Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1060997
This invention relates to a system for checking the user of a
card used in a card-actuated machine such as an automatic cash dispenser.
In a modern banking or article vending system, credit cards are
widely used. Such cards generally have some information visibly
printed and other information invisibly recorded thereon. In an
automatic cash dispensing system, for example, the necessary information
to be recorded on the card includes the bank number, the account number,
the balance of the account, a cipher, etc. which are, for example,
magnetically recorded on the card. The cipher is, for example, a number
specific to the owner of the card, and when the card is used, the user
is requested to enter the specific number into the machine. The machine
checks whether the number entered by the user of the card coincides with
the number recorded on the card. If the two numbers coincide, the
machine recognizes the user of the card as the proper owner thereof and
dispenses the requested amount of cash.
If the number recorded on the card and the number specific to the
owner of the card are the same, a problem arises when the card is lost or
stolen to pass into unauthorized hands. The number recorded on the
card can magnetically be read, so that an unauthorized person can know
the number and fraudulently use the card as if he was the proper owner
of the card.
In order to prevent such fraudulent use of the card, it has been
proposed to record on the card a number which is different from, but
; has a certain relation to, the number specific to the owner of the
card. In this case, even if an unauthorized holder of the card has
been able ~o know the number recorded on the card, he could not know
the number specific to the owner of the card directly from the number
read from the card. However, if the unauthorized holder of the card
has come to know the relation between the number recorded on the card
and the number specific to the true owner of the card in some way or
- 3 -
~060997
other, he can attain the number specific to the owner from the number
read from the card.
Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a
system for checking ~hether the user of a card used in an automatic
card-actuated machine is the proper ol~ner of the card.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a checking
system as aforesaid, wherein even when an improper holder of the card has
come to know the code or cipher recorded on the card, it is impossible for
the improper holder to know the code or cipher specific to the proper
owner of the card from the cipher he has read from the card.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a checking
system as aforesaid, wherein the code or cipher recorded on the card is
changed every time the card is used.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a checking
system as aforesaid, wherein the card has at least two kinds of codes
recorded thereon so that every time the card is used, both of the codes
are changed in such a manner that when the card is used next time, one of
the changed codes is operated so as to become identical with the code
specific to the proper owner of the card.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a checking
system as aforesaid, wherein the code specific to the owner of the card is
not changed, but the code recorded on the card is changed whenever the card
is used.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a checking
system as aforesaid, wherein when the card is used, the code on the
card is read and a code having a predetermined relation to the code read
from the card is obtained, so that the code thus obtained is compared
with the code entered by the user of the card so as to check whether
the two codes coincide, and a new code having a predetermined relation
to the code on the card i$ recorded on the card in place of the previous
1060997
code thereon and then the card is returned to the owner.
In order to attain the above objects, in one embodiment of the
invention at least two coded numbers, that is, a first and a second
coded number are recorded on the card. When the card is used in an
automatic cash dispenser for example, the two numbers are read, and a
predetermined operation is performed on them to produce a third number.
Cn the other hand, the user of the card enters into the machine his card
owner number, with which the above third number is compared. If the two
- numbers coincide, the user of the card is identified with the proper owner
of the card.
The numbers recorded on the card are then changed, so that when
the card is used next time and a predetermined operation is performed on
one of the changed numbers, it will become equal to the card owner number.
Therefore, even if an improper holder of the card has come to know the
number recorded on the card, it would be almost impossible to know from
^ that number the number specific to the owner, that is, the card owner
number. However, since the card owner number is not changed, the true
owner of the card need not memorize a new card owner number every *ime
he uses the card.
One of the two numbers recorded on the card is the number which
indicates the number i of times the card w~ill have been used next time.
This number will be referred to as "the number of times of use of the
card" or simply "the number of times of use". The other number recorded
on the card is the number obtained by subtracting from the card owner
number the total sum of the squares of all the numbers from 1 through i,
that is, the number of times of use. This number will be referred to
as the "auxiliary card number".
When the card is used, the two numbers, that is, the number of
times of use and the auxiliary card number are read from the card, and
the above-mentioned total sum of the squares of 1 through i is
-- 5 --
1060997
calculated from the former number. If this sum is added to the latter
number, that is, the auxiliary card number, the resultant number will
become equal to the card owner number.
On the other hand, the user of the card is requested to enter into
the machine what he memorizes as his card owner number. The number
entered by the user is then compared with the above-mentioned resultant
number to check whether the two numbers coincide thereby determining
whether the user of the card is the proper owner thereof.
When the user of the card has been recognized as the proper owner
of the cardJ the machine operates accordingly to dispense, say, an
article or cash or render a servlce.
On the card the number i is written as i+l, which means that
next time the card is used, it will have been used ~i+l) times, and
the number obtained by subtracting the square of ~i+l) from the auxiliary
card number read from the card is recorded on the card as the new
auxiliary number instead of the previous auxiliary card number. Then
the card with the rewritten information is returned to the user.
- Instead of a number an alphabetic letter may be used as a cipher
for expressing the number of times of use of the card. In this case
each of the alphabetic letters used must correspond to a specific number
which indicates the number of times of use. When the alphabetic letter
has been read from the card, it is converted to the corresponding number,
so that the previously mentioned operation will be performed.
In a modified embodiment of the invention, one of the two kinds
of numbers recorded on the card is a number corresponding to the number
i of times of use of the card just as in the previous embodiment of the
invention. However, the other number is a number obtained by subtracting
fTom the card owne~ number the sum of p~edetermined random numbers Rl
through Ri. Each of the random numbers corresponds to one of the numbers
1 through i each expressing the number of times of use. Fcr example,
1060997
a first random number Rl is previously determined to correspond
to the first use of the card; a second random number is
previously determined to correspond to the second use of the
card; and so on. When the card is used for the _th time, the
number _ of times of use and the auxiliary card number are
read, and the sum of the random numbers Rl through Ri is
obtained. If the sum is added to the auxiliary card number, the
resultant number will be equal to the card owner number. Then
this number is compared with the number entered by the user as
the card owner number so as to check whether the two numbers
coincide.
After use, the number i on the card is changed to
i + 1 which means that next time the card is used, it will be
the (i + l)th time, and the number obtained by subtraction of
the predetermined random number Ri corresponding to the number
; i from the auxiliary card number is recorded on the card as a
new auxiliary card number instead of the previous auxiliary
card number. Then the card with the rewritten information is
returned to the owner for future use.
According to the broadest aspect of the invention
there is provided a system for checking the user of a card
having recorded thereon coded information including at least a
first and a second code, said first code repres~nting the
number of times of use of the card, said system comprising:
means for reading said codes; means for receiving at least said
; first code read by said reading means to produce third code;
means operated by the user of said card to enter a card owner
code; means for receiving at least said second and third codes
and said card owner code to check correspondence between said
codes; and means controlled by said checking means to change
~ ~ -7-
106099 ,~
said first and second codes.
The invention will be described in further detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a device for recording
new coded information on the card to be returned to the owner
after use in the system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a modification of
a portion of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment
of the invention; and
Figure 5 is a block diagram of a device for recording
new coded information on the card to be returned to the owner
after use in the system of Figure 4.
Referring to Figure 1, a card having coded information
magnetically recorded thereon is inserted by the holder of the
card into the machine,
,:
~ -7a-
~OtiO997
wherein a card reader 11 comprising a reading head llR and a writing
head llW reads the information recorded on the card. The information
includes a cipher as well as the bank number, the account number and the
balance of the account. The cipher information includes two kinds of
information, one being the number of times of use of the card, while
the other is the auxiliary card record number.
The information read by the card reader is amplified by an
amplifier 12 and then stored in registers 13J 14 and 15. The register 13
stores the auxiliary card number; the register 14 stores the number of times
of use of the card; and the register 15 stores the above-mentioned other
information.
The information stored in the register 13 is applied as one input
to an adder 16. A storage or memory 17 stores the values of three different
functions with the number of times of use of the card being a variable of the
fun~tions. In the following the number of times of use of the card will be
referred to simply as the number of times of use. If the number of times of
use is given as n, the three functions are n+l, ~n+1)2, and ~ n2.
As shown in Figure 1 the values of the three functions are stored
in the storage 17 with the number n being an address. Those values of the
three functions which correspond to the number of times of use as stored in
the register 14 are taken out of the storage 17 so as to be stored in regis-
ters 18, 19 and 20. That is, the register 18 stores the value of the function
~ n2; the register 19 stores the value of the function n+l; and the register
20 stores the value of the function ~n+1)2. The value stored in the register
18 is applied to the other input of the adder 16, which adds the values
received from the registers 13 and 18. The result of the addition is stored
in a register 21.
When the user of the card puts his card into the machine, he
manipulates a keyboard 22 to enter his card owner number. The card owner
number is converted by a binary encoder 23 to a binary code, which is stored
in a register 24.
The contents of the registers 21 and 24 are applied to a coineidence
,
1~)6099 ,~
circuit 25 to check whether the two contents coincide. If they coincide,
the circuit 25 produces an output on a line 26 to be applied to a cash .
dispensing mechanism 27. The information stored in the register 15 and the
requested amount of money entered through the keyboard are checked by known
suitable devices, not shown, and if these informations have been found valid
and when the signal appears on the line 26, the cash dispensing mechanism
operates to dispense the requested amount of cash in a well known manner.
If the coincidence circuit 25 recognizes disagreement of the con-
tents of the registers 21 and 24, it produces an output on a line 28. This
means that the user of the card has not been recognized as the proper owner
of the card, so that the output signal is used to cause the card reader 11
to return the card to the user.
After production of the signal on the line 26, the information on
the card is rewritten by a device shown in Figure 2, wherein the same refer-
- ence symbols as in Figure 1 denote corresponding elements. The contents of
the registers 13 and 20 in Figure 1 are applied to a subtractor 31, which
subtracts the number stored in the register 20 from the number stored in the
register 13, and the result of the subtractions is stored in the register 32.
The contents of the registers 19 and 32 are successively amplified
;- 20 by an amplifier 33 and applied to the writing head llW of the card reader,
which writes the contents of the register 19 as the new number of times of
use arld the contents of the register 32 as the new auxiliary card number in
place of the old record on the card.
Suppose that the card owner number is "1000". When the card is
; issued, the number of times of use is recorded on the card as "1" (which
means that when the card is used next time, it is used for the first time),
and the auxiliary card number is recorded on the card as "999".
When the card has been used for the first time, the auxiliary card
number "999" is stored in the register 13, the number "1" expressing the
number of times of use is stored in the register 14.
By the number "1" stored in the register 14 access is made to the
values of the three funtions in address No. 1 in the storage 17. Since n=l,
_ g _
1060997
the value of the function n+l i5 2; the value of the function (n+1)2 is 4;
and the value of the function ~ n2 is 1. These values are taken out of the
storage 17 to be registered in the registers 18, 19 and 20, respectively.
The contents of the registers 13 and 18 are added by the adder 16
so that the result of the addition becomes "1000". This number is stored
in the register 21. If the card owner number entered through the keyboard 22
is "1000", the coincidence circuit 25 produces an output on the line 26.
The auxiliary card number "999" stored in the register 13 and the
number "4" stored in the register 20 are applied to the subtractor 32, so
that the result of the subtraction becomes "995", which is stored in the
register 32. This number "995" and the number "2" ~n+l) stored in the
register 19 are written by the writing head llW on the card in place of the
previous information recorded threeon. Thus the card returned to the user
after the first use thereof has newly recorded thereon "2" as theinumber
of times of use and "995" as the auxiliary card number. The number "2" means
that the card has already been used one time, and that the card will next
be used for the second time.
When the card has been used foT the second time, the register 13
stores "995" and the register 14 stores "2", so that the number "2" stored
in the register 14 causes the values 3, 9, 5 of the three functions corres-
ponding to n=2 are taken out of the storage 17. The number "5" is obtained ,
from ~ n2, that is, 12+22. The contents of the registers 13 and 18 are added
by the adder 16 to produce "1000". The contents of the registers 13 and 20
are applied to the subtractor 31 wherein subtraction of 995-9 is conducted
to give "986". Thus the card returned after it has been used for the second
time has recorded thereon "3" as the number of times of use and "986" as the -~
auxiliary card number.
Similarly, when the card has been used for the third time, the
register 13 stores "986" and the register 18 stores "14" (=12+22+32), so
that the sum of these two numbers is "1000". Since the register 20 now stores
"16", the register 32 stores "970" (=986-16), so that "4" as the number of
times of use and "970" as the auxiliary card number are recorded on the card
- 10 -
: , . ,- .
.. , . ~, ' .
"
~060997
in place of the previous record thereon, which will be returned to the user
of the card.
TABLE 1 shows how the auxiliary card number changes every time the
card has been used.
TABLE I
NU~IBER OF TIMES BEFORE USE AFTER USE
OF USE
1 999 995
2 995 986
3 986 970
4 970 945
945 909
6 909 860
.
.
As can be easily understood from the foregoing description and the
above TABLE, when the card has been used for the _th time ~e.g. the second
time), the auxiliary card number which has been rewritten on the card is
always such a number (e.g. "986") that the sum of this ~umber ("986") and
the value ~e.g. "14") of the function ~ n which will be obtained when the
card is next used for the (i~l)th time (e.g. the third time) becomes equal
to the card owner number "1000". In other words, the auxiliary card number
rewritten when the card has been used for the _th time and the number to be
added thereto when the card is next used for the (i+l)th time are compliments
to each other of the card owner number. The number to be added when the
card is used for the (i~l)th time is changed so that the auxiliary card
number is also changed every time the card is used.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the storage 17 is employed, which
stores the values of the functions which are addressed by means of the number
of times of use. Instead of the storage 17 function generators may be
employed as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3 the data n in the register 14 are
applied to three function generators 41, 42 and 43. The function generator
1060997
41 performs the operation of ntl; the function generator 42 performs the
operation of ~n+1)2; and the function generator 43 performs the operation
n
of ~ n2. The results of these operations are stored in registers 19, 20 and
21, respectively.
