Credit card verifier

• US 4,868,900 A
• Filed: 07/27/1987
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verifone Systems Ireland Limited (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trintech Ltd. (Trintech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: McGuire, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trafton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US07/078,329
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 340/33
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A point-of-sale credit card verifier for checking the validity of cards, such as credit cards, comprises means for non-destructively storing information on invalid credit cards for comparison with information which is read from a card presented for use. The information on invalid credit cards is transmitted by signals embedded in a VHF stereo radio broadcast from a broadcast station which is received by a VHF receiver/demodulator. A credit card sensor and control maintains the verifier switched off unless a credit card is to be read. The verifier is switched on when information is about to be broadcast from a broadcast station. The verifier operates quickly and independently of telecommunications networks.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a credit card comprising the steps and sequence of:

receiving a preparatory radio signal;

activating input circuitry for a signal storage device a pre-set time after the preparatory radio signal;

receiving an information radio signal containing information relating to invalid credit cards from a central control station;

storing the information received to form a memory bank of stored data;

de-activating the input circuitry of the signal storage device;

inserting a card into the verifier;

reading encoded data on the card;

comparing the stored and encoded data; and

rejecting or accepting the card in response to the comparison.

2. A credit card verifier comprising:

means for receiving a preparatory radio signal from a central control station;

a signal storage device;

input circuitry for the signal storage device for reception of an information radio signal;

means for activating the input circuitry a pre-set time after reception of the preparatory radio signal;

means for de-activating the input circuitry after reception of the information radio signal and storage of the information received as stored data;

means for reading encoded data on a credit card presented at the credit card verifier;

means for comparing the stored and encoded data; and

means for delivering a signal indicating validity of the presented credit card in response to said comparison.

3. A credit card verifier as recited in claim 2 in which the means for receiving preparatory and information radio signals comprises a VHF receiver and associated demodulator.

4. A credit verifier as recited in claim 2, further comprising a keyboard and associated equipment for inputting information and transaction data into the verifier and means for storing said transaction data.

5. A credit card verifier as recited in claim 2 further comprising serial transmission means for transmission by cable of transaction data to the central control station and for reception of information on invalid credit cards.

6. A credit card verifier as recited in claims 2 in which a printer is provided for the transaction data.