WO2008057057A1

WO2008057057A1 - A state control sensor activating and/or deactivating an anti-fraud device and a magnetic card reader/writer for an sst or an atm

Info

Publication number: WO2008057057A1
Application number: PCT/TR2006/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cihat Celik Basar; Hakan Askeroglu; Ismet Yesil
Original assignee: Cihat Celik Basar; Hakan Askeroglu; Ismet Yesil
Priority date: 2006-11-10
Filing date: 2006-11-10
Publication date: 2008-05-15

Abstract

A state control sensor for detecting a foreign object in the vicinity of an SST (Self Service Terminal) or an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) comprising a transmitter transmitting signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and a receiver receiving signals reflecting back from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM for detecting if any change in state occurred in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, characterized in that the sensor is set to an initial state value by transmitting sonic or ultrasonic wave signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and receiving sonic or ultrasonic wave signals from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, and when a change in state is detected an anti-fraud device is activated and/or deactivated.

Description

A STATE CONTROL SENSOR ACTIVATING AND/OR DEACTIVATING AN ANTI-FRAUD DEVICE AND A MAGNETIC CARD READER/WRITER FOR AN

SST OR AN ATM

TECHNICAL FIELD

Present invention is a complementary application to PCT/TR2005/000007 having title "APPARATUS FOR PREVENTION OF READING MAGNETIC CARDS".

This present invention relates to a state control sensor detecting a foreign object in the vicinity of an SST (self service terminal) or an ATM (Automated Teller Machine), and activating and/or deactivating an anti-fraud device for the same. The state control sensor of the invention is also capable of directly communicating with Magnetic Card Reader/Writer unit (MCRW) of an SST or an ATM for activating and/or deactivating the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The anti-fraud device disclosed in PCT/TR2005/000007 is aimed at preventing the proper functioning of an unauthorized magnetic card reader installed in front of the entry slot of an SST or an ATM having a card reader associated with a power supply to operate thereof, and a computer, wherein an electronic circuit communicates with a coil to form an electromagnetic field around the coil for transmitting signals to the unauthorized magnetic card reader.

A sensor can be arranged to an SST or an ATM to activate and/or deactivate the anti-fraud device in response to a predetermined condition, i.e. when a fraud device or any foreign object is intended to be installed in the vicinity of an SST (or an ATM) or the entry slot thereof.

The term "foreign object" throughout this description may be equally used for various objects or arrangements comprising a fraud (skimming) device for reading and copying of data from magnetic cards without the authorization of the card holder; a "false front" arrangement meaning the front-face of an SST or an ATM device to defraud users; a camera which may be placed at an upper location of the an SST or an ATM to identify the card holder's access codes; a false cash dispenser placed at the an SSTs or ATM's real cash dispenser location to receive the cash prior to dispensing to the real cash dispenser.

A sensor device applicable to an ATM for detecting a fraud device is disclosed in GB 235 15 90. This document teaches that a self service terminal comprising a user interface and a proximity sensor located adjacent the user interface and for detecting a foreign object placed in contact with or in close proximity to the user interface. As it is known being an optical sensor, a proximity sensor can only be effective if no physical barrier is existent in front of the area of the proximity sensor. This requires, most of the time, a dedicated construction to sufficiently cover the proximity sensor that might be attacked otherwise. Ambient conditions including dust, dirt etc. deposited on the sensor can also be effective to fail the proximity sensor to operate properly.

US 6,422,475 discloses a self service terminal comprising means defining a user interface element including a magnetic card reader, and an anti-fraud device for detecting metal in an alien card reader positioned in the front vicinity of the card reader. The disadvantage with this solution is that the anti-fraud device can only detect metal objects, which fails to operate when a fraud card reader can be made up of a material other than substantially metal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a state control sensor for SSTs or ATMs which is more efficient, capable of detecting any foreign object made up of metal or non-metal material, and without requiring any dedicated construction in the SST or the ATM facia or keypad. Furthermore, the state control sensor of the invention is aimed at providing invisibility out of the SSTs or ATM's facia. holder; a "false front" arrangement meaning the front-face of an SST or an ATM device to defraud users; Toaaiera which may be placed at an upper location of the an SST or an ATM to identify the card holder's access codes; a false cash dispenser placed at the an SST's or ATM's real cash dispenser location to receive the cash prior to dispensing to the real cash dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a state control sensor for SSTs or ATMs which is more efficient, capable of detecting any foreign object made up of metal or non-metal material, and without requiring any dedicated construction in the SST or the ATM facia or keypad. Furthermore, the state control sensor of the invention is aimed at providing invisibility out of the SST's or ATM's facia. 3

