IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 3,665,162 A
• Filed: 12/11/1969
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiro Kawahara, Mititaka Yamamoto, Tadao Morita
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiro Kawahara, Mititaka Yamamoto, Tadao Morita
• Inventors: Kawahara, Kazuhiro, Yamamoto, Mititaka, Morita, Tadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cochran, William W.
• Application Number:
  US04/884,270
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149,149A 235/61.7B,61.7,61.11 179/2CA
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1066 PIN data being compared to data on card

Abstract

A system for identifying the proper user of a credit card or the like in a vending machine or the like. Each card used in the system is given an identification number and a key number both written on the card and a secret number previously known to the proper owner of the card. To make the secret number, the order or arrangement of the numerals constituting the identification number is changed or scrambled in accordance with a program as determined on the basis of the key number, and from the scrambled identification number some of the component numerals are removed in accordance with a program as determined on the basis of the key number, so that the remaining numerals are formed into the secret number of the card. When the card is used for a credit purchase, the system recognizes the secret number of the card from its identification number and key number in accordance with the above-mentioned programs, and then compares that secret number thus recognized with the secret number separately entered into the system by the user of the card. If the two secret numbers are found identical, the system recognizes the user of the card as its proper owner.

Claims

1. A system for identifying the proper user of a credit card or the like in a vending machine or the like, said card having an identification number and a key number recorded thereon, comprising:

means for receiving said card introduced into said system;

means for reading the identification number and key number of said card;

means for converting said key number to a predetermined different number;

means for scrambling the arrangement of the numerals constituting said identification number in accordance with a program as determined on the basis of at least one of the numerals constituting said converted key number;

means for selecting from said scrambled identification number those numerals at the digit positions which are selected in accordance with a program which is determined by at least another of said numerals of said converte key number, said selected numerals comprising a secret number of said card;

me manually operated by the user of said card to enter into said system a number memorized by said user as the secret number of said card;

means for checking whether said secret number and memorized number are identical; and

means operated in response to said checking means to produce an output signal when said secret number and memorized number are identical.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification number and said key number are arranged on said card so as to appear as if they were a single number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said key number comprises part of said identification number.

4. A system for identifying the proper user of a credit card or the like in a vending machine or the like, said card having an identification number and a key number recorded thereon, comprising:

means for receiving said card introduced into said system;

means for reading the identification number and key number of said card;

means for converting said key number to a predetermined different number;

first selecting means operated in response to said key number converting means for selecting a first numeral of said identification number in accordance with a first Numeral of said converted key number, second selecting means operated in response to said key number converting means for selecting a second numeral of said identification number in accordance with a second numeral of said converted key number;

means operated in response to said first selecting means to cause said reading means to read said first selected numeral of said identification number;

means operated in response to said second selecting means to cause said reading means to read said second selected numeral of said identification number;

means for selecting certain digit positions of said identification number in accordance with a program as determined by said selected numerals, means causing said reading means to read the numerals at said selected digit positions of said identification number as the secret number of said card;

means manually operated by the user of said card to enter into said system a number memorized by said user as the secret number of said card;

means for checking whether said secret number and memorized number are identical; and

means operated in response to said checking means to produce an output signal when said secret number and memorized number are identical.