JP2000259920A - Prepaid card system, reading and writing device and variable information updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a prepaid card medium altered or forged by the copy of stored information. SOLUTION: When a prepaid card is set, a reading/writing device 1 detects the gradation distribution of bar code printing sites, and quantizes the detected information by different prescribed quantization systems, and decodes variable information (a) and (b) read from information areas A and B of the prepaid card by using quantized data Ra and Rb as cryptographic keys, and checks the validity/invalidity of decoding. When they are both decoded, it is judged that the prepaid card is normal, and when it is judged that at least one of them is not made correspond as the result of collation, it is judged that the prepaid card is abnormal and an illegal card.

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 in accordance with the consumption of money, and more particularly to a prepaid card system, a reading apparatus, 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 money amount information having a monetary value is used to pay for a rental of a game medium or the like. The prepaid card system includes, for example, a recording device installed at a card issuer, a ticket issuing machine installed at each store, a reading device, and the like. The recording device records (encodes), on each prepaid card, fixed information such as a card ID and a face value, and variable information such as a balance. A prepaid card on which variable information and fixed information are recorded is sold to each store from, for example, a card issuer.

In each store, for example, a prepaid card purchased from a card issuer is stored in a ticket issuing machine. The ticketing machine is
In response to a purchase request from a user, a pre-paid card stored therein is subjected to a predetermined ticket issuing process to issue a ticket.
The issued prepaid card is used by a user, for example, in a reading device at a store. The reading device performs a predetermined check on the inserted prepaid card, and if the check result is appropriate, 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 is discharged.

[0004]

However, in such a system as described above, there is a possibility that a fraudulent card is forged, for example, by copying variable information of a 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 results of the checks are appropriate, 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 on which variable information such as balance information is not recorded) before updating, the variable information is recorded on the replaced card. Thus, for example, a card with a large balance is inserted, and after a check at the time of insertion is completed, the card is replaced with a card in which variable information is not stored, and data of the card with a high balance is recorded, thereby forging a card. There is a risk that.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a prepaid card system, a reading device, and a variable information updating method which can prevent forgery of a prepaid card due to unauthorized copying of data. Aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a prepaid card system according to a first aspect of the present invention has a variable value including a bar code printed on a predetermined portion and including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. In a prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement using a prepaid card made of a storage medium for storing information, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is optically detected. Then, the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, and the variable information is encrypted and recorded in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium using the quantized information as an encryption key. Recording means for issuing as the prepaid card; and Histological detect quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in the grayscale distribution,
The read / write information for the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card is decrypted / encrypted using the quantization information as an encryption key, and the plurality of storage areas are alternately used in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card. Reading means for reading / updating variable information.

According to such a configuration, in the initial state, quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the barcode printing portion unique to each medium of the prepaid card is initially recorded. Is used as an encryption key to write variable information in a plurality of storage areas.
The reading means encrypts and alternately writes the variable information in the plurality of storage areas and updates the variable information in the plurality of storage areas each time the variable information is updated, using the quantization information based on the characteristic information of the prepaid card as an encryption key. By decrypting the variable information and checking whether it is possible or not, it is possible to accurately detect the fraud by copying the variable information of another prepaid card. Therefore, unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium can be eliminated.

[0008] The recording means may be an initial variable information to be recorded in advance, using, as an encryption key, quantization information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of the bar code portion in the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area. Encrypts
Means for recording in the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and wherein the reading means, the characteristic information,
Each storage area may include means for using quantization information quantized by a quantization method common to the recording means as an encryption key for encryption / decryption.

[0009] The reading means may detect whether the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using the quantization information of the characteristic information based on 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] A reading apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention reads variable information including amount information from a plurality of storage areas of a prepaid card formed of a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion, and reads the plurality of variable information. Reader / writer means for updating and writing the variable information in a storage area, an optical sensor for optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of the barcode portion of the prepaid card, and a detection signal of the optical sensor. Encryption processing means for quantizing characteristic information corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution of the barcode portion based on the quantization information to obtain quantization information, and performing encryption / decryption processing using the quantization information as an encryption key; The read / write information to / from the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card by the reader / writer means is decrypted / encrypted by the encryption processing means, and Check control means for reading / updating the variable information alternately using the plurality of storage areas in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card, and the check control means in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card. Consumption processing means for updating the price information and transmitting sales information including the consumption amount.

[0011] According to such a configuration, the reading apparatus uses the quantization information based on the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the barcode printing portion peculiar to each medium of the prepaid card as the encryption key, and Each time the information is updated, it is encrypted and written alternately in a plurality of storage areas, and the variable information in the plurality of storage areas is decrypted and checked for validity. Can be detected. Therefore, unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium can be eliminated.

[0012] In the prepaid card, initial variable information is encrypted and stored in advance, using quantization 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 comprises:
A means for performing encryption / decryption processing by using, as an encryption key, quantization information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information with the initial variable information and a common quantization method for each storage area may be included.

The check control means includes means for performing fraud detection based on whether or not the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted by the encryption processing means when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. May be.

A prepaid card system according to a third aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card comprising a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion and storing variable information including amount information corresponding to a monetary value. In a prepaid card system for performing financial settlement, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is optically detected, and a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is detected. Quantizing the characteristic information based on the quantization information as an encryption key, including the quantization information in the variable information, encrypting and recording the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, Recording means for issuing as a prepaid card, and a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. , Quantizes feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, uses the quantized information as an encryption key, includes the quantized information in the variable information, and Reading / writing information for decrypting / encrypting the read / write information to / from the storage area, and reading / updating the variable information using the plurality of storage areas alternately according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card.

According to such a configuration, in the initial state, quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the barcode printing portion unique to each medium of the prepaid card by the recording means. Is included in the initial variable information, and is encrypted and written in the plurality of storage areas using the quantization information as the encryption key. Then, the reading means includes the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the prepaid card in the variable information every time the variable information is updated, and encrypts the quantized information alternately in a plurality of storage areas using the quantized information as an encryption key. By checking whether or not variable information written in a plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using quantized information as an encryption key, fraud by copying variable information of another prepaid card can be accurately detected. . Therefore, unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium can be eliminated.

[0016] The recording means uses, as an encryption key, quantization 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, and corresponds to another storage area. Include the quantization information in the variable information, encrypt the initial variable information to be recorded in advance,
Means for recording in the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and wherein the reading means, the characteristic information,
Each storage area may include means for using quantization information quantized by a quantization method common to the recording means as an encryption key for encryption / decryption.

[0017] The reading means may detect the fraud detection based on whether or not the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using the quantization information of the characteristic information based on 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 be configured to detect the unauthorized information based on whether or not the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using the quantization information of the characteristic information based on the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion as an encryption key. The information processing apparatus may further include means for comparing and comparing the quantized information in the variable information with corresponding quantized information obtained by actual measurement of the feature information to perform fraud detection.

A prepaid card system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card comprising a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion and storing variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. In a prepaid card system for performing financial settlement, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium is optically detected, and a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is detected. Quantizing the characteristic information based on, including the quantized information, recording the initial variable information in some of the plurality of storage areas of the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and encrypting the quantized information Recording means for recording in another partial storage area of the plurality of storage areas and issuing it as the prepaid card; and the predetermined portion of the prepaid card The gradation distribution including the ground color of the printed barcode portion is optically detected, the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized, and the prepaid The variable information is read / updated in accordance with the amount of consumption of the prepaid card by alternately using the plurality of storage areas of the part of the card, and the quantization information is encrypted and updated each time the update is performed. Reading means for updating and storing in a part of the storage area.

