JPH09307660A - Ic card reader/writer and its operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the IC card reader/writer with a MODEM making electronic money account with other IC card connected through a telephone line and in which insertion/withdrawal of an IC card is facilitated. SOLUTION: A display section 365 and an operation section 366 having ten- keys and control keys or the like are provided to an upper face of a main body case 361, and IC card slots 362, 363 for insertion of IC cards 10, 10' are provided respectively to a side face at this side of a case and a depth of the case. Various function sections connecting to a telephone line in the two IC cards 10, 10' and processing the electronic money are provided in the inside of the case. An IC card receptacle section 364 having the IC card slot 363 in the inside is formed cylindrical and turned at an angle at which the IC card 10' is easily inserted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card reader / writer with a modem used in an electronic currency system and a method for operating the IC card reader / writer, and more particularly to another IC card using an IC card containing electronic currency. The present invention relates to an IC card reader / writer that is suitable for use in making a payment with electronic currency between and and that is suitable as an adapter for a telephone, and an operating method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed an electronic currency system for exchanging electronic currency by communication between IC cards containing electronic currency. I used for this system
The C card includes a microprocessor having a communication function inside, and a memory such as an EEPROM for storing a processing program and the balance of electronic currency.
The IC card can be connected to a terminal provided in a bank, a store, a private residence, etc. through a communication line through an electronic currency system, or by using a dedicated terminal, Electronic currency can be taken in and out of other IC cards.

[0003]

The electronic currency system proposed above does not yet define what functions and forms each component of the system should have, and is being developed. There is something.

An object of the present invention is to use a communication function by a telephone, which is suitable for use in the electronic currency system described above, and to communicate with other IC cards, for example, between individuals, between individuals, between banks, and between individuals. An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader / writer suitable for use as an adapter of a telephone which enables exchange of electronic currency between distributors and can prevent illegal ingestion of currency.

That is, an object of the present invention is to insert an electronic currency between two IC cards, and to insert another IC card connected to a telephone line into a telephone set. An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader / writer capable of exchanging electronic money with one IC card or one of the IC cards.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an IC card telephone having an IC card insertion slot which allows easy insertion and removal of the IC card.

Further, an object of the present invention is to use a communication function by a telephone, which is suitable for use in the electronic currency system described above, and to communicate with another IC card, for example, between individuals, between individuals and a bank. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method of an IC card reader / writer for easily and surely exchanging electronic currency between an individual and a distributor.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above object is to provide an IC card reader / writer for use in an electronic currency system for taking in and out electronic money in an IC card storing electronic money. This is achieved by providing at least one IC card slot for inserting and a modem for connecting the IC card and another IC card to each other via a communication line.

Further, the above-mentioned object is to provide at least two ICs.
A card slot is provided, and one of these IC card slots is provided so that the insertion angle of the IC card can be changed. Therefore, the IC card slot provided in the main body case is rotatably provided in the main body. This is achieved by providing the IC card in the IC card receiving section.

The above-mentioned object can be achieved by providing at least one IC card slot on the front side or the side of the main body case.

Further, the object is to have a function of processing electronic currency in an IC card and a modem for controlling a telephone line, and to connect between two IC cards inserted in the at least two sets of IC card slots. Alternatively, it is achieved by transferring electronic money to and from another IC card connected via a telephone line.

Further, the above-mentioned object is that the IC card reader / writer is used as an adapter for a telephone together with a telephone, and the upper surface of the main body case is formed with a flat portion, or this flat portion and this It is achieved by arranging the inclined portion and the subsequent inclined portion so that the telephone can be placed on the plane portion and arranging the display portion and the operation portion on the portion where the telephone is not placed.

Further, the above object is to provide an IC card for connecting an IC card storing electronic currency and another IC card storing electronic currency to each other through a communication line.
The I card is inserted in the IC card slot of the C card reader / writer.
A step of inserting a C card, a step of connecting the IC card and the other IC card via a communication line, a step of selecting a remittance direction of electronic currency, and a step of inputting a remittance amount Achieved by

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an electronic wallet in an electronic currency system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic currency system to which an IC card reader / writer according to the present invention is applied. First, the configuration of the electronic currency system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a bank office system, 2 is a distribution system, 3 is an end user system,
4 is a vending machine system, 5 is a bank computer center, 6 is an electronic currency issuing organization, 7 is a public communication network, 10 is an IC card, 11 is an external IC card reader / writer, 12 is a counter terminal, and 13 is internal communication. Line, 14 automatic teller machine, 15 electronic safe, 16 electronic currency transaction control terminal, 17 relay computer, 21 electronic currency POS terminal, 22 POS terminal, 23 store controller, 24 center device , 25 is an information control system, 26 is a workstation, 31 is an electronic wallet, 32
Is a personal computer, 33 is a PC card type card reader / writer, 34 is an IC card telephone, 41 is a built-in IC card reader / writer, 42 is a vending machine, 51
Is an accounting system host, 52 is an external system, 53
Is the external control terminal.

The electronic currency system shown in FIG. 1 has a public communication network 7, a bank office system 1, a distribution system 2 provided in a large store such as a department store or a supermarket, and a personal computer 3 as an end user system 3.
2. An IC card telephone 34 is connected, and the system is provided with a vending machine system 4 and the like as a system not connected to the communication network 7. In the illustrated example, one representative system is shown for each system. However, many systems can be connected to the public communication network 7 and configured. The bank business system is connected to the bank computer center 5 by a dedicated line or the like, and the bank computer center 5 is connected to an electronic currency issuing organization 6.

The IC card 10 is provided with a microprocessor having a communication function therein and a memory such as an EEPROM for storing a processing program and the balance of electronic currency, and is possessed by an individual who is an end user. Owned by banks, shops, vending machines, etc. that participate in the electronic currency system.

The bank office system 1 is, as is known,
The teller terminal 12 and the automatic teller machine 14 are connected via the internal communication line 13, and the relay computer 1
7 is connected to a bank computer center, but an IC card reader / writer 11 is provided at the counter terminal 12 for electronic currency settlement, and an IC card reader / writer is provided at the automatic teller machine 14. / Writer is built in, and an electronic safe 15 is connected via an electronic currency transaction control terminal 16.

The bank computer center 5 is composed of an accounting system host 51 and an external system 52. The external system 52 is provided with an external control terminal 53, a relay computer 17 and an electronic safe 15. ing.

In the distribution system 2, a POS terminal is usually
It is configured to be connected to the center device 24 via the internal communication line 13 and the store controller 23. For electronic currency settlement, the ordinary POS terminal 22 is provided with an external IC card reader / writer 11; Alternatively, it is configured using the electronic currency POS terminal 21. The center device 24 includes an information control system 25, a workstation 26, and an electronic safe 17.

The end user system 3 is mainly an individual user system, and simply needs an electronic wallet 31 capable of displaying the balance of electronic currency in the IC card.
It is also possible to add a function such as a calculator to the electronic wallet 31. In addition, the personal computer 32 is configured so that it can be connected to the public communication network 7 by providing the personal computer 32 with a PC type card reader / writer 33 for electronic currency settlement. In addition, an IC card telephone 34 having a processing function for the IC card 10 that stores electronic currency in a normal telephone can be used.

The personal computer 32 and the IC card telephone device 34 in the end user system 3 described above.
By providing two sets of card readers / writers for two IC cards therein, the electronic currency can be exchanged between the two IC cards. Thereby, for example, the electronic currency in the master's IC card,
The same processing as in the case of handling ordinary cash, such as transferring to a wife's IC card, can be performed.

The vending machine system 4 is composed of an automatic vending machine 42 provided with a built-in IC card reader / writer 41.

Next, a method of using the electronic currency system to which the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described.

For the banks, shops, vending machines, individuals, etc., who participate in the system, the IC card 1 from the electronic currency issuing organization 6
0 is distributed, and the bank receives the electronic currency in exchange for cash that is normally distributed and stores it in the electronic safe 15 provided in the external connection system 52. This electronic safe 1
Numeral 5 stores a large number of IC cards 10 therein, and each card 10 distributes and stores the electronic currency received from the electronic currency issuing organization. External system 5
The electronic currency stored in the IC card in the electronic safe 15 in 2 is distributed to the IC card 10 in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 installed in each bank office.

An individual as an end user who participates in the electronic currency system possesses the IC card 10 that has been distributed, and uses his / her account at the bank by the window terminal 12 of the bank office system 1 and the automatic teller machine 14. The deposit is exchanged for electronic currency, withdrawn, and stored in the IC card 10 of the user. A personal computer 32 having a PC card type reader / writer 33, or
The IC card telephone 34 is connected to the bank office system 1 via the public communication network 7, and in the same manner as described above, the deposit of the bank's own account is exchanged for electronic currency and withdrawn, and the IC card's own It can be stored in the card 10.

At the time of withdrawing the above-mentioned electronic currency, the IC card possessed by the individual has a communication function in its own card, the counter terminal 12, the automatic teller machine 14, the personal computer 32, or the IC card telephone 34. Is connected to the IC card in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 via the reader / writer. Then, under the control of the electronic currency transaction control terminal 16, the IC card 10 in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1
The electronic currency stored in is stored in the IC card 10 possessed by the individual. At this time, the balance of the electronic currency stored in the IC card 10 in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 is reduced by the amount stored in the IC card 10 owned by the individual. The withdrawal of a deposit from an individual's account is performed in the same manner as in the past.

In the above description, the IC card possessed by an individual
Although it was explained that the deposit of the individual's bank account is withdrawn and stored, the cash can be brought to the window of the bank or the window of the electronic currency issuing organization and stored in the IC card there.

Contrary to the above, the electronic currency in the IC card is the IC in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 via the counter terminal 12, the automatic teller machine 14 and the personal computer 32. You can return it to the card and deposit it in your own account at the same time.

As described above, the electronic currency is used as its own IC.
The user stored in the card 10 can use the IC card in a variety of stores and the like to use the IC card in the same manner as cash to buy goods and receive various services.

Now, the user who stores the electronic currency in his / her IC card 10 purchases at a store and pays for payment.
It is assumed that the purchased product is brought into the counter of the OS terminal. As in the case of normal transactions, the handler reads the bargain price of the product to POS
Input is made from the terminal 21 or 22, and the total is calculated and billed to the customer.

When the customer pays with an IC card containing electronic currency instead of cash, the customer pays the IC
Insert the card into the card insertion hole of the electronic currency POS terminal 12,
Alternatively, it is inserted into the IC card reader / writer 11 connected to the normal POS terminal 22. This allows the customer I
The C card and one of the IC cards in the electronic safe 15 installed in the center device 24 of the store are connected via the internal communication line 13 and the workstation 26, and the electronic currency in the customer's IC card is connected. Is transferred to one of the IC cards in the electronic safe 15 installed in the center device 24,
The receipt is output from the POS terminal, and the processing of payment by shopping ends. In this case, the electronic currency in the customer's IC card is reduced by the amount used for shopping, and
It is added to the electronic currency of the C card.

In the above description, in the distribution system provided with a large number of POS terminals and an electronic safe in which a large number of IC cards are stored in the center device 24, the description has been made assuming that the transaction price of merchandise is paid. In the case of a system having only one depositing machine, the depositing machine is provided with an IC card reader / writer for the customer's IC card, and
By providing an IC card owned by the store inside the deposit machine, the IC card owned by the store is
Customer IC connected via C card reader / writer
Electronic payment can be made with the card. As described above, the electronic currency in the IC card possessed by the store can be deposited in a bank account, or can be cashed at a bank counter.

Furthermore, in the distribution system having the above-mentioned POS terminal, each PO is used as a system construction method.
The S terminal is provided with an IC card, and money transfer between the customer's IC card and the customer's IC card is once performed between the IC card in the POS terminal and the customer's IC card.
The data can be transferred from the terminal to the IC card in the electronic safe 15 of the center device 24.

When the vending machine 42 or the like participates in the electronic currency system, the vending machine 42 is provided with a built-in IC card reader / writer 41 and the vending machine itself is equipped with an IC card so that the customer can Money may be exchanged with the IC card inserted in the card reader / writer 41.

Next, an IC with a modem according to the present invention used in the electronic currency system used as described above.
An embodiment of a card reader / writer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an IC card reader / writer according to an embodiment of the present invention side by side with a telephone. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of the IC card reader / writer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Is I according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a C card reader / writer. 2 to 4, 35 is a telephone, 36 is an IC card reader / writer, 361 is a main body case, 362 and 363 are IC card slots, 364 is an IC card receiving section, and 36
5 is a display unit, 366 is an operation unit, 367 is a substrate, and 368 is a jig.

The IC card reader / writer 36 according to one embodiment of the present invention is used as an adapter for a general telephone 35 and is connected to an IC card set in the IC card reader / writer 36 via a telephone line. The electronic currency can be exchanged with another IC card, and the electronic currency can be exchanged with two IC cards set in the IC card reader / writer 36. is there.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the IC card reader / writer 36 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a display portion 365 made of liquid crystal or the like, a numeric keypad, a control key and the like on the upper surface of the main body case 361. An operation portion 366 is provided and configured, and an I side is provided on the front side surface of the main body case 361.
IC card slot 36 for inserting the C card 10
2. An IC card receiving portion 364 having an IC card slot 363 for inserting the IC card 10 'is provided on the back side.

Inside the main body case 361, as shown in FIG. 4A, two IC cards 10, 10 'are provided.
Various functional units for processing electronic currency in
A substrate 367 having a function unit for processing key input and outputting display output and a modem for an interface for exchanging information about electronic currency via a telephone line is provided, and this substrate 367 has contacts (not shown). Through I
It is connected to the C cards 10, 10 '.

The IC card receiving section 364 is formed into a cylindrical shape having an IC card slot 363 into which another IC card 10 'for exchanging electronic currency with the IC card 10 inserted from the front side is inserted. The cylindrical portion is configured to be rotatable so that the IC card 10 'can be easily inserted at an angle. In the example of FIG. 4A,
Although the IC card 10 'is inserted vertically, for example, if the cylinder part is rotated slightly toward the front side, the IC
When the card 10 'is to be inserted from the front side, it becomes extremely easy to insert.

When used with a wall-mounted telephone or the like, the illustrated IC card reader / writer 36 is hung on the wall together with the telephone as shown in FIG. 4B, and the cylindrical portion of the IC card receiving portion 364 is directed backward. When the IC card 10 ′ is rotated to, the IC card 10 ′ can be inserted, for example, obliquely from above, so that the IC card 10 ′ can be easily inserted.

A jig 368 is shown in FIG.
Is used to hold the IC card reader / writer 36 diagonally. In this case, the display unit 365 is in a state where it is easy to see from the seated posture, and the IC card 10 'can be inserted from a substantially vertical direction. . Also in this case, IC
By arbitrarily rotating the cylindrical portion of the card receiving portion 364, the insertion direction of the IC card 10 'can be set arbitrarily.

