JPH0359468B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Technical Field The present 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, and particularly relates to improving the safety management of the refueling card. .

(b) Summary of the Invention The card refueling system according to the present invention provides a valid flag on the refueling card that stores the amount of remaining oil that can be refueled. A card processing device installed at a refueling station (gas station) sets the validity flag when the refueling card is sold, and also determines the validity flag of the refueling card inserted for refueling. Validates the refueling card, and invalidates it if it has been reset. In this way, by making it possible to determine whether a card has been legitimately sold by setting/resetting the validity flag, it is possible to issue fuel cards in advance before selling them. This makes it possible to ensure safety when storing.

Furthermore, the mode setting means allows setting whether to issue a refueling card (valid/invalid) for each card processing, thereby preventing fraudulent issuance of refueling cards at gas stations and facilitating the management of issuance of refueling cards. This is what I did.

(c) Prior art and its disadvantages One of the currently proposed card-based refueling systems at gas stations is a card-based refueling system using fuel cards. 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, preprocessing such as card authentication and card data buffering 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 processing.

By the way, at a typical gas station, a single device (POS terminal device) issues the refueling card, as well as a measuring machine that measures the amount of refueling when refueling and a terminal for the staff (external reader/writer). It's in control. Therefore, if the refueling card issuance process is performed during business hours when there are many refueling customers, the above POS
Since the terminal device is dedicated, it is not possible to control the weighing machine or the external reader/writer, which causes 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.

However, with the traditional fuel card system,
A refueling card that has been issued with the necessary data stored and printed on it by a POS terminal device can be used from that point on, so if you lose your refueling card after it has been issued but has not yet been sold, There was a risk that the fuel card could 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.

Furthermore, at gas stations where card processing devices are installed, refueling cards can be issued at will, so it is difficult to manage the issuance of refueling cards at each gas station, and it is difficult for staff to As a result, there were drawbacks such as unauthorized refueling cards being sometimes issued.

(d) Purpose of the invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, this invention provides the following:
By determining the validity flag provided on the refueling card and set at the time of card sale, it is possible to determine whether or not the refueling card is legitimately sold, thereby improving the safety of pre-issued refueling cards. Another object of the present invention is to provide a card refueling system that can limit the refueling stations (card processing devices) that can issue refueling cards, thereby facilitating the management of refueling card issuance and the prevention of fraud.

(e) Structure and effect of the 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, a card sales means provides a validity flag on the refueling card, and sets the validity flag in the card processing device by accepting the refueling card for which the refueling card issuing process has been completed at the time of selling the refueling card. and card determination means for validating the refueling card if the validity flag of the refueling card inserted at the time of refueling is set, and invalidating the refueling card if the refueling card has been reset; The present invention is characterized in that the processing device is provided with a mode setting means for enabling or disabling the refueling card issuing process.

With the above configuration, even if the card data is stored in the card and a refueling card is issued, if the validity flag of the refueling card is not set, the card will be inserted into the card processing device for refueling. The determination means determines that the refueling card is invalid.

The refueling card can be issued only by a card processing device (fueling station) for which refueling card issuing processing has been enabled by the mode setting means, and the validity flag is set by the card 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 whose validity flag has not been set by a legitimate card sales means. You can make it impossible. As a result, it is possible to avoid crowding of the card processing equipment during business hours, maintain security even when issuing fuel cards in advance during non-business hours, and issue fuel cards without worry during non-business hours. Since the card processing device can be placed in a different location, the operational efficiency of the card processing device can also be improved.

Furthermore, it is now possible to safely issue a large number of refueling cards in advance, and the mode setting means can be used to set whether or not to issue refueling cards for each card processing device, so refueling cards can be issued at one central store. It becomes possible to configure a system that issues refueling cards and distributes the refueling cards to other stores. This makes it easier to manage the issuance of refueling cards, and it is possible to limit the stores that can issue refueling cards, thereby preventing the staff from issuing unauthorized refueling cards.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a card refueling system that 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. 3).
A POS terminal device 1 is installed inside the gas station A.
A plurality of external readers/writers 2 for use by refueling staff and a plurality of weighing machines 3 for measuring the amount of refueling are installed outside the store where refueling is performed. These POS terminal device 1 and external reader/writer 2 correspond to the card processing device of the present invention.

