JPH06150074A - Magnetic card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect users by accelerating the collation of magnetic cards and preventing crimes. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a magnetic card reader 2 for reading the information of the magnetic card, bar code reader 3 for reading the bar code of merchandise, transmitting/receiving part 4 for transmitting to and receiving from a host computer, operation keys 5 for performing the exchanging operations of information or the input operations of prescribed information, LCD 6 for displaying the information transmitted and received by the exchange part 4 or the information inputted by the operation keys 5, and printer 7 for issuing a slip by printing prescribed items. The information read by the readers 2 and 3 is transmitted from the transmitting/receiving part 4 to the host computer and collated. When the collated result is transmitted from the host computer, the result is received by the transmitting/receiving part 4 and displayed on the LCD 6. When the transaction is established, the slip is issued by the printer 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable magnetic card processing device for reading information from a magnetic card such as a credit card, transmitting the information to a host computer, and further receiving the information from the host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Merchandise transactions are carried out between a user and a service provider using a magnetic stripe card (hereinafter referred to as a magnetic card) such as a credit card. In a conventional magnetic card processing device, a user presents a magnetic card and a service provider uses the magnetic card as a POS.
It is read by a magnetic card processing device such as a terminal. When the magnetic card processing device reads the user information recorded on the magnetic card, the magnetic card processing device transmits this information to the host computer. The host computer collates the transmitted information with the already registered user information and transmits the collation result to the magnetic card processing device. By this operation, the service provider can easily obtain highly reliable information of the user in a short time, and further, the transaction of the product between the user and the service provider can be performed in a short time. You can

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional magnetic card processing device has the following problems.

First, the number of magnetic card processing devices possessed by service providers was limited. Therefore, the service provider had to go to the place where the magnetic card processing device was installed and process the magnetic card when the user took the magnetic card from the user.
In the case where the transaction place of the commodity and the installation place of the magnetic card processing device are separated, there is a problem that it takes time to make a round trip between these places.

Secondly, in recent years, an illegal service provider has illegally duplicated (copied) a user's magnetic card, and a duplicate slip has been issued, resulting in a sharp increase in crimes caused by the magnetic card. There is. It is difficult to prevent the crime because the user deposits the magnetic card with the service provider for a certain period of time (the processing time of the magnetic card by the magnetic card processing device described above). Therefore, there is a problem that the protection of users is lacking.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and enables a service provider to collate a magnetic card with a host computer in front of the user, The purpose of the present invention is to protect the user by speeding up the verification of the magnetic card by the provider and preventing the crime caused by the magnetic card described above.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first solution of a magnetic card processing apparatus according to the present invention is a portable magnetic card processing for wirelessly transmitting / receiving information to / from a host computer. A first reading unit (2) for reading information recorded on a magnetic card, the apparatus, transmitting information of the magnetic card to the host computer, and receiving predetermined information transmitted from the host computer A transmission / reception unit (4), an operation unit (5) for performing the transmission or reception operation, or an operation for inputting predetermined information, and information transmitted or received by the transmission / reception unit or information operated by the operation unit. It is characterized by comprising a display unit (6) for displaying and a printing unit (7) for printing a predetermined item and issuing a slip.

A second solving means adds a second reading section (3) for reading the information given to the product to the first solving means, and the transmitting / receiving section stores the information of the product in a host computer. It is characterized in that it is transmitted to.

[0009]

In the means for solving the problems described above, when the magnetic card information and the product information are input to the magnetic card processing device in front of the user, they are transmitted to the host computer, and the host computer sends the user and the product. Is checked. After that, the matching result on the host computer is
It is transmitted from the host computer, and the magnetic card processing device receives this collation result. When the product transaction is successful, the printing unit issues a slip. Therefore, it is possible to collate the magnetic card and issue a slip in front of the user, speed up the collation of the magnetic card by the service provider, and prevent crime by the magnetic card to protect the user. Can be achieved.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Next, examples will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic card processing device according to the present invention. (A) is
The top view is shown and (b) shows the right side view. As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic card reader 2 as a first reading unit for reading the information recorded on the magnetic card is provided at the lower end of the magnetic card processing device 1. The magnetic card reader 2 is provided with a groove 2a into which one end of the magnetic card is inserted when reading information on the magnetic card. Further, in the drawing of the magnetic card processing device 1, a bar code reader 3 as a second reading unit for reading the information (bar code) given to the product is connected to the connection terminal 3a provided on the right side surface. ing.

Furthermore, the information read by the magnetic card reader 2 and the information read by the bar code reader 3 are transmitted to a host computer, which will be described later, and the information transmitted from this host computer is received. The transmitter / receiver 4 is provided inside the device 1. The transmitting / receiving unit 4 is provided with an antenna 4a for transmitting / receiving information, and is attached to the right side surface of the device 1 in the figure. The antenna 4a has a supporting portion 4b as a fulcrum, and
It is attached so as to be rotatable in the AB direction.

Further, on the front surface of the magnetic card processing device 1,
For example, a plurality of operation keys 5 are provided as an operation unit that is operated when inputting a credit payment method, when transmitting information to the host computer, or when receiving information transmitted from the host computer. Further, an LCD 6 is provided as a display unit for displaying information operated by the operation keys 5, information read by the magnetic card reader 2 and the barcode reader 3, information transmitted or received by the transmission / reception unit 4, and the like. ing. Further, a printer 7 as a printing unit that prints and issues a slip is provided above the printer. A battery 8 as a power source of the magnetic card processing device 1 is provided below (inside) the operation keys 5 in the figure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the magnetic card processing apparatus 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG.
The magnetic card reader 2, the bar code reader 3, the transmission / reception unit 4, the operation keys 5, the LCD 6, and the printer 7 are electrically connected to the microcomputer 10 that controls the magnetic card processing device 1. Therefore, when power is supplied to the microcomputer 10 by the battery 8, the microcomputer 10 controls the information input from the magnetic card reader 2, the bar code reader 3, the transmission / reception unit 4, and the operation keys 5, and the transmission / reception unit 4 , LCD 6 and printer 7.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a magnetic card processing apparatus 50 which is another embodiment of the magnetic card processing apparatus according to the present invention. (A) shows a plan view and (b) shows a right side view thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic card processing device 50 is provided with the magnetic card reader 2 above the LCD 6. The antenna 4a is provided on the upper side surface of the magnetic card processing device 50 in the figure. further,
The printer 7 (not shown) is provided so that the slip is conveyed from the side surface. In FIG. 3, illustration of the bar code reader 3 is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arrangement of the magnetic card reader 2, the printer 7, the shape of the antenna 4a, etc. can be changed according to the usage conditions, etc., and in the present invention, the arrangement, shape, etc. of each part can be changed. It is not limited.

Next, the operation of the magnetic card processing apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the operation of the magnetic card processing device 1. For convenience of explanation, the magnetic card processing device 1 shown in FIG.
Are shown separately. As shown in FIG. 4, the merchandise sales floor (commodity trading floor) includes the first floor to the Nth floor. Further, an OA processor 24 for totalizing sales and a host computer 25 for collating information of a user's magnetic card are provided on a floor or another place different from the sales floor.

A magnetic card processing device 1 is provided on each floor. In addition, when a signal is transmitted and received between the magnetic card processing device 1, the OA processor 24, and the host computer 25, a wireless unit 22 that relays the signal,
And a wireless unit 23. Two wireless units (22, 23) are set on each floor, but of course, any number may be set for the convenience of transmitting radio waves.

First, the operation performed on the first floor will be described. The service provider carries the magnetic card processing device 1. When the user presents the credit card 20a and the product (not shown), the service provider causes the magnetic card reader 2 (FIG. 1) to read the information recorded on the credit card 20a. Further, the barcode (not shown) attached to the product is read by the barcode reader 3 (FIG. 1). These magnetic cards 20a
Information and product information is stored in the microcomputer 10
When transmitted to (FIG. 1), the microcomputer 10 performs predetermined processing and transmits to the transmission / reception unit 4 (FIG. 1).

The information transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 4 is transmitted from the antenna 4a (Z1 direction in the figure). This transmitted information is transmitted to the wireless unit 22 or 23 (Z2 direction in the figure). The information transmitted to the wireless unit 22 or 23 is transmitted to the host computer 25 via the OA processor 24 connected to these by an optical cable (Z3, Z4 direction in the figure). When the host computer 25 receives these pieces of information, it verifies the user and the product (for example, the legitimacy of the user and the credit limit of the user). Host computer 25
When determining whether or not the commodity can be traded, transmits the determination result to the wireless unit 22 or 23 through the OA processor 24 (Z5, Z6, Z7 directions in the figure).
Further, the wireless unit 22 or 23 transmits a signal to the magnetic card processing device 1 (Z8 direction in the drawing).

When the magnetic card processing device 1 receives this signal through the antenna 4a, it transmits the signal to the microcomputer 10, and the microcomputer 10 converts this signal into a predetermined signal and displays it on the LCD 6. LCD
In 6 is displayed, for example, the fact that the commodity can be traded and the fact that the commodity cannot be traded. When the transaction of the product is possible, the service provider further inputs the number of times of payment of credit and the like to the magnetic card processing device 1 with the operation keys 5. When all the necessary information is input to the magnetic card processing device 1, the printer 7 of the magnetic card processing device 1 prints predetermined items and issues the slip 26a. Slip 26a
Is generally issued in two copies, a user's copy slip and a provider's copy slip.

Further, when all the information such as the number of times of payment of the credit is input to the magnetic card processing device 1, the magnetic card processing device 1 again performs these information by the same operation as described above. Radio unit 22 or 2
3 to the OA processor 24 and the host computer 25. The OA processor 24 totals the sales, and the host computer 25 records the transaction result of the product.

As is clear from the above, a series of transaction operations of goods from the input of the information of the credit card 20a to the issuance of the slip 26a is performed in front of the user.

Further, the magnetic card processing device 1 on the second floor to the Nth floor also performs the same operation as the operation on the first floor described above.

The embodiments of the magnetic card processing apparatus according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. is there. For example, although the magnetic card reader 2 is illustrated as a manual one, a method of automatically conveying the magnetic card and reading the information of the magnetic card may be used. Further, although the bar code reader 3 is illustrated as being connected to the magnetic card processing device, it may be incorporated in the device in advance. Furthermore, the display unit is not limited to the LCD and may be a display method using an LED, for example.

[0024]

According to the magnetic card processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to collate the magnetic card with the host computer in front of the user and to issue a voucher. It is possible to protect the user by speeding up the verification of the magnetic card by the provider and preventing crimes caused by the magnetic card.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic card processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the magnetic card processing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the magnetic card processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the magnetic card processing device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Magnetic Card Processing Device 2 Magnetic Card Reader 3 Bar Code Reader 4 Transmitter / Receiver 5 Operation Keys 6 LCD 7 Printer 8 Battery 10 Microcomputer 50 Magnetic Card Processing Device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A portable magnetic card processing device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from a host computer, comprising: a first reading unit for reading information recorded on a magnetic card; and information on the magnetic card. To the host computer to receive information transmitted from the host computer, an operation unit to perform the transmission or reception operation, or an operation to input predetermined information, and the transmission or reception unit to transmit or receive. A magnetic card processing device comprising: a display unit for displaying information or information operated by the operation unit; and a printing unit for printing a predetermined matter and issuing a slip. 2. The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a second reading unit that reads information attached to a product, wherein the transmitting / receiving unit transmits information on the product to the host computer. Card processing device.