 |
Description  |
|
|
A related patent is our U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,190, granted June 18, 1974, on
our application Ser. No. 272,686, filed July 17, 1972, entitled
AUTHENTICATION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION RECORDS.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of control cards for gaining access. More
particularly it is for gaining access to a restricted area, or access to
restricted material or papers, or access to money, tickets, checks and the
like.
In the prior art there have been many types of control cards described. All
of these attempt, in one way or another, to provide some crucial test,
which can be preformed on the card so as to determine whether it is
authentic, or a copy or forgery. All of the physical properties of the
prior art cards were capable of being copied, and therefore the tests of
validity or authentication were of little value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principle object of this invention to provide an access control
system which is selective and which is extremely difficult or impossible
to duplicate. It is a further object of this invention to provide an
access control system which is self protective in that it has plural means
to detect forgeries.
These and other objects are realized and the limitations of the prior art
devices are overcome in this invention, in which the authentication is
obatined by precise comparison of a random spot pattern with an identical
one, from which the first one was derived. The spots in the pattern are
microspots, too small to be seen with the naked eye, and recorded in a
suitable sheet material by copying through microperforations in a master
micro pattern, by means of a focussed laser beam.
Because of the extremely small size of the spots, the pattern can not be
copied by a stop-position-print system.
Furthermore the sheet material must have a thickness and melting point such
that it will withstand, without melting, the passage of a focussed laser
beam of a selected intensity.
The pattern can not be copied photographically, since the photographic
material will not withstand the laser beam.
The pattern can not be copied photographically and etched, since the
microperforations will not be of the correct size.
They can only be copied from the master pattern by passage of a focussed
laser beam over the microperforations in the master pattern card.
In the use of the control card, it is inserted into control unit.
It is then advanced to a first station where the indicia are read. At this
point the indicia are compared to a prior list of indicia which are
indicated as unacceptable. If the indicia are okay it then goes to the
second station.
At the Second Station the card is scanned by a focussed laser beam of a
specified intensity level. This level is just below the level which will
burn the pattern sheet of the valid cards. If the pattern sheet of the
card is not burned, as evidenced by a photoelectric system for detecting
major perforations in the pattern sheet, the card then goes to the third
station.
At the Third Station the micro pattern on the card is compared to a
selected master pattern which corresponds to, and has been selected from a
bank of master patterns in accordance with the indicia read from the card.
Two tests are made at this station. The first is to compare the pattern on
the card with the master pattern. If this checks, then the second test is
made.
In the second test, the sizes of the microperforations in the pattern sheet
are compared to the size of the microperforations in the master card. This
can be done by slowly shifting the position of one pattern with respect to
the other, at a selected constant speed, and measuring the time that light
passes through any selected spot, as plurality of spots.
If the card passes this test, then it is considered authentic and the
appropriate operative mechanism is activated to provide the access
requested. Also the card is returned to the owner who first inserted into
the control apparatus.
Not all of these tests may be required. The principal test, is of course,
the comparison of the patterns in station 3 test (a), the master pattern
having been selected on the basis of indicia read in the First Station.
Also, other tests may be provided, including, for example, comparing a
photograph on the card with the person presenting the card, or comparing
finger prints, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects of this invention and a better understanding of the
principles and details of the invention will be evident from the following
description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a type of access card useful in this system.
FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the access system of this
invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the test for perforation size.
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which a key, token, or card is
provided, which has machine readable macroindicia and a bit pattern of
magnetically altered areas on a strip of magnetic material, and a reading
means.
FIG. 5 illustrates a system wherein a type of spot pattern can be read
statically by magnetic means.
FIG. 6 shows a typical prior art magnetic reading head moved along a
magnetic strip.
FIG. 7 shows record and read heads of simplified type in accordance with
our invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates schematically apparatus for the preparation of a
hologram, using a spot pattern object, and an amplitude coded reference
beam.
FIG. 9 shows a film strip means for coding reference beams.
FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment in which the card carries a unique
machine readable index, a reference beam coding pattern, and an object
beam coded by a unique spot pattern of FIG. 5, selected from a bank, such
as that of FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates generally the card
input station, numeral 12 indicates generally the First Station, numeral
14 indicates computer apparatus to check the indicia against a prepared
list of indicia, numeral 16 indicates the Second Station, numeral 18 the
Third Station, 20 indicates the pattern comparison means, 22 the operative
means responsive to the validation means, 24 the perforation size
measurement means, 26 the access control card, 28 the machine readable
indicia on the control card, and 30 the pattern of microperforations by
means of which the control card will be validated or authenticated.
