JP3467368B2 - Data recording medium and its authenticity determination system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a card (a prepaid card, a cash card, a deposit / savings card, a commuter pass card, a coupon card, a shopping card, a credit card,
Identification cards and other various cards), magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optical disks (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), magneto-optical disks (MO)
Etc.) The present invention relates to another data recording medium and a system for judging the authenticity of the data recording medium in order to prevent fraudulent acts such as forgery, alteration and falsification of the data recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years,
The fields of use of cards and the number of cards used are increasing, and along with this, fraud such as forgery, alteration, and falsification of cards is also increasing. In particular, a card that uses only magnetic recording is problematic because it can be easily fraudulent, and even if security measures such as complication of magnetic recording and ID code assignment are taken, the security measures are immediately The current situation is that they will be broken.

In addition, I which records a huge amount of information in an integrated circuit
The C card is said to be more difficult to illicit than a card using only magnetic recording, but as long as the IC card itself has information, it will eventually be read and copied by an illicit person. Further, there is a problem that it is not suitable for a disposable card such as a prepaid card, a commuter pass card, and a coupon ticket card because of high cost.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to provide extremely high security, to prevent fraudulent acts such as forgery, alteration, and tampering with certainty, and to keep security costs low. An object is to provide an epoch-making data recording medium and its authenticity determination system.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the following means (1) to (5) can be adopted. In each means (1) to (5), a data recording medium
Card, magnetic disk, optical disk or magneto-optical disk.
The disc is good. (1) A data recording medium, to which a radioisotope (radioisotope) that emits and decays weak radiation is added.

[0006] In the present application, the type of radioisotope is not limited to a specific type, and those existing in nature (there are about 70 types) and those created artificially (20
There are more than 100 kinds). Further, the radiation emitted by the radioisotope is not limited to a specific one, and α rays (helium nucleus), β rays (electrons), β + rays (positrons), γ rays (electromagnetic waves), etc. can be exemplified.

However, the amount of radiation must be so weak that it does not adversely affect the human body. At present, the dose equivalent limit, which is the standard of radiation protection, is determined by domestic laws and ministerial orders based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Based on this, it is preferable to set it to a weak level.

Further, in particular, when the authenticity of the data recording medium is judged by utilizing the decrease of radioactivity of the radioisotope, it is possible to prevent the radioactivity from becoming too low to measure the radiation. As far as possible, in order to improve the radiation measurement accuracy, it is necessary to select the type of radioisotope in consideration of the balance between the date and time when the data recording medium is manufactured and the end of use of the data recording medium, and the half-life unique to the radioisotope. preferable. For example, for a data recording medium that can be used up in one day, a radioisotope with a half-life of about 30 minutes to 50 hours should be selected, and for a data recording medium that has a limited expiration date of one year, the half-life is 15 days. ~ Choose a radioisotope for about 2 years,
For a data recording medium that is continuously used for many years, it is preferable to select a radioisotope having a half-life of 6 months or more.

The following method can be exemplified as a method for adding a radioisotope. Radioisotopes existing in nature are added to a data recording medium. A radioisotope is artificially created by applying elementary particles such as electrons and protons to a certain element with a radiation generator (accelerator or the like), and the radioisotope is added to a data recording medium. After a specific element before becoming a radioisotope is added to the data recording medium, elementary particles are applied to the element by a radiation generator to change the element into a radioisotope.

The following structures can be exemplified as the additional structure of the radioisotope. A radioisotope is deposited on the substrate of the data recording medium and covered with a protective layer. A radioisotope is embedded inside the base of the data recording medium.

(2) A radioisotope which emits and disintegrates weak radiation is added, and medium identification data for identifying a difference between data recording media relating to the radioisotope is recorded. Data recording medium.

Here, the medium identification data is a data recording medium and another data recording medium, or a predetermined number of data recording medium groups and another predetermined number of data recording medium groups, for example, the data recording medium. If the date and time of manufacture, the type of radioisotope, and the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope at the time and date of manufacture of the data recording medium are different, the data need only be data that can identify the difference and may be relatively simple. . Also, the medium identification data is
Magnetic recording layer, IC or laser provided on the recording medium
It should be recorded in photography.

(3) A data recording medium authenticity determination system using a data recording medium to which a radioisotope which emits and breaks weak radiation is added, the data recording means recording data relating to the radioisotope. A means for measuring the radiation emitted from the radioisotope attached to the data recording medium, and collating the data obtained based on the measured radiation with the data relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means. According to the above, there is provided a means for judging the authenticity of the data recording medium, the authenticity judging system for the data recording medium.

