Station operation equipment, station operation method, and station operation program

Abstract

To complete refund processing when abnormality occurs during the refund processing of a commutation ticket by a station service apparatus.SOLUTION: A station service apparatus includes an abnormality detection unit for detecting abnormality of encode information when erasing the encode information stored in an IC card, a confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the encode information in which abnormality is detected can be read, and an issuing control unit for switching to issue a new IC card including stored fare balance amount information of the IC card from the IC card when the encode information cannot be read.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to station operation equipment, station operation methods, and station operation programs.

Background Art

[0002] As one of the future measures of railway operators, it is considered to shift the processing that requires the intervention of station staff at stations to station operation equipment to achieve labor saving. Among them, it is currently considered to perform the refund process of monthly passes, which is currently handled by station staff, also with a ticket vending machine, which is station operation equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When an abnormality occurs during the refund process of a monthly pass with a ticket vending machine, it is necessary to complete the refund process.

[0005] This invention was made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a technique for completing the refund process when an abnormality occurs during the refund process of a monthly pass using an IC card.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The station operation equipment according to the embodiment includes an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the encoded information when erasing the encoded information stored in the IC card, a confirmation unit that confirms whether the encoded information in which the abnormality is detected can be read, and an issuance control unit that, when the encoded information cannot be read, performs a reissue to a new IC card including the stored fare balance information of the IC card from the IC card.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the station operation equipment, the station operation method, and the station operation program will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the parts with the same numbers are assumed to perform the same operations, and the overlapping explanations will be omitted.

[0009] [First Embodiment] (Configuration) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a station operation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] The station operation system includes a ticket vending machine 1 which is station operation equipment, a central server 2, and an IC card 3.

[0011] The ticket vending machine 1 is installed at a predetermined location within the station premises. In FIG. 1, only one is shown for simplicity, but of course, there may be a plurality of ticket vending machines 1. The ticket vending machine 1 can purchase, refund, and pay for train tickets. Furthermore, the ticket vending machine 1 can purchase and refund monthly passes. Here, the purchase, refund, and purchase of monthly passes can be processed in a general manner, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here. Also, the refund process will be described later.

[0012] The central server 2 is a server managed by the railway operator. The central server 2 is a server that manages the issuance status of the IC card 3, and stores various information such as, for example, monthly pass information, issuance history, and user information of the IC card 3. The central server 2 can provide the stored information in response to various requests from the ticket vending machine 1. For example, when the central server 2 receives a request from the ticket vending machine 1 to check the monthly pass status of the IC card 3, the central server 2 transmits the monthly pass information of the IC card 3 to the ticket vending machine 1. Here, the monthly pass information includes information about the monthly pass, including the monthly period, start date and time, expiration period, etc.

[0013] The IC card 3 may be a general IC card issued by the railway operator. Also, the IC card 3 can utilize stored fare (SF), etc. Here, the central server 2 can also store SF balance information about the IC card 3. Here, the SF balance information may include information about the usage history in addition to the balance of the SF.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the ticket vending machine 1. The ticket vending machine 1 is realized by a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer). The ticket vending machine 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input / output interface 13, a communication interface 14, an IC card reader / writer 15, a magnetic ticket issuing unit 16, a magnetic ticket reading unit 17, an input unit 18, and a display unit 19. The control unit 11, the storage unit 12, the input / output interface 13, and the communication interface 14 are communicably connected to each other via a bus. Also, the input / output interface 13 is communicably connected to the IC card reader / writer 15, the magnetic ticket issuing unit 16, the magnetic ticket reading unit 17, the input unit 18, and the display unit 19.

[0015] The control unit 11 controls the ticket vending machine 1. The control unit 11 includes a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit).

[0016] The storage unit 12 is a storage medium. The storage unit 12 is configured by combining a non-volatile memory that can be written to and read from at any time, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), a non-volatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM), and a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 12 has a storage area including a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area stores application programs necessary for executing various processes in addition to an operating system (OS) and middleware.

[0017] The input / output interface 13 is an interface that enables transmission and reception of information between the IC card reader / writer 15, the magnetic ticket issuing unit 16, the magnetic ticket reading unit 17, the input unit 18, and the display unit 19.

[0018] The communication interface 14 includes one or more wired or wireless communication modules. For example, the communication interface 14 includes a communication module that makes a wired or wireless connection with the central server 2 via a network including a LAN or the Internet. Note that the communication interface 14 may be a general communication interface as long as it can communicate with the central server 2 or the like under the control of the control unit 11 and transmit and receive various information.

[0019] The IC card reader / writer 15 establishes communication with the IC card 3 using general NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, reads information from the IC card 3, and outputs the read information to the control unit 11. Further, the IC card reader / writer 15 rewrites the information stored in the IC card 3 based on the information output by the control unit 11. Also, the IC card reader / writer 15 writes various information to a newly prepared IC card according to an instruction from the control unit 11. And the IC card reader / writer 15 can also issue a new IC card in place of the IC card 3. Furthermore, the IC card reader / writer 15 can also print or erase information about the season ticket on the face of the IC card.

[0020] The magnetic ticket issuing unit 16 issues magnetic tickets. Here, the magnetic ticket may be a general magnetic ticket. Also, when an abnormality occurs during the refund of the IC card 3, the magnetic ticket issuing unit 16 can issue a magnetic season ticket having the season ticket information held by the IC card 3 according to an instruction from the control unit 11.

[0021] The magnetic ticket reading unit 17 reads the information stored in the magnetic ticket. Also, the magnetic ticket reading unit 17 can read the magnetic season ticket issued by the magnetic ticket issuing unit 16.

[0022] The input unit 18 is, for example, an input detection sheet that adopts an electrostatic method or a pressure method and is arranged on the display screen of a display device such as the display unit 19. Through the input / output interface 13, it outputs a signal corresponding to the touch position of the user to the control unit 11. For example, the input unit 18 and the display unit 19 may be a touch screen where input and output are integrated. That is, the input unit 18 may receive the input of necessary information when the user touches a button or the like displayed on the touch screen, and output a signal corresponding to the received information to the control unit 11. Also, the input unit 18 may include, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, etc. for a user (such as a clerk, a passenger, etc.) of the ticket vending machine 1 to input instructions to the ticket vending machine 1.

[0023] The display unit 19 is a display device that uses, for example, liquid crystal, organic EL (Electro Luminescence), etc., and displays an image and a message according to the signal input from the input / output interface 13.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the ticket vending machine 1 in association with the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2. The control unit 11 includes an encoded information erasure control unit 111, an abnormality detection unit 112, a magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113, an encoded information confirmation unit 114, a ticket surface erasure control unit 115, an erasure details generation unit 116, a communication control unit 117, and a new IC card issuance control unit 118.

[0025] The encoded information erasure control unit 111 erases the encoded information, which is the commuter ticket information stored in the IC card 3. For example, during the refund process of the commuter ticket on the IC card 3, the encoded information erasure control unit 111 erases the encoded information, which is the commuter ticket information stored in the IC card 3.

[0026] The abnormality detection unit 112 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the encoded information when the encoded information erasure control unit 111 erases the encoded information. When an abnormality is detected, the abnormality detection unit 112 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the display unit 19. The abnormality detection signal is information indicating that an abnormality has occurred during the erasure of the encoded information.

[0027] When the magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 receives a forced issuance signal, it outputs a magnetic monthly ticket issuance signal to the magnetic ticket issuance unit 16. The magnetic ticket issuance unit 16 issues a magnetic monthly ticket according to the magnetic monthly ticket issuance signal.

[0028] The encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether the encoding information of the IC card 3 in which an abnormality is detected can be read. Further, when the encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines that the encoding information can be read, it determines the presence or absence of the encoding information. When the encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines that there is encoding information, it outputs an encoding information deletion instruction to the encoding information deletion control unit 111. Also, when there is no encoding information, it outputs a deletion instruction to the ticket surface deletion control unit 115. On the other hand, when the encoding information cannot be read, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs an issuance instruction to the new IC card issuance control unit 118.

[0029] When the ticket surface deletion control unit 115 receives a deletion instruction, it outputs a ticket surface deletion instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15. The IC card reader / writer 15 deletes the information about the monthly ticket described on the ticket surface of the IC card 3 according to the ticket surface deletion instruction.

[0030] When the encoding information which is the monthly ticket information is deleted from the IC card 3, the deletion details generation unit 116 creates deletion details. Then, the deletion details generation unit 116 outputs the deletion details to the communication control unit 117.

[0031] The communication control unit 117 transmits the deletion details to the central server 2 through the communication interface 14.

