Method and apparatus for recording usage data of card operated devices.

摘要

Method for recording usage data of a card operated device (2), such as a public telephone set or a vending machine, the method comprising the storage of the usage data in a storage unit (3) associated with the device. The usage data being stored in the storage unit have first been transferred from the device (2) to the card (1) and subsequently from the card (1) to the device (2). The security of the data transfers may be enhanced by cryptographic techniques. Preferably, transmission of the usage data from the card (1) to the storage unit (3) takes place during a verification procedure by means of which the authenticity of the card is checked.