JPH05213399A - Oil feed card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make oil feed impossible in order to enhance safety, unless an oil feed card legally sold with an effective flag set is used, even in the case of the loss or theft, by a method wherein the effective flag is set on the oil feed card and it is reset upon issue. CONSTITUTION:An oil feed card 4 is issued from the terminal unit of POS and sold at an oil station. The oil feed card 4 is provided on its surface with a magnetic stripe 40 for recording a predetermined information thereon and a printing space 41 on which already sold as shown by 41a and the other information are printed. More specifically, the magnetic stripe 40 is provided with a plurality of areas 40a-40d in which are recorded a card number, valid period, oil kind and the amount of remaining oil, respectively. The magnetic stripe 40 is further provided with an area 40e for recording an effective flag. This effective flag is for making the issued card valid and set on the card by the POS terminal unit when it is sold. This makes impossible an illegal use of the oil feed card 4 due to the loss or theft.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refueling card that stores the amount of oil such as gasoline for which a fee has been paid in advance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A card refueling system using a refueling card is currently proposed as a card refueling system at a gas station. The refueling card used in this system is a card in which the customer pays a certain amount of gasoline equivalent in advance and stores the amount of oil as the amount of remaining oil. In a refueling system using this refueling card, pre-processing such as card authentication and card data buffering is performed when refueling is started, and after refueling, the remaining oil amount is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting the current refueling amount. Post-processing is performed.

[0003]

By the way, in a general gas station, a single device (POS terminal device) issues the refueling card, and at the same time, it is used for a weighing machine or a staff member who measures the refueling amount at the time of refueling. It controls the terminal (external reader / writer). Therefore, if the refueling card issuance process is performed during business hours when there are many refueling customers, the POS terminal device is dedicated in this process, and therefore it is not possible to control the weighing machine or the external reader / writer. This will seriously hinder sales. Therefore, in such a gas station,
The refueling card is issued in batch after business hours.

However, in the conventional refueling card system, the refueling card which is issued after the necessary data is stored and the necessary items are printed by the POS terminal device can be used from that point, so that the refueling card can only be issued. If the refueling card before sale was lost, the refueling card could be used improperly. As described above, since a large number of refueling cards are issued together after the business hours end, there is a risk of serious damage in the case of theft or the like.

Further, at the gas station where the card processing device is installed, the fuel card can be issued arbitrarily, so it is not easy to manage the issuance of the fuel card at each gas station. However, there were drawbacks such as that a staff member might illegally issue a refueling card.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawback by making it possible to write information indicating whether or not the card is valid on a refueling card.

[0007]

The present invention is a refueling card having a remaining oil amount storage area in which an oil amount corresponding to an amount paid in advance is stored, and it is shown that the refueling card is effective. It is characterized by having a setting area for setting a flag.

[0008]

If the valid flag of the refueling card remains set even if the card data is stored in the card and the refueling card is issued, even if the refueling card is inserted into the card processing device for refueling, the card deciding means can The refueling card is determined to be invalid.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an oil supply system using an oil supply card according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system is composed of a plurality of gas stations A, one center B, and a fuel card (see FIG. 6) carried by the customer. A POS terminal device 1 is installed in the store of the fueling station A, and a plurality of external readers / writers 2 for operating refueling staff and a plurality of weighing machines 3 for measuring the amount of refueling are installed outside the store for refueling. ..

In the POS terminal device 1, a CPU 5 as a control device, a ROM 6 connected to the CPU 5 for storing programs and the like, a RAM 7 for setting a card data buffer and the like, a control keyboard 8 and a display unit. 9, a card reader / writer 10 for reading / writing control data, a printer 11 for printing a summary table, a floppy disk 12 in which transaction data files are set, a communication control unit for communicating with the center B via a line 13, a weighing machine controller 14 for controlling the weighing machine 3 and an interface 15 for controlling the external reader / writer 2 are installed.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of the keyboard 8. 8a is a key switch. The clerk inserts a key into the key switch 8a and rotates it to set the operation of the POS terminal 1. The operations to be set include sales operations such as management of the weighing machine 3 and the external reader / writer 2, settlement of sales, setting of a refueling card ticketing function (mode), and the like. Of these, to set the refueling card issuing function, rotate the key to the left and click "Set".
Although done in position, this can only be done by the master key. The master key is possessed only by the person in charge of each store or the person in charge of the central store. Function keys 8b to 8d are a sales key 8b, an issue key 8c and an issue / issue key, respectively.
The sales key 8d. When the refueling card issuing function is set, the issuance key 8c and the issuance / sale key 8d function as mode setting keys. When the respective keys are pressed, the refueling card issuance process and the refueling card issuance / sale process are enabled. When these function keys are pressed during the sales operation, the POS terminal device 1 performs the processing operation corresponding to each key. That is, when the issuing key 8c is pressed, a refueling card issuance process for accepting a new card in the card reader / writer 10 and issuing it as a refueling card is performed, and when the selling key 8b is pressed, the card reader / writer is pressed.
The writer 10 receives the issued refueling card, performs processing such as setting a valid flag (area 40e: described later), and performs card selling processing to make the refueling card usable.
When the issue / sale key 8d is pressed, the refueling card issuing process and the card selling process are continuously performed.

