JPH0568782B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a security system for magnetic cards,
In particular, writing synchronization information on the magnetic stripe of a magnetic card provided with a magnetic stripe on which information can be magnetically written, and at the time of writing, forming a point where the synchronization information is disturbed at a certain position in the magnetic stripe, and Use of a magnetic card in which value information is written based on the synchronization information, and the value information is valid on the condition that the synchronization information is present when the magnetic card is used, and the disturbance of the synchronization information is at a certain position on the magnetic stripe. Regarding security methods in systems.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Systems for making payments using magnetic cards are used in various fields, such as ticket vending machines for transportation facilities, card-operated public telephones, and game machines.
In such a magnetic card usage system, a user pays a certain amount of money in advance to a service provider, etc., receives a magnetic card with value information written on it, and
After that, each time a service is provided, the value information on the magnetic card is deducted to make a payment and settlement, and the system allows the user to use the service at any time until the value information on the magnetic card becomes zero.

Such a magnetic card usage system has the advantage that there is no need to prepare cash each time the card is used, and it is easy to handle.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, as the above-described magnetic card usage system has become widespread, situations have arisen in which magnetic cards are used illegally. This is mainly carried out by writing value information in a predetermined manner onto a new magnetic card on which no value information has been written, and then using this magnetic card. Therefore, countermeasures against such unauthorized use have been desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a security system for a magnetic card usage system that solves the above-mentioned problems and ensures proper usage of magnetic cards.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention, which has solved the above-mentioned problems, allows users to pay for services etc. using a magnetic card having a magnetic recording medium on which value information is written, and each time the payment is made, the value information of the magnetic recording medium is recorded. In a magnetic card usage system that allows use of a magnetic card until the value information becomes zero, the magnetic card is provided with a magnetic recording medium on which synchronization information can be written, and the synchronization information is written on the magnetic recording medium. At the same time, when writing, a point where the writing of synchronization information is irregular is formed at a certain position in the magnetic stripe, and value information is written based on the synchronization information, and when the magnetic card is used, the synchronization information is present, Moreover, the value information is made valid on the condition that the disturbance of the synchronization information is at a fixed position on the magnetic stripe.

[Effect]

It is assumed that the magnetic recording medium of the magnetic card is provided with an area where value information and other necessary information can be written, and an area where synchronization information can be written. Synchronization information is written into one of the magnetic recording media of the magnetic card, for example, at the time of shipment from the factory, and when writing, a writing error is formed at a certain position of the magnetic stripe.

When writing value information and other necessary information to the other magnetic recording medium of the magnetic card, the writing can be done only when the magnetic recording medium has synchronization information.

