding to the viewing time of is counted using the set rate above, and if the count result is less than or equal to the frequency data in the input data and the remaining frequency (subtracting the above counting result from the frequency data in the input data) is the number of televisions receiving 9 TVs. It is determined whether the frequency is greater than or equal to the unit viewing time of the device 11.

When the remaining power is no more than the power corresponding to the unit viewing time of the television receiver 11, the control unit 18 adds 1 to the usage frequency data stored in the memory and stores it in the memory as new usage frequency data. Prepaid card 4
3, subtract the count result of the count corresponding to the viewing time of the television receiver 11 from the count data read from the prepaid card 43 and stored in the memory when the card 43 is inserted, and use the result as the remaining count data. The modulation/demodulation circuit 35 along with the usage count data. The signal is output to the write magnetic head 30b via the amplifier 37 to be written on the prepaid card 43. In this case, the control unit 18 outputs the motor reversal signal AB to the motor drive circuit 39 to rotate the card conveying DC motor 40 in the ejecting direction to remove the prepaid card 43.
After returning the card to near the card insertion slot 27, as shown in FIG. 1ri 43 is taken in, sensor 3
After the detection signal from Car 1 to 4 turns on, writing the usage count data and remaining power data to prepaid cars 1 to 43 (rewriting the usage frequency data and power data)
I do. Furthermore, the control unit 18 outputs a motor reverse rotation signal MB to the motor drive circuit 39 to drive the card conveying DC motor 4.
0 in the ejection direction, the prepaid card 43 is ejected from the card insertion slot 27, and the power control section 19 is caused to cut off the power to the television receiver 11.

In addition, if the remaining power is equal to or greater than the power corresponding to the unit viewing time of the television receiver 11, the control unit 18 controls the television 2.
Keep the television receiver] 1 powered on until 1 is pressed, and then press the channel down button 22. Tuner 1 in response to the input signal from channel up button 23
．． 5. While controlling the RF switch 17, the frequency corresponding to the viewing time of the television receiver 11 is counted at the set rate. Therefore, the viewer of the television receiver] 1 can press the channel down button 22 . The user can select a channel using the channel up button 23 and watch television broadcasts or independent broadcasts on the television receiver 11, and press the television button 21 when the viewing is finished. The control unit 18 determines whether viewing on the television receiver 11 is finished based on the signal from the television button 21. When the viewing on the television receiver 11 is finished, the control unit 18 adds 1 to the number of usage data stored in the memory as described above, stores it in the memory as new number of usage data, and transfers the prepaid card 43 to the number of usage data stored in the memory. Subtract the count result of the frequency corresponding to the viewing time of the television receiver 11 from the frequency data read from the prepaid card 43 and stored in the memory when the card is inserted, and use the result as the remaining frequency data. together with the modulation/demodulation circuit 35
．． The signal is output to the write magnetic head 30a via the amplifier 37 to be written on the prepaid card 43. moreover,
The control section 18 causes the prepaid card 43 to be ejected from the card insertion slot 27 in the same manner as described above, and causes the power supply control section 19 to cut off the power to the television receiver 11.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
For example, instead of the card lifespan indicator 26, a notification means such as a buzzer may be used to notify that the lifespan of the prepaid card 1 is approaching. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to cases where the use of refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, shower devices, ice makers, water heaters, etc. is charged.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when a prepaid card is inserted, the data reading/writing means reads the frequency data from the prepaid card, and if this frequency data is valid, the device can be used, and after using the device, the A prepaid car 1 which has a charging device that subtracts the frequency data corresponding to the device usage time from the data to obtain remaining energy data, writes this remaining energy data into the prepaid card by the data reading/writing means, and ejects the prepaid card. In the system, the number of times data has been read and written by the data reading/writing means for each prepaid card is counted individually, and the data of the number of times is transferred to the prepaid card by the data reading/writing means after the device is used. and a lifespan detection means for detecting that the lifespan of the prepaid card is approaching when the number of times counted by the reading and writing number counting means reaches a predetermined number of times.
Since it is equipped with a lifespan notification means that uses the detection signal of this lifespan detection means to notify that the lifespan of the prepaid card is nearing, it is possible to accurately detect and notify that the lifespan of the prepaid card is near, and the frequency data of the prepaid card can be accurately detected and notified. This is effective in resolving the I-rubble caused by the prepaid card becoming unusable due to the end of its lifespan even though it has not run out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a front view showing the display/operation section of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is the embodiment. 5(a) to 5(a) are plan views showing a part of the car leak writer in FIG.
d) is a block diagram showing each part of the car 1-reader/writer, Figures 61-1 and 7 are a plan view and plan view showing the Bribay I-car 1 used in the same embodiment, and Figure 8 is a block diagram showing each part of the reader/writer. Flowchart I, which shows a part of the processing flow of the control unit in the same embodiment, FIGS. 1 to Flowchart 1- showing the processing flow of the control unit in the system. ]... Reading/writing frequency R'l number means, 2... Lifespan detection means, 3... Lifespan notification means. Yami Ryo 40 Mata

Claims (1)

[Claims] When a prepaid card is inserted, frequency data is read from the prepaid card by a data reading/writing means, and if this frequency data is valid, the device can be used, and after using the device, frequency data corresponding to the time of use of the device is extracted from the frequency data. In the prepaid card system, the prepaid card system has a charging device that calculates remaining card data, writes this remaining card data into the prepaid card by the data reading/writing means, and ejects the prepaid card, the data reading/writing means individually for each prepaid card. reading/writing frequency counting means for counting the number of times data has been read and written by the device and writing the data of the number of times into the prepaid card together with the remaining power data by the data reading/writing means after using the device; and this reading/writing frequency counting means. lifespan detection means for detecting that the life of the prepaid card is nearing when the number of times counted by has reached a predetermined number; and lifespan notification means for notifying that the life of the prepaid card is approaching the end of its life based on a detection signal from the lifespan detection means; A prepaid card system featuring: