WO2002070280A1

WO2002070280A1 - Payment instrument consisting of a support with a masked zone

Info

Publication number: WO2002070280A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/000823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karim Benjelloun; Eric Mouyal
Original assignee: Mucash
Priority date: 2001-03-07
Filing date: 2002-03-07
Publication date: 2002-09-12
Also published as: FR2821792A1; FR2821792B3

Abstract

The invention concerns a payment instrument consisting of a support (2) having a zone (4) masked with a removable ink (6). Said ink is permanently destroyed when detached. A validity key enabling on-line payment is printed in the masked zone. The face value (8) of the instrument is printed on the removable ink. For an online payment, the ink is scratched off and the key is transmitted online. The instrument can also be used for payment by being handed over to an operator: if the removable ink has been removed, the instrument no longer has a face value and cannot be used.

Description

TITLE OF PAYMENT CONSTITUTED BY A PRESENT MEDIUM

A masked area.

The present invention relates to the field of payment by a ticket presentable in a store, and optionally allowing use on the Internet for online payment. "In the context of distance selling (Internet, Call Centers, etc.), gift vouchers used today can only be used as a means of payment if they are sent by mail, preferably by registered post, attached to the order form.

When applied to online shopping, this method of payment has the disadvantage of removing all the spontaneity, speed and interactivity of online shopping. In addition, another dissatisfaction lies with merchant sites, in the mobilization of resources prior to the order pending receipt of the gift voucher sent by mail. Finally, the need to send the gift certificate by registered post generates an additional cost for the Internet user who must also go to the Post Office to deposit his envelope. In addition, the consequences of a loss, fraud or theft of the gift voucher are prejudicial if the internet user abstains from the registered AR.

Applications FR-A-2 806 190, FR-A-2 806 191 and FR-A-2 806 192 describe prepaid cards or fiduciary securities provided with a unique identifier, with a key correlated to the unique identifier and masked before use. The Korean company Yoosam Corporation markets scratch-off holograms; protection is provided by a secure holographic feature linked to the graphic image. The graphic image is unique for each program. In use, the scratch-off hologram has the same properties as conventional scratch-off materials of good quality. It can be removed cleanly and easily and its high opacity reduces the risk of the underlying data being visible.

The American company Holographyx uses scratch-off holograms for lottery games. In this case, the hologram covers a code for verifying the validity of the lottery ticket; the ticket is only accepted to obtain a prize or prize if the hologram is intact. The British company DeLaRue markets scrapable diffraction tapes or scrapable holograms. These scratch-off holograms can be applied as labels.

The Hologram Industries company located in the Paris region also markets

^'' Optofoil® scratch-off labels and holographic films. It is also known to provide payment vouchers (gift vouchers, restaurant vouchers, banknotes) with means enabling them to be protected against copying. Verification of the authenticity of payment vouchers is possible, protecting them against copying (hologram, watermark paper, photocopy-sensitive area, security ink). The receptionist (cash registers, reception of a store) in the real world of the payment voucher can, and must, then easily test the validity of the document.

Also known is patent FR-A-2 780 339 describing a method for producing on a data medium such as a card having a masking of an area containing information previously written on this medium. This process consists in fixing a transparent material label on this area on which a removable opaque ink has been previously printed. Preferably, the information to be masked is entered in a single operation and the removable label is attached to the masking area. The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback of conventional gift vouchers by an improved gift voucher, or more generally a payment voucher characterized by the presence of a face value (including coupons and coupons), towards a means of online payment, not having these drawbacks, making it alterable, so that: 1. If it is not altered, the payment title is still usable in the real world.

2. If it is altered, the payment title becomes exclusively an online means of payment.

One way to make the physical medium of the payment title alterable is to add to it an opaque gray scratch-off surface of the type found on the game reports. Thus, if this surface is scratched, the payment document becomes an electronic purse.

It would be disastrous if, once the surface had been altered and its face value partially or entirely spent online, it was possible to re-use the payment instrument in the real world. It is necessary to establish a simple control in the real world of these payment titles so as to avoid these “duplicates”. The invention provides various solutions for establishing such a simple control.

The invention relates, in its most general sense, to a payment voucher

^• consisting of a support having an area masked by a detachable means permanently destroyed during the detachment, said area comprising a validity key. The detachable means constitute the only medium for printing the nominal value of said payment document.

The innovation consists in associating the alteration of the payment title, in particular the disappearance of the face value, with its validity in the real world. Thus, negotiation of the payment order becomes impossible in physical shops. Indeed, seeing no face value, the receiver will not be able to accept the altered payment document.

Advantageously, the detachable means consists of an opaque scrapable ink. According to a preferred variant, the masked zone comprises a unique identifier. It can also be provided that the detachable means also has a security element, such as a hologram or a diffraction pattern. It is then possible that the security element understands the face value.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a payment document in which a support is prepared which does not include any mention of the nominal value, a specific zone is personalized by the affixing of a secret key, said specific area is masked with a removable opaque ink, and one affixes on said opaque ink the mention of the nominal value of the payment document.

The invention proposes a payment method, comprising the delivery to an operator of such a ticket, presenting its face value. It also offers an online payment process, including:

- the detachment of the detachable means of such a ticket; and

- the online transmission of the validity key.

Finally, the invention proposes a mixed payment method, comprising: - the supply of a payment voucher having a support with an area masked by a detachable means destroyed during the posting, said area comprising a validity key allowing payment in line, the detachable means having a security element; and payment by delivery to an operator of the ticket with the security means; or - online payment by detachment of the detachable means and online transmission of the key.

In one embodiment, the security element comprises a hologram or a diffraction pattern.

Advantageously, the payment by remittance step further comprises the verification by the operator of the integrity of the security means.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description of examples of different embodiments, given without limitation and with reference to the figures which. show:

- Figure 1, a payment title according to a first embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 a payment title according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3, a payment title used for a payment according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a payment voucher according to a first embodiment of the invention. The payment voucher is in the form of a physical medium, for example • a paper coupon 2, bearing no visible face value. This coupon presents a specific zone 4 on which is affixed a key allowing online payment, and possibly the validity check in store. This specific area is masked by an opaque ink 6 which can be removed by scraping. This is an example of a detachable means permanently destroyed during the detachment. In the example in the figure, the ink 6 is partially removed and reveals the first two digits 1 and 2 of the code. On this ink is overprinted in contrast color an indication 8 of the nominal value of the title. This value can be entirely printed on ink 6; it can also exceed, since the destruction of the detachable means entails at least partial destruction of the face value. The detachable means is the only medium for printing the face value as soon as this face value - disappears completely; or

- becomes manifestly incorrect; upon removal of the detachable means.

This coupon can be manufactured according to a process comprising the following steps: 1. Four-color printing of the background page of the payment voucher. 2. Laser or inkjet personalization of the variable areas, including the validity key allowing online payment, the serial number of the payment document, etc.

3. Offset printing or screen printing of the area to be scratched with scratch-off ink covering the validity key.

4. Flexographic printing of the face value on the area to be scratched. One can also use other printing techniques to ensure that the key allowing online payment (also qualified here as secret key) is visible only when the opaque ink or more generally the masking means is removed. One can also use other conventional printing techniques than those of steps 1 and 2; thus the printing could be carried out in a single step for the background as for the validity key. In this case, the preparation of the support consists simply in providing the support, the personalization consisting in printing in one way or another the key and the other indications. One could also deposit the detachable means with the indication of the facial value by other means - bonding, etc.

The title of Figure 1 can be used for a mixed payment. For online payment, the validity key is transmitted to a payment server after unmasking and destroying the indication of the nominal value. For "real" payment, the payment title is presented with the hidden area intact.

Use on the Internet requires the transmission of the secret key, which is only visible after the masked area 4 has been discovered. The removal of the opaque ink 6 automatically destroys the mention of the nominal value 8. As a result, the coupon no longer has any indication of a compensation value, and its presentation in a store will not allow reuse a security that has already given rise to compensation, even in the event of presentation to a distracted or ill-informed operator of the operation of the ticket.

This first embodiment has the advantage of great security: the absence of a face value prevents any re-use for real payment - to an operator and not online - of a ticket already used online.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the detachable means 6 permanently destroyed during the detachment has not only the face value 8 of the ticket, but also a security element. This security element is visible, in normal vision or under special radiation.

The security element is for example a hologram 10 or even a diffraction strip. The security element is removable at the same time as the detachable means. In the example in the figure, the security element is a grid 10. As in the example in Figure 1, the detachable means is partially removed, so that the first two digits of the code appear.

One can in particular manufacture the coupon of this embodiment using the scratch-off printable or bondable holograms offered by the companies mentioned above; one can also use the diffraction patterns, for example scratchable diffraction bands mentioned above. The advantage of a hologram over a diffraction pattern is that it is more difficult to reproduce. The advantage of a diffraction pattern is its lower cost.

The facial value can in particular be included in the security element, for example in a hologram or in the diffraction pattern.

The payment order of FIG. 2 is used like that of FIG. 1. This second embodiment has the advantage of the first embodiment; it makes the payment order even more secure due to the presence of the security element.

Figure 3 shows a third payment document. This payment title is identical to that of FIG. 2, except that the face value 12 of the title does not appear on the detachable means, but in another place of the coupon. The payment title of Figure 3 can easily be used for an actual payment by delivery of the title, just as for an online payment. For an online payment, the detachable means is destroyed so as to unmask the specific zone 4 and the key allowing the online payment. The security element is then destroyed

For a real payment, the title is given to an operator. This checks, as is now conventional, the presence of the security element or its integrity. It is therefore impossible to use for a real payment a voucher whose detachable means or detachable element carrying the security element has been destroyed to allow online payment. In Indeed, the operator immediately notes the absence of the security element destroyed during the removal of the detachable means.

The title of Figure 3 is a little less secure than that of Figure 2: indeed, it assumes that the operator to whom the title is given for a real payment checks the presence of the security element. Since these security elements are now common, this lower security remains acceptable for many uses.

One could also provide in the title of Figure 3 that the face value appears on the detachable means as on another point of the coupon, or both on the detachable means and on the coupon. This solution improves payment security compared to the solution in Figure 3, insofar as the operator can be trained to look for two indications of the face value.

Claims

1.- Payment voucher constituted by a support (2) having a zone (4) masked by a detachable means (6) permanently destroyed during the detachment, said zone comprising a validity key, the detachable means constituting the only support printing of the nominal value (8) of said payment document.

2. The payment voucher of claim 1, in which the detachable means (6) consists of an opaque scrapable ink.

3.- The payment voucher of claim 1 or 2, in which the masked zone (4) comprises a unique identifier.

4. The payment document of claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the detachable means also has a security element.

5. The payment title of claim 4, wherein the security element comprises a hologram (10).

6. The payment document of claim 4, wherein the security element comprises a diffraction pattern.

7. The payment document of claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the security element comprises the face value.

8.- A method of manufacturing a payment document according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of

- preparation of a support (2) not including any mention of the nominal value, - personalization of a specific area (4) by affixing a secret key, - masking of said specific area with an opaque ink (6 ) removable, and

- affixing on said opaque ink (6) the mention of the nominal value (8) of the payment voucher.

9. A payment method, comprising the delivery to an operator of a ticket according to one of claims 1 to ξ, having its face value.

10.- Online payment process, including: - detachment of the detachable means (6) of a ticket according to one of claims 1 to 8;

- the online transmission of the validity key.

11.- Mixed payment method, comprising: - the supply of a payment voucher having a support (2) with an area (4) masked by a detachable means (6) destroyed during the detachment, said area comprising a key validity allowing online payment, the detachable means having a security element (10); and

- payment by delivery to an operator of the ticket with the security means; or - online payment by detaching the detachable means (6) and online transmission of the key.

The method of claim 11, wherein the security element comprises a hologram or a diffraction pattern.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the step of payment by delivery further comprises the verification by the operator of the integrity of the security means.