JPH09326087A - Credit card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate processing while saving a telephone charge for communicating between a credit control center to be low. SOLUTION: A system controller 1 previously receives card data from a card registering terminal 5 and registers card data confirmed to be an effective card by referring to a center 7 inside of it. Then at the time of receiving card data with sales data from card processors 2 to 4, the controller 1 inspects whether the card data is registered as an effective card. When it is found to be registered as the result, the controller 1 informs the card processing terminals of it and stores its sales data. A card processing terminal receiving the information executes the sales processing when total sales of the day with respect to the card does not exceed a prescribed utilizing amount. Then the controller 1 calls the center 7 every fixed period to transmit stored sales data to execute settling processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a credit card system capable of paying the purchase amount at an automatic vending machine, a register at a shop, etc. with a credit card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In credit card payment, when the card transaction occurs, the card data of the used card is
It is performed by transmitting transaction data after collating by transmitting it to a center that manages credits. There are the following two methods as a system for performing those.

One of them uses a public telephone line,
In this system, a card processing terminal such as a vending machine is always connected to a credit management center online so that necessary communication can be performed between them. And the other is CAT (Credit Authorization Termin
al) A system known as a system that always disconnects the line between the card processing terminal and the credit management center and calls the center through a public telephone line when a card transaction occurs, It is a system that is designed to perform various communications.

[0004]

However, in the former system among the above-mentioned conventional systems, since the card data can be collated immediately, the processing time can be shortened, but the card processing can be shortened. Since the terminal and the center are always connected by the telephone line, there is a problem that the operation cost such as telephone charges becomes high. On the other hand, in the latter system, the card processing terminal and the center are not always connected, so the telephone bill can be saved and the operating cost can be reduced, but the line is dialed to connect the line each time. Since it is necessary, it takes time to check the card. Therefore, there is a problem that it becomes impossible to deal with customers when the customers are concentrated during breaks and meals.

An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to increase the processing speed while keeping the telephone bill low.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a credit card system of the present invention, a plurality of card processing terminals and a center which is connected to these card processing terminals through communication lines and which manages credits are provided. A credit card system comprising a system controller connectable via a communication line, wherein the system controller has means for registering card data of a valid card, and sales data and card data from a card processing terminal at the time of sale. Is received, the card processing terminal is notified that the card is a valid card only when the received card data is registered as a valid card, and the means for storing the sales data and the center We decided to equip it with a means to connect the communication line and transmit the stored sales data.

[0007] In addition, by setting the maximum amount of use per day,
Cards with cumulative daily sales exceeding the above usage limit are not allowed to be sold.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a credit card system of the present invention. One system controller 1 is installed at a system application site of a company or the like, and a plurality of card processing terminals 2 such as vending machines and cash registers of shops that can be purchased using a credit card via a wired or wireless communication line. , 3, 4 are connected. In addition, in FIG. 1, as a card processing terminal for registering a card used in the system in the system controller 1,
Although the card registration terminal 5 is connected, by providing the card processing terminals 2, 3 and 4 with a card registration function,
The card registration terminal 5 can be omitted.

The system controller 1 is connected to a credit system center 7 via a public telephone line 6. However, the system controller 1 and the center 7
During this period, the line is not always connected. Then, when registering the card used in the system in the system controller 1, when checking whether or not the card can be used, and when transmitting the sales data accumulated in the system controller 1 for a certain period to the center 7. Only
The system controller 1 calls the center 7 for connection.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the system controller. The overall control of the system controller 1 is performed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10. The memory 11 is a ROM (Read Only Memor).
y), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk device, and the like, which holds the program of the CPU 10 and also registration data of credit cards used in this system, sales data of each registered card, And holds the daily usage limit. Then, communication with the center 7 is performed via the modem 12, and communication with each card processing terminal 2, 3, 4 is performed through the communication port 13.
Done through. The input device 14 is composed of a keyboard or the like and is used to input necessary data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the card processing terminal. The CPU 20 controls the card processing terminals 2, 3 and 4, and the program thereof is stored in the memory 21. The card reader 22 reads the card data of the credit card inserted into the product when it is sold. Then, communication with the system controller 1 is performed via the communication port 23, and the input device 24
It is for inputting necessary data. Display device 2
Reference numeral 5 is for displaying the sales amount and various messages.

As described above, the memory 11 holds the daily maximum usage amount, but the maximum usage amount is set for the following reason.

That is, a credit card usually has
Although the monthly usage limit is set, the system of the present invention cannot check the monthly usage amount of the card every time there is a card transaction in order to speed up the processing. If the card is used in excess of the monthly usage limit, the excess amount cannot be settled, and eventually the company has no choice but to process it internally. Therefore, the maximum daily usage limit is set to prevent further shopping per day. And if the usage limit per month is still exceeded, either, the excess will be carried over to the next month, or the in-house system administrator will bill the person directly. To process. In addition, the daily maximum usage amount considers the monthly maximum usage amount set for each card, the statistical data of the past daily usage amount per card, and the amount that can be processed internally. And set.

