Apparatus, system, and method for detecting tampering of fiscal printers

• US 9,183,381 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morris, Julie A., White, James M., Hucaby, Wayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, KARI L
• Application Number:
  US12/209,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 713/194, 713/340, 726/34, 726/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting tampering of devices such as fiscal printers. A memory module includes a volatile memory that stores multi-bit data. An operation module allows operation of an electronic device, such as a fiscal printer, in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory. A detection module detects an attempt to access the enclosed device where access to the enclosed device is restricted by an enclosure. A tamper switch module disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device. A shutdown module disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory module comprising a volatile memory, the volatile memory storing a code therein, the code comprising predefined multi-bit data, the volatile memory comprising a serial input/output microchip and the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory serially, the code stored in a particular location in the volatile memory;

an operation module that allows operation of a fiscal printer in response to determining that the code is stored in the particular location within the volatile memory;

a detection module that detects an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure, the enclosed device in electronic communication with the fiscal printer;

a tamper switch module that disconnects power to the volatile memory in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device, the code stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to disconnecting power to the volatile memory; and

a shutdown module that disables printing operations of the fiscal printer and sends a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory, wherein the shutdown module disables printing operations of the fiscal printer in response to determining that the code is not stored in the volatile memory,

wherein said modules comprise one or more of hardware circuits, programmable hardware devices and software, the software stored on one or more non-transitory, computer readable storage devices, wherein when said modules comprise software, the apparatus comprises a hardware processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiscal printer is a transaction recording device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed device comprises a non-volatile memory, and wherein disabling operation of the fiscal printer comprises disabling the utilization of the non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory facilitating operation of the fiscal printer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises one of an electronic journal and a fiscal memory, the non-volatile memory utilized by the fiscal printer to store transaction data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection module comprises a switch placed in contact with a moveable surface of the enclosure, movement of the moveable surface above a predetermined threshold causes a detection of an attempt to access the enclosed device by actuating the switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the moveable surface is one of a drawer and a door.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory module, detection module and tamper switch module are housed within the enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volatile memory is static random access memory (“

SRAM”

).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volatile memory is a 1-wire, serial input/output microchip connected to the enclosed device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed device is within the fiscal printer.

11. A system comprising:

an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure;

an electronic device in electronic communication with the enclosed device, the enclosed device comprising a fiscal printer;

a memory module comprising a volatile memory, the volatile memory storing a code therein, the code comprising predefined multi-bit data, the volatile memory comprising a serial input/output microchip and the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory serially, the code stored in a particular location in the volatile memory;

an operation module that allows operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the code is stored in the particular location within the volatile memory;

a detection module that detects an attempt to access the enclosed device;

a tamper switch module that disconnects power to the volatile memory in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device, the code stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to disconnecting power to the volatile memory; and

a shutdown module that disables printing operations of the electronic device and sends a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory,

wherein said modules comprise one or more of hardware circuits, programmable hardware devices and software, the software stored on one or more non-transitory, computer readable storage devices, wherein when said modules comprise software, the apparatus comprises a hardware processor.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a transaction processing device that is utilized to perform sales transactions, the transaction processing device utilizing the enclosed device to store transaction data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transaction processing device is a computer system.

14. A computer program product for detecting tampering of an enclosed device, said computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by a processor for:

storing a code in a volatile memory, the code comprising predefined multi-bit data, the volatile memory comprising a serial input/output microchip and the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory serially, the code stored in a particular location in the volatile memory;

allowing operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the code is stored in the particular location in the volatile memory, the electronic device comprising a fiscal printer;

detecting an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the enclosed device restricted by an enclosure, the enclosed device in electronic communication with the electronic device;

disconnecting power to the volatile memory in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device, the code stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to disconnecting power to the volatile memory;

disabling printing operations of the electronic device in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory; and

sending a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a transaction recording device.

16. A method comprising:

storing a code in a volatile memory, the code comprising predefined multi-bit data, the volatile memory comprising a serial input/output microchip and the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory serially, the code stored in a particular location in the volatile memory;

allowing operation of an electronic device in response to determining that the code is stored in the particular location in the volatile memory, the electronic device comprising a fiscal printer;

detecting an attempt to access an enclosed device, access to the fiscal printer restricted by an enclosure;

disconnecting power to the volatile memory in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the fiscal printer, the code stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to disconnecting power to the volatile memory;

disabling printing operations of the fiscal printer in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory; and

sending a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the code is not stored in the particular location in the volatile memory.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending a signal to notify a user that an attempt to access has occurred in response to determining that the code is not stored in the volatile memory.