Computerized system for discreet identification of duress transaction and/or duress access

• US 5,731,575 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abraham R. Zingher, Joseph P. Zingher
• Original Assignee: Abraham R. Zingher, Joseph P. Zingher
• Inventors: Zingher, Abraham R., Zingher, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/844,626
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 902/5, 340/825.32, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• 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 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1083 Counting of PIN attempts

Abstract

A system and method for the discrete identification of a duress transaction at an ATM banking machine. The system and method allows the customer to alert the police that a crime is taking place without alerting the criminal that an alarm has been given by the entry of an access number equating to a non-prestored personal distress or emergency number in place of the stored PIN number. When an access number is entered to begin a transaction, the system compares the entered access number with the prestored PIN number. If the entered access number is the same as the PIN number, the transaction proceeds as normal. If not, an algorithmic function is applied to either the entered access number or the PIN number. These two number are then again compared and if after application of the algorithmic function they are the same, then the duress signal is triggered. Thus, the non-prestored personal distress number is successfully entered when the access number entered to begin the transaction equates to the PIN number after the algorithmic function is applied to either the entered access number or the PIN number. As such, the system and method facilitates recall of a non-prestored personal distress number.

Claims

1. An improved system for identifying a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system having a display, a keypad, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, and computer means for detecting an access number, said system comprising:

means for checking said access number with a personal identification number which is prestored on one of said system and said banking card;

whereby said system proceeds to allow a transaction if said access number is the same as said prestored personal identification number;

means for facilitating recall of a non-prestored personal distress number, said means for facilitating recall including means for storing at least one algorithmic function for modifying one of said prestored personal identification number and said access number;

means for verifying said access number as said non-prestored personal distress number by verifying one of

an algorithmically modified access number as being the same as said prestored personal identification number, and

an algorithmically modified prestored personal identification number as being the same as said access number; and

means for discreet identification and notification of said duress transaction upon verification of said access number as being said non-prestored personal distress number;

whereby said system facilitates the recall of said non-prestored personal distress number.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

computer initiated means for unnoticeably slowing down said distress transaction upon discreet identification and notification of said duress transaction by said means for discreet identification and notification.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for limiting funds available to be dispensed by said cash dispenser upon discreet identification and notification of said duress transaction by said means for discreet identification and notification.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for recording occurrences in proximity to said remote transaction terminal upon discreet identification and notification of said duress transaction by said means for discreet identification and notification.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal identification number comprises a plurality of digits, and said non-prestored personal distress number comprises a second plurality of digits differing in number from said first plurality of digits.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal identification number comprises a sequence of digits, and said non-prestored personal distress number comprises a variation of said sequence of said digits.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal identification number comprises a first set of digits, and said non-prestored personal distress number comprises a second set of digits equal to said first set of digits modified by a personal distress conversion number.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal identification number comprises a first set of digits of random length, and said non-prestored personal distress number comprises a second set of digits equal to said first set of digits plus an additional digit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal identification number comprises a first set of digits of random length, and said non-prestored personal distress number comprises a second set of digits equal to said first set of digits minus a digit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for identification and notification includes a silent alarm.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one algorithmic function comprises a plurality of algorithmic functions.

12. An improved system for identifying a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system having a display, a card reader for reading a banking card having a personal access password stored thereon, and a cash dispenser, said system comprising:

voice recognition means for detecting human speech;

means for checking said human speech with a personal access password which is prestored on one of said system and said banking card;

whereby said system proceeds to allow a transaction if said human speech is the same as said prestored personal access password;

means for facilitating recall of a non-prestored personal distress password, said means for facilitating recall including means for storing at least one logical step for modifying one of said prestored personal access password and said human speech according to said at least one logical step;

means for verifying said human speech as said non-prestored personal distress password by verifying one of

said human speech as modified by said at least one logical step being the same as said prestored personal access password, and

said prestored personal access password as modified by said at least one logical step being the same as said human speech; and

means for discreet identification and notification of said duress transaction upon verification of said human speech as said non-prestored personal distress password;

whereby said system facilitates the recall of said non-prestored personal distress password.

13. An improved method for the identification and notification of a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system having a display, a keypad, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, and computer means for processing a banking transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a personal identification number in one of said computer means and said banking card;

providing a means for checking said personal identification number in said computer means;

providing a means for storing at least one algorithmic function;

facilitating recall of said non-prestored personal distress number;

entering an access number via said keypad into said terminal to begin a transaction;

verifying said access number as said personal identification number whereby said method proceeds to allow a banking transaction upon verification of said access number as said personal identification number;

providing a means for modifying one of said personal identification number and said access number according to said at least one algorithmic function;

providing a means for verifying said access number as said non-prestored personal distress number by verifying one of

an algorithmically modified access number as being the same as said personal identification number, and;

an algorithmically modified personal identification number as being the same as said access number; and

triggering a duress signal upon successful recognition of said access number as being said non-prestored personal distress number;

whereby said method facilitates recall of said non-prestored personal distress number.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

delaying transaction time of said remote terminal upon said triggering of said duress signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

limiting the funds available to be dispensed by the cash dispenser upon said triggering of said duress signal.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

recording occurrences in proximity to said remote transaction terminal upon said triggering of said duress signal.

17. An improved method for the identification and notification of a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system having a display, a keypad, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, and computer means for processing a banking transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a personal identification number in one of said computer means and said banking card;

providing a means for checking said personal identification number in said computer means;

providing a means for storing at least one algorithmic function means;

facilitating recall of said non-prestored personal distress number;

entering an access number comprising a sequence of digits via said keypad into said terminal to begin a transaction;

verifying said access number as said personal identification number whereby said method proceeds to allow a transaction if said access number is the same as said personal identification number;

providing a means for modifying one of said personal identification number and said access number according to said algorithmic function;

attempting to recognize said access number as being said personal identification number modified into said non-prestored personal distress number by varying the sequence of said access number digits to equate said access number to said personal identification number upon failure to verify said access number as said non-prestored personal distress number;

triggering a duress signal upon successful verification of said access number as being the same as said non-prestored personal distress number;

whereby said method facilitates recall of said non-prestored personal distress number.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of attempting to verify said access number as being said personal identification number modified into said non-prestored personal distress number by varying the sequence of said access number digits is repeated a predetermined number of times.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

delaying transaction time of said remote terminal upon said triggering of said duress signal.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

limiting the funds available to be dispensed by the cash dispenser upon said triggering of said duress signal.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

proceeding with said banking transaction upon successful verification of said personal identification number;

entering a verification number before receiving banking funds;

attempting to verify said verification number as said personal identification number;

attempting to verify said verification number as being said personal identification number modified into said non-prestored personal distress number upon failure to verify said verification number as said personal identification number; and

triggering a duress signal upon successful verification of said non-prestored personal distress number.

22. An improved method for the identification and notification of a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system having a display, a keypad, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, and computer means for processing a banking transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a personal identification number in one of said computer means and said banking card;

providing a means for verifying said personal identification number in said computer means;

facilitating recall of a non-prestored personal distress number;

entering an access number via said keypad into said terminal to begin a transaction whereby said method proceeds to allow a banking transaction if said access number is the same as said personal identification number;

attempting to verify said access number as said personal identification number;

providing a means for storing at least one personal distress conversion number;

providing a means for modifying one of said personal identification number and said access number according to said at least one personal distress conversion number;

providing a logical conversion means for recognizing said access number as being said personal identification number modified by said predetermined personal distress conversion number into said non-prestored personal distress number; and

triggering a duress signal upon verification of said access number as being said personal identification number modified by said predetermined personal distress conversion number into said non-prestored personal distress number;

whereby said method facilitates recall of said non-prestored personal distress number.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

delaying transaction time of said remote terminal upon said triggering of said duress signal.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

limiting the funds available to be dispensed by the cash dispenser upon said triggering of said duress signal.

25. An improved system for the discreet identification and notification of a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system upon the entering of a non-prestored emergency number, said remote transaction terminal having a display, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, computer means for processing a banking transaction, and means for verifying a personal identification number of a first set of digits having a last digit wherein said personal identification number is prestored on one of said system and said banking card, said improved system comprising:

means for checking an entered access number of a second set of digits with said personal identification number of said first set of digits;

whereby said system proceeds to allow a banking transaction if said entered access number is the same as said prestored personal identification number;

algorithmic function means for recognizing said entered access number of a second set of digits as being said personal identification number modified into said non-prestored emergency number when said entered access number corresponds to said personal identification number according to at least one algorithmic function, said at least one algorithmic function modifying one of said personal identification number and said entered access number in at least one of the following manners,

(a) said second set of digits of said access number match said first set of digits of said personal identification number in any varying sequence,

(b) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number minus at least said last digit,

(c) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number plus at least an additional digit,

(d) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number plus a predetermined offset number; and

means for discreet notification of said duress transaction upon recognition of said non-prestored emergency number by said means for recognizing;

whereby said system facilitates recall of said non-prestored emergency number.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said varying sequence is defined as said first set of digits being represented by the letter sequence A B C D, and said second set of digits being D C B A.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said varying sequence is defined as said first set of digits being represented by the letter sequence A B C D, and said second set of digits being B A D C.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said predetermined offset number being represented by the letter sequence X X X X, said first set of digits being represented by the letter sequence A B C D, and said second set of digits being (A+X) (B+X) (C+X) (D+X).

29. The system of claim 28, wherein X is a positive integer.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein X is a negative integer.

31. An improved method for the discreet identification and notification of a duress transaction at a remote transaction terminal of an automated banking system upon entering a non-prestored emergency number, said remote transaction terminal having a display, a card reader for reading a banking card, a cash dispenser, and computer means for processing a banking transaction, said improved method comprising the steps of:

storing a personal identification number of a first set of digits including a last digit in one of said computer means and said banking card;

providing a means for recognizing an access number of a second set of digits entered into said terminal to authorize a transaction;

providing means for checking said access number with said personal identification number;

whereby said method proceeds to allow a banking transaction if said access number is the same as said personal identification number;

providing means for storing a logical step;

providing a means for modifying one of said personal identification number and said access number according to said logical step;

providing a logical step means for recognizing said access number as said non-prestored emergency number being a formative of said personal identification number;

facilitating recall of said non-prestored emergency number by directly correlating said personal identification number to said non-prestored emergency number via said logical step; and

triggering a duress signal upon the recognition of at least one of the following occurrences,

(a) said second set of digits of said access number match and said first set of digits of said personal identification number in any varying sequence,

(b) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number minus at least said last digit,

(c) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number plus at least an additional digit,

(d) said second set of digits of said access number equal said first set of digits of said personal identification number plus a predetermined offset number;

whereby said method facilitates recall of said non-prestored emergency number.