AU3832689A

AU3832689A - Bi-modular integrated circuit card payment system

Info

Publication number: AU3832689A
Application number: AU38326/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raoul Parienti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-08
Filing date: 1989-06-08
Publication date: 1990-01-05
Also published as: EP0402182B1; NO900532D0; ATE128257T1; WO1989012288A1; FR2632752B1; JPH03501180A; DE69022484T2; ES2079455T3; NO900532L; FI900593A0; BR8906985A; DE69022484D1; EP0402182A1; FR2632752A1

Abstract

This payment system comprises, in combination, a support (1), such as a card, on which are fixedly mounted a module consisting of a logic unit (2) and its programmable erasable memory (3) and, removably, another module consisting of a disposable programmable memory (5) containing a certain credit which can be decremented, and a terminal which can advise the logic unit of the amount of a transaction. The logic unit is configured to allow transactions between the fixed memory and the removable memory. <IMAGE>

Description

BIMODULAR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM Nowadays, so-called "smart" cards which are distributed especially by the banks and the telecom 5 munications operators are becoming widespread. In fact, under this name it is possible to distinguish essentially 3 types of smart cards: - The card equipped with an EPROM memory. It can contain 256 bits and an addressing logic. It is protected 10 against ultraviolet rays and also comprises an identifi cation zone. Any inscription of a bit is non-erasable. This type of card is used essentially by the telecom munications operators. - The widespread logic subscriber's card, which 15 incorporates an EPROM memory are of several kilobits divided into a plurality of zones. It also comprises an addressing logic and an access logic. - Finally, a microprocessor card which incor porates a microprocessor managing the accesses to various 20 memories of the EPROM and/or EEPROM type. Although it may be considered that the card of the EPROM type incorporating monetary units may provide appreciable services for quite specific applications such as telephone message accounting, fixed unit payment, it 25 has the disadvantage of an impersonal nature not afford ing any flexibility, either on a flat rate basis or on a credit basis. However, it has an economic advantage associated with its low cost. The microprocessor card represents a definite 30 advantage associated with its flexibility of use. It can record various transactions, but must be properly con nected to a specific terminal; accordingly, its use permanently presumes a heavy structure for the management of the operations. 35 The object of the invention is to provide a new mode of payment which is flexible and progressive and which does not require any structure for its implementation.

-2 To this end, the subject of the invention is a payment system, characterized in that it comprises, in combination, a support such as a card on which there are mounted fixedly a module composed of a logic unit such as 5 a microprocessor and its erasable programmable memory, for example of the EEPROM type, and removably another module composed of a disposable programmable memory, for example of the EPROM type, associated or not associated with a logic unit containing a certain credit capable of 10 being decremented and a terminal capable of communicating to the card the amount of a transaction, the micro processor being arranged to permit transactions between the fixed memory and the removable memory. The microprocessor may, in particular, be ar 15 ranged to decrement the fixed memory when the removable memory is empty, this taking place up to a predetermined threshold. After changing the removable memory, the pre viously authorized credit is accounted for in the new 20 removable memory, the fixed memory being reset to zero. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the removable memory is arranged to be equipped with a code in the course of its acquisition, the said code being likewise inscribed on the fixed memory, the microproces 25 sor being arranged to compare the said codes at each transaction. Advantageously, the microprocessor is arranged to recompute, in the course of a transaction, the amount to be paid in a new base in which the unit is the monetary 30 unit, apart from a multiplying coefficient, and then to decrement in the removable memory the number of units corresponding to the integral value of the previously computed number; the remaining decimals being placed in store in the fixed memory. 35 In the course of each transaction, the micro processor then adds to the recomputed amount the decimals which may be situated in the fixed memory, before extrac ting the integral part therefrom, with a view to the decrementing of the removable memory.

-3 In fact, the monetary unit generally being relatively small, for example the centime in France, it would be necessary for the programmable memory to contain a large number of elementary units for a relatively small 5 sum of money, for example 50,000 units for 500 francs; this lacks convenience from the point of view of the current technology and with regard to an acceptable cost level. It thus appears to be judicious to allocate to a monetary unit the value of a franc and thus to gain a 10 factor of one hundred on the number of units. In the course of each transaction, an integral number of mon etary units is debited. For example, for 51.65 francs 51 units are debited, i.e. 51 francs, and the remaining decimals are placed in store in the automatic credit 15 part of the memory described hereinbelow. The 0.65 are thus stored until the next transaction. Example: for 18.75 F a start is made by adding the content of the automatic credit memory, i.e. 18.75 + 0.65 = 19.40 F. 19 monetary units are then decremented, i.e. 19 francs, and 20 0.40 is placed in store in the memory. More generally, the microprocessor computes the amount to be paid within a base where the unit is the monetary unit, except for a multiplicative coefficient. In the example given herein above, the monetary unit is the centime, while the 25 minting unit is one hundred times greater (the franc). The procedure described hereinabove decrements the integral number immediately below the calculated number. It is also possible to decrement the integral number immediately above and to invert the procedure. When only 30 a few minting units remain on the programmable memory, two solutions are possible: either its capacity is exceeded, and the supplementary sum is placed in store in the automatic credit part, or a special procedure is implemented, in which the microprocessor counts the 35 number of minting units remaining and immediately decre ments them; it then subtracts from this number any decimals which may be located in the automatic credit part and places this new number in store in the automatic credit part, it being possible for this number now to be -4 positive or negative. In the course of the following transaction, the microprocessor decrements this number as a priority if it is positive before decrementing the new programmable memory. 5 In a particular embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises a portable interface or reader equipped with a screen and with at least one validation key and arranged to receive the support and to communi cate by infrared radiation with a fixed station or 10 terminal equipped with a keyboard on which the amount of the transaction can be entered, which amount is communi cated to the portable interface and inscribed on the screen with a view to its validation by action on the said key. 15 The interface may then be arranged to be ac tivated by means of a switch, in such a manner as to permit the terminal to verify the presence and the validity of the support and to record the information concerning the identification of the payer by means of 20 the infrared link. The interface may likewise be arranged to trans mit to the terminal an encoded signal indicating to it that the decrementing of the memory has taken place and that the transaction is thus completed. 25 The interface may likewise be arranged to write in the fixed memory of the support information which it receives by infrared radiation from the terminal; this information being capable of being used subsequently, in the course of the computation of the sum to be paid. 30 Under these conditions, the reader at the loca tion of the user is moved, it being possible for each reader to enter into a non-wired link with the fixed station. It is this fixed station which drives the operation, the movable reader integrating the card, being 35 content to obey its commands. All the payments may be made either by means of the card alone or by means of the movable reader plus the card, subject to the condition that the apparatus invoicing the payment (sic) is equip ped with an integrated reader and with a module for -5 dialog with a movable reader. In a shop, for example, the payment is made in the following manner: - the user activates his movable reader, and the fixed apparatus of the shopkeeper proceeds to interrogate 5 the smart card via the movable reader by means of an enciphered infrared link. It verifies, in particular, the presence and the validity of the card and records the identification of the customer. Then, the shopkeeper enters the amount to be paid on his apparatus, which 10 retransmits it to the movable reader by means of the infrared link. This amount appears on a display screen situated on the movable reader. It is only after verifi cation and approval that the customer authorizes the transaction by pressing a special key of the keyboard of 15 the reader. The corresponding number of bits is decre mented on the card and an acknowledgement of receipt is sent back to the apparatus of the shopkeeper. The payment of a motorway toll is slightly different, since the sum to be paid is not the same, 20 depending upon the entrance exchange facility. The payment procedure is therefore the following. At the entrance to the motorway, the user places his reader in the programming position. At the entrance to the motor way, a station passes to the reader, in the form of 25 infrared radiation, the encoded information relating to this exchange facility, which places it in store on the card. On passing the toll, the reader transmits to the invoicing apparatus this same encoded information. The apparatus verifies this information; computes the price 30 to be paid and retransmits this to the reader. If the user is in agreement, he validates the transaction as previously; the decrementing takes place on the card and an acknowledgement of receipt is sent back to the apparatus which authorizes passage. 35 According to one of the possible versions, the configuration may be the following: - Figure 1 shows the support (1), which may be made of plastic material, fixedly incorporating in its upper left-hand part the microprocessor (2) and its -6 EEPROM memory environment (3). On the lower part it is possible to observe the site (4) reserved for the fixing of the disposable EPROM memories (5). This site (4) may have various forms. It 5 may be provided on the longer side of the support, as shown in Figure 1, in order to prevent it from being torn away in the course of the introduction and of the with drawal of the support in a reader. However, it may also be provided at the center of the support, as shown in 10 Figure 2. In this case, the electrical contact of the EPROM (5) may be arranged in an annular and concentric manner in order to avoid the positioning errors. The right-hand part of the support may be used as for any other application, inscription of identification number 15 of the card, photograph of the holder, etc. The following will be held in store in the memory (3) of the microprocessor (2): - the items associated with the identification of the holder, 20 - the parameters associated with the various authorized services (subscriber, non-subscriber, student, adult, route, etc.) - a memory space permitting an automatic buffer credit. 25 Certain items will be non-erasable. Others may be erased and recorded at will. A more specific description will be given of the application of the invention, taking by way of example French Patent Application No. 88/00816 defining a mode of 30 urban electrical transport with automated recharging, which can use a card such as that described previously as mode of payment. The user in possession of his card obtains from an authorized distributor a "chip" containing the EPROM 35 (5) corresponding to a fixed price. He then secures the EPROM (5) in the site (4). His card is then operational. He introduces his card into the reader situated on the outside of each vehicle. The user may then travel, and the units of the EPROM are -7 progressively decremented. The pattern of the decrement ing is defined by the profile memory zone inscribed in the microprocessor and by possibly other parameters associated with the services given. 5 In the case where the EPROM (5) was situated at zero, before the end of the journey, it is appreciated in full rigour that the latter will be interrupted in a manner which is just as sudden. For this reason, an automatic credit space is provided, enabling the user to 10 proceed to the end of his journey as the automatic credit memory space will record the deficit which it has not been possible to decrement, this taking place up to an agreed threshold. In the following application, this sum will be 15 accounted for as a priority matter against the new EPROM (5). Once the card has been introduced into the reader, the validation procedure may thus be the following: 20 1 - reading of the memory (3) of the microproces sor (2), identification, profile, 2 - presence and validation of the EPROM (5) as a function of the data read in the course of the preced ing step. 25 If the automatic credit memory space is different from zero, the microprocessor (2) gives the command to decrement the value of the credit on the EPROM (5), and resets the automatic credit space to zero. If, on the other hand, the credit is equal to 30 zero, the card is then validated for use. The card thus described in this patent permits a particularly flexible application adapted to the modern "minting"; - non-specialization of the premises for acquisi tion of the "chips" containing the EPROM (5) 35 - non-obligation to have multiple transactions at a given fixed price - great flexibility associated with the automatic credit - low cost of the prepaid modules -8 - the possibility of inscribing on the EPROM element (5) a code which makes it unsuitable on a card other than that of the user. To this end, it will be possible to inscribe a 5 code in the memory of the EEPROM (3) and the same code in a zone reserved for this purpose on the EPROM (5) which has been purchased, in order to prevent use by a third party in the event of loss or theft. This type of card may be used in all transactions 10 where the conventional currency appears to have been superseded by the development of technology; franking of letters, machine for the distribution of any type of product, acquisition of transport vouchers, payment for motorways and taxis, payment for lines enciphered on 15 consumption, etc. Figure 3 shows the entire device with its port able interface. The smart card (1), containing the programmable and erasable memory (3) and the singly programmable 20 removable memory (5) is introduced into the movable reader (6). On the latter there are found the actuating switch (7), a keyboard (8) permitting the recording of certain commands, such as the validation of the transac tion, and a screen (9) on which the price to be paid is 25 displayed. The infrared transmission/reception block (10) is situated at one end of the movable reader (6). The same transmission/reception block (11) also exists on the invoicing apparatus (12). On this apparatus, an alpha numeric keyboard (13) permits the recording of the price 30 to be paid. The apparatus (12) is supplied from the standard electrical network, while the reader (6) draws its supply from cells or from batteries. In another version of the invention, the remov 35 able module contains an amount which, on the occasion of the first transaction, is loaded into the fixed module, and the removable module is then marked to avoid other loadings of fixed modules. At each payment, the presence of the correct -9 removable module is verified and the decrementing with a view to the settlement of the said payment is effected in the fixed module. When the balance loaded in the fixed module 5 reaches zero, the removable module is marked and thus rendered definitely incapable of use. In this version, of course, the automatic credit procedure previously described is still valid.

Claims

1. Payment system, characterized in that it com prises, in combination, a support (1) such as a card, on which there are mounted fixedly a module composed of a logic unit (2) and its erasable programmable memory (3) and removably another module composed of a disposable programmable memory (5) containing a certain credit capable of being decremented, and a terminal capable of communicating to the logic unit the amount of a transac tion, the logic unit being arranged to permit transac tions between the fixed memory and the removable memory.

2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the logic unit is arranged to decrement the fixed memory when the removable memory is empty, this taking place up to a predetermined threshold.

3. System according to Claim 2, characterized in that the logic unit is arranged to reset the fixed memory to zero and to increment the removable memory by a cor responding amount after a change of the removable memory.

4. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the removable memory is arranged to be equipped with a code in the course of its acquisition, the said code being likewise inscribed on the fixed memory, the logic unit being arranged to compare the said codes at each transaction.

5. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the course of a transaction the logic unit is arranged to recompute the amount to be paid in a new base in which the unit is the monetary unit apart from a multiplying coefficient, and then to decre ment in the removable memory the number of units cor responding to the integral value of the previously computed number. The remaining decimals being placed in store in the fixed memory.

6. System according to Claim 5, characterized in that in the course of a transaction the logic unit is arranged to add to the recomputed amount the decimals which may be situated in the fixed memory before extracting the integral part therefrom with a view to the - 11 decrementing of the removable memory.

7. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a portable interface (6) equipped with a screen (9) and with at least one validation key, and arranged to receive the said support and to communicate by infrared radiation with a fixed terminal (12) equipped with a keyboard (13) on which the amount of the transaction can be entered, which amount is communicated to the portable interface and inscribed on the screen, with a view to its validation by action on the said key.

8. System according to Claim 7, characterized in that the interface is arranged to be activated by means of a switch (7) in such a manner as to permit the ter minal (12) to verify the presence and the validity of the support and to record the information concerning the identification of the payer by means of the infrared link.

9. Payment device according to either one of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the interface is arranged to transmit to the terminal an encoded signal indicating to it that the decrementing of the memory has taken place and that the transaction is thus completed.

10. Payment device according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the interface is arranged to write in the fixed memory of the support information which it receives by infrared radiation from the terminal, this information being capable of being used subsequently in the course of the computation of the sum to be paid.