System for smart card funds refill
First Claim
1. A system for providing items of value, comprising:
- a) a station for providing said items of value and debiting the cost of said items of value to a smart card, said smart card being charged with funds equivalent data, and for recharging said smart card, said station further comprising;
a1) a controllera2) a smart card reader operatively connected to said controller;
a3) input means for input of control signals to said controller controlling provision of said items of value; and
a4) providing means, responsive to said controller, for dispensing said items of value;
b) data processing means for generating an authorization signal unique to a particular smart cardc) communication means for connecting said station and said data processing means responsive to said data processing means for transmitting said unique authorization signal to said station;
whereind) said station is responsive to reception of said authorization signals and connection of said particular smart card to said card reader to recharge said smart card, wherein, from time to time, said data processing means transmits a plurality of said authorization signals to each of said stations, through said communications means, and, wherein said authorization signals are one-time signals which can only be used to recharge said particular smart card a single time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing items of value, charging the items to a smart card, and for recharging the smart card. The system includes a station for providing the items of value, which may be postal services, and debiting the cost of the items to a smart card; the smart card being charged with funds equivalent data. The station also communicates with a Data Center for recharging the smart card. Users of the system communicate with the data center to request recharge of a particular smart card and in response to an authorized request the data center generates an encrypted authorization message which includes an identification number, the amount of recharge requested, and control data which preferably includes a control sum formed by adding the amounts stored in a descending register, which stores the amount available on the smart card, and an ascending register which stores the total of the amounts by which the card has been charged since initialization. Thus, the authorization message may be used only once. From time-to-time the Data Center transmits authorization messages to each station on the system. When a particular smart card for which an authorization message has been received is connected to a station, the smart card compares the control data with the control data stored on the smart card and if there is a match updates the funds equivalent data in the descending register of the smart card. To provide security against transmission of false authorization messages to a station, the authorization messages are encrypted, preferably using a public key encryption system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for providing items of value, comprising:
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a) a station for providing said items of value and debiting the cost of said items of value to a smart card, said smart card being charged with funds equivalent data, and for recharging said smart card, said station further comprising; a1) a controller a2) a smart card reader operatively connected to said controller; a3) input means for input of control signals to said controller controlling provision of said items of value; and a4) providing means, responsive to said controller, for dispensing said items of value; b) data processing means for generating an authorization signal unique to a particular smart card c) communication means for connecting said station and said data processing means responsive to said data processing means for transmitting said unique authorization signal to said station;
whereind) said station is responsive to reception of said authorization signals and connection of said particular smart card to said card reader to recharge said smart card, wherein, from time to time, said data processing means transmits a plurality of said authorization signals to each of said stations, through said communications means, and, wherein said authorization signals are one-time signals which can only be used to recharge said particular smart card a single time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A station for providing items of value for franking mail pieces and debiting the cost of said items of value to a smart card, said smart card being charged with fudns equivalent data, and for recharging said smart card, comprising:
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a) a controller; b) a smart card reader operative connected to said controller; c) input means for input of contorl signals for contolling provision of said items of value to said controller; d) providing means, responsive to said controller for dispensing said items of value; e) receiving means for receiving encrypted authorization signals unique to particular smart cards, wherein said encrypted message comprises a control sum relating to said particular smart card for identifying said particular smart card;
wherein,f) said station is responsive to reception of an authorization signal and connection of a corresponding smart card to said card reader to recharge said corresponding smart card. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of recharging smart cards, with funds equivalent data comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a request to recharge a particular smart card; b) generating an encrypted authorization signal unique to said particular smart card, wherein said encrypted signal comprises control sum relating to said particular smart card for identifying said particular smart card, c) transmitting said authorization signal to a station for providing items of value to users of said smart cards and debiting the cost of said items of value to said smart cards;
said station then,d) responding to receipt of said authorization signal and connection of said particular smart card to said station to recharge said particular smart card with funds equivalent data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification