Methods for verifying the identity of a card holder and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

Card verifier apparatus for validating cards having a plural digit identifying number thereon and an independent security code logically derivable therefrom comprising: comparison means for accepting first and second input signals and providing an indication as to the existence of an identity between said first and second input signals; first input means for receiving a security code and applying signals representative thereof to said comparison means as said first input signals therefor; second input means for receiving a plural digit identifying number on a card to be validated and producing input signals representative of each digit of said plural digit identifying number on said card to be validated; security code generator means responsive to selected ones of said input signals produced by said second input means for logically deriving and generating output signals representing a security code from the numerical value of digits in designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number, said selected ones of said input signals being representative of the numerical value of said digits in said designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number; and means for applying said output signals representing a security code logically derivable from the numerical value of digits in said designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto.

Claim 3

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first input means for receiving a security code and applying signals representative thereof to said comparison means as said first input signals therefor comprises card holder keyboard means coupled to encoder means, said card holder keyboard means being adapted to mechanically receive said security code by the depression of appropriate ones of the keys thereon and to produce an output in response to each key depressed, said encoder means being responsive to each output produced by said card holder keyboard means to produce a digital code therefor which is applied to said comparison means.

Claim 4

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said security code comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, said encoder means being responsive to each output produced by said card holder keyboard means representing one of said alphanumeric characters to produce a multi-bit binary code associated therewith, each bit of said multi-bit binary code produced for each of said plurality of alphanumeric characters in a given security code being applied in parallel to said comparison means as said first input signals therefor.

Claim 5

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second input means for receiving a plural digit identifying number on a card to be validated and producing input signals representative of each digit of said plural digit identifying number on said card to be validated comprises Digit value sequency means, and identifying number encoder means, said digit value sequence means being adapted to receive said plural digit identifying number and produce a plurality of outputs in sequence therefrom, each output in said sequence representing in value the value of a digit in a corresponding digit position in said plural digit identifying number, said identifying number encoder means responsive to each of said plurality of outputs in sequence to produce a digital code therefor which is applied as said input signals to said security code generator means.

Claim 6

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said identifying number encoder means is responsive to each of said plurality of outputs in sequence to produce a multi-bit multi-bit code group therefor, each multi-bit binary code group being applied to said security code generator means in a sequence corresponding to said sequence in which said plurality of outputs are produced by said digit value sequence means, each multi-bit binary code group being representative of said value of the digit in said corresponding digit position in said plural identifying number.

Claim 7

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said digit value sequence means comprises seller''s keyboard means.

Claim 8

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said digit value sequence means comprises card reader means.

Claim 9

Card verifier apparatus for validating cards having a plural digit identifying number thereon and an independent security code assigned thereto and derivable from said plural digit identifying number comprising: comparison means for accepting first and second input signals and providing an indication as to the existence of an identity between said first second second input signals; first input means for receiving a security code and applying signals representative thereof to said comparison means means as said first input signals therefor; second input means for receiving a plural digit identifying number on a card to be validated and producing input signals representative of each digit of said plural digit identifying number on said card to be validated; security code generator means responsive to selected ones of said input signals produced by said second input means for generating output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number, said selected ones of said input signals being representative of the value of said digits in said designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number, said security code generator means including; counting means for counting each of said input signals produced by said second input means and producing an output indicative of the state of the count, means responsive to said counting means for producing a read signal each time the state of the count reaches one of several predetermined levels, memory means having at least one multi-bit character associated with each digit value which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number and including address means responsive to each input signal produced by said second input means to address the multi-bit character associated therewith, means for applying each read signal to said memory means whereupon an addressed multi-bit character will be read therefrom each time the state of the count reaches said one of several predetermined levels, and means for applying preselected bits of the multi-bit characters read from said memory means to said means for applying output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto; and means for applying said output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto.

Claim 10

Card verifier apparatus for validating cards having a plural digit identifying number thereon and an independent security code assigned thereto and derivable from said plural digit identifying number comprising: comparison means for accepting first and second input signals and providing an indication as to the existence of an identity between said first second second input signals; first input means for receiving a security code and applying signals representative thereof to said comparison means means as said first input signals therefor; second input means for receiving a plural digit identifying number on a card to be validated and producing input signals representative of each digit of said plural digit identifying number on said card to be validated; security code generator means responsive to selected ones of said input signals produced by said second input means for generating output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number, said selected ones of said input signals being representative of the value of said digits in said designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number, said security code generator means including; counting means for counting each of said input signals produced by said second input means and producing an output indicative of the state of the count, means responsive to said counting means for producing a read signal each time the state of the count reaches one of several predetermined levels, memory means having at least one multi-bit character associated with each digit value which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number and including address means responsive to each input signal produced by said second input means to address the multi-bit character associated therewith, means for applying each read signal to said memory means whereupon an addressed multi-bit character will be read therefrom each time the state of the count reaches said one of several predetermined levels, and means for applying preselected bits of the multi-bit characters read from said memory means to said means for applying output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto; and means for applying said output signals representing a security code derivable from designated digit positions in said plural identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto.

