Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Patent
1996-04-18
1999-06-29
Hajec, Donald
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
902 22, G06F 1530
Patent
active
059171685
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to systems and methods for performing on-line revaluation of token information (such as "electronic cash" or "service usage credits" e.g. phone usage credits) stored in IC cards, also called smart cards, and more particularly to systems and methods for performing such revaluation in a private location.
One of the well-known uses of IC cards involves storing token information for the cardholder to utilize in carrying out a cashless transaction. IC cards and associated transaction terminals used for this purpose have utilized increasingly sophisticated security schemes to prevent unauthorized card manufacture, unauthorized card issuance, or fraudulent card use. See, for example, Nakano U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,810,862 and 4,839,504 for descriptions of security features introduced during manufacture and issuance of an IC card and thereafter employed during use to authenticate the card and the cardholder.
Some commercial applications involve issuance of an IC card with an initial token value and card logic or programming which only permits decrementing the stored token value until completely exhausted, after which the card is discarded and a new card must be purchased.
Other commercial applications involve issuance of an IC card which has an initial token value and card logic or programming which permits revaluation, i.e. incrementing token value in addition to decrementing. These applications have become known generally as the "electronic purse."
In some electronic purse applications, the IC card may only be revalued at a secure revaluation station, e.g. a sophisticated automated teller machine (see above-referenced Nakano '504 patent) or a special funds transfer terminal on line with a sophisticated host computer (see Mansvelt U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,416). These secure revalue stations are capable of full utilization of card and terminal security features and are typically maintained in secure environments to prevent fraudulent use and to preclude unauthorized access for sophisticated probing of security features which might thereafter be used to clone revaluation stations as part of fraudulent card issuance or revaluation schemes.
One of the limitations of electronic purse usage of IC cards is that the cardholder is unable to readily determine the remaining cash token value stored in the card until presenting it for use in consummating a transaction. If the stored cash token value is insufficient to cover the purchase amount, the cardholder must void the transaction or use some other form of payment. Another limitation is that the cardholder must typically visit a special terminal location for adding cash token value to the card, rendering the convenience level of the electronic purse application essentially the same as actual cash (i.e. government issued scrip) withdrawal at an ATM.
The desirability of permitting revaluation of an electronic purse IC card at a private location such as home or office is generally recognized in Ugon U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,342. This '342 patent also generally recognizes the desirability of incorporating a plurality of tokens in an electronic purse IC card with each token being associated with a particular service provided by an authorizing entity. In addition to a stored cash token value which can generally be used to purchase goods and services at locations having authorized electronic purse transaction terminals, the electronic purse may, for example, also have a telephone usage token value which may be used in public telephones having authorized IC card interface devices.
The electronic purse revaluation process described in the Ugon '342 patent involves the combination of a voice based telephone call to a special operator to request the special operator to revalue the cash token amount or other authorized token amount in the cardholder's electronic purse IC card. The operator and cardholder then establish a phone data link between an IC card interface unit on the premises of the cardholder and an authorizing terminal at the o
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patent: 4845347 (1989-07-01), McCrindle et al.
patent: 5361062 (1994-11-01), Weiss et al.
patent: 5438184 (1995-08-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5484519 (1996-01-01), Weiss
Nakamura Lance S.
Roberts Alan B.
Sheets John F.
Bergstedt Lowell C.
Frech Karl D.
Hajec Donald
Hewlett--Packard Company
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