AU723376B2

AU723376B2 - Automatic visa issuing device

Info

Publication number: AU723376B2
Application number: AU32285/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Thomas Ross
Original assignee: Visual Technology Pty Ltd
Current assignee: William Torrens Publishers Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-12
Filing date: 1999-05-27
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-12
Also published as: AU3228599A

Description

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Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): VISUAL TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD A.C.N. 003 811 274 Invention Title: AUTOMATIC VISA ISSUING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: I i' -2- Automatic Visa Issuing Device Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ticket issuing systems such as a visa issuing system or the like.

Background of the Invention The issuing of visas or other forms of authorisations is often conducted in an 'over the counter' environment. The utilisation of such over the counter mode of operation often require excessive manpower to properly staff such operations. Appropriate contexts in which over the counter transactions are likely to take place include, for example, licence renewals, registration renewals, banking transactions, payment of bills etc.

15 It would be desirable to provide for an .i alternative form of automatic authorisation of S* transactions.

Summary of the Invention S-According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an automatic authentication issuing device, comprising applicant information input means at which an "*applicant for a visa inputs information relating to the applicant's request for the authentication; computing means for storing and processing the information input by the applicant; and authentication issuing means for issuing the authentication to the applicant if the computing means determines that the applicant is entitled to the authentication.

The authentication issuing means ideally comprises a visa issuing means.

The visa issuing means can be an automatic stamping device for stamping the applicant's passport with a stamp representing the visa.

The visa issuing means can also comprise a sticker dispensing device for dispensing a visa sticker to the applicant, which can be stuck in the applicant's passport.

J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 3 The applicant information input means can comprise a display screen for displaying general information to the applicant, prompting the applicant for required information, and/or displaying information input by the applicant.

Ideally, the issuing device further comprises a camera, and the display screen is adapted to display an image of the applicant produced by the camera.

In that case, the screen can be a touch sensitive screen, preferably of the type (displaying the alphabet) described above.

Preferably, the automatic visa issuing device further comprises payment means for accepting a payment *"from the applicant before issuing a visa, the issuance of 15 the visa being dependent on the payment made.

For example, the payment means can comprise a coin and note validation device, and/or a bank card reader for debiting the applicant's bank account directly.

Ideally, the automatic visa issuing device comprises a passport reading device for reading, for example optically or magnetically, information from the applicant's passport before issuing a visa, the issuance of the visa being dependent on the information read.

Additionally or alternatively, the automatic visa issuing device can comprise image recording means for S"recording an image of the applicant, and providing the computing means with a digitised image of the applicant, so that the computer means can compare the digitised image with a digitised image of the owner of the passport presented to the passport reading device, and determine whether the applicant is the true owner of the passport.

The digitised image of the owner of the passport can be read by the passport reading device from a photograph in the passport, or can be stored in memory and accessed by the computing means on the basis of other information read from the passport.

Alternatively, the present invention can be used J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 4 in many other contacts, for example, for authentication for licence renewals, registration renewals, banking transactions or bill payments. Further, in one further modification, the issuing device can be interconnected with a central authentication authority over a wide area network, which upon approval of the issuance of the authentication, causes the authentication issuing means to issue the authentication.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the various aspects of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective of the preferred *"embodiment.

15 Preferred Embodiments of the Invention The preferred embodiment will now be described S'with reference to Fig. 1 which shows an automated VISA issuing device 2. The issuing device 2 is provided with a passport insertion slot 4 into which a person wishing to obtain a VISA must insert his or her passport. Also provided on the front of the issuing device 2 is a coin "slot 6 for receiving coins, and a note validation slot 8 for receiving bank notes, which may be required if there is a fee attached to the issue of the VISA. Below those slots 25 is a card slot 10 adapted to receive a banking card, such as a credit card, or smart card, in order to provide an alternative form of payment.

At the top of the issuing device 2, there is provided a camera 12 for producing an image of the applicant on a screen 14. Although only one camera 12 is shown, there may be a number of cameras, including for example stereo or multiple camera lenses. Lights 16 are also provided for illuminating the face of the applicant.

Below the screen 14, there is provided a keyboard 18, which allows the applicant to input the necessary information, for example in response to questions displayed on the screen 14. As an alternative to the keyboard 18, J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 the screen 14 may be touch sensitive. Beside the keyboard 18 there is provided a signature device 20 for obtaining a signature from the applicant. The signature device moves out a piece of paper or card 22 which the applicant is required to sign, and then retracts the paper or card 22 back into the issuing device 2 in order to prevent fraud.

It will be appreciated that by requiring an original signature on the paper or card 22, the issuing device 2 avoids the possibility of an applicant presenting an unauthorised copy of some other persons signature to the issuing device 2 for verification.

The issuing device 2 carries out various checks in order to determine whether or not to issue the applicant with a VISA. In particular, the issuing device 2 compares the signature on the applicant's passport with the signature of the applicant on the paper or card 22. The issuing device 2 also compares the image of the applicant's face obtained via the camera 12, and displayed on the *screen 14, with an image of the applicant stored in an 20 appropriate database, or with an image of the applicant obtained from a photograph on the applicant's passport. It will be appreciated that these procedures involve conventional methods of digitising and comparing images to within a predetermined threshold using appropriate :°oolo software.