Further, in FIG. 4, the external reader / writer 2 includes a card reader / writer 21 into which a refueling card is inserted, a keyboard 22 for operating staff, and a printer 23 on which a sales slip is printed.

On the other hand, in the center B, a center computer 16 as a control device, a communication control unit 17 connected to the center computer 16 for communicating with the POS terminal device 1, and a storage device 18 in which a master file is set. ，
A printer 19 and a display 20 are installed. The master file stores the sales status of each gas station A, the usage status of all the fuel cards issued, and the like. This master file is updated with the transaction data file.

6 and 7 are views showing the structure of the refueling card 4. As shown in FIG. This refueling card is issued by the POS terminal device 1 and sold at the refueling station A, and is sold at a price substantially the same as the amount of refuelable oil. For example, a refueling card that can refuel 200 liters for the price of 200 liters of gasoline is sold.

FIG. 6 is an external view of the refueling card 4. On the card surface, a magnetic stripe 40 on which the card number, the amount of remaining oil, etc. are recorded, and a printing column 41 for printing the refueling history etc. by this refueling card. It is set.

FIG. 7 is a partial structural view of the magnetic stripe 40. On the magnetic stripe 40, a card number (area 40a), which is the issue number of the refueling card, an expiration date (area 40b) of the card, an oil type (area 40c) and a residual oil amount (area 40d) are recorded. Note that the oil type indicates the type of regular gasoline, high octane gasoline, diesel diesel oil, etc., and is coded and recorded. Further, the residual oil amount is the number of liters of the amount of oil that can be refueled with this refueling card, and the value of the face value (for example, 200 liters) is recorded when the card is purchased. This refueling card is inserted into the external reader / writer 2 every time refueling is performed at the refueling station A, and the refueling amount is subtracted from the remaining oil amount. Area 40e is a valid flag. This valid flag is a flag for setting the issued refueling card as a valid card, and is set by the POS terminal device at the time of selling the refueling card.

Further, in the print column 41, a card number, an expiration date, an issuing gas station (SS) number, a face oil amount, etc. are printed at the time of issuing the card, and a sold print 41a is made at the time of selling the card. Further, the date, the amount of refueling, and the amount of remaining oil are printed for each refueling.

The refueling card is issued by the following operation. After pressing the issuing key 8c of the POS terminal device 1, a new card is inserted into the card reader / writer 10 and the keyboard 8 is operated to input the amount of oil on the face value and the expiration date. The POS terminal device 1 stores necessary data in the magnetic stripe of the inserted card, prints necessary items in the print field, and issues it as a refueling card.

When selling the refueling card 4, the following operations are performed. After pressing the sales key 8b, the refueling card 4 which has been issued is inserted into the card reader / writer 10. The POS terminal device 1 sets the valid flag (area 40e) of the refueling card 4, prints the sold 41a in the print column 41, and discharges it. This refueling card 4 is given to the customer in exchange for the price. In addition,
When the issuance / sale key 8d is pressed, the above issuance processing and this sales processing are continuously performed.

Further, the following operation is performed when refueling with the refueling card. The clerk who received the customer's refueling card inserts the refueling card into the card reader / writer 21.
The weighing machine 3 for refueling is selected by pressing a weighing machine selection key included in the keyboard 22. After this, the refueling card is once discharged. This is because another refueling card can be accepted during refueling and one external reader / writer 2 can manage a plurality of weighing machines 3. After refueling is completed, when the post-processing key included in the keyboard 22 is pressed and the refueling card is reinserted, the slip is printed, the data stored in the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 is updated, and the print field 41 is displayed. Printing is performed. The discharged slip and refueling card are handed to the customer by the staff, and the transaction is completed.

FIG. 8 is a partial block diagram of the RAM 7.
It is a figure which shows an input / output buffer. When a refueling card is inserted into the card reader / writer 21 of the external reader / writer 2, the card data is stored in this input / output buffer via the interface 15. The input / output buffer includes a card number storage area (area M1: hereafter, "area Mi" is referred to as "Mi"), expiration date storage area (M
2), oil type storage area (M3), residual oil amount storage area (M
4) and corresponds to the stored contents of the magnetic stripe 40 of the card 4. In addition, the refueling amount storage area (M
5) is an area for storing the refueling amount sent from the weighing machine 3 which measures the refueling amount. The magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 reinserted in the card reader / writer 21 is updated by subtracting this refueling amount from the remaining oil amount in the area M4.
Data of area M4 is updated.

