JPS62145357A - Card refueling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the safety of a refueling card deciding whether the refueling card is the one sold properly by providing an effective flag on the refueling card on which refueling possible residual refueling volume is stored. CONSTITUTION:On a magnetic stripe 40 of a refueling card 4, a card number, an expiration date, an oil class, a residual oil volume, and the effective flag are recorded, and the effective flag is the one of set an issued refueling card as an effective card, and is set at a time when the refueling card is sold with a POS terminal. Therefore, when the refueling card on which the effective flag is not set is inserted into a card reader/writer, a card refueling system is not operated since the effective flag is reset, and the card 4 is ejected from the card reader/writer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (AlTechnical Field) This invention relates to a card refueling system using a refueling card that stores the amount of gasoline, etc., for which a fee has been paid in advance, and in particular to improving the efficiency of the issuance process of the refueling card. .

(b) Summary of the Invention The card refueling system according to the present invention provides a validity flag on the refueling card that stores the amount of remaining oil that can be refueled. Card processing equipment installed at gas stations (gas stations)
At the time of selling the refueling card, the validity flag is set, and at the time of refueling, the validity flag of the refueling card inserted for refueling is determined, and if it is set, this refueling card is made valid, and the refueling card that has been reset is Make the card invalid. In this way, by setting/resetting the validity flag, it can be determined whether the card has been legally sold.

This makes it possible to ensure safety when refueling cards are issued in advance before being sold.

(C) Prior Art and Its Disadvantages A card-based refueling system using a refueling card is currently being proposed as a refueling system using a card at a gas station. The refueling card used in this system is one in which a customer pays in advance a price equivalent to a certain amount of gasoline, and the amount of oil is stored as the amount of remaining oil. In a refueling system using this refueling card, pre-processing such as card authentication and card data bumping is performed when refueling starts, and after refueling is completed, the remaining oil amount is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting the current refueling amount. It performs post-processing such as

By the way, at a general gas station, one device (P
O3 terminal device) to issue the refueling card, and
It controls the measuring machine that measures the amount of refueling when refueling, as well as the terminal for staff (outside reader/writer). Therefore, if the refueling card issuance process is performed during business hours when the amount of refueling is high, the POS terminal device will be used exclusively for this process, making it impossible to control the weighing machine or external reader/writer. This will cause a serious hindrance to business operations. For this reason, at such gas stations, fuel cards are issued in advance, such as after business hours have ended.

In the conventional fuel card system, the PO3 terminal stores the necessary data and prints out the necessary information, and the issued fuel card becomes usable from that point on, so it is only issued and not sold. If a fuel card is lost, there is a risk that the fuel card may be used fraudulently. As mentioned above, since a large number of refueling cards are issued in bulk after business hours, there is a risk of significant damage in the event of theft or the like.

+d) Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, this invention determines whether or not a refueling card is legitimately sold by determining a validity flag provided on the refueling card and set at the time of card sale at the time of refueling. An object of the present invention is to provide a card refueling system that can improve the safety of pre-issued refueling cards.

(81 Structure and effect of invention This invention is constructed as follows.

As a means of advance sales of refueling to customers, a refueling card having a remaining oil amount storage area that stores the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance is used, card data including the amount of oil is stored, and a refueling card is issued. However, at the time of refueling, a card processing device is installed at each refueling station that accepts a refueling card and rewrites the stored contents of the remaining oil amount storage area to a new amount of remaining oil by subtracting the amount of refueling.

In such a card refueling system, the refueling card is provided with a validity flag, and the card processing device receives the refueling card for which the refueling card issuance process has been completed and sets the validity flag at the time of selling the refueling card. and card determination means for validating the inserted refueling card if the validity flag of the inserted refueling card is marked at the time of refueling, and invalidating the refueling card if the refueling card has been reset. Features.

In the above configuration, even if the card data is stored and the refueling card is issued, if the validity flag is not set, even if the card is inserted into the card processing device for refueling, the card determination means will determine that the refueling card is not valid. is determined to be invalid. The validity flag is set by the card version sales means at the time of card sales.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a pre-issued refueling card is lost or stolen, refueling will not be possible with a refueling card that has been legitimately sold and has not had a valid flag set by the card version sales means. can do. As a result, it is possible to avoid crowding of the card processing equipment during business hours and maintain safety even when issuing fuel cards in advance during non-business hours, and it is possible to issue fuel cards with peace of mind during non-business hours. (f) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a card refueling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system consists of multiple fueling stations A, one center B, and a fueling card held by the customer (a third
(see figure).

A PoS terminal device 1 is installed inside the store of gas station A, and an external reader/writer 2 is installed outside the store where refueling is performed for use by refueling staff.
and a plurality of measuring machines 3 for measuring the amount of refueling are installed. The PoS terminal device 1 and the external reader/writer 2 correspond to the card processing device of the present invention.