[0032] When the new IC card issuance control unit 118 receives an issuance instruction, it outputs an IC card issuance instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15. The IC card reader / writer 15 issues a new IC card according to the IC card issuance instruction.

[0033] (Operation) FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the ticket vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1. The operation of this flowchart is realized by the control unit 11 of the ticket vending machine 1 reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0034] Generally, the refund operation of the commuter pass operates as follows. When the user wishes to refund the commuter pass used with the IC card 3, the control unit 11 acquires the commuter pass information obtained from the IC card 3 by the IC card reader / writer 15, and sends a confirmation request to the central server 2 to request confirmation whether the commuter pass information is correct information, and receives the confirmation result from the central server 2. After it is confirmed that the commuter pass information is correct, the control unit 11 accepts the input of credit card information including the card number etc. of the credit card used when the user purchased the commuter pass, and sends the credit card information to the central server 2. The central server 2 confirms whether the commuter pass was purchased with the said credit card, and sends the said confirmation information to the ticket vending machine 1. The control unit 11 performs a refund process with a settlement server etc. based on the confirmation information. Then, after the refund process, the encoded information which is the commuter pass information is erased from the IC card 3. Triggered by the completion of the erasure of the encoded information of this IC card 3, the control unit 11 creates an erasure detail, and sends the said erasure detail to the central server 2. Here, the erasure detail is information indicating that the commuter pass information has been erased from the IC card 3. And finally, the control unit 11 erases the information about the commuter pass from the ticket face of the IC card 3, and returns the IC card 3 to the user. In the following description, when performing a series of processes for deleting the commuter pass information, it is assumed that the control unit 11 stores the IC card information including the commuter pass information, the SF balance information etc. acquired from the IC card 3 in the storage unit 12.

[0035] In this flowchart, it starts when an abnormality occurs when the encoding information erasure control unit 111 of the control unit 11 erases the encoding information from the IC card 3 during the above refund operation.

[0036] The abnormality detection unit 112 outputs abnormality detection information (step ST11). The abnormality detection unit 112 detects that an abnormality has occurred when the encoding information deletion control unit 111 deletes the encoding information from the IC card 3. When detecting that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality detection unit 112 generates abnormality detection information and outputs the abnormality detection information to the display unit 19. The display unit 19 displays information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the refund process of the IC card 3 according to the abnormality detection information.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the display unit 19 when an abnormality occurs.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred during the refund process of the commuter pass, call a station staff member, and wait for the station staff member to take action. The user will request the station staff member to take action.

[0039] The magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 determines whether a forced issuance signal has been received (step ST12). The station staff member takes out the IC card 3 from the ticket vending machine 1 according to the information displayed on the display unit 19, and further presses a forced issuance button installed in the ticket vending machine 1. The control unit 11 that detects that the forced issuance button of the ticket vending machine 1 has been pressed outputs a forced issuance signal to the magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113. In this case, the magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 determines that a forced issuance signal has been received. Also, until it is determined that a forced issuance signal has been received, the process returns to step ST12 and waits to receive a forced issuance signal.

[0040] The magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 outputs a magnetic monthly pass issuance signal to the magnetic ticket issuance unit 16 (step ST13). When the magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 receives a forced issuance signal, it acquires the monthly pass information of the IC card 3 stored in the storage unit 12. Then, it outputs a magnetic monthly pass issuance signal including the acquired monthly pass information to the magnetic ticket issuance unit 16. Here, the monthly pass information is information about the monthly pass stored in the IC card 3, and may include a regular interval, start date and time, validity period, etc. Then, the magnetic ticket issuance unit 16 issues a magnetic monthly pass including the monthly pass information based on the magnetic monthly pass issuance signal. Also, the magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 outputs information indicating that the magnetic ticket issuance signal has been output to the magnetic ticket issuance unit 16 to the encoding information confirmation unit 114.

[0041] The encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether it has received an IC card installation signal (step ST14). When receiving information indicating that the magnetic ticket issuance signal has been output, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether it has received an IC card installation signal. When a magnetic monthly pass is issued, the station staff reinstalls the IC card with an abnormality in the IC card reader / writer 15. When the IC card reader / writer 15 establishes communication with the IC card 3, it outputs an IC card installation signal to the encoding information confirmation unit 114. Then, the process proceeds to step ST15. On the other hand, until the IC card 3 is installed in the IC card reader / writer 15, the process returns to ST14 and waits to receive the IC card installation signal.

[0042] The encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether the encoding information stored in the IC card 3 installed in the IC card reader / writer 15 can be read (step ST15). If it is determined that the encoding information can be read, the process proceeds to step ST16. On the other hand, if the encoding information cannot be read, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs an issuance instruction to the new IC card issuance control unit 118.

[0043] The encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether there is encoding information (step ST16). If it is determined that the encoding information can be read, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether there is encoding information stored in the IC card 3. If it is determined that there is no encoding information, it is considered that the encoding information has already been erased, and the deletion details triggered by the erasure of the encoding information have also been transmitted to the central server 2. In this case, although an abnormality is detected, it means that the encoding erasure operation has ended normally. Therefore, since only the information about the commuter pass remaining on the face of the IC card 3 needs to be deleted, the process proceeds to step ST19.

[0044] On the other hand, if it is determined that there is encoding information, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs an encoding information deletion instruction (step ST17). If there is encoding information, it means that an abnormality has occurred before the encoding information is erased. Therefore, it is necessary to erase the encoding information from the IC card 3. The encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs an encoding information deletion instruction, which is an instruction to erase the encoding information, to the encoding information deletion control unit 111. Then, the encoding information deletion control unit 111 erases the encoding information according to the encoding information deletion instruction. The encoding information deletion control unit 111 outputs information indicating that the encoding information has been erased to the encoding information confirmation unit 114. Then, according to the information, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs a deletion details generation instruction to the deletion details generation unit 116.

[0045] The cancellation details generation unit 116 creates cancellation details and outputs the cancellation details (step ST18). When the cancellation details generation unit 116 receives a cancellation details generation instruction, it creates the cancellation details. The cancellation details are information indicating that the commuter pass information has been deleted from the IC card 3 and the process has ended. Then, the cancellation details generation unit 116 outputs the generated cancellation details to the communication control unit 117. The communication control unit 117 transmits the cancellation details to the central server 2 through the communication interface 14. When the central server 2 receives the cancellation details, it detects that the commuter pass information has been deleted from the IC card 3 and stores the state where the commuter pass information of the IC card 3 has been deleted. Then, the cancellation details generation unit 116 outputs a cancellation instruction to the ticket face cancellation control unit 115.

[0046] The ticket face cancellation control unit 115 outputs a ticket face cancellation instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15 (step ST19). If the encoded information, which is the commuter pass information, has been deleted from the IC card 3 in step ST18, or if there is no encoded information in step ST16, it is necessary to delete the information about the commuter pass described on the ticket face of the IC card 3. Therefore, the ticket face cancellation control unit 115 outputs a ticket face cancellation instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15 to delete the information about the commuter pass described on the ticket face of the IC card 3. The IC card reader / writer 15 deletes the information about the commuter pass described on the ticket face of the IC card 3 according to the ticket face cancellation instruction.

[0047] The ticket face cancellation control unit 115 outputs an IC card ejection instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15 (step ST20). Since the commuter pass refund process for the IC card 3 has ended, the ticket face cancellation control unit 115 outputs an instruction to eject the IC card 3 to the IC card reader / writer 15. In this case, since the magnetic commuter pass is not used, the station staff will dispose of it appropriately.

[0048] In step ST15, if the encoded information stored in the IC card 3 cannot be read, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to insert the magnetic monthly pass to the display unit 19 (step ST21). If the encoded information stored in the IC card 3 cannot be read, since the IC card 3 cannot be used, it is necessary to issue a new IC card. Therefore, first, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to insert the magnetic monthly pass in order to acquire the monthly pass information. The display unit 19 displays information prompting to insert the magnetic monthly pass issued in step ST13 onto the display device according to the instruction to insert the magnetic monthly pass. The station staff inserts the magnetic monthly pass issued in step ST13 into the ticket vending machine 1. The magnetic ticket reading unit 17 reads the monthly pass information from the magnetic monthly pass and outputs the monthly pass information to the new IC card issuance control unit 118.

[0049] The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to issue a new IC card (step ST22). The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to issue a new IC card including the monthly pass information to the IC card reader / writer 15. The IC card reader / writer 15 that has received the instruction issues a previously prepared new IC card as a new IC card. Also, at the time of issuance, the monthly pass information included in the instruction may be written into the new IC card.

[0050] The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs a server inquiry (step ST23). The new IC card issuance control unit 118 acquires the IC card information of the IC card 3 stored in the storage unit 12, generates a server inquiry based on the IC card information and the card number etc. of the new IC card, and outputs the server inquiry to the communication control unit 117. The communication control unit 117 transmits the server inquiry to the central server 2. Here, the server inquiry includes the IC card information of the IC card, for example, the card number, card ID, and SF balance of the IC card. Further, the server inquiry may include the card number and card ID of the new IC card. Furthermore, the server inquiry includes information indicating that a replacement issuance is to be performed on the new IC card because an abnormality has occurred in the IC card 3. The central server 2 that has received the server inquiry performs a replacement issuance from the IC card 3 to the new IC card according to the server inquiry. For example, the central server 2 transfers the SF balance information etc. of the IC card 3 to the new IC card.

[0051] The communication control unit 117 receives server response information (step ST24). The communication control unit 117 receives server response information indicating that a replacement issuance has been performed on the new IC card from the central server 2. Then, the communication control unit 117 outputs the server response information to the new IC card issuance control unit 118.

[0052] The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to write information such as the SF balance information of the IC card to the new IC card to the IC card reader / writer 15 based on the server response information (step ST25). The IC card reader / writer 15 writes information such as the SF balance information stored in the IC card 3 to the new IC card according to the instruction.

[0053] The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to discharge a new IC card (step ST26). The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs an instruction to discharge a new IC card to the IC card reader / writer 15. Further, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 may output an instruction to discard the IC card 3 to the IC card reader / writer 15. Since the new IC card stores the commuter pass information, it is necessary to perform the refund process again to erase the commuter pass information.

[0054] (Operation and Effect of the First Embodiment) According to the first embodiment described above, the ticket vending machine 1 can complete the refund process even if an abnormality occurs during the refund process of the commuter pass.

[0055] [Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which the refund process is completed without the station staff taking any action even if an abnormality occurs during the refund process of the commuter pass.

[0056] (Configuration) The configuration of the station operation system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the station operation system of the first embodiment.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the ticket vending machine 1 in association with the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2. The control unit 11 includes an encoding information erasure control unit 111, an abnormality detection unit 112, an encoding information confirmation unit 114, a ticket surface erasure control unit 115, an erasure detail generation unit 116, a communication control unit 117, and a new IC card issuance control unit 118. Further, the storage unit 12 includes an IC card information storage unit 121. The difference from the first embodiment is that there is no magnetic ticket issuance control unit 113 and the IC card information storage unit 121 is provided.

[0058] The IC card information storage unit 121 stores the IC card information acquired by the IC card reader / writer 15 from the IC card 3. Further, the information also includes the information necessary for creating the erasure details.

[0059] (Operation) FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the ticket vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1. The operation of this flowchart is realized by the control unit 11 of the ticket vending machine 1 reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0060] In this flowchart, during the above-mentioned refund operation, it starts when an abnormality occurs when the encoding information deletion control unit 111 of the control unit 11 deletes the encoding information from the IC card 3.

[0061] The abnormality detection unit 112 outputs abnormality detection information (step ST31). The abnormality detection unit 112 detects that an abnormality has occurred when the encoding information deletion control unit 111 deletes the encoding information from the IC card 3. When detecting that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality detection unit 112 generates abnormality detection information and outputs the abnormality detection information to the encoding information confirmation unit 114.

[0062] The encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether the encoding information stored in the IC card 3 can be read (step ST32). Since this abnormality is an abnormality that occurred when trying to delete the encoding information, the IC card 3 remains installed in the IC card reader / writer 15. Therefore, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 determines whether the encoding information stored in the IC card 3 can be read. If it is determined that the encoding information can be read, the process proceeds to step ST33. On the other hand, if the encoding information cannot be read, the encoding information confirmation unit 114 outputs an instruction to generate a deletion details to the deletion details generation unit 116.

[0063] Steps ST34 to ST37 are the same as steps ST17 to ST20 described with reference to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

[0064] The cancellation details generation unit 116 creates cancellation details and outputs the cancellation details (step ST38). When receiving a cancellation details generation instruction, the cancellation details generation unit 116 acquires the IC card information of the IC card 3 from the IC card information storage unit 121 and creates cancellation details. Then, the cancellation details generation unit 116 outputs the generated cancellation details to the communication control unit 117. The communication control unit 117 transmits the cancellation details to the central server 2 through the communication interface 14. When receiving the cancellation details, the central server 2 detects that the commuter pass information has been deleted from the IC card 3 and stores the state where the commuter pass information of the IC card 3 has been deleted. Then, the cancellation details generation unit 116 outputs an issuance instruction to the new IC card issuance control unit 118. In the second embodiment, the cancellation details created triggered by the fact that the encoded information has been deleted are created triggered by the fact that the encoded information cannot be read, and are transmitted to the central server 2.

