Electronic wallet system

• US 5,987,438 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kenji, Kanehira, Akira, Itoh, Shigeyuki, Nakano, Misuzu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US08/638,813
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.35, 705/1, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/18, 705/41, 711/154, 711/163, 711/164
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0086 the connector comprising a circuit for steering the operations of the card connector
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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: 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

Abstract

An electronic wallet system easy to use and having high security is provided. The electronic wallet system includes an IC card for storing electronic money information, an IC card reader/writer for reading data from, and writing data into, the IC card, an IC card loader unit for loading the IC card into, and unloading the IC card from, the IC card loader unit, an IC card load controller unit for controlling a load/unload operation of the IC card, and a lock signal generator unit for generating an IC card lock signal in response to an activation of an unload operation by the IC card load controller unit. An electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, applied to a POS system, includes a system ID verification unit and an input unit for inputting data to the system, wherein an IC card can be unloaded in response to an activation of an unload operation by a load controller unit and an input of the system ID from the input unit.

Claims

1. An electronic wallet system having an IC card for storing electronic money and an IC card reader/writer unit installed in a point of sales management system (POS), in combination, said IC card having an electronic wallet function, said electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card loader loading said IC card into said IC card reader/writer unit and unloading said IC card from said IC card reader/writer unit;

an IC card controller controlling the load/unload operation of said IC card; and

a lock signal generator generating an IC card lock signal in response to a physical unload operation of said IC card in said IC reader/writer unit through said controller to lock the IC card when physically being unloaded.

2. An electronic wallet system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power detector for detecting whether a voltage applied to the system has a predetermined value or not; and

a data save signal generator generating a data save signal, wherein said power detector activates said data save signal generator and said lock signal generator in accordance with a detection result by said power detector.

3. An electronic wallet system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a load detector detecting a load of said IC card into said IC card loader of said IC card reader/writer; and

an unlock signal generator generating an unlock signal in response to a load detection of said IC card by said load detector.

4. An electronic wallet system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a current detector detecting current supplied from said IC card reader/writer unit to said IC card; and

an unlock signal generator generating an unlock signal in response to a current detection by said current detector.

5. An electronic wallet system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control signal detector unit detecting an input of a control signal to said IC card;

a voltage detector unit detecting a voltage supplied to said IC card; and

an unlock signal generator generating an unlock signal in response to detections by said control signal detector unit and said voltage detector unit.

6. An electronic wallet system according to claim 1, wherein said IC card includes a first storage unit storing a first ID number of said IC card, a random number generator generating a random number, and a second storage unit for storing a second ID number of said IC card, wherein said IC card load controller makes said first and second storage means store the random number as an ID number of said IC card and activates said lock signal generator.

7. An electronic wallet system according to claim 6, wherein said first and second storage units store a plurality of ID numbers with different priority orders.

8. An IC card electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information, said IC card comprising;

a power source voltage detector detecting an in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card;

a lock controller locking said IC card when the in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card becomes lower than a predetermined voltage; and

an unlocking controller unlocking said IC card when the in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card becomes higher than a predetermined voltage and a control signal is inputted.

9. An IC card electronic wallet system wherein data is transferred between an IC card reader/writer and an IC card in a non-contact way, comprising:

said IC card storing electronic money information;

a receiver unit receiving data from sid IC card reader/writer;

a display unit notifying of data transfer;

a data transfer end checker checking an end of data transfer;

a voltage detector detecting an in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card;

a data saver activated when the in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card becomes lower than a predetermined voltage;

a controller responsive to outputs of said data transfer end checker and said voltage detector, for locking said IC card when the in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card become lower than the predetermined voltage and the data transfer end is confirmed;

a start checker checking a start of data transfer; and

a controller unlocking said IC card when the in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card becomes higher than a predetermined voltage and the data transfer start is confirmed.

10. An IC card electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, comprising:

an IC card storing electronic money information and having an ID number;

an IC card reader/writer for reading data from, and writing data into, the IC card;

an input unit for inputting data to the system;

a verifier verifying the ID number of the system and the ID number of said IC card;

an input verifier verifying an ID number entered from said input unit and the ID number of said IC card; and

a controller unlocking said IC card if the plurality of ID numbers verified by said two verifiers are judged to be verifiable.

11. An electronic wallet system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an ID priority storer storing an ID number having a priority order higher than the ID number of the system;

an input/system priority verifier verifying whether the ID number entered from said input unit has a priority order higher than the ID number of the system;

a priority storer storing an ID number having a priority order higher than the ID number of said IC card;

an input/card priority verifier verifying whether the ID number entered from said input unit has a priority order higher than the ID number of said IC card; and

a priority controller unlocking said IC card if the IDs verified by the two said verifiers are judged to be verifiable.

12. An electronic wallet system according to claim 11, further comprising an ID updater updating an ID number of said IC card, wherein said higher priority order ID number verifier activates said ID number updating means.

13. An IC card electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, comprising:

an IC card storing electronic money informations;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into, said IC card;

an input unit inputting data to the system;

a verifier verifying an ID number entered from said input unit of the system and the ID number of the system; and

a controller unlocking the system,

wherein said controller unlocks the system if the ID numbers verified by said verifier are judged to be verifiable.

14. An IC card electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card storing electronic money information, said IC card comprising;

a detector detecting an in-circuit power source voltage of said IC card;

a random number generator generating a random number;

a storer storing the random number generated by said random number generator as an ID number of said IC card; and

a controller locking said IC card,

wherein said detector activates said random number generator and said controller.