The object is achieved by a state control sensor detecting a foreign object in the vicinity of an SST or an ATM, comprising a transmitter transmitting signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and a receiver receiving signals reflecting back from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM for detecting if any change in state occurred in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, characterized in that the sensor is set to an initial state value by transmitting sonic or ultrasonic wave signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and receiving sonic or ultrasonic wave signals from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, and a change in state is detected when the subsequent state value corresponding to the signal received by the receiver in subsequent sensing cycle is different than the initial state value.

The foreign object may include various kind of fraud devices comprising, and not limited to, a fraud device for reading magnetic cards, a false front arrangement, a camera, a false cash dispenser and so on.

According to one aspect of the invention, the state control sensor can be associated with the anti-fraud device disclosed in PCT/TR2005/000007 which comprises a card reader associated with a power supply to operate thereof, and a computer, wherein an electronic circuit communicates with a coil to form an electromagnetic field around the coil for transmitting signals to the unauthorized magnetic card reader.

According to another aspect of the invention, the state control sensor can be associated with the magnetic card reader/writer (MCRW) unit of an SST or an ATM to increase and/or decrease the voltage for terminating the operation thereof, in response to detection of a foreign object in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, not limiting the scope, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the anti-fraud device configuration in a schematic view.

Figure 2 illustrates the anti-fraud device components in a schematic view. Figure 3 illustrates the state control sensor in front view.

Figure 4 illustrates the state control sensor to the outer surface of an SST or an ATM in side view.

Figure 5 illustrates the state control sensor with control circuit in a schematic view.

Figure 1 illustrates the anti-fraud device configuration in a schematic view, According to the figure, the card reader circuit (3) reading the data on a magnetic card is powered by a power supply (5). Once a magnetic card is inserted into an insertion slot (2) the data read by the reader unit (3) are forwarded to a computer (6) of the ATM (or SST) to allow the card holder to perform transaction needed.

There is provided a state control sensor in the vicinity of the card entry slot (2), preferably, at the inner side of the facia (22) for detecting a foreign object in the area of the card entry slot (2). The state control sensor comprises two main units: The first unit includes a transmitting antenna (18) and a receiving antenna (19) as shown in Fig. 1. The transmitting antenna (18) is capable of transmitting sonic (preferably 3 Hz. to 300 KHz., and more preferably in a range of 1 KHz. to 100 KHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 KHz. to 35 KHz.) and/or ultrasonic waves (300 KHz. to 3 GHz., and more preferably in a range of 3 MHz. to 300 MHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 MHz. to 50 MHz.) to the outer side of the facia (22) to be detected for a change in state of this area. As the state control sensor of the invention is an acoustic device, any object to be detected would not need to be physically sighted by the state control sensor.

The state control sensor can be configured to the SST or the ATM to detect any foreign object including, but not limited to, a fraud device for reading magnetic cards, a false front arrangement, a camera, a false cash dispenser etc.

Initially, in the absence of any object at the outer side of the facia (22), the sensor is set to a certain value. This means that initial condition is taught to the sensor. 5

Signals transmitted by the transmitter (18), which is linked to an electronic circuit (20), to outer side of the facia (22) are reflected back to the receiver (19) which is linked to a receiver circuit (21) as seen in Figure 5.

The output signal of the receiver (19) is then fed into the receiver circuit (21) to store a value therein, namely value "A". As the sensor operates to transmit and receive signals continuously, each sensing cycle generates the same value "A" insofar as there is no change in state, existence of a foreign object, at the outer side of the facia (22). Once a foreign object (17) is brought in the vicinity of the outer side of the facia (22), then the value generated by the receiver circuit (21) becomes a different value, namely value "B" i.e. different from the value "A", due to change in signal sensed by the receiver (19) as a result of the existence of the object. By means of a software provided in the circuit (21), values received each sensing cycle are compared and an output signal (23) is generated when a change occurs between the initial value and any value generated in the course of subsequent sensing cycles.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the output signal (23) is forwarded to an electronic circuit (4) of the anti-fraud device to operate the latter. The electronic circuit (4) then triggers the coil (1) placed in the vicinity of the card entry slot (2) to form an electromagnetic field for transmitting signals interfering with the reading process of the fraud card reader.

The electronic circuit (4) is powered by the ATM or SST power supply (5), which is also driving the card reader unit (3). In the event that the coil (1) or the power supply (5) do not operate for some reason, the card reader (3) will not operate and the card will not enter the card entry slot (2), providing no reading of the data of the card by the fraud device.

As seen in Figure 2, the power required by the electronic circuit (4) is regulated in line with the required voltage values: +12V (9) and +5V (10) are the regulating 6

at oscillator B (11). The signal is conveyed to the coil (1) over the driver circuit (13). If the coil (1) is removed from its setting, this is detected by the feedback (15) path and MCRW voltage is terminated and a warning signal is generated. This warning signal can be transmitted by RS232 communication protocol or by an alarm output relay. If power input is interrupted for some reason, the power circuit, the ATM (or SST) and the MCRVV do not operate.

The state control sensor of the invention can also be devised to control directly the MCRW voltage through the output signal (23), which can provide to terminate the motion of the card drive motor. In other words, if the state control sensor detects a foreign object at the vicinity of the ATM (or SST), as disclosed above, then card drive motor is transmitted a control signal to terminate operation thereof, i.e. the card is not driven inside of the ATM (or SST) for reading. The output signal (23) can also be used to generate an alarm in the form of a noise or a warning signal to the nearest security service provider etc.

A further embodiment of the invention can provide elimination of magnetic cards when accessing user accounts from an ATM (or SST). With this embodiment the state control sensor of the invention will identify a certain organ of an individual for example a palm, a finger etc. The state control sensor to be operative, an initial physiologic or biologic data of the organ should have been stored in the receiver circuit to compare for matching the data of respective later attempts to have the organ detected by the sensor.

The term "SST" throughout the specification covers any kind of self service terminal unit including, but not limited to, arrangements used in gas stations where a user is able supply his vehicle with gas by himself. The SST can also be, for instance, a ticketing machine supplying a user with a ticket etc.

Furthermore, the SST or the ATM according to the invention can include motorized and/or non-motorized SST or ATM machines.

Claims

7CLAIMS

1. A state control sensor for detecting a foreign object (17) in the vicinity of an SST (Self Service Terminal) or an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) comprising a transmitter (18) transmitting signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and a receiver (19) receiving signals reflecting back from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM for detecting if any change in state occurred in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, characterized in that the sensor is set to an initial state value by transmitting sonic or ultrasonic wave signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and receiving sonic or ultrasonic wave signals from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, and a change in state is detected when the subsequent state value corresponding to the signal received by the receiver (19) in subsequent sensing cycle is different than the initial state value.

2. A state control sensor according to claim 1 , characterized in that a receiver circuit (21) is communicated with the receiver (19) to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto.

3. A state control sensor according to claim 1 , characterized in that when a state of change is detected the receiver circuit (21) generates an output signal (23) which can be used to generate an alarm in the form of a noise or a warning signal to the nearest security station or any other purpose.

4. A state control sensor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the foreign object is selected from the group consisting of a fraud (skimming) device for reading magnetic cards without the authorization of the card holder; a false front arrangement to defraud users; a camera placed at an upper location of the SST or the ATM to identify the card holder's access codes; a false cash dispenser placed at the SSTs or ATM's real cash dispenser location to receive the cash prior to dispensing to the real cash dispenser.

5. A state control sensor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 3 8

Hz. to 300 KHz., and more preferably in a range of 1 KHz. to 100 KHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 KHz. to 35 KHz., and the ultrasonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 300 KHz. to 3 GHz., and more preferably in a range of 3 MHz. to 300 MHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 MHz. to 50 MHz.

6. A state control sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiver circuit (21) is provided with a software to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto.

