JP3483792B2 - Prepaid card system, reading device and variable information updating method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for processing a prepaid card according to the amount of money consumed, and more particularly to a prepaid card system, a reading device and a variable information updating method for dealing with fraud by copying variable information of a prepaid card. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A prepaid card system has been realized in which a prepaid card storing monetary amount information is used for payment of a loan for a game medium or the like. The prepaid card system includes, for example, a recording device installed in the card issuer, a ticket issuing machine installed in each store, a reading device, and the like. The recording device records (encodes) fixed information such as a card ID and a face amount, and variable information such as a balance on each prepaid card. The prepaid card in which the variable information and the fixed information are recorded is sold, for example, by the card issuer to each store.

In each store, for example, a prepaid card purchased from a card issuer is stored in a ticket issuing machine. Ticket issuing machine
In response to a purchase request from a user, a prepaid card stored in the self is subjected to predetermined ticket issuing processing to issue a ticket.
The issued prepaid card is used by a user, for example, in a reading device of a store. The reading device performs a predetermined check on the inserted prepaid card, and if the check result is proper, permits the use of the card. Then, the variable information including the balance information stored in the prepaid card is recorded and updated according to the consumption amount and the like and discharged.

[0004]

However, in the system as described above, there is a possibility that a fraudulent card is forged by, for example, copying the variable information of the prepaid card to another card. For example, the reading device performs various checks on the inserted card, and records and updates the variable information when the check results are proper, but records the variable information after the check is properly completed. If the card to be processed is replaced with another card (for example, a card in which variable information such as balance information is not recorded) before the update, the variable information will be recorded in the other replaced card. As a result, for example, a card with a large balance is inserted, and after the check at the time of insertion is completed, it is replaced with a card that does not store variable information and the data of the card with a high balance is recorded, so that the card is forged. May occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a prepaid card system, a reading device, and a variable information updating method capable of preventing forgery of a prepaid card due to illegal copying of data. To aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a prepaid card system according to a first aspect of the present invention, a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion, and a variable amount information including a monetary value corresponding to a monetary value is included. In a prepaid card system for making a financial settlement using a prepaid card composed of a storage medium for storing information, a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is optically detected. and quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gray scale distribution, the quantization information as an encryption key, Nica of the prepaid card medium
A recording means for issuing as the prepaid card and recorded by encrypting the variable information in the storage area of the place, the tone distribution optically detecting including the background color of the bar code portion in the predetermined portion of the prepaid card quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gray scale distribution, the quantization information as an encryption key, decrypts the read information from the storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card
Means and one of the two storage areas is decrypted.
The updated variable information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card, and the updated variable information is encrypted with the encryption key.
And a recording means that alternately performs the process of recording in the other storage area with respect to the two storage areas,
Equipped with.

According to such a configuration, the recording means quantizes, in the initial state, the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the bar code printed portion peculiar to each medium of the prepaid card. Is encrypted as an encryption key and variable information is written in two storage areas. Then, the reading means uses the quantized information based on the characteristic information of the prepaid card as an encryption key to encrypt the variable information every time the variable information is updated, and alternately writes the encrypted information in the two storage areas and stores the two storage areas. By decrypting the variable information and checking whether or not the variable information is valid, it is possible to accurately detect fraud caused by copying the variable information of another prepaid card. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium.

The recording means uses the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion of the prepaid card medium by a different quantized method for each storage area as an encryption key, and records the initial variable information in advance. Encrypt the
Quantized information including means for recording in the two storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the reading means quantized the characteristic information for each storage area by a quantization method common to the recording means. May be a cryptographic key for encryption and decryption.

The reading means performs fraudulent detection based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. Means may be included for loading the prepaid card and after updating the variable information.

[0010] Reading device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card comprising a storage medium on which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion, the reading and writing of the variable information including the amount information Reader / writer means for performing, an optical sensor for optically detecting a gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code part of the prepaid card, and a gradation distribution of the bar code part based on a detection signal of the optical sensor. obtaining quantization information characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the quantization, and encryption processing means for performing encryption and decryption processing using the quantization information as an encryption key, the said prepaid card by the reader-writer means two Means for decrypting the read information from the storage area of the location by the encryption processing means and one of the storage areas of the two locations.
Then, the decrypted variable information is updated according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card, and the updated variable information is encrypted.
It is encrypted by the processing means and is read by the reader / writer means.
Ri processing for the other stored in the storage area, and a control unit intends row alternately for the storage area of the two places.

According to such a configuration, the reading device uses the quantized information based on the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the bar code printed portion peculiar to each medium of the prepaid card as the encryption key, and the variable. Two times each time information is updated
By checking its propriety by decoding the variable information of the storage area of alternately writing and two positions is encrypted in the storage area of the place, that accurately detecting fraudulent by the copying of variable information other prepaid cards it can. Therefore,
Unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium can be eliminated in advance.

In the prepaid card, the initial variable information is encrypted and stored in advance by using the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion by a different quantization method for each storage area as an encryption key. And the encryption processing means is
A unit for performing encryption and decryption processing may be included by using, as an encryption key, the quantized information obtained by quantizing the feature information in each storage area by the same quantization method as the initial variable information.

The check control means includes means for performing fraud detection based on whether the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas by the encryption processing means when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. You can leave.

A prepaid card system according to a third aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card including a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value is stored. In a prepaid card system for financial settlement, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of a prepaid card medium is optically detected, and a detection signal corresponding to the dispersion of the gradation distribution. Quantize the feature information based on the above, use the quantized information as an encryption key, include the quantized information in the variable information, and encrypt and record the variable information in two storage areas of the prepaid card medium. Recording means for issuing as the prepaid card, and a gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. Histological detect quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in the grayscale distribution,
Using the quantized information as an encryption key, the two storage areas
Means for decoding the read information of the above, and the two storage areas
For one of the two, the decoded variable information is
Update according to the amount of money consumed by the card, include the quantized information in the updated variable information , encrypt with the encryption key, and
The process of recording in the storage area, the storage area of the two portions
And a reading means and means for performing alternately with.

According to this structure, the recording means quantizes, in the initial state, the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the bar code printing area peculiar to each medium of the prepaid card. Is included in the initial variable information, and the quantized information is encrypted and written as the encryption key in the two storage areas. Then, the reading means quantizes the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the prepaid card,
Each update variable information, movable included in variant information, write encrypts the quantization information as an encryption key alternately in the storage area of the two locations, and quantization information variable information written in the storage area of the two portions By checking whether or not decryption is possible using the encryption key as the encryption key, it is possible to accurately detect fraud caused by copying the variable information of another prepaid card. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium.

The recording means uses the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion in the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area as an encryption key and corresponds to other storage areas. Includes quantization information in variable information, encrypts initial variable information to be recorded in advance,
Quantized information including means for recording in the two storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the reading means quantized the characteristic information for each storage area by a quantization method common to the recording means. May be a cryptographic key for encryption and decryption.

The reading means performs fraudulent detection based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. Means may be included for loading the prepaid card and after updating the variable information.

The reading means may detect fraud by detecting whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. It may further include a unit for performing fraud detection by comparing and comparing the quantized information in the variable information with corresponding quantized information obtained by actually measuring the characteristic information.

A prepaid card system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card including a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value is stored. In a prepaid card system for financial settlement, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of a prepaid card medium is optically detected, and a detection signal corresponding to the dispersion of the gradation distribution. Quantize the feature information based on the above, and include the quantized information, the initial variable information is recorded in two storage areas of the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the quantized information is encrypted. Recording means for recording in another storage area of the plurality of storage areas and issuing it as the prepaid card, and a marking part on the predetermined part of the prepaid card. Has been the tone distribution including the background color of the bar code portion optically detects quantization quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution
Means for acquiring information and reading the two storage areas
And one of the two storage areas is read
Variable information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card
The processing of updating and including the quantized information in the updated variable information and storing the updated variable information in the other storage area is described in the above two locations.
It carries out alternately for憶領region, wherein the variable information each further <br/> Xin of, and a reading means and means for updating stored in the other storage area to encrypt the quantization information.

According to such a configuration, the recording means quantizes, in the initial state, the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the bar code print area peculiar to each medium of the prepaid card. Variable information including
Information is written in two storage areas, and information obtained by encrypting the quantized information is written in another storage area. The reading means includes the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information in the variable information every time the variable information is updated, and alternately writes the quantized information in the two storage areas, and also encrypts the quantized information. writing information to said another storage area and said Nica
The quantized information in the variable information written in one storage area is compared with the quantized information based on the measured value of the prepaid card, and the quantized information based on the measured value is used to change the quantized information in the other storage area. By checking whether or not the decryption is possible, it is possible to accurately detect fraud caused by copying the variable information of another prepaid card. Therefore,
Unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium can be eliminated in advance.

The recording means stores the initial variable information including the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion in the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area at the two locations. The reading means includes means for pre-storing in a region, and the reading device quantizes the quantized information in the variable information, the quantized information being quantized by the quantization method common to the initial variable information for each storage region. It may include means for detecting fraud by collating the information and determining whether or not the variable information can be decrypted.

The reading means stores the quantization information of the characteristic information based on the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion and the two pieces of information.
It may include means for performing fraud detection by collating with the quantized information in the variable information read out from the storage area at a place, when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated.

The reading means uses the quantized information of the characteristic information based on the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated, from the other storage area. The read quantization information
It may further include means for performing fraud detection based on whether or not the information can be decrypted.