S"If the issuing device 2 determines that the applicant is entitled to a VISA, the issuing device 2 either presents the applicant with a printed authorisation, or automatically stamps, or applies a sticker to, the applicants passport. In the case of issuance of a printed authorisation, the applicant must take the printed authorisation to the relevant authorised officer in order to obtain a VISA. The issuing device 2 is linked to a central records facility by a local area network, wide area network or modem as appropriate. It will be appreciated that this provides the ability to automatically detect certain persons, such as known terrorists. Similar, if the J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 6 issuing device 2 determines that fraud is likely, appropriate members of the VISA issuing organisation may be alerted automatically.

It is also possible to use the issuing device 2 in a semi-automatic manner, in which images of the passport of the applicant are transmitted in real time to an officer undertaking comparison. Voice communication can be provided between the officer and the applicant, who may be located at separate locations in a building, or even in separate countries. In one embodiment, the network communication can be implemented over a standard Internet type network.

The issuing device 2 can also perform the function of taking passport or similar photographs upon 15 payment of a fee. In this case, the applicant or customer requiring such a photograph has the opportunity to check S"his or her personal appearance and presented view by observing the image on the screen 14 before activating the cameras digitised storage ability by the pressing of a 20 button or key as appropriate. Alternatively, there may be two separate cameras, one being the electronic imaging camera 12 which provides an image on the screen 14 (which can be a conventional cathode ray display or a liquid crystal display), and the other being a camera which 25 exposes conventional film in order to provide the customer S"with prints. In such a case, the respective lenses are preferably placed immediately adjacent each other in order to obtain the closest correspondence of views.

Alternatively, the lenses can be co-located via mirrors, or accept incident light reflected from the subject through a single lense. For example, a twin lense reflex arrangement can be used to enhance the image definition, personal appearance and/or clarity means can be provided to allow the customer to adjust the brightness of the facial illumination device and/or the direction or directions from which light from the illumination device illuminates the subject's face.

J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 7 The issuing device 2 can also be provided with a hand-print profile recording device which records, measures and compares the shape and size of a hand. Additionally or alternatively, a finger print comparison device or other means of comparing physical attributes of a VISA applicant with information contained in their passport or other records, can also be provided.

Of course, it will be evident that the arrangement described with reference to Fig. 1 can be readily utilised in other environments. For example, licence renewals, registration renewals, banking transactions, payment of bills etc. Further, the arrangement can be used in many different contexts. For ."example, as an authorisation device, a transaction device, 15 a recording of transactions device, and issuing or recording of a photo device and as a payment device.

Further, the extension of the preferred embodiment to other forms of networked environment would be readily evident.

For example, the preferred embodiment could be readily 20 implemented over an Internet type environment, using the Internet as the primary network transmission medium.

The foregoing describes only preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99

Claims

1. An automatic authentication issuing device, comprising applicant information input means at which an applicant for a authentication inputs information relating to the applicant's request for the authentication; computing means for storing and processing the information input by the applicant; and authentication issuing means for issuing the authentication to the applicant if the computing means determines that the applicant is entitled to the authentication.

2. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the authentication comprises a visa.

3. An automatic authentication issuing device 15 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the authentication issuing means comprises an automatic stamping device for stamping the applicant's passport with a stamp representing the visa.

4. An automatic authentication issuing device S. 20 as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the authentication issuing means comprises a sticker dispensing device for dispensing a visa sticker to the applicant, which can be stuck in the applicant's passport.

An automatic authentication issuing device 25 as claimed in previous claim, wherein the applicant information input means comprises a display screen for displaying general information to the applicant, prompting the applicant for required information, and/or displaying information input by the applicant.

6. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in claim 5, which further comprises a camera, and the display screen is adapted to display an image of the applicant produced by the camera.

7. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the screen is a touch sensitive screen.

8. An automatic authentication issuing device J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99 9 as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the automatic visa issuing device further comprises payment means for accepting a payment from the applicant before issuing a visa, the issuance of the visa being dependent on the payment made.

9. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in any previous claim 7, which further comprises a passport reading device for reading information from the applicant's passport before issuing a visa, the issuance of the visa being dependent on the information read.

An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in any previous claim, which further comprises image recording means for recording an image of the applicant, and providing the computing means with a 15 digitised image of the applicant, wherein the computer .i means compares the digitised image with a digitised image of the owner of the passport presented to the passport reading device, and determines whether the applicant is the true owner of the passport. 20

11. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in any previous claim wherein said authentication comprises one of a licence renewals, registration renewals, banking transaction or bill payment.

12. An automatic authentication issuing device as claimed in any previous claim wherein said device is interconnected with a central authentication authority over a wide area network, which upon approval of the issuance of said authentication, causes said authentication issuing means to issue said authentication.

13. An automatic authentication issuing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\32962.doc 11/03/99