The POS terminal device 1 includes a control device CPtJ5.
and a ROM 6. which is connected to the CPU 5 and stores programs and the like. RA where card data buffer etc. are set
M7. Control keyboard 8 Display 9. Card reader/writer for reading/writing control data etc. 10. Printer 11 that prints out tally sheets, etc. Is there a communication system for communicating with Center B via the Flo Novii Disk 121 line where transaction data files are set? I11 Part 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. The keyboard 8 includes an issue key 8a that is pressed when issuing a refueling card, and a sales key 8b that is pressed to set a later-described activation flag (area 40e) when selling the issued refueling card.

Further, the outer reader/writer 2 is a card reader/writer 21 into which a refueling card is inserted. It includes a keyboard 22 for staff operation and a printer 23 on which sales slips are printed.

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram 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 that is approximately the same as the amount of oil that can be refilled. For example, a refueling card is sold that allows you to refuel 2001 for the price of 2001 gasoline.

Figure A) is an external view of the refueling card 4, and the card surface has a magnetic stripe 4 on which the card number, amount of remaining oil, etc. are recorded.
0 and a printing field 41 for printing the refueling history using this refueling card.

The same figure (Bl is a partial configuration diagram of the magnetic stripe 40. The magnetic stripe 40 has a card number (area 40a) which is the issue number of this refueling card.

Card expiration date (area 40b), oil type (area 40b)
C) and the amount of remaining oil (area 40d) are recorded. Note that the oil type is regular gasoline.

It indicates the type of high-octane gasoline or diesel oil, etc., and is coded and recorded. In addition, the remaining oil amount is the number of liters of oil that can be refueled with this refueling card, and the face value (for example, 2001>) is recorded at the time of card purchase. Each time a refueling card is inserted into the external reader/writer 2, the refueling amount is subtracted from the remaining refueling amount.An area 40e is a valid flag.This valid flag identifies the issued refueling card as a valid card. is a flag to be set to
It is set by the POS terminal device when the refueling card is sold.

Further, in the printing field 41, the card number, expiration date 1 issuing service station (SS) number, face value oil amount, etc. are printed when the card is issued, and sold printing 41a is performed when the card is sold. Also,
For each refueling, the date, amount of refueling, and amount of remaining oil are printed.

This refueling card is issued by the following operation. PO3
After pressing the issue key 8a of the 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 in the face value, expiration date, etc. The POS terminal device 1 stores necessary data on the magnetic stripe of the inserted card, prints the necessary information in the printing field, and issues the card as a fuel card.

When selling this refueling card 4, the following operations are performed.

After pressing the sales key 8b, the card reader/writer 10
Insert the refueling card 4 that has undergone the above issuing process. p
The OS terminal device sets the valid flag (area 40e) of this refueling card 4, and also indicates sold 4 in the print field 41.
1a is printed and discharged. This refueling card 4 is issued to the customer in exchange for payment.

When refueling using a refueling card, the following operations are performed. The staff member who received the customer's fuel card uses the card reader/
The refueling card is inserted into the lighter 21, and the weighing machine 3 to be refueled is selected by pressing the weighing machine selection key included in the keyboard 22. After this, the refueling card is temporarily ejected. This allows you to accept other refueling cards while refueling.
This is to enable one external reader/writer 2 to 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 re-inserted, the slip is printed, the data stored in the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 is updated, and the data in the print field 41 is updated. Printing is performed. The ejected slip and refueling card are handed over to the customer by the clerk, and the transaction is completed.

FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of the RAM 7, and is a diagram showing a hippo sofa. When a refueling card is inserted into the card reader/writer 21 of the external reader/writer 2, the card data is stored in the personal output buffer via the interface 15. The entrance/exit cover sofa has a card number storage area (between areas: hereinafter referred to as "Area M i J
is called rM i J. ), expiration date storage area (M
2), oil type storage area (M3), remaining oil amount storage area (M
4), which corresponds to the stored contents of the magnetic stripe 4o of the card 4. In addition, the refueling amount storage area (M5
) is an area for storing the amount of refueling sent from the measuring machine 3 that measured the amount of refueling. The remaining oil amount in the area M4 is updated by subtracting this oil supply amount, and the card reader/writer 2
The data on the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 reinserted into the refueling card 1 is updated with the data in the area M4.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PO3 terminal device 1 when issuing the refueling card and selling the refueling card. Press the issue key 8a in step nl (hereinafter, step ni is simply referred to as ni) or press the sales key 8 in nl.
Wait until it is determined that b is pressed.

When the issue key 8a is pressed and judged by nl, n2
Insertion of a new card to be issued as a refueling card is accepted, and human input for the face value of the amount of oil (the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance) is accepted from the numeric keypad included in the keyboard 8.

Here, this oil amount is set to, for example, 1001 or 2001, and the card is sold to the customer as a 1001 card or 2001 card. That is, instead of issuing refueling cards according to the amount paid by the customer, refueling cards are sold for a set amount of oil.

Next, record the manually input oil amount as the remaining oil amount in the remaining oil amount storage area (area 40d) of the card, and at the same time store card data such as the card number and expiration date in each area (n4), and print it on the front side. The same content is printed in column 41 (n5). After this, the card is ejected (n6) and the operation ends.

When the sales key 8b is pressed and this is determined by nl, the insertion of the issued refueling card 4 that has been processed in steps n2 to n6 is accepted (n8). The valid flag (area 40e) set on the magnetic stripe 40 of the inserted and issued refueling card 4 is set (n9) and stored as sales in the transaction data file of the floppy disk 12 (n19). Next, a plate sold 41a is printed on the print a41 on the card surface (nil), and the refueling card is ejected (n12) to end the operation. The attendant issues this refueling card 4 to the customer in exchange for the paid price.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PO8 terminal device 1 during refueling using the refueling card 4. When the refueling card 4 is inserted into the card reader/writer 21 of the external reader/writer 2 at n20, the card data is read (n21) and it is determined whether the valid flag (area 40e) is set. (n22). If the valid flag is set, the process proceeds to n23 and subsequent steps. The card data read by n21 is recorded on the input/output cover sofa 41
be done. A plurality of input/output buffers are set in order to manage a plurality of weighing machines 3, that is, to store card data of a plurality of refueling cards inserted into the external reader/writer 2, each of which is stored. They are distinguished using their refueling card number as an identification number. n23 checks whether the inserted refueling card is valid or not based on this card data (is it within the expiry date, is the remaining oil level not O, etc.), and if it is a valid card, n24 determines whether or not the inserted refueling card is valid or not. move on. If the valid flag (area 40e) has been reset or the card is invalid, the card is directly ejected (n34) and the operation ends.

At n25, the selection of a total of N machines 30 by the weighing machine selection key is accepted, and the weighing machine controller 1 is assigned to the selected weighing machine 3.
A refueling permission signal is output via 4 (n26). Thereafter, the card reader/writer 21 is instructed to temporarily eject the refueling card (n27). Although the refueling card is ejected, the turntable that stores the card data of this refueling card is retained. Wait until refueling is completed at n28, and when refueling is completed, receive the amount of refueling from the measuring device 3.n
29), Calculate the new remaining oil amount by subtracting the refueling amount (
n30). This remaining oil amount is stored in the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input/output cover sofa allocated at n21.

That is, the remaining oil amount read from the inserted refueling card 4 is rewritten to the new remaining oil amount. Here, when the fuel card is requested to be reinserted and the post-processing key is pressed and the fuel card is reinserted, the new remaining fuel amount is written in the area 40d of the magnetic stripe 40 (n
32). That is, the contents of the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input/output buffer are written. Data related to transactions (transaction data) is stored in a transaction data file (floppy disk 12
) and ejected the card (n34).
) and then finishes the action.

n9 corresponds to the card edition selling means of the present invention, and n22 corresponds to the card determining means of the present invention.

In this way, in this card refueling system, a refueling card is issued by performing processing such as storing (encoding) card data and printing on the surface in advance (outside of business hours), and when selling this refueling card to a customer. A valid flag is set to enable use during refueling. As a result, even if a refueling card is issued with card data stored and printed on its surface, it cannot be used unless the valid flag is set at the time of sale, increasing the security of the issued refueling card. can. This makes it possible to issue a large amount of fuel cards in advance, and to issue fuel cards outside business hours, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the PO3 terminal device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a POS terminal device installed at a gas station in a card refueling system according to an embodiment of the present invention during refueling card issuance and sales, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the card refueling system described above. , Figure 3 (Al,
(B) is a diagram showing the appearance of the refueling card of the card refueling system and the configuration of its magnetic stripe, FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of the RAM of the PO3 terminal device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the refueling card of the POS terminal device. 2 is a flowchart showing operations during refueling. A-Refueling station, B-Center, 1~PO8 terminal device, 2-External reader/writer, 3-Measuring machine, 4-Refueling card, 8-Keyboard, 8a-Issuance key, 8b=Sales key, 40- Magnetic drive, 41-print field.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A refueling card having a remaining oil amount storage area where the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance is initially stored; and a refueling card that is installed at each gas station and stores card data including the amount of oil in the card. A card processing device that performs a refueling card issuing process of issuing the refueling card, and a transaction process of accepting the refueling card at the time of refueling and rewriting the stored content of the remaining oil amount storage area to a new remaining oil amount by subtracting the refueling amount. In the card refueling system, the refueling card is provided with a validity flag, and the card processing device receives the refueling card for which the refueling card issuance process has been completed and sets the validity flag at the time of selling the refueling card. and card determination means for validating the inserted refueling card if the validity flag of the inserted refueling card is set at the time of refueling, and invalidating the refueling card if the refueling card is reset. Features a card lubrication system.