A prepaid car according to a fifth aspect of the present invention
The bar code is printed on the specified area of the
To store variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to the intellectual value
Make a financial payment using a prepaid card consisting of a storage medium
The prepaid card system
Of the bar code part printed on the predetermined part of the card medium.
The gradation distribution including the background color is optically detected and the gradation distribution is detected.
Quantize feature information based on detection signal corresponding to wobble
The prepaid card using the quantized information as an encryption key.
The variable information is encrypted and recorded in a plurality of storage areas of the medium.
And recording means for issuing as the prepaid card,
Bar code at the predetermined portion of the prepaid card
The gradation distribution including the background color of the
Feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in distribution
Quantize and use the quantized information as an encryption key to
Decoding information read from the storage areas of the card
Means for reading and reading from one of the plurality of storage areas
The decrypted variable information is used as the consumption amount of the prepaid card.
The encrypted variable information is encrypted with the encryption key.
And a means for recording in another storage area
And a step. Prepaid according to a sixth aspect of the present invention
The card system has a bar code printed on a specified area,
Store variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to monetary value
Monetary decision using a prepaid card consisting of a storage medium
In the prepaid card system that performs payment,
Barcode part printed on the predetermined part of the card medium
The gradation distribution including the background color is detected optically, and the gradation distribution is detected.
Feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of
The quantized information as an encryption key, and the quantized information is
Included in the variable information are multiple entries of the prepaid card medium.
The variable information is encrypted and recorded in a storage area, and
Recording means issued as an id card, and the prepaid
The area of the bar code printed on the specified area of the card
The gradation distribution including colors is optically detected and the gradation distribution is
The based rather feature information detection signal corresponding to the per quantized,
Using the quantization information as an encryption key,
A means for decoding the read information and one of the plurality of storage areas.
The variable information read from one of the
Updated according to the consumption amount of the card, and the updated variable information
Including the quantized information, it is encrypted with the encryption key and other information is recorded.
A reading means having a recording means in the memory area;
It A prepaid card system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention
A bar code is printed on a specified part of the
Is it a storage medium that stores variable information including corresponding amount information?
A prepaid card that uses a prepaid card
Prepaid card medium in the pay card system
Including the background color of the bar code part printed on the predetermined part of
The gradation distribution is optically detected, and variations in the gradation distribution are detected.
Quantize the feature information based on the corresponding detection signal,
Storage of the prepaid card medium, including activation information
Initial variable information is recorded in the area, and the quantization information is hidden.
It is encoded and recorded in another predetermined storage area, and the prepaid
Recording means issued as a card, and the prepaid car
The background color of the bar code printed on the specified area of the
Variation of the gradation distribution is detected by optically detecting the included gradation distribution.
Quantize the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to
Means for acquiring activation information and reading the plurality of storage areas
And variable information read from one of the plurality of storage areas.
Update the information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card,
By including the quantization information in the updated variable information,
The number of storage areas to other storage areas, the variable
Each time the information is updated, the quantized information is encrypted and
Means for updating and storing in a predetermined storage area of
And a writing means. A variable information updating method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card which is a storage medium in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and which stores variable information including amount information corresponding to a financial value. A method for updating variable information in a prepaid card system for payment, comprising optically detecting a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium when the prepaid card is issued. Then, a generating step of quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution to generate the quantized information, and the prepaid card using the quantized information generated by the generating step as an encryption key. an issuing step of issuing the prepaid card the variable information in the storage area of the two portions of the media and recorded encrypted, pre When using the id card, the gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion in the predetermined portion of the prepaid card is optically detected, and the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the dispersion of the gradation distribution is quantized. decoding quantization information generating step of generating quantization information, the quantization information generated by the quantization information generating step as the encryption key, reading information from the storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card Te Of the steps and the two storage areas
For one, the decrypted variable information is updated according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card, and the updated variable information is updated.
Processing for encrypting with the encryption key and recording in the other storage area
And comprises the steps are executed alternately for the storage area of the two places.

A variable information updating method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card which is a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and which stores variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. A method for updating variable information in a prepaid card system for performing financial settlement by means of an optical system, wherein when a prepaid card is issued, a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code part printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is optically detected. Of the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution to generate the quantized information, and the quantized information generated by the generating step into the variable information. including by the quantization information as an encryption key, and recording the variable information is encrypted in the storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card medium, before An issuance step of issuing a prepaid card, and when using the prepaid card, optically detects a gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card, and detects the gradation distribution. Quantization information generation step of generating the quantization information by quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation, and the quantization information generated by the quantization information generation step as an encryption key, the two locations From storage area
Decrypting the read information of the memory, and storing the two locations
For one of the areas, the decoded variable information is
It is updated according to the consumption amount of the id card, and the updated variable information includes the quantization information and is encrypted with the encryption key.
And recording in the other storage area are alternately performed for the two storage areas.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a prepaid card system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings for its embodiments. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a prepaid card system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The prepaid card system shown in FIG. 1 includes a reading device 1, a relay device 2, a recording device 3, and a settlement center 4. The recording device 3 and the settlement center 4 are installed in a card issuer D such as a card issuing company and a card manufacturing factory.
Generally, there are a plurality of stores S corresponding to the card issuer D, and each store S is provided with a plurality of reading devices 1 and a relay device 2 connecting the reading devices 1 to the settlement center 4.

The relay device 2 is not limited to one at each store S,
For example, one relay device 2 may be provided for each predetermined area in the store S, for example, for each hall and floor. That is, the relay device 2 includes a plurality of reading devices 1 for each store S,
It is provided between the plurality of reading devices 1 for each hall in the store S or between the plurality of reading devices 1 for each floor in the store S and the settlement center 4.

In this prepaid card system, the prepaid card manufactured and issued by the card issuer D is sold to the store S, and further sold to the user at the store S.
At the store S, the user can pay the price for providing a service such as renting a game medium by using a prepaid card. This service provision and payment are performed using the reading device 1 installed in the store S, and the amount of money stored as amount information in the prepaid card is consumed. The store S collects the amount of money information consumed by the reading device 1 in the relay device 2 and sends it to the settlement center 4 of the card issuer D. The card issuer pays each store S an amount of money corresponding to the amount information received at the settlement center 4 from each store S as sales proceeds.

The prepaid card used in this prepaid card system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the prepaid card PC has a magnetic information storage unit DA using a magnetic layer, and the information storage unit DA is
It has a first information area A and a second information area B. First
In the information area A, variable information (a) including money amount information such as the remaining amount is encrypted and written using the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information as the encryption key. The quantized data Ra serving as the encryption key is information obtained by quantizing the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the density gradation distribution of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit by the predetermined first quantization method. The quantized data Ra is recorded in the recording device 3 at the time of encoding.
The information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing portion detected by the first quantizing method is used when the reading device 1 updates the amount information of the variable information (a). Each time the information is updated, the information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 by the first quantization method is used.

In the second information area B, variable information (b) including money amount information such as balance is encrypted and written using the quantized data Rb based on the characteristic information as an encryption key.
The quantized data Rb serving as an encryption key is characteristic data based on a detection signal of a density gradation distribution of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit, and a predetermined second quantization method different from the first quantization method. Is the information quantized by. As the quantized data Rb, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the second quantization method is used. When the amount information of the variable information (b) is updated by the method, the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method each time the updating is performed. Information is used.

The update writing of the amount information and the like in the reading device 1 is alternately performed in the first information area A and the second information area B. In the information areas A and B, in addition to the amount information such as the balance, the card identification information (card ID) of the prepaid card PC, the manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, the manufacturing date (encoding date) information, and an error when an error occurs Codes etc. are recorded.

The recording device 3 is a device for issuing a prepaid card PC at the card issuer D. This recording device 3 has a first information area A of the information storage unit DA of the prepaid card PC when the prepaid card is issued.
, The variable information (a) including the initial amount information and other information is encrypted and written with the quantized data Ra as an encryption key, and the quantized data Rb is written in the second information area B of the information storage unit DA. Variable information (b) including initial amount information and other information is written as an encryption key. As the initial amount information, the amount information indicating the actual initial face value may be included in at least one of the variable information (a) and the variable information (b), for example, the variable information (b), and the other initial amount information. May be dummy amount information.

Variable information (a) and variable information (b)
Other information in, for example, includes card identification information of the prepaid card PC, a manufacturer code indicating a manufacturer, manufacturing date information, and the like, and all of them are included in the variable information (a) and the variable information (b). Alternatively, these may be appropriately dispersed and included in the variable information (a) and the variable information (b). In this case, both the first and second information areas A and B are variable information areas in which the variable information (a) and (b) are all updated when updating the balance.

The variable information (a) and the variable information (b) for the first information area A and the second information area B are updated alternately. That is, for example, only the variable information (a) in the first information area A is updated at the time of updating the amount information by the first use after issuance, and the second information is updated at the time of the next updating of the amount information. Only the variable information (b) in the information area B is updated.

Encrypted writing of the variable information (a) into the first information area A using the quantized data Ra as an encryption key, and variable information (b) into the second information area B using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key. In the encrypted writing of), prior to that, for example, the grayscale gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion is detected, the characteristic data based on the detection signal indicating the gradation distribution is used, and the different quantization methods are used. Quantization is performed to obtain quantized data Ra and quantized data Rb. As the quantized data Ra and Rb, for example, information obtained by quantizing the analog reproduction signal of the optical sensor by PCM (pulse code modulation) or other information quantized by A / D (analog-digital) conversion is used. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading device 1 includes a communication processing unit 11, a consumption processing unit 12, a storage unit 13, a reader / writer 14, a check control unit 15, an encryption processing unit 16, and an optical sensor 17. There is.

The communication processing unit 11 communicates between the consumption processing unit 12 and the relay device 2. For example, as a response to the request command from the relay device 2, the communication processing unit 11 reads the sales information including the consumption amount information of the prepaid card PC in the reading device 1 from the storage unit 13 and transmits it to the relay device 2. The consumption processing unit 12 works in conjunction with a vending machine (not shown) that executes a consumption operation by providing an item such as a game medium, and based on the consumption of the prepaid card corresponding to the provision of the game medium, The variable information such as the amount information of the prepaid card PC is updated via the reader / writer 14, and the sales information including the consumption amount information is accumulated in the storage unit 13. The storage unit 13 stores and accumulates sales information based on the daily processing of consumption amount by the consumption processing unit 12.

When the prepaid card PC is inserted, the reader / writer 14 first sets the first of the prepaid card PC.
And reading the variable information in the second information areas A and B,
It is given to the encryption processing unit 16. At this time, the optical sensor 17
Prepaid card PC loaded in reader / writer 14
The gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion is read from and the characteristic data is supplied to the encryption processing unit 16.

The cryptographic processing section 16 quantizes the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution of the density of the bar code BC portion read from the prepaid card PC by the optical sensor 17 by a predetermined quantization method and quantized data Ra and Rb. And decrypts the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC using the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys. At this time, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to use the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys, and the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B.
It is determined whether or not both can be decrypted.

That is, the cryptographic processing section 16 is provided with the optical sensor 1
7. The first data area of the prepaid card PC is obtained by using the quantized data Ra quantized by the first quantization method as the encryption key for the characteristic data based on the density distribution information of the density of the barcode BC read by Variable information of A (a)
And the variable information (b) in the second information area B of the prepaid card PC is decrypted by using the quantized data Rb quantized by the second quantization method as an encryption key. The check control unit 15 causes the cryptographic processing unit 16 to read the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC by the quantized data Ra and Rb as the encryption keys. ) Can be decoded together.

The check control unit 15 controls the cryptographic processing unit 1
6, the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys
The variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC by
When it is determined that at least one of the
It is determined that an unauthorized prepaid card has been inserted, a warning is displayed, and the prepaid card PC is accommodated or ejected to prevent its use.

When it is determined that both are compatible, the check control unit 15 determines that an appropriate prepaid card has been set, and the quantized data Ra or Rb is used as an encryption key to determine whether the prepaid card PC is the first or the first. Variable information (a) or (b) read from two information areas A or B
The balance information based on is given to the consumption processing unit 12. Next, the remaining amount standard punch hole is detected to confirm whether or not there is a contradiction with the amount information stored in the prepaid card PC.
The money amount information is processed by the consumption processing unit 12, and the balance information is written in the storage unit 13.

Further, the consumption processing unit 12 updates the balance information in accordance with the consumption amount information in the consumption processing unit 12,
Similarly, the balance information of the prepaid card PC is rewritten.
At this time, the remaining amount standard punch holes are punched as necessary based on the updated remaining amount.

Prepaid card P by the consumption processing unit 12
The variable information of C is updated alternately for the variable information (a) of the first information area A and the variable information (b) of the second information area B. Of the variable information (a) of the second information area B or the variable information (b) of the second information area B, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to read the barcode BC portion of the prepaid card PC loaded in the reader / writer 14. Quantized data Ra or R obtained by quantizing the density gradation distribution information read by the optical sensor 17 from
Using b as an encryption key, the variable information (a) in the first information area A or the variable information (b) in the second information area B to be updated is encrypted and updated and written.

Furthermore, the check control unit 15 also operates after the update.
Is variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC.
In the cryptographic processing unit 16, the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion read from the prepaid card PC via the optical sensor 17 are decrypted as the cryptographic keys, and the decryption is performed. Detect the propriety.
The optical sensor 17 may be commonly used to detect the remaining amount standard punch hole of the prepaid card PC.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording device 3 includes an encoding control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a reader / writer 33, an optical sensor 34, an encryption processing unit 35, and a check information processing unit 3.
Have six. The encoding control unit 31 controls encoding of the prepaid card PC in the recording device 3, that is, writing of initial information. The storage unit 32 stores various information necessary for the encoding process by the encoding control unit 31 and temporary information being processed. Reader / Writer 3
3 is controlled by the encoding control unit 31 to write predetermined information in the first and second information areas A and B of the information storage unit DA of the prepaid card medium.

The optical sensor 34 is a predetermined bar code BC of the prepaid card medium loaded in the reader / writer 33.
Characteristic data is obtained by optically detecting the gradation distribution of the printed portion. The cryptographic processing unit 35 quantizes the feature data detected by the optical sensor 34 by the above-described first and second quantization methods to generate quantized data Ra and Rb.
Further, the cryptographic processing unit 35 uses the quantized data Ra and Rb.
Is used as an encryption key to encrypt the variable information (a) and variable information (b). The check information processing unit 36 is controlled by the encoding control unit 31 to change the variable information (a) and (b).
The encryption by the encryption processing unit 35 at the time of writing the initial information of the above into the first and second information areas A and B is controlled.

Note that the reader / writer 33 moves the magnetic head relative to the prepaid card PC when writing data to the prepaid card PC by, for example, a magnetic head (not shown). The head may be moved, the prepaid card PC may be moved, or both may be moved simultaneously in different directions. The optical sensor 34 is also a prepaid card PC.
When detecting the gradation distribution of the bar code portion of the prepaid card P, the prepaid card P is moved relative to the prepaid card PC.
C may be moved, or both may be simultaneously moved in different directions.

The optical sensor 34 optically detects the gradation distribution of a predetermined bar code printed portion, and supplies the characteristic data consisting of the detection signal to the encryption processing section 35. Cryptographic processing unit 35
Quantizes the feature data detected by the optical sensor 34 by the first and second quantization methods different from each other to obtain quantized data Ra and Rb, respectively. The generated variable information (a) and (b) is encrypted.

The encoding control unit 31 cooperates with the check information processing unit 36, and sends the variable information (a) and (b) encrypted by the encryption processing unit 35 using the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys to the reader / writer. Writing is performed in the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC via the writer 33.

The reading device 1 is connected to, for example, a vending machine (not shown) for lending a game medium, and the price of the game medium provided to the user by the vending machine is transferred to the prepaid card PC. It is a device for embodying the consumption of the prepaid card PC by subtracting it from the remaining amount in the stored amount information. In the reading device 1, when the prepaid card PC is set, first, the optical sensor 17
Thus, the gradation distribution of the bar code printed portion of the prepaid card PC is detected, and the characteristic data composed of the detection signal is quantized in the encryption processing unit 16 by two different predetermined quantization methods to obtain the quantized data Ra. And Rb are obtained. The check control unit 15 gives the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC to the encryption processing unit 16 to encrypt the quantized data Ra and Rb. It is decrypted as a key and it is determined whether or not decryption is possible.

In the reading device 1, the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC are detected by the optical sensor 17, and the cryptographic processing unit 16 performs quantum processing. Quantized data Ra and R
When the check control unit 15 determines that both are correctly decrypted by b, it is determined that the prepaid card PC is normal, and as a result of the determination, it is determined that at least one of them is not properly decrypted. In this case, the prepaid card PC is abnormal, and it is determined that the prepaid card PC is an illegal prepaid card PC. In many cases, the measured values of the density gradation distribution information may include stains on the surface of the prepaid card due to aging, deterioration / discoloration of bar code printing, and differences in detection characteristics between the optical sensors 17 and 34. Therefore, the measured values of the quantized data Ra and Rb do not have to be exactly the same, and there are similarities that can be regarded as substantially the same prepaid card medium, such as matching within a predetermined quantization accuracy. If so, enable correct decryption.

Further, the reading device 1 checks whether or not there is a contradiction in the variable information and punch hole information in the information storage unit DA of the prepaid card PC, and if there is a contradiction, the prepaid card PC has some irregularity or malfunction. Judge that there is. When it is determined that the prepaid card is illegal or defective, the reading device 1 transmits the detection data including the card identification information of the illegal prepaid card to the relay device 2 and blocks the use of the prepaid card to eject it. Further, the reading device 1 receives from the relay device 2 the notification data of the prepaid card information determined as the illegal prepaid card by the other reading device 1, and immediately after the prepaid card PC is loaded, the reading data is notified based on the notification data. Discriminate prepaid cards, block their use and eject.

The relay device 2 collects the amount information processed as the amount of consumption in each reading device 1 in the store S,
Send to settlement center 4.

Next, the processing in the above-mentioned prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the encoding process in the recording device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The encoding process shown in FIG. 5 is activated each time a prepaid card medium is set in the recording device 3.

The prepaid card medium is the reader / writer 3
When set to 3, first, the encoding control unit 31
The light and shade gradation distribution of the barcode printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is detected by the optical sensor 34 (step S1). The predetermined portion on which the barcode BC is printed is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, near the one end of the back surface of the prepaid card PC. Although not shown, a degree value sequence for the remaining amount standard punch hole exists near the relevant portion.

The density gradation distribution of the bar code detected by the optical sensor 34 is quantized by the encryption processing unit 35 according to a predetermined first quantization method such as PCM or other A / D conversion, and the first density is obtained. Quantized data Ra for encryption of the variable information (a) in the information area A of the second information area B is generated (step S2) and further quantized in accordance with the predetermined second quantization method. The quantized data Rb for encryption of (b) is generated (step S3).

As shown in FIG. 9, the encoding control unit 31 supplies required encoding information to the encryption processing unit 35 to encrypt the quantized data Ra and Rb as an encryption key, and through the reader / writer 33. Prepaid card PC
Are written in the first and second information areas A and B, respectively (step S4), and the encoding process ends. In addition,
The check information processing unit 36 controls a combination of encryption keys in the encryption by the encryption processing unit 35 with respect to the encoding information generated by the encoding control unit 31.

Next, the consumption process in the above prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The consumption process shown in FIG. 6 is performed by the reader / writer 14 of the reading device 1 using the prepaid card PC.
When is set, it is activated each time.

When the processing is started, the check controller 15
Checks whether the prepaid card PC set in the reader / writer 14 is normal (step S1).
1). That is, first, the optical sensor 17
The density gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC set in the writer 14 is detected, and the encryption processing unit 16 uses the quantization method in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3 and the actual method. The variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC are quantized by a common quantization method.
The quantized data Ra and Rb used as the encryption key of are generated.

Then, the cryptographic processing unit 16 uses the magnetic head to drive the prepaid card PC through the reader / writer 14.
Of the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B, and the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured value previously read from the prepaid card PC are used as encryption keys. , And if the decryption is not normally performed, the check control unit 15 determines that the set prepaid card PC is abnormal and is created by an unauthorized means (see FIG. 10).

Information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC
If the information read from the data can be decrypted together using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured value as the encryption keys, the check control unit 15 determines whether there is a contradiction in the position of the residual amount guide punch hole and the variable information. To detect. At this time, if a contradiction is detected in the position of the residual amount guide punch hole and the variable information, it is determined that the prepaid card PC is abnormal. The optical sensor 17 can also be used to detect the balance guide punch hole. Alternatively, a magnetic head may be used to detect the balance estimate punch hole.

If no abnormality is detected by the check control unit 15 and it is determined to be normal, the consumption processing unit 12
Thus, the balance of the prepaid card PC is confirmed via the reader / writer 14 and stored in the storage unit 13 (step S12). If there is a balance, it is checked whether or not there is an end request by the user pressing an end switch (not shown) (step S13). Loan request,
Whether or not is checked (step S14). For example, in the case of a game system or the like, the end switch is a card return switch that requests return of a card, and the consumption switch is a lending switch that requests lending of a game medium.

If there is a consumption request from the user in step S14, the user is made to consume the game medium by renting it out (step S15). The consumption processing unit 12 subtracts the consumption amount from the original remaining amount and updates the remaining amount stored in the storage unit 13 as a new remaining amount (step S1).
6). Then, it is checked whether or not the new balance after the update is "0" (step S17). If the balance is "0",
A message to that effect is displayed (step S18), and the process proceeds to the end process for ending the consumption process (step S19). After the end processing ends, the consumption processing ends and returns to the standby state.

In step S12, when there is no remaining amount of the prepaid card PC or when the remaining amount cannot be confirmed, the process immediately jumps to step S19 to execute the ending process. Even if the end request is recognized in step S13, the process immediately jumps to step S19 to execute the end process. If there is no consumption request in step S14, the process returns to step S13 and waits for an end request and a consumption request. In step S17, even if the deduction balance does not become "0" and the balance remains, the process returns to step S13 and waits for the end request and the consumption request.

Details of the card check processing in step S11 are shown in FIG. When the card check process is started, first, the check control unit 15 uses the optical sensor 17 via the encryption processing unit 16 to determine the grayscale distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC as the characteristic data. As the first and second information of the prepaid card PC, which is quantized by the encryption processing unit 16 by a quantization method substantially common to the quantization method used in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3. Quantized data Ra and Rb used as encryption keys when encrypting the variable information (a) and (b) of the areas A and B are generated. (Step S
21).

The encryption processing unit 16 uses the magnetic head via the reader / writer 14 to change the variable information (a) and (b) in the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC.
Of the quantized data Ra as shown in FIG.
And Rb as decryption keys (step S22).

The check control unit 15 determines whether or not the decryption by the encryption processing unit 16 is possible, that is, whether or not the decryption is successful (step S23). If it is determined that the decryption is successful, the check control unit 15 determines that the decryption is successful. Then, it is detected whether or not there is a contradiction between the amount information and the other information based on the decoding result of the variable information (a) and (b), and between these information and the punching status of the remaining amount standard punch hole ( Step S24). If there is no contradiction, the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC is normal (step S26), ends the process, and returns to the consumption process of FIG.

