System and method of detecting authorized dismantlement of transaction machines

• US 5,311,450 A
• Filed: 08/23/1991
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ojima, Touru
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, KYLE JAEHUN
• Application Number:
  US07/750,034
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/404, 364/408, 364/464.02, 340/541, 340/545, 340/571, 902/1-7, 902/9, 902/10, 235/382
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A firm banking terminal having a data inputting unit, a dismantlement monitor for outputting a detection signal when the terminal body is dismantled, a processor for stopping operation of the terminal when it receives the detection signal, and a memory for storing authorization data allowing dismantlement of the terminal without interrupting normal operations when the data received through the data inputting unit coincides with the authorization data.

Claims

1. A security system for detecting and preventing the unauthorized dismantlement of a transaction terminal comprising, in combination:

processor means (11) for controlling operation of the terminal (1);

data inputting means (14) for inputting authorization data to said processor means for identifying a person authorized to dismantle the terminal (1);

dismantlement detection means (15) for outputting a detection signal to said processor means (11) for making said terminal (1) inoperable when the terminal (1) is dismantled; and

memory means (13) for storing data on persons authorized to dismantle the terminal, wherein when said processor means (11) determines that the data received through said data inputting means (14) coincides with the data stored in said memory means (13) on the authorized person, said processor (11) interrupts the detection signal allowing dismantlement of the terminal (1) without interrupting normal operations.

2. A security system for a transaction terminal (1) according to claim 1, wherein said dismantlement detection means (15) includes a screw disposed within the terminal such that the dismantlement detection means (15) generates the detection signal when the screw is removed from the terminal.

3. A security system for a transaction terminal according to claim 1, further comprising, in combination:

an IC card (10) having an IC card processor means for controlling operations on said IC card;

IC card input means (16), in communication with said processor means, for reading and writing data to said IC card (10); and

wherein said memory means (13) is contained on said IC card, whereby the authorization data stored in said memory means is provided in the IC card, and said IC card processor means sends a coincidence signal to said processor means (11) if it determines that the data received through said data inputting means (16) of said terminal (1) and the authorization data stored in said memory means coincide with each other thereby causing said processor means (11) to interrupt said detection signal.

4. A security system for a transaction terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium for externally storing said authorization data, whereby said authorization data is transferred to said memory means (11) provided within said terminal through said data inputting means (14).