JP3182214B2 - Equipment for preventing unauthorized use of rental equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for preventing unauthorized use of rental equipment which is set to an operation state only for a predetermined period based on input of a recitation number.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, electric appliances such as video tape recorders are rented or leased to ordinary consumers. In this case, since the video tape recorder used for rent is the same product as the video tape recorder that is usually sold, a problem has occurred that the rented video tape recorder cannot be returned.

Conventionally, to avoid the above-mentioned troubles,
A sign indicating that it is for rent is described on the exterior of the video tape recorder, and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 3-89330 (G1).
As disclosed in 1B15 / 02), when the power of the video tape recorder is turned on, a rental display is displayed on the fluorescent display tube to prevent unauthorized possession.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional example, since the video tape recorder operates even after the lease period elapses, there is a possibility that unauthorized possession may occur, and the user may rent for a long period of time. In that case, there was a problem of forgetting the return date.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for preventing fraudulent use of rental equipment, comprising: an input means for inputting a password; a non-volatile memory for storing a predetermined number in advance; Calculating means for calculating the recitation number and the number stored in the non-volatile memory, and timer control means for operating the rental equipment for a predetermined period, at least when the calculation results are in a predetermined correspondence relationship The timer control means is controlled to change the number stored in the non-volatile memory based on the input personal identification number when the calculation result does not have a preset correspondence.

[0006]

According to the above arrangement, by inputting a recitation number,
The rental equipment can be operated only for a predetermined period, and furthermore, by protecting the arithmetic processing, unauthorized possession can be prevented.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is mounted on a video tape recorder will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a nonvolatile memory for storing a predetermined number A, which is set when the memory is received. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input circuit for inputting a recitation number, and 3 denotes an arithmetic operation of the number B and the number A stored in the non-volatile memory 1 among the inputted recitation numbers, and further analyzes the recitation number to operate the video tape recorder. This is a processing circuit for setting a period. Here, the recitation number is composed of a number of several digits, and is composed of a number B part and a part for instructing the operation period.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a timer control circuit for counting the operation period of the video tape recorder, that is, the rental period. Operation control circuit.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a power supply circuit for supplying power to the timer control circuit and other circuits. Reference numeral 7 denotes a backup circuit that allows the timer control circuit 4 to operate normally even when a power failure or power outlet 8 is disconnected. Here, the backup circuit is composed of a capacitor or a CADNICA battery. Reference numeral 9 denotes a display circuit for displaying the number A stored in the non-volatile memory 1 or the inputted recite number, 10 a recording circuit for recording a video signal obtained from a tuner or the like, and 11 a video signal recorded on a magnetic tape. Is a reproduction circuit for reproducing the data. The hatched portion indicates the microcomputer 20.
It consists of.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the initial value of the number A stored in the nonvolatile memory 1 is, for example, "3".

Power outlet 8 for video tape recorder
Is input, the circuits in the microcomputer 20 including the input circuit 2 and the display circuit 9 are activated, and the system waits for the input of a recitation number (step S1). When there is no input of the recitation number, the timer control circuit 4 outputs the "L" level (step S2), and in response to this output, the operation control circuit 5 inhibits the operation of the recording circuit 10 and the reproduction circuit 11 ( Step S10).

On the other hand, when a recite number learned from a leasing or rental company is input, a predetermined calculation process is performed based on the number B and the number A stored in the non-volatile memory 1 among the input recite numbers (step S3). Is performed.
Then, the result of the arithmetic processing is set to a predetermined correspondence (X
= 10) (step S4), the arithmetic processing is subsequently executed to change the number A stored in the nonvolatile memory 1 (step S5). On the other hand, when it is determined that the result of the arithmetic processing does not have the predetermined correspondence (step S4), the predetermined arithmetic processing is executed as in step S5, and the number A stored in the nonvolatile memory 1 is changed. (Step S6). The reason for changing the number A here is to protect the arithmetic processing and to prevent the video tape recorder from operating even if the same number B is input again after the end of the lease period.

Here, an example of the arithmetic processing will be described. In the arithmetic processing of step S3, the calculation of "X = A + B" is performed, and in the step S4, the determination of "X = 10" is performed. When it is determined that "X = 10", the arithmetic processing of "A = AB" is performed in step S5, and when it is determined that it is not "X = 10", the arithmetic processing of "A = A + B" is performed in step S6. Are performed respectively. In addition, as for the calculation results performed in steps S3, S5, and S6, only the lower two digits are valid. That is, if the number B is “7” in the input recitation number, the arithmetic processing is “X =
In step S4, it is determined that there is a predetermined correspondence, and in step S5, a calculation process of "3-7 = -4" is performed. At this time, the calculation result is represented by an absolute value, and the number 4 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 1 as a new number. Therefore, after the lease period ends, the video tape recorder does not operate even if the same recitation number is input again.

When the user wishes to extend the lease period, the user operates the confirmation button (not shown) of the input circuit 2 to display the number A stored in the nonvolatile memory 1 on the display circuit 9. You can extend the rental period if you check with and contact the leasing or rental company.

When the arithmetic processing is in a predetermined correspondence, the processing circuit 3 decodes the part indicating the operation period of the recitation number following the arithmetic processing, and sets the rental period, that is, the counter value. This setting information is supplied to the timer control circuit 4. Upon receiving this information, the timer control circuit 4 presets the count value and starts counting. For example, when the count value is one month, the timer control circuit 4 controls the operation of the "H" output until it counts one month. It is supplied to the circuit 5 (step S7). When the operation control circuit 5 receives this "H" output, it sets the recording circuit 10 and the reproduction circuit 11 to an operation state (step S8). As a result, the video tape recorder operates normally like a normal video tape recorder. Here, the timer control circuit 4 is guaranteed by the backup circuit 7 so that counting can be performed accurately even when the power outlet 8 of the video tape recorder is unplugged.

When the preset count value of the timer control circuit 4 is counted (step S9),
The timer control circuit 4 supplies the "L" output to the operation control circuit 5, and in response to this signal, the operation control circuit 5
And the operation of the reproducing circuit 11 is prohibited (step S1).
0). As described above, the video tape recorder can be operated only for a predetermined period based on the input of the recitation number.

Although the operation of the reproduction circuit 10 and the recording circuit 11 is prohibited in the present invention, the reception of a mode button such as a reproduction button or a recording button may be prohibited.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a rental device such as a video tape recorder can be operated only for a predetermined period by inputting a recitation number. Unauthorized possession of the device can be prevented.

Further, after the rental period ends, the rental equipment automatically stops operating, so that the user can be notified of the return date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing a video tape recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a video tape recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Non-volatile memory 2 Input circuit 3 Processing circuit 4 Timer control circuit 5 Operation control circuit 10 Storage circuit 12 Reproduction circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-6668 (JP, A) JP-A-63-130437 (JP, A) JP-A-63-311493 (JP, A) 269215 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G04G 1/00 G06F 1/00 G06F 9/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input means for inputting a recite number, a non-volatile memory for storing a predetermined number in advance, an operation means for calculating the input recite number and a number stored in the non-volatile memory, Timer control means for operating the rental equipment for a predetermined period of time, wherein at least the timer control means is controlled when the calculation result has a predetermined correspondence, and input when the calculation result does not have a predetermined correspondence. An unauthorized use preventing apparatus for renting equipment, wherein the number stored in the non-volatile memory is changed based on the provided personal identification number.