Credit and other security cards and card utilization systems therefore

• US 3,896,266 A
• Filed: 06/02/1972
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nelson J. Waterbury
• Original Assignee: Nelson J. Waterbury
• Inventors: Waterbury, Nelson J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Application Number:
  US05/259,248
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1SA,1SB,2DP 340/149R,149A,152 235/61.7B
• US Class Current: 379/114.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• 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 7/1075 PIN is checked remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques

Abstract

A security card (which may be a credit card) according to the invention has recorded on it data identifying a personal and noncounterfeitable attribute, such as the voice characteristics, of the authorised holder of the card. A card utilisation system according to the invention provides means for comparing the attribute as recorded by these data with the corresponding attribute of the person wishing to use the card, thereby substantially eliminating the possibility of unauthorised use of the card. The utilisation system, when applied to credit card utilisation, preferably includes document facsimile transmission, whereby, for example, a credit card user obtaining credit remotely can be provided with a facsimile copy of the usual credit sale document, which facsimile copy he signs before transmitting another facsimile copy, this time of the signed first copy, to provide the remote credit issuing location with his authentication of the transaction. Preferably, also, the system includes provision for television communication between credit card holders and the credit-giving locations, whereby, for example, a remote would-be purchaster can be shown goods in which he is interested. The system is also adapted to provide for credit card payment in, for example, pay television distribution systems and for remote purchase of theatre and airline tickets and of services such as the supply of information from computerised information systems and computerised translation services. Individual human voices embody characteristics which are unique and identifiable. A credit card can, therefore, be equipped with a voiceprint-cipher, which can be used to corroborate authorised possession by the card-holder. Contourlines or numerically coded representations can be used to embody the voice-print information on the credit card, and electronic comparators can be used for automatic verification of identity. The voice cipher can be combined with a charge account code cipher, to provide further protection of the integrity of a credit card.

Claims

1. A security card utilization system comprising:

a plurality of security cards, each having data recorded thereon relating to the voice characteristics of a respective authorized card holder;

at least one reading transducer adapted to read said data of any one of said cards presented thereto and to produce a first group of electrical signals which contain said data;

a first recording means comprising a first magnetic tape loop and a first recording head operative to receive and record said first group of electrical signals on said first tape loop;

at least one acoustical transducer responsive to the voice of any person and operative to produce a second group of electrical signals representative of the voIce of such person;

a second recording means comprising a second magnetic tape loop and a second recording head operative to receive and record said second group of electrical signals on said second tape loop;

first and second pickup means operative to read said first and second tape loops respectively and produce first and second output signals therefrom; and

at least one comparator connected to said first pickup means and to said second pickup means to receive said first and said second groups of output signals therefrom and operative to effect a comparison thereof to indicate whether or not said person is the authorized holder of said one card.

2. A security card utilization system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one comparator comprises an oscilloscope adapted to produce two traces, each corresponding to a respective one of said output signals.

3. A security card utilization system comprising:

a plurality of security cards, each having data recorded thereon relating to the voice characteristics of a respective authorized card holder;

at least one reading transducer adapted to read said data of any one of said cards presented thereto and to produce a first group of electrical signals which contain said data;

a security card receptor for receiving said one card to permit reading thereof by said reading transducer and for retaining said one card at least while said one card is being read by said reading transducer;

at least one acoustical transducer responsive to the voice of any person and operative to produce a second group of electrical signals representative of the voice of such person; and

at least one comparator connected to said reading and acoustical transducers to receive said first and second groups of electrical signals therefrom and to effect a comparison thereof and to produce a card release signal if, and only if, said comparison indicates said person is the authorized holder of said one card, said card release signal being operative to permit said card receptor to release said card.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said comparator is operative in the event that said comparison indicates said person is not the authorized holder of said one card to produce an alarm signal.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising recording means for making a permanent record of said data, said recording means actuated by said alarm signal.

6. A security card utilization system comprising:

a plurality of security cards, each having data recorded thereon relating to the voice characteristics of a respective authorized card holder and data representing a code assigned to said holder, the voice characteristics data and the code data being combined in a single composite code;

at least one reading transducer adapted to read said composite code of any one of said cards presented thereto and to produce a first group of electrical signals representing said composite code;

separator means for separating said first group of electrical signals into a first portion representing said voice characteristics and a second portion representing said assigned code;

at least one acoustical transducer responsive to the voice of any person and operative to produce a second group of electrical signals representative of the voice of such person; and

at least one comparator connected to the reading transducer and to the separator means to receive said first portion of said first group of electrical signals and said second group of electrical signals therefrom and operative to effect a comparison thereof and thereby to provide an indication, on the basis of said comparison, whether or not said person is the authorized holder of said one card.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the security cards each additionally bear further data representing said assigned code, said further data being uncombined with said voice characteristics data, and wherein the system additionally comprises reading means for reading said further data, and producing a further signal representing said further data, and a second comparator connected to receive said further signal and said second portion of said first group of electrical signals and effect a comparison thereof.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a decision unit connected to said first and second comparators and operative to produce a verification signal if and only if the first comparator indicates that said voice is the voice of the authorized holder and said second comparator indicates that the assigned codes as represented by the said further data and by the said second portion of said first group of electrical signals are identical to one another.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said decision unit is operative in response to said first comparator indicating said voice is not the voice of the authorized holder of the card/or that said assigned codes are not identical to produce an alarm signal.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising recording means for making a record of the voice of said person, and erasing means for erasing the record of said voice, said erasive means being rendered inoperative by the said alarm signal.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for impounding the security card, said impounding means being actuated by said alarm signal.

12. A security card having recorded thereon data relating to the voice characteristics of an authorized holder and data representing a code assigned to said holder, the voice characteristics data and the code data being combined in a single composite code which is in a form readable by suitable transducer means.

13. A security card as claimed in claim 12 wherein said composite code is a numerical code.

14. A security card as claimed in claim 13 wherein said composite code is magnetically recorded.

15. A security card as claimed in claim 12 additionally bearing further data representing said code assigned to said holder, said further data being uncombined with said voice characteristics data.

16. A security card having recorded thereon first data relating to the voice characteristics of an authorized holder, second data representing a code assigned to said holder, said first and second data being combined in a single magnetically coded composite numerical code readable by suitable transducer means, and third data representing said assigned code, said third data being represented in the form of punched holes in the card.