JP2509995B2 - Credit terminal - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a credit terminal having a function of automatically determining whether a credit transaction is possible or not when a communication abnormality occurs with a higher-level computer that is an inquiry destination.

[Prior Art] For example, a credit transaction processing system that pays for a product sold by a credit card is generally
A credit terminal having a function of registering sales data of each product is installed in the store, and a host computer is installed in a credit company that issues a credit card to connect them online.

In such a credit transaction processing system, the credit terminal is configured to operate as follows. That is, when payment by a credit card is made for a product registered for sale at a credit terminal, a card such as a credit company name (company code) and a membership number magnetically recorded on the credit card brought by the customer by the card reader. Read the information. At the same time, the password entered by the customer from the keypad is taken in. When the credit payment method designated by the customer is input and the transmission key is subsequently operated, the above card information, personal identification number, credit payment amount, and payment method are transmitted to the host computer of the corresponding credit company as credit transaction data. Then
Inquire about the availability of credit transactions.

The host computer of each card issuing company stores customer data such as the membership number of the customer who has made a contract, the personal identification number, the permissible transaction amount set for each customer, and the permissible balance obtained by subtracting the amount already spent from the permissible transaction amount. A stored customer data file is provided, and when the credit transaction data is received from the credit terminal, the customer data file is searched and the personal identification number of the customer matches.
When it is confirmed that the credit payment amount does not exceed the allowable balance, a transaction permission response is returned to the credit terminal.

Therefore, the credit terminal device that has received the transaction permission response from the host computer issues a credit sales slip as shown in FIG. 8 based on the corresponding credit transaction data and ends one credit transaction. ing.

However, in the credit transaction processing system as described above, if an error occurs in the communication between the credit terminal and the host computer and the device goes offline,
Inability to inquire about credit transactions. Therefore, usually, the maximum amount of credit payment amount set for each credit company is held in the internal or external memory of the credit terminal, and when offline, it is checked whether the credit payment amount is within the maximum amount of the credit company concerned. When the amount is within the maximum limit, it is determined that the credit transaction is successful and a credit slip is issued. However, in this case, since the credit transaction data has not been transmitted to the host computer of the credit company in question, it is necessary to re-enter the credit transaction data at the store side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. A predetermined offline mark M is printed on the lower right part to distinguish it from the online credit slip.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, it is general that the re-input work of credit transaction data when offline is performed after the store is closed, and normally, the clerk is offline from all the credit vouchers for the day arranged in the transaction order. Taking credit M off, the credit voucher when offline was taken out, the credit transaction data printed on the voucher was re-entered, and after the entry, it was returned to the original position according to a series of transaction numbers. Therefore, the clerk turns all the credit slips one by one, and the offline mark M
Since it is complicated and time-consuming, work efficiency is low, and there is a possibility that credit transaction data may be re-entered due to oversight of the offline mark M.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a credit terminal device which can reliably manage an offline credit voucher, improve the workability of re-inputting credit transaction data, and prevent re-entry omissions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is connected to a host computer equipped with a customer data file via a communication line and transmits the inputted customer credit transaction data to the host computer via the communication line. An identification number counter and an identification number counted by this identification number counter in a credit terminal that inquires whether or not a credit transaction is possible and issues a predetermined credit voucher based on the credit transaction data when there is a transaction permission response from the host computer. A transaction for determining whether or not a credit transaction is possible based on an offline buffer in which a storage area is formed, communication abnormality detection means for detecting a communication abnormality with respect to a host computer, and credit transaction data input when the detection means detects a communication abnormality. Acceptability determination means and this determination means are credit transactions When the determination is successful, a credit slip is issued and the offline data processing means for storing the identification number of the identification number counter in the corresponding area of the offline buffer, and the contents of the offline buffer in which the data is stored by this processing means are printed on the recording paper. And an offline report issuing means for issuing as a credit offline report.

Further, it is preferable to provide index receipt issuing means for printing the identification number of the identification number counter on the recording paper and issuing it as an index receipt when the transaction permission / inhibition determination means determines that the credit transaction has been established.

[Operation] If the credit terminal has such means,
When the customer's credit transaction data is input, this credit transaction data is first transmitted to the host computer to inquire whether or not the credit transaction is possible. Here, when the communication abnormality detection means detects a communication abnormality with respect to the host computer, the credit transaction data is used to determine whether or not the credit transaction is possible. When the transaction is successful, a credit slip is issued and the identification number of the identification number counter is offline. It is stored in the buffer. The transaction number data corresponding to the offline credit transaction stored in the offline buffer is printed on a recording paper and issued as a credit offline report. Therefore, by extracting the credit slip that matches the identification number printed in the above credit offline report from the bundle of all credit slips provided in the order of transactions, the credit slip when offline can be reliably and promptly extracted, and the credit transaction Re-entry of data is prevented.

Further, by providing the index receipt issuing means, the index receipt is issued together with the credit slip when offline. Therefore, by adhering and storing the index receipt on the offline credit slip, the online credit slip and the offline credit slip can be easily selected.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a credit transaction processing system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG.
Is a credit terminal, 2 is a file controller, and a plurality of credit terminals 1 and one file controller 2 are connected inline by a transmission line 3,
It forms a closed loop. File controller 2
Are connected in-line to the store controller 5 via the transmission line 4. The store controller 5 is online connected to the host computer 8 of each credit company via the telephone line 6 and the telephone exchange network 7 in the telephone office.

The host computer 8 of each credit company is provided with a customer data file in which a member number, a personal identification number, an allowable transaction amount, an allowable balance, etc. are stored as data relating to the customer who issued the credit card of the company, and whether or not the credit transaction is possible is determined. And so on.

The file controller 2 includes a product data file in which unit prices and the like are set corresponding to product codes of each product, and controls sales registration work in each credit terminal 1. Further, it has a pass-through function between each credit terminal 1 and the store controller 5.

The store controller 5 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a CRT display, a printer, a keyboard, etc., and is used to set data for each credit terminal 1 and the file controller 2 and to store products registered in each credit terminal 1. Performs sales totalization work.

The credit terminal 1 also has a function of registering the product sales data, and as shown in FIG. 2, is used for the control calculation of the CPU 1 as the main body of the control unit, the ROM 12 in which the program data and the like are stored and the CPU 11 is stored. RAM 13 in which various memories are formed, a clock circuit 14 for measuring the current time, a transmission control circuit 15 for controlling data transmission / reception with the host model through the transmission line 3, a mode switch 16 and a keypad. I take in the signal from 17 and output it to CPU 11
/ O port 18, keyboard circuit 20 for input processing of key signals from keyboard 19, display control circuit 2 for driving CRT display 21 to display characters and the like corresponding to display data
2.Printer control circuit 2 that controls the drive of the dot printer 23
4. A card reader control circuit 26 for processing a read signal from the card reader 25, and the like.

The mode switch 16 is for selecting various business modes such as "registration", "payment" and "setting", and is operated by a key.

The keypad 17 is provided with a ten-key pad, which is used when the customer inputs a personal identification number.

On the keyboard 19, a commodity registration key 19A for inputting a sale commodity code, sales points, etc., a credit key 19B for declaring a credit transaction, a payment method input key 19C for a credit transaction, and transmission of credit transaction data. Various keys such as a transmission key 19D for instructing are provided. The credit key 19B functions as a registration closing key.

The dot printer 23 is for printing merchandise sales data on a receipt and an internal recording paper (journal), and prints credit transaction data on a predetermined slip attached when a credit transaction is completed.

The card reader 25 is for reading card information such as a credit company name, a member number, and an expiration date recorded on a credit card.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 13 has a credit company name area 31A, a member number area 31B, and a payment method area 31.
C, credit transaction data memory 31 consisting of expiration date area 31D and purchase amount area 31E, transaction limit amount set by each credit company, limit table 32 set for each credit company, transaction number as identification number is stored Transaction number area 33A, Credit number area 33
B, offline buffer 33 consisting of issue time area 33C and responsible person code area 33D, counter memory 34 of transaction number counter A that counts up each time a transaction is made, counts each time a credit transaction is made The counter memory 35 of the credit number counter B to be upped, the responsible person code memory 36 for storing the responsible person code registered by the sign-on business, the communication abnormality state to the host computer 8 of the corresponding credit company, that is, when the credit transaction is established in the offline state. A flag memory 37 of an I receipt issuance flag F indicating whether or not to issue an index receipt (hereinafter abbreviated as I receipt), and an offline data number counter C that counts up each time data is stored in the offline buffer 33. Counter memory 38 , The offline buffer 33
A counter memory 39 of the read counter D, which counts up each time data is read from the memory, is formed.

Then, the CPU 11 is programmed so as to execute the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 in a state where the “registration” mode is selected by the mode switch 16.
That is, the product registration key 19A as ST (step) 1
When the product code of the product to be sold is input by the key operation of, the file controller 2 is inquired to obtain the amount of money corresponding to the input product code, and the points and the amount of money are transmitted to the file controller 2 and the amount of money is stored in the data memory. Accumulate in 31 purchase amount area 31E (normal registration processing).

After that, when the registration closing operation is performed by the key operation in ST2, the processing according to the closing type is executed.
Here, when the credit key 19B instructs the closing of the credit transaction, the card information of the credit card inserted in the card reader 25 is read in ST3. Then, the credit company name, the member number and the expiration date are stored in the corresponding areas 31A, 31B and 31D of the data memory 31, respectively. Further, the personal identification number input by the keypad 17 is taken in, the payment method designated by the payment method input key 19C is taken in, and the payment method is stored in the area 31C of the data memory 31.

Next, when the transmission key 19D is entered at ST4, the entered card information, personal identification number, and payment are sent in order to inquire whether the credit transaction is possible to the host computer 8 of the credit company that matches the credit company name read as the card information. Method and total amount of purchase in the purchase amount area 31E is transmitted to the store controller 5 via the line 3, the file controller 2 and the line 4. Here, the store controller 5 inquires through the line 6, the telephone exchange network 7 and the line 6 to the host computer 8 of the corresponding credit company whether or not the credit transaction is possible. Then, when there is a response from the host computer 8, the host computer 8 transmits it to the inquiring credit terminal 1. On the other hand, if there is no response from the host computer 8, a response indicating that is transmitted to the inquiring credit terminal 1.

Therefore, the credit terminal 1 that made the inquiry
The CPU 11 starts a timer after transmitting data, and if a response is received from the host computer 8 within a certain time, the credit terminal 1, line 3, file controller 2, line 4, store controller 5, line 6, telephone switching network
7. It is judged that the communication line connecting the line 6 and the host computer 8 of the credit company concerned is normal, and the type of response is checked. If the response from the host computer 8 is a sales permission response, the dot printer 23 is driven as ST5, each data in the credit transaction data memory 31, the count value of the transaction number counter A (receipt number), the credit number counter. Based on the count value (credit number) of B, the responsible person code (clerk code) of the responsible person code memory 36, and the like, the credit slip is printed and issued, and this processing is ended.

If the response from the host computer 8 is a transaction disapproval response or an error response, in ST6, the transaction termination is displayed on the CRT display 21, and this processing ends.

On the other hand, if there is no response within a certain time after transmitting the data, or if there is a response but the response is from the store controller 5, the credit terminal 1, line 3, file controller 2, the line 4, the store controller 5, the line 6, the telephone exchange network 7, the line 6, and at least a part of the communication line connecting the host computer 8 of the credit company concerned has an abnormality and is in an offline state. Judgment (communication abnormality detection means), in ST7, read the transaction limit amount of the corresponding credit company from the limit amount table 32, and determine whether the total purchase amount in the purchase amount area 31E exceeds the transaction limit amount. (Means for determining whether or not the transaction is possible). If it exceeds the limit, it is determined that the credit transaction is not possible, and the transaction suspension process of ST6 is executed.

