APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DETECTING TAMPERING OF FISCAL PRINTERS

• US 20100071077A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hucaby, Wayne R., White, James M., Morris, Julie A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting tampering of devices such as fiscal printers. A memory module includes a volatile memory that stores multi-bit data. An operation module allows operation of an electronic device, such as a fiscal printer, in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory. A detection module detects an attempt to access the enclosed device where access to the enclosed device is restricted by an enclosure. A tamper switch module disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device. A shutdown module disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus to detect tampering of an enclosed device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory module comprising a volatile memory, the volatile memory storing predefined multi-bit data therein;

an operation module that allows operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory;

a detection module that detects an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure;

a tamper switch module that disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device; and

a shutdown module that disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a transaction recording device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a fiscal printer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shutdown module disables printing operations of the fiscal printer in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed device comprises a non-volatile memory, and wherein disabling operation of the electronic device comprises disabling the utilization of the non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory facilitating operation of the electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises one of an electronic journal and a fiscal memory, the non-volatile memory utilized by the electronic device to store transaction data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection module comprises a switch placed in contact with a moveable surface of the enclosure such that movement of the moveable surface above a predetermined threshold causes a detection of an attempt to access the enclosed device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the moveable surface is one of a drawer and a door.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory module, detection module and tamper switch module are housed within the enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volatile memory is static random access memory (“

SRAM”

).

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the volatile memory is a 1-wire, serial input/output microchip connected to the enclosed device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shutdown module sends a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

13. A system to detect tampering of an enclosed device, the system comprising:

an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure;

an electronic device in electronic communication with the enclosed device;

a memory module comprising a volatile memory, the volatile memory storing predefined multi-bit data therein;

an operation module that allows operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory;

a detection module that detects an attempt to access an enclosed device;

a tamper switch module that disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device; and

a shutdown module that disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a fiscal printer.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a transaction processing device that is utilized to perform sales transactions, the transaction processing device utilizing the enclosed device to store transaction data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the transaction processing device is a computer system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory module, detection module and tamper switch module are housed within the enclosure.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations to detect tampering of an enclosed device, the operations of the computer program product comprising:

storing predefined multi-bit data in a volatile memory;

allowing operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory;

detecting an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure;

disconnecting power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device; and

disabling operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a transaction recording device.

20. A method to detect tampering of an enclosed device, the method comprising:

storing predefined multi-bit data in a volatile memory;

allowing operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory;

detecting an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure;

disconnecting power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device; and

disabling operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.