WO2016086970A1

WO2016086970A1 - Pos device memory module and electronic control card connectors

Info

Publication number: WO2016086970A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/076241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ozgur CEYLAN; Bulent Albant; Cengiz Berkay; Osman Osman; Murat Yalcin
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-02
Filing date: 2014-12-02
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to a security arrangement intended to prevent unauthorized access by a fraudulent attempt to a memory module (2) containing sensitive financial data by way of removing the memory module (2) in a point-of-sale (POS) device. The present invention more particularly relates to a point-of-sale (POS) system (1) to effect payment transactions, the POS system (1) comprising a memory module (2) embedded within a housing portion of the POS system (1), the memory module (2) establishing electrical communication with a main board (4) of the POS system (1) by means of a memory module connector (6) in contact with a main board connector (13).

Description

POS DEVICE MEMORY MODULE AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL CARD CONNECTORS

The present invention relates to a security arrangement intended to prevent unauthorized access by a fraudulent attempt to a memory module containing sensitive financial data by way of removing the memory module in a point-of-sale (POS) device.

Protection of data stored in card payment systems has a significant importance. Different security measures are taken as defined according to international standards to prevent unauthorized access to the memory module. To this end, the POS system may get blocked in the event that an unauthorized access attempt is detected.

In card payment systems, the transaction history data is saved on memory modules as imposed by fiscal authorities, such data needed to be preserved for a certain time duration. In order for preventing non-authorized treatment of the data preserved on the memory module, it is necessary to take several security measures involving electromechanical access detection systems by which unauthorized access to the contained data can be detected.

A conventional memory module may comprise a memory medium and a security enclosure enclosing the memory medium. A connector establishes signal communication between the memory module and an electronic card of the POS device.

In prior art applications, the memory module communicates with a main board by means of a wired connection, the protection of the data preserved in the memory medium being conventionally achieved by housing the memory module in an epoxy enclosure.

The protection of data being therefore achieved by covering the memory module in an epoxy enclosure, security can be enhanced through the encrypting or erasing of the data stored in the memory module in case any interference to the system is detected.

Among others, a prior art publication in the technical field of the invention may be referred to as WO2005041002, which discloses a device having a circuit board with various exposed components such as an LCD and keys. A circuit is housed within an enclosure formed between the board and a cover. The cover has, on its inside surface, a security track in a dense serpentine pattern. The board has a security track, also in a dense serpentine pattern. The track is linked to covered surface-level tracks. The cover's security track is connected to the board's security tracks via a deformable pad whose conductivity increases with applied compression.

The present invention provides a POS device memory module protection system involving a security system as defined by the characterizing features in Claim 1 and subsequent Claims.

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a POS device memory module protection system involving a security system effective in detecting unauthorized access to the memory module and preventing manipulation thereof.

The present invention proposes a point-of-sale (POS) system having an upper unit assembled with a bottom unit so that a memory module of the bottom unit contacts a main board of the upper unit through respective connectors thereof.

Assembling of the upper unit and the bottom units provides that a signal communication is automatically established. Likewise, electrical contact between memory module pins of the memory module connector and main board pins of the main board connector is cut if the units are separated from each other.

The upper and bottom units have mutually aligned engagement means, when fitted together, sensitively aligning the memory module connector with the main board connector so that contact in between the pins thereof can be established.

At least one of the memory module connector and the main board connector and preferably both of them comprise resiliently-urged pins so that the memory module and the main board touch each other in a resilient manner.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a POS device memory module protection arrangement, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the Claims, nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of a memory module installed in a bottom unit of a POS system according to the present invention

Fig. 2 demonstrates a general perspective view of a main board within an upper unit of the POS system according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a perspective side view of the upper and bottom units of the POS system in an unassembled manner according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a perspective side view of the upper and bottom units of the POS system in an assembled manner according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different part number used in the detailed description:

POS system
Memory module
Memory module upper housing
Main board
Memory module pins
Memory module connector
Engagement means
Bottom unit
Upper unit
Protrusions
Apertures
Main board pins
Main board connector

The present invention relates to a security arrangement to protect a memory module (2) of a POS (point-of-sale) system (1) from unauthorized access. The electromechanical security arrangement of the memory module (2) ensures safety of the POS system (1) as will be delineated hereinafter.

