Updating a value counter of an IC card

p0001The present invention relates to the field of smart cards and especially smart cards constituting an electronic purse (e-purse), which are intended to be pre-loaded or reloaded with fiduciary values ​​that are then debited from the card as and measurement uses.

p0002Such smart cards constituting electronic purse integrate or not other features, such conventional credit cards, debit cards, etc.

p0003The present invention applies more particularly to the management of payment transactions through vouchers (vouchers), especially in catering such services. In this application, the invention aims to enable the use of card holder classic architecture of electronic money.

p0004The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> represents very schematically and in block form, a classic example of smart card 1 (E) constituting an electronic purse (e-purse) with a counter 2 (COUNT) fiduciary value of totalizer is debited by a reader 3 ( READER) distant. In<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>The counter flow operation 2 was symbolized very schematically drive side 3 by a block 4 (DEB). In practice, the reader usually 3 verifies the authenticity of the card 1, checks the balance of this fiduciary value in the counter 2 is sufficient for the desired flow rate and decreases the count of 2.

p0005Side card 1, when applying to electronic payment, items are essentially a circuit 5 (TB) treatment and control of the operations, a dedicated memory 6 storing a history (HIST) payment transactions by the card, and the counter 2. the history of card operations side is stored in the memory 6 in the manner of a shift stack whatsoever for credit operations, that is to say increments the balance counter 2 (reload the card) or for debit transactions (purchases made with the card). Most often, the memory 6 is then divided into two areas respectively dedicated to historical reloading and expense.

p0006type of electronic purse cards are adapted to be charged by trustees values ​​(usually monetary) then be debited as and extent of purchases at merchants.

p0007However, current systems do not allow operations with vouchers that have the characteristic of having an indivisible fiduciary value and / or have a validity date. For example, vouchers used to catering services have a predetermined value and are only valid for a certain period.

p0008It would be desirable to have a smart card type of electronic system to avoid manipulations good paper purchase as is the case today. A problem while, unless they have a capacity of significant computing, smart cards do not allow calendar management.

p0009However, for reasons of security against fraud, it is not desirable to remove the calendar limits vouchers or the like.

p0010In addition, vouchers usually have a serial number (successive or not) often book.

p0011Another problem in this particular card type chip simplified electronic purse is one odometer is available on the card and that the organization of the available memory is pre-established in the manner of a shift to battery . In addition, the recordings are not erasable selectively, which does not allow to delete vouchers whose date has expired.

p0012The <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6505773B"><text>US Patent 6,505,773</text></patcit> describes a system for transmitting and refund electronic coupons authenticated prior art.

p0013The present invention aims to propose a new update technique of a card counter chip or the like to allow the management of fiduciary values ​​with date and / or indivisible value.

p0014The present invention also aims at providing a solution that requires no structural modification of conventional electronic payment cards and, in particular, consistent with the use of a memory organized as a shift battery.

p0015The invention also aims at providing a solution particularly adapted for electronic management of vouchers and, in particular, to enable the management of such series of purchase orders numbers.

p0016More generally, the present invention is to provide a solution to update a counter in an electronic element communicating with a base or drive (either by means of contact or contactless) on this base control, but taking into account information contained in the item itself.

p0017To achieve these objects and other, the present invention provides an update process of a counter of an electronic element in which are memorized recordings, each containing at least one individual value and at least one sorting value, of:<ul><li>transfer to a memory of a player, an initial count of the counter and said recordings;</li><li>calculate an intermediate side drive account equal to the minimum initial account and the sum of the individual values ​​of the records with the sorting value is within a known range of the reader; and</li><li>transfer, in the counter of the electronic element, a function number of the intermediary count.</li></ul>

p0018According to an embodiment of the present invention, said number is equal to said intermediary count.

p0019According to an embodiment of the present invention, said number is an increment or decrement value equal to the difference between the intermediate count and the initial count.

p0020According to an embodiment of the present invention, the meter electronics element is decremented or incremented by a value known by the reader.

p0021According to an embodiment of the present invention, said number is equal to a final count incremented or decremented account via a known value of the player.

p0022According to an embodiment of the present invention, said number is an increment or decrement equal to the difference between the intermediate count and the initial count, plus or minus a value known by the reader.

p0023According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sorting value is a date.

p0024According to an embodiment of the present invention, said sorting value is a number assigned to each value.

p0025According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first data sorting is a date and a second data sorting is a number assigned to each value.

p0026According to an embodiment of the present invention, the known range of the reader, for maximum terminal, the current date.

p0027According to an embodiment of the present invention, a same recording contains at least one individual value, a number of values ​​and a sorting value.

p0028According to an embodiment of the present invention, said value known by the reader is an integer multiple of the individual value of at least one record.

p0029According to an embodiment of the present invention, the individual values ​​are trustees values.

p0030According to an embodiment of the present invention, said recordings are loaded into the electronic element in accordance with the sorting value.

p0031The invention also provides a smart card or the like comprising a counter and a memory organized as a shift battery type records table, each record in the table contains at least one individual value and at least one sorting value.

p0032According to one embodiment of the present invention, the card constitutes the electronic element including the counter is updated.

p0033The invention also provides an electronic method for managing purchase orders carried by a type of electronic component chip card or the like.

p0034The invention also provides an electronic management system of vouchers worn by electronics type smart cards or the like, comprising at least one drive capable of communicating with an electronic element to update the counter of this element .

p0035According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprises at least one server capable of communicating with several readers.

p0036According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes means for verifying the authenticity of vouchers processed by said readers.

p0037These objects, features and advantages, and others of the present invention will be discussed in detail in the following description of specific embodiments in non-limiting in connection with the accompanying drawings:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> previously described, very schematically and in block form, an example of electronic payment type smart card system which specifically apply to the present invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> illustrates an embodiment of the counter updating method according to the present invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> represents, very schematically and in block form, the elements of an electronic management system of vouchers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> illustrates an embodiment of the invention applied to the system of <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>.</li></ul>

p0038The same elements have been designated by the same references in the different figures. For reasons of clarity, only the elements and process steps which are necessary for understanding the invention have been shown in the drawings and will be described subsequently. In particular, the translation of the method of the invention in interpretable language for a software implementation is not the object of the invention, the latter being compatible with any conventional software adaptation. Moreover, the details constitutive of a smart card, a reader or server were not exposed except as regards the present invention, their possible adaptation being within the reach of the skilled person.

p0039The present invention will be described hereafter in relation with an example of application to a type of electronic purse smart card communicating with a reader for application management of vouchers or the like. However, the invention applies more generally whenever it is desired to update a counter in a first electronic element by means of another element to which the first member communicates with or without contact, and that similar problems arise.

p0040A feature of the present invention is to transfer to the card reader not only the account (fiduciary value) of the counter of the card, but the contents of its memory corresponding to reload, that is to say to incrementing the total counter by one or more quantities corresponding to values ​​(eg, indivisible) vouchers. Thus, the invention provides for storing card side and in a memory organized as a shift recording stack, not only the fiduciary value of each voucher or the like but also at least one sorting value or header. This sort of data can be an incremental type number serial number of voucher in a notebook or a calendar to be given, that is to say, the expiry date expressed in full date or month or year .

p0041Another feature of the present invention is to make recalculation by the card reader, the cash value available updated map. Thus, if the counter of the card allows for expired coupons purchase, it is reduced to contain only the good valid purchase.

p0042According to the invention, in a reload of the card by purchasing new vouchers, they are loaded into the shift memory. In the manner of fiduciary values ​​reloads in electronic purses, the only precaution is to prohibit reloading if the last value of the stack (the oldest) is not yet expired.

p0043For the implementation of the invention, vouchers must be used (spent) in the same order in which they were acquired (loaded) in the table and, when reloading a voucher can be loaded into the card if it does not expire before the vouchers already in it.

p0044The <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> illustrates, very schematically, an embodiment of the counter updating method according to the present invention. This figure illustrates in the right part of the dotted p operations conducted side card (CARD) and the left side of the dotted operations conducted by the reader (READER) with which the card communicates conventionally with or without contact. Of course, before the implementation of the method of the invention, conventional steps of authentication of the card and establishment of the communication protocol are implemented.

p0045In this example, assume that vouchers are loaded into the memory of the 6 individually card and only the fiduciary value of VAL voucher and expiration date EXP is operated. thereafter it will be seen in connection with the<figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>Another implementation mode in which we consider the serial number of the purchase order and in which the vouchers are returned to the memory books.

p0046In the illustrated implementation of the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>Each record in the table 6 contains a fiduciary value, respectively 100, 50, 100, 50, 80 and 50 and its expiration date, here indicated as 10 months respectively, 8, 6, 5, 3 and 2. in practice, the expiration date will of course take account of the year but it does not change anything to the disclosure of the invention.

p0047Once steps authentication of the card made and initialized communication protocol, the contents of the table 6, that is to say the trustees values ​​and the respective expiration dates are transferred to the player (arrow 10 ) to be temporarily stored in a memory of it as, again, a table 11 whose respective records include the fiduciary value and maturity of each voucher.

