Cryptography – Particular algorithmic function encoding – Nbs/des algorithm
Patent
1996-01-17
1999-07-27
Gregory, Bernarr E.
Cryptography
Particular algorithmic function encoding
Nbs/des algorithm
380 4, 380 9, 380 23, 380 25, 380 30, 380 49, 380 50, 235379, 235380, 705 26, 705 35, 705 39, 705 40, 705 44, H04L 900, H04L 930
Patent
active
059303638
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention concerns card charging systems of the type in which a pre-programmed card is read and validated by a suitable card reader and data stored on the card is decremented according to the cost of a purchase and made available to the user after the transaction. The invention is concerned with a security device to be installed in such a system to ensure correct control between the card read/write unit and a transaction recording--payment collection system so as to form an integral part of the revenue allocation process.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is known to provide coin, token or card operated mechanisms for the collection of payment for goods or services such as bus fare collection systems, pay and display parking devices, prepared food delivery systems and the like. Such devices may be capable of debiting prepaid or credit cards such as the systems currently in use for the provision of telecommunication services and the concept of a prepayment credit card for obtaining bus journeys and tickets for train journeys has already been tried.
It is an object of the present invention to enable such systems to accept a universal prepurchased stored value or debit card and to allow the amount which has been debited from the card to be allocated to the appropriate service or goods provider.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a security and transaction device for use in connection with a card read/write device, comprising; signal transmission means for delivering signals to a host facility to enable a purchase to be made in return for an amount of credit debited from a card after the latter has been read by a card reader, which signals comprise a unique identification number together with signals defining a public key-based security subsystem; a record keeping subsystem adapted to certify a credit debited from the card and identify which one of a plurality of accounts is to receive the debited credit; and signal processing and output means for generating signals indicative of a successful transaction and of an appropriate form and value so that in use the generated signal indicates to the host facility the nature of the transaction completed and the purchase which is now to be made available.
The host facility may be a service providing facility where the purchase involves provision of a service such as transportation, seating in an auditorium or the like.
Alternatively the host facility may be a product providing facility where the purchase involves supply of a product such as foodstuffs, clothing, medication and the like.
Optionally the device includes a smart card reader and further signal processing means, whereby a smart card open payment system may be employed in lieu of a prepayment credit card system, for payment for a service or commodity.
According to one embodiment of the invention a security module is provided in connection with each transaction recording system which is adapted to receive a specific machine readable card and the security module serves to ensure correct control between the card read/write unit and the host controlling equipment to which it is attached.
Thus in the case of a bus fare collection system, pay and display parking and the like, the security module is situated between the card reader and the mechanism for dispensing a bus ticket or pay and display parking ticket or the like.
In this embodiment the security module forms all integral part of the revenue allocation process since the security module enables the issuer of the card to be identified and thereby enables the service or commodity provider to identify the organisation from which it is to recover the funds relevant to the transaction provided by the service or commodity provider.
It is a characteristic of the system proposed by the invention that no direct link between service provider and issuer need exist if a centralised accounting facility is provided with credit and debit accounts for each of the issuers and/or service or commodity provid
REFERENCES:
patent: 5036461 (1991-07-01), Elliott
patent: 5337358 (1994-08-01), Axelrod et al.
De Jong Eduard Karel
Stanford Christopher John
Gregory Bernarr E.
Transmo Limited
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