Wireless universal personal access system

• US 20020109580A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Shreve, Gregory A., Dunbridge, Barry
• Application Number:
  US09/784,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0038 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-way bi-directional wireless-based access communication system that allows a user to access any one of multiple independent secured domain systems from a single handheld remote keyless entry device, whereupon activation of the remote keyless device by the user, an encoded request signal containing a predetermined access code is generated and transmitted by the remote keyless entry device to one of the multiple secure domain systems. And, based on the access code contained within the encoded request signal, the domain system determines the validity of the access code and transmits a corresponding encoded authorization signal to user at the transceiver device.

Claims

1. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto; and

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system.

2. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the access code is selected from the group consisting of user identification (ID) code, personal identification number (PIN), account number, personal biometric signature, voice identifier, written signature, and mother'"'"'s maiden name.

3. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the access code is assigned one level of a plurality of security access levels.

4. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a detachable biometric sensor device attached to an electrical connector and mechanical socket of the transceiver device, the detachable biometeric sensor device providing the access code.

5. An access communication system as recited in claim 4, wherein the biometric sensor device comprises an active sensor region for extracting an invariant feature of the user.

6. An access communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein the invariant feature is selected from the group consisting of fingerprint, voice data, human eye iris data, human eye retinal data, handwritten signature, dynamic handwritten signature force measurement, optical face image, and optical palm image.

7. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein each independent secure domain system comprises a base unit for performing selective pre-processing and post-processing operations associated with the transaction.

8. An access communication system as recited in claim 7, wherein the base unit comprises a transceiver element for converting the request signal from a wireless medium to a medium recognized by the independent domain system and converting the authorization signal from the medium recognized by the domain system to the wireless medium recognized by the transceiver device.

9. An access communication system as recited in claim 7, wherein the base unit further comprises an electronic database;

a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the electronic database; and

authentication algorithm software contained within the central processing unit, whereupon execution of the authentication algorithm software the electronic database is queried.

10. An access communication system as recited in claim 7, wherein the base unit further comprises an electronic database;

a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the electronic database; and

a hardware encryption chip programmed with authentication algorithm software, whereupon execution of the authentication algorithm software the electronic database is queried.

11. An access communication system as recited in claim 7, wherein each one of the plurality of independent secure domain systems further comprises a service provider for providing the authorization reply for the transaction.

12. An access communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the service provider comprises an electronic database;

a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the electronic database; and

authentication algorithm software contained within the central processing unit, the central processing unit executing the authentication algorithm software to query the electronic database for performing selective encryption and decryption operations.

13. An access communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the service provider comprises an electronic database;

a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the electronic database; and

a hardware encryption chip programmed with authentication algorithm software, whereupon execution of the authentication algorithm software the electronic database is queried for performing selective encryption and decryption operations.

14. An access communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the base unit is connected to the service provider using a direct connection.

15. An access communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the base unit is connected to the service provider using a remote connection.

16. An access communication system as recited in claim 15, wherein the remote connection is a secure communication link.

17. An access communication system as recited in claim 16, wherein the secure communication link is selected from the group consisting of Internet link, optical fiber link, microwave link and laser link.

18. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver device is a two-way bi-directional remote keyless entry fob transceiver device.

19. An access communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver device comprises a microprocessor element;

and a memory element connected to the microprocessor element.

20. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the memory element is a non-volatile memory chip.

21. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the memory element is an intelligent button.

22. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the memory element is a non-volatile memory chip and an intelligent button.

23. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the transceiver device further comprises a power source.

24. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the transceiver device further comprises a display element.

25. An access communication system as recited in claim 24, wherein the display element is a liquid crystal display for displaying symbolic and textual characters.

26. An access communication system as recited in claim 25, wherein the liquid crystal display comprises a high-resolution screen.

27. An access communication system as recited in claim 26, wherein the high-resolution screen comprises a touch-sensitive interface.

28. An access communication system as recited in claim 24, wherein the display element is a detachable microdisplay module.

29. An access communication system as recited in claim 28, wherein the detachable microdisplay module comprises a microdisplay screen;

and a magnifying lens assembly for magnifying the resolution of the microdisplay screen.

30. An access communication system as recited in claim 24, wherein the display element comprises a liquid crystal display;

and a detachable microdisplay module.

31. An access communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the transceiver device further comprises a control interface.

32. An access communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the control interface comprises a keypad button.

33. An access communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the control interface further comprises a skin conduction interface for avoiding unintentional transactions by the user.

34. An access communication system as recited in claim 33, wherein the skin conduction interface comprises:

a first electrode integrated with an outer surface of the transceiver device and electrically connected to microprocessor element; and

a second electrode integrated with the outer surface of the transceiver device, the second electrode located adjacent to the first electrode and outside of an electrical path of the first electrode;

the first and second electrodes detecting an electrical conductivity of the skin of the user, the electrical conductivity of the user'"'"'s skin causing a current flow between the first and the second electrode, the current flow between the first and second electrode asserting an enable signal to the microprocessor unit to allow the transaction.

35. An access communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the control interface further comprises a short-range contact messaging interface.

36. An access communication system as recited in claim 35, wherein the short-range contact message interface comprises an electrode element integrated on an outer surface of the transceiver device, whereupon the user placing the electrode element proximal to a database entry point of one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, the electrode element transmits the request signal to the one independent secure electronic domain system.

37. An access communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the control interface further comprises a physical connection between an input/output port of the transceiver device and an input/output port of one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems.

38. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system;

a detachable biometric sensor device attached to an electrical connector and mechanical socket of the transceiver device; and

an active sensor region integrated with the detachable biometric sensor, the active sensor region extracting an invariant feature of the user to provide the access code.

39. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system;

a base unit contained within each one of the plurality of independent secure domain systems for performing selective pre-processing and post-processing operations associated with the transaction; and

a service provider contained within each one of the plurality of independent secure domain systems, the service provider connected to the base unit for providing the authorization reply for the transaction.

40. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto; and

a single two-way bi-directional transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system.

41. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system; and

a liquid crystal display element integrated with the single transceiver device for displaying symbolic and textual characters to the user.

42. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system; and

a keypad button integrated with the single transceiver device for activating the transceiver device.

43. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system;

a detachable microdisplay module integrated with the single transceiver device;

a microscreen display integrated with the detachable microdisplay module; and

a magnifying lens assembly integrated with the detachable microdisplay module for magnifying the resolution of the microdisplay screen.

44. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device, the transceiver device responding to activation by a user whereupon the request signal is digitally encoded with an access code and transmitted by the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems for access authorization, the transceiver device receiving the authorization signal in response to the request signal, the authorization signal providing the user authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure electronic domain system;

a microprocessor element contained within the transceiver device;

a first electrode integrated with an outer surface of the transceiver device and electrically connected to the microprocessor element; and

a second electrode integrated with the outer surface of the transceiver device, the second electrode located adjacent to the first electrode and outside of an electrical path of the first electrode;

the first and second electrodes detecting an electrical conductivity of the skin of the user, the electrical conductivity of the user'"'"'s skin causing a current flow between the first and the second electrode, the current flow between the first and second electrode asserting an enable signal to the microprocessor unit to allow the transaction.

47. A method for providing personal access communication between a transceiver device and a plurality of independent secure domain systems as recited in claim 46, further comprising providing the access code selected from the group consisting of user identification (ID) code, personal identification number (PIN), account number, personal biometric signature, voice identifier, written signature, and mother'"'"'s maiden name.

45. An access communication system comprising:

a plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, each domain system receiving a request signal and transmitting an authorization signal digitally encoded with an authorization reply in response thereto;

a single transceiver device; and

an electrode element integrated on an outer surface of the transceiver device, whereupon placing the electrode element proximal to a database entry point of one of the plurality of independent secure electronic domain systems, the electrode element transmits the request signal to the one independent secure domain system and receives the authorization signal corresponding thereto.

46. A method for providing personal access communication between a transceiver device and a plurality of independent secure domain systems, comprising the steps of:

activating the transceiver device to generate a request signal;

digitally encoding the request signal with an access code;

transmitting the request signal from the transceiver device to one of the plurality of independent secure domain systems for access authorization to conduct a transaction;

receiving the request signal at the one independent secure domain system;

generating an authorization reply based on the access code encoded within the request signal;

digitally encoding an authorization signal with the authorization reply; and

transmitting the authorization signal from the one independent secure domain system to the transceiver device to provide the a user of the transceiver device access authorization to conduct a transaction with the one independent secure domain system.