JP2004164628A - IC card information processing device and IC card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prompt a user to effectively use an ETC card to reduce such a situation that the user runs his or her vehicle without being aware of card expiration and is stopped at a tollhouse. <P>SOLUTION: An ETC on-vehicle device 10 reads a validity term mark which is provided on the surface of an ETC card 22 and represents the term of validity of the card. A central control part 12 discriminates, on the basis of the term of validity represented by the validity term mark, whether a report condition for determining the time when a report about expiration of the term of validity should be made is satisfied. When the report condition is satisfied, an interface control part 14 controls an interface part 16 to output the report about the term of validity in accordance with an instruction of the central control part 12. For example, the report condition is satisfied when the term of validity has already expired, and the ETC on-vehicle device 10 notifies the user whether or not the card can be utilized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a system using an IC card such as an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system, and more particularly to an IC card information processing apparatus and an IC card that can promote the use of an IC card within a valid period. .

  A conventional IC card information processing device and IC card are used for an ETC system (for example, see Patent Document 1). As is well known, the ETC system is a system for completing toll collection on a toll road such as an expressway by wireless communication. In the ETC system, an ETC vehicle-mounted device is mounted on a vehicle, and an IC card called an ETC card is mounted on the ETC vehicle-mounted device. Then, wireless communication for toll collection is performed between the on-board ETC device and an antenna provided at the tollgate. ETC systems are expected to reduce the time required at tollgates and alleviate congestion.

An expiration date is set for the ETC card (for example, see Patent Document 2). The expiration date is displayed in characters on the card surface. The driver who is a user is required to visually read and confirm the expiration date and use an ETC card whose expiration date has not expired.
JP 2001-14500 A (Page 3-4, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent No. 2598047 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)

  However, checking the expiration date of an ETC card is a task that is often forgotten by the user. Therefore, the user may insert the expired ETC card into the ETC on-board device without checking the expiration date when inserting the card. In addition, as a result of the user leaving the ETC card attached to the ETC in-vehicle device, the expiration date may have expired.

  In such a case, in the conventional IC card information processing apparatus and the ETC system using the IC card, since the in-vehicle apparatus does not have a function of acquiring the expiration date data and a function of processing the expiration date data, There is a problem that the driver may drive the vehicle without knowing the expiration date and may not notice the expiration until stopped at the toll booth. The expiration date is discovered in the course of the toll collection process by wireless communication at the tollgate, and the traffic is blocked at the tollgate.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an IC card information processing apparatus and an IC card which can notify a user of useful information regarding an expiration date.

  The IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention has a reading unit for reading an expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the card provided on the surface of the IC card.

  With this configuration, the means for reading the expiration date mark on the surface of the IC card is provided in the IC card information processing device, so that the IC card information processing device can acquire data for determining the expiration date.

  Further, the IC card information processing apparatus of the present invention determines whether or not a notification condition that determines a time to give a notification regarding the expiration date is satisfied based on the expiration date indicated by the expiration date mark. An expiration date determining means, and a notification means for notifying a user of a notification regarding expiration of the expiration date of the IC card in accordance with a result of the determination by the expiration date determining means.

  With this configuration, the IC card information processing apparatus can notify the user of the expiration date of the IC card when an appropriate time comes by using the expiration date data acquired from the IC card.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining means determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the expiration date of the IC card has expired.

  With this configuration, the IC card information processing device can notify the user of the availability of the IC card to the user, and can prompt the user to use an effective IC card. Therefore, the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the IC card is an ETC card, causes the user to drive the vehicle without noticing the expiration of the IC card and to be blocked at a toll booth. Can be reduced.

  In another aspect, the expiration date determination unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card is within a predetermined notification reference period.

  With this configuration, the IC card information processing apparatus can notify the user that the expiration date is approaching, and urge the use of the updated IC card. Therefore, the IC card information processing apparatus of the present invention can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the user runs the vehicle without noticing the expiration of the IC card and is blocked at a toll gate.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining means determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information obtained from a built-in clock function.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time of the expiration date of the IC card using the built-in clock function.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on the time information received by the VICS.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time of the expiration date of the IC card using the VICS information.

  Further, in the IC card information processing device, the expiration date determination unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information included in GPS information.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time for the expiration date of the IC card using the GPS information.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus, the notifying means changes a mode of notification according to a remaining period until an expiration date of the IC card.

  With this configuration, the user can be notified of the remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus, when the remaining time until the expiration date of the IC card becomes zero, the notifying means ejects the IC card inserted into the card socket from the card socket.

  With this configuration, the user can be easily notified that the IC card has expired.

  Further, the IC card of the present invention has an expiration date mark which indicates the expiration date of the card and can be read by the IC card information processing apparatus at a predetermined position on the card surface.

  Regarding this configuration, the conventional IC card is provided with a numerical display of the expiration date for the user to see, while the IC card of the present invention has an expiration date for reading by the IC card information processing apparatus. A mark is provided (of course, the IC card of the present invention may also be provided with a number indicating the expiration date together with the expiration date mark). In addition, the expiration date mark is provided at a predetermined location on the card surface. Therefore, according to the present invention, the expiration date of the IC card can be reliably and easily read by the IC card information processing apparatus.

  Further, the information providing method of the present invention includes a step of reading an expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the card provided on the surface of the IC card, a step of acquiring information indicating the current time, and a step of displaying the information by the expiration date mark. Judging whether or not a notification condition that determines a time to notify about expiration is established based on the information of the expiration date and the current time to be executed, and determining whether the notification condition is satisfied. Transmitting a notification about expiration of the IC card to the user according to the determination result.

  With this configuration, the user can be notified of the expiration date of the IC card at an appropriate time by using the expiration date data obtained from the IC card.

  Further, the IC card information processing device of the present invention determines expiration date obtaining means for obtaining information indicating the expiration date of the IC card, and a time to notify the expiration date based on the information indicating the expiration date. An expiration date judging unit for judging whether or not the notification condition is satisfied, and a notifying unit for notifying a user of the expiration date of the IC card to the user according to the judgment result of the expiration date judging unit. In this aspect, the expiration date may be obtained without reading the expiration date mark on the IC card surface.

  With this configuration, the user can be notified of the expiration date of the IC card at an appropriate time by using the expiration date information.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining means determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the expiration date of the IC card has expired.

  With this configuration, the IC card information processing device can notify the user of the availability of the IC card to the user, and can prompt the user to use an effective IC card. Therefore, the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the IC card is an ETC card, causes the user to drive the vehicle without noticing the expiration of the IC card and to be blocked at a toll booth. Can be reduced.

  In another aspect, the expiration date determination unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card is within a predetermined notification reference period.

  With this configuration, the IC card information processing apparatus can notify the user that the expiration date is approaching, and urge the use of the updated IC card. Therefore, the IC card information processing apparatus of the present invention can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the user runs the vehicle without noticing the expiration of the IC card and is blocked at a toll gate.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining means determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information obtained from a built-in clock function.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time of the expiration date of the IC card using the built-in clock function.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on the time information received by the VICS.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time of the expiration date of the IC card using the VICS information.

  Further, in the IC card information processing device, the expiration date determination unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information included in GPS information.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make a determination based on the time for the expiration date of the IC card using the GPS information.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus, the notifying means changes a mode of notification according to a remaining period until an expiration date of the IC card.

  With this configuration, the user can be notified of the remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus, when the remaining time until the expiration date of the IC card becomes zero, the notifying means ejects the IC card inserted into the card socket from the card socket.

  With this configuration, the user can be easily notified that the IC card has expired.

  According to the present invention, by configuring an IC card information processing apparatus to acquire and process expiration date data, a user can be encouraged to use a valid IC card, and the user can notice that the IC card has expired. It is possible to provide an IC card information processing apparatus having an extremely excellent effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation in which a vehicle can be stopped at a tollgate without running.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ETC vehicle-mounted device 10 as an IC card information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention controls a central control unit 12 that controls the entire ETC vehicle-mounted device 10 and an interface unit 16. It comprises an interface control section 14 and an IC card control section 18 for controlling the IC card reading section 20. Further, the central control unit 12 has a function of performing a determination process regarding an expiration date, as described later.

  The in-vehicle ETC device 10 has an interface control unit 14 and an interface unit 16, and the interface control unit 14 controls the interface unit 16 according to an instruction from the central control unit 12. The interface unit 16 is a device for transmitting information from the in-vehicle ETC device 10 to the user (human-machine interface). In the present embodiment, the interface unit 16 is a speaker, an LED, and an LCD. The interface unit 16 also includes buttons, switches, and the like operated by the user.

  The in-vehicle ETC device 10 further includes an IC card control unit 18 and an IC card reading unit 20. The IC card control unit 18 controls the IC card reading unit 20. The IC card reading section 20 reads information from the ETC card 22 inserted into the card socket of the card mounting section. The ETC card 22 is an IC card, and stores traffic information such as user data and fees. Further, as will be described later, the ETC card 22 is provided with a marking used for determining the expiration date of the present embodiment.

  The in-vehicle ETC device 10 is further provided with a time acquisition unit 24, a clock 26, and a battery 28. The clock 26 is built in the ETC vehicle-mounted device 10. The clock 26 may have the same configuration as a clock built in a normal computer. Battery 28 is a power source for operating clock 26. The time acquiring unit 24 acquires data of the current time from the clock 26. The time acquisition unit 24 passes the current time to the central control unit 12 according to a request from the central control unit 12.

  FIG. 2 shows the ETC card 22 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2A shows the front surface 30 of the ETC card 22, and FIG. 2B shows the rear surface 32 of the ETC card 22. On a front surface 30 of the ETC card 22, connection terminals (connection terminal group) 34 connected to an IC chip built in the ETC card are provided. Further, on the front surface 30 of the ETC card 22, a numerical display 36 of an expiration date is provided. The number display 36 is provided in the same form as the display of the expiration date of the credit card. The expiration date numerical display 36 is used by the user to visually check the expiration date.

  Then, traffic information such as user data and toll stored in the ETC card 22 is transmitted to the ETC in-vehicle device 10 through the connection terminal 34, and toll collection is performed between the ETC in-vehicle device 10 and an antenna provided at a tollgate. Wireless communication is performed.

  The front surface 30 of the ETC card 22 is further provided with an expiration date mark 38 indicating an expiration date. The expiration date mark 38 is provided at a predetermined location on the ETC card 22. The expiration date mark 38 is a code that graphically represents the expiration date. In the present embodiment, the expiration date mark 38 is composed of a spot pattern, and this spot pattern can be read by an expiration date reading device described later.

  On the rear surface 32 of the ETC card 22, there is provided a magnetic stripe 40 used when the ETC card 22 is used as a credit card in a card reader.

  In the present embodiment, the terms “front” and “rear” are used to represent “front” and “back” of the ETC card 22. This is for the following reason. In the present embodiment, the expiration date mark is provided on the “front side” of the ETC card. This “front surface” may be “front (front)” or “back (rear)” of the ETC card. To clarify this point, the terms "front" and "rear" above are used.

  FIG. 3 shows a part of the hardware configuration of the on-board ETC device 10 together with the ETC card 22. The card socket 42 is built in a housing (not shown) of the on-board ETC device 10. The ETC card 22 is inserted into the card socket 42.

  An expiration date reading device 44 is provided on the upper surface of the card socket 42. The expiration date reading device 44 is provided at a location corresponding to the expiration date mark of the ETC card 22 inserted into the card socket 42. That is, the expiration date mark 38 is provided at a predetermined location on the ETC card 22, and the predetermined location corresponds to a range to be read by the expiration date reading device 44.

  The expiration date reading device 44 reads a spot pattern which is the expiration date mark 38 of the ETC card 22. The expiration date reader 44 is connected to a data analyzer 48 via a cable 46. The data read by the expiration date reading device 44 is sent to the data analysis device 48 through the cable 46. The data analysis device 48 analyzes the received data and obtains an expiration date represented by a mottled pattern (expiration date mark 38). The analyzed data is transmitted to the central control unit 12 through the IC card reading unit 20 in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the on-board ETC device 10 of the present embodiment will be described. When the ETC card 22 is inserted, a card detection unit such as a switch (not shown) functions, and a card insertion notification is transmitted to the IC card control unit 18. A similar notification is transmitted when the ETC card 22 is already inserted when the power is turned on. The IC card control unit 18 issues an instruction to the IC card reading unit 20 to operate the expiration date reading device 44.

  The expiration date reading device 44 reads the expiration date mark 38 on the surface of the ETC card 22, and transmits the read data to the data analysis device 48 via the cable 46. The data analysis device 48 analyzes the received data, and transmits the data of the analysis result to the central control unit through the IC card reading unit 20. As a result, the central control unit 12 acquires data on the expiration date of the ETC card.

  The central control unit 12 requests data of the current time from the time acquisition unit 24. The time acquisition unit 24 transmits the current time data acquired from the clock 26 to the central control unit 12 in response to the request from the central control unit 12.

  The central control unit 12 compares the data of the expiration date obtained from the ETC card 22 with the data of the current time obtained from the clock 26 to determine whether the expiration date has expired, and according to the determination result, A process for notifying the user of the availability of the ETC card 22 is performed. That is, the central control unit 12 functions as one mode of the expiration date determination unit and the notification unit.

  As a result of comparing the expiration date and the current time, when the current time is within the expiration date, the central control unit 12 determines that the expiration date has not expired. In this case, the central control unit 12 does not perform a process for notifying availability.

  On the other hand, when the current time is after the expiration date, the central control unit 12 determines that the expiration date has expired. In this case, the central control unit 12 sends to the interface control unit 14 a command prompting a warning indicating that the expiration date has expired. The interface control unit 14 controls the interface unit 16 according to the command to output a warning. A warning sound or a warning voice message is output from the speaker. A warning message is displayed on the LCD.

  In the above processing, the notification of the availability is made only when the validity period has expired. On the other hand, even when the expiration date has not expired, notification of availability may be performed. Specifically, in the former case, a notification that the service cannot be used is issued, and in the latter case, a notification that the service can be used is performed.

  As described above, the in-vehicle ETC device of the present embodiment reads the expiration date mark from the ETC card, determines whether or not the expiration date has expired, and outputs information indicating whether the ETC card can be used according to the determination result. Since it is configured to inform the user, even if the user does not visually check the expiration date on the card surface, the user can be notified that the ETC card cannot be used. As a result, the on-board ETC device of the present embodiment can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the user runs the vehicle without noticing the expiration of the ETC card and is blocked at the toll booth.

  Further, the ETC card according to the present embodiment has the expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the card at a predetermined location on the card surface as described above, whereby the expiration date of the ETC card is set to the ETC in-vehicle device. Can be read reliably and easily. That is, the conventional ETC card is provided with a numerical display of the expiration date for the user to see, and the position of the numerical display of the expiration date differs depending on the card company. On the other hand, the ETC card according to the present embodiment is provided with an expiration date mark for the ETC on-board device to read. In addition, the expiration date mark is provided at a predetermined location on the card surface. Therefore, the ETC in-vehicle device can reliably and easily read the expiration date of the ETC card.

  As is clear from the above embodiment, the ETC card may have an expiration date mark in addition to the conventional expiration date numerical display.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the notification condition that determines the time to perform the notification is that the expiration date has passed. Accordingly, the notification regarding the expiration date is a notification of expiration of the expiration date, that is, a notification of whether or not the card can be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The notification condition may be that the remaining period until the expiration date of the ETC card is within a predetermined notification reference period. The notification reference period is set to a relatively short appropriate period, for example, one month. Whether or not the notification condition is satisfied is determined by the central control unit 12 by comparing the expiration date data with the data of the current time. In this case, the central control unit 12 controls the interface control unit 14 to cause the interface unit 16 to output information indicating that the expiration date is approaching as a notification regarding the expiration date. In this process, a message that specifically indicates that the expiration date is approaching may be displayed on the display. Further, the remaining period until the expiration date, for example, the number of days may be displayed on the display. The expiration date itself may be displayed on the display. Further, the notification mode may be different depending on the remaining period of the expiration date. For example, if the remaining period is one month, "Expires on day △" is displayed, and if the remaining period is one day, "Expires in another hour" is displayed. May be. These may be transmitted from the speaker by voice. Alternatively, the central control unit 12 may output a control signal so that the ETC card is forcibly ejected from the card socket when the expiration date of the ETC card becomes zero.

  The ETC in-vehicle device in consideration of the remaining period can also prompt the user to use an effective ETC card similarly to the above-described embodiment, so that the user can stop the vehicle without noticing that the ETC card has expired. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the vehicle is driven and traffic is blocked at a tollgate. Further, according to the above configuration, the expiration date can be notified in advance, so that an early update procedure of the ETC card can be promoted.

  It is to be noted that the ETC in-vehicle device may be configured to perform both the determination and notification that the remaining period up to the expiration date is short, and the determination and notification of the expiration date.

