IC memory card system for authenticating an IC memory card, and IC memory card used for the same

• US 6,126,071 A
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/195,211
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 235/379, 380/46, 705/66, 705/67, 713/169, 902/1, 902/2, 902/26, 902/39
• US Class Current: 235/382
• 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 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• 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 IC memory card and an IC memory card system prevent the use of unauthorized or illegal copies or forgeries of IC memory cards storing original content. Using a key value selected by a terminal device of the IC memory card system, the terminal device calculates a first value and the IC memory card separately calculates a third value by applying a particular method to the key value. Second and fourth values are similarly calculated using a different particular method. The IC memory card then determines whether the first and third values are the same. The terminal device separately determines whether the second and fourth values are the same. Only if the first and third values are confirmed to match, and then the second and fourth values are also confirmed to match, does the terminal device recognize the IC memory card as an authentic IC memory card and not an unauthorized or illegal copy or forgery.

Claims

1. An IC memory card system comprising a terminal device and an IC memory card connected thereto,

the terminal device selecting a key value,

calculating a first value based on the key value using a particular calculating method,

calculating a second value based on the key value using a different particular calculating method, and

supplying the key value and first calculated value to the IC memory card;

the IC memory card calculating a third value and a fourth value using different particular methods based on the key value from the terminal device,

comparing the first value received from the terminal device with the calculated third value, and

supplying the calculated fourth value to the terminal device if the compared first and third values are a same value;

wherein the terminal device compares the second value calculated by the terminal device with the fourth value supplied from the IC memory card, and

prohibits use of the connected IC memory card if the compared values are not the same.

2. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IC memory card prohibits supplying the fourth value to the terminal device when the IC memory card determines the first value supplied from the terminal device and the internally calculated third value are not a same value, and

the terminal device prohibits use of the IC memory card when said fourth value is not received from the IC memory card.

3. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IC memory card comprises:

key value storage unit for storing a selected key value supplied from the terminal device;

first value storage unit for storing a first value supplied from the terminal device;

a third value operator for calculating a third value using a particular method based on the key value stored to the key value storage;

a fourth value operator for calculating a fourth value based on the key value using a different particular method;

fourth value storage unit for storing the fourth value calculated by the fourth value operator; and

a comparator for detecting whether the first value stored to the first value storage unit and the third value calculated by the third value operator are a same value, and

prohibiting output of the fourth value stored to the fourth value storage unit to the terminal device when said compared values are determined to be different.

4. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and third values are separately calculated based on the key value using a same particular method, and

the second and fourth values are separately calculated based on the key value using a same particular method that is different from the method used for calculating the first and third values.

5. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first through fourth values are each calculated based on a key value using an arithmetic function.

6. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the key value is a value encrypted using a particular method,

the first value and third value are obtained by decrypting the encrypted key value using a particular method, and

the second value and fourth value are calculated using a particular arithmetic function based on the key value.

7. The IC memory card system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the key value is a value encrypted using a particular method,

the first value and third value are calculated using a particular arithmetic function based on the key value, and

the second value and fourth value are obtained by decrypting the encrypted key value using a particular method.

8. An IC memory card for use in an IC memory card system,

said IC memory card system comprising an information processing device or other type of terminal device with an IC memory card connected thereto,

said IC memory card comprising:

key value storage for storing a selected key value supplied from the terminal device;

first value storage for storing a first value calculated and supplied by the terminal device based on the key value;

a third value operator for calculating a third value using a particular method based on the key value stored to the key value storage;

a fourth value operator for calculating a fourth value based on the key value using a different particular method;

fourth value storage for storing the fourth value calculated by the fourth value operator; and

a comparator for detecting whether the first value stored to the first value storage and the third value calculated by the third value operator are a same value, and

prohibiting output of the fourth value stored to the fourth value storage to the terminal device when said compared values are determined to be different.

9. The IC memory card as set forth in claim 8, wherein the comparator supplies the fourth value to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device when the first value supplied from the terminal device and the third value are determined to be a same value.

10. The IC memory card as set forth in claim 8, wherein the third value is calculated using the same method used to calculate the first value based on a key value.

11. The IC memory card as set forth in claim 10, wherein the third and fourth values are calculated based on a key value using different arithmetic functions.

12. The IC memory card as set forth in claim 10, wherein the key value is a value encrypted using a particular method,

the third value or the fourth value is obtained by decrypting the encrypted key value using a particular method, and the other value is calculated based on a key value using a particular arithmetic function.