On the other hand, when the amount is less than the limit, the dot printer 23 is driven as ST8, each data in the credit transaction data memory 31, the count value of the transaction number counter A (receipt number), the count value of the credit number counter B ( Credit number), responsible person code memory 36, and prints out a credit slip based on the responsible person code (personnel code) in memory 36,
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, an off-line mark M is printed on the lower right portion of the slip, and this credit slip 80 is issued.
Further, as ST9, the count value of the transaction number counter A (transaction number), the count value of the credit number counter B (credit number), the current time read from the clock circuit 14 (the slip issue time), and the person in charge of the responsible person code memory 36. The code is stored in each of the areas 33A to 33D of the offline buffer 33, and the offline data number counter C is incremented by "+1". (Offline Data Processing Means) Next, in ST10, the state of the I receipt issuing flag F is checked. Then, when the flag F is reset (0), the CRT display 21 displays the operation guidance for copying the emboss of the credit card, and this processing is ended.

On the other hand, if the flag F is set (1), the process of issuing the I receipt 70 as shown in FIG. 7 is performed, and then this process is ended.

In FIG. 7, 71 is the current date, 72 is a cashier number preset in the terminal 1, 73 is a message indicating that the terminal is offline, 74 is a credit number, 75 is a responsible person code, and 76 is The transaction number (receipt number), 77 is the current time.

In addition, the CPU 11 is settled by the mode switch 16
With the mode selected, the program is set to execute the offline report issuing process shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when a code indicating the issuance of the offline report is keyed in using the keyboard 19, first the read counter D is initialized to "0" and then ST
As 11, the counter D is incremented by "+1". Then, in ST12, the D-th data (transaction number, credit number, slip issue time and responsible person code) in the offline buffer 33 is read out, and the dot printer 23 is drive-controlled to print out on a receipt. After a while
The read counter D and the offline data number counter C are compared, and if the counter D does not exceed the counter C,
Since there is unread data in the offline buffer 33, the process returns to ST11.

In this way, if the counter D exceeds the counter C in ST13, all the offline credit data stored and held in the offline buffer 33 is read and printed out on the receipt.
Issue as a credit offline report 60 as shown in the figure. After that, each area of the offline buffer 33 is cleared, the offline data number counter C is initialized to "0", and this processing ends.

In FIG. 6, 61 is the current date, 62 is a message showing a credit offline report, 63 is the count value of the read counter D, 64 is a credit number, 65 is a responsible person code, 66 is a transaction number (receipt number). , 67 is the slip issue time, 68 is the count value of the transaction number counter A, and 69 is the current time.

In the present embodiment thus configured, the operator of the credit terminal 1 registers the sales data of the product purchased by the customer with the product registration key 19A. When the customer desires to pay with a credit card, the card information of the credit card is read by the card reader 25 and the credit key 19B is input. In addition, the customer is asked to enter the personal identification number using the keypad 17, and the customer's desired payment method is entered with the payment method input key 19C.
After inputting with, operate the send key 19D. Then, the credit transaction data such as card information, personal identification number, payment method, and total purchase amount is transmitted to the host computer 8 of the corresponding credit company via the file controller 2, the store controller 5, etc., and an inquiry as to whether or not the credit transaction is possible is made. Be done.

Here, if there is no normal response from the host computer 8 within a fixed time after transmitting the data, it is possible that an abnormality has occurred in the communication line connecting the credit terminal 1 to the host computer 8 and is in an offline state. Detected, the credit transaction is judged by the credit terminal alone. That is, it is judged whether or not the total purchase amount of the customer exceeds the transaction limit amount of the corresponding credit issuing company, and if not, the credit slip in which the offline mark M is printed as the credit transaction is completed.
80 is issued. If the issue of the I receipt is selected (flag = 1), the I receipt 70 on which the transaction number, the credit number, the responsible person code, etc. are printed is issued. Further, the transaction number, the credit number, the time when the slip is issued, and the responsible person code are stored in the offline buffer 33.

Therefore, the operator adheres the I receipt 70 to the credit slip 80 for store copies and stores it together with other credit slips in the order of transaction numbers. At this time, the I receipt 70 is attached to the back surface of the credit slip 80 so that the credit number 74, the responsible person code 75, the transaction number 76 and the time 77 can be seen from the front surface side of the slip 80.

Then, at the time of payment after the store is closed, the operator issues an instruction to issue the credit offline report 60. Then, all the data in the offline buffer 33 is sequentially printed on the receipt and issued as the credit offline report 60.

Therefore, the operator selects all the offline credit slips 80 matching the transaction number on the report 60 from all the bundles of credit slips for the current day arranged in the order of the transaction numbers, and extracts all of them. At this time, the I receipt 70 is adhered to each offline credit slip. Then, necessary data such as the credit company, member number, payment method, total purchase amount, purchase date, etc. of the offline credit slip 80 extracted from the store controller 5 is keyed in and transmitted to the host computer 8 of the corresponding credit company. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the necessary data for the credit transaction that occurred during offline is stored in the offline buffer 33.
It is stored and held in and is printed out as a credit offline report 60. Therefore, the operator can perform an offline report 60 from a bundle of credit documents arranged in transaction order.
Since it suffices to extract the slips that match the transaction number recorded in (1), there is no need to turn the slips one by one and check the presence or absence of the offline mark M as in the conventional case, and the workability can be improved. In addition, since the report 60 prints out the data related to all credit transactions during offline, it is possible to reliably extract all the credit slips 80 during offline,
It is possible to prevent omission of input of credit transaction data that occurred while offline.

In addition, I credit receipt 80 on credit slip 80 when offline
By adhering and storing the above, the offline credit slip 80 and the online credit slip can be easily selected and extracted. At this time, I receipt
By comparing and collating the content of 70 with the content of the offline credit slip 80, it can be confirmed that the extracted slip is an offline credit slip.

Further, since it is possible to select whether or not to issue the I receipt 70, if it is easy to sort out the credit slips 80 at the time of offline with only the credit offline report 60, it is possible to waste the receipt by stopping the issue of the I receipt 70. It can be prevented. Moreover, when the issuance of the I receipt 70 is stopped, the emboss copy guidance of the credit card is displayed, which is practical.

Although the transaction number (receipt number) is shown as the identification number in the above embodiment, a credit number may be used as the identification number. In this case, the credit number counter B functions as the identification number counter. Further, although the case where the credit offline report 60 is issued at the time of settlement work is shown, the program may be set so as to be issued at the time of inspection work. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably manage an offline credit slip, improve workability of re-inputting credit transaction data, and prevent re-entry omission. A credit terminal can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a credit transaction processing system, FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a credit terminal, and FIG. 3 is a RAM of the credit terminal. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the main processing of the CPU in the credit terminal, FIG. 6 is an example diagram of a credit offline report, FIG. 7 is an example diagram of I receipt, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an example of an offline credit slip. 11 …… CPU, 12 …… ROM, 13 …… RAM, 14 …… Clock circuit, 1
6 …… Mode switch, 17 …… Keypad, 19 …… Keyboard, 21 …… CRT display, 23 …… Dot printer, 25 …… Card reader, 31 …… Credit transaction data memory, 32 …… Limit amount table, 33 …… Offline buffer, 60 …… Credit offline report, 70 …… I
Receipt, 80 ... Credit slip when offline.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A high-order computer equipped with a customer data file is connected via a communication line, and the entered credit transaction data of the customer is transmitted to the high-order computer via the communication line to ask whether or not credit transaction is possible. In addition, in a credit terminal that issues a predetermined credit voucher based on the credit transaction data when there is a transaction permission response from the host computer, the identification number counter and the storage area of the identification number counted by the identification number counter are A formed off-line buffer, a communication abnormality detecting means for detecting a communication abnormality with respect to the host computer, and a transaction possibility determining means for determining whether or not a credit transaction is possible based on the credit transaction data input when the detection means detects a communication abnormality. And this determination means that the credit transaction is successful When the credit slip is issued, the offline data processing means for issuing the credit voucher and storing the identification number of the identification number counter in the corresponding area of the offline buffer, and the contents of the offline buffer in which the data is stored by the processing means are recorded on a recording paper. A credit terminal, comprising: an offline report issuing means for printing on a credit card and issuing it as a credit offline report. 2. An index receipt issuing means for printing the identification number of the identification number counter on a recording paper and issuing it as an index receipt when the transaction permission / inhibition determination means determines that a credit transaction has been established. The credit terminal according to Item 1.