JPH0632086A - Prepaid card issuance method and interim prepaid card forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a novel prepaid card issuance method for realizing the use of a small-size, low-cost prepaid card issuance device and to obtain a prepaid card forming device used for this issuance method. CONSTITUTION:In a prepaid card issuance method, to a specified user, an interim prepaid card 8 at last having recording of POS information for specifying the user is issued, the validity of the interim prepaid card 8 is identified when it is inputted, an issuance amount corresponding to the payment of the user is further recorded on the card 8, and the interim prepaid card 8 is issued as a finished prepaid card 14. All required of a finished prepaid card issuance device 12 used in the prepaid card issuance device is to record only the issuance amount on the interim prepaid card 8. Therefore, a small-size and low-cost device can be used as the finished prepaid card issuance device 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid card issuing method for reducing the size of a prepaid card producing apparatus installed in a store or the like, and a prepaid card producing apparatus used in this issuing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to carry out smooth cashless buying and selling for both customers and shops, a customer purchases a prepaid card in advance and uses the prepaid card for shopping. For example, in the method of issuing a prepaid card having POS information, the POS terminal unit can issue the prepaid card. At the time of issuing the POS terminal, each time the POS terminal issues a new prepaid card, the POS terminal communicates with the host computer to obtain the POS information. I was typing.

[0003]

However, in the conventional prepaid card issuing method, the prepaid card issuing device installed in a store or the like has a communication function and a POS for receiving the POS identification information of the customer from the host computer.
It was necessary to have a kanji printing function for printing information, and there was a tendency for it to become larger and more expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new prepaid card issuing method capable of reducing the size and cost of a prepaid card issuing device. , And to provide a prepaid card making apparatus used in this issuing method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, in the prepaid card issuing method of the present invention, at least identification information for identifying the identified user is provided to the identified user. The recorded prepaid card is issued, the validity of the prepaid card is confirmed when the prepaid card is input, and the issue amount corresponding to the amount paid by the user is further recorded to issue the completed prepaid card. Further, the intermediate prepaid card making apparatus of the present invention has an area for recording at least identification information for identifying a user, an issue amount according to the amount paid, and balance information sequentially updated according to a transaction. Only the identification information is recorded on the prepaid card included.

[0006]

In the prepaid card issuing method of the present invention, the issuer of the prepaid card uses the intermediate prepaid card making device to issue the intermediate prepaid card to the user in which the issued amount has not been recorded and only the identification information has been recorded. Issue. After that, the user enters the intermediate prepaid card into the completed prepaid card creating device and puts the desired amount of money. As a result, the completed prepaid card creating apparatus records the issued amount of money in addition to the identification information on the intermediate prepaid card, and outputs the completed prepaid card having a monetary value.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a diagram showing an overall flow of issuing a prepaid card, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a form of issuing an intermediate prepaid card in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a form of issuing a completed prepaid card in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the intermediate prepaid card, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the completed prepaid card. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the prepaid card issuing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is such that a card issuer such as a store or a contractor who has been entrusted with it has not recorded the issue amount and the user identification information. The intermediate prepaid card 8 shown in FIG. 4 in which the POS information is recorded is issued to the user. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the user who receives the intermediate prepaid card 8 inputs the intermediate prepaid card and the money into a completed prepaid card issuing device arranged in a store, etc. The recorded completed prepaid card 14 shown in FIG. 5 is issued. This completed prepaid card 14
Has a financial value and can be used like a conventional prepaid card. The details will be described below.

The intermediate prepaid card 8 and the completed prepaid card 14 used in the prepaid card issuing method.
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The difference between the intermediate prepaid card 8 and the completed prepaid card 14 is
The intermediate prepaid card 8 is that the issued amount is not stored or printed in the magnetic recording unit 48 and the issued amount display field 42 of the completed prepaid card 14 shown in FIG. 5, respectively. The intermediate prepaid card 8 is made of paper, plastic, or the like, and has a magnetic recording portion 48 formed on the back surface of the card. The magnetic recording unit 48 has a PO
S information, remaining amount information that is sequentially updated according to the issued amount and transaction, and information regarding the number of times of use are magnetically recorded.
The POS information recorded in the magnetic recording unit 48 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, there are the user's name, sex, date of birth, telephone number, personal identification number, member number, company code, etc., registered in advance. As shown in FIG. 4, on the back surface of the intermediate prepaid card 8 on which the magnetic recording portion 48 is formed, an identification information display column 40, an issued amount display column 42, and a usage history display column 44.
And a service stamp field 46 are displayed. A part of the POS information is displayed in the identification information display field 40. The POS information displayed in the identification information display column 40 includes predetermined POS information stored in the magnetic recording unit 48 excluding secret information, such as the user's name, member number, card number, and issue date. There is the name of the store issuing the expiration date. Also,
In the issue amount display field 42, the issue amount according to the payment amount of the user is displayed, but it remains blank during the intermediate issue. Further, the usage history display field 44 can display information on the usage history such as the name of the shop where the card is used, the usage date, and the available balance. In the service stamp field 46, service information according to the amount of money used for the card and the like is displayed. This information can also be recorded in the magnetic recording section 48.