When using a magnetic card and reading the magnetic card, value information and other information can only be read if the magnetic recording medium has synchronization information and there is a writing error at a certain position on the magnetic stripe. Also, when the payment is completed,
Even when value information is reduced, it is rewritten on the condition that the above synchronization information is present.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a magnetic card used in an embodiment of the present invention. This magnetic card 1 is a flexible one made of thin plastic or paper, and the longitudinal direction of the magnetic card 1 is Two magnetic stripes 2 and 3 are provided as magnetic recording media coated with a magnetic material with a width of about 1/10 of the card surface, and one of the magnetic stripes 3 has a first magnetic stripe.
As shown in the figure, at the factory where the magnetic card 1 was manufactured, synchronization information such as a timing clock that formed a writing disturbance point in the middle of the stripe 3 was written, and on the other magnetic stripe 2, as shown in FIG. There is no writing like that. This writing will be described later. On the surface of the magnetic card 1 other than the magnetic stripes 2 and 3, there is a punch hole area for visually checking the remaining number of times, and the number of remaining times is printed on the area, and on other parts, there is a computer game card, the name of the issuer, and the number of remaining times. The amount sold is printed.
Such magnetic cards are delivered from a factory to a service provider such as a game center.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a synchronous information, etc. writing device that writes synchronous information, etc. to the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 in a factory or the like where the magnetic card 1 is manufactured, and shows a storage section in which the magnetic card 1 is stored. A card ejecting mechanism 5 that can take out only one magnetic card 1 is provided at the bottom of the card 4, and a belt 8 stretched between rollers 6 and 7 is provided at the bottom of this ejecting mechanism 5. A pair of rollers 9 are provided on the left side of the roller 6 in the drawing. A pair of rollers 10 is further provided at a certain interval on the left side of the pair of rollers 9 in the figure, and a pair of rollers 11 is similarly provided on the left side of the pair of rollers 10 in the figure. An optical reading type card detector 12 and a magnetic head 12 for writing a timing clock (synchronization information) on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 are provided between the rollers 9 and 10. . Further, between the rollers 10 and 11, there is an elastic plate-like body 14 such as a rubber plate, which fixes one end of the elastic plate-like body 14, which creates points of writing irregularities during writing of the timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3. , an optical reading type card detector 15 which is provided with the other end protruding above the path of the magnetic card 1, and which detects whether the magnetic card 1 has been ejected from the device.
is provided. The rollers 9, 10, 11
consists of a driving roller and a driven roller, and the driving roller of each of the rollers 9, 10, 11 is driven by a motor 16, and the roller 6 of the belt 8 is also driven by the motor 16. It is designed to be driven. The operation of this motor 16 is controlled by a control circuit 17. The control circuit 17 is connected to the motor 16, the card ejection mechanism 5, the card detectors 12 and 15, and the timing clock generation circuit 18, and rotates the motor 16 to cause the card ejection mechanism 5 to receive the magnetic card 1. A series of processes such as extracting the clock and operating the timing clock generating circuit 18 can be performed. Note that 19 is a storage box that stores the magnetic card 1 after synchronization information has been written on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a magnetic card issuing machine installed by a service provider, which is used in an embodiment of the present invention. It has a storage section for storing the card 1, and has an insertion slot 21 for inserting banknotes on the front side thereof, and a display device 22 for displaying the amount of the inserted banknotes. An issue button 23 and a cancel button 24 are provided, and a tray 25 for receiving the issued magnetic card 1' is provided below the issue button 23 and cancel button 24, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the signal processing section of the magnetic card issuing machine 5 used in the embodiment of the present invention, and the banknote processing mechanism 30 determines the denomination of the banknote inserted from the insertion slot 21, and This is displayed on the display device 22.
When the magnetic card issue button 23 is pressed, the denomination and issue command are given to the magnetic card issue processing circuit 31, and the cancel button 24 is displayed.
This causes cancel processing to be performed when is pressed.

On the other hand, near the card exit of the tray 25, a pair of rollers 32 and 33 are provided above and below in the figure. roller 3
4 and 35 are provided at the top and bottom in the figure, and further a pair of rollers 36 and 37 are arranged at the top and bottom in the figure with a certain interval between them. A spanning conveyor belt 40 is provided. Above the conveyor belt 40 in the figure, there is provided a take-out mechanism 41 that takes out only one magnetic card 1 when a take-out command is input, and above this take-out mechanism 41 there is a storage for storing the magnetic cards 1, 1, . . . A section 42 is provided. The storage section 42 and the take-out mechanism 41 are provided for each denomination, and a conveyor belt 40 extends below the take-out mechanism 41. roller 3
A card detector 43 is provided between the rollers 4 and 35 and the rollers 36 and 37.
33 and the rollers 34 and 35 are a read-only magnetic head 44 for reading synchronization information such as the timing clock of the magnetic stripe 3, a write-only magnetic head 45 for writing value information and other necessary information,
A card detector 46 is provided.

