JPH0217824B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a credit inquiry method for a transaction terminal device in credit transactions and the like.

In recent years, credit transactions using cards have become popular, but in order to provide instant credit at member stores, transaction terminals are used that are connected to a central device and perform credit inquiries, as well as perform identity verification and issue sales slips. It is being done.

For example, when purchasing a product, a user presents a card, has a transaction terminal device read card information such as an account number recorded on the card, and at the same time enters a PIN number into the device. After verifying the identity of the card holder, the transaction information such as account number and purchase amount is sent to the central equipment of the contracted credit company to perform a credit inquiry, and the transaction is conducted based on the results. ing.

In the above credit system, the credit sales company has contracts with a large number of member stores, and the central equipment is connected to the transaction terminal equipment installed at each member store via a line to respond to the credit inquiries mentioned above. When the line is a public line or when communication with the terminal device is in a high traffic state, the line connection time and therefore the credit inquiry will take time.

However, conventionally, the above-mentioned terminal device is inefficient because other transactions are not performed during the credit inquiry, and therefore, there is a demand for an efficient credit inquiry method that allows transactions even during the credit inquiry.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional method will be explained with reference to the flowchart of the credit inquiry method shown in FIG.

FIG. 2a shows a method called the post-declaration method, in which the product is first registered, and if the customer selects a credit transaction, the customer's card is read and a credit inquiry is made. Therefore, in this method, the credit inquiry time becomes a waiting time.

FIG. 2b shows a method called the pre-declaration method, in which a credit transaction is first selected, the card is read and a credit inquiry is made, and then the product is registered. In this method, product registration is performed during credit inquiry, so the product registration time can be absorbed into credit inquiry time, but there is a restriction that a credit transaction must be selected before product registration.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As explained above, it is predicted that credit inquiries will take more time when public lines are used, but even with the pre-declaration method, the waiting time for credit inquiries becomes wasted time for the terminal device. It had some problems.

[Means for solving problems]

The problem with the above conventional method is that the registered transaction information is
and means for storing the transaction information in the second storage means when performing a credit inquiry for the transaction, and setting a flag indicating that the credit inquiry is in progress to permit registration of the next transaction. The problem is solved by the credit inquiry method of the present invention, which includes a means for prohibiting a credit inquiry while the flag is being set, allows registration of the next transaction during the credit inquiry, and waits for the credit inquiry of the transaction while the flag is being set. can.

[Effect]

The present invention is to enable product registration for other transactions during a credit inquiry, and to effectively use the waiting time during a credit inquiry.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1a, the method of the present invention is as follows:
After registering the product, selecting a credit transaction and having the card read, the transaction information is sent to a central device to perform a credit check and allow registration of the next transaction, but if the transaction is a credit transaction, The transaction is made to wait until the credit inquiry response for the previous transaction is received and the transaction is concluded, and in the case of a normal transaction, it can be concluded.

For this purpose, a first storage means for registering products, a second storage means for storing transaction information during a credit inquiry, and a flag means for indicating that a credit inquiry is being made are provided. That is, the storage means allows product registration even during a credit inquiry, and by referring to the credit inquiry flag, it is possible to determine whether or not a credit inquiry is possible.

As described above, it is possible to have the features of the pre-declaration method and effectively use the waiting time loss for credit inquiries.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1b is a block diagram of a POS terminal device representing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1c is a flowchart showing its operation.

In FIG. 1b, the functions of each part will be explained below.

Reference numeral 1 is a control unit that is composed of a microprocessor, etc., and controls each unit connected by a bus line according to a program stored in a storage unit 2; A storage section 4 for storing transaction information (first storage means) for temporarily storing transaction information during product registration;
If the product registration is completed and the purchaser selects a credit card transaction, the card information will be sent along with the entered card information.
a credit inquiry storage unit (second storage means) that stores transaction information stored in the transaction information storage unit 4;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a credit inquiry flag register, which is set by the control unit 1 when the credit key in the key input unit 10 is pressed, and is reset at the end of the transaction;
is a product registration flag register indicating that the product is being registered, 7
1 is a lamp display section that displays the status of the credit inquiry flag register 5 and the product registration flag register; 8 is a communication control section that communicates with the central device; 9 is a display section; and 11 is a printer section that outputs multiple forms with one head. , 12 is a card reading section, and 13 is a password input section.

The operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 1c.

If the purchaser selects a credit transaction after registering the product, the operator inserts the credit card into the card reading section 12 and causes the purchaser to input the PIN number through the PIN input section 13. Next, when the credit key is pressed, the credit inquiry lamp lights up and waits for a response from the central device. If a subsequent transaction occurs, the operator registers the product because it is possible to trade the product, but if the transaction is a regular transaction, the transaction will be concluded even if there is no response, and if it is a credit transaction, the operator will register the product. wait. If the product registration lamp is lit, a new product cannot be registered because the previous transaction is waiting for a credit check.

The operation of the terminal device accompanying the above operations will be described below.

(1) Transaction information input through the key input unit 10 is temporarily stored in the transaction information storage unit 4. When a cash transaction is completed, the transaction information is stored in the storage unit 2.

(2) When a credit transaction is selected, the card reader 12
When the card information is input, the card information is temporarily stored in the transaction information storage section 4, and when the credit key is pressed, the credit inquiry flag register 5 is referred to, and if the credit inquiry is not in progress, the card information is stored in the credit inquiry storage section 3. be done. Next, the communication control unit 8
Through this, the necessary information is selected and sent to the central unit, and the credit inquiry flag register 5 is set. Note that, if a credit inquiry is in progress, this credit inquiry is made to wait until all previous transactions are collected.

(3) If there is product registration during credit inquiry, product registration is possible, and the entered transaction information is stored in the transaction information storage section 4.

(4) When the credit transaction is completed, the transaction information is stored in the storage section 2 and the credit inquiry flag register 5 is reset.

Note that the credit inquiry storage section 3, the transaction information storage section 4, the credit inquiry flag register, and the commodity transaction flag register can be included in the storage section 2.

As described above, by securing a memory location for storing transaction information during credit inquiry and transaction information during product registration, and by setting a flag indicating the status of transaction, new products can be created even during credit inquiry. Registration is now possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to save transaction information during credit inquiry and register other products, so while having the advantage of the post-declaration credit inquiry method,
Since product registration is possible during credit inquiries, efficient terminal device operation can be expected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1a is a flowchart showing the credit inquiry method of the present invention, FIG. 1b is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1c is a flowchart showing the operation, and FIG.
FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing a conventional post-declaration credit inquiry method, and FIG. 2B is a flowchart showing a conventional pre-declaration credit inquiry method. In the figure, 3 is a credit inquiry storage unit, 4 is a transaction information storage unit, and 5 is a credit inquiry storage unit.
is a credit inquiry flag register, 6 is a product registration flag register, 8 is a communication control section, 10 is a key input section,
12 is a card reading section, and 13 is a password input section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A credit inquiry method for a transaction terminal device that transmits transaction information to a central device and conducts transactions after obtaining credit transaction permission, and means for storing registered transaction information in a first storage means. and when making a credit inquiry for the transaction, the second
means for storing the transaction information in the storage means and setting a flag indicating that a credit inquiry is in progress to permit registration of the next transaction; and means for prohibiting a credit inquiry while the flag is being set; A credit inquiry method characterized in that registration of the next transaction is permitted, and while the flag is being set, a credit inquiry for the transaction is made to wait. 2. A flag means is provided in each of the first storage means and the second storage means, and the flag is set in one of the first and second storage means that stores transaction information during credit inquiry. A credit inquiry method according to claim 1, characterized in that: