RF ID card

• US 20020087867A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RCD Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: SQUARE 1 BANK
• Inventors: Walker, Chris, Oberle, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US09/997,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules

Abstract

The present invention describes a system wherein an RF ID card uses a user interface, such as a keypad, to input a password. The password is encrypted and sent to an RF ID reader. Since the password is not permanently stored on the RF ID card, someone stealing the RF ID card cannot use the RF ID card to impersonate a user.

Claims

1. A System comprising:

an RF ID unit; and

an RF ID reader, wherein the RF ID unit is adapted to transmit a stored ID to the RF ID reader, the RF ID unit adapted to encrypt a password input from a user interface to form an encrypted message, the RF ID unit adapted to transmit the encrypted message to the RF ID reader, the RF ID reader adapted to use the ID to obtain a key to decrypt the encrypted message with the key and to authenticate the RF ID unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is on the RF ID unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein user interface is on another device that is attachable to the RF ID unit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF ID reader transmits additional data to the RF ID unit, the transmitted message including an encrypted password and the additional information.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the additional information is a timestamp.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF ID reader and the RF ID unit use the same key.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF ID reader and the RF ID unit use a different key.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the RF ID reader and the RF ID unit encrypt and decrypt using a public/private encryption algorithm.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the ID is used to look up key and password.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF reader is associated with an external network, the RF ID reader sending the ID to the external network to obtain the key, and the RF ID reader sending the encrypted message to the external network.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is used to authenticate a user.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is used to provide a secure passage of a user within a building.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is used for authentication.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system is used for commercial transaction authentication.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is a keypad.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface is on the RF ID card.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface is on another device attachable to the RF ID card.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein additional data is provided from the RF ID reader to the RF ID unit, the RF ID unit encrypting the password along with the additional data to form the encrypted message.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the additional data is a time-stamp.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising decrypting the encrypted message.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the encryption method is a public/private encryption method.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the encryption is a hidden key encryption system.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface is a keypad.

26. The RF ID unit of claim 25 wherein the RF ID unit receives additional data from the RF ID reader, the additional data being encrypted along with the password to form the encrypted message.

27. The RF ID unit of claim 27 wherein the additional data is a time-stamp.

28. The RF ID unit of claim 25 wherein the encryption is a public-key/private-key encryption system

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the encryption is a hidden key encryption system.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the user interface is a keypad.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting an ID from an RF ID unit to an RF-ID reader;

receiving a password from a user interface;

encrypting the password to form an encrypted message; and

transmitting the encrypted message from the RF ID unit to an RF-ID reader.

25. An RF ID unit with a user interface, the RF ID unit adapted to transmit a stored ID to a RF ID reader, the RF ID unit adapted to encrypt a password input from the user interface to form an encrypted message, the RF ID unit adapted to transmit the encrypted message to a RF ID reader.