JP3545686B2 - Card to which IC chip is attached and card processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a general prepaid card and a prepaid card processing device applied to coupons for trains and buses, telephone cards, ball lending tickets for pachinko parlors, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Regarding prepaid cards, counterfeiting due to unauthorized reproduction of used cards has been continually performed, and therefore many techniques for preventing counterfeiting have been proposed. For example, a method of encrypting stored information (JP-A-11-328503), a method of writing information with both invisible ink and magnetism and comparing at the time of reading (JP-A-10-55423), and a method when a card is used up A method of cutting off the end of the card (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-320176), a method of cutting out the used information storage portion of the card each time the card is used (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-255122), and assigning a unique issue number to each card And a method of managing a consumption amount for each issue number on a host computer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-326018).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. First, in the method of encrypting the stored information, the stored information is read at the time of purchase of the card, recorded on another medium, and then copied to a used card, thereby enabling forgery. In a method of storing information using both magnetism and a method other than magnetism such as invisible ink, forgery is possible by attaching a forged stripe to a print portion using invisible ink or the like and rewriting the magnetic part. With the method of cutting off the end of a used card, it is impossible to prevent forgery as long as the balance is even 1 yen, and even with the method of cutting out the used information storage part of the card every time it is used, a low-value card is replaced with a high-value card You cannot prevent the act of falsification.
[0004]
In the above-described conventional technology, it is considered that the existence of the money information that can be rewritten in some way in the card essentially enables forgery. In that sense, the method of managing the consumption amount and the like for each issue number on the host computer is an excellent method for preventing forgery of the card itself. However, since the card cannot be used outside the environment connected to the network, it cannot be applied to a card used in a wide area at present. Also, if the information of the host computer is stolen, it may cause more damage than mere card forgery.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to store money amount information in a prepaid card so that a user can obtain a profit by rewriting the card, and to prevent counterfeiting of the card without requiring connection to a network or the like. It is to provide a method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a card to which an IC chip is attached , a plurality of IC chips serving as an amount information section and a plurality of IC chips serving as a data section are attached, and the plurality of IC chips included in the amount information section are included. Expresses one unit of money represented by one of the IC chips in the data portion by a combination of the position of the normally operating IC chip and the position of the destroyed IC chip , and a plurality of ICs included in the data portion. One chip corresponds to one unit of the amount of money represented by the amount of money information section, and represents the amount of money consumed by destroying the IC chip by the number of units corresponding to the amount of money consumed. And
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, Oite to claim 1, the IC chip, and to store the information indicating the amount of one unit.
[0009]
Prepaid card processing apparatus according to claim 3 reads a card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising means for breaking the unit number of the IC chip corresponding to the amount of money consumed.
[0010]
Prepaid card issuing apparatus according to claim 4 is the card issuing apparatus for issuing a card of claim 1 or 2, means for determining a type of issuing all-out card, a plurality of IC chips attached further comprising a means for issuing a card leaving the IC chip representing the value destroying the number of the IC chip corresponding to the specified type, corresponding to the specified type from the been card It is characterized by.
[0011]
For example, in the present invention, many small and thin IC chips are attached to a card. The IC chips are divided into a plurality of IC chips for indicating the amount of one unit of the card and a plurality of IC chips for indicating the number of usable units of the card. Among them, the IC chip for indicating the amount of one unit of the card means one digit of one digit of a binary number, which is "1" when the IC chip operates normally, and is destroyed and becomes unreadable. In this case, it represents "0". An IC chip for indicating the number of usable units of a card indicates that one normally operating chip can be used for only one unit of money. At the time of use, the card is read, the amount of one unit of the card is calculated from information of a plurality of IC chips for indicating the amount of one unit of the card, and the unit of use corresponding to the amount to be consumed is calculated. Confirm that the IC chip remains on the card, and destroy the IC chip for the consumed amount.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows an attached state of an IC chip to a prepaid card. In the substrate material 1 to which the IC chip 2 is attached, thin holes (not penetrating) of about 0.3 mm in diameter are made at intervals of 2 to 3 mm. With a strong adhesive. The depth of the hole is such that the IC chip 2 does not protrude from the hole. Note that the size and the attachment interval of the IC chip 2 described here are examples of a size that can be used, and the present invention is not limited to this size. FIG. 1 shows an example in which 120 IC chips 2 are attached, but this is also an example, and the present invention is not limited to 120 chips.
