A coupon / card password printing system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses a card PIN printing system, including a card number reading unit and a PIN generator. The PIN generator receives card number information sent by the card number reading unit and generates a card PIN based on the card number information using an encryption algorithm. The PIN generator then transmits the card PIN to the printing unit for printing on the card and overwrites the PIN. After printing, the PIN information in the PIN generator is automatically deleted. This PIN printing system and method sets up the PIN generator independently. After generating the card PIN, the PIN generator directly sends it to the printing unit for printing. Immediately after printing, the corresponding card PIN is deleted. This ensures that no one can directly access or obtain the card PIN information during the entire printing process, thereby maximizing the prevention of PIN leakage, ensuring PIN security, and ultimately guaranteeing the secure use of the securities card.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of password printing technology, and in particular to a password printing system and method for use on coupons and cards. Background Technology

[0002] In people's daily lives, various coupons and cards (such as gift cards, gift certificates, shopping cards, etc.) are widely used. Since these coupons and cards usually contain a certain redemption value, for security reasons, a card number and password are usually set on the coupons and cards to verify their authenticity. On existing coupons and cards, the card number and password are usually printed on the surface of the coupons and cards, and the password is covered by a security layer.

[0003] Currently, the printing of card numbers and passwords on coupons typically involves pre-generated card numbers and passwords being mapped one-to-one before being transmitted to the printing equipment. This method allows printing operators or other personnel easy access to the pre-generated card numbers and passwords, easily leading to information leaks. Chinese invention patent (patent number: 2006100293012) discloses a method for instant card production. This method generates card numbers and passwords via a server, records the mapping between card numbers and passwords, and then prints the card numbers and passwords on the card, while covering the password. When verifying the password, the card number is used to retrieve the corresponding password to determine its authenticity. Although this method uses randomly generated card numbers and passwords from the server, the mapping is still recorded on the server, leaving a risk of information leakage if the server is compromised. Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the existing coupon password printing methods and systems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to develop a coupon card password printing system and method that can effectively prevent password leakage and is more secure to use.

[0005] A card PIN printing system includes: a card number reading unit for reading card number information to be printed; a PIN generator, independently configured and communicatively connected to the card number reading unit, which receives card number information from the card number reading unit and generates a PIN based on the card number information using an encryption algorithm; and a printing unit, communicatively connected to the PIN generator, which transmits the card number and the corresponding generated PIN to the printing unit for printing on the card, and overlays the PIN information on the card with an overlay layer. After printing is complete, the printed PIN information in the PIN generator is automatically deleted.

[0006] Preferably, the card number reading unit can obtain the card number information to be printed by scanning, reading a text file, or automatically generating it.

[0007] Preferably, the password generator and the printing unit are connected by a plug-in connection.

[0008] Preferably, the password generator is equipped with a MAC address verification module.

[0009] Preferably, the password generator is set separately from the card number reading unit and the printing unit.

[0010] Preferably, the password generator uses an irreversible encryption algorithm to generate the card password.

[0011] This patent also discloses a password printing method, including the following steps: 1) Reading the card number information to be printed through the card number reading unit; 2) Transmitting the read card number to an independently set password generator, which generates a card password through an encryption algorithm; 3) The password generator transmits the card number and corresponding card password information to the printing unit, which prints the card number and card password on the card and covers the card password information on the card with an overlay layer; 4) After printing is completed, the printed card number and card password information are automatically deleted from the password generator.

[0012] Preferably, the password generator receives one card number at a time and generates a corresponding card password, which is then sent to the printing unit for printing.

[0013] Preferably, the password generator is pluggable onto the printing unit. When printing is required, the password generator can be plugged into the printing unit for printing. After the coupon card is printed, the password generator can be removed from the printing unit.

[0014] Preferably, in step 4), after the printing unit finishes printing, a feedback signal is sent to the password generator. After receiving the feedback signal, the password generator deletes the printed password, reads the next set of card numbers, generates the corresponding card password information, and prints it.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects: The card password printing system and method separates the password generator and the printing unit and sets them up independently. After the password generator generates the card password, it sends it directly to the printing unit for printing. After printing, the card password is deleted. In this way, no one will directly access and obtain the card password information during the entire printing process, thereby preventing the leakage of card password information to the greatest extent, ensuring password security, and thus ensuring the safe use of the securities card. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make the invention more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a full understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of the invention may be practiced with one or more of these specific details omitted, or other methods, components, apparatus, steps, etc., may be employed. In other instances, well-known technical solutions are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the invention.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, this patent discloses a coupon / card password printing system, which mainly comprises three parts: a card number reading unit 1, a password generator 2, and a printing unit 3. The card number reading unit 1 is mainly used to read the card number information to be printed on the coupon / card. The card number information can be read by scanning, by directly reading a stored text file, or by the card number reading unit 1 generating the corresponding card number randomly or according to specific rules. The password generator 2 is communicatively connected to the card number reading unit 1. The password generator 2 receives the card number information generated by the card number reading unit 1 and generates the card password through an encryption algorithm, as a preferred embodiment. The encryption algorithm can be an irreversible encryption algorithm. The printing unit 3 is communicatively connected to the password generator 2. The printing unit 3 receives the card password sent by the password generator 2 and prints it on the coupon / card corresponding to the card number. The card number and password on the coupon / card can be printed simultaneously or separately. After the card password information is printed, it needs to be covered by an overlay layer.

[0021] In this patent, the password generator 2 is independently configured, meaning it is separate from the card number reading unit 1 and the printing unit 3. When communication is required, the password generator 2 can be plugged into the printing unit 3, for example, by providing a USB port for direct plugging and unplugging via USB. The password generator 2 is essentially an external, independent hardware component, typically housed in a sealed enclosure. During printing, it can only communicate with the card number reading unit 1 and the printing unit 3; other external hardware cannot access it. For better security, the password generator 2 and the printing unit 3 should ideally be configured in a one-to-one correspondence. A MAC address verification module can be incorporated into the password generator 2, ensuring that each password generator 2 corresponds only to a specific printing unit 3. This prevents password generation and printing even if other password generators are installed on the printing unit 3, thus achieving better security.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the card number reading unit 1 and the printing unit 3 can be configured as an integral structure, that is, a printing device with reading function. Through this printing device, card numbers can be read and printed. The password generator 2 can be connected to the printing device, but should be set separately, that is, the password generator 2 can be plugged into the printing device.

[0023] like Figure 2 As shown, when using this system for password printing, the card number information to be printed is first read by the card number reading unit 1. Then, the read card number is transmitted to the independently configured password generator 2. The password generator 2 generates the card password using an encryption algorithm. The card password is generated instantly, not pre-set. The encryption algorithm can be set as needed; various existing encryption algorithms can be applied to this patented technology, such as symmetric key algorithms, asymmetric key algorithms, and HASH algorithms. For better security, an irreversible HASH algorithm is preferred. Next, the password generator 2 transmits the corresponding card password information to the printing unit 3. The printing unit 3 prints the card number and card password on the card and overwrites the card password. Finally, after printing is complete, the card password information in the password generator 2 is automatically deleted, and the printing unit itself cannot store the printed card number and card password. Using this method, after printing, the entire printing system no longer stores the printed card password information, thus maximizing the protection against password leakage during the printing process.

[0024] To achieve better security and prevent information leakage due to delayed printing caused by batch data processing, the password generator 2 should ideally receive only one card number at a time, generate the corresponding card password, and send it to the printing unit for printing. Each printed password should be promptly deleted, effectively preventing password leakage. Alternatively, after the printing unit completes printing, it sends a feedback signal to the password generator. Upon receiving the feedback signal, the password generator deletes the printed password, reads the next card number, generates the corresponding card password information, and prints it. This prevents accidental printing.

[0025] To achieve better security, the password generator is pluggable onto the printing unit. When printing is needed, the password generator can be inserted into the printing unit for printing. After the card is printed, the password generator can be removed from the printing unit, which further prevents password leakage.

[0026] This card PIN printing system and method features an independently configured PIN generator. After generating the PIN, the generator sends it directly to the printer for printing. Once printing is complete, the PIN is automatically deleted from the generator. This ensures that no one directly accesses the PIN during the printing process, maximizing security and preventing PIN leakage. When card authentication is required, a PIN decryptor can be set up to decrypt the PIN by entering the card number. This patented system and method completely eliminates operator access to PIN information during printing, providing excellent security and possessing significant market potential.

[0027] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A password printing system, characterized in that, It includes: Card number reading unit, the card number reading unit is used to read the card number information to be printed; A password generator is provided, which is independently configured and communicatively connected to the card number reading unit. The password generator receives card number information sent by the card number reading unit and generates a card password based on the card number information using an encryption algorithm. The password generator is connected to the printing unit via a plug-in connection. The printing unit is communicatively connected to the password generator. The password generator transmits the generated card password to the printing unit, which prints it on the corresponding card number. The card password information on the card is covered by an overlay layer. After printing is completed, the printed card password information in the password generator is automatically deleted.

2. The password printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The card number reading unit can obtain the card number information to be printed by scanning, reading a text file, or automatically generating it.

3. The password printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The password generator is equipped with a MAC address verification module.

4. The password printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The password generator uses an irreversible encryption algorithm to generate card passwords.

5. The password printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The card number reading unit and the printing unit are separated and configured as an integrated printing device, and the password generator is separated from the printing device.

6. A method for printing a password, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: 1) Read the card number information to be printed through the card number reading unit; 2) The read card number is transmitted to a separately configured password generator, which generates the card password using an encryption algorithm; 3) The password generator transmits the card password information to the printing unit. The printing unit prints the card password on the voucher with the corresponding card number and uses an overlay layer to cover the card password information on the voucher. The password generator is pluggable on the printing unit. When printing is required, the password generator can be plugged into the printing unit for printing. After the voucher is printed, the password generator can be removed from the printing unit. 4) After printing is complete, the printed card number and card password information will be automatically deleted from the password generator.

7. The password printing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The password generator receives a card number each time and generates a corresponding card password, which is then sent to the printing unit for printing.

8. The password printing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step 4), after the printing unit finishes printing, it sends a feedback signal to the password generator. After receiving the feedback signal, the password generator deletes the printed password, reads the next set of card numbers, generates the corresponding card password information, and prints it.

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