Computerized password verification system and method for ATM transactions

• US 6,871,288 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald K. Russikoff
• Original Assignee: Ronald K. Russikoff
• Inventors: Russikoff, Ronald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lipman, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US10/371,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 713/202, 340/5.41, 340/5.85, 340/7.5, 235/379
• US Class Current: 726/19
• 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

Abstract

A computerized password verification system and associated method is disclosed for discreet recognition and reporting of a duress transaction being imposed upon a user at an ATM or other remote cash-dispensing terminal. The inventive system utilizes conventional ATM hardware including a card reader, keypad and display together with its associated operating and communications software required for transaction processing, and further comprises the programmed generation and display screen of a list of transaction acceptance passwords (TAPs) with a prompt to the user for a TAP selection to confirm the validity of the immediate transaction. The prompted display of the TAP list appears following the initial acceptance of the user'"'"'s personal identification number (PIN) and requires the ATM user to select the TAP from the list that is currently registered to the user. While selection of the user'"'"'s current TAP from the prompted list verifies the immediate transaction, the selection of any other TAP from the displayed list would constitute a “panic” TAP that triggers the generation of a silent alert signal to the authorities.

Claims

1. In a method for operating an automatic teller machine system of the type used to dispense cash to a customer from an associated account and having a card reader for reading a personal access card of the customer with a personal identification number stored thereon, means for inputting a customer selection, a display screen and a central computer for processing a customer request for a cash withdrawal, the improvement comprising the steps of:

after reading the personal access card and verifying the personal identification number of the customer;

generating a plurality of transaction acceptance passwords in the central computer, one of the plurality of passwords being pre-assigned to the customer and stored in the central computer;

displaying the plurality of passwords on the display screen in a grouped format together with a prompt to the customer for selection of the pre-assigned password;

dispensing the cash requested for withdrawal upon the inputted selection of the pre-assigned password of the customer; and

signaling authorities upon the inputted selection of one of the plurality of passwords other than the pre-assigned password as indication that the customer request for cash withdrawal is being made under duress.

2. The improved method according to claim 1, further comprising:

concurrent with the step of signaling authorities, dispensing a limited amount of cash to the customer less than requested.

3. The improved method according to claim 2, further comprising:

before the step of dispensing a limited amount of cash to the customer, marking the cash for subsequent identification.

4. The improved method according to claim 1, further comprising:

concurrent with the step of signaling authorities, visually recording the customer at the location of the automatic teller machine system to verify that the request for cash withdrawal is being made under duress.

5. The improved method according to claim 1, wherein the grouped format of the plurality of passwords displayed is a list for selection by the customer.

6. The improved method according to claim 5, wherein the passwords in the list are displayed as respective visual images of articles.

7. A method for the discreet recognition and reporting of a duress transaction being imposed upon a customer at a remote cash-dispensing terminal having a display screen, means for inputting of a customer selection, means for reading a transaction card having a personal identification number of the customer stored therein, and computer means for processing a customer request for cash, said method comprising the steps of:

after the transaction card is read into the computer means and the personal identification number of the customer is verified;

generating a plurality of transaction acceptance passwords in the computer means, one of the plurality of passwords being pre-assigned to the customer and stored in the computer means;

displaying the plurality of passwords on the display screen in a grouped format together with a prompt to the customer for selection of the pre-assigned passwords; and

signaling authorities upon the inputted selection of one of the plurality of passwords other than the pre-assigned password of the customer.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

concurrent with the step of signaling authorities, dispensing cash in a limited amount less than requested by the customer.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

marking the cash prior to the step of dispensing a limited amount thereof.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

at the same time as signaling authorities, visually recording the customer at the terminal to verify the duress transaction.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of passwords are in the grouped format of a list.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the passwords in the list are displayed as respective visual images of articles.

13. In an automatic teller machine system of the type used to dispense cash to a customer and having a display screen, means for inputting customer selections, means for reading a transaction card with a personal identification number of the customer stored therein, and a central computer for processing a cash request from the customer, the improvement comprising:

first means for instructing the central computer to generate a plurality of transaction acceptance passwords after the personal identification number is read into the central computer and verified, one of the plurality of passwords being pre-assigned to the customer and stored in the central computer;

second means for instructing the central computer to display the plurality of passwords on the display screen grouped in a list and having a prompt to the customer for selection of the pre-assigned password;

third means for instructing the central computer to dispense the cash request upon the inputted selection of the pre-assigned password; and

fourth means for instructing the central computer to signal authorities of a duress cash request upon the inputted selection of one of the plurality of passwords other than the pre-assigned password and further to dispense a limited amount of cash in response to the request.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

fifth means for visually recording the customer at the automatic teller machine terminal to verify the duress request.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

sixth means for marking the limited amount of cash dispensed for subsequent identification.