According to such a configuration, in the initial state, quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution of the bar code printing portion unique to each medium of the prepaid card by the recording means. Is written in some of the plurality of storage areas, and the information obtained by encrypting the quantized information is written in another of the plurality of storage areas. The reading means writes the quantized information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information into the plurality of storage areas alternately each time the variable information is updated, including the variable information, and encrypts the quantized information. The converted information is written to the other part of the storage area and the quantization information in the variable information written to the part of the plurality of storage areas is compared with the quantization information based on the measured value of the prepaid card, By using the quantized information based on the actual measurement value to check whether or not the variable information in the other part of the storage area can be decoded, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying the variable information of another prepaid card. it can. Therefore, unauthorized use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium can be eliminated.

The recording means stores initial variable information including quantized information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of the bar code portion on the prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area, and Means for storing in advance in the storage area, and the reading means, the variable information in the variable information, the quantization information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information by a common quantization method with the initial variable information for each storage area The information processing apparatus may include means for detecting fraud by collating with the quantization information and determining whether or not the variable information in the other part of the storage area can be decoded.

The reading means compares the quantized information of the characteristic information based on the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion with the quantized information in the variable information read from the plurality of storage areas. A means for performing fraud detection at the time of loading the prepaid card and after updating the variable information may be included.

The reading means uses the quantization 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, and the other part is used. Means for performing fraud detection based on whether or not the variable information read from the storage area may be decrypted.

A variable information updating method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card comprising a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion and storing 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 a method, comprising: Generation step of quantizing feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution to generate quantization information, and using the quantization information generated by the generation step as an encryption key, An issuance step of encrypting and recording the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium and issuing the prepaid card; When, in use of the prepaid card, the gradation distribution including the background color of the bar code portion in said predetermined portion of said prepaid card optically detected,
A quantization information generation step of quantizing feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution to generate quantization information; and using the quantization information generated by the quantization information generation step as an encryption key. Decrypting / encrypting the read / write information for the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card, and reading / updating the variable information using the plurality of storage areas alternately in accordance with the amount of consumption of the prepaid card. A reading step.

A variable information updating method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention uses a prepaid card comprising a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion and storing 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 a method, comprising: Generating the quantized information by quantizing the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation in the gradation distribution, and generating the quantized information generated by the generating step into the variable information. The variable information is encrypted and recorded in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium using the quantization information as an encryption key, An issuance step of issuing a repaid card, and, when using the prepaid card, optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card, and Quantization information generating step of generating quantization information by quantizing feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of
The variable information includes the quantization information generated by the quantization information generating step, and decrypts / encrypts read / write information for a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card using the quantization information as an encryption key. A reading step of reading / updating the variable information using the plurality of storage areas alternately in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A prepaid card system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the 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 at a card issuer D such as a card issuing company and a card manufacturing factory.
In general, 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 for connecting the reading devices 1 to the settlement center 4.

The relay device 2 is not limited to one for 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,
The payment center 4 is provided between the plurality of reading devices 1 for each hall in the store S or the plurality of reading devices 1 for each floor in the store S.

In this prepaid card system, a 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 for the provision of a service such as lending of a game medium by using a prepaid card. This service provision and payment is performed using the reading device 1 installed in the store S, and the amount stored as the amount information on the prepaid card is consumed. The store S counts the amount information consumed by the reading device 1 in the relay device 2 and transmits the information to the settlement center 4 of the card issuer D. The card issuer pays each store S an amount corresponding to the amount information received from each store S at the settlement center 4 as sales.

A prepaid card used in the 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
It has a first information area A and a second information area B. First
In the information area A, variable information (a) including amount information such as a balance is encrypted and written using the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information as an encryption key. The quantized data Ra serving as an encryption key is information obtained by quantizing feature data based on a detection signal of a density gradation distribution of a predetermined portion of a barcode BC printing unit by a predetermined first quantization method. As the quantized data Ra, at the time of encoding, the recording device 3
The information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected in the first step by the first quantization method is used. Each time the updating is performed, information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a 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 amount information such as the remaining amount 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 obtained by converting feature data based on a detection signal of a density gradation distribution at a predetermined portion of a barcode BC printing section into a predetermined second quantization scheme different from the first quantization scheme. Is 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 or the like of the variable information (b) is updated, the tone distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing section detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method every time the updating is performed. Information is used.

Updating and writing of price information and the like in the reading apparatus 1 are alternately performed in the first information area A and the second information area B. In these information areas A and B, in addition to the amount information such as the remaining amount, the card identification information (card ID) of the prepaid card PC, the manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, the manufacturing date (encoding date) information, and the error at the time of error occurrence A code and the like are recorded.

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

The variable information (a) and the variable information (b)
Include, for example, the card identification information of the prepaid card PC, the manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer, the date of manufacture, and the like, all of which are redundantly included in the variable information (a) and the variable information (b). They may be appropriately dispersed and included in the variable information (a) and the variable information (b). In this case, the first and second information areas A and B are both variable information areas in which all of the variable information (a) and (b) are updated when updating the balance or the like.

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

The variable information (a) is encrypted and written into the first information area A using the quantized data Ra as an encryption key, and the variable information (b) is written into the second information area B using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key. Prior to the encryption writing of (3), prior to that, for example, a gray-scale gradation distribution of the bar code BC is detected, and feature data based on a detection signal indicating the gradation distribution is used, and the quantization data is obtained by different quantization methods. The quantization is performed to obtain the quantized data Ra and the quantized data Rb. As the quantized data Ra and Rb, for example, information obtained by quantizing an analog reproduction signal of an optical sensor by PCM (pulse code modulation) or other information obtained by A / D (analog-digital) conversion is used. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading apparatus 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. I have.

The communication processing unit 11 performs communication between the consumption processing unit 12 and the relay device 2. The communication processing unit 11 reads, for example, 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 the sales information to the relay device 2 as a response to the request command from the relay device 2. The consumption processing unit 12 is linked to a vending machine (not shown) that performs a consumption operation by providing an article such as a game medium or the like, and based on consumption of a prepaid card corresponding to provision of the game medium or the like, The variable information such as the price information of the prepaid card PC is updated via the reader / writer 14, and the sales information including the consumption amount information is stored in the storage unit 13. The storage unit 13 stores and stores sales information based on daily consumption amount processing in the daily consumption processing unit 12.

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

The encryption processing unit 16 quantizes the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution of the density of the bar code BC read from the prepaid card PC by the optical sensor 17 by a predetermined quantization method, and obtains the 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 an encryption key. At this time, the check control unit 15 uses the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys in the encryption processing unit 16 to change the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B.
It is determined whether or not both have been successfully decoded.

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

The check controller 15 controls the encryption processor 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.
When it is determined that at least one of cannot be decrypted,
It is determined that an illegal 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 correspond, the check control unit 15 determines that an appropriate prepaid card has been set, and uses the quantized data Ra or Rb as an encryption key to set the first or second of the prepaid card PC. Variable information (a) or (b) read from the second information area A or B
Is provided to the consumption processing unit 12 based on the balance information. Next, the remaining amount guide punch hole is detected, and it is confirmed whether there is any inconsistency with the amount information stored in the prepaid card PC.
This amount information is processed by the consumption processing unit 12, and the remaining amount information is written to the storage unit 13.

Further, the consumption processing unit 12 updates the remaining amount information according to the consumption amount information in the consumption processing unit 12,
Similarly, the balance information of the prepaid card PC is rewritten.
At this time, a remaining amount guide punch hole is punched as needed based on the updated remaining amount.

Prepaid card P by consumption processing unit 12
The update of the variable information of C is performed alternately on the variable information (a) of the first information area A and the variable information (b) of the second information area B, and these first information areas A are updated. When the variable information (a) of the second information area B or the variable information (b) of the second information area B is updated, the check control unit 15 uses the bar code BC part of the 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 updated and written.

Further, even after the update, the check control unit 15
Are variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC.
Is decrypted by the encryption processing unit 16 using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the density of the bar code BC read from the prepaid card PC via the optical sensor 17 as an encryption key. Detect whether or not it is possible.
Note that the optical sensor 17 may be commonly used for detecting the remaining amount 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.
6. 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 types of 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 has a predetermined bar code BC of a prepaid card medium loaded in the reader / writer 33.
Characteristic data is obtained by optically detecting the gradation distribution of the print portion. The encryption processing unit 35 quantizes the feature data detected by the optical sensor 34 using the above-described first and second quantization methods, and generates quantized data Ra and Rb.
In addition, the encryption processing unit 35 transmits the quantized data Ra and Rb.
Is used as an encryption key to encrypt the variable information (a) and (b). The check information processing unit 36 is controlled by the encoding control unit 31 and outputs the variable information (a) and (b)
When the initial information is written into the first and second information areas A and B, the encryption by the encryption processing unit 35 is controlled.

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.
Is moved relative to the prepaid card PC when the gradation distribution of the bar code portion is detected. In this case, even if the optical sensor 34 is moved,
C may be moved, or both may be simultaneously moved in different directions.

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

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

The reading apparatus 1 is connected to, for example, a vending machine (not shown) for renting out game media, etc., and transfers the value of the game media and the like provided by the vending machine to the user to the prepaid card PC. This is an apparatus for embodying the consumption of the prepaid card PC by subtracting from the remaining amount in the stored amount information. When the prepaid card PC is set, the reading device 1
In this way, the gradation data of the bar code printing 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. The check control unit 15 supplies 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. The key is decrypted, and whether or not decryption is possible is determined.

The reading device 1 detects the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC by the optical sensor 17, and Quantized data Ra and R
b, when the check control unit 15 determines that both have been correctly decoded, 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 the two is not correctly decoded. In this case, the prepaid card PC is abnormal and is determined to be an unauthorized 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 barcode printing, differences in detection characteristics between the optical sensors 17 and 34, and the like. Therefore, the measured values of the quantized data Ra and Rb do not have to exactly match each other, but have similarities such that they match within a predetermined quantization accuracy and can be regarded as substantially the same prepaid card medium. If so, make sure that it can be decoded correctly.

Further, the reading device 1 checks whether there is any inconsistency in the variable information and the punch hole information in the information storage section DA of the prepaid card PC, and if there is any inconsistency, the prepaid card PC has some kind of injustice and trouble. It is determined that there is. When it is determined that there is a fraud or a malfunction, the reading device 1 transmits the detection data including the card identification information of the fraudulent prepaid card to the relay device 2 and also blocks the use of the prepaid card and discharges it. Further, the reading device 1 receives the notification data of the prepaid card information determined to be an unauthorized prepaid card by the other reading device 1 from the relay device 2, and immediately receives the notification data based on the notification data when the prepaid card PC is loaded. Prepaid cards are discriminated, used and ejected.

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

Next, the processing in the above-described 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 started each time a prepaid card medium is set in the recording device 3.

The prepaid card medium is a reader / writer 3
3, first, the encoding control unit 31
The light / dark gradation distribution of the barcode printed on a 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. Although not shown, a frequency value sequence for the remaining standard punch hole exists in the vicinity of the portion.

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

As shown in FIG. 9, the encoding control unit 31 supplies necessary encoding information to the encryption processing unit 35, encrypts the encoded data using the quantized data Ra and Rb as encryption keys, and transmits the encrypted data via the reader / writer 33. Prepaid card PC
Are written into 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 an encryption key 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 processing in the above-described 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
Is activated each time is set.

When the processing is started, the check control unit 15
Checks whether the prepaid card PC set in the reader / writer 14 is normal (step S1).
1). That is, first, the reader /
The grayscale distribution of the barcode BC printed on a predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC set in the writer 14 is detected, and the encryption processing unit 16 determines the quantization method and the quantization method in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3. 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.
Generates quantized data Ra and Rb to be used as the encryption key of.

The encryption processing unit 16 uses a magnetic head via the reader / writer 14 to
The variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A and B are read out, and quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing actual measurement values read from the prepaid card PC first are used as encryption keys. If the decryption is not performed normally, the check control unit 15 determines that the set prepaid card PC is abnormal and has been created by unauthorized means (see FIG. 10).

Information areas A and B of prepaid card PC
If the information read from the data can be decrypted by using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured values as encryption keys, the check control unit 15 determines whether there is any inconsistency in the position of the remaining standard punch hole and the variable information. Is detected. At this time, if inconsistency is detected in the position of the remaining amount guide hole and the variable information, the prepaid card PC is determined to be abnormal. It should be noted that the optical sensor 17 can also be used to detect the remaining standard punch holes. Alternatively, the remaining standard punch holes may be detected using a magnetic head.

If no abnormality is detected by the check control unit 15 and it is determined that the abnormality is 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 from the user by pressing an end switch (not shown) (step S13). If there is no end request, a consumption request by a consumption switch (not shown), for example, a game medium Lending request,
Is checked (step S14). For example, in the case of a game system or the like, the end switch is a card return switch for requesting the return of a card, and the consumption switch is a lending switch for requesting lending of a game medium.

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

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

FIG. 7 shows the details of the card check process in step S11. 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 density gradation distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC by using the characteristic data. And quantized in 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, and the first and second information of the prepaid card PC. Quantized data Ra and Rb used as encryption keys for encrypting the variable information (a) and (b) in the areas A and B are generated. (Step S
21).

The encryption processing section 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.
And reads out the quantized data Ra as shown in FIG.
And Rb as an encryption key (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 Next, it is detected whether there is any inconsistency between the amount information and other information based on the decoding result of the variable information (a) and (b), and between these and the remaining amount punch state of the reference hole ( Step S24). If there is no inconsistency, 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 been successful (failure in decryption), it is determined that the decryption is abnormal (step S27), a warning display indicating that the prepaid card PC is illegal, and the prepaid card PC is taken in. Or, perform predetermined abnormal / illegal processing such as discharge (step S2).
8). Also, in step S25, when it is determined that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S27, and predetermined abnormal / illegal processing is performed.

FIG. 8 shows details of the end processing 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 light sensor 17 detects the grayscale distribution of the bar code BC portion of a predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC as feature data, and quantizes the feature data by predetermined first and second quantization schemes different from each other. Quantized data R used as an encryption key for variable information (a) and (b) in the first and second information areas A and B of the prepaid card PC
a and Rb, respectively.

Next, the consumption processing unit 12 performs processing based on the update date / time information (time stamp) of the variable information (a) and (b) decoded before the first and second information areas A and B. Then, it is checked which of the first and second information areas A and B has been written at the time of the previous writing (step S32). The check control unit 15 checks whether or not the last write was performed on the second information area B (step S33). Initial state in which writing has been performed in both the first and second information areas A and B or the second information area B
Since the variable information (b) is in one of the updated states, as shown in FIG. 11, in the first information area A, the remaining amount information based on the final remaining amount stored in the storage unit 13 at that time is stored. The variable information (a) including
The quantized data Ra generated in step S31 is encrypted using the encryption key, written, and updated (step S34). At this time, only the variable information (a) in the first information area A is updated, and no rewriting is performed on the second information area B.

In step S34, the variable information (a)
After performing the update writing of (1), the check control unit 15 uses the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the characteristic data measured again in step S31 as encryption keys, and
As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second
The variable information (a) and (b) read from the information areas A and B are decoded (step S36), and whether or not decoding is possible is checked (step S37).

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

In step S35, the variable information (b)
Even after the update writing of
Proceeding to step S36, using the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the characteristic data measured again 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 or not decoding is possible.

