Electronic value, electronic purse device, and system for using the same

• US 7,912,789 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohmori, Motoji, Nakano, Toshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin, Evens J
• Application Number:
  US11/632,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20080067240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,107 Days
• Field of Search: 705/64, 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• 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 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3273 for mutual authentication network architectures or network communication protocols for achieving mutual authentication in a packet data network H04L63/0869

Abstract

An electronic money usage system is capable of preventing dishonest use of electronic money recorded on a recording medium. A memory card 300 acquires signature-type electronic data from a bank server apparatus 100, and generates a first authenticator using the received first authenticator, and an identification flag, an electronic money ID and an amount included in the electronic money. When a user uses the signature-type electronic money, the memory card 300 generates a second authenticator with use of a second password received from the user, and the identification flag, electronic money ID and amount included in the electronic money. The memory card 300 outputs the electronic money if the first authenticator and the second authenticator match.

Claims

1. An electronic value usage system for using an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic value usage system comprising:

at least one memory that stores a plurality of commands; and

at least one processor operable to execute the plurality of commands, wherein

by executing the commands, the electronic value usage system executes the following steps;

a value acquisition step of acquiring value information from a server apparatus over a network;

a first acquisition step of acquiring first data by an input from a user when storing the value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired first data;

a storage step of storing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second data and a usage amount showing usage of a partial value that is part of a value shown by the value information, by an input from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired second data;

a calculation step of subtracting the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value;

a judgment step of judging whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a third generation step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, generating a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value; and

a permission step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, permitting the usage of the partial value, wherein

the storage step further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

2. The electronic value usage system of claim 1, including an electronic purse apparatus and an account settlement apparatus, wherein

the electronic purse apparatus executes the value acquisition step, the first acquisition step, the first generation step, the storage step, the second acquisition step, the second generation step, the calculation step, the judgment step, and the third generation step, and

the account settlement apparatus executes the permission step.

3. The electronic value usage system of claim 1, wherein the electronic value usage system is an electronic purse apparatus that is a portable IC card.

4. An electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic purse apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores a plurality of commands; and

a processor operable to execute the plurality of commands, wherein

by executing the commands, the electronic purse apparatus executes the following steps;

a value acquisition step of acquiring value information from a server apparatus over a network;

a first acquisition step of acquiring first data by an input from a user when storing the value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired first data;

a storage step of storing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second data and a usage amount showing usage of a partial value that is part of a value shown by the value information, by an input from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired second data;

a calculation step of subtracting the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value;

a judgment step of judging whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a third generation step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, generating a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting usage value information showing the partial value, wherein

the storage step further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

5. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first generation step generates the first authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired first data, and

the second generation step generates the second authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired second data.

9. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first generation step generates the first authenticator with use of a concatenated entity obtained by concatenating the first data and the value information, and

the second generation step generates the second authenticator with use of a concatenated entity obtained by concatenating the second data and the value information.

10. The electronic purse apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first generation step generates the first authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired first data, and

the second generation step generates the second authenticator by subjecting the value information to one of encryption and digital signature, with use of the acquired second data.

6. An electronic value management method used in an electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the electronic value management method comprising the following steps:

a value acquisition step of acquiring value information from a server apparatus over a network;

a first acquisition step of acquiring first data by an input from a user when storing the value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired first data;

a storage step of storing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second data and a usage amount showing usage of a partial value that is part of a value shown by the value information, by an input from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired second data;

a calculation step of subtracting the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value;

a judgment step of judging, using a processor, whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a third generation step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, generating a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting usage value information showing the partial value, wherein

the storage step further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

7. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium on which an electronic value management computer program is recorded, for use in an electronic purse apparatus that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the computer program causing the electronic purse apparatus to perform a method comprising:

a value acquisition step of acquiring value information from a server apparatus over a network;

a first acquisition step of acquiring first data by an input from a user when storing the value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired first data;

a storage step of storing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second data and a usage amount showing usage of a partial value that is part of a value shown by the value information, by an input from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired second data;

a calculation step of subtracting the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value;

a judgment step of judging, using a processor, whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a third generation step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, generating a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting usage value information showing the partial value, wherein

the storage step further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.

8. An integrated circuit that stores and manages an electronic value that is information representing a value electronically, the integrated circuit comprising:

at least one memory that stores a plurality of commands; and

at least one processor operable to execute the plurality of commands, wherein

by executing the commands, the integrated circuit executes the following steps;

a value acquisition step of acquiring value information from a server apparatus over a network;

a first acquisition step of acquiring first data by an input from a user when storing the value information;

a first generation step of generating a first authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired first data;

a storage step of storing the value information and the first authenticator in correspondence with each other as an electronic value;

a second acquisition step of acquiring second data and a usage amount showing usage of a partial value that is part of a value shown by the value information, by an input from the user when the user uses the electronic value;

a second generation step of generating a second authenticator with use of the value information and the acquired second data;

a calculation step of subtracting the partial value from the value shown by the value information, thereby calculating a remaining value;

a judgment step of judging whether or not the first authenticator and the second authenticator match each other;

a third generation step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, generating a third authenticator with use of the second data and the calculated remaining value; and

an output step of, when the first authenticator and the second authenticator are judged to match each other, outputting usage value information showing the partial value, wherein

the storage step further stores, in place of the electronic value, the remaining value and the third authenticator in correspondence with each other as a new electronic value.