JPH11238111A - Card and card processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in the power consumption of a device and an increase in processing time when in-talking information is recorded on and reproduced from the card by providing a no-data area between an information recording area and a timing bit recording area. SOLUTION: The card 2 is provided with a magnetic track 3, which is provided with a data recording area 3A where call-rate data are recorded and timing bit recording areas 3B, 3C, and 3D where timing bits are recorded before and behind the data recording area 3A in the conveyance direction. A control circuit detects the timing bits through a head part and determines the position of the data recording area 3A to record and reproduce the call-rate data. Then in-talking information is recorded in the area 3C, which is an area 3E. Thus, the area 3E where the in-talking information is recorded and the data recording area 3A are separated, the border part between both the areas is a no-data area, and many in-talking information bits can be stored in the area 3E.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card used in a card-type public telephone and the like, and a card processing method for recording and reproducing data on the card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a card reader for processing this kind of card is built in, for example, a card-type public telephone, and when a card is inserted, the card is transferred to a card transport path in order to detect the frequency of the inserted card. Along the way to the position of the head. Then, the head unit reads the remaining frequency, displays the same, and performs a dialing operation, and subtracts one frequency from the frequency read in response to the arrival of the charging signal due to the other party's response. Thereafter, when the call ends and the user goes on-hook, the head unit records the remaining frequency on the card and returns the card.

[0003] In such a card-type public telephone, a call is made by attaching one end of, for example, a thread or a cellophane tape to a card to be used, and the card is pulled out by pulling the other end of the thread or the like before on-hook after the end of the call. If you do, the card will not record the number of remaining calls, and the call may be made free of charge. In order to prevent such an illegal call, when a card is inserted and a call is started, 1-bit information indicating that the call is in progress is recorded in a part of the data area of the card. It has been proposed to erase medium information.

[0004]

According to the above-described method for preventing unauthorized calls, if the card is pulled out during the call, the information during the call remains without being erased from the data area.
If this card is inserted at the time of next use, this card is immediately returned as a fraudulent card, thereby completely preventing fraudulent calls. However, the above-mentioned call information is recorded in a part of the data area of the card, and when the position of the card is misaligned with respect to the head in the card transport path, the surrounding data is stored in the call information. Since there is a possibility of being destroyed due to the recording and erasing of the data, all the other data in the data area are re-recorded in conjunction with the recording and erasing of the information during the call. For this reason, the drive current is frequently applied to the head, so that the power consumption of the apparatus increases and the processing time increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to suppress an increase in power consumption of a device and an increase in processing time when recording and reproducing information during a call on a card.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an information recording area for recording value information and a timing for recording timing bits for defining the timing of recording and reproducing information in and from the information recording area. A card having a bit recording area, wherein a timing bit recording area provided in the information recording area is provided with an area for recording in-use information indicating that the card is in use, and between the information recording area and the timing bit recording area. A non-data area indicating no data is provided. In addition, a recording area for in-use information is provided at the head of the timing bit recording area of the card in the card insertion direction. Further, when a card having a non-data area indicating no data is inserted between an information recording area and a timing bit recording area having an in-use information recording area for recording in-use information, timing bit recording is performed. What is claimed is: 1. A card processing method for reading value information of an information recording area based on a timing bit in an area and permitting use of the card, wherein the step of recording the in-use information in the in-use information recording area when the use of the card is started Erasing the in-use information in the in-use information recording area at the end of use of the card, and, if the in-use information is recorded in the in-use information recording area when the card is inserted, as an unauthorized card And a method comprising: In addition, a card in which a no-data area indicating no data is provided between an information recording area and a timing bit recording area having an in-use information recording area for recording in-use information at the top of the card insertion direction is inserted. A card processing method for reading out the value information of the information recording area based on the timing bits in the timing bit recording area and permitting the use of the card when the use of the card is started. Recording the in-use information in the in-use information recording area at the end of use of the card; detecting whether or not the in-use information is recorded immediately after the card is inserted, When the medium information is recorded, the card is regarded as a fraudulent card.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a card reader to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a card reader built in the card-type public telephone, and reference numeral 2 denotes a card used in the card-type public telephone. Here, the card reader 1 is configured as follows. That is, 11
Is a card insertion slot, 12 is a card transport path, 13 is a motor,
Reference numerals 14 and 17 are belts, 15 is a pulley, and 16A and 16B are rollers. By the way, the card 2 is inserted into the card slot 11
, The motor 13 rotates forward (forward rotation), and the rotational force is transmitted to the pulley 15 by the belt 14 to rotate the pulley 15. A roller 16A fixedly disposed coaxially with the rotation of the pulley 15
Rotates, and as a result, the rollers 16B
Also rotate. Therefore, the inserted card 2 is transferred to the card transport path 12 by the belt 17 based on the rotation of the motor 13.
Is transported inside.

As shown in FIG. 3, an insertion detection sensor 21 for detecting insertion of the card 2 is provided in the card transport path 12.
Shutter 2 for prohibiting double capture of card 2
2. Position sensors 23A and 23B for detecting the position of the card 2 in the transport path 12, a punch unit 24 for punching the card 2, and a head unit 25 for recording and reproducing data on the card 2. ing.

Next, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit for controlling the card reader configured as described above. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a CP for controlling the entire card reader.
It is a control circuit composed of U, and is connected via a transmission / reception circuit 31 to a control unit 32 that performs all control of a higher-level device, for example, a public telephone. The control circuit 30 is connected to the motor 13, the insertion detection sensor 21, the shutter 22, the position sensors 23 (23A and 23B), the punch 24, and the head 25. In addition, an optical sensor 26 for detecting a bar code or the like printed on the card 2, an encoder 27 for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 13, an EEPROM capable of storing various data of the device and electrically recording and erasing the data.
M33, a ROM 34 for storing a program executed by the control circuit 30 and a RAM 35 for temporarily storing data are connected.

Here, when the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1, the control circuit 30 detects the leading end of the inserted card 2 via the insertion detecting sensor 21. In this case, the control circuit 30 takes in the card 2 by opening the shutter section 22 and rotating the motor 13 forward. When the card 2 is taken into the card transport path 12, the control circuit 30 transports the card 2 through the card transport path 12 to the position of the head section 25 based on the detection outputs of the position sensors 23A and 23B. In this case, the conveyance from the detection of the rear end of the conveyed card 2 by the position sensor 23B to the arrival of the magnetic data recording area of the card 2 is performed by the motor 13 via the encoder 27.
Is controlled based on the number of rotations.

That is, the rear end of the card 2 is positioned at the position sensor 23B.
, The control circuit 30 counts the number of rotations of the motor 13. When this reaches a predetermined number, the control circuit 3
0 stops the motor 13 and drives the head unit 25 to reproduce the data recorded in the data recording area of the card 2. A call is allowed for the reproduced data, and when a billing signal is received from the control unit 32 during the call,
The control circuit 30 subtracts once from the reproduced data, and when the call ends, drives the head unit 25 to record the remaining frequency data in the data recording area. And then, motor 1
The card 2 is conveyed in the ejection direction by rotating the card 3 in the reverse direction, punched by the punch unit 24, and then ejected to the card insertion slot 11.

[0012] In such a card reader 1, there is a case where a fraudulent operation is performed such that a call can be made again from the same frequency using the card removed during the call. In order to prevent such fraud, in the present embodiment, when a call is made using a card, the busy information is recorded on the card at the start of the call, and the busy information is deleted after the call is completed. To do. FIG. 4 is a front view of the card 2 on which the above-described frequency data and information during a call are recorded. In FIG. 4A, a magnetic track 3 is provided on the card 2, and the magnetic track 3 is referred to as a data recording area 3A in which the frequency data is recorded, and timing bits before and after in the transport direction of the data recording area 3A. Bit recording areas 3B, 3C, 3
D is provided.

The timing bits stored in each of the areas 3B, 3C and 3D are each composed of 64 bits, and the control circuit 30 detects these timing bits via the head unit 25 and detects the position of the data recording area 3A. And record and reproduction of frequency data are performed. In such a case, in this embodiment, the in-call information is stored in the area 3C.
And the recording area of the in-call information is an area 3E as shown in FIG. 4B. Here, FIG.
In the communication information recorded in the area 3E shown in (b), for example, all 64 bits become data "1" during a call, and all 64 bits become data "0" at the end of the call.

As described above, the area 3E for recording information during a call is stored.
And the data recording area 3A are separated from each other, and the boundary between the two areas is made a non-data area, and a large number of busy information bits are stored in the area 3E.
Even if there is some misalignment between the card and the card 2, the data in the data recording area 3A will not be destroyed during the recording of the information during the call, so that only the information during the call can be recorded and erased alone. This eliminates the need to re-record the data in the data recording area 3A. Further, the timing bits exist in the remaining areas 3B and 3D, and the recording and reproducing positions of the data can be accurately determined from the timing bits and the rotation speed of the motor 13.

Next, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 30 of the card reader 1 when the card 2 in which information during a call is recorded in the area 3E is used. That is, when the insertion of the card 2 is detected via the insertion detection sensor 21 and the determination in step ST1 becomes "Y", the motor 1
The card 2 is taken in by rotating the card 3 forward, and the taken card 2 is conveyed to the position of the head unit 25 in the card conveyance path 12. Then, the area 3E of the card 2 and the head 2
5 and the information of the area 3E is read by the head unit 25 in step ST2. Then, it is determined in step ST3 whether or not the read information is busy information.
If it is not information during a call, this card is regarded as a normal card, and then the card is reversely transported slightly to make the data recording area 3A adjacent to the area 3E face the head section 25, and the head section 25 uses the data recording area. Read the data of 3A.

Then, the read frequency data is transmitted to the control unit 32. As a result, the telephone call is permitted, and when the determination in step ST4 becomes "Y" due to the start of the telephone call, the card 2 is slightly moved in the forward direction (insertion direction) in step ST5. ), The region 3E and the head 25 are opposed to each other.
5 to record the busy information in the area 3E. Thereafter, for each billing signal arriving during a call, the frequency data read is decremented by one from the read frequency data. When the call is terminated by on-hook and the determination in step ST6 becomes "Y", the card 2 is slightly conveyed backward to transfer the data to the data recording area. 3A and the head unit 25 face each other, and the head unit 25 records remaining frequency data in the data recording area 3A in step ST7.

