JP7642950B2 - Automatic payment system for prepayment when using facilities and method of using the facilities - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a payment system that allows customers to pay in advance for the usage fee and the services and usage fees consumed within a bathing facility or other service facility, and to allow customers to pay the usage fee using a payment terminal when their usage is completed, and to a method of using such facilities.

Today, there are many types of facilities, such as hot spring baths, in the world, and various payment systems have traditionally existed as a way to pay the basic fee set for using these facilities and various usage fees not included in the basic fee. These payment systems have been developed with the aim of improving service to customers and streamlining operations.

There are many known payment systems for bathing facilities. For example, the following methods are commonly used: First, when a user (customer) checks in at the front desk, they receive a payment band from a staff member. This payment band has a barcode or IC tag that can identify the user, and is called a wristband.

Before this wristband is handed over to the customer, the management terminal at the reception desk registers the wristband's unique number as the customer's usage record on the facility's management server. Each time a customer uses ancillary facilities within the building, a staff member at the facility reads the customer's wristband number with a reader at the facility, which then sends this together with the usage data to the management server. The management server records the usage details and usage fee in the customer's usage record corresponding to the wristband number.

When the customer leaves the facility after using it, he/she presents his/her wristband to a staff member at the reception desk, and the staff member reads the wristband's unique number with a management terminal and transmits it to a management server, whereupon the recorded amount used by the customer is displayed on the management terminal, and the staff member informs the customer of the amount used and settles the amount.
FIG. 3 shows an overview of this settlement system.

In the "Automatic Payment Machine Facility Management System" described in JP 2007-140970, shoe lockers that store the footwear of users (customers) are equipped with shoe keys with barcodes that can identify the user, and a management server is installed at the reception desk that reads the barcode on the customer's shoe key with a management terminal and manages the user's entrance and exit and usage fees. Each time a user uses a facility in the facility, a reading device on a terminal installed in each ancillary facility reads the barcode on the user's shoe key and inputs the usage amount, thereby updating the usage amount recorded in the customer's record on the management server. When the customer has finished using the facility, they can have the automatic payment machine read the barcode on the shoe key themselves, and the usage amount recorded in the customer's record will be displayed on the automatic payment machine. The customer checks the usage amount and pays the fee to complete the payment.

After completing the payment, the customer can open the exit gate by reading the bar code on the shoe key at the gate that allows passage.
FIG. 4 shows an overview of this system.
"Automatic payment machine facility management system" according to JP 2007-140970

As described above, there are various methods of payment (account settlement methods) when using facilities. However, the conventional settlement method is a deferred payment system in which the usage fee is paid when leaving the facility. When this system is adopted, equipment such as opening and closing gates and security cameras are installed to prevent customers from leaving without paying, which increases the construction and maintenance costs of the entire system.
Furthermore, in order to constantly provide advice and assistance to customers so that they can use these facilities correctly, a dedicated attendant may be required, resulting in high labor costs.
To minimize such capital investment and labor costs, the present invention provides a prepayment settlement system that is configured so that the usage fee can be received at the time of entrance and can prevent trouble such as the customer's usage amount exceeding the customer's own funds at the time of settlement.

In the settlement system according to the present invention, a customer first prepays the basic admission fee for one person and the desired charge (any amount above 0 yen) in cash or by a cashless payment method such as a card.
The attendant takes out a wristband, reads the wristband number with a reader in the management terminal, creates a usage record for that customer in the management server, and hands the wristband over to the customer. The attendant then enters the amount received into the management terminal and creates a record for that customer.

When a dedicated charge amount input device is installed, a customer deposits the basic fee and charge amount into the device, a record of the customer is created in the management server, and a wristband having a wristband number corresponding to the customer's record is ejected from the device and received by the customer.
Customers are required to pay a basic fee, which is the minimum charge per person, but those who may wish to purchase additional services or items in addition to the basic fee can charge any amount.

When a customer who has entered the building uses or receives services at ancillary facilities within the building, the customer or a staff member reads the customer's wristband number with a reader of a terminal, and the wristband number is transmitted to a management server and recorded in the customer's usage record, and the customer's remaining charge amount is displayed on the terminal.
Next, if the customer or attendant enters the usage fee and service fee within the displayed charge amount, the usage fee and service fee are sent to the management server and deducted from the remaining charge amount, and if the terminal has a printing function, a receipt is printed out that records the wristband number, the usage amount, the remaining charge amount, the terminal number, the time of use, etc.

