Portable Terminal IC Module Balance Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for preventing electronic money fraud after loss or theft, such as locking the entire electronic money card, fail to allow for accurate determination of the remaining balance and can lead to time lags in acquiring log data, making it difficult to distinguish between proper use and fraudulent use.
Innovation Solution
A portable terminal with an IC module that includes storage for balance data, a balance response mechanism, an amount change mechanism, and access control, which imposes restrictions on balance data access using authentication information, allowing for secure acquisition and storage of balance data before releasing access restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire electronic money card is locked to prevent fraud after loss or theft, then security against fraudulent use is improved, but the ability to check the electronic money balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electronic money card into two functional parts: a locked portion that prevents fraudulent transactions and an unlocked portion that allows balance checking. The access control means selectively restricts access to specific data items (balance data remains accessible while transaction functions are locked), resolving the contradiction between security and usability.
2Reliability
If log data is acquired from payment terminal to determine electronic money balance, then fraud prevention is improved, but time lag occurs and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the portable terminal automatically acquire and store balance data from the IC module before any potential fraud can occur. This pre-acquired balance data is immediately available for fraud determination without time lag, eliminating the measurement precision problem while maintaining fraud prevention capability.
3Reliability
If access restrictions are imposed on balance data using authentication information, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access control system utilizes authentication information that the user already possesses (such as device unlock credentials or biometric data) to control access to balance data. The system serves itself by reusing existing authentication mechanisms rather than requiring separate complex security systems, thus improving security while minimizing additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable terminal, a terminal function management system, and a terminal function management method that can prevent electronic money fraud by another person after loss or theft and readily and accurately determine the electronic money balance to be guaranteed are provided. In a portable terminal, a lock function that imposes restrictions on access to a chip storage unit that stores a value balance is enabled. It is thereby possible to prevent electronic money fraud by another person after the loss or theft of the portable terminal. Further, in the portable terminal, a value balance acquired after the lock function is enabled and before the lock function is released is stored in an electronic money server. It is thereby possible to readily and accurately determine the electronic money balance to be guaranteed which is stored the chip storage unit at the time when the loss or theft is found.