Next, the registration process of the credit card used in this system will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a card registration process. This process
It is executed by the system controller 1 by receiving card data from the card registration terminal 5 or a card processing terminal having a card registration function, and is activated upon receiving a card registration request from the terminal.

Step 1 ... It is determined whether card data is input from the card registration terminal 5 or the card processing terminal having a card registration function. Step 2 ... When the card data is entered, the center 7
To access it and send the entered card data to the center 7 to inquire about the validity of the card. Step 3 ... Receives the inquiry result from the center 7 and determines whether or not the card is a valid card. Step 4 ... If the card is valid, the card data is registered in the memory 11. Step 5 ... Disconnect the connection with the center 7.

Next, the selling operation will be described. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing a selling operation. This processing is executed by the card processing terminals 2, 3, and 4. When the card processing terminal is a register, it is started at the same time when the operation of the register is started.

Step 1 ... It is determined whether or not the input of the product data for one customer from the input device 24 of the register is completed. Step 2 ... After completion, it is determined whether or not a credit card is inserted into the card reader 22. Step 3 ... When inserted, send the card data and sales data of the inserted card to the system controller 1 to see if the card is registered as a valid card, and the sales amount is the upper limit of daily usage. Inquire whether it is less than or equal to the amount.

In response to this, the system controller 1
Is whether the card data sent from the card processing terminal is registered in the memory 11 as a valid card,
Also, it is checked whether or not the sales amount is less than or equal to the maximum daily usage amount of the card held in the memory 11, and the result is sent back to the inquired card processing terminal. In addition, the card data sent from the card processing terminal is registered in the memory 11 as a valid card, and
If the sales amount is less than or equal to the maximum daily usage amount, the sales data is recorded in the memory 11, and the maximum sales amount for the card is subtracted from the daily maximum usage amount to rewrite the maximum usage amount.

Step 4 ... The card processing terminal receives the inquiry result from the system controller 1, and based on that, the card is registered as a valid card,
In addition, it is determined whether or not the sales amount is less than or equal to the maximum usage amount per day and the card can be used. Step 5 ... If the card is usable,
Execute a predetermined sales process.

Step 6 ... If the card is not usable in Step 4, the display 25 indicates that the card cannot be used.

As described above, each card processing terminal 2
Sales by card are performed at 4, and as a result, sales data for each card is accumulated in the system controller 1. Then, when a certain period of time has passed, for example, after one day of business is over, or at midnight, when the telephone line is available, the accumulated sales data is transmitted to the center 7 for settlement. I do.

Although the above selling operation has been described in the case where the card processing terminal is a register, if the card processing terminal is an automatic vending machine, after first determining whether or not a card is inserted. , Product selection data will be accepted. The other processing is the same as that of FIG. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the system controller 1 registers and checks a valid card. However, data of a valid card is downloaded from the system controller 1 to each of the card processing terminals 2 to 4, and the card processing terminal is downloaded. The validity of the card may be checked on the side.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the system controller 1 and the center 7 are connected by the public telephone line has been described, but the communication is not limited to the public telephone line, and other communication means such as a dedicated communication line is used. You can also And
Even when connecting by other communication means as described above, it is not necessary to always connect the line, so that the operating cost can be reduced. In the above embodiment, card data is sent from the card registration terminal 5 or the card processing terminals 2 to 4 to register valid card data in the system controller 1. However, the card registration terminal 5 or the like is not used. Alternatively, the data may be directly written and registered in the memory 11 of the system controller 1.

[0024]

As described above, according to the credit card system of the present invention, at the time of sale, the central device is not inquired about the card, and the valid card data registered in advance in the system controller is used. Since the validity check of the card is performed, the processing speed can be increased while keeping the communication cost low. In addition, by setting an upper limit of usage per day, it is possible to reduce the possibility of exceeding the monthly limit of usage of a credit card, and even if it exceeds, the excess will be kept below a certain amount. It is possible to reduce the risk of trading.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a credit card system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system controller.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card processing terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a card registration process.

FIG. 5: Flow chart showing sales operation

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system controller 2-4 card processing terminal 5 card registration terminal 6 public telephone line 7 center 10,20 CPU 11,21 memory 12 modem 22 card reader 13,23 communication port 14,24 input device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A credit card system comprising: a plurality of card processing terminals; and a system controller which is connected to the card processing terminals by a communication line and which can be connected to a center for credit management through the communication line. Then, the system controller receives the sales data and the card data from the card processing terminal at the time of sale and the means for registering the card data of the valid card, and only when the received card data is registered as the valid card. Means for notifying the card processing terminal that the card is valid and storing the sales data; and means for connecting the communication line with the center and transmitting the stored sales data. A credit card system characterized by having. 2. The credit according to claim 1, wherein a credit limit is set for one day, and a card whose cumulative daily sales exceeds the credit limit is not allowed to be sold. Card system.