Electronic-money rewarding system for lost and found IC card
First Claim
1. An IC-card collecting system using an IC card having an embedded microprocessor and an embedded memory externally accessible through said microprocessor with said memory being used for storing at least identification information for individually identifying an owner of said IC card and money data representing the amount of monetary value that said IC card has, said system comprising a center and a terminal unit connected to each other by a communication channel, said terminal unit comprising:
- an IC-card read/write means for executing processing to read out and write information from and into said memory embedded in said IC card;
an input means for inputting information on usage classification of said terminal unit itself, said usage classification includes collection classification regarding collection of an IC card inserted in said IC-card read/write means;
communication means for transmitting information read out from said memory embedded in said IC card and inputted information received from said input means to said center and for receiving information to be written into said memory embedded in said IC card from said center on said communication channel; and
collection means for collecting an IC card inserted in said IC-card read/write means and transferring money data stored in said IC card from said IC card to said center computer in accordance with a collection instruction transmitted from said center by way of said communication channel and said communication means;
said center comprising;
storage means for storing identification information for identifying each IC-card owner, contact information indicating how to contact each IC-card owner and information representing a money-transaction record of each IC card owner;
communication means for receiving information read out from said memory embedded in said IC card and input information received from said input means from said terminal unit and for transmitting information to be written into said memory embedded in said IC card to said terminal unit; and
collection-processing means for interpreting information on usage classification received from said input means and, if said usage classification is collection of IC card inserted in said IC card read/write means, performing the steps of;
sending said collection instruction to said terminal unit;
storing information inclusive of said money data read out from a memory embedded in a found IC card and transferred from said terminal unit to said storage means;
retrieving contact information of the owner of said found IC card from said storage means; and
notifying said owner of completion of processing to collect said found IC card by using said contact information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic-money collecting system is capable of returning a lost IC card used as an `electronic purse` to the owner of the lost IC card or an institution issuing the lost IC card with a high degree of efficiency without imposing a burden on the lost-IC-card finder or the institution issuing the IC card. When a lost IC card in which money data representing the amount of electronic money stored on the card is found, the found IC card is inserted into a terminal installed at places, such as a banking organization or a public institution. At that time, information read out from the IC card is transmitted to a center by way of a communication line. At the center, a storage unit is searched for information on the legitimate owner of the IC card, such as information for contacting the owner. The owner of the lost IC card is then notified of the implementation of processing to collect the IC card by telephone, through the post or through an electronic mail using a communication means. In order to increase the rate of collection of lost IC cards, a lost-IC-card finder is given reward money which is set in accordance with the amount of money recorded in a found IC card. In addition, when an attempt made by a lost-IC-card finder to illegally draw money from a found IC card is detected, information on the lost-IC-card finder who makes the attempt to draw money from the found IC card is recorded, allowing the abuse of a found IC card to be detected early.
44 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An IC-card collecting system using an IC card having an embedded microprocessor and an embedded memory externally accessible through said microprocessor with said memory being used for storing at least identification information for individually identifying an owner of said IC card and money data representing the amount of monetary value that said IC card has, said system comprising a center and a terminal unit connected to each other by a communication channel, said terminal unit comprising:
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an IC-card read/write means for executing processing to read out and write information from and into said memory embedded in said IC card; an input means for inputting information on usage classification of said terminal unit itself, said usage classification includes collection classification regarding collection of an IC card inserted in said IC-card read/write means; communication means for transmitting information read out from said memory embedded in said IC card and inputted information received from said input means to said center and for receiving information to be written into said memory embedded in said IC card from said center on said communication channel; and collection means for collecting an IC card inserted in said IC-card read/write means and transferring money data stored in said IC card from said IC card to said center computer in accordance with a collection instruction transmitted from said center by way of said communication channel and said communication means; said center comprising; storage means for storing identification information for identifying each IC-card owner, contact information indicating how to contact each IC-card owner and information representing a money-transaction record of each IC card owner; communication means for receiving information read out from said memory embedded in said IC card and input information received from said input means from said terminal unit and for transmitting information to be written into said memory embedded in said IC card to said terminal unit; and collection-processing means for interpreting information on usage classification received from said input means and, if said usage classification is collection of IC card inserted in said IC card read/write means, performing the steps of; sending said collection instruction to said terminal unit; storing information inclusive of said money data read out from a memory embedded in a found IC card and transferred from said terminal unit to said storage means; retrieving contact information of the owner of said found IC card from said storage means; and notifying said owner of completion of processing to collect said found IC card by using said contact information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a system for carrying out monetary transactions using an IC card storing at least identification information for identifying the owner of said IC card and money data representing an amount of monetary value that said IC card has stored therein, which system includes a terminal unit, an electronic-money collecting method, wherein said terminal unit performs the steps of:
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receiving a request, from a person finding an IC card, indicating collection of a found IC card, accepting an insertion of said found IC card into said terminal unit; reading out original money data from said found IC card inserted in said terminal unit; computing an amount of reward money from said original money data; carrying out processing to electronically return new money data resulting from subtraction of said reward money from said original money data to the proper owner of said found IC card; carrying out processing to give said computed amount of reward money to said person finding said found IC card; and disabling further use of said found IC card. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic-money collecting method for use in a system for collecting a lost IC card which stores at least identification information for identifying the owner of said IC card and money data representing the amount of monetary value that said IC card has stored therein, said method executed by said system comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request, from a person finding an IC card, indicating collection of a found IC card; accepting inserting of said found IC card found by a lost-IC-card finder and an IC card owned by said lost-IC-card finder into an IC-card read/writer provider for said system; reading out money data from said found IC card; calculating an amount of reward money by using said read-out money data and predetermined standard values; charging said amount of reward money to money data stored in said IC card owned by said lost-IC-card finder; and collecting money data indicating value of remaining amount resulting from subtraction of said amount of reward money from said read-out money data; whereby value of said amount of reward money is transferred from said found IC card to said IC card owned by said lost-IC-card finder and remaining value is collected by said system.
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18. An electronic-money collecting method in a system, which includes a center computer and a terminal unit connected to said center computer through a communication channel, for carrying out monetary transactions using an IC card storing at least identification information for identifying the owner of said IC card and money data having monetary value, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for collecting money data from an inputting means of said terminal unit; accepting insertion of a first IC card into said terminal unit; reading out information including said identification information and said money data from said first IC card; sending information read out from said first IC card and said request for collecting money data from said terminal unit to said center computer; storing said information read out from said first IC card into a storage medium of said center computer; identifying, at said center computer, an owner of said first IC card and a way of contact with said owner of said first IC card on the basis of said identification information; causing a notification of collection of money data to be forwarded to said owner of said first IC card in accordance with said way of contact; and disabling further use of said first IC card by said terminal unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification