IC card system and method for securing the system

An IC card system for transmitting encoded data to a host computer using an IC card which stores information for encoding the data, comprising:

• holding means which holds the IC card;
• means for encoding data using the encoding key data stored in the IC card to generate the encoded data;
• means for transmitting the encoded data to the host computer;
• means for generating a signal directing the holding means to eject the IC card;
• application means for applying a voltage large enough to destroy the IC in response to receiving the signal directing the holding means to eject the IC card;
• and
• ejection means for ejecting the IC card from the holding means after the voltage has been applied by the application means.

A method of securing an IC card system that encodes data using encoding key data stored on an IC card, comprising:

• receiving a command to eject the IC card from an IC card reader/writer;
• erasing or rewriting the encoding key data stored in the IC card with the IC card reader/writer in response to the received command;
• generating a signal indicating permission to eject the IC card when the erasing or rewriting of the encoding information stored in the IC card has completed;
• and
• ejecting the IC card from the IC card read/writer in response to the signal indicating permission.

A method of securing an IC card system that encodes data using encoding kev data stored on an IC card, comprising:

• receiving a command to eject the IC card from an IC card reader/writer;
• applying to the IC card in response to the received command, a voltage large enough to destroy the IC card so that the IC card can no longer store encoding key data;
• and
• ejecting the IC card from the IC card reader/writer after the voltage has been applied to the IC card.

A system for encoding information based on an IC card of the user, comprising:

• an IC card reader/writer configured to accept and hold the IC card, the IC card reader/writer reading an encoding key stored on the IC card;
• an eject switch connected to the IC card reader/writer, the eject switch, when activated, causing generation of an eject signal;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the IC card reader/writer, the control circuit arranged to receive the encoding key from the IC card reader/writer and encode the information based on the encoding key, and, in response to receiving the eject signal, issuing a control instruction to the IC card reader/writer to erase or rewrite the encoding key stored on the IC card before the IC card is ejected from the IC card reader/writer.