JPH02253391A - Magnetic card adjustment system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent written data from being copied by supplying a magnetic field held intensity, which does not destroy the data written in the magnetic recording part of a magnetic card, along the surface of the magnetic recording part after the data are rewritten. CONSTITUTION:After the data read from the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card are once erased, the data after adjustment as variable information and the fixed data such as the data to specify the card are further rewritten. In such a case, when the commercially available magnetic tape is stuck to the surface of the magnetic stripe, the data are written on the magnetic tape as well at the time of rewriting the data. Then an erasing signal, that is attenuated to a level at which the data written to the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card are not destroyed by a level regulating circuit 64, is supplied to a magnetic head 32 in a next time, hence the data written on a magnetic tape 11 at the time of rewriting are erased. As a result the data can be prevented from being copied.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a magnetic card payment system that allows payments, etc. to be made using a magnetic card on which data including variable information such as an advance payment amount is magnetically recorded. The present invention relates to a magnetic card payment system that can prevent data magnetically recorded on a computer from being copied.

[Conventional technology]

The magnetic card payment system described above is used in telephones, automatic ticket vending machines, automatic vending machines, and the like. The magnetic card used in this magnetic card payment system is called a prepaid card, and is known as a card that is issued after payment is made in advance and that allows payments to be made without using cash. It is used.

In the above-mentioned magnetic card payment system, unless a magnetic card that has been used (remaining usage is zero) is inserted into the card slot, if a magnetic card made to a certain standard is inserted into the card slot,
Regardless of whether or not the magnetic card is used, processing of data such as the remaining amount of the prepaid amount is performed in the following order: reading → erasing → rewriting.

Here, the above-mentioned process can be carried out without using a magnetic card, that is, without performing any operation to settle the price of products etc. with a magnetic card, by simply inserting the magnetic card into the card slot of the magnetic card settlement system. is performed, and the magnetic card is ejected from the ejection port. This is commonly referred to as "empty passage."

However, with the spread of this type of magnetic card payment system, it is necessary to take measures against the case where a forged magnetic card is used in the Haki-Card payment system.

However, in conventional magnetic card payment systems, fixed information such as the name of the company that manufactured the card written on the magnetic recording part of the magnetic card and data identifying the device that issued the card is stored in the system's memory. If it matches the data, it is legitimate, that is, clearing vs. 1! It was configured to determine that the card is a magnetic card that can be used.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional magnetic card payment system described above, there is a possibility that a magnetic card may be counterfeited by copying data written on the magnetic recording portion of a legitimate magnetic card.

In other words, by running a commercially available magnetic tape (e.g. 8-width video tape) pasted onto a magnetic card that can actually be used (the remaining capacity is not zero), the data can be written on the magnetic card. The recorded data is copied onto the magnetic tape.

- Create a counterfeit card such as a card with a magnetic tape with the data copied attached to a used magnetic card, or a card with a magnetic tape with the data copied attached to a plastic substrate. It is conceivable that it will be used for card payment systems. If such a counterfeit card is used, the magnetic card payment system will consider it as a genuine magnetic card if the fixed information written on the card matches the data stored in the system's memory, as described above. There was a problem that it was determined to be a card.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card payment system that can prevent data written on the magnetic recording portion of a magnetic card from being copied. That is.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a magnetic car-V payment system in which payment can be made using a magnetic card on which data including variable information such as the prepaid amount is magnetically recorded.
The magnetic card is characterized by being provided with degaussing means for supplying a magnetic field with a strength enough not to destroy the data written in the magnetic recording part of the magnetic card along the surface of the M magnetic recording part after the data has been rewritten. It is something to do.

[Effect]

In the magnetic card payment system according to the present invention, a magnetic field of an extent that does not destroy the data written in the magnetic recording part of the magnetic card is applied along the surface of the magnetic recording part after the data is rewritten. Supplied by degaussing means.

Therefore, even if you attach a commercially available magnetic tape to the magnetic recording area and try to copy data that has already been written on the magnetic recording area of a magnetic card, the attached magnetic tape will not contain any data. Although written, the data written on the magnetic tape is erased by the magnetic field applied by the recording/demagnetizing means.

In this way, data written on the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic card can be prevented from being copied.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a vending machine as an example of a magnetic card payment system. In the figure, a vending machine 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and on the front spring part 2 of this rectangular parallelepiped, there are shiller case parts 3a and 3 for displaying products and product samples.
b, 3c, and 3d, product selection buttons 4a, 4bs4cs4d with built-in display lamps are provided at the bottom, a bill insertion slot 5 and a coin slot 6 are provided, and a change receptacle [
7, a product outlet 8, and a card insertion slot 10 into which a magnetic card 9 is inserted. Further, the vending machine 1' is provided with an acoustic alarm 11 that notifies the user of forgetting to take out a card or other issues with sound, and a cancel lever 12 for canceling the payment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnetic card used in an embodiment of the present invention.

This magnetic card 9 is a flexible one made of thin plastic, paper, etc., and has a second magnetic card on its surface.
As shown in FIG. 1, an area 13 is provided for displaying the payment amount and the payment status, and other necessary information (sales amount, issued note name, etc.) is printed.

Furthermore, a trouble mark area 14 is provided on the right side of the magnetic card 9 area] 3, and if a counterfeit magnetic card is inserted from the card slot instead of the genuine magnetic card 9, a trouble mark area 14 is provided. It is possible to punch holes.

On the other hand, a magnetic stripe 15 as a magnetic recording medium is provided on the back surface of the magnetic card 9, as shown in FIG. 2 ([I). The magnetic stripe 15 is shown in FIG.
), the code Cd is recorded. This code Cd includes data such as the amount to be paid, the date of issue of the card, and data specifying the device that issued the card. Instead of this magnetic stripe 15, a magnetic recording layer 9b is provided inside the magnetic card 9 as shown in FIG.
The above data may be recorded on this magnetic recording layer.

Note that 9a is a substrate made of plastic or the like, and 9C is a magnetic concealment layer.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1.

In the figure, a money processing mechanism 18, a magnetic card reading/writing device 19, a payment processing device 20, a product ejecting mechanism 21, and a magnetic card issuing device 22 are provided inside the vending machine 1. ing. In addition, the money processing mechanism 18
It reads the authenticity and value of the money inserted into the banknote insertion slot 5 and the coin insertion slot 6. The magnetic card reading/writing device 19 reads information from the magnetic card 9, performs payment, and writes information after payment. The payment processing device t20 processes value information from the money processing mechanism 18 and the magnetic card reading/writing device 19, receives designations from the product selection buttons 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, and based on this, selects the product discharging mechanism. 21 or the magnetic card issuing device 22. Magnetic card issuing bag! 22 reads a code from the ROM 23 provided in the main body of the vending machine, and when this code matches the code written on the magnetic stripe 16 of the magnetic card 9 on which monetary information etc. are not written, the magnetic card 9 can be issued. Note that the money processing mechanism 18 is not directly related to the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted hereafter.

Figure 4 is a magnetic card reading/writing device! 19 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of No. 19. FIG.

The magnetic card reading/writing device 19 is configured as follows. That is, at a position corresponding to the card insertion slot 10, a pair of feed rollers 30 and 31 are provided so as to be rotatable in parallel. A read/write magnetic head 32 is provided adjacent to the feed rollers 30,31. The read/write magnetic head 32 is used to read data such as the amount of money and issuer from the magnetic stripe 15 of the magnetic card 9, and to rewrite data such as the balance after payment on the magnetic stripe 15. In addition, a reflective optical reading device 3
3.34.35 are provided. These reflective optical reading bags! 33, 34, and 35 detect the position of the magnetic card 9.

Opposed to the read/write magnetic head 32 is a magnetic head)
A pressing roller 37 for pressing the '91m head 32 is provided. Further, the pair of feed rollers 30.3
1, a pair of feed rollers 39, 40 are further provided rotatably in parallel. The feed roller 39
．． A punch mechanism 41 is provided on the left side of 40 in the drawing. The punch mechanism 41 punches area 13 and trouble mark area 1 of the magnetic card 9 according to a punch command.
It has a mechanism that can punch holes in 4. Further, a pair of rollers 42, 43 are rotatably provided in parallel, and on the right side of the rollers 42, 43 in the figure,
A card contact detection sensor 44 which also serves as a stopper is provided. The feed roller 30, feed roller 39, and roller 42 are connected to a driving step motor 45 via a mechanism not shown, and rotate according to the rotation of the step motor 45.

Further, 47 is a write driver, 48 is a waveform shaping circuit, and 63
is an erasing circuit that generates an erasing signal for erasing data written on the magnetic stripe 16 of the magnetic card 9;
64 is a level adjustment circuit that attenuates the erasing signal output from the erasing circuit to a predetermined level;
Reference numeral 2 denotes an analog switch whose switching is controlled by a control signal output from the control circuit 50. analog switch 4
9 switches to the contact a side when reading data from the magnetic card 9, and switches to the contact side when writing data to the magnetic card 9 and erasing data written on the magnetic stripe 16 of the magnetic card 9. The analog switch 61 is normally switched to the contact a side, and can be switched to the contact side when erasing data.

Further, the analog switch 62 is normally set to the contact a side (normally switched to this position) when completely erasing the data written on the magnetic stripe 16, and the analog switch 62 is set to the contact a side when completely erasing the data written on the magnetic stripe 16. When supplying a weak erase signal along the top surface of the sensor, the switch can be switched to the contact side.

The driver 47, waveform shaping circuit 48, and erasing circuit 63 are connected to control circuit No. 50.

Furthermore, an optical reader 133, 34, 35 and a punch mechanism 4
1 and the card contact sensor 44 are electrically connected to a control circuit 50. Further, the control circuit SO is configured to rotate the step motor 45 via the motor controller 46.

Next, a specific configuration of the control circuit 50 is shown in FIG.

In the figure, a control circuit 50 is composed of a D/A converter 53, an input/output section 54, and a controller 55.

Further, the controller 55 includes a CPU 56, a ROM 5T,
It is composed of a RAM 5B, an interlace 59, and an external interface 60. In addition to various programs for realizing the functions of the control circuit 50, the ROM 57 stores fixed data necessary for verifying the magnetic card 9. The RAM 58 stores information such as constants and fees necessary for processing the program executed by the control circuit 50.

Next, the contents of the program executed by the control circuit 50 are shown in FIG. The reading is performed, and then when any of the product selection buttons 4a to 4d is operated, payment processing is performed (steps 70, 71, and 72). This is a calculation process for settling the amount of the product specified by any of the product selection buttons 4a to 4d from the remaining balance.

Now, the data read from the magnetic stripe 16 of the magnetic card 9 is once erased, and then the data after midsummer as variable information and the fixed data such as the data for identifying the card mentioned above are stored. When erasing the data written on the magnetic stripe 16 (steps 73 and 74), the analog switch 49 and 61 are moved to the contact side by the control signal output from the IJ control circuit 50. , the analog switch 62 is switched to the contact a side, and the high frequency signal output from the erase circuit 63 is supplied to the read/write head 32 via the analog switch 62, 61, 49. As a result, an alternating magnetic field is supplied from the head 32 along the surface of the magnetic stripe 16.

In this case, on the surface of the magnetic stripe 16 or on the seventh
In the magnetic card 9 having the structure shown in the figure, if a commercially available magnetic tape 11 is attached on the surface of the magnetic concealment layer 9C facing the magnetic recording part of the magnetic recording part 1I9b, when data is rewritten, , data is also written on the magnetic tape 11.

However, the level adjustment circuit 6 then reaches a level that will not destroy the data written on the magnetic stripe 16 of the magnetic card 9 or the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic recording layer 9C.
By supplying the erase signal attenuated by step 4 to the magnetic head 32, the data written on the magnetic tape 11 during rewriting is erased (step 75).Next, the magnetic card 9 is ejected from the card insertion slot. be done.

In the above embodiment, the function of performing an erasing operation to the extent that the data written in the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic card 9 is not destroyed is provided by supplying a high frequency erasing signal to the magnetic head 32 via the level adjustment circuit 64. This is achieved by
This functionality can also be achieved by, but not limited to, the following means: That is, by arranging a permanent magnet with a weak magnetic force that does not destroy the data in the vicinity of the card insertion slot 10 or in a position facing the path where the magnetic card 9 enters and exits, the data can be reproduced on the magnetic card 9. After being written, when the card is ejected from the card slot 10, the data copied on the magnetic tape attached to the surface of the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic card 9 can be erased.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides a magnetic card payment system in which payment can be made using a magnetic card on which data including variable information such as an advance payment amount is magnetically recorded, in which data written in the magnetic recording portion of the magnetic card is provided. Since the structure is provided with a degaussing means that supplies a magnetic field strong enough not to destroy the magnetic field along the surface of the magnetic recording section after data has been rewritten, the data written on the magnetic recording section of the magnetic card can be removed. can be prevented from being copied.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a magnetic card used in the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a vending machine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the magnetic card reading/writing device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the magnetic card reading/writing device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit used in the magnetic card reading/writing device, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a program executed by the control circuit, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of the magnetic card. be. 1... Vending machine, 9... Magnetic card, 50...
Control circuit, 63... Erasing circuit, 64... Level adjustment circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a magnetic card payment system in which payment can be made using a magnetic card on which data including variable information such as the prepaid amount is magnetically recorded, a magnetic field of a strength that does not destroy the data written in the magnetic recording part of the magnetic card is applied. A magnetic card payment system comprising a degaussing means for supplying data along the surface of the magnetic recording portion after data has been rewritten.