p0048The initial count (block 2) the counter of the card is also transferred (arrow 13) to the player. In this example, the initial account is assumed to have a value of 320. The value in the counter 2 is independent of the respective values ​​of the table records 6 in that some vouchers have already been consumed without that they have disappeared from the table 6. reader side, the initial value of the counter is stored in a register (symbolized by a block 14).

p0049According to the invention, the reader recalculates, from the records of the table 11, the total of the respective fiduciary values ​​unexpired coupons purchase and stores it in a register or the like (block 15). In other words, from a current date contained in a register or the like (block 16), which is assumed here as the month 4, the reader calculates the total of all the respective values ​​of vouchers, purchase with expiration dates are after. In the example of<figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>This amounts to eliminating the last two vouchers from respective values ​​80 and 50 whose expiry dates are respectively 3 and 2.

p0050It matters little that these vouchers or not they were consumed by the user during previous purchases. In an application to gift certificates to expire, they are no longer valid.

p0051More generally, the reader calculates a total of the values ​​which the sorting value is within a range known by the reader. The beach here is a range of dates but it can also be a serial number range, etc.

p0052The reader then calculates an intermediate account corresponding to the smallest value (MIN) between the initial account (value 320 in block 14) and the sum of the individual values ​​of valid records it has determined (value 300, block 15) . In the example of<figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>The initial count 320 is greater than the sum of good still valid purchase, it means that a value of 20 is lost to the user. It is assumed here divisible purchase vouchers, that is to say, whose trustees values ​​are divisible. The intermediate count is stored in a register 17 or the like.

p0053Assume that the user wished to make an expenditure of 10 value which is stored in a temporary register (block 18) from the drive. The known value of the player is, for example, entered by a trader that the user wants to pay with a voucher. After checking the balance in register 17 is greater than the purchase value, the drive reduces this intermediate count (block 19, -) of the purchase made before transferring (arrow 20) the final account to the card in which it is stored as the new value (here 290) 2 meter.

p0054According to one embodiment, the decrement operation is performed by the card. In this case (illustrated by dashed<figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>), The reader calculates a decrement value (block 23, -30) corresponding to the difference between the intermediate count (300) and the initial count (320), still less the purchase value (10). This decrement value is then transmitted (arrow 24) to map to decrement the counter. Is obtained naturally the same result as in the first implementation mode.

p0055According to another variant, the intermediate count is transferred to the card (as decrement or as such) once it has been calculated. In the case of a purchase, the final balance is transferred to the card in a second time as a decrement or as such. In the absence of purchase, it can be a simple update of the counter of the card after expiration of some vouchers.

p0056In fact, regardless of the implementation mode or the variant, a number which is a function (which includes) the intermediary account is transferred from the reader to the card to update the counter of the card.

p0057The update process which has been described above in relation to an application to a purchase is also valid, with slight modifications, to update the trust value of the card counter upon incrementation by loading new vouchers. In this case, the purchase value (block 18) is replaced by an increment value. A simple way is to provide an adder instead of the subtractor 19 and load register 18 with a negative value in case of purchase and a positive value when reloading. The variants described in relation to the purchase are compatible for reloading (transfer of the final balance, change of the increment, the intermediate transfer account increment / decrement or as such, etc.). An additional step in the case of a reload is to transfer or new vouchers (value, expiration date, etc.) in the table 6 of the card.

p0058One advantage of the invention which already appears from the description of the simplified embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>, Is that it can take account of the expiry dates of fiduciary values ​​without the card may need to treat this calendar function.

p0059Another advantage of the invention is that its implementation is then compatible with the simplified type of electronic purse cards. Just use the type of memory shift battery to store records corresponding to vouchers and their respective expiry dates.

p0060Note that what has been described above in relation to calendar deadlines may be applied to other sort of data, for example, the serial number of the purchase order.

p0061The <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> represents, very schematically and in block form, the elements of a voucher management system according to the present invention in which one wishes to also refer to the serial numbers of the vouchers.

p0062Such a system essentially comprises a server 30 (SERV) communicating with one or more readers (or recorder) 3 smart card 1 type electronic wallet. The details constitutive of the server, the card and the reader have not been illustrated, the hardware components are in themselves conventional. The player and server communicate with or without contact (arrow 31). For example, the server is accessed through an Internet type of connection to multiple drives distributed among traders. card-reader communication side it is with or without contact (arrow 32). Moreover, the reader can be separate from a recorder (to recharge the card) or be combined depending on the application.

p0063The <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> illustrates, in a view to approach the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>, A preferred embodiment of the invention in the electronic management of vouchers identified by a serial number (NUMB) and having a maturity or expiry date (EXP) and fiduciary value (U -VAL) indivisible. By indivisible means that a purchase by a user by means of such a good, even if it is of less value to the trustee the right, forced him to spend all of it .