  Also, within the scope of the present invention, the central control unit does not have to make the above-mentioned determination on the expiration date. Even in this case, the ETC in-vehicle device can prompt the user to use the ETC card within the expiration date by acquiring the expiration date data. For example, the expiration date obtained from the ETC card is displayed as it is on the display of the ETC vehicle-mounted device. The user can grasp the remaining valid period by looking at the display of the valid period. However, compared to such a configuration, it is considered that the configuration having the above-described determination function can more reliably encourage the use of the ETC card within the expiration date.

  Another modification of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the expiration date mark is configured by a spot pattern, but another type of mark may be applied. For example, the expiration date mark may be configured by a barcode or a two-dimensional code (referred to as a two-dimensional barcode, a stack type and a matrix type are known).

  In the processing of the above-described embodiment, the expiration date is read from the ETC card every time the card is inserted. On the other hand, the in-vehicle ETC device may hold predetermined expiration date data of the ETC card. For example, the expiration date may be input and held in advance in the ETC on-vehicle device, and a button or the like may be used for this input.

  Further, the ETC in-vehicle device is not limited to a single device but may be a part of another device. For example, a part or all of the ETC in-vehicle device may be built in the navigation device. Further, the functions of the ETC on-vehicle device according to the present embodiment may be distributed and arranged in a plurality of devices.

  FIG. 4 shows an ETC in-vehicle device as an IC card information processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The components in FIG. 4 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 50 according to the present embodiment has an ETC vehicle-mounted device interface unit 52. The ETC in-vehicle device interface unit 52 is an interface with a VICS interface unit 54 provided in the VICS receiving device. With these interfaces, communication is performed between the VICS receiving device and the ETC in-vehicle device 50.

  The VICS receiving device is a device that receives VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) data using the VICS antenna 56. The VICS data includes information on the current time. The VICS data is transmitted from the VICS interface unit 54 to the ETC in-vehicle device interface unit 52.

  Next, the operation of the on-board ETC device 50 of the present embodiment will be described. The overall operation of the on-board ETC device 50 is the same as that of the on-board ETC device 10 shown in FIG. As a difference from the ETC in-vehicle device 10, the ETC in-vehicle device 50 acquires information on the current time from the VICS data as follows.

  The VICS data is received by the VICS antenna 56 and sent from the VICS interface 54 to the ETC on-board device interface 52. The ETC in-vehicle device interface unit 52 extracts only the time data from the received VICS data. The extracted time data is transmitted to the central control unit 12 in response to a request from the central control unit 12.

  The central control unit 12 uses the information on the current time obtained from the VICS data to determine the expiration date and perform a process for notifying the user. That is, the time information obtained from the VICS data is used instead of the time information obtained from the internal clock. Other operations of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 50 are the same as those of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 10 of FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can be encouraged to use the ETC card within the expiration date, and the user can drive the vehicle and stop at the tollgate without noticing that the ETC card has expired. Can be reduced.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to make a determination based on the time for the expiration date of the ETC card using the VICS information. That is, the time data received wirelessly can be used for the determination on the expiration date.

  Further, it is needless to say that various modifications of the first embodiment described above can be applied to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows an ETC in-vehicle device as an IC card information processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The components in FIG. 5 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 60 according to the present embodiment has an ETC vehicle-mounted device interface unit 61. The ETC in-vehicle device interface unit 61 is an interface with a GPS interface unit 63 provided in the GPS receiver 62. With these interfaces, communication is performed between the GPS receiver 62 and the ETC in-vehicle device 60.

  The GPS receiver 62 is a device that receives GPS (Global Positioning System) information. The GPS information includes information on the current time. The GPS information is transmitted from the GPS interface unit 63 to the ETC on-board device interface unit 61.

  Next, the operation of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 60 according to the present embodiment will be described. The overall operation of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 60 is the same as that of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 10 shown in FIG. As a difference from the ETC in-vehicle device 10, the ETC in-vehicle device 60 acquires the current time information from the GPS information as described below.

  The GPS information is received by the GPS receiver 62 and sent from the GPS interface unit 63 to the ETC on-board device interface unit 61. The ETC in-vehicle device interface unit 61 extracts only the time data from the received GPS information. The extracted time data is transmitted to the central control unit 12 in response to a request from the central control unit 12.

  The central control unit 12 uses the information on the current time obtained from the GPS information to determine the expiration date and perform a process for notifying the user. That is, the time information obtained from the GPS information is used instead of the time information obtained from the internal clock. Other operations of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 60 are the same as those of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 10 of FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can be encouraged to use the ETC card within the expiration date, and the user can drive the vehicle and stop at the tollgate without noticing that the ETC card has expired. Can be reduced.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to make a determination based on the time for the expiration date of the ETC card using the GPS information. That is, the time data received wirelessly can be used for the determination on the expiration date.

  Further, it is needless to say that various modifications of the first embodiment described above can be applied to the third embodiment.

  As described above, the IC card information processing apparatus according to the present invention prompts the user to use a valid IC card by configuring the IC card information processing apparatus to acquire and process expiration date data. It has the excellent effect of reducing the occurrence of situations in which a user can drive a vehicle and stop at a tollgate without noticing that the IC card has expired, and has an excellent effect. The ETC (Electronic Toll Collection, automatic toll collection) ) It is useful as a system.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an ETC vehicle-mounted device as an IC card information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an ETC card inserted into an ETC in-vehicle device as the IC card information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a part of a hardware configuration of an on-board ETC device as an IC card information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Functional block diagram showing an ETC in-vehicle device as an IC card information processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram showing an ETC vehicle-mounted device as an IC card information processing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of reference numerals

10, 50, 60 Onboard ETC device 12 Central control unit 14 Interface control unit 16 Interface unit 18 IC card control unit 20 IC card reading unit 22 ETC card 24 Time acquisition unit 26 Clock 38 Expiration mark 42 Card socket 44 Expiration reading device 48 Data analyzer

Claims (19)

An IC card information processing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of a card provided on a surface of the IC card. Based on the expiration date represented by the expiration date mark, an expiration date determination unit that determines whether or not a notification condition that determines a time to notify about expiration date is satisfied,
Notifying means for notifying a user of the expiration date of the IC card to the user in accordance with the judgment result of the expiration date judging means;
The IC card information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The IC card information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the expiration date determination unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the expiration date of the IC card has expired. 3. The IC card according to claim 2, wherein the expiration date determination unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when a remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card is within a predetermined notification reference period. 4. Information processing device. 5. The expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information obtained from a built-in clock function. IC card information processing device. 5. The IC card information according to claim 2, wherein the expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information received by VICS. Processing equipment. 5. The IC card according to claim 2, wherein the expiration date determination unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information included in GPS information. 6. Information processing device. 8. The IC card information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the notification unit changes a mode of notification according to a remaining period until an expiration date of the IC card. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the notifying unit discharges the IC card inserted into the card socket from the card socket when the remaining time until the expiration date of the IC card becomes zero. The IC card information processing apparatus according to the above. An IC card having an expiration date mark which indicates the expiration date of the card and which can be read by an IC card information processing apparatus at a predetermined position on the surface of the card. Reading an expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the card provided on the surface of the IC card;
Obtaining information representing the current time;
Based on the information of the expiration date and the current time represented by the expiration date mark, a step of determining whether or not a notification condition that determines a time to notify about expiration is satisfied,
Transmitting to the user a notification about the expiration date of the IC card according to a result of the determination as to whether or not the notification condition is satisfied;
An information providing method comprising: Expiration date obtaining means for obtaining information indicating the expiration date of the IC card;
Based on the information indicating the expiration date, expiration date determination means for determining whether or not a notification condition that determines when to notify about the expiration date is satisfied,
Notifying means for notifying a user of the expiration date of the IC card to the user in accordance with the judgment result of the expiration date judging means;
An IC card information processing apparatus comprising: 13. The IC card information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the expiration date determining unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when the expiration date of the IC card has expired. 13. The IC according to claim 12, wherein the expiration date determining unit determines that the notification condition is satisfied when a remaining period until the expiration date of the IC card is within a predetermined notification reference period. Card information processing device. 15. The expiration date determination unit according to claim 12, wherein the determination unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information obtained from a built-in clock function. IC card information processing device. 15. The IC card information according to claim 12, wherein the expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information received by VICS. Processing equipment. The IC card according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the expiration date determining unit determines whether the notification condition is satisfied based on time information included in GPS information. Information processing device. 18. The IC card information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the notification unit changes a mode of notification according to a remaining period until an expiration date of the IC card. 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the notifying unit discharges the IC card inserted into the card socket from the card socket when the remaining time until the expiration date of the IC card becomes zero. The IC card information processing apparatus according to the above.

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