JPH0262694A - Balance displaying prepaid card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To visually judge that balance becomes small at a glance by a user without confirming the value of the balance in detail by plainly displaying the balance on a prepaid card. CONSTITUTION:On the surface of a prepaid card 1, first, either an amount or a frequency accordant with a prepaid amount is recorded on a magnetic stripe 3, and either a used amount or a used frequency is subtracted, the balance is recorded on the magnetic stripe 3, and results 5, 6, and 7 are printed on a printing area 4 whenever the prepaid card 1 is used. A reader/writer 20 is composed of an information processing part 21, a card sucking and ejecting part 22 to control the sucking, ejecting, and positioning of the card, a reading/ writing part 23 to execute reading/writing for the magnetic stripe 3, a printing part 24 to print on the printing area 4, a display part 25, and a communication part 26 to communicate information including the used amount to an account settling system. The information processing part 21 executes control and information processing for the above-mentioned five parts from 22 to 26. Further, the printing part 24 has a two-color printing mechanism using black and red colors to execute printing according to an instruction from the information processing part 24.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a prepaid card.

[Conventional technology]

With prepaid cards, the amount used or the remaining amount after reducing the number of uses is recorded on the card, and the user can use the card repeatedly until the remaining amount is used up. In this case, the most important thing for users is how to know the remaining balance. In order to know the remaining amount without using a dedicated display device, a method of displaying the remaining amount on the card surface of a prepaid card has been put into practical use.

One of the display methods is a guide display using punch holes or thermal printing, and the other is a performance display where the remaining amount is printed as is. And with this performance display, you can check the exact balance just by looking at your card.

You can also explore the past to some extent.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

If the results are displayed as described above, it is possible to judge the value accurately, but since it is a list of numbers, it may lack visual impact. In the first place, accurate judgment is necessary when the remaining amount is small, and it is necessary to be able to judge at a glance that the remaining amount is small.

The present invention aims to provide a prepaid card system in which it can be determined at a glance when the balance becomes low.

[Means to solve the problem]

The Grizeid card system of the present invention is a prepaid card system that includes a two-price prepaid prepaid card and a reader/writer. a surface area, and the reader/writer has a first function of performing continuous writing to the memory of the Gribate card, and printing in a first color and a second color different from each other in the card surface area. A second function has a third function that performs calculations related to the remaining amount, and if the remaining amount exceeds or is equal to the boundary at a predetermined fixed amount or a certain number of times, the first color If the remaining amount is below, the reader/writer prints the remaining amount in the second color on the area of the card surface.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a balance display card system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of a reader/writer.

Referring to FIG. 1, the shape of the prepaid card 1 is currently in practical use, such as the JIS standard and the Cybernetic Standard, but is not particularly noteworthy. Its surface includes a magnetic stripe 3 for recording the remaining amount of the prepaid card and a printing area 4 for printing the amount used. Card side 1 is the area for trademarks and designs.

On the surface of the prepaid card 1, an amount or number of payments corresponding to the initial prepaid amount is recorded on the magnetic strider 3,
Each time the device is used, the amount used or the number of times it is used is decremented, the remaining amount is recorded on the magnetic stripe 3, and the results 5, 6.7 are printed in the printing area 4.

The reader/writer 20 includes an information processing section 21, a card suction/ejection section 22 that controls card suction/ejection 2 positioning,
A readout section 23 that reads and writes the magnetic stripe f3, a printing section 24 and a second display section 25 that print on the printing area 4,
Communication unit 26 that communicates information including usage amount to the payment/system
It consists of. The information processing section 21 performs control and information processing of five sections 22 to 26. Further, the printing section 24 has a printing function in two colors, black and red, according to instructions from the information processing section 21.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the reader/writer 20, which is described from the viewpoint of operation and includes a housing 11, a card insertion slot 12, a display surface 13 for displaying the remaining amount or the amount used, and an operation button 14.

In this embodiment, on the Gribate card purchased for the amount A, the remaining amount 5 (FIG. 1) after the first use is printed in black, and the card is printed downward each time it is used. Then, if the remaining amount is greater than or equal to amount B with amount B as the boundary, it is printed in black and the remaining amount reaches 6. The remaining amount 7 is less than the amount B for the first time and is printed in red, and thereafter continues to be printed in red until the remaining amount becomes 0.

The amount B serves as a standard for informing the bill user that the remaining amount is low, and is assumed to be a predetermined fixed amount, equivalent to the average amount spent several times. The color change from black to red notifies the user that the balance is running low and prompts the user to prepare the next card.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the present invention, by displaying the remaining amount on the prepaid card in an easy-to-read manner, the user of the prepaid card can visually determine at a glance that the remaining amount is low without checking the remaining amount in detail. It becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a balance display prepaid carton stem of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of a reader/writer. Explanation of symbols: 1 is a prepaid card, 2 is the back of the card,
3 is a magnetic stripe, 4 is a printing area, 5 is a balance, 6 is a balance, 7 is a balance, 11 is a housing, 12 is a card insertion slot, 13
is the display screen, 14 is the operation button, 20 is the reader/writer, 2
1 is the information processing section. 22 is a card suction/ejection section, and 23 is a reading/writing section. 24 is a printing section, 25 is a display section, and 26 is a communication section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a prepaid card system including a prepaid prepaid card and a reader/writer, the prepaid card has a memory for storing the amount used or the remaining amount after deducting the number of uses, and a printable card surface. The reader/writer has a first function of reading and writing to the memory of the prepaid card, and a second function of printing on the area of the card surface in different colors, a first color and a second color. and a third function to perform calculations related to the remaining amount, and if the remaining amount exceeds or is equal to the boundary with a predetermined certain amount or a certain number of times as a boundary, the color is the first color, and if it is less than the boundary, the color is the first color. is a reader/writer that prints the remaining amount on the area of the card surface in the second color, the remaining amount display prepaid card system.