JPH041379B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a credit transaction system in which transaction data of transactions performed using a credit card is transmitted to a central device where the credit card is registered using a telephone network. Regarding terminals.

A credit transaction terminal when the payment method is a credit card in a transaction where a credit or debt relationship occurs between a member store that has a contract with a credit card company and a customer registered with the same credit card company. A credit card terminal is used to immediately transmit transaction data over a telephone line to the credit card company's central equipment. However, since transaction data is transmitted using a subscriber telephone line, a line usage fee (telephone bill) is charged each time transaction data is transmitted for each transaction. In order to reduce line costs as much as possible, there is a certain limit (this is called the standard amount).
For transactions with a transaction amount of less than 1,000 yen, the transaction data is not sent to the central device at the time of transaction processing, but is temporarily stored in the end machine. It is conceivable to send data all at once to a central device. However, since a large amount of transaction data from each member store will be concentrated at one time and sent to the central device, it will be necessary to increase the line capacity on the central device side, and even if it does, it will be busy due to There is a possibility that the line from the member store to the central device cannot be connected frequently, resulting in a situation where it becomes impossible to immediately send unsent transaction data from the terminal to the central device. .

Summary of the Invention This invention reduces line costs when transmitting transaction data from credit transaction terminals to a central device, and eliminates the need for transaction data to be transmitted from multiple terminals to the central device at one time. For this purpose, it is an object of the present invention to enable the terminal side to always quickly transmit transaction data.

The credit transaction terminal according to the present invention includes a standard amount storage means for storing a predetermined standard amount, an unsent transaction data storage means for temporarily storing transaction data when the transaction amount is less than the standard amount, and If the transaction amount is equal to or greater than the standard amount, a line with the central device is connected and the transaction data is transmitted to the central device during the transaction processing, and the unsent transaction data is stored in the unsent transaction data storage means. The present invention is characterized by comprising communication means for determining whether or not the transaction data is stored, and subsequently transmitting the unsent transaction data to the central device without disconnecting the line if it is stored.

If the transaction amount is less than the standard amount, the transaction data is stored in the terminal and not sent to the central device, which reduces line costs and prevents the line from being blocked on the central device side. Since the rate decreases, overall transmission efficiency improves. Transaction data is transmitted only when the transaction amount is equal to or greater than the reference amount, and unsent data that is stored is transmitted along with the communication. Generally 1
Since the time required to transmit transaction data is about 1 minute, which is shorter than the charging unit time (3 minutes), it is possible to transmit about 2 other unsent transaction data within this unit time. Furthermore, the time required for line connection can be saved. The specific content of such effects will become fully clear in the description of the embodiments. Furthermore, since transactions with transaction amounts exceeding the standard amount occur randomly at each member store, transaction data transmission from each terminal to the central device will not be concentrated at one time. Communication with the central device is possible immediately every time a transaction is made. Furthermore, in low-value transactions less than the standard amount, transaction data is not transmitted to the central device as described above, so that transaction processing can be carried out quickly. This effect is particularly noticeable when there are many low-value transactions.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the electrical configuration of a credit transaction terminal. The credit transaction terminal is controlled by a CPU 1, and the CPU 1 is equipped with a memory 2 for storing its programs and various data. Also,
A transmission device 3 is connected to the CPU 1 for communicating with a central device (not shown) of a credit card company. The transmission device 3 includes an automatic dialing circuit and other circuits necessary for data transmission, and is capable of communicating with a plurality of central devices. Furthermore, as an input/output device, a display device 4 for displaying transaction data, etc.
A printer 5 for creating sales slips and vouchers, a keyboard 6 for inputting transaction data, a card reader 7 for reading data stored on credit cards, and a keyboard 8 for customers to key in their personal identification number. is connected to CPU1. The credit transaction terminal can also be configured to double as an electronic cash register (ECR).

FIG. 2 shows an example of the keyboard 6. The keyboard 6 has a group of keys 11 for inputting processing codes;
Numeric key group 12 and function key group 13
is provided.

The central equipment of each credit card company also
It includes the CPU, memory, and transmission equipment that communicates with the terminal. The memory stores in advance the membership number of a customer (member) registered with the credit company, as well as data indicating the customer's total transaction amount, credit limit, and degree of credit.

FIG. 3 shows part of the contents of the memory 2.
The memory 2 is provided with a transaction data area 15 for storing input transaction data, an area for a standard amount table 16 for each credit company, and an unsent transaction data area 17. Transaction data/
The area 15 contains the processing code entered using the key group 11, the credit card information read by the card reader 7, the password entered using the keyboard 8, and the processing code entered using the keys 12. The key-input product code and sales amount (transaction amount) are stored. The card information includes an ID mark indicating that it is a credit card, the membership number and PIN number of the card owner, the number of the credit company that issued the card, the validity code, etc. In the standard amount table 16, the telephone number and standard amount of money of a credit card issuing company are stored in advance in correspondence with that company's number. The standard amount is the limit amount that can be used for credit transactions without communication with the central device. Generally, in credit transactions, the terminal device transmits the member number, sales amount, etc. to the central device, and the central device checks whether the member's registration is invalid and whether the sales amount exceeds the credit limit of the member. As a result of this check, if a credit transaction is possible, that fact is transmitted from the central device to the terminal, and the transaction can be processed at the terminal. The standard amount is set based on the idea that in the case of a low sales amount, such a check is omitted and credit transactions are immediately approved. Table 16 is provided because this standard amount is not always the same for multiple credit companies. Table 16 also contains credit card company telephone numbers and is therefore used for automatic dialing. It would also be possible to store a reference amount on each credit card. The untransmitted transaction data area 17 is for temporarily storing transaction data for transactions with sales amount less than the standard amount without transmitting it to the central device. This Elijah 1
7 is provided with a large number of areas (M1) to (Mn) for storing each transaction data, and the contents of area 15 are stored in each area (Mi) (i=1 to n) each time a transaction is processed. Ru.

FIG. 4 shows the format of the transmission message transmitted from the terminal to the central unit. In addition to Elijah 15's transaction data, this message includes service classification,
Contains dates, etc. FIG. 5 shows the format of the response message transmitted from the central device to the terminal. This response message includes the member number, the total amount of unsettled sales (transactions) of the member, and print and display data. In addition to transaction data such as the sales amount of the transaction, the print and display data may also include a code indicating whether the transaction is possible, and if not, the reason.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of credit transaction processing in the credit transaction terminal. This is executed by CPU1. When any one of the keys 11 of the keyboard 6 is pressed (step 21), the processing code represented by the pressed key is stored in the area 15 of the memory 2.
is memorized. Also, the information of the card inserted into the card reader 7 or manually scanned is stored in the card reader 7.
The data is read by the reader 7, taken in, and stored in the area 15 (step (22)). Next, the store clerk uses the keyboard 6 to input the product code,
The sales amount is entered by key, so these are captured and stored in area 15 of memory 2 (steps (23) and (24)), and the customer enters the password using keyboard 8. This password is also stored in area 15. (Step (25)). It is checked whether the PIN number in the card information matches the keyed-in PIN number (step (27)), and if they match, the transaction process continues. If they do not match, you are allowed to enter the PIN up to three times, and if they match during this time, the transaction process continues, but if all three do not match, the card is returned and the process ends (steps (38) to 38).
(40)).

If the PIN numbers match, the issuing company of the credit card can be determined from the card information, and based on this information, table 16 in memory 2 is stored.
is referenced and the standard amount of that credit company is read out. The key-input sales amount is then compared with the read standard amount (step (28)),
If the sales amount is less than the standard amount, the transaction data stored in area 15 is transferred and stored in a predetermined empty area (Mi) in area 17 (step (29)). Then, at least two sales slips are created using the transaction data in the area 15 (step (30)), one of which is handed over to the customer, and the credit transaction process is completed. The other sales slip becomes the store's copy.

If the sales amount is more than the standard amount, the telephone number of the credit company is read from the table 16, and the transmission device 3 automatically dials the central equipment of the credit company (step (31)).
When the line between the terminal and the central unit is connected, the fourth
A transmission message in the format shown in the figure is sent to the central device (step (32)). The central device searches the memory and determines whether a credit transaction is possible based on the data of the applicable customer, and if it is possible, the data of the customer (such as the total transaction amount) is updated. When the response message (Fig. 5) from the central device is received by the terminal (step (33)),
A sales slip is created using the received message (step (34)). Even if transactions are not possible, it may be necessary to record this fact on the sales slip.

In parallel with the sales slip creation process, immediately after receiving the response message, it is checked whether the area 17 of the memory 2 is stored with the searched unsent transaction data (step (35)). It is convenient to separately store whether untransmitted transaction data is stored in the area 17 and, if so, the number of data. If there is any unsent transaction data, that data is read out, and in parallel with the processing of creating a slip for this data (step (37)), one transaction's unsent data is transmitted to the central device (step (32)). After receiving the response message from the central device (step (33)), it is checked again in the same way whether there is any unsent transaction data, and if so, the unsent data is also subsequently transmitted to the central device ( Step (35), (32)). In this way, when the sales amount is equal to or greater than the reference amount, all unsent transaction data is sequentially transmitted to the central device without disconnecting the line along with the transmission of the transaction data to the central device. Based on the received transaction data, the central device performs processing such as updating the data of the corresponding customer. If there is no untransmitted transaction data (step (35)), the line is disconnected and the process ends (step (36)). When the unsent transaction data is transmitted, the area (Mi) of the memory 2 in which the transaction data was stored is cleared. The slip in step (37) is for recording that unsent transaction data has been sent.

In the above embodiment, all unsent transaction data is transmitted along with communication with the central device when the sales amount is greater than or equal to the standard amount. The unsent transaction data may be sent to the central device within the range that can be sent. Any remaining unsent transaction data will be transmitted during the next interaction.

FIG. 7 shows the temporal flow of the processing in steps (31) to (33) in FIG. After off-hook by the transmission device 3, there is a pre-pause for 3 seconds, after which a dial tone is sent to the telephone line.
After automatic dialing by the transmission device 3 (the time required for this is approximately 5 seconds), the line is automatically connected (the time required is, for example, 15 seconds). When the central device (center) hears a ringing tone, it goes off-hook, performs coordination processing with other terminals in communication (the time required for this is, for example, 10 seconds), and proceeds to transmission link establishment processing. The transmission link is established by transmitting an interim message (ENQ) from the terminal to the central device, and upon receiving this, the central device sends an acknowledgment (ACK) to the terminal. Then, the transmission message is sent from the terminal to the central device, and at the same time as it is received, the central device sends an ACK to the terminal. The central device searches the memory and updates the customer data. After this, from the central device
A transmission link is established by sending an ENQ and an ACK from the terminal, and a response message is sent from the central device to the terminal. Finally, a finalization process is performed (this takes approximately 5 seconds). In this finalization process, an end of transmission character (EOT) and a transmission control extension character (DLE) EOT are sent and received. The line will then be disconnected, and a guaranteed recovery time (4.5 seconds) will be required. Off hook (ring tone)
The time from when the line is disconnected (on-hook) is the time subject to billing, and this is normally about 1 minute (60 seconds).

If there is unsent transaction data in step (35), communication regarding the unsent data is started after the response message reception process is completed. Strictly speaking, after the EOT transmission and reception in the termination process is finished, the transmission link establishment process is started again. Therefore,
When unsent transaction data is transmitted sequentially along with communication with the central device, the center processing time (10 seconds) and final processing time (5 seconds) are omitted from the billing time, and the sum of these time (15 seconds)
can be shortened. For example, if you continuously send unsent transaction data for 5 transactions, 15x
The billable time can be shortened by 5=75 seconds.

In terms of the total time required for communication, even longer time can be omitted. The times that can be omitted are pre-pause (3 seconds), dialing (5 seconds), automatic connection delay time (15 seconds), center processing time (10 seconds), finalization time (5 seconds), and guaranteed recovery time (4.5 seconds).
The total time is 42.5 seconds. Assuming that 5 transactions worth of unsent transaction data are sent consecutively, 42.5 x 5 =
A time reduction of 212.5 seconds is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the margin transaction terminal, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the keyboard, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the memory, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the transmission message format, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing the transmission message format. 6 is a flowchart showing the transaction processing by the terminal, and FIG. 7 is a time chart showing the communication processing. 1...CPU, 2...Memory, 3...Transmission device,
16...Standard amount table by credit company, 1
7...Unsent transaction data area.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A signal transaction terminal that transmits transaction data of transactions performed using a credit card to a central device in which the credit card is registered through a telephone line, in which a predetermined reference amount is A standard amount storage means for storing the transaction data, an unsent transaction data storage means for temporarily storing the transaction data when the transaction amount is less than the standard amount, and a line with the central device when the transaction amount is more than the standard amount. connects and transmits the transaction data to the central device during the transaction processing, and determines whether unsent transaction data is stored in the unsent transaction data storage means, and if so, disconnects the line. a communication means for subsequently transmitting unsent transaction data to a central device without having to do so.