If it is determined in step S37 that the decryption has been successful, it is checked whether or not the updated remaining amount is a necessary amount for punching a remaining amount reference punch hole (step S3).
8). The amount of money required for punching the remaining amount guide punch hole is an amount of money newly entering an area of the remaining amount area printed on the prepaid card PC as a frequency value, which is different from the previous area. If the amount is such, the check control unit 15
, A remaining amount punch hole is punched (step S3).
9). After punching the remaining holes, the reader / writer 1
4 to discharge the prepaid card PC (step S4).
0). Then, the process ends, and returns to the consumption process.

If it is determined in step S38 that the updated balance is not the amount required for punching the remaining standard punch hole, the check control unit 15 skips step S39 and proceeds to step S40, and proceeds to step S40. 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 the fraud of the prepaid card PC and predetermined abnormal / illegal processing such as taking in or discharging the prepaid card PC are 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. At the time of updating, each time the feature data read from the barcode BC is quantized by using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the data according to the individual quantization method set for each of the information areas A and B, as an encryption key. To update and write. Then, the characteristic data read from the bar code BC is stored in each information area A.
And the quantized data R quantized by the quantization method for each B
Using a and Rb as encryption keys, it is checked whether variable information in each of the information areas A and B can be decrypted. 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 non-updated side is newly added to the prepaid card. Since the quantized data of the feature data read from the bar code BC of the PC cannot be decoded, the illegally copied prepaid card can be detected.

Therefore, every time the reading device 1 updates the amount information or the like, the reading device 1 stores all the variable information which is alternately encrypted and written in the plurality of storage areas, on the basis of 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 an encryption key and checking whether decryption is possible, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying the variable information of another prepaid card, It is possible to prevent improper use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium.

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

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 2, the information storage section DA has a one-track configuration, and the information storage section DA of one track is appropriately divided into two sections to form the first and second information areas A. And B have been described.
As shown in FIG. 15, the information storage unit DA includes two tracks.
1 as a prepaid card PC1 in which each track has first and second information areas A1 and B1, respectively. As shown in FIG. 16, the information storage section DA2 is composed of two tracks, and each track is a first track.
And fixed information (a) and variable information (a) and fixed information (b) and variable information (b) in the first and second information areas A2 and B2, respectively, as second information areas A2 and B2. Alternatively, the prepaid card PC2 may be configured to store fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the remaining balance due to consumption. The information storage unit may be further divided into a plurality of sections, and the variable information including the quantized data may be alternately written in the divided information areas.

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

In the prepaid card system according to the second embodiment, the prepaid card variable information (a)
Contains quantized data Rb as an encryption key for encrypting the variable information (b), and the variable information (b) contains the variable information (a).
Including the quantized data Ra as an encryption key for the encryption of
Whether the decoding is possible or not is determined based on whether or not the quantized data Ra and Rb included in the result of the read decoding 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 section DA3 using a magnetic layer, and the information storage section DA3 has a first information area A3 and a second information area B3.

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

The quantized data Rb included in the variable information (a) is obtained by converting characteristic data based on a detection signal of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing section into a predetermined second data different from the above-described first quantization 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 or the like of the variable information (a) is updated, the tone 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 every time the updating is performed. Is used.

In the second information area B3, the variable information (b) including the amount information such as the remaining amount and the quantized data Ra based on the characteristic information are added to the variable information (b). It is written as encrypted. The quantized data Rb serving as an encryption key is obtained by converting characteristic data based on a detection signal of a density gradation distribution at a predetermined portion of a barcode BC printing unit into a predetermined second quantization different from the above-described 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 or the like of the variable information (b) is updated, the tone distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing section detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method every time the updating is performed. Information is used.

The quantized data Ra included in the variable information (b) is obtained by quantizing characteristic data based on a detection signal of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit by the above-described predetermined first quantization method. Information. The quantized data R
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, and variable information ( When updating the amount information or the like in b), the tone distribution information of the predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit detected by the reading apparatus 1 is updated every time the updating is performed.
The information quantized by the quantization method is used.

The prepaid card system according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure shown in FIG. 1 in the following point. Update writing of money 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
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 An error code at the time is recorded.

When the prepaid card is issued, the recording device 3 stores the quantized data Rb, the initial amount information, and other information in the first information area A3 of the information storage section DA3 of the prepaid card PC3 using the quantized data Ra as an encryption key. And writes the variable information (a) including the information of the quantized data R
Using b as an encryption key, variable information (b) including the quantized data Ra, the initial amount information, and other information is encrypted and written.

When the prepaid card PC3 is set, the reading device 1 first detects the gradation distribution of the bar code printing portion of the prepaid card PC3 by the optical sensor 17, and outputs the characteristic data composed of the detection signal. Quantization is performed by the encryption processing unit 16 using two different predetermined quantization methods to obtain quantized data Ra and Rb. The check control unit 15 controls the variable information (a) read from the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3.
And (b) to the cryptographic processing unit 16 so that 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 with those used as encryption keys to determine whether 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 configuration in the following points. 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 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 using the quantized data Ra and Rb as an encryption key. At this time, the check control unit 15 uses the encryption processing unit 16 to change the variable information (a) in the first and second information areas A3 and B3 obtained by decrypting the quantized data Ra and Rb using the encryption key.
Quantized data Rb and Ra included in both (b) and (b)
Are respectively matched with the quantized data Rb and Ra used as the encryption key.

That is, the cryptographic processing unit 16 includes the optical sensor 1
7, the first data area of the prepaid card PC3 using the quantized data Ra quantized by the first quantization method as the encryption key, based on the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution information of the density of the bar code BC portion read by the computer 7 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 using the quantized data Rb quantized by the second quantization method as an encryption key. . The check control unit 15 controls the encryption processing unit 16
The quantized data Rb and Ra as encryption keys are stored in the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3.
And the decoded variable information (a) and (b)
It is checked whether or not they match the quantized data Rb and Ra included in.

The check controller 15 controls the encryption processor 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 included 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 illegal 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 match, the check control unit 15 determines that an appropriate prepaid card has been set, and uses the quantized data Ra or Rb as an encryption key to set the first or second prepaid card PC3. The balance information based on the variable information (a) or (b) read from the second information area A3 or B3 is provided to the consumption processing unit 12. The updating of the variable information of the prepaid card PC3 by the consumption processing unit 12 is performed alternately on 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) in the first information area A3 or the variable information (b) in the second information area B3, the check control unit 15 sets the quantized data Ra or Rb Is used as an encryption key, and the variable data to be updated of the variable information (a) in the first information area A3 or the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 is added with the quantized data Rb or Ra to perform encryption. And update writing.

Further, after the update, the check control unit 15
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 encryption processing unit 16. The quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC are decrypted using an encryption key, and the quantized data Rb and Ra in the decrypted variable information (a) and (b) are encrypted. The key is used as a key, and whether or not decryption is possible is detected.

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

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 started each time a prepaid card medium is set in the recording device 3.

The prepaid card medium is a reader / writer 3
3, first, the encoding control unit 31
The light sensor 34 detects the grayscale distribution of the barcode printed on a predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium (step S51). The gray scale distribution of the bar code detected by the optical sensor 34
Quantization is performed according to a predetermined first quantization method such as PCM or other A / D conversion to generate quantized data Ra for encrypting the variable information (a) in the first information area A3 (step S52). ), And further quantized in accordance with a predetermined second quantization method to generate quantized data Rb for encrypting the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 (step S53).

As shown in FIG. 21, the encoding control unit 31 gives necessary encoding information to which the quantized data Rb and Ra are added to the encryption processing unit 35, and
a and Rb are encrypted using an encryption key, and the reader / writer 3
3 in the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 (step S5).
4), end the encoding process.

Next, the consumption processing in the above-mentioned prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6, 19 and 20. In this system as well, the consumption process shown in FIG. 6 is performed in the same manner as described above, and is activated each time the prepaid card PC3 is set in the reader / writer 14 of the reading device 1. When the process 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, a gray scale distribution of a bar code BC portion printed on a predetermined portion of the recording device 3 is detected, and the encryption processing unit 16 performs substantially the same quantization method as the quantization method in the encryption processing unit 35 of the recording device 3; That is, they are quantized by predetermined first and second quantization schemes different from each other and are used as encryption keys of the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3. Generate quantized data Ra and Rb.

Then, the check control unit 15 sends the
The variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 of the prepaid card PC3 are read out by the magnetic head via the writer 14, and the actual measurement value previously read from the prepaid card PC3 is quantized. The decrypted quantized data Ra and Rb are used as encryption keys, respectively, and the quantized data Rb and Ra in the variable information (a) and (b) are decrypted.
Is compared with that used as an encryption key to determine whether decryption is possible. If the decryption is not performed normally, the check control unit 15 determines that the set prepaid card PC3 is abnormal and has been created by 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 using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the measured values as the encryption key, the check controller 15 Detect the presence or absence of inconsistency in the position of the guide hole and the variable information.
At this time, if inconsistency is detected in the position of the remaining amount guide punch hole and the variable information, it is determined that the prepaid card PC3 is abnormal. The processing in FIG. 6 other than the above is exactly the same as the processing already described in relation to the first embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

FIG. 19 shows details of the card check processing in step S11. When the card check process is started, first, the check control unit 15
Via a prepaid card PC by the optical sensor 17
3 is detected as characteristic data in a bar code BC portion of a predetermined portion of the recording device 3, and the encryption processing section 16 performs a quantization process substantially the same as the quantization method used in the encryption processing section 35 of the recording device 3. , The first and second information areas A3 and B of the prepaid card PC3.
3. Quantized data Ra and Rb used for encrypting the variable information (a) and (b) are generated. (Step S
61).

The encryption processing section 16 uses the magnetic head via the reader / writer 14 to control the first payment of the prepaid card PC3.
And the variable information (a) and (b) of the second information areas A3 and B3, and decrypts the quantized data Ra and Rb as an encryption key as shown in FIG. 22 (step S6).
2). The check control unit 15 encrypts the quantized data Rb and Ra included in the variable information (a) and (b) to determine whether the decryption by the encryption processing unit 16 is possible, that is, whether the decryption is successful. It is determined whether or not the quantized data Rb and Ra used as keys match (step S
63) If it is determined that the decryption has succeeded, the check control unit 15 next determines the amount information and other information based on the decryption result of the variable information (a) and (b), and the remaining information and the remaining amount. It is detected whether there is any inconsistency between the punch holes and the like (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 process ends, and returns to the consumption process of FIG.

In step S63, the quantized data R
If it is determined that at least one of b and Ra does not match and decoding is not successful (decoding failure), it is determined that there is an abnormality (step S67), a warning display indicating the fraud of the prepaid card PC3 and the prepaid card are displayed. A predetermined abnormal / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the card PC3 is performed (step S68). Also, if it is determined in step S65 that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S67,
Perform predetermined abnormal / illegal processing.

FIG. 20 shows details of the end processing in step S19 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 S71). That is, the encryption processing unit 16 detects the grayscale distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC3 by the optical sensor 17 as the feature data, and detects the feature data different from the first and second predetermined first and second. Quantization is performed by a 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 unit 12 outputs the variable information (a) decoded before the first and second information areas A3 and B3.
Based on the update date and time information (time stamp) of (b) and the like, it is confirmed which of the first and second information areas A3 and B3 has been written at the time of the previous writing (step S72). The check control unit 15 checks whether or not the last write was performed on the second information area B3 (step S73). 1st and 2nd information area A
23 and the variable information (b) in the second information area B3 has been updated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, the first information area Variable information (a) including A3 including balance information based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 13 at that time and adding the quantized data Rb generated in step S71.
Is written using the quantized data Ra generated in step S71 as an encryption key, and is updated (step S74). At this time, only the variable information (a) in the first information area A3 is updated, and no rewriting is performed on the second information area B3.

In step S74, the variable information (a)
After performing the update writing, the check control unit 15 uses the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the characteristic data measured again in step S71 as an encryption key, and
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 decoded (step S76), and the variable information (a) and (b) are decoded. Data Rb and R included in
a is checked against the one obtained in step S71 to determine whether or not decryption is possible (step S77).

On the other hand, in step S73, the second
When it is determined that writing has not been performed on the information area B3 of the first information area A3, the variable information (a) of the first information area A3 has been updated.
The variable information (b) including the balance information based on the final balance currently stored in the storage unit 13 and adding the quantized data Ra generated in step S71 is stored in 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, the variable information (b)
Even after the update writing of
Proceeding to step S76, using the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the characteristic data measured again as the encryption key,
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 decoded, 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.

If it is determined in step S77 that decoding has been successful, it is checked whether or not the updated remaining amount is the amount required for punching the remaining amount punch hole (step S7).
8). The amount of money required for punching the remaining amount guide punch hole is the amount of money newly entering an area of the remaining amount area printed as a numerical value on the prepaid card PC3, which is different from the previous area. If the amount is such, check control unit 1
5, the remaining amount standard punch hole is punched (step S).
79). After punching the remaining standard punch holes, the prepaid card PC3 is ejected from the reader / writer 14 (step S80). Then, the process ends, and returns to the consumption process.

If it is determined in step S78 that the remaining amount after the update is not the amount required for punching the remaining amount reference punch hole, the check control unit 15 skips step S79 and shifts to step S80 to execute the prepaid. Eject the card. If it is determined in step S77 that the decoding has failed, the check control unit 15 determines that the prepaid card PC3 is abnormal (step S8).
1), a warning indicating that the prepaid card PC3 is fraudulent and a predetermined abnormal / illegal process such as taking in or discharging the prepaid card PC3 are 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 portion 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), and the updated data is encrypted by using the quantized data Ra and Rb as an encryption key. Then, using the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the characteristic data read from the bar code BC as an encryption key, it checks whether or not the variable information in each of the information areas A3 and B3 can be decrypted. For this reason, when the prepaid card PC3 is replaced, the variable information in the information area on the non-updated side is decoded with the quantized data of the characteristic data newly read from the barcode BC of the prepaid card. Therefore, the illegally copied prepaid card can be detected.

Therefore, every time the reading device 1 updates the amount information or the like, the reading device 1 stores all of the variable information alternately encrypted and written in the plurality of storage areas on the basis of 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 an encryption key and checking whether decryption is possible, it is possible to accurately detect fraud by copying the variable information of another prepaid card, It is possible to prevent improper use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of the medium. In the above description, the quantization method of the quantized data Ra and Rb used as the encryption key of the variable information (a) and (b) in the first and second information areas A3 and B3 is different. , May be quantized by a common quantization method.

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 17, the information storage section DA3 is made up of one track, and the information storage section DA3 of the one track is divided into two sections as appropriate to form the first and second information areas A3. And B3 have been described, but as shown in FIG. 25, the information storage section DA4 is composed of two tracks, and each track has first and second information areas A4 and B4, respectively.
It may be four. As shown in FIG. 26, the information storage unit DA5 is composed of two tracks, and the tracks are respectively referred to as first and second information areas A5 and B5. A configuration in which fixed information (a) and variable information (a) and a fixed information (b) and variable information (b) are provided, and fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the remaining amount due to consumption is stored. May be used as the prepaid card PC5. Information storage unit,
Further, variable information including quantized data may be alternately written in the divided information areas by dividing the information into a plurality of pieces.

