Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-05-01
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S541000, C340S870030, C367S007000, C235S379000, C194S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225902
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). It is particularly concerned with the detection of fraud in such machines.
One function of an ATM is to dispense banknotes to a user. A standard ATM having the facility to dispense banknotes includes electronic control means in the form of a central processing unit (CPU) which is connected to a cash dispenser unit and a user interface device. The user interface device comprises a display unit, a keypad, a card reader and an output slot through which the cash dispenser unit dispenses banknotes to a user. As is well known, to operate such an ATM a user inserts a user's identity card into the card reader and then enters certain data, such as a personal identification number (PIN) and the quantity of currency required to be dispensed, by mean of the keypad. The ATM will then process the requested transaction, dispense banknotes extracted from one or more storage cassettes within the currency dispenser unit, update the user's account to reflect the transaction and return the card to the user.
One advantage of ATMs is that they operate without human supervision and can be located at sites away from bank premises. A drawback is that they are vulnerable to being tampered with for the perpetration of fraud or other types of theft. One of the more common methods of attack is to add or insert mechanisms into the ATM to prevent their standard operation and either capture the contents of a transaction or record confidential information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to detect the presence or absence of fraudulent equipment in an ATM.
According to the invention an automatic teller machine includes a loudspeaker and a microphone, signal generator means connected to the loudspeaker for enabling the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal and means for evaluating the signal received by the microphone to determine whether the signal has been modified by the presence of any foreign object in the machine.
Preferably the acoustic signal that is generated is white noise.
In carrying out the invention means may be provided for comparing the received signal with a previously recorded standard received signal. Any significant difference between the compared signals indicates the presence of a foreign object.
The generator means may be operated at the start of a teller operation and again on its completion. Provided that the two received signals are not significantly different the latter signal is then used thereafter as the standard received signal. This allows for the small incremental changes in the received signal that take place over time due to wear in the parts of the ATM without such wear being mistaken for tampering.
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Conte Francis L.
Hofsass Jeffery
NCR Corporation
Previl Daniel
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