FR2616940A1 - Programmable magnetic card - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetic card with a programmable memory which is specific to a defined holder and allows the latter to carry out defined operations with a supplier, on which card there are recorded information items describing the holder, information items for identification and authentication of the latter and information items for creating a relationship between the holder and the supplier for carrying out the defined operations, these information items being able to be read by a means of reading and of implementing operations. This magnetic card is characterised in that it makes it possible to set up a relationship between the holder and several suppliers, the information items for setting up the relationship of the holder and the suppliers being gathered together in a service area 6 which is divided into sub-areas 61, 62, 63, 64 each corresponding to a defined supplier.

Description

Programmable magnetic card
The present invention relates to a programmable memory card specific to a specific carrier and enabling the latter to carry out specific operations with a supplier.

 In recent years, we have seen and multiply on the market, individual magnetic cards on which are recorded information describing the wearer, identification and authentication information thereof and information of setting relationship of the carrier and a supplier to carry out specific operations.

This information is intended to be read by a means of reading and implementing external operations, installed, by temple, in a store or in a public place, to enable the selected operations to be carried out.

 Among the cards of this type, there may be mentioned bank cards, credit cards, private cards, telephone cards ...

 The proliferation of these cards causes discomfort for users and at the same time increases the risk of loss, the consequences of which can be particularly serious for the card holder, when it falls into the hands of malicious people.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a magnetic card of the above type, characterized in that it makes it possible to put the bearer in contact with several suppliers, the information for putting the bearer and suppliers in touch with one another. being gathered in a service area divided into sub-areas each corresponding to a specific supplier.

 This is a microprocessor card or any other technology which offers the same possibilities of programming of memorization and security as conventional cards, everything is so secret to replace all the cards of the same holder , which represents an important advantage, on the one hand, in everyday life and, on the other hand, in the event of loss or theft.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the description information of the wearer and the identification and authentication information of the wearer are respectively gathered in a description area and in an authentication area.

 The description zone which is generally uncoded comprises conventional information such as name, address, telephone number of the carrier, or other information such as driver's license, social security number, blood group ...

 The identification and authentication zone is, on the other hand, a secret zone in which the secret codes of the bearer and, where appropriate, of the suppliers are recorded; by secret code of the bearer, 1 must include a set of data allowing the bearer to authenticate himself, that is to say to prove to the card that he is the lawful owner. This code can be, for example in a conventional manner, a secret code but can also be constituted by the parameters of the dynamic signature of the wearer, or even of his fingerprint, of his retina ...

 The invention therefore makes it possible to replace conventional cards with a single card which preserves all the contractual specificities of the bearer's relations with each of the suppliers.

 Of course, each service sub-zone includes the list of information which is necessary for a carrier-supplier relationship to be implemented.

 If we take the example of a "blue card" sub-zone, this will carry the same information as that which is conventionally stored on a blue card with the exception of that which is already present elsewhere. on the card, for example the name of the bearer (description area) or their secret authentication code (authentication area; on).

 Other information can be added in these areas, such as for example a telephone number that the merchant must call (automatically using the card itself) to authorize payment.

 Each card carries a number of service sub-zones corresponding to the number of contractual relationships existing between the holder and a supplier: credit institutions, department stores, car rental companies, air carriers ...

 To facilitate the "handling" of the card, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the service area further comprises a list sub-area on which is registered the list of suppliers with which the carrier can be placed. Related.

 When the bearer decides to carry out an operation with a service provider provided with a means of reading and implementing an operation, it is first of all necessary for him to check whether this means accepts one or more suppliers (in particular a card blue, europcar card, american express card ...).

 In the first case, the means of reading and implementing operations constituted, for example, by an electronic payment terminal, reads the card of the bearer to check whether the accepted supplier is present. If so, it reads the corresponding service sub-area and implements the descriptive data for the relationship (telephone number to call for authorization, account number to be deposited, ceiling ...) otherwise it refuses the menu.

 In the second case, the terminal searches the list above for possible suppliers and numbering them 1, 2, 3 and the carrier must make their choice and indicate it by pressing a corresponding key on the terminal.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the magnetic card includes an exchange area with the outside, as well as an organization and control area for the implementation of the procedure and the result of the operations carried out between the holder. and suppliers.

 The exchange area with the outside contains the standard I / O protocols. The organization and control area organizes and controls the sequence and the result of the treatments.

 In accordance with the invention, it is possible to link -between them, at least two service sub-zones, for example if the contract signed by the carrier with a department store (privileged customer) includes the oligigior.

to pay by debit from a bank account: in this case, the service sub-zone corresponding to the "department store" is linked to the corresponding "bank" or "credit card" service sub-zone if this is the case. carrier / department store agreement.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the magnetic card comprises at least one payment area on which an amount in a given currency is recorded.

 This zone, which can advantageously be protected, in particular by means of a particular code, is "charged" by a "supplier" banker and is reduced by any payment thus made by the holder. It is thus possible to define several zones with different currencies. Certain areas can be loaded with specific "tokens".

 Of course, in accordance with the invention, both the payment zone and any other zone or sub-zone can be protected in a particular way, in particular by a secret code if this is the wish of the bearer or of the associated supplier.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the card includes a transaction zone possibly protected by a secret code.

 Transactions can, in fact, be recorded in the card, according to the terms of the carrier / supplier contracts, either in a common transaction zone, or in the sub-zones dedicated to each service for transactions implementing this single service. Their level of confidentiality is variable depending on the information contained.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the magnetic card comprises an encryption zone.

 This contains one or more algorithms allowing encryption of messages destined for outside if necessary.

 According to the invention, other zones can also be defined; they may, for example, contain medical, educational or other information; these zones operate in a similar way to the service sub-zones, and their level of confidentiality is variable depending on the information contained.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the magnetic card cooperates with recording means and with means for erasing information.

 These means are, in fact, essential to the implementation of the magnetic card according to the invention when a holder purchases a card, he must first personalize it by recording the description information therein, and then introduce it. authentication and authentication information, in particular its secret code, using a special machine (under the control of the seller or an approved supplier) or an Irtel, with card reader / writer protected microprocessor.

 It is then necessary to carry out the recording of information relating to contact between the carrier and the supplier in the service sub-zones: this recording can be carried out by a "supplier" machine or by a minitel with a reading attachment / card writing (download) by an operation where the agreement of both parties (holder / supplier) is necessary at the same time.

 The same procedure must necessarily be implemented for the renewal of a contractual relationship which is about to expire or for the loading of the payment area.

 When his first card is full, the holder can acquire a second card, on which he can or cannot register the same identification and authentication information.

 It is relatively frequent that there is a breach of the agreement between the carrier and a given supplier; it is therefore essential to provide means for erasing information, and in particular erasing information relating to contact between the carrier and the supplier, in order to carry out the determined operations recorded in a given service sub-area.

In accordance with the invention, the "withdrawal" of the agreement can be done by a specialized machine (approved supplier), an equipped minitel, or even by "fencing" of the sub-zone or zone concerned by the terminal. electronic payment from a service provider when presenting the card, and linking the terminal with an authorization center:
When the card according to the invention is lost or stolen, it is of course essential that the holder declares this loss or theft to all the suppliers with whom he may be in contact and that the "toasting" of it be carried out at its first use.

 The characteristics of the programmable magnetic card which is the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which.

is a diagram representing the different areas of such a map.

 According to the figure, the magnetic card -in accordance with the invention comprises a memory divided into different zones of different levels of protection according to the functions or data programmed in each zone.

 Among these zones, and without this list having to be considered as limiting the invention, one can note a zone 1 of exchange with the outside which contains the standard entry and exit protocols respectively represented by the arrows A and B. This zone 1 cooperates with zone 2 for organizing and controlling the implementation of the process and the result of the operations carried out between the carrier and the suppliers.

 A non-coded zone 3, that is to say capable of being read by any particular person, contains information describing the wearer (his name, address, telephone number) or other information other , such as, in particular the number of his driving license or his social security number.

 Identification and authentication information of the wearer is recorded in a particular authentication zone 4; this zone 4 contains the secret codes of the suppliers and of the carrier, that is to say a set of data likely to prove to the card that it is the lawful owner.

 A zone of c: t.iffrement 5 contains one or more algcrith-mes which make it possible to encrypt the messages bound for the outside.

 The service area 6 corresponds to an essential part of the card since this is the area in which the information relating to the contact between the carrier and the supplier is recorded in order to carry out specific operations. This zone is subdivided into sub-zones 61, 62, 63, 64 ... and 6 '.

 Each of the sub-areas 61, 62, 6s, 64 ... comprises the list of information which is necessary for a supplier / carrier relationship to be implemented. For example, if the sub-zone 62 corresponds to the blue card, this contains the same information as that usually written on a blue card with the exception of that already contained in other zones (3 or 4).

 Other information can be added in these zones 6i, 62, 63, 6-4 ... such as for example the telephone number which the merchant must call to authorize payment with the card. These sub-zones can correspond to several types of suppliers among which we can note: credit institutions, department stores, car lights, air carriers ... There are, of course, as many sub-zones of this type as there are contractual relations between the carrier and a supplier.

 As indicated by the arrow I, it is possible to connect two service sub-zones together, for example a sub-zone 64 corresponding to a department store to sub-zone 62 corresponding to the blue card in the case where the contract that 'signed the bearer with the corresponding large store includes the option of paying by credit card.

 The service sub-area 6 ′ corresponds to a list sub-area on which is registered the list of suppliers 61, 62, 63, 64 with which the carrier can be put in contact. This sub-zone mainly comprises the name of the supplier, the address of the service sub-zone 61, 62, 6 3, 64 ... where it is recorded and formatting codes.

 The card shown in the figure also includes a payment area 7. This area, which is preferably protected by a secret code, contains an amount in a given currency, which is recorded by a supplier banker and is then reduced each time that a payment is thus made by the holder.

Not shown, this area 7 can be subdivided into sub-areas all corresponding to different currencies or even "loaded" with specific "tokens".

 The card shown in the figure also includes a transaction zone E which is also optionally protected by a secret code; in this area, transactions can be recorded according to the terms of the carrier / supplier contracts.

 Other zones 9 can also be provided in the map, and contain other medical, school, etc. information.

 The level of confidentiality of these areas may vary depending on the information contained.

 Of course, the above description has been given only by way of example and the configuration of the magnetic card could be totally different without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

 1- ') Magnetic card with programmable memory specific to a specific carrier and enabling the latter to carry out specific operations with a supplier, card on which are stored information describing the carrier, identification information and authentication of the latter and informers of contact between the carrier and the supplier pcr to carry out the determined operations, this information being able to be read by means of reading and m ;; carrying out of operations, magnetic card characterized in that it makes it possible to put the carrier in contact with several suppliers, the information for bringing the carrier and the suppliers together being similar in a service area (6) divided into sub-areas (61, 6 2-, 63, 64..) Each corresponding to a specific supplier.  2 ') magnetic card according to claim 1, characterized in that the description information of the wearer and the identification and authentication information thereof are respectively gathered in a description area (3) and in a authentication zone (4).  3) Magnetic card according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the service area (6) comprises a sub-area (6l) of list on which is inscribed the list of suppliers with which the carrier can to be connected.  4 ') Magnetic card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes an exchange area with the outside (1), as well as an area (2) for organizing and control of the implementation of the process and the result of the operations carried out between the carrier and the suppliers.  5 ') Magnetic card according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least two service sub-areas (64, 62) are connected to each other.  6 ') Magnetic card according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one payment area (7) on which is recorded an amount in a given currency.  7 ') Magnetic card according to any one of the resale 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one service sub-zone (61, 62, 63, 64..) Corresponding to a contact between the carrier and a conne supplier is protected by a secret code.  E) Magnetic card according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a transaction zone (8) possibly protected by a secret code.  9 ') Card according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an encryption zone (5).  10.) - Card according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it cooperates with means for recording and erasing information.