JPH10162113A - Magnetic card, and its recording method, and it is collating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the security against an illegal act such as the alteration of data. SOLUTION: A magnetic recording layer is formed of a special magnetic material, to which magnetic record is unrewritable at room temperature and a general magnetic material, to which magnetic record is rewritable, and is divided into a rewritable area 12 and a 1st recording area 131 . When the magnetic card is manufactured, the magnetic recording layer is initialized into a demagnetized state. When the card is issued, key data Kc characteristic of the card is recorded in the 1st recording area 131 and after the rewritable area 12 is demagnetized on a DC basis, transaction data Ad indicating that this card is new, etc., are recorded; and further adequacy confirmation data Cc found by using the key data Kc, transaction data Ad, etc., as parameters are recorded. When the card is used, the transaction data Ad, etc., are updated and the adequacy confirmation data Cc which are already recorded are updated into the adequacy confirmation data Cc found by using the key data Kc and updated transaction data Ad as parameters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card effective for preventing data from being tampered with or falsified on a magnetic card such as a so-called prepaid card, a recording method thereof, and a collation method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques for recording magnetic data on magnetic recording media such as ID cards and prepaid cards have been widely used. However, these days, "rewritable"
Many cases have been reported in which data has been falsified by exploiting the characteristics of magnetic recording. In order to prevent these cases, for example, in a prepaid card, data indicating the frequency of use is recorded on the recording medium itself separately from the magnetic data, and at the time of use, both records are compared and verified to determine whether they have been tampered with. Had to be verified. In this case, the method of recording on the recording medium itself includes punching of punch holes, destruction by metal discharge, thermal destruction of low melting point metal, and the like, and once recorded, cannot be physically returned to the original state. A recording method for creating a state (hereinafter, referred to as “one-way recording” for convenience of description) is used. Furthermore, in order to improve security, a method has been proposed in which an IC is built into a card, and recorded information is encrypted to prevent data from being rewritten, falsified, or altered.

[0003]

However, such conventional one-way recording uses a recording material and a recording method which are not originally related to magnetic recording at all.
In addition to the device required for reading and writing, the cost of the recording medium itself has been increased. Further, at the time of reading / writing, there is a problem that the recording medium itself is stained (print residue, burrs due to perforation, etc.), and maintenance of a device required for reading / writing is indispensable. Also,
It has also been pointed out that the most general method of punching a punched hole according to the frequency of use is ineffective against a method of shielding the punched hole with a protective tape or the like. In addition, the method of encrypting recorded information using an IC is problematic in that the cost is too high for a prepaid card medium.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a non-rewritable unidirectional recording and a rewritable magnetic recording on the same magnetic recording layer on the same surface. The present invention is to provide a magnetic card, a recording method thereof, and a collation method thereof which solve the above-mentioned problems by using the above method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a first magnetic material which can be magnetically recorded only in a demagnetized state at room temperature, and a rewritable magnetic recording. A magnetic recording layer made of a second magnetic material is formed on the entire surface or a part of the card substrate. Before recording, the magnetic recording layer is initialized to a demagnetized state, and one area of the magnetic recording layer is demagnetized. At the time of processing and recording, data is renewably recorded in one area subjected to degaussing processing, while data is additionally recorded in another area not subjected to degaussing processing.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<1: Embodiment> In this embodiment, a magnetic card is applied to a prepaid card in which predetermined amount information is not recorded as an initial state.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the recording surface. As shown in the figure, a magnetic recording surface 11 of the prepaid card 10 is formed of a magnetic thin film described later, and performs a rewritable magnetic recording, and a rewritable area 12 for recording update information;
It is divided into a unidirectional recording area 13 where non-rewritable magnetic recording is performed by unidirectional recording. Of these, the one-way recording area 13 is the first recording area 1 for recording unique information.
3 ₁ and is divided into a ₂ second recording area 13 for recording the additional information. Here, the first recording area 13 _1, while such key data Kc indicating the unique key of the card are recorded at the time of ticket, the number of times the second recording region 13 _2, which is traded with the card ( Frequency data Tc indicating the frequency of use is additionally recorded for each use. Note that the first recording area 13 _1, in addition to key data Kc, the type and the card, the card of I
D, data unique to the card, such as data indicating the frequency of issue, are recorded at the time of ticket issuance. On the other hand, in the rewritable area 12, transaction data Ad indicating the number of possible transactions, validity confirmation data Cc described later, terminal data TER, and the like are recorded and updated for each use. Here, the terminal data TER includes data indicating the terminal ID when the card was used last time,
This data is determined by data indicating the total number of transaction experiences of the terminal. For data recorded on the prepaid card 10, see also FIG. 4 (details will be described later).

<1-1: Magnetic Thin Film> Next, the magnetic recording surface 11 of the prepaid card 10 will be described. The magnetic recording surface 11 is a magnetic thin film having the magnetic characteristics of a general magnetic material and a special magnetic material described below, and formed by the following method or the like. For example, the magnetic recording surface 11 may be formed by depositing a mixture of a general magnetic material and a special magnetic material (e.g., vapor deposition or sputtering), printing, or forming a thin film of a general magnetic material and a special magnetic material. It is formed by laminating two layers of magnetic material thin films. The magnetic thin film thus formed is used for each area depending on the magnetic recording method.

<1-1-1: General Magnetic Material> First, a general magnetic material will be described. As the general magnetic material, for example, iron oxide substances such as barium ferrite and γ-ferrite, crystalline simple metals such as Fe, Co, and Ni, alloys thereof, and alloys of these with transition metals are used.
In this general magnetic material, the initial magnetization characteristics from the demagnetized state are saturated by a magnetic field that is twice or more the coercive force, and the coercive force is 5 kOe or less. For example, general magnetic materials such as permalloy and sendust are used. By applying an external magnetic field by the head, its magnetization direction can be arbitrarily changed.
That is, in this general magnetic material, magnetic recording is rewritable.

<1-1-2: Special Magnetic Material> Next, the special magnetic material will be described. For example, Mn-Bi is used as the special magnetic material. In such a special magnetic material, the apparent coercive force at room temperature is 600 to 1000 [O
e], when the magnetization is performed from the demagnetized state (non-magnetized state), the initial magnetization characteristics are saturated at a magnetic field of 1/2 or less of the coercive force, but the coercive force at that time is 10 [kOe]. That's all. It is known that the coercive force of this special magnetic material decreases in a low-temperature environment of -180 ° C or lower. Magnetic anisotropy constant is 0 [erg / c
m ³ ], and the coercive force is as extremely small as 200 [Oe]. However, since the coercive force does not completely become 0 [kOe], the magnetization direction cannot be accurately changed even after the temperature is returned to normal temperature and an external magnetic field is applied. Such a special magnetic material has a coercive force from a demagnetized state at normal temperature of about 600 to 1000 [Oe] as described above, so that magnetic recording can be performed using a general magnetic head. However, once
When magnetic recording is performed, the coercive force is 10 [kOe] or more. Therefore, even when a general magnetic head having a generated magnetic field strength of at most about 5 to 6 [kOe] is used, the magnetization direction of the magnetic thin film is changed. It cannot be changed. Therefore, once magnetic recording is performed on a special magnetic material with a general magnetic head in a demagnetized state at room temperature, the content cannot be erased or rewritten.

When a magnetic thin film made of such a general magnetic material and a special magnetic material is initialized to a demagnetized state, and then DC demagnetized, the demagnetized state in which the detection result is a DC component is recorded in the special magnetic material. Thereafter, even if an external magnetic field is applied, the recording state does not change. On the other hand, general magnetic materials can be rewritten even after DC demagnetization. Therefore, in this magnetic thin film, once magnetic recording is performed in the demagnetized state, the content is recorded in a special magnetic material so that it cannot be erased or rewritten. By excluding the DC component recorded on the special magnetic material at the time of reading, the magnetic recording can be rewritten stably and repeatedly.

<1-1-3: Demagnetization> A method for demagnetizing a magnetic thin film is as follows. That is, if such a magnetic thin film is in a magnetized state, it is first cooled to an extremely low temperature (for example, -180 ° C.), and then an externally applied AC magnetic field having a peak magnetic field of about 500 to 3500 [Oe] or attenuation. Apply a magnetic field. This allows not only general magnetic materials,
Special magnetic materials are also demagnetized. Thereby, the magnetic recording surface 11
Are demagnetized (initialized).

<1-2: Unidirectional Recording> Next, of the magnetic thin film having such characteristics, the second recording area 13 ₂
Will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the frequency data Tc is recorded in a demagnetized state at room temperature. Now, suppose that the number of transactions (frequency of use) is "1".
The case will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2A, the magnetic blocks B ₁ whose magnetic directions are opposite to each other.
But it is recorded in the most front of the second scanning direction of the recording area 13 ₂ as a frequency data Tc. Next, when the use frequency becomes “2”, as shown in FIG. 2B, a similar block B ₂ is recorded adjacent to the previously recorded block B ₁ in the scanning direction. Is done. Thereafter, each time the number of times of use increases, a similar block is stored in the second recording area 13.
_{In step 2} , the data is sequentially recorded as frequency data Tc in the scanning direction. Meanwhile, a portion frequency data Tc is not recorded in the second recording region 13 ₂ is kept demagnetized state of the initialization.

Therefore, the frequency of use of the prepaid card 10 can be detected by the following method.
That is, first, the second recording region 13 ₂ is scanned by the magnetic head, and detects the peak point of the magnetic by the magnetic block positive and negative, then, when the number of peak points was n points, (n- 1) / 2 is calculated to determine the number of recorded magnetic blocks, thereby obtaining the usage frequency. However, if there is no magnetic peak point, the frequency of use is “0”. Actually, it is also determined whether the interval between the peak points is valid in the scanning direction.

<1-3: Transaction Terminal> Next, the configuration of a terminal for conducting a transaction (including issuing a ticket) of the prepaid card 10 will be described. There are a plurality of terminals, each of which is connected to a host computer via a network.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for one terminal T. In this figure, a control unit 31 controls each unit. The R / W (read / write) unit 32 reads data from or writes data to the inserted prepaid card 10. On the other hand, the UI unit 33 is a user interface for performing an operation for the user to specify a purchase amount (frequency of use) and displaying an appropriate handling method of the prepaid card 10 to the user.

In the terminal T, a plurality of secret keys specified by the ID are prepared. The memory 34
The secret key data Ks indicating this secret key is
It is managed and stored by the ID indicated by the ID. That is, the memory 34 stores secret key data Ks indicating a secret key for each ID indicated by the key ID data KID. In addition, the memory 34 also stores terminal data TER determined by data indicating a terminal ID unique to the terminal, data indicating the total number of transaction experiences at the terminal, and the like. The communication unit 35 is a communication interface for exchanging data with a host computer connected via a network. In the present embodiment, in particular, in the present embodiment, the key ID data K supplied from the host computer
Receive the ID. Then, the secret key used in the terminal T is determined by the key ID data KID. Note that a common key ID data KID is supplied to all terminals connected to the host computer.

The calculating section 36 calculates the validity confirmation data Cc by the following equation (1), for example. Cc = F (Kc // Tc, Ad // KID // TER, Ks) (1) In this equation, “//” indicates the connection of variables. Further, each argument (parameter) in Expression (1) is as described above. That is, the validity confirmation data Cc is
As shown in FIG. 4, the key data Kc, frequency data Tc, transaction data Ad,
The terminal data TER and the key I specified for the terminal T
D data KID, secret key data K defined by it
It is obtained by a function F that takes s and an argument. Further, the verification of the validity confirmation data described later is performed by comparing the data obtained by the arithmetic unit 36 with the data read from the prepaid card 10.

In the terminal T having such a configuration, the whole is a black box. In particular, the settings of the function F and the secret key data Ks are kept secret from a third party other than the sales company of the prepaid card 10. It is desirable to have.

<2: Operation> Next, the flow from the production of the prepaid card to its actual use will be described with reference to FIG.

<2-1: During Manufacturing> First, when the prepaid card 10 is manufactured at a factory, in step S1, the magnetic recording surface 11 is initialized to a demagnetized state by the above-described ultra-low temperature environment / AC magnetic field. Is done. Thereafter, the initialized prepaid card 10 is shipped from the factory in a state of being magnetically shielded, and delivered to a store or the like where the card is used.

<2-2: At Issuance of Ticket> Next, at the time of issuance of the prepaid card 10, in the step S2, the following first to first are performed.
Processing relating to the third step is performed. That is, the first
In the process of the control, the control unit 31 of the terminal T issuing the ticket,
The prepaid card 1 that issues a ticket by controlling the R / W unit 32
DC demagnetization is performed on the designated area of the rewritable area 12 at 0. Thereby, rewriting of magnetic recording in the area becomes possible. In the second process, the control unit 31
And controls the R / W unit 32, a first recording area 13 card-specific key Kc to _1, the terminal data TER terminal T according to the ticketing the rewritable area 12, in the card unused And the transaction data Ad indicating that there is such information. The key data Kc is provided with a unique key data by, for example, encoding the cumulative number of cards issued by the host computer or encoding the ID of the card. Third
In the process, the control unit 31 instructs the calculation unit 36 to calculate the validity confirmation code Cc according to the equation (1), and also calculates the validity confirmation code Cc.
c is written to the rewritable area 12 of the prepaid card 10 for issuing a ticket by controlling the R / W unit 32. In calculating the validity confirmation data Cc at the time of issuing a ticket, the data recorded in the second step is used.

As described above, when the ticket is issued, the rewritable area 1
The 2, transaction data Ad, validation data Cc and terminal data TER is, the first recording area 13 key data Kc to _1, but each of which is recorded, a second recording area 13
₂ , the demagnetized state is maintained without any frequency data Tc being recorded.

<2-3: At the time of use> When the prepaid card 10 is used, each time the prepaid card 10 is used, the rewritable area 12 and the one-way recording area 13 are stored in accordance with the use state. Reading / writing (recording) is performed. More specifically, the processing of the following steps S3 to S10 is executed. First, in step S3, the prepaid card 10 to be used is inserted into the terminal T for reading / writing. Next, in step S4, the prepaid card 1
The control unit 31 of the terminal T in which 0 is used controls the R / W unit 32, and firstly, the first recording area 13 ₁ of the card.
To the second recording area 13.
_{In step 2} , it is determined whether or not the frequency data Tc has already been recorded. If the frequency data Tc has been recorded, degaussing processing is also performed on the area where the frequency data Tc is recorded.

In the present embodiment, the following falsification is assumed, and the fraud of the prepaid card 10 is detected in steps S5 and S6. The recorded frequency data Tc is rewritten at the time of issuance of a ticket or before the present time. Attaching another magnetic recording medium, such as a magnetic tape, whose data can be rewritten by a magnetic head to the entire recording area of the card or a part of the recording area to be updated and recorded, All the record data in the recording area of the card recorded at the time of issuance or before the present time, transaction data such as remaining count, and update data such as count data Tc indicating the use count are copied. In any case, the data updated in the card is falsified by magnetic recording to that at the time of ticket issuance or earlier than the present time.

In the present embodiment, such an injustice is dealt with by executing the following first to fourth processes in step S5. First, in the first step, the control unit 31 controls the R / W unit 32, determines whether the first recording area 13 ₁ to the key data Kc of the prepaid card 10 according to the use is recorded I do. If it has been recorded, in the second step, the control unit 3
1 controls the R / W unit 32, transaction data Ad from the rewritable area 12, the validation data Cc and terminal data TER, the key data Kc from the first recording area 13 _1, the 2 from the recording area 13 ₂ of the frequency data Tc
Are read, respectively. In the next third step, the control unit 31 instructs the calculation unit 36 to calculate the validity confirmation data Cc based on the read various data according to the equation (1). Then, in the fourth process, the control unit 31 compares and checks the calculated validity confirmation data Cc with the read validity confirmation data Cc.

When examining the case here, in this embodiment, the frequency data recorded in the _second recording area 132 cannot be rewritten. This is because, among the second recording area 13 _2, a region where frequency data is recorded is demagnetized state during ticketing, and frequency data in the present embodiment can not be erased at room temperature, only additional recording This is because they cannot. Therefore, the frequency data Tc cannot be restored to the state before the transaction.
That is, the recording in the second recording region 13 ₂ is irreversible. Even if the frequency data recorded in the second recording area 13 ₂ is falsified, or the alteration of decreasing balance power, or, since the unreadable, substantial damage does not occur. Also, evidence of tampering can be easily found by observing the magnetic output waveform.
Furthermore, even if other areas are demagnetized and defaced,
The regenerated validity confirmation code does not match the read validity confirmation code. In the present embodiment, the fourth
In the process, the regenerated validity check code and the read validity check code are collated, and if they do not match, it is determined that the code is invalid, so that damage can be prevented.

Next, a case will be examined. In this embodiment, the coercive force of the magnetic thin film at room temperature is sufficiently stronger than the magnetic field generated by the magnetic head. Therefore, if the card is valid, the unique data once recorded in the _first recording area 131 is (Step S)
Depending on 4), it should not be erased. Therefore,
If valid prepaid cards, whereas even after degaussing process specific data serving key data Kc are still recorded in the first recording area 13 _1, if illegal prepaid card, a position corresponding to the region All data on the transferred tape or the like is erased. Therefore, after the demagnetization process in step S4, the first process in the step S5, the key data Kc in the first recording area 13 _1, it is determined whether or not recorded, illegal by case if it is not recorded It can be detected that Further, if an illegal operation is performed on the entire recording area of the card or on a part of the area to be updated and recorded, the regenerated validity check code is compared with the read validity check code, and both must be matched. It is as described above that the data is determined to be invalid (fourth process in step S5).

If the control unit 31 determines that the prepaid card 10 is invalid as a result of such a determination,
It instructs the UI unit 33 to display that effect and makes the use of the prepaid card 10 impossible thereafter. On the other hand, if it is determined that the prepaid card 10 is valid, in the next step S7, the control unit 10 reads the read transaction data Ad and / or the frequency data T.
According to c, a usable balance frequency is obtained, and it is determined whether or not it is zero. If the determination result is “Yes”, the control unit 31 instructs the UI unit 33 to display that the balance frequency is zero, and ends the use of the prepaid card 10. On the other hand, if the determination result is "No", in the next step S8, the control unit 31 permits the user to perform a transaction having the calculated balance frequency or less. When the user actually makes a transaction using the prepaid card 10, the control unit 31 controls the R / W unit 32 in step S9 to perform the following. That is, the control unit 31, the first, the frequency data Tc corresponding to the transaction amount is additionally recorded in the second recording area 13 _2, the second, after the terminal data TER and transaction terminals involved in this transaction Is updated in the rewritable area 12 and recorded. And thirdly, the control unit 31
Instructs the operation unit 36 to generate the validity confirmation data Cc shown in Expression (1) using the data after the transaction. Fourth, the generated validity confirmation data Cc
c is updated and recorded in the rewritable area 12.

