Automated banking machine that outputs interference signals that jam reading ability of unauthorized card readers

• US 8,186,579 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laskowski, Edward L., Blackson, Dale H., Enright, Jeffery M., Ramachandran, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/200,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

A cash dispensing automated banking machine includes a card reader associated with a card slot. An anti-fraud sensing device is able to sense ambient light or generated radiation that passes to the sensing device through the card reader slot. The installation of an unauthorized card reading device on the machine changes at least one property sensed by the sensing device. A controller in the machine receives signals from the sensing device, and determines if an unauthorized card reading device has been installed.

Claims

1. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) operating the at least one computer to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in a card slot of a cash dispensing automated banking machine;

(b) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to the determining in (a), to cause at least one signal emitter to begin output of at least one interference signal configured to interfere with user card reading by an unauthorized card reading device;

(c) subsequent to (b), operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to continue output of the at least one interference signal while the user card is in the card slot; and

(d) subsequent to (c), operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to cease output of the at least one interference signal.

2. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine is part of a banking system including a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein each automated banking machine includes a card reader, a biometric reader, and a cash dispenser, and further comprising:

(e) operating the at least one computer to cause the card reader of the automated banking machine to read card data from the user card;

(f) operating the at least one computer to cause the biometric reader of the automated banking machine to read user biometric data;

(g) operating the at least one computer to authorize a user to use the automated banking machine to carry out a cash dispensing transaction responsive at least in part to both

computer-determined correspondence between the card data read in (e) and stored card information, and computer-determined correspondence between user biometric data read in (f) and stored biometric information.

3. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one signal emitter is operative to emit radio frequency (RF) signals, and further comprising:

(e) prior to (a), operating the at least one computer to cause at least one RF signal sensor to sense at least one RF signal emitted from a source external and adjacent to the machine;

(f) operating the at least one computer to determine that the at least one RF signal sensed in (e) is not caused by operation of the machine;

wherein (b) is responsive at least in part to both the determination in (f) and the determination in (a),

wherein (b) includes causing the at least one signal emitter to emit RF signals that match a frequency of the at least one RF signal sensed in (e),

wherein the RF signals emitted in (b) are configured to interfere with the at least one RF signal emitted from the source.

4. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one signal emitter is operative to output a plurality of signals of different frequencies, wherein (b) includes outputting a plurality of different frequencies.

5. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one card sensor operative to sense a user card in the card slot, and further comprising

(e) operating the at least one computer to determine from the at least one card sensor that the user card is no longer in the card slot;

wherein (d) is responsive at least in part to the determination in (e).

6. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein (c) includes continuing output of the at least one interference signal while the user card is being moved into the card slot.

7. The at least one article according to claim 1

wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader, wherein the at least one computer only causes emitter operation during a transaction which involves expected use of the card reader,

wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor in operative connection with the at least one computer, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is operable to detect a customer adjacent the machine,

wherein (a) includes determining expected use of the card reader responsive at least in part to customer detection by the at least one proximity sensor.

8. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to cause at least one computer associated with an automated banking machine including a card reader, a card slot adjacent to the card reader, at least one sensor, and at least one output device operative to provide interference output, to carry out a method comprising:

(a) operating the at least one computer to determine at least one customer action responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one sensor;

(b) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to (a), to cause the at least one output device to begin providing interference output configured to interfere with unauthorized card reader device reading of a user card;

(c) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one sensor, to determine that a user card moved in the card slot in a direction toward the card reader while the interference output is being provided;

(d) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to (c), to cause the at least one output device to cease providing the interference output;

(e) subsequent to (d), operating the at least one computer to cause the card reader while the interference output is not being provided, to read the user card;

(f) operating the at least one computer subsequent to the card reader reading the user card, to cause the at least one output device to begin providing the interference output;

(g) operating the at least one computer responsive at-least in part to operation of the at least one sensor, to determine that a user card moved in the card slot in a direction away from the card reader while the interference output is being provided; and

(h) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to (g), to cause the at least one output device to cease providing the interference output.

9. The at least one article according to claim 8

wherein the interference output comprises continuous interference output,

wherein the continuous interference output comprises at least one interference signal,

wherein the at least one output device includes at least one signal emitter operative to emit the at least one interference signal,

wherein the at least one interference signal is capable of jamming card reading ability of an unauthorized card reader device positioned adjacent the card slot,

wherein (b) and (f) include operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to begin emitting the at least one interference signal.

10. The at least one article according to claim 8

wherein the interference output comprises continuous interference output, wherein the continuous interference output comprises a plurality of interference signals of different frequencies, wherein at least one of the different frequencies is capable of jamming unauthorized card reader device reading of the user card,

wherein the at least one output device includes at least one signal emitter operative to emit the plurality of interference signals of different frequencies,

wherein (b) and (f) include operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to begin emitting the plurality of interference signals of different frequencies.

11. The at least one article according to claim 8

wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one card sensor adjacent the card slot, wherein the at least one card sensor is operable to sense when a user card passes through the card slot in the direction toward the card reader,

wherein (c) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one card sensor, to determine that the user card passed through the card slot in the direction toward the card reader.

12. The at least one article according to claim 8

wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one card sensor adjacent the card slot, wherein the at least one card sensor is operable to sense when a user card passes through the card slot in the direction away from the card reader,

wherein (g) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one card sensor, to determine that the user card passed through the card slot in the direction away from the card reader.

13. The at least one article according to claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one card sensor adjacent the card slot, wherein (a) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one card sensor, to determine that the user card is adjacent the card slot.

14. The at least one article according to claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one proximity sensor operable to sense a customer adjacent the machine,

wherein (a) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one proximity sensor, to determine that a customer is adjacent the machine.

15. The at least one article according to claim 8 wherein in (d) at least a portion of the user card is located in the card slot during ceasing of the interference output.

16. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to cause operation of at least one computer in a method that includes:

(a) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of at least one sensor associated with an automated banking machine, to determine an expected use of at least one reader device of the machine to read user data during a machine user session with the machine,

wherein the machine is operable to allow an authorized machine user carry out a financial transaction,

wherein the machine is associated with at least one signal emitter operable to output at least one interference signal configured to interfere with user data reading by at least one unauthorized reader device;

(b) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to (a), to cause the at least one signal emitter to begin continuous output of the at least one interference signal;

(c) subsequent to (b), operating the at least one computer during the machine user session to determine that the at least one reader device read user data; and

(d) subsequent to (c), operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to cease the continuous output begun in (b).

17. The at least one article according to claim 16 wherein the machine includes a card slot, wherein the at least one reader device includes a card reader operable to read user data from a user card, and further comprising:

(e) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one sensor, to determine that a user card was inserted into the card slot;

wherein (c) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to the determination in (e), to determine that the at least one card reader read the user card.

18. The at least one article according to claim 16 wherein the machine includes a card slot, wherein the at least one reader device includes a card reader operable to read user data from a user card, and further comprising:

(e) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one sensor, to determine that a user card was removed from the card slot;

wherein (c) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to the determination in (e), to determine that the at least one card reader read the user card.

19. The at least one article according to claim 16 wherein the automated banking machine is associated with at least one proximity sensor operable to detect a customer adjacent the machine,

wherein (a) includes operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one proximity sensor, to determine the expected use of the at least one reader device.

20. The at least one article according to claim 16 wherein the at least one signal emitter is operable to emit radio frequency (RF) signals, and wherein (b) includes operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to begin continuous output of RF signals.