Using documents that are encoded with a value that is decremented and re-encoded following a transaction, the security system of the present invention uses a security word which is encoded only at the time of issue and a data word that includes security information that may be compared with the non-reencoded security word with the result that a portion of the information is never re-encoded during use to permit a valid encoding of duplicate documents using the device normally used to read and re-encode the document.
A portable device for deactivating and/or activating a magnetizable layer forming part of a marker strip of an antishoplifting system. The device includes an electro-optical reading head for reading specially coded indicia on the marker strip and an A.C. current electro-magnetic coil for producing a magnetic field to deactivate or activate the magnetizable layer of the marker strip. The electro-optical reading head and electro-magnetic coil are mounted in a common portable housing and are connected to a cashier's register.
In a method for recording a new coded message in place of an old coded message recorded on a magnetic stripe carried by a support document by manual displacement of said document, the message being divided into a first part and a second part separated by a gap, the clock signal used to write the first part of the new message is a clock signal obtained by reading the second part of the old message. The clock signal used to write the second part of the new message is a clock signal obtained by reading the first part of the new message, newly written. The system for implementing this method comprises a write head between two synchronization heads and an electronic circuit which produces from the signals from the two synchronization heads a clock signal slaved to the speed of displacement of the support document. This clock signal is sent to a write signal generator connected to the write head. The write signal generator also receives the data to be recorded.
A system and method for constructing an ID code for a loyalty program from non-restricted information from a payment card or other ID card having restricted information.
A system for reading and encoding a magnetic track (2) carried by a supporting document (1) which is displaced manually past read and write members, the magnetic track comprising a first portion (3) on which a fixed first encoded message characteristic of the supporting document is recorded, said message being encoded by means of an encoding system which conveys its own clock signal, the first portion of the track being followed by a second portion (6) in which a variable second encoded message is written each time the supporting document goes past said read and write members, wherein the read and write members comprise three magnetic heads in alignment, comprising a first head (9) which is a read head, a second head (10) which is a write head, and a third head (11) which is a read head, the write head (10) being connected to a write signal generator (12) having a first input (13) which receives data representative of said variable message to be recorded on said second portion of the magnetic track, and a second input ( 14) on which it receives a clock signal generated by an electronic circuit (15) having an input (16) on which it receives the signals from the said read third head (11), and serving to extract the clock signal from said fixed encoded message recorded on said first portion (3) of the magnetic track (2), the arrival of the clock signal (14) at the write signal generator (12) triggering said writing.
In commercial transactions, settlement is conventionally made by cash and by checks drawn on a current account in a bank, etc. Users of such checking system enjoy its advantages. From the standpoint of banking business, however, such system involves a vast amont of complicated clerical procedures, and a number of negotiation checks pose a bottleneck in rationalizing the banking business. According to the present invention, there is provided a safe and secure check negotiating system which enables checks to be cashed with a minimum manual handling once check has been received by a financial institution such as a bank. The present invention also aims to provide a novel check card and an apparatus for drawing check cards to prevent illicit use of such a card when lost or stolen.
