Verifiable electronic journal for a point of sale device and methods for using the same

• Main Authors: FORTENBERRY ROBERT SCOTT, CONDE ALBERTO GUSTAVO GONZALEZ, HUCABY WAYNE ROGER
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.03.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHECKING-DEVICES; PHYSICS; REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS

A point of sale device having a verifiable electronic journal system which maintains an electronic journal file in lieu of using a journal print station. Transaction information is first stored in a non-volatile random access memory. A data signature is determined based on the contents of the random access memory for a journal. Both the transaction information and the data signature are transferred to the separate journal memory. The journal memory may, for example, reside on the point of sale terminal and tampering with the journal transaction information may be detected by reference to the data signature which is also transferred and maintained in the electronic journal file. Preferably, the data signature is encrypted such as by a shared key encryption scheme and the associated public key is also transferred and stored in the electronic journal file from the device, such as a fiscal base, which is tracking the transaction information as it is created. A hashing technique is preferably used so that a comparatively small NVRAM may be utilized to support generation of a transaction information set for an electronic journal file for a journal period. Accordingly, the data signature is an encrypted version of a message digest which is a running value reflecting the total of transaction information passed to the electronic journal file during a journal period.