p0064As for the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>Was separated by dotted lines here p and p ', the elements of the card CARD (right side) of the server SERVER (left side) and the side Reader (between the dotted lines p and p').

p0065card hand, each record in the table 6 includes four data: the first number (F-NUMB) of the voucher book, the unit value (U-VAL) of each good book purchasing or series, Nb the number of vouchers in the book or the series, and the EXP expiry date of these vouchers. In this example, it was assumed that all vouchers have until August (8) each worth 9, and that all vouchers have later a unit value of 10 numbers series (AA001, AA101, BB001, CC001, EE001, FF101) have been indicated arbitrarily as the number of vouchers per book, their denominations and expiration dates.

p0066As in the first mode of implementation, the records of the table 6 are transferred (arrow 10) to the drive where they are stored in a memory (table 11). This table 11 has the same structure as the table 6 of the reader. Similarly, the initial count (block 12) INIT card is transferred (arrow 13) to the player.

p0067Also as in the first embodiment, the drive calculates an intermediate count (block 17) INTER as corresponding to the smaller of the initial consideration transferred to the card and the sum of the individual values ​​of the registration whose date has not expired. It is assumed that the current month (block 16) August (8). Therefore, the intermediate count is the sum of the respective values ​​of the books of vouchers whose expiry date is later than or equal to 8. In practice, the drive multiplies the denominations by the number of vouchers by Book and sum of all these products. In the example shown in<figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>This sum of the records of individual values ​​corresponds to 1021.

p0068If there is a flow, the drive decreases the intermediate value of a fixed value (FIXVAL, block 18) corresponding to the value of the purchase, corresponding to an integer multiple of the oldest denominations available (here, 9). The final count (block 34 END) is transferred (arrow 20) to map to update the contents of counter 2.

p0069In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>The serial numbers of the vouchers are also managed by the server. In other words, the server contains a table 40 serial numbers (NUMB) different emitted vouchers and, in connection with these serial numbers, time sheet data (E). The reader then transmits to the server serial numbers of the vouchers expired purchase he ignored in the calculation of intermediate account. In this example, the numbers CC001, EE001, FF101, and the numbers 10, 22 and 20 corresponding to these vouchers. In case the server has not received information from a consumption of these vouchers, it assigns them a score given. Alternatively, the server includes only unexpired coupons purchase and eliminates himself all serial numbers of the vouchers expired purchase.

p0070A check of serial numbers is also used to authenticate vouchers contained in the card to detect certain frauds. Such adaptation of the invention is within the reach of the skilled person.

p0071According to another variant, also valid in the first operating mode (<figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>), The difference between the intermediary count and the initial account (thus the value of the vouchers expired) is transmitted by the drive to the server, with or without serial numbers.

p0072Preferably, at the completion of the purchase by debiting the account through the value contained in the register 18, the player assigns to that purchase one or more vouchers of the table 11 and stores to communicate the numbers correspondents (arrow 42) to the server to consider them pointed (used). This operation is symbolized by<figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> by a dashed arrow 43 of the table 11 to temporary registers 44 (NUMB1, NUMB2, etc.) and by an arrow 42 to transfer to the server. The transaction between the reader and the card is generally not simultaneous with the connection between the player and the server. Information (vouchers used) are stored in the drive and transmitted to the server, for example, on demand or periodically (eg, every night).

p0073One advantage of the invention is that it enables electronic management of vouchers (eg, restoration of tickets) taking into account not only their expiration date but also the serial numbers of the various vouchers, purchase.

p0074Another advantage of the invention is that it is compatible ave c exploitation of these vouchers either book (<figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>) Or individually. This adaptation depends in particular on the size of the memory table in the card. In simplified smart cards, this memory is relatively small and operate vouchers per book then has the advantage of allowing more storage.

p0075Note that the invention is applicable, that the smart card is a mono application card that is to say, only electronic purse or it also includes other functions (payment cards, debit cards , etc.).

p0076Of course, the present invention is capable of various variants and modifications that occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the combination with authentication and verification systems vouchers is the man's reach in the art using conventional processes.

p0077Moreover, although the invention has been described specifically in connection with an application to purchase orders, it applies more generally to update a counter in a type of electronic component chip card or and the like wherein it is desired to take account of a given sorting, while electronic element does not include computational means to reflect this.

p0078In addition, the management of fiduciary values ​​read from the card depending on their destination (eg, management of purchasing values ​​by transfer to a merchant account and management of expired values ​​once transferred to the Manager of the good of purchase, usually the server) is within the reach of the skilled person using conventional management systems.