Abstract: A processor 29 automatically sets a direction of transferring electronic money information depending on the existence of IC cards 1a, 1b connected to IC card connecting portions 11a, 11b, and the existence of an external device connected to an external device connecting terminal 8, thus making instructing operations for transferring electronic money information easier.

Abstract: An IC card reading/writing apparatus has an IC card reading/writing control unit having an intelligent function to control read-out/write-in processing for an IC card by an application unit in the IC card reading/writing apparatus. The IC card reading/writing control unit has, in addition to the intelligent function, a pass-through function to control read-out/write-in processing for the IC card by an application unit in a host for the IC card reading/writing apparatus by receiving a pass-through command from the host. With this arrangement, the IC card reading/writing apparatus can execute read-out/write-in processing for the IC card with either the intelligent function or the pass-through function, thereby minimizing the cost required to configure an IC card system.

Abstract: There is provided a financial transaction payment method and system for processing a transaction conducted using a financial transaction card. The financial transaction card has associated therewith a financial account in a financial institution and one or more transaction criteria. The financial transaction payment system includes a processing unit and an application program for execution on the processing unit. The method includes the step of determining by the application program whether a transaction activates an installment loan on the financial account based on the one or more transaction criteria.

Abstract: A financial transaction card is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment. The card includes a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge. The material sheet has one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent with respect to human-visible light. A filter associated with at least one of the areas provides sufficient opacity to light that is detectable by sensors in the automated card processing equipment to render the card detectable by the equipment.

Abstract: A financial transaction card is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment. The card includes a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge. The material sheet has one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent with respect to human-visible light. A filter associated with at least one of the areas provides sufficient opacity to light that is detectable by sensors in the automated card processing equipment to render the card detectable by the equipment.

Abstract: A portable terminal device for electronic money IC cards containing monetary data therein, comprises in a main body (10), a card slot opening (12, 13) into which a plurality of electronic money IC cards (100, 110, 120) are inserted, electric contact terminals (16, 17, 18) for reading and writing the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into card slot opening, a display (80) for displaying money amount for the monetary data which is read out from the inserted electronic money IC cards or which is to be written into the inserted electronic money IC cards; and a button (82) for manipulating the reading and writing operations the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into the card slot opening. The card slot opening (12, 13) is so configured that the plurality of the electronic into and positioned with being closely piled up with each other and shifted to each other in a direction parallel to main surface thereof.

Abstract: A computerized “smart card” which has a read/write memory and formatted data storage blocks is used to track the life history of one or more associated machine(s) (e.g., vehicles, medical instrumentation and apparatus, business and copying machines, etc.). The smart card can store a variety of information including machine identification, hardware/software specifications, debit/credit, regulated performance, warranty/insurance, maintenance/service and operational transactions that might impact the hardware, software or the intended operation or performance of the machine. The smart card will be equipped to interact with any of a plurality of autonomous reader/writer smart card units and computer-based reader/writer smart card units that may be equipped to interact with any of the plurality of computer databases through the utilization of land or wireless communications links.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. A command generator, upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card received via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequencer to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in a number of embodiments, which use an identifier to control and limit the operation of a command and/or security code to one or more subdomains, such as directories, of a file structure. In one embodiment, the identifier is allocated to the command or to the security code. In another embodiment, the identifier is allocated to the subdomain. The security code includes a cryptographic key or a password.

Abstract: An integrated financial system that includes a single customer account that permits a customer to perform various financial transactions. The account includes at least banking components and brokerage components. A consistent user interface means is provided to allow a customer to access the account from a different sources including at least an automatic teller machine, a phone and a personal teller transaction. The account is flexible enough to include a variety of other components such as a credit card component, a line of credit component, a secured credit component and a money market component. A system and method for opening a single integrated account for a customer in a single session is also described.

Abstract: A method of executing a transaction on a smartcard of the type including a processor, a memory for storing a system program, an application programs and for storing data and an interface enabling communication with an external processor in a local terminal adapted to access related data is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: determining from the data stored on the smartcard in a pre-transaction state if the transaction can be executed validly by the smartcard (102); determining from the related data stored in a pre-transaction state and accessible by said external processor if the transaction can be executed validly by the external processor (102); in response to said determining steps being affirmative, executing said transaction on said smartcard and by said external processor (105); and in response to said smartcard or said external processor failing to execute said transaction, restoring said data and said related data to the or each pre-transaction state (108).

Abstract: Communication units used by a communications terminal are measured, and an economic efficiency associated with use of the terminal is determined from the measured communication units and a stored critical value of a tariff of a communications system that is stored in smart card that is coupled to the terminal. Measures to control communications unit usage by the terminal are initiated based on the determined economic efficiency. The measures to control usage may include providing an indication, e.g., a visual or audible indication, of the determined economic efficiency to a user of the terminal. According to one aspect, a first indication of economic efficiency is provided to the user, e.g., a first icon is displayed, if the measured communication units are less than the stored critical value, and a second indication of economic efficiency is provided to the user, e.g., a second icon is displayed, if the measured communication units are greater than the stored critical value.

Abstract: A method for currency management and tracking utilizing a unique standardized cassette for the transportation of note bundles and loading of note bundles into currency processing apparatus, the cassette having an accompanying smart card on which data regarding the individual note history of each note contained therein and distributed therefrom is recorded. The invention further provides for the uploading of data stored on cassette smart cards to a central data bank, thus allowing for the management and statistical modeling of the currency pool.

Abstract: To a communication network there is connected an electronic money server that temporarily stores electronic money. The remittance of electronic money from a remitter to a receiptor is carried out by dividing the remittance process into two steps, namely, the remittance from the remitter to the electronic money server and the remittance from the electronic money server to the receiptor. When the electronic money server receives [an] electronic money from a remitter, the electronic money server sends to a receiptor an electronic mail message saying that a payment of electronic money has been received. The receiptor requests the electronic money server to transfer the received electronic money based on this electronic mail message.

Abstract: A portable terminal device for electronic money IC cards containing monetary data therein, includes in a main body (10): a card slot opening (12, or 12 and 13) into which a plurality of electronic money IC cards (100 and 110, or 100, 110 and 120) are inserted; electric contact terminals (16 and 17, or 16, 17 and 18 ) for reading and writing the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into the card slot opening; a display (80) for displaying money amount of the monetary data which is read out from inserted electronic money IC cards or which is to be written into the inserted electronic money IC cards; and a button (82) for manipulating the reading and writing operations of the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into the card slot opening; wherein the card slot opening (12, or 12 and 13) is so configured that the plurality of electronic money IC cards (100 and 110, or 100, 110 and 120) are inserted into and positioned while being clo

Abstract: The hologram card generates a hologram image in response to an illumination light beam. The hologram card comprises a substrate of a first plastic material having a first refractive index. The substrate has a contoured surface. The contoured surface is formed to include localized topological features constituting a diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element is structured to generate a hologram image when illuminated by the illumination light beam. The hologram card also comprises a protective layer of a second plastic material having a second refractive index that differs from the first refractive index by less than 0.2. The protective layer covers the contoured surface of the substrate. The protective layer is chemically bonded to, and directly contacts, at least the topological features constituting the diffractive optical element.

Abstract: A pass card having a card body with a cavity therein, a module with a semiconductor chip implanted permanently in the cavity of the card body, and a micro-encapsulated adhesive for fixing a nonconductive plastic substrate of the module in the card body.

Abstract: An electronic-money card is used for carrying out transactions such as depositing, drawing, cash exchanging and transfers of electronic money in an automatic teller machine. A plurality of menus showing a variety of transactions are displayed so that the user to select one of the menus. If the deposit menu is selected, menus for cash and electronic money are displayed to request the user to select whether the money to be deposited is cash or electronic money. If the user selects the electronic-money deposit menu, the user is requested to enter a cash card and a password number. Once the password number is entered, the validity of the user is verified. After the validity of the user has been verified, the user is requested to enter an IC card and to specify the amount of electronic money to be deposited.

Abstract: Discretionary data encoded on a track of a magnetic strip card is used to improve the reliability of recovery of the card data and, when coupled with complementary processing in the EFT terminal, protects the PIN on an end to end basis (that is between the transaction terminal and the card issuer), as well as providing for end to end card authentication. An issuing bank encodes cards under the control of a number of encryption and encoding keys which are unique to the Issuer Identification Number (IIN). The result of this is an individual encryption key (Card Key CK) for each card which is derived from this key. The encoded Card Key (CK) which is stored in an encoded form within the track discretionary data is used as the basis of a key to firs encrypt the PIN. The Card Key is combined with transaction variables such as amount of the transaction to produce a unique PIN key for this transaction. The Card Key is not transmitted by the terminal to the controlling computer system.

Abstract: A smart card for financial transactions that can be programmed to operate using a variety of applications is disclosed. The card includes an interpreter that interfaces the smart card and an automatic teller machine or merchant terminal. The card includes a plurality of application modules each of which contain application programming that can be used by the interpreter to manage the card-to-system interface. At least one of the application modules can be reprogrammed to provide application programming for the interpreter that is compatible with the locally prevalent application program used by automatic teller machines and card terminals in the area where the cardholder is traveling.

Abstract: A secured network system comprising a readykey controller connected to a st card reader and a power relay switch. The user inserts a microchip embedded card into the first card reader which transmits a first electrical authorization signal to the readykey controller indicating that the user is authorized to use a computer for receiving and processing classified data. The readykey controller then supplies a first enable signal to a power relay switch activating the power relay switch which couples the computer's power supply to an external power source. The secured network system also allows the user to receive and process classified data, by setting a manual A/B switch to a predetermined position which allows a secured network server to be connected to the computer. The user next inserts his proximity card into a second card reader which then transmits a second electrical authorization signal to the readykey controller indicating that the user is authorized to receive and process classified data.

Abstract: For a memory card that includes memory blocks containing reliability parameters (P.sub.1, P.sub.2, and P.sub.3) and respective reliability weights (PF.sub.1, PF.sub.2, and PF.sub.3), for the parameters, the method comprises the following steps:determining the reliability weights corresponding to the access request;computing an interactive reliability weight (PFI) as a function of the respective reliability weights of the access request;comparing the interactive reliability weight with an access reliability index (FA); andauthorizing or refusing access to the application as a function of the results of the comparison.

Abstract: An electronic passbook system including an electronic passbook card having two separate account namely a general account and an electronic wallet account, allowing the user to conduct cash deposit and cash withdrawal transactions flexibly, safely and efficiently in both an "on-line" mode and an "off-line" mode. The electronic passbook card has a data memory containing a general account information area for recording information for processing cash deposit and withdrawal transactions in an "on-line" mode, and an electronic wallet account information area for performing mutual transmission with the general account information area in an "on-line" mode and recording information for processing cash withdrawal transactions in an "off-line" mode.

Abstract: Process for protecting components of smart cards from fraudulent use, wherein the component is locked as long as an unlock order formed by a secret key has not been applied thereto, characterized in that it consists in writing in the component, at the time of its manufacture, a value and a result, the result being associated with the said value by a given algorithm and the secret key.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a coupon savings account system for transferring coupon amounts from a store account to a purchaser's account to be used for educational or other purposes. In this system, coupon amounts are totaled and transferred to an account read from an account card. The system connects with the banking system to complete the transfer of funds from the store's account to the identified account. The system also permits transfer of matching funds by companies and organizations. The system also allows for operation of coupons according to existing practices whereby the total of the coupons is debited from the balance to be paid by the purchaser.

Abstract: A touch screen apparatus with tactile feedback is disclosed. Tactile information, such as Braille or other symbolic representations, is integrally connected to an area on the touch screen surface. This tactile information can be molded into the touch screen surface as part of its initial manufacturing process, or can be added later by making the tactile information our of epoxy or or by placing a plastic film containing the tactile information over the touch screen surface. The touch screen display can be part of a desktop or laptop computer, can be part of a computer system in a public information kiosk or automated teller machine application, or can be included as an information panel in stereo equipment, transportation equipment, etc.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention has on a substrate information recording patterns (2) and (3) distinguishable by a difference in light reflectivity, and is characterized in that said information recording pattern (2) is comprised of a portion (2a) of high reflectivity and a portion (2b) of low reflectivity and at least a part of said information recording patterns is formed by a diffraction grating or hologram (3). Since such plural types of information can be formed at the same time and at high density, the present invention has a merit of its having excellent fake-proofness and its manufacturing process being simplified.