Claim 11

The card vErifier apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising third input means for receiving an indication as to which one of a a plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with, said means responsive to said counting means for producing a read signal each time said state of the reaches reaches one of several predetermined levels including a plurality of selectable gating circuit means, each of said selectable gating circuit means being associated with one of said plurality of types of cards and determining said several predetermined levels, said means responsive to said counting means further including means responsive to said third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gating circuit means in accordance with which one of said plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 12

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 8 additionally comprising third input means for receiving an indication as to which one of a plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with, said means for applying preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means including buffer means for storing each multi-bit character read from said memory means for a given plural digit identifying number and a plurality of selectable gating means, each of said selectable gating means being associated with one of said plurality of types of cards and determinative of which of said preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means and stored in said buffer means are applied to said means for applying output signals representing a security code associated with designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as second input signals thereto, said means for applying preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means further including means responsive to said third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gating means in accordance with which one of said plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 13

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of selectable gating means is further determinative of the order in which said preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means and stored in said buffer means are applied to said means for applying output signals representing a security code associated with designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto.

Claim 14

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said memory means includes a plurality of multi-bit characters associated with each digit valve which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number and said address means is responsive to each input signal produced by said second input means to address each of said plurality of multi-bit characters associated therewith, said card verifier apparatus additionally comprising third input means for receiving an indication as to which one of a plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with, and means for selecting only one multi-bit character from said plurality of multi-bit characters associated with each digit which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number for application to said means for applying preselected bit upon the application of a read signal to said memory means, said means for selecting including a plurality of selectable gate circuit means, at least one of said plurality of selectable gate circuit means being associated with each one of said plurality of types of cards and determinative of the one multi-bit character to be applied to said means for applying preselected bits upon the application of a read signal to said memory means, said means for selecting further including means responsive to said Third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gate circuit means in accordance with which one of said plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 15

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first input means for receiving a security code and applying signals representative thereof to said comparison means as said first input signals therefor comprises card holder keyboard means coupled to encoder means, said card holder keyboard means being adapted to mechanically receive said security code by the depression of appropriate ones of the keys thereon and to produce an output in response to each key depressed, said encoder means responsive to each output produced by said card holder keyboard means to produce a digital code therefor which is applied to said comparison.

Claim 16

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second input means for receiving a plural digit identifying number on a card to be validated and producing input signals representative of each digit of said plural digit identifying number on said card to be validated comprises digit value sequence means and identifying number encoder means, said digit value sequence means being adapted to receive said plural digit identifying number and produce a plurality of outputs in sequence therefrom, each output in said sequence representing in value the value of a digit in a corresponding digit position in said plural digit identifying number, said identifying number encoder means responsive to each of said plurality of outputs in sequence to produce a digital code therefor which is applied as said input signals to said security code generator means.

Claim 17

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 14 additionally comprising third input means for receiving an indication as to which one of a plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with, said means responsive to said counting means for producing a read signal each time said state of the count reaches one of several predetermined levels including a plurality of selectable gating circuit means, each of said selectable gating circuit means being associated with one of said plurality of types of cards and determining said several predetermined levels therefor, said means responsive to said counting means further including means responsive to said third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gating circuit means in accordance with which one of said plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 18

The card verifier apparatus including according to claim 15 wherein said means for applying preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means includes buffer means for storing each multi-bit character read from said memory means for a given plural digit identifying number and a plurality of selectable gating means, each of said selectable gating means being associated with one of said plurality of types of cards and determinative of which of said preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means and stored in said buffer means which are applied to said means for applying output signals representing a security code associated with designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto, said means for applying preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means further including means responsive to said third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gating means in accordance with which one of said types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 19

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said memory means includes a plurality of multi-bit characters associated with each digit value which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number and said address means is responsivE to each input signal produced by said second input means to address each of said plurality of multi-bit characters associated therewith, said card verifier apparatus additionally comprising means for selecting only one multi-bit character from said plurality of multi-bit characters associated with each digit value which may be present in a given plural digit identifying number for application to said means for applying preselected bits upon the application of a read signal to said memory means, said means for selecting including a plurality of selectable gate circuit means, at least one of said plurality of selectable gate circuit means being associated with each one of said plurality of types of cards and determinative of said one multi-bit character to be applied to said means for applying preselected bits upon the application of a read signal to said memory means, said means for selecting further including means responsive to said third input means for enabling one of said plurality of selectable gate circuit means in accordance with which one of said plurality of types of cards said plural digit identifying number is associated with.

Claim 20

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said security code comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, said encoder means being responsive to each output produced by said card holder keyboard means representing one of said alphanumeric characters to produce a multi-bit binary code associated therewith, each bit of said multi-bit binary code produced for each of said plurality of alphanumeric characters in a given security code being applied in parallel to said comparison means as said first input signals therefor.

Claim 21

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said identifying number encoder means is responsive to each of said plurality of outputs in sequence to produce a multi-bit binary code group therefor, each multi-bit binary code group being applied to said security code generator means in a sequence corresponding to said sequence in which said plurality of outputs are produced by said digit value sequence means, each multi-bit binary code group being representative of said value of the digit in said corresponding digit position in said plural digit identifying number.

Claim 22

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of selectable gating means is further determinative of the order in which said preselected bits of said multi-bit characters read from said memory means and stored in said buffer means are applied to said means for applying output signals representing a security code associated with designated digit positions in said plural digit identifying number to said comparison means as said second input signals thereto.

Claim 23

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said digit value sequence means comprises seller''s keyboard means.

Claim 24

The card verifier apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said third input means is present on said seller''s keyboard means.