Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
  • G06Q30/0601—Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
  • G06Q30/0609—Qualifying participants for shopping transactions
• • 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
  • G07C9/26—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 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/0716—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
  • G06K19/0718—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
  • G06V40/00—Recognition of biometric, human-related or animal-related patterns in image or video data
  • G06V40/10—Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
  • G06V40/12—Fingerprints or palmprints
• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/32—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• • 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
  • G07C2209/00—Indexing scheme relating to groups G07C9/00 - G07C9/38
  • G07C2209/60—Indexing scheme relating to groups G07C9/00174 - G07C9/00944
  • G07C2209/62—Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• • 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
  • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
  • G07C9/00563—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to the identification of individuals in an electronic transaction.
• a coupling is performed between the terminal and the portable device, either through electric contacts or through wireless coupling, such as in- ductiye or radiofrequency (RF) coupling, which technologies are becoming more and more popular since they do not require insertion of the card in a slot of the terminal.
• wireless coupling such as in- ductiye or radiofrequency (RF) coupling
• Identification of the individual often requires the use of a password such as a PIN code and/or biometric data sensed from the individual.
• a password such as a PIN code and/or biometric data sensed from the individual.
• further security features must be provided for, in order to avoid tampering by emulation of the exchange of signals required by the identification protocol between the terminal and the portable device.
• the high level of security required in a number of applications has led to a multiplicity of specific solutions specially dedicated to the application concerned, leading to complex solutions with very poor flexibility, in addition to high cost for design and manufacture.
• There is accordingly a need for a versatile, universal system which might be manufactured at low cost in large quantities and easily adapted to a variety of different applications, yet being reliable and simple to use with a high level of security in the identification process.
• the system of the invention is of the type comprising a terminal, an independ- ent portable device including a data processing means, and a wireless coupling means for exchanging individual-identification data between said terminal and said portable device.
• this system is characterised by further comprising a body-medium communication means including a transmitter in the terminal and a receiver in the portable device, said body-medium communication means being adapted to transmit from the terminal to the portable device a connection code at the onset of a transaction upon physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the portable device.
• a control means in the portable device is adapted to check said connection code received and conditionally issue to the terminal through said wireless coupling means a signal for enabling further execution of said transaction in response to said connection code complying with predetermined criteria.
• said control means is further adapted to conditionally issue a signal for enabling the operation of said wireless coupling means before further execution of said transaction ;
• said checking means in the portable device includes a biometric sensor for checking biometric data of the individual upon physical contact established by the individual, in particular one of a fingerprint sensor, a voiceprint sensor and a subcutaneous ultrasonic sensor ;
• the system further includes a means for detecting an interruption of said physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the portable device ;
• said body-medium communication means includes Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum means, is a one-way and non-secure communication means, an/or is a non-secure communication means ;
• connection code transmitted to the portable device includes termi- nal-type identification data
• said control means being further adapted to check said terminal-type identification data received by the portable device with respect to corresponding data stored in the portable device, and to conditionally issue said signal for enabling further execution of the transaction in response to said terminal-type identification data complying with corresponding data stored in the portable device ;
• connection code transmitted to the portable device includes first random data
• said control means being further adapted to re-transmit said first random data to the terminal through said wireless coupling means, and the terminal being adapted to check said re-transmitted first random data with respect to said first data transmitted in the connection code ;
• connection code transmitted to the portable device includes second random data
• said control means being further adapted to store said second random data received
• the terminal being further adapted to issue a re-transmission request to the portable device through said wireless coupling means
• said control means is further being adapted to re-transmit to the terminal said stored second random data upon reception of said re-transmission request
• the terminal being further adapted to check said re-transmitted second random data with respect to the initially transmitted second random data.
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates the essential integers of the invention and the way they mutually interact.
• Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the various functional blocks making up the portable device of the invention.
• Figure 3 is a schematic illustration explaining the body-medium type of communication used by the system of the invention.
• Figure 4 schematically illustrates the functional blocs of the body-medium communication transmitter included in the terminal used by the system of the invention.
• Figure 1 shows the basic parts of the system of the invention, which essentially includes a terminal 10 connected to the main system to be controlled (mainframe computer, access control, etc.) and a portable device 20.
• Terminal 10 is provided with a transceiver (transmitter-receiver) 12 which is placed at the immediate vicinity of the individual requesting identification, specifically at a location where the individual may have physical contact with the transceiver 12, e.g. by touching a metallic part such as a con- tact pad, handle, etc. of the same.
• Transceiver 12 is connected to the rest of the terminal 10 through bidirectional (wired or wireless) communication.
