US 5,818,030 A · Credit card system with key module

Abstract

A secure, smart credit card system having the same basic dimensions of a standard credit card. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a main body having situated thereon a main central processing unit (CPU). A portion of the main body has formed therein a space or slot for accepting a key unit, which is configured to engage the main body in the formed space or slot, the joined pieces maintaining the same basic dimensions of a standard credit card. The key unit may include an intelligent micro-memory module and power supply, and, upon physical engagement to the main body, may be programmed to initiate a "key" protocol to open or lock access to the functions of the main body, communicating with the main CPU upon physical insertion into the main body, thereby initiating or preventing functioning of electronically programed features of the main CPU. The key unit may further include a ROM memory for encoding data and/or a security code in memory, which code may be communicated to the main CPU, upon sliding insertion of the display into the display slot formed in the main body. Additionally, an LCD on the key unit may display the only indication of the credit card number of the card, so that without said LCD display "key" and ROM data and security codes properly inserted into the main body, the body of the card (and the key unit) each individually is merely a blank with no value to a thief.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A security verification system for preventing the unauthorized utilization of proprietary data, comprising:

a two piece, selectively engage able smart card system configured to engage to form a structure having the same general dimensions as a credit card;
said first piece comprising a key unit component having memory, said memory having a security code and proprietary data stored therein, said key unit further comprising a key unit body having first and second edges, said key unit body enveloping said memory, said key unit body having a key unit contact interface situated generally adjacent to the exterior of said key unit body for transmitting data from said memory to an exterior device;
a main body having generally about the same dimensions as a standard credit card, said main body having a key unit engagement area formed therein for selectively receiving and engaging said key unit body in such a manner as to maintain the general dimensions of a credit card, said engagement means further having a main body contact interface configured to engage and contact said key unit contact interface upon full engagement of said key unit with key unit engagement area formed in said main body, said main body further including verification means for accepting, via said main body contact interface, said security code from said key unit memory, said verification means further including a CPU programmed to discern the authenticity of said security code upon full engagement of said key unit to said main body, and transmittal of said security code from said key unit memory to said main body CPU via said key unit contact interface;
display means for displaying data upon verification of the authenticity of said security code by said verification means.

1 more element

The method providing a security verification system for preventing the unauthorized utilization of proprietary data, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a two piece, selectively engage able smart card system configured to engage to form a structure having the same general dimensions as a credit card;
b. Providing said first piece comprising a key unit component having memory, said memory having a security code and proprietary data stored therein, said key unit further comprising a key unit body having first and second edges, said key unit body enveloping said memory, said key unit body having a key unit contact interface situated generally adjacent to the exterior of said key unit body for transmitting data from said memory to an exterior device;
c. Providing a main body having generally about the same dimensions as a standard credit card, said main body having a key unit engagement area formed therein for selectively receiving and engaging said key unit-body in such a manner as to maintain the general dimensions of a credit card, said engagement means further having a main body contact interface configured to engage and contact said key unit contact interface upon full engagement of said key unit with key unit engagement area formed in said main body, said main body further including verification means for accepting, via said main body contact interface, said security code from said key unit memory, said verification means further including a CPU programmed to discern the authenticity of said security code upon full engagement of said key unit to said main body, and transmittal of said security code from said key unit memory to said main body CPU via said key unit contact interface;
d. Providing display means for displaying data upon verification of the authenticity of said security code by said verification means;
e. engaging said key unit to said main body;
f. transmitting said security code from said key unit to said main body;
g. verifying the authenticity of said security code;
h. if the authenticity of said security code is positive, displaying said proprietary data from said key unit on said display means;
I. if the authenticity of said security code is negative, locking the system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Credit card system with key module

Life of this patent

Credit card system with key module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11