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OwnerAndrew Campbell, Brian Docherty +3inventors
InventorsAndrew Campbell, Brian Docherty, James Churchman, Kevin Maidment, Nick McGarvey
Estimating the term…
A card reader terminal is provided with circuitry to detect wireless transmission of data from the card terminal from illicit transmitting equipment within the terminal in the form of a “shim” or otherwise. The detector circuit is connected to an A/D input of a microprocessor. Voltage level at the input may be measured rather than just treating it as digital input where the voltage level would be taken by the processor as either ON (signal present) or OFF (signal not present). Where the microprocessor (or other processing electronics) used does not have an analog to digital converter input, an external analog to digital circuit may be used. The terminal can determine the level of radio signal activity in its vicinity before a card is entered into the card slot, the level after the card is inserted and the level during the time the terminal is exchanging data with the card. If there is an abrupt increase in signal level when the card is inserted or when data exchange commences, the processor can ensure that the PIN is not sent to the card and can prevent all further transactions until the radio signal is no longer present.
A radio frequency detection system for a smart card reader, for detecting spurious and illicit radio frequency signals emanating from within or in the vicinity of a smart card reader, the radio frequency detection system comprising:
A method of detecting spurious and illicit radio frequency signals emanating from within or in the vicinity of a smart card reader, comprising the steps of:
A portable smart card reader terminal having a radio frequency detection system, for detecting spurious and illicit radio frequency signals emanating from within or in the vicinity of a smart card reader, the portable smart card reader terminal comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.