Security system

• US 6,491,216 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: May, David C. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US09/612,680
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/475, 235/485, 235/486, 235/375, 271/3.13, 271/3.14, 271/3.15, 271/152, 271/153, 271/240, 271/258.01, 271/259, 705/43, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0875 the arrangement comprising a shutter for blocking at least part of the card insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0881 the shutter arranged to open only if the record carrier has been authenticated to enter the insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A security system is provided for use in association with a media entry slot (14, 24) on the user interface (12) of a self service terminal (10), such as a automated teller machine (ATM). At least three profile sensors (60a-60e) are arranged to detect the profile of the leading edge of an object (16) inserted into the slot, (14, 24). An access control means allows objects having a leading edge profile corresponding to a predetermined profile only to access a restricted zone such as the card reader module or a depository. This arrangement reduces the risk of fraudulent access to sensitive parts of the self service terminal via the media entry slots provided on its user interface (12).

Claims

1. Security system for use in cooperation with a media entry slot on a user interface of a self service terminal to control access of objects inserted through the media entry slot to a restricted zone within the self-service terminal, said objects having a predetermined profile defined by the positional relationship of at least three discrete points located thereon, the security system comprising:

media detection means for detecting whether the leading edge of an inserted object through the media entry slot has the predetermined profile; and

access control means responsive to the media detection means for allowing the inserted object detected as having the predetermined profile to pass to the restricted zone;

the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors spaced across a path of travel and located adjacent the media entry slot, said sensors cooperating together to detect the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more positionally related discrete points on the object such that only objects having a leading edge of the predetermined profile are authorized for access to the restricted zone.

2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the media detection means comprises signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of an inserted object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile.

3. Security system for use in co-operation with a media entry slot on a user interface of a self service terminal to control access of objects inserted through the media entry slot to a restricted zone within the self-service terminal, the security system comprising:

media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot, the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors for detecting the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more discrete positions such that objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile only are authorized for access to the restricted zone by a media verification means;

the media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone, the media detection means further comprising a signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of the inserted object and an optical sensor for cooperating with the profile sensors, the optical sensor including a light transmitter and a light receiver and each profile sensor including a vane moveable between a first position in which the vane blocks the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and a second position in which the vane is clear of the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and;

access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto.

4. The security system according to claim 3, wherein the vanes are displaced from the first position to the second position upon insertion of an object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile.

5. The security system according to claim 3, wherein the media entry slot on the user interface of the self-service terminal is a card reader slot, and the restricted zone comprises a card reader module of the self service terminal.

6. The security system according to claim 3, wherein the media entry slot on the user interface of the self-service terminal is a deposit slot, and the restricted zone comprises a depository module of the self-service terminal.

7. The security system according to claim 3, wherein the access control means comprises a transport mechanism.

8. The security system according to claim 3, wherein the access control means comprises a shutter mechanism.

9. A self-service terminal comprising:

a user interface;

means defining a media entry slot on the user interface;

means defining a restricted zone within the self-service terminal;

media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot;

media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone; and

access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto;

the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors spaced across a path of travel and located adjacent the media entry slot, said sensors cooperating together to detect the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more positionally related discrete points on the object such that only objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile defined by the positional relationship of three or more discrete points are authorized for access to the restricted zone by the media verification means.

10. The self-service terminal according to claim 9, wherein the media detection means comprises signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of an inserted object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile.

11. A self-service terminal comprising:

a user interface;

means defining a media entry slot on the user interface;

means defining a restricted zone within the self-service terminal;

media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot, the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors for detecting the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more discrete positions such that objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile only are authorized for access to the restricted zone by a media verification means, the media detection means further comprising an optical sensor for cooperating with the profile sensors, the optical sensor including a light transmitter and a light receiver and each profile sensor including a vane moveable between a fist position in which the vane blocks the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and a second position in which the vane is clear of the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver;

the media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone, the media detection further comprising signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of an inserted object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile; and

access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto.

12. The self-service terminal according to claim 11, wherein the vanes are displaced from the first position to the second position upon insertion of an object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile.

13. The self-service terminal according to claim 11, wherein the media entry slot on the user interface is a card reader slot, and the restricted zone comprises a card reader module of the self service terminal.

14. The self-service terminal according to claim 11, wherein the media entry slot on the user interface is a deposit slot, and the restricted zone comprises a depository module of the self-service terminal.

15. The self-service terminal according to claim 11, wherein the access control means comprises a transport mechanism.

16. The self-service terminal according to claim 11, wherein the access control means comprises a shutter mechanism.

17. A method of controlling access to a restricted zone within a self-service terminal comprising the steps of:

receiving an object within a media entry slot on a user interface of the self-service terminal;

detecting the profile of the leading edge of the object, said detection using three or more profile sensors cooperating with each other to detect the presence of three or more discrete positions on the leading edge;

determining whether the detected profile corresponds to a predetermined profile defined by three or more points in a plane; and

allowing passage of an object having a leading edge profile corresponding to the predetermined profile to the restricted zone.

18. A method of operating a self-service terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a profile of a leading edge of an object received within a media entry slot on a user interface of the self-service terminal, said detection using three or more profile sensors cooperating with each other to detect the presence of three or more discrete positions on the leading edge;

determining whether the detected profile corresponds to a predetermined profile defined by three or more points in a plane; and

allowing passage of the object to a restricted zone within the self-service terminal when the detected profile corresponds to the predetermined profile.

19. A security system for restricting access to a self service terminal to ensure access by only an object having a predetermined profile, the security system comprising:

a shutter enclosure defining a path of travel from a media entry slot to a shutter which controllably allows entry of objects to a restricted area within the self service terminal;

a media detector having a plurality of three or more profile sensors located between the media entry slot and the shutter in a spaced arrangement across the path of travel to define a predetermined profile, the sensors cooperating with each other to detect at least three discrete points of the leading edge of an inserted object within the shutter enclosure; and

a controller in response to the media detector determines whether the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object matches the predetermined profile;

upon a successful match the controller authorizes access by controlling the opening of the shutter.

20. The security system as in claim 19 further comprising:

an optical detector having a transmitter and a receiver disposed on opposite sides within the shutter enclosure and located between the media entry slot and the shutter,

wherein each profile sensor comprises a lever arm, said arm having a vane at one end and a switch pin at the other end, the vane movable between a first position in which the vane blocks the path of light between the transmitter and the receiver of the optical detector and a second position in which the vane is clear of the path of light between the transmitter and the receiver,

wherein when all the sensors are displaced by an object matching a predetermined profile, the optical detector signals the controlling means to open the shutter door for allowing the object access to the restricted area.

21. A security system as in claim 20 wherein the predetermined profile includes a specified width of the object having a straight leading edge and;

the plurality of three or more profile sensors are arranged in a line with respect to each other to detect at least three discrete points of a leading edge of an inserted object, said controlling means shall signal the shutter door to open when the object displaces all the switch pins simultaneously.

22. A security system as in claim 20 wherein the predetermined profile includes a predetermined width of the object having a leading jagged edge and

the plurality of three or more profile sensors includes at least one plurality of first profile sensors and at least one plurality of second profile sensors, said first profile sensors arranged similar to the object having the predetermined profile, said first profile sensors are in said first position when undisplaced and said second position when displaced, said second profile sensors arranged at positions slightly closer to the shutter that would enable the switch pins of said second profile sensors to be displaced by the leading edge of an object not having the predetermined profile when inserted against the shutter door, said second profile sensors are in the second position when undisplaced and in the first position when displaced, such arrangement of the profile sensors allow for a clear path of light between the transmitter and receiver when the object is pushed against the shutter door.