An apparatus for effecting and recording monetary transactions

Claim 2

Apparatus for effecting and recording monetary transactions comprising: means for registering the present value of money therein; means for selectably adjusting the registered value to selectably indicate payment and receipt, responsive to a manual control input; and identity verification means coupled to the means for adjusting for activation thereof.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said means for selectably adjusting comprises: means for determining whether the transaction is permitted; and means for effecting transfer of value coupled to the means for registering present value.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said means for effecting transfer comprises secret key encoder means arranged to encode data to be transmitted by the apparatus, and known key decoder means arranged to decode encoded data received by the apparatus.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to any preceding claim and further comprising cryptographic owner identification means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2, or claim 3 or 4 when appended thereto and wherein said means for determining includes means for comparing the value of the transaction with the registered present value.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, or claim 3, 4 or 5 when appended thereto, and whererin said means for determining includes means for determining whether the real time of the transaction falls within a predetermined range.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to any preceding claim and wherein said identity verification means comprises a public key cryptosystem.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to any preceding claim and further comprising means for destroying the registered information activated by physical tampering with the apparatus.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to any preceding claim and further comprising means for institutional validation of the apparatus.

Claim 11

Apparatus for effecting and recording monetary transactions comprising: means for registering the present monetary value of the apparatus; means operative in response to a first manual control input for identifying a permitted user; means operative in response to a second manual control input for registering the monetary value of a transaction; means for transmitting an encoded output signal corresponding to identification of the apparatus; means for receiving an encoded input signal corresponding to identifica- ion of an apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for decoding and verifying the encoded received signal; means for transmitting an output signal corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction to the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for receiving an input signal corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction from the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for determining whether the transaction is permitted; means for transmitting an encoded output signal corresponding to the monetary value and direction of the transfer in the transaction to the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for receiving an encoded input signal corresponding to the monetary value and direction of the transfer in the transaction from the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for decoding and verifying the received signal; and means for adjusting the registered present value in accordance with the transfer effected by the transaction.

Claim 12

Apparatus for effecting and recording monetary transactions comprising: means for registering the present monetary value of the apparatus; means operative in response to a first manual control input for identifying a permitted user; means operative in response to a second manual control input for registering the monetary value of a transaction; means for transmitting an encoded output signal corresponding to identification of the apparatus; means for receiving an encoded input signal corresponding to identifica- ion of an apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for decoding and verifying the encoded received signal; means for transmitting an output signal corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction to the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for receiving an input signal corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction from the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for determining whether the transaction is permitted; means for transmitting an encoded output signal corresponding to the monetary value and direction of the transfer in the transaction to the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for receiving an encoded input signal corresponding to the monetary value and direction of the transfer in the transaction from the apparatus with which the transaction is to be effected; means for decoding and verifying the received signal; and means for adjusting the registered present value in accordance with the transfer effected by the transaction.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 and wherein each of said means for transmitting comprises secret encoder means for encoding said output signals.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 and wherein each of said means for receiving comprises known decoder means for decoding said input signals.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, 11 or 12, and wherein said means for determining includes means for comparing the value of the transaction with the registered present value.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 10, 11, 12 or 13, and wherein said means for determining includes a real time clock and means coupled to said real time clock and to said means for receiving for determining whether the real time of the transaction falls within a predetermined range.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to any one of claim 1 to 9, wherein said identity verification means includes cryptographic means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said cryptographic means is an asymmetric cryptographic means.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, which has the general size, shape and portability of a pocket calculator.