Card Processing Device Anti-Skimming Conveyance Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card processing devices are vulnerable to illicit reading of magnetic card information by skimming devices installed inside the card conveyance path, as conventional prevention methods are ineffective when the illicit device is mounted within the device's main body.

Innovation Solution

The card processing device employs a control unit to manage card conveyance through a card conveyance path with a mechanism that alternates between intermittent and constant speed conveyance, and changes conveyance direction after the card passes through the magnetic head, making it difficult for illicit devices to determine the card's position and conveyance direction, thereby preventing unauthorized data acquisition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional card conveyance methods are used, then the card processing device can read and write magnetic card information, but illicit devices mounted inside the main body can illicitly read the magnetic information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against skimmingVSAvoidillicit reading of magnetic information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The card conveyance mechanism dynamically changes its operation mode between intermittent conveyance (with stop and reverse) and constant speed conveyance based on the reading/writing phase. During illicit device vulnerability periods, the system switches to intermittent conveyance with direction changes, making it difficult for illicit devices to synchronize and read magnetic information continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic intermittent conveyance where the card is conveyed forward, stopped, and conveyed backward in regular intervals during the initial phase. This periodic motion pattern disrupts the continuous reading capability of illicit devices while allowing the legitimate magnetic head to read and write information at appropriate intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the card is conveyed intermittently with stop and reverse, then illicit devices outside the main body cannot read magnetic information, but the card conveyance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of external skimmingVSAvoidcard conveyance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts conveyance speed and mode based on the processing phase. During initial positioning and security-critical phases, intermittent conveyance with stop and reverse is used. During actual reading and writing phases, constant speed conveyance is employed to minimize time loss while maintaining security through coordinated magnetic head positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The intermittent conveyance with stop and reverse is performed as a preliminary action before the actual reading and writing operations. This preliminary phase establishes secure positioning and disrupts external illicit devices, after which the card is conveyed at constant speed for efficient data processing, thus limiting time loss to only the initial security phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the card conveyance speed is changed frequently, then illicit devices cannot synchronize with card movement, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of illicit readingVSAvoidconveyance control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyance system employs dynamic speed and mode changes with two primary modes: intermittent conveyance (with stop and reverse) and constant speed conveyance. The control unit switches between these modes based on the processing phase, creating sufficient complexity for illicit device desynchronization while maintaining manageable control through standardized mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively prevents illicit reading of magnetic card information by disrupting the illicit device's ability to synchronize with the card's movement, ensuring secure reading and writing of card data by the legitimate card processing device.

Implementation Method 1

reads magnetic information recorded on a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card with a magnetic head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

writes the information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field application: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3605396B1Card processing device and automated transaction device
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 HITACHI CHANNEL SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3605396B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3605396B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)
  • EP3605396B1 patent drawingFigure 3(b)

AI summary

The present invention is capable of maintaining the performance of a card processing device with respect to reading magnetic information on magnetic cards while controlling against illicit reading of same. Provided is a card processing device comprising: a conveyance path wherein a plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers, which sandwich and convey a card, are arranged in the direction of card conveyance; a card conveyance control means for controlling the rotation of the conveyance rollers and the conveyance of the card along the card conveyance path; and a means to read the magnetic card information recorded on the magnetic card conveyed along the card conveyance path. This card processing device controls against reading of the magnetic card by an illicit device by reading the magnetic card at a prescribed timing during a series of processes wherein the card, inside the main body of the card processing device, is intermittently conveyed from the front to the back, stopped during conveyance, and intermittently conveyed in reverse direction.