Customers can also add charge amount later if necessary. In this case, they read their wristband number at the charge terminal in the building and pay the additional charge amount. The wristband number and additional charge amount are sent to the management server, which records them in the corresponding customer record and updates the customer's charge balance. The additional charge amount, updated charge balance, terminal number, and processing time are output on the receipt.

When a customer leaves the building, the wristband number is read by an automatic payment machine, which transmits the wristband number to a management server, which searches for the corresponding customer record and outputs the customer's usage details and remaining charge amount on the screen and receipt.
At this time, if there is a charge balance, the balance can be dispensed in cash from the automatic settlement machine.
Incidentally, although it is preferable to use the wristband as a means for identifying a customer, biometric authentication can be used in place of the wristband.
In addition, instead of the automatic payment machine, a staff member may use a management terminal at the reception desk to settle the fare.

The payment system of the present invention does not have the problem of customers leaving without paying, and therefore does not require the capital investment required for conventional systems, making it possible to build an inexpensive payment system.
This system prevents customers from exceeding their budget and spending too much money inside the facility. In other words, it allows customers to enjoy themselves within their budget. It also prevents problems such as the customer spending more than they have money when paying.

1 is an overview showing a settlement system according to the present invention. A specific example showing a wristband. 1 is an overview showing a conventional checkout system. 1 is an overview showing a conventional checkout system.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the settlement system of the present invention, in which 1 represents a reception desk located within the building, 2 represents a customer, 3 represents a wristband, 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d represent facilities installed within the building, 5 represents a charge terminal installed in an appropriate location within the building, 6 represents an automatic settlement machine, and 7 represents a management server. Here, the form of the wristband 3, the type of each facility 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, and the specific structure of the charge terminal 5 and the automatic settlement machine 6 are not limited.

The settlement system of the present invention is configured so that a basic fee and a charge amount are paid at reception 1 when entering the facility. The basic fee is a fee required for all visitors, and the charge amount is used to use the facilities in the facility within the range of the arbitrary charge amount paid, and the remaining charge amount is refunded when leaving the facility. Of course, if the charge amount initially deposited is insufficient, an additional amount (additional charge) can be deposited into charge terminal 5 during the process.
When a customer pays a basic fee and a charge amount at reception 1, a wristband 3 is given to customer 2, and customer 2 can wear the wristband 3.

Figure 2 is a concrete example of the wristband 3. The wristband 3 shown in the figure is equipped with a shoe locker key 8 for opening the shoe locker, but it may be configured without the shoe locker key 8. A unique number 10 is attached to the center 9 of the wristband 3, and it also has a readable barcode 11 or IC tag, so that customers who visit the facility can wear it.
The bar code 11 on the wristband 3 is read by a reader in the terminal of the management server 7 to identify the specific customer.

When a customer comes to the facility, the attendant receives the basic fee and the charge amount (0 yen or more) that the customer desires, takes out a wristband 3 of their choice, reads the wristband number on the management terminal, creates a usage record for that customer on the management server 7, and then hands it over to the customer. Next, the attendant enters the charge amount, which is recorded as the customer's usage record.

If a dedicated charge amount input device is installed, the customer can deposit the basic fee and charge amount into the device, and a record of that customer will be created in the management server 7, and a wristband 3 having a wristband number corresponding to that customer's record will be ejected from the device and the customer can collect it.
By the way, the basic fee is the minimum fee required to use the facility. For example, if the hotel is a hot spring facility, the entrance fee would be the basic fee.

On the other hand, the charge amount is the fee for services that each customer receives according to their own preferences, such as meals in the building, massages, and vending machine usage fees, and the amount varies for each service, and some customers may not require any of these individual services at all.
In FIG. 1, 4a, 4b, 4c, . . . are various auxiliary facilities provided within the building. For example, 4a is a vending machine for drinks, 4b is a facility for selling goods, 4c is a massage facility, and 4d is other facilities.

When customer 2 wishes to use ancillary facilities, he or she places wristband 3 over a barcode 11 or IC tag reader installed at facility 4c to have it read. The read barcode 11 or IC tag is sent to management server 7, and the charge for the ancillary facilities is deducted from the charge amount recorded in the customer record. If the charge amount does not have enough balance, the facility cannot be used.

The building is equipped with a charge terminal 5, which can be used to add to the charge amount. In other words, when a customer wishes to use an additional facility in the building, if the charge amount paid at reception 1 is insufficient to allow the customer to use the facility, the customer can deposit the necessary amount using the charge terminal 5 installed in an appropriate location in the building to increase the charge balance.

When the customer leaves the facility, if the number on the wristband 3 is read by the automatic payment machine 6, the charge amount and details of the charge amount will be displayed on the screen of the automatic payment machine 6, and any remaining balance will be refunded. After completing the payment, the customer can return the wristband to a designated location and leave the facility.
Although the customer can settle the fare by having the automatic settlement machine 6 read the number on the wristband 3 himself, it is also possible to settle the fare using a management terminal installed at the reception desk.

Although the wristband 3 is suitable as a means for identifying a customer, biometric authentication can be used instead of the wristband 3. For example, authentication devices can be installed at the reception desk 1, each facility 4a, 4b, etc., and the automated payment machine 6, and customers can be identified by recognizing biometric features such as fingerprints, faces, veins, and irises.

1 Reception 2 Customer 3 Wristband 4 Facility 5 Charging terminal 6 Automatic payment machine 7 Management server 8 Shoe locker key 9 Center 10 Unique number 11 Barcode

Claims (9)

a wristband to be worn by a user of the bath facility, the wristband having an IC tag and a key for opening a shoe locker for storing the shoes of the user of the bath facility;
A reading device installed in the bath facility;
A system comprising:
a charge amount storage means for storing a charge amount of a user in correspondence with the IC tag;
The system includes a charge amount subtraction means for subtracting the stored charge amount of a user when the IC tag is read by a reading device when the user uses a service or purchases an item at ancillary facilities in the bathing facility. In addition, there are charging terminals installed in the bathing facilities,
2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a charge amount adding means for adding a stored charge amount of the user when the IC tag is read by the charge terminal at the time of depositing money into the charge terminal. Furthermore, a fee deposit device is provided,
3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a wristband providing means for discharging a wristband from the fee deposit device and providing it to the user when the user deposits a basic fee for use of the hot spring facility into the fee deposit device. The system described in claim 3, in which when a user deposits money into the charge deposit device, the charge amount storage means stores the amount of the deposit that exceeds the basic fee as the charge amount. In addition, there is an automatic payment machine for users to pay when they leave the bathing facility.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the IC tag is read by the automatic payment machine at the time of payment at the automatic payment machine, the automatic payment machine refunds the user's stored charge amount. a wristband to be worn by a user of the bath facility, the wristband having an IC tag and a key for opening a shoe locker for storing the shoes of the user of the bath facility;
A reading device installed in the bath facility;
A method performed in a system comprising:
storing a charge amount of a user in correspondence with the IC tag;
The method includes a step of subtracting the stored charge amount of the user when the IC tag is read by a reader when the user uses a service or purchases an item at ancillary facilities in the bathing facility. A medium provided with an IC tag;
A reading device installed in the facility;
A server,
A system including a fee deposit device,
a medium providing means for discharging a medium from the fee deposit device and providing the medium to the user when the user deposits a basic fee for using the facility into the fee deposit device;
a charge amount storage means for storing a charge amount of a user in correspondence with the IC tag;
The system includes a charge amount subtraction means for subtracting the stored charge amount of a user when the IC tag is read by a reader when the user uses a service or purchases an item at ancillary facilities within the facility. 8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein when the user deposits money into the charge deposit device, the charge amount storage means stores the amount of the deposit that exceeds the basic fee as the charge amount. A medium provided with an IC tag;
A reading device installed in the facility;
A server,
A method performed in a system including a fee deposit device, comprising:
When the user deposits a basic fee for using the facility into the fee deposit device, ejecting the medium from the fee deposit device and providing it to the user;
storing a charge amount of a user in correspondence with the IC tag;
The method includes a step of subtracting the stored charge amount of the user when the IC tag is read by a reader when the user uses a service or purchases an item at an ancillary facility within the facility.