Areas M6, M7 and M8 are a continuous flag, an issue flag and an issue / sale flag, respectively. Among these, the issuance flag (M7) and the issuance / sale flag (M8) are flags that are set or reset when the fueling card issuing function is set. When the issue flag (M7) is set, the POS terminal device 1 is capable of refueling card issuance processing, and when the issuance / sale flag (M8) is set, the POS terminal device 1 is for refueling card issuance / sale. Continuous processing is possible. These issue flags (M
7) and the issue / sale flag (M8) are backed up by a battery, and the stored contents are saved even when the power is turned off. On the other hand, the continuous flag (M6) is a flag for storing that the refueling / sale key 8d is pressed during the business operation. The POS terminal 1 uses this continuous flag (M6)
Refer to for continuous processing.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the control unit of the POS terminal device 1 when the key switch 8a is rotated to the "setting" position to set the refueling card issuing function. When the key switch 8a is rotated to the "setting" position, a clear key (not shown) on the keyboard 8 is issued at steps n40 (hereinafter step ni is simply referred to as ni), n42, n44 and n46. Key 8
c, Pressing issue / sale key 8d and key switch 8a
Wait until it is decided to turn off.

When the clear key is pressed, it is determined in n40 that the process proceeds to n41, where the issuance flag (M7) and the issuance / sale flag (M8) are reset and the standby routine (n40,
n42, n44, n46). When the issue key 8c is pressed, the determination in n42 leads to n43, where the issue flag (M
Set 7) and return to the standby routine. When the issue / sale key 8d is pressed, the process proceeds to n45 in the determination of n44 to issue /
The sale flag (M8) is set and the process returns to the waiting routine.
When the key switch 8a is turned off, the operation ends (n46).

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the main routine of the refueling card issuing process of the POS terminal 1. n1 to n3 and n4 and n5 are standby routines. Whether or not the sales key 8b is pressed is determined at n1. At n2, it is determined whether the issue flag (M7) is set or reset. If it is set, the process proceeds to n3 to determine whether the issue key 8c is pressed. At n4, it is determined whether the issue / sale flag (M8) is set / reset, and if it is set, n5 is set.
Then, the process proceeds to step S8 to determine whether or not the issue / sale key 8d is pressed. That is, whether or not the issue key 8c and the issue / sale key 8d are pressed is a flag (M7, M8) corresponding to each key.
It is determined only when is set.

When it is determined in n1 that the sales key 8b has been pressed, the process proceeds to n6 to execute a subroutine of the refueling card sales process. After the processing, the process returns to the waiting routine (n1 to n5).

When it is determined in n3 that the issuing key 8c has been pressed, the process proceeds to n7 and a refueling card issuing process subroutine is performed. After processing, the process returns to the waiting routine.

When the issue / sale key 8d is pressed,
When it is judged at 5, the continuous flag (M6) is set at n8, the refueling card issuing processing subroutine is first performed, and then the refueling card selling processing subroutine is performed. After that, the continuous flag (M6) is reset and the process returns to the standby routine.

FIG. 2A shows the refueling card issuing processing subroutine. Issue key 8c or issue / sale key 8
When this operation is performed by pressing d, the insertion of a new card to be issued as a refueling card at n20 is accepted, and the amount of oil on the face value from the ten key included in the keyboard 8 (the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance). Accepts input (n
21).

Here, this oil amount is set to, for example, 100 liters or 200 liters, and is sold to customers as a 100 liter card or a 200 liter card. In other words, instead of issuing a refueling card according to the amount paid by the customer, the refueling card is sold for the set amount of oil.

Next, the input oil amount is recorded as a residual oil amount in the residual oil amount storage area (area 40d) of the card, and at the same time, card data such as the card number and expiration date are stored in each area (n22). , The same content is printed in the front print field 41 (n23). After that, the continuous flag (M6) is referred to (n24). If the continuous flag (M6) is reset, eject the card (n25)
When the continuation flag (M6) is set, the process returns to the main routine without ejecting the card because the process is continuous by pressing the issue / sale key 8d.

FIG. 2B shows the refueling card sales processing subroutine. Sale key 8b or issue / sale key 8
When the operation is advanced by pressing d, the continuous flag (M6) is referred to in n30. If the continuous flag (M6) is reset, the issued refueling card is accepted and then the process proceeds to (n31) n32, and if the continuous flag (M6) is set, the refueling card issuance processing subroutine is called. Since the process is continuous and the refueling card is still inserted in the card reader / writer 10, the process directly proceeds to n32.

