Embedded Communication System for Monitoring and Authenticating Transactions via Proxy on Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)

This paper reports the development of a secured system which allows the registered customer of a bank to monitor and authorize  transaction via proxy on ATM. The system utilizes Atmel AVR microcontroller and communication modem as its controlling device.  Microsoft Windows 8 was used as an operating system platform in the host PC for the implementation phase, with Object oriented C programming language in Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 being the front end development and MSSQL server 2012 as back end. A Bank  customer’s cell phone is used as a token for withdrawal transaction to be made in the account. Transaction could be made without  disclosing personal identification number (PIN) to the nominee because the account owner authorizes the machine by sending the PIN  and the amount to be withdrawn through his phone even in a remote area as far as there is a communication network. The application  evaluation of the system was based on security of user PIN for transaction via proxy, ability of account or debit card owner to validate  transaction on the ATM in absentia and average authentication time in comparison to the maximum authentication time allowed on the  system. The ability to recognize user’s phone number shows the security and reliability of the proposed system for ATM users’  authentication. Results also showed that for a successful transaction, the proposed system allowed an average transaction time of 47.58  seconds through SMS.