WO1999019844A1

WO1999019844A1 - A method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network and a device for carrying out the method

Info

Publication number: WO1999019844A1
Application number: PCT/CZ1998/000038
Authority: WO
Inventors: S^¿árka KUTÁLKOVÁ; Kamila BR^¿EZINOVÁ
Original assignee: Kutalkova Sarka; Brezinova Kamila
Priority date: 1997-10-08
Filing date: 1998-10-06
Publication date: 1999-04-22
Also published as: AU9251398A; CZ9703188A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network comprising the entering into communication, message ciphering, and message sending. The two terminals, after having come into communication, agree upon a specific not repeatable communication whose result is the immediate carrying out of the real banking operation chosen by the user and its completion prior to the communication stop.

Description

A Method of Communication between an External Terminal of a Bank Account User and an Internal Terminal of a Banking System by means of a Telephone Network and a Device for Carrying out the Method

Technical field

The invention relates to a method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network comprising the entering into communication, message ciphering, and message sending.

The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Background art

The communication systems most widely used presently between a bank account user and a bank and carried out through a telephone line are the Homebanking and the communication through the computer network Internet. Each of these systems requires from each of the two partners as a rule a personal computer, sufficiently powerful and coupled with a modem connected with a telephone line. Each of the computers is fitted with a special software for creating the command required for the operation in question and for permitting one of preset mutual communications to be carried out. The sender of such a set receives then only information confirming that the addressee has received the message or the required information, which is the general drawback inherent to these communication systems.

Another drawback of these systems consists in the fact that the data transported in this way, although ciphered, are due to well-known properties of computers connected to a computer network or to a telephone line, such as the influences of the memories, software control of processors, etc., frequently exposed to illegal actions on the part of unauthorized persons who can decipher the data and then misuse the system to the detriment of the authorized legal user.

Due to this, for instance the banking services rendered by means of these communication systems have achieved only a limited range of application. To the full of their extent, these systems are used only in the goods offer and sale, even if the above drawback consisting in the possible and frequent misuse of the data relating to the communication partners applies to this field of activities as well.

Another drawback of the background art consists in the necessity to use comparatively expensive computers and modems in connection with a special software supplied by the service supplier.

The invention aims at creating a system of mutual communication between the supplier of services or goods and his client whose acquisition and working costs are low and which has at the same time wide scope of application and sufficient protection from being misused.

Principle of the invention

The goal aimed at has been reached by a method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a bank system by means of a telephone network whose principle consists in that the two terminals, after having come into communication, agree upon a specific not repeatable communication whose result is the immediate carrying out of the banking operation chosen by the user and its completion prior to the communication stop.

Preferably, operations with one bank account are carried out in a time sequence, and the initial state of a subsequent operation is defined by the final state of its preceding operation.

Preferably, the type of the banking operation is selected from a menu preset in the memory of the external terminal.

The principle of the device for carrying out the method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network consists in that the communication unit of the control device is coupled with an external dialling telephone set and with a telephone line.

Preferably, the dialling telephone set is made as a part of the control device. Preferably, the processor unit comprises fixed information on the feasible operations and at least a part of an identifier.

Preferably, the telephone dialling set and the communication unit are equipped with means for communicating by means of a tone selection.

The principle of the device for clean payment for carrying out the method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a bank system by means of a telephone network consists in that the internal terminal of the banking system and the external terminal are equipped with means for communicating by means of a tone selection.

Description of the drawings

An example of embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in the accompanying drawing showing a block diagram of a device for carrying out the method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network and its connection to the internal terminal of the banking system.

Examples of embodiment of the invention

An external terminal of a bank account user for the communication with an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone line 10 comprises a well-known dialling telephone set 1 detachably connected to a control device 2. In the example of embodiment shown in the drawing, the control device 2 is connected to the dialling telephone set and to the telephone line 10. In another, not represented embodiment, the dialling telephone set 1 is incorporated in the control device 2.

The control device 2 comprises a processor unit 3 which in its turn comprises a processor 30 connected in a well-known manner with well-known storage modules 4 and 5 out of which the storage module 4 is made of well-known RAM-type storage elements, and the storage module 5 is made of well-known ROM-type storage elements. The storage module 4 is connected with the processor unit 3 for both-way data transmission, and the storage module 5 is connected with the processor unit 3 for one-way data transmission, i.e., for reading only, as shown in the drawing.

In a well-known manner, the processor 30 is also in both-way connection with a supporting module 6 for ensuring and coordinating the function of the processor 30 in whose reading-proof section ciphering information and protocols are stored. The processor unit 3 also can be connected with a not represented identifier used to identify the user and thus to legalize his access to the banking system. This identifier has fixed therein a part of the identification elements of a specific user who is equipped with the other part of said identification elements.

The processor 30 can be controlled by the user by means of internal peripheral units consisting of a input unit 7 and of a display unit 8, while the dialling telephone set 1 serves as a peripheral unit of the device of the external terminal for establishing the contact with a communication unit of the internal terminal of the banking system.

In the example of embodiment shown in the drawing, the input unit 7 is made as a well-known keyboard. In another, not represented example of embodiment, the input unit 7 consists of another suitable device.

