Multimode retail system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10083564-B2
Application number	US-201815882802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2018
Priority date	Jun 28, 2010
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A multimode system for receiving data in a retail environment includes: a secure input module for receiving high security input and low security input from a customer, the high security input to be communicated by the secure input module in cipher text, and the low security input to be communicated by the secure input module in plaintext. The multimode system is adapted to operate in a high security mode and a low security mode. The multimode system is adapted to enter the low security mode upon detection by the multimode system of a security breach condition. In the high security mode, the secure input module accepts low security input and high security input. In the low security mode, the secure input module accepts the low security input and does not accept the high security input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a card reader;
a keypad;
a processor configured to encrypt data manually input to the keypad and to encrypt information read by the card reader; and
a controller configured to transition the system between a high security mode and a low security mode, determine when security of the system has been breached, and transition the system from the high security mode to the low security mode in response to determining that the security of the system has been breached;
wherein in the high security mode the card reader is enabled to read a customer card, the keypad is enabled to accept manual input of unsecure information and to accept manual input of secure information, the controller is enabled to receive the encrypted data and the encrypted information, and the controller is enabled to process a retail transaction using the encrypted data and the encrypted information; and
wherein in the low security mode the card reader is enabled to read a customer card, the keypad is enabled to accept manual input of unsecure information and is disabled from accepting the manual input of secure information, the controller is enabled to receive the encrypted data and the encrypted information, and the controller is enabled to process a retail transaction using the encrypted data and the encrypted information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein in each of the high security mode and the low security mode the card reader is enabled to receive secure information and unsecure information from a customer card.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the high security mode the card reader is enabled to receive secure information and unsecure information from a customer card, and in the low security mode the card reader is enabled to receive unsecure information from a customer card and is disabled from receiving secure information from a customer card.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transition the system from the low security mode to the high security mode in response to maintenance that addresses the breach being performed on the system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transition the system from the low security mode to a terminated functionality mode in response to maintenance that addresses the breach not being performed on the system within a predetermined amount of time after the transition from the high security mode to the low security mode.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein in the terminated functionality mode the keypad is disabled from accepting any information.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the system includes a fuel dispensing system configured to dispense fuel therefrom, an automated teller machine, or an unattended payment terminal configured to accept payment for at least one of a good and a service.

8. A system, comprising:
a card reader;
a processor; and
a controller configured to transition the system between a high security mode and a low security mode, determine when security of the system has been breached, and transition the system from the high security mode to the low security mode in response to determining that the security of the system has been breached;
wherein in the high security mode the card reader is enabled to read a customer card to accept input of secure information and unsecure information, and the processor is enabled to encrypt data received by the card reader and transmit the encrypted data to the controller to process a retail transaction; and
wherein in the low security mode the card reader is enabled to read a customer card to accept unsecure information from the card reader and is disabled from accepting the input of secure information, and the processor is enabled to encrypt data received by the card reader and transmit the encrypted data to the controller to process a retail transaction.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a keypad, wherein in the high security mode the keypad is enabled to accept manual input of unsecure information from a customer and to accept manual input of secure information from a customer, and in low security mode the keypad is enabled to accept the manual input of unsecure information and is disabled from accepting the manual input of secure information.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein in the high and low security modes the processor is enabled to encrypt the information received by the keypad and transmit the encrypted information to the controller.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to transition the system from the low security mode to the high security mode in response to maintenance that addresses the breach being performed on the system.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to transition the system from the low security mode to a terminated functionality mode in response to maintenance that addresses the breach not being performed on the system within a predetermined amount of time after the transition from the high security mode to the low security mode.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a keypad, wherein in the terminated functionality mode the keypad is disabled from accepting any information.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system includes a fuel dispensing system configured to dispense fuel therefrom, an automated teller machine, or an unattended payment terminal configured to accept payment for at least one of a good and a service.

15. A method, comprising:
detecting a breach of security in a system configured to accept payment for at least one of a good and a service;
in response to the detection of the breach, switching from a first mode of operating the system to a second mode of operating the system, the system in the first mode being configured to accept unsecure information input to the system via a card reader, to accept secure information input via the card reader, to encrypt the accepted unsecure and secure information, and to transmit the encrypted unsecure and secure information to a controller to process a retail transaction, and the system in the second mode being configured to accept unsecure information input to the system via the card reader, to disable input of secure information via the card reader, to encrypt the accepted unsecure information, and to transmit the encrypted unsecure information to the controller to process a retail transaction;
starting a count of an amount of time when the system switches from the first mode to the second mode;
determining whether maintenance of the system occurs before the count reaches a predetermined amount of time; and
switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to the maintenance of the system being determined to have occurred before the count reaches the predetermined amount of time.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising switching from the second mode to a third mode of operating the system in response to the maintenance of the system being determined to have not occurred before the count reaches the predetermined amount of time, the system in the third mode being configured to disable input of unsecure information via the card reader and to disable input of secure information via the card reader.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein in the first mode a keypad of the system is enabled to accept manual input of unsecure information from a customer and to accept manual input of secure information from a customer, and in the second mode the keypad is enabled to accept the manual input of unsecure information and is disabled f

Assignees

• Wayne Fueling Systems Llc

Inventors

• Weston Timothy M
• Tang Weiming
• Spiller David

Classifications

• G07F7/1016 Primary

  Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption (arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00) · CPC title

• G07F7/1091

  Use of an encrypted form of the PIN · CPC title

• G06F21/554

  involving event detection and direct action · CPC title

• G07F7/1033

  Details of the PIN pad · CPC title

• G06Q20/4012

  Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN] · CPC title