Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/30—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/32—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check
  • G07C9/37—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/22—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
  • G07C9/25—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
  • G07C9/257—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition electronically

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an identity verification system on board an aircraft and more particularly on board an aircraft cockpit. Following the events of 11 September 2001 in New York, resulting in many casualties, and related to the flight control of an aircraft by unauthorized persons, the first issue was to increase access to the cockpit by installing doors more robust than those used until now, including through anti-ballistic materials. This structural reinforcement has been associated with access control systems so that only certain authorized persons can defuse the door locking system.
• Biometric authentication is advantageous compared to the problem to be solved since a simple means of identification, such as badge or magnetic card, could be stolen by a malicious person.
• the document US2003067379 discloses a biometric authentication system for limiting the piloting of an aircraft combining biometric sensors arranged on the flight controls of an aircraft, discerning fingerprints, means for verifying whether the results of the control biometric correspond to the stored biometric data of a authorized person, and means for communicating the results of correspondence to the inside or outside of the aircraft.
• This system can therefore be combined advantageously with a security system based solely on the limitation of access to the cockpit.
• the present invention aims to overcome such drawbacks by proposing to make the authentication procedure safer by relatively simple means, and without significant additional cost.
• the present invention relates in the first place to an identity verification method on board an aircraft comprising a biometric authentication step providing information on the biometric authentication performed.
• at least one monitoring means makes it possible to control the conditions in which the biometric authentication is performed. Controlling the conditions of biometric authentication is advantageous since biometric authentication has not been monitored so far, unauthorized persons have the possibility of forcing authorized persons to forcibly submit to biometric authentication .
• the invention also proposes, in a preferred embodiment, a step of communicating the information provided by at least one monitoring means to the outside of the aircraft.
• This communication step is advantageous in the sense that identity verification is more effective if a person outside the aircraft becomes aware that unauthorized persons have taken control.
• the information communication step may include communicating the information provided during the biometric authentication step.
• the communication of the correspondence information of the biometric authentication is indeed advantageous since the external person verifying the data provided by at least one monitoring means can thus be directly aware of the correspondence or not between biometric data from a sensor biometric and biometric data of a person to be identified.
• said monitoring means and the means for performing a biometric authentication are in the cockpit of the aircraft and the identity verification method comprises a step in which, using At least one means of surveillance, we count the occupants of the cockpit. This step ensures that only people allowed to be in the cockpit are present. Of course, before conducting an identity check, the pilot and / or the co-pilot will ask any unauthorized person there to exit the cockpit.
• the present invention also has the advantage of allowing a state of alert is triggered according to the information provided during the biometric authentication step and / or the information provided by the monitoring means. Indeed, since the data from the identity verification process has been transmitted to a person outside the aircraft, the latter can then see if an unauthorized person has taken the command and give the alert if need is.
• this simple observation does not jeopardize the safety of the aircraft contrary to the solution described in the document US2003067379, avoiding for example, to engage automatically and irreversibly the self-pilot mode of the aircraft.
• the commitment of the identity verification method is related to the detection of a predetermined abnormal event. This way of engaging the process is particularly advantageous in view of the system of the prior art. In particular, it avoids considerably increasing the work of the pilots by not forcing them to check identities at regular intervals, which could become painful for the crew. On the contrary, the commitment of the method of the invention is solely related to an abnormal event.
• the invention also proposes a device for implementing the method described above.
• the invention therefore also relates to an identity verification device on board an aircraft comprising at least one biometric authentication means, characterized in that it furthermore comprises at least one monitoring means that makes it possible to control the zone in which which is the average biometric authentication method (s).
• this device also provides communication means for transmitting information from at least one monitoring means to the outside of the aircraft.
• These communication means allow a controller outside the aircraft to receive information relating to the conditions under which the biometric authentication is performed.
• communication means are provided for transmitting information from at least one biometric authentication means, thereby enabling the controller to verify both the authentication conditions and the results of the correspondence between the biometric data.
• At least one visual means on board the aircraft may be provided to indicate the result of a biometric authentication performed by at least one biometric authentication means.
• This optional feature of the invention is in fact an equally advantageous alternative to this problem. Indeed, rather than sending a second series of data to the outside of the aircraft, those informing the correspondence between the biometric data, the device of the invention can provide that light means can be arranged in the field visual means of surveillance. The invention also makes it possible, for reasons of reliability if necessary, to combine the communication means towards the ground with the luminous means in the visual field of the monitoring means.