[0014]
The IC chip 2 is also called an electronic tag, a data carrier, an IC tag, a non-contact tag, or the like, and includes a storage device, a transmission device, a reception device, and the like, and further has an antenna connected thereto. is there. It is capable of reading and writing information from and to a storage device in the IC chip 2 from outside without contact. Examples of the reading and writing methods include an electromagnetic coupling method, an electromagnetic induction method, a microwave method, and an optical communication method. . In the electromagnetic coupling system or the microwave system, a power supply radio wave is transmitted to the IC chip 2 to be supplied with power, and can be used as driving power in the IC chip 2. In this embodiment, a microwave system is used. Note that the electronic tag generally includes a chip portion and an antenna portion connected to the chip portion, but the entire electronic tag is referred to as an “IC chip” here for simplicity.
[0015]
FIG. 2 shows the classification of how the attached IC chip 2 is used as described above. The plurality of IC chips 2 are used by being divided into three parts, namely, a header part 3, an amount information part 4, and a data part 5. The header section 3 is used as a reference position for the reading device to grasp the positions of these IC chips on the card. The contents stored in the IC chip 2 of the header section 3 may be any information as long as the information can recognize that the reader is the header section 3. For example, information such as the name of the card and the issuer seems to be appropriate. In FIG. 2, ten IC chips 2 are used as the header part 3, but one or more IC chips 2 may be used. Since the header 3 is not directly related to the forgery prevention which is the object of the present invention, it is not particularly mentioned in the following description.
[0016]
The price information section 4 is a part indicating how much one IC chip of the data section 5 corresponds to the price. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, among the IC chips 2 of the money amount information unit 4, the IC chip that is destroyed and cannot read information indicates a binary “0”, and the IC chip that can read normally is 2. Indicates the radix "1". In the example of FIG. 3, the binary number “0000001010”, that is, the decimal number “10” is indicated by ten IC chips. Therefore, it is understood that one IC chip of the data section 5 is equivalent to 10 yen. The advantage of this method is that the information stored in the IC chip itself has no meaning, and there is no damage due to tampering of the information. The only possible alteration is to destroy a normally operating IC chip. However, since the destroyed chip shows "0", there is no disadvantage due to the alteration.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4, the IC chip 2 of the data section 5 includes, for each of the IC chips 2, unique identification information indicating the type of the card, and the price information of one IC chip of the data section 5 ( (Same as the amount expressed in the amount information section 4). The unique identification information indicating the type of the card is, for example, information indicating the type of the card such as “the prepaid card for a subway coupon ticket” or “the prepaid card for a pachinko parlor”. Based on this identification information, when the card is used, it can be determined whether or not the card is a use target card. Further, by comparing the amount information stored in the IC chip with the amount calculated from the amount information section 4, double checking can be performed.
[0018]
FIG. 5 summarizes counterfeiting that can be prevented by the prepaid card of the present embodiment. Although the information of the IC chip 2 in the data section 5 is rewritable, it is possible to know that the data has been tampered by treating the amount calculated from the amount information section 4 as correct. As for the unique identification information indicating the type of the card, it is possible to use the card for a different purpose by falsification, but in this case, the consumption amount does not change, and the user has no economic benefit. Therefore, it is considered that the possibility of intentional crime due to such tampering is low.
[0019]
FIG. 6 shows a state where the information of the IC chip 2 is read by the reading device when using the card of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 6 denotes a reading head 6 provided in the reading device. The read head 6 is arranged in accordance with the row of IC chips of the prepaid card to be read. When a prepaid card is inserted into the reader, the card is read as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 and the IC chip 2 of the card passes near the read head 6. At this time, the read head 6 transmits a radio wave to the IC chip 2, and the IC chip 2 transmits stored information in response to the radio wave. If the IC chip 2 is not destroyed, the stored information can be obtained, and if the IC chip 2 has been destroyed, it cannot be acquired. Therefore, whether or not the IC chip 2 has been destroyed can be recognized by the above reading. Although only four rows are shown in the figure, in the case of the example of the card shown in FIG. 1, ten rows of read heads 6 are actually arranged. The appearance and basic functions of the reader are not particularly described because they are not different from those of a commonly used automatic ticket gate at a station or a prepaid card telephone.
[0020]
FIG. 7 shows a flow for identifying a card by a reading device when using the card and determining whether the card is used illegally. When the card is inserted, the reader detects the position of the IC chip group in the header section 3 (step 7-1), and calculates the amount per IC chip in the data section 5 of the card from the information stored in the amount information section 4. (Step 7-2 to Step 7-3). Next, the information stored in the IC chip 2 of the data section 5 is read (step 7-4), and it is determined from the "unique identification information indicating the type of card" whether the ticket type is usable (step 7-5). . In the case of a usable ticket type, the amount calculated in step 7-3 is compared with the amount read from the IC chip 2 of the data section 5 (step 7-6). (Step 7-7). If it is determined that the card is invalid in the above process (steps 7-5, 7-6, 7-8), an operation such as sounding a buzzer or simply returning the card as unusable is performed.
[0021]
FIG. 8 illustrates a mechanism for destroying a used IC chip. In the figure, the number of IC chips 2 corresponding to the consumed amount is physically destroyed by the hammer 7. In addition, any physical, chemical, or electrical destruction method such as a destruction method using a high-heat laser beam may be employed. The specific method of destruction may be determined based on the characteristics of the IC chip 2, the technical feasibility, the manufacturing cost of the destruction mechanism, and the like.
[0022]
FIG. 9 summarizes the processing flow of the entire card reader. First, the user reads the card inserted into the reading slot (step 9-1), reads the information of the IC chip on the card, and determines the validity of the card (step 9-2). It is determined whether or not the card is a valid card (step 9-3). If the card is an invalid card, processing such as sounding a buzzer is performed (step 9-6). If the card is valid, the service or the goods corresponding to the consumption amount is provided to the user (step 9-4). The contents of services and goods to be provided differ depending on the use of the card. For example, an automatic ticket gate at a station opens the gate, a telephone allows calls until the card is consumed, and a pachinko ball issuing machine pays out a specified amount of pachinko balls. . Which service is provided by what means depends on the purpose of the card, and is not limited in the present invention. Finally, the IC chip in the data section is destroyed by the amount of the consumed amount (step 9-5).
[0023]
FIG. 10 shows a flow when issuing the card described above. For example, a card to which 10 × 12 IC chips 2 are attached as shown in FIG. A ticket type to be issued is determined by a button or the like pressed by the purchaser (step 10-1), and identification information of a ticket type to be issued and an IC chip are determined from information stored in a nonvolatile storage device of the ticket issuing machine in advance. Is acquired (step 10-2). Next, the IC chip is destroyed so as to match the acquired information (step 10-3), and a ticket is issued (step 10-4).
[0024]
The breaking mechanism of the IC chip is the same as the breaking mechanism of the above-described IC chip reader. By adopting such a structure, a plurality of types of cards can be issued by processing at the time of issuing a ticket without preparing various types of cards in advance. However, when such a method is adopted, there is a possibility that the ticket issuing machine is destroyed and the raw card is stolen. In order to prevent this, a card for a ticket type may be prepared in advance.
[0025]
FIG. 11 shows an example of information referred to in step 10-2 and stored in the nonvolatile storage device of the ticket issuing machine in advance. For each type of cards that can be issued, unique identification information indicating the type of card, the amount of one IC chip, and the amount of the entire card are stored.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a prepaid card that is difficult to forge can be realized. The main anti-counterfeiting effects include the inability to change the value of a falsified card of a issued card (it is possible if the IC chip is reattached, but this is technically difficult), and the reuse of used chips is not possible (IC chip It is possible if you re-paste, but it is technically difficult). The use of the same value card for another purpose cannot be mechanically prevented by changing the identification of the IC chip, but the user is at risk only and does not benefit from doing so. Therefore, it is not necessary to particularly consider a mechanical prevention method.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an attached state of an IC chip to a card. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a classification of IC chips. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of identifying a value of an IC chip. FIG. FIG. 5 shows a list of counterfeiting that can be prevented by such a card. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of reading of an IC chip attached to the card. FIG. 7 shows a card type of the card. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of destruction of a used IC chip. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the entire processing of the card reader. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for issuing a card. FIG. 11 shows a list of information stored in advance in a nonvolatile storage device of the ticket issuing machine.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Substrate material for attaching an IC chip, 2 ... IC chip, 3 ... Header part, 4 ... Amount information part, 5 ... Data part, 6 ... Reading head, 7 ... IC chip breaking hammer.

Claims (4)

In a card with an IC chip attached,
Attach a plurality of IC chips as the money amount information section and a plurality of IC chips as the data section,
The plurality of IC chips included in the money amount information part represent one unit of money represented by one of the IC chips in the data part by a combination of the position of the normally operating IC chip and the position of the destroyed IC chip. And
The plurality of IC chips included in the data portion correspond to one unit of the amount of money represented by the amount information portion, and the amount of consumption is reduced by destroying the number of IC chips corresponding to the amount of money consumed. features and to Luca o de it is intended to represent. In card according to claim 1,
Wherein the IC chip, wherein the to Luca o de storing the information indicating the amount of one unit. It reads the card according to claim 1 or 2, consumed amount of money features and to Luca over de processing apparatus further comprising means for breaking the unit number of the IC chip corresponding to. A card issuing device for issuing the card according to claim 1 or 2,
Means for determining a type of issuing all-out card, worth several IC chips destroy the number of the IC chip corresponding to the specified type from the attached card, corresponding to the specified type features and to Luca over de issuing apparatus that a means for issuing a card leaving the IC chip to express.

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