Registers – Records – Conductive
Patent
1998-02-04
1999-10-19
Hajec, Donald
Registers
Records
Conductive
439 761, G06K 1906
Patent
active
059693339
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an information collection system for card readers and especially for chip card readers.
Payment for many services is now done by means of card-based systems, especially chip card systems. Chip card systems often use terminals (card readers) to carry out transactions. These transactions are in general secured with the cards of the system.
The applications of such systems currently lie in the fields of banking, access control, the distribution of power (gas, electricity, etc.), parking meters, games machines, etc. In the majority of these applications, the need to collect information on the transactions made at the terminal is vital for the functioning and security of the system.
However, certain card readers are connected to a central processing system and are known as "on-line" readers while other card readers are isolated and are connected to no other system, and are known as "off-line" readers.
In the "on-line" terminals, the problem of collection is reduced to that of developing suitable software. This is the case for example with bank terminals or card-operated electricity meters which already possess communication means. The transfer of information to the central processing unit can be done either on the initiative of the terminal, or by interrogating the central processing unit.
In terminals known as "off-line" terminals, it is necessary to find a means to transfer the data to a central processing unit. In this case, what has to be done is to collect the data through an operator who will have to set up a connection with the terminal. Here ergonomical considerations, speed of transmission and cost will be essential parameters in the choice of a solution. The solution most usually adopted consists in connecting a portable terminal or a portable PC by means of an RS232 type connection. The main problems then are: not designed to permit many connections; decisive for its use; unit;
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an approach by which these problems can be resolved.
The invention therefore relates to an information collection system for card readers. This system comprises mainly: zones flush with one face of the card, enabling a serial transmission of information; information; connector.
The intermediate portion comprises a memory to store information from one or more card readers. It may also have a control and securing microprocessor. It is also possible to provide for a clock to date the transactions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear clearly in the following description, given by way of a non-restrictive example, with reference to the appended figures of which:
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a general diagram of an exemplary embodiment such as that of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a system according to the invention;
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary collection method according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The transaction terminals (or card readers) have ISO type contacts designed to be in contact with chip cards to exchange information with the cards that are connected to them.
Typically, according to current standards, the credit card type chip cards have a connector with eight plane contacts that are flush on a main face of the card. These contacts have the following functions:
The ISO 7816 standard for example defines the shapes and positions of these contacts. The chip card has dimensions (with sides of about 5.times.8 cm) very similar to those of the memory card, and it has a small thickness (in the range of one millimeter).
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the information collection system according to the invention. The information collection system is used to collect payment data from a payment terminal in the form of a card reader LEC after the payment terminal receives from one or more chi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4980856 (1990-12-01), Ueno
patent: 5155663 (1992-10-01), Harase
patent: 5184282 (1993-02-01), Kaneda et al.
patent: 5468947 (1995-11-01), Danielson et al.
patent: 5563400 (1996-10-01), Le Roux
patent: 5793989 (1998-08-01), Moss et al.
Barthelemy Serge
Leduc Michel
Vaudandaine Stephane
Gemplus
Hajec Donald
Lee Diane I.
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