US5796827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for near-field human-body coupling for encrypted communication with identification cards
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-11-14
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2016-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are disclosed for encoding and transferring data from a transmitter to a receiver, using the human body as a transmission medium. The transmitter includes an electric field generator, a data encoder which operates by modulating the electric field, and electrodes to couple the electric field through the human body. The receiver includes electrodes, in physical contact with, or close proximity to, a part of the human body, for detecting an electric field carried through the body, and a demodulator for extracting the data from the modulated electric field. An authenticator, connected to the receiver, processes the encoded data and validates the authenticity of the transmission. The apparatus and method are used to identify and authorize a possessor of the transmitter. The possessor then has secure access to, and can obtain delivery of, goods and services such as the distribution of money, phone privileges, building access, and commodities. Encryption provides rapid transmission and authentication of the transmitter, and a plurality of similar transmitters, with minimum vulnerability to counterfeit. Signal processing and digital communication components accommodate variations in location and orientation of the transmitter and receiver, and provide transmitters with long life times and high reliability.
Inventors
- 👤 Don Coppersmith
- 👤 Prabhakar Raghavan
- 👤 Thomas G. Zimmerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/0015; A61B5/0024; H; H04; H04K; H04K1/00; A61B5/0026; A61B5/0028; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/20; B60R25/2027; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/04; G06K19/041; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K19/07758; G06K19/07773; G06K19/07788; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10316; G06K7/10326; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4012; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; H04B; H04B13/00; H04B13/005; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/3226; H04L9/3297; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56; H04L2209/80; H04L2209/805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An electronic communication apparatus comprising: a portable transmitter, to be carried or worn on a user's person, the transmitter including: (i) means for storing an item of information, (ii) means for producing an encrypted electrical signal representative of the item of information, and (iii) a physical interface for coupling the signal from the means for producing to the user's body; and a receiver including: (i) a physical interface for establishing an electrical coupling between the receiver and the user's body, (ii) means for receiving the encrypted signal from the user's body through the physical interface, (iii) means for decrypting the signal to obtain the item of information, and (iv) means for performing an action responsive to the item of information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electronic communication apparatus comprising: a portable transmitter, to be carried or worn on a user's person, the transmitter including: (i) means for storing an item of information, (ii) means for producing an encrypted electrical signal representative of the item of information, and (iii) a physical interface for coupling the signal from the means for producing to the user's body; and a receiver including: (i) a physical interface for establishing an electrical coupling between the receiver and the user's body, (ii) means for receiving the encrypted signal from the user's body through the physical interface, (iii) means for decrypting the signal to obtain the item of information, and (iv) means for performing an action responsive to the item of information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: the transmitter includes means for modulating; and the receiver includes means for demodulating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for modulating and for demodulating include direct sequence spread spectrum means for modulating and for demodulating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein: the transmitter has a unique identifier (ID); the encrypted electrical signal has a phase; and the direct sequence spread spectrum means of the transmitter includes (i) means for synchronizing with the phase of the encrypted electrical signal, and (ii) means for delaying based on the ID of the transmitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for demodulating includes On-Off keying means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the server includes the receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the server includes an authenticator having, for each respective user, a public ID, a private key, and a time offset value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the transmitter includes means for periodically sending authentication information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for periodically sending authentication information includes means for sending time-of-day information, the user's public ID, and an encrypted version of a random number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the server includes means for providing centralized unique ID authentication for a population of users, one of the users having the transmitter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein: each user has a unique ID; and the transmitter includes means for periodically transmitting a message, encrypted by an encryption function unique to the user having the transmitter, of the user's ID and a time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the means for producing an encrypted electrical signal includes: a shift register A for outputting a bit having first and second possible states; and a shift register B which corresponds with the first possible state of the bit output from the shift register A; a shift register C which corresponds with the second possible state of the bit output from the shift register A; and means for providing, to the physical interface, an output of the shift register B responsive to the output bit of the shift register A having the first possible state; and an output of the shift register C responsive to the output bit of the shift register A having the second possible state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein: the shift registers A, B, and C include respective sets of taps common to all users; and the apparatus further comprises means for loading initial settings into the registers, the initial settings being secret and unique to each user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the encryption function is the Data Encryption Standard (DES).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the server includes means for providing local authentication for autonomous receivers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is contained within one of: a credit card; a dining card; a telephone calling card; a health card; a driver's license; a video store card; a car access card; and a computer access card.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |