JPH09282543A - Unauthorized act preventing device for charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unauthorized act preventing device for a charging device by which the unauthorized act in the charging device of pay television, etc., can be effectively prevented. SOLUTION: A charging device 2 is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether a coin detecting signal is normal or not, and when this discriminating means judges the coin detecting signal is normal, the number of inserted coins or the like is reported to a front computer 3. When it is judged the coin detecting signal is abnormal, alarm is issued to an intruder person by sounding a buzzer and indicating 'error' on the screen of television and further, the generation of illegal action is reported to the front computer 3. Therefore, when the iniquity unauthorized act is detected even just once, the warning operation can be performed and the following iniquity can effectively be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pay CATV installed in a guest room of a hotel, a refrigerator, or a game machine,
The present invention relates to a fraud prevention device for a billing device for preventing fraudulent actions of a billing device such as a karaoke house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a CAT installed in a hotel guest room, etc.
A billing device such as V detects the insertion of a coin from a coin insertion slot by a coin sensor provided in the insertion slot and samples a pulse width signal corresponding to the passage time of the coin passing through the coin insertion slot. If the pulse width is within the preset allowable minimum value (Tmin) and maximum allowable value (Tmax), it is determined to be normal and coin insertion is detected. If the pulse width is outside the allowable range, it is determined to be fraudulent activity. It was configured not to detect the coin insertion.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, a plate-shaped member in which silver paper is wound around a metal piece or a cardboard having a width approximately equal to that of an ordinary coin is used, and its tip is used as a coin slot. In the inserted state, the tip is moved left and right in the vicinity of the coin sensor, and by repeating trial and error, the pulse width (Tmin ≦
The signal of (T ≦ Tmax) can be generated, and by such an action, the television or the like can be illegally watched without inserting a coin. If you get used to this operation, you can easily generate a signal with the same pulse width as when you insert a coin, and in the conventional device, you can only ignore an abnormal signal outside the allowable range. If you learn this, you can perform such fraudulent acts any number of times thereafter, which was a big problem for hotel managers. In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a fraud prevention device for a billing device, which is capable of issuing a warning to a fraudulent person by an alarm sound or the like when detecting a fraudulent activity and reporting it to a device administrator or the like. The purpose is to provide.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention firstly provides a fraud prevention device for a billing device connected to a controlled device, wherein coin detection is performed based on coin insertion. A coin detecting means for outputting a signal, a determining means for determining whether or not a coin is normally inserted based on the coin detecting signal, and an alarming means capable of issuing an alarm sound to detect an abnormal coin detecting signal, And an alarm driving means for driving the alarm means based on the discrimination of the abnormal coin detection signal by the discrimination means. When a coin is inserted into the billing device, the coin detecting means outputs a coin detection signal having a pulse width proportional to the passage time of the coin, for example.
The discriminating means discriminates, based on, for example, the pulse width of the coin detection signal, whether the coin detection signal is based on the normal insertion of a coin or is an illegal act. As a result, when the coin detection signal is abnormal, the alarm drive means drives the alarm means to warn that the act is fraudulent, for example, by a buzzer sound. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent subsequent fraud.

Secondly, a fraud prevention device for a billing device connected to a controlled device, wherein coin detecting means for outputting a coin detection signal based on insertion of a coin, and coin based on the coin detection signal. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the insertion of the coin is normal, and a display control means for transmitting a display signal indicating that the coin is illegal to the controlled device based on the discrimination of the abnormal coin detection signal by the discriminating means. A fraud prevention device of a billing device, wherein the fraud prevention device is provided so as to be able to display that the display device of the controlled device is fraudulent based on the display signal. When a coin is inserted into the billing device, the coin detecting means outputs a coin detection signal having a pulse width proportional to the passage time of the coin, for example. The discriminating means discriminates based on, for example, the pulse width of the coin detection signal, whether the coin detection signal is based on the normal insertion of a coin or is a fraudulent act. If the coin detection signal is abnormal, the display control means sends a signal indicating that it is illegal to the controlled device, and as a result,
The fact is displayed on the display unit or the like of the controlled device. For example, if the controlled device is a television, it is possible to warn that a fraudulent act is displayed on the screen. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent subsequent fraud.

Thirdly, a fraud prevention device for a billing device, which is equipped with a communication means connected to a controlled device and capable of transmitting operation information of the device to another computer, wherein coin detection is performed based on coin insertion. A coin detecting unit that outputs a signal and a discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the coin is inserted normally based on the coin detecting signal are provided, and the communication is performed based on the detection of an abnormal coin detecting signal by the discriminating unit. The fraud prevention device of the billing device is configured to notify the other computer of the fraud by the means. When a coin is inserted into the billing device, the coin detecting means outputs a coin detection signal having a pulse width proportional to the passage time of the coin, for example. The discriminating means discriminates based on, for example, the pulse width of the coin detection signal, whether the coin detection signal is based on the normal insertion of a coin or is a fraudulent act. As a result, when the coin detection signal is normal, the communication means transmits the operation information such as the number of coins inserted to another computer installed at, for example, the front of the hotel. On the other hand, if the coin detection signal is abnormal, the communication means notifies the computer that fraud has occurred. Therefore, the hotel manager or the like can easily know that the fraudulent act has occurred.

Fourth, a fraud prevention device for a billing device, which is equipped with a communication means connected to a controlled device and capable of transmitting operation information of the device to another computer, wherein coin detection is performed based on coin insertion. A coin detecting means for outputting a signal, a determining means for determining whether or not a coin is normally inserted based on the coin detecting signal, and an alarming means capable of issuing an alarm sound to detect an abnormal coin detecting signal, It is illegal for the controlled device to drive the alarm means based on the determination of the abnormal coin detection signal by the determination means, and the controlled device based on the detection of the abnormal coin detection signal by the determination means. Display control means for transmitting a display signal to that effect is provided, and based on the detection of the abnormal coin detection signal by the discrimination means, the display section displays the fact that the coin is illegal, and the communication hand The composed of tamperproof device charging apparatus characterized by being configured to notify is invalid in the other computers. When the discriminating means determines that the act is fraudulent based on the coin detection signal, the alarm drive means drives the alarm means to generate an alarm sound, and the display control means indicates that the display part of the controlled device is illegal. A signal is sent out and an indication that it is illegal is displayed on the display unit. Further, the communication means notifies the computer, such as the front desk of the hotel, that the fraudulent activity has occurred. Therefore, subsequent fraud can be effectively prevented, and the administrator of the hotel can easily know that the fraud occurred.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a fraud prevention device for a billing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of a CPU 6 of the device by means of the function realizing means. In these figures, 1 is a guest room of a hotel or the like. A television as a controlled device installed at 2, a billing device connected to the television, and a front computer connected to the billing device and installed at a front desk of a hotel or the like.

In the billing device 2, reference numeral 4 is a coin sensor (coin detecting means), and the sensor inserts a coin passage 5a in the back of the coin slot 5 of the billing device 2 as shown in FIG. It is provided, detects the passage time of the coin sensor 4, and outputs a low-level pulse signal (FIG. 3B) having a pulse width T proportional to the passage time as a sensor signal (coin detection signal). It is a thing.

Reference numeral 7 is a buzzer (warning means) for generating a buzzer sound as a warning by a signal from the warning driving means 6c when the CPU 6 detects an illegal act based on a processing procedure described later, and 8 is a program. Interrupt signal (Fig. 3
(A)) A timer for generating, 9 is a ROM storing a program of a processing procedure described later and a RAM for reading and writing.
It is a storage device including.

The CPU 6 includes an interface circuit with peripheral devices such as the buzzer 7 and performs various processes based on a processing procedure described later. That is, the CPU 6 increments the built-in coin counter (counting means) 6b when it is determined by the discriminating means 6a that the coins have been normally inserted, and based on the discrimination result of the discriminating means 6a, When it is determined that a fraudulent act has been performed, the alarm driving means 6c is driven to generate a buzzer sound, a display command is given to the display control means 6d to display an "error" on the TV screen (display section), and communication is performed. The means 6e sends various data to the front computer 3 (a signal indicating that an illegal act has occurred and the room number thereof). Further, the CPU 6
Normally determines whether or not the program being viewed on the television 1 is a pay program, and if the pay program is being viewed, the viewing time, the number of coins inserted, and the like The information (operation information) related to is transmitted to the front computer 3. The operation of the CPU 6 will be described in detail later in the operation description.

The front computer 3 receives and stores a signal from the CPU 6 of the billing device 2 indicating that an illegal act has occurred, and displays the fact on the CRT 3a or outputs 3b to the printer, etc. To inform that there has been a misconduct, the room number, etc. In addition, normally, the CPU 6 is communicated with the billing device 2.
The information such as the viewing time of the pay program on TV 1 and the number of coins inserted is obtained from the customer. When the customer inserts a coin to watch the pay program, it is determined that the charge has been paid in the guest room, and the coin is paid. If you watch a pay program without inputting, you will be charged as a viewing fee at checkout.

The present invention is constructed as described above. Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 5 of the billing device 2, the coin passes through the coin sensor 4 in the insertion slot 5, and the sensor signal obtained from the sensor 4 at this time is detected by the discrimination means 6a of the CPU 6. (Fig. 6
P1). As shown in FIG. 3B, the sensor signal has a low level with a pulse width T when a coin passes through the sensor, and otherwise has a high level.

The discriminating means 6a uses the pulse width T of the sensor signal as the interrupt timing of the timer (see FIG. 3).
Sampling is performed in (a)) (P2), and the pulse width T is determined (P3). At this time, the discrimination means 6a is
If the pulse width T is greater than or equal to the allowable minimum value (Tmin) and less than or equal to the allowable maximum value (Tmax), it is determined that the sensor signal is normal, that is, a normal coin is inserted, and the coin counter 6b is incremented (P4), display control means 6 d sends out a display signal to the television so as to display the count value of the coin counter 6b on the screen of the television 1 (P5).

Therefore, if the inserted coin is normal, the display control means 6d displays the coin count value on the television screen, for example, "¥ 100" (FIG. 5).
(A)). After that, if the inserted coin is normal, the processing procedure from P1 to P5 is repeated, the coin counter 6b is incremented, and if the inserted coin is, for example, five coins, the amount (¥ 50
0) is displayed on the television screen by the display control means 6d (see FIG. 5 (a)). The viewing time of the pay program, the number of inserted coins, etc. are transmitted from the communication means 6e to the front computer 3 as needed.

On the other hand, in the discrimination means 6a, the pulse width T of the sensor signal is in the permissible range (Tmin≤T≤Tma).
If it is determined to be other than x) (P3), that is, if an illegal signal is determined to be generated, the alarm drive means 6c sends an alarm drive signal to the buzzer 7 and immediately sounds the buzzer 7 (P6). Thereafter, the display control means 6d issues an error display command to the television 1 (P7), and the screen shown in FIG.
An "error" display as shown in (b) is displayed. Further, the CPU 6 uses the communication means 6e to cause the front computer 3 to indicate "an error has occurred", "the number of times of fraud has occurred",
A signal indicating the "room number" or the like is transmitted (P8), and the drive of the buzzer 7 is stopped after 3 seconds have elapsed (P9, P10).

The front computer 3 has the CP
It stores the information sent from U6, and then the administrator operates the keys to display the above information on the CRT 3a.
Can be displayed on the screen or output to the printer 3b, whereby the administrator can know that an error has occurred, the number of times the error has occurred, the room number, and the like. Next, the CPU 6 erases the error display on the screen of the television 1 by the display control means 6d (P11), and thereafter, the coin counter 6b is normally inserted without incrementing the count value. The count value of the coin counter 6b for the coins is displayed on the screen of the television 1 (P12), and the next coin input standby state is set.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to generate a sensor signal having a normal pulse width by a fraudulent act by a metal piece M having the same width as a coin. However, it is necessary to try cheating a few times in order to generate a normal sensor signal, and it is extremely rare that cheating can be performed without generating any cheating signal. In this case, an illegal signal is generated when the metal piece M or the like is first inserted.
The present invention is focused on this point, and if the occurrence of an illegal signal is detected even once, a warning is issued on the buser and the TV screen, and a notification is made to the front desk. A warning can be given, which can effectively prevent further fraud. That is,
While performing fraudulent acts several times, once every few times, rather than a device including the possibility of being detected as a normal coin insertion, a warning is given by only one fraudulent act like the present invention. The issuing device has a significantly higher effect of prohibiting fraud.

Further, since the fraudulent activity is reported to the front desk by computer communication, various countermeasures can be taken against the fraudulent activity in the operation of the hotel.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the occurrence of an illegal signal is detected even once, an alarm sound, for example, a warning on the TV screen, a warning operation such as a notification to the front desk, etc. is performed. Therefore, it is possible to immediately perform the warning operation at the time of the first occurrence of the illegal signal, and thereby, it is possible to extremely effectively prevent the subsequent illegal acts. In addition, since fraudulent acts are reported to the front desk by computer communication, various actions can be taken against fraudulent acts in the operation of the hotel. Further, the present invention can be easily realized by ordinary computer technology, and its effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a fraud prevention device of a charging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the CPU of the prevention device by a function realizing means.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an interrupt timing of a timer, and FIG. 3B is a waveform diagram showing a sensor signal of a coin sensor.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of the coin insertion slot of the prevention device.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are front views of a screen of a television connected to the prevention device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU of the prevention device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 TV 2 Billing Device 3 Front Computer 4 Coin Sensor 6 CPU 6a Discriminating Means 6c Alarm Driving Means 6d Display Control Means 6e Communication Means 7 Buzzer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 18, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The discriminating means 6a uses the pulse width T of the sensor signal as the interrupt timing of the timer (see FIG. 3).
Sampling is performed in (a)) (P2), and the pulse width T is determined (P3). At this time, the discrimination means 6a is
If the pulse width T is greater than or equal to the allowable minimum value (Tmin) and less than or equal to the allowable maximum value (Tmax), it is determined that the sensor signal is normal, that is, a normal coin is inserted, and the coin counter 6b is incremented (P4), The display control means 6d sends a display signal to the television 1 to display the count value of the coin counter 6b on the screen of the television 1 (P5).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuharu Nakajima 4909-6 Toyooka, Hiji-cho, Hayami-gun, Oita Prefecture

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A fraud prevention device for a billing device connected to a controlled device, comprising coin detecting means for outputting a coin detection signal based on coin insertion, and coin insertion based on the coin detection signal. Discriminating means for discriminating whether the coin is normal or not, an alarming means capable of warning the detection of an abnormal coin detecting signal with an alarm sound, and an alarming means for discriminating the abnormal coin detecting signal by the discriminating means. A fraud prevention device for a billing device, comprising: an alarm driving means for driving. 2. A fraud prevention device for a billing device connected to a controlled device, comprising coin detecting means for outputting a coin detection signal based on coin insertion, and coin insertion based on the coin detection signal. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not is normal, and a display control means for transmitting a display signal indicating that the coin is illegal to the controlled device based on discrimination of an abnormal coin detection signal by the discriminating means, A fraud prevention device for a billing device, characterized in that it can be displayed on the display section of the controlled device based on the display signal. 3. A fraud prevention device for a billing device, comprising a communication means connected to a controlled device and capable of transmitting operation information of the device to another computer, wherein a coin detection signal is generated based on coin insertion. A coin detecting means for outputting and a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the coin is inserted normally based on the coin detecting signal are provided, and the communication means is operated by the communicating means based on the detection of the abnormal coin detecting signal by the discriminating means. A fraud prevention device for a billing device, characterized in that it is configured to notify the other computer of fraud. 4. A fraud prevention device for a billing device, comprising a communication means connected to a controlled device and capable of transmitting operation information of the device to another computer, wherein a coin detection signal is generated based on the insertion of a coin. A coin detecting means for outputting, a judging means for judging whether or not a coin is inserted normally based on the coin detecting signal, an alarm means for giving an alarm sound to detect the detection of an abnormal coin detecting signal, and the above judging. An alarm drive means for driving the alarm means based on the determination of the abnormal coin detection signal by the means, and an indication that the controlled device is illegal based on the detection of the abnormal coin detection signal by the determination means. A display control means for transmitting a display signal is provided, and based on the detection of the abnormal coin detection signal by the discrimination means, the fact that the coin is illegal is displayed on the display portion, and the communication hand A fraud prevention device for a billing device, characterized in that it is configured to notify the other computer to the effect that it is fraudulent.