This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application,
Ser. No. 74,066, filed Sept. 21, 1970, entitled; Method and Apparatus for
Authentication of Information Records, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465, which
is made part of this application, by reference, and will be depended on
for much of the detail of the apparatus to be described.
Also, there will only be schematic diagrams given of the physical
apparatus, such as the case, the card handling means, and the operative
means which actually accomplishes the access. This invention does not
involve any specific means for housing the electronic and photo apparatus,
or the card handling apparatus, and since there are a number of such
devices described in the patent literature, such as for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,571,957, issued Mar. 23, 1971, No. 3,620,590 issued Nov. 16, 1971,
No. 3,629,834, issued Dec. 21, 1971, and others, it is not deemed
necessary to describe the details of construction or operation, since
those are well known to one skilled in the art.
FIG. 1 indicates a card, token, sheet, web or other medium for carrying the
specific information required in this invention. For convience, we will
call this means a "card", although, as is well known it can be in any one
of many different forms.
There are two principal areas of the access control card, or access card,
or control card, or simply card 26, that carry important information. The
first space 28 carries indicia which are machine readable. These can be
perforations, or embossed characters representing specific information,
such as account number or name and address of the card owner, or other
information. The group of characters 100, and spaces 102 that make up the
indicia represent specific information. The words indicia, or characters,
will represent the physical markings on the card, or the specific
information they uniquely represent. The indicia on each card issued are
all different, and associated with each indicia there is a difficult
unique pattern, which is marked on the card in a second area 30.
The pattern 30 is made up of a random distribution of a plurality of spots,
which are microperforations in a thin opaque metal layer. As described in
our U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465, the material 98 which carries the pattern 30
can be a thin evaporated layer of metal or a transparent base material
such as clear plastic.
For each card carrying its unique pattern 30 there is an identical master
pattern of microperforations in a metal layer. This master pattern can be
a self supporting metal sheet or film, or a thin metal coating on a
transparent plastic base, etc. The microperforations are preferably
prepared in the master pattern by means of a pulsed focussed beam of laser
radiation of a selected level L1 of intensity.
The patterns 94 in the sheets 98 are precise copies of the master patterns
made by superimposing the master pattern material on top of the card
material 98, and passing a continuous beam of focussed laser energy
through the microperforations in the master pattern, to the underlying
metal layer of the sheet 98, and burning microperforations in the same
pattern as in the master pattern.
As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465 it is necessary that the metal
layer of the master pattern be of higher melting point, and/or thicker,
than the metal layer of the sheet 98 of the card. Thus, when the intensity
of the continuous focussed beam is set at a value of intensity level L2
where L2 is less than L1, this beam will not affect the metal of the
master pattern, but will burn holes in the sheet 98.
There is also a third intensity level L3, where L3 is less than L2, which
when scanned across the material 98 will not affect the metal layer of the
material 98.
On the record card 40 there may be other areas 95, 96, 97, etc. Which may
include the signature of the card owner, his picture, or his fingerprint,
or other identifying information, which can be further used to
authenticate the card and the bearer of the card. Such additional
information is well known in the art and forms no part of this invention,
and will not be described further.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the card of FIG. 1 is inserted into an opening 32
in a casing 34 that houses a plurality of test or measuring stations. As
mentioned above, the particular housing, or means of transport of the
card, etc., form no part of this invention and reference is made to the
prior art for such details.
The card entered at 32 is transported through passage 36 by means 38, well
known in the art, to the First Station 12. Here the card 40 is presented
with means 42, well known in the art, for reading the markings 28, and
determining the information corresponding to the indicia. This information
is sent to a computer means 46, which when it receives the indicia read
from the card compares the indicia with a preselected list, bank or tape
of indicia, to see if that specific information is listed in the bank or
on the tape.
This list could be, for example, all indicia on cards lost, stolen, or
otherwise declared invalid. If the specific indicia 93 is found on that
list, the card is rejected and falls into a receptacle inside the housing
(not shown). If desired, an appropriate notice is given to the person who
inserted the card, that it is invalid and is being confiscated. At the
same time the indicia read by 42 also goes by line 48 to the Third
Station, for a purpose to be described later.
If the indicia read by 42 is not on the list at 46, then the card 40
progresses to the Second Station 16. Here two tests are performed. The
first test is to check the nature of the material of the sheet 98. A laser
52 passes light through an intensity control means 54, via beam 56 to a
mirror 58 and through an optical means 60 to focus the beam 62 onto the
top surface of the material 98. The intensity level is adjusted to the
level L3, which is just below the level L2, where it will burn the metal
layer. With the level at L3, the beam is scanned across the pattern 30, in
accordance with arrows 61.
If the material of the sheet 98 is not the proper material, for example, if
it is a photographic emulsion, then it will not support the beam of
intensity level L3, and parts or all of the opaque material 98 will be
burned away. When this happens, as the beam is scanned in accordance with
the arrows 61, openings in the opaque layer will be formed.
The second test is then applied. This involves passing light from a source
64 through lens 66, through the pattern area 30 and to a photoelectric
sensor 70. If no light passes, it indicates that the material 98 is
satisfactory. If light passes, it indicates that the material 98 is a
substitute material, and therefore the card is invalid, and it is
confiscated.
If the card 40 passes the tests at Station 2, it then goes to Station 3.
Here there is a bank of master patterns. These may be on separate cards or
sheets, or may conveniently be on a reel or strip of material 76, with
separate frames or areas, each having its unique pattern of
microperforations in the metal layer of the strip. Corresponding to each
frame, is an index, which corresponds to the indicia of that pattern.
Thus, when the First Station reads the indicia, this information goes to
control means 74. This control means operates motors 77, 82, which drive
reels 78, 81 respectively to position the proper frame, and pattern in an
aperture between the rollers 83, 84. Thus the correct master pattern
corresponding to the indicia on the card 40 is now displayed in the
aperture 87. The control means 74 can be conventional, similar to the many
examples of strip films or tapes carrying micropatterns and digital
indicia, with means to transport the strip until a desired index is
reached, etc.
The card 40 is now sent to the Third Station and positioned so that the
pattern 94 is precisely lined up in the aperture 87 so that the two
patterns, that is, the master pattern and the card pattern 30, are
aligned. Optical means 86, cooperating with sensor means 88 determine if
the patterns are identical. If they are not identical, the card 40 is
discarded.
The materials of the master pattern and the card pattern are specialized,
in that the master material (metal) is of high melting temperature and/or
thicker, while the card material (metal) is lower melting temperature
and/or thinner. The patterns of microperforations are copied and burned
into the card metal by focussed laser beam from the master material. The
microperforations in both materials are of exceedingly small size, so that
the patterns must be precisely positioned with respect to each other.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465 for details on the systems
for comparing the two micropatterns. Normal digital reading systems are
not practicable since the spots are too small, and the spacings are
random. Misalignment of one microperforation by a distance of the order of
the diameter, (which may be as small as 0.0005 in.) will cause the
comparison means 74 to reject the card.
The purpose of the use of thin metal layers and microperforations, and the
transfer of patterns described, is to prevent forged copies from being
used. For example, the simplest way to copy the pattern on a card is to
make a photographic copy, and that copy (except for changes in dimension)
might be used in the comparator 74. However, such a photographic copy will
not stand the test of the laser of intensity L3. The only material that
will satisfy that test is a metal of the same melting point and thickness
as the material 98 used in the card. And the pattern cannot be transferred
from the card to the new material by photography. Nor can it be
transferred by laser, since the laser of intensity level L2 which would
burn microperforations in the new material would also destroy the card
material.
However, the pattern could be etched in a suitable metal by photoetching.
However, the size of the perforations would not duplicate those of the
master card, and this is the reason for the next test.
In FIG. 2 the card 40 is shown connected to motor 104 by means 106. When
the motor 104 is started the card will pass at a constant velocity past
the master pattern on the strip. In FIG. 3 we have shown (enlarged) the
relationship between a microperforation 110 on the master pattern as the
corresponding microperforation 112 in the card passes to the right, in the
direction of arrow 120. When the two are tangent at 114, light is just
beginning to pass through the two microperforations. Consider for
simplicity, that the opening 110 is moving to the left. When the leading
edge of 110 gets to position 115, the two microperforations are completely
superimposed. Then when it gets to 116, there is no more light passing.
Thus the two patterns must be relatively traversed by a distance from 114
to 116, equal to the sum of their diameters.
Now, consider that the card pattern has at least one perforation 122 that
is oversize. Then the traverse must be over a distance from 114 to 118,
(again the sum of their diameters) which will be larger than the distance
114 to 116. There are well known techniques for measuring small distances,
such as measuring time of tranverse, etc., this would be done in means 92.
Thus it will not be necessary to provide more details since the specific
means forms no part of this invention.
