JPH06119503A - Device for preventing illegal use of ic memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent data from being copied and to improve the holding of secrecy by reading out the shapes and numbers of holes, projections and markings formed on the surface of a memory card, and when the read contents do not coincide with stored ones, inhibiting the reading of data from the card. CONSTITUTION:A circuit 3 for reading out/writing the contents of data is connected to an IC memory card 1 inserted into a card slot 2a through respective connection parts 6. An IC memory card reader/writer 2 is provided with a judging circuit 5 for the shapes and numbers of holes, projections and markings as a judging means for detecting and judging the fixed shapes and numbers of holes, projections and markings. The circuit 5 is connected to a CPU 4, and when the card 1 is inserted, the shapes and numbers of holes, projections and carved seals formed on the surface of the card 1 are read out by the card reader and the data of the card 1 are ciphered or deciphered in accordance with the shapes. Thereby even if a third person obtains the card 1, said function can prevent the contents of the card 1 from being known.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved device for preventing unauthorized use of an IC memory card, and more specifically to an internal I
Securing the confidentiality of the data in the IC memory card in the IC memory card device including the IC memory card in which C is embedded and the IC memory card reading / writing device that accepts the IC memory card and transfers the data, and the third party duplicates the data. The present invention relates to an IC memory card device for preventing illegal use such as plagiarism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, a conventional IC memory card has an IC card 9 with an IC 9 embedded therein.
A connector 10 connected to C9 is formed. This I
The C memory card 1 is configured to be inserted into the card insertion slot 2a of the IC memory card read / write device 2 as shown in FIG. 4 and to read the data written in the IC memory card 1.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-196871 discloses "an IC memory card in which an IC is embedded and an IC which receives the IC memory card and exchanges data with the IC memory card. In an IC memory card system comprising a memory card input device, the IC memory card is provided with a transaction means code storage means for permitting transactions by using the IC memory card,

The IC memory card is provided with a storage unit for receiving the IC memory card, and a card holder for sending a transaction permit code to the IC memory card when the IC memory card is stored in the storage unit. A transaction permit code setting means for setting, a means for determining whether a transaction permit code is set in the storage means when an IC memory card is input to the IC memory card input device, and a transaction permit code set The transaction processing executing means for executing the transaction processing only when
An IC memory card unauthorized use prevention device provided in a C memory card "is disclosed.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional IC memory card unauthorized use prevention device has a storage portion for the IC memory card, and sends the transaction enable code when the IC memory card is stored in this storage portion. A card holder is provided, and a storage area for the transaction permit code is further provided in the storage means of the IC memory card. When the IC memory card is used, the IC memory card itself checks whether the transaction permission code is set in the storage area. Only when the transaction permit code is sent from the card holder and the transaction permit code is set in the storage area, the use of the IC memory card is valid.

Therefore, when using the IC memory card, it is checked whether or not the transaction permit code is set in the IC memory card, and when it is set, the I
Since the C memory card can be used, when distributing data using the IC memory card, it is possible to make as many copies of the IC memory card data as possible, which makes it difficult to protect the rights of the author and to use it. There was a difficulty that the rights of the people could not be protected.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to eliminate the drawbacks of such a conventional unauthorized use prevention apparatus for an IC memory card. That is, the confidentiality of data is higher than that of the above-described conventional illegal use prevention device for an IC memory card, which makes illegal use by a third party more difficult.
It is intended to provide a device for preventing unauthorized use of a memory card.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an IC memory card unauthorized use preventing apparatus according to the present invention includes an IC memory card having an IC embedded therein, and an IC memory card receiving the IC memory card. In an unauthorized use prevention device for an IC memory card, comprising an IC memory card read / write device for reading / writing data from / to a memory card, the card surface of the IC memory card has a fixed shape and a fixed number of holes, ridges and engravings. Together with forming one

An IC memory card read / write device that receives an IC memory card and reads / writes data from the IC memory card is provided with the certain shape and a certain number of holes, protrusions, and markings when the IC memory card is received. The determination means for determining whether or not the IC memory card is provided with the above-mentioned I shape only when the IC memory card is provided with at least one of the fixed shape and the fixed number of holes, ridges and markings.
The C memory card read / write device is provided with an encryption / decryption means for encrypting the write data of the IC memory card and decrypting the memory data according to the shape and number of the holes, ridges, and engravings. To do.

[0010]

According to the IC memory card unauthorized use preventing apparatus of the present invention, the card surface of the IC memory card is formed with at least one of a certain shape and a certain number of holes, ridges and markings.
A device for receiving a C memory card and reading and writing data from the IC memory card determines whether or not the IC memory card is provided with the certain shape and the certain number of holes, ridges, and markings when the IC memory card is received. Means and the IC memory card read / write device only allows the IC memory card surface to be provided with at least one of the fixed shape and the fixed number of holes, ridges and markings. The write data of the IC memory card is decrypted or encrypted according to the number.