If it is determined in step S23 that the decryption has not succeeded (decryption failure), it is determined to be abnormal (step S27), a warning display indicating the injustice of the prepaid card PC and the incorporation of the prepaid card PC are taken. Alternatively, a predetermined abnormality / illegal process such as discharge is performed (step S2).
8). Further, if it is determined in step S25 that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S27, and a predetermined abnormality / illegal process is performed.

FIG. 8 shows details of the ending process of step S19 shown in FIG. When the end processing is started, the consumption processing unit 12 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to read and quantize the characteristic data again via the check control unit 15 (step S31). That is, the encryption processing unit 16
The optical sensor 17 detects the grayscale gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC as characteristic data, and the characteristic data is quantized by predetermined first and second different quantization methods, Quantized data R used as encryption keys for variable information (a) and (b) in the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC
a and Rb are generated respectively.

Next, the consumption processing unit 12 is based on the update date / time information (time stamp) of the variable information (a) and (b) previously decoded in the first and second information areas A and B. Then, it is confirmed which of the first and second information areas A and B was written at the time of the previous writing (step S32). The check control unit 15 checks whether or not the previous writing was performed in the second information area B (step S33), and if writing was previously performed in the second information area B, Initial state in which data has been written in both the first and second information areas A and B or the second information area B
Since the variable information (b) is in any one of the updated states, the balance information based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 13 at that time in the first information area A as shown in FIG. The variable information (a) including the
The quantized data Ra generated in step S31 is encrypted as an encryption key, written, and updated (step S34). At this time, only the variable information (a) in the first information area A is updated, and the second information area B is not rewritten at all.

In step S34, variable information (a)
After performing the update writing of FIG. 1, the check control unit 15 uses the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the feature data measured again in step S31 as the encryption key.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second of the prepaid card PC
The variable information (a) and (b) read from the information areas A and B of (1) and (2) are decoded (step S36), and the possibility of decoding is checked (step S37).

On the other hand, in step S33, the second
If it is determined that the information has not been written in the information area B, the variable information (a) in the first information area A is in the updated state, and therefore, as shown in FIG. In the area B, the variable information (b) including the remaining amount information based on the final remaining amount stored in the storage unit 13 at that time is encrypted and written using the quantized data Rb generated in step S31 as an encryption key, Update (step S35).
At this time, only the variable information (b) of the second information area B is updated, and the first information area A is not rewritten at all.

In step S35, variable information (b)
Even after performing the update writing of the check control unit 15,
The process proceeds to step S36, and the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the actually measured characteristic data are used as encryption keys,
As shown in FIG. 14, variable information (a) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC.
And (b) are decoded, and in step S37, it is checked whether the decoding is possible.

If it is determined in step S37 that the decryption has succeeded, it is checked whether or not the updated remaining amount is the amount required to punch the remaining amount reference punch holes (step S3).
8). The amount of money required to be punched for the remaining amount guide punch hole is an amount of money that is newly entered in a region different from the previous region of the remaining amount region printed as a frequency value on the prepaid card PC. When the amount is such, the check control unit 15
Due to this, a balance amount punch hole is punched (step S3).
9). Remaining amount guide After the punch holes are punched, the reader / writer 1
The prepaid card PC is discharged from 4 (step S4
0). Then, the processing is ended and the processing returns to the consumption processing.

When it is determined in step S38 that the balance after the update is not the amount required to punch the balance guide punch hole, the check control unit 15 skips step S39 and proceeds to step S40 to perform the prepaid. Eject the card. If it is determined in step S37 that the decryption has failed, the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC is abnormal (step S4).
1) A warning display indicating fraud of the prepaid card PC and a predetermined abnormality / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the prepaid card PC is performed (step S42).

In this way, the reading device 1 alternately updates the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B every time the reading is performed. When updating, each time, the characteristic data read from the barcode BC section is quantized by the individual quantization method set for each information area A and B, and the quantized data Ra and Rb are encrypted as the encryption key. And update and write. Then, the characteristic data read from the bar code BC section is set to the information area A.
And quantized data R quantized by the B-based quantization method
Whether or not the variable information in each of the information areas A and B can be decrypted is checked using a and Rb as encryption keys. Therefore, when the prepaid card PC is replaced with another card (for example, a card in which variable information or the like is not stored), the variable information in the information area on the side not updated is newly added to the prepaid card. Since it cannot be decoded by the quantized data of the characteristic data read from the barcode BC section of the PC, it is possible to detect an illegally copied prepaid card.

Therefore, every time the reading device 1 updates the amount information or the like, all the variable information alternately encrypted and written in the plurality of storage areas is stored in the bar code print portion unique to each medium of the prepaid card. By using the quantized data obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the key distribution as the encryption key and checking whether or not the data can be decrypted, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying the variable information of the other prepaid card, Unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium can be eliminated in advance.

In the above description, different quantization methods are used for the quantized data Ra and Rb used as the encryption keys for the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B. However, these may be quantized by a common quantization method.

Further, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 2, the information storage unit DA has a one-track configuration, and the information storage unit DA of the one track is appropriately divided into two parts to form the first and second information areas A. The case of forming B and B has been described.
As shown in FIG. 15, the information storage unit DA is composed of two tracks.
1 may be used, and each track may be a prepaid card PC1 having first and second information areas A1 and B1, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the information storage unit DA2 is composed of two tracks, and each track is a first track.
And as the second information areas A2 and B2, the fixed information (a) and the variable information (a) and the fixed information (b) and the variable information (b) are respectively provided in these first and second information areas A2 and B2. The prepaid card PC2 may be configured to be provided and to store fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the balance due to consumption. The information storage unit may be further divided into a large number, and the variable information containing the quantized data may be written alternately in each of the divided information areas.

Next, a prepaid card system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The prepaid card system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured almost the same as that shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, but the consumption processing unit 12 and the check control unit shown in FIG. 15
And the encryption processing unit 16, and the encoding control unit 31, the encryption processing unit 35, and the check information processing unit 36 illustrated in FIG.
The functions of are slightly different.

In the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment, the variable information (a) of the prepaid card is used.
To the variable information (b), the quantized data Rb as an encryption key for encryption of the variable information (b) is included in the variable information (b).
Including the quantized data Ra as the encryption key for the encryption of
Whether or not the decoding is possible is determined based on whether or not the quantized data Ra and Rb included in the read and decoded result match the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained based on the actual measurement.

That is, a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
The prepaid card PC3 has a magnetic information storage unit DA3 using a magnetic layer, and the information storage unit DA3 has a first information area A3 and a second information area B3.

In the first information area A3, the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information is added to the variable information (a) including the amount information such as the balance, and the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information is used as an encryption key. Is written as encrypted. The quantized data Ra serving as the encryption key is information obtained by quantizing the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the density gradation distribution of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit by the predetermined first quantization method. As the quantized data Ra, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the first quantization method is used. When updating the amount information and the like of the variable information (a), the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the first quantization method each time the updating is performed. Information is used.

The quantized data Rb included in the variable information (a) is the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit, which is the predetermined quantized data different from the first quantized method. This is information quantized by the second quantization method. As the quantized data Rb, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the second quantization method is used. When the amount information of the variable information (a) is updated by, the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method each time the information is updated. Is used.

In the second information area B3, the variable information (b) including the amount information such as the balance and the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information is added to the quantized data Rb based on the characteristic information. Is written as encrypted. The quantized data Rb serving as an encryption key is characteristic data based on a detection signal of the density gradation distribution of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit, and a predetermined second quantization different from the above-mentioned first quantization method. This is information quantized by the method. As the quantized data Rb, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the second quantization method is used. When the amount information of the variable information (b) is updated by the method, the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method each time the updating is performed. Information is used.

As the quantized data Ra included in the variable information (b), the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the predetermined portion of the bar code BC printing section is quantized by the above-mentioned predetermined first quantization method. Information. The quantized data R
As a, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the first quantization method is used. When updating the amount information and the like in b), the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is first updated every time the updating is performed.
Information quantized by the quantization method of is used.

The prepaid card system according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 in the following points. The update writing of the amount information and the like in the reading device 1 is alternately performed in the first information area A3 and the second information area B3. These information areas A3
In B3 and B3, in addition to the amount information such as the balance, the quantized data Ra and Rb, the card identification information (card ID) of the prepaid card PC3, the manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, the manufacturing date (encoding date) information, and the error occurrence. The error code at the time is recorded.

When the prepaid card is issued, the recording device 3 uses the quantized data Ra as an encryption key in the first information area A3 of the information storage unit DA3 of the prepaid card PC3, the quantized data Rb, the initial amount information, and others. Variable information (a) including the information of encrypted data is encrypted and written, and the quantized data R is written in the second information area B3 of the information storage unit DA3.
The variable information (b) including the quantized data Ra, the initial amount information and other information is encrypted and written with b as an encryption key.

In the reading apparatus 1, when the prepaid card PC3 is set, first, the optical sensor 17 detects the gradation distribution of the bar code printed portion of the prepaid card PC3, and the characteristic data including the detection signal is detected. In the encryption processing unit 16, the quantization data Ra and Rb are quantized by two different predetermined quantization methods. The check control unit 15 reads the variable information (a) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3.
And (b) are given to the encryption processing unit 16, and the quantized data R
A and Rb are decrypted as encryption keys, and the quantized data Rb and Ra included in the variable information (a) and (b) are compared and collated with those used as encryption keys to determine whether or not decryption is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading device 1 in the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points in its configuration. The cryptographic processing unit 16 quantizes the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution of the density of the barcode BC portion read from the prepaid card PC3 by the optical sensor 17 by a predetermined quantization method to generate quantized data Ra and Rb. , The variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 are decrypted by using the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys. At this time, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to decrypt the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys, and the variable information (a) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3.
And quantized data Rb and Ra included in both (b)
, Respectively, determine whether or not they match the quantized data Rb and Ra used as the encryption keys.

In other words, the cryptographic processing unit 16 uses the optical sensor 1
7. The first data area of the prepaid card PC3 is obtained by using the quantized data Ra quantized by the first quantization method for the characteristic data based on the density distribution information of the density of the bar code BC read by The variable information (a) of A3 is decoded, and the variable information (b) of the second information area B3 of the prepaid card PC3 is decoded by using the quantized data Rb quantized by the second quantization method as an encryption key. . The check control unit 15 uses the encryption processing unit 16 to
The quantized data Rb and Ra as the encryption keys are stored in the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3.
Variable information (a) and (b) read from and decoded
It is confirmed whether or not they match the quantized data Rb and Ra included in the above.

By the check control unit 15, the cryptographic processing unit 1
6, the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys
If it is determined that at least one of the quantized data Rb and Ra contained in the variable information (a) and (b) decrypted by the above does not match the quantized data Rb and Ra used as the encryption key, an invalid prepaid It is determined that the card has been inserted, a warning is displayed, and the prepaid card is stored or ejected to prevent its use.

When it is determined that both are the same, the check control unit 15 determines that a proper prepaid card has been set, and uses the quantized data Ra or Rb as the encryption key to determine whether the prepaid card PC3 is the first or the first. The balance information based on the variable information (a) or (b) read from the second information area A3 or B3 is given to the consumption processing unit 12. The variable information of the prepaid card PC3 is updated by the consumption processing unit 12 alternately with respect to the variable information (a) of the first information area A3 and the variable information (b) of the second information area B3. When updating the variable information (a) of the first information area A3 or the variable information (b) of the second information area B3, the check control unit 15 quantizes the quantized data Ra or Rb quantized by the encryption processing unit 16. Is used as an encryption key, and the quantized data Rb or Ra is added to the variable information to be updated in the variable information (a) of the first information area A3 or the variable information (b) of the second information area B3 to obtain the encryption code. Write and update.

Further, the check control unit 15 also operates after the update.
Reads the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 from the prepaid card PC3 via the optical sensor 17 in the cryptographic processing unit 16. The quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion is decrypted as an encryption key, and the quantized data Rb and Ra in the decrypted variable information (a) and (b) are encrypted. It is checked whether it can be decrypted by collating with the one used as the key.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording device 3 in the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure as follows.
The cryptographic processing unit 35 quantizes the feature data detected by the optical sensor 34 by the above-described first and second quantization methods to generate quantized data Ra and Rb. Also, the cryptographic processing unit 35 adds the quantized data Ra and Rb to the variable information (b) and (a), respectively, and
Variable information (a) and (b) using them as encryption keys
Encryption of.

Next, the processing in the above-mentioned prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the encoding process in the recording device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The encoding process shown in FIG. 18 is activated each time a prepaid card medium is set in the recording device 3.

The prepaid card medium is the reader / writer 3
When set to 3, first, the encoding control unit 31
The light and shade gradation distribution of the barcode printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is detected by the optical sensor 34 (step S51). The density gradation distribution of the barcode detected by the optical sensor 34 is
Quantization is performed according to a predetermined first quantization method such as PCM or other A / D conversion to generate quantized data Ra for encryption of the variable information (a) in the first information area A3 (step S52). ) Is further quantized according to a predetermined second quantization method, and quantized data Rb for encryption of the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 is generated (step S53).

As shown in FIG. 21, the encoding control unit 31 gives the required encoding information including the quantized data Rb and Ra to the encryption processing unit 35 to make the quantized data R
The reader / writer 3 encrypts with a and Rb as encryption keys.
Write to the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 via the A3 (step S5).
4), the encoding process ends.

Next, the consumption processing in the above-mentioned prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6, 19 and 20. Also in this system, the consumption process shown in FIG. 6 is performed in the same manner as described above, and is started each time the prepaid card PC3 is set in the reader / writer 14 of the reading device 1. When the processing is started, in step S11, the check control unit 15 checks whether the prepaid card PC3 set in the reader / writer 14 is normal.

That is, first, the prepaid card PC set in the reader / writer 14 by the optical sensor 17.
3, the grayscale gradation distribution of the barcode BC portion printed on the predetermined portion of 3 is detected, and in the encryption processing unit 16, a quantization method substantially common to the quantization method in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3, That is, it is used as an encryption key for variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3, which are quantized by different first and second quantization methods. Quantized data Ra and Rb are generated.

Then, the check control unit 15 is
The variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 is read by the magnetic head via the writer 14, and the measured value previously read from the prepaid card PC3 is quantized. The quantized data Ra and Rb are decrypted as encryption keys, and the quantized data Rb and Ra in the variable information (a) and (b) are decrypted.
Is used as an encryption key to determine whether or not decryption is possible. If the decryption is not normally performed, the check control unit 15 determines that the set prepaid card PC3 is abnormal and was created by an unauthorized means (see FIG. 22).

When the information read from the information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 can be decrypted together with the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured values as the encryption keys, the check control unit 15 causes the remaining amount. The presence or absence of contradiction in the standard punch hole position and variable information is detected.
At this time, if a contradiction is detected in the position and the variable information of the balance guide punch hole, it is determined that the prepaid card PC3 is abnormal. Other than the above, the process in FIG. 6 is exactly the same as the process already described in connection with the first embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

The details of the card check processing in step S11 are shown in FIG. When the card check process is started, first, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to
Through the optical sensor 17, the prepaid card PC
The grayscale gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of 3 is detected as the characteristic data, and the cryptographic processing unit 16 uses substantially the same quantum as the quantization method used in the cryptographic processing unit 35 of the recording device 3. Of the pre-paid card PC3 by quantizing them by a predetermined method, that is, a predetermined first and second quantization method different from each other.
The quantized data Ra and Rb used in the encryption of the variable information (a) and (b) of No. 3 are generated. (Step S
61).

The encryption processing unit 16 uses the magnetic head via the reader / writer 14 to detect the first data of the prepaid card PC3.
22 and the variable information (a) and (b) of the second information areas A3 and B3 are read, and as shown in FIG. 22, the quantized data Ra and Rb are decrypted as encryption keys (step S6).
2). The check control unit 15 determines whether or not the decryption by the encryption processing unit 16 is possible, that is, whether or not the decryption is successful. Therefore, the quantized data Rb and Ra included in the variable information (a) and (b) are encrypted respectively. It is determined whether or not the quantized data Rb and Ra used as the key match (step S
63), if it is determined that the decryption is successful, the check control unit 15 then determines whether or not the amount information and other information based on the decryption result of the variable information (a) and (b) are mutual, and these and the remaining amount standard. It is detected whether or not there is a contradiction with the punching status of the punch holes (step S64). If there is no contradiction (step S65), the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC3 is normal (step S66),
The processing is ended and the processing returns to the consumption processing of FIG.

At step S63, the quantized data R
If at least one of b and Ra does not match and it is determined that the decryption has not succeeded (decryption failure), it is determined to be abnormal (step S67), a warning display indicating the injustice of the prepaid card PC3 and the prepaid A predetermined abnormality / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the card PC3 is performed (step S68). If it is determined in step S65 that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S67,
Perform predetermined abnormality / illegal processing.

FIG. 20 shows the details of the termination processing in step S19 of FIG. When the end processing is started, the consumption processing section 12 causes the encryption processing section 16 to read and quantize the characteristic data again via the check control section 15 (step S71). That is, the cryptographic processing unit 16 detects the light and shade gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC3 by the optical sensor 17 as the characteristic data, and the characteristic data is different from the predetermined first and second predetermined data. Quantization is performed by the quantization method to generate quantized data Ra and Rb used as encryption keys for the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3, respectively.

Next, the consumption processing section 12 decodes the variable information (a) before the first and second information areas A3 and B3.
Based on the update date / time information (time stamp) in (b) and (b), it is confirmed which of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 was written at the time of the previous writing (step S72). The check control unit 15 checks whether or not the previous writing was performed in the second information area B3 (step S73). If the previous writing was performed in the second information area B3, First and second information area A
3 and B3 are both in the initial state in which writing has been performed or in the state in which the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 has been updated, so as shown in FIG. Variable information (a) including the remaining amount information based on the final remaining amount stored in the storage unit 13 at that time and the quantized data Rb generated in step S71 added to A3.
Is encrypted, written and updated using the quantized data Ra generated in step S71 as an encryption key (step S74). At this time, only the variable information (a) in the first information area A3 is updated, and the second information area B3 is not rewritten at all.

In step S74, the variable information (a)
After performing the update writing of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 are decrypted (step S76), and the variable information (a) and (b) are decrypted. Quantized data Rb and R included in
The a is collated with the one obtained in step S71 to check whether the decryption is possible (step S77).

On the other hand, in step S73, the second
When it is determined that the writing has not been performed in the information area B3 of No. 3, since the variable information (a) of the first information area A3 has been updated, as shown by the broken line in FIG.
The variable information (b) including the balance information based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 13 at that time and including the quantized data Ra generated in step S71 is added to the second information area B3, The quantized data Rb generated in S71 is encrypted as an encryption key, written, and updated (step S75). At this time, only the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 is updated, and the first information area A3 is updated.
Is not rewritten at all.

In step S75, variable information (b)
Even after performing the update writing of the check control unit 15,
The process proceeds to step S76, and the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the actually measured characteristic data are used as encryption keys,
As shown in FIG. 24, the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 are decrypted, and in step S77,
Quantized data Rb included in variable information (a) and (b)
And Ra are compared with those obtained in step S71 to check whether or not decryption is possible.

When it is determined in step S77 that the decryption is successful, it is checked whether or not the updated remaining amount is the amount required to punch the remaining amount reference punch hole (step S7).
8). The amount of money required to be punched for the remaining amount standard punch hole is an amount of money newly entered in a region different from the previous region of the remaining amount region printed as a frequency value on the prepaid card PC3. When the amount of money is such a value, the check control unit 1
By 5, the balance amount punch hole is punched (step S
79). After punching the remaining amount guide punch hole, the prepaid card PC3 is ejected from the reader / writer 14 (step S80). Then, the processing is ended and the processing returns to the consumption processing.

If it is determined in step S78 that the balance after the update is not the amount required to punch the residual amount guide punch hole, the check control unit 15 skips step S79 and proceeds to step S80 to perform prepaid. Eject the card. If it is determined in step S77 that the decryption has failed, the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC3 is abnormal (step S8).
1) A warning display indicating fraud of the prepaid card PC3 and a predetermined abnormality / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the prepaid card PC3 is performed (step S82).

In this way, the reading device 1 alternately updates the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 every time the reading is performed. At the time of updating, the quantized data Ra and R obtained by quantizing the characteristic data read from the bar code BC section by the individual quantization method set for each of the information areas A3 and B3.
b is added to the variable information (b) and (a), respectively, and the quantized data Ra and Rb are encrypted as encryption keys and updated and written. Then, by using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the characteristic data read from the bar code BC section as an encryption key, it is checked whether or not the variable information in each of the information areas A3 and B3 can be decoded. Therefore, when the prepaid card PC3 is replaced, the variable information in the information area on the side not updated is newly decoded by the quantized data of the characteristic data read from the barcode BC section of the prepaid card. Therefore, it is possible to detect an illegally copied prepaid card.

Therefore, every time the reading device 1 updates the amount information or the like, all the variable information encrypted and written alternately in the plurality of storage areas is stored in the bar code printing portion unique to each medium of the prepaid card. By using the quantized data obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the key distribution as the encryption key and checking whether or not the data can be decrypted, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying the variable information of the other prepaid card, Unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium can be eliminated in advance. In the above description, the quantization method of the quantized data Ra and Rb used as the encryption keys of the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 is different. Alternatively, these may be quantized by a common quantization method.

