JP2002259868A - Method of using credit medium and credit system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the security of a credit system that uses a credit medium by preventing illicit use of credit media such as credit cards by forging, falsification, illicit copy, etc. SOLUTION: When a card is registered in a database 192 used to manage customers of a credit card company 198, the facial portrait data of the owner of the card as well as normal individual information are registered in such a way that the facial portrait data correspond to the number of the credit card. When the card is used at any of affiliated stores 194 to 196, the card number is checked against the database 192 through a card connection device 197 installed there and a communication line 193 to receive the corresponding facial portrait data for display on the card connection device 197. By checking to see if the facial portrait displayed coincides with the feature of a person carrying the card, a determination is made as to whether or not the person carrying the card is the card owner; after the person is verified as the card owner, merchandise or service is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for using a credit medium, and more particularly to a credit card integration method for integrating two or more credit media such as credit cards into one storage medium. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a credit card utilization technology suitable for enhancing security in the event of theft or loss.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been credit cards in which the functions of credit cards issued by two or three types of credit card companies are integrated into one, but all existing credit cards in the world are available. There is no method for providing a credit card issued by a company on a single card or a storage medium equivalent to the card, or an organization for providing the card.

In general, a credit card has only a magnetic stripe as a part for taking out or recording information on the card, and a credit card has an IC in addition to a magnetic stripe.
There is provided a card in which an electronic component represented by the like is incorporated.

[0004] These cards are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-3.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 0702, information about the card user is recorded in a form for recording information incorporated in the card in some form.

[0005]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, in the case of a credit card having only a magnetic stripe, information on the card can be easily obtained by, for example, modifying a card reader installed in a member store. There was a technical problem in security such that reading and copying could be performed.

[0006] Even when the credit card is an IC card, there is a risk of forgery, for example, an algorithm for reading internal information of an IC (integrated circuit) is disclosed on the Internet. Assuming that the IC is built in and the photograph of the person is printed on the card surface,
Even in the case of a card in which the same personal photograph information is embedded in the IC, if it is possible to write on the IC, it can be replaced with another person's photograph on the card surface and another person's photograph information inside the IC Risks existed.

On the other hand, the number of credit card users who carry two or more credit cards is increasing, and the two or more credit cards are sometimes stored in the same place, such as a wallet or a card folder. In many cases, if lost or stolen at the same time, the credit card company must notify each credit card company that it has been forged or misused within the time period before the notice. Risks existed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of reliably preventing a credit medium such as a credit card from being illegally used due to forgery, falsification, illegal duplication, etc., and improving the security of a credit system using the credit medium. Is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a credit medium such as a credit card which does not have an expensive and sophisticated counterfeiting, falsification, and unauthorized duplication prevention function, and is capable of reliably preventing unauthorized use at low cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of improving the security of a credit system using a medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of efficiently and accurately using a credit medium such as a plurality of credit cards and managing security.

[0011]

According to the present invention, an identification number of a credit medium such as a credit card and a photograph of the owner are registered in association with the issuer of the credit medium and the credit card is issued at a member store. When the medium is used, the publisher is referred to the owner's face photo information based on the identification number, and the face photo information registered at the publisher and the appearance of the credit medium's bearer and the credit medium are described. By comparing the information with the face photograph information, the owner is authenticated as to whether or not the owner is the owner.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a first owner of a plurality of credit cards or the like which are contracted with a first issuer.
Is integrated into another second credit medium, and when the second credit medium is issued, the face photograph information of the owner and the second credit medium are uniquely assigned. The second credit medium is registered with the second issuer that manages the second credit medium, and is issued to the owner after being associated with the second identification number. In actual use, instead of the first credit medium, the second credit medium is presented to the affiliated store, and the affiliated store has the second identification number, and the first photograph information and the integrated face photograph information. Inquiring the second issuer for information such as the type of credit medium of the second credit medium, it is determined whether the owner of the second credit medium is the owner, and the first credit medium actually used for the transaction is determined. Select and conduct transactions such as provision of goods and services.

More specifically, as an example, in the present invention, a credit card integration institution for integrating two or more credit cards (first credit medium) is installed, and the credit card user operates the credit card. When an application for integration of two or more credit cards is made to the card integration organization, the credit card integration organization accepting the application has a role equivalent to that of the integrated credit card, for example, one IC card And a photograph of the credit card user who made the application is displayed on the surface of the storage medium (second credit medium) as represented by
In addition, the storage medium is issued to the credit card user who applied for the storage medium so that the storage medium has no information other than the serial number unique to the IC.

On the other hand, in the credit card integrated organization, the serial number information unique to the IC stored in the issued storage medium, information on the user of the storage medium, and the credit card of the credit card company to which the user subscribes. A card integration system for managing information by linking the information with the card type is installed in advance.

A credit card user issued by a credit card integrated organization can use the storage medium at a credit card member store that handles a credit card of a credit card company to which the credit card user subscribes. When a product or service is purchased from the credit card member store, a user of the storage medium or a clerk of the credit card member store connects the storage medium to a medium connection device, and the storage medium is recorded on the storage medium from the storage medium. The media connection device reads a hardware serial number (a serial number that is burned into the integrated circuit at the time of manufacture, is read-only, and cannot be modified, and is unique for each integrated circuit). The serial number is transmitted to the card integration system via the network, and The card integrated system that has received the hardware serial number searches for the type information of the credit card to which the user of the storage medium has subscribed and the photograph information of the user of the storage medium using the hardware serial number as a key. Then, two or more types of subscription credit card type information and photograph information, which are the search results, are transmitted to the medium connection device via a network.

The medium connection device that has received the retrieved credit card type information and the photograph information, which are two or more types of credit card information, retrieves all credits initially handled by the credit card member store in which the reader is installed. A card type list is displayed on the medium connection device. In order for the user of the storage medium to pay by card at the credit card member store, the type of the credit card which the user of the storage medium has subscribed to and which is going to be used this time is stored in the storage device. The credit card type selected by the user of the medium and selected by the user matches one of the plurality of credit card type information sent from the card integration system. Check if they match.

If they do not match, the user is made to make the selection again within a predetermined number of times. If they still do not match, authentication as the user fails, and the transaction becomes invalid.

If there is a match, the clerk of the credit card franchise stores the photograph information sent from the card integration system together with the plurality of credit card type information to which the user subscribes on the medium connection device. To be displayed.

By the way, a series of operation history information in which the user selects the type of the subscription card by operating the medium connection device and information on whether or not authentication is possible are automatically sent from the medium connection device to the card integration system. Is recorded in a database in the card integration system.

After the photograph information is displayed on the medium connection device, the clerk of the credit card member store checks the photograph of the applied credit card user himself / herself and the appearance of the bearer written on the surface of the storage medium. And a photograph displayed on the medium connection device. If the photographs and appearances do not match, the authentication as the user fails, and the transaction becomes invalid. If the photograph and the appearance are the same, the authentication as the user is successful, and a transaction such as the purchase of a product or service is established. The clerk at the credit card member store operates the medium connection device to transmit information on the result of the authentication by the photo collation to the card integration system.

[0021] The card integrated system which has received the information on the authorization is recorded in a database in the card integrated system.