Thereafter, in step S10, the control unit 3
1 discharges the prepaid card 10 and returns it to the user, and increments the data indicating the total number of transaction experiences of the terminal T stored in the memory 34 by “1”. As a result, the terminal data TER concerning the terminal T is different before and after the transaction. Therefore, by using such terminal data TER as an argument of the function F, it is possible to make it difficult to generate the validity confirmation data Cc, and to further enhance the reliability. When the prepaid card is used again, the control unit 31 of the terminal T related to the use of the prepaid card 10
However, the processing of steps S3 to S10 is executed each time.

According to the prepaid card according to the embodiment, since the non-rewritable one-way recording is magnetically performed, the apparatus required for reading and writing is shared with the general magnetic recording apparatus. As a result, the cost of the entire system can be kept low. Further, by enabling non-rewritable unidirectional magnetic recording and rewritable magnetic recording on the same recording layer, it is possible to reduce the cost of the device required for R / W, Another advantage is that it is difficult for a user to identify the recording method of the card. In addition, since the card is not stained during reading / writing, maintenance of the device required for reading / writing is almost unnecessary. In addition, frequency data T indicating usage frequency
c indicates that only additional recording is possible, and that recording is an irreversible recording that cannot be erased and rewritten at room temperature.
It is also possible to improve security.

<3: Another form of unidirectional recording> In the prepaid card 10 according to the above-described embodiment, the frequency data Tc indicating the frequency of use is additionally recorded as magnetic blocks whose magnetic directions are reversed from each other. However, in this alternative embodiment, additional recording is performed as the length of the region to be magnetized. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a magnetic recording surface 61 of a prepaid card 60 according to another embodiment. As shown in this figure, the magnetic recording surface 61 is divided into a one-way recording area 63 for performing one-way recording and a rewritable area 62 for performing rewritable general magnetic recording. In other words, the rewritable area 62 and the one-way recording area 63 are merely different from the magnetic recording surface 61, which is the same surface, due to the difference in the recording method. In this respect, the same applies to the previous embodiment. It is. Among them, guide patterns 64 are arranged at regular intervals along the scanning direction in a part of the rewritable area 62. The guide pattern 64 can be detected optically or magnetically. If the maximum number of usable transactions of the prepaid card 60 is "10", as shown in FIG. bar 64 ₀ to consist of 11 bars a combination of the bar 64 _{1-64 10} corresponding to each number of uses. In this alternative embodiment, the guide pattern 6
4 and the one-way recording area 63 are read simultaneously in the scanning direction. Note that the other points are the same as in the previous embodiment. That is, the unique data in the previous embodiment is recorded in a predetermined area of the one-way recording area 63, and the data to be updated is recorded in a predetermined area of the rewritable area 62 where the guide pattern 64 is not recorded. You.

Next, the frequency data T in such another embodiment will be described.
The method of additional recording of c will be described. 7 and 8
Is a diagram for explaining the concept of this recording method. Note that, in such another embodiment, the point that the one-way recording area 63 is initialized to a demagnetized state at the time of manufacturing and the point that the rewritable area 62 is DC demagnetized at the time of issuing a ticket are the same as in the previous embodiment. is there. First, when the guide pattern 64 is read, a guide pattern output corresponding to the reading is obtained as shown in FIG. At the time of initialization, as a result of initializing the unidirectional recording area 63 to a demagnetized state, nothing is recorded as shown in FIG. Then, at the time of ticketing, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), bar 64 ₀ for the detection start position is read, falling portion P of the read signal is detected. Then, the frequency data is additionally recorded in the one-way recording area 63 until the time point Q when the time ΔT2 elapses from the detection of the falling portion P.
The frequency data recorded at this time is recorded at the time of ticket issuance and does not indicate the frequency of use, and thus has the meaning of unique data in the above-described embodiment. At the time of issuing a ticket, the frequency of use is naturally zero.

