Method and apparatus for processing IC card found

• US 6,036,088 A
• Filed: 09/10/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kenji, Itoh, Shigeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/913,252
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/451, 235/492, 902/4, 902/5, 902/26
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• 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 20/4033 Local solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• 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: G07F 7/1083 Counting of PIN attempts

Abstract

An IC card system which includes an IC terminal and a remote IC card found processing center operatively connected to the IC terminal by way of a telephone line for processing a lost and found IC card. The IC terminal includes a first card insertion slot which receives insertion of a lost and found IC card; a second card insertion slot which receives insertion of a second IC card to receive reward data from the IC card processing center; a key input unit which permits the user to initiate processing of the lost found IC card; a display unit which provides a visual display of processing conditions of the lost and found IC card; and a processor which reads information from the lost and found IC card and records reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card from the remote IC card processing center into the second IC card. The remote IC card processing center includes a first memory which stores information of the lost and found IC card transmitted from the IC terminal; a second memory which stores reward data; and a processing unit which transmits data indicating reception of the processing request of the lost and found IC card on the basis of a calling signal from the IC terminal, generates an instruction to invalidate operations of the lost and found IC card after storage of the information of the lost and found IC card, and transmits the reward data and the operation invalidating instruction to the IC terminal. This way lost IC card may be effectively returned to the rightly owner, and the finder of the lost IC card may be rewarded conveniently.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a lost and found IC card having a microprocessor or a memory incorporated therein comprising:

a first card insertion slot for receiving insertion of the lost and found IC card;

a second card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a second IC card for receiving a reward for processing the lost and found IC card;

a key input unit containing a plurality of discrete keys that are independently operable by manual depression from a user to provide different unique input signals representing different control functions and alphanumeric symbols, including permitting the user to initiate processing of the lost and found IC card;

a display unit for providing a variable visual display of processing conditions for processing the lost and found IC card, and

a processing unit for reading information from the lost and found IC card after the the user has initiated the processing of the lost and found IC card for calling an IC card lost and found processing center on the basis of the read-out information and for processing the reward via the second IC card.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reader/writer for reading/writing information stored in the lost and found IC card; and

a communication unit for establishing communication with the IC card processing center by using a telephone line.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further incorporated into an IC card system comprising said an IC card lost and found processing center which includes:

a first memory for storing information of the lost and found IC card transmitted from said processing unit of said apparatus;

a second memory for storing reward data; and

a control unit for transmitting data indicating reception of the processing request of the lost and found IC card on the basis of a calling signal from said processing unit of said apparatus, for generating an instruction to invalidate operations of the lost and found IC card after storage of the information of the lost and found IC card, for generating reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card, and for transmitting the reward data and the operation invalidating instruction to said processing unit of said apparatus.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit processes information from the lost and found IC card by:

requesting insertion of the lost and found IC card into said first card insertion slot for processing an inserted IC card;

reading center information from the inserted IC card and automatically calling said IC card lost and found remote processing center for processing the inserted IC card;

reading system information from the inserted IC card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted IC card to said IC card lost and found processing center to determine whether the inserted IC card corresponds to a lost IC card stored in a database;

when the inserted IC card is determined as the lost IC card, requesting insertion of an electronic purse card into said second card insertion slot for processing an inserted electronic purse card;

reading system information from the inserted electronic purse card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted electronic purse card to said IC card lost and found processing center for reward; and

receiving reward code from said IC card lost and found processing center for recording onto the inserted electronic purse card to reward an owner of the inserted electronic purse card who found the lost IC card.

5. An apparatus for processing a lost and found IC card having a microprocessor or a memory incorporated therein comprising:

a first card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a lost and found IC card;

a second card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a second IC card storing data of a reward for the processing of the lost and found IC card;

an key input unit containing a plurality of discrete keys that are independently operable by manual depression from a user to provide different unique input signals representing different control functions and alphanumeric symbols, including a center calling key for permitting the user to initiate processing of the lost and found IC card;

a display unit for providing a variable visual display of processing conditions for processing the lost and found IC card; and

a processing unit for reading information from the lost and found IC card after the user has initiated the processing of the lost and found IC card, for calling an IC card lost and found processing center on the basis of the read-out information, and for enabling erasing the information of the lost and found IC card after the processing of the lost and found IC card ends.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising

a reader/writer for reading/writing information stored in the lost and found IC card;

and

a communication unit for establishing communication with the IC card processing center by using a telephone line.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, further incorporated into an IC card system comprising said IC card lost and found center which includes:

means for transmitting data indicating reception of the processing request of the lost and found IC card on the basis of a calling signal from said processing unit of said apparatus;

means for storing information of the lost and found IC card transmitted from said processing unit on the basis of data indicating said reception;

means for generating the reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card;

means for generating an instruction for erase of the information of the lost and found IC card after storage of the information of the lost and found IC card ends; and

means for transmitting an instruction for erase of the reward data and the information of the lost and found IC card to said processing unit.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processing unit processes information from the lost and found IC card by:

when the inserted card is an electronic purse card, reading reward code from the inserted electronic purse card and automatically calling said IC card lost and found processing center for processing the inserted electronic purse card;

transmitting the reward code from the inserted electronic purse card to said IC card lost and found processing center; and

receiving said discretionary amount of credit as reward money from said IC card lost and found processing center for recording onto the inserted electronic purse card so as to reward the owner of the inserted electronic purse card who found the lost IC card.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing unit further comprising:

after said discretionary amount of credit is recorded onto the inserted electronic purse card, transmitting, at said terminal device, a signal indicating receipt of said credit to said remote processing center as record to avoid multiple rewards.

10. An IC card system comprising:

a terminal device; and

a remote IC card processing center,

said terminal device including;

a first card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a lost and found IC card;

a second card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a second IC card to receive reward data from said IC card processing center for processing the lost and found IC card,

a key input unit containing a plurality of discrete keys that are independently operable by manual depression from a user to provide different unique input signals representing different control functions and alphanumeric symbols, including permitting the user to initiate processing of the lost found IC card;

a display unit for providing a variable visual display of processing conditions for processing the lost and found IC card; and

a processing unit for reading information from the lost and found IC card after the user has initiated the processing of the lost and found IC card, for calling said remote IC card processing center on the basis of the read-out information, for transmitting/receiving IC card information to and from said remote IC card processing center, for writing reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card from said remote IC card processing center into said second IC card, for invalidating operations of the lost and found IC card after the processing of the lost and found IC card ends, said remote IC card processing center including;

a first memory for storing information of the lost and found IC card transmitted from said terminal device;

a second memory for storing reward data; and

a processing unit for transmitting data indicating reception of the processing request of the lost and found IC card on the basis of a calling signal from said terminal device, for generating an instruction to invalidate operations of the lost and found IC card after storage of the information of the lost and found IC card, for generating reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card, and for transmitting the reward data and the operation invalidating instruction to said terminal device.

11. An IC card system according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further comprises:

a reader/writer for reading/writing information stored in the lost and found IC card; and

a communication unit for establishing communication with the remote IC card processing center by using a telephone line.

12. An IC card system according to claim 10, wherein said processing unit of said terminal device comprises:

a data extractor for extracting information from the lost and found IC card for communication with the IC card processing center;

an auto-dialer for automatically dialing a designated number of the IC card processing center to establish communication therewith for processing the lost and found IC card; and

a system controller for controlling different modes of operations of said terminal device for permitting the user to initiate and complete the processing of the lost and found IC card.

13. An IC card system comprising:

a terminal device; and

a remote IC card processing center,

said terminal device including;

a first card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a lost and found IC card;

a second card insertion slot for receiving insertion of a second IC card;

a key input unit containing a plurality of discrete keys that are independently operable by manual depression from a user to provide different unique input signals representing different control functions and alphanumeric symbols, including permitting the user to initiate the processing of the lost and found IC card;

a display unit for providing a variable visual display of processing conditions for processing the lost and found IC card; and

means for reading information from the lost and found IC card after the user has initiated the processing of the lost and found IC card, for calling said remote IC card processing center on the basis of the read-out information, for transmitting/receiving IC card information to and from said remote IC card processing center, for writing the reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card from said remote IC card processing center into said second IC card, for enabling erasing the lost and found IC card information on the basis of an instruction transmitted from said remote IC card processing center,

said remote IC card processing center including;

means for transmitting data indicating reception of the processing request of the lost and found IC card on the basis of a calling signal from said terminal device;

means for storing information of the lost and found IC card transmitted from said terminal device on the basis of data indicating said reception;

means for generating the reward data for the processing of the lost and found IC card;

means for generating an instruction for erase of the information of the lost and found IC card after storage of the information of the lost and found IC card ends; and

means for transmitting an instruction for erase of the reward data and the information of the lost and found IC card to said terminal device.

14. An IC card system according to claim 13, wherein said terminal device further comprises:

a reader/writer for reading/writing information stored in the lost and found IC card; and

a communication unit for establishing communication with the remote IC card processing center by using a telephone line.