As the information which expresses the number of times of use of
the card, other kinds of codes than numbers, for example, alphabetic letters
may also be used. In this case the alphabetic letter read by the card reader
is converted to a corresponding number so that the above-mentioned operations
are performed as will be described later with reference to Figure 4.
In Figure 2, the number to be subtracted from the auxiliary card
number after use of the card is a value of the function (n+1)2 the variable
of which is the number of times of use _. In the embodiment of Figure 4,
however, a random number is used for the same purpose as shown at Rn+l in
the storage 17. Therefore, the input to be applied to the adder 16 is
expressed as ~ Rn. The number of times of use is expressed by an alphabetic-
al letter which is recorded as a corresponding code on the card. When the
card is used, the code expressing the alphabetic letter is read by the card
reader 11 and stored in the register 14. The code stored in the register 14
is converted by a converter 51 to the corresponding number of times of use,
which is stored in a register 52.
~` The data in the storage 17 are read out in accordance with the
number n stored in the register 52. The read out number ~n+l) is stored in
the register 19 and converted by a converter 53 to a corresponding alphabetic
letter to be stored in a register 54.
Table II shows by way of example the relation between the alphabet-
ic letters and the corresponding numbers of times of use.
: ' :
- 12 -
' '
106099~
TABLE II
NUMBER OF
TIMES OF USEALP~ABETIC LETTERS
K
2 D ~
3 T ~ ~:
4 A
F
In the embodiment of Figure 4, the card owner number is "1000" and
when the card is issued, the auxiliary card number "965" and the le'cter "K"
are recorded on the card.
When the card has been used for the first time, the register 13
stores "965" and the register 14 stores "K", which is converted by the con-
verter 51 to the number "1" to be stored in the register 52. By the number
"1" stored in the register 52, the values "2", "13" and "35" are read out of
the storage 17 so as to be stored in the registers 19, 20 and 18, respectively.
The data in the registers 13 and 18 are added by the adder 16 to
become "1000". Therefore, if the number entered by the user of the card
through the keyooard 22 is "1000", a signal is produced on the line 26,
whereas if the entered number is not "1000", a signal is produced on the line ~ :
28.
The data in the register l9, that is, "2" is converted by the
converter 53 to the alphabetic letter "D" to be stored in the register 54.
The data in the registers 13 and 20, that is, the numbers "965" and "13" are
applied to the subtractor 31, wherein the latter is subtracted from the
former to produce "952", which is stored in the register 32. The data in the
registers 32 and 54 are applied through the amplifier 33 to the writing head
llW, which writes on the card the numbers "2" and "952" as the number of
times of use and the auxiliary card number in place of the previous records
thereon.
- 13 -
':
1060997
As previously mentioned, the number Rn~l is any desired random
number. The auxiliary card number "965" that is first recorded when the
card is issued is a number obtained by subtracting "35", that is, the value
of ~ Rn when n=l from the card owner number "1000".
TABLE III shows how the auxiliary card number is changed in the
embodiment of Figure 4 every time the card is used.
TABLE III
NUMBER OF TIMES
OF USE BEPORE IJSE AFTER USE
1 965 952
2 952 956
3 956 909
4 909 847
847 858
.
.
As will be easily understood from the above description and TABLE
III, the sum of the auxiliary card number rewritten when the card has been
n
used for the _th time and the value of ~ Rn when the card is next used for
the ~i~l)th time is always equal to the card owner number. In other words
the rewritten auxiliary card number and the number to be added thereto the
next time the card is used are compliments to each other of the card owner
number. In this case, too, since the number to be added is changed every
time the card is used, the auxiliary card number is accordingly changed every
time the card is used.
In the above embodiments, the number of times of use of the card is
used as one of the two parameters recorded on the card. Instead of the
number of times of use, the date or the time when the card is used may also
be used for the same purpose.
However, when the number of times of use is used as the parameter,
it is possible to limit excess use of the card by checking the number of times
of use recorded on the card when it is used. The use of the card may be
- 14 -
1~0609917
limited in the number of times the card is allowed to be used during a pre-
determined period of time, e.g., in one day, week, month or year, or the
total allowed number of times of use may be limited. Also, by checking
the number of times of use recorded on the card it is possible for the owner
to recognize if the card has been used by others without authorization.
The card owner number may be any other number, say, "5819" than
"1000" in the illustrated embodiments. The card owner number may be chosen
by the owner himself.
The invention is applicable not only to automatic cash dispensers
but also automatic article vending machines~ POS ~point of sales) terminal
machines, security gate systems, etc.
