US 4,901,068 AGranted

Identification apparatus for operating secure equipment

AssigneeMoneyfax, Inc.

InventorsWilliam M. Benton, William Mee

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Abstract

An apparatus for turning on and off, selectively, a facsimile machine or other secured piece of equipment and processing data pertaining thereto comprises a key formed of a module and having stereo plugs extending therefrom adapted to interfit with stereo jacks in the equipment. An integrated circuit including a solid state memory is provided in the module for processing electrical signals. Data transfer is established between the integrated circuit in the module and circuitry in the equipment when the key is inserted in the equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the key is adapted to authorize and log financial transactions between parties via facsimile machines. An identification card containing information corresponding to information stored in the integrated circuit is coupled to the key by a cord.

Claims6

Dependent claims

Data processing apparatus for enabling/disabling secured equipment, comprising:

a key formed of a module having at least one electrical plug extending therefrom adapted to interfit with at least one corresponding electrical jack provided at equipment to be secured, said electrical plug including a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally and electrically insulated from each other;
an integrated circuit including solid state memory means within said module for processing electrical signals;
said sections positioned on said plug to be in contact with corresponding electrical contacts in said jack;
wiring for interconnecting said sections of said plug with said integrated circuit;
and
wherein said integrated circuit means contains a plurality of terminals and said module contains two plugs extending therefrom, each of said plugs containing a plurality of sections, said wiring interconnecting, one-to-one, said sections and said terminals of said integrated circuit means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.