Abstract: A method and apparatus for distress notification. A record of user-specific data, which may include position information and physical characteristic data, may be stored and maintained in a user station. The user station may also include a plurality of telephone numbers or other information about multiple types of emergency service agencies. The information may include, for example, telephone numbers. A user may enter a distress input that indicates a particular type of emergency at the user station, causing the user station to responsively dial the nearest emergency service agency equipped to respond to the indicated type of emergency. The user-specific data may also be transmitted to the called emergency service agency.

Abstract: A system for responding to a duress identification made at a biometric identification site. The system may include a processor, a memory, a biometric reader for collecting biometric information about a user, wherein the biometric information is used for determining if the user is an authorized user of the system. The system may also include a set of instructions stored in the memory, the set of instructions executable by the processor to determine whether the biometric information represents a normal identification or a duress identification; if the biometric information represents a duress identification, the system may initiate an emergency response, such as (for example) triggering a silent alarm.

Abstract: A system and method for the discrete identification of a duress transaction at an ATM banking machine. The system and method allows the customer to alert the police that a crime is taking place without alerting the criminal that an alarm has been given by the entry of an access number equating to a non-prestored personal distress or emergency number in place of the stored PIN number. When an access number is entered to begin a transaction, the system compares the entered access number with the prestored PIN number. If the entered access number is the same as the PIN number, the transaction proceeds as normal. If not, an algorithmic function is applied to either the entered access number or the PIN number. These two number are then again compared and if after application of the algorithmic function they are the same, then the duress signal is triggered.