Electronic Value, Electronic Purse Device, And System For Using The Same

• US 20080067240A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakano, Toshihisa, Ohmori, Motoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3273 for mutual authentication network architectures or network communication protocols for achieving mutual authentication in a packet data network H04L63/0869

Abstract

An electronic money usage system is capable of preventing dishonest use of electronic money recorded on a recording medium. A memory card 300 acquires signature-type electronic data from a bank server apparatus 100, and generates a first authenticator using the received first authenticator, and an identification flag, an electronic money ID and an amount included in the electronic money. When a user uses the signature-type electronic money, the memory card 300 generates a second authenticator with use of a second password received from the user, and the identification flag, electronic money ID and amount included in the electronic money. The memory card 300 outputs the electronic money if the first authenticator and the second authenticator match.

Claims

1. An electronic value usage system for using an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic value usage system comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire value information;

a first generation unit operable to generate a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a storage unit operable to store the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation unit operable to generate a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

a permission unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, permit usage of, from among the electronic value, a usage value desired by the user.

2. The electronic value usage system of claim 1, including an electronic purse apparatus and an account settlement apparatus, wherein

the electronic purse apparatus comprises the acquisition unit, the first generation unit, the storage unit and the second generation unit, and

the account settlement apparatus comprises the judgment unit and the permission unit.

3. The electronic value usage system of claim 1, being an electronic purse apparatus that is a portable IC card.

4. An electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic purse apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire value information;

a. first generation unit operable to generate a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a storage unit operable to store the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation unit operable to generate a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

an output unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, output, from among the electronic value, a usage value desired by the user.

5. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first generation unit includes:

a first data acquisition sub-unit operable to acquire the first data; and

a first authenticator generation sub-unit operable to generate the first authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired first data, and

the second generation unit includes;

a second data acquisition sub-unit operable to acquire the second data; and

a second authenticator generation sub-unit operable to generate the second authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired second data.

6. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

when an entire value shown by the value information is used, the output unit outputs the value information as the usage value information, and deletes the electronic value from the storage unit.

7. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a calculation unit operable to, when a partial value that is part of the value shown by the value information is used, subtract the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value; and

a third generation unit operable to generate a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value,

wherein the storage unit further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

8. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the acquisition unit further acquires other value information,

the first generation unit further generates a third authenticator using the acquired first data and the other value information,

the storage unit further stores the other value information and the third authenticator in correspondence as another electronic value, and

the output unit, when the user desires to use one or more electronic values, outputs respective value information of the one or more electronic values, as the usage value information, and deletes the one or more electronic values from the storage unit.

9. An electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic purse apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire value information;

a first generation unit operable to generate a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a storage unit operable to store the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation unit operable to generate a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value; and

an output unit operable to output the value information, the first authenticator, and the second authenticator.

10. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the first generation unit includes:

a first data acquisition sub-unit operable to acquire the first data; and

a first authenticator generation sub-unit operable to generate a first private key from the acquired first data, and generate the first authenticator by subjecting the value information to a public key method digital signature with use of the generated first private key, and

the second generation unit includes;

a second data acquisition sub-unit operable to acquire the second data;

a second authenticator generation sub-unit operable to generate a second private key from the acquired second data, and generate the second authenticator by subjecting the value information to the public key method digital signature with use of the generated second private key; and

a public key generation sub-unit operable to generate a public key from the generated second private key, and

the output unit further outputs the generated public key.

11. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the output unit, when an entire value shown by the value information is used, outputs the value information, and deletes the electronic value from the storage unit.

12. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a calculation unit operable to, when a partial value that is part of the value shown by the value information is used, subtract the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value; and

a third generation unit operable to generate a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value,

wherein the storage unit further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

13. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the acquisition unit further acquires other value information,

the first generation sub-unit further generates a third authenticator using the acquired first data and the other value information,

the storage unit further stores the other value information and the third authenticator in correspondence as another electronic value, and

the output unit, when the user desires to use one or more electronic values, outputs respective value information of the one or more electronic values, as the usage value information, and deletes the one or more electronic values from the storage unit.

15. An account settlement apparatus that performs account settlement processing using a received electronic value, the account settlement apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire, from the electronic purse apparatus of claim 9, the value information, the first authenticator and the second authenticator;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

an account settlement unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, perform account settlement processing with use of a usage value desired by the user.

16. An account settlement apparatus that performs account settlement processing using a received electronic value, the account settlement apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire, from the electronic purse apparatus of claim 10, the value information, the first authenticator and the second authenticator;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a verification unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, subject the acquired value information and the acquired second authenticator to a public key method digital signature verification with use of the acquired public key, and obtain a verification result; and

an account settlement unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, perform account settlement processing with use of a usage value desired by the user.

14. An electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic purse apparatus comprising:

a data storage unit operable to store in advance first data acquired from a user;

an acquisition unit operable to acquire value information;

a storage unit operable to store the acquired value information;

an acquisition unit operable to acquire second data from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first data and the second data match each other;

a signature unit operable to, when the first data and the second data are judged to match each other, generate value authentication information corresponding to the stored value information or part thereof; and

an output unit operable to output the value information or the part thereof, and the generated value authentication data.

17. An account settlement apparatus that performs account settlement processing using a received electronic value, the account settlement apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire, from the electronic purse apparatus of claim 14, the value information and the value authentication data;

a verification unit operable to subject the acquired value information and value authentication data to digital signature verification, and obtain a verification result; and

an account settlement unit operable to, when the verification result shows success, perform account settlement processing with use of a usage value desired by the user.

18. An electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic value comprising:

value information; and

a first authenticator generated with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information.

19. The electronic value of claim 18, further comprising:

a second authenticator generated with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value.

20. An electronic value management method used in an electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic value management method comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a writing step of writing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value;

a judgment step of judging whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting, from among the electronic value, a usage value desired by the user.

21. An electronic value management computer program used in an electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the computer program comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a writing step of writing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value;

a judgment step of judging whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting, from among the electronic value, a usage value desired by the user.

22. The computer program of claim 21, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

23. An integrated circuit that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the integrated circuit comprising:

an acquisition unit operable to acquire value information;

a first generation unit operable to generate a first authenticator with use of the value information and first data acquired when storing the value information;

a storage unit operable to store the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second generation unit operable to generate a second authenticator with use of the value information and second data acquired when a user uses the electronic value;

a judgment unit operable to judge whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other; and

an output unit operable to, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, output, from among the electronic value, a usage value desired by the user.