Biometric Access Control System for Vending Machines
First Claim
1. An access-controlled currency-handling machine comprising:
- a currency repository that holds currency received and/or dispensed by the currency-handling machine;
a door that, when opened or removed, provides access to the currency repository;
an electronic lock mechanism operable to unlock the door to thereby provide a servicer attempting to obtain access to the currency repository with access to the currency repository;
a digital authentication device installed within the currency-handling machine, wherein the digital authentication device is operable to send a signal to cause the electronic lock mechanism to unlock the door;
the digital authentication device having a communications interface operable to receive a biometric reference template and a biometric sample from a mobile biometric data collection device carried by the servicer; and
the digital authentication device having a processor operable to compare the biometric reference template with the biometric sample to authenticate the servicer attempting to obtain access to the currency repository and, upon identifying a match, to send a signal to cause the electronic mechanism to unlock the door.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A biometric access control system and method for currency-handling machines such as merchandise vending machines, payphones, copy machines, video game machines, pool and pin-ball machines, slot machines, parking meters, and automatic teller machines has two principal components—a digital authentication device (“DAD”) that is installed within the currency-handling machine, and a mobile biometric data collection device (“MDCD”) that a currency-handling machine servicer takes with him or her along his or her currency-collection route. In operation, a previously-collected reference biometric template for a servicer is stored on the MDCD and compared with a fresh biometric sample taken by a biometric sensor built into the MDCD. An authenticated servicer is then provided with access to the currency-handling machine. Preferably, the MDCD also maintains an audit trail of the time and location of each access attempt and the identity of the servicer.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An access-controlled currency-handling machine comprising:
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a currency repository that holds currency received and/or dispensed by the currency-handling machine; a door that, when opened or removed, provides access to the currency repository; an electronic lock mechanism operable to unlock the door to thereby provide a servicer attempting to obtain access to the currency repository with access to the currency repository; a digital authentication device installed within the currency-handling machine, wherein the digital authentication device is operable to send a signal to cause the electronic lock mechanism to unlock the door; the digital authentication device having a communications interface operable to receive a biometric reference template and a biometric sample from a mobile biometric data collection device carried by the servicer; and the digital authentication device having a processor operable to compare the biometric reference template with the biometric sample to authenticate the servicer attempting to obtain access to the currency repository and, upon identifying a match, to send a signal to cause the electronic mechanism to unlock the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A biometric access control system for a currency-handling machine having a currency repository that holds currency received and/or dispensed by the currency-handling machine and a door, that when opened or removed, provides access to the currency repository, an electronic lock mechanism operable to unlock the door to thereby provide a servicer attempting to obtain access to the currency repository with access to the currency repository, and a digital authentication device installed within the currency-handling machine, wherein the digital authentication device is operable to send a signal to cause the electronic lock mechanism to unlock the door, the biometric access control system comprising:
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a mobile biometric data collection device carried by the servicer; a memory module contained within the mobile biometric data collection device, the memory module being adapted to retain a biometric reference template of a currency-handling machine servicer; a biometric sensor built into the mobile biometric data collection device, the biometric sensor being adapted to sense a biometric characteristic of the servicer for subsequent comparison with the biometric reference template; and a communications interface operable to communicate information from the mobile biometric data collection device to the digital authentication device of the currency-handling machine, which information is processed by the digital authentication device to provide or deny access to the currency repository. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of servicing a currency-handling machine equipped with a currency repository and a digital authentication device adapted to provide access to the currency repository, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a mobile biometric data collection device having a memory module storing a biometric reference template of a currency-handling machine servicer and a biometric sensor adapted to sense a biometric characteristic of the servicer for subsequent comparison with the biometric reference template; (b) establishing a communications link between the mobile biometric data collection device and the digital authentication device of the currency-handling machine; (c) sensing a biometric characteristic from the servicer; (d) comparing the sensed biometric characteristic with the biometric reference template; and (e) if the sensed biometric characteristic matches the biometric reference template, providing the servicer with access to the currency repository of the currency-handling machine. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification