Information storage medium processing device

The present invention relates to an information storage medium processing device capable of reading and writing information to and from an information storage medium such as a non-contact IC card, and in particular, can read information on the information storage media in a state where a plurality of information storage media are stacked. It relates to a possible information storage medium processing apparatus.

In recent years, IC card systems that can read and write information in a non-contact manner have rapidly become widespread. A non-contact IC card (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an IC card or a card) can hold information such as an ID number in an IC (integrated circuit) built therein. A reader / writer is used to write and read information from a non-contact IC card. Further, by connecting the non-contact IC card and the reader / writer by electromagnetic induction or the like using a coil-shaped antenna, information can be written and read in a non-contact manner. Antennas are provided on each of the non-contact IC card and reader / writer.

As the types of IC cards increase, the number of IC cards carried by cardholders at the same time also increases, and for example, one service will have one or more IC cards. In particular, value information according to the payment amount of card purchasers such as prepaid IC cards for railways and prepaid IC cards for public telephones (1000 yen, 3000 yen, etc. for railways. For public telephones, etc. In the case of an IC card with frequencies of 50, 100, etc. written on it, if you carry two or more IC cards of the same type, when the value information of one IC card becomes 0, the next one will be immediately displayed. You can switch to an IC card. At this time, in the case of a non-contact IC card, it is not necessary to bring the card into contact with the reader / writer, so even if multiple cards are stacked in the storage case, the cardholder can put the storage case in the reader / writer. You can hold it up.

When multiple non-contact IC cards are stacked and held over the reader / writer at the same time, the reader / writer receives the signals transmitted from the multiple non-contact IC cards and sequentially moves the multiple IC cards. Select and process. Conventionally, as a device that enables selection of a plurality of IC cards, there is a data communication device described in Patent Document 1. In this data communication device, when a non-contact IC card receives a notification of interference occurrence from a reader / writer during communication, it determines the next transmission timing according to the built-in random number generation algorithm and performs transmission. By shifting the timing of communication with the non-contact IC card, it is possible to communicate with a plurality of IC cards in order.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-198471</text></patcit>

<p> However, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards on which the above-mentioned value information is written are held over the reader / writer at the same time and the above-mentioned conventional technique is applied, a plurality of non-contact IC cards are applied regardless of the remaining amount of the value information in the card. Since the card is randomly selected from the IC cards in the above, the value information is subtracted from the other IC cards before the remaining amount of the value information of one IC card is used up, resulting in multiple cards with the value information in use. There is a problem that it ends up.</p><p> The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the value information is used when a plurality of information storage media in which value information indicating the value as a consideration for a service or a product is written are used at the same time. The purpose is to prevent multiple information storage media from occurring on the way.</p>

<p> The invention according to claim 1 stores value information indicating the value as consideration for a service or a product, and issuance information indicating when the value information is first written or when an information storage medium is issued. A means for reading the value information and the information at the time of issuance from the plurality of information storage media in a state where the plurality of information storage media are stacked, and a means for selecting the information storage medium based on the information at the time of issuance are selected. The information storage medium processing apparatus is provided with a means for processing the value information of the information storage medium and a means for writing the processed value information in the information storage medium. The invention according to claim 2 is the information storage medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection means selects in order from the oldest information storage medium at the time of issuance. The invention according to claim 3 is a state in which a plurality of information storage media in which value information indicating the value as consideration for a service or a product and information at the time of use indicating the time when the value information is processed are stored are stacked. A means for reading the value information and the information at the time of use from the plurality of information storage media, a means for selecting the information storage medium based on the information at the time of use, and a means for processing the value information of the selected information storage medium. The information storage medium processing apparatus is provided with a means for writing the processed value information to the information storage medium. The invention according to claim 4 is the information storage medium processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection means sequentially selects from the new information storage medium at the time of the last use. .. The invention according to claim 5 is in a state in which a plurality of information storage media in which value information indicating the value as consideration for a service or a product and processing number information indicating the number of times the value information is processed are stored are stacked. A means for reading the value information and the processing count information from the plurality of information storage media, a selection means for selecting the information storage medium based on the processing count information, and a means for processing the value information of the selected information storage medium. The information storage medium processing apparatus is provided with a means for writing the processed value information to the information storage medium. The invention according to claim 6 is the information storage medium processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selection means selects in order from the information storage medium having the largest number of processes. The invention according to claim 7 is a means for reading the value information from the plurality of information storage media in a state where a plurality of information storage media storing value information indicating the value as consideration for the service or the product are stacked. , A means for detecting an information storage medium whose value becomes 0 by subtracting the value this time, a means for processing the value information of the detected information storage medium, and a means for writing the processed value information in the information storage medium. It is an information storage medium processing apparatus characterized by being provided with. The invention according to claim 8 is the information storage medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information storage medium is a non-contact IC card.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, when a plurality of information storage media are used in a stacked state, the value information of one of them is processed first by the information storage medium processing device, so that the value information is in use. Multiple storage media will not occur.</p>

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an IC card processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an IC card, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the IC card processing device of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows.

As shown in FIG. 1, the IC card processing device 1 of the present embodiment has a CPU 11 that performs various processes and controls of this device, a ROM 12, a RAM 13 and a data memory 14 connected to the CPU 11, and interfaces 15 and 17, respectively. It includes a reader / writer unit 16, a display unit 18, and an audio output unit 20 connected to the CPU 11 via 19.

Programs and data used by CPU 11 to execute various processes are stored in ROM in advance. RAM 13 is used to temporarily store various data and the like when CPU 11 executes various processes. A billing table or the like is stored in the data memory 14. The reader / writer unit 15 includes a CPU, memory (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, etc.), a transmission / reception circuit, and an antenna (not shown), and a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n (n is 2). Can communicate with the above integers). The display unit 18 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays the data or the like of the result processed by the CPU 11 of the IC card processing device 1. The audio output unit 20 is composed of a speaker, a buzzer, or the like, and outputs a warning sound when an error or the like is detected when reading a non-contact IC card.

Next, non-contact IC card 2-1 2-n However, since each non-contact IC card has the same configuration, the non-contact IC card 2 will be used below unless it is necessary to distinguish between them. As shown in FIG. 2, the non-contact IC card 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an EEPROM 24, and a transmission / reception unit 25, each of which is connected to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 processes and controls the entire non-contact IC card 2. The ROM 22 stores programs and the like used by the CPU 21 to execute various processes and controls. RAM23 is used to temporarily store data generated when CPU21 executes various processes. The EEPROM 24 has an identification number (ID code) of the non-contact IC card 2, issuance date information indicating the date when the non-contact IC card 2 was issued, and when a service or product is provided using the non-contact IC card 2. Value information, etc. indicating the value of the consideration to be paid is written when the card is issued. Alternatively, the card may be of a type in which the value information is written in advance before issuance and the purchaser of the card receives the card issuance by paying cash corresponding to the value information. This value information has a value corresponding to the amount paid by the card purchaser at the time of issuance, but is reduced by the IC card processing device 1 every time a service or product using the card is provided. The transmission / reception unit 25 includes a transmission / reception circuit and an antenna, and when it approaches the reader / writer unit 16 of the IC card processing device 1, it receives power from the reader / writer unit 16 and transmits / receives signals to / from the reader / writer unit 16.

The operation when a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n approach the IC card processing device 1 having the above configuration at the same time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n approach the IC card processing device 1 at the same time, a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n as described in the "Background technology" section of this specification. This is the case when the cardholder holds the storage case over the reader / writer while the non-contact IC card is placed in the storage case in a stacked state.

First, the IC card processing device 1 reads the information of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n close to the reader / writer unit 16 (step S1). Use a known procedure for reading multiple non-contact IC cards. By executing step S1, the issue date information # 1 ... # n, the value information # 1 ... # n, which is the information stored in the EEPROM of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n, And other information # 1 ... # n is read by the reader / writer unit 16 and stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

Next, the CPU 11 examines the issue date information and value information of each non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n stored in the RAM 13, and selects the IC cards whose value information is not 0 in order from the oldest issue date. Select an IC card (step S2). Therefore, in the first round, the IC card whose value information is not 0 and which has the oldest issue date is selected. Next, the value information of the selected IC card is processed (step S3). Here, when each IC card is for railways and the value information is processed at the getting-off station, the value information corresponding to the fare of the boarding section is reduced. The value information corresponding to the fare of the boarding section is performed based on the billing table stored in the data memory 14 and the boarding station information written as "other information" on the IC card. Here, the non-contact IC card 2-1 is selected, and the value information # 1 before processing becomes the value information # 1 * after processing and is written in RAM 13. If it is necessary to update other information in connection with the processing of value information, it will be executed.

Next, write the processed value information to the IC card (step S4). That is, the CPU 11 controls to read the processed value information # 1 * from the RAM 13 and write it from the reader / writer unit 16 to the EEPROM 24 of the non-contact IC card 2-1.

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the next IC card needs to be selected (step S5). Here, when the next IC card needs to be selected, for example, the balance of the value information of the first selected IC card is less than the consideration for the service used this time (in the case of railroad, the fare for the boarding section). This is the case. In such a case, the processing of steps S2 to S4 is repeated, and if not, the processing is terminated. If an error occurs when reading a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n (step S1) or when processing value information, a warning is issued on the display unit 18 and the audio output unit 20. Do.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards are used in a stacked state, the non-contact IC cards whose value information is not 0 are selected in order from the oldest issue date. Since the value information is processed, the value information of the non-contact IC card with the next oldest issue date is processed after the value information of the contactless IC card with the oldest issue date is used up. Therefore, there will not be multiple non-contact IC cards whose value information is in use. In this embodiment, the issue date / time information that is more detailed than the issue date information may be used.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the IC card processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the IC card processing device and the non-contact IC card in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the EEPROM 24 of each non-contact IC card stores value information, usage date information indicating the date when the value information was last processed by using the card, and other information (card ID, etc.). The operation when a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n approach the IC card processing device 1 having the above configuration at the same time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the IC card processing device 1 reads the information of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n close to the reader / writer unit 16 (step S11). By executing step S1 1, the date of use information # 1 ... # n and the value information # 1 ... # n, which are the information stored in the EEPROM of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n. , And other information # 1 ... # n are read by the reader / writer unit 16 and stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

Next, the CPU 11 examines the usage date information and value information of each non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n stored in the RAM 13, and selects the IC cards whose value information is not 0 in order of newest usage date. Select an IC card (step S12). Therefore, in the first round, the IC card whose value information is not 0 and whose date of use is the newest is selected. Next, the value information of the selected IC card is processed and the usage date information is updated (step S13). Here, the non-contact IC card 2-1 is selected, and the value information # 1 before processing becomes the value information # 1 * after processing, and the usage date information # 1 before processing becomes the usage date information # 1 after processing. It becomes * and is written in RAM13. If it is necessary to update other information in connection with the processing of value information and date of use information, it will be executed.

Next, the processed value information and the updated usage date information are written to the IC card (step S14). After that, it is determined whether or not the next IC card needs to be selected (step S15), and if it is determined that it is necessary, the processes of steps S12 to S14 are repeated, and if not, the process ends. The details of the processing of steps S14 and S15 are the same as those of steps S4 and S5 of the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards are used in a stacked state, the non-contact IC cards whose value information is not 0 are selected in order of newest date of use. Since the value information is processed, the value information of the contactless IC card having the newest usage date is processed after the value information of the contactless IC card having the newest usage date is used up. Therefore, there will not be multiple non-contact IC cards whose value information is in use. In the present embodiment, instead of using the information indicating the date when the value information was last processed as the usage date information, the information indicating the recent multiple processing dates is used as the usage date information, and a combination thereof is used to obtain the IC card. The order of selection may be determined.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the IC card processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the IC card processing device and the non-contact IC card in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the EEPROM 24 of each non-contact IC card stores value information, processing count information indicating the number of times the value information has been processed by using the card, and other information (card ID, etc.). The operation when a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n approach the IC card processing device 1 having the above configuration at the same time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the IC card processing device 1 reads the information of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n close to the reader / writer unit 16 (step S21). By executing step S21, the processing count information # 1 ... # n and the value information # 1 ... # n, which are the information stored in the EEPROM of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n. , And other information # 1 ... # n are read by the reader / writer unit 16 and stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

Next, the CPU 11 examines the processing count information and the value information of each non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n stored in the RAM 13, and selects the IC cards whose value information is not 0 in descending order of the number of processes. Select an IC card (step S22). Therefore, in the first round, the IC card whose value information is not 0 and which has the largest number of processes is selected. Next, the value information of the selected IC card is processed and the processing count information is updated (step S13). Here, the non-contact IC card 2-1 is selected, and the value information # 1 before processing becomes the value information # 1 * after processing, and the processing count information # 1 before processing becomes the processing count information # 1 after processing. It becomes * and is written to RAM13. If it is necessary to update other information in connection with the processing of the value information and the processing count information, it is executed.

Next, the processed value information and the updated processing count information are written to the IC card (step S24). After that, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to select the next IC card (step S25), and if it is determined that it is necessary, the processes of steps S22 to S24 are repeated, and if not, the process is terminated. The details of the processing of steps S24 and S25 are the same as those of steps S4 and S5 of the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards are used in a stacked state, the non-contact IC cards whose value information is not 0 are selected in descending order of the number of processing times. Since the value information is processed, the value information of the non-contact IC card with the second largest number of processes is processed after the value information of the non-contact IC card with the largest number of processes is used up. Therefore, there will not be multiple non-contact IC cards whose value information is in use.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the IC card processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the IC card processing device and the non-contact IC card in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the issue date information, value information and other information (card ID, etc.) are stored in the EEPROM 24 of each non-contact IC card. In the present embodiment, the operation when a plurality of non-contact IC cards 2-1 ... 2-n approach the IC card processing device 1 at the same time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the IC card processing device 1 reads the information of the non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n close to the reader / writer unit 16 (step S31). By executing step S31, the value information # 1 # n, the issue date information # 1 # n, which is the information stored in the EEPROM of the non-contact IC card 2-1 2-n, And other information # 1 ... # n is read by the reader / writer unit 16 and stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

Next, the CPU 11 subtracts the value corresponding to the consideration for the service provided this time from the value information of each non-contact IC card 2-1 ... 2-n stored in the RAM 13 (step S32). Next, it is determined whether or not there is an IC card whose value information after subtraction becomes 0 (step S33). If there is an IC card whose value information after subtraction becomes 0, select that IC card (step S34) and process the value information of the selected IC card (step S35). Then, the processed value information is written to the IC card (step S36), and the processing is completed. Here, the contents of steps S35 and S36 are the same as those of steps S3 and S4 in the first embodiment. Here, the non-contact IC card 2-1 is selected, and the value information 0 (value information # 1 = 0) is written in the EEPROM of the non-contact IC card 2-1.

If it is determined in step S33 that there is no IC card whose value information after subtraction becomes 0, processing based on the issue date information is executed (step S37). The content of this process is the same as in steps S2 to S5 in the first embodiment. In addition, instead of the processing based on the issue date information, the processing based on the usage date information (second embodiment) or the processing based on the processing number information (third embodiment) may be executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of non-contact IC cards are used in a stacked state, a card whose value information becomes 0 by subtracting the value corresponding to the consideration for this service is selected. If there is no card whose value information becomes 0, the card is selected based on the issue date information and the value information is processed, so there are multiple IC cards whose value information is in use. Will never be.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the order in which a plurality of cards are selected is determined based on one piece of information (either one of the issue date information, the usage date information, or the processing count information). However, for example, when there are a plurality of cards having the same issue date information and the same age, the date of use information may be used together, and the information may be combined with two or three pieces.

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram of the IC card which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="5">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="6">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.</figref>

Code description

1 ... IC card processing device, 2 ... non-contact IC card, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 16 ... reader / writer section.