The memory module (2) of the POS system (1) is embedded within a housing portion of a bottom unit (8) of the POS system (1) neighboring a memory module housing wall (3) so as to communicate with an electronic control card, i.e. a main board (4) located in an upper unit (9) of the POS system (1).

The memory module (2) being conventionally attached to the POS system (1) by way of applying epoxy resin causes manufacturing difficulties as well as maintenance/repair inconveniences because the manufacturing process involves non-automated steps and repair and replacement costs are higher, the present invention overcomes these drawbacks by means of a memory module (2) mountable in the POS device to establish a direct connection with the main board (4) such that access to the memory module (2) by a fraudulent attempt by way of removing the same is detectable. Furthermore, the electromechanical security arrangement of the present invention simplifies and standardizes manufacturing operations resulting in an accelerated and more cost-effective overall manufacturing process.

According to the present invention, in case an attempt of tampering with the POS system (1) occurs, the electrical contact between memory module pins (5) of a memory module connector (6) and main board pins (12) of a main board connector (13), normally in electrical communication with each other, is cut and the information in relation with the signal interruption is recorded in the memory module (2).

Therefore a pair of connectors, namely the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) provides electrical connection between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) when two separate parts forming the POS system (1) are assembled to each other. The bottom unit (8) comprising the memory module (2) and the upper unit (9) comprising the main board (4) are therefore attached to each other so as to allow contact of the memory module connector (6) with the main board connector (13).

According to the present invention, protection of the data stored in the POS system’s (1) memory module (2) is ensured by electrical contact of the memory module pins (5) and the main board pins (12). The two groups of pins contact each other when the bottom unit (8) is mounted to the upper unit (9).

This mutual contact relationship among the memory module pins (5) and the main board pins (12) ensures safety of the data stored in the memory module (2) because no interference can be made without separating the bottom and upper units (8, 9). Maintenance of the contact between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) therefore ensures that the two units remain assembled and adequate data protection is in place.

Mounting of the bottom and upper units (8, 9) of the POS system (1) is accomplished by means of connection means (not shown) fixedly joining the two parts; respective engagement means (7) of the two units cooperatively fit reciprocally to provide an interengaged structure.

According to the present invention, the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through openings of the main board (4) so that the latter’s position relative to the upper unit (9) surface can be sensitively aligned to establish signal communication between the connectors of the memory module (2) and the main board (4). The accurate positioning effect by the engagement means (7) of the two units therefore provides accurate and sensitive alignment of the main board pins (12) so as to face the memory module pins (5). To provide maintenance of the relative alignment, at least a number of the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through bores of the main board (4).

Further, apertures (11) of the main board (4) matingly cooperate with protrusions (10) of the upper unit (9) such that the main board (4) itself is releasably fixed.

Respective pins of the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) are resiliently urged toward one another so that the pins contact each other in a resilient manner. It is to be noted that the two connectors can lose contact on a more frequent basis than expected as the POS system (1) is repeatedly moved to allow users to input their pin codes.

The memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) having resiliently-urged pins is therefore advantageous in that the two connectors don’t lose contact due to vibrations occurring in normal use, i.e. when the POS device (1) is lifted and put back each time a user needs to enter a pin code.

In the case where loosening of the connection means by way of forcing to separate the upper unit (9) from the bottom unit (8) results in loss of contact between the memory module pins (5) and the main board pins (12), a corresponding information is recorded in the memory module (2), or it is transferred to fiscal authorities by means of the main board (4) of the POS system (1) when the connection is reestablished. The POS system (1) having network connectivity therefore fulfills an additional function.

According to the present invention, instead of using a wired connection between the memory module (2) and the main board (4), a more secure and reliable connection structure is designed while at the same time eliminating the effect of minor vibrations which would otherwise cause loss of contact between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) connectors.

