FR2611945A1 - Device and method for recording, keeping and limited consultation of confidential information relating to an object, and token for implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

A support 10 in the form of a token is fixed on an object and contains an integrated circuit 20 with a microprocessor and memories, some of which are programmable read-only memories in which is recorded confidential information relating to the object. A connection member 30 has one adjustable end on the token and bears contacts 42 interacting with contacts formed on the token for linking the integrated circuit 20 to means 52 for writing or reading the recorded information. The invention applies especially to authenticating objects of value, such as objets d'art or collector's items and antiques.

Description

Device and method for recording, storing and limited consultation of confidential information relating to a
object, and token for implementing the process.

 The present invention relates in particular to the recording and conservation of confidential information relating to an object, as well as to means allowing only limited access to the recorded information.

 The invention finds a particular application in the context of the authentication of valuables such as works of art or collectibles and antiques.

 One of the best guarantees of the authenticity of such objects consists in a certificate drawn up by an expert. It is necessary to establish the relationship between the certificate and the object to which it relates. One known means for this purpose is to write the certificate on the back of a photograph of the object. However, it is desirable to find ways of eliminating fraud, for example the falsification of certificates or the fabrication of false certificates, and to keep confidential at least certain information which may appear in a certificate, such as for example names of the successive owners of the object and the amounts of the transactions relating to it.

 The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device by means of which all the useful information relating to an object, which, for example, constitutes a biography, is kept in a form which makes it possible, on a material level, to associate easily and with certainty this information to the object in question, while effectively limiting the possibilities of writing and consulting information.

This goal is achieved thanks to a device which includes:
a support in the form of a token which is capable of being fixed on an object, which contains an integrated circuit with a microprocessor and memories, at least some of which are non-volatile programmable read-only memories at least in part of limited access, and which has contacts for electrically connecting the integrated circuit with the outside, and
- A connection member having an end adaptable to the token and carrying contacts intended to cooperate with those of the token to connect the integrated circuit to means for writing or reading information in said memories.

Integrated circuits comprising a microprocessor and programmable memories with zones of prohibited access or
Limited by confidential codes Read and / or write are well known. Such circuits are offered by the French company BULL SA under the reference CP 8 and are used in particular in payment cards.

In the application envisaged here, these integrated circuits provide the desired advantages of inviolability of the recorded information, limitation of consultation of this information and elimination of fraud by managing the circuits so as not to authorize
Writing in programmable memory only to people with a secret code.

In addition, integration techniques make it possible to produce integrated circuits such as those mentioned above with a very small footprint. It is then possible to accommodate the integrated circuit in a support in the form of a small token which can be easily and discreetly attached to
The corresponding object. The fixing is carried out by any suitable means, for example by gluing, so that the token cannot be removed without being damaged. The relationship between the token, the information it contains and the corresponding object is therefore established in a secure and definitive manner.

Also, according to another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of authenticating an object comprising the steps which consist in
- Provide a token comprising: a housing in which is arranged an integrated circuit with a microprocessor and non-volatile programmable read-only memories at least in part of limited access, and contacts accessible from outside the token and connected to the integrated circuit.

- connect a connection member having contacts cooperating with those of the token and connected to a writing device on the token,
- record at least a first secret code in a programmable memory area and suppress access to this area for writing and reading from outside the integrated circuit,
- record in at least one other programmable memory area information relating to the object to be authenticated, the recording of said information being possible only after presentation of the first secret code, and said information not being modifiable after their recording , and
- permanently attach the token, containing said information, to the corresponding object.

 At least a second secret code may be recorded in a programmable memory zone to authorize the reading and only the reading of all or part of the recorded information.

 According to yet another of its aspects, the invention relates more specifically to a token intended for the implementation of the above method.

Other features and advantages of the device according to the invention will emerge on reading the description given below, by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a token forming part of the device according
The invention,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an integrated circuit incorporated in the token, and
- Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a connection member forming part of the device according to the invention.

 The token 10 shown in particular in Figure 1 is of generally circular shape and comprises a plastic body molded in one piece with two parts 12, 14 in the form of superimposed discs, the upper disc 14 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the lower disc 12 to form a shoulder 16 at the periphery of the token.

