Proximity data transfer system with tamper proof portable data token

Claim 2

In a portable data storage token having an active data register for containing variable data; coupling means including means for reading data from said register, means for manifesting data read from said register externally of said data storage taken, means for sensing data generated by an external data transfer device, and means for sensing externally generated control signals; and control means for enabling transfer of data between said register and said coupling means; the improvement wherein said control means includes means for normally inhibiting data flow between said data register and said external data transfer device and said data storage token further includes testing means coupled to said sensing means and said control means and responsive to the receipt of an externally generated predetermined validation character signal for generating a signal for disabling said inhibiting means to permit data flow between said data register and said external data transfer device.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said testing means comprises a token identification character generator for generating a first character signal, a validation character signal sensor for temporarily sensing said predetermined validation character signal therein, and means coupled to said token identification character generator and said validation character signal sensor for generating said disabling signal in response to the correspondence of said first and second character signals.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said validation character signal is an M-bit binary word and said validation character signal sensor includes an M-bit character register, where M is an integer < 1.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for disabling said portable data token in response to the receipt of an incorrect validation character signal in said validation character signal sensor.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said disabling means includes a counter for providing a disabling signal when a predetermined count is attained, and means for incrementing said counter when an incorrect validation character signal is received by said validation character register.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 further including indicator means coupled to said disabling means for providing an indication that said data token is disabled.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said indicator means includes a light emitting diode.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 further including warning means coupled to said data register for providing an indication that the value of said data lies below a predetermined threshold.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said warning means includes a light emitting diode.

Claim 11

A data transfer system for transferring data between a portable data token having a read/write data register for storing variable data and a computer during a transfer cycle, said system comprising: an input means for receiving said variable data from said data token, said input means including first comparator means for checking a predetermined characteristic of said data; output means for generating data output signals for transfer to said data token; clock means for generating clock pulse signals for transfer to said data token; means for generating a validation character signal for transfer to said data token; sequencer means for sequentially enabling said input means, said validation character signal generating means and said output means contemporaneously with said clock means during said transfer cycle; and means responsive to a control signal from said first comparator means for disabling the normal operation of said sequencer means when said predetermined characteristic is invalid.

Claim 12

A data transfer system for transferring data between a portable data token having a read/write data register for storing variable data and a computer during a transfer cycle, said system comprising: an input means for receiving said variable data from said data token, said input means including first comparator means for checking a predetermined characteristic of said data; output means for generating data output signals for transfer to said data token; clock means for generating clock pulse signals for transfer to said data token; means for generating a validation character signal for transfer to said data token; sequencer means for sequentially enabling said input means, said validation character signal generating means and said output means contemporaneously with said clock means during said transfer cycle; and means responsive to a control signal from said first comparator means for disabling the normal operation of said sequencer means when said predetermined characteristic is invalid.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 further including power means for generating power signals for transfer to said data token, and wherein said sequencer means includes means for disabling said power means during a predetermined portion of said transfer cycle.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said input means includes first and second data registers for receiving data from said token during different portions of said transfer cycle, and further including second comparator means coupled to said registers for generating a control signal when the contents of said registers agree.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said validation character signal generating means includes a register for containing a predetermined validation character.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 further including single means for coupling more than one of said input means, said output means, said clock means, and said validation character signal generating means to said data token.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said output means, said clock means, and said validation character signal generating means each includes a voltage controlled oscillator and said input means includes a phase locked loop means, each said voltage controlled oscillator and said phase locked loop means having a different predetermined operating frequency, and wherein said single coupling means includes a reactive member coupled to said voltage controlled oscillators and said phase locked loop.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said input means includes first and second data registers for receiving data from data token portion during different portions of said transfer cycle, and further including first and second display means for providing a visible display of the contents of said first and second data registers to enable a visual comparative check thereof.

Claim 19

A data handling system operable over a transfer cycle comprising a portable data token portion and a data transfer portion, said data token portion comprising an active data register for containing variable data; coupling means including means for reading data from said register, means for manifesting data read from said register externally of said data token, means for sensing data generated by said data transfer portion, and means for sensing control signals generated by said data transfer portion; control means for enabling transfer of data between said register and said coupling means, sAid control means including means for normally inhibiting data flow between said data register and said data transfer portion; and testing means coupled to said sensing means and said control means and responsive to the receipt of a predetermined validation character signal generated by said data transfer portion for generating a signal for disabling said inhibiting means to permit data flow between said data register and said data transfer portion; said data transfer portion comprising input means for receiving said data from said data token portion, output means for generating data output signals for transfer to said data token portion, clock means for generating clock pulse signals for transfer to said data token portion, means for generating said predetermined validation character signal for transfer to said data token portion, and sequencer means for sequentially enabling said input means, said validation character signal generating means, and said output means contemporaneously with said clock means during said transfer cycle.

