JPH09311913A - Prepaid card and method for preventing alteration thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance security by preventing the alteration of a prepaid card. SOLUTION: In the prepaid card in which the information of the remainder is magnetically recorded as magnetic data and the remaining units are shown by unit holes punched at specified positions, a symbol 2 such as a numeral corresponding to the used units is printed at the specified position to punch a unit hole 3 on the surface of a prepaid card 1 and the remaining units are judged by reading the remaining symbol other than the symbol omitted by the punch of the unit hole by a card conveying/punching mechanism 103, through an optical reading part 5 so that the altered card can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to prevention of alteration of a magnetic recording type prepaid card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most conventional prepaid cards are so-called magnetic recording cards such as telephone cards, orange cards, pachinko cards and gasoline cards. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of such a conventional general magnetic recording type prepaid card system.
When the card 100 is inserted into a telephone or a card reader, the card transport / punch mechanism 103 takes in the card 100 with a roller in response to a command from the card control circuit 102 controlled by the CPU 101, and punches the remaining number of the card 100 by the card reading circuit 104. Read the punched holes and the balance data magnetically recorded on the back side to check the balance and balance. If the remaining amount of money is sufficient, the card control circuit 102 connects a call line in the case of a telephone and transmits a dial signal from the user to make a call.
In the case of a card reader, for example, a game ticket for a desired amount is issued.

After the end of the telephone call or after the issuance of a game ticket such as a pachinko ball, the telephone calculates the new remaining amount of the card 100 in the remaining amount calculation circuit 105 based on the billing information from the exchange. In the case of an amusement ticket, the balance calculation circuit 105 calculates a new balance, and the balance calculated by the update circuit 106 is magnetically overwritten to update the balance data. The card transport / punch mechanism 103 punches a new remaining number of holes and returns the card 100 to the user.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the remaining amount information of the card 100 is written on the back surface by magnetic recording, and the remaining number of holes is punched at a prescribed position as a standard indicating the approximate remaining number. Therefore, if you use a tape or a piece of silver paper to fill the frequency holes, or fill the holes with holes, etc., you can correct the appearance as before using it, and rewrite the magnetically recorded data to easily write the card. There is a problem that it can be altered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a prepaid card and a method for preventing prepaid card alteration, which can improve the management accuracy of the power holes of the card to prevent alteration of the card and enhance the security of the prepaid card system. To do.

[0006]

The structure for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 1, magnetically recorded the information of the remaining amount of money as magnetic data and opened at a prescribed position. In a prepaid card in which a remaining frequency is indicated by a hole, a prepaid card is characterized in that a symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is printed at a prescribed position where a frequency hole is formed on the surface of the card.

According to this structure, for example, a certain symbol can be printed at the position of the power hole to correspond to the remaining power of the card.

A specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 2, characterized in that the symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is a number corresponding to the usage frequency. The prepaid card according to claim 1.

According to this structure, the numeral 1, which is a symbol, is used.
It is possible to print 2, 3, 4, 5 to 11 etc. at the power hole positions to correspond to the power residue of the card.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is that, as described in claim 3, the symbol corresponding to the frequency of use is a Japanese character corresponding to the frequency of use. The prepaid card according to claim 1 characterized.

With this configuration, it is possible to print the Japanese characters i, ro, ha, d, e, h, e, etc. as symbols in the power hole position to correspond to the power residue of the card.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is that, as described in claim 4, the symbol corresponding to the frequency of use is an alphabetic character corresponding to the frequency of use. The prepaid card according to claim 1 characterized.

With this configuration, alphabets A, B, C, D, E, F, G, etc. can be printed as symbols at the power hole positions to correspond to the power residue of the card.

As another specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 5, the symbol corresponding to the frequency of use is a symbol represented by a box code corresponding to the frequency of use. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein

According to this configuration, a box
The code symbol can be printed at the power hole position to correspond to the power residue of the card.

A specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 6, characterized in that the box code symbol also displays the remaining amount at the same time. It is on the prepaid card as described.

According to this structure, the box code symbol can be used as a symbol corresponding to the power hole, and the remaining amount at each power hole position can be represented by the four boxes of the box code.

Another structure for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 7, that when the use of the prepaid card is finished, it is printed on a symbol printed so as to correspond to the usage frequency. A method for preventing alteration of a prepaid card is characterized in that a power hole is punched so that a symbol is missing.

According to this structure, among the printed symbols, the symbols corresponding to the usage frequency can be deleted by puncturing the power holes and dropped.

A specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 8, when a prepaid card is used, the symbol is optically read and remains as a missing symbol due to perforation. 8. The method for preventing alteration of a prepaid card according to claim 7, wherein the alteration card is prevented by checking the remaining symbols to determine the remaining frequency.

According to this structure, since the missing symbol and the remaining symbol are compared with each other to judge the remaining frequency, it is possible to prevent the modification of the frequency hole.

Another structure for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 9, when the prepaid card is used, the remaining frequency is judged at the same time by the box code symbol of the remaining punch, A method for preventing falsification of a prepaid card, characterized by preventing a falsified card by judging a normal card when the remaining amount represented by the box code symbol of the punching remainder is collated with the remaining amount information of the magnetic data and matched. It is in.

According to this structure, the remaining amount of money indicated by the magnetic recording data and the box of the symbol immediately after the newest frequency hole are displayed.
By checking whether the current remaining amount represented by the code matches and is consistent, the altered card can be identified and eliminated.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prepaid card system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the prepaid card shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a prepaid card in which a symbol (number, alphabet, etc.) 2 for preventing alteration is printed in a prescribed position in order, and a number hole 3 after using the prepaid card 1 is punched on the symbol 2. To do. Reference numeral 4 is a card reading circuit in which an optical reading unit 5 for optically reading the symbol 2 is added to a conventional card reading circuit for reading magnetic information and the like. 6
Determines the remaining frequency from the punched symbol and the remaining symbol of the symbol 2 read by the card reading circuit 4, and the card transport / punch mechanism 1
This is a card control circuit for performing a card process such as giving an instruction to 03 to punch a power hole 3 on the symbol 2 at a position corresponding to the remaining power. A CPU 7 has a ROM and a RAM and controls the overall processing of the card control circuit 6.

In FIG. 2, FIG. 2A shows the number 1234567 as the symbol 2 to be printed on the prepaid card 1.
This is an example of using, and the marks of the punched power holes 3 are deleted by deleting the numerals 1, 2, 3 and the like of the symbol. M is a magnetic data recording unit for the remaining amount of money. 2B is an example in which the Japanese character Irohanihohet ... 2a is used as the symbol 2.
(C) is the alphabet ABCDEFG as symbol 2.
... This is an example of using 2b. FIG. 2D is an example in which a box code is used as a symbol 2 and a display unit is formed of a quadruple quadrangle, and a bit such as a number or a character can be displayed by intermittently connecting each quadrangle (box).

Next, the operation will be described. First, FIG.
As shown in (a), the number 1234567 is used as the symbol 2.
The case of the prepaid card 1 using ... will be described as an example.
The processing is the same as in the case of the Japanese character 2a, the alphabet 2b, and the box code 2c in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D.

The symbol 2 on the prepaid card 1 is at a prescribed position (the XY position coordinate is predetermined such as a position 10 mm from the card edge on the right side or left side of the card in the card system). Interval (From the card fee system, for example, if one telephone charge of 100 yen corresponds to a few holes, the symbol interval of 1 and 2 is 6 mm.
, Etc.) is determined by the card system), and 1234567789 ... Is printed in order, and a power hole 3 corresponding to the usage frequency is punched on it.

In this way, the prepaid card 1 as shown in FIG. 2A, in which the symbol 2 is printed, the usable amount of the card is written in the magnetic data recording section M, and punched by the frequency using the frequency hole 3, is shown. When the card is used, it is taken in from the card transport / punch mechanism 103 as shown in FIG. Read.

In the card of FIG. 2 (a), the frequency holes 3 are punched on the symbols 1, 2, 3, ... 6, ... 8, and in the case of a telephone card, one call costs 100 yen at first. By making three calls (this is just an example and is not limited to a telephone, and the amount of charges and the frequency are not limited), the frequency holes 3 are perforated with symbols 1, 2, and 3, Next, since 3 calls are collectively made, the symbol 6 is punched. Next, since 2 calls are made, the symbol 8 is punched. Therefore, the rest of the symbols 2 are 9, 10, 11 cards. It means that it means that.

The card control circuit 6 judges from the read data of the symbol 2 by the optical reading unit 5 that the remaining symbols are 9 to 11, and the remaining number of 3 calls (assuming one call worth 100 yen).
Allow the call within the range, connect the line, and when the call ends, the remaining amount calculation circuit 105 subtracts the remaining amount from the previous remaining amount, the update circuit 106 updates the magnetic data, and the card transfer / punch mechanism 103 calls this time. If the number is one call, the symbol 9 is punched out, dropped, and returned.

When such a prepaid card 1 is used, the frequency hole 3 is concealed by sticking tape or silver paper on the frequency hole 3 which has been conventionally used, or the frequency hole 3 is filled with a scrap. The hole concealment modification method is impossible since the unused symbol 2 is also hidden when the tape is hidden by a tape or the like.

On the other hand, the modification method in which the frequency hole 2 is filled with a scrap or the like must be completely restored at the same time for the numbers and characters of the symbols, which is also impossible, and thus the modification card can be completely prevented. .

Although no special coordinate management method is used for the position coordinate management of the symbol 2 on the card 1,
If necessary, if a matrix-based position management method is used by using a mesh sensor that forms conductive stripes in the XY directions of the card 1, it is possible to specify the position with higher accuracy.

Next, an example in which the box code 2c is used for the symbol 2 as shown in FIG. 2D will be described as another embodiment.

If the box code 2c is used for displaying the remaining frequency as a simple symbolic display like the numeral, Japanese character or alphabet used as the symbol 2, the above-mentioned alteration preventing effect can be obtained, of course. This box
The code is a four-fold quadrangle that is formed by connecting the sides of each box figure.
It is possible to display 16 bits in display units, which allows the display of numbers and letters. Therefore, if the exact remaining amount of money is displayed by the box code of the remaining position at the same time, it will function more effectively. it can.

Specifically, in the prepaid card 1 on which the box code 2c as shown in FIG. 2 (d) is printed, the symbol immediately after the symbol after the card conveying / punch mechanism 103 punches the power hole 3 after the card is used. If the box code 2c is configured to display the card remaining amount at that time, not only the matching of the frequency hole 3 but also the remaining amount represented by the box code 2c immediately after the last frequency hole 3 and the card The rewriting of the magnetic data can also be checked by adding a check method such as checking whether the remaining amount of the magnetic data read by the reading circuit 4 is the same or not, and if they match, the rewriting of the magnetic data can be checked. Strict alteration check is possible.

Note that the processing of the prepaid card 1 has been mainly described so far, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the modified card identification method by the symbol printing of the present embodiment is not limited to other pachinko machines. It can also be applied to various prepaid cards such as cards, orange cards, gasoline cards, and various types of game cards.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the prepaid card in which the information of the remaining amount of money is magnetically recorded as magnetic data and the remaining frequency is indicated by the frequency hole opened at the specified position, Print symbols such as numbers, Iroha of Japanese characters, alphabets, box codes, etc. corresponding to the usage frequency at the prescribed position to make a frequency hole,
The frequency holes are punched on the symbols so that these symbols are missing, and the residual symbols are collated to determine the frequency residuals.Therefore, the printed symbol identification method improves the management accuracy of the card's frequency holes. The security of the prepaid card can be further enhanced by preventing the card from being altered.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a system.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the prepaid card shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional prepaid card system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 prepaid card 2 symbol 3 number hole 4 card reading circuit 5 optical reading unit 6 card control circuit 7 CPU

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card which magnetically records the information of the remaining amount of money as magnetic data, and indicates the remaining frequency by means of a power hole opened at a specified position, which corresponds to the used power at a specified position where a power hole is opened on the card surface. A prepaid card characterized by printed symbols. 2. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is a number corresponding to the usage frequency. 3. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is a Japanese character corresponding to the usage frequency. 4. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is an alphabetic character corresponding to the usage frequency. 5. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the symbol corresponding to the usage frequency is a symbol represented by a box code corresponding to the usage frequency. 6. The prepaid card according to claim 1, wherein the box code symbol also displays the remaining amount of money. 7. A method for preventing alteration of a prepaid card, characterized in that when the use of the prepaid card is completed, a power hole is punched so that the symbol is printed on the printed symbol corresponding to the usage frequency. . 8. When a prepaid card is used, the altered card is prevented by optically reading the symbol and comparing the symbol missing due to perforation with the remaining symbol to determine the remaining frequency. The method for preventing alteration of a prepaid card according to claim 7. 9. When using a prepaid card, the remaining frequency is judged by the box code symbol of the punching residual amount, and at the same time, the balance amount represented by the box code symbol of the punching residual amount is collated with the balance amount information of the magnetic data. A method for preventing alteration of a prepaid card, characterized by preventing an altered card by determining that it is a normal card when they are matched.