WO1991010214A1

WO1991010214A1 - Paying system with ic-cards

Info

Publication number: WO1991010214A1
Application number: PCT/SE1990/000876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olle WALLSTRÖM
Original assignee: Mikromax Industriteknik Ab
Priority date: 1989-12-22
Filing date: 1990-12-21
Publication date: 1991-07-11
Also published as: SE8904335D0; AU6978791A; SE8904335A; SE464896B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a paying system with IC-cards. The invention is characterized in a detachable and user-coded, electronic and microprocessor equipped cassette (1) adapted to receive payments from the IC-cards (A) and at a later occasion being cleared from the payments made by allowing the cassette to communicate with a central computer in a bank, wherein all transactions are carried out using authority- and security codes.

Description

PAYING SYSTEM WITH IC-CARDS

The present invention relates to a paying system with IC- cards (smart cards with a memory-function) .

Cash is the prevailing means of payment in stores, in kiosks and in coin operated machines . A lot of time is spent to check off, record and handle the cash-flow. This procedure has also drawbacks regarding security in each step, i.e. from taking out cash from a bank or money dispenser, up to depositing the daily takings through a deposit box. A sum of money going astray by theft or carelessness is hard to trace, as neither banknotes nor coins are marked in such a way that they can identify the legitimate owner.

Cheques and postal bank drafts are examples of paying variants showing who made the payment, but take time to handle and to control.

Plastic cards used instead of cash come in different variations, e.g.;

a) credit cards used together with proof of identity (and occationally with a controlling phone call regarding balance and blocking)

b) cards used to give cash in a money dispenser if the right key-code is given

c) IC-card with an integrated microprocessor and memory unit permitting both deposition and withdrawl of cash using control- and security-codes .

Plastic cards should probably be used in a greater extend if the manual control and handling were eliminated together with the insecurity regarding balances, blockings and authorities.

As existing to-day, on-line connections of several terminals, e.g. in stores, to a central computer in a bank is out of the question both with regard to security and to capacity, because it is too easy to tap and manipulate the datacommunication in the telecommunication network.

From a general point of view the invention described below shows a technique to facilitate the use of the IC-card as a powerful means of payment by decentralizing the control of the authority, which to-day normally is performed in the bank.

Thus the major object of the present invention is to obtain a paying system with IC-card, in which the security and the exactness in the cash-flow is high.

Another object of the invention is to be able to, safely and in a decentralized system, spread out security codes to each place where the financial transactions actually takes place, and that the transactions afterwards can be transferred in an unprotected telecommunication network. By using a coded information package including the transactions being transferred to the bank, the need of using a protected communication in a telecommunication network is no longer necessary. The recieving bank computer recognizes and accepts only an information package that is correctly coded.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a paying system which at the same time decreases the time necessary for transaction and account at the time of the transaction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to obtain a safe and an anonymous paying system, where the control of the genuineness of "banknotes" or the IC-cards takes place securely far out in the chain of paying transactions . This is in contrast to money transactions taking place with paying cards where each transaction is booked and accounted afterwards with a low degree of security. Another object of the present invention is to obtain a paying system where security codes can be updated in that a part of the system, reguarly or when necessary, is brought to a central bank automat and there is subjected to a change of stored information.

According to the present invention this is obtained by giving the system the characterizing clauses mentioned in the claims.

With maintained high security each transaction using the present invention does not need to be controlled by the bank computer. The IC-card is electronically "charged" by the user from his or hers own account in a specially designed bank automat and is, according the invention, "drained" as expenses are registred in detachable casettes at the cash register in the stores and in the automats .

Thus by having a casette which is detachable, user coded, electronic and microprocessor-equipped and adapted to accept payments from the IC-cards, later being cleared from transactions by letting it communicate with a central computer in a bank - and wherein all the transactions are carried out using authority- and security codes - a very high security will be obtained. Robbery and thefts will be uninteresting as there is just "ones and zeros" in the "cash- desk" or the "wallet". Handling of bank notes and coins in the bank will be replaced by information flows . In a fully built out system according to the present invention there is also the possibility to completely change to a paying system obstructing black market transactions and other illegal money transactions. Also international agreements may present a system allowing the use of IC-cards wherein the convertions of rates of exchange can be performed automatically.

To further increase the security in the paying system the security codes can continuously be changed, for instance once a month. IC-cards not being used for a long time have to be brought to a bank automat to be "updated" .

The invention will now be described in connection to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, where

Fig. 1 is a side view of a casette unit forming part of the paying system according to the present invention and with the IC-card inserted,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the casette unit according to fig. 1, and where

Fig. 3 is an electrical block diagram of the casette according to fig. 1 and 2.

The casette unit 1 has a housing 2 comprizing a combined cardreader/lid 3 and 3a, respectively, a microprocessor 4 and memory units 5a-5c storing transactions made, and a contact 6 for power supply and for communication with a cash register (not shown) . A driving wheel 7 is placed outside the casette but in connection with it for cooperation with and feeding IC-cards A in and out of the casette unit 1. An opposing wheel 8 facilitates the charge and the discharge of the IC- card in and out of the casette unit and will together with the driving wheel 7 keep the cards in the correct positions. In the combined card reader/lid 3/3a there are contact pins 9 to be lowered when the card A has arrived in the correct position to admit communication between the card and the casette unit . The moveable card reader/lid 3 has an end portion 3a closing the card opening 10 when an IC-card has been inserted and prohibit manupilation of the card and/or a disturbance of the communication between the card and the casette unit. Thus the communication can take place complete¬ ly screened off from the surroundings. If an unauthorized attempt to take the IC-card or to get admittance to the interior of the casette unit happens, the communication between the IC-card and the casette unit is immediately blocked. Different security- and authority codes and protecting sensors for the housing can be combined according to the actual need. This is known in other applications and are no part of the present invention.

The electronic components in the casette unit 1 is placed onto a component base 11 and is placed in a completely sealed room.

In fig. 2 the card reader/lid 3 is shown behind the card opening 10. A central location of the driving wheel 7 in connection to the casette unit but outside the same is arranged together with springs 12a and 12b keeping the reader/lid in a closed position, unless the arms 13a, 13b removes the card reader/lid away from the card opening 10 and permits insertion of the card A. Several other types of mechanisms can be used to open and close the lid and to feed the card in and out. These mechanisms are well in the art and are no part of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows an electric and schematic diagram of the casette unit. A connector 6 is adapted to supply primary power to the casette unit and to stand-by charge an accucumulator unit 14, and permits communication with the cash register, the automat, etc. Via the connector 6 the microprocessor 4 takes care of all communication and handling of security codes between the cardreader 3 ' , the memory 5 and the outer unit. A couple of sensors 15 are shown in fig. 3. These are in direct communication with the microprocessor 4 and can be of the kind recognizing unauthorized use, attempts to manipulate, etc. the casette unit/the IC-card and thereby stop all communication with the casette unit.

The handling of the casette unit forming part of the paying system according to the invention will now be described.

For instance when paying for goods or services using the IC-card in a store the casette unit is used together with a modified cash register. Usually the casette unit does not contain the daily takings from the day before, which will be described below.

At the end of the day the casette unit can communicate with a central computer in a central bank and be electronically cleared, e.g. in a bank automat (which in an exterior handling can correspond to the bank box of to-day) . At clearing in the bank automat the micro-processor within the casette communicates using security codes which are stored in the internal memory of the micro-processor.

As the casettes are electronically marked with the users name and account numbre there are no reasons to steal them. From this point of view the casettes can also be placed at unguarded gas-stations and automats.

By the possibilty to clear the casettes on-line, without removing them, by using the active authority- and security codes being programmed and being able to update in the casettes, these just have to be routinely checked regarding security and function. Hereby each casette can be automatically supplied with blocking lists and updated security routines.

Not withstanding that the need of memory size and typ of card can be of different types it is possible that the physical design of the casette units are restricted to a few different types. The smallest types have just to be slightly bigger than the plastic card it is designed to receive.

Thus the cash register to be used with the casette and the IC-card shall according to the present invention have a built-in holder for the casette. This casette holder on the cash register shall be turned in such a way that the customer him- or herself can handle the card. A keyboard for the personal security code shall be arranged on the upper side of the casette holder and shall be protected from being seen by other persons.

A receipt printer gives the user a transaction- and a balance certificate for the card that has just been used, and the receipt and the card are preferably kept together until the next transaction takes place. The cash register will register the transactions in the memory of the casette and in its own memory, or on a control strip for a later check towards a balance certificate from the bank when the casettes are cleared.

For example with a big memory capacity in the IC-card it is also possible to store the transactions made within the card itself and at a later opportunity make it possible to transfer these transactions to a computerized book keeping. Hereby it can be ensured that the memory unit of the IC-card will get the necessary information from the cash register or from the automat at each transaction.

With the smallest type of casette it is possible to use a cash register to the exterior similar to a portable pocket calculator. For instance, this can be used by market dealers and bus drivers.

The casette is an enclosed unit . When an opening is initiated this is noticed by the microprocessor via the sensors, and the possiblities to communicate are stopped. As the card-reader preferably is built into the casette, the card disappears completely into the casette for reading/ writing. Hereby an unautorized bugging and manipulating of the communication between the card and the casette cannot be done.

The casette is not desirable to steal as the account number of the destination of the "money" in the memory from the very beginning is placed in an "empty" casette. Depending upon what the legislation in each country allows and what is wanted by the card user, except for amount and bank account numbers, also card numbers and the time for transactions can be registred in the casette. It is also possible to include other controls of the cards than just the electronical, e.g. optical and magnetical.

In connection to situations when shortage of some goods exist, e.g. during blockades, during wars and during emergency situations, it is also possible to impartially distribute these goods of shortage within a country using a paying system with IC-cards and casette-equipped cash registers according to what is suggested in the present invention.

The invention is not restricted to the above mentioned examples and fields of application, but several different uses are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A paying system with IC cards (A) , c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in a detachable and user-coded, electronic and micro¬ processor equipped casette (1) adapted to recieve payments from the IC-cards (A) and at a later occation being cleared from the payments made by allowing the casette to communicate with a central computer in a bank, wherein all transactions are carried out using authority- and security codes.

2. A system according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the IC-cards (A) completely disappear into the casette (1) during payment through a lid-equipped (3a) , narrow opening (10) to perform a protected communication between the IC-cards (A) and the electronics of the casettes (1) .

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i that the microprocessor (4) inside the casette (A) through sensors (15) registers unauthorized attempts of admittance, to the closed or sealed housing surrounding the microprocessor and the memory (5a-5c) , in an internal memory unit being independent of an external power supply, whereby the possibilities to communicate with the casette immediately stop.

4. A system according to any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the casette (1) has an external connector (6) for connection to a casette holder or a clearing automat for power supply and communication, that the casette (1) has openings at the under side for a device, e.g. a driving wheel (7) feeding the IC-cards (A) in and out of the casette (1), and that the casette (1) has an internal card reader (3) communicating with the IC-cards (A) via springy contact pins (9) .

5. A system according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the casette (1) include blocking lists and security routines being updated when the casette is brought to a specially adapted automatic banking machine, preferably in a bank.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the casette (1) has optical and/or magnetic communicating means.