Automated banking machine with improved resistance to fraud
View Patent ↗Apparatus and method for interfering with an unauthorized device attempting to acquire user identification information at a cash dispensing automated banking machine. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting radiation at one or more frequencies to interfere with actual or suspected radiation transmitted from an unauthorized device in a proximity of the banking machine. The radiation may be substantially continually emitted or emitted responsive to a user supplying input to the machine. The radiation may be emitted over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency range associated with unauthorized devices. Additionally, the machine may include a sensing device for monitoring the nature and quality of unauthorized radiation.
1. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a display in supporting connection with the housing;
a currency dispensing device in supporting connection with the housing;
at least one input device in supporting connection with the housing, wherein the at least one input device is enabled to receive identifying inputs from users of the apparatus;
at least one radiation emitter in supporting connection with the housing;
at least one controller in operative connection with the at least one radiation emitter, wherein the controller is operative to cause the at least one radiation emitter to emit radiation to interfere with radiation generated by at least one unauthorized user input sensing device in proximity of the banking machine apparatus.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one radiation emitter is operative to emit radio frequency (RF) radiation at a plurality of frequencies.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
at least one sensing device in operative connection with the at least one controller,
wherein the at least one sensing device is operative to sense the radiation
generated by the at least one unauthorized user input sensing device.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one controller is operative to analyze variations in radiation sensed by the at least one sensing device during operation of the at least one input device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one controller is operative to determine if sensed radiation corresponds to radiation generated by the at least one unauthorized user input sensing device and to generate at least one signal responsive to the determination.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is operative to compare variations in radiation sensed by the at least one sensing device during operation of the at least one input device, wherein the controller is operative responsive to such comparison to determine if sensed radiation corresponds to radiation generated by the at least one unauthorized user input sensing device.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is operative to determine whether radiation sensed by the at least one sensing device corresponds to operation of a cell phone adjacent to the banking machine apparatus.
8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is operative to determine at least one frequency at which radiation is generated by the at least one unauthorized user input sensing device and is operative to cause the at least one radiation emitter to emit radiation at the at least one frequency.
9. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one input device is in operative connection with the at least one controller, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the at least one radiation emitter to emit radiation during at least a portion of operation of the at least one input device.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is in operative connection with the at least one input device, wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the at least one radiation emitter to emit radiation during at least a portion of operation of the at least one input device.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a card reader and a keypad.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a card reader slot associated with the card reader, and further including at least one object sensing device adjacent the slot wherein the at least one object sensing device is in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the at least one object sensing device is operative to sense an unauthorized card reading device adjacent the slot.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one controller is operative to generate at least one signal responsive to the at least one object sensing device sensing an unauthorized card reading device adjacent the slot.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input device includes a keypad adapted to accept personal identification numbers (PINs) input by users of the apparatus, wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of keys, and wherein at least one area extends between at least two keys of the keypad, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one key area sensing device adjacent the keypad, wherein an unauthorized manual input intercepting device adjacent the keypad is operative to cause at least one change in at least one property that is sensed by the at least one key area sensing device.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one key area sensing device is in operative connection with the at least one controller, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to generate at least one signal responsive to the key area sensing device sensing an authorized manual input intercepting device adjacent the keypad.
16. A method comprising:
a) receiving at least one user input through at least one input device of a cash dispensing automated banking machine apparatus, wherein the at least one input device is in operative connection with at least one controller in the apparatus;
b) at least during a portion of (a), emitting radiation from an emitter in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the emitted radiation is operative to interfere with radiation signals generated by at least one unauthorized user input sensing device at the banking machine apparatus.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (b), the radiation is emitted at a plurality of frequencies within a predetermined frequency range.
18. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (b), the radiation is substantially continuously emitted.
19. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (b), radiation is emitted responsive to operation of the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller causes operation of the emitter during at least a portion of a time the at least one controller operates the at least one input device to receive at least one input in (a).
20. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (b), the radiation is emitted at intervals in coordination with operation of the banking machine.
21. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising:
c) sensing radiation in proximity of the banking machine apparatus with at least one sensing device in operative connection with the at least one controller; and
d) determining through operation of the at least one controller whether at least a portion of the radiation sensed in (c) corresponds to radiation emitted by at least one unauthorized user input sensing device;
wherein radiation is emitted in (b) responsive to the determination in (d).
22. The method according to claim 21 wherein (d) includes determining at least one frequency of the radiation sensed in (c).
23. The method according to claim 22 wherein in (b), radiation is emitted at the frequency of the sensed radiation determined in (d).
24. The method according to claim 22 wherein in (d) the at least one controller is operative to determine that the radiation sensed in (c) corresponds to radiation associated with a cellular phone.
25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein in (b) radiation is emitted responsive to operation of the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller causes operation of the emitter during at least a portion of time the at least one controller operates the at least one input device to receive at least one input in (a).
26. The method according to claim 16 wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader, and wherein the apparatus includes at least one card slot and an object sensing device adjacent the card slot, wherein the object sensing device is in operative connection with the at least one controller, and further comprising:
c) sensing with the object sensing device, at least one unauthorized card reading device adjacent the card slot; and
d) responsive to sensing the at least one unauthorized card reading device, operating the at least one controller to cause at least one first further output from the banking machine apparatus.
27. The method according to claim 16 wherein the at least one input device includes a keypad, and wherein the at least one sensing device includes at least one key area sensing device in operative connection with the at least one controller, and further comprising:
c) sensing with the at least one key area sensing device, at least one unauthorized manual input intercepting device; and
d) responsive to sensing the at least one unauthorized manual input intercepting device, operating the at least one controller to cause at least one output from the banking machine apparatus.