• the other essential part of the system is a portable device 20 which may be held by the individual requiring identification, specifically which may be physically contacted by this individual. This portable device is preferably embedded in an object such as a bracelet or wristwatch having a metallic back, enabling permanent electric contact with the body mass of the individual.
• the first communication channel which will be called "Over Skin Communication” (OSC)
• OSC is a one-way, low data rate communication channel, from the transceiver 12 (which only includes OSC transmitter means) to the portable device 20 (which only includes OSC receiver means).
• OSC communication is a communication which makes use of the body mass of the individual as a communication medium (body- medium communication). This requires that the user physically contacts a suitable part of transceiver 12, on the one side, and a suitable part of portable device 20, on the other side, in order to enable OSC signals to be transmitted from the terminal to the portable device. Details of OSC communication will be given below, in particular in reference to Figure 3.
• the second communication channel which will be called "RF communication” is a two-way, high data rate communication channel between the transceiver 12 and the portable device 20, both being provided with RF transmitter and receiver means.
• RF communication may be of any known wireless, short-range communication technique such as Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), WPAN (IEEE 802.15.3), HiperLan 2, ETSI-BRAN, etc. All such communication standards enable two-way exchange of data at high rate (typically between 2 and 100 Mbit/s) at short range (typically several tens of centimetres to several metres) with low transmission power.
• Bluetooth IEEE 802.15.1
• WPAN IEEE 802.15.3
• HiperLan 2 ETSI-BRAN etc. All such communication standards enable two-way exchange of data at high rate (typically between 2 and 100 Mbit/s) at short range (typically several tens of centimetres to several metres) with low transmission power.
• the first step of the identification procedure is the transmission from the terminal to the portable device of a so-called "connection code" through the OSC communication channel.
• a transmission may be initiated once the individual is physically in contact with some part of the transceiver 12 and also with some other part of the portable device 20 in order to connect both parts through the individual's body.
• the connection code includes two random numbers A and B and a message C containing an identification of the class to which belongs the ter- minal.
• number A is retained in a store of the device.
• Data processing means included in the device 20 checks that the specific portable device having received the code does belong to the class of the terminal to which identification is requested. This is done by comparing the class identification included in message C to corresponding data stored in a memory of portable device 20.
• the portable device initiates RF com- munication and publishes number B.
• the RF signal including B is received by transceiver 12 of the terminal which checks that this number B is the same as the one that had initially been transmitted in the connection code.
• Such comparison is in particular intended to manage with the case where several portable devices would be simultaneously present in the environment of the transceiver 12, with the latter concurrently receiving several RF signals originating from different portable devices.
• the terminal transmits to the portable device through the RF communication channel a Request To Send number A (RTSA).
• RTSA Request To Send number A
• This request is received by the portable device, which transmits through the RF communication channel the value A which had been retained in the store after reception of the connection code by the OSC receiver.
• the transaction may further proceed between the terminal and the portable device, through the RF communication channel.
• new values of random numbers A and B will be chosen which are not determinable by any portable device.
• a first advantage of the system of the invention that has been described is that identification may be performed - hence the transaction may proceed - only after the individual has physically contacted an equipment of the terminal, e.g.
• a second advantage of the invention is that it just requires a very short contact by the individual of the contact part of the terminal (e.g. just a touch) for OSC transmission of the connection code, nevertheless all further exchange of signals between terminal and portable device is performed through RF communication with high data rate and sophisticated techniques involving correction codes, ciphering, noise and interference rejection, etc.
• the invention in particular permits to retain all advantages of an OSC communication (positive action of the individual required to initiate communication) without the drawbacks of the same (in particular the low data rate). Besides, despite the fact that OSC communication requires a relatively high transmission power, since the invention OSC communication is only one-way there is no need to have an OSC transmitter in the portable device, which may be devised with low-consumption circuits and a small battery.
• a further security level may be added by providing in the portable device a biometric identification device including a specific sensor such as a fingerprint sensor (either capacitive, thermal or optical sensor), a voiceprint sensor, a subcutaneous ultrasonic sensor, etc. Biometric identification will ascertain that the individual who bears the portable device and attempts to initiate OSC communication by physical contact with the terminal is indeed the authorized user, not e.g. an individual who had stolen the portable device of the authorized user.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the main functional blocks of a preferred embodiment of the portable device 20.
• a data processing means 22 includes a microcontroller with a CPU, RAM, etc. and a series of buses and interfaces for communication with a number of peripheral devices including a non-volatile memory 24, an OSC receiver 26, a RF transmitter/receiver 28, an optional biometric sensor 30, an optional light/sound indicator 36 and a time/date stamp circuit 38.
• the whole device is powered by a rechargeable battery 32 connected to a charger 34.
• OSC receiver 26 As far as the OSC receiver 26 is concerned, this is a device of a known type for receiving signals transmitted through the body of an individual.
• OSC communication is a known technique, studied in particular in papers by T. Zimmermann, who had devised a "Personal Area Network" limited to the extent of the body of an individual by making use of the biologic mass as a transmission medium.
• FIG. 3 illustrates the principle of such a transmission, which is based on the use of quasi-electrostatic fields.
• An OSC system 40 includes a trans- mitter 42 and a receiver 44 coupled by a biological conductor 46, the re- turn loop being through ground 48. Since the attenuation of the signal issued by the transmitter 42 is very high (typically 60 dB) and mainly depends on the return through ground (10 fF), the transmission signal must be powerful enough to be correctly decoded by receiver 44. However, a lower amplitude may be chosen for the transmitted signal, by using a more sensitive receiver and interference-elimination techniques such as DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) techniques. However, in any case, the data rate remains low, typically less than 10 kbit/s. Nevertheless, as explained above, the system of the invention just requires a very small data volume (a few hundreds of bits) to be received by the OSC receiver.
• DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
• the OSC receiver 26 includes a sensing element which is in contact with the body of the individual, preferably in permanent contact.
• the portable device may also include a (not shown) device for detecting that the sensing element is indeed in contact with the body of the individual and has not been taken apart, and for inhibiting any operation of the device otherwise.
• a device may e.g. include an electric or thermal sensor for detecting heart beat; such sensors are well-known to the man skilled in the art and will not be further described.
• a preferential implementation is a portable device in the form of a wristwatch: if the watch is taken off from the arm of the user, the embedded electronic circuit of the portable device will be automatically deactivated.
• FIG. 4 A typical arrangement of circuits for an OSC transmitter 50 (as the one included in transceiver 12 of the terminal) is shown on Figure 4. It includes a code generator 52 receiving the connection code to be sent to the portable device, and a spread spectrum generator 44. Both signals are combined in a multiplier 56, which controls a modulator 58 driving an HF generator 60. The modulated HF signal is applied to a body coupler 62 for transmission to the portable device through the body mass of the individual.
• the portable device 20 includes also an RF transmitter/receiver 28 interfaced to processing means 22.
• RF communication may be through any known means such as Bluetooth, WPAN, HiperLan 2, ETSI-BRAN, etc.
• the transmitter in the portable device is devised so as to have low consumption (less than 20 mW), thanks to low RF transmission power (less than 1 mW) due to the short range between the portable device and the terminal.
• interference-reduction techniques such as DSSS
• Reduction of interference may be obtained by techniques such as Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) modulation or any other known technique well known from the man skilled in the art.
• RF communication may further implement an interoperability standard such as IETF-TLS and/or standard communication protocols such as TCP/IP.
• the whole portable device 20 is powered by a rechargeable battery 32 combined with a charger 34.
• Charger 34 is preferably a non-contact char- ger, e.g. using magnetic induction, light cells, or an EM field receiver antenna.
• the OSC receiver 26 and the time/date stamp 38 are (partially) active.
• all the main func- tions of the device, especially the data processing means 22, will be waked up. Since on normal use, i.e. excluding identification, the individual may be in contact with a wide variety of equipments possibly compatible with the system of the invention, a preliminary check upon the terminal class indicator received by the OSC receiver is performed before any acti- vation of the biometric sensor 30 and of the RF transmitter/receiver 28.
• the time/date stamp circuit 38 is preferably adapted to be set through a communication network, e.g. by means of a network time protocol such as RFC 1119 and RFC 1305.
• Indicator 36 may be a light indicator (LED or LCD display) and/or a buzzer, enabling a confirmation given to the individual of a positive (or negative) identification with respect to the system.
• LED light indicator
• buzzer enabling a confirmation given to the individual of a positive (or negative) identification with respect to the system.
• a first typical application is in the telephone field, wherein the terminal is a mobilephone or a telephone handset incorporating a contact pad such that, once the phone is handed by the user bearing the portable device (e.g. in the form of a wristwatch in permanent contact with his body), the phone is automatically configured and adapted to receive phone calls.
• the phone may access a telephone directory stored in the portable device and/or automatically set preferential parameters of the user. Further, the call may be billed to a specific subscriber account, which details are stored in the portable device.
• Another typical application is with vending machines, wherein the user has just to touch the drawer or door of the dispenser of the machine to enable the transaction, without any need to introduce money, credit card, etc. in the machine.
• Typical applications are in the field of conditional access (either physical or logical). For instance, it may be enough for the user to touch a computer to initiate the check of his authorization to access the computer or network and load a user profile in the computer, with no need to ask for a password. Means may be provided to automatically lock the computer if the user moves away from the computer to a distance which is not enough to maintain RF communication.
• the portable device of the invention may also give access to a transporta- tion means. This may be a personal transport means, the portable device functionally corresponding to the contact key of a car and further storing information about driving license, insurance, rental details, etc.
• the device may also enable an individual user to access public transportation just by pushing an access door (the physical contact with a terminal resulting from this contact with the door); by checking entry and exit points, the sys- tern may also bill the user automatically as a function of the distance travelled.
• an electric lock or disablement of an alarm may be obtained just by contacting and turning the handle of a door;
• - protection against hazardous appliances such as a guns, the system of the invention being implemented such that the gun can be triggered only by an authorized individual, who is identified automatically at the moment he grasps the handle of the gun;

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Development Economics (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
• Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
• Near-Field Transmission Systems (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=34707289

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (8)

Families Citing this family (34)

Family Cites Families (19)

• 2004
  • 2004-12-16 US US10/583,020 patent/US7868733B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-16 WO PCT/IB2004/004156 patent/WO2005062236A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-12-16 DE DE602004019565T patent/DE602004019565D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-12-16 KR KR1020067012086A patent/KR101202580B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-16 JP JP2006544589A patent/JP5112700B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-16 EP EP04806362A patent/EP1695296B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-12-16 AT AT04806362T patent/ATE423364T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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