Next, a prepaid card system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The prepaid card system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is configured in substantially the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, except that the consumption processing unit 12 and the check control unit shown in FIG. Fifteen
And the encryption processing unit 16, the encoding control unit 31, the encryption processing unit 35, and the check information processing unit 36 shown in FIG.
Function is 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, and the variable information (a) contains the quantized data Ra and the variable information (b) contains 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 used to update variable information (a) or (b). The quantized data Ra and Rb included in the result of the read decoding are updated each time the quantized data R and Rb obtained based on the actual measurement are determined.
a and Rb are used, and whether or not the Rab generated by the quantized data Ra and Rb matches 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
It has a magnetic information storage section DA6 using a magnetic layer, and the information storage section DA6 has a first information area A6, a second information area B6, and a third information area C6.

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

In the second information area B6, the variable information (b) including the amount information such as the remaining amount is further written with quantized data Rb based on the characteristic information.
The quantized data Rb is obtained by quantizing feature data based on a detection signal of a density gradation distribution at a predetermined portion of a barcode BC printing unit by a predetermined second quantization method different from the above-described first quantization method. 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 or the like of the variable information (b) is updated, the tone distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing section detected by the reading device 1 is quantized by the second quantization method every time the updating is performed. Information is used.

In the third information area C6, the variable information (c)
Is written as encrypted data obtained by combining the quantized data Ra and Rb, for example, data Rab obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key. At the time of encoding, the quantized data Ra and Rb are bar codes B detected by the recording device 3.
The information obtained by quantizing the gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the C printing unit is used. When the reading device 1 updates the variable information (a) or (b), the amount information, etc., the reading device 1 Information obtained by quantizing the detected gradation distribution information of a predetermined portion of the barcode BC printing unit is used. The encrypted data Rab used as the variable information (c) is the quantized data Rb using the quantized data Ra as an encryption key.
May be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure of the prepaid card system according to the third embodiment differs from that 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 information area B6 and the third information area C6 alternately. That is, the third
The information area C6 is updated both when the first information area A6 is updated and when the second information area B6 is updated. 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
No. 6, card identification information (card ID), a manufacturer code indicating a manufacturer, manufacturing date (encoding date) information, an error code when an error occurs, and the like are recorded.

When the prepaid card is issued, the recording device 3 stores variable information (a) including the quantized data Ra, the initial amount information, and other information in the first information area A6 of the information storage section 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 further 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.

When the prepaid card PC6 is set, the reading device 1 first detects the gradation distribution of the bar code printing portion of the prepaid card PC6 by the optical sensor 17, and outputs the characteristic data composed of the detection signal. Quantization is performed by the encryption processing unit 16 using two different predetermined quantization methods to obtain quantized data Ra and Rb. The check control unit 15 controls 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 with those quantized in the encryption processing unit 16. If the quantized data Ra and Rb match each other, the check control unit 15 causes the encryption processing unit 16 to execute the quantization data R
The encrypted data obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra using b as an encryption key is collated with the encrypted data Rab read from the third information area C6 of the prepaid card PC6 to determine whether 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 configuration thereof in the following points. The encryption processing unit 16 quantizes the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution of the density of the barcode BC read from the prepaid card PC6 by the optical sensor 17 by a predetermined quantization method to generate quantized data Ra and Rb. .
In addition, the encryption processing unit 16 encrypts the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data Rab.
Generate The check control unit 15 determines that 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 respectively Data Ra and R
It is determined whether or not it matches b. If they match, the check control unit 15 further outputs the encrypted data Rab obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra by the encryption processing unit 16 using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to the variable information (c) in the third information area C6. )) To determine whether they match the encrypted data Rab.

That is, the encryption processing unit 16 is configured to
7, the characteristic data based on the gradation distribution information of the density of the barcode BC portion read by the step 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 by generating the encrypted data Rb and encrypting the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key. The check control unit 15 determines that the quantized data Ra and Rb generated by the encryption processing unit 16
Quantized data R included in the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of FIG.
a and Rb, respectively, and determines whether 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 they match.

If the check controller 15 determines that one of the quantized data Ra and Rb does not match, or that the two match, the encrypted data Rab does not match, the 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.

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

Prepaid card P by consumption processing unit 12
Updating of the variable information of C6 is performed alternately on 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,
This is performed in common for both, that is, for all updates. When the variable information (a) in the first information area A6 or the variable information (b) in the second information area B6 is updated, the check control unit 15
Adds the quantized data Ra or Rb to the variable information to be updated among the variable information (a) in the first information area A6 and the variable information (b) in the second information area B6, and performs update writing. Then, the encrypted data Rab generated by the encryption processing unit 16 is written as variable information (c) in the third information area C6.

Further, even after the update, the check control unit 15
Converts the quantized data Ra and Rb included in the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 via the optical sensor 17 into the prepaid card PC6. Is compared with the quantized data Ra and Rb quantized in the cryptographic processing unit 16 and the encrypted data Rab encrypted in the cryptographic processing unit 16 is compared with the third data. Is compared with the variable information (c) read from the information area C6, and whether or not they match is detected.

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

Next, the processing in the above-described 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 started 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 encode control unit 31 detects the light and shade gradation distribution of the barcode printed on a predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium by the optical sensor 34 ( Step S1
01). The grayscale distribution of the barcode detected by the optical sensor 34 is quantized by a cryptographic processing unit 35 in accordance with a predetermined first quantization method such as PCM or other A / D conversion to generate quantized data Ra. (Step S102), and is further quantized according to a predetermined second quantization method to generate quantized data Rb (step S102).
103).

As shown in FIG. 31, the encode control section 31 transfers required encode information to which the quantized data Ra and Rb have been added, via the reader / writer 33 to the first and second information areas of the prepaid card PC6. A6 and B6 are respectively written, and the encrypted data Rab obtained by encrypting the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key is written to 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-described prepaid card system will be described with reference to FIGS.
9 and the flowchart shown in FIG. Also in this system, the consumption process shown in FIG.
This is performed in the same manner as described above, and the reader / writer 14 of the reading device 1
Is activated each time the prepaid card PC6 is set. 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.

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

Then, the check control section 15 sends the
The variable information (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 information (a) and (b) is read. Ra and Rb are compared with the quantized data Ra and Rb previously generated in the encryption processing unit 16. If the quantized data Ra and Rb match each other, 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 and generate 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 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 has been created by unauthorized means (see FIG. 32).

Information area A6 of 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 actual measurement values, the check control unit 15 uses Detect presence / absence. At this time, if inconsistency is detected in the position of the remaining amount guide punch hole and the variable information, the prepaid card is determined to be abnormal. The processing in FIG. 6 other than the above is exactly the same as the processing already described in relation to the first embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

FIG. 29 shows details of the card check process in step S11. When the card check process is started, first, the check control unit 15
Via a prepaid card PC by the optical sensor 17
6 is detected as feature data in the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the recording device 3, and the encryption processing section 16 performs a quantization process substantially the same as the quantization method used in the encryption processing section 35 of the recording device 3. , Ie, the first and second information areas A6 and B of the prepaid card PC6 are quantized by different predetermined first and second quantization schemes.
Then, quantized data Ra and Rb corresponding to variable information (a) and (b) of No. 6 are generated. (Step S111).

The check control unit 15 is provided with the reader / writer 1
4, variable information (a) in the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 by the magnetic head.
And (b) are read out, and the quantized data Ra and Rb are extracted and compared with the quantized data Ra and Rb generated in step S111 as shown in FIG. 32 (step S112).

The check control unit 15 determines in step S112
, If 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, and
ab is generated (step S113). Then, the check control unit 15 transmits the encrypted data Rab to the prepaid card PC6 by the magnetic head via the reader / writer 14.
Is compared with the variable information (c) read from the third information area C6 (step S114). Check control unit 1
5 indicates that if the encrypted data Rabs match, then the amount information and other information based on the decryption result of the variable information (a) and (b), and the amount of the remaining information, It is detected whether there is a contradiction between them (step S1).
15). If there is no inconsistency (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 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S112 that at least one of the quantized data Rb and Ra does not match, 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 that the card PC 6 is fraudulent and a predetermined abnormal / illegal process such as taking in or ejecting the prepaid card PC 6 are performed (step S11).
9). Also, in step S116, when it is determined that there is a contradiction, the process proceeds to step S118, and predetermined abnormal / illegal processing is performed.

FIG. 30 shows details of the end processing in step S19 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 S131). That is, the encryption processing unit 16
The light sensor detects the grayscale distribution of the bar code BC portion of the predetermined portion of the prepaid card PC6 as characteristic data, and quantizes the characteristic data by predetermined first and second quantization systems different from each other, and Card P
Quantized data R used as encryption keys for the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of C6
a and Rb, respectively.

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

In step S134, after the variable information (a) is updated and written, the check control unit 15
The variable information (a) read out from the first and second information areas A6 and B6 of the prepaid card PC6 with the quantized data Ra and Rb based on the feature data measured again in step S131 as shown in FIG. Then, it is checked with the quantized data Ra and Rb included in (b) to see if they match (step S136).

On the other hand, in step S133, when it is determined that no writing has been performed in the second information area B6 last time, 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 contains the remaining amount information based on the final remaining amount stored in the storage unit 13 at that time and stores the quantized data Rb generated in step S131. The added variable information (b) is written and updated, and the encryption processing unit 16 encrypts the quantized data Ra using the quantized data Rb as an encryption key to generate encrypted data Rab. Is written and updated in the variable information (c) in the information area C6 (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 control unit 1
In step S136, the quantized data Ra and Rb are stored in the prepaid card PC as shown in FIG.
6 and the quantized data R included in the variable information (a) and (b) read from the first and second information areas A6 and B6.
Check with a and Rb to see if they match.

Further, if it is determined in step S136 that the quantized data Ra and Rb match, the encryption processing unit 1 determines the quantized data Ra and Rb.
6 to generate the encrypted data Rab again (Step S
137), third information area C of prepaid card PC6
Then, it checks with the encrypted data Rab included in the variable information (c) read from No. 6 to see if they match (step S138).

At step S138, the encrypted data R
If it is determined that a and b match, it is checked whether or not the remaining amount after the update is a necessary amount for punching the remaining amount target punch hole (step S139). The amount of money required for punching the remaining amount guide punch hole is an amount of money newly entering an area of the remaining amount area printed on the prepaid card PC6 as a frequency value, which is different from the previous area. When these amounts are
The check controller 15 punches the remaining standard punch holes (step S140). After punching the remaining standard punch holes, the prepaid card PC6 is ejected from the reader / writer 14 (step S141). Then, the process ends, and returns to the consumption process.

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

In this way, the reading apparatus 1 alternately updates the variable information (a) and (b) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6 each time consumption is performed, and every time consumption is performed. , The third information area C6 is updated. At the time of updating, the characteristic data read from the barcode BC is added to the variable information (b) and (a), respectively, by adding the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the characteristic data by the individual quantization method, respectively, and The encrypted data Rab based on the quantized data Ra and Rb is updated and written as variable information (c), and the quantized data Ra and Rb obtained by quantizing the characteristic data read from the barcode BC as needed, and the encrypted data based on these. Using Rab, it is checked whether variable information in each of the information areas A6, B6 and C6 can be decoded. In this way, a prepaid card that has been illegally copied can be detected.

Therefore, fraudulent use of the variable information of another prepaid card due to copying can be accurately detected, and improper use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery of a medium can be eliminated. In the above,
Variable information (a) of the first and second information areas A6 and B6
Although the quantization schemes of the quantized data Ra and Rb included in (b) and (b) are made different, they may be quantized by a common quantization scheme.

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 27, the information storage section DA6 is made up of one track, and the information storage section DA6 for one track is appropriately divided into three sections to form the information area A
6, B6 and C6 have been described.
As shown in FIG. 35, the information storage unit DA includes three tracks.
7, each track being first, second and third, respectively.
The information area A7, B7, and C7 may be a prepaid card PC7. As shown in FIG. 36, the information storage unit DA8 is composed of three tracks, and the first, second, and third information areas A8, B8, and C8 are respectively defined as first, second, and third information areas. 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. The prepaid card PC8 may be configured to store fixed information that is not rewritten when updating the remaining amount or the like. The information storage unit may be further divided into a plurality of sections, and the variable information including the quantized data may be alternately written in the divided information areas.

In the above description, a prepaid card using a magnetic card medium for magnetically recording information such as amount information on the entire magnetic layer has been described as an example of a prepaid card medium. It is not limited to a medium. For example, a card medium for magnetically recording information on a magnetic stripe attached to a card, a so-called IC card medium for embedding an IC (integrated circuit) chip such as a memory on the card and storing information on the IC chip, or The present invention can also be carried out in the same manner as described above for a prepaid card using a card medium or the like as a prepaid card medium in which is appropriately combined.

The card used in this system is
A no-value card that does not store the amount information may be used. In this case, for example, the amount information of each user is managed by a center or the like, and when the card is used, the center or the like is accessed by using information (card ID or the like) stored in the card that can identify the user as a key, A process of extracting a predetermined amount of money from the corresponding user's amount information may be performed.

The prepaid card system of the present invention can be realized by using an ordinary computer system without configuring as a dedicated prepaid card system. For example, by installing a computer system from a medium (floppy disk, CD-ROM, or the like) storing a program for executing the above-described operation, a system for executing the above-described 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 provided for execution.

The medium for supplying the program to the computer is not limited to a storage medium in a narrow sense, but may be a communication line,
Like a communication network and a communication system, it may be a storage medium in a broad sense including a communication medium that temporarily and fluidly stores information such as a program. 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 an FTP client via a network, and an electronic bulletin board (BBS: Bullet) of a communication network
The program may be registered in, for example, an in-board system, and 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. Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing the program while transferring the program via the communication network.

[0156]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Prepaid that enables accurate detection of fraudulent attempts to copy and use the valid information of a legitimate prepaid card on a falsified or forged prepaid card medium, thereby eliminating improper use of the prepaid card due to falsification or forgery. A card system and a reading device can be provided.

[Brief description of the 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. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a reading device in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a recording device in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an encoding process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining consumption processing in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an end process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an encoding process of the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

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

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

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

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

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

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 a prepaid card system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an encoding process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 17;

20 is a flowchart illustrating an end process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining processing at the time of encoding of the prepaid card system of FIG. 17;

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

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

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

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 a prepaid card system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a card check process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an end process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27;

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

FIG. 32 is a view for explaining processing when a prepaid card is inserted in the prepaid card system of FIG. 27;

FIG. 33 is a view for explaining processing when the prepaid card system of FIG. 27 is consumed.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for describing processing when the prepaid card system of FIG. 27 is consumed.