[0065] The new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs a new IC card issuance instruction (step ST39). Since the encoded information of the IC card 3 cannot be read, it needs to be discarded and a new IC card needs to be issued. Therefore, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 outputs a new IC card issuance instruction to the IC card reader / writer 15. Here, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 does not store the commuter pass information in the new IC card. By operating as in step ST38 and step ST39, when the encoded information cannot be read, using this as a trigger to create cancellation details, it is not necessary to store the commuter pass information in the new IC card.

[0066] Steps ST40 to ST43 are the same as steps ST23 to ST26 described with reference to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, so the description is omitted. Note that since the new IC card discharged in step ST43 does not have commuter pass information, it is not necessary to perform the refund process again to delete the commuter pass information. Further, in step ST42, the new IC card issuance control unit 118 may output information indicating that a new IC card has been issued to the display unit 19 because an abnormality has occurred in the IC card 3.

[0067] (Operation and Effect of the Second Embodiment) According to the first embodiment described above, even if an abnormality occurs during the refund process of the commutation ticket, the refund process can be completed. Further, according to the second embodiment, even if an abnormality occurs during the refund process of the commutation ticket, it is no longer necessary for the station staff to take action, so labor saving can be achieved.

[0068] [Other Embodiments] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the embodiments, an example where the encoded information is commutation ticket information has been described, but it may be information about a boarding ticket.

[0069] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 1... Ticket vending machine 11... Control unit 111... Encoded information erasure control unit 112... Abnormality detection unit 113... Magnetic ticket issuance control unit 114... Encoded information confirmation unit 115... Ticket surface erasure control unit 116... Erasure details generation unit 117... Communication control unit 118... New IC card issuance control unit 12... Storage unit 121... IC card information storage unit 13... Input / output interface 14... Communication interface 15... IC card reader / writer 16... Magnetic ticket issuance unit 17… Magnetic ticket reader 18… Input section 19… Display section 2… Central server 3… IC card

Claims

1. An abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the encoded information when erasing the encoded information stored in the IC card; A confirmation unit that checks whether the encoded information in which the abnormality has been detected can be read; An issuance control unit that, when the encoded information cannot be read, performs a replacement issuance to a new IC card including the stored fair balance information of the IC card from the IC card; A station operation device comprising the above.

2. When the encoded information in which the abnormality has been detected can be read, the confirmation unit determines whether the encoded information exists, When the encoded information exists, an erasure unit that erases the encoded information; A ticket face erasure unit that outputs an erasure instruction to erase the ticket face information of the IC card; The station operation device according to claim 1, further comprising the above.

3. The encoded information is season ticket information, An erasure detail generation unit that generates an erasure detail indicating that the season ticket information has been erased from the IC card when the encoded information is erased; A communication control unit that transmits the erasure detail to a central server; The station operation device according to claim 2, further comprising the above.

4. The station operation device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a ticket face erasure unit that outputs an erasure instruction to erase the ticket face information of the IC card when the encoded information does not exist.

5. The encoded information is season ticket information, When the abnormality is detected, further comprising a magnetic ticket issuance control unit that outputs a magnetic season ticket issuance signal, and the new IC card is issued based on a magnetic season ticket issued in response to the magnetic season ticket issuance signal. The station operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The encoded information is season ticket information, A storage unit that stores the season ticket information; An erasure detail generation unit that generates an erasure detail from the season ticket information stored in the storage unit when the encoded information cannot be read; A communication control unit that transmits the erasure detail to a central server; The station operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the above.

7. A station operation method executed by a processor of a station operation device, comprising: Detecting an abnormality in the encoded information when erasing the encoded information stored in the IC card; Checking whether the encoded information in which the abnormality has been detected can be read; When the encoded information cannot be read, reissue the IC card from the IC card to a new IC card including the stored fair balance information of the IC card, and A station operation method comprising the above.

8. A station operation program that causes a processor to function as each part of the station operation device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

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