If the pattern comparison is okay and the test of size is okay, then the
card will have passed all tests, and the card is validated and the
operative means 22 is energized to provide the requested access. No detail
is provided for the mechanism 22, which can be as simple as a relay to
open a locked gate, or as complicated as a device for dispensing currency,
providing access to a computer or to a cable TV circuit, credit purchase,
etc., since these specific means form no part of this invention and are
well know in the art.
While we have indicated means to check the validation of the pattern, and
have indicated other means to test the authenticity of the card itself, it
will be clear that the apparatus can be operated without carrying out all
of the tests.
It will be clear also, that while we call the patterns or the strip 76 the
"master patterns", these can be copies of other master patterns in
materials of still greater thickness and/or higher melting point.
In the drawing, FIG. 2 illustrates the system as a plurality of successive
stations or operations on the control card. The area of the card devoted
to indicia is separate from the area devoted to micropattern, and it is
clear that the means to read and the means to compare may be situated
within the outer boundary of the card. Thus the card need only be
positioned in a single location.
Our disclosed invention includes an access control system for selectively
controlling access on presentation and authentication of a control card.
This card comprises card means, machine readable indicia carried thereby,
and unique coded micropattern means thereon. The card authentication means
comprises means to read the indicia, and a bank of authenticating master
coded micropatterns. Selecting means, responsive to the means to read the
indicia, selects the master coded micropattern from the bank corresponding
to the coded micropattern on the card means; and means to compare the
coded micropatterns on said card means with the master authentication
micropattern selected from the bank in response to the read indicia.
The system may further include operative means responsive to said
comparison means, said operative means including means to authorize access
when the compared patterns correspond. A preferred form includes coded
micropattern means comprising an array of microperforations; and the coded
micropattern means may include redundant coded patterns.
The system as described above in which said card micropattern is
transferred from said master micropattern by focussed laser means of
intensity level L2; and including means to scan across said card
micropattern with a focussed laser beam of intensity level L3, where L3 is
less than L2.
The microperforations may be burned in said master pattern in a metal layer
of first melting point and first thickness by scanning with a focussed
laser beam of intensity level L0 through microperforations in a
supermaster pattern in a third mayer of third melting point and third
thickness, where L0 is higher than L2.
Also the system includes means, responsive to said means to read said
indicia, to compare said indicia with a preselected list of indicia; and
the master micropattern is in a first metal alyer of first melting point
and first thickness, and said card micropattern is in a second metal layer
of second melting point and second thickness, and said first melting point
may be higher than said second melting point and said first thickness may
be greater than said second thickness.
The system includes means to compare the sizes of the microperforations in
said card micropattern with the sizes of the microperforations in the
master pattern.
The fundamental basis of this invention lies in the use of a card having a
machine readable indicium and a unique pattern, and a bank having a
plurality of indicia and corresponding patterns, and means responsive to
the read indicium on the card to select the corresponding pattern, and
means to compare the selected pattern and the card pattern.
In this invention the unique pattern is a micropattern of microperforations
which can not be read by eye, and not by machine, except by the optical
comparison with the bank pattern. To do this the card must be presented
where there is a bank of patterns.
Another method in which the pattern is unique and not readable except by
selection of a particular pattern in the bank, is to use a photographic
hologram on the card, and in the bank a corresponding coded reference beam
(see our U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,828). When the hologram on the card is
exposed to the coded reference beam, since the hologram was made with that
specific coded reference beam, the hologram will be reconstructed and an
image of the object of the hologram will be formed. This object could be a
point, or plurality of points, of light falling on PE sensors, etc.
Both the hologram card and the micropattern card have great security
because of their permanent complex patterns which cannot easily be
duplicated. However, they have the limitation that they must be presented
adjacent a bank.
There is another type of pattern, such as a magnetic code pattern or a
machine readable card, that comprises a series of time spaced pulses, or
bit pattern. These can easily be transmitted from a distant reading
station to a bank (computer memory) for comparison be well known digital
means. However, the magnetic card pattern is not secure, since anyone
finding the card can read the pattern and make a corresponding facsimile,
by means of which they can enter the bank. This system can be used at
great distances from the bank, but has the disadvantage of poor security.
The security can be greatly improved by changing the pattern on the card
and in the bank each time the card is used. Thus, the pattern is
continually being changed from one to another unique bit pattern, so that
a copied card cannot be used unless it is presented before the next use of
the original card. Also, the unauthorized use is quickly detected because
once the unauthorized card is used, the true or original card cannot be
used since the pattern in the bank has been changed, by the use of the
authorized card.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details
of construction of the arrangement of components, it is understood that
the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth
herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention is to be
limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the
full range and equivalency to which each element or step thereof is
entitled.
Embodiments of our invention include an access security system for
monitoring access by authentication of a control member on presentation
which includes a bank of unique authenticating master coded micropatterns
of micro altered areas of web means, together with a corresponding group
of macropatters of machine readable indicia, each of the macro indicia
corresponding to selected micropatterns and providing an index thereto,
and a plurality of control members, each such member having at least one
of said macropatterns of machine readable indicia and the corresponding
coded micropattern of micro altered areas. Means are included for
authenticating the presented control member, such means comprising means
for reading the macro patterns, means responsive to the reading means,
including means for selecting the corresponding micropattern from said
bank indexed by said macro indicia; and means for comparing the
micropattern on said member with the indexed micropattern in said bank.
The disclosed access security system may also include means for authorizing
access when the compared micropatterns correspond; and means for the
delivery of an item identified by the coded micropattern, and wherein the
item delivered may comprise currency.
Further embodiments of our invention include means for comparing an array
of at least two micropatterns on the control member, and wherein the macro
indicia indexes a corresponding series of micropatterns in the bank; also
the micropattern of micro altered areas may comprise an holographic
record, with the holographic record being, for example, a photographic
hologram adapted to be reconstructed by a coded reference beam.
Another improved access security system includes a plurality of
micropatterns in a first array on a control member, means for recognizing
the array of micropatterns present, means for reading the micropatterns in
the array, and means for substituting for at least one of said
micropatterns another micropattern from said bank to provide a second
array, whereby the coded security access afforded by the unique control
member is revised on each authorized presentation of said member.
A further feature of our access security system is one wherein the
micropattern of micro altered areas comprises a series of magnetic spots,
and the additional means for changing the arrays thereof on the control
member and for recording the change in the bank, the changes being indexed
by the macro indicia recognition.
An additional embodiment provides a further means for changing the pattern
on the control member and in the bank each time the member is presented,
whereby the micropattern is sequentially changed from one to another
unique master coded micropattern, thereby precluding the unauthorized use
of a facsimile after the next authorized presentation of the original
member.
The sequential changes are recorded in the bank and can provide a record of
presentations and transactions, and in addition provide a means for
security updating of the control member whether or not a transaction is
involved.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an embodiment in which a key,
token, or card 224 is provided, which has machine readable macroindicia
226, and a bit pattern of magnetically altered areas on a strip of
magnetic material 228, applied to one surface of the token, key or card
224. The overall card, plus reading means is indicated generally by the
numeral 210.
There are many words such as token, key, card, etc. which can be used to
identify the object which can be used to gain access. Such objects can be
of many different forms, some more suited to certain conditions than to
other conditions. One of the most common type of object is a thin stiff
card of paper or plastic, and this invention, for convenience, will be
described in terms of a card. This in no way constitutes a limitation of
the form in which the article, or object, can be used.
The magnetic material 228 is generally applied in the form of a thin layer
of magnetic particles, applied to one surface of the card. Such magnetic
strip cards are widely used in industry and need not be further described.
Also, card readers have been in use to read magnetized bit patterns
previously impressed on the strip. Such readers can utilize a conventional
magnetic head assembly with one or more heads reading one or more tracks
which are moved along the strip and sequentially read the bit patterns on
the one or more parallel tracks.
Other types of magnetic recording areas have been used in industry, and can
be used in this invention. One of the common types is a circular area,
which has a central perforation which serves to position the axis of a
rotating head mechanism.
The important point is that a record is provided in which information in
the form of a sequential bit pattern can be written, read, and erased and
another pattern written, and so on. The bit pattern represents in binary
decimal, or other digital form, a unique number, which is applied to only
one card, and is also stored in a bank, or memory 272 in a mini-computer
212 for example. The address in the memory or bank 214 in which that
specific number is stored, is the same as the index 226 recorded on the
card 224.
Shown in FIG. 4 is the card 224 with index 226 and index reading means 230.
Also shown is the magnetic strip or record 228 and the magnetic reading
means 232. In general, as shown in FIG. 2, the reading (or comparing)
means is in a card handling reading means, adjacent to the position in the
card handling means where the card is placed.
In FIG. 4 the rectangle 212 represents a control processing unit or a CPU
of a digital computer. It can be a large computer, or an operating
terminal of a large computer, or it can be a minicomputer, as is well
known in the art.