Further, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 17, the information storage unit DA3 has a one-track configuration, and the one-track information storage unit DA3 is appropriately divided into two sections to form the first and second information areas A3. Although the case of forming B3 and B3 has been described, as shown in FIG. 25, the information storage unit DA4 is composed of two tracks, and each track is the first and second information areas A4 and B4, respectively.
It may be 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the information storage unit DA5 is composed of two tracks, and each track is defined as the first and second information areas A5 and B5, respectively. A configuration in which fixed information (a) and variable information (a), fixed information (b) and variable information (b) are provided respectively, and fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the balance due to consumption is stored. The prepaid card PC5 may be used. Information storage,
Furthermore, the variable information including the quantized data may be written alternately in each of the divided information areas.

Next, a prepaid card system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The prepaid card system according to the third embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, but the consumption processing unit 12 and the check control unit shown in FIG. 15
And the encryption processing unit 16, and the encoding control unit 31, the encryption processing unit 35, and the check information processing unit 36 illustrated in FIG.
The functions of are slightly different.

In the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment, the information storage section of the prepaid card is divided into three or more parts, the variable information (a) includes the quantized data Ra, and the variable information (b) contains the quantized data Ra. Quantized data Rb is included, encrypted data Rab based on quantized data Ra and Rb is stored as variable information (c), and the variable information (c) is updated as variable information (a) or (b). The quantized data R a and R b included in the read / decode result is updated based on actual measurement to determine whether or not decoding is possible.
Whether or not it matches with a and Rb, and further whether or not the Rab generated by these quantized data Ra and Rb matches with the content of the variable information (c) is used. That is, a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 27, the prepaid card PC6 is
It has a magnetic information storage unit DA6 using a magnetic layer, and the information storage unit DA6 has a first information area A6, a second information area B6, and a third information area C6.

In the first information area A6, variable information (a) including money amount information such as the balance is further added with quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information.
The quantized data Ra is information obtained by quantizing the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the density gradation distribution of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit by the predetermined first quantization method. As the quantized data Ra, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the first quantization method is used. When updating the amount information and the like of the variable information (a), the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the first quantization method each time the updating is performed. Information is used.

In the second information area B6, variable information (b) including money amount information such as the balance is further added with quantized data Rb based on the characteristic information.
The quantized data Rb is obtained by quantizing the characteristic data based on the detection signal of the density gradation distribution of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit by a predetermined second quantization method different from the above-mentioned first quantization method. This is the information. As the quantized data Rb, at the time of encoding, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the recording device 3 by the second quantization method is used. When the amount information of the variable information (b) is updated by the method, the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method each time the updating is performed. Information is used.

The variable information (c) is stored in the third information area C6.
As the encrypted data, a combination of the quantized data Ra and Rb, for example, the encrypted data of the quantized data Ra with the quantized data Rb as an encryption key, Rab is written. As the quantized data Ra and Rb, the barcode B detected by the recording device 3 at the time of encoding is used.
Information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the C printing unit is used, and when the reading device 1 updates the amount information of the variable information (a) or (b), the reading device 1 updates each time. Information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the detected barcode BC printing portion is used. The encrypted data Rab used as the variable information (c) is quantized data Rb using the quantized data Ra as an encryption key.
You may use the information etc. which encrypted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment is different in the configuration from the case of the first embodiment in the following points. Reading device 1
In the first information area A
6 and the third information area C6 and the second and third information areas B6 and C6 are alternately performed. That is, the third
The information area C6 is updated both when updating the first information area A6 and when updating the second information area B6. In the information areas A6 and B6, in addition to the amount information such as the balance, the quantized data Ra and Rb, the prepaid card PC
6, card identification information (card ID), manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, manufacturing date (encoding date) information, error code when an error occurs, and the like are recorded.

When the prepaid card is issued, the recording device 3 has variable information (a) containing the quantized data Ra, the initial amount information and other information in the first information area A6 of the information storage unit DA6 of the prepaid card PC6. Write
The variable information (b) including the quantized data Rb, the initial amount information and other information is written in the second information area B6 of the information storage unit DA6, and the quantum information is written in the third information area C6 of the information storage unit DA6. The encrypted data Rab based on the quantized data Ra and Rb, in this case, the encrypted data obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key is written.

In the reading device 1, when the prepaid card PC6 is set, first, the optical sensor 17 detects the gradation distribution of the bar code printed portion of the prepaid card PC6, and the characteristic data including the detection signal is detected. In the encryption processing unit 16, the quantization data Ra and Rb are quantized by two different predetermined quantization methods. The check control unit 15 reads the variable information (a) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6.
And the quantized data Ra and Rb in (b) are compared and collated with the quantized data in the encryption processing unit 16. When the quantized data Ra and Rb both match, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to perform the quantized data R
The encryption data obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra with b as the encryption key is collated with the encryption data Rab read from the third information area C6 of the prepaid card PC6 to determine whether the decryption is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading device 1 in the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points in its configuration. The encryption processing unit 16 quantizes the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution of the density of the barcode BC portion read from the prepaid card PC6 by the optical sensor 17 by a predetermined quantization method to generate quantized data Ra and Rb. .
The cryptographic processing unit 16 also encrypts the quantized data Ra by using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data Rab.
To generate. In the check control unit 15, the quantized data Ra and Rb included in both the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 are generated in the cryptographic processing unit 16, respectively. Data Ra and R
It is determined whether or not it matches b. If they match, the check control unit 15 further determines that the encrypted data Rab obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra by the encryption processing unit 16 using the quantized data Rb as the encryption key is the variable information (c) of the third information area C6. It is determined whether or not it matches the encrypted data Rab).

In other words, the cryptographic processing unit 16 is the optical sensor 1
Characteristic data based on the gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion read by the method 7 is quantized by the first quantization method to generate quantized data Ra, and quantized by the second quantization method. The encrypted data Rb is generated, and the quantized data Ra is encrypted using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data Rab. The check control unit 15 determines that the quantized data Ra and Rb generated by the encryption processing unit 16 are the prepaid card PC6.
Of the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of
It is determined whether or not they match with a and Rb, respectively, and the encrypted data Rab obtained by the encryption processing unit 16 is the encrypted data Rab of the variable information (c) read from the third information area C6 of the prepaid card PC6. It is determined whether or not

When the check control unit 15 determines that either one of the quantized data Ra and Rb does not match, or that the encrypted data Rab does not match even if both match, an unauthorized prepaid card is detected. It is determined that the card has been inserted, a warning is displayed, and the prepaid card is stored or ejected to prevent its use.

Both the quantized data Ra and Rb match,
When it is determined that the encrypted data also match, the check control unit 15 determines that a proper prepaid card is set, and the variable information (a) read from the first or second information area A6 or B6 of the prepaid card PC6. ) Or (b), the balance information is given to the consumption processing unit 12.

Prepaid card P by the consumption processing unit 12
The variable information of C6 is updated alternately with respect to the variable information (a) of the first information area A6 and the variable information (b) of the second information area B6, and is updated in the third information area C6. On the other hand,
It is common to both, that is, at the time of all updates. At the time of updating the variable information (a) of the first information area A6 or the variable information (b) of the second information area B6, the check control unit 15
Adds the quantized data Ra or Rb to the variable information to be updated of the variable information (a) of the first information area A6 or the variable information (b) of the second information area B6, and performs update writing. Then, the cryptographic data Rab generated by the cryptographic processing unit 16 is written as the variable information (c) in the third information area C6.

Further, even after the update, the check control unit 15
The quantized data Ra and Rb contained in the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 are transmitted via the optical sensor 17 to the prepaid card PC6. The gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion read from the above is compared and collated with the quantized data Ra and Rb quantized in the encryption processing unit 16, and the encrypted data Rab encrypted in the encryption processing unit 16 is compared to the third data. The variable information (c) read out from the information area C6 is compared and collated to detect whether they match.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording device 3 in the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the following structure. The cryptographic processing unit 35 quantizes the feature data detected by the optical sensor 34 by the above-described first and second quantization methods to generate quantized data Ra and Rb.
Further, in this case, the encryption processing unit 35 determines that the quantized data Rb
Is used as an encryption key to encrypt the quantized data Ra to generate encrypted data Rab.

Next, the processing in the above prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the encoding process in the recording device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The encoding process shown in FIG. 28 is activated each time a prepaid card medium is set in the recording device 3. When the prepaid card medium is set in the reader / writer 33, first, the encoding control unit 31 detects the light and shade gradation distribution of the barcode printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium by the optical sensor 34 ( Step S1
01). The grayscale gradation distribution of the barcode detected by the optical sensor 34 is quantized by the cryptographic processing unit 35 according to a predetermined first quantization method such as PCM or other A / D conversion to generate quantized data Ra. (Step S102), and quantized according to a predetermined second quantization method to generate quantized data Rb (step S102).
103).

As shown in FIG. 31, the encoding control unit 31 sends required encoding information including the quantized data Ra and Rb to the first and second information areas of the prepaid card PC 6 via the reader / writer 33. A6 and B6 are written respectively, and the encrypted data Rab obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key is written in the third information area C6 of the prepaid card PC6 via the reader / writer 33 ( Step S104),
The encoding process ends. Next, the consumption processing in the above-mentioned prepaid card system will be described with reference to FIGS.
9 and the flow chart shown in FIG. 30. Also in this system, the consumption process shown in FIG.
The reader / writer 14 of the reading device 1 is performed in the same manner as described above.
Each time the prepaid card PC6 is set, it is activated. When the process is started, in step S11, the check control unit 15 checks whether the prepaid card PC6 set in the reader / writer 14 is normal.

That is, first, the prepaid card PC set in the reader / writer 14 by the optical sensor 17.
6, the grayscale gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion printed on the predetermined portion of 6 is detected, and in the encryption processing unit 16, a quantization method substantially the same as the quantization method in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3, That is, quantization is performed by predetermined first and second quantization methods different from each other, and quantization is performed corresponding to the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6. Data Ra and R
produces b.

Then, the check control unit 15 is
The variable heads (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 are read by the magnetic head via the writer 14, and the quantized data in the variable heads (a) and (b) is read. Ra and Rb are compared and collated with the quantized data Ra and Rb previously generated in the encryption processing unit 16. When the quantized data Ra and Rb both match, the check control unit 15 further causes the encryption processing unit 16 to encrypt the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data Rab,
The encrypted data Rab is compared with the encrypted data Rab of the variable information (c) in the third information area C6 of the prepaid card PC6 to check whether the decryption is possible. If the decryption is not performed normally, the check control unit 15 determines that the set prepaid card PC6 is abnormal and was created by an unauthorized means (see FIG. 32).

The information area A6 of the prepaid card PC6,
When all of the information read from B6 and C6 properly correspond to the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured values, the check control unit 15 causes the discrepancy in the position of the remaining amount standard punch hole and the variable information. Detect the presence or absence. At this time, if a contradiction is detected in the position of the balance guide punch hole and the variable information, the prepaid card is determined to be abnormal. Other than the above, the process in FIG. 6 is exactly the same as the process already described in connection with the first embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

Details of the card check processing in step S11 are shown in FIG. When the card check process is started, first, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to
Through the optical sensor 17, the prepaid card PC
6, the grayscale gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of 6 is detected as the characteristic data, and the cryptographic processing unit 16 has substantially the same quantum as the quantization method used in the cryptographic processing unit 35 of the recording device 3. Of the first and second information areas A6 and B of the prepaid card PC6 after being quantized by a predetermined method, that is, a predetermined first and second quantization method different from each other.
The quantized data Ra and Rb corresponding to the variable information (a) and (b) of 6 are generated. (Step S111).

The check controller 15 uses the reader / writer 1
Variable information (a) in the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 by the magnetic head via
And (b) are read, the quantized data Ra and Rb are extracted, and as shown in FIG. 32, the quantized data Ra and Rb are compared and collated with the quantized data Ra and Rb generated in step S111 (step S112).

The check controller 15 operates in step S112.
When it is determined that the quantized data Ra and Rb match, the encryption processing unit 16 encrypts the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key,
ab is generated (step S113). Then, the check control unit 15 sends the encrypted data Rab to the prepaid card PC 6 by the magnetic head via the reader / writer 14.
The variable information (c) read from the third information area C6 is compared and collated (step S114). Check control unit 1
5, if the encrypted data Rab match, then next, the amount information and other information based on the decryption result of the variable information (a) and (b), and these and the remaining amount reference punch hole It is detected whether there is a contradiction (step S1)
15). If there is no contradiction (step S116), the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC6 is normal (step S117), ends the process, and returns to the consumption process of FIG.

If at least one of the quantized data Rb and Ra does not match in step S112, or if the encrypted data Rab does not match in step S114, it is immediately determined to be abnormal (step S118) and the prepaid A warning display indicating fraud of the card PC 6 and a predetermined abnormality / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the prepaid card PC 6 is performed (step S11).
9). Further, when it is determined in step S116 that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S118, and a predetermined abnormality / illegal process is performed.

FIG. 30 shows the details of the termination processing in step S19 of FIG. When the end processing is started, the consumption processing unit 12 again causes the encryption processing unit 16 to read and quantize the characteristic data via the check control unit 15 (step S131). That is, the encryption processing unit 16
An optical sensor detects a grayscale gradation distribution of a bar code BC portion of a predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC6 as characteristic data, and the characteristic data is quantized by different predetermined first and second quantization methods, and the prepaid card is quantized. Card P
Quantized data R used as encryption keys for variable information (a) and (b) in the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of C6
a and Rb are generated respectively.

Next, the consumption processing section 12 decodes the variable information (a) before the first and second information areas A6 and B6.
Based on the update date / time information (time stamp) of (b) and (b), it is confirmed which of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 was written at the time of the previous writing (step S132). The check control unit 15 checks whether or not the previous writing was performed in the second information area B6 (step S133), and the previous second information area B6 was checked.
Is written in the first information area A6 and the second information area B6 in the initial state or the variable information (b) in the second information area B6 is updated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33, the first information area A6 includes the balance information based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 13 at that time, and step S13.
The variable information (a) added with the quantized data Ra generated in 1 is written and updated, and further, the quantized data Ra is encrypted by the encryption processing unit 16 using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to obtain the encrypted data Rab. The encrypted data Rab is generated and written in the variable information (c) of the third information area C6 to be updated (step S134). At this time, the second
The information area B6 is not rewritten at all.

After the variable information (a) is updated and written in step S134, the check controller 15
34, variable information (a) obtained by reading the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the characteristic data measured again in step S131 from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 as shown in FIG. And (b) are compared with the quantized data Ra and Rb to check whether they match (step S136).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S133 that the second information area B6 was not previously written, it means that the variable information (a) in the first information area A6 has been updated. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 33, the second information area B6 includes the quantized data Rb including the balance information based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 13 at that time and generated in step S131. The added variable information (b) is written and updated, and the quantized data Rb is encrypted by the encryption processing unit 16 using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data Rab. The variable information (c) in the information area C6 is written and updated (step S135). At this time, the first information area A6 is not rewritten at all.

In step S135, even after the variable information (b) is updated and written, the check controller 1
5, the process proceeds to step S136, and the quantized data Ra and Rb are stored in the prepaid card PC as shown in FIG.
Quantized data R included in the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6
It is compared with a and Rb to check whether they match.

Furthermore, when it is determined in step S136 that the quantized data Ra and Rb match, the encryption processing unit 1 determines from these quantized data Ra and Rb.
6, the encrypted data Rab is generated again (step S
137), the third information area C of the prepaid card PC6
The encrypted data Rab included in the variable information (c) read out from No. 6 is collated to check whether they match (step S138).

At step S138, the encrypted data R
If it is determined that the abs match, it is checked whether or not the updated remaining amount is the amount required to punch the remaining amount guide punch holes (step S139). The amount of money required to be punched for the remaining amount standard punch hole is an amount of money newly entered in a region different from the previous region of the remaining amount region printed as a numerical value on the prepaid card PC6. When the amount is like this,
The check control unit 15 punches a balance amount punch hole (step S140). After punching the balance amount punch holes, the prepaid card PC6 is ejected from the reader / writer 14 (step S141). Then, the processing is ended and the processing returns to the consumption processing.

If it is determined in step S139 that the remaining amount after the update is not the amount required to punch the remaining amount guide punch holes, the check control unit 15 skips step S140 and proceeds to step S141 to perform prepaid. Eject the card. If it is determined in step S136 that the quantized data Ra and Rb do not match, or if the encrypted data Rab does not match in step S138, the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC6 is abnormal. It is determined that there is (step S
142), warning display indicating fraud of the prepaid card PC6 and predetermined abnormality / illegal processing such as taking in or ejecting the prepaid card PC6 are performed (step S143).

In this way, the reading device 1 alternately updates the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 every time it consumes, and each time it consumes. , And updates the third information area C6. Then, at the time of updating, the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the feature data read from the bar code BC section by the individual quantization method are added to the variable information (b) and (a), respectively, and The encrypted data Rab based on the quantized data Ra and Rb is updated and written as the variable information (c), and the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the characteristic data read from the barcode BC section at any time and the encrypted data based on these are written. Using the Rab, it is checked whether or not the variable information in each of the information areas A6, B6 and C6 can be decoded. In this way, an illegally copied prepaid card can be detected.

Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying variable information of another prepaid card, and it is possible to prevent illegal use of the prepaid card due to alteration or forgery of the medium. In the above,
Variable information (a) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6
Although the quantization methods of the quantized data Ra and Rb included in (b) and (b) are different from each other, they may be quantized by a common quantization method.

Further, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 27, the information storage unit DA6 has a one-track configuration, and the information storage unit DA6 of the one track is appropriately divided into three sections to form the information area A.
The case of forming 6, B6 and C6 has been described,
As shown in FIG. 35, the information storage unit DA is composed of three tracks.
7, each track is assigned to the first, second and third tracks, respectively.
The information area A7, B7 and C7 may be used as the prepaid card PC7. Further, as shown in FIG. 36, the information storage unit DA8 is composed of three tracks, and each track is defined as the first, second and third information areas A8, B8 and C8, respectively. Information area A of 3
8, B8, and C8 are provided with fixed information (a) and variable information (a), fixed information (b) and variable information (b), and fixed information (c) and variable information (c), respectively, depending on consumption. The prepaid card PC 8 may be configured to store fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the balance or the like. The information storage unit may be further divided into a large number, and the variable information containing the quantized data may be written alternately in each of the divided information areas.

In the above description, a prepaid card using a magnetic card medium for magnetically recording information such as money amount information on the entire magnetic layer is explained as an example of the prepaid card medium. It is not limited to the medium. For example, a card medium for magnetically recording information on a magnetic stripe pasted on a card, a so-called IC card medium in which an IC (integrated circuit) chip such as a memory is embedded on the card and information is stored in the IC chip, or these The present invention can be implemented in the same manner as described above for a prepaid card using a card medium or the like, which is appropriately combined, as a prepaid card medium.

Further, the card used in this system is
It may be a no-value card that does not store the amount information. In this case, for example, the amount information for each user is managed at the center, etc., and when the card is used, the information (card ID, etc.) that can identify the user stored in the card is used as a key to access the center, etc. You may make it perform the process which draws out a predetermined amount of money with respect to the amount information of a corresponding user.

The prepaid card system of the present invention can be realized by using an ordinary computer system without being constructed as a dedicated prepaid card system. For example, by installing the program in a computer system from a medium (a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, etc.) storing the program for executing the above operation, a system for executing the above processing can be constructed. By the installation, the program is stored in a medium such as a hard disk in the computer system, configures the system, and is used for execution.

The medium for supplying the program to the computer is not limited to a storage medium in a narrow sense, but a communication line,
It may be a storage medium in a broad sense including a communication medium that temporarily and fluidly holds information such as programs, such as a communication network and a communication system. For example, FTP (File T) provided on a communication network such as the Internet
ransfer Protocol) Register the program on the server,
It may be distributed to the FTP client via the network, and may be distributed on the electronic bulletin board (BBS: Bullet) of the communication network.
In Board System) or the like and the program may be distributed via a network. Then, by starting this program and executing it under the control of the OS (Operating System), the above-described processing can be achieved. Further, the above-described processing can be achieved by activating and executing the program while transferring the program through the communication network.

[0156]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A prepaid card that can accurately detect fraud attempting to use the variable information of an authorized prepaid card by copying it on a falsified or forged prepaid card medium, and eliminate unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery. A card system and a reading device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a prepaid card system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing stored contents of a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system of FIG.

3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a reading device in the prepaid card system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a recording device in the prepaid card system of FIG.

5 is a flowchart for explaining an encoding process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a consumption process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

7 is a flow chart for explaining a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a termination process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an encoding process of the prepaid card system in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system of FIG. 1 is inserted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 1 is consumed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 1 is consumed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 1 is consumed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a process when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 1 is consumed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing stored contents of a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an encoding process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

19 is a flow chart for explaining a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

20 is a flow chart for explaining a termination process in the prepaid card system of FIG.

21 is a diagram for explaining a process at the time of encoding of the prepaid card system of FIG.

22 is a diagram for explaining a process when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system of FIG. 17 is inserted.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 17 is consumed.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining processing when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system in FIG. 17 is consumed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically showing stored contents of a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

28 is a flowchart for explaining an encoding process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart for explaining a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for explaining a termination process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining a process at the time of encoding of the prepaid card system in FIG. 27.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining a process when the prepaid card of the prepaid card system of FIG. 27 is inserted.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining a process when the prepaid card system of FIG. 27 is consumed.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining processing at the time of consumption of the prepaid card system in FIG. 27.

FIG. 35 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a storage form of a prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 reading device 2 relay devices 3 recording devices 4 settlement center 11 Communication processing unit 12 Consumption processing unit 13 Storage 14 Reader / Writer 15 Check control unit 16 Cryptographic processing unit 17 Optical sensor 31 Encoding control unit 32 memory 33 Reader / Writer 34 Optical sensor 35 Cryptographic processing unit 36 Check Information Processing Department PC, PC1-PC8 Prepaid card D card issuer S store

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-9-245135 (JP, A) JP-A-11-102463 (JP, A) JP-A-2-220898 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 220141 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F ^7/ 00-7/12 G06K ⁷ /00-7/14 G11B 20/00

Claims (19)

(57) [Claims] 1. A prepaid card system for performing financial settlement using a prepaid card, which comprises a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to monetary value is stored. The gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium is optically detected, the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, and the quantized information is quantized. Recording means for encrypting and recording the variable information in two storage areas of the prepaid card medium by using as an encryption key and issuing it as the prepaid card; and a background color of a bar code portion at the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. Is detected optically, and the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, Information as an encryption key, and means for decoding the read information from the storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card, one for the storage area of the two locations,
The decrypted variable information is updated according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card, and the updated variable information is encrypted with the encryption key.
A prepaid card system, comprising: a reading unit that includes a unit that alternately performs a process of encoding and recording in the other storage region on the two storage regions. 2. The recording means preliminarily records the characteristic information of the bar code portion in the prepaid card medium as quantization key by using different quantization method for each storage area. Encrypt variable information,
Quantization information including means for recording in the two storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the reading means quantized the characteristic information for each storage area by a quantization method common to the recording means. 2. The prepaid card system according to claim 1, further comprising means for making an encryption key for encryption and decryption. 3. The fraudulent detection based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. 3. The prepaid card system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for performing the operation when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. 4. A storage area at two locations of a prepaid card comprising a storage medium having a bar code printed at a predetermined location.
Te, line the reading and writing of variable information, including the amount of money information
A reader / writer means, an optical sensor for optically detecting a gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code part of the prepaid card, and a gradation distribution of the bar code part based on a detection signal of the optical sensor. obtaining quantization information characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the quantization, and encryption processing means for performing encryption and decryption processing using the quantization information as an encryption key, the said prepaid card by the reader-writer means two The information read out from the storage area of the location is decrypted by the means for decrypting by the encryption processing means and by the one of the storage areas of the two locations.
Variable information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card
The updated variable information is updated by the encryption processing means.
It is encrypted and the other storage area is read by the reader / writer means.
The process for recording the frequency, reading apparatus characterized by comprising: a exchange <br/> each other row intends control means for the storage area of the two places. 5. The prepaid card stores the initial variable information encrypted in advance by using the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion by a different quantization method for each storage area as an encryption key. And the encryption processing means is
A means for performing encryption and decryption processing by using, as an encryption key, the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information in each storage area by the same quantization method as the initial variable information. The reading device according to item 4. 6. The check control means carries out fraudulent detection based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas by the cryptographic processing means when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. The reading device according to claim 4, further comprising: 7. A prepaid card system for making a financial settlement using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including money amount information corresponding to monetary value is stored. The gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium is optically detected, the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, and the quantized information is quantized. Is used as an encryption key, and the quantized information is included in the variable information.
Recording means for encrypting and recording the variable information in two storage areas and issuing it as the prepaid card; and an optical gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. to detect quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, the quantization information and the encryption key, said two portions
Means for decoding the read information from the storage area of
Decoded variable information for one of the storage areas
Update and update according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card
Including the quantized information into variable information, with the encryption key
The process of encrypting and recording the other storage area, said Nica
Prepaid card system characterized in that it comprises a reading means and means for performing alternately for the storage area of the place. 8. The recording means uses, as an encryption key, quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion in the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each memory area, and using the quantized information in another memory area. Include the corresponding quantized information in the variable information, encrypt the initial variable information to be recorded in advance,
Quantization information including means for recording in the two storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the reading means quantized the characteristic information for each storage area by a quantization method common to the recording means. 8. The prepaid card system according to claim 7, further comprising means for using as an encryption key for encryption and decryption. 9. The fraudulent detection based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information obtained by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. 9. The prepaid card system according to claim 7, further comprising means for performing the operation when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. 10. The fraudulent detection by the reading means based on whether or not the variable information can be decrypted in the two storage areas using the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. 10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a unit for performing fraud detection by comparing and comparing the quantized information in the variable information with corresponding quantized information obtained by actually measuring the characteristic information. The prepaid card system according to any one of items. 11. A prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value is stored. The gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium is optically detected, the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, and the quantized information is quantized. Including the above, initial variable information is recorded in two storage areas of the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and the quantized information is encrypted and recorded in another storage area of the plurality of storage areas. Recording means for issuing as the prepaid card, and an optical gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. It detected, the acquired quantization information by quantizing the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, storage of the two portions
Area reading means and one of the two storage areas
About the read variable information, the prepaid card
Processing for updating in accordance with the consumption amount, and including the quantized information in the updated variable information and storing it in the other storage area.
And Bei performs alternately for the storage area of the two places, each time updating of the variable information, and means for updating stored in the other storage area to encrypt the quantization information, the
Prepaid card system comprising: the obtaining reading means. 12. The recording means stores initial variable information including quantized information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of the bar code portion of the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area at the two locations. Of the variable information, the reading means quantizes the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information for each memory area by the same quantization method as the initial variable information in the variable information. 12. The prepaid card system according to claim 11, further comprising means for detecting fraud by matching the quantized information and determining whether or not the variable information can be decoded. 13. The reading means includes the quantized information of the characteristic information based on the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion and the quantized information.
The means for performing fraud detection by collating with the quantized information in the variable information read from two storage areas when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. The prepaid card system according to item 12. 14. The reading means uses the quantized information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated, and stores the other information. Quantization read from region
The prepaid card system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising means for performing fraud detection based on whether or not information can be decrypted. 15. A bar code is printed on a predetermined portion to make money.
To store variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to the intellectual value
Make a financial payment using a prepaid card consisting of a storage medium
In the prepaid card system to do, A bar printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium
Including the ground color of the code part The gradation distribution is optically detected and
Feature information based on detection signals corresponding to variations in gradation distribution
Information is quantized and the quantized information is used as an encryption key to
The variable information is encrypted in a plurality of storage areas of the id card medium.
A note that is converted and recorded and issued as the prepaid card
Recording means, Bar code at the predetermined portion of the prepaid card
The gradation distribution including the background color of the
Feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in distribution
Quantize and use the quantized information as an encryption key to
Decoding information read from the storage areas of the card
Means for reading and reading from one of the plurality of storage areas
The decrypted variable information is used as the consumption amount of the prepaid card.
The encrypted variable information is encrypted with the encryption key.
And a means for recording in another storage area
Dan, A prepaid card system comprising: 16. A bar code is printed on a predetermined portion to make money.
To store variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to the intellectual value
Make a financial payment using a prepaid card consisting of a storage medium
In the prepaid card system to do, A bar printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium
The gradation distribution including the background color of the code part is optically detected,
Feature information based on detection signals corresponding to variations in gradation distribution
Information is quantized, and the quantized information is used as an encryption key.
Of the prepaid card medium by including the information in the variable information.
Before encrypting and recording the variable information in multiple storage areas
Recording means issued as a prepaid card, A bar printed on the predetermined part of the prepaid card
The gradation distribution including the background color of the code part is optically detected,
Feature information based on detection signals corresponding to variations in gradation distribution
Information is quantized, and the quantized information is used as an encryption key.
Means for decoding information read from the storage area,
The variable information read from one of the storage areas of
It is updated and updated according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card.
The quantized information is included in the stored variable information and encrypted with the encryption key.
And a means for encoding and recording in another storage area
And a means for prepaid card payment
Stem. 17. A bar code is printed on a predetermined portion to make money.
To store variable information including monetary amount information corresponding to the intellectual value
Make a financial payment using a prepaid card consisting of a storage medium
In the prepaid card system to do, A bar printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium
The gradation distribution including the background color of the code part is optically detected,
Feature information based on detection signals corresponding to variations in gradation distribution
Information is quantized, and the prepaid card
Initial variable information is recorded in a plurality of storage areas of the hard disk, and
The above quantized information is encrypted and recorded in another predetermined storage area.
Recording means for recording and issuing as the prepaid card
When, A bar printed on the predetermined part of the prepaid card
The gradation distribution including the background color of the code part is optically detected,
Feature information based on detection signals corresponding to variations in gradation distribution
Information is quantized to obtain quantized information, and
Area reading means and reading from one of the plurality of storage areas
The variable information captured is the consumption amount of the prepaid card.
The quantized information is updated according to the updated variable information.
To other storage areas in the plurality of storage areas including
The quantization information is stored every time the variable information is updated.
A method of encrypting and updating and storing in another predetermined storage area.
A reading means including a step, and
Prepaid card system. 18. A variable information update in a prepaid card system for performing financial settlement using a prepaid card which is a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including amount information corresponding to monetary value is stored. A method of optically detecting a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium when issuing a prepaid card, and responding to variations in the gradation distribution. Generating step of quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal to generate the quantized information, and the quantized information generated by the generating step as an encryption key, in the two storage areas of the prepaid card medium. At the issuing step of issuing the prepaid card by encrypting and recording the information, and when using the prepaid card Quantized information is generated by optically detecting a gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion in the predetermined portion of the prepaid card, and quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution. a quantization information generating step, the quantization information generated by the quantization information generating step as the encryption key, said of the prepaid card two to
Step of decoding the read information from the storage area locations
And one of the two storage areas is decrypted.
Variable information according to the amount of consumption of the prepaid card
Update the encrypted variable information using the encryption key
And a step of alternately performing the process of recording in the other storage area with respect to the two storage areas. 19. A variable information update in a prepaid card system for performing financial settlement using a prepaid card which is a storage medium in which a bar code is printed on a predetermined portion and variable information including amount information corresponding to monetary value is stored. A method of optically detecting a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium when issuing a prepaid card, and responding to variations in the gradation distribution. A generating step of quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal to generate quantized information, and including the quantized information generated by the generating step in the variable information, and using the quantized information as an encryption key, issuing step of the variable information recorded encrypted in a storage area of the two portions of the prepaid card medium, to issue the prepaid card When a prepaid card is used, a gradation distribution including a background color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card is optically detected, and based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution. A quantization information generating step of quantizing the characteristic information to generate quantization information; and a reading from the two storage areas using the quantization information generated by the quantization information generating step as an encryption key.
The step of decrypting the output information, and the decrypted variable for one of the two storage areas.
Update information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card
And, including the quantization information on the updated variable information, before
Processing to encrypt with the encryption key and record in the other storage area
And a step of alternately performing the above two storage areas, the variable information updating method.