JPH03212790A - Card validity checking system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely prevent a card from being forgotten or data from being modified by printing out a a prescribed picture element on the card, writing ciphered data using the positional data, and at the time of reading, collating reverse conversion data with the registered data. CONSTITUTION:Each picture element 3 is printed on a specific position of the card 1 so as to be visually observed by only irradiating a prescribed referred target, ciphered encoder data are written on the track 2a of a magnetic stripe 2 and data ciphered by using the positional data of respective picture elements 3 are written on a track 2b. When the card 1 is inserted into a POS terminal, a reading part 13 sends respective data to a storage part 14. Then, an irradiating part 15 and a reading part 16 are started, respective picture elements 3 are read out by the irradiation of prescribed wavelength light and the positional data of respective picture elements are formed by a positional data forming part 18 and sent to a positional data storing part 19. Respective stored data are read out by a data analyzing part 20, which executes reverse analytical conversion by using analytical function data stored in a storage part 21. A validity deciding pat 17 compares the data of the storage part 14 and the analytical result with registered data in a storage part 22 to decide the validity of the card 1.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for checking the validity of a card, and more specifically, it is applied to determining the validity of a credit card, cash card, or prepaid card, This invention relates to a method for effectively preventing card forgery and card reader tampering by combining information with print data.

[Background Art] In recent years, with the widespread use of credit cards and cash cards, a cashless society has rapidly progressed and is bringing about major changes in society.

Generally, credit cards and cash cards are equipped with a magnetic stripe, and essential credit data, personal identification data, or electronic data is written on the stripe. Management of card usage is carried out by transmitting the above-mentioned data read from the R/W terminal or cart installed at member stores, banks, etc. and the PIN data entered by the user to the authorization center. This is done by the center carrying out checks on the validity and creditability of the card.

In recent years, prepaid cards, which are value-deductible carts, have become increasingly popular, and since these carts do not require credit or identity verification each time they are used, they are similar to telephone cards, transportation cards, food carts, game cards, etc. It has become widely used as a simple cashless cart in fields such as small-value transactions.

Furthermore, in the credit cart and cash card industries, in view of the convenience of prepaid cards, a magnetic stripe is provided that is separate from the stripe for writing essential credit data, etc., and amount data is written on the stripe. A system has also been proposed in which credit carts and cash carts can be used in a value subtraction manner (see Japanese Patent Application No. 1-260895).

[Invention or problem to be solved] By the way, as mentioned above, the data written to the cart is electronic data, and for boat fishing, it is configured as digital data consisting of 1'' and 0''. Therefore, it is relatively easy to forge the card itself or modify the data, and the risk of misuse due to forgery or modification has been pointed out regardless of the type of cart, and many such cases have been reported. has been done.

In particular, prepaid cards do not perform detailed credit or identity verification at the stage of use, only confirming the issuer and amount data, so they can be used fraudulently by altering the amount data in the cart, or they can be counterfeited. This type of crime is occurring frequently because it is easy to manufacture goods. This is also the case when using the above-mentioned credit card or cash cart in a value subtraction mode. Subject to change.

On the other hand, recently, a technology has been established in which a computer can freely create extremely sophisticated and complex image data and print that image on a resin surface in a manner that cannot be reproduced with normal technology. It has also become possible to harmoniously integrate pixels that cannot be visually confirmed into image data. Additionally, printing techniques have been developed that allow specific pixels or images to stand out only when a predetermined reference light is irradiated.

Furthermore, advances in image reading technology have been remarkable, and scanners have been developed that can read pixels and images at specific locations with extremely high precision.

Therefore, the present invention utilizes the above-described printing technology and scanner technology to combine the electronic data of the card with the print data, thereby improving the validity of the card by reliably preventing card forgery and data alteration. It was created with the purpose of providing a checking method.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention prints pixels or images that can be detected only when a reference light of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated on a specific position on the surface of a cart where electronic data is written. When writing electronic data to the cart, it is written as conversion data that has been encrypted using the position data of the pixels or images mentioned above.On the other hand, when reading the data on the card with a card reader, the reference light of the above wavelength is used on the card surface. detect the position data of the pixels or images printed on the image, use the position data to perform inverse analysis conversion on the converted data read by the card reader, and combine the inverse analysis converted data with the registered data. The present invention relates to a card validity check method characterized by performing a card check through verification.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the pixels or images printed on the card cannot be confirmed unless special reference light is irradiated, and the printing position cannot be confirmed visually.

Therefore, when analyzing cart data, the wavelength of this reference light becomes the first key, and the arrangement position of the pixel or image detected thereby becomes the second key.

Further, since the electronic data written to the card is written as conversion data that has been encrypted using the position data of the pixels or images, the encryption processing function serves as the third key.

In a normal cart, the key is only the arrangement conditions of the electronic data on the card, and just by analyzing the arrangement conditions, there is a possibility that the content expressed by the electronic data can be deciphered. That is, by understanding the contents by analyzing the arrangement conditions, it becomes possible to easily forge a cart or alter data.

In the present invention, the contents of the card reader cannot be deciphered unless the three keys mentioned above are known, and in order to decipher the contents, it is necessary to have advanced electronic data reading technology and a special image reading method. This requires extremely complex code analysis techniques that involve technology and pixel and image position data.

Therefore, if the above three keys are made into a fluff box, it is almost impossible to forge a cart or alter data.
When processing a cart using a card reader, if the card is a counterfeit item, it will not be detected in the specified pixel or image at a specific position even if the reference light is irradiated, and the card's electronic data may be altered. If so, even if the electronic data is reverse analyzed and converted, it will not correspond to the registered data, and in any case, the validity of the card can be reliably checked.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described using the drawings. still,
In this embodiment, the magnetic stripe of the credit cart is of a two-track type, and the first track contains essential credit data.
The credit limit amount data and the like for using the value subtraction formula are written in the second rack, and this relates to a method for checking the validity of the cart when the credit card is used as a prepaid cart.

Figure 1 shows the surface of a credit cart. Cart 1 has magnetic stripes 2 (
2 tracks wide) and 1 printed or embossed with characters such as the issuing company and membership number.

Generally, the steps for creating a cart include first embossing and printing, or in the case of cart 1 of this embodiment,
In the printing process, pixels are printed using special ink in parallel with printing of necessary information on the card surface.

That is, in FIG. 1, the pixels 3 are indicated by a plurality of "*", and these pixels 3 are printed at specific positions with ink that can be visually detected only when irradiated with reference light of a predetermined wavelength. Therefore, each pixel 3 described above is harmoniously integrated with the fabric and each character printed on the cart surface, and even when the printed cart 1 is visually observed under normal light, each pixel 3 cannot be confirmed. I can't.

The arrangement position data of each pixel 3, the type of ink, and the wavelength of the reference light are set in advance by the card company, and these data are kept secret.

In this manner, when printing on the cart 1 is completed, encoded data is written on the magnetic stripe 2.

First, credit essential data (DI) similar to that of a normal credit card is written on the first track 2a of the magnetic stripe 2, but this data is written in the same manner as in normal writing. number, company code, membership number, validity period, validity code, etc.] will be encrypted and written.

Next, credit limit amount data, etc. (M) are written to the second rack 2b, and this data undergoes the following data conversion process.

That is, instead of writing data (M) consisting of value subtraction type usage amount data, approval data, expiration date data, etc. as encoded data as is, as shown in Figure 2, these data (M) are As mentioned above, the position data of each pixel 3 (Xi,
Yi) (i=1 to n; number of pixels is n) to create a predetermined function F.
(M, Note that a predetermined function F (M, X, Y
) is also set by the card company and is naturally kept secret.

Then, through the above steps, printing and writing of electronic data to the card are completed, and the credit card 1 is issued to the member.

Next, a check procedure will be explained when the credit card 1 is used in a value subtraction mode at a PO5 terminal installed at each member store.

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration diagram of the PO8 terminal, and FIG. 4 shows a flowchart related to a procedure for checking the validity of a cart by the terminal.

First, when the cart 1 is inserted into the PO8 terminal, the sensor 11 detects this, and the rope ink control unit 12 or the rope ink mechanism is activated to take in the cart 1 and set it at a predetermined position inside [Step (1)(2)].

When this sesera is present, the track reading section 13 that receives the set completion signal from the rope ink control section 12 starts reading the track data, and the required credit data (Dl) of the first track 2a of the card 1 and the credit-required data (Dl) of the second track 2b of the card 1 are read. Sequentially read the write data (W(M)) and store these data in the track data storage unit 14 [Step C3]
(4) ].

Next, the rope ink control section 12 detecting the completion of this reading activates the reference light irradiation section 15 and the pixel reading section 16. Then, the reference light irradiation unit 15 irradiates the cart surface with light of a predetermined wavelength, and in this state, the pixel reading unit 16 scans the card surface [steps (5) and (6)]. That is, each pixel 3 printed on the surface of the card 1 becomes detectable by irradiation with light of a predetermined wavelength, and each pixel 3 is read by the pixel reading section 16 during its scanning process.

By the way, if pixel 3 is not detected in this reading operation, it means that the card used is a counterfeit cart. Therefore, the validity determining unit 17 to which the signal from the pixel reading unit 16 is input determines that cart use is not permitted by confirming that the pixel is not detected, and outputs the determination signal to the loading control unit 12. Eject the card by [Step (7) (16) (ts month).

