Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-11-27
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
C235S486000, C902S026000, C705S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321980
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic money system for settling an account by moving electronic money having the same value as that of currency, and more particularly to an electronic money storing apparatus for storing cards having electronic money stored therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic money system which exhibits high security against forgery and is capable of conducting an off-line transaction has been recently developed. The electronic money system corresponds to a system in which data of electronic money (electronic having the same value as that of currency) is present on an IC chip in an IC (Integrated Circuit) card (also referred to as an electronic money card) and the electronic money is moved between electronic money cards to settle the accounts. Such system is disclosed in JP-A-6-19945.
In such system, a terminal device for receiving and handling an electronic money card which a general user possesses, and a partner device for receiving the electronic money data and paying it which corresponds to an auto-teller terminal device in a financial organization or a cash storing box such as a cash register in a retail store system are required. Further, since the transaction is made between IC cards in this system, the IC card of the financial organization or the retail store system as well as the IC card of the user are occupied during the transaction process of the electronic money data. Accordingly, in order to conduct the transactions with a plurality of users concurrently, it is necessary that the financial organization or the retail store system possess and control a plurality of IC cards, and this has been attained by providing a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) connected to an ICRW (IC Reader/Writer) for reading and writing the IC card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the prior art system described above, since a plurality of PCs for controlling a plurality of IC cards are needed, a cost increases and a large installation space is required. Further, when a number of users access the PCs of the financial organization at one time, it is difficult to control the PCs.
Further, since the IC card in this system has the same economical value as that of cash currency, it is necessary to protect the IC card from crime such as destruction or theft by an unauthorized act of a person who handles the IC cards or a suspicious person, or natural disaster such as earthquake or fire. However, no such consideration has been taken on this point.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost and small size electronic money storing apparatus in such an electronic money system which stores and controls a plurality of IC cards.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic money storing apparatus which can protect the IC card from crimes such as unauthorized acts and natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires.
In order to achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, one controller controls a plurality of ICRWs and to transact electronic money data between the IC card mounted on a selected ICRW and another IC card. Further, changes in environment information of the apparatus installation are detected by various sensors to stop the transaction of the electronic money data.
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Hayashi Manabu
Maekawa Hitoshi
Yazumi Kazuyuki
Cyr Daniel St.
Frech Karl D.
Hitachi , Ltd.
Mattingly Stanger & Malur, P.C.
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