15. An IC card electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into;

an input unit for inputting data to the system;

an input/system verifier verifying an ID number entered from said input unit of the system and the ID number of the system;

a controller unlocking the system if the ID number verified by said input/system verifier is judged to be verifiable; and

a controller unlocking said IC card if the ID number verified by said input/system verifier is judged to be verifiable.

16. An electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money informations;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into;

an input unit inputting data to the system;

an input/system verifier verification means for verifying an ID number entered from said input unit of the system and the ID number of the system;

a controller unlocking the system if the ID number verified by said input/system verifier is judged to be verifiable; and

a reader reading an ID number of said IC card from said second storage unit if the ID number verified by said input/system verifier is judged to be verifiable; and

wherein said IC card includes a first/second verifier verifying the ID number read from said second storage unit and an ID number of said IC card read from said first storage unit, and if the IDs verified by said first/second verifier are judged to be verifiable, said IC card is unlocked.

17. An electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

a credit unit supplying cash information from a first IC card to a second IC card;

a payment unit supplying cash information from said second IC card to said first IC card; and

a comparator comparing a credit money value supplied from said first IC card to said second IC card with a payment money value supplied from said second IC card to said first IC card,

wherein after said credit unit is operated, said payment unit is operated, and said payment unit is controlled in accordance with a comparison result by said comparator.

18. An electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into, said IC card;

a credit unit for supplying cash information from said IC card to the system;

a payment unit for supplying cash information from the system to said IC card; and

a comparator comparing a credit money value supplied from said first IC card to the system with a payment money value supplied from the system to said first IC card,

wherein after said credit unit is operated, said payment unit is operated, and said payment unit is controlled in accordance with a comparison result by said comparator.

19. An electronic wallet system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a storage unit storing the credit money value supplied from said IC card to the system;

an IC card load detector unit; and

a control signal generator generating a control signal to initialize said credit unit, said payment unit, said comparator, and said storage unit,

wherein said comparator activates said payment unit if the payment money value is smaller than the credit money value.

20. An IC card electronic wallet system with an ID number specific to the system, comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into, said IC card;

IC card loader loading said IC card into, and unloading said IC card from, said IC card reader/writer;

IC card load controller controlling a load/unload operation of said IC card; and

an input unit for inputting data to the system,

wherein said IC card is unloaded in response to an activation of an unload operation by said IC card load controller and an input of the system ID from said input unit.

21. An electronic wallet system according to claim 20, further comprising a detector unit detecting said illegal code from said IC card, and a communication unit automatically notifying a designated site of a detection of said illegal code, when said illegal code is detected by said detector unit.

22. An electronic wallet system according to claim 20, wherein the system includes an illegal code generator generating an illegal code, said IC card includes a memory unit storing said illegal code and cash information, said IC card reader/writer includes a memory unit for storing cash information, wherein in response to an activation of an unload operation by said IC card load controller, an input of IDs different from the system ID from said input unit a predetermined plurality of times, or a lapse of a predetermined time period, said illegal code is generated and stored in said IC card, and said IC card is unloaded after the cash information in said IC card is stored in the memory unit of said IC card reader/writer.

23. An electronic wallet system according to claim 22, further comprising a communication unit for automatically notifying a designated site of issuance of an illegal code in response to said illegal code generated from said illegal code generator.

24. An electronic wallet system according to claim 22, further comprising a data transfer speed changer changing a data transfer speed between said IC card and said IC card reader/writer faster than a normal speed, when said illegal code generator generates said illegal code.

25. An electronic wallet system according to claim 22, wherein said illegal code is generated and stored in said IC card if said IC card is unloaded without using said IC card load controller.

26. An electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

a credit unit supplying cash information from a first IC card to a second IC card;

a payment unit supplying cash information from said second IC card to said first IC card;

a controller unit maintaining the normal state of said payment unit refunding a payment money value from said second IC card to said first IC card;

a urgent inhibition unit inhibiting a normal operation of said controller during an urgent period;

an illegal code generator unit responsive to said urgent inhibition unit, for generating an illegal code;

a memory unit storing said illegal code in said first IC card; and

a communication unit responsive to a generation of said illegal code from said illegal code generator unit, for automatically notifying a predetermined site of the generation of said illegal code.

27. An electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

a credit unit supplying cash information from a first IC card to a second IC card;

payment unit supplying cash information from said second IC card to said first IC card; and

a comparator comparing a credit money value supplied from said second IC card to said first IC card with a payment money value supplied from said second IC card to said first IC card,

wherein after said credit unit operates, said payment unit is operated, said payment unit is controlled in accordance with a comparison result by said comparator, said first and second IC cards have credit/payment histories, and in response to verification of the credit/payment histories of said first and second IC cards, said payment unit is controlled.

28. An electronic wallet system comprising:

an IC card for storing electronic money information;

an IC card reader/writer reading data from, and writing data into, said IC card;

credit unit supplying cash information from said IC card to said IC card reader/writer of the system;

a payment unit supplying cash information from said IC card reader/writer of the system to said IC card; and

a comparator comparing a credit money value supplied from said IC card to said IC card reader/writer of the system with a payment money value supplied from said IC card reader/writer of the system to said IC card,

wherein after said credit unit operates, said payment unit is operated, said payment unit is controlled in accordance with a comparison result by said comparator, and in response to verification of a credit history of said IC card and a payment history of said IC card reader/writer of the system, said payment unit is controlled.