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]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reading device 2 relay device 3 recording device 4 settlement center 11 communication processing unit 12 consumption processing unit 13 storage unit 14 reader / writer 15 check control unit 16 encryption processing unit 17 optical sensor 31 encoding control unit 32 storage unit 33 reader / writer 34 Optical sensor 35 Encryption processing unit 36 Check information processing unit PC, PC1 to PC8 Prepaid card D Card issuer S Store

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E044 AA05 BA06 CA04 CC10 DA03 DA06 DC05 DD02 DE01 5B058 CA40 KA32 KA35 YA06 5D044 BC02 CC08 GK17

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card system in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and a monetary settlement is performed using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium storing variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. Optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium, quantizing feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, and Recording means for encrypting and recording the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium and issuing the prepaid card as an encryption key, and setting a ground color of a barcode portion in the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. Optically detects a gradation distribution including the gradation distribution, and quantizes feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution. The information is used as an encryption key to decrypt / encrypt the read / write information for the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card, and the variable information of the variable information is alternately used by using the plurality of storage areas in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card. A prepaid card system, comprising: reading means for performing reading / updating. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes an initial key to be pre-recorded, using, as an encryption key, quantization information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of said bar code portion in said prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area. Encrypt variable information,
Means for recording in the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and wherein the reading means, the characteristic information,
2. The prepaid card according to claim 1, further comprising means for using, as a cryptographic key for encryption / decryption, quantization information quantized by a common quantization method with the recording means for each storage area. system. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reading means performs an unauthorized detection based on whether or not the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using the quantization information of the characteristic information based on 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, further comprising means for performing the loading of the prepaid card and after updating the variable information. 4. A variable information including money amount information is read from a plurality of storage areas of a prepaid card formed of a storage medium having a barcode printed on a predetermined portion, and the variable information is updated and written to the plurality of storage areas. Reader / writer means, an optical sensor that optically detects a gradation distribution including a ground color of the barcode portion of the prepaid card, and a gradation distribution of the barcode portion based on a detection signal of the optical sensor. Cryptographic processing means for quantizing characteristic information corresponding to the variation to obtain quantized information, and performing encryption / decryption processing using the quantized information as an encryption key; The read / write information for a plurality of storage areas is decrypted / encrypted by the encryption processing means, and the decryption / encryption is performed according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card. Check control means for reading / updating the variable information by alternately using the storage areas of the above, and consumption processing means for updating the money amount information via the check control means in accordance with the consumption amount of the prepaid card. A reading device. 5. The prepaid card is characterized in that initial variable information is encrypted and stored in advance by using, as an encryption key, quantization information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information of the bar code portion by a different quantization method for each storage area. And the cryptographic processing means comprises:
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing an encryption / decryption process using, as an encryption key, quantization information obtained by quantizing the characteristic information with the initial variable information and a common quantization method for each storage area. 5. The reading device according to 4. 6. The means for performing the fraud detection based on whether or not the variable information in the plurality of storage areas can be decrypted by the encryption processing means when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated. The reading device according to claim 4, wherein the reading device includes a reading device. 7. A prepaid card system in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and a monetary settlement is made using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium storing variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. Optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium, quantizing feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, and Recording means for encrypting the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, recording the variable information in a plurality of storage areas and issuing the prepaid card as a prepaid card; Optically detects the gradation distribution including the ground color of the bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the image, and detects a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution. The variable information includes the quantization information, and decrypts / encrypts the read / write information with respect to the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card. The variable information is read / used by alternately using the plurality of storage areas in accordance with the amount of consumption of the prepaid card.
A prepaid card system comprising: a reading means for updating. 8. The recording means according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores, in another storage area, quantization information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of said bar code portion in said prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area. Include the corresponding quantization information in the variable information, encrypt the initial variable information to be recorded in advance,
Means for recording in the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and wherein the reading means, the characteristic information,
8. The prepaid card according to claim 7, further comprising means for using, as the encryption key for encryption / decryption, quantization information quantized by a common quantization method with the recording means for each storage area. system. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reading means performs fraud detection based on whether the variable information in said plurality of storage areas can be decrypted using quantization information of characteristic information based on a detection signal of a gradation distribution of said bar code portion as an encryption key. 9. The prepaid card system according to claim 7, further comprising means for performing the loading of the prepaid card and after updating the variable information. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reading means is adapted to detect a fraudulent detection based on whether or not said variable information in said plurality of storage areas can be decrypted by using quantization information of characteristic information by a detection signal of a gradation distribution of said bar code portion as an encryption key. 10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: means for comparing and matching the quantized information in the variable information with corresponding quantized information obtained by actually measuring the feature information to perform fraud detection. 2. The prepaid card system according to claim 1. 11. A prepaid card system in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and a monetary settlement is made using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium storing variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. Optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion printed on the predetermined portion of the medium, quantizing feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, and And storing the initial variable information in some of the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and encrypting the quantized information to store another part of the plurality of storage areas. Recording means for recording in an area and issuing as a prepaid card; and a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card. , And quantizes the feature information based on the detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution, including the quantization information, and alternately using the plurality of storage areas of the part of the prepaid card. Reading means for reading / updating the variable information according to the consumption amount of the prepaid card, encrypting the quantization information and updating and storing it in the other partial storage area each time the update is performed, A prepaid card system comprising: 12. The recording means according to claim 1, wherein said variable information includes initial variable information including quantization information obtained by quantizing characteristic information of said bar code portion on said prepaid card medium by a different quantization method for each storage area. Means for pre-storing the characteristic information in each of the plurality of storage areas, and the reading means, for each of the storage areas, quantization information obtained by quantizing the initial variable information and a common quantization method, into the variable information 12. The prepaid device according to claim 11, further comprising means for detecting fraud by collating with the quantized information therein and determining whether or not the variable information in the other part of the storage area can be decoded. Card system. 13. The reading means according to claim 1, further comprising: a quantized information of characteristic information based on a detection signal of a gradation distribution of said bar code portion and said quantized information in said variable information read from said plurality of storage areas. 13. The prepaid card system according to claim 11, further comprising means for performing fraud detection by collation at the time of loading the prepaid card and after updating the variable information. 14. The reading means, when the prepaid card is loaded and after the variable information is updated, uses the quantization information of the characteristic information by the detection signal of the gradation distribution of the bar code portion, and uses the quantization information of the other one. 14. The prepaid card system according to claim 11, further comprising: means for performing fraud detection based on whether the variable information read from the storage area of the unit is decryptable. 15. A variable information update in a prepaid card system in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and a monetary settlement is performed using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium for storing variable information including amount information corresponding to a monetary value. A method for optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium at the time of issuing the prepaid card, and coping with the variation of the gradation distribution. Generating the quantized information by quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal to be generated; and using the quantized information generated in the generating step as an encryption key, the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium. Issuance step of encrypting and recording and issuing the prepaid card, and at the time of using the prepaid card, A gradation distribution including a ground color of a bar code portion in the predetermined portion of the prepaid card is optically detected, and feature information based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is quantized to generate quantization information. A quantization information generation step; and decrypting / encrypting read / write information for the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card using the quantization information generated in the quantization information generation step as an encryption key, Reading / reading the variable information using the plurality of storage areas alternately in accordance with the consumption amount of
A variable information updating method, comprising: a reading step of performing updating. 16. A variable information update in a prepaid card system in which a barcode is printed on a predetermined portion and a monetary settlement is performed using a prepaid card comprising a storage medium storing variable information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. A method for optically detecting a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card medium at the time of issuing the prepaid card, and coping with the variation of the gradation distribution. Generating the quantization information by quantizing the characteristic information based on the detection signal to be generated, including the quantization information generated by the generation step in the variable information, and using the quantization information as an encryption key, An issuing step of encrypting and recording the variable information in a plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card medium, and issuing the prepaid card; When the prepaid card is used, a gradation distribution including a ground color of a barcode portion printed on the predetermined portion of the prepaid card is optically detected, and a characteristic based on a detection signal corresponding to the variation of the gradation distribution is used. A quantization information generation step of quantizing information to generate quantization information; and reading the plurality of storage areas of the prepaid card by including the quantization information generated by the quantization information generation step in the variable information. A reading / writing step of decrypting / encrypting / writing information using the quantization information as an encryption key, and reading / updating the variable information using the plurality of storage areas alternately in accordance with the amount of consumption of the prepaid card; And a variable information updating method comprising: