Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02271617 2008-02-29
WH-10074.1CA
SN 2,271,617
TITLE: FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TERMINAL WITH LIMITED ACCESS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to financial
transaction terminals capable of cooperating with smart
cards stored in an accessible part of the access terminal.
In particular, the application is directed to improvements
in security of such terminals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Miniature smart cards compliant with the GSM 11.11
Standard, are commonly referred to as SIM (Subscriber
Identification Module) or SAM (Secure Access Module) cards.
These devices have the same I/O pad configurations and
capabilities as a standard ISO (CNet) smart card. The SIM
or SAM cards, because of their small size, can be installed
inside a financial transaction terminal for verification,
password, registration, billing information or as an
electronic purse, where monetary values can be transferred
to and from the smart card. Both the SIM and SAM cards
have special adapters for attachment to a circuit board for
receiving the card and electrically connecting the card
with the circuit board. In this way, the circuit board
communicates directly with the card which is removable.
The user, from time to time, may need to replace the SIM or
SAM card and as such, requires access to the acceptors.
For example, these cards can be used as an electronic purse
which is replaced by the user, when the old one is full.
Financial terminals which are smart card compatible have
become increasingly popular for point of sale transactions.
Similarly, debit fund transfer systems are becoming quite
common. A single terminal which is compatible with both
systems would be desired.
In a debit system, PIN entry is required as a means
to identify the legitimate user. This PIN is protected by
encrypting the PIN and data which is received by the unit
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or sent by the unit. In addition to this electronic
coding, the common standards, such as INTERAC and VISA,
require certain physical security to protect against
unauthorized entry to the unit. Financial transaction
terminals for debit card transactions have an electronic
switch arrangement which shuts down the unit if the housing
of the financial transaction terminal is separated exposing
the enclosed circuitry and software.
The debit card security approach is desirable,
however, it is also desirable to have a device with SIM or
SAM cards for recordal of certain information directly in
the device while allowing a user access to these cards.
The present invention combines these two capabilities and
while providing effective security for the financial
transaction device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A financial transaction terminal according to the
present invention, is capable of cooperating with smart
cards and includes a housing enclosing electronic circuitry
which cooperates with a visual display and a key pad. The
housing includes a slot entry for receiving a smart card
and forming an electronic circuit between a received smart
card and the enclosed cincuitry. The key pad arrangement
allows a user to enter information into the financial
terminal and the terminal includes at least one accessible
secure module located in an access port of the housing.
The housing includes an electrical switch seal arrangement
about the access port to prevent unauthorized entry into
the financial transaction terminal through the port. The
financial transaction terminal allows access to the secure
module while the seal arrangement about the port provides
additional security for the terminal.
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According to an aspect of the invention, the device
includes two security identity modules attached to the
circuit board of the electronic circuitry.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
circuit board about the access port includes a series of
connection terminals and the housing includes a zebra
connector having alternating conducting and non conducting
layers extending between the series of connection terminals
and electrically connecting some of said terminals to form
a security structure about the access port. The two
security modules are readily accessible and the housing and
the components of the terminal not exposed in the access
port remain protected from authorized access through the
access port.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the housing is a mechanically secured split housing having
an electronic circuit for providing a signal if
unauthorized entry to the terminal is attempted by
separation of the split housing.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the two security modules are miniature SIM card acceptors
or miniature SAM card acceptors.
,
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the terminal accepts both debit or smart cards for
completing financial transactions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a financial
transaction terminal;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a
financial transaction terminal showing an access port with
the cover thereof removed;
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view with the back
housing removed;
Figure 4 is a partial sectional view showing part
of the housing in contact with a circuit board which is an
electrical connection with a miniature smart card acceptor;
and
Figure 5 is a top view showing various seals
provided around an access port.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a financial transaction terminal 2
which can be used with both debit cards and smart cards. A
debit card typically has a magnetic strip which is read by
the financial transaction terminal, and the user then
enters a PIN as part of the authorization process. The
terminal electronically connects with a financial institute
to complete the transaction. The transaction terminal 2
includes a visual display 4, a key pad 6, and a slot 8 for
receiving the smart or debit card. The hand held terminal
includes an electrical connection 10 to connect the
terminal with other devices and for communication signals
with a financial institute. These debit terminals are used
at many point of sale counters. As part of the security,
the transmitted and received signals are encrypted. The
terminal then interprets the receiver's signal using
software and encrypting keys maintained within the
terminal. Physical security is provided to detect
unauthorized access to the case of the terminal. In the
event of detection, encoding information is deleted.
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The terminal 2 has a housing generally shown as 12
which in this case, is a two-part casing having a front
housing 14 and a back housing 16. Basically, the casing 12
is horizontally split into the two parts and suitable
electronic circuitry arrangements can be provided to alert
the terminal that the casing has been opened. The front
and the back housing are typically mechanically secured and
if released, the terminal detects this release and protects
or eliminates any critical information.
The back of the housing as shown in Figures 2 and
3, has an access port 18 which exposes part of the circuit
board 22. SIM or SAM type acceptors 20 and 21 are secured
on the circuit board 22 within the access port 18. The
user, such as a merchant, has ready access to the acceptors
and 21 and can insert the appropriate SIM or SAM cards.
A releasable cover 24 protects the access port 18. The SIM
or SAM cards are examples of two of the most common user
inserted modules that record information and financial
20 transactions for example. Other modules can be used and
the terminal is not limited to these particular modules.
The housing 16 includes side walls extending
downwardly and contacting the circuit board 17 to provide a
boundary area about the access port 18. In this way,
access is provided to thes port, yet access to the rest of
the terminal is restricted. .Critical parts are mounted on
the circuit board 22 at a position which is interior to the
housing and preferrably remotely located, relative to the
access port 18.
An electrical switch seal arrangement 28 is
provided, as generally shown in Figures 4 and 5. The back
housing 16, as shown in the sectional view of Figure 4, has
a series of zebra strip connectors generally shown as 30 in
contact with the circuit board 22. The left hand side of
the drawing shows two such zebra strip connectors which
merely provide additional protection. Each zebra strip
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connector, as illustrated in Figure 5, has alternating
conducting and non conducting layers. The spacing of these
layers which are extending horizontally is such that they
will make contact with opposed terminals 32,33 or 34
provided on the circuit board 22 and these alternating
layers separate adjacent terminals by at least one non
conducting strip. Each side of the circuit board, adjacent
the access port 18, has a series of logic switches formed
by these terminals 32 and terminals 33 or 34. At the left
of the --ircuit board, there are seven logic switches
labelled SWl through SW7. Terminals 34 are connected to
the ground whereas terminal 33 are connected to a 5 volt
supply. The zebra strip connector electrically connect each
terminal 32 with opposed terminals 33 or 34. With this
arrangement, logic switches SW7, SW5, SW3 and SW1 are
shorted to ground. In contrast, the terminals 33
associated with SW2, SW4 and SW6, are connected to a 5 volt
power source. As such, these switches are closed, i.e. the
circuit is live. As can be appreciated, different logic
patterns of ones (5V) and zeros (ground) can be detected by
a processing arrangement 39 on the circuit board. The
zebra strip connector is resilient and the pressure of
mechanically joining the two housings is sufficient to
ensure some compression of the zebra strip connector and a
good electrical connection between the terminals 32, and
opposed terminals 33 and 04. If the housing is opened or
tampered with, at least some of the logic switches change
status as the circuit will be broken.
Figure 5 under each of the zebra strip connectors
30, has a similar switching arrangement 31 and thus, there
is multiple switch protection on each side of the access
port with some of the switches being connected to ground
and some of the switches being connected to 5 volt power.
The fact that the zebra strip connectors have a series of
conducting and non conducting layers, allows each of the
switches to be isolated from the adjacent switch by at
least one non conducting strip and preferrably two non
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conducting strips and it also ensures that an effective
electrical connection between terminals is provided without
the need for precision location of the connectors.
The logic switches defined a logic high, in this
case, 5 volts, and a logic low, i.e., ground. The multiple
switches form a code of highs and lows used to detect a
change in security status of the case.
The additional zebra strip connector shown as 30a
in Figure 4 provides enhanced protectior}. As can be
appreciated, the zebra strip connectors 30 are located
immediately adjacent the access port and if there is any
attempt to pry up the housing adjacent the access port,
this action will open or change the logic of at least some
of the switches. Once the status of the switches is
changed, the terminal will become inactive and therefore,
even if the housing is broken into, the critical
information will have been eliminated, or the device
rendered inactive. Additional zebra strip connectors
further away from the access port provide additional
protection against unauthorized entry into the casing.
In some cases, it may be desirable to take security
action if one switch changes (high security), however, in
other cases, the securityjaction may require two or more
switches to change. For example, dropping of a terminal
might momentarily change the status of one switch and it
may be desirable to require change in status of more
switches or changes in status for a certain time duration
before taking security action. The present arrangement
allows for these types of changes in design to customize
the security for a particular application.
Although the security switch arrangement provides
protection about the access port, it also provides
protection against unauthorized opening of the casing by
separating the housings.
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The present invention allows the simple formation of
terminals on a circuit board to provide switch information
or switch logic through a multiple series of switches using
a zebra strip connector having the alternating layers
orientated by across the surface of the connector
connections. The switches are isolated one from the other
and it is not necessary to precisely locate the zebra strip
connectors. The separation between the layers is such that
any placement of a zebra strip connector in the housing and
over the terminals will be sufficient to provide the
necessary electrical connection and electrical isolation of
terminals on the surface of the circuit board.
The terminal is designed using an outer housing to
protect the components with a recessed covered access port
to allow a user to insert or remove certain modules in
electrical contact with the internal processing circuitry.
Although the access port is within the housing, electrical
security seals are provided about the access port. With
this arrangement, the security of the terminal is
uncompromised and the convenience of limited user access is
realized.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
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