JPS62145359A - Card refueling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a trouble to set a processing content on a card, and to perform a process without fail by writing a status which represents the completion of a pretreatment and an posttreatment at the status storage area of a refueling card. CONSTITUTION:At the status storage area of a magnetic stripe 40 on a refueling card 4, the service station code of a station, when the pretreatment is completed at the service station, is written, and when the posttreatment is completed, said code is erased. Therefore, a transaction processor refers the status storage area of an inserted card, and when the service station code is stored at the area, the posttreatment for the said card is performed automatically, and when the service station code is not stored, the pretreatment for said card is performed automatically. In this way, a clerk can set the process for the refueling card only by inserting the refueling card to the transaction processor.

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 oil such as gasoline for which a fee has been paid in advance. Concerning becoming.

(b1 Summary of the Invention The fuel card management system according to the present invention provides a status storage area in the fuel card, and pre-processes the inserted fuel station card in a transaction processing device installed at a gas station. At that time, write the status indicating the former officer Hiiragi Ryo in the status Hito a area of the card,
When post-processing is performed on the inserted gas station card, a status indicating completion of post-processing is stored in the status storage area of the card. Also, when the refueling card is inserted,
First, the status storage area is referred to, and if the contents of pre-processing completion are written in, the post-processing is automatically performed on the refueling card, and the contents of post-processing completion (that is, before pre-processing) are stored. If it is written, preprocessing will be performed automatically.

This eliminates the hassle of setting processing details for a refueling card when inserting the card, and
This is to ensure that processing is performed without error.

(C1 Prior Art and Its Disadvantages) Currently, there is a card refueling system using a refueling card that has been proposed as a refueling system using a card.

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.

By the way, in a general gas station, a plurality of measuring machines are installed to measure the amount of fuel (■), while one or more external reader/writers, which are staff terminal devices into which the fuel card is inserted, are installed. A small number of weighing machines are installed, and one external reader/writer is configured to handle transaction processing for multiple weighing machines.
A transaction processing device is composed of a writer and a POS terminal device installed in a gas station store and controlling the weighing machine and an external reader/writer. ). Therefore, the external reader/writer must accept refueling from other weighing machines while refueling a total of ff1l for which it is in charge. For this reason, the external reader/like is designed to temporarily eject the refueling card inserted at the start of refueling after the pre-processing and accept reinsertion for post-processing after refueling ends.

Therefore, when a gas station attendant inserts a fuel card into an external reader/writer, he or she must set whether to perform pre-processing or post-processing on the inserted fuel card, making the operation cumbersome. Moreover, there is a drawback that if the operation is incorrect, the correct processing cannot be performed on the refueling card.

(d) Purpose of the Invention In view of the above drawbacks, the present invention stores the processing stage (status) of the fuel card in the fuel card, and the transaction processing device automatically performs operations by referring to this status when the card is inserted. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a card refueling system that simplifies the work of an attendant and enables accurate processing.

(Structure and effects of e1 invention This invention is constructed as follows.

A fuel card having a remaining oil amount storage area in which the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance is initially stored is issued to the customer.

At each refueling station where refueling is to be performed, preprocessing is performed, including processing to accept the refueling card at the start of refueling and read the amount of remaining oil stored in the remaining oil amount storage area, and then the refueling card is temporarily discharged. After refueling is completed, a new amount of remaining oil is calculated by subtracting this amount of refueling from the amount of remaining oil, the refueling card is accepted again, and the remaining oil amount storage area is rewritten to the new amount of remaining oil. A transaction processing device will be installed to perform post-processing including.

In such a system, the refueling card is provided with a status storage area for storing processing steps of transactions by this card, and the transaction processing device stores information on the completion of the pre-processing and the completion of the post-processing in the status storage area. When content indicating the end of pre-processing is stored in the status storage area of the accepted refueling card using the status writing means, post-processing is performed on the card, and the status storage area of the accepted refueling card is used to indicate the end of post-processing. With the above-described structure, the transaction processing device includes processing selection means for performing preprocessing on the card when the contents are stored. If the contents of the end of post-processing (before pre-processing) are stored in that area, the pre-processing is automatically performed on that refueling card, and the end of pre-processing is stored in the status tα area. Discharge. Additionally, if the contents of pre-processing completion are stored in the status storage area of the inserted refueling card, post-processing is automatically performed on that refueling card, and the completion of post-processing is stored in the status storage area. Discharge.

As described above, according to the present invention, the staff at the gas station can set the processing for the fuel card simply by inserting the fuel card into the transaction processing device. There is no need to set it up, which simplifies the work. Furthermore, since there are no operational errors such as pressing a wrong key, there is no possibility of erroneous processing of the refueling card.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a +11s configuration of a card refueling system which is an embodiment of the present invention. This system is comprised of a plurality of fuel stations A, one center B, and fuel cards held by customers (see FIG. 4).

A POS terminal device 1 is installed inside the store leading to the refueling station, and an external reader/writer 2 for operation by the refueling staff is installed outside the store where refueling is performed.
and a plurality of measuring machines 3 for measuring the amount of refueling are installed. These PO8 terminal devices 1. The external reader/writer 2 and the weighing machine 3 correspond to the transaction processing device of the present invention.

The POS terminal device 1 includes: a CPU 5 which is a control device;
and ROM 6. which is connected to this CPU 5 and stores programs etc. RAM where card data buffer etc. are set? , a control keyboard 8, a display 9. Card reader/writer for reading/writing control data etc. 10.
Printer 11 that prints out tally sheets, etc. Floppy disk on which transaction data files are set 12. Communication control unit 13 for communicating with center B via line. The weighing machine 3
A weighing machine controller 14 for controlling the external reader/writer 2 and an interface 15 for controlling the external reader/writer 2 are installed.

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. A device 18 in which the mask file is set. A 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 sales data file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the refueling card 4. As shown in FIG. This refueling card is sold at the above-mentioned refueling station A, etc., and is sold at a price that is approximately the same as the amount of oil that can be filled. For example, a refueling card is sold that allows you to refuel a 2001 vehicle for the price of 200β gasoline.

Figure cA) is an external view of the refueling card 4, and the card surface has a magnetic stripe 40 for recording the card number, amount of remaining oil, etc., and a printing field 41 for printing refueling history, etc. using this refueling card. has been done.

13) 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 pre-processing is performed at a gas station, this information is inserted into the external reader/writer 2, and the amount of oil supplied is subtracted from the amount of remaining oil. Area 40e is a gas station code storage area. The code of that gas station is written in the area, and its contents are erased when post-processing is completed.In other words, if the gas station code is written in this gas station 2' storage area (area 40e), This indicates the end of pre-processing, and if no gas station code is stored, it indicates the end of post-processing (before the next pre-process).This gas station code storage area (area 40e) corresponds to the status storage area of the present invention.

Further, in the printing column 41, card number 1 issue date, expiry date, face value oil amount, etc. are printed when the card is issued, and each time the card is refueled, the date 5 oil amount and remaining oil amount are printed.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the external reader/writer 2. As shown in FIG. An operator control panel is installed on the front of the device. On this operation panel surface, there is a display 25. Keyboard 22. Printer 23. A card reader that accepts the refueling card 4/
A writer 21 and a card reader 24 are installed into which conventional credit fuel cards are scanned. The keyboard 22 includes a weighing machine selection key 220 for selecting a weighing machine.
, a product selection key 221 for inputting sales products. It has a numeric keypad 222 for manually inputting the sales quantity and a function key 223 for setting the operation mode.

When refueling using the refueling card 4, the staff member who receives the customer's refueling card inserts the refueling card into the card reader/writer 21 and selects the weighing machine 3 for refueling by pressing the weighing machine selection key 2.
Press 20 to select.

After this, the refueling card is temporarily ejected. This is so that other fuel cards can be accepted during refueling, and a plurality of weighing machines 3 can be managed with one external reader/writer 2. A fuel station code is written on the discharged fuel card 4.

When the refueling card 4 is reinserted after refueling is completed, a slip is printed, data stored in the magnetic stripe 40 of the refueling card 4 is updated, and data is printed in the printing field 41. At this time, the gas station code is cleared.

The ejected slip and refueling card 4 are handed over to the customer by the clerk, and the transaction is completed.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of the RAM 7, and is a diagram showing 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 cover sofa includes a card number storage area (area 1: hereinafter referred to as "areas Mi and J are rMtJ"), an expiration date storage area (M2), an oil type storage area (M3), and a remaining oil amount storage area (M4). This corresponds to the storage content of the magnetic stripe 40 of the card 4.The refueling amount storage area (M5) is an area for storing the refueling amount sent from the weighing machine 3 that measured the refueling amount. A new amount of remaining oil is calculated by subtracting this oil supply amount from the amount of remaining oil stored in the remaining oil amount storage area (M4), and this new amount of remaining oil is stored in the area M4 again.

Remaining oil amount data (
The area 40d) is updated with the data of the area M4.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control section of the POS terminal device 1. As shown in FIG. Step nl (hereinafter, step n
i is simply called ni. ), it is determined that the refueling card 4 has been inserted into the card reader/writer 21 of the external reader/writer 2, or the process waits until the refueling completion signal is received from the weighing machine 3 at n18.

When the refueling card 4 is inserted and the operation progresses to n2 or below based on the judgment of nl, the magnetic stripe 4 of the inserted refueling card 4
Read the data of 0 (n2) and set the expiration date (area 4
0b), it is determined whether the card is valid or not based on the amount of remaining oil (area 40d), etc. (n3). At this time, the fuel station code storage area (area 40e) is simultaneously read to determine whether a gas station code has been written (n4). These data are stored in the input and output cover sofas (Ml to M4),
It is distinguished from panning data of other fuel cards by the card number. If the card is valid and the fuel station code is not stored, it is determined that this fuel card 4 has been inserted for pre-processing before starting refueling, and the process proceeds to the pre-processing operations from n5 onwards.

At n5, the selection of the weighing machine 3 by pressing the weighing machine selection key 220 is accepted, and the total f is selected for the weighing machine 3 selected at n5.
A refueling permission signal is output via the fi&'J controller 14 (n6). Next, enter the code of this gas station into the gas station code storage area (area 40e) of the inserted gas card 4 (n7), and enter it in the printing field 41 on the front of the card.
The date of refueling is printed on the card (n8), and this refueling card 4 is ejected (n9). The card determined to be invalid at n3 is directly ejected (n22). After ejecting the fuel card n9, the external reader/writer 2 can accept other fuel cards until this fuel card is reinserted for post-processing.

If the gas station code is stored in the gas station code storage area (area 40e) of the inserted gas card 4, n.
At step 4, the process proceeds to nlo, where it is determined whether the code is the code of the store itself. If it is the own fuel station code, this fuel card was once ejected after the above pre-processing operation and then reinserted for post-processing, so refueling using the selected total ff1a3 has been completed. If it is determined that this is the case (nil), the process proceeds to the post-processing operations from n12 onwards. If refueling is not completed, it is assumed that post-processing cannot be performed yet, and the refueling card 4 is ejected.

At n, 12, the remaining oil amount storage area (area 40d) of the refueling card 4 is rewritten with the contents of the remaining oil amount storage area (M4: see n20 described later) that has been updated to the new remaining oil amount (n1
2) Please print the amount of oil supplied and the amount of remaining oil in the printing column 41 n13)
, clears the fuel station code storage area (area 40e) (n14), and ejects the fuel card 4 (n15).

On the other hand, if the gas station code stored in the gas station code storage area (area 40e) is not the code of the own store, the process proceeds to n16 based on the judgment of nlO, and the gas station code is displayed on the display 25. In other words, when the fueling station code is displayed on the display 25, it means that the inserted fueling card 4 was returned to the customer without any post-processing at the filling station where the fueling station code was displayed. Can be recognized by staff. After confirming this display, the staff member contacts the gas station by telephone or the like, and proceeds to post-processing operations such as refueling amount, new remaining oil amount, etc. As a result, post-processing of the previous refueling will be performed by this transaction processing device. Data regarding this sales is sent to the center computer 16 and compiled as sales at the gas station where the fuel was actually refueled.

[If a refueling completion signal is received from the measuring machine 3 in step 118, the refueling amount sent from the measuring machine 3 is stored in the refueling amount storage area (M
5), calculate a new remaining oil amount by subtracting this oil supply amount from the remaining oil amount stored in area M4 of the ha sofa, and then calculate this new residual oil amount again in area M4.
After storing the sales slip (n20), the sales slip is printed by the printer 23 (n21).

n7. n14 corresponds to the status writing means of the present invention, and n4 corresponds to the processing selection means of the present invention.

In this way, according to this card refueling system, after the preprocessing is completed, the refueling card's refueling station code storage area (area 4
Since the gas station code is stored in 0e) and cleared (erased) after the post-processing is completed,
Depending on whether or not a fuel station code is stored in the fuel station code storage area of the inserted fuel card, the processing stage of the fuel card (before post-processing or after post-processing (before pre-processing))
). This eliminates the need for key-in to set pre-processing or post-processing when inserting the card.In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, the status of the refueling card is determined based on whether or not the refueling station code is stored. However, the same effect can be obtained by simply providing a flag area on the refueling card and determining whether to set or reset this flag.

In addition, this system stores the fuel station code as a code indicating the status of completion of pre-treatment, so even if the fuel card before post-treatment is returned to the customer by mistake, it will be returned to the customer for the next refueling. It is possible to display the code of the gas station that did not perform post-processing when the fuel card was brought to the gas station.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PO8 terminal device installed at each filling station in the card refueling system which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the card refueling system, and Fig. 3 is the above-mentioned Figure 4 (A+,
(B) is a diagram showing the appearance of the refueling card of the card refueling system and the configuration of its magnetic stripe, and FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of the RAM of the PO3 terminal device. 8-Refueling station, B-Center, 1-PO3 terminal device, 2-External reader/writer, 3-Star meter, 4-Refueling cart, 40-Magnetic drive.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A refueling card possessed by the customer and having a remaining oil amount storage area where the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance is initially recorded; After performing preprocessing that includes at least a process of reading the amount of remaining oil stored in the remaining oil amount storage area,
This refueling card is once ejected, and after refueling is completed, a new remaining oil amount is calculated by subtracting this refueling amount from the remaining oil amount, and the refueling card is accepted again to save the remaining oil amount storage area to the new remaining oil amount. A card refueling system comprising: a transaction processing device that performs post-processing including at least a process of rewriting the amount of oil; , a status writing means for writing the completion of the pre-processing and the completion of the post-processing into the status storage area; and when the content indicating the completion of the pre-processing is stored in the status storage area of the accepted refueling card, the post-processing is performed on the card. The card refueling system is characterized in that it is provided with processing selection means for performing preprocessing on a refueling card that has been processed and accepted when content indicating completion of postprocessing is stored in the status storage area of the card.