WO2006016250A2

WO2006016250A2 - Multifunction electronic device with resident software to capture financial and nonfinancial transactions, both at homes and stores, operating in connection with a telephone line

Info

Publication number: WO2006016250A2
Application number: PCT/IB2005/002343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bloisi Albertoni De Lemos
Original assignee: Bloisi Albertoni De Lemos
Priority date: 2004-08-05
Filing date: 2005-08-05
Publication date: 2006-02-16
Also published as: AR051629A1; PE20060545A1; RU2005124978A; BRPI0403207A; CN1783141A; WO2006016250A3

Abstract

Electronic multifunctional device with resident software to catch financial and nonfinancial transactions both at home as in business establishments, which operates connected to a telephone line. The present abstract refers to an invention patent for a multifunctional device belonging to the field of systems and equipment for electronic transactions, which consists of devices for the interface with the user, including a display (3) and a keyboard (4), a slot type reader device, a DTMF communication device connected through a telephone line (80), with a preprocessing data distribution station (40) to an associate system (60) formed by banks, stores, cable TV systems and other affiliates to the system; said reading device is formed by a magnetic reader (5) and additionally by a barcode reader (6) to read credit, debit and other cards with magnetic tracks belonging to banks and similar institutions and others printed with barcodes such as bills from public concessionaires, bank slips, tax collection documents, catalogs, among others, to pay bills, taxes, make purchases and other financial transactions from the home of the user; or to carryout non-financial transactions such as voting, answer prize contests and others.

Description

"MULTIFUNCTION ELECTRONIC DEYICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CAPTURE FINANCIAL AND NONFINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS₅ BOTH AT HOMES AND STORES, OPERATING IN CONNECTION WITH A TELEPHONE LINE"

This descriptive report is related to an invention for a multifunction electronic device conceived to act as an interface between individuals and entities on one side, and a data processing and distribution center on the other side, allowing for the capture of financial and nonfmancial transactions, as well as an interactive communication among the users thereof in several communication networks, including radio and TV networks.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is electrically autonomous, taking its electrical supply from the telephone network it is connected to. This is a multifunction device provided with user-interface devices, including keypad, display and optical and magnetic readers, being capable of reading several types of magnetic cards with barcodes of various thicknesses (ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 mm), as well as printouts with barcodes, such as public utility carriers and bank slips. Accordingly, both individuals and companies can, from their homes or stores, make payments of accounts and perform several kinds of electronic transactions.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE operates as an integral part of a network (Associated Network) which in its turn is an integral part of a System, as shown in Figure 1. In general, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is connected through a dialed connection to an ARU-platform Hub, with which an interactive communication is established. Such hub communicates by means of an IP protocol with one or more data centers. In such data centers the electronic transaction data are processed and/or distributed to the member companies participating in the System, such as credit card issuers, banks, financial institutions, brand names, acquirers, government entities, media, advertising and marketing companies, fidelity companies (CRM), among others. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE stores up to 10 numbers of hub central offices in its memory. The selection of the number that is automatically dialed when the card is passed through the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE can be made based on the card type or brand name associated thereto.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE and the network related thereto has its main structure divided into four business niches: telecommunications; media and leisure; financial industry; and e-commerce and t-commerce.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE can be commercially used as a tool to close businesses in several segments of the electronic commerce, namely B2B (business to business), B2C (business to consumer), C2C (consumer to consumer), and M2M (mass commerce among consumer, cooperative and consortium groups, either geographically apart or not).

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is an action-reaction encouraging device, and the individual can use his options and have a real time interaction with them. The network to which it is connected uses basically the infrastructure of telecommunication companies — telephone lines and data centers — as its main vehicle.

Taking into account that one of the segments in which the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE will be used is the financial niche, where the security requirements to capture credit, debit and pre-paid card transactions are extremely strict, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has been conceived to be extremely safe. It is provided with an embedded 192-switch 3DES data encryption feature, which renders practically inviolable the transfer of sensitive data (such as passwords and credit/debit card numbers) to the data centers.

Currently, there is a great number of terminals, POS (points-of-sale devices) and electronic funds transfer systems - EFT - which capture and process both financial and nonfmancial transactions, but, because of their high cost and unilaterality, they can serve neither the home market nor the small traders. Typically, such devices are found in medium-sized and large-sized commercial establishments. In general, small and micro traders are in no condition to bear the heavy rental costs for such terminals and devices.

Traders who accept credit cards use those small familiar manual machines ("reco- reco"), which are not entirely reliable, requiring voice telephone calls to be made in order to obtain the authorization code from the card operator. Such small machines do not accept debit cards. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE will allow that both micro and small companies, standing for 96% of all companies in Brazil, amounting to 5.4 million establishments, can be able to accept credit, debit and pre-paid card payments, thus increasing their competitiveness, security and customer service.

Considering that there is a strong market trend toward replacing the use of money with debit cards in small transactions, the existence of a device able to capture transactions with this kind of card both at homes and small stores is extremely important.

To date, there are no easily operated and cheap devices conceived to act as an entry and interactive communication device at homes. In a much reduced scale, the so- called Set Top Boxes are under initial installation. These are boxes placed on TV sets providing them with a limited interactivity. As a rule, such devices belong to pay TV operating companies and have a very limited performance level, being useful when ordering movies (pay-per-view) and shows for user groups that are already registered with such operators. In general, the payment is made through a bank slip that reaches such customers on a monthly basis jointly with the payment for the pay TV services. Some of these set top-type boxes / devices also allow for the use of TVs in interactive games. In this case, the Internet is generally used as a communication means. In such case, we are not facing an interactive TV, but rather an Internet that uses the TV set in lieu of the monitor. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE goes far beyond such boxes, providing the individual with real time home-comfort connection and interactivity, with radio and TV interactive shows, as well as, among other functions:

^D Payment of his bills through a bank slip with no need to enter the barcode

(the barcode is read by the optical head);

^D Purchase of products and services through several media channels;

^D Completely safe use of his credit, debit or pre-paid card to pay for any orders made by the phone.

In Brazil, the digital inclusion of companies in the information access has already been partially accomplished through the business networks, resulting in a continuous border-expanding process. As compared to companies, the digital inclusion of individuals is in a primitive stage. The digital inclusion is one of the goals of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE implementation strategy.

Although a number of Brazilian homes are already provided with a communication and information access instrument, significant gaps still exist. Ninety percent (90%) of homes have a TV set, 62% have a telephone set, 14% have a PC, and only 10% can access the Internet.

To date, electronic transactions involving products and services at homes are virtually limited to those made through the Internet or shopping by voice telephone.

The Internet — the worldwide computer network — has been increasingly expanding all over the world. However, a relatively small part of the world population can have access to such global network. Because of the lack of culture and fear of digital piracy, an even smaller number of persons use such network to make electronic transactions such as payment of bills, electronic purchases, electronic voting and other interactive transactions. In addition to the security issue, it takes too much time, particularly in case the Internet connection is made through a dialing process, for an individual to login, access the bank or the store website, enter passwords, enter the extensive bill barcode and close a transaction, and this is regarded as unacceptable by many people.

That is why most people are excluded from the real time electronic transaction world, failing to enjoy the convenience, agility, time saving and opportunities potentially provided by the electronic commerce and online transactions.

It happens that it takes precious time in bank lines and stores for needier people, with less purchasing power, to pay for their bills, with no access to promotions, deductions and easiness provided by the electronic transactions.

Forty percent (40%) of the (poorer) C, D and E social classes, standing for 70% of the Brazilian population, do not have a bank account; one goal of the federal government is to "bankerize" this population contingent. The financial transactions for these accounts will be made by using debit cards, rather than checks. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is critically important to expand the number of points where electronic transactions will be able to be performed, including homes.

The home purchasing alternative for those people who do not have, or do not rely on the Internet, is the voice telephone shopping. Such purchases, which are in general encouraged by TV ads, printed catalogs and periodicals, are extremely insecure. In general, the purchasers provide their credit card number and even their voice security code, running the risk of having their number captured just with a wiretap. Whenever the transfer of such data is made through mobile phones, the risk of capture is even increased, due to the easiness of capturing and decoding radio signals that use the voice of their users.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE gathers into one single device the features of barcode reader (which automates and renders less error-susceptible the entry of data of payable bills), magnetic card reader and automatic dialing to the data pre- processing and distribution central office. Additionally, this device makes the processes of paying the bills, making electronic purchases and other financial transactions extremely agile and safe.

hi addition to enabling a purely digital performance of transactions (through the interactive dialogue on the display), the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE also allows that purchases that were traditionally made by voice telephone can be so closed. For example, the user can interact with a sale clerk of a store provided with a home delivery system, by selecting and listing the products desired. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is used only when the order is closed. The store informs the user, through voice, his order code, and the user makes the payment for that order using the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, entering said code and then passing one of his credit, debit or pre-paid cards in the device. When receiving the confirmation from the card administration office or the bank, informing that the transaction made with the user's card has been authorized, the store will release the delivery of the goods.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is provided with several business platforms, for which some basic applications are being developed, as follows:

I. Financial electronic transactions: capture of transactions with credit, debit and private label cards, and payment of bills by means of bank slip.

II. Media and leisure: capture of purchasing transactions by means of multiple media channels, interactive or non-interactive games, voting and ordered polls.

The features being developed in these two business platforms are as follows:

1. Financial services at homes: payment of bills through bank slips and other financial / banking features. 2. Commerce and industry financial services: payment of bills through bank slips; receipt of credit / debit cards; other financial / banking features.

3. Home purchasing: e-commerce, t-commerce; public services (e-gov); catalog and other media purchasing.

4. Nonflnancial services at homes: cell phone charging, tourist services (trip packages, tickets, etc.) pay-per-view TV, lotteries.

5. Interactive TV: interactive shows; product and ads testing; ordered polls and electronic voting; TV lotteries and interactive / non-interactive games.

The media and leisure industry trends lead to a fierce "fight for attention", which will affect the dynamics and the direction of this industry. Content will be even more diversified, with an ever-increasing growth, and giving rise to a high fragmentation level in the industry. People will have a greater number of options and a greater number of login methods, although with the same number of hours in a day. Thus, keeping the audience attention will imply finding out how to affect, captivate, unite, attract and keep a relationship with the individual.

An available content that makes action and reaction feasible, that is, interactivity, will be an essential element in such a war for audience and attention.

As it is present at homes and since it is an interactive device, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE will have an outstanding role in this new scenario. With the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, several features that would be possible only through the popularization of the digital TV, which will be a reality within many years from now, will be able to be used together with the conventional TV.

Because of the interactivity provided by the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, the pay TV market may evolve towards eliminating fixed monthly fees, and proceeding to charge what has been actually consumed. Several shows and movies will be selected and watched at any time, and the payment will be made by the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE itself upon the selection of the show. Each show will have a code to be entered in the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE and released by passing and processing the transaction with the user's credit, debit or pre-paid card.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE business plan is also focused on two additional platforms, for which some applications are already being prepared:

III. Medical-hospital-pharmaceutical area: capture and processing of transactions to authorize consultations and medical procedures in doctor's offices, clinics, laboratories and hospitals for health insurance members; authorization to sell medication with deductions at drugstores for health insurance members.

IV. Logistic control area: tracking of cargo vehicles and control of company fleets, detecting any deviations regarding pre-established routes.

Other interactivity-configured applications are under review and will result from the use of the same concepts in networks with MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES, at the public administration, in loyalty and CRM systems, tele-education (tests and evaluations through multiple choice system may use the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE to choose the answer for each question) and public electoral processes (electronic voting via MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE.

The first releases of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE shall require the connection to a land telephone network. New releases estimated in its development plan include models with integrated mobile communication service. Through that feature, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE users, particularly traders and liberal professionals, will be able to login the system data centers (from anywhere with mobile telephone system coverage) in order to perform a great number of electronic transactions.

Another line of expected development is the integration of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE to pay phones and interactive kiosks so that people who do not have a telephone set at home can shop and interact with the various systems integrated to the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE network.

The attached drawings show the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE subject hereof, where:

Figure 1 shows a diagram where the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, and the related network and system can be seen;

Figure 2 shows in "A" a front view of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, and in "B" the device being used;

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, showing the main modules which are part of the device;

Fig. 4 shows a diagram with some elements of the creation and validation process of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE with a validation card (master card);

Fig. 5 shows the security key arrangement on the device keypad;

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of the electric circuit of the security keys; and

Fig. 7 shows a safety device inside the device housing, intended to fill the whole inner space so as to prevent the introduction of fraud-facilitating devices.

According to Fig. 1, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE (1) is preferably installed at homes (20), or, alternatively, in small commercial establishments or offices or the like (21), and it is an integral part of a network (40) (associated network) which in its turn is an integral part of a System (60). In general, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is connected through a telephone line (80) and dialed connection to an ARU-platform hub (41), which is part of the associated network (40), with which an interactive communication is established. Such hub (41) communicates via IP protocol with one or more data centers (42), which are also part of the associated network (40). hi these data centers (42) the electronic transaction data are processed and/or distributed to the member entities participating in the System (60), such as: media, poll, advertising and marketing companies (61); government companies (62); banks (63); acquirers (64); brand names (65); card issuers (66). The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES (1), the associated network (40) and the system (60) integrate already implemented usual communication systems.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE (1), according to Figs. 2 and 3 includes, basically: a central dedicated software-based CPU (2); user interface devices and data entry, including: a display (3); a keypad (4); a DTMF module (4), including a generator and amplifier; a magnetic reader (5); and an optical reader (6), the last two of a slot-type; such device further includes a security device (7), including security keys; an interface (8) with the telephone line (80), including electrical power supply of the kind providing electrical supply for the device from the telephone line; serial interface and output circuit, all such components housed or integrated in a small housing (9), fit to be held with one hand.

According to the construction above, the suitable association of software and hardware features provide the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE with the following outstanding characteristics:

^■ It is intended for a preferable residential use; for that purpose, it is connected only to one telephone line for communication and electrical supply, and is provided with user- friendly interface even for non-skilled users;

^■ Reading of magnetic track and barcode;

^■ Compatible with several types of magnetic cards, with 0.20 to 0.80 mm thick;

^■ Compatible with paper printed documents; ^α Use of compressed DTMF protocol;

^a Safe boot system: the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is booted through a booting card (master card) with one magnetic track and another optical track, with mutually completing code parts related to the serial number of the

MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE unit and the subscriber number (telephone line number) it was purchased for;

^α 3DES international security standard: storage capacity of up to 192-bit 10 autonomous cryptographic keys;

^α No possible violation: the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has an embedded security device that, upon violation of its housing, the stored transaction data and the resident program are deleted;

^E Software updates and parameter download by the associated network;

^■ Storage and utilization of up to 10 electronic keys;

^■ Association among the device's serial number, master card codes, user's telephone line number and any cards that may be registered;

^■ Storage in its local storage unit of a pre-written text message matrix, which is displayed in the display (3) whenever it is activated through the telephone network (80) by appropriate codes from the processing central office (40);

^■ New text messages can be downloaded through the telephone line (80) to be displayed on the display (3), for replacement or expansion of the pre-written messages previously written at the plant.

Accordingly, upon installation, the user is directed to pass the master card in the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE. The system will check the consistency between the serial number stored in the non-volatile memoiy of the equipment with the data string generated by a special routine existing in the resident software in the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE from the cryptograph codes read from one of the master card magnetic tracks and the barcode read from the same card.

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is considered as valid only when this routine shows that the data are consistent. Then, the phase two of the initialization process starts, when the user enters the credit and debit cards to be accepted for financial transactions in the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE stores on a summarised manner only part of the data of these cards.

Every time a financial transaction is performed with the payment by card, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE software checks whether the card passed on its slot is one of the cards registered, and it accepts only those which have been previously registered. New cards may be registered later, but only with the aid of the master card.

Another security measure used is the link of the serial number of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE with its user's telephone number, m case some person tries to connect the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE through a telephone line different from the one registered, the Network with which the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is associated identifies that such number is not the correct one, and the operation is aborted.

When the initialization procedures are completed, the user can use the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE normally, to perform the financial and nonfinancial transactions desired.

By watching the display 3 and operating the keyboard 4 and the magnetic 5 and optical 6 readers, the user interacts with the network 40 and the system 60 associated, in order to perform the electronic transaction of this interest. You can find below examples of interactive message sequences, which are generated by the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE (home model), as the user selects his options:

SCREEN0 TYPE THE OPTION or type * (go to screen 1) SCREEN 1 1-BUYPRODUCT

2-PAYBILL

SCREEN2 3-CHECKBALANCE

4 - INTERACTIVE

SCREEN 4.1 1 - POLL 2 - VOTE

SCREEN3 5 - GAMES

6 - PAY-PER-VIEW

SCREEN 5.1 1 - GAME l

2 - GAME 2 SCREEN 6.1 1 - CHANNEL l

2 - CHANNEL 2

SCREEN4 7 - PREPAID CHARGE

8 - INCLUDE CARD

SCREEN 7.1 1 - VIVO

2 - BCP

SCREEN5 9 - OTHERS

Note: While waiting for the transactions, display SCREEN PROCESSING...

Error during the transaction - display SCREEN OPERATION CANCELLED Note: On the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE keyboard: - # = OK (yes) and D and * = N (no) and D

If the choice is that of number 1, the keyboard sequence will be the following:

1 - BUY PRODUCTS FROM SUPPLIERS

SCREEN 1.1 PRODUCT CODE XXX-NNN (displayed after typing the Product Code) If not PRODUCT CODE INVALID (back 3 times to type Product Code)

SCREEN 1.2 QUANTITY NNN

If not PRODUCT OVER (clean screen and close the transaction)

SCREEN 1.3 (PRODUCT NAME) (AMOUNT) SCREEN 1.4 GO TO PAYMENT ROUTINE 10

If the choice in main menu is that of number 2, the screen sequence will be the following:

2 - PAYING BILLS WITH THE OPTICAL READER

SCREEN 2.1 PASS BILL ON THE OPTICAL READER

If not PASS BILL AGAIN (it accepts up to 3 times, then it asks for you to type)

If not TYPE BAR CODE If not READING WITH ERROR (back to screen 0)

SCREEN 2.2 AMOUNT R$ XX,XXX.OO

SCREEN 2.3 DUE DATE DD/MM/YY

SCREEN 2.4 (BILL NAME) (AMOUNT)

If not EXPIRED DATE (back to screen 0) SCREEN 2.5 GO TO ROUTINE 10 FOR DEBIT PAYMENT

As already said, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is equipped with a set of security features which is as a whole a feature never seen in the market before.

Thus, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has a device to ensure the data integrity and confidentiality, comprised by the referred 3DES data encrypting feature (the data are encrypted 3 times, through the international Data Encryption Standard), with a 192- bit key, what makes the transfer of sensitive data (such as passwords and number of credit/debit cards) to the data centers virtually inviolable. This encryption process is linked to 10 key position used by different card brands and managers, in order to ensure both the integrity and the confidentiality of their data.

In order to ensure that the equipment is always protected against attempts to copy or change its resident software, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has 5 security keys which detect any attempts to open the equipment, and delete the sensitive data stored in its RAM (Random Access Memory). When the security keys are open, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE not only deletes the stored data related to transactions in progress, but also deletes part of the equipment operating software, making it stop operating.

When this occurs, the only manner to re-establish the operation of the product is by reloading the resident software (programme), what can be done by accredited personnel only, through a process also provided with security measures.

Among the security keys 7, four of them are located on the keyboard body (fig. 5), and one of them is under the keyboard. The key circuit is represented in figure 6. As one can see, the keys are arranged as a series, and when one of them is open, the power source to RAM memories is interrupted, causing the full deletion of the data stored. As it is well known, RAM memories keep the information when powered by a suitable source. As shown in the drawing, such source is a three-(3) volt battery. When the circuit through which it circulates is interrupted through the opening of any key, all the data stored in the RAM are definitively lost. When the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is assembled at the factory, the five security keys get closed due to the pressure made by the external box on the keyboard. When the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is either fully or partially open, any key which gets opened generates a discontinuity in the circuit, and the resulting interruption in the RAM memory power source.

The critical areas inside the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, that is, the areas in which the memories with the stored data and the operating programmes (software) can be found, are protected with an epoxy layer. Such material, in view of its hardness, hinders the access to the components assembled in this area. The only manner to have access to the electronic components would be by carving the epoxy with special drills, a very difficult process to be performed, even because the risk of damaging the components during such process is very high. Epoxy also prevents the position of the components on the printed circuit board from being identified, something that produces an additional difficulty.

In addition to epoxy, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE uses grooves 10 internal to the enclosure 9 of the equipment, in order not to leave any empty space in its inside.

Even if an intruder manages to open the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE without opening the security keys (a physical impossibility), he would not have space in its interior to insert additional modules with the purpose of collecting sensitive data.

Figure 7 shows the drawing of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE internal structure, in which one can see the furrows (grooves) which occupy the whole internal space of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE not used by its circuits and modules.

The fact of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE having two readers-optical and magnetic-was used to enhance security against frauds. When the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is issued (at the factory), the generation of the so- called Master Card is set forth, which is a dual card (both magnetic and optical), with a magnetic stripe on one side and a bar code printed on the other side. The codes recorded on both the magnetic stripe and the bar code are stored in the system and associated with the serial number of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE being issued. This serial number is also recorded in the internal memory of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE.

When the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is intended for a certain user, the number of his telephone line becomes associated, in the system, with the serial number of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE. Upon the installation of the equipment, the user is compelled to pass the Master Card before being able to start operating the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE. As the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has an optical reader and a magnetic reader, it can read information stored on the magnetic stripe of the card, as well as on the bar code printed on the Master Card body. Thus, it builds the product identification code. Simultaneously, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE reads the equipment serial number from its internal memory. The identification code and the serial number are forwarded to a remote Data Center. At the Data Center, the system checks if the identification number retrieved from the Master Card, the equipment serial number and the user's telephone number are all compatible. Only if the compatibility of the data is confirmed the system returns to the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE a command enabling its operation to get started. This feature also prevents the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE from being used in environments different from the one in which it has been originally installed (protection against theft or unauthorised use of the device).

The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has further a feature which makes it much less susceptible and, therefore, safer against failures resulting from lightning or sudden variations in the power network. Since it does not depend on an external power source, and uses the telephone network itself to extract from it the power for its circuits, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is immune to surges of the power network created by lightnings and oscillations in the power voltage caused by sudden charge variations in this network. Apparatuses intended for home market, especially those which are also connected to the telephone network, are subject to even worse weather conditions, due to the fact that home outlets in general have not grounding pins. Without a stable grounding reference, the chances of damage to the equipment, especially during storms or surcharge of the power network, are much higher. The fact of the power network not having the same grounding as the telephone network also aggravates the issue.

Since the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE feeds only from the telephone network, it becomes a more reliable and safer piece of equipment.

The terminals commercially available today (Hypercom, Verifone and others) have some of these security features (3DES cryptography, security keys). However, none of them has the furrow (groove) feature, and all of them managed to implement these features at a very high cost. The MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE stands out for having all the security features referred to and cost compatible with the main market to which it is intended: the home market.

Thus, since it is intended mainly to the home market, where no terminal could penetrate to date, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE has been developed to be very affordable. Its design adopted a set of guidelines which make it unique in the market.

It has attempted to have the maximum of simplicity, compacting and reduction of circuits, in order to technically allow a product which could be powered only through the telephone network signal on a reliable manner and in compliance with technical standards. It would have to be small enough to be installed in small stores, where the space available close to the checkout is very reduced. Also at homes— the large market for the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE-the space to accommodate it is extremely critical.

In order to reach the goals established, the standard chosen to convey data was the DTMF, with the elimination of modem. On the other hand, the use of the DTMF standard made the communication of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE with remote servers equipped with ARU (Audible Response Unit) feasible. Such units are typically used for interaction with conventional telephone sets through voice. At the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, the same ARU' s (which are relatively low-cost apparatuses) are programmed to interact with users through the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE display.

Another innovation of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE was to concentrate several functions, usually performed by different microprocessors, in one single CPU (Central Processing Unit)-in this case a microcontroller with a very low power consumption. At the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE, said microcontroller performs the functions of reading and retrieving data from magnetic cards, reading and retrieving data from bar codes, display and keyboard management, internal management, memory management, cryptography and data communication (via telephone network). The power saving from such features is significant, enabling the elimination of an external power source.

When eliminating the power source, the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE became even more compact. The space required for the power source disappeared, as well as the thermal dissipaters. The need of internal space was then quite reduced. The reduction of the size generated another favourable impact on the cost. The reduced size of the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE made the use of a cheaper enclosure feasible.

In order to reach the circuit compacting and reduction required, the whole electronic project was made as simple as possible. Functions and devices unnecessary for home and small business markets were deleted. The operating software was also optimised, so that it could run under the minimum level of hardware features.

A deleted device which had a substantial impact on both cost and power consumption was the printer. Work methodologies which made the use of printers unnecessary have been developed with banks, partners and card operators, considering the market niches to which the MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE is intended.

Claims

Claims I)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", which includes: a CPU (2) based on a dedicated program; user interface devices consisting of a display (3) and a keyboard (4); a slot-type reading device; a DTMF module (4'); and an interface (8) connected to a telephone line (80) with a station (40) to preprocess and distribute data to an associated system (60), which includes banks, stores, cable TV systems and others; said device mounted on a housing (9), characterized by the fact that the reading device consists of a magnetic reader (5) to read the magnetic tracks of credit, debit and other cards, and additionally by a barcode reader (6) to read the barcodes in printed material such as bills of public concessionaires, bank slips, tax collection documents, catalogs, among others, allowing for the payment of bills and taxes, the performance of purchases and other financial transactions (e-commerce and t-commerce) from the user's home; or to carry-out non-financial transactions such as voting, taking part in contests with prizes, answer to opinion pools; and others; said multifunctional device has further automatic dialing, safe boot and fraud prevention resources.

2)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized for providing a device that enables to treat in the same way several kinds of cards, including credit, debit, prepaid, loyalty and several other cards.

3)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized for providing for a device to store and automatically dial up to ten different telephone numbers, as a function of the nature of the read card, and these telephone numbers can be carried through a telephone line (80), starting from the remote data station (40.)

4)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized for having up to ten cryptographic keys to safely capture transactions from several financial institutions (brands.)

5)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized by a device to store in its local memory a matrix of previously recorded text messages, which are shown on the display (3), whenever activated through the telephone network (80) by appropriate codes sent by the data processing station (40.)

6)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 5, characterized for providing for a device to download by telephone (80) new text messages to be shown on the display (3) to replace or expand the messages previously recorded at the plant.

7)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized by using a proprietary compressed DTMF data communication algorism.

8)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized for allowing the capture of financial and non-financial transactions at homes, including the payment of bills, by using just one telephone line (80) with no need of an external electricity supply source.

9)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterised by a safety device to avoid it to be used in areas different from those in which it was originally installed, (protection against theft or non- authorized use of the device) which allows for the capture of the telephone line number to which the multifunctional device is connected, associating this number to the validation code taken from the data recorded in one of the magnetic tracks of a booting card named master card, and in the barcode recorded on the card itself and with the serial number also stored in the multifunctional device.

10)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS

ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claims 1 and 9, characterized for including a safety device to register and identify the credit and debit card numbers of its users, thus preventing the transactions with cards of non-authorized individuals are captured through the multifunctional device.

H)- "ELECTRONIC MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH RESIDENT SOFTWARE TO CATCH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BOTH AT HOME AS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH OPERATES CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE LINE", according to claim 1, characterized by an elaborate highly safe booting process which uses the master card, which is at the same time magnetical and optical, and this card is read by the optical (6) and magnetic (5) heads of the multifunctional device, thus making extremely difficult the cloning of these cards and the possibility of frauds or non- authorized uses. 12) - "Electronic Multifunctional Device with resident software to capture financial and non-financial transactions, both at homes as in business establishments, which operate connected to a telephone line", according to claims 1, 9, 10 and 11, characterized by a safety device that operates by obtaining its electrical supply just from the telephone line (80), within an internationally standardized consumption range and tension levels; having, therefore, increased protection against lightning, transients and foul weather, which are a constant threat to the integrity of electronic devices installed in homes where, in general, there is no proper grounding.

13) — "Electronic Multifunctional Device with resident software to capture financial and non-financial transactions, both at homes as in business establishments, which operate connected to a telephone line", according to claims 1 and 12, characterized by a safety device against attempt to open its housing (9), consisting of five electrical keys (7) installed on the electrical supply circuit of the RAM memories where the data of the transactions performed and part of the resident operating program are stored, displayed so as to interrupt the electrical supply circuit of the RAM memories in the event of a non-authorized opening of the housing (9), entailing loss of data of the transactions performed and the inhibition of the multifunctional device operation.

14 — "Electronic Multifunctional Device with resident software to capture financial and non-financial transactions, both at homes as in business establishments, which operate connected to a telephone line", according to claims 1 and 13 characterized by a mechanical safety device against violation, formed by a resin encapsulation of the sensible parts of the circuit and by the internal surface geometry of the housing (9), using grooves displayed so as to substantially fill the spaces not occupied by electronic components of the Multifunctional Devices, thus preventing the introduction by malicious people of additional modules to collect sensible data.

15 - "Electronic Multifunctional Device with resident software to capture financial and non-financial transactions, both at homes as in business establishments, which operate connected to a telephone line", according to claims 1 and 8 characterized for having an extremely compact and optimized electronic circuit where one single microcontroller performs functions which are usually performed by several discrete circuits, eliminating devices such as the printer and modem which raise the price of the product and increase the power consumption, thus making feasible that the device be sold at a very reduced cost as compared with existing terminals, the occupation of a reduced physical space and, as a result, providing new answers to the home market cost and size needs.