JPH08180164A - Prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a prepaid card from illegally being forged by providing an initial code area where value information is written on one side of the pre paid card, arranging a stripe pattern in parallel to it, and providing a balance code area in parallel to the other side crossing one side. CONSTITUTION: This prepaid card is provided with the initial code area 12 where money amount information is written in linear recording code divided along one side 13 of a prepaid card main body 11, the stripe pattern 26 which is arranged at a specific pitch in parallel to the money amount information, and the balance code area 17 where pieces 18 and 19 of information, etc., in linear recording code showing the balance that the prepaid card has in the process of prepaid card use are written. If the card is illegally forged, the stripe pattern is disconnected and even when it is connected to another card, their connection point is detected to invalidate the value information, thereby preventing an illegal act such as forging.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid card with improved reliability against unauthorized use such as modification.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Bar codes for product management are attached to products currently on the market. This bar code is assigned to each product provider, but the bar code allocation is approaching its limit with the diversification of product types. For this reason, various systems using a two-dimensional recording code as a new code have been developed, and are used in a wide range of fields such as telephone companies and transportation companies for sales systems using prepaid cards with advance payment. Here, there are the following codes in the two-dimensional recording code or the two-dimensional data code. Divide one rectangle into 4 segments like a square and divide the rectangle into 1
As a unit, each segment is 1 digit of binary number and 4 digits 16
It represents the data of a base number. That is, 1 for each digit
It is a two-dimensional recording code or a two-dimensional data code that records a 0-bit code in black and white.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of a conventional prepaid card in which the two-dimensional recording code is written. In the figure, 1 is a prepaid card body, 2 is an initial code area in which the amount information initially set along with one side of the prepaid card body 1 by payment advance is written by a two-dimensional recording code and the number of the displayed amount, Three
Is a remaining amount code area in which amount information indicating the amount of remaining amount in the process of using the prepaid card is written by the two-dimensional recording code and the number of the displayed amount, which is sequentially written downward in parallel with the initial code area 2. .

FIG. 7 is a back side view showing the back side of the prepaid card body 1, and 4 is key information 4a for writing in the initial code area 2 and the balance code area 3 or reading the written two-dimensional recording code. Is an invisible recording / writing area in which is written invisible, and the invisible recording / writing area 4 is set in advance for each prepaid card.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the prepaid card body 1. Reference numerals 5 and 6 are surface layers covering the surface of the prepaid card, and 7 is a heat-sensitive layer formed between the surface layers 5 and 6.
2 of the initial code area 2 and the balance code area 3
When the heat-sensitive layer 7 is heated, the dimension recording code and the number are displayed such that the ink at that position becomes visible.

[0006]

Since the conventional prepaid card is constructed as described above, for example, in FIG. 6, the prepaid card 1 is laterally arranged between the initial code area 2 and the balance code area 3. It is conceivable that there will be an inconvenience such as tampering such as modification in which the remaining initial code area 22 and the remaining code area of another prepaid card with a small set amount are connected by an adhesive or the like after cutting and separating. There was a problem that such measures for fraud prevention were desired.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a prepaid card which effectively prevents fraud such as modification.

[0008]

A prepaid card according to the present invention is a prepaid card in which coded value information is written, and a value coded by a one-dimensional recording code along one side of the prepaid card. An initial code area in which the value information is first set in the prepaid card provided as an area in which information is written, and a stripe pattern arranged in parallel with the value information written in the initial code area,
Coded value information in the process of using the prepaid card is provided with a balance code area in which value information is written along the other side intersecting with the one side of the prepaid card. And

The prepaid card according to the present invention is characterized in that the one-dimensional recording code is a one-dimensional array of data codes in which a rectangle formed by dividing at least four segments in the recording direction is one unit. To do.

[0010]

In the prepaid card according to the present invention, the initial code area is provided along one side of the prepaid card, and the value information encoded by the one-dimensional recording code is written in the initial code area. A striped pattern with a predetermined pitch is arranged in parallel with the information, and the remaining money code area in which the coded value information in the process of using the prepaid card is written is the other side intersecting with the one side of the prepaid card. Since it is provided along the line, the connected stripe pattern will be erased or destroyed by cutting if modification such as disconnection or connection is made illegally.Therefore, read the moire through the reference stripe pattern with a predetermined pitch and read the pattern. The connection surface is detected from the discontinuity or the change in the cycle of the interference fringes, and these value information are Effectively prevent unauthorized, such as remodeling as of.