• two monitoring means are associated with at least one biometric authentication means.
• the advantage here is to not allow any unauthorized person to be in the cockpit without being spotted by the means of surveillance.
• At least one monitoring means may have a wide angle lens. In the case where only one means of monitoring would be provided, this characteristic is particularly advantageous because it makes it possible to cover a larger surveillance area, if not the entire area to be monitored.
• At least one monitoring means is a video camera.
• the use of high frequency video images is of course advantageous compared to a simple camera.
• the invention does not exclude the use of such a system.
• biometric authentication As regards the means of biometric authentication, several non-exhaustive possibilities are provided by the invention. Among others, an authentication by fingerprint recognition, iris or facial recognition is possible. Each of these possibilities has advantages and disadvantages, which are directly related to technological advances in these different biometric domains.
• fingerprint recognition seems to be the preferred solution because a reader adapted to this type of recognition may be more easily available to the person to authenticate and ergonomically, for example on the controls of flight, without the latter having to refrain from moving, as would be the case with other reconnaissance systems.
• the risk associated with an authentication error for example if an authorized person is not recognized by the authentication means, is lower because the technology is more proven.
• At least one biometric authentication means and at least one associated monitoring means are arranged in the cockpit of the aircraft. It may be that the invention is implemented in particular areas of an aircraft, such as areas dedicated to commercial sailing personnel for example, but the invention has the main advantage of being able to verify the identity of people at the controls of the aircraft, ie people in the cockpit.
• the invention may provide that at least one biometric authentication means is disposed in front of a seat back intended to receive a person to identify, in the direction of normal operation of the aircraft.
• This feature allows the crew flying the aircraft not to move from the cockpit to perform biometric authentication. In particular, this provision prevents the persons to be authenticated from having to worry themselves.
• at least one biometric authentication means is disposed on the flight controls of the aircraft.
• Flight controls can then include specific means for communicating information of at least one biometric authentication means. These additional means avoid inter alia the birth of interference with the information directly related to the flight controls of the aircraft.
• the present invention also relates to an aircraft cockpit characterized in that it comprises an identity verification device as described above. An aircraft comprising such a device is also the subject of the invention.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of an aircraft cockpit
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aircraft flight control.
• Figure 1 shows an aircraft cockpit 1 as they are generally fitted on board aircraft for long-haul flights.
• a secure door 2 at the entrance of the cockpit 1 prevents in the closed position unauthorized persons to enter the cockpit 1.
• a seat for a pilot 3, a co-pilot 4 and a third crew member 5 are arranged in order to make the control of the aircraft as ergonomic as possible.
• biometric authentication means are provided in the cockpit 1. These biometric authentication means are known to those skilled in the art and generally implement several elements. First, biometric authentication requires storing biometric data.
• the storage of the biometric data of the authorized persons is carried out by computer means managing a global database containing all the biometric information of the persons authorized to enter an aircraft cockpit, for example, for a company particular air.
• the storage of the biometric data of the authorized persons is carried out by computer means managing only the biometric data of the authorized persons during a particular flight or for a particular aircraft.
• the biometric data are fewer and the implementation means less complex.
• the biometric data of the authorized persons are stored via badges containing the biometric data of each authorized person.
• This preferred mode has the advantage of not having to implement specific storage means on board the aircraft.
• badge readers 6 are arranged in the cockpit 1 of an aircraft, preferably near the biometric authentication zone. Even more preferably, these badge readers 6 are arranged near an associated biometric sensor.
• the location of the biometric sensors may vary depending on the category of these sensors. Indeed, if the biometric sensors are biometric sensors with fingerprint recognition 7, they will be placed within easy reach of the person to authenticate. If, on the other hand, the biometric sensors recognize the digital characteristics of the face, it will be preferable to place these face-recognition biometric sensors 8 in front of the person to be authenticated and preferably at the height of the face.
• the presence of these two types of sensor in FIG. 1 does not exclude the possibility, to implement the invention, that one or other of these series of sensors can operate independently. In the preferred embodiment, with biometric fingerprint recognition sensors, for optimizing the method of the invention, it will be preferred to place this type of biometric sensor within one inch of the pilot, for example on flight controls. 'aircraft.
• the biometric fingerprint recognition sensor 7 is set up on the mini-control stick 9. Even more so optimal, the biometric fingerprint recognition sensor 7 is disposed at the top of the mini-stick, next to a control of the control device by the crew on the autopilot 10.
• the mini-steering sleeve is mounted on a support 11 adapted to receive a specific wiring 12 for communicating the sensor information to a system not shown here which compares the biometric data of the badge reader and the biometric sensor.
• biometric authentication Any type of biometric authentication that could satisfy the conditions of authentication described so far can be used by the identity verification device such as that of the invention.
• biometric authentications by reading the distribution of the blood vessels in the retina, by thermography, stereoscopy, voiceprint, dental radiography, by the anthropometric properties of the ear, by the recognition of the hand, heartbeat or smell are possible.
• these biometric authentication means may be combined with each other, so as to provide authentication. Thus, if one of the systems failed or had authentication problems, a second system would still allow to authenticate an authorized person.
• control of the conditions in which the authentication is performed can have several forms.
• the control of the conditions according to the invention is carried out by video surveillance means.
• the video surveillance has the advantage of making it possible to visually note the presence or not of an additional person, authorized or not, and also to see if this additional person or not force the persons flying the aircraft to submit to biometric authentication.
• This camera surveillance finally has the advantage of being able to check if the biometric authentication is not carried out using any medium, which would indicate that the biometric data of an authorized person have been previously falsified.
• three video cameras 13 are arranged in the cockpit 1 of the aircraft so that no dead angle remains.
• unrepresented light means can be associated with the biometric authentication system. For example, bright color means can be provided. The result of a positive authentication would be signaled by a green light signal, while a negative authentication would be signaled by a red light signal. These light signals would then be visible only via the video monitoring means without the need for additional communication to the outside of the aircraft of the results of the authentication.
• biometric authentication means with the monitoring means has several advantages. Indeed, an unauthorized person could compel a person authorized to perform the biometric control, and thus damage the entire system security and identity verification of the prior art. Any form of constraint can be imagined here, in particular, the unauthorized person could question the life of authorized persons using any weapon. Another possibility that was not anticipated by the systems of the prior art is the falsification of the biometric data of an authorized person. Although biometric authentication is safer than a badge identification for example, which could more easily be stolen, it is conceivable that the fingerprints of an authorized person have been reproduced on any medium. With this support, the unauthorized person would pass the authentication step without any particular harm.
• the invention thus presents the advantage of solving these problems and makes it possible to control whether the biometric authentication is carried out under normal conditions, that is to say without any particular constraint or falsification, or at least without any intruder in the close environment of the persons subjected to biometric authentication.
• the communication of the monitoring information and / or the authentication information can be transmitted to any other aircraft flying in the vicinity or, even more advantageously, to an air traffic control center on the ground.
• the air / ground communication system with priority management conventionally used to communicate is used in the preferred embodiment.
• this system On board a commercial aircraft, this system is generally called "ACARS", which stands for "Aircraft Communication Addressing & Reporting System".
• the following events could be considered as abnormal and engage, automatically or not, the verification process: - A change of trajectory with respect to the initial flight plan of the aircraft, and / or
• a traffic controller has the ability:
• the monitoring means provided, in the preferred embodiment, the video surveillance cameras, and / or possibly, to verify the initiation of the locking of the access door to the cockpit 1 of the aircraft, and / or
• the reliability of the identity verification on board an aircraft is increased while the implementation cost as well as the weight of the additional embedded means remain relatively low. All situations related to the takeover of an aircraft in flight by an unauthorized person are anticipated by the invention without particular constraint for pilots in normal situations.
• the invention finally has the advantage of being able to verify the identity of authorized persons in other areas of the aircraft without complication special.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Alarm Systems (AREA)
• Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-29 FR FR0503021A patent/FR2884098B1/fr active Active
• 2006
  • 2006-03-16 CN CNA200680010914XA patent/CN101156178A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-03-16 CA CA002602632A patent/CA2602632A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-16 RU RU2007139718/08A patent/RU2408077C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-03-16 EP EP06743585A patent/EP1869648A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-03-16 BR BRPI0612185-3A patent/BRPI0612185A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-03-16 WO PCT/FR2006/000587 patent/WO2006103329A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-03-16 JP JP2008503546A patent/JP5284775B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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