7. A state control sensor for activating and/or deactivating an anti-fraud device placed in the vicinity of an card entry slot (2) of an SST (Self Service Terminal) or an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) by detecting a fraud device (17) in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM entry slot (2), the anti-fraud device comprising an electronic circuit (4) communicating with a coil (1) to form an electromagnetic field around the coil for transmitting signals to the fraud device (17) to prevent the fraud device from proper functioning, the state control sensor comprising a transmitter (18) transmitting signals to the vicinity of the card entry slot (2) and a receiver (19) receiving signals reflecting back from the vicinity of the card entry slot (2) for detecting if any change in state occurred in the vicinity of the card entry slot (2), characterized in that the sensor is set to an initial state value by transmitting sonic or ultrasonic wave signals to the vicinity of the card entry slot (2) and receiving sonic or ultrasonic wave signals from the vicinity of the card entry slot (2), and a change in state is detected when the subsequent state value corresponding to the signal received by the receiver (19) in subsequent sensing cycle is different than the initial state value.

8. A state control sensor for activating and/or deactivating an anti-fraud device according to claim 7, characterized in that a receiver circuit (21) is communicated with the receiver (19) to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto. 9

9. A state control sensor for activating and/or deactivating an anti-fraud device according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that when a change in state is detected, the receiver circuit (21) generates an output signal (23) to be transmitted to the electronic circuit (4) of the anti-fraud device for activating or deactivating the latter.

10. A state control sensor according to claim 7, characterized in that the sonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 3 Hz. to 300 KHz., and more preferably in a range of 1 KHz. to 100 KHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 KHz. to 35 KHz., and the ultrasonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 300 KHz. to 3 GHz., and more preferably in a range of 3 MHz. to 300 MHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 MHz. to 50 MHz.

11. A state control sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that the receiver circuit (21) is provided with a software to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto.

12. A state control sensor for controlling operation of a magnetic card reader/writer unit (MCRW) of an SST (Self Service Terminal) or an ATM

(Automated Teller Machine) by detecting a foreign object in the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, the state control sensor comprising a transmitter (18) transmitting signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and a receiver (19) receiving signals reflecting back from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM for detecting if any change in state occurred in the vicinity of the SST or the

ATM, characterized in that the sensor is set to an initial state value by transmitting sonic or ultrasonic wave signals to the vicinity of the SST or the ATM and receiving sonic or ultrasonic wave signals from the vicinity of the SST or the ATM, and a change in state is detected when the subsequent state value corresponding to the signal received by the receiver (19) in subsequent sensing cycle is different than the initial state value.

13. A state control sensor for controlling operation of the MCRW of an SST of an ATM according to claim 12, characterized in that a receiver circuit (21) is 10

communicated with the receiver (19) to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto.

14. A state control sensor for controlling operation of the MCRW of an SST or an ATM according to claim 12 and 13, characterized in that when a change in state is detected, the receiver circuit (21) generates an output signal (23) for terminating voltage of the MCRW.

15. A state control sensor for controlling operation of the MCRW of an SST or an ATM according to claim 12 and 13, characterized in that when a change in state is detected, the receiver circuit (21) generates an output signal (23) which can be used to generate an alarm in the form of a noise or a warning signal using RS232 communication protocol to the nearest security service provider or any other purpose.

16. A state control sensor according to claim 12, characterized in that the sonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 3 Hz. to 300 KHz., and more preferably in a range of 1 KHz. to 100 KHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 KHz. to 35 KHz., and the ultrasonic frequency transmitted by the transmitter (18) is preferably in the range of 300

KHz. to 3 GHz., and more preferably in a range of 3 MHz. to 300 MHz. and most preferably in a range of 25 MHz. to 50 MHz.

17. A state control sensor according to claim 13, characterized in that the receiver circuit (21) is provided with a software to store and compare data provided by the receiver (19) thereto.

18. A state control sensor for identifying a certain account holder for granting an access to the account from an SST (Self Service Terminal) or an ATM (Automated Teller Machine), comprising a transmitter (18) transmitting signals to an identification unit of the SST or the ATM and a receiver (19) receiving signals reflecting back from the identification unit of the SST or the ATM for detecting if physiologic or biologic data of an individual attempting to 11

access an account from the SST or the ATM match any previously stored data of an individual.

19. A state control sensor according to claim 18, characterized in that the physiologic or biologic data are obtain from an organ including a palm or a finger of the individual.