Personal identification badge that resets on the removal of the badge from the water

• US 20030001722A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,778,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection

Abstract

A security badge to be worn by a person seeking access to a secure system. The badge includes a data processor having a non-volatile and a volatile memory, a transceiver, and an attachment sensor. The volatile memory stores information related to the wearer'"'"'s security clearance. This information is loaded after the badge is attached to the person and the person'"'"'s identity is verified. This information is deleted from the volatile memory if the badge is removed from the wearer or subjected to tampering. The data processing system has sufficient computing power to allow the badge to execute encrypted communications with the secure system.

Claims

1. A security badge to be worn by a person, said badge comprising:

a data processor having a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory;

a transceiver for sending signals generated by said processor and receiving signals specifying operations to be carried out by said badge, said signals including signals that provide said person access to a secure system; and

an attachment sensor for detecting the removal of said badge from said person, said attachment sensor causing information stored in said volatile memory to be altered such that said person no longer has access to said secure system when said attachment sensor detects said removal, wherein said volatile memory stores information related to a security clearance associated with said person.

2. The security badge of claim 1 wherein said volatile memory stores information enabling the wearer of said badge to gain access to a data processing system.

3. The security badge of claim 1 wherein said badge stores a program enabling said badge to load information in said volatile memory.

4. The security badge of claim 3 wherein said attachment sensor detects the attachment of said badge to said person and, in response thereto, enables said badge to load information in said volatile memory.

5. The badge of claim 1 wherein said transceiver comprises a receiver and a transmitter for respectively receiving and transmitting optical signals.

6. The badge of claim 1 further comprising a tamper sensor for detecting an alteration in said badge that could allow the contents of said volatile memory to be read, said tamper sensor causing information stored in said volatile memory to be rendered unreadable when said tamper sensor detects said alteration.

7. The badge of claim 6 wherein said tamper sensor causes one piece of information stored in said non-volatile memory to be rendered unreadable when said tamper sensor detects said alteration.

8. The badge of claim 1 further comprising a random number generator.

9. The badge of claim 8 wherein said random number comprises a sensor for sensing an environmental variable that determines a random number generated by said random number generator.

10. The badge of claim 1 wherein said badge has low and high power modes, said processor being capable of performing at least one computation in said high power mode that cannot be performed in said low power mode, said processor detecting a first signal from said transceiver while in said low power mode and causing said badge to enter said high power mode when said first signal is detected, wherein said badge consumes more power in said high power mode than in said low power mode.

11. The badge of claim 10 wherein said processor detects a second signal from said transceiver in said low power mode and responds by sending a reply signal without leaving said low power mode.

12. The badge of claim 1 wherein said processor executes a first program in response to receiving a first signal on said transceiver and a second program in response to receiving a second signal on said transceiver.

13. The badge of claim 1 wherein said attachment sensor comprises an attachment mechanism having an open position and a closed position for securing said badge to said person in said closed position and a position sensor for detecting that said mechanism is in said open position.

14. The badge of claim 13 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a band for encircling part of said person'"'"'s body.

15. The badge of claim 14 wherein said position sensor detects that said band includes a break.

16. The badge of claim 14 wherein said position sensor detects that said band has a length greater than a predetermined value.

17. The badge of claim 13 wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a clip for securing said badge to an article of clothing worn by said person.

18. The badge of claim 13 wherein said position sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

19. The badge of claim 13 wherein said position sensor comprises a pulse sensor for detecting the pulse of said person.