Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of obtaining and providing card identifying information from a data card presented in connection with a financial transaction, said data card having a magnetic stripe and an embossed region containing identifying information, said method being carried out in a data card terminal, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal: in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level security, providing verified card identifying information if either the magnetic stripe or embossed region contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security chock, comprising the steps of: reading the magnetic stripe on the data card to obtain magnetic stripe card identifying information; determining whether the magnetic stripe card identifying information is valid; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; reading an embossed region on the data card to obtain embossed card identifying information; determining whether the embossed card identifying information is valid; in response to the embossed card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; if the magnetic stripe card identifying information and the embossed card identifying information are valid, comparing the magnetic stripe card identifying information with the embossed card identifying information; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being different from the embossed card identifying information, providing an output signal that the card is unacceptable; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being the same as the embossed card identifying information, providing verified card identifying information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of obtaining and providing card identifying information from a data card presented in connection with a financial transaction, said data card having a magnetic stripe and an embossed region containing identifying information, said method being carried out in a data card terminal, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal: in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level security, providing verified card identifying information if either the magnetic stripe or embossed region contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security chock, comprising the steps of: reading the magnetic stripe on the data card to obtain magnetic stripe card identifying information; determining whether the magnetic stripe card identifying information is valid; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; reading an embossed region on the data card to obtain embossed card identifying information; determining whether the embossed card identifying information is valid; in response to the embossed card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; if the magnetic stripe card identifying information and the embossed card identifying information are valid, comparing the magnetic stripe card identifying information with the embossed card identifying information; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being different from the embossed card identifying information, providing an output signal that the card is unacceptable; in response to the magnetic stripe card identifying information being the same as the embossed card identifying information, providing verified card identifying information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the card identifying information comprises a credit card account number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic stripe includes track 1 data and track 2 data, and wherein the step of reading the magnetic stripe comprises: reading both the track 1 and track 2 data on the magnetic stripe; determining whether the track 1 data or the track 2 data are valid; and in response to a determination that either the track 1 data or the track 2 data are valid, determining that the magnetic stripe card identifying information is valid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a transaction risk parameter comprises providing a transaction high risk parameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said step of providing said transaction risk parameter comprises providing said transaction risk parameter in said data card terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said transaction risk parameter is provided to a memory device within said data card terminal during a program download from a host computer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
341 words
A method of obtaining and providing card identifying information from a data card presented in connection with a financial transaction, said data card having a first data record region and a second data record region containing identifying information, said method being carried out in a data card terminal, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level of security, providing verified card identifying information if either the first data record region or the second data region contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security check, comprising the steps of: reading the first data record region on the data card to obtain first data record region card identifying information; determining whether the first data record region card identifying information is valid; in response to the first data record region card identifying information being in valid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; reading a second data record region on the data card to obtain second data record region card identifying information; determining whether the second data record region card identifying information is valid; in response to the second data record region card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; if the first data record region card identifying information and the second data record region card identifying information are valid, comparing the first data record region card identifying information with the second data record region card identifying information; in response to the first data record region card identifying information being different from the second data record region card identifying information, providing an output signal that the card is unacceptable; and in response to the first data record region card identifying information being the same as the second data record region card identifying information, providing verified card identifying information.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
341 words
A method of obtaining and providing card identifying information from a data card presented in connection with a financial transaction, said data card having a first data record region and a second data record region containing identifying information, said method being carried out in a data card terminal, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level of security, providing verified card identifying information if either the first data record region or the second data region contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security check, comprising the steps of: reading the first data record region on the data card to obtain first data record region card identifying information; determining whether the first data record region card identifying information is valid; in response to the first data record region card identifying information being in valid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; reading a second data record region on the data card to obtain second data record region card identifying information; determining whether the second data record region card identifying information is valid; in response to the second data record region card identifying information being invalid, providing an output signal indicative that the card is unacceptable; if the first data record region card identifying information and the second data record region card identifying information are valid, comparing the first data record region card identifying information with the second data record region card identifying information; in response to the first data record region card identifying information being different from the second data record region card identifying information, providing an output signal that the card is unacceptable; and in response to the first data record region card identifying information being the same as the second data record region card identifying information, providing verified card identifying information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the card identifying information comprises a credit card account number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the first data record region comprises a magnetic stripe and the second data record region comprises an embossed region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said magnetic stripe comprises track 1 data and track 2 data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of reading the magnetic stripe comprises: reading both track 1 and track 2 data on the magnetic stripe; determining whether the track 1 data or the track 2 data are valid; and in response to a determination that either the track 1 data or the track 2 data are valid, determining that the magnetic stripe card identifying information is valid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said step of providing a transaction risk parameter comprises providing a transaction high risk parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said step of providing said transaction risk parameter comprises providing said transaction risk parameter in said data card terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said transaction risk parameter is provided to a memory device within said data card terminal during a program download from a host computer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of operating a financial transaction terminal including a first card reader for reading card data directly from a first source on a data card and a second card reader for reading card data directly from a second source on said data card, for processing a credit card transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level of security, providing verified card identifying information if either the first source or said second source on said data card contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security check, comprising the steps of: reading card data directly from the first source; reading card data directly from the second source; comparing at least a portion of the card data from the first source to at least a portion of the card data from the second source; terminating the transaction unless the step of comparing indicates that the first source card data is identical to the second source card data.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of operating a financial transaction terminal including a first card reader for reading card data directly from a first source on a data card and a second card reader for reading card data directly from a second source on said data card, for processing a credit card transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a transaction risk parameter selectively indicative of a first or second level of transaction security to be provided for said data card terminal; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said first level of security, providing verified card identifying information if either the first source or said second source on said data card contains valid card identifying information; in response to said transaction risk parameter indicating said second level of security, performing a second level security check, comprising the steps of: reading card data directly from the first source; reading card data directly from the second source; comparing at least a portion of the card data from the first source to at least a portion of the card data from the second source; terminating the transaction unless the step of comparing indicates that the first source card data is identical to the second source card data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said first card reader comprises a magnetic stripe reader.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said transaction risk parameter is provided to a memory device within said data card terminal during a program download from a host computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said second card reader comprises an embossed data reader.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the compared portions of the first source card data and the second source card data comprise an account number.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of requesting authorization indicia from a remote authorization source in response to determination that the compared portions of the first source card data and the second source card data are identical.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the financial transaction terminal is operatively connected for data communications to a separate point of sale (POS) system, and wherein the step of terminating the transaction comprises the step of returning a message to the POS system that the data card is unacceptable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said step of providing a transaction risk parameter comprises providing a transaction high risk parameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said step of providing said transaction risk parameter comprises providing said transaction risk parameter in said data card terminal.