Patent Publication Number: US-2019180263-A1

Title: Card processing apparatus and method by the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-236871, filed in Dec. 11, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a card processing apparatus and a method by the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, a membership card having an electronic money function is widely used. For example, a POS (Point of Sales) terminal, which is a card processing apparatus capable of processing such a card, recognizes a commercial transaction with a member if the membership card is read using a card reader. Then, the POS terminal performs a processing for giving a service point generated in the commercial transaction to the member. If the electronic money is selected as a price payment method for the commercial transaction, a processing for paying a total price relating to the commercial transaction with electronic money associated with the membership card is performed. In such a series of commercial transactions, data of the membership card is read by the card reader only once. 
     However, if a balance of the electronic money is insufficient and it is necessary to perform charge using the electronic money, since the charge using the electronic money is a processing different from the commercial transaction, it is necessary to read the data of the membership card again. For this reason, handling of the membership card becomes complicated, and the operation becomes troublesome as well. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of main portions of a POS terminal according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a main memory area formed in a main memory of the POS terminal; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting procedures of an information processing executed by a processor of the POS terminal executing a control program; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting procedures of an information processing executed by the processor of the POS terminal executing the control program; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating specific procedures of a charge processing in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a charge amount input screen. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a card processing apparatus comprises a card reader configured to read card data; a first storage module configured to store a first identification code if the first identification code relating to member information is acquired based on the card data; a second storage module configured to store a second identification code if the second identification code relating to electronic money is acquired based on the card data; a first processing module configured to process member information based on the first identification code stored by the first storage module; a second processing module configured to execute a charge processing of the electronic money based on the second identification code if an charge request for electronic money is received in a state in which the second identification code is stored in the second storage module; and a standby module configured to stand by until data of a card having an electronic money function is read if the charge request for the electronic money is received in a state in which the second identification code is not stored in the second storage module. 
     An embodiment of a card processing apparatus capable of simplifying handling of a membership card having an electronic money function is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a POS terminal is described as an embodiment of the card processing apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of main portions of a POS terminal  10  according to the present embodiment. The POS terminal  10  includes a processor  101 , a main memory  102 , an auxiliary storage device  103 , a clock  104 , a change machine interface  105 , a communication interface  106 , an input device  107 , a display device  108 , a printing device  109 , a reading section interface  110 , a card reader  111  and a system bus  112 . Then, in the POS terminal  10 , the system bus  112  is electrically connected to the processor  101 , the main memory  102 , the auxiliary storage device  103 , the clock  104 , the change machine interface  105 , the communication interface  106 , the input device  107 , the display device  108 , the printing device  109 , the reading section interface  110  and the card reader  111  directly or via a signal input/output circuit. 
     In the POS terminal  10 , the processor  101 , the main memory  102 , the auxiliary storage device  103  and the system bus  112  connecting them constitute a computer. 
     The processor  101  acts as a central part of the computer. The processor  101  controls each section to realize various functions of the POS terminal  10  by executing an operating system and application programs. 
     The main memory  102  acts as a main memory portion of the computer. The main memory  102  includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory  102  stores an operating system and an application program in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory  102  may store data required for the processor  101  to execute a processing for controlling each section in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area in some cases. The main memory  102  uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor  101 . 
     The auxiliary storage device  103  acts as an auxiliary storage portion of the computer. For example, the auxiliary storage device  103  may be an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like. The auxiliary storage device  103  stores data used by the processor  101  to perform various processing and data generated in the processing executed by the processor  101 . The auxiliary storage device  103  may store the above-described application program in some cases. 
     The clock  104  functions as a time information source of the POS terminal  10 . The processor  101  counts current date and time based on time information measured by the clock  104 . 
     The change machine interface  105  inputs and outputs a data signal from and to an automatic change machine (not shown). For example, the change machine interface  105  inputs deposit amount data from the automatic change machine. The change machine interface  105  outputs change amount data to the automatic change machine. In the automatic change machine, bills or coins corresponding to the change amount according to the change amount data are dispensed. 
     The communication interface  106  is connected to a network  20  to establish data communication with other devices connected to the network  20  in conformity to a predetermined communication protocol. A member server  30 , an electronic money server  40 , and the like are connected to the network  20  in addition to a store server for managing a price, sales, inventory, and the like of a commodity sold in a retail store. 
     The member server  30  manages a member database  31  storing data relating to a member registered as a point member. At least point data is stored in the member database  31  in association with a member ID set for each member to identify the point member. 
     The electronic money server  40  manages an electronic money database  41  storing data relating to a user registered as an electronic money user. At least electronic money balance is stored in the electronic money database  41  in association with a user ID set for each user to identify the user. 
     The input device  107  functions as a data input interface to the POS terminal  10 . For example, the input device  107  is a keyboard, a touch panel or the like. The input device  107  is provided with a charge key K for declaring charge using the electronic money. The charge key K may be a hardware key arranged on the keyboard or a soft key reproduced on the touch panel. 
     The display device  108  can display various screens under the control of the processor  101 . The display device  108  may be provided with a display device for a store clerk and a display device for a customer separately. For example, the display device  108  may be a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electroluminescence) display, or the like. 
     The printing device  109  prints a receipt, a voucher, and the like. For example, the printing device  109  may be a thermal printer, an inkjet printer or the like. 
     The reading section interface  110  inputs and outputs a data signal from and to a reading section (not shown). The reading section is, for example, a scanner for reading a barcode or a two-dimensional data code. If the scanner is connected as the reading section, the reading section interface  110  inputs data included in the barcode or the two-dimensional data code scanned by the scanner. The reading section may be a wireless tag reader/writer. If the wireless tag reader/writer is connected as the reading section, the reading section interface  110  inputs the data included in a wireless tag read by the wireless tag reader/writer. The reading section interface  110  outputs data to be written in the wireless tag to the wireless tag reader/writer. 
     The card reader  111  reads card data recorded on card media C 1  and C 2 . In the present embodiment, the card medium C 1  is a membership card without the electronic money function, and the card medium C 2  is a membership card with the electronic money function. The card media C 1  and C 2  are non-contact type IC cards. The card media C 1  and C 2  may be contact type IC cards. Alternatively, the card media C 1  and C 2  may be other cards different from the IC cards. For example, when a portable electronic device such as a smartphone having a near-field wireless communication function stores card data stored in the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 , the electronic device is also referred to as a card medium. The card medium C 1  and the card medium C 2  may be different types of cards. In this case, a plurality of card readers for reading respective types of cards is provided in the POS terminal  10 . 
     In the card medium C 1  which is the membership card without the electronic money function, a member ID as the point member is recorded. In the card medium C 2  which is the membership card with the electronic money function, the member ID of a point member and a user ID of a user of the electronic money are recorded. Here, the member ID functions as a first identification code relating to the member information. The user ID functions as a second identification code relating to the electronic money. 
     In order to simplify the handling of the membership card with the electronic money function, i.e., the card medium C 2 , in the POS terminal  10  having such a configuration, memory areas  51  to  55  shown in  FIG. 2  are formed in the volatile area in the main memory  102 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the memory area  51  is used for counting a series of transaction numbers. Hereinafter, the memory area  51  is referred to as a transaction number counter 51. The memory area  52  is used for storing the first ID read from the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 . Hereinafter, the memory area  52  is referred to as an ID 1  memory  52 . The memory area  53  is used for storing the second ID read from the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 . Hereinafter, the memory area  53  is referred to as an ID 2  memory  53 . The memory area  54  is used for storing data relating to a commercial transaction. The data relating to the commercial transaction includes a transaction number, commodity sales data, settlement data, a point before settlement, a current point, a point after settlement, and the like. Hereinafter, the memory area  54  is referred to as a transaction memory  54 . The memory area  55  is used for storing data relating to the charge using the electronic money. The data relating to charge includes a transaction number, a balance before charge, a charge amount, a balance after charge, and the like. Hereinafter, the memory area  55  is referred to as a charge memory  55 . 
     The POS terminal  10  stores a control program for simplifying the handling of the above card medium C 2  in the main memory  102  or the auxiliary storage device  103 .  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  are flowcharts depicting procedures of the processing executed by the processor  101  executing the control program.  FIG. 6  shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device  108  in the processing procedures. The processing procedures of the processor  101  are described below with reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6 . The procedures described below are merely an example, and the processing of various procedures capable of achieving the same results can be appropriately used. 
     First, the processor  101  performs an initialization processing in Act  1 . The processing includes a processing of clearing the transaction number counter 51, the ID 1  memory  52 , the ID 2  memory  53 , the transaction memory  54  and the charge memory  55 . If the initialization processing is terminated, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  2 . 
     In Act  2 , the processor  101  determines whether or not the card data is read by the card reader  111 . If the card data is not read (No in Act  2 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  7 . 
     In Act  7 , the processor  101  determines whether or not a commodity registration is performed via the input device  107 . If the commodity registration is not performed (No in Act  7 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  9 . 
     In Act  9 , the processor  101  determines whether or not the charge key K is operated. If the charge key K is not operated (No in Act  9 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  11 . 
     In Act  11 , the processor  101  determines whether or not or not a closing operation of the commodity registration is performed via the input device  107 . If the closing operation is not performed (No in Act  11 ), the processor  101  returns to the processing in Act  2 . Thus, the processor  101  stands by until the card read is read in Act  2 , the commodity registration is performed in Act  7 , the charge key K is operated in Act  9 , or the closing operation of the registration is performed in Act  11 . 
     In the standby state, if it is determined that the card reader  111  reads the card data (Yes in Act  2 ), the processor  101  determines whether or not the member ID can be acquired from the card data in Act  3 . If the member ID can be acquired (Yes in Act  3 ), the processor  101  stores the member ID in the ID 1  memory  52  in Act  4 . If the member ID cannot be acquired (No in Act  3 ), the processor  101  does not execute the processing in Act  4 . Here, if the processor  101  acquires the first identification code (member ID) relating to the member information based on the card data by executing the processing in Act  3  and Act  4  through cooperation with the ID 1  memory  52 , the processor  101  functions as a first storage module for storing the first identification code. 
     If the processing in Act  4  is terminated or if the member ID cannot be acquired, the processor  101  determines whether or not the user ID can be acquired from the card data in Act  5 . If the user ID can be acquired (Yes in Act  5 ), the processor  101  stores the user ID in the ID 2  memory  53  in Act  6 . If the user ID cannot be acquired (No in Act  5 ), the processor  101  does not execute the processing in Act  6 . Here, if the processor  101  acquires the second identification code (user ID) relating to the electronic money based on the card data by executing the processing in Act  5  and Act  6  through cooperation with the ID 2  memory  53 , the processor  101  functions as a second storage module for storing the second identification code. 
     If the processing in Act  6  is terminated or if the user ID cannot be acquired, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  7 . Specifically, the processor  101  enters the standby state in Act  2 , Act  7 , Act  9  and Act  11 . 
     Therefore, when a customer who comes for checkout of a purchased commodity presents the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 , an operator of the POS terminal  10  uses the card reader  111  to read the data of the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 . At this time, if the data of the card medium C 1  is read by the card reader  111 , the member ID included in the card data is stored in the ID 1  memory  52 . On the other hand, if the data of the card medium. C 2  is read by the card reader  111 , the member ID included in the card data is stored in the ID 1  memory  52 , and the user ID included in the same card data is stored in the ID 2  memory  53 . 
     In the standby state in Act  2 , Act  7 , Act  9  and Act  11 , if it is determined that the commodity registration is performed via the input device  107  (Yes in Act  7 ), the processor  101  executes a commodity sales registration processing. 
     Specifically, commodity sales data is generated from a price of the registered commodity and is then stored in the transaction memory  54 . The processor  101  displays a commodity name, a price, etc. of the registered commodity on the display device  108 . Since such commodity sales registration processing is a well-known processing, the detailed description here is omitted. 
     If the commodity sales registration processing is terminated, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  9 . In other words, the processor  101  enters the standby state in Act  2 , Act  7 , Act  9  and Act  11 . 
     In the standby state, if it is determined that the charge key K of the input device  107  is operated (Yes in Act  9 ), the processor  101  executes a charge processing in Act  10 . The charge processing is described later. If the charge processing is terminated, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  11 . In other words, the processor  101  enters the standby state in Act  2 , Act  7 , Act  9  and Act  11 . 
     In this standby state, if it is determined that the closing operation of the commodity registration is performed via the input device  107  (Yes in Act  11 ), the processor  101  determines whether or not the closing operation of the registration is enabled in Act  12 . For example, if no commodity sales data is stored in the transaction memory  54 , it is an erroneous operation for performing the closing operation of the registration without performing the commodity registration, and thus, the processor  101  determines that the closing operation of the registration is disenabled. If it is determined that the closing operation of the registration is disenabled (No in Act  12 ), the processor  101  returns to the processing in Act  2 . In other words, the processor  101  enters the standby state in Act  2 , Act  7 , Act  9  and Act  11 . 
     If it is determined that the closing operation of the registration is enabled (Yes in Act  12 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  13  in  FIG. 4 . Specifically, the processor  101  counts up a count value in the transaction number counter 51 by “1” in Act  13 . Then, the processor  101  stores the count value in the transaction memory  54  as the transaction number. 
     Next, the processor  101  determines whether or not the member ID is stored in the ID 1  memory  52  in Act  14 . If the member ID is not stored in the ID 1  memory  52  (No in Act  14 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  16 . 
     If the member ID is stored in the ID 1  memory  52  (Yes in Act  14 ), the processor  101  generates a point request command and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the member server  30  in Act  15 . Under this control, the point request command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the member server  30  via the network  20 . The point request command includes the member ID stored in the ID 1  memory  52 . In the member server  30  that receives the point request command, the member database  31  is retrieved. Then, the point data associated with the member ID included in the point request command is read out. The point data is transmitted to the POS terminal  10  transmitting the command via the network  20 . 
     Accordingly, the processor  101  which controls transmission of the point request command stands by until the point data is received. If the point data is received via the communication interface  106 , the processor  101  stores the point data in the transaction memory  54  as a point before settlement. If the above processing is terminated, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  16 . 
     In Act  16 , the processor  101  controls the display device  108  to display a payment method selection screen. The payment method selection screen is used for selecting a payment method for paying a transaction amount which is the total price of the commercial transaction. The payment methods include, for example, cash payment, credit card payment, electronic money payment, point payment, and the like. The payment method selection screen has a screen structure for receiving selection of any one of the payment methods among these payment methods. 
     If it is determined that any one of the payment methods is selected via the input device  107  (Yes in Act  17 ), the processor  101  executes a price payment processing using the selected payment method in Act  19 . 
     For example, if the cash payment is selected, the processor  101  subtracts the transaction amount from the deposit amount input via the input device  107 . If there is a change, the processor  101  displays a change amount on the display device  108 . The processor  101  stores settlement data such as the transaction amount, the deposit amount, the change amount, etc. in the transaction memory  54 . If the deposit amount is not sufficient, the processor  101  displays an insufficient amount thereof on the display device  108 . 
     For example, if the credit card payment is selected, the processor  101  authenticates the credit card read by the card reader  111 . Then, if the payment using the credit card is approved, the processor  101  stores the settlement data such as the transaction amount, a card number, a card payment amount, etc. in the transaction memory  54 . If the card payment amount is insufficient, the processor  101  displays an insufficient amount thereof on the display device  108 . 
     For example, if the electronic money payment is selected, the processor  101  generates an electronic money request command on condition that the user ID is stored in the ID 2  memory  53 , and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the electronic money server  40 . Under this control, the electronic money request command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the electronic money server  40  via the network  20 . The electronic money request command includes the user ID stored in the ID 2  memory  53 . In the electronic money server  40  receiving the electronic money request command, the electronic money database  41  is retrieved. Then, an electronic money balance associated with the user ID included in the electronic money request command is read out. The electronic money balance is transmitted to the POS terminal  10  transmitting the command via the network  20 . Therefore, the processor  101  which controls the transmission of the electronic money request command stands by until the electronic money balance is received. If the electronic money balance is received via the communication interface  106 , the processor  101  subtracts the transaction amount from the electronic money balance. The processor  101  stores the settlement data such as the transaction amount, the payment amount, etc. in the transaction memory  54 . If the electronic money balance is not sufficient, the processor  101  displays an insufficient amount thereof on the display device  108 . 
     For example, if the point payment is selected, the processor  101  generates a point request command on condition that the member ID is stored in the ID 1  memory  52 , and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the electronic money server  40 . Under this control, the point request command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the electronic money server  40  via the network  20 . The point request command includes the member ID stored in the ID 1  memory  52 . In the electronic money server  40  receiving the point request command, the same operation as described above is performed. Therefore, the processor  101  which controls the transmission of the point request command stands by until the point data is received. If the point data is received via the communication interface  106 , the processor  101  subtracts the total price of the commercial transaction from the point payment amount converted from the point. The processor  101  stores the settlement data such as the transaction amount, the point payment amount, the payment point, etc. in the transaction memory  54 . If the point payment amount is not sufficient, the processor  101  displays an insufficient amount thereof on the display device  108 . 
     If the price payment processing is terminated in this way, the processor  101  determines whether or not the payment is completed in Act  20 . In the price payment processing, if there is the insufficient amount, the processor  101  determines that the price payment is not completed. If the price payment is not terminated (No in Act  20 ), the processor  101  returns to the processing in Act  16 . In other words, the processor  101  displays the payment method selection screen on the display device  108  again and stands by until a next payment method is selected. 
     If the price payment is completed (Yes in Act  20 ), the processor  101  determines whether or not the member ID is stored in the ID 1  memory  52  in Act  21 . If the member ID is not stored (No in Act  21 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  25 . 
     If the member ID is stored in the ID 1  memory  52  (Yes in Act  21 ), the processor  21  calculates a current point in Act  22 . Specifically, the processor  101  calculates a service point in the current commercial transaction, i.e., the current point, based on commodity sales data or the transaction amount of the settlement data stored in the transaction memory  54 . Then, the processor  101  stores the current point in the transaction memory  54 . The processor  101  calculates a point after settlement in Act  23 . Specifically, the processor  101  adds the current point to the point before settlement stored in the transaction memory  54  to calculate the point after settlement. Then, the processor  101  stores the point after settlement in the transaction memory  54 . 
     Thereafter, the processor  101  generates a point update command, and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the member server  30  in Act  24 . Under this control, the point update command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the member server  30  via the network  20 . The point update command includes the member ID stored in the ID 1  memory  52  and the point after settlement stored in the transaction memory  54 . In the member server  30  receiving the point update command, the member database  31  is retrieved. Then, point data associated with the member ID included in the point update command is rewritten to the point after settlement included in the same command. If the above processing is terminated, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  25 . 
     Here, the processor  101  functions as a first processing module which processes member information based on the first identification code (member ID) stored by the first storage module by executing the processing in Act  22  to Act  24 . 
     In Act  25 , the processor  101  generates print data of a purchase receipt based on the data stored in the transaction memory  54 . Then, the processor  101  outputs the print data to the printing device  109 , and controls printing of the purchase receipt. Thus, the processor  101  terminates the information processing according to the control program. Then, the processor  101  executes the processing from Act  1  again. 
     Therefore, for the customer who presents the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 , the current point is calculated in response to execution of the closing operation of the registration of the purchase commodity. Then, the current point is added to the point data associated with the member ID of the customer. The point payment is permitted for the customer who presents the card medium C 1  or the card medium C 2 . The customer can pay for the price of the purchase commodity using the point. 
     On the other hand, it is possible to handle the electronic money payment without reading the card medium C 2  again for the customer who presents the card medium C 2 . However, it is impossible to handle the electronic money payment unless the customer who presents the card medium C 1  presents another card having the electronic money function and the card is read by the card reader  111 . 
     Meanwhile, the customer who presents the card medium C 2  can perform charge using the electronic money balance of the card medium C 2  before settlement of the commercial transaction. The operator of the POS terminal  10  operates the charge key K if there is a charge request for the electronic money balance from the customer. In response to operation of the charge key K, the processor  101  executes the charge processing in Act  10 . Next, the procedures of the charge processing executed by the processor  101  are described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 5 . 
     If the charge processing is started, the processor  101  counts up a count value of the transaction number counter 51 by “1” in Act  31 . Then, the processor  101  stores the count value in the charge memory  55  as a transaction number. 
     Next, the processor  101  determines whether or not the user ID is stored in the ID 2  memory  53  in Act  32 . Here, if the user ID is not stored (No in Act  32 ), the processor  101  displays a screen for instructing reading of a card medium having the electronic money function on the display device  108  in Act  33 . Then, the processor  101  stands by until a card medium having the electronic money function is read in Act  34 . If the data of the card having the electronic money function is read by the card reader  111  (Yes in Act  34 ), the processor  101  stores the user ID included in the card data in the ID 2  memory  53  in Act  35 . Thereafter, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  36 . 
     Here, the processor  101  functions as a standby module configured to stand by until the data of the card having the electronic money function is read if the charge request for the electronic money is received in a state in which the second identification code (user ID) is not stored by the second storage module by executing the processing in Act  32  to Act  35 . 
     On the other hand, in Act  32 , if the user ID is stored in the ID 2  memory  53  (Yes in Act  32 ), the processor  101  skips the processing in Act  33  to Act  35  and proceeds to the processing in Act  36 . Specifically, if the charge request for electronic money is received in a state in which the second identification code (user ID) is stored by the second storage module, i.e., if the card medium C 2  is read before the charge key K is operated, the processor  101  does not stand by until the data of the card having the electronic money function is read. 
     In Act  36 , the processor  101  acquires a balance before charge from the electronic money server  40 . Specifically, the processor  101  generates the electronic money request command and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the electronic money server  40 . Under this control, the electronic money request command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the electronic money server  40  via the network  20 . The electronic money request command includes the user ID stored in the ID 2  memory  53 . In the electronic money server  40  receiving the electronic money request command, the same operation is performed in the same manner as described above. Therefore, the processor  101  which controls the transmission of the electronic money request command stands by until the electronic money balance is received. If the electronic money balance is received via the communication interface  106 , the processor  101  stores the electronic money balance in the charge memory  55  as the balance before charge. 
     The processor  101  then displays a charge amount input screen SR (refer to  FIG. 6 ) on the display device  108  in Act  37 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of the charge amount input screen SR. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the charge amount input screen SR includes a total display area A 1 , an amount button display area A 2  and a charge amount display area A 3 . The charge amount input screen SR also includes a card change button B 2  and a confirmation button B 3 . 
     In the amount button display area A 2 , a 1000 Yen button B 11 , a 2000 Yen button B 12 , a 3000 Yen button B 13 , a 5000 Yen button B 14 , a 10000 Yen button B 15 , a 20000 yen button B 16  and a 0 Yen button B 17  are displayed. The 1000 yen button B 11  is used for inputting a charge amount of 1000 Yen. The 2000 yen button B 12  is used for inputting a charge amount of 2000 Yen. The same is applicable to the other buttons B 13  to B 17 . However, the 0 Yen button B 17  is input when the charge amount is 0 Yen, i.e., when the charge is canceled. It is needless to say that the type of the button displayed in the amount button display area A 2  is not limited to that in  FIG. 6 . 
     In the total display area A 1 , the balance before charge stored in the charge memory  55  is displayed. In the charge amount display area A 3 , the charge amount input through the amount buttons B 11  to B 17  is displayed. 
     The operator who confirms the charge amount input screen SR presses the amount buttons B 11  to B 17  corresponding to the charge amount and then presses the confirmation button B 3  if the customer requests the charge using the electronic money. The operator presses the card change button B 2  if the customer requests change of the card used for the charge using the electronic money to a card associated with a user ID other than the user ID stored in the ID 2  memory  53 . 
     The processor  101  displaying the charge amount input screen SR determines whether or not the card change button B 2  is pressed in Act  38 . If the card change button B 2  is not pressed (No in Act  38 ), the processor  101  determines whether or not the confirmation button B 3  is pressed in Act  39 . If the confirmation button B 3  is not pressed (No in Act  39 ), the processor  101  returns to the processing in Act  38 . Here, the processor  101  stands by until the card change button B 2  is pressed in Act  38  or the confirmation button B 3  is pressed in Act  39 . 
     If the card change button B 2  is pressed (Yes in Act  38 ), the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  33 . Specifically, the processor  101  displays a screen for instructing reading of a card medium having the electronic money function on the display device  108 . If the data of the card having the electronic money function is read through the card reader  111  (Yes in Act  34 ), the processor  101  stores the user ID included in the card data in the ID 2  memory  53  in Act  35 . Thereafter, the processor  101  proceeds to the processing in Act  36 . 
     Therefore, the operator who receives a request for changing the card from the customer presses the card change button B 2 , and then uses the card reader  111  to read the card having the electronic money function that the customer presents. By doing this, the user ID of the card is stored in the ID 2  memory  53  and the charge amount input screen SR is displayed again. 
     On the other hand, if the confirmation button B 3  is pressed in the standby state in Act  38  and Act  39  (Yes in Act  39 ), the processor  101  acquires the charge amount associated with the amount buttons B 11  to B 17  pressed before the confirmation button B 3  is pressed and stores the charge amount in the charge memory  55  in Act  40 . The processor  101  calculates the balance after charge by subtracting the charge amount from the balance before charge, and stores it in the charge memory  55 . Then, the processor  101  changes a content in the total display area A 1  to the balance after charge. 
     If the processing in Act  41  is terminated, the processor  101  generates print data of a charge receipt based on the contents in the charge memory  55  in Act  42 . Then, the processor  101  outputs the print data to the printing device  109  to control the printing of the charge receipt. 
     The processor  101  generates the electronic money update command, and controls the communication interface  106  to transmit it to the electronic money server  40  in Act  43 . Under this control, the electronic money update command is transmitted from the communication interface  106  to the electronic money server  40  via the network  20 . The electronic money update command includes the user ID stored in the ID 2  memory  53  and the balance after charge stored in the charge memory  55 . In the electronic money server  40  receiving the electronic money update command, the electronic money database  41  is retrieved. Then, the electronic money data associated with the user ID included in the electronic money update command is rewritten to the balance after charge included in the same command. 
     If the above processing is terminated, the processor  101  terminates the charge processing and returns to the processing in Act  11 . 
     Here, the processor  101  functions as a second processing module configured to execute the charge processing of the electronic money based on the second identification code if the charge request for electronic money is received in a state in which the second identification code (user ID) is stored by the second storage module by executing the processing in Act  32  and Act  36  to Act  43 . 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, after using the card reader  111  to read the data of the card medium C 2  as the membership card relating to the commercial transaction, if the customer requests the charge using the electronic money in the card medium C 2 , the operator can charge the electronic money without reading the data in the card medium C 2  again. Therefore, since the reading operation on the card medium C 2  is performed only once, the handling of the card medium C 2  can be simplified. 
     In addition, the operator can simply input the corresponding charge amount through the charge amount input screen SR which is displayed after the charge key K is operated, thereby simplifying the operation. 
     The card change button B 2  is displayed in the charge amount input screen SR. if the card change button B 2  is operated, a mode for reading the card having the electronic money function is set. Thus, for example, there is an advantage that the operation can be simple even if the customer who presents the card medium C 2  as the membership card to accumulate points performs the charge using the electronic money in another card to perform payment using another card having the electronic money function. 
     In the above embodiment, if the card of which the data is read as the membership card is the card medium C 2 , the charge amount input screen SR is displayed on the display device  108  when the charge key K is operated. On the other hand, in the case of the card medium C 1 , when the charge key K is operated, the screen for instructing reading of the card having the electronic money function is displayed on the display device  108 . Therefore, the operator can recognize whether the card medium is the card medium C 1  that does not have the electronic money function or the card medium C 2  that has the electronic money function depending on the difference in the screen displayed after the charge key K is operated. Therefore, the operator does not need to be conscious of whether the card medium is the card medium C 1  that does not have the electronic money function or the card medium C 2  having the electronic money function, and thus the handling of the card becomes easy from such a point. 
     Modifications of the present embodiment are described below. 
     In the above embodiment, the membership card is a card for the point member, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be a membership card for a stamp member who collects electronic stamps. In this case, the first processing module executes a processing relating to the collection of a stamp as a first processing. 
     In the above embodiment, the POS terminal is exemplified as an embodiment of the card processing apparatus, but the card processing apparatus is not limited to the POS terminal. Any electronic device may be used as long as it can handle the membership card having the electronic money function. 
     The access of the card processing apparatus is generally performed in a state in which a program such as a control program is stored in the main memory or the auxiliary storage device. However, it is not limited to this, and for example, the access of the card processing apparatus may be performed in a state in which the program is not stored in the main memory or the auxiliary storage device. In this case, the control program individually transferred from the card processing apparatus is written in a writable storage device of the card processing apparatus according to an operation performed by a user or the like. The transfer of the control program may be performed by recording the control program on a removable recording medium or by communication via a network. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store the program and is readable by the apparatus, such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), a memory card, etc. The function obtained by installing or downloading the program may be realized through cooperation with an OS (operating system) in the apparatus. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.