The above-mentioned IC card reader according to the present invention /
The writer is, for example, another IC card 10 'held by a child or the like.
Can be used to move electronic currency to and from the IC card 10 of the user. In addition, electronic money can be exchanged between another IC card, for example, an IC card of a remote individual (not shown), a bank, or the like, and the own IC card via the telephone line. When exchanging electronic money via a telephone line, only one IC card may be inserted into the IC card reader / writer. If an IC card is inserted into either the IC card slot 362 or 363, electronic currency can be exchanged between the IC card and another IC card connected via a line. Therefore, in order to exchange electronic money via the telephone line, it is sufficient that there is a mechanism capable of inserting at least one IC card into the IC card reader / writer. Therefore, the object of the present invention can be achieved even by an IC card reader / writer having only one IC card slot.

The details of the exchange of electronic currency as described above are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-320646 by the present inventors.
No. has been proposed.

Next, the internal functional structure of the IC card reader / writer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of an IC card reader / writer with a modem according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 1104 is a loading / unloading circuit, 1105 is a connector, 1106 is an IC card activation control circuit, 1107 is a clock generation circuit, 1108 is a reader / writer circuit, 1109 is a reader / writer control circuit, 1110 is a ROM, 1111 is a data waveform shaping & extraction circuit, 1112 is an I / O port, 11
13 is a main program ROM, 1114 is a RAM, 1
115 is a CPU, 1116 is an IC card check data storage unit, 1117 is a modem interface circuit, 11
Reference numeral 18 is a power generation circuit.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 is used as an adapter of an ordinary telephone in connection with a telephone line. Therefore, the modem interface circuit 11 is used.
It is configured with 17. The IC card reader / writer 36 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a body case 36.
1, an IC card slot 362 for loading the IC card 10 into the IC card reader / writer main body, a loading / unloading circuit 1104 for driving the IC card 10, and a connector 110 with the IC card 10.
5. Activation control circuit 11 for activating IC card 10 by supplying power and clock signal to IC card 10.
06, a clock generation circuit 1107, a reader / writer circuit 1108 for reading and writing data from the IC card 10, a reader / writer control circuit 1109 for controlling the operation of the reader / writer 1108, an IC compliant with the ISO standard ROM 11 in which a program for the CPU 1115 to control the basic operation of the card is stored
10, a data waveform shaping & extraction circuit 1111 for performing waveform shaping and data extraction of data read from the IC card 10, a reader / writer circuit 1108, and a CPU 11
I / O port 1112 for inputting / outputting data from / to 15,
The ROM 1113 in which the electronic currency processing main program for the CPU 1115 to process the electronic currency stored in the IC card 10 is stored, the RAM 1114 and the CPU 111 used by the CPU 1115 for data processing.
5. IC card check data storage unit 1116, I storing ID data for checking whether the information stored in the IC card 10 is electronic currency information
The C card reader / writer includes a modem interface circuit 1117 for exchanging data with other IC cards via a telephone line, and a power generation circuit 1118 for supplying electric power supplied through a connector to each circuit. Composed.

Although only the IC card 10 can be set in FIG. 5, the illustrated IC card reader / writer 36 can set two IC cards, and the loading / unloading circuit 1104, Connector 1
105, reader / writer 1108, I / O port 111
Two sets of 2 are provided respectively.

Now, when the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card slot 361 of the IC card reader / writer 36 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the IC card 10 is automatically loaded by the action of the loading / unloading circuit 1104. The connector 1105 comes into contact with the contact portion of the IC card 10. CPU 1115
Recognizes this and gives an instruction to the control circuit 1106 for activating the IC card 10 to supply power and a clock to the IC card 10 to activate it.

After that, the CPU 1115 causes the IC card 1
0 from the IC card 10 to the connector 1105 and the reader / writer 110
Read through 8 etc. These operations are performed by the ROM 111
This is performed in accordance with the ISO standard by a program stored in “0”. The programs stored in the ROM 1110 include, for example, a format exchange for matching a data input / output format with the IC card to the protocol of the IC card, an activation procedure of the IC card, a data read / write procedure with the IC card, and the like. is there.

The CPU 1115 uses the IC card 10 as described above.
Is compared with the contents of the IC card check data storage 1116, and the IC card 10
Check whether the electronic currency information is stored in the. When it is confirmed that the electronic currency information is stored in the IC card 10, the IC card reader / writer 36 according to the embodiment of the present invention can operate the electronic currency processing main program stored in the ROM 1113.

The above-described operation is automatically performed by the IC card reader / writer 36 regardless of the operation of the device in which another IC card connected via the telephone line is set. .

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the electronic currency IC card 10. Here, the electronic currency IC card 10 will be described. In FIG.
103 is a contact part with the outside, 104 is a CPU, 10
Reference numeral 5 is an EEPROM, and 106 is a ROM.

The IC card 10 in which electronic currency is stored is
A contact unit 103 for exchanging signals, power supplies, clocks, reset signals, and the like with the outside, a CPU 104 for controlling the operation of the IC card 10, and a CPU 10.
ROM 106 in which programs for 4 are stored
And a rewritable memory such as the EEPROM 105 for holding data such as electronic currency.

In the above description, the CPU 104 controls the protocol for inputting / outputting data according to the ISO standard.
Processing such as encryption is performed according to a program for electronic currency stored in the ROM 106. In addition, the amount of money used for electronic currency, history information used, etc.
It is stored in the PROM 105.

The basic operation of the IC card reader / writer 36 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is performed for the electronic currency in the ROM 1113 stored in the main body 361 of the IC card reader / writer 36. It is performed by accessing the electronic currency in the IC card 10 by the main program of.

The merit of doing so is that the IC card reader / writer, which is a dedicated device, can contain the above-mentioned functions to enhance the safety against unauthorized access and manipulation from the outside. .

FIG. 7 is a view showing another shape of the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The IC card reader / writer shown in FIG.
A display unit 365 'composed of a liquid crystal display device is provided on the entire upper surface of the main body case 361. Information contents are displayed on the display unit 365', and ten keys and function keys are displayed by soft keys to display the display unit 365 'on the touch panel. It is intended to be used as. With such a configuration, the display on the display unit can be made easier to see, and the IC card reader / writer can be made easier to use.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another shape of the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The IC card reader / writer shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8 (a), a general telephone 35 is mounted and configured to be usable. In this example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a main body case 361 is provided with a flat surface portion 361 ′ whose top surface is wide enough to hold a telephone.
And the inclined portion 361 ″ following the flat portion 361 ′, and the display portion 365 and the operation portion 366 are arranged on the inclined portion 361 ″. Further, the illustrated IC card reader / writer is configured by further providing another IC card slot 362 ′ on the front side surface of the main body case 361.

Two IC card slots 362, 36
Each of 2'may be used alone, or an IC card may be inserted into both and used. In this case, one of the IC cards 10 can be used for trading with electronic currency, and the other IC card 10 ″ can be used in place of a household account book or the like by managing history information.
Further, when dealing with a bank or a store connected by a telephone line, by using both IC cards 10 and 10 ″ as IC cards storing electronic currency, one IC
It is possible to send and receive money that exceeds the amount of money that can be stored in the card.

Also in the case of the illustrated IC card reader / writer, one of the IC cards 10 and 10 ″ inserted from the front side and the IC card 10 ′ inserted into the IC card slot 363 on the rear side are two. It is possible to transfer electronic money between IC cards.

The IC card reader / writer shown in FIG. 8 is provided with IC card slots 362 and 362 'for inserting two IC cards on the front side surface of the main body case 361. The IC card slots 362 and 362 'may be provided on both side surfaces of the main body case 361, and in this case, the IC card slots 362 and 362' can be used as in the above case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which a slave telephone connected wirelessly and the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention are integrally formed.

The example shown in FIG. 9 is an integrated configuration of a sub-phone of a telephone system having a sub-telephone, which has been sold a lot in recent years, and an IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention. Since it is small and easy to carry in a building, the user can carry out transactions using the IC card wherever he is.

Although the above-described embodiment of the present invention is extremely convenient when an individual is in his / her own house and uses it, the present invention is installed in, for example, a private store and receives payment in electronic currency from the customer. It can also be used in a case where it is installed near a POS terminal, a cashier, or the like that does not have a function of exchanging electronic money in a large or medium-sized store.

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the communication function of the telephone is used to communicate with another IC card.
For example, it is suitable for use as an adapter of a telephone that enables electronic currency exchange between individuals, between individuals and banks, and between individuals and distributors, and can prevent illegal ingestion of currency. It is possible to provide an IC card reader / writer having an IC card slot that allows easy insertion and removal of an IC card.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the key arrangement of the operation unit 366 of the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, 1401 is a balance display key,
1402 is a history key, 1403 is a currency switching key, 1
404 is a card selection key, 1405 is a lock key, 14
06 is a transfer key, 1407 and 1408 are transfer keys, 14
09 is a clear key, 1410 is a menu key, 1411
Is an upward movement key, 1412 is a downward movement key, 141
3 is an enter key, 1415 is a star key, and 1416 is a sharp key.

A balance display key 1401 has a function of displaying a balance of electronic currency stored in the IC card, and a history key 1402 has a function of displaying a history of electronic currency transactions made by the IC card. Currency switching key 14
03 is used to select the type of currency to be handled from among a plurality of types of currencies stored in the IC card. The card selection key 1404 is used to select which of the IC cards inserted in the IC card slots 362 and 363 or the IC card of the other party connected via a telephone line is to be handled. . A lock key 1405 locks the input / output of information in the IC card, or
On the contrary, it is used to unlock. Transfer key 14
06 is used when the electronic currency is transferred from one IC card to the other IC card in the own device. Transfer key 1
407 is used when transferring electronic currency from the own IC card to the IC card of the other party connected via the telephone line.

The transfer key 1408 is used when transferring electronic currency from the IC card of the other party connected through the telephone line to the own IC card. The clear key 1409 is used to cancel the contents being input or to end the process currently being performed. Menu key 1410
Is used when selecting and setting various functions. The up move key 1411 is used to move the cursor displayed on the display unit 365, select an IC card, or the like. The downward movement key 1412 is used to move the cursor displayed on the display unit 365, select an IC card, or the like. The enter key 1413 is used when confirming the input contents or executing the input contents. The numeric keypad 1414 is used when inputting a transaction amount or the like.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a system configuration for transferring currency in an IC card via a telephone line. In FIG. 11, a general household telephone 1501 is an IC card reader / writer 1 with a modem according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The telephone line 1503 is connected via 502. With such a configuration, electronic currency can be exchanged between the IC card 10 inserted in the IC card reader / writer 1502 with a modem and another IC card connected via a telephone line. .