In the example of embodiment shown in the drawing, the display unit 8 is made as a well-known screen. In another, not represented example of embodiment, the display unit 8 consists of another suitable device.

The processor 30 is in a well-known manner connected also with a communication unit 9 serving as an interface between the processor unit 3 and the telephone line 10 and ensuring a not repeatable communication with the internal terminal of the banking system or of another service supplier.

In the example of embodiment shown in the drawing, the communication unit 9 is fitted with means for communicating by means of a tone selection. In another, not represented example of embodiment, the communication unit 9 is fitted with well- known means for another type of communication.

In the shown example of embodiment, the processor 30 consists of one chip permanently programmed without the possibility of being reprogrammed to ensure the required type and range of services, for instance all the bank services carried out at a bank counter, services consisting in ordering the goods and paying them by transmission from one account to another or by a credit card, services consisting in "loading" or "deloading" an electronic purse, etc.

In another, not represented example of embodiment, the processor 30 consists of a system of single-purpose chips building up the required circuit for permanently set types and ranges of operations.

In still another not represented example of embodiment, the processor 30 consists of a well-known programmable chip or set of chips which are in any well- known method protected against reprogramming.

In the whole communication system of the external terminal of the banking service user with the internal terminal of the banking system through the telephone line 1.0, there is connected to the telephone line 10 on the side of the internal terminal of the banking system in a well-known manner through the communication unit 90 serving as an interface corresponding to the interface on the side of the external terminal, the internal terminal proper 9J. of the supplier of the service required which is in a well-known manner connected either to a central computer of the banking system or to another supplier of the required services.

The external terminal operates as follows:

First, the input of the control device 2 is by means of a well-known connecting cable connected to the output of the dialling telephone set 1. With one of its outputs, it is connected in a well-known manner to the input of the dialling telephone set 1, and with the other of its outputs, it is connected to the telephone line 10. In this, the external terminal can be connected to any dialling telephone set 1 and to the telephone line 10 so that the user can send commands for banking and other operations from any geographic place where he happens to be at a given time and where he can get connection to the telephone network, to the bank in question, or to another supplier of services.

User chooses the required type of the operation with the input unit 7 that is simultaneously shown on the display unit 8. The user inserts then his respective part of his identification data whose the other, complementary part is permanently, resistant to modifications, encoded in the external terminal. The user inserts then the necessary data relating to the other participants in the operation and to the required operation itself. After this, he dials with the dialling telephone set 1 the respective telephone station connected with the internal terminal of the banking system or of another service supplier who is the addressee of the request for the operation specified beforehand. As soon as the contact with the corresponding device of this station has been established, the external terminal automatically switches over, and the communication unit 9, connected by one of its outputs directly to the telephone line 10, agrees by means of a mutual back communication with the internal terminal of the banking system on a specific not repeatable communication with a specific ciphering code valid for the given moment whereupon the communication unit 9 sends the whole data set, now already encoded in the agreed upon ciphering key, to this internal terminal. The instantaneous selection, the ciphering key, and the updating of the protocol renders practically impossible an illicit use of the communication for misusing the monitored and possibly even deciphered data because no two protocols used are alike. The construction and equipment of the external terminal permits to establish the communication with the internal terminal of the banking system or of another service supplier even before the beginning of the selection of the required operation or at any stage of it. The internal terminal automatically processes the required operation and sends back the statement that the operation has been carried out, or also it may require a data completion by a multiple communication. Operations with a bank account in this system involve an instantaneous realization of the operation in question. After this realization, the user is informed of it without delay, during the communication, and the account in question is updated instantly so that any following operation, however short the interval between it and the preceding operation, starts at the account balance resulting from the previous operation.

After the statement confirming the execution of the required operation, the telephone communication will be ended in a well-known manner.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A method of communication between an external terminal of a bank account user and an internal terminal of a banking system by means of a telephone network comprising the entering into communication, message ciphering, and message sending, characterized by that the two terminals, after having come into communication, agree upon a specific not repeatable communication whose result is the immediate carrying out of the real banking operation chosen by the user and its completion prior to the communication stop.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , characterized by that operations with one bank account are carried out in a time sequence, and the initial state of a subsequent operation is defined by the final state of its preceding operation.

3. A method as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the type of the banking operation is selected from a menu pre-set in the memory of the external terminal.

4. An external terminal for carrying out the method as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, comprising a input unit, a display unit, a processor unit, and a communication unit, characterized by that the communication unit (9) of the control device (2) is coupled with an external dialling telephone set (1 ) and with a telephone line (10).

5. An external terminal as claimed in Claim 4, characterized by that the dialling telephone set (1 ) is made as a part of the control device (2).

6. An external terminal as claimed in Claims 4 and 5, characterized by that the processor unit (3) comprises fixed information on the feasible operations and at least a part of an identifier.

7. An external terminal as claimed in Claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the dialling telephone set (1 ) and the communication unit (2) are equipped with means for communicating by means of a tone selection.

8. A device for clean payment for carrying out the method as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, comprising an internal terminal of a banking system connected by communication means with a telephone line and an external terminal connected by communication means with the telephone line, characterized by that the internal terminal of the banking system and the external terminal are equipped with means for communicating by means of a tone selection.