Therefore, a third party cannot understand the contents even if he / she obtains only the IC memory card.
That is, an IC memory card in which at least one of a fixed shape and a fixed number of holes, protrusions, and markings is provided on the card surface, and the fixed shape and the fixed number of holes described above in the IC memory card when the IC memory is received. , A determination means for determining whether or not at least one of the ridges and the markings is provided, and at least one of the above-mentioned fixed shape and a certain number of holes, ridges, and markings on the IC memory card surface. Only when the IC memory card is provided, the IC memory card cannot be used unless both the IC memory read / write device that encrypts the write data of the IC memory card or decrypts the memory data is available.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an IC memory card unauthorized use prevention device 2 of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 0. In FIG. 1, 1 is an IC
It is an IC memory card with an embedded (not shown)
Is an IC memory card read / write device that accepts an IC memory card, reads and / or encrypts and writes data in the IC memory card. This IC memory card 1
As shown in Fig. 2, a certain number of holes (Fig. 2 (a)
Circles), ridges (△ marks in FIG. 2 (b)), engraved marks (FIG. 2)
(English alphabetic character (c)) is formed and data is written.

The IC memory card read / write device 2 has a card insertion slot 2a for receiving the IC memory card 1.
And a connection portion 6 which is connected to the connection portion 6 at the tip of the IC memory card 1 arranged at the back of the card insertion slot 2a and takes out the data. The connecting portion 6 has a card insertion slot 2a.
The circuit 3 for reading and writing the data contents of the IC memory card 1 inserted in is connected. Further, in this IC memory card reading / writing device 2, a fixed shape and a fixed number of holes, ridges, and engraved shapes formed on the surface of the IC memory card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 2a are detected, and the shape and the number thereof are detected. A hole, a ridge, and an engraved shape / number determination circuit 5 is provided as a determination means for determining whether the IC memory card 1 has a card insertion slot 2a. When inserted in
An IC memory card reader (not shown) can read holes, ridges, marking shapes and numbers on the card surface, and can encrypt and decipher data in the IC memory card according to the shapes.

Because of this function, the contents cannot be known even if a third party obtains the IC memory card. Further, when using the data taken out from the IC memory card, if the IC memory card having the designated hole, protrusion, stamped shape and number is not inserted in the IC memory card read / write device 2, the IC memory card will be used. Data cannot be duplicated because it cannot be used. I of this embodiment
The C memory card unauthorized use prevention device reads the holes, ridges, marking shapes and numbers on the IC memory card 1, and when the IC memory card having the specified holes, ridges, marking shapes and numbers is accepted, the CPU 4 By the function of the IC memory card data read / write circuit 3,
When writing data, it is encrypted, and when reading data, it is decrypted. The encryption procedure of the CPU 4 can be arbitrarily designated. Therefore, even with the same IC memory card unauthorized use prevention device as in the present embodiment, the data content cannot be known unless the encryption procedure is known.

Further, the data from the CPU 4 is sent to the host computer 8 via the host connection unit 7. When using the data in the host computer 8, an IC with the specified holes, ridges, engraved shapes and numbers, and data
A data application for checking whether the memory card 1 is mounted in the IC memory card read / write device 2 is supplied by the IC memory card. Confirm the data
This can be realized by the application confirming with the CPU 4 whether the IC memory card with the currently specified hole, protrusion, or engraved data is inserted in the card insertion slot 2a. Therefore, simply transferring the data in the IC memory card 1 to the host computer 8 makes it unusable, and the copy can be prevented.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the IC memory card unauthorized use preventing apparatus of the present invention, the IC
The confidentiality of the data on the memory card can be improved and the data cannot be copied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an unauthorized use prevention device for an IC memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A, 2B, and 2C are plan views showing holes, ridges, and engraved shapes formed on the card surface of the IC memory card of the unauthorized use prevention device for the IC memory card shown in FIG. 1, respectively. It is a figure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional IC memory card.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an IC memory card read / write device into which the IC memory card shown in FIG. 1 is inserted.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC memory card 2 IC memory card read / write device 3 IC memory card data read / write circuit 4 CPU 5 IC memory card surface hole, protrusion, marking shape and number determination circuit 7 Upper connection section 8 Upper computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An unauthorized use prevention of an IC memory card comprising an IC memory card having an IC embedded therein and an IC memory card reading / writing device for receiving the IC memory card and reading / writing data from / to the IC memory card. In the device, the card surface of the IC memory card is formed with at least one of a certain shape and a certain number of holes, protrusions and inscriptions, and the device for receiving the IC memory card and reading and writing the data of the IC memory card is provided with an IC. Determining means for determining whether or not the IC memory card is provided with the fixed shape and the fixed number of holes, ridges, and markings when receiving the memory card; and the fixed shape and the fixed number of holes and ridges on the IC memory card surface. , The IC memory card read / write device is provided only when at least one of the markings is provided. Unauthorized use of an IC memory card characterized by being provided with an encryption / decryption means for encrypting the write data of the IC memory card and decrypting the memory data according to the shape and number of the holes, ridges, and engravings. Prevention device.