Apparatus and method for managing room key integrated with transportation card functions

Abstract

The present invention relates to room card management technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for issuing and managing room cards integrated with transportation card functions. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the invention enables the issuance and management of multi-purpose room cards. Furthermore, by integrating room card functions into transportation cards, the present invention enhances user convenience, increases operational efficiency in room management, and strengthens security, while simultaneously providing economic and environmental benefits. Through this, both room card managers and users can enjoy benefits, and sustainable development can be promoted by facilitating digital transformation.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to room card management technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for issuing and managing room cards integrated with transportation card functions. Background Technology

[0003] Existing hotel room systems primarily provide room cards using magnetic cards, RFID cards, or NFC technology. These systems are useful for increasing the efficiency of room card issuance and management, as well as enhancing security. However, these room card systems can cause inconvenience to hotel guests by requiring them to carry an additional card. Existing room card systems and transportation card systems operate independently, creating the inconvenience of requiring users to carry two separate cards. Furthermore, since hotels must issue and manage room cards separately, operating costs may increase.

[0004] Meanwhile, transportation cards are cards that can be conveniently used when using public transportation, primarily utilizing NFC technology to pay transportation fares. Existing transportation cards have been used mainly for paying fares, and their expansion to other uses has been limited. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can provide users with various services by utilizing transportation cards.

[0005] The background technology of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Published Patent No. 10-2007-0043188. The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions.

[0008] This invention reduces the cost and effort involved in issuing and managing room cards by introducing a room card system that includes a transportation card. Furthermore, digital card management is more flexible and efficient than physical keys. Through the integrated card system, users can access all necessary services during their travels with just a single transportation card. This enhances the user experience and increases traveler satisfaction.

[0009] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus and method for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions are provided.

[0012] A device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a room card activation unit that performs room card activation by inputting new room user usage information into a room-only card, a transportation card activation unit that performs transportation card activation by charging transportation costs to the activated room card, and a card information authentication unit that approves the charging of the activated transportation card and processes prepaid transportation costs.

[0013] A method for issuing a room card with an integrated transportation card function according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of: activating the room card by inputting new room user usage information into a room-only card; activating the transportation card by charging transportation costs to the activated room card; and approving the charging of the activated transportation card and processing the prepaid transportation costs. Effects of the invention

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the invention enables the issuance and management of multi-purpose room cards. Furthermore, by integrating room card functions into transportation cards, the present invention enhances user convenience, increases operational efficiency in room management, and strengthens security, while simultaneously providing economic and environmental benefits. Through this, room card managers can expect to attract new customers by providing new services without new investment costs, users can reduce the cost and time spent purchasing transportation cards, and sustainable development can be promoted by accelerating digital transformation.

[0016] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the composition of the invention described in the description or claims of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIGS. 1 to 3 are drawings illustrating a device for issuing a room card with an integrated transportation card function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 to 6 are flowcharts of an exemplary embodiment of a device for issuing a room card with an integrated transportation card function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and may have various embodiments; therefore, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art are omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions would unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention. Furthermore, singular expressions used in this specification and claims should generally be interpreted to mean "one or more" unless otherwise stated.

[0020] Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a part is "connected (connected, in contact, combined)" with another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected," but also cases where they are "indirectly connected" with other members interposed between them. Furthermore, when it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but rather allows for the inclusion of additional components.

[0021] The terms used herein are merely for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0022] The present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification have been given similar reference numerals.

[0024] FIGS. 1 to 3 are drawings illustrating a device for issuing a room card with an integrated transportation card function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions includes a card terminal (100), a room card (200), a room card management server (300), and a transportation card management server (400).

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the card terminal (100) includes a room card activation unit (110), a transportation card activation unit (130), and a card information authentication unit (150).

[0028] The room card activation unit (110) performs room card activation by inputting new room user usage information into the room-only card. At this time, the room card (200) held by the room-only card user can be tagged to the room card terminal (100). The room user usage information may include room space and usage period, etc.

[0029] The room card activation unit (110) transmits the room user usage information entered into the room card to the card information authentication unit (150) and receives an authentication value for which validity verification is complete. The room card terminal (100) updates the received authentication value and card information and transmits them to the room card.

[0030] The transportation card activation unit (130) performs transportation card activation by charging transportation costs to the activated room card. A device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions can issue a room card with combined transportation card functions by adding a transportation cost charge to a room card that includes transportation card functions. At this time, the room card may not be a card that includes transportation card functions.

[0031] The transportation card activation unit (130) requests a transportation fee top-up in response to a user request, and can top up the balance when the top-up is approved by the card information authentication unit (150). Afterwards, the transportation card activation unit (130) receives the top-up result from the room card with the updated top-up amount, transmits the value to the card information authentication unit (150), and stores the deducted amount as the final amount. Then, the transportation card activation unit (130) can apply batch processing to the top-up transportation fee update information and transmit it to the transportation card management server (200).

[0032] The card information authentication unit (150) verifies the validity of the entered room user usage information and verifies the validity by querying the card information when using the facility service. The card information authentication unit (150) transmits the verified information to the room card terminal (100).

[0033] At this time, the card information authentication unit (150) verifies the validity of the room user usage information and the integrity of the data using a Security Access Module (SAM). At this time, the card information authentication unit (150) can guarantee the integrity of the data by generating a Message Authentication Code (MAC). Specifically, the card information authentication unit (150) can verify the integrity of the data by recalculating the MAC and comparing it with the transmitted MAC.

[0034] Additionally, the card information authentication unit (150) approves the charging of an activated transportation card and processes the prepaid transportation costs. Specifically, after receiving a charging request from the room card terminal (100), the card information authentication unit (150) performs the charging of transportation costs if the deposit amount is equal to or greater than the charging amount according to the validity verification. Then, the card information authentication unit (150) receives the updated charging result value from the room card (200) and deducts the result value from the deposit amount that was previously charged. At this time, the card information authentication unit (150) performs a validity verification to check whether the charging amount is less than the deposit amount.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, the room card (200) includes a card terminal recognition unit (210), an information storage unit (230), and a result transmission unit (250).

[0037] The room card (200) may be made of plastic or a similar material and is durable and portable. An RFID antenna and an IC chip may be embedded in the body of the room card. The RFID module is embedded inside the room card and enables data communication via radio frequency. The IC chip is embedded inside the room card and stores high-capacity data and provides security. The components of the RFID module, IC chip, and power supply of the room card (200) can be expanded as needed.

[0038] The card terminal recognition unit (210) recognizes the card terminal and transmits and receives card information in accordance with requests for the use of a room card and a transportation card. The card terminal recognition unit (210) can recognize the card terminal by tagging the room card to the card terminal. At this time, the room card (200) may not include a transportation card function, and only the room card function may be used.

[0039] Additionally, the card terminal recognition unit (210) can use the facility service by tagging the room card terminal and requesting validation when using the facility service. The facility service may include an elevator, room door lock, and auxiliary facilities.

[0040] The information storage unit (230) can store new card information after completing the validity verification of the recognized card information. The card information may be room user usage information and the result of validity authentication, and in the case of a card with a transportation card function, it may be the amount charged for transportation.

[0041] When the information storage unit (230) stores room user usage information, it can create a file for the room user usage information separately from the existing transportation card area. At this time, the file may be in the form of an ADF file, and an ADF (Application Dedicated File) may include multiple EF (Elementary Files) and other structural elements. Therefore, the user can tag the room card on the room card terminal and use it for the purpose without additional settings.

[0042] The result transmission unit (250) can transmit the updated room user usage information and transportation fee top-up results from the information storage unit (230) to the room card terminal (100). Upon result transmission, the result transmission unit (250) issues a usable card, which can be used as a room card and a transportation card.

[0044] Again, the room card management server (300) of FIG. 1 stores and manages the updated room user usage information and transportation fee balance top-up results transmitted from the result transmission unit (250). At this time, the transportation card management server (400) applies batch processing to receive the transportation fee balance top-up details and finally settles the transportation fee top-up details.

[0045] The transportation card management server (400) performs settlement based on the transportation fee top-up details transmitted from the room card management server (300) and stores and manages the settled amount. Since the transportation card management server (400) performs information reception in batch processing, it can periodically transmit and receive a large amount of repetitive data.

[0047] FIGS. 4 to 6 are flowcharts of an exemplary embodiment of a device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, in step S410, the room card (200) is tagged to the room card terminal (100) to receive information.

[0049] In step S420, the room card terminal (100) inputs new room user usage information.

[0050] In step S430, the card information authentication unit (150) verifies the validity of the new room user usage information.

[0051] After the validation is completed, in step S440, the room card terminal (100) receives the validation value and updates the new room card (200) information.

[0052] In step S450, the room card (200) updates the new room user usage information.

[0053] In step S460, the room card (200) transmits the update information to the room card terminal (100).

[0054] In step S470, the room card terminal (100) receives the update details of the room card (200) and transmits them to the room card management server (300).

[0055] In step S480, the room card management server (300) receives the updated information.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, in step S505, the room card (200) is tagged to the room card terminal (100).

[0058] In step S510, the room card terminal (100) requests the card information authentication unit (150) to charge the transportation card.

[0059] In step S515, the card information authentication unit (150) performs a validity verification to determine availability by comparing the charged amount and the deposit amount.

[0060] After the validation is completed, in step S520, the card information authentication unit (150) approves the transportation card charging.

[0061] In step S525, the room card terminal (100) charges the transportation fee.

[0062] In step S530, the room card (200) updates the charged amount.

[0063] In step S535, the room card (200) transmits the updated charging result to the room card terminal (100), and in step S540, the room card terminal (100) receives the updated charging result.

[0064] In step S545, the card information authentication unit (150) deducts the recharge amount from the existing prepaid deposit, and in step S550, the room card terminal (100) stores the deducted recharge details.

[0065] Subsequently, in step S555, the room card management server (300) receives the charging details and transmits them to the transportation card management server (400).

[0066] In step S560, the transportation card management server (400) receives the charging details and settles the charging details.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 6, in step S610, the room card (200) is tagged to a facility terminal that requires use. The facilities may include elevators, room and auxiliary facility door locks, services, etc.

[0069] In step S620, the facility terminal (500) verifies the validity of the tagged room card information.

[0070] After the validation is completed, in step S630, the room card (200) is used for facility services.

[0072] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a device for issuing a room card with integrated transportation card functions according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] In step S710, the room card (200) is tagged on the room card terminal (100).

[0074] In step S720, the room card terminal (100) inputs new room user usage information into the room card (200).

[0075] In step S730, the room card terminal (100) receives an authentication value that has been validated and updates the new card information.

[0076] In step S740, the room card terminal (100) receives the update history of the room user's usage information stored in the room card (200) and transmits the update history to the room card management server (300).

[0077] In step S750, the room card terminal (100) performs card information validation for facility service usage in response to a user request.

[0078] In step S760, the room card terminal (100) charges the transportation fee verified by the card information authentication unit (150).

[0079] In step S770, the room card terminal (100) receives the result of the updated recharge amount on the room card.

[0080] In step S780, the room card terminal (100) stores the details of the charge deducted from the deposit.

[0082] The method for issuing a room card integrated with the aforementioned transportation card function may be implemented as computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be, for example, a removable recording medium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, USB storage device, removable hard disk) or a fixed recording medium (ROM, RAM, computer-equipped hard disk). The computer program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium may be transmitted to another computing device via a network such as the Internet and installed on the other computing device, thereby allowing it to be used on the other computing device.

[0083] Although it has been described above that all components constituting an embodiment of the present invention are combined or operate as a single unit, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all components may be selectively combined in one or more ways to operate.

[0084] Although operations are depicted in a specific order in the drawings, it should not be understood that the operations must necessarily be executed in the specific order depicted or in a sequential order, or that all depicted operations must be executed to obtain the desired result. In certain situations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Furthermore, the separation of various configurations in the embodiments described above should not be understood as necessarily required, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together into a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0085] The present invention has been described above with reference to its embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be embodied in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, not by the foregoing description, and all variations within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being included in the invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0087] 100: Room Card Terminal 110: Room Card Activation Department 130: Transportation Card Activation Department 150: Card Information Authentication Department 200: Room Card 210: Card terminal recognition unit 230: Information storage unit 250: Result Transmission Unit 300: Room Card Management Server 400: Transportation Card Management Server

Claims

Claim 1 A device for issuing a room card with an integrated transportation card function, comprising: a room card activation unit that performs room card activation by inputting new room user usage information when the room card is tagged; and a transportation card activation unit that performs transportation card activation by charging transportation fees to the activated room card. The system includes a card information authentication unit that approves the charging of a transportation card to the activated room card and processes prepaid transportation costs, wherein the room card activation unit transmits the input room user usage information to the card information authentication unit to receive an authentication value for which validity verification is completed, transmits the received authentication value to the room card to update card information, and creates and stores files in the form of ADF (Application Dedicated File) and EF (Elementary Files) separately from the existing transportation card area for the room user usage information, and the transportation card activation unit requests a transportation cost charging in accordance with the user's request, charges the balance when the charging is approved by the card information authentication unit, receives a charging result value from the room card with the updated charging amount and transmits it to the card information authentication unit, applies batch processing to the charged transportation cost update information and transmits it to the transportation card management server, and the card information authentication unit verifies the validity of the room user usage information and the integrity of the data using a SAM (Security Access Module), and performs transportation cost charging if the deposit is equal to or greater than the charging amount according to the validity verification after receiving the charging request, and the A card terminal recognition unit that receives an updated charging result value from a transportation card activation unit, deducts the result value from an existing deposit, recognizes the card terminal that tagged the room card, and requests validation;An information storage unit that enables the use of existing transportation cards without additional settings according to purpose by creating and storing information including the room user usage information, validity authentication results, and transportation card top-up amount as files in the form of ADF (Application Dedicated File) and EF (Elementary Files) separately from the existing transportation card area; and a result transmission unit that transmits information including the room user usage information and transportation fee top-up results to a room card terminal, wherein the activated room card is tagged to a card terminal and validity verification is requested to issue a room card with integrated transportation card functions for using facility services including elevators, room door locks, and ancillary facilities. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete Claim 7 delete Claim 8 delete Claim 9 delete

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