JPH0411898B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention is connected to a data processing center of a card issuer for credit transaction processing via a telephone line, and is connected to a data processing center of a card issuing company for credit transaction processing, and is connected to a data processing center of a card issuing company for credit transaction processing, and is connected to a data processing center of a card issuing company for credit transaction processing, and is connected to a data processing center of a card issuing company for credit transaction processing. Relates to a card credit transaction terminal device that transmits stored credit information and key-input transaction information to a data processing center as transaction data, and prints out the processing results for the corresponding transaction processing information received from the data processing center on a slip. In particular, the present invention relates to a card credit transaction terminal device with improved processing procedures during periods when a data processing center is closed.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, credit transaction processing systems have become widespread, allowing customers to buy and sell purchases without paying cash simply by presenting a credit transaction processing card (hereinafter referred to as a card) such as a shopping card or credit card. .

In the credit transaction processing system, credit transaction processing information is transmitted to the data processing center (hereinafter referred to as the center) of the card issuer using a terminal device for credit transaction processing installed at a member store of the card issuer, After a series of data processing including authorization (credit check) is performed at this center, a transaction processing slip is created at the terminal device according to the processing result, and credit transaction processing is performed.

By the way, the above-mentioned centers are not in operation all day long, and are usually closed during downtime (for example, 21:00).
~7:00) is set. Even if credit transaction processing information is sent from the terminal device to the center during this suspension period, the center will only send a command signal indicating suspension of operation, and the data will not be processed at the center. . Therefore, data communication cannot be performed during the period when the center is out of operation.
It has the disadvantage of wasting time and wasting call charges.

However, the operator of the terminal device may forget the time period during which the center is out of operation and call the center and send credit transaction processing information even though it is during the outage period. However, conventionally, there has been no means to prevent such unnecessary calls to the center, and a solution to this problem has been desired.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable data processing results to be easily grasped on the terminal device side during the period when the center is not in operation, and to prevent unnecessary calls to the center. To provide a card credit transaction terminal device which can prevent calls, eliminate waste of time and call charges, and enable card credit transactions even during a period when a center is out of operation.

[Summary of the invention]

In the card credit transaction terminal device of the present invention,
a clock unit that measures the current time, an outage time storage memory that stores an outage time period of the data processing center, and a storage content changing means that changes the outage time period stored in the outage time storage memory; After the credit information and transaction information are input by a tanking memory that can store credit information read from the card and transaction information entered by key for multiple transactions, a card processing section and a key input means,
a determination means for determining whether or not the current time measured by the timer corresponds to an operation suspension time zone stored in an operation suspension time storage memory in response to an operation of a transmission key; tanking processing means for printing out the input margin transaction result on a slip by a printing means and storing transaction data to be transmitted in the tanking memory when it is determined that the current time falls under the suspension time period; , when the determination means determines that the current time does not fall within the outage period, the automatic dialing means automatically dials the data processing center during a period other than the outage period, and the transaction is stored in the tanking memory. It is equipped with a tanking data transmission means that transmits transaction data for multiple transactions to the data processing center, making card credit transactions possible regardless of whether the data processing center is out of operation.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a terminal device (card credit transaction terminal device) installed in a member store of a card issuer, and is connected to a center 20 specific to the card issuer via a telephone switching network 30. The terminal device 10 is configured as follows. That is, a modem device (hereinafter referred to as MODEM) 11 and a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 12 for data communication with the center 20 read the credit transaction processing information recorded on the card, and the above-mentioned a card processing unit 13 for writing necessary information on the card; a keyboard 14 for inputting credit transaction processing information such as the card's PIN number, product name, amount, payment method, etc., and inputting the suspension time period of the center; A display 15 that serves as the card processing unit 13 and the keyboard 14 and displays images of the input credit transaction processing information and data received from the center 20 as needed; and at least the operation suspension time of the center 20 that is input using the keyboard 14. Storage unit 16 that stores the obi
and a printer 17 that creates and issues a transaction processing slip based on the credit transaction processing information and received data.
, a clock unit 18 that keeps track of the current time, and a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that controls the entire terminal device 10 based on a preset system program.
It consists of 19 (abbreviated as ).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the keyboard 14. As shown in the figure, numeric keys 41, various function keys 42, etc. are arranged on the operation panel, and by operating predetermined keys, each credit transaction processing information can be input and the operation period of the sensor 20 is stopped. The following inputs are to be made.

FIGS. 3a and 3b are diagrams showing a specific configuration of the storage section 16. FIG. In the figure, a shows a program ROM in which the system program is stored.

On the other hand, b in the same figure is a RAM, and this RAM is
A data table 51 that stores the center operation suspension time period inputted using the keyboard 14 along with the telephone number of the center 20, the code number of the affiliated store, etc.
and a work memory 52 that temporarily stores data retrieved from the data table 51 as needed.
and the card processing section 13 or the keyboard 1
4, a receiving buffer 54 that stores data received from the center 20, and a terminal device 10 that is used during the center operation suspension time period.
The tanking memory 55 stores tanking data processed by data processing within the tank.

Then, the center operation suspension period stored in the data table 51 and the current time ticked by the clock section 18 are set to the CPU 1 during data communication.
9, and if it is determined that the center 20 falls within the outage period, the data is processed within the terminal device 10 without data communication from the terminal device 10 to the center 20. However, so-called local slips are issued. At this time, the data processing results within the terminal device 10 are stored in the tanking memory 55, and are transmitted all at once to the center 20 when the center operation starts.

Next, the operation of the present apparatus will be explained with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of inputting the suspension time period of the center 20 using the keyboard 14. When inputting the operation stop time period, first press the setting key (PF) 42a and the set key (SET) 4 of the function keys 42.
2b, then operate the numeric keys 41 to input the operation stop start time (for example, 21:00) and set it (step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 1). Next, similarly operate the numeric keys 41 to input and set the suspension end time (for example, 7:00) (ST2). In this way, the operation suspension time period of the center 20 is inputted and stored in the data table 51 of the storage section 16.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for executing credit transaction processing. First, credit transaction processing information recorded on the card is input by passing the card through the card processing unit 13, and credit transaction processing information such as the card's PIN, product name, amount, etc. is input by key operations on the keyboard 14. Processing information is input (ST3). These margin transaction processing information are stored in the transmission buffer 53 of the storage section 16.
When the input of the credit transaction processing information is completed, the send key (send/end) 42c of the function key 42 on the keyboard 14 is input (ST4). Then, the CPU 19 compares the current time clocked by the clock section 18 with the center operation suspension period stored in the data table 51 of the storage section 16, and determines the current time as the center operation suspension period. It is determined whether or not it is within the band (ST5). If it is outside the center downtime, the connection is automatically made to the center 20, and if there is a response from the center 20, the center 20 is automatically connected to the center 20.
Data communication is performed with (ST6). Then, based on the data received from the center 20, a transaction processing slip is created and issued by the printer 17 (ST7). If a data communication error occurs at this time, the printer 17 creates and issues an error slip in which the fact is written (ST8).
In this way, when any of the slips is issued, the terminal device 10 returns to its initial state, and one credit transaction process is completed.

On the other hand, if the current time determined by the clock unit 18 is during the center operation suspension period, data processing is performed in the terminal device 10, and a local slip is created and issued by the printer 17 ( ST9). Further, the data processed in this terminal device 10 is stored in the tanking memory 55 of the storage unit 16 (ST10). This tanking memory 5
The number of data items stored in 5 is constant, and if the number of stored data items is still within a predetermined number, the terminal device 10 returns to the initial state and waits for the next credit transaction process. On the other hand, if the number of data stored in the tanking memory 55 exceeds a predetermined number, the function of the terminal device 10 is stopped.

By the way, the data stored in the tanking memory 55 is transmitted all at once to the center 20 at the same time as the center 20 starts operating.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, an interrupt process is performed at the start of center operation, and it is first determined whether data is stored in the tanking memory 55 (ST11). and if it is stored,
Automatic dialing is performed to the center 20, the data stored in the tanking memory 55 is transmitted to the center 20, and the data is processed at the center 20 (ST12).

According to this embodiment, when the center 20 is out of operation, the credit transaction processing information is transmitted within the terminal device 10 without data communication from the terminal device 10 to the center 20. Processing is done and a local slip is issued. Then, when the center 20 starts operating, the terminal device 1
Data communication is performed from the center 20 to the center 20. Therefore, during the center operation suspension time, the operator of the terminal device 10 presses the send key 4 on the keyboard 14.
2c and calls the center 20, credit transaction processing information is not sent to the center 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent data communication from being erroneously made to the center 20 during the center operation suspension time as in the conventional case, and it is possible to eliminate wasted time and wasted call charges.

Further, when an operation for transmitting the operation suspension time period is performed, data processing for the transaction processing information to be transmitted is performed within the transaction processing terminal device, and the processing result is printed out on a slip. In other words, customers can purchase products through card credit transactions and receive necessary slips regardless of whether the data processing center 20 is out of operation or in operation.

Note that if the terminal device is not equipped with tanking memory, during the period when the center is out of service, not only authorization (credit check) but also transaction data cannot be sent at all even later, so credit transactions using cards are prohibited. Was.

Furthermore, the processing results in that case are stored in the tanking memory 55. The results of each treatment accumulated in this tanking memory 55 are automatically transmitted to the data processing center 20 all at once during a period other than when the data processing center 20 is out of operation.
Therefore, the operator can perform card transaction processing operations in the same manner as during normal operations without worrying about the period during which the data processing center 20 is out of operation. That is, key operations are simplified, and the probability of key operation errors can be reduced.

In addition, each data of transaction processing executed during the outage period is once stored in the tanking memory 55 and then automatically transmitted to the data processing center 20 during the outage period, so the operator can perform a resending operation. There's no need to.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the data stored in the tanking memory 55 is transmitted all at once at the start of center operation, but the data may be transmitted when a predetermined number of data are stored in the tanking memory 55. Alternatively, the data may be transmitted when a transmission request is received from the center 20. It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the terminal device is provided with a clock section for determining the current time, and the outage period of the data processing center is stored in the storage section, and the data stored in the storage section is When the processing center's operation suspension period and the current time determined by the clock section are compared during data communication, and as a result, the current time is determined to fall within the operation suspension period of the data processing center. prints out and accumulates the data processing results without performing data communication from the terminal device to the data processing center, and transmits the data processing results to the data processing center when the current time does not fall within the suspension period. As a result, data processing results can be easily grasped on the terminal device side, making it possible to avoid problems before they occur.It is also possible to prevent unnecessary calls from the terminal device to the center during periods when the center is not operating, thereby reducing wasted time and call charges. It is possible to eliminate waste, and card credit transactions are possible even during periods when the center is out of operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of the keyboard, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the storage section. FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing a specific configuration, and flowcharts for explaining the operation. 10...Terminal device, 11...Modulator/demodulator (MODEM), 12...Network control unit (NCU), 1
3...Card processing unit, 14...Keyboard, 15
... Display, 16 ... Storage section, 17 ... Printer, 18 ... Clock section, 19 ... CPU, 20
...Data processing center (center), 41...Numeric key, 42...Function key, 51...Data table, 52...Work memory line, 53...
...Transmission buffer, 54...Reception buffer, 55...
…tanking memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Line connection means 11 and 12 connected via a telephone line to a data processing center 20 that performs authorization related to credit transactions; automatic dialing means that sends a dial signal specifying a data processing center through a line connection means; a card processing section 18 that reads credit information from a card storing credit information necessary for credit transactions; and transaction information regarding credit transactions. Key input means 1 for inputting
4, a transmission key 42c that is operated when transmitting transaction data such as credit information and transaction information to a data processing center, and a printing means 17 that prints out the credit transaction results on a slip. , a clock unit 18 that measures the current time; an outage time storage memory 51 that stores an outage time period of the data processing center; and a memory for changing the outage time period stored in the outage time storage memory. a content changing means; a tanking memory 55 capable of storing credit information read from the card and transaction information entered by key for multiple transactions; and after the credit information and transaction information are input by the card processing section and key input means; , determination means (ST5) for determining whether or not the current time measured by the timer corresponds to the operation suspension time zone stored in the operation suspension time storage memory in response to the operation of the transmission key; ), and when this determination means determines that the current time falls within the suspension period, the input credit transaction result is printed out on a slip by the printing means, and the transaction data to be transmitted is sent to the tanker. tanking processing means (ST10) for storing in a memory; and when the determination means determines that the current time does not fall within the suspension period, the automatic dialing means sends data to the data processing center during a period other than the suspension period; tanking data transmitting means (ST12) for automatically dialing and transmitting transaction data for multiple transactions stored in the tanking memory to the data processing center;
A card credit transaction terminal device comprising: a card credit transaction terminal device that enables card credit transactions regardless of whether or not the data processing center is suspended.