JPS63101961A - Maintenance system for magnetic card using system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a magnetic card from being used unfairly by writing and reading value information and other information only when synchronizing information is included in a magnetic recording medium. CONSTITUTION:Synchronizing information is written in one of magnetic recording media in a magnetic card at the time of its shipment e.g. from a plant. Value information and other necessary information can be written in another one of the magnetic recording media in the magnetic card only when the synchronizing information is included in said magnetic recording medium. At the time of reading out the magnetic card in case of using the magnetic card, the value information and other information can be read out only when the synchronizing information is included in the magnetic recording medium. When the read value information is zero or when the value information at the time of reducing its contents is zero, the value information and the synchronizing information or only the synchronizing information is erased. Consequently, writing and reading are completely disabled because of the absence of the synchronizing information even if the magnetic card is used thereafter, so that the safeness of the magnetic card using system can be guaranteed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a security system in a magnetic card usage system, and in particular, only when a specific magnetic stripe of a magnetic card has synchronization information for timing, information to other magnetic stripes is transmitted. A security method in a magnetic card usage system that ensures the safety of magnetic card use by making it possible to read and write information on the magnetic stripe, and erasing all information on the magnetic stripe when there is no other value information on the magnetic stripe. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Systems for making payments using magnetic cards are used in various fields, such as ticket vending machines for transportation facilities, card-operated public telephones, and game machines. In such a magnetic card usage system, a user pays a certain amount of money in advance to a service provider, etc., receives a magnetic card with value information written on it, and thereafter, each time a service is provided, the value information of the magnetic card is reduced. This is a system that allows users to pay for the card and use it at any time until the value information on the magnetic card reaches zero.

Such a magnetic card usage system has the advantage that there is no need to prepare cash each time the card is used, and it is easy to handle.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, as the above-described magnetic card usage system has become widespread, situations have arisen in which magnetic cards are used illegally. This is mainly carried out by using a predetermined method to write value information into a new magnetic card on which no value information has been written, and then using this magnetic card. Therefore, countermeasures against such unauthorized use have been desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a security system for a magnetic card usage system that solves the above-mentioned problems and ensures proper usage of magnetic cards.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention, which has solved the above-mentioned problems, allows users to pay for services etc. using a magnetic card having a magnetic recording medium on which value information is written, and each time the payment is made, the value information of the magnetic recording medium is recorded. In a magnetic card usage system that reduces the amount of money and allows the use of a magnetic card until the value information becomes zero, the magnetic card is provided with a magnetic recording medium on which synchronization information can be written, and the magnetic card is provided with a magnetic recording medium in which synchronization information can be written. A magnetic device capable of writing and reading at least value information and other information only when information is present, and erasing at least synchronization information of the recording medium when value information is zero. The present invention is characterized by providing a security method in a card usage system.

[Effect]

It is assumed that the magnetic recording medium of the magnetic card is provided with an area where value information and other necessary information can be written, and an area where synchronization information can be read.

Synchronization information is written in one of the magnetic recording media of the magnetic card, for example, at the time of shipment from the factory.

When writing value information and other necessary information to the other magnetic recording medium of the magnetic card, the writing can be done only when the magnetic recording medium has synchronization information.

When using a magnetic card, value information and other information can be read only when the magnetic recording medium has synchronization information. Further, when the value information is reduced when the payment of the price is completed, it is written on the condition that the above-mentioned synchronization information is present.

Here, when the read value information is zero, or when the value information becomes zero when the value information is reduced, the value information and synchronization information, or only the synchronization information is deleted.

This brings us to step 1! Even if an L magnetic card is used, since there is no synchronization information, no writing or reading is possible, and the security of the magnetic card usage system can be ensured.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a magnetic card used in an embodiment of the present invention. This magnetic card 1 is a flexible one made of thin plastic or paper, and the longitudinal direction of the magnetic card 1 is Two magnetic stripes 2.3 are provided as magnetic recording media coated with a magnetic material with a width of about 1/10 of the card surface, and one of the magnetic stripes 3.
As shown in FIG. 1 (I[[), synchronization information such as a timing clock is written in the factory where the magnetic card 1 was manufactured, and the other magnetic stripe 2 is written with synchronization information as shown in FIG. 1 (11). On the side other than the magnetic stripe 2.3 of the magnetic card L, which has no writing, there is a punch hole area for visually checking the remaining number of times, and there is a number indicating the number of remaining times on the computer game card. , the name of the publisher, and the amount sold are printed. Such magnetic cards are delivered from a factory to a service provider such as a game center.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a magnetic card issuing machine used in an embodiment of the present invention. In addition to providing an insertion slot 6 for inserting banknotes, a display device 7 for displaying the amount of the inserted banknotes is provided.
Below is magnetic card issue button 8A, cancel button 6[]
8B, and a tray 9 is provided at the bottom thereof to receive the issued magnetic card 1'.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the signal processing section of the magnetic card issuing machine 5 used in the embodiment of the present invention, and the bill processing mechanism 10 determines the denomination of the bill inserted from the insertion slot 6, and This is displayed on the display device 7, and when the issuance button 8A is pressed, the denomination and issuance command are given to the magnetic card issuance processing circuit 11, and when the cancel button 8B is pressed, the cancellation process is performed. .

On the other hand, a pair of rollers 12 are located near the card outlet of the tray 9.
．． 13 are provided at the top and bottom of the figure, and this pair of rollers 12
．． 13, a pair of rollers 14, 15 are provided at the top and bottom of the figure at a constant interval on the opposite side from the card exit, and a further pair of rollers 16, 17 are arranged at the top and bottom of the figure at a constant interval. This pair of rollers 16.17
On the right side of the figure, there is provided a conveyor belt 20 which is stretched around rollers 18 and 19. Above the conveyor belt 20 in the drawing, there is provided a take-out mechanism 21 that takes out only one magnetic card 1 when a take-out command is input, and the magnetic cards 1.1, . . . are stored above the take-out mechanism 21. A storage section 22 is provided. The storage section 22 and the take-out mechanism 21 are provided for each denomination, and the take-out mechanism 21
A belt 20 is extended below. Roller 14.1
A card detector 23 is provided between the rollers 5 and 16.17, and the rollers 12.13 and 14
．． 15, there are provided a read-only head 24 for reading information such as a timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3, a write-only magnetic head 25 for writing value information and other necessary information, and a card detector 26.

Detection signals from the card detectors 23 and 26 are transmitted to the magnetic card issuing processing circuit 11 consisting of a microcomputer system.
It should be entered as follows. Similarly, the signal from the read-only magnetic head 24 is input to the magnetic card issuing processing circuit 11. Magnetic card issuing processing circuit 1
Each control command signal from 1 is applied to a motor 27 that drives the rollers 12 to 17 and a take-out mechanism 21, and a write signal from the issue processing circuit 11 is applied to a write-only magnetic head 25. It's Nishide.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a magnetic card 1° issued by Magnetic Card Issuer 8!15, and the magnetic stripe 2'' of the aforementioned magnetic card 1' has a data format shown schematically in Figure (1). A cloak is shown, and in this data format, the order of writing is "5TXJ,""Publisher name code"
, "Remaining number of times code", and rETXJ are recorded. r
sTXJ indicates the reading start direction, "Issuing company name code" is a predetermined code with the name of the issuing company, and "
At the time of issuance, the remaining number of times code is recorded as value information, and the number of times the amount of money that has been read corresponds to the printed amount is recorded as a code, and rETXJ indicates the end of reading. In addition,
The magnetic stripe 21 has a blank portion,
The blank portion can be used as needed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a card-type game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The card-type game machine 30 has a casing 31 having a table-shaped external shape, and a CRT display 32 on the top surface of the casing 31. The upper surface is covered with a transparent plate 33 that provides a display surface and protects the CRT display 32, and the housing 31
An operation panel 34 is provided on one side, and the operation panel 34 includes buttons 35 for start and operation necessary for operation, and buttons 35 for cancel and operation.
A game selection box 36 and a joystick 37 are provided, and a card insertion slot 38 is provided on the right side of the operation panel 34 as shown in the figure.
Card-type game machine 3 by inserting a magnetic card with
It is designed to let you enjoy the game of 0.

FIG. 6 shows a card reading/writing device 40 provided inside the card-type game machine 30. A pair of rollers 4142 are provided near the card insertion slot 38 at the top and bottom of the figure. , 42, a pair of rollers 43 .
44 are arranged above and below in the figure, and this pair of rollers 45
．． A pair of rollers 45 and 46 are further disposed at regular intervals on the side opposite to the card insertion slot 38 with respect to the card insertion slot 46, and these rollers are disposed on the same horizontal line. A card detector 47, a read-only magnetic head 48, and a read/write magnetic head 49 are provided between the rollers 41, 42 and 43, 44 from the card insertion slot 38 side. A card detector 51 is provided on the opposite side of the rollers 45 and 46 (opposite the insertion slot 38).

Detection signals from the card detectors 47, 51 are input to a control circuit 5o consisting of a microcomputer system. Similarly, a signal from the read/write magnetic head 49 (read-only magnetic head 48) is input to the control circuit 5o in the same manner as described above. Control outputs from control circuit 50 drive read/write magnetic head 49 and motor 5 which drives rollers 41-46.
2, and a card game machine 30.
It is designed so that it can be supplied to the example game circuit 53.

The card detector 47, (51) is a light emitting unit 47 that emits light.
a (51a), and an optical sensor part 47b (51b) that receives light from the light emitting section 47a (51a).
), and when the light is blocked, the magnetic card 1
′ can be detected.

On the other hand, to the right of the rollers 45, 46 in the figure, a pair of rollers 55, 56 are arranged above and below the figure at a certain interval, and further to the right of the pair of rollers 55, 56 in the figure. A pair of rollers 57 are shown above and below at intervals.
58 are arranged, and these rollers 55 (56) and rollers (5
A permanent magnet (or electromagnet) 59 is provided between the permanent magnet 59 and the permanent magnet 59, with a distance at least wide enough to allow the magnetic card 1 to be used as currency. An iron plate 60 is provided, and these rollers 57.
58, a limit switch 61 is provided at a predetermined interval (slightly less than the length in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic card 1'),
In addition, a limit switch 61 is connected to the control circuit 50.

Note that the punch mechanism for punching a predetermined hole in the magnetic card 1° when the fee is reduced is omitted. Further, the motor 52 is
Rollers 41-46.55-58 or roller 4L43.4
5.55.57 or roller 42.44.46.56
．． 58 can be driven, and can be rotated forward or backward in response to a control drive signal from the control circuit 50.

The operation of such an embodiment will be explained.

<Magnetic Card Issuance> First, the magnetic card issuance operation for writing value information onto the magnetic card 1 will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart shown to explain the magnetic card issuing operation. Bill insertion slot 6 of magnetic card issuing machine 5
Insert banknotes into. (Step 5100) The banknote processing mechanism 10 takes in the banknote from the insertion slot 6, determines the denomination, and displays the denomination on the display device 7.

(Step S101) Next, the banknote processing mechanism 10 determines whether the issue button 108A or the cancel button 8B is pressed.Step S102) When the cancel button 8B is pressed, the banknote processing mechanism 10 At step S103), the banknote is returned to the insertion slot 6, and the process ends. When it is determined in step 5102 that the issue button 8A has been pressed, the banknote processing mechanism 10 gives the "denomination" and "issuance command" to the magnetic card issue processing circuit 11 (step 3104). The magnetic card issuance processing circuit 11 drives the motor 27 and gives an ejecting command to the ejecting mechanism 21 for the magnetic card 1 of the denomination (step S105). When only one magnetic card 1 is taken out and placed on the belt 20, it is carried to the rollers 16 and 17 by the heald 20 (step S
106) When the magnetic card 1 is moved to the left in the figure by the rollers 16 and 17 and detected by the card detector 23 (step S107), it becomes ready for writing.

After the magnetic card l is detected by the card detector 23, when the timing clock is read from the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 by the read-only magnetic node 24 (step 108), the timing clock is read out from the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 via the write-only magnetic node 25. Necessary information and value information are written on the magnetic stripe 2 of the magnetic card 1 (step S109). When the writing on the magnetic card 1 is completed, the issuance processing circuit 11 gives a notification to that effect to the banknote processing mechanism 10 (step 5).
110), as a result, the magnetic card 1 becomes the magnetic card 1'' in which the necessary information has been read.
When the edge of ° is detected by the card detector (step 5
ill), and after a certain period of time, the motor 27 is stopped (
Step 5112). As a result, the magnetic card 1' shown in FIG. 4 on which necessary information has been written is ejected into the tray 9. This magnetic card 1'' is issued to the user. Note that if there is no synchronization information in step 8108, the process is terminated and the magnetic card 1° is stored in a predetermined location in the issuance a5.

<Using the 6n Card> FIG. 8 is a flow chart shown to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

The magnetic card 1' issued by the magnetic card issuing machine 5,
As shown in FIG. 5, the card is inserted into the card slot 38 of the card game machine 30 (step S100).

When the magnetic card 1' is sandwiched between the rollers 41 and 42 and further inserted into the card detector 47, the optical sensor part 47b of the card detector 47 is blocked from light by the magnetic card 1'. By doing so, the magnetic card 1' can be detected (step S201). Then, a detection signal of the magnetic card 1' is supplied from the card detector 47 to the control circuit 50, and the control circuit 50 detects the magnetic card 1' by the motor 52.
The rollers 41 to 46 are rotated by driving the magnetic card 1'' to the right in the figure (step 3202).
, [Ki card 1' is rollers 41 and 42, and rollers 43 and 4.
4. When passing through rollers 45 and 46, rollers 41 and 4
The magnetic stripe 3 portion is attached to a read-only magnetic head 48 provided between the read/write magnetic head 4.
When the two portions of the magnetic stripe come into sliding contact with the magnetic stripe 9 and the timing clock written on the magnetic stripe 3 is read out (step S203), the information written on the magnetic stripe 2' is read out based on this timing clock. The data is read and temporarily stored in a register within the control circuit 50 (step S204). magnetic card 1
1 is further fed by the rollers 45 and 46, and when the end of the magnetic card 1' is detected by the card detector 51,
Since a signal is supplied from the card detector 51 to the control circuit 50, the control circuit 50 stops the motor 52 (Step 7 S205). It is determined whether or not the "Issuing company name code" belongs to the company (step 5206), and if it is the company's, it is determined whether there is any remaining number in the "remaining number code" (step S207). In the case of the embodiment, As shown in FIG. 4, since the magnetic card 1 issued by the company and never used has been inserted, the procedure of steps 8200 to 5207 will be followed.

If the "remaining number of times code" temporarily stored in the register remains in step 5207, the "remaining number of times" is stored in the storage area M of the storage device in the control circuit 50 and the register is cleared (step 3208). .

Next, the use determination flag F in the control i11 circuit 50 is set to “0”.
” (step S209).The control circuit 50
issues a game enable command to the game circuit 53 (step S210). Then, the control circuit 50 enters a waiting state to see whether a game start signal is input (step 5211) or a cancel signal is input (step 5212). On the other hand, the game circuit 53 displays on the CRT display 32 that the game can be used. Here, when the user starts the game, a start-of-use signal is supplied from the game circuit 53 to the control circuit 50.
Adds "l" to the content of the storage area N (initially "O") for determining the number of times the game has been used, and stores the addition result in the storage area N again (step S21).
3) Next, in order to determine the usage state, flag F is set to "1" (step S214), and then,
The control circuit 50 receives the game end signal from the game circuit 53.
When the data is received (step S215), the control circuit 50 subtracts the contents of area N from the contents of storage area M, and
Step S216 to determine whether the subtraction result is zero or not.
), if it is not zero, the process returns to step S210.

In the case of the embodiment, if the magnetic card 1', which has never been used, is inserted into the card game machine 30 and the game is played three times in a row, steps 8200 to 5209 are performed, and then steps 8210 to 5216 are performed three times. It would have been repeated. Therefore, it is clear that area M is "10" and area N is "3".

Next, when the user presses the selection button 36 of the card game machine 30 and a cancel signal is supplied from the game circuit 53 to the control circuit 50, the control circuit 50 sets the use determination flag F to "11". is set (step S217). Flag F is set when the card game machine 30 is used even once, so in this case, the control circuit 50 moves to step 8218. That is, the motor 52 By driving the rollers 41 to 4
6 to move the magnetic card 1' to the left in the figure (step 3218).

When the magnetic card 1 is moved to a specified position, the control circuit 50 causes the read/write magnetic head 49 to read/write the storage area on the condition that there is a timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1' (step S219). The result of subtracting the contents of the storage area N from the contents of M is given, and a new remaining number of times is recorded on the magnetic stripe 2' (step S
220) When the magnetic card 11 reaches a specified position, the control circuit 50 controls a solenoid and a punching mechanism (not shown) to punch holes at positions corresponding to the contents of the storage areas M and N. A command is given to the motor 52, thereby punching a hole at a predetermined position in the magnetic card 11 (step S221). In the case of the example, since the card type game machine 30 was used three times using a magnetic card 1° that was not used even once, naturally three punch holes were punched from the first (remaining number of times rlOJ) portion. . In other words, punch holes will be punched at the remaining number of times "10", "9", and "8".

Next, when the magnetic card 1° is detected by the card detector 47 (step S222), the card detector 47 further detects the end of the magnetic card 1° opposite to the card insertion slot 38 (step S222). 223), when this is detected, the control circuit 50 stops driving the motor 52 (step S224). About half of the magnetic card 1° protrudes from the card insertion slot 38. In addition, the magnetic card 11 has three punch holes P (rl
OJ, "9", "8") will be opened.

Then, the storage areas M and N are cleared (step S225), and the series of processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S203, it is determined that there is no timing clock, and in step S3206, the control circuit 50 determines that the card is issued by another company, or in step S2019, the control circuit 5o determines that there is no timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3. Alternatively, if it is determined in step 5219 that there is no timing clock, the process moves to step 3230. That is, in step 5230, the control circuit 50 drives the motor 52 to rotate the rollers 41 to 46 to rotate the magnetic card 1.
' is carried to the card insertion slot 38 side, and then the process moves to step 5222 to perform a series of subsequent processes.

Further, in step S216, the control circuit 50 changes the contents of the storage area N from the contents of the storage area M to fJj
When it is determined that the result of the i calculation is zero, or when the control circuit 50 determines that there is no remaining number of times set in the register in step 5207, the control circuit 50 sends an "unusable" message to the game circuit 53. The control circuit 50 then drives the motor 52 to rotate the rollers 41 to 46 in the forward direction to remove the magnetic card 1.
' in the direction of the rollers 55 and 57, and the permanent magnet 59
and the iron plate 60 (step 5241), and this operation is continued until the limit switch 61 detects the end of the card 1' (step S242). Next, the process moves to step 8218 to perform a series of subsequent processes. By passing the magnetic card l between the permanent magnet 59 and the iron plate 60 in this manner, the recorded contents of the magnetic stripe 2.3 are erased.

Note that if you press the cancel button in the selection box 36 after inserting the magnetic card 1″ into the card insertion slot 38, the process moves to a cancel operation, and after steps 5200 to 5212 are processed, the process moves to step 5116, and in step 5217, the cancel button is pressed. In this case, since F=O, the process moves to step 5230.In this embodiment described above, using the magnetic card 1',
The card is inserted into the card insertion slot 38 of the card-type game machine 30, and after the game is completed, the card is ejected from the card insertion slot 38 again. It may also be in a different format.

In addition, magnetic head 24.25 and magnetic head 48.49
are shown arranged on the left and right sides of the drawing, but they are arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the paper. In addition, the magnetic head 24
．． 25 or magnetic fields 48, 49 are shown separately, but may be formed integrally with the magnetic head 24, 25, or may be integrally formed with the magnetic head 48, 49.

In the above embodiment, when there is a timing clock on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1, a magnetic card 1° is issued by writing necessary information, and when the issued magnetic card 1′ is used, the timing clock is written on the magnetic stripe 3. The value information of the magnetic stripe card is read only by the clock, and when the read value information has the number of remaining points, it is possible to use the device such as a game machine, and the remaining number of points at the end of the game is written on the magnetic stripe. , Punch holes are placed in a predetermined area of the magnetic card according to the remaining number of games when it is first inserted into the game machine and the number of games used, and the recorded contents of the magnetic stripe 2.3 are erased when the value information is lost. It was designed to do so. Therefore, any device having such a configuration falls within the scope of this embodiment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention: I. Only when there is timing information written on a specific magnetic stripe, it is possible to guess and read information on other magnetic stripes, and when there is no value information. Since the timing information is erased, it is possible to completely prevent the information on the magnetic card from being tampered with or read in, and it is also effective in preventing unauthorized use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the state of a magnetic card used in an embodiment of the present invention before writing, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a magnetic card issuing machine used in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A block diagram showing the signal processing system in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 are (n
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a card-type game machine as a magnetic utilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a signal processing system of the game machine. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the magnetic card issuing operation, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the magnetic card usage operation. l...Magnetic card, 2.3...Magnetic stripe, 5
...Magnetic card issuing machine, 30...Card type game machine. Patent Applicant Convenitor Service Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tsuneaki Hibi Figure 1 (n) Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] When a service, etc. is provided using a magnetic card having a magnetic recording medium on which value information is written, the payment is made, and each time the payment is made, the value information of the magnetic recording medium is reduced so that the value information becomes zero. In a magnetic card usage system that enables the use of magnetic cards, the magnetic card is provided with a magnetic recording medium on which synchronization information can be written, and only when the magnetic recording medium contains synchronization information, at least value information and other information are stored. 1. A security method for a magnetic card usage system, characterized in that information can be written and read from the recording medium, and when value information is zero, at least synchronization information of the recording medium is erased.