The prepaid card according to the present invention is
An initial code area is provided along one side of the prepaid card, and value information encoded by a one-dimensional recording code that is a unit of a rectangle divided into four in the recording direction is written in the initial code area. A striped pattern is arranged in parallel with the value information, and further, the value information indicating the remaining amount of the process of using the prepaid card is provided along the other side of the prepaid card, so that fraud such as modification can be prevented. If this is done, the striped pattern is cut off, and even if the card is connected to another card, these connection points are detected and the value information is made invalid, so that fraud such as modification is effectively prevented.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of the prepaid card of this embodiment. In the figure, 11 is a prepaid card body, 12 is an initial code area in which money amount information is written by the one-dimensional recording code divided in the recording direction along one side 13 of the prepaid card body 11, and 14 is an initial code area 12. The amount information is, for example, "10000 yen" that is coded by the one-dimensional recording code and written first. Here, in the one-dimensional recording code of this embodiment, each of the four units of the rectangular unit represents each digit of the binary number, and each unit represents the hexadecimal number. The one-dimensional recording code written in the initial code area 12 shown in FIG. 1 is represented by 7 units. Reference numeral 26 is a stripe pattern having a predetermined pitch, which is arranged in parallel with the amount information 14. Reference numeral 15 is a number representing the amount of "10000 yen" written along the other side 16 of the prepaid card body 11.

Reference numeral 17 is a balance code area in which information 18, 19 etc. by a one-dimensional recording code indicating the balance remaining in the prepaid card in the process of using the prepaid card is written, and the other side of the prepaid card main body 11 It is provided along 16. Reference numeral 20 is a number representing the contents "7000 yen", "4000 yen", etc. of the information 18 indicating the balance of the first and second times written by the one-dimensional recording code, and 21 is written by the one-dimensional recording code. This is a number representing the content "0 yen" of the information 19 indicating the balance of the final round. 22 is an invisible record writing area, 2
Reference numeral 3 is key information written in the invisible record writing area 22.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a prepaid card that has been tampered with illegally. Part 24 of the prepaid card with a small initial amount before use, in which the balance is not written, is partially cut and connected. Connected and replaced with S. When such unauthorized modification is made, in the prepaid card of this embodiment, the amount information 1 written in the initial code area 12 provided along the side 13 of the prepaid card body 1
4, the stripe pattern 26 having a predetermined pitch is printed in parallel with the stripe pattern 26, and the stripe pattern 26 has a structure in which the stripe pattern 26 and the stripe pattern 26A of the prepaid card which is disconnected and connected are connected to each other. 26A
Becomes Therefore, when this is detected, the first written amount information of "10000 yen" is invalidated, and the prepaid card after such modification is made unusable,
Unauthorized use due to unauthorized modification can be prevented.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing the construction of the ticket issuing device 31 for issuing the prepaid card of this embodiment.
Reference numeral 32 is an insertion hole for inserting the prepaid card in order to write the first amount information in the prepaid card in which nothing is written. 33 is a light projecting unit for reading the key information written in the invisible recording / writing area of the prepaid card inserted from the insertion hole 32, and 34 is the key information read from the change in the reflectance of the invisible recording / writing area 22. Is a reading unit for. The light projecting unit 33 and the reading unit 3
4 and 4 form an invisible mark reading head.
Reference numerals 35 and 36 denote prepaid card feed rollers. Three
7 is a writing head for writing the amount information 14 encoded by the one-dimensional recording code on the prepaid card, 3
Reference numeral 8 is a reading head for reading the moire of the amount information 14 and the stripe pattern 26 via a reference stripe pattern having a predetermined pitch, and 39 is a discharge hole of a prepaid card in which an initial code area relating to the amount information 14 is written.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram showing the construction of a prepaid card processing device 41 provided in an automatic vending machine capable of automatically selling goods and pachinko balls for lending using the prepaid card. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the prepaid card processing device 41, unlike the ticket issuing machine which issues a prepaid card, the discharge hole 38 also serves as the insertion hole 32, and the prepaid card inserted from the insertion hole 32 is processed by the feed rollers 35 and 36. After being sent from the left side to the right side inside the device 41 to a predetermined position, it is sent back to the left side again and discharged from the discharge hole 38.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a microcomputer system for controlling the ticket issuing machine 31 and the prepaid card processing device 41. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 is a CPU, 52 is an operation section having various operation buttons, 53 is an input / output port for exchanging signals with the operation section, 54 is a ROM, 55 is a RAM, and 56 is a roller drive for driving a feed roller. , 57 is an amplifier, 58 is an input / output port for exchanging signals for controlling the roller driving section,
Reference numeral 59 is a display unit for displaying the balance of the prepaid card, the name of the purchased product, and the amount of money, and 60 is an interface of the display unit 59.

Reference numeral 61 is a cash accounting unit for recognizing the amount of money to be inserted when the remaining amount of the prepaid card is insufficient and discharging change, and 62 is a signal exchange with the cash accounting unit 41. It is an interface to do. 6
Reference numeral 3 is an interface for exchanging signals with the read head 38, 64 is an interface for exchanging signals with the write head 37, and 65 is an interface for exchanging signals with the invisible mark read head.

In the ticket issuing machine 31, in the prepaid card inserted through the insertion hole 32, first, the key information written in the invisible recording / writing area 22 is read by the light projecting section 33 and the reading section 34 of the invisible mark reading head. The money amount information corresponding to the amount of money inserted from the cash accounting processing unit 61 is coded according to the read key information together with the issuing place and date and time, and the one-dimensional recording code is made by the writing head 37 between the feed rollers 35 and 36. Is written in the initial code area 12 as coded amount information and is discharged from the discharge hole 39. At this time, the striped pattern 14a
Are arranged in parallel with the written amount information.

Further, in the prepaid card processing device 41, the prepaid card inserted from the insertion hole 32 is written in the initial code area 12 in the process of being fed from the left side to the right side by the feed rollers 35 and 36. The remaining amount information 14 and the information indicating the remaining amount written in the remaining amount code area 17 are read. At the same time, the moire is read from the striped pattern 26 via the reference striped pattern. A discontinuous portion or a change in the cycle of interference fringes is detected in the moire, and when detected, the processing is stopped and the display is performed. Further, the invisible mark reading head including the light projecting unit 33 and the reading unit 34 reads the key information written in the invisible recording / writing area 4, and based on this key information, the read amount information 14 and the remaining amount are paid. The information shown is recognized, and the purchase of goods or the number of pachinko ball lending within the recognized balance is permitted. At this time, the inserted prepaid card is stopped at the rightmost position.

When the product purchaser operates the operation keys of the operation section 52 to purchase the product, the prepaid card, which has been stopped at the rightmost position inside the prepaid card processing device until then, reaches the position of the writing head 37. The remaining amount, which is sent and subtracts the amount of money required for purchasing the product, is written under the information indicating the remaining amount that has been written in the remaining amount code area 17 together with the place of payment by the prepaid card and the date and time. After that, the prepaid card is further sent to the left side, and this time, the reading head 38 reads the information indicating the remaining amount written, and the verification is executed to determine whether or not the thermal paper is colored and the remaining amount is correctly written. It As a result, when it is determined that the balance has been correctly written, the prepaid card is ejected from the ejection hole 39.

Although the striped pattern 26 is arranged in parallel with the amount information 14 in the above-described embodiment, the amount information 14 is arranged in parallel with the side 13 of the prepaid card body 11 in parallel. You may make it arrange | position independently from. Alternatively, the initial code area may be recorded so as to be parallel to the balance code area, and only the striped pattern may be printed in a direction intersecting the recording directions of both areas.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the initial code area in which the value information encoded by the one-dimensional recording code is written is provided along one side on one side of the prepaid card, and the initial code area is provided in the initial code area. Since the striped pattern is arranged in parallel with the written value information and the balance code area is provided in parallel with the other side intersecting with the one side, the striped pattern will be destroyed if the prepaid card is illegally modified. In this case, it is possible to detect this and invalidate the modified prepaid card to make it unusable. Therefore, there is an effect that illegal modification can be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an illegally modified prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing a configuration of a ticket issuing machine that issues a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram showing a configuration of a prepaid card processing device provided in an automatic vending machine capable of automatically selling products using a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer system that controls a ticket issuing machine and a prepaid card processing device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional prepaid card.

FIG. 7 is a back view showing a conventional prepaid card.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 prepaid card body 12 initial code area 14 amount information 14a striped pattern 17 balance code area

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G07F 7/08 G07F 7/08 L

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card in which coded value information is written, wherein the prepaid card is provided as an area along one side of the prepaid card in which the value information coded by a one-dimensional recording code is written. The initial code area in which the value information is written first, the stripe pattern arranged in parallel with the value information written in the initial code area, and the process of using the prepaid card are coded. A prepaid card, comprising: a balance code area in which the value information is written along the other side where the value information intersects with the one side of the prepaid card. 2. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the one-dimensional recording code is a one-dimensional array of data codes in which a rectangle formed by dividing the one-dimensional recording code into at least four segments is one unit. card.