Next, a prepaid card issuing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is performed using the above-mentioned intermediate prepaid card 8 and completed prepaid card 14, will be described. In the prepaid card issuing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the card issuer inputs the simple identification number 4 of the user who receives the request for issuing the intermediate prepaid card into the intermediate prepaid card making machine 6. Then, the intermediate prepaid card 8 is created. The simple identification number 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can identify the user, and for example, the user's membership number or the like is used. As shown in FIG.
Pre-specified user POS information is input to the intermediate prepaid card making device 6, and when the simple identification number 4 is input to the intermediate prepaid card making device 6, the POS information corresponding to the simple identification number 4 is recorded. The generated intermediate prepaid card 8 is output.

After that, the card issuer performs a distribution process 9 to distribute the intermediate prepaid card 8 to the user. When the intermediate prepaid card 8 is distributed, the user stores the intermediate prepaid card 8, the cash 10 and the personal identification number 11 in the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 arranged in a store or the like as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. input. When the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 inputs the intermediate prepaid card 8, the cash 10 and the personal identification number 11, the validity of the intermediate prepaid card 8 is verified, and if it is confirmed to be valid, the cash 10 is accepted. The issue amount is printed and recorded in the issue amount display field 42 and the magnetic recording unit 48 of the intermediate prepaid card 8, respectively, and the input intermediate prepaid card 8 is output as the completed prepaid card 14.
The completed prepaid card 14 has a monetary value and can be used in the same manner as a normal prepaid card.

As described above, according to the prepaid card issuing method of this embodiment, the completed prepaid card issuing device 12
Is required to record the issued amount on the intermediate prepaid card 8, which makes it possible to make the device relatively small and inexpensive. Further, the prepaid card issuer only needs to handle the intermediate prepaid card 8 having no monetary value, which facilitates management of the prepaid card. Further, if the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 is arranged in each store, the user puts a desired amount of money into the completed prepaid card issuing device 12, and the completed prepaid card 14 in which the issued amount according to the amount is recorded. Can be easily obtained.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic view of an intermediate prepaid card making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The intermediate prepaid card making device 6 mainly includes a read / write means 20, an operation switch means 22, and a POS information memory 2.
4, a printing means 26, a control means 28 and an unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29. The operation switch means 22 is composed of, for example, a keypad and a liquid crystal display unit, and by operating the keypad, the card issuer can input the simple identification number 4 of the user who has received the issuance request of the intermediate prepaid card. It has become. The POS information memory 24 holds the POS information of the user registered in advance, inputs the simple identification number 4 from the control means 28, and outputs the POS information corresponding to the simple identification number 4 to the control means 28. Output. The unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29 holds a plurality of unprocessed prepaid cards 2 which have not been processed yet, inputs a signal from the control means 28, and sends the unprocessed prepaid card 2 to the read / write means 20. Supply. The read / write means 20 has a magnetic head or the like for writing POS information in the magnetic recording section 48, and the magnetic recording section 48 of the unprocessed prepaid card 2 supplied from the unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29. On the other hand, the PO input from the control means 28
Store S information. The printing unit 26 also has a Chinese character printing function, and can print the POS information on the identification information display column 40 of the unprocessed prepaid card 2 by using, for example, a Samall head printer, a dot printer, or the like. . After printing, the intermediate prepaid card 8 is ejected from the outlet 21. The read / write means 20, the operation switch means 22, the POS information memory 24, the printing means 26, and the unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29 are connected to the control means 28. The control means 28 controls the read / write means 20, the operation switch means 22, the POS information memory 24, the printing means 26 and the unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29.

The contents of control by the control means 28 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 7, when the control means 28 inputs the simple identification number 4 from the operation switch means 22 in step S10, the processing of step S11 is executed and the unprocessed prepaid card 2 is supplied to the unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29. To output to the read / write means 20. After that, the control means 28
The processing of step S12 is executed, the simple identification number 4 input in step S10 is output to the POS information memory 24,
The PO corresponding to the simple identification number 4 from the POS information memory 24
Enter S information. After that, the control means 28 performs step S
The process of 13 is executed, and the POS information input from the POS information memory 24 is output to the read / write means 20 in step S12. When the POS information is input from the control means 28, the read / write means 20 records this POS information in the magnetic recording section 48 of the unprocessed prepaid card 2. After that, the control means 28 executes the processing of step S14, and outputs the POS information input from the POS information memory 24 to the printing means 26 in step S12. When the printing unit 26 receives the POS information from the control unit 28, the printing unit 26 prints the POS information in the identification information display field 40 of the unprocessed prepaid card 2 to create the intermediate prepaid card 8. After that, the printing means 26 uses the intermediate prepaid card 8
Is discharged from the outlet 21. The processing in the control means 28 is not limited to the above-described processing, and can be modified in various ways. For example, instead of the simple identification number 4, a list in which the simple identification numbers 4 of a plurality of users are described is displayed. You may input it.