Next, at the time of use, when confirming the number of uses of the card (at the time of reading), as shown in FIG. 8A, the guide pattern and the one-way recording area 63 are read simultaneously. Until the next time point R, the number of bars n of the guide pattern is counted. That is, in the read signal of the guide pattern, the time ΔT1 (where ΔT1> ΔT) has elapsed since the falling portion corresponding to each bar is detected.
2) Even after the passage, the bar pattern number n of the guide pattern is counted until time point R at which no frequency data is detected in the read signal of the one-way recording area 63. If the number n of bars counted at this time is used, the available balance frequency is (11-n) frequency and the use frequency is (n-1). In the example shown in FIG. 8A, since the number of bars (bars 64 ₀ to 64 ₂ ) counted up to time R is “3”, the balance frequency is “8”. The frequency is detected to be “2”.

Next, at the time of use, when additionally recording frequency data corresponding to the use frequency on the card (at the time of recording)
In FIG. 8, as shown in FIG.
From the next time point S to the time point U, it is additionally recorded in the one-way recording area 63. That is, from the time point S, which is the number of bars counted at the time of the previous reading and the time ΔT1 has elapsed after the falling portion is detected, the falling portion of the bar obtained by adding the frequency of use to the bar is displayed. Frequency data is additionally recorded until a time point U at which a time ΔT2 elapses after the detection.

Here, for example, a case where a product or the like having a usage frequency of “1” is purchased using a prepaid card 60 having a usage frequency of “2” will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, at the time of reading, the number of bars up to the point R is counted as “3”, and as a result, the usage frequency is obtained as “2”. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), at the time of recording, the frequency data is at a time point S after the elapse of the time ΔT1 since the falling portion of the bar 64 ₂ corresponding to the previous usage frequency “2” is detected. from the use frequency "1" time point U to the falling portion of the used bar 64 ₃ corresponding to the frequency "3" is more time ΔT2 has elapsed from the detection of the addition, it is additionally recorded.

In such a recording method, when the prepaid card 60 is used up to the transaction limit number of "10", the usage frequency data is obtained after the trailing portion of the guide pattern corresponding to "10" is detected. Time △ T2
Is recorded in correspondence with all the bars 64 ₀ to 64 ₁₀ in the guide pattern 64 until elapses.
When the frequency data is recorded corresponding to all the bars 64 ₀ to 64 ₁₀ , the number of guide patterns up to the time point R is counted as “11”, and the usage frequency is “1”.
0, and the balance frequency is detected to be “0”.
Will be terminated. Further, even if a magnetic tape is attached to the one-way recording area 63 to falsify the frequency data Tc, or the data before use is directly copied to the one-way recording area 63, Is determined to be invalid by the collation of. Further, in the latter case, since the portion where the frequency data Tc is recorded cannot be erased, that is, since it is an irreversible data recording method, even if it is copied, it does not return to the data before the transaction. , No substantial damage occurs.

<4: Others> In the present invention, if the magnetic properties of the magnetic material used for the magnetic recording layer, in particular, the special magnetic material can be known, the method described above is used.
It is possible to falsify or delete the frequency data Tc indicating the usage frequency by setting the one-way recording areas 13 and 63 in a demagnetized state. However, in order to demagnetize the magnetic recording layer, it is necessary to provide an equipment for applying an AC magnetic field in addition to an environment for cooling the magnetic recording layer to about -180 ° C. Conceivable.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, since unidirectional recording is performed by magnetic recording, which is an essential recording method, it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus itself. Further, since the unidirectional recording and the rewritable recording are realized on the same magnetic recording layer, the cost of the recording medium alone can be reduced, and it is difficult for a third party to identify the recording method. There is also. In addition, since the recording medium is not stained at the time of reading / writing as compared with the conventional method such as punching a punch hole, it is possible to make the device required for reading / writing maintenance-free. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a method of recording frequency data on the same prepaid card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal involved in the issuance or transaction of the prepaid card.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a data flow between the prepaid card and the terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation from manufacture to use of the payment card.

FIG. 6A is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a prepaid card according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a guide pattern of the prepaid card.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a read / write signal of a guide pattern and frequency data of the same prepaid card, respectively.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a read / write signal of a guide pattern and frequency data of the same prepaid card, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Prepaid card, 11: Magnetic recording surface, 12
... rewritable area (update information recording area), 13 ₁ ... first recording area (unique information recording area), 13 ₂ ... second recording area (additional information recording area), 31 ... control unit, 32
... R / W unit, 33 UI unit, 34 memory 35
... Communication unit, 36 ... Calculation unit, T ... Terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G11B 5/80 G06K 19/00 B

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic recording layer comprising a first magnetic material which can be magnetically recorded only in a demagnetized state at room temperature and a second magnetic material whose magnetic recording is rewritable is provided on the entire surface or a part of a card base. Before recording, the magnetic recording layer is initialized to a demagnetized state, one area of the magnetic recording layer is demagnetized, and at the time of recording, data is renewably recorded in one demagnetized area. On the other hand, a magnetic card characterized in that data is additionally recorded in other areas that have not been demagnetized. 2. The first magnetic material, at room temperature, has an initial magnetization characteristic from a demagnetized state saturated at a magnetic field of 1/2 or less of a coercive force, and has a coercive force of 10 [kOe] or more. The second magnetic material has an initial magnetization characteristic from a demagnetized state saturated in a magnetic field of twice or more the coercive force, and the coercive force is 5 [kO
e) The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The magnetic recording layer, wherein the first and second magnetic recording layers are
2. The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic card is formed in a layered form by mixing said magnetic material. 4. The magnetic recording layer according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording layer is formed by laminating a magnetic recording layer made of the first magnetic material and a magnetic recording layer made of the second magnetic material.
Magnetic card as described. 5. A magnetic recording layer comprising a first magnetic material which can be magnetically recorded only in a demagnetized state at room temperature and a second magnetic material whose magnetic recording is rewritable is formed on the whole or part of a card base. At least a unique information recording area and an update information recording area are allocated to the magnetic recording layer, the magnetic recording layer is initialized to a demagnetized state, and at the time of ticketing, the card is used for the unique information recording area. After performing a degaussing process on the update information recording area, data indicating that the card is in an unused state is recorded as state data, and further, at least the unique data and Confirmation data using the status data as a parameter is recorded, and for each use, the status data is updated in the update information recording area to one corresponding to the use. It has been the confirmation data, the inherent data and updated recording method for a magnetic card, characterized in that the state data is updated to be a parameter. 6. A write-once information recording area is further allocated to the magnetic recording layer, and data indicating a use state of the card is additionally recorded on the write-once information recording area for each use.
The recording method of the magnetic card described in the above. 7. The data recorded in the write-once information recording area indicates the frequency of use of the card, and the frequency of use and magnetic reversal are recorded in correspondence with each other. The recording method of the magnetic card described in the above. 8. The data recorded in the additional recording information recording area indicates the number of times of use of the card, and the number of times of use and the area length are recorded in correspondence with each other. The recording method of the magnetic card described in the above. 9. The card according to claim 5, wherein the unique information recording area is degaussed before use in recording or updating data, and if no data is recorded in this area, the card is not used. A magnetic card collation method, wherein a method for discriminating a magnetic card from a computer is illegal. 10. The invention according to claim 5, wherein at the time of use and before data is recorded or updated, status data from the update information recording area and unique data from the unique information recording area, respectively. Reading, at least, confirmation data having these parameters as parameters, and if the obtained confirmation data does not match the confirmation data read from the update information recording area, the card is determined to be invalid. Magnetic card verification method.