JPH1091749A - Magnetic card, device and method for processing magnetic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic card hardly fraudulently altering recorded balance or the like and to provide a device and method for processing the magnetic card. SOLUTION: A magnetic bar 3 for collection is formed of materials for reversibly it from soft magnetism into hard magnetism by ultraviolet irradiation. At the time of using a magnetic card, the magnetic bars for collation in a number corresponding to balance are irradiated with an ultraviolet ray so as to be hard-magnetized as necessary, magnetic information is written, and the balance information and other required information is written in a magnetic stripe 2. At the time of using the magnetic card the next time, the information of the magnetic stripe 2 and the magnetic bar 3 for collection is read. When the balance information of the magnetic stripe 2 <= the balance information decided by the hard-magnetized number of the magnetic bars 3 for collation, the magnetic card is judged to be true, and otherwise, it is judged to be false.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card, a processing apparatus and a processing method thereof, and more particularly to a magnetic card authenticity determination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows the structure of a conventional prepaid card, which is one type of magnetic card. In FIG.
Is a prepaid card, 92 is a hard magnetic stripe,
93 is a balance printing, 94 is a punch hole, 95 is a concealing layer, 96
Denotes a recording unit that is not visible.

[0003] With this configuration, the balance information recorded on the magnetic stripe 92, the approximate balance information from the punch holes 94, and the principal information of the recording section 96, which is made invisible by the concealing layer 95, are compared. To determine the authenticity of the card. Further, different recordings are made in the invisible recording section 96 at the time of card production for each denomination of the card 91.

[0004] The above-mentioned determination of the authenticity of a card is performed by using a processing apparatus as shown in FIG. 10 and a flow as shown in FIG. The normal processing is performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

[0005]

With respect to the above-mentioned prior art, the recording of the magnetic stripe is easily read by a third party, and the punch holes are erroneously recognized. It is susceptible to tampering and has security problems. Further, since different recordings are made for each denomination of the card in the invisible recording section at the time of card production, different cards must be prepared for each denomination at the time of card issuance, resulting in poor production efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card in which a recorded balance or the like is difficult to be tampered, and a processing apparatus and a processing method for the magnetic card. Is what you do.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a magnetic card processing device is provided by the following (4) to (6). And the magnetic card processing method is as follows (7),
The configuration is as shown in (8).

(1) A magnetic card having a plurality of magnetic bars including a soft magnetic bar made of a material that can be irreversibly converted to hard magnetism by post-processing.

(2) The magnetic card according to (1), further comprising a hard magnetic stripe.

(3) The magnetic card according to (1), wherein the magnetic bar is formed of a fired material containing manganese and bismuth as main components.

(4) The magnetic card processing apparatus according to (1), further comprising an ultraviolet irradiation means for irreversibly changing a soft magnetic bar to a hard magnetic bar.

(5) The processing device for a magnetic card according to the above (1), wherein reading means for reading data from the plurality of magnetic bars and authenticity of the magnetic card are determined based on an output of the reading means. A magnetic card processing device comprising:

(6) In the magnetic card processing apparatus according to (2), a storage means for storing a relationship between the number of hard magnetic bars and the remaining amount of money in the magnetic card, and a hard disk from a plurality of magnetic bars. The first reading means for reading the number of magnetic bars, the second reading means for reading the balance information of the magnetic card from the magnetic stripe, the relationship stored in the storage means and the first reading means. Determining means for comparing the balance information obtained from the number of hard magnetic bars with the balance information read by the second reading means, and determining the authenticity of the magnetic card based on the comparison result; Card processing device.

(7) The method for processing a magnetic card according to the above (1), wherein the soft magnetic bar is irreversibly converted into a hard magnetic bar according to the remaining amount or the like.

(8) The method for processing a magnetic card according to (1), wherein when magnetic information is read from the plurality of magnetic bars, the magnetic card is pre-written on the plurality of magnetic bars. .

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples of a "magnetic card".

[0017]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a "magnetic card" according to Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic card 1 is provided with a hard magnetic stripe 2 and a collating magnetic bar 3 on a support made of a synthetic resin. A part 4 is provided.

The magnetic stripe 2 is an ordinary magnetic stripe similar to the conventional example. The collation magnetic bar 3 is specific to this embodiment and will be described in detail below.

The collating magnetic bar 3 is provided with Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-26261 and 7-26262 filed by the present applicant.
The magnetic material proposed in the above item is used.

An experimental example of this material will be described.

Experimental Example A manganese powder having a particle size of 10 μm and a bismuth powder having a particle size of 50 μm were mixed and kneaded at a weight ratio of 2 to 8, and the mixture was put into a mold and pressure was applied to form a solid. Then, the solid matter is placed in a nitrogen (N ₂ ) atmosphere using an electric furnace at 250 ° C. for 8 hours.
After firing for a time, a magnetic material was produced.

The magnetic material 10 m obtained as described above
When a magnetization curve was determined using g as a sample, the results shown in FIG. 2 were obtained. The ultraviolet light irradiation here is 200
A W mercury / xenon lamp was used and its emission spectrum was 577,546,436,405,365,313.
It has a peak at nm and an emission intensity of 1 W / cm ² .
The irradiation time (exposure time) is 5 minutes. The result shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained even if this time is shorter than one minute.

As is clear from the experimental results, it is understood that the material exhibits soft magnetism before irradiation with ultraviolet light (also referred to as ultraviolet light), and shows hard magnetism after irradiation with ultraviolet light.

In order to produce a magnetic recording medium using this magnetic material, the magnetic material is powdered to the same degree as a conventional magnetic material containing Fe ₂ O ₄ as a main component, and this is mixed with a known adhesive. It is carried out by applying it to a plastic tape or substrate.

A magnetic bar using the above magnetic material exhibits soft magnetism, and does not generate residual magnetism even when magnetized by a magnetic head.
Writing is not possible. However, as described above, when irradiated with ultraviolet light, it is irreversibly converted into a hard magnetic material, and writing and reading can be performed by a magnetic head in the same manner as a normal magnetic stripe (hard magnetic material). The present invention utilizes this property.

Hereinafter, a case where the magnetic card of the present embodiment is used as a prepaid card will be described by way of an example of a price.

First, the collating magnetic bar 3 will be described. The balance information is recorded on the collation magnetic bar 3. In the unused state, the amount obtained by subtracting the "principal amount" of the card from the "maximum amount of the set denomination" corresponds to the remaining amount, and is written as the remaining amount information at the time of issuance. This balance information is expressed by the number of hardened magnetic bars among the five matching magnetic bars 3. In the following, an example will be described in which the unit is 1000 yen unit, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be implemented in an appropriate form such as 500 yen unit. In addition, the number of magnetic bars 3 for verification is also 5
The present invention is not limited to books, but can be implemented in an appropriate form such as ten books.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state of the prepaid card at the time of issuance. There are five magnetic bars 3 for collation, and as described above, are made of a material that shows soft magnetism before irradiation with ultraviolet light and hard magnetism after irradiation with ultraviolet light.

FIG. 3A shows a prepaid card with a principal of 1,000 yen. The “maximum amount of the set denomination” in this prepaid card is 5000 yen. The "principal" of this prepaid card is the remaining amount of 1000 yen, and the four soft magnetic bars corresponding to the remaining amount are irreversibly converted into hard magnetic bars (shown by hatching) by ultraviolet irradiation. . In the magnetic stripe 2, necessary information such as a principal of 1,000 yen is written, and in the hard magnetic bar, appropriate writing is performed.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a prepaid card with a principal of 3000 yen. Two soft magnetic bars corresponding to the remaining amount of 3000 yen are irreversibly hard-magnetic bars (shown by hatching) when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. ) Has been changed. The principal information of 3000 yen and other necessary information are written on the magnetic stripe 2, and appropriate writing is performed on the hard magnetic bar.

Next, the operation in use will be described. As an example,
Consider a case in which a prepaid card of 3000 yen at the time of issuance and the maximum denomination is 5000 yen is used for 1000 yen.

FIG. 4 shows the state of the magnetic bar 3 for verification of the prepaid card before and after use. FIG. 4A shows a state where the remaining amount of the prepaid card is 3000 yen, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the remaining amount of the prepaid card is 1000 yen.
The state when the remaining amount becomes 2000 yen using a yen is shown.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above-described prepaid card (magnetic card) processing apparatus. FIG.
In the figure, 51 is a microprocessor unit for performing required processing, and 52 is a printing unit for printing the balance or the like. 5
Numeral 4 is a composite head for reading magnetic information from the magnetic stripe 2 and the collating magnetic bar 3, and 53 is a composite magnetic head 5
4 is a reading circuit for converting the signal from the device 4 with predetermined characteristics. 59 and 58 are configured similarly to 54 and 53.
Reference numeral 56 denotes a composite head for writing magnetic information on the magnetic stripe 2 and the collating magnetic bar 3, and reference numeral 55 denotes a writing circuit for driving the composite head 56 with predetermined characteristics. Reference numeral 57 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates a required magnetic bar with ultraviolet light.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the authenticity determination operation of the prepaid card and the like. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the prepaid card writing operation and the like. The processing in these flowcharts is performed by the MPU 51.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the prepaid card 1
Will be described.

When the prepaid card 1 is inserted into the magnetic card processing device, the magnetic head 59 reads the magnetic information of the magnetic stripe 2 and the magnetic information of the collating magnetic bar 3 (S1).

Hereinafter, an example of a prepaid card shown in FIG. 4 will be described. 3000 yen is calculated as the balance information 2 from the magnetic information of the magnetic stripe 2.

Two hard magnetic bars are detected from the magnetic information from the magnetic bar 3 for comparison, and the balance information 1 is obtained from the following method of comparing the number of hard magnetic bars and the balance information stored in advance in the processing device. 3000 yen is calculated (S2).

[0040]

[Table 1]

The balance information 1 and the balance information 2 are compared (S
3) As described above, since both are equal at 3000 yen, the process proceeds to S4, the card is determined to be true (S4), and the process proceeds to a subtraction process or the like (S5).

In S3, the amount of the balance information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2 is changed by the magnetic bar 3 due to tampering or the like.
If the amount is larger than the amount, the card is determined to be fake (S
6). As described above, in the present embodiment, of the five soft magnetic reference magnetic bars, the magnetic bars of the number corresponding to the remaining amount are irreversibly converted into hard magnetic bars by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

Since this hard magnetic bar is irreversibly converted, it cannot be returned to a soft magnetic bar further. Therefore, the number of hard magnetic bars is reduced and the balance information 1 is increased. It is not possible. On the other hand, a comparison table of the number of hard magnetic bars and the balance information 1 is stored in the magnetic card processing device in advance and cannot be falsified.

Therefore, in the tampering by an ordinary method such as rewriting the magnetic stripe 2 to increase the remaining amount (remaining amount information 2), the check of S3 cannot be escaped, and the security of the prepaid card is improved step by step.

In order to eliminate the influence of tampering due to the erasure of the magnetic information in the hard magnetic bar, when reading the magnetic information of the magnetic bar for collation, writing is performed on all the magnetic bars for collation in advance. Magnetic information may be recorded on the bar.

Next, the operation at the time of writing will be described. MPU
51 calculates new balance information 2 (2000 yen) after use (S11). Based on this result, the MPU 51 irradiates one soft magnetic bar with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiator 57 to form three hard magnetic bars corresponding to 2000 yen of the new balance information 2 (S12). , S1
3). In addition, the MPU 51 uses the composite head 56 to
New balance information 2 (2000 yen) is recorded on the magnetic stripe 2 and written on all the magnetic bars 3 for verification. In addition,
Since the magnetic bar for soft magnetic comparison does not have a coercive force, no magnetic information remains on the two magnetic bars even by the writing.

As described above, the writing to the collation magnetic bar 3 is for reading the number of hardened magnetic bars, and therefore, for example, the magnetic head 56 is driven by an alternating current having a constant frequency and amplitude. You can do it in the form.

The usage amount is not limited to the unit of 1000 yen as described above, but may be an appropriate unit. In this case, the remaining amount (balance information 2) is reduced by use, and 400
The condition of S3, S4 and S6 in FIG. 6 is always satisfied by increasing the number of hard magnetic bars by one each time the height is reduced to the respective bases of 0 yen, 3000 yen, 2000 yen, 1000 yen and 0 yen. I can do it. For example, in the prepaid card of FIG. 3B, when the principal is set at 3000 yen, the balance information 2
Will be reduced to the base of 4000 yen and 3000 yen,
The two magnetic bars 3 for comparison are made hard magnetic.

Using 100 yen from the prepaid card with the principal of 3000 yen, the remaining amount becomes 2900 yen (this remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the amount of use 100 yen from the remaining information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2). Next Odai 2000
Since it does not decrease to a circle, the magnetic bar 3 for comparison does not become hard magnetic. When the prepaid card is used next time, the balance information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2 is set to 29 as described above.
The balance information 1 of the comparison magnetic bar 3 is 3000 yen based on the comparison table and the two hard magnetic bars, and according to the flow of FIG. Appropriate judgment can be made.

When the prepaid card is used for an additional 2,200 yen, the remaining amount becomes 700 yen (the remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the amount of use from the remaining amount information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2). Since the number has been reduced to two, the two magnetic bars 3 for comparison are hardened. The next time this prepaid card is used, the balance information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2 is 700 yen,
The balance information 1 of the collation magnetic bar 3 is 1000 yen based on the comparison table and the four hard magnetic bars.
It is possible to properly determine that the card is true based on <balance information 1 ”.

After such a series of operations, the composite head 5
In step S15, a verify read is performed to check whether the written contents are correct. At this time,
If another soft magnetic material is used for the collation magnetic bar 3 due to forgery, the magnetic information is not written because it does not become hard magnetized by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Since the information is written, an abnormality in the data, that is, tampering with the card can be found.

The above is an example in which the number of hardened magnetic bars 3 for collation is determined by the balance information 2 and the amount of money used in the magnetic stripe 2, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the present invention can be implemented in such a manner that the number of matching magnetic bars to be hardened is determined only by the amount of money used. In this case, the usage amount is 1000 yen, 2000 yen, 3
The number of magnetic bars to be hardened is increased every time the size reaches the level of 000 yen or 4000 yen. Explaining the case of a prepaid principal of 4000 yen, it is the same as that of 1000 yen from the maximum amount of the set denomination at the time of issuance.
One of the collating magnetic bars 3 is hard magnetized. When an amount of less than 1,000 yen is used from the prepaid card, the amount does not reach the level of 1,000 yen, so no new hard magnetization is performed. For example, when 2,000 yen is used, the amount of money used reaches a large amount of 1,000 yen and 2,000 yen, so that a total of two collation magnetic bars are hardened. At this time, the balance information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2 is (4000 yen−2000 yen = 2000 yen) or less. On the other hand, since the three magnetic bars for comparison are hard magnetic, the balance information 1 is 200.
0 yen, and “Balance information 2 ≦ Balance information 1” in FIG.
According to the flow, the card can be properly determined to be true. 200
When 2100 yen is used instead of 0 yen, the amount reaches the level of 1000 yen and 2000 yen, so the two magnetic bars 3 for comparison are hardened. At this time, the balance information 2 of the magnetic stripe 2 is equal to or less than (4000 yen−2200 yen = 1800 yen). On the other hand, since the three magnetic bars for comparison are hard magnetized, the balance information 1 is 2,000 yen. 6, the card can be determined to be true according to the flow of FIG. 6, and the authenticity of the card can be properly determined.

As is clear from the above description, the balance information 1 indicates an approximate balance except when the unit of the amount of money used is the amount per hard magnetic bar. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a "magnetic card" of Embodiment 2. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 83 denotes a magnetic bar for collation, which is irregularly arranged as shown. The arrangement pattern of the irregular arrangement is stored in the magnetic card processing device in advance, the arrangement pattern of the magnetic card inserted into the device is read, and the arrangement pattern is compared with the previously stored arrangement pattern. Can be used to determine the authenticity.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a magnetic card with high production efficiency, in which it is difficult to falsify a recorded balance or the like, and it is not necessary to prepare a different card for each denomination at the time of issuance, and to provide a magnetic card processing apparatus and processing method. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a magnetic card according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing magnetic properties of a material used for a magnetic bar for verification.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of a prepaid card at the time of issuance;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of a prepaid card before and after use.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a magnetic card processing device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of determining whether the card is authentic;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a write operation and the like;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a magnetic card according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional magnetic card.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional processing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional example for determining the authenticity of a card.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation such as writing in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card 2 Magnetic stripe 3 Magnetic bar for collation

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H01F 1/22 H01F 1/22

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic card comprising a plurality of magnetic bars including a soft magnetic bar made of a material that can be irreversibly converted to hard magnetism by post-processing. 2. The magnetic card according to claim 1, further comprising a hard magnetic stripe. 3. The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic bar is formed of a fired material containing manganese and bismuth as main components. 4. The magnetic card processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet irradiation unit for irreversibly changing the soft magnetic bar to a hard magnetic bar. 5. A magnetic card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reading means reads data from a plurality of magnetic bars, and said magnetic card is authenticated based on an output of said reading means. And a means for processing a magnetic card. 6. The magnetic card processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage means for storing a relationship between the number of hard magnetic bars in the magnetic card and the remaining amount, and a plurality of hard bars from the plurality of magnetic bars. First reading means for reading the number of bars, second reading means for reading the balance information of the magnetic card from the magnetic stripe, and the relationship stored in the storage means and the hard magnetic read by the first reading means Determining means for comparing the balance information obtained from the number of magnetic bars with the balance information read by the second reading means and determining whether the magnetic card is authentic based on the comparison result; Magnetic card processing device. 7. The magnetic card processing method according to claim 1, wherein the soft magnetic magnetic bar is irreversibly converted into a hard magnetic magnetic bar in accordance with the remaining amount or the like. 8. The magnetic card processing method according to claim 1, wherein when magnetic information is read from a plurality of magnetic bars, writing is performed in advance on the plurality of magnetic bars. Processing method.