 A housing is provided in the upper disc 14, from the outer face thereof, to accommodate an integrated circuit 20 (Figure 3) attached to the back of a printed circuit 22 of contacts. The printed circuit 22 is flush with the external surface of the disc 14 and has contact pads 24, for example six in number, which are connected to the outputs of the integrated circuit 20 fixed on the other face of the printed circuit 22, on the internal side of it.

 The integrated circuit 20 and the printed circuit 22 are of sufficiently small dimensions to be able to be accommodated in a token 10 having a limited size, for example comparable to that of a small coin. For example, the discs 12 and 14 may have respective diameters equal to 18 and 20 mm and a thickness of 0.8 mm.

 It will also be noted, at the periphery of the token 10, the presence of a notch 18, for example semi-circular, formed in the disc 14, and constituting a polarizing device for the positioning of a connector on the printed contact circuit 22.

The integrated circuit 20 is in fact a computer microsystem. As shown in FIG. 2, it comprises a microprocessor 201, initializer 202 and sequencer 203 circuits, an input / output circuit 204 and memories 205, 206, 207 respectively of RAM (random access memory), ROM ( non-volatile read only memory) and PROM (non-volatile programmable read-only memory). Integrated circuits of this type are well known and are offered under the reference CP 8 by the French company
BULL SA, in particular. A detailed description of the physical and logical characteristics of circuit 20 is therefore not necessary.

 The RAM memory 205 constitutes the working memory of the microprocessor while the ROM memory 206 constitutes the function memory in which the service programs are recorded.

 The PROM 207 includes several programmable memory zones with specific access, including a manufacturing zone, a secret zone, a confidential zone, a transaction zone, a free reading zone and a status zone.

 The manufacturing area contains an identification key for the integrated circuit at the manufacturing stage.

 The secret zone contains secret read and / or write access authorization codes. When a code has been registered in a part of the secret zone, this part is made inaccessible from the outside by logical and / or physical means. The recorded secret code is then accessible only in reading and only by the microprocessor 201 to make a comparison with a code presented at the input of the integrated circuit from the outside.

 The identification key of the integrated circuit originally allows write access to the secret zone, for recording the necessary secret codes there, in the confidential zone, for recording confidential information there, and in the zone free to store freely readable information.

 During the subsequent life of the integrated circuit, write access is normally only possible in the transaction area and on presentation of the corresponding secret code while read access is possible in the confidential and transaction areas, on presentation of corresponding secret codes, and in the free reading area.

 Token 10 becomes unusable when the transaction area or the status area is full or when a determined number of unsuccessful access attempts have been recorded in the status area. It is then possible to provide for a re-initialization of the token, according to a procedure identical to the initialization at the time of commissioning, insofar as the PROM memory is erasable.

 In the context of the authentication of objects, and in particular of objects of art or of collection or of antiques, the procedure for initializing the token 10 and its subsequent use may be the following.

When an object is presented for authentication by an expert, the latter takes a token from available stock and records, using the identification key, the following information
- secret read and write access codes in the transaction area, and read access in the confidential area,
- recording in the confidential area of information relating to the different appraisal values of the expert on the object,
- recording in the free reading area of information relating to the very nature of the object; it is the certificate of authenticity.

 Then initial information can be recorded in the transaction area, for example date and price of acquisition of the object and name of the seller.

 The token is attached to the object, for example by gluing, as discreetly as possible. Note that the initialization of the token can be carried out after fixing it on the object.

 Subsequently, the object holder can access the information recorded in the free reading area, and each transfer of property can be the subject of an additional recording in the transaction area, this recording being carried out by the competent person.

 It is understandable that the proposed system constitutes an effective means of combating fraud since only the competent persons have the physical possibility of writing access to the protected memory areas.

 Reference will now be made to FIG. 3 which illustrates an embodiment of a connector 30 adapted to be used in relation to the token 10 of FIG. 1, the latter being fixed to the object 50 by the external face of the disc. 12 of smaller diameter. The connector 30 has the general shape of a "pencil" and comprises a tubular cylindrical body 32 at the front end of which is mounted a guide ring 34. The ring 34 is fixed to the outer wall of the tubular body 32 and s' extends beyond the front end of it. At its free end, the ring 34 has an internal rib or bead 36.

The ring 34 is notched laterally to present
The elasticity necessary for its clipping onto the token 10, the bead 36 being received against the shoulder 18, around the disc 12. The ring is then locked in this position by means of a locking ferrule 38 which can slide on the ring 34 enters an upper position, in which it allows the expansion of the free end portion of the ring, and a lower position in which it prohibits this expansion.