15. An apparatus for processing IC card found in an IC card system having an IC card incorporating a microprocessor or a memory, means for reading/writing information stored in said IC card, and communication means for transmitting/receiving the information by using a telephone line, comprising:

a terminal unit; and

a found processing center,

said terminal unit including;

receiving means for receiving a found IC card;

receiving means for receiving a second IC card storing data of a reward for the found processing;

processing start input means for starting the information found processing of the found IC card;

means for reading information from said received found IC card after the processing start is inputted;

means for calling said found processing center on the basis of the read-out information;

means for transmitting/receiving the information of the found IC card on the basis of data of reception of the processing from said processing center;

display means for displaying found processing conditions;

means for transmitting information of said second IC card on the basis of an instruction transmitted from said processing center;

means for writing the reward data for the found processing generated by said processing center into said second IC card; and

means for invalidating the operation of said found IC card on the basis of an instruction transmitted from said processing center,

said processing center including;

means for transmitting data concerning reception of the found processing reception on the basis of a calling signal from said terminal unit;

means for storing the information of the found IC card transmitted from said terminal unit on the basis of the data concerning the found processing reception;

means for generating an instruction for reception of the information of said second IC card written with the found reward data;

means for transmitting an instruction for reception of the information of the second IC card to said terminal unit;

means for generating the reward data for the found processing on the basis of the information of said second IC card;

means for storing said reward data and said second IC card information;

means for transmitting said reward data to said terminal unit;

means for generating an instruction for invalidating the operation of the found IC card for the found processing; and

means for transmitting an instruction for invalidating said reward data and the operation of said received found IC card to said terminal unit.

16. A method for processing an IC card in an IC card system having a terminal device and a remote processing center operatively connected to said terminal device by way of a telephone line, comprising:

requesting, at a terminal device, insertion of an IC card into a first card insertion slot of said terminal device operatively connected to a remote processing center for processing an inserted IC card;

reading, at said terminal device, center information from the inserted IC card and automatically calling said remote processing center for processing the inserted IC card;

reading, at said terminal device system information from the inserted IC card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted IC card to said remote processing center to determine whether the inserted IC card corresponds to a lost IC card stored in a database;

when the inserted IC card is determined as the lost IC card, requesting, at said terminal device, insertion of an electronic purse card into a second card insertion slot of said terminal device for processing an inserted electronic purse card;

reading, at said terminal device, system information from the inserted electronic purse card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted electronic purse card to said remote processing center for reward; and

receiving, at said terminal device, reward code from said remote processing center for recording onto the inserted electronic purse card to reward an owner of the inserted electronic purse card who found the lost IC card.

17. A method for processing an IC card in an IC card system having a terminal device and a remote processing center operatively connected to said terminal device, comprising:

determining whether a center calling key is depressed at a terminal device operatively connected to a remote processing center requesting for processing a lost card;

requesting, at said terminal device, insertion of a card into said terminal device;

determining whether an inserted card is one of an IC card and an electronic purse card;

when the inserted card is an IC card, reading, at said terminal device, center information from the inserted IC card, and automatically calling said remote processing center for processing the inserted IC card;

reading, at said terminal device, system information from the inserted IC card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted IC card to said remote processing center to determine whether the inserted IC card corresponds to a lost IC card stored in a database;

when the inserted IC card is determined as the lost IC card, requesting, at said terminal device, insertion of an electronic purse card into said terminal device for processing an inserted electronic purse card;

reading, at said terminal device, system information from the inserted electronic purse card, and transmitting the system information read from the inserted electronic purse card to said remote processing center for reward; and

receiving, at said terminal device reward code from said remote processing center for recording onto the inserted electronic purse card so as to reward an owner of the inserted electronic purse card who found the lost IC card a discretionary amount of credit.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

when the inserted card is an electronic purse card, reading, at said terminal device, reward code from the inserted electronic purse card and automatically calling said remote processing center for processing the inserted electronic purse card;

transmitting, at said terminal device, the reward code from the inserted electronic purse card to said remote processing center; and

receiving, at said terminal device, said discretionary amount of credit as reward money from said remote processing center for recording onto the inserted electronic purse card so as to reward the owner of the inserted electronic purse card who found the lost IC card.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

after said discretionary amount of credit is recorded onto the inserted electronic purse card, transmitting, at said terminal device, a signal indicating receipt of said credit to said remote processing center as record to avoid multiple rewards.