Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-02
2003-07-22
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
C235S487000, C235S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595415
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention in general relates to an IC card processor used in processing of card information in the IC card, for example, as electronic cash. More particularly, this invention relates to an IC card processor capable of improving the ease of use for users and also enhancing the security against leak of information.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, the electronic cash is noticed as new currency replacing the bank notes. Among various forms of electronic cash, the IC card type electronic cash is close to the present form of transaction (the cash carried in consumer's wallet), and hence it is easy to use. The IC card is plastic card of the size of a credit card, on which a one-chip microcomputer composed of IC (integrated circuit) is mounted, and it is regarded as a holder of electronic cash.
The IC is composed of CPU (central processing unit) and EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), and this EEPROM is a so-called nonvolatile memory capable of reading recorded data and writing data, not losing the memory if the power source is cut off. In the EEPROM, card information is stored, such as encrypted balance information, paid-in history information, and paid-out history information.
The IC card type electronic cash is classified into open type and closed type depending on whether the currency is electronic or settlement is electronic. The electronic currency is the open type electronic cash, and this open type electronic cash is like the present currency, and the electronic cash is distributed among people.
On the other hand, the electronic settlement is the closed type electronic cash, and in this closed type electronic cash, every time the electronic cash is used, it is returned to the issuing entity, and the electronic cash cannot be distributed without passing through the bank account, and it is beneficial from the viewpoint of compensation for loss because the history of use is recorded.
The user (consumer) carries the IC card as the electronic cash, and when shopping, the IC card is presented to the shop clerk, and the payment is settled. At the retail shop, a reader/writer is installed for reading and writing the card information stored in the EEPROM of the IC card, and the clerk inserts the presented IC card into the reader/writer, and processes the settlement. That is, when the IC card is inserted into the reader/writer, the purchase amount is deduced from the balance, and the purchase amount is added at the reader/writer side.
When only the card is carried, since the card information is electronic data, the user cannot know the balance directly. Accordingly, hitherto, an IC card processor for displaying the card information of the IC card (balance information, paid-in history, paid-out history) is carried together with the IC card. As the IC card is compared to the cash, the IC card processor is like the wallet.
FIG. 21
is a plan showing the appearance of the conventional IC card processor
10
. This IC card processor is an apparatus for processing the card information (balance information, paid-in history information, paid-out history information, etc.) in the IC card
20
, and more specifically, depending on the selection operation by the user, this is the apparatus for reading or displaying the card information.
The IC card
20
is composed of a card substrate
21
and an IC
22
, and, for example, it is a card applicable to the open type electronic money. This IC card is a so-called IC card with an external terminal. In the IC card
20
, the card substrate
21
is made of a thin plate of PVC (polyvinyl chloride polymer), PVCA (polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer), or the like. The IC
22
is composed of CPU and EEPROM (not shown). In the following explanation, processing executed by the CPU is explained as being processed by the IC
22
.
The IC operates as the power is supplied from the IC card processor
10
. In the EEPROM, the card information is stored, such as the balance information, paid-in history information, paid-out history information, and card side security code. The card side security code is the code used in collation for checking if the user of the IC card
20
is the authorized user or not, and it is a kind of intrinsic codes of the IC card
20
called PIN (personal identification number).
The collation is briefly explained. The card side security code and the apparatus side security code entered from the IC card processor are collated, and when matched, the operation instructed by the IC card processor
10
is executed, and if not matched, the operation is not done. The apparatus side security code is entered in every operation by key input manipulation by the user. The specific procedure of collation is explained later.
Further, in a specific time after the IC
22
is activated by supply of power, it issues initial response data. The initial response data is the data composed of physical parameter of IC
22
, connection information character such as logic characteristic of transmission protocol, general information about IC card
20
(for example, date of manufacture of card), and other control information characters.
On the other hand, in the IC card processor
10
, the main body
1
is a nearly flat cocoon shape made of synthetic resin, and electric components mentioned below are contained in its inside. A card inlet
2
is a slit formed at one side
1
a
toward other side
1
c
, and at this card inlet
2
, a connector (not shown) to be connected electrically to the terminal of the IC card
22
is provided as described below.
A display unit
32
is provided on the surface
1
b
of the main body
1
along the other side
1
c
, and is composed of liquid crystal display or the like. The display unit
3
displays the card information in the IC card
20
(balance information, paid-in history information, paid-out history information), security mode and security code of IC card
20
and others. The security mode is the mode showing whether the IC card
20
is in usable state or not, and it is roughly classified into the unlock mode and lock mode.
The unlock mode is the usable state of the IC card
20
, in other words, it is an accessible state for allowing reading and writing of card information from the IC card processor
10
to the IC card
20
(IC
22
). The lock mode is the unusable state of the IC card
20
in the IC card processor, in other words, it is an inaccessible state not allowing reading or writing of card information from the IC card processor
10
to the IC card
20
(IC
22
). Herein, the security mode is changed from unlock mode to lock mode, for example, when it is intended by the authorized user or when it is illegally used by a third party (or by input error of security code by the authorized user).
A select key
4
is provided on the surface
1
b
of the main body
1
, between the display unit
3
and the side
1
a
, and it is pushed by the user. This select key
4
is used for selecting the function of displaying the card information in the display unit
3
(hereinafter called card information display function), the function for changing the security mode (security mode changing function), and others. Specifically, every time the select key
4
is pressed, the functions are sequentially selected as card information display function, security mode changing function, and so forth.
A shift key
5
is provided on the surface
1
b
of the main body
1
, near the select key
4
, and it is pushed by the user for entering the apparatus side security code when collating the codes in the IC
22
of the IC card
20
. The collation of codes is to match the card side security code and apparatus side security code. An enter key
6
is provided on the surface
1
b
, near the shift key
5
, and it is pushed by the user when entering the apparatus side security code.
FIG. 22
is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the IC card processor
10
. In the diagram, the parts corresponding to the components in
FIG. 21
are identified with same reference numerals and their explanation is omitted.
Hashimoto Shigeru
Niwata Tsuyoshi
Armstrong Westerman & Hattori, LLP
Frech Karl D.
Nowlin April
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