Detection signals from the card detectors 43 and 46 are input to a magnetic card issuing processing circuit 31 consisting of a microcomputer system. Similarly, a signal from the read-only magnetic head 44 is input to the magnetic card issuing processing circuit 31. Each control command signal from the magnetic card issue processing circuit 31 is given to a motor 47 that drives the rollers 32 to 37 and the take-out mechanism 41, and the write signal from the magnetic card issue processing circuit 31 is for writing only. The magnetic head 45 is provided with a magnetic field.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a magnetic card 1' issued by the magnetic card issuing machine 20, and a data format is schematically shown in the diagram on the magnetic stripe 2' of the magnetic card 1'. In this data format, the order of writing is "STX", "Issuing company name code", "Remaining number of times code",
"ETX" is recorded. "STX" indicates the reading start direction, "Issuing company name code" is a predetermined code with the name of the company that issued it, and "Remaining number code" is a code that is worth the number of times equivalent to the printed amount at the time of issue. Each information is recorded as a code, and "EXT" indicates the end of reading.
Incidentally, the magnetic stripe 2' is provided with a blank portion, and the blank portion can be used as required.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a card-type game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the card-type game machine 50 has a housing 51.
has a table-shaped exterior, and a display surface of a CRT display 52 is provided on the top surface of this housing 51.
In addition, the upper surface is covered with a transparent plate 53 that protects the CRT display 52, and an operation panel 54 is provided on one side of the housing 51, and the operation panel 54 includes a start/operation button 55 and a cancel button necessary for operation. - A game selection button 56 and a joy stick 57 are provided, and a card insertion slot 58 is provided on the right side of the operation panel 54 in the figure, and a magnetic card 1' having magnetic stripes 2' and 3 can be inserted into the card insertion slot 58. The card type game machine 50 can be inserted to enjoy games on the card type game machine 50.

FIG. 7 shows a card reading/writing device 60 provided inside the card game machine 50.
Near the card insertion slot 58, a pair of rollers 61, 62 are provided above and below in the figure, and with respect to the pair of rollers 61, 62, a pair of rollers 63, 64 are provided at a constant interval on the opposite side of the card insertion slot 58. are arranged above and below in the figure, and a pair of rollers 65 and 66 are further arranged at a constant interval on the opposite side of the card insertion slot 58 to this pair of rollers 64 and 66, and these The rollers are placed on the same horizontal line. A card detector 6 is inserted between the rollers 61 and 62 and the rollers 63 and 64 from the card insertion slot 58 side.
7, a read-only magnetic head 68, and a read/write magnetic head 69. roller 6
A card detector 71 is provided on the opposite side of the cards 5 and 66 (the side opposite to the card insertion slot 58).

The detection signals from the card detectors 67, 71 are sent to a control circuit 70 consisting of a microcomputer system.
It is configured so that it is entered in Similarly, read/
The signal from the write magnetic head 69 is input to the control circuit 50 in the same manner as described above. The signal from the read-only magnetic head 68 is separated into synchronization information D1 and position signal D2 by the signal preprocessing circuit 72, and the synchronization information D1 and position signal D2 are sent to the control circuit 7.
0 respectively. This signal preprocessing circuit 72 receives control signals from the control circuit 72.
The operation is controlled by DC. still,
The configuration of the signal preprocessing circuit 72 will be described later. Each control output from the control circuit 70 is provided to a read/write magnetic head 69 and a motor 73 that drives the rollers 61 to 66, respectively, and is also supplied to a game circuit 74 on the card game machine 50 side. be.

The card detectors 67, 71 consist of light emitting parts 67a, 71a that emit light, and optical sensor parts 67b, 71b that receive light from the light emitting parts 67a, 71a. ′
This makes it possible to detect.

On the other hand, to the right of the rollers 65 and 66 in the figure, a pair of rollers 76 and 77 are placed above and below the figure at a certain interval.
are arranged, and these pair of rollers 76, 7
7, a pair of rollers 78 and 79 are further disposed on the upper and lower sides of the figure at a predetermined interval to the right in the figure, and a permanent magnet (or electromagnet) 80 is placed between these rollers 76 and 77 and rollers 78 and 79. At least the magnetic stripes 2, 2 and 3 are provided with an interval that allows the magnetic card 1' to pass through the permanent magnet 80.
A limit switch 82 is provided at a predetermined interval (slightly less than the length in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic card 1') to the right of these rollers 78 and 79 in the drawing.
2 is connected to a control circuit 70.