The POS terminal device 1 includes a control device.
A CPU 5, a ROM 6 connected to the CPU 5 for storing programs, etc., a RAM 7 for setting buffers of card data, a keyboard 8 for control, a display 9, a card read/writer 10 for reading/writing control data, etc. A printer 11 that prints a tally table, etc., a floppy disk 12 where transaction data files are set, a communication control unit 13 that communicates with center B via a line, a weighing machine controller 14 that controls the weighing machine 3, and an interface 15 for controlling the external reader/writer 2;
is installed.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram of the keyboard 8. As shown in FIG. 8a is a key switch. The staff member inserts a key into the key switch 8a and turns it to set the operation of the POS terminal device 1. The behavior to be set is
These include business operations such as management of the weighing machine 3 and external reader/writer 2, settlement of sales, and setting of fuel card issuing function (mode). Of these, the fuel card issuing function is set by rotating the key to the left to the "set" position, but this can only be done using the master key. The master key is owned only by the person in charge of each store or the person in charge of the central store. Function keys 8b to 8d are a sales key 8b, an issue key 8c, and an issue/sales key 8d, respectively. When setting the refueling card issuing function, the issuing key 8c and the issuing/sales key 8d function as mode setting keys, and when each key is pressed, refueling card issuing processing and refueling card issuing/selling processing are enabled. Furthermore, when these function keys are pressed during business operations, the POS terminal device 1 performs processing operations corresponding to the respective keys. That is, when the issue key 8c is pressed, the card reader/writer 10 accepts a new card and issues a fuel card as a fuel card, and when the sales key 8b is pressed, the card data/writer 10 is issued. A card sales process is performed in which a completed fuel card is accepted and a valid flag (area 40e, to be described later) is set, thereby making the fuel card usable. Also, when the issue/sale key 8d is pressed,
The above refueling card issuing process and card sales process are performed continuously.

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

On the other hand, the center B includes a center computer 16 which is a control device, a communication control section 17 connected to the center computer 16 for communicating with the POS terminal device 1, a storage device 18 in which a master file is set, and a printer 19. and a display 20 are installed. Each gas station A is in the master aisle.
The sales status and usage status of all issued refueling cards are stored. This master file is updated by the transaction data file.

FIG. 4 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 approximately equal to the amount of oil that can be refilled. For example, a refueling card is sold that allows you to refill 200 yen for the price of 200 yen worth of gasoline.

Figure A 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. ing.

FIG. 4B is a partial configuration diagram of the magnetic stripe 40. FIG. The magnetic stripe 40 contains the card number (area 40a), which is the issuing number of this refueling card, the expiry date of the card (area 40b), and the oil type (area 40b).
40c) and the amount of remaining oil (area 40d) are recorded.
Note that the oil type indicates the type of regular gasoline, high octane gasoline, 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.
200) are recorded. This refueling card is inserted into the external reader/writer 2 each time refueling is performed at the refueling station A, and the refueling amount is subtracted from the remaining oil amount. Furthermore, area 40e is a valid flag. This validity flag is a flag for setting the issued refueling card as a valid card, and is set by the POS terminal device at the time of selling the refueling card.

In addition, the card number, expiry date, issuing service station (SS) number, amount of oil, etc. are printed in the printing field 41 when the card is issued, and the sold mark 41 is printed when the card is sold.
a is performed. Furthermore, the date, amount of oil supplied, and amount of remaining oil are printed for each refueling.

This refueling card is issued by the following operation. After pressing the issue key 8c of the POS terminal device 1, the user inserts a new card into the card reader/writer 10 and operates the keyboard 8 to enter the amount of oil in the face value, expiration date, etc. The POS terminal device 1 stores the necessary data on the magnetic stripe of the inserted card, prints the necessary information in the printing field, and issues the card as a refueling card.

When selling this refueling card 4, the following operations are performed. After pressing the sales key 8b, the refueling card 4 that has undergone the above issuing process is inserted into the card reader/writer 10. The POS terminal device 1 sets the validity flag (area 40e) of this refueling card 4, prints sold 41a in the print field 41, and discharges the card. This refueling card 4 is issued to the customer in exchange for payment. Note that when the issue/sale key 8d is pressed, the above issue process and this sales process are performed consecutively.

Furthermore, when refueling using a refueling card, the following operations are performed. An attendant who receives the customer's fuel card inserts the fuel card into a card reader/writer 21 and selects a weighing machine 3 for refueling by pressing a weighing machine selection key included in a keyboard 22. After this, the refueling card is temporarily ejected. this is,
This is to enable other refueling cards to be accepted during refueling, so that one external reader/writer 2 can 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 reinserted, 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 fuel card are handed over to the customer by the staff member, 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. The external reader/
When a refueling card is inserted into the card reader/writer 21 of the writer 2, the card data is stored in this input/output buffer via the interface 15. The input/output buffers are the card number storage area (area M1: hereinafter referred to as ``Mi''), the expiration date storage area (M2), the oil type storage area (M3), and the remaining oil amount storage area (M4). Consisting of
This corresponds to the stored contents of the magnetic stripe 40 of the card 4. Also, the refueling amount memory 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 refueling amount, and the refueling card 4 is reinserted into the card reader/writer 21.
The data on the magnetic stripe 40 is updated with the data on area M4.

Furthermore, areas M6, M7, and M8 are a continuous flag, an issue flag, and an issue/sale flag, respectively. Of these, the issuance flag (M7) and the issuance/sale flag (M8) are flags that are set or reset when the refueling card issuance function is set. When the issuance flag (M7) is set, this POS terminal device 1 becomes capable of refueling card issuance processing, and the issuance 2
When the sales flag (M8) is set, this POS
The terminal device 1 is capable of continuous processing of issuing/selling refueling cards. These issuance flag (M7) and issuance/sale flag (M8) are backed up by battery, and their memory contents are preserved even when the power is turned off. On the other hand, the continuous flag (M6) is a flag for storing that the refueling/sales key 8d has been pressed during business operations. The POS terminal device 1 performs continuous processing by referring to this continuous flag (M6).

FIG. 1D is a flowchart showing the operation of the control section of the POS terminal device 1 when the key switch 8a is turned to the "setting" position to set the fuel card issuing function. When the key switch 8a is rotated to the "setting" position, step n40 (hereinafter referred to as
Step ni is simply called ni. ), n42, n44 and
n46, clear key (not shown), issue key 8c, issue/sell key 8d on keyboard 8, respectively.
The process waits until it is determined that the key switch 8a is pressed and the key switch 8a is turned off.

When the clear key is pressed, n41 determines that
Proceed to reset the issuance flag (M7) and issuance/sale flag (M8) and wait routine (n40,
Return to n42, n44, n46). When issue key 8c is pressed, proceed to n43 based on the judgment of n42 and issue flag (M7)
and return to the standby routine. When the issue/sale key 8d is pressed, the process proceeds to n45 based on the judgment at n44, sets the issue/sale flag (M8), and returns to the standby routine. Further, when the key switch 8a is turned off, the operation ends (n46).

FIG. 1A is a flowchart showing the main routine of the refueling card issuing process of the POS terminal device 1. n1 to n3, n4, and n5 are standby routines. At n1, it is determined whether the sales key 8b is pressed or not.
At n2, it is determined whether the issue flag (M7) is set or reset, and if it has been set, the process proceeds to n3, where it is determined whether or not the issue key 8c has been pressed. Published in n4/
Determine whether to set/reset the sales flag (M8),
If it has been set, the process advances to n5 and it is determined whether or not the issue/sale key 8d has been pressed. That is, whether or not the issue key 8c and issue/sales key 8d have been pressed is determined only when the flags (M7, M8) corresponding to the respective keys are set.

When it is determined at n1 that the sales key 8b has been pressed, the process advances to n6 and a subroutine for refueling card sales processing is performed. Wait routine after processing (n1 to n5)
Return to

When it is determined at n3 that the issue key 8c has been pressed, the process advances to n7 and a subroutine for refueling card issuing processing is performed. After processing, return to the standby routine.

When it is judged at n5 that the issue/sale key 8d has been pressed, the continuous flag (M6) is set at n8, and first the fuel card issuing subroutine is carried out, and then the fuel card sales processing subroutine is carried out. Thereafter, the continuous flag (M6) is reset and the process returns to the standby routine.

FIG. 3B shows the refueling card issuance processing subroutine. Issue key 8c or issue/sales key 8d
If you proceed to this operation by pressing , the N20 will accept the insertion of a new card to be issued as a refueling card, and the amount of oil at face value (the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance) will be entered from the numeric keypad included in the keyboard 8. Accepts input (n21).

Here, the amount of oil is set to, for example, 100 or 200, and sold to customers as 100 cards or 200 cards. 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, the input oil amount is recorded as the remaining oil amount in the remaining oil amount storage area (area 40d) of the card, and at the same time card data such as the card number and expiration date are stored in the respective areas (n22). The same content is printed in the print field 41 (n23). After this,
Refer to the continuity flag (M6) (n24). If the continuous flag (M6) has been reset, eject the card (n25) and return to the main routine.
If the continuous flag (M6) is set, the process returns to the main routine without ejecting the card because the process is continuous by pressing the issue/sale key 8d.

