Patent EP0924656A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0924656A2
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EP
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Personal identification FOB
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, and a method for its use, for automatically verifying the identity of a person seeking access to a protected property, such as a car, room, building or automatic teller machine. The apparatus, which is disclosed in the form of a handheld fob (14), includes a sensor (16) for reading biometric data, such as a fingerprint image, from the person (12), and a correlator (28) for comparing the sensed data with a previously stored reference image (32) and for determining whether there is a match. If there is a match, the fob (14) initiates an exchange of signals with the "door" (10) that protects the property. Specifically, the fob (14) generates a numerical value, such as a cyclic redundancy code, from the stored reference image (32), encrypts the numerical value, and transmits it to the door (10) as confirmation of the person's identity. For further security, the person (12) registers this numerical value at each door (10) to which access is desired. Upon receipt of identity confirmation from the fob (14), the door (10) compares the received numerical value with the one stored during registration, before granting access.
Inventors
- 👤 Shi-Ping Hsu
- 👤 James M. Ling
- 👤 Arthur F. Messenger
- 👤 Bruce W. Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:12
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00563; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/257; G07C9/26; G07C9/28; G07C2009/00753; G07C2009/00769; G07C2009/00793
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for automatically verifying the identity of
a person seeking access to a protected property, the apparatus
comprising: a sensor, for reading biometric data identifying a person
seeking access to a protected property; storage means, for storing reference biometric data
identifying a person authorized to have access to the protected
property; a correlator, for comparing the stored reference biometric
data with the biometric data of the person seeking access and
determining whether they match; and means for securely communicating identity confirmation to
a door that provides access to the protected property upon
receipt of the identity confirmation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further
comprising: a user interface having a first switch to initiate
operation of the apparatus in a verification mode, and a second
switch, actuation of which places the apparatus in an enroll
mode of operation, wherein biometric data from the sensor are
stored in the storage means for subsequent retrieval in the
verification mode of operation; and/or wherein: the sensor, the storage means and the correlator are all
contained in a portable device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: the sensor, the storage means and the correlator are all
contained in a portable fob carried by the person; and/or
wherein: the sensor, the storage means and the correlator are all
contained in a communication device remote from the protected
property; and/or wherein the means for securely communicating identity
confirmation includes: means for generating a numerical value from the stored
reference biometric data; encryption logic, for encrypting the numerical value; and a communication interface for sending the encrypted
numerical value to the door, together with identification data
for the person; wherein the door provides the desired access to the
protected property upon confirming that the transmitted
numerical value is the same as one previously provided by the
person during a registration procedure; and said apparatus preferably further comprising: a receiver, for receiving an encryption key generated by
and transmitted from the door; and means for storing a private encryption key in the portable
device; and wherein the encryption logic includes means for doubly
encrypting the numerical value using the encryption key
received from the door and the private encryption key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A personal identification fob for automatically
verifying the identity of a user seeking to use the fob for
access to a protected property, the fob comprising: a sensor, for reading fingerprint data identifying a user
seeking access to a protected property; a memory for storing a reference fingerprint image of the
user during an enrollment procedure and for holding the
reference image for future use; an image correlator, for comparing the stored reference
image with a fingerprint image of the user seeking access, as
obtained from the sensor, and for determining whether the two
images match; and means for securely communinating identity confirmation to
a door that provides access to the protected property upon
receipt of the identity confirmation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
A personal identification fob as defined in claim 4,
wherein the means for securely communicating identity
confirmation includes: means for generating a numerical value from the stored
reference fingerprint image; encryption logic, for encrypting the numerical value; and a transmitter for sending the encrypted numerical value to
the door, together with user identification data; wherein the door provides the desired access to the
protected property upon confirming that the transmitted
numerical value is the same as one previously provided by the
user during a registration procedure; and wherein preferably the means for generating a numerical
value includes means for generating a cyclic redundancy code
from the stored reference fingerprint image; and/or said personal identification fob preferably further
comprises: a receiver, for receiving an encryption key generated by
and transmitted from the door; and means for storing a private encryption key in the fob; and wherein the encryption logic includes means for doubly
encrypting the numerical value using the encryption key
received from the door and the private encryption key.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for automatically verifying the identity of
a user seeking access to a propertiy protected by a door, the
method comprising the steps of: sensing biometric data of a user, through a sensor that is
part of a personal identification device carried by the user; comparing the sensed biometric data with reference
biometric data previously stored in the personal identification
device; determining whether the sensed biometric data match the
reference biometric data; if there is a match, securely communicating an identity
confirmation to a door that controls access to the protected
property; and upon confirmation of the identity of the user at the door,
actuating a device that provides the desired access.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
287 words
A method as defined in claim 6, and further
comprising the step of: initiating normal operation of the personal identification
device by means of a manual switch; and/or further comprising
the steps of: receiving a "wake-up" message from the door on approaching
it to seek access; and initiating normal operation of the personal identification
device on receiving the "wake-up" message; and/or wherein the step of securely communicating includes: generating a numerical value from the stored reference
biometric data; encrypting the numerical value; transmitting the encrypted numerical value to the door; transmitting user identification data to the door; receiving and decrypting the encrypted numerical value, at
the door; comparing the decrypted numerical value with one
previously stored at the door by the user during a registration
process, to confirm the identity of the user; and if the identity of the user is confirmed, activating a
desired function to provide access to the protected property;
and wherein the step of securely communicating preferably
further comprises: generating at the door a random pair of door public and
private encryption keys; transmitting the door public key to the personal
identification device; selecting for the personal identification device a pair of
public an private encryption keys for all subsequent uses of
the device; providing the personal identification device public key to
the door as part of the door registration process; and storing the personal identification device private key
secretly in the device; and wherein the encrpyting step includes doubly encrypting
the numerical value with the door public key and the personal
identification device private key; and wherein door preferably performs the additional step of:
decrypting the doubly encrypted numerical value using the
personal identification device public key and the door private
key.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for a user to obtain access to property
protected by a normally locked door, the method including the
steps of: placing a finger on a fingerprint sensor in a fob while
approaching a door; actuating the fob to sense and record a fingerprint of the
user; companing the sensed fingerprint with reference
fingerprint data previously stored in the fob; upon a successful comparison, transmitting an identity
confirmation from the fob to the door that protects the
property; and unlocking the door upon receipt of an identity
confirmation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of
transmitting and identity confirmation includes: encrypting the identity confirmation in the fob; and decrypting the identity confirmation at the door.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as defined in claim 9, wherein: the step of encrypting includes doubly encrypting; and the step of decrypting includes doubly decrypting; and wherein the step of doubly encrypting preferably includes
first encrypting the identity confirmation using a public door
encryption key generated in and received from the door and then
further encrypting using a private fob encryption key stored in
the fob; and the step of doubly decrypting includes first decrypting
using a public fob encryption key provided by the user on prior
registration at the door and then decrypting using a private
door encryption key generated in the door.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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