At n32, the valid flag (area 40e) set on the magnetic stripe 40 of the inserted refueling card 4 is set, and the floppy disk 12 is set.
Stored as sales in the transaction data file of (n3
3). Next, the sold-out 41a is printed in the print field 41 on the front surface of the card (n34), and the refueling card is ejected (n
35), the operation ends. The clerk delivers the refueling card 4 to the customer in exchange for the paid price.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the POS terminal device 1 when refueling with the refueling card 4. When the refueling card 4 is inserted into the card reader / writer 21 of the external reader / writer 2 at n60, the card data is read (n61) to determine whether or not the valid flag (area 40e) is set. Yes (n6
2). If the valid flag is set, the process proceeds to n63 and below. The card data read in n61 is stored in the input / output buffer. Input / output buffer is multiple weighing machines 3
A plurality of sets are provided to manage the card data, that is, to store the card data of a plurality of refueling cards to be inserted into the external reader / writer 2, each of which is distinguished using the stored refueling card number as an identification number. It In n63,
It is checked from the card data whether the inserted refueling card is valid (whether it is within the expiration date, the remaining amount of oil is not 0, etc.).
Go to 5. If the valid flag (area 40e) is reset or if the card is an invalid card, the card is directly ejected (n74) and the operation ends.

At n65, selection of the weighing machine 3 by the weighing machine selection key is accepted, and a lubrication permission signal is output to the selected weighing machine 3 via the weighing machine controller 14 (n6).
6). After this, the card reader / writer 21 is instructed to eject the refueling card once (n67). Although the refueling card is ejected, the input / output buffer storing the card data of this refueling card is retained. It waits until the refueling is completed in n68, and when the refueling is completed, the refueling amount is received from the weighing machine 3 (n69) and a new residual oil amount is calculated by subtracting the refueling amount (n70). This remaining oil amount is stored in the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input / output buffer allocated in n61. That is, the residual oil amount read from the inserted refueling card 4 is rewritten to the new residual oil amount. Here, when the refueling card is requested to be reinserted and the refueling card is reinserted when the post-processing key is pressed, the new residual oil amount is written in the area 40d of the magnetic stripe 40 (n72). That is, the content of the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input / output buffer is written. The transaction data (transaction data) is written to the transaction data file (floppy disk 12) (n73), the card is ejected (n74), and then the operation is terminated.

As described above, in this card refueling system, the refueling card is issued in advance (after business hours) by storing (encoding) the card data, printing on the front surface, and the like, and is sold at the time of sale to the customer. The valid flag on the refueling card is set to enable it when refueling. As a result, even a refueling card that is stored with card data and printed on the surface can be used only after the processing of the valid flag set at the time of sale, so the safety of the refueling card issued can be improved. it can. This makes it possible to issue a large number of refueling cards in advance,
Since the refueling card can be issued outside business hours, the operating efficiency of the POS terminal device can be improved.

Further, since it is possible to set whether or not to issue (issue / sell) the refueling card for each refueling station (POS terminal device 1), it becomes easy to manage the refueling card issuance, and at the same time fraudulent by staff members and the like. It is possible to prevent the issue of refueling cards.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the refueling card is provided with the valid flag, if this flag is reset at the time of issuance, the refueling card issued in advance will be lost or stolen. Even if there is, it is possible to prohibit refueling unless the refueling card is legally sold and the valid flag is set. By doing this, it is possible to avoid congestion of the card processing device during business hours and to keep the safety even if you issue a refueling card in advance during non-business hours. As a result, the operational efficiency of the card processing device can be improved.

[0039]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a PO installed at a gas filling station in a card filling system using a filling card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
S terminal device card processing main routine

2A and 2B are refueling card issuing processing subroutines and refueling card selling processing subroutines of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a refueling card processing function setting operation of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the card refueling system.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of a keyboard of the POS terminal device.

[Fig. 6] Appearance of refueling card of the above card refueling system

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a magnetic stripe of a refueling card.

FIG. 8 is a partial configuration diagram of a RAM of the POS terminal device.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of refueling by the refueling card of the POS terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A-Gas station B-Center 1-POS terminal device 2-External reader / writer 3-Measuring machine 4-Refueling card 8-Keyboard 8a-Key switch 8b-Sales key 8c-Issue key 8d-Issue / sale key 40- Magnetic stripe 41-printing column

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A refueling card having a remaining oil amount storage area in which an oil amount corresponding to an amount paid in advance is stored, and a setting area for setting a flag indicating that the refueling card is valid. A refueling card characterized by having.