C in the figure is the refueling card sales processing subroutine. Sales key 8d or issue/sales key 8d
When you proceed to this operation by pressing , first refer to the continuous flag (M6) with n30. If this continuous flag (M6) is reset, the process advances to (n31) and n32 after accepting the issued refueling card, and if the continuous flag (M6) is set, the process returns from the refueling card issuing processing subroutine. Since this is a continuous process and the refueling card remains inserted in the card reader/writer 10, the process directly proceeds to n32.

n32 sets the valid flag (area 40e) set on the magnetic stripe 40 of the inserted and issued refueling card 4, and
Store it as sales in the transaction data file of 2 (n33). Next, sold 41a is printed in the printing field 41 on the front of the card (n34), and the refueling card is ejected (n35) to complete the operation. The attendant issues this refueling card 4 to the customer in exchange for the paid price.

FIG. 6 shows the above when refueling using the refueling card 4.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the POS terminal device 1. 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 or not the valid flag (area 40e) is set. (n22), and if the valid flag is set, proceed to n23 and below. The card data read by n21 is stored in the input/output buffer. 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 uses this card data to determine whether the inserted refueling card is valid (within the expiration date,
If the card is valid, proceed to n25 based on the judgment in n24. In addition,
If the valid flag (area 40e) is reset, or if the card is invalid, the card is directly ejected (n34) and the operation ends.

At n25, the selection of the weighing machine 3 by the weighing machine selection key is accepted, and a refueling permission signal is output to the selected weighing machine 3 via the weighing machine controller 14 (n26). Thereafter, the card reader/writer 21 is instructed to temporarily eject the refueling card (n27).
Although the refueling card is ejected, the input/output buffer storing the card data of this refueling card is retained. At n28, wait until refueling is completed, and when refueling is completed, receive the amount of refueling from the measuring device 3 (n29),
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 buffer allocated in n21. That is, the remaining oil amount read from the inserted refueling card 4 is rewritten to the new remaining oil amount. Here, request reinsertion of the refueling card,
When the post-processing key is pressed and the refueling card is reinserted, the new remaining oil amount is written in the area 40d of the magnetic stripe 40 (n32). In other words, the remaining oil amount storage area (M4) of the input/output buffer
Write the contents. Data related to the transaction (transaction data) is written to the transaction data file (floppy disk 12) (n33), the card is ejected (n34), and the operation ends.

n9 corresponds to the card sales means of this invention, n22
corresponds to the card determining means of the present invention. Also,
The issue flag (M7), the issue/sale flag (M8), and the operations n2 and n4 shown in FIG. 1D correspond to the mode setting means of the present invention.

In this way, in this card refueling system, refueling cards are issued by storing (encoding) card data, printing on the surface, etc. in advance (outside of business hours), and then the refueling cards are issued at the time of sale to customers. 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, thereby increasing the security of the issued refueling card. I can do it. This makes it possible to issue a large amount of refueling cards in advance, and it is possible to issue refueling cards outside of business hours, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the POS terminal device.

Furthermore, since it is possible to set whether or not to issue (issue/sell) fuel cards for each gas station (POS terminal device 1), it becomes easier to manage the issuance of fuel cards, and prevent unauthorized fuel cards from being used by staff. can be prevented from being issued.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1A, B, C, and D show a card processing main routine, a fuel card issuance processing subroutine, a fuel card sales processing subroutine, and a fuel card sales processing subroutine, respectively, of a POS terminal device installed at a gas station in a card refueling system that is an embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart showing the refueling card processing function setting operation, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the card refueling system, Figure 3 is a partial configuration diagram of the keyboard of the POS terminal device, and Figures 4 A and B are the card refueling system. FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of the RAM of the POS terminal device; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the POS terminal device when refueling with the fuel card. It is a flowchart. A... Gas station, B... Center, 1... POS terminal device, 2... External reader/writer, 3... Weighing machine, 4... Fueling card, 8... Keyboard, 8a
...Key switch, 8b... Sales key, 8c...
Issue key, 8d... Issue/sale key, 40... Magnetic stripe, 41... Print field.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A refueling card having a remaining oil amount storage area in which the amount of oil corresponding to the amount paid in advance is initially stored, and card data installed at each gas station and containing the amount of oil on the card. a refueling card issuance process that memorizes the refueling card and issues the refueling card, and a transaction process that accepts the refueling card at the time of refueling and rewrites the stored content of the remaining oil amount storage area to a new remaining oil amount by subtracting the refueling amount. a card processing device that performs refueling, and a card refueling system having: a validity flag is provided on the refueling card, and the card processing device accepts the refueling card that has completed the refueling card issuing process at the time of selling the refueling card and sets the validity flag. and a card determining means for validating the refueling card if the validity flag of the refueling card inserted at the time of refueling is set, and invalidating the refueling card if the refueling card has been reset, Furthermore, the card refueling system is characterized in that the card processing device is provided with a mode setting means for enabling or disabling the refueling card issuing process.