Next, a method of operating the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flow charts for explaining an operation procedure for exchanging electronic currency between two IC cards when two IC card readers / writers are connected via a telephone line. .

First, the flow of FIG. 12 will be described.
This example is an example in which the remittance side determines the remittance amount and remits the electronic currency, for example, when the parent sends a remote child with the electronic currency.

(1) First, the IC card a is inserted into the IC card reader / writer A (hereinafter simply referred to as A) which is the remittance source, and the transfer key 1406 is pressed. As a result, a display such as 1003 is displayed on the display unit 365, and the IC card inserted in A is in a ready state for remittance of electronic currency (steps 1001 and 1002).

(2) Now, since it is desired to exchange electronic currency with the IC card b of the IC card reader / writer B (hereinafter, simply referred to as B), which is the remittance destination connected via the telephone line, Press the star key 1415. In this embodiment, the star key 1415 is provided with a function of switching to electronic currency exchange using a telephone line by pressing the star key 1415 (step 1004).

(3) Further, the card selection key 1404 is pressed to move the upward movement key 1411 and the downward movement key 14
Press 12 to select the remittance direction. Each time the up-movement key 1411 or the down-movement key 1412 is pressed, the display of the display unit 365 switches the display showing the remittance direction as indicated by 1007. Here, "Card ↓" is the I inserted in the lower side of the display portion, that is, the card slot 362.
C card, "Card ↑" is on the upper side of the display, that is,
Showing the IC card inserted in the card slot 363,
"Remote" indicates the IC card of the other party connected through the telephone line (steps 1005 and 1006). (4) Enter the key 14 when the desired remittance direction is displayed.
Press 13 to determine the remittance direction. This causes the display unit to display something like 1009 (step 100
8).

(5) The operations up to this point and the display at that time are similarly performed in the IC card reader / writer B, which is the remittance destination, after the telephone line is connected (1).
001'-1009 ').

(6) After that, when the amount of money to be remitted is input at A, which is the remittance source, the display portion 365 displays 1011.
Press 13 (steps 1010, 1012, 101
3).

(7) At this time, in the remittance destination B as well, the operation of pressing the enter key is performed within the range of the predetermined time difference. At the remittance destination B, this remittance operation becomes effective only when the operation of pressing the enter key is performed within the range of a predetermined time difference. With such a system, it is possible to obtain confirmation of both the remittance source and the remittance destination, and more secure remittance of electronic currency (step 1013 ′).

(8) When the operations of steps 1013 and 1013 'are effectively performed, the remittance is performed on the A side and the deposit is performed on the B side, and the displays as shown in 1015 and 1015' are performed (step 1014). 1014 ').

(9) After that, if the A side indicates the completion of the remittance and the B side indicates the completion of the deposit, they are displayed on the A and B display sections 1017 and 1017 ', respectively. In the illustrated example, the electronic currency of ¥ 3000 has moved from the IC card a to the IC card b (steps 1016, 101).
6 ').

Next, the flow of FIG. 13 will be described.
In this example, for example, when a store or the like uses a mail order to charge a customer for a shopping fee in electronic currency, the receiving party determines the amount of money to be received and sends the electronic currency.

In the flow shown in FIG. 13, operation steps and displays 1701 to 1717 in the IC card reader / writer A, which is the receiving side, are 1001 to 1001 in FIG.
Operation steps and displays 1701 ′ to 1 in the IC card reader B on the remittance side are the same as those of 1017.
717 'is also similar to 1001' to 1017 'in FIG. And, the difference from the flow shown in FIG. 12 is the operation for confirming the remittance amount in B (step 1718′-
1720 ') is performed. In the example shown in FIG. 13, since the amount of money to be received is input at A, that is, the money receiving side, it is necessary to confirm the amount of money at B, that is, the money sending side. After the amount of money is input in A and the operations of steps 1713 and 1713 'are effectively performed, a display for prompting confirmation of the remittance amount is displayed on the display unit of B as shown in 1719'.

In B, by confirming the remittance amount and pressing the enter key 1413, the remittance and the remittance are performed. In the example shown in the figure, from IC card b to IC card a ¥ 3
000 electronic currencies move (step 1718 ', 1
720 ', 1714', 1714).

In FIGS. 14 and 15, two IC card readers / writers are connected via a telephone line as in the case of FIGS. 12 and 13, and two IC cards are exchanged with each other. It is a flow chart explaining other examples of an operation procedure.

First, the flow of FIG. 14 will be described.
As in the case of FIG. 12, this example is an example in which the remittance side determines the remittance amount and remits the electronic currency, for example, when a parent sends a remote child with electronic currency.