Claim 20

A data handling system operable over a transfer cycle comprising a portable data token portion and a data transfer portion, said data token portion comprising an active data register for containing variable data; coupling means including means for reading data from said register, means for manifesting data read from said register externally of said data token, means for sensing data generated by said data transfer portion, and means for sensing control signals generated by said data transfer portion; control means for enabling transfer of data between said register and said coupling means, sAid control means including means for normally inhibiting data flow between said data register and said data transfer portion; and testing means coupled to said sensing means and said control means and responsive to the receipt of a predetermined validation character signal generated by said data transfer portion for generating a signal for disabling said inhibiting means to permit data flow between said data register and said data transfer portion; said data transfer portion comprising input means for receiving said data from said data token portion, output means for generating data output signals for transfer to said data token portion, clock means for generating clock pulse signals for transfer to said data token portion, means for generating said predetermined validation character signal for transfer to said data token portion, and sequencer means for sequentially enabling said input means, said validation character signal generating means, and said output means contemporaneously with said clock means during said transfer cycle.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said testing means comprises a token identification character generator for generating a first character signal, a validation character signal sensor for receiving said predetermined validation character signal from said data transfer portion, and means coupled to said token identification character generator and said validation character signal sensor for generating said disabling signal in response to the correspondence of said first and second character signals.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said validation character signal is an M-bit binary word and said validation character signal sensor indicates an M-bit character register, where M is an integer > 1.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 18 further including means for disabling said data token portion in response to the receipt of an incorrect validation character signal by said validation character signal sensor.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said disabling means includes a counter for providing a disabling signal when a predetermined count is attained therein, and means for incrementing said counter when an incorrect validation character signal is received by said validation character signal sensor.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said data transfer portion further includes power means for generating power signals for transfer to said data token portion, and wherein said sequencer means includes means for disabling said power means during a predetermined portion of said transfer cycle.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said output means, said clock means, said validation character signal generating means and said power means each include a voltage controlled oscillator and said input means comprises a phase locked loop means, each said voltage controlled oscillator and said phase locked loop means having a different predetermined operating frequency.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said input means includes first comparator means for checking a predetermined characteristic of said data, and including means responsive to a control signal from said first comparator means for disabling said sequencer means when said predetermined characteristic is invalid.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said input means includes first and second data registers for receiving data from said data token portion during different portions of said system cycle, and further including second comparator means coupled to said register for generating a control signal when the contents of said registers agree.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said validation character signal generating means includes a register for containing a predetermined validation character.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said input means includes first and second data registers for receiving data from data token portion during different portions of said system cycle, and further including first and second diSplay means for providing a visible display of the contents of said first and second data registers to enable a visual comparative check thereof.

Claim 31

A data token testing system comprising a portable data storage token having a plurality of circuit elements therein including a read/write data register for storing variable data, means for storing data in said register, means for fetching data from said register, indicator means coupled to said data register for providing an indication that said data lies below a predetermined threshold value, supply means for supplying power to said elements; and a testing station for generating signals for activating said circuit elements when said token is coupled to said station.

Claim 32

A data token testing system comprising a portable data storage token having a plurality of circuit elements therein including a read/write data register for storing variable data, means for storing data in said register, means for fetching data from said register, indicator means coupled to said data register for providing an indication that said data lies below a predetermined threshold value, supply means for supplying power to said elements; and a testing station for generating signals for activating said circuit elements when said token is coupled to said station.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said data token further includes enabling means for enabling said storing means in response to the receipt by said enabling means of a predetermined token validation signal, said enabling means comprising a token identification character generator for generating a first character signal, a validation character sensor having an input adapted to be coupled to an external validation character signal generator for temporarily storing a second character signal therein, and means coupled to said token identification character generator and said validation character sensor for generating an enabling signal in response to the correspondence of said first and second character signals; means for disabling said portable data token in response to the receipt of an incorrect validation character signal by said validation character sensor; and warning means coupled to said disabling means for providing an indication that said data token is disabled.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said warning means includes a light emitting diode.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said indicator means includes a light emitting diode.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said testing station includes first coil means for generating said signals and said token supply means includes second coil means adapted to be coupled to said first coil means when said data token is in proximity to said testing station.