As described above, in the intermediate prepaid card making apparatus 6 of the present invention, only the POS information of the user is recorded in the unprocessed prepaid card 2, and the issue amount is not recorded. Therefore, it is possible to create the intermediate prepaid card 8 in which only the POS information is recorded, the issued amount is not recorded, and the monetary value is not generated. The intermediate prepaid card creating apparatus 6 may not have the unprocessed prepaid card supply means 29, and the intermediate prepaid card creating apparatus 6 may be configured such that the card issuer inserts the unprocessed prepaid card 2. Good. In addition, the intermediate prepaid card making device 6 does not have the POS information memory 24 internally provided, but has a function of having the host computer internally provided with the POS information memory 24 so that the intermediate prepaid card making machine 6 communicates with the host computer. May be configured to have.

Next, the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is an overall schematic view of the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 according to the present embodiment. The completed prepaid card issuing device 12 includes a printing unit 30, a read / write unit 32, and a cash inspection unit 3.
4, operation switch means 35, control means 36 and card inspection means 38. The completed prepaid card issuing device 12 has a cash insertion port 31, and the cash 10 is inserted into the cash inspection means 34 from the cash insertion port 31. The cash inspection means 34 has a function of verifying the validity and amount of the inserted cash 10 and outputting the verification result to the control means 36. Further, there is an entrance / exit 33 into which the intermediate prepaid card 8 is inserted, from which the intermediate prepaid card 8 is inserted into the read / write means 32 and the card inspection means 38. The card inspection means 38 inspects the validity of the inserted intermediate prepaid card 8 and outputs the card inspection result to the control means 36. Read / write means 3
2 inputs the issue amount from the control means 36 and stores the issue amount in the magnetic recording unit 48 of the intermediate prepaid card 8. The printing means 30 may print the issue amount input from the control means 36 in the issue amount display field 42 of the intermediate prepaid card 8 and may be, for example, a simple one in which only numbers can be printed. The printing unit 30 sets the intermediate prepaid card 8 at a predetermined position and ejects the completed prepaid card 14 from the entrance 33. Further, it has operation switch means 35, and the user inputs the personal identification number 11 from this operation switch means 35. In addition,
The light means 32, the printing means 30, the cash inspection means 34, the operation switch means 35 and the card inspection means 38 are connected to the control means 36. The control means 36 controls the read / write means 32, the printing means 30, the cash inspection means 34, the operation switch means 35, and the card inspection means 38.

The contents of control by the control means 36 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The control means 36 performs step S2.
When the card inspection result is input from the card inspection means 38 at 0, the process of step S21 is executed, and if the card inspection result input at step S20 indicates that the intermediate prepaid card 8 is valid, step S22. If it indicates that the intermediate prepaid card 8 is not valid, the process of step S29 is performed. In step S29, the intermediate prepaid card 8 is ejected from the entrance / exit 33. In step S22, the control means 36 inputs the personal identification number 11 from the operation switch means 35, and then in step S23, the personal identification number 11 is entered.
Verify the effectiveness of. In step S23, as a result of the verification,
If the personal identification number 11 is valid, the control means 36 executes the process of step S24, and if not, the step S2.
9. Process 9 is executed. In step S29, the intermediate prepaid card 8 is ejected from the entrance / exit 33. Step S2
In 4, the control means 36 inputs the verification result of the inserted cash 10 from the cash inspection means 34. After that, the control means 3
6 is step S25, and if the verification result of the cash 10 input in step S24 indicates that the cash 10 is valid, the process of step S26 is executed; otherwise, the process of step S29 is executed. Perform processing, cash 1
Emit 0. In step S26, the control means 36 calculates the issue amount according to the verification result of the cash 10 input in step S24. This issue amount is, for example, cash 1
It is calculated by adding a premium corresponding to the amount of money to 0. After that, the process of step S27 is executed, and the issue amount calculated in step S26 is used as the read / write means 2
Output to 0. The read / write means 20 is the control means 3
When this issue amount is input from 6, the issue amount is stored in the magnetic recording unit 48 of the intermediate prepaid card 8. afterwards,
The control means 36 executes the processing of step S28, and outputs the issued amount of money calculated in step S26 to the printing means 26. When the printing means 26 inputs this issuance amount from the control means 36, the issuance amount is printed in the issuance amount display field 42 of the intermediate prepaid card 8. After that, the printing means 26
The completed prepaid card 14 is discharged from the entrance / exit 33, and the completed prepaid card 14 is issued to the user.

As described above, the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 does not have the POS information memory 24, unlike the intermediate prepaid card producing device 6 described above. Also, it is not necessary to hold the card inside. Further, the printing means 30 need only have a function of printing only the issued amount, and the printing means 26 of the intermediate prepaid card making apparatus 6 is provided.
It does not need to have a kanji printing function like the above, and may be a relatively simple one. Therefore, the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 can be downsized, which is convenient when it is installed in a store or the like.

This completed prepaid card issuing device 12
As described above, not only the issued amount of money is recorded in the intermediate prepaid card 8 but also the name of the issuing store may be recorded. Further, the completed prepaid card 14 may be issued without inputting the personal identification number 11. Further, when the user inputs the cash 10 and the intermediate prepaid card 8 into the completed prepaid card issuing device 12, the user inputs the personal identification number and registers the personal identification number so that the user can enter the personal identification number thereafter. You may make it input and issue the completed prepaid card 14 or the like. Further, the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 does not process only the intermediate prepaid card 8 as described above, but has an addition issuing function, and inputs the completed prepaid card 14 and the cash 10 to complete the completed prepaid card. 1
The completed prepaid card 14 in which the amount of money corresponding to the cash 10 is added to 4 may be output. Further, by configuring the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 to have a means for communicating with the intermediate prepaid card creating device 6 and using the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 as a terminal of the intermediate prepaid card 8, the user can Information on the amount of money paid using the completed prepaid card issuing device 12 may be collected in the intermediate prepaid card 8 and collectively managed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the prepaid card issuing method according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the issuer receives an issuance request of the intermediate prepaid card 8 from the user and creates the intermediate prepaid card 8 using the intermediate prepaid card creating device 6. After that, the intermediate prepaid card 8 was issued to the user. However, for example, a common issuing place for the intermediate prepaid card 8 for a plurality of stores in which the intermediate prepaid card creating apparatus 6 is installed is provided, and the user himself / herself makes the The intermediate identification prepaid card 8 may be issued by inputting the simple identification number 4 and the personal identification number 11 into the prepaid card 8. The specific field to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited, and it can be used in various fields such as a supermarket, a department store, an amusement park, a dining room, and the like.

[0020]

As described above, according to the prepaid card issuing method of the present invention, the card issuer issues an intermediate prepaid card in which only POS information is recorded to the user, and then the user himself / herself A completed prepaid card issuing device provided in a store or the like is used to issue a completed prepaid card with a monetary value. Therefore, the completed prepaid card issuing device only needs to record the issued amount on the intermediate prepaid card, and can be a small and inexpensive device. Also, the card issuer only needs to handle intermediate prepaid cards that do not generate financial value,
The card issuer's prepaid card management becomes easier.
Further, the user can insert a desired amount of money into a completed prepaid card issuing device arranged in a store or the like and issue a completed prepaid card of a desired amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow of a prepaid card issuing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing issuance of an intermediate prepaid card in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing issuance of a completed prepaid card in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an intermediate prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of a completed prepaid card according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic diagram of an intermediate prepaid card making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram showing processing in a control means of the intermediate prepaid card making apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall schematic diagram of a completed prepaid card issuing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing processing in the control means of the completed prepaid card issuing device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Unprocessed prepaid card 4 Simple identification number 6 Intermediate prepaid card making device 8 Intermediate prepaid card 10 Cash 11 PIN number 12 Completed prepaid card issuing device 14 Completed prepaid card 20 Read / write means 21 Outlet 22 Operation switch means 24 POS information memory 26 printing means 28, 36 control means 29 unprocessed prepaid card supply means 31 cash insertion opening 33 entrance / exit 34 cash inspection means 35 operation switch means 38 card inspection means 40 identification information display column 42 issued amount display column 44 usage history display column 46 Service stamp column

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An interim prepaid card in which at least identification information for identifying the user is recorded is issued to the identified user, and the validity of the interim prepaid card is confirmed when the intermediary prepaid card is input. A prepaid card issuing method in which the completed prepaid card is issued by further recording the issued amount according to the amount paid by the user. 2. A prepaid card having an area in which at least identification information for identifying a user, an issue amount according to a paid amount, and balance information sequentially updated according to a transaction are recorded. An intermediate prepaid card making device that records only.