As peripheral equipment to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) or as elements
of the CPU, there is a memory or bank 214 for storing the plurality of
unique magnetic bit patterns, or numbers, in storage areas, the addresses
of which correspond to the macroindicia on the cards, which carry the
corresponding bit patterns.
There is another memory 218 which comprises a storage area for a large
number of random or unique numbers, or bit patterns. While this can
conveniently be a storage for such numbers, it also can be an arithmetic
unit that can calculate random or unique numbers.
There is a means to compare two unique bit patterns 216, which would
generally be a part of the arithmetic unit.
There is a means to grant access 220. This can be a remotely operated door
latch, or a means to deliver an object from storage in a sales equipment,
etc. The objects delivered or sold can be of various types, such as food
products, etc. They can also be packets of money, or they can be means to
transfer money from one account to another, and so on.
All of these types of activity have been done in the prior art, and
commercial equipment is available to these operations subject only to an
appropriate electrical signal delivered over means 245.
As previously described, there may also be means 222 to confiscate the
card, if under selected circumstances, the card fails to meet certain
security requirements.
The equipment shown in FIG. 4 is divided into 3 main parts, defined by
dashed outlines 262, 264 and 266. While these may all be at the same
location, and even be in a single housing, the system is such that it can
be broken into parts such as the three parts outlined.
The dashed outline 262 is the card reading area and includes means to
insert a card (as in FIG. 1) 230 to read the macroindicium 226, means 232
to read the magnetic bit pattern on strip 228, and it may contain means
222 to confiscate the card.
The dashed outline 266 is the means to grant access, and may be positioned
at any selected point. In fact there may be many such points where access
is to be granted.
The dashed outlines 266 and 262 may be combined. That is, the point at
which access is gained can be the point where the card 224 is presented,
or they can be at different points.
There may be at the position 262 where the card 224 is presented a means
268 for data entry (DE), that is, for entry of numerical data, such as the
number corresponding to that at the point at which access is desired. It
will be clear also that the data entry means 268 can be used to enter a
PIN number, or "personal identification number", by means of which an
additional stage of security can be provided.
The dashed outline 264 represents the control means, or CPU, of the system.
It will be clear also, that since, in the prior art, computers have been
used with large numbers of "terminals", or points where the computer can
be accessed, so too, it is possible to have a plurality of boxes 266,
representing distant distinct locations where cards can be presented to
gain access.
While we speak of gaining access, that is a very generalized term for what
can be accomplished with this system. It may, for example be used to
actually gain access through a door or gate. It may gain access to any one
of a plurality of small storage compartments where articles are stored,
such as for sale, such as products or food items, etc. It may be used to
gain access to a selected account in a bank, from which money is to be
delivered, and an account debited, or it can be the means for controlling
transfer of funds from or to a first account, to or from another account,
the number of which can be indicated by entry through the data entry means
268, and so on. It can also be used to authenticate a request to gain
access to a data bank in a computer from which, when the card is
authenticated, data can be reads from that data bank and transferred to
another computer, for example.
In this system the purpose is to present a card representing a selected
person or account, to have the card authenticated, and when the
authentication is completed, have one or more different selected
operations carried out.
Such cards have been used in the past, but the security has been poor. For
example, having a signature which is examined by eye. Or the security may
be dependent only on a PIN number which is punched in by hand into a data
entry unit such as 268. Once the PIN number is learned by another person,
there is no further security.
In this invention, a much more unique security means is utilized, so that
even if the numbers on a card are copied, or a facsimile card is made, the
facsimile card can not be used to gain access unless it is presented
before the next time that the true card is presented. The unique coded
master number is changed on the card 224 and in the bank 214 each time the
card is presented and authenticated. If the true owner presents his card
and it is authenticated, he knows that no facsimile card has been
presented, and also, any previously prepared facsimile card will become
ineffective, since the number in the bank has been changed. This will be
clear as the description proceeds.
In FIG. 4 the index reader 230 is connected to the computer 264, and in
particular to the CPU 212, by lead 234. The index number read by 230 goes
by lead 234 to the bank memory 214 via lead 236. The binary coded magnetic
bit pattern stored in the memory 214 at the address transmitted on lead
236, is returned to the CPU over lead 238. This unique authenticating
master coded bit pattern goes by lead 240 to a means to compare or
comparator 216.
At the same time, the reading of the binary magnetic bit pattern stored on
the strip 228 read by 232 goes by lead 254 to the CPU and by lead 256 to
the comparator 216. If the numbers are i | | |
