US 5,636,271 A · Security code selector for telephone access card

Abstract

A card for tonal entry of PIN codes into a telephone is provided. The keys of a key entry device are contacted in a proscribed sequence to enter a number into the card with each use of the card. The keyed in number is compared with a number stored in the card. If the numbers are the same, an acknowledgement tone is sent. Upon obtaining of the acknowledgement tone, the annunciator in the card is held to the telephone mouthpiece and activated by the user to produce a tonal representation of the PIN number. If an improper number sequence is keyed in by the user, the card produces a warning signal requiring reentry of a number. After three or four successive failures of the user to enter the correct number, the card is disabled and a new one has to be obtained by the cardholder.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An access card requiring the use of two number sequences to access an account over a telephone, one of said number sequences being a personal identification number, said access card comprising:

a) tone generating means within the access card for entering a tonal representation of said personal identification number into a phone;
b) a set of keying element means each keying element means producing a different numerical signal when contacted, one or more of said keying element means being required to be contacted in a proscribed sequence to have the tone generating means produce said tonal representation, and
c) logic means for determining whether said one or more of said keying element means have been contacted in or out of said proscribed sequence and activating said tone generating means to produce said tonal representation only if said keying element means have been contacted in said proscribed sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Security code selector for telephone access card

Life of this patent

Security code selector for telephone access card

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15