Thereafter, the card 2 is slightly conveyed in the forward direction so that the area 3E and the head section 25 are opposed to each other in step ST8.
Clears the busy information in area 3E with
Is returned in step ST9 to return the card to the card insertion slot 11 and return to step ST1. If the information of the area 3E read through the head unit 25 is the busy information, and if it is determined to be “Y” in step ST3, the card 2 is pulled out with the previous busy state and the busy information is drawn. Is immediately cleared, the process immediately proceeds to step ST9, and the card is returned.

As described above, the area 3 for storing information during a call is stored.
Since E is provided in the timing bit recording area separate from the data recording area 3A, only the information during a call can be recorded and erased independently. At this time, there is no need to re-record the data in the data recording area 3A. Power consumption and an increase in processing time. Further, since the area 3E is provided adjacent to the data recording area 3A, it is possible to reduce the moving distance of the card when recording and erasing the busy information in the area 3E, thereby reducing the increase in power consumption of the apparatus. can do.

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing another embodiment of the card according to the present invention. The storage area 3E for the busy information is stored in the timing bit recording area in the card insertion direction. This is provided in the area of the head part. With this configuration, when the card 2 is inserted and conveyed to the position where the head unit 25 is disposed, the presence or absence of busy information can be immediately identified by the head unit 25, and thus the busy information is recorded. In the case of returning an unauthorized card, the card transport distance can be reduced, and the power consumption of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a card having an information recording area for recording license information and a timing bit recording area for recording timing bits, the timing bit recording area indicates that the card is in use. Since the medium information recording area is provided, and the non-data area is provided between the information recording area and the timing bit recording area, the information recording area for recording the in-use information and the information recording area for recording the value information are separated. For example, when recording and erasing the busy information indicating the in-use information on the card, it is not necessary to record the value information again, so that it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the device using the card. it can. In addition, since the recording area of the in-use information is provided at the head of the timing bit recording area on the card insertion direction side, it is possible to immediately identify whether or not the in-use information is recorded, and therefore, the in-use information is recorded. The inserted card can be immediately identified as a fraudulent card. Further, for example, when a call is started using the above-mentioned card, the busy information is recorded in the busy information recording area of the timing bit recording area, and the busy information is erased at the end of the call. If the information during the call is detected when the card is inserted, unauthorized use of the card can be detected, and at the time of recording and erasing of the information during the call, only the information during the call can be recorded and erased. Need not be recorded, and the processing time and power consumption of the apparatus can be reduced. Also, when processing a card in which a busy information recording area is provided at the head of the timing bit recording area on the card insertion direction side, an unauthorized card is returned because the validity of the card can be identified immediately after the card is inserted. In this case, the transport distance is shortened, and the power consumption of the device required for transporting the card can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a card reader to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card reader.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of the card reader.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a card of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card reader, 2 ... Card, 3 ... Magnetic track, 3
A: Data recording area, 3B to 3D: Timing bit recording area, 3E: Communication information recording area, 11: Card insertion slot, 12: Card transport path, 13: Motor, 21: Insertion detection sensor, 22: Shutter section, 23A, 23B: Position sensor, 25: Head unit, 27: Encoder, 30: Control circuit, 31: Transmission / reception circuit, 32: Control unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G07F 7/08 G06K 19/00 R 7/12 G07F 7/08 S H04M 17/02 C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card comprising: an information recording area for recording value information; and a timing bit recording area for recording timing bits for defining timing for recording and reproducing information in and from the information recording area. The timing bit recording area provided is provided with an area for recording in-use information indicating use, and a non-data area indicating no data is provided between the information recording area and the timing bit recording area. And a card. 2. The card according to claim 1, wherein a recording area for the in-use information is provided at a leading end of the timing bit recording area on the card insertion direction side. 3. When a card having a no-data area indicating no data is inserted between an information recording area and a timing bit recording area having an in-use information recording area for recording in-use information, A card processing method for reading value information of the information recording area based on a timing bit in the timing bit recording area and permitting use of the card, wherein the use information recording area is used when the use of the card is started. Recording the in-use information, erasing the in-use information in the in-use information recording area at the end of use of the card, and detecting whether or not the in-use information is recorded when the card is inserted. And a step of setting an unauthorized card when the in-use information is recorded. 4. A non-data area indicating no data is provided between an information recording area and a timing bit recording area having an in-use information recording area for recording in-use information at the head of the card insertion direction. A card processing method for reading value information of the information recording area based on a timing bit in the timing bit recording area when a card is inserted, and permitting use of the card, wherein use of the card is started. Recording the in-use information in the in-use information recording area when the card is inserted; erasing the in-use information in the in-use information recording area when the card is used; and Detecting whether or not the medium information has been recorded and, if the in-use information has been recorded, setting the card as an unauthorized card. Method.