Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02273952 1999-06-02
Description
DATA ACQUISITION AND DATA STORAGE MEDIUM
OUTPUT SYSTEM, DATA ACQUISITION DEVICE
THEREFOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a data
recording and a data memory means issuing system for
recording official and personal data for and for
issuing from personalized and mobile data memory means,
as well as a data recording apparatus for this purpose.
The method furthermore relates to the operation of the
abovementioned systems and apparatuses.
Companies like to increase the loyalty of their
customers by issuing them with customer cards. In this
case, the customer fills out an application with his
personal data and signature. This process is a not
inconsiderable obstacle, since it also takes some time.
Furthermore, when the data from the application are
subsequently input centrally, this results in increased
costs, incomplete data and the like owing to illegible
writing. Finally, invoicing is required between the
ordering company and the sales organizations as well as
between them and the local sales advisors. A fact that
is likewise costly, and often requires clarification.
To do this:
a) a contract must be completed between the
user (card holder) and the card supplier
b) the contract data must be recorded
(normally centrally),
c) the cards must be personalized and sent
to the customer, and
d) a PIN (personal identification number)
may need to be generated and a PIN
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letter sent (for security, separately
from the card).
The various subprocesses
for the supplier
- logistics of advertising material and
applications for the customer
for the customer
- application issued by the card supplier
- completion of the application by the card
holder in spe
- sending the application to the supplier
for the supplier
- reading and inputting the (hopefully legible)
applications into the supplier's computer
system
- check of the applications for completeness,
by the supplier
- - recording of missing information if the
applications are incomplete (approx. 25-400)
- personalization of the cards
- packing and sending the card and (separately)
the PIN letter
This entire process is highly costly and
time-consuming (up to 6 weeks).
In large companies and the authorities,
security and/or employees [IDS] are issued for
employees and visitors. Even nowadays, this process is
highly complex, and it takes several weeks before the
(new) employee receives an identity card. Most identity
cards are associated with access authorization and time
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recording. Depending on the security level, the
identity card also includes various security features:
- signature, photograph and colors for
identification by the naked eye;
- PIN (assumption: only the authorized person
knows the PIN);
- biometric data, in particular a photograph,
voice, fingerprint, etc. for machine
identification;
- chip with algorithms (digital signature,
private and public key);
The subject of security will be regarded as
being considerably more important in the future.
Security systems and their components will accordingly
have to become more significant.
Resident reporting offices, social services
office, district council offices, trust centers
(departments who will in future be responsible for
issuing and controlling public and private keys), etc.
are frequently entrusted with the task of issuing
identity cards, or having them issued. In this case,
data from the resident reporting office or other
offices are entered on a form, have additional
components such as a photograph added, and are passed
on for the desired identity papers to be issued. This
process is also time-consuming and costly.
The object of the present invention is thus to
specify a data recording and data memory means issuing
system, in which the data recording for and the issue
from personalized and mobile data memory means, such as
identity card documents, customer cards, telephone
cards with and without a chip, prepayment cards, and
smart cards in general for widely differing
applications can be processed more cost-effectively.
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A further object of the invention is to specify
a data recording apparatus for such a system.
Finally, it is also the object of the invention
to specify a method for operating the system and the
data recording apparatus, as well as applications of
the system and apparatus.
The solution of these objects is described by
the features of claims 1, 17, 20 and 23.
The data recording and data memory means
issuing system according to the invention and as
claimed in claim 1 comprises two main components,
namely a data recording apparatus and a data memory
means issuing apparatus. The data recording apparatus
in turn includes a read device, the read units for at
least one first personalized and mobile data memory
means, in particular an identity card reader, a reader
for check cards and credit cards, etc. Furthermore, a
display apparatus is provided, for example in the form
of a screen or LCD display, and an input keyboard.
In addition, the data recording apparatus
comprises a control device for dialogue-controlled
inputting of the data that need to be issued, for
example, a customer card. The recorded data and
documents, which have been input both via the read
device and via the keyboard, are checked for
authenticity, compatibility and completeness by means
of an authentication device. The data memory means
issuing apparatus comprises a write device for writing
to second mobile data memory means, in particular for
writing to cards with and without a chip, to identity
card documents etc., and an issuing device for issuing
the second, mobile data memory means, to which the
recorded data have been added, and which has thus been
personalized.
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A data recording apparatus which is
particularly suitable for the data recording and data
memory means issuing system according to the invention
is specified in claim 17. In this case, [lacuna], by
means of a recording device for biometric data, whether
the person who enters personal data is also that person
is who he appears to be. Recording of the fingerprint
pattern or hand surface print pattern, the iris pattern
of one or both eyes, recording the voice pattern or
photographing the face of the person in question and
subsequently matching the recorded biometric data to
previously stored biometric data relating to the person
in question ensures that only the authorized person is
provided with the respective mobile and personalized
data memory means.
According to a preferred refinement of the
invention, the read device of the first personalized
and mobile data memory means comprises at least two
read units for different data memory means, for example
for a personal identity card and a check card. This
improves the security with regard to the identity of
the person and the security of the data recording,
since corresponding data from both first data memory
means can be matched or compared with one another and
with data recorded in some other way (for example a
photograph on the identity card and a current
photograph).
In a preferred refinement of the invention, the
data recording and data memory means issuing system is
externally equivalent to an automatic ticket machine.
The customer approaches the equipment, activates the
equipment by means of the input keyboard, and is then
requested via text on the display device or via an
optional voice output (loud speaker) to state the
nature of the desired second personalized and mobile
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data memory means, for example a card as a monthly
ticket. He is then requested to insert his personal
identity card into the read unit provided for this
purpose, and the relevant data contained on this card
are read in and buffer-stored in the memory device.
Subsequently or in parallel, he is requested to insert
a Eurocheck card or a credit card into the read unit
provided for this purpose, and the required data are
once again read. In the case of Eurocheck cards or
credit cards, the second communications device and the
test device are used to determine whether the card has
been reported to be stolen, or is blocked in some other
way. If this is the case, the process is terminated.
If data are still missing, then the customer is
requested to input such data by hand. The data which
are input and the data which have been read are checked
for consistency by means of the test device. If the
recording process has been completed, the recorded and
checked data are transmitted by means of the first
communications device to the data memory means issuing
apparatus.
The data memory means issuing apparatus can be
arranged, together with the data recording apparatus,
locally in a common housing, or else may be arranged at
a remote location, for example at the premises of the
supplier of the identity cards or cards, or of a
service provider. In the latter case, the data are
transmitted by the first communications device by means
of a modem, data media interchange etc.
In the data memory means issuing apparatus, the
second personalized and mobile data memory means, for
example a (smart) card or identity card, requested by
the customer and with the necessary recorded and other
data written on it is, if appropriate, loaded with the
relevant amount of money, and is then issue.
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According to one advantageous refinement of the
invention, the write device comprises various write
units, so that, on the one hand, the respective (smart)
card can be written to and can be loaded and, on the
other hand, PIN letters, contracts and other messages
can also be issued.
For the situation where the data recording
apparatus and the data memory means issuing apparatus
are arranged separately from one another, it is
advantageous for a plurality of card recording
apparatuses to be functionally connected to a common
data memory means issuing apparatus, locally or, for
example, at the supplier's premises.
According to a further advantageous refinement
of the invention, both the data recording apparatus and
the data memory means issuing apparatus may comprise an
issuing device for cards with and without a chip. In
this case, it is sensible for the card recording
apparatus to issue only unpersonalized cards with and
without a chip, while personalized cards with and
without a chip are issue by the remotely arranged data
memory means issuing apparatus, and are then sent to
the respective customer. When unpersonalized or prepaid
cards are issued, it is advantageous for the system
according to the invention to additionally comprise an
input device for monetary notes or coins.
In addition to the processing of personal data
and issuing personalized cards or identity cards, the
apparatus can also, by a second card memory, issue
cards with a fixed, prepaid amount (in an analogous
manner to the present-day telephone card). In this
case, these cards may either be anonymous or may
alternately be personalized, in order to allow, for
example, discounts/authorizations for the unemployed
etc.
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Claim 20 relates to a method for operating the
system according to the invention, and to the use of
the system for recording data for and for issuing from
second data memory means, such as prepaid cards (with
and without a chip) for telephone, transportation,
entry tickets etc.
Claim 23 relates to a method for operating the
data recording apparatus according to the invention,
and to the use of the data recording apparatus for
recording the data required for issuing identity card
documents.
The other claims related to other advantageous
refinements of the invention. It is clear that the
features of the claims which relate to the data
recording apparatus can be combined with the data
recording apparatus contained in the data recording and
data memory means issuing system, and vice versa.
The invention results in:
- the process being shortened to a few minutes
per person,
- the person generally receiving the second
data memory means immediately, and being able
to use it,
- the capability to monitor the activities, for
example throughout the whole of the Federal
Republic of Germany,
- the costs being considerably reduced in
comparison with present-day methods,
- risks such as application deception,
transport loss and postal deception being
avoided by the identity check.
A common feature of all the processes covered
by the invention is that the intention is to link the
identity of a specific person as unambiguously as
possible with a medium (second data memory means), in
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order that this medium can provide security, both for
people via a visual check, but primarily for machines,
with regard to the true identity of the person, and
thus of the correctness of the data which are stored
and can be read or transmitted on the medium. This is
particularly important when using digital signatures
(public key and private key).
Further details, features and advantages of the
invention result from the following description of
exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference
to the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a first
embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a second
embodiment of the invention,
Figure 3a shows a side view of the invention,
and
Figure 3b shows a plan view of the base of the
equipment illustrated in Figure 3a.
Figure 1 shows the block diagram of a first
exemplary embodiment of the invention having a data
recording apparatus 1 and having a data memory means
issuing apparatus 3. The data recording apparatus 1
comprises a control unit 2, which is connected to an
input device 4 in the form of a keyboard, having a
display device in the form of a screen display 6,
having an identity card read unit 8, and having a check
card read unit 10. Furthermore, the control unit 2 is
connected to an authentication device 12, to a memory
device 14 and to a communications device 16. The
control unit 2 is also connected to a recording device
18 for biometric data, such as voice patterns, iris
patterns, fingerprint patterns, photographs, etc. The
authentication device 12 is connected to the
communications device 16. The communications device 16
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is connected via on-line links to a data memory means
issuing apparatus 20 and to a central computer 22 in
the Eurocheck card billing center.
In this first embodiment of the invention, and
S in this basic version of the invention, the functional
sequence is as follows:
- (screen) text for legal effectiveness
(origination of a contract when the supplier
accepts the application);
- the interested party inserts his Federal
German personal identity card into the unit
provided for this purpose;
- the data from the personal identity card are
read in this unit: name, date and place of
birth, address, place of issue, personal
identity card number; the personal identity
card may be checked for validity;
- the content is displayed on the screen;
- the user is asked whether everything has been
read correctly;
- the user is requested to confirm, by pressing
the operating button,
- that the data are correct
- that he requests that he be sent or
immediately issued with the second data
memory means issuingd to him.
In this basic version, only data recording is
assisted by the customers; the recorded data are then
either transmitted via the communications device
on-line to the central building or to the data memory
means issuing apparatus, or the transmission takes
place by means of batch media (floppy disks, tapes
etc.) using the postal service.
In a variant of this first embodiment which is
not shown in any more detail, prepaid smart cards may
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also be purchased. This may be, for example, to bridge
the time before the rechargeable and personalized card
is sent, or because the customer does not want to have
a personalized card at all. In this case, the following
requests are also made to the customer, under dialogue
control.
- Select the amount of money which should be
loaded
- Load money via
a) - inserting cash (notes or coins)
or
b) - inserting Eurocheck card
Question:
how much would you like to load?
Enter amount: DM
Information about additional costs, for example
the loading, costs Xo and will be automatically debited
from your bank account.
- If appropriate, authorize the Eurocheck card
for the amount to be loaded
- Load the (smart) card with the amount
Output the prepaid (non-personalized) (smart)
card, or allow it to be removed.
The amounts of money loaded on the prepaid card
are transmitted to the host and/or to the data memory
means issuing apparatus and can then be drawn by the
respective customer using the debit-procedure, or via
EC cash.
In a further variant of this basic version, a
device is also provided locally which prints the cards
to be issued, with and without a chip, with the name of
the customer and, possibly, with a card number as well.
Figure 2 shows the block diagram of a second
exemplary embodiment of the invention which combines
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elements of the basic version explained above and the
variations of it with one another. In addition to the
components shown in Figure 1, the following components
are also connected to the control unit 2 in this case, a
card supply 24, a card transport device 26, a card
issuing device 28, a smart card number write/read
device 30, a device 32, for optically inscribing the
cards with and without a chip, for example a thermo
printer, a printer 34 for printing PIN letters, and a
PIN letter issue unit 36. The figure also shows that
the communications device 16 comprises a modem 16-1 and
a POS control unit 16-2.
The major difference to the embodiment shown in
Figure 1 is that, in the case of this second
embodiment, once the data have been input, the
correspondingly produced second personalized data
memory means, for example a card with or without a
chip, can be issued locally. The data which has been
input and read in are checked via the authentication
device 12, in conjunction with address data stored in
the memory device 14, for example in the form of a
CD-ROM, and locked files for check cards and credit
cards. If, for example, a credit card or a check card
is inserted that has been blocked, the data recording
and the issuing of a card are interrupted. The name and
data read in via the identity card reader 8 and via the
EC card reader and credit card reader 10 are also
compared by the authentication device 12 and, if there
is a discrepancy, a corresponding error message is
issued. Manually entered telephone numbers can in this
way also be compared with telephone number directories
available on CD-ROM.
A specific amount of money is called up via EC
cash as follows. The amount of money to be loaded is
displayed on the display 6, possibly with additional
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information and the charges for this process. The
customer is then requested to enter his PIN number for
the EC card. The transaction is then carried out via
the OS control unit 16-2 and the modem 16-l, and the
relevant amount of money can be transferred to the
(smart) card which is then issued to the customer.
During the process of loading and issuing the (smart)
card to the customer, the next card is first of all
issued from the card supply 24, its number is
determined with the reader 30, a PIN number is
assigned, and the previously recorded data record with
the address, name and possibly, the amount of money, is
assigned to this card, and is written to the card. The
PIN number is then printed by means of the printer 34,
and the PIN letter and the (smart) card are issued via
the components 28 and 36, respectively. In addition,
the recorded data can, of course, also be transmitted
to the host or the supplier of the cards with and
without a chip 20.
In the case of further advantageous refinements
of the invention, anonymous, reloadable cards with and
without a chip are converted into personalized
reloadable cards. Furthermore, it is also possible to
convert prepaid cards with and without a chip into
reloadable cards. Furthermore, it is possible to read
residual amounts from old cards with and without a chip
which, for example, are no longer technically
supported, and to read these residual amounts into a
new reloadable (smart) card.
Figures 3a and 3b show an example of a
refinement of the embodiment of the invention shown as
a block diagram in Figure 2. In this case, Figure 3b
shows the plan view from underneath of the apparatus,
and Figure 3a shows a side view with the externally
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accessible components of the data recording and data
memory means issuing system according to the invention.
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