An IC card operation system is disclosed which enhances the added values of data
stored on IC cards to promote acceptance of the cards. The storage area of each
IC card is divided into a private and a public area. The private area accommodates
a transport fare value while the public area stores reward points issued by shops.
The shop-issued reward points are convertible to a transport fare value. The public
area is further divided into a shop-specific point area and a common point area,
the shop-specific point area accumulating points shop by shop, the common point
area retaining points common to all shops. Each shop accumulates points to both
of the shop-specific and common point area. Points are deducted from the common
point area for use as a transport fare value. That is, only the points accumulated
in the common point area of the IC card are used as transport fares while the points
accumulated by individual shops are kept unchanged.