In the system, neither data on radioisotopes nor data obtained on the basis of measured radiation is particularly limited. For example, in the simplest case, both of these data are limited only to the type of radiation emitted from the radioisotope, and the authenticity of the data recording medium is determined by whether or not these two data coincide with each other, for example, β + line. Aspect and both of these data are the energy of radiation, and both these data are, for example, 0.466M.
An example is a mode in which the authenticity of the data recording medium is determined based on whether or not they match at eV. Further, in the range of the system, as in the system of (4) and (5) below, a mode of judging the authenticity of the data recording medium by utilizing the method of decaying the radioactivity of the radioisotope (half-life) Is also included.

(4) A data recording medium authenticity determination system using a data recording medium to which a radioisotope that emits and breaks weak radiation is added, the data recording means recording data relating to the radioisotope. , means for measuring at least two time points spaced radiation for a predetermined time to be released from the radioisotope added to the data recording medium, said measured
Data calculated based on radiation at at least two time points , by collating with the data relating to the radioisotope recorded in the data recording means, means for determining the authenticity of the data recording medium, Data recording medium authenticity determination system.

(5) A data recording medium having a radioisotope that emits and disintegrates weak radiation and has medium identification data recorded therein for identifying a difference between the data recording media relating to the radioisotope is used. A data recording medium authenticity determination system, wherein the data recording means records the data relating to the radioisotope and the medium identification data in association with each other, and means for reading the medium identification data recorded on the data recording medium, On the basis of the read medium identification data, a means for selecting data associated with the medium identification data from the data relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means, and a radioisotope added to the data recording medium. A small amount of radiation emitted for a predetermined time Means for measuring at two time points with the measured data in which the calculated based on at least release at two time points <br/> rays was, by matching the data relating to a radioisotope selected from the data recording means A data recording medium authenticity determination system comprising: a data recording medium authenticity determining unit.

In the systems of (3), (4) and (5), when the data recording means records the data relating to the radioisotope on the data recording medium itself, the system configuration can be simplified. There is.

In the systems of (3), (4) and (5), when the data recording means records the data relating to the radioisotope in a place other than the data recording medium, the system configuration is rather complicated. However, there is an advantage that the security can be remarkably increased.

In this case, the data recording means and the means for judging the authenticity of the data recording medium can be connected via the data communication network. Examples of the network include an analog telephone line, a digital line, and a premises network.

In the systems (4) and (5), the data relating to the radioisotope recorded in the data recording means is the date and time of manufacture of the data recording medium and the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope at the date and time of manufacture of the data recording medium. It is preferable to include and.

Further, when the type of radioisotope differs between a certain data recording medium and another data recording medium, or a certain predetermined number of data recording medium groups and another predetermined number of data recording medium groups, The data relating to the radioisotope recorded in the data recording means also includes the half-life of the radioisotope.

The half-life of the radioisotope can be stored as numerical data of the half-life, or can be stored as data specifying the type of radioisotope or chemical formula (in this case, based on a table). Converted to half-life.).

Further, the type of radiation emitted from the radioisotope is different between a certain data recording medium and another data recording medium, or a certain predetermined number of data recording medium groups and another predetermined number of data recording medium groups. If different, the data relating to the radioisotope recorded in the data recording means also includes the type of radiation emitted from the radioisotope, and the means for measuring the amount of radiation is changed based on the type of radiation. Means are preferably provided.

Here, as means for changing the means for measuring the amount of radiation, there is one means for measuring the amount of radiation, and there are two means for changing the setting and a means for measuring the amount of radiation. It is possible to exemplify a configuration in which one or more are provided and switch them, a combination of these two, and the like.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a card embodying the present invention and a system for authenticating the same will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card 1 of this embodiment includes a base 2 formed of resin in a thin plate shape, and a weak radiation is emitted onto the base 2 to collapse. The radioisotope 3 is added in, for example, a dot shape, and the magnetic recording layer 4 made of a magnetic material having a predetermined coercive force is provided in, for example, a band shape. Each of these parts 2, 3 and 4 is covered with a protective layer 5 to protect it from being damaged by friction or scratching.

The radioisotope 3 is artificially produced by an accelerator such as a small cyclotron, and is strictly quantified and added onto the substrate 2, and then covered with a protective layer 5. Here, it is assumed that ⁵⁹ Fe is used as an example of the radioisotope 3. FIG. 3 shows a radioactivity decay curve (exponential curve) of the radioisotope 3. T is the half-life.

Card manufacturer (or administrator, etc.)
Records the data 6 relating to the radioisotope 3 in a place other than the card 1 by the data recording means 7. The data recording means 7 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a connection bus, an input / output interface, and a fixed disk device 7a.
A microcomputer including the above is used, and the fixed disk device 7a is a recording place of the data 6. The data 6 regarding the radioisotope 3 includes the following data.

