JPH08180165A - Prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a prepaid card from illegally being forged by providing N divided identical recording areas which are written by the digits of code data of value information as an initial code and a balance code area on a side of the prepaid card. CONSTITUTION: Information 18 indicating the balance that the prepaid card has in the process of the use of the prepaid card together with the store where a money amount payment process using the prepaid card is done and its date and time is written, and divided and recorded by the digits in the identical-digit recording areas 17a-17d of the initial code and balance code areas. Four identical-digit recording areas are provided along the other side 13 (crossing one side 16 at right angles) of the prepaid card main body 11. Then if the prepaid card is illegally forged by cutting and connecting the prepaid card, the initial code or balance code is destroyed and the information becomes meaningless.

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. Therefore, various systems using a two-dimensional recording code as a new code have been developed, and are used as a sales system using a prepaid card with prepaid payment in a wide range of fields such as telephone companies and transportation companies. Here, there are the following codes in the two-dimensional recording code or two-dimensional data code. One rectangle is divided into four segments like a square and the rectangle is divided into one.
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. 7 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 the prepaid card body, 2 is the amount information initially set by prepaid along one side of the prepaid card body 1, the two-dimensional recording code together with the store and date and time when the prepaid card is issued. Initial code area written by the displayed amount and 3
Is a balance code area in which the amount information indicating the balance in the process of using the prepaid card is written by the two-dimensional recording code and the number of the displayed amount together with the store and the date and time when the payment by the prepaid card is made. In parallel with the code area 2, data is sequentially written downward.

FIG. 8 is a back view showing the back surface of the prepaid card body 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes key information 4a for writing in the initial code area 2 and the balance code area 3 or for reading the written two-dimensional code. This is an invisible recording / writing area written by invisible ink printing, and this invisible recording / writing area 4 is set in advance for each prepaid card.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the prepaid card body 1, wherein 5 and 6 are surface layers for covering the surface for protecting the prepaid card, and 7 is a heat-sensitive layer formed between the surface layers 5 and 6. . The two-dimensional recording code in the initial code area 2 and the balance code area 3 and the number of the displayed amount of the ink become visible when the heat-sensitive layer 7 is heated,
The numbers are displayed.

[0006]

Since the conventional prepaid card is constructed as described above, for example, in FIG. 7, the prepaid card 1 is laterally cut between the initial code area 2 and the remaining code area 3. There is an inconvenience such as a modification such as modification in which the remaining initial code area 2 and the remaining code area of another prepaid card with a small set amount are connected by an adhesive agent or the like. There was a problem for which measures 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, wherein the code is one digit of a binary number.
The data code structure has N segments (N is an integer of 2 or more) as one data unit as a segment, and the value information initially set to be held by the prepaid card and the process of using the prepaid card It is characterized in that it is provided with an N-digit same-digit recording area for each N digits, which records only the same digit of each unit of the data code of the value information.

Further, in the prepaid card according to the present invention, the coded value information is information indicating at least an amount of money coded by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code, and the value information initially set includes At least information indicating the initially set amount of money is written, and information indicating at least the balance of the process of using the prepaid card is written in the value information of the process of using.

[0010]

In the prepaid card according to the present invention, the value information initially set for the prepaid card and the data code of the value information of the value information in the process of using the prepaid card have the same digit in each digit. Since the N recording areas are provided over the front surface of the N prepaid card, information such as the amount of money coded by the data recording code written in the value information code area can be obtained if a fraud such as disconnection and connection of the prepaid card is performed. The data code of the value information indicating the remaining amount is destroyed, making this information meaningless and effectively preventing fraud such as modification.

The prepaid card according to the present invention is
An initial code in which at least the initially set amount of money is written with information encoded by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code, and a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code indicating at least the balance of the process of using the prepaid card. Since the balance code in which the coded information is written is divided into N pieces of the same-digit recording area and distributed over the entire surface of the prepaid card, if the fraud such as cutting and connection of the prepaid card is performed illegally, The initial code or the balance code information is destroyed, and this information becomes meaningless, effectively preventing fraud such as modification.

[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 main body, 17 is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code along one side 13 of the prepaid card main body 11, and an initial code and a prepaid in which the money amount information is written together with the date and time when the ticket issuing machine issued it. An initial code and a balance code area for recording the balance in the process of using the card, the store that performed the payment process, and the balance code of information indicating the date and time. In the ticket issuing machine, when it is first written, for example, "10000
A one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code representing the amount information of "yen" is recorded in the same digit recording areas 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d of the initial code and the remaining amount code area 17 by dividing each digit into four. In addition, 15 is written along the other side 13 of the prepaid card body 11 “10
It is a display amount figure representing the amount of "000 yen".

[0013] In the process of using a prepaid card, the store that has performed the amount payment processing with the prepaid card for the remaining amount held by the prepaid card is shown with the date and time 1
The writing of the information 18 by a two-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code is also recorded in the same-digit recording areas 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d of the initial code and the balance code area divided for each digit. Four of those same digit recording areas are
The prepaid card body 11 is arranged and provided along the other side 13 (which is orthogonal to the one side 16). For example, when the one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code is composed of a code having four digits as one unit data,
The respective digits are allocated to the same digit recording areas 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d of the initial code and balance code area 17. That is, the lowest digit is the same digit recording area 1.
7a is assigned to the same digit recording area 17b, the next higher digit is assigned to the same digit recording area 17c, and the next higher digit is assigned to the same digit recording area 17d. 20 is a number representing the contents "7000 yen" and "4000 yen" of the information 18 indicating the balance of the first and second times written by the two-dimensional recording code, 21
Is a number representing the content "0 yen" of the information indicating the balance of the final round written by the two-dimensional recording code. 22 is an invisible recording / writing area, 23 is an invisible recording / writing area 2
It is the key information written in 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a prepaid card which has been tampered with illegally. A part 24 of the prepaid card which has a small amount of initial set amount before use, in which the balance is not written, is used. It is connected and replaced with.
When such unauthorized modification is made, the prepaid card of this embodiment has the same-digit recording areas 17a, 17b, 17.
Since c and 17d are provided along the side 13 of the prepaid card body, the same-digit recording areas 17a, 17b,
The information 18 based on the one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code, which is the money amount information written in 17c and 17d, causes a mismatch in the one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code at the connecting piece S. That is, the recorded data has a damaged part in the middle, the information regarding the amount information of "10000 yen" written first cannot be correctly read, and the prepaid card after such modification becomes unusable, Unauthorized use due to such unauthorized modification can be prevented. Further, the invisible record writing area 22 is also changed to 22A to ensure the prevention of unauthorized use.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the same-digit recording areas 17a, 17b and 17c, 17d are disconnected and connected at the exact boundary.
Even in this case, fraud can be prevented for the same reason.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram showing the construction of the ticket issuing machine 31 for issuing the prepaid card of this embodiment.
Reference numeral 2 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. These light projecting unit 33 and reading unit 34
And form an invisible mark reading head. Three
5 and 36 are prepaid card feeding rollers. 37
Is a write head for writing money amount information and information relating to ticket issuing on the prepaid card with a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code, and 38 reads money amount information and information relating to ticket issuing written with a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code. The read head 39 is a discharge hole of the prepaid card in which the amount information is written in the initial code and the balance code area 17.

FIG. 5 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 or pachinko balls for lending using the prepaid card. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this prepaid card processing device 41, unlike the ticket issuing machine which issues the prepaid card, the discharge hole 38 is provided.
Also serves as the insertion hole 32. The prepaid card inserted from the insertion hole 32 is fed from the left side to the right side of the inside of the prepaid card processing device 41 by the feed rollers 35 and 36 to a predetermined position, and then to the left side again. It is sent back and discharged from the discharge hole 38.

FIG. 6 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 denotes a money accounting processing 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 a signal exchange with the money accounting processing 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. Then, 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 two-dimensional recording code is made by the writing head 37 between the feed rollers 35 and 36. The information is written in the initial code area 12 and discharged from the discharge hole 39.

In the prepaid card processing device 41, the prepaid card inserted from the insertion hole 32 is first written in the initial code and balance code area 17 in the process of being fed from the left side to the right side by the feed rollers 35 and 36. The initial information and the information indicating the balance, that is, the same-digit recording areas 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d.
The initial information and the information indicating the remaining money information written in are read. 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 the key information, the read amount information and the remaining amount are shown. The information 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 unit 52 to purchase the product, the prepaid card that has been stopped at the rightmost position inside the prepaid card processing device until then reaches the position of the write head 37. The remaining amount, which is sent and subtracts the amount of money required to purchase the product, is recorded in the same digit area 17a, 17 together with the place of payment by the prepaid card and the date and time.
b, 17c, and 17d are sequentially written next to the information indicating the initial data or the balance data that has been written so far. 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 previously, and the verifying is executed to judge whether or not the thermal paper is colored and the remaining amount is correctly written. .
As a result, when it is determined that the balance has been correctly written, the prepaid card is ejected from the ejection hole 39. If the thermal paper is not colored, it will be displayed as a modified prepaid card.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the initial code and the balance code area are the N-divided same-digit recording areas into which each digit of the code data of the value information is written, and N sides of the prepaid card. Since it was arranged along with, it will be unusable because if the prepaid card is modified illegally, the value information coded and written in the initial code and the remaining area will be destroyed and become unusable, It has the effect of effectively preventing unauthorized modification.

[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 plan view showing an illegally modified prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 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. 5 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. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer system that controls a ticket issuing machine and a prepaid card processing device.

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

FIG. 8 is a back view showing a conventional prepaid card.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 prepaid card body 17 initial code and balance code area 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d same digit recording area

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G07F 7/12 G07F 7/08 C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card in which coded value information is written, wherein the code has a data code structure in which one digit of a binary number is one segment and N segments (N is an integer of 2 or more) are one data unit. Yes, the data code of the value information initially set to be held by the prepaid card and the data code of the value information in the process of using the prepaid card Only the same digit of each unit is recorded. A prepaid card characterized by having a digit recording area. 2. The coded value information is information indicating at least an amount of money coded by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional recording code, and the value information initially set is at least the amount of money initially set. 2. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating that the prepaid card is used is written in the value information of the used process, and the value information indicating at least the remaining amount in the process of using the prepaid card is written.