Note that a punch mechanism for punching a predetermined hole in the magnetic card 1' when the fee is reduced is omitted. Also,
The motor 73 is configured to be able to drive any of the rollers 61 to 66, 76 to 79, the rollers 61, 63, 65, 76, 78, or the rollers 62, 64, 66, 77, 79. It is designed to be able to rotate forward or reverse depending on the control drive signal.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the signal preprocessing circuit 72.
includes an amplifier circuit 83 that amplifies the reproduced signal from the read-only magnetic head 68, a limiter circuit 84 that limits the amplified signal from the amplifier circuit 83, and a time interval measurement based on the output signal from the amplifier 83. A comparison circuit 85 that forms a signal (also referred to as a time interval measurement signal), and the comparison circuit 8
The output signal from 5 measures the time interval between the upper and lower peaks of the timing clock recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1, and the signal is "1" when the time interval is normal and "0" when it is abnormal. A time interval measuring circuit 86 composed of a monostable multivibrator etc. that outputs D2, and a limiter circuit 8
4 and the operation of the time interval measurement circuit 86 by the control circuit 7.
It is configured to include a control circuit 87 that performs control based on the command DS from 0.

Further, the time interval measurement circuit 86 includes a gate circuit 8
8, and a first monostable multivibrator 89 which takes in the output from the gate circuit 88 and is activated thereby to operate for a period slightly longer than the time interval T1.
, a delay circuit 90 that slightly delays the signal from the gate circuit 88, a second monostable multivibrator 91 that is activated by the output from the delay circuit 90 and operates for a time shorter than the time interval T2, and the gate circuit 88. and a NAND circuit 92 that NANDs the output from the second monostable multivibrator 91 and the first monostable multivibrator 8.
9 and a NAND circuit 92, and a flip-flop 94 which is set by a signal from the OR circuit 93 and reset by a reset signal from the circuit 87. becomes the signal D2, and serves as the opening/closing signal for the gate path 88.

The operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

<Writing operation of synchronous information etc.> The writing operation of synchronous information etc. will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10.

First, a command is issued from the control circuit 17 to rotate the motor 16, and then a command is issued from the control circuit 17 to the card take-out mechanism 5 to take out only one magnetic card 1 (step S100). As a result, the magnetic card 1 stored in the storage section 4
is dropped onto the belt 8 and conveyed to the roller 9 side. The magnetic card 1 is conveyed on a belt 8, sandwiched between a pair of rollers 9, and further conveyed to the left in the figure. When the leading edge of the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detector 12 (step S101), the output of the timing clock generating circuit 18 is detected by the write head 1.
3, and writing of the timing clock onto the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 is started (step S102). When the tip of the magnetic card 1 comes into contact with the elastic plate 14 during writing,
This shock causes an error in writing to the magnetic stripe 3 (FIG. 10). This writing is continued until the card detector 15 detects the leading edge of the magnetic card 1 (step S103). Next, when the terminal of the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detector 15 (step S104), it is determined whether writing to a predetermined number of magnetic cards 1 has been completed, and if all the writing has been completed, the process is terminated. However, if the total number of sheets has not been completed, the process returns to step S100. By performing such an operation, a timing clock is recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1, in which a point with extremely bad wow and flutter is formed at a certain distance from the starting point of the magnetic card 1. It means that it was done.

In this way, the magnetic card 1 with the timing clock recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 is supplied to a service provider from a factory or the like that manufactures the magnetic card 1.

<Magnetic Card Issuance> First, the operation of issuing a magnetic card in which value information is written to the magnetic card 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart shown to explain the magnetic card issuing operation. A banknote is inserted into the insertion slot 21 of the magnetic card issuing machine 20. (step
S200). The banknote processing mechanism 30 takes in a banknote from the insertion slot 21, determines the denomination, and displays the denomination on the display device 22 (step S201). Next, the banknote processing mechanism 30 determines whether the magnetic card issuing button 32 or the cancel button 24 is pressed (step S202), and if the cancel button 24 is pressed, the banknote processing mechanism 30 processes the banknotes. It is returned to the insertion slot 21 (step S203), and the process ends. step
When it is determined in S202 that the magnetic card issue button 23 has been pressed, the banknote processing mechanism 30 gives the "denomination" and "issuance command" to the magnetic card issue processing circuit 31 (step S204). The motor 47 is driven by the magnetic card issuing processing circuit 31, and the ejecting mechanism 41 for the magnetic card 1 of the denomination concerned
A take-out command is given to (step S205). The take-out mechanism 41 given the command takes out only one magnetic card 1 from the storage section 42, places it on the conveyor belt 40, and carries it to the rollers 36, 37 by the conveyor belt 40 (step 1).
S206). When the magnetic card 1 is moved to the left in the figure by the rollers 36 and 37 and detected by the card detector 43 (step S207), it becomes ready for writing. After the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detector 43, the timing clock is read out from the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 by the read-only magnetic head 44 (step S208). information and value information are written on the magnetic stripe 2 of the magnetic card 1 (step S209). When the writing to the magnetic card 1 is completed, a notification to that effect is sent from the magnetic card issuing processing circuit 31 to the banknote processing mechanism 30 (step
S210). As a result, the magnetic card 1 becomes a magnetic card 1' on which necessary information is written. Next, when the end of the magnetic card 1' is detected by the card detector 46 (step S211), the motor 47 is stopped after a certain period of time has passed (step S212). As a result, the fifth tray in which the necessary information is written is placed in the tray 25.
The magnetic card 1' shown in the figure is ejected. This magnetic card 1' is issued to the user. In addition, step
If there is no synchronization information in S208, end the process,
The magnetic card 1' is stored in a predetermined location within the magnetic card issuing machine 20.

<Utilization of Magnetic Card> FIG. 12 is a flowchart shown to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

The magnetic card 1' issued by the magnetic card issuing machine 20 is inserted into the card insertion slot 58 of the card game machine 50 as shown in FIG.
S300). When the magnetic card 1' is sandwiched between the rollers 61 and 62 and further inserted into the card detector 67, light from the optical sensor section 67b of the card detector 67 is blocked by the magnetic card 1'. As a result, the magnetic card 1' can be detected (step S301). Then, the detection signal of the magnetic card 1' is supplied from the card detector 67 to the control circuit 71, and the control circuit 70
By driving the rollers 61 to 66, the magnetic card 1' is sent to the right in the figure (step S302). The magnetic card 1' has rollers 61, 62,
When passing through rollers 63, 64 and rollers 65, 66, the magnetic stripe portion 3 is printed on a read-only magnetic head 68 provided between rollers 61, 63.
Further, the two portions of the magnetic stripe are brought into sliding contact with the read/write magnetic head 69, and the timing clock written on the magnetic stripe 3 is read out (step S303). magnetic stripe 3
The signals read out from the magnetic head 68 through the read-only magnetic head 68 are as shown in FIG. 13a. This is input to the amplifier 83 of the signal preprocessing circuit 72 and amplified. The output signal of the amplifier 83 is also the first
It is similar to Figure 3a. This output signal is sent to the limiter 8.
4 and a comparison circuit 85. Limiter 84 separates timing clock D1 as shown in FIG. 13b from the signal (FIG. 13a).

On the other hand, the output signal of the amplifier 83 is as shown in FIG. 14 when enlarged, and is converted into a signal as shown in FIG. 14 by the comparator circuit 85.

Next, these will be explained in detail.

FIG. 14 is a time chart shown to explain the operation of the signal preprocessing device 72 when the time interval is long. In FIG. is the output signal from the amplifier 23, is the digital signal obtained from the digital signal, is the differential signal obtained from the digital signal, is the bit interval measurement signal obtained based on the signal, is the time interval obtained by the bit interval signal The output signals from the measurement circuit 86 are respectively shown, and each horizontal axis represents time. still,
1 to 2 are signals formed within the comparator circuit 85, and are output as output signals of the comparator circuit 85.

On the other hand, the signal output from the amplifier 83 (see FIG. 4) is first converted into the signal shown in FIG. 4 in the comparator circuit 85. Next, the signal shown in FIG. 4 is similarly differentiated in the comparator circuit 85 to produce the differential signal shown in the same figure, thereby obtaining a bit interval measurement signal as shown in the same figure. This bit interval measurement signal is supplied to a time interval measurement circuit 86 such as a monostable multivibrator, and starts the first monostable multivibrator 89 (time interval measurement circuit 86) at fixed time intervals T1 or T2. The multivibrator 8
9 will always be output as "1".
However, as shown in Figure 4, if there is an abnormal point in the recording, the monostable multivibrator 89
Since the time interval measurement circuit 86 is not activated by the bit interval measurement signal (FIG. 4) every fixed time T1 or T2, its output becomes "0" (see FIG. 4).

15 to 15 are time charts shown to explain the operation of the signal preprocessing device 72 when the time interval is short.
It is the same as that in Figure 4. FIG. 15 shows the output signal from the delay circuit 90 through the gate circuit 88. FIG. 15 shows the output of the second monostable multivibrator 91 activated by the signal. FIG. 15 shows the output from the NAND circuit 92. During normal operation, the output of the NAND circuit 92 is always "1", but when the time interval becomes shorter than T2, the output of the NAND circuit 92 becomes "0" and the flip-flop 94 is cut to "0".

Therefore, the time from the start of reading the timing clock to the point at which the output from the circuit 86 becomes "0" is counted, and this counted value becomes a predetermined value (the write disturbance formed when recording the timing clock). If the position of the point), it is determined to be normal and the value information can be used.

Next, returning to the time chart of FIG. 12, explanation will be given. When the signals D1 and D2 from the signal preprocessing circuit 72 are detected (step S303), the information written in the magnetic stripe 2' is read based on the timing clock D1, and the information in the control circuit 70 is read. It is temporarily stored in the register, and when the signal D2 is "1", the time is counted from the start of reading the timing clock (step S304). When the magnetic card 1' is further fed by the rollers 65 and 66 and the signal D2 becomes "0", the above-mentioned time counting is stopped, this time count value is memorized, and the end of the magnetic card 1' is The part is the card detector 71
When detected, a signal is supplied from the card detector 71 to the control circuit 70, so the control circuit 70 stops the motor 73 (step
S305). The control circuit 70 determines whether the "issuer name code" temporarily stored in the register belongs to the company and whether the time count value is within a predetermined value (step S306), and determines whether the "issuer name code" temporarily stored in the register belongs to the company or not. When the time diameter value is within a predetermined value, it is determined whether there is any remaining number in the "remaining number code" (step S307). In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a magnetic card 1' issued by the company and never used is inserted, so steps S300 to S300 are inserted.
It will be processed in step S307.

If there is any remaining code in the "remaining number code" temporarily stored in the register in step S307, the control circuit 70
Store the "remaining number of times" in the storage area M of the storage device in the memory and clear the register (step
S308).

Next, the use determination flag F in the control circuit 70 is set to "0" (step S309). The control circuit 70 issues a game enable command to the game circuit 74 (step S310). And the control circuit 70
is the game start signal input (step
Step S311) and enters a waiting state to see if a cancel signal is input (step S312). On the other hand, the game circuit 74 displays on the CRT display 52 that the game can be used. Here, when the user starts the game, the game circuit 74 supplies the use start signal to the control circuit 70, so the control circuit 70 uses the storage area N for determining the number of times the game is used.
The content of is (initially “0”) and “1” is added,
The addition result is stored again in storage area N (step S313). Next, in order to determine the usage status, flag F is set to "1" (step
S314). Next, when the control circuit 70 receives the game end signal from the game circuit 74 (step
S315), the control circuit 70 subtracts the contents of area N from the contents of storage area M, determines whether the subtraction result is zero (step S316), and returns to step S310 if it is not zero.

In the case of the embodiment, if the magnetic card 1' that has never been used is inserted into the card game machine 50 and the game is played three times in a row, the steps are as follows.
After passing through S300 to S309, steps S310 to S316 are repeated three times. Therefore, it is clear that area M is "10" and area N is "3".

Next, when the user presses the selection button 56 of the card game machine 50 and a cancel signal is supplied from the game circuit 74 to the control circuit 70, the control circuit 70 sets the use determination flag F to "1". ”
is set (step
S317). Flag F is set when the card game machine 50 is used even once, so in this case, the control circuit 70 moves to step S318. That is, by driving the motor 73, the roller 61
-66 is rotated to move the magnetic card 1' to the left in the figure (step S318). When the magnetic card 1' moves to the specified position, the control circuit 70 operates on the condition that the timing clock D1 is present on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1' (step S319).
is the storage area M in the read/write magnetic head 69.
The result of subtracting the contents of the storage area N from the contents is given, and a new remaining number of times is recorded on the magnetic stripe 2' (step S320). Further, when the magnetic card 1' reaches a specified position, the control circuit 70 controls the solenoid and motor 73 of the punching mechanism (not shown) to punch holes at positions corresponding to the contents of the recording area M and the storage area N. A command is given to punch a hole at a predetermined position in the magnetic card 1' (step S321). In the case of the example,
Since the card-type game machine 50 was used three times using the magnetic card 1' that was never used, naturally three punch holes were punched from the first (remaining number of times "10") part. In other words, the remaining number of times is "10", "9",
A punch hole will be made at the "8" part.

Next, when the magnetic card 1' is detected by the card detector 67 (step S322), the end of the magnetic card 1' opposite to the card insertion slot 58 is detected by the card detector 67 (step S322).
When this is detected, the control circuit 70 stops driving the motor 73 (step S324). About half of the magnetic card 1' protrudes from the card insertion slot 58. Moreover, the magnetic card 1' is
Since the game was played three times using magnetic card 1' that was never used, there were three punch holes P ("10",
``9'', ``8'') will be opened.

Then, the storage areas M and N are cleared (step S325), and the series of processing ends.

Meanwhile, in step S303, the timing clock D is
1, and in step S306, the control circuit 70 determines that the card is issued by another company and the signal D2 is a specified number, or in step S319, the control circuit 70 determines that there is no timing clock D1 on the magnetic stripe 3. If determined by the circuit 70, the process moves to step S330. That is, in step S330, the control circuit 70 drives the motor 73 to rotate the rollers 61 to 79 to carry the magnetic card 1' toward the card insertion slot 58, and then moves to step S322, whereupon the magnetic card 1' is transferred to the card insertion slot 58 side. Perform a series of processing.

Further, in step S316, the control circuit 70
When it is determined that the result of subtracting the contents of storage area N from the contents of storage area M is zero,
Alternatively, when the control circuit 70 determines in step S307 that there is no remaining number of times set in the register, the control circuit 70 issues an "unavailable display" instruction to the game circuit 74 (step S340);
Then, the control circuit 70 drives the motor 73 to rotate the rollers 61 to 66 in the forward direction to feed the magnetic card 1' in the direction of the rollers 76 and 78, passing between the permanent magnet 80 and the iron plate 8 (step S341). This operation is continued until the limit switch 82 detects the end of the card 1' (step S342). Next, the process moves to step S318, and a series of subsequent processes are performed. In this way, the magnetic card 1' is attached to the permanent magnet 80.
By passing it between the iron plate 81 and the iron plate 81, the recorded contents of the magnetic stripes 2 and 3 will be erased.

In addition, once the magnetic card 1' is inserted into the card insertion slot 58,
When the cancel button of the selection button 56 is pressed after inserting the
After S312 is processed, it appears in step S317,
In step S317, since F=0 in this case, the process moves to step S230. In this embodiment described above, a magnetic card 1' is used, which is inserted into the card slot 58 of the card game machine 50, and after the game is completed, the card is ejected from the card slot 58 again. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use a type in which the insertion port and the discharge port are separate.

In addition, the magnetic heads 44, 45 and the magnetic head 6
8 and 69 are shown arranged on the left and right sides in the figure, but these are arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the paper.
In addition, the magnetic heads 44, 45, or the magnetic head 6
8 and 69 are shown separately, but the magnetic heads 44,
45 or magnetic heads 68, 6.
9 may be integrally formed.

In the above embodiment, when there is a timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1, necessary information is written and a magnetic card 1' is issued, and when the issued magnetic card 1' is used, the magnetic stripe 3 The value information of the magnetic stripe card can be read only by a timing clock and a predetermined number of specific signals, and if the read value information has a remaining number of credits, the use of the device such as a game machine is prohibited. In addition to rewriting the number of games remaining at the end of the game on the magnetic stripe, punch holes are made in a predetermined area of the magnetic card according to the number of games remaining and the number of games used when the card is first inserted into the game machine. Furthermore, when the value information is no longer present, the recorded contents of the magnetic stripes 2 and 3 are erased. Therefore, any device having such a configuration falls within the scope of this embodiment.

The above embodiment includes a series of steps in which time is counted from the timing clock reading start point when the output of the time interval measuring circuit 86 is "1", and time counting is stopped when the output becomes "0". Although the operations are performed in software, they may also be implemented in hardware. For example, a pulse generator may be attached to the rotating shaft of the roller 61 so that the number of rotations can be detected by pulses, and the pulses from the pulse generator may be guided through a gate to a counter and counted by the counter. Even if the gate is opened and closed using the output of the time interval measuring circuit 86, it is possible to measure the position of the point where the magnetic recording is disturbed. In this case, the time interval counting circuit 86 is configured to hold "0" once it has been detected, and is reset by the control circuit 87.

Further, although writing errors on the magnetic stripe are obtained by applying the magnetic card 1 to an elastic plate, this may also be formed electrically.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, timing synchronization information written on a specific magnetic stripe and a point where the writing of the synchronization information is disordered are at a predetermined position on the magnetic stripe, and other magnetic stripes are Since information can be written to and read from the stripe, and the synchronization information for timing is erased when there is no value information, it is completely possible to prevent unauthorized tampering or writing of information on the magnetic card.
Moreover, it has the effect of reliably preventing unauthorized use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a state before writing of a magnetic card used in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a synchronous information etc. writing device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a writing device for synchronous information, etc. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the signal processing system of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the magnetic card after writing, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the magnetic card issuing machine according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the signal processing system of the game machine; FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration; 9 is an operation waveform diagram of the synchronous information etc. writing device, FIG. 10 is a flowchart shown to explain the operation of the synchronous information etc. writing device, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart shown to explain the magnetic card issuing operation, FIG. 12 is a flowchart shown to explain the operation of using a magnetic card.
FIGS. 13 to 15 are time charts shown to explain the operation of the signal preprocessing circuit. 1... Magnetic card, 2, 3... Magnetic stripe, 20... Magnetic card issuing machine, 50... Card type game machine.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When a service, etc. is provided using a magnetic card having a magnetic recording medium on which value information is written, the payment is made, and each time the payment is made, the value information of the magnetic recording medium is reduced, and the value information becomes zero. In a magnetic card usage system that enables the use of magnetic cards until A point where synchronization information is irregularly written is formed at a certain position in the stripe, and value information is written based on the synchronization information, and when a magnetic card is used, the synchronization information is present, and the irregularity of synchronization information is on the magnetic stripe. A security method in a magnetic card usage system characterized by validating value information on the condition that the card is in a certain position.