Type of radiation emitted from the radioisotope 3 ... In the case of ⁵⁹ Fe, β rays are emitted. Date and time of card production ... Here, assuming July 1, 1996
Considering the half-life of radioisotope 3,
It doesn't matter until the time. Amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope 3 at the time of card manufacturing ... Here, as shown in FIG.
For convenience, it is expressed as 1 without a unit. Half-life of radioisotope 3 ... In the case of ⁵⁹ Fe, it is 44.50 days (T in FIG. 3).

In addition, the card manufacturer is required to use the magnetic recording layer 4
At the same time, card identification data 8 for identifying the difference between the cards relating to the radioisotope 3 is magnetically recorded. Further, the card manufacturer records the data 6 regarding the radioisotope 3 in the data recording means 7 in association with the card identification data 8. The reason why the card identification data 8 is required is as follows.

The card manufacturing date and time are different between a certain predetermined number of cards and another predetermined number of cards. Further, even if the date and time of card production is the same, the type of radioisotope, the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope at the date and time of card production, etc. are intentionally changed to enhance security. Therefore, in order to judge the authenticity of the card based on such various radioisotopes, the card identification data for identifying the difference between the cards relating to the radioisotope is necessary. Here, it is assumed that the card identification data for each card group is A, B, C, D, ... And the card identification data 8 of the card 1 is A.

If a large number of cards are manufactured by using a kind of radioisotope only at a certain manufacturing date and time so that the amount of radiation is also constant, the card identification data becomes unnecessary.

The magnetic recording layer 4 also magnetically records various kinds of unique data 9 (for example, the amount of money for a prepaid card, the number of times for a coupon card, etc.) for performing the original function of the card 1. .

Next, a card authenticity determination means 10 is provided at the place where the card is used. Card authenticity determination means 10
Is a card reader 11 for reading the card identification data 8 and various unique data 9 magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer 4 of the card 1, and the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope 3 attached to the card 1 for a predetermined time. A radiation measuring device 12 for measuring at least two time points,
It is composed of a determination device 13.

The radiation measuring instrument 12 is provided with a plurality of instruments suitable for various types of radiation so that a plurality of types of radiation can be measured.

The determination device 13 and the data recording means 7 are connected via a data communication network 14. As the network 14, a digital line having high security and high speed is used.
An analog telephone line is also acceptable.

The judging device 13 also serves as the following means. The judging device 13 includes a CPU, a ROM, and an RA.
A microcomputer including an M, a connection bus, an input / output interface and the like is used. Based on the card identification data 8 read by the card reader 11, the data 6 associated with the card identification data 8 (here, A) is selected from the data 6 relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means 7. means. Means for switching and changing one of a plurality of radiation measuring instruments 12 suitable for the radiation based on the type of radiation emitted from the radioisotope in the selected data 6. Means for determining the authenticity of the card 1 by collating the data calculated based on the radiation measured by the radiation measuring device 12 with the selected data 6. The determination method by the determination device 13 will be described in more detail below.

The card authenticity determination process by the card authenticity determination system configured as described above will be specifically described.

(1) When the card 1 is used and placed on the card reader 11, the card reader 11 will
Card identification data 8 and various unique data 9 are read from the magnetic recording layer 4.

(2) Based on the read card identification data 8, the determination device 13 is associated with the card identification data 8 (here A) out of the data 6 relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means 7. Data 6 selected.

(3) The judging device 13 selects one of the plural radiation measuring instruments 12 based on the kind of radiation (here, β rays) emitted from the radioisotope in the selected data 6. Switch the one suitable for radiation.

(4) Switched radiation measuring instrument 12
Measures the amount of radiation (radioactivity) emitted from the radioisotope 3 of the card 1 at two points after a predetermined time. The first time is, for example, 11:00 on September 1, 1996, the amount of radiation measured at this time is R1, and the second time is a predetermined time Δt (for example, 30 minutes) from this time. Let R2 be the amount of radiation measured at 11:30, and ΔR be the amount of change in radiation during this period (see FIG. 3).

(5) The determination device 13 compares the data calculated based on the measured radiation amounts R1, R2 or the change ΔR / Δt with the selected data 6 to determine whether the card 1 is true or false. To judge.

Specifically, among the selected data 6, the decay curve of the radioactivity shown in FIG. 3 is determined by the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope at the date and time of card production and the half-life of the radioisotope. (Exponential curve) is specified. Therefore, the amount of radiation R1 measured at the first time point is substituted into this exponential curve to estimate the date and time of card manufacture.

However, with this alone, if an illegal person forges a card by duplicating only the amount of radiation at a certain point (in reality, this is also extremely difficult), the security may be lowered. There is also. Therefore,
By substituting the amount of radiation R2 measured at the second time point (or including the change ΔR / Δt) into the exponential curve, the date and time of card production is determined. In other words, the method of attenuating the radioactivity depends on the time of card production, the type and amount of radioisotope, etc. Forgery is impossible.

Then, the confirmed card manufacturing date and time is collated with the card manufacturing date and time of the selected data 6,
If they match, it is determined to be a genuine card, and if they do not match, it is determined to be a forged card.

(6) When it is determined that the card is authentic,
Based on the various unique data 9 read from the magnetic recording layer 4 by the card reader 11 in (1), the subsequent card original processing is continued. On the other hand, when it is determined that the card is a counterfeit card, the processing thereafter is stopped, and a warning sound is generated and a warning light is turned on.

According to the card and the card authenticity determination system configured as described above, since the double and triple guards are applied as in the following, the security is extremely high,
It is possible to reliably prevent improper acts such as forgery, alteration, and falsification.

Radioisotopes (particularly artificial ones) are generally difficult to obtain, and radiation generators are difficult to obtain both in terms of cost and procedure. Furthermore, since establishments that handle isotopes or radiation generators need permission, notification, and various inspections, illegal manufacture of isotopes is considerably difficult.

Further, by increasing the types of radioisotopes used, even if a fraud occurs, the spread can be suppressed to a very small part.

Further, as described above, the card manufacturing date and time are shifted, or the amount of radiation at the card manufacturing date and time is variously changed, and the card manufacturing date and time estimated from the isotope of the card is compared to verify the card authenticity. If it is assumed that the determination of falsehood will be made, fraud becomes extremely difficult.

In addition, as described above, the amount of radiation emitted from the radioisotope of the card is measured at two points after a predetermined time, so that the date and time of manufacture of the card can be fixed, thereby faking the card. Becomes virtually impossible.

Further, according to this card and the card authenticity determination system, only a small amount of isotope is used after the initial investment for the equipment such as the radiation generator, the radiation measuring instrument, etc. It does not rise so much.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and may be embodied with appropriate modifications, for example, as follows, without departing from the spirit of the invention. (1) The material of the substrate 2 is not limited to the resin, and may be paper, metal, glass, ceramic, composite material, or the like. (2) To be embodied in a card provided with an IC, laser photography, and other various recording units instead of or in addition to the magnetic recording layer 4. (3) Various data recording media other than cards, such as magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disks, etc.),
Perform by adding a radioisotope to an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO, etc.), etc.

[0055]

As described above in detail, according to the data recording medium of the present invention and the authenticity determination system thereof, the security is extremely high and it is possible to surely prevent illegal acts such as forgery, alteration and falsification. The excellent effect that the cost for security can be kept low is also achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a decay curve of radioactivity of a radioisotope used in the card.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a card authenticity determination system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card 2 base 3 radio isotopes 4 Magnetic recording layer 5 protective layer 7 Data recording means 7a Fixed disk device 8 card identification data 9 Various unique data 10 Card authenticity determination means 11 card reader 12 Radiation measuring instrument 13 Judgment device 14 Data communication network

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A radioisotope which decays by emitting weak radiation emits a card or a magnetic device as a data recording medium.
Disc, an optical disc or a magneto-optical disc , and a difference in manufacturing date and time of the data recording medium as a difference between the data recording media relating to the radioisotope.
Different types of geoisotopes or data recording media
The release from the radioisotope at the date of manufacture
Medium identification data for identifying the difference in the amount of rays is, the
Magnetic recording layer, IC or laser provided on the data recording medium
Data recording medium, characterized in that recorded in Heather photography. 2. A car as a data recording medium to which a radioisotope that emits weak radiation and decays is added.
A data recording medium authenticity determination system using a disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, the data recording means recording data relating to the radioisotope, and the radioisotope added to the data recording medium. Means for measuring the radiation to be emitted at at least two time points after a predetermined time, and the data calculated based on the measured radiation at the at least two time points are collated with the data relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means. A data recording medium authenticity determination system, comprising means for determining the authenticity of the data recording medium. 3. A radioisotope that emits and decays weak radiation is added, and data as a difference between data recording media relating to the radioisotope is recorded.
Differences in the date and time of manufacture of recording media, types of radioisotopes
The difference or the radio
A data recording medium which medium identification data is recorded to identify the differences in the amount of radiation emitted from Isotopu
All cards, magnetic disks, optical disks or magneto-optical disks.
A data recording medium authenticity determination system that uses disk, means for reading a data recording means for recording in association with data relating to the radioisotope in said medium identification data, the medium identifier recorded in the data recording medium A means for selecting data associated with the medium identification data from the data relating to the radioisotope recorded by the data recording means based on the read medium identification data; and a radioisotope added to the data recording medium. A radioisotope selected from the data recording means, and means for measuring the radiation emitted from the at least two time points after a predetermined time, and data calculated based on the measured radiation at the at least two time points. To match the data More, the data recording medium authenticity determination system comprising the means for determining the authenticity of the data recording medium.