The clerk of the credit card member store inputs the information for identifying the product or service that the user wants to purchase and the amount of the information to the medium connection device. The reader transmits the input information for identifying the goods or services and the amount to the card integration system of the card integration organization.

The card integration system that has received the information
In addition to the information on the completion of the identification of the user, the information for identifying the affiliated store, the information for identifying the product or service that the user wants to purchase, the purchase price, and the current date and time information are stored in the database of the card integration system. register. The card integration system, in addition to the information on the identification of the user himself, the information for identifying the member store, the information for identifying the product or service that the user wants to purchase, the purchase price, and the current date and time information To send to the credit card company.

The credit card company determines whether or not a transaction is possible based on the received information and other information. As a result of the determination, the result information indicating that the transaction is permitted or not is returned to both the medium connection device of the member store and the card integration system at the same time. The medium connection device that has received the transaction availability information displays a transaction availability result on the device. Based on the displayed transaction availability information, the clerk at the member store informs the credit card user of the availability of the transaction, and the transaction is started or rejected. On the other hand, the card integration system that has received the transaction availability information records the information to that effect on a database in the card integration system.

The credit card integrated organization processes the transaction history information and provides it to each credit card company periodically or irregularly as statistical information, or the result of the card user identification performed by the credit card integrated organization itself. To provide credit card companies with services such as guarantees to each credit card company.

Each credit card company pays a commission to the credit card institution, for example, in consideration of the above-mentioned service.

As a supplement, for online transactions represented by the Internet, it is difficult to securely perform personal authentication using the face and photo of the credit card user in view of the current situation in the world. For this reason, the credit card user himself / herself is responsible for the normal credit card transaction method and is not included in the method of the present invention.

Thus, the credit card user can
Instead of carrying multiple credit cards when going out, you can enjoy the same advantages as having multiple credit cards just by carrying one integrated medium, and even if you have lost or stolen, The advantage that there is little fear of unauthorized use can be obtained.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In this embodiment 1,
As an example of a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, a case where the present invention is applied to a credit card authentication method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a credit card system for implementing a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 198 denotes a credit card company, 191 denotes a computer of a card system owned or managed by the credit card company, and 192 denotes a database linked to a computer of the card system owned or managed by the credit card company.
The personal information of the member who subscribes to the credit card company is recorded. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 193 denotes a communication line connecting a credit card company and a credit card member store. 194 is a credit card member store A, 1
Reference numeral 95 denotes a credit card affiliated store B different from the credit card affiliated store A, and 196 denotes a credit card affiliated store A and a credit card affiliated store N different from the credit card affiliated store B. 197 is a card connection device (reading device) installed in each of the credit card member stores A, B, and N.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents of a database linked to a computer of a card system owned or managed by the credit card company 198 shown by 192 in FIG. 1 in a table structure. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 210 denotes an information management table managed by a card system owned or managed by the credit card company 198; 211, a column for managing credit card numbers included in the table; and 212, a table included in the table. 213 is a column for managing the customer name, 213 is a column for managing the date of birth of the table, 214
Is a column for managing telephone numbers in the table,
215 is a column for managing the card expiration date of the enrolled credit card, 216 is a column for managing card authentication information of the enrolled credit card, and 217 is a column for the credit card subscriber included in the table. This column manages image information. In the database, in addition to the above-described information associated with the card number, photograph information of the customer associated with the card number is also managed.

That is, reference numerals 218 and 219 denote image information (face photograph information of the owner) associated with the credit card number, which is included in the information management table.
The table indicated by 210 may have other information items in addition to the information described above.

FIG. 3A shows an image showing the structure of the card system database and a computer for managing the card system database. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 200 denotes a computer of a card system owned or managed by the credit card company 198, which is the same as the computer indicated by 191 in FIG.

A database 201 in FIG. 3A is linked to a computer of a card system owned or managed by the credit card company 198.
It is the same as the database indicated by reference numeral 92. FIG.
202 in (a) is a credit card company 198
Is an example of an information management table managed by a card system owned or managed by the system, and is the same as the table indicated by 210 in FIG. Reference numerals 203 and 204 in FIG. 3A are examples of image information managed in the information management table.

Next, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific processing flow of the personal identification method using a credit card according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. It will be described using FIG.

An environment having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, that is, the credit card company 198 and the credit card member stores 194 to
196 is present, at which time a customer
The flow of processing from application to issuance of a credit card when the credit card company 198 wants to issue a credit card shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a customer wants to issue a credit card (step 310 in FIG. 7), the customer applies for the issuance of a credit card to the credit card company 198 with the photograph information of the individual attached to the information necessary for the application. (Step 311). The credit card company 198 that has received the application performs an examination based on the application information (step 312), and as a result of the examination, when the issuance of the credit card is permitted, that is, when the examination is passed, the credit card company 198 is turned on. A new credit card number is issued for the applicant (step 313). Next, the credit card company 198 registers the photograph information of the applicant himself and other necessary information in association with the issued credit card number in a database linked to the computer of the card system owned or managed by the credit card company 198 ( Step 314).

The information on the applicant to be registered includes the information shown in FIG. 2, the information management table 202 in FIG. 3A, the image information 203 such as a face photograph, and the information shown in the image information 204. However, other information items relating to the person may be registered.

After registering necessary information, the credit card company 198 prepares a credit card 400 for the applicant as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, and issues it on the surface of the credit card 400. Credit card number 401, personal photograph information 404, and other necessary information (for example, expiration date 402, name 403)
Etc.) (step 315). Note that the face photograph information 404 may not be provided. And the credit card 40
The issued credit card number is recorded in a storage area typified by a magnetic stripe, an IC, or the like of 0 (step 316). After that, the credit card company 198
Issues the credit card 400 to the applicant, and the process ends (steps 317 and 318).

Next, a credit card user who has been issued a credit card 400 by the credit card company 198 can use the credit card 400 at a member store (for example, a member store 194) of the credit card company 198 to which the credit card company has joined. If the user wants to purchase a product or service using the credit card 400 (step 270 in FIG. 4), the user informs the clerk at the member store 194 that he or she wants to purchase the product or service to be purchased using the credit card 400. The clerk at the member store 194 gives the credit card 400
Is presented (step 271). Thereafter, the credit card 400 is handed over by the clerk or the user himself or herself to the card connection device 1 previously installed in the member store 194.
97 (step 272). Card connection device 1
97 reads the credit card number information recorded in the credit card 400 from the connected credit card 400, and notifies the card system side of the credit card company 198 of the credit card number information via the communication line 193 ( Step 273). The system of the credit card company 198 that has received the notification searches for the user information of the credit card 400 using the obtained credit card number information as a key (step 274). If no result is found as a result of the search (step 275), the card system of the credit card company 198 returns information indicating that the authentication has failed to the card connection device 197 of the member store 194 (step 276). The card connection device 197 that has received the information indicating that the authentication has failed displays the information that the authentication has failed on the display unit of the device (step 277). The member store 194 referring to the information indicating the authentication failure displayed on the card connection device 197.
The salesperson informs the user that the authentication has failed, and the transaction is unsuccessful and ends (step 278).

As a result of the search in step 274, if the user of the credit card 400 hits (step 275), the card system of the credit card company 198 uses the search result to image the photograph information of the hit user himself. The photo information (for example, the image information 203) is retrieved from the information 217 and returned to the card connection device 197 side of the member store 194 (step 27).
9).

On the other hand, the card connection device 197 of the member store 194 that has received the information displays the received photographic information (image information 203) of the credit card user on the display unit of the card connection device 197 (step 280). .

The clerk at the member store 194 receives the photograph (image information 203) displayed on the card connection device 197 and the face photograph information 404 (or the appearance of the bearer) printed on the surface of the credit card 400. It is checked whether they are the same (step 285 in FIG. 5). If the photographs and appearances are not the same (step 286), the clerk of the member store 194 sends information indicating that the authentication has failed to the member store 19.
4 and transmitted to the card system of the credit card company 198 (step 287). The card connection device 197 also displays information indicating that the authentication has failed on the device (step 288). The clerk at the member store 194 notifies the user of the authentication failure, and the transaction is unsuccessful and ends (step 289).

Returning to step 286 in FIG. 5, if the pictures and the appearances match, the clerk of the member store 194 sends information indicating the success of authentication to the card connection device 197 of the member store 194.
And send it to the card system (step 29).
0). Further, information on the successful authentication is also displayed on the card connection device 197 of the member store 194 (step 29).
1). The card connection device 197 of the affiliated store 194 displays the information on the authentication success and displays the information related to the purchase, such as the price information for the credit card user to purchase goods or services at the affiliated store 194. Prompting for appropriate information (step 292). The clerk of the member store 194 inputs the price of the product or service that the user wants to purchase and other necessary information on the transaction to the card connection device 197 (step 293). Upon receiving the input, the card connection device 197 transmits the input amount information and other necessary information to the credit card company 198.
(Step 294).

When the card system of the credit card company 198 receives the information, the credit card company 1
Reference numeral 98 determines whether or not a transaction can be made based on the received information and other related information such as a past transaction history (step 300 in FIG. 6).
As a result of the determination, if the transaction is not possible, the credit card company 198 returns information indicating that the transaction is not possible to the card connection device 197 of the member store 194 (step 301, step 302). The card connection device 197 of the member store 194 that has received the information indicating that the transaction is not possible displays information indicating that the transaction is not possible on the device (step 303), and the clerk indicates that the displayed transaction is rejected. Referring to the information, the credit card user is informed that the transaction is not possible, the transaction is not established, and the transaction processing is terminated (step 304).

The processing is returned to the determination of whether or not the transaction is possible in steps 300 and 301. If the result of the determination indicates that the transaction is possible, the credit card company 198 sends information indicating that the transaction is possible to the member store 194. (Step 301, Step 305). The card connection device 197 of the member store 194 that has received the information that the transaction is possible displays the information that the transaction is possible on the device (step 306), and the clerk of the member store 194 displays the information that the transaction is possible. After confirming the information that the transaction is possible, the merchandise or service is provided to the storage medium user, and a series of transactions between the credit card user and the credit card member store 194 is completed (step 304).

In the above method, it is needless to say that the settlement between the credit card company 198 and the credit card user may be a conventionally performed method.

As described above, according to the credit card system of the first embodiment, the credit card company 198, which is the issuer of the credit card 400, has the owner's face registered corresponding to the credit card number. Photo information (image information 203) is transferred to member stores 194-19.
By distributing in response to the inquiry at the time of transaction in Step 6, it is possible to reliably determine whether the owner of the credit card 400 is the owner or not at each transaction. Unauthorized use due to tampering, unauthorized duplication, etc. can be reliably detected, and security can be improved.

That is, how much credit card 400
Even if the credit card number 401 or the face photograph information 404 or the like recorded therein is falsified, the face photograph information 218 (203) to 219 (204) of the owner himself registered in the credit card company 198 of the issuer. Unless tampering is performed, unauthorized use by anyone other than the owner can be reliably detected.

In other words, it is possible to realize high security at a low cost even if the credit card 400 itself is old, without providing the credit card 400 itself with an unnecessarily expensive and sophisticated falsification prevention function. Is obtained.

Embodiment 2 Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, an embodiment in which a credit card integrated organization is provided separately from a credit card company that issues a credit card will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a credit card system according to a conventional reference technology. In FIG. 21, 1 is a credit card company A, 2 is a credit card company B different from the credit card company A, and N is a credit card company A and a credit card company N different from the credit card company B. 4, 6, and 8 are computers of a card system owned or managed by each of the credit card companies A, B, and N. 5, 7, and 9 are companies of the credit card companies A, B, and N, respectively. Is a database linked to a computer of a card system owned or managed by the credit card companies A, B, N
It records personal information of members who subscribe to each company. Although three types of credit card companies are shown in FIG. 21, it goes without saying that there may be four or more types of credit card companies.

In FIG. 21, reference numeral 10 denotes a communication line connecting each credit card company and a credit card member store. 11 is a credit card member store A, 12 is a credit card member store B different from the credit card member store A,
Reference numeral 13 denotes a credit card member store N different from the credit card member store A and the credit card member store B.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a card connection device installed in each of the credit card member stores A, B, and N.

In the case of the conventional credit card settlement method,
For example, when a credit card user purchases goods or services using a credit card of a credit card company, which is handled by the credit card affiliated store A at the credit card affiliated store A, the credit card user becomes a clerk of the credit card affiliated store A. Present your credit card and tell them that you have purchased a product or service with the card. The clerk of the credit card member store connects the credit card to the card reader 14 installed in the credit card member store A, and electrically connects with the credit card company issuing the credit card via the communication line 10. Connect to If the credit card is a credit card issued by a credit card company A, the card reader 14 connects to the computer 4 of one credit card company A. After the connection, the card reader 14 sends ID information represented by the credit card number read from the credit card to the computer 4 of the credit card company A. The first credit card company A searches for information on the credit card user himself / herself based on the received ID information, and determines whether or not the transaction is possible. The transaction result determination result information is returned to the card reader 14 of the eleven member stores A. The clerk of the credit card member store A acquires the transaction availability information from the card reader 14 side, and responds to the credit card user to start or reject the transaction based on the result.

In the case of the credit card transaction method of the conventional reference technology as described above, a legitimate credit card user (owner) does not notice that his or her credit card has been lost or stolen, and uses the credit card. If a third party obtained by illegally possessing or copying the credit card of the credit card holder uses the credit card at a credit card member store, the use of the credit card which possesses or is lent to the credit card properly It is not possible to identify whether the person is using it.

In particular, when one user owns (contracts) a large number of credit cards, it is delayed to notice that each credit card has been lost, or when a large number of credit cards are lost at one time, Complicated security management, such as requesting a card company to suspend usage, is forced.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, an efficient and sophisticated security management when one user owns (contracts) many credit cards is realized as follows.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a credit card integration system according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 20 denotes a credit card integrated organization, 21
A computer of a credit card integration system owned or managed by the credit card integration organization 20;
Is a database linked to the computer of the credit card integration system owned or managed by the credit card integration organization 20.

The 20 credit card integrated institutions communicate with each other via the communication line 32 with each credit card company as indicated by 23, 28, 30 or each credit card member store as indicated by 33, 34, 35. Communication can be performed. Also, as shown in FIG. 21, communication can be performed between each credit card company indicated by 23, 28, 30 and each credit card member store indicated by 33, 34, 35 via the communication line 32 as in the conventional case. It has become.

In FIG. 8, 33, 34,
The medium connection device installed in each of the 35 credit card member stores connects to a storage medium (hereinafter, referred to as an integrated medium) issued by an application from a credit card user by 20 credit card integrated organizations, and the integrated medium is connected to the integrated medium. Is a medium connection device for reading out the contents of the data. The medium connection device 36 also has the function of the credit card reader 14 (FIG. 21) conventionally installed in a credit card member store. Therefore, when conducting a transaction at a credit card member store by using a conventional credit card, if the credit card is connected to the medium connection device 36, the connection to the credit card company that issued the credit card is made via the communication line 32. Authentication and payment can be performed as before.

As described above, the difference between the block diagram of FIG. 21 of the reference technology and FIG. 8 according to the second embodiment is that the communication line indicated by 10 in FIG. 21, that is, the 32 communication lines in FIG. The point of connection of the computer of the credit card integration system possessed or managed by the credit card integration organization 20 shown at 21 in FIG. 8 and the card connection device shown at 14 in FIG. 21 are shown at 36 in FIG. The two points are that the storage medium connection device is replaced.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an example of the contents of a database linked to the computer of the credit card integrated system which is owned or managed by the credit card integrated organization 20 shown by reference numeral 22 in FIG. 8 in a table structure. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 50 denotes an information management table managed by the credit card integrated system possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization 20, and reference numeral 51 denotes a hardware serial number included in the table. Information items, 52 are customer name information items of the table, 5
3 is a telephone number information item of the customer stored in the table, 5
4 is a customer's date of birth information item in the table, 5
5 is a credit card number information item of each customer's enrolled credit card in the table, 56 is an enrollment credit card type information item of the individual customer in the table, and 57 is an enrollment credit of each customer in the table. The expiration date information item of the card, 58, shows the authentication information item of the credit card which each customer has in the table. The information management table (database) indicated by 50 may have other information items in addition to the above information.

In the database, in addition to the above-mentioned information associated with the hardware serial number, photograph information of the customer associated with the hardware serial number is also managed. The image is shown in FIG. Figure 1
At 0, reference numeral 60 denotes a computer of the credit card integration system which the credit card integration organization 20 has or manages, which is the same as the computer indicated by 21 in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a database 61 linked to the computer of the credit card integration system which the credit card integration organization 20 has or manages.
Is the same as the database indicated by 22 in FIG. Reference numeral 62 in FIG. 10 is an example of an information management table managed by the credit card integrated system possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization 20, and is the same as the table indicated by 50 in FIG. Reference numeral 63 in FIG. 10 is an example of an image information management table managed by the credit card integrated system possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization 20. This table is associated with the hardware serial number and stores the photograph information of each customer. Is managing. Reference numeral 64 denotes photograph information managed by the information management table 63. An arrow 65 indicates that the information management table 62 and the image information management table 63 are associated with each other using the hardware serial number as a key.

In FIG. 10, the information management table 62 and the image information management table 63 are independent from each other, but the image information management table 63 also has image information as one of the information items managed by itself. Instead, it goes without saying that the image information management table 63 may not exist.

FIG. 11 shows a credit card integrated organization 20.
Of the integrated medium issued by the company, a medium connection device that reads information stored in the integrated medium, and reads and writes information recorded on a credit card, and a structure of the integrated medium and the medium connection device. It is a block diagram.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 70 denotes an integrated medium represented by an IC card issued by the credit card integrated organization 20. Reference numeral 71 denotes a photograph of the credit card user who has been issued and is printed on the integrated medium 70 in advance. Reference numeral 72 denotes an integrated circuit represented by an IC, which is built in the integrated medium 70. Reference numeral 73 denotes character information, such as name information of the user, which is printed on the integrated medium 70. However, the character information of 73 includes the integrated medium 7
It does not include any information about the type of credit card to which the 0 user has subscribed. The integrated medium 70
No information about the type of credit card to which the user himself is subscribed is written on the surface of. Reference numeral 74 denotes a hardware serial number information recording unit in which a hardware serial number of the integrated circuit itself built in the integrated medium is recorded. The hardware serial number information recording section 74 is burned and recorded inside the integrated circuit at the time of manufacture of the integrated circuit. After the manufacture of the integrated circuit, the hardware serial number of the integrated circuit itself cannot be changed or falsified. It is possible mechanism. Generally, the hardware serial number of an integrated circuit is encrypted, and if encrypted, it is extremely difficult to read illegally unless the security of the integrated circuit itself is broken.

In FIG. 11, 75 is a volatile memory (RAM) in the integrated circuit, 76 is an input / output port (I / O port) in the integrated circuit, 77 is a bus in the integrated circuit,
Reference numeral 78 denotes a processor (CPU) in the integrated circuit, 79 denotes a read-only system program group previously written in the integrated circuit, and 80 denotes a nonvolatile memory (EPROM) in the integrated circuit. An integrated medium 70 represented by an IC card 70 and a conventional credit card can be connected to a medium connection device indicated by 81 in FIG.

Inside the medium connection device 81, 82
Is a processor (MPU), 83 is a medium connection interface unit for connecting the integrated medium 70 and the credit card, 84 is a bus in the medium connection device, 85 is a memory in the medium connection device, and 86 is a memory in the medium connection device. A read / write control program, 87 is a group of programs stored in the medium connection device, 88 is an input / output interface (I / O interface) in the medium connection device, and 89 is a keyboard or the like connected to the medium storage device. An input unit typified by 90, a display unit typified by a display or the like connected to the medium storage device, 91 a network connection device interface unit connected to the medium connection device, connected to a communication line Interface mechanism for

In the medium connection device 81, an input unit 89, a display unit 90, and a network connection device interface unit 91 are externally connected. 81 may be included in the medium connection device.

When the integrated medium indicated by 70 is connected to the medium storage device of 81, the hardware serial N
o The mechanism is such that the hardware serial number of the integrated medium 70 stored in the information recording unit can be read. The algorithm or mechanism for reading the hardware serial number may be any method.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the card system in the credit card integrated agency 20 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 180 denotes a credit card integrated organization.
Are the same as 20 in FIG. Further, reference numeral 181 in FIG. 12 denotes a computer of the credit card integrated system which the credit card integrated agency 180 has or manages, and is the same as 21 in FIG. Figure 1
Reference numeral 182 in FIG. 2 denotes a database that is linked to the computer of the credit card integration system that the credit card integration agency 180 has or manages.
And 22 are the same.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 184 denotes a card system program in a computer of the credit card integrated system which the credit card integrated organization 180 has or manages; 185, a database management program in the computer; 186, a communication control program in the computer; 187 denotes an operating system in the computer, and 188 denotes an input / output control program in the computer. In FIG. 12, 189 denotes an input device of the computer, and 190 denotes a display device of the computer. Arrows shown in FIG. 12 indicate the flow of information between elements. The computer of the credit card integrated system shown by 181 in FIG. 12 is connected to the card connection device of each credit card member store via the communication line 183 and can exchange data.

Next, a specific processing flow in the case where the credit card integrated institution 20 is provided in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 8 and the credit diagram shown in FIGS. Examples of methods for card type selection and FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

An environment having the configuration shown in FIG. 8, that is, a credit card integrator 20 exists, and a credit card user using a plurality of credit cards at this time wants to integrate credit cards. The flow of the process of executing the credit card integration application to the credit card integration organization 20 and issuing the integrated medium 70 by the credit card integration organization 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

If a credit card user who uses a plurality of credit cards wants to integrate the credit cards (step 100 in FIG. 15), the credit card holder obtains the photograph information of the owner and information necessary for application. For example, a credit card integration institution 20 is applied for credit card integration with information on a plurality of credit cards to be integrated and respective credit card numbers and expiration dates (step 101). The credit card integrated organization 20 that has received the application performs an examination based on the application information (step 102). As a result of the examination, when the credit card integration is approved, that is, when the examination is passed, the credit card integration organization 20 sends the integrated medium 70 typified by an IC card that can be used in an integrated form of the credit card to the applicant. (Step 103).

Next, the credit card integrated organization 20 puts the photograph information of the applicant on the surface of the prepared integrated medium 70,
Other necessary information, such as the name of the person, is printed (step 104). The credit card integrated organization 20 relates to the applicant by associating with the hardware serial No. burned in the integrated medium 70 prepared at the time of manufacture in the database linked to the computer of the credit card integrated system possessed or managed in the organization. Information is registered (step 105). Information about the applicant to be registered is shown in FIG. 9 or FIG.
Information 64 in the image information management table 63
However, other information items relating to the user may also be registered.

After registration in the database, the credit card institution 20 issues an integrated medium 70 to the applicant (step 106). After the issuance, the credit card unifying institution 20 determines which credit card company 23, 28, 3
No. 0 is notified that the integrated medium 70 has been issued (step 107). The notification method may be any method as long as security is secured between the credit card integrated organization 20 and each credit card company.

Each credit card company notified by the credit card integrator 20 adds information indicating that the credit card user has been issued the integrated medium 70 to a record in which information on the user has been recorded. Then, the application for integration of the credit card user who wishes to integrate the credit card is completed (step 109).

Next, a plurality of credit card integration applications are made to the credit card integrated organization 20 and the credit card user who has been issued the integrated medium 70 by the credit card integrated organization 20 is registered at the credit card affiliated store. The flow of processing when purchasing a product or service using the integrated medium 70 will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS.

When the credit card user who has been issued the integrated medium 70 desires to purchase a product or service using the integrated medium 70 at a member store of the credit card company to which the user has joined (step 110). ), The user informs the clerk of the member store that he / she wants to purchase the desired product or service using the integrated medium 70 and presents the integrated medium 70 to the clerk of the member store (step 11).
1). After that, the integrated medium 70 is connected to the medium connection device 36 installed in the member store in advance by the clerk or the user (step 112). The medium connection device 36 reads the hardware serial number inside the integrated medium 70 from the connected integrated medium 70 and sends the information of the hardware serial number to the credit card integrated system side of the credit card integrated organization 20 via the communication line 32. Is notified (step 113).

In the credit card integrated system that has received the notification, the user information of the integrated medium 70 is searched using the obtained hardware serial number information as a key (step 114). If no result is found as a result of the search, the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20 returns information indicating that the authentication has failed to the medium connection device 36 of the member store (step 116). Upon receiving the information indicating that the authentication has failed, the medium connection device displays the information indicating that the authentication has failed on the display unit of the device (step 11).
7).

The clerk of the affiliated store referring to the information of the authentication failure displayed on the medium connection device 36 informs the user of the authentication failure, and the transaction is not established and ends (step 118).

As a result of the search in step 115, if the user of the integrated medium 70 finds a hit, the card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20 uses the search result to identify the hit record and a plurality of registered users. The type information of each credit card company, the authentication information of each credit card issued by a plurality of credit cards, and the photograph information of the person are taken out, and the information is returned to the medium connection device 36 side of the member store (step 1).
19).

On the other hand, the media connection device 36 of the affiliated store that has received the information displays the type information of all credit cards handled by the affiliated store on the media connection device 36 (step 120). The user of the integrated medium 70 who has visited the store is prompted to select which credit card to use.

The continuation of the processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The user of the integrated medium 70 is the medium connection device 3
6, the type of the credit card that the user intends to use is selected from the plurality of credit card type information displayed on the screen (step 121).

FIGS. 13 and 14 show examples of a screen for selecting the type of credit card. FIG. 13 is a display example when the medium connection device 36 includes a touch panel as a display unit. In FIG. 13, 250
Is a touch panel included in the medium connection device, and 251 is an icon displayed on the touch panel 250 for selecting a credit card company. The credit card user selects the type of credit card that the user intends to use from the icons indicating credit cards that can be used at the member store displayed on the touch panel indicated by 250 and directly touches with his finger. What is necessary is just to select the icon of the said credit card.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a selection screen and an input unit when the medium connection device 36 has a display unit and an input unit. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 260 denotes a housing of the medium connection device 36, and reference numeral 261 denotes a display unit provided in the medium connection device 36. An input unit 262 is provided in the medium connection device 36, and an input button 263 is provided in the medium connection device 36. Reference numeral 264 denotes a key input result display position displayed in the display unit of the medium connection device 36, where the information input by the key is displayed.

The credit card user enters a number corresponding to the type of credit card that the user intends to use from among the items indicating the type of credit card that can be used at the member store displayed at 261. By inputting a key from the input unit of the medium connection device 36 shown at 262, the input number is displayed at the position of the key input result display position shown at 264, and the selection is completed by pressing the transmission key.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are merely examples of the credit card type selection method, and it goes without saying that other selection methods may be used as long as the card type can be selected.

After the credit card is selected after step 121 in FIG. 17, if the wrong type of credit card company to which the user of the integrated medium 70 does not subscribe is selected, the medium connection device 36 Information to the effect that the credit card type was incorrectly selected is returned to the credit card integration system of the card integration organization 20 (steps 122 and 123). In addition, since a simple selection mistake by the user is also conceivable, the medium connection device 36 performs a retry process to have the user of the integrated medium 70 retry up to a predetermined number of times (step 12).
4). If the retry fails (step 12
5), the media connection device 36 of the member store returns information indicating that the authentication has failed to the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20.

Thereafter, the processing shifts to step 144 in FIG. 18, and the credit card integrated system records information indicating that the authentication has failed on the database record managing the credit card user. Then, the credit card integration system notifies the credit card company of the credit card number and the information on the identification failure of the user, the information for identifying the member store, and other necessary information together (step 145).

On the other hand, the medium connection device 36 of the member store displays information indicating that the authentication has failed on the machine (step 14).
6). The clerk of the affiliated store referring to the information of the authentication failure displayed on the medium connection device 36 informs the user of the authentication failure, and the transaction is not established and ends (step 154).

Returning to step 125 of FIG. 17, if the retry is successful, the medium connection device 36 prompts the user to input authentication information for the credit card selected by the user of the integrated medium 70. , Integrated media 7
The user 0 inputs authentication information relating to the credit card selected by the user (step 126). If the entered authentication information is incorrect (step 12
7), the medium connection device 36 is a credit card integrated institution 2
The information to the effect that the input of the authentication information is incorrect is returned to the credit card integrated system 0 (step 128). In addition, since a simple erroneous input by the user is also conceivable, the medium connection device 36 performs a retry process such that the user of the integrated medium 70 retries up to a predetermined number of times (step 129). If the retry fails (step 130), the medium connection device 36 of the member store returns information indicating that the authentication has failed to the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20 (step 131).

Thereafter, the processing shifts to step 144 in FIG. 18, and the credit card integrated system records information indicating that the authentication has failed on the database record managing the credit card user. Then, the credit card integration system notifies the credit card company of the credit card number and the information on the identification failure of the user, the information for identifying the member store, and other necessary information together (step 145). On the other hand, the medium connection device 36 of the member store displays information indicating that the authentication has failed on the machine (step 146). The medium connection device 3
The clerk of the affiliated store who referred to the information of the authentication failure displayed on 6 informs the user of the authentication failure, and the transaction is unsuccessful and ends (step 154).

Returning to step 130 in FIG. 17, if the retry is successful, the medium connection device 36 of the member store returns information to the effect that the authentication was successful to the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20 (step 13).
2).

Thereafter, the processing shifts to step 140 in FIG. 18, and the medium connection device 36 of the member store receives the photograph of the user of the integrated medium 70 who has already received from the credit card integrated system at the time of step 120 in FIG. The information is displayed on the medium connection device 36 (step 14 in FIG. 18).
0). The clerk of the member store checks whether the picture displayed on the medium connection device 36 is the same as the picture printed on the integrated medium 70 (step 14).
1). If the pictures are not identical (step 14
2), the clerk of the member store inputs the information of the authentication failure from the medium connection device 36 of the member store, and transmits the information to the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20 (step 143). The credit card integration system records information indicating that the authentication has failed on a database record that manages the credit card user.
Then, the credit card integrated system notifies the credit card company of the credit card number and the information relating to the identification failure of the user, the information for identifying the member store, and other necessary information together (step 145).

On the other hand, the medium connection device 36 of the member store displays information indicating that the authentication has failed on the medium connection device 36 (step 146). The clerk of the member store refers to the information of the authentication failure displayed on the medium connection device 36 and informs the user of the authentication failure, and the transaction is not established and ends (step 154).

Returning to step 142 in FIG. 18, if the pictures match, the clerk of the member store inputs information indicating the success of authentication from the medium connection device 36 of the member store and transmits it to the credit card integrated system. (Step 147). Further, information on the successful authentication is also displayed on the medium connection device 36 of the member store (step 148). The media connection device 36 of the member store, together with the display of the information on the authentication success, the amount information for the user of the integrated medium 70 to purchase a product or service at the member store, and other information related to the purchase. Prompt for necessary information (step 14
9). The clerk of the member store inputs the price of the product or service that the user wants to purchase and other necessary information regarding the transaction into the medium connection device 36 (step 15).
0). Upon receiving the input, the medium connection device 36 transmits the input amount information and other necessary information to the credit card integrated system of the credit card integrated organization 20 (step 151).

The credit card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20 that has received the information, together with the information on the completion of the identification of the user, the information for identifying the member store and the product or product that the user is trying to purchase. The service amount and other necessary information are registered in the database of the card integration system (step 152). After registering in the database, the credit card integration system provides the credit card number and information on the completion of the identification of the user, the information for identifying the merchant, the amount of the goods or services the user is purchasing, and other necessary information. The information is also notified to the credit card company (step 153).

The flow of the subsequent processing will be described with reference to FIG. From the credit card integrated system, the information about the completion of the identification of the credit card number and the user, the information for identifying the member store, the price of the product or service the user is trying to purchase, and other necessary information are received. The credit card company determines whether or not the transaction is possible based on the received information and other information (step 155). If the transaction is rejected as a result of the determination (step 156), the credit card company returns information indicating that the transaction is not possible to the medium connection device 36 of the member store (step 157). Upon receiving the information indicating that the transaction is not possible, the medium connection device 36 of the member store displays the information indicating that the transaction is prohibited on the device (step 15).
8). The clerk of the member store refers to the displayed information of the transaction refusal and informs the user of the integrated medium 70 that the transaction is not possible, and the transaction is not established.

On the other hand, the credit card company returns information to the effect that transactions cannot be made to the card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20 (step 159).
The card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20 that has received the information indicating that the transaction is not possible, the current date and time information, the information for identifying the user and the type of card used, the amount of money used, and the transaction was not completed. The information for identifying this fact and other necessary information are recorded in the database (step 160), and a series of transactions between the user of the integrated medium 70 and the credit card member store are completed (step 16).
5).

The process returns to the determination of whether or not the transaction is possible in step 155. If the result of the determination indicates that the transaction is possible (step 156), the credit card company sends information indicating that the transaction is possible to the member store. (Step 161). Upon receiving the information indicating that the transaction is possible, the medium connection device 36 of the member store displays the information indicating that the transaction is possible on the device (step 162). The clerk of the member store confirms the displayed information indicating that the transaction is possible, and provides the user of the integrated medium 70 with a product or service. On the other hand, the credit card company returns information indicating that the transaction is possible to the card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20 (step 163). The card integration system of the credit card integration organization 20, which has received the information indicating that the transaction is possible, checks the current date and time information, the information for identifying the user, the type of card used, the amount of use, and the fact that the transaction has been completed. The identification information and other necessary information are recorded in the database (step 164), and a series of transactions between the user of the integrated medium 70 and the credit card member store are completed (step 165).

Next, the transaction between the credit card integrated organization 20 and the credit card company will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The credit card integrator 20 provides statistical information on the transaction history between the member store and the user of the integrated medium 70 to each credit card company on a regular or irregular basis (steps 170 and 171). Each credit card company uses the integrated medium 70 including the credit card issued by the credit card user or the credit card company based on the actual use results when the credit card is directly used and when the integrated medium 70 is used. The user is charged for the cost of purchasing the product or service using the credit card or the integrated medium 70 within a predetermined period (step 172). The user of the credit card or the integrated medium 70 that has been charged by the credit card company pays (pays) each credit card company (step 17).
3). After the settlement with the user of the credit card or the integrated medium 70 is completed, the credit card company charges each member store for the payment of the actual usage amount (payment) and a fee for using the credit card (step 174). Each merchant receiving the fee pays the credit card fee to the credit card company and makes a payment.
(Step 175). Further, the credit card institution 20 charges a fee to the credit card company (step 176). Each credit card company that has received the credit card fee from each of the affiliated stores pays the fee to the credit card integrated organization 20, and a series of processing ends (step 177).

The credit card integrator 20 charges the credit card company a fee because, for example, the user who has received the integrated medium 70 from the credit card integrator 20 can use the merchandise or merchandise at the credit card member store. As a price for guaranteeing the identity verification when purchasing the service, or by the credit card integrator 20 periodically or irregularly informing the respective credit card companies about the transaction history between the member store and the user of the integrated medium 70. This is a price for obtaining an advantage for the credit card company, such as a price for providing statistical information. Here, the statistical information on the transaction history between the member store and the user of the integrated medium 70 is, for example, a credit card integrated institution 20 such as a transaction volume share or a transaction amount for each credit card company for each district or for each fixed period.
This is information processed based on the transaction history information of each credit card company stored in. In this case, the credit card companies will transfer the information to the credit card
By obtaining from 0, there is an advantage that the company's position with respect to competitors can be confirmed. Although the above is an example, the price paid by the credit card company to the credit card integrated institution 20 may be a price other than the above as long as it is advantageous for the credit card company.

As described above, when the system to which the method according to the second embodiment is applied is used, the credit card user carries one integrated medium 70 without carrying a plurality of credit cards when going out. You can enjoy the same convenience as having multiple credit cards. In addition, even in the case of loss or theft, the integrated medium 70 itself does not store any information such as user's personal information and contract information with each credit card company, other than the serial number which is difficult to falsify. In addition, since the identity is confirmed by collation of the face photograph information managed by the credit card integrated organization 20, it is possible to obtain an advantage that there is little fear of forgery or unauthorized use.

Further, the credit card integrated institution 20
By accumulating transaction history information using credit cards of credit card companies as well as information for personal authentication such as face photograph information, it is possible to obtain the potential to perform various analyzes on the use of credit cards.

On the other hand, each of the credit card companies regularly obtains the statistical information on the card use status from the credit card integrated organization 20 so as to be able to analyze shares with other competing credit card companies.

Further, in the case of receiving a service guaranteed by the credit card integrated organization 20 for personal authentication, the credit card company can avoid the risk of incorrect authentication due to unauthorized use.

The invention described in the claims of the present application is expressed in another way as follows.

<1> In a case where two or more credit cards issued by different credit card companies that are owned or lent by a user are integrated, one type of unique card that is not a credit card number is used. Storage medium in which various numbers or symbols are recorded, a medium connection device that reads information stored in the storage medium, information stored in the storage medium, information about the user of the storage medium, and the user subscribes. A card integrated system that manages information by linking the type information of a credit card company to be connected to the card, and a communication unit between the card integrated system and a medium connection device for reading information stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium Stores the one type of unique number or symbol, but stores information about the user himself / herself in the storage medium. A credit card integration method, wherein information relating to a user cannot be directly taken out of the storage medium because the storage medium does not store the information.

<2> A “storage medium” having an integrated circuit typified by an IC card is prepared as a storage medium having the means described in the above item <1>.
>"Not a credit card number, 1
As a unique number or symbol of the type, a serial number that is baked inside the integrated circuit at the time of manufacture, is read-only, cannot be modified, and is unique for each integrated circuit,
A credit card integration method characterized in that it is extremely difficult for a third party to duplicate or counterfeit by directly using it as a "key".

<3> In a method of integrating two or more credit cards possessed or lent by a credit card user, two or more credit cards held by the same user are integrated. Institutions (hereinafter,
A credit card user applies for the integration of two or more credit cards to the credit card integrated organization, and the credit card integrated organization that has received the application applies the credit card. Issue a storage medium with the same role as the integrated credit card to the credit card user who applied,
The issued credit card user can use the storage medium at the credit card merchant that handles the credit card of the credit card company to which the credit card user subscribes, and from the credit card merchant using the storage medium, After purchasing the service, the credit card integrated institution carries out personal authentication associated with the purchase, records the history information on the purchase after the authentication is completed, and uses the credit card used by the credit card user at the time of the purchase. Provide the credit card company with the purchase history and related information on a regular basis, and assure the successful authentication of the credit card user authentication performed by the credit card integrated organization. A credit card integration method in which a credit card company pays a commission periodically to the credit integration organization as the compensation.

<4> Not a credit card number 1
A storage medium in which a unique number or symbol of a type is recorded, a medium connection device that reads information recorded in the storage medium, information stored in the storage medium, information about a user of the storage medium, Using a network with a card integrated system that manages information by linking the type information of the credit card company that the user subscribes to,
In a method for authenticating a user of a storage medium user (who has a storage medium properly or has received a loan), a user of the storage medium connects the storage medium to the medium connection device, and the medium connection device disconnects the storage medium from the storage medium. The reading device reads the unique number or symbol recorded on the storage medium, the reading device transmits the read unique number or symbol to a card integration system via a network, and receives the unique number or symbol. The card integration system searches for the type information of the credit card to which the user of the storage medium has subscribed by using the unique number or the symbol as a key, and obtains at least two types of enrolled credit card types as a result of the search. Transmitting the information to the reading device via a network, and the reading device sends the information to a facility where the reading device is installed. A list of all credit card types that are being handled is displayed on the reading device, and the user of the storage medium subscribes to the storage medium to pay by card at the facility. In addition, the user of the storage medium selects the type of credit card to be used this time, and the type of credit card selected by the user is a plurality of credit card types sent from the card integration system. An authentication method characterized in that it is checked whether any one of the credit card type information matches the credit card type information.

<5> A credit card in which the photograph information and the credit card number of the credit card user who has or has a credit card on the surface are written, and a credit recorded in the credit card. A reader for reading card number information;
In a method of authenticating a credit card user using a card system and a network managed or operated by a credit card company, a credit card user connects a credit card to the reader, and the reader reads from the credit card, The credit card number recorded on the credit card is read, the reading device transmits the credit card number to the card system of the credit card company via a network, and the card system receiving the credit card number receives the credit card number. Using the credit card number key, search for the photo information of the user of the credit card, transmit the searched photo information to the reader via a network, and the reader that has received the information receives the received photo information. Is displayed on the device. The photograph information displayed on the reading device by the person managing the reading device is the same as the photograph information written on the surface of the credit card possessed or lent by the credit card user. An authentication method characterized in that the authentication is performed by comparing

The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Needless to say, there is.

For example, the credit medium is not limited to a credit card or the like used for commercial transactions and the like, and can be widely applied to a medium used for identity verification such as a driver's license or an ID card.

[0121]

According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized use of a credit medium such as a credit card due to forgery, falsification, illegal duplication, etc., and to improve the security of a credit system using the credit medium. Is obtained.

According to the present invention, a credit medium such as a credit card does not have an expensive and sophisticated anti-counterfeiting, tampering, or unauthorized duplication prevention function. The effect is obtained that the security of the credit system to be used can be improved.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the use of credit media such as a plurality of credit cards and security management can be performed efficiently and accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the contents of a database used for managing card users in a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention in a table structure.

FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a credit card company constituting a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a credit card used in a credit card system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the credit card system which implements the method of using a credit medium according to one embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the credit card system which implements the method of using the credit medium according to one embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 4 and 6;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the credit card system which implements the method of using the credit medium according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a database of a credit card integrated organization that constitutes a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating, in more detail, an example of a database of a credit card integrated organization constituting a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a configuration of an integrated medium constituting a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention, and a connection device therefor.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a computer system of a credit card integrated organization that constitutes a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration and operation of a medium connection device installed in a member store constituting a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration and operation of a medium connection device installed in a member store constituting a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a credit card system that implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 17, 18 and 19;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 16, 18 and 19;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 16, 17 and 19;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 16, 17 and 18.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of a credit card system which implements a method of using a credit medium according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a credit card system according to a reference technique of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,23 ... Credit card company A, 2, 28 ... Credit card company B, 3, 29 ... Credit card company N, 4, 24 ... Computer of a card system owned or managed by credit card company A, 5, 25 ... Credit card Database linked to the computer of the card system owned or managed by the card company A, 6, 2
6: Computer of the card system owned or managed by the credit card company B, 7, 27 ... Database linked to the computer of the card system owned or managed by the credit card company B, 8, 30 ... Owned or managed by the credit card company N Card system computer, 9, 31 ... Credit card company N
Database, 10, 32, 183, 193 linked to the computer of the card system owned or managed by
... Communication lines (information communication means), 11, 33, 194 Credit card member stores A, 12, 34, 195 Credit card member stores B, 13, 35, 196 Credit card member stores N, 14 ... Card reader , 20 ... credit card integrated organization, 21, 60 ... computer (first information processing device) of the credit card integrated system owned or managed by the credit card integrated organization, 22, 6
1, 182: Database linked to the computer of the credit card integration system owned or managed by the credit card integration organization, 36, 81: Medium connection device (second information processing device), 50, 62: Credit card integration organization has Or an example of an information management table managed by a credit card integrated system to be managed, 5
1: Column for managing hardware serial numbers, 52
... a column for managing customer names, 53 ... a column for managing telephone numbers, 54 ... a column for managing the date of birth, 55 ... a column for managing card numbers of participating credit cards, 56
... column for managing the card type of the enrolled credit card, 57 ... column for managing the card expiration date of the enrolled credit card, 58 ... column for managing the card authentication information of the enrolled credit card, 63 ... possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization An example of an image information management table managed by a credit card integrated system
64: image information associated with the hardware serial No. 65: arrow indicating that the table 62 and the table 63 are associated by the hardware serial No. 70: integrated medium, 71: user of the integrated medium Image information of the person, 72: integrated circuit, 73: character information, 74: hardware serial No information recording unit (read only), 75: volatile memory (RAM), 76: input / output port (I / O port) 77, a bus, 78, a processor (CPU), 79, a system program group (read only), 80, a non-volatile memory (EPROM), 82, a processor (MPU), 83, a medium connection interface unit, 84, a bus, 85 ... memory, 86 ... read / write control program, 87 ... program group, 88 ... input / output interface (I / Interface), 89 ... input unit, 90 ... display unit, 91 ... network connection device interface, 180 ... credit card integration engine, 18
4. A card system program in a computer of the credit card integration system possessed or managed by the credit card integration organization 185 ... A database management program in a computer of the credit card integration system owned or managed by the credit card integration organization
186: Communication control program in the computer of the credit card integrated system owned or managed by the credit card integrated organization; 187 ... Operating system in the computer of the credit card integrated system owned or managed by the credit card integrated organization; 18
8 ... Input / output control program in the computer of the credit card integrated system possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization, 189 ... Input device of the computer of the credit card integrated system possessed or managed by the credit card integrated organization, 190 ... Credit card integration A computer display device of the credit card integrated system owned or managed by the institution, 191, 201 ...
181 of a card system computer (first information processing device) owned or managed by a credit card company
... computer of credit card integration system owned or managed by credit card integration organization, 192
202 a database linked to a computer of a card system owned or managed by a credit card company; 197 a card connection device (second information processing device);
198: Credit card company, 203, 210: An example of an information management table managed by a credit card system owned or managed by the credit card company,
204, 205: image information associated with the hardware serial number, 211: a column for managing credit card numbers, 212: a column for managing customer names, 2
13 ... a column for managing the date of birth, 214 ... a column for managing the telephone number, 215 ... a column for managing the card expiration date of the enrolled credit card, 216 ... a column for managing the card authentication information of the enrolled credit card, 217 ... credit Columns for managing image information of card subscribers, 218, 219: Image information associated with card numbers, 250: Touch panel provided in the media connection device, 251: Icon for selecting a credit card company displayed on the touch panel , 260... Housing of the medium connection device, 261.
Reference numeral 2: an input unit provided in the medium connection device; 263, an input button provided in the medium connection device; 264, a key input result display position displayed in a display unit provided in the medium connection device; 401, a credit card number; , 403... Name, 404.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 510 G06F 17/60 510 512 512 B42D 15/10 501 B42D 15/10 501L (72) Inventor Yuko Matsuda 890 Kashimada, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term in the Financial Systems Division of Hitachi, Ltd. (Reference) 2C005 HA04 HA19 HB20 JA26 LA32 LB34

Claims (6)

[Claims] A step of associating an identification number uniquely assigned to each of the credit media with at least the face photograph information of the owner of the credit medium and registering the credit card with an issuer of the credit medium; Prior to providing goods or services in exchange for the presentation of the credit medium at the member store of the medium, in response to the inquiry by the identification number of the credit medium, the publisher issues the member number to the member store in response to the inquiry. Sending the corresponding face-photo information, and comparing the face-photo information sent from the issuer with the appearance of the bearer of the credit medium at the affiliated store; Determining whether the user is the owner of the credit medium. 2. The method for using a credit medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the identification number and the face photograph information is visibly described on the credit medium, and the credit card is transmitted from the issuer to the owner. The face photo information sent from the issuer is compared with at least one of the appearance of the bearer of the credit medium and the face photo information described in the credit medium, thereby bringing the bring photo. Determining whether a person is the owner of the credit medium or not. 3. A plurality of first credit media issued from a plurality of first issuers, each of which is assigned a unique first identification number, for each owner of the first credit media. Integrate into a second credit medium provided with a unique second identification number, deliver the second credit medium to each owner, and display the second identification number and face photograph information of the owner. Registering the second credit medium with the second credit medium, and the member store of the first credit medium to which the second credit medium has been presented is registered in the face photograph information based on the second identification number. And obtaining information on the first credit medium integrated with the second credit medium from the second publisher; and at the member store, the face photograph information sent from the publisher. The second credit medium is compared with the appearance of the bearer, Determining whether or not the owner is the owner of the second credit medium, and causing the bearer to select the first credit medium to be used for the transaction. How to use the medium. 4. The method for using a credit medium according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the second identification number and the face photograph information is written on the second credit medium so as to be visible. 2, the face photograph information issued to the owner from the second issuer and sent from the second issuer,
By comparing the appearance of the bearer of the second credit medium with at least one of the face photograph information described in the second credit medium, the bearer can determine the possession of the second credit medium. A method of using a credit medium, characterized in that it is determined whether the user is a creditor. 5. The method for using a credit medium according to claim 3, wherein at least the second identification number is irrevocably written on the second credit medium. how to use. 6. A storage means for storing an identification number uniquely assigned to each of the credit media in association with the face photograph information of the owner of the credit medium, and corresponding to the identification number queried from outside. A first information processing apparatus including means for reading and transmitting the face photograph information from the storage means, input means for reading at least the identification number from the credit medium, and the read identification number via information communication means Display means for inquiring the first information processing apparatus connected thereto and displaying the face photograph information received from the first information processing apparatus, the appearance of the owner of the credit medium and the displayed face A second information processing apparatus including input means for inputting a result of comparison with photo information, and determining means for determining whether the credit medium can be used based on the input result of comparison; Credit system to be.