 At its front end, the connector 30 comprises a block 40 in which are mounted contact rods 42 projecting forward under the action of springs 44. The contacts 42 have an arrangement corresponding to that of the contact pads 24 of the printed circuit 22. A prominence, or lug (not shown) is formed on the inner side of the ring 34, just above the bead 36 in order to correctly position the connector 30 in cooperation with the notch 18 formed in the disc 14 of the token.

When the ring 34 is "clipped" onto the token, the rods 42 are in contact with the pads 24 while being biased by the springs 44.

 The contacts 42 are connected to a device 52 for reading and / or writing information in the memories of the integrated circuit of the token 10 by means of a cable 46 which is housed in the tubular body 32 and exits therefrom at the rear end through a plug 48 which closes the connector in a dust and moisture tight manner.

 The reading and / or writing device 52 is constituted by a microcomputer or by a "Minitel" terminal. In the case of using an integrated circuit of the aforementioned type from the French company Bull SA, the interface between the device 52 and the integrated circuit is constituted by a circuit 54 offered by this same company under the reference TLP 124 or TLP 122 depending on whether the device 52 is a microcomputer or a "Minitel" terminal.

 Of course various modifications or additions can be made to the device described above without departing from the protective framework defined by the claims.

 In particular, the token may have a shape other than circular, while preferably keeping the dimensions as small as possible.

 In addition, other embodiments of the connector could be adopted allowing attachment to the token suitable for ensuring the electrical connection with the contact pads of the printed circuit of the token. In particular, the guide ring of the embodiment of Figure 3 can be replaced by several legs or claws whose ends are made so as to be able to catch on the shoulder of the token.

Claims (9)

Claims  1. Device for the recording, conservation and limited consultation of confidential information relating to an object, characterized in that it comprises:  - a token-shaped support (10) which is capable of being fixed on an object (50), which contains an integrated circuit (20) with a microprocessor and memories, at least some of which are non-volatile programmable read only memories at less partially of limited access, and which has contacts (24) making it possible to electrically connect the integrated circuit with the outside, and  - A connection member (30) having an end adaptable to the token (10) and carrying contacts (42) intended to cooperate with those of the token to connect the integrated circuit to means (52) for writing or reading d 'information in said memories.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the token (10) comprises means (16) for hooking the connection member to establish the electrical connections between the contacts of the token and those of the connection member .  3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the token (10) comprises a body having the shape of two superimposed discs (12, 14) of different diameters to form a shoulder at the circumference of the token , the token being intended to be fixed to an object by the external face of the disc (12) of smaller diameter, and the connection member (30) comprises a tubular body provided, at one end, with means (24) d 'hanging on said shoulder of the token.  4. Method for authenticating an object, characterized in that it comprises the steps which consist in:  - provide a token comprising a housing in which is arranged an integrated circuit with a microprocessor and non-volatile programmable read-only memories at least in part of limited access, and contacts accessible from outside the token and connected to the integrated circuit,  - connect a connection member having contacts cooperating with those of the token and connected to a writing device on the token,  - record at least a first secret code in a programmable memory zone and suppress access to this zone for writing and reading from outside the integrated circuit,  - record in at least one other programmable memory area information relating to the object to be authenticated, the recording of said information being possible only after presentation of the first secret code, and said information not being modifiable after their recording , and  - permanently attach the token, containing said information, to the corresponding object.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that a second secret code is recorded in an area of the programmable memory to authorize the reading and only the reading of recorded information.  6. Token for implementing the method according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that it is constituted by a body (12, 14) in which is formed a housing containing an integrated circuit with a microprocessor and non-volatile programmable read-only memories at least in part of limited access, and in that said token body carries contacts (24) connected to the integrated circuit and intended to be connected to a reading and / or writing device information in said programmable memories.  7. Token according to claim 6, characterized in that the contacts (24) are formed on an integrated circuit and are flush on a face of the token opposite to the face by which the token is intended to be fixed on an object.  8. Token according to any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it comprises means (16) for hooking a connection member to establish electrical connections with the contacts (24) carried by the token .  9. Token according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is constituted by a body having the form of two superimposed discs (12, 14) of different diameters.