(1) First, the IC card slot 362 or 363 of the IC card reader / writer A as the remittance source
Insert the IC card a into and press the transfer key 1407. As a result, the mode for transferring electronic money from the own IC card a to the IC card b of the other party connected via the telephone line is set (steps 1201 and 1202).

(2) A automatically detects whether or not only one IC card is inserted in A. If there is not one IC card inserted in A, the remittance source card is selected (steps 1203 and 1204).

(3) When only one card is inserted and when the remittance source card is selected in step 1204, the remittance direction is displayed as indicated by 1206 on the display portion 365 of A (step 1205). ).

(4) Next, enter the remittance amount and enter 12.
Since the display as shown in 08 is displayed, the entered amount is confirmed and the enter key 1413 is pressed (step 1207,
1209, 1210).

(5) Then, A automatically controls the IC card reader / writer B connected through the telephone line to transfer money from A and deposit money to B. At this time, A, B
In, the display as shown in 1212 and 1212 'is performed (steps 1211 and 1211').

(6) When the remittance is completed in A, 121
4 is displayed, and when the deposit is completed in B, the display 1214 'is displayed. In the example shown in the figure, IC card a to IC card b costs 3000 yen.
Electronic currency moves (steps 1213, 121)
3 ').

According to the operation method as shown in FIG.
If the operation of inserting the IC card in step 1201 'is performed in B, the electronic currency is automatically transferred from A to B by the operation of A as the remittance source, and the exchange of electronic currency is performed more simply. It becomes possible.

Next, the flow shown in FIG. 15 will be described. Similar to the case of FIG. 13, this example is an example of the case where the receiving party decides the amount of money to be received, such as a case where a store or the like uses a mail order to charge a customer for a shopping price in electronic currency. .

In the flow shown in FIG. 15, operation steps and display 130 in IC card reader / writer A are performed.
1-1213 are the same as 1201-1214 of FIG. And, the difference from the float of FIG. 14 is the operation of confirming the remittance amount in B (step 1315′-
1317 ') is performed. In the example shown in FIG. 15, since the amount of money to be received is input at A, that is, the money receiving side, it is necessary to confirm the amount of money at B, that is, the money sending side. When the amount of money is input in A, B is automatically controlled from A to 131.
A display for prompting confirmation of the remittance amount is displayed as shown in 6 '.

At B, the remittance amount is confirmed, and the enter key 1413 is pressed to perform remittance and receipt. In the example shown in the figure, from IC card b to IC card a ¥ 3
000 electronic currencies move (steps 1315 ', 1
317'1311, 1311 ').

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining an operation procedure for making a call to a party whose telephone number is registered in advance in the IC card. The data such as a telephone number can be recorded in an IC card that stores electronic currency, or an IC card dedicated to data recording can be prepared and recorded in this. The flow shown in FIG. 16 will be described below.

(1) First, insert the IC card in which the telephone number data is recorded into the IC card slot 362 or 3
63, and the menu key 1410 is pressed to display various menus (steps 1601 and 1602).

(2) Press the up-movement key 1411 or the down-movement key 1412 to move the cursor to a desired menu, here, "phonebook". When the cursor position is confirmed and the enter key 1413 is pressed, the menu of the telephone directory is executed and the telephone number is displayed (step 16).
03-1606).

(3) Then, the up move key 1411 or the down move key 1412 is pressed, and the cursor is moved to the other party to call from the displayed telephone numbers.
After that, confirm the cursor position and press the enter key 1413.
Press, and IC card reader / writer with modem 150
2 automatically dials the telephone number for the telephone line. When the connection to the other party is completed, the operation of exchanging electronic currency described in each of the above-described flows becomes possible (steps 1607 to 1610).

(4) If the handset of the telephone 1501 is picked up, the modem automatically switches the telephone line from the IC card reader / writer 1502 to the telephone 1501 and the telephone call is made in the same manner as a normal telephone. This can be done (steps 1611, 1612).

According to the above-described operation method, since it is not necessary to press the number keys 1414 to dial the telephone number when making a call, the operation of making a call becomes easy. Therefore, electronic money can be exchanged more easily through the telephone line. Also, conventional telephones can store data such as telephone numbers in the storage means of the telephone, but when the telephone is replaced due to replacement or failure of the telephone, the data is recorded in the new telephone. According to the embodiment of the present invention in which the data is recorded in the IC card, the data recorded in the IC card can be used as it is even if the telephone is changed.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention, the communication function of the telephone is used to communicate with other IC cards, for example, between individuals, between individuals and banks, and between individuals and distributors. Electronic currencies can be exchanged, and illegal currency ingestion can be prevented. Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to insert and remove the IC card.
An IC card reader / writer having a C card slot can be provided. Further, according to the operation method of the IC card reader / writer of the present invention, it is possible to easily exchange electronic currency via a telephone line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic currency system to which an IC card reader / writer according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an IC card reader / according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view which shows a writer side by side with a telephone.

FIG. 3 is an IC card reader / according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the shape of a writer.

FIG. 4 shows an IC card reader / according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a writer.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an IC card reader / writer with a modem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of an IC card 10 for electronic currency.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another shape of the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another shape of the IC card reader / writer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which a slave telephone wirelessly connected and an IC card reader / writer according to an embodiment of the present invention are integrally formed.

FIG. 10 shows an IC card reader / according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the example of a key layout of the operation part of a writer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a system configuration for transferring currency in an IC card via a telephone line.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure for connecting two IC card readers / writers via a telephone line and exchanging between the two IC cards.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure for connecting two IC card readers / writers via a telephone line and exchanging between the two IC cards.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another example of an operation procedure for connecting two IC card readers / writers via a telephone line and exchanging the two IC cards with each other.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating another example of an operation procedure for connecting two IC card readers / writers via a telephone line and exchanging between the two IC cards.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure for making a call to a party whose telephone number is registered in advance in the IC card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bank office system 2 Distribution system 3 End user system 4 Vending machine system 5 Bank computer center 6 Electronic currency issuing organization 7 Public communication network 10 IC card 11 External IC card reader / writer 12 Counter terminal 13 Internal communication line 14 Cash Automatic deposit payment machine 15 Electronic safe 16 Electronic currency transaction control terminal 17 Relay computer 21 Electronic currency POS terminal 22 POS terminal 23 Store controller 24 Center device 25 Information control system 26 Workstation 31 Electronic wallet 32 Personal computer 35 Telephone 36 IC card reader / Writer 41 Built-in IC card reader / writer 42 Vending machine 51 Accounting system host 52 External system 53 External control terminal 35 Telephone 36 IC card reader / writer 103 External contact section 104 CPU 105 EEPROM 106 ROM 361 Main body case 362, 363 IC card slot 364 IC card receiving section 365 Display section 366 Operation section 367 Board 368 Jig 1104 Loading / unloading circuit 1105 Connector 1106 IC card activation control Circuit 1107 Clock generation circuit 1108 Reader / writer circuit 1109 Reader / writer control circuit 1110 ROM 1111 Data waveform shaping & extraction circuit 1112 I / O port 1113 Main program ROM 1114 RAM 1115 CPU 1116 IC card check data storage unit 1117 Modem interface circuit 1118 Power generation circuit 1401 Balance display key 1402 History key 1403 Currency switching key 140 4 Card selection key 1405 Lock key 1406 Transfer key 1407 Transfer key 1408 Transfer key 1409 Clear key 1410 Menu key 1411 Up arrow key 1412 Down arrow key 1413 Enter key 1414 Numeric key key 1415 Star key 1416 Sharp key 1501 General home phone 1502 IC card reader / writer with modem 1503 Telephone line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yuhei Abe 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture Stock Company Hitachi Video Information Media Division (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Ito 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Ceremony company Hitachi Ltd. multimedia system development headquarters

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An IC used in an electronic currency system for transferring electronic money into and out of an IC card storing electronic currency.
In a card reader / writer, at least one IC card slot for inserting an IC card;
An IC card reader / writer comprising a modem for connecting a C card and another IC card to each other via a communication line. 2. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the communication line is a telephone line. 3. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the IC card slot is configured such that the insertion direction of the IC card is variable. 4. The IC card slot is at least two.
3. At least one of these IC card slots is configured to insert the IC card in a direction different from the IC card insertion direction of the other IC card slots. IC card reader / writer described. 5. The IC card slot is at least two.
At least one of these IC card slots is provided in the main body case of the IC card reader / writer.
The IC card reader / writer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the card insertion angle is changeable. 6. An IC card reader / writer used in an electronic currency system for transferring electronic money between IC cards storing electronic money, the IC card reader / writer having at least two IC card slots, and at least these IC card slots. One is an IC card reader / writer, wherein the main body case of the IC card reader / writer is provided so that the insertion angle of the IC card can be changed. 7. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 6, wherein the IC card slot provided in the main body case is provided in an IC card receiving portion having a cylindrical shape rotatably provided in the main body portion. . 8. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 6, wherein at least one IC card slot is provided on a front surface side or a side surface side of the main body case. 9. An electronic currency processing function in an IC card,
A modem for controlling the telephone line, and two I cards inserted into the at least two IC card slots.
9. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein electronic money is transferred between C cards or with another IC card connected through a telephone line. 10. The IC according to claim 5, wherein the IC card reader / writer is used with a telephone as an adapter for the telephone.
Card reader / writer. 11. The main body case is formed such that an upper surface thereof has at least a flat surface portion on which a telephone can be placed, and a display portion and an operation portion are arranged on a portion of the upper surface where the telephone is not placed. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein 12. An IC card reader / modem equipped with a modem for connecting an IC card storing electronic currency and another IC card storing electronic currency to each other via a communication line.
The step of inserting the IC card into the IC card slot of the writer, the step of connecting the IC card and the other IC card via a communication line, the step of selecting the remittance direction of electronic currency, and the remittance amount An IC card reader having a step of inputting /
How to operate the writer. 13. The step of connecting the IC card and the other IC card via a communication line reads data of a telephone number recorded in the IC card and, based on the data, reads the data via a telephone line. 13. The method of operating an IC card reader / writer according to claim 12, comprising a step of connecting the IC card and the other IC card.