On the other hand, when pixel 3 is detected during the reading operation, the position data creation unit 18 creates position data (Xi, Yi) for each pixel 3 based on the read signal from the pixel reading means 16, and Stored in the data storage unit 19 [Steps (7) (8) (September).

Then, the data (D 1 ), (W(M)) already stored in the track data storage unit 14 and the position data (Xi, Yi) stored in the position data storage unit 19
data is read out to the data analysis unit 20, and the analysis unit 20 uses the analysis function data stored in the analysis function storage unit 21 and the position data (Xi, Yi) to calculate the data (W()) read out from the second rack 2b. M) ) is analyzed [step (10)]. This analysis performs inverse analysis conversion when encryption processing is performed in the cart creation procedure, and the position data (Xi, Yi) of each pixel 3 and track data (W
If (M)) is correct, the result of the analysis should be the original credit limit amount data, etc. (M).

Therefore, the validity determining section 17 uses the track data storage section 14.
The required credit data (DI) and the analysis result, such as credit limit amount data (M), are compared with the registered data in the registered data storage section 22 to determine whether the inserted card l is legitimate.

That is, the registered data storage unit 22 stores essential credit data (DI) obtained at the time of card creation, credit limit amount data, etc. (M
) are registered in correspondence with each other, and the validity determination unit 1
7 specifies the corresponding data (M) in the registered data storage section 22 using (Di) of the track data storage section 14, and determines whether or not the above analysis result and the corresponding data (M) are the same.

Here, if the analysis result and registered data (M) are the same,
The legitimacy of Cart 1 has been confirmed, and the use of Cart 1 is permitted and instructions are given to input usage amount data. When usage amount data (U) is input from data input section 23, usage data is The data (U) is stored in the storage unit 24.
and necessary data among the essential credit data in the track data storage section 14 are accumulated, and finally the loading control section 1
2 causes card 1 to be ejected [step (1
1) to (15)]. Further, the accumulated data of the usage data accumulation section 24 is read out to the receipt output section 25, and a receipt related to the amount used is outputted, and the accumulated data is also used as management data of the affiliated store and the cart company.

On the other hand, if the analysis result and the registered data (M) are different, it means that the credit limit amount data etc. of the second rack 2b of the card 1 have been altered, and the validity determination unit 17 detecting this is It is determined that the card is not permitted, and the rope interface control unit 12 causes the card 1 to be ejected [steps (11), (16), and (15)].

As described above, in this embodiment, the second rack 2 of cart L is
The data to be written to b is the print position data of each pixel 3 (Xi,
Yi) is used to perform cryptographic processing, and this data is reverse analyzed using a PoS terminal to check the validity of the card.
If necessary, the written data of the first track 2a can be processed in the same way, and this data can also be checked in this embodiment. In addition, in this embodiment, pixel position data is used, but it is not limited to pixels; it is also possible to print an image in a specific area of the card 1 and use the position data of the main part of the image. A similar procedure can be used to check the validity of the cart.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention provides (positional data of pixels and images printed on the cart surface), (wavelength of reference light that makes the pixels and images detectable), and (using the above positional data) Since the card handler checks the validity of the card using the cryptographic processing function used when writing electronic data to the card as a key, it is possible to prevent counterfeiting of credit cards, cash cards, and prepaid carts. To extremely effectively prevent unauthorized use due to alteration of electronic data. That is,
Even if only electronic data is encoded and written to the cart as in the past, it is possible to forge it, and is there a possibility that the contents of the electronic data can be decrypted and altered?
In the present invention, it is not possible to create a card that passes the method of the present invention without knowing and decoding the three keys mentioned above and using extremely special printing technology. It becomes almost impossible to use it illegally.

Note that the pixels and images printed on the card are not visually detectable under normal light, making it impossible to decipher their positional data, and the design of the cart itself is not compromised.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the card according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the concept of data conversion such as credit limit amount data, Fig. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the PoS terminal, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of the card processing by the terminal. Validity check 1 Figure 1 Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] Pixels or images that can be detected only when a reference light of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated are printed on a specific position on the surface of a card where electronic data is written, and electronic data is written on the card. At the time, the data is written as converted data that has been encrypted using the position data of the pixel or image, and on the other hand, when the data on the card is read by a card reader, the reference light of the wavelength is irradiated onto the card surface and printed on the card. Detect position data of pixels or images that have been converted, use the position data to perform reverse analysis conversion on the converted data read by the cart reader, and perform a card check by comparing the reverse analysis converted data with registered data. A card validity check method featuring the following.