WO2005010836A1

WO2005010836A1 - Improvements introduced in equipment used in security, commercial and bank automation systems

Info

Publication number: WO2005010836A1
Application number: PCT/BR2004/000131
Authority: WO
Inventors: João Ernesto Figueiredo SENA
Original assignee: Itautec Philco S/A - Grupo Itautec Philco
Priority date: 2003-07-24
Filing date: 2004-07-23
Publication date: 2005-02-03
Also published as: BR0302525A

Abstract

Improvements introduced in equipment used in security, commercial and bank automation systems, whereby the equipment (E) is provided with a command-by-glance system (1) composed of a specially positioned camera (2) and infrared sensors (3). Elements (2) and (3) receive the user's (U) commands through his or her glance at specific fields or command keys (4a) available on the monitor screen (4), and send them to the equipment's CPU (5) to execute the desired operation.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN EQUIPMENT USED IN SECURITY. COMMERCIAL AND BANK AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Equipment used in bank automation systems, commonly called self-service equipment, or ATMs, is already technically known. This equipment is used for the automation and decentralization of general bank services. It allows the user to request and obtain certain services through an interface that interacts directly with the bank without requiring another person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Similar equipment is also used in commercial automation and security systems to conduct all transactions, and provides automatic authorized clearance for environments in general. In the equipment normally used in automation systems, a user typically conducts the different operations by typing in commands on the keyboard and/or on the monitor screen ("touch screen"). The user's identification and authorization to begin any operation is gained through a magnetic access card which is tied to a password as well as to a series of other confidential information items known only to the user (e.g. date of birth, RG [Identity Card] number, CPF [Taxpayer] number, etc.). These individual and secret passwords or personal codes are also entered on the keyboard and/or by pointing the mouse at certain characters that appear on the monitor screen. A major inconvenience of the equipment used in security and commercial bank automation systems is the total lack of security, and, over the last few years, an increase has been measured in the number of attempts to breach the security of the above mentioned automation equipment. In fact, the equipment functions with keyboard strokes or monitor screen touches which can be observed and memorized by others or even photographed and filmed with hidden cameras, making the cloning of cards and the theft of passwords possible, leading to bank machine operations to be conducted by unauthorized parties. Thus, the entry of passwords and personal codes by keyboard and/or monitor screen is subject to espionage and breaches of privacy, private data can become public and the system's security can be compromised.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In an attempt to solve these inconveniences, the present improvements introduced in equipment used in security, commercial and bank automation systems was developed, whereby the above-mentioned equipment is provided with a command-by-glance system. This system is equipped with a camera and infrared sensors which are appropriately positioned in the equipment so as to receive the user's commands through directed glances at certain command keys appearing on the monitor screen. In other words, the infrared sensors in this improved system receive the user's commands through his or her glances directed at the keys on the equipment's monitor screen. Depending on the positioning of the glance, the user operates the command keys in response to a signal emitted by the infrared sensors, which capture a return message from the eyes and send it to the CPU to execute the desired operation. The monitor screens (CRT or LCD) of the security and commercial bank automation systems are outfitted with numeric and/or alphanumeric keys, and/or predefined fields which are operated by the user's glance; this functionality is provided by a camera and sensors appropriately positioned in the equipment. With this new command-by-glance system, the need to insert a magnetic card in the equipment is eliminated, as is the need to type in passwords and personal codes on the keyboard or the touch screen. Consequently, the possibility of such passwords and/or codes being seen, identified and copied is hereby eliminated. Also, as magnetic cards are gradually eliminated, so is the risk of cloning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of typical automation equipment, specifically bank self-service equipment where the above-mentioned command- by-glance system has been introduced; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the components of the aforesaid command system; and Figure 3 is another drawing illustrating its operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject of present invention is an improvement introduced in equipment used in security, commercial and bank automation systems, where the aforesaid equipment (E) is equipped with a command-by-glance system (1) composed of a camera (2) and infrared sensors (3) appropriately arranged in the equipment. Elements (2) and (3) receive the user's (U) commands by the direction of his or her glance at certain command keys that appear on the monitor screen (4), which are then sent to the equipment's CPU (5) to execute the desired operation (please see figures 1 and 2). The monitor screen (4) of the equipment (E) is equipped with numeric and/or alphanumeric keys and/or predefined fields (4a), which are operated by the user's glance; this functionality is provided by the camera (2) and the sensors (3) outfitted in the system (1). As shown in Figure 3, and according to the hereby-innovated command system (1), the user commands operations by directing his or her glance exactly and directly at one of the keys/fields (4a) available on the monitor screen (4) corresponding to the desired operation. This positioning is captured by the camera (2) and by the sensors (3), which emit a signal back to the user

(U). After the exact location of the user's (U) glance is identified, the camera (2)/sensors (3) assembly immediately communicates with the CPU (5) and determines the desired operation, producing a response to the user's request and initiating the conventional operation routines of the equipment (E), whether it is equipment for bank self-service, commercial automation or security automation. With the hereby-innovated command-by-glance system, much more secure and reliable equipment is available to provide greater comfort and practicality to users.

Claims

1. IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN EQUIPMENT USED IN SECURITY, COMMERCIAL AND BANK AUTOMATION SYSTEMS is characterized as that where the above-mentioned equipment (E) is equipped with a command-by-glance system (1) composed of a camera (2) and infrared sensors (3) arranged in the equipment. Elements (2) and (3) receive the user's (U) commands through user directed glances at certain fields or command keys (4a) available on the monitor screen (4). These are then sent to the equipment's CPU (5) to execute the desired operation.

2. IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN EQUIPMENT USED IN SECURITY, COMMERCIAL AND BANK AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, in accordance with Claim 1 , is characterized by the condition that the command of operations is achieved through exact user (U) directed glances at one of the keys/fields (4a) available on the monitor screen (4) corresponding to the desired operation. This is captured by the camera (2) and the sensors (3), which emit a signal back to the user; upon the exact identification of the positioning of the user's (U) glance, the camera (2)/sensors (3) assembly communicates with the CPU (5), which identifies the desired operation through the positioning of the glance at the key/field (4a) of the monitor screen (4) and emits a response to the user's request. The equipment then completes the desired operation.