In summary, the present invention proposes a point-of-sale (POS) system (1) to effect payment transactions, the POS system (1) comprising a memory module (2) embedded within a housing portion of the POS system (1), the memory module (2) establishing electrical communication with a main board (4) of the POS system (1) by means of a memory module connector (6) in contact with a main board connector (13).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the POS system (1) comprises a bottom unit (8) comprising the memory module (2) and an upper unit (9) comprising the main board (4) such that the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) provide electrical connection and communication between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) when the bottom and upper units (8, 9) are assembled to each other. Therefore, the data security is ensured by two separate parts establishing a secure connection in an enclosed manner. The physically enclosed nature of the connection and the simultaneous occurrence of the separation of the bottom and upper units (8, 9) and loss of signal communication between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) advantageously enable overly-sensitive fraud detection because it is not possible to preserve the two connectors in communication and interfere with the connectors while the upper unit is removed.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, assembling of the bottom unit (8) with the upper unit (9) to each other automatically provides contact of the memory module connector (6) with the main board connector (13).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, electrical contact between memory module pins (5) of the memory module connector (6) and main board pins (12) of the main board connector (13) is cut if the bottom unit (8) and the upper unit (9) are separated from each other.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, information in relation with the signal interruption is recorded in the memory module (2).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, information in relation with the signal interruption is recorded to be communicated to fiscal authorities by means of the main board (4) of the POS system (1) as soon as the signal interruption is terminated.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bottom unit (8) and the upper unit (9) comprise respective engagement means (7) cooperatively fitting reciprocally to impart an interengaged structure to the POS system (1) upper and bottom units (8, 9).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through openings of the main board (4) so that the latter’s position relative to upper unit (9) surface is sensitively alignable to establish signal communication among the connectors of the memory module (2) and the main board (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, at least a number of the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through bores of the main board (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, apertures (11) of the main board (4) matingly cooperate with protrusions (10) of the upper unit (9) such that the main board (4) is releasably fixed.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) comprises resiliently-urged pins (Memory module pins (5) or main board pins (12)) so that the memory module (2) and the main board (4) contact each other in a resilient manner.

Therefore, the invention both ensures data security because no interference can be made without separating the bottom and upper units (8, 9) and enables a more stable operation by eliminating the negative effects caused by natural vibrations during normal use of the POS system (1).

Claims

A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) to effect payment transactions, the POS system (1) comprising a memory module (2) embedded within a housing portion of the POS system (1), the memory module (2) establishing electrical communication with a main board (4) of the POS system (1) by means of a memory module connector (6) in contact with a main board connector (13), characterized in that

a bottom unit (8) comprising the memory module (2) and an upper unit (9) comprising the main board (4) such that the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) provide communication between the memory module (2) and the main board (4) when the bottom and upper units (8, 9) are assembled to each other.
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that assembling of the bottom unit (8) and the upper unit (9) with each other automatically provides contact of the memory module connector (6) with the main board connector (13).
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 2, characterized in that electrical contact between memory module pins (5) of the memory module connector (6) and main board pins (12) of the main board connector (13) is cut if the bottom unit (8) and the upper unit (9) are separated from each other.
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that information in relation with the signal interruption is recorded in the memory module (2).
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that information in relation with the signal interruption is recorded to be communicated to fiscal authorities by means of the main board (4) of the POS system (1) as soon as the signal interruption is terminated.
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the bottom unit (8) and the upper unit (9) comprise respective engagement means (7) cooperatively fitting reciprocally to impart an interengaged structure to the POS system (1) bottom and upper units (8, 9).
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 6, characterized in that the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through openings of the main board (4) so that the latter’s position relative to upper unit (9) surface is sensitively alignable to establish signal communication among the connectors of the memory module (2) and the main board (4).
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that at least a number of the engagement means (7) of the upper unit (9) extend through bores of the main board (4).
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that apertures (11) of the main board (4) matingly cooperate with protrusions (10) of the upper unit (9) such that the main board (4) is releasably fixed.
A point-of-sale (POS) system (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the memory module connector (6) and the main board connector (13) comprises resiliently-urged pins so that the memory module (2) and the main board (4) contact each other in a resilient manner.