JPH0580040B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <<Field of the Invention>> This invention relates to a check-in processing device used in hotels and the like.

≪Summary of the Invention≫ In this invention, a guest using a credit card writes room key information for the guest room in the vacant area of the credit card or a separately issued key card, and when entering/exiting the guest room. In addition to eliminating the need for a mechanical key, adding a personal information identification function to the room lock further improves theft prevention.

<<Prior art and its problems>> Traditionally, when checking in at a hotel,
For each customer after the check-in process is completed,
A mechanical room key is handed over, and from then on, when entering and exiting the accommodation room, the mechanical key is used to unlock the room. However, with this method, if the room key is lost, it must be opened with the master key or A separate spare key had to be prepared, and there was a risk of a lack of service to customers.

≪Object of the invention≫ The object of the invention is to provide a check-in process that eliminates the need for a mechanical key when unlocking a guest room in this type of hotel, etc., and also makes it easy to deal with loss etc. The goal is to provide equipment.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an insertion slot for inserting a credit card owned by each customer; and determining whether the inserted card is an international card or not. a determining means; a registration means for performing a predetermined check-in registration in response to a match between the personal information written on the credit card and a password input separately; a room key information of the accommodation room related to the registration; key information creation means for creating; if the inserted card is determined to be an international card, the created room key information is written on a dedicated card built into the device; The present invention is characterized by comprising: a writing means for writing room key information onto the inserted card when the card is determined to be a card other than a credit card;

With this configuration, at least for customers who have a credit card, it is not necessary to carry a mechanical key when entering and exiting the accommodation room, and the room lock side can store personal information stored on the credit card and the same card. By providing a matching function for checking the room key information stored in the room key information, further theft prevention can be ensured.

Additionally, even if your card is lost, you can take immediate action by simply writing the room key information onto another card.

Furthermore, even if there is no blank space on the credit card, a separately issued dedicated key card can be used.

<<Description of Embodiments>> FIG. 1 is an external view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration thereof, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the software configuration thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the appearance of the device of the present invention has a shape similar to that of an electronic cash register, and the front side thereof has an insertion slot 1 for inserting a credit card owned by each customer, and a guide. For displaying etc.
A CRT 2, an ejection port 3 for ejecting a key card built into the device, and a numeric keypad 4 used for inputting a password, etc. are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment device is mainly composed of a microcomputer, that is, the main part of the microcomputer is composed of a CPU 5, a RAM 6, and a P-ROM 7, and the bus line includes a CRT 2 and a numeric keypad 4. In addition, a key card dispenser 8 and a credit card processor 9, which will be described later, are connected.

That is, the credit card processing machine 9 processes the credit card inserted through the insertion slot 1.
In addition to performing magnetic reading and writing, the device also performs magnetic writing operations on a key card built into the main body of the device, as will be described later.

Further, the key card ejection machine 8 is a mechanism for ejecting the key card magnetically written by the credit card processing machine 9 to the outside from the ejection port 3.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be systematically explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a credit card is inserted from insertion slot 1 with the power turned on (step 101 affirmative),
The system will enter a standby state for entering the PIN number. In this state, the PIN number is further input, and if it is confirmed that the personal information stored on the credit card matches the PIN number (Yes at step 102), then the credit card identification process is performed ( step
103).

That is, there are various types of credit cards, and they can be broadly classified into international cards and other cards. An international card means that both sides of the card
JIS stripes, and both sides are often used as credit cards.For this reason, such international cards do not have a blank area on the recording band, and therefore, in the present invention, key information is not stored on the credit card itself. Unable to write.

On the other hand, for regular credit cards other than international cards, JIS, JIS, etc. are printed on both sides of the card.
It is possible to store key information in a third track that is not normally used.

Therefore, in the case of a regular card other than an international card (step 130 negative), after the registration process necessary for check-in is performed (step 104), key information for the accommodation room related to the registration is created (step 150). ), this created key information is magnetically recorded in the free area of the credit card (step
106). Next, the credit card with the key information written thereon is ejected from the insertion slot 1 to the outside using a predetermined card ejector (step 107).

On the other hand, if the card is determined to be an international card in the card identification process (Yes in step 103), the above-mentioned check-in process is performed (step 108), and key information creation process is also performed (step 109).
After that, a special card built into the device will be issued.
Key information is magnetically registered on the magnetic stripe on this special card (step 110), and this special card (key card) is ejected to the outside from the ejection port 3 (step 111).

Thereafter, the credit card is ejected from the insertion slot 1 to the outside in the same manner as described above (step 107).

Therefore, each customer can obtain key information on their own credit card or on a key card separately issued by the hotel. When these cards are inserted, a well-known electronic lock will operate, confirming that the room information matches the key information obtained from the card, and locking and unlocking the room without using a mechanical key. can be done easily.

In this case, especially in cases where the key information is written on a credit card, in addition to matching the key information with the room information, personal information registered in the room concerned can be added to the judgment factors to prevent errors. Even if two cards are issued to the same room or a third party attempts to use a card with a key code magnetically written on it with malicious intent, the existence of personal information can prevent these actions.

Furthermore, even if you lose your credit card or special key card with key information attached, you can easily record new key information on a separate magnetic card of your choice. It is possible to easily deal with such loss accidents without separately preparing a large number of spares.

In the above example, we explained the case of an international card or a general-purpose credit card, but if a special card is used for a hotel chain, the magnetic stripe on either the front or back can be used as a dedicated writing track for key information. Of course, it may be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the software configuration. 1...Insertion port, 2...CRT, 3...Ejection port,
4...Numeric keypad, 5...CPU, 6...RAM, 7
...P-ROM, 8...Key card release machine, 9...
...Credit card processing machine.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An insertion slot for inserting a credit card owned by each customer; Discrimination means for determining whether the inserted card is an international card; An individual stored in the credit card; a registration means for performing a predetermined check-in registration in response to a match between the information and a password input by key input; a key information creation means for creating key information of the accommodation room related to said registration; and said insertion. If the inserted card is determined to be an international card, the created room key information is written on the special card built into the device, and if the inserted card is determined to be a card other than an international card, , a writing means for writing room key information on the inserted card; and a check-in processing device.