Secure physical documents, and methods and apparatus for publishing and reading them

• US 20040134994A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrison, Keith Alexander, McDonnell, James Thomas Edward, Lawrence, Richard Anthony, Zaba, Stefek Malkowski, Waters, John Deryk
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0086 Sheets combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/46 with electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/30 Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• 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 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

A security document, comprises a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred. Methods of publishing and of reading such security documents are described.

Claims

1. A security document, comprising a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred.

2. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory circuit is inductively powered.

3. A security document as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory circuit receives and transmits data wirelessly at radio frequency.

4. A security document as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein physical isolation of the memory circuit employs one or more tamper-evident strips.

5. A security document as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an antenna of the memory circuit is adapted for detection or resistance of physical tampering.

6. A security document as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security document is adapted to identify an authorised bearer of the security document.

7. A security document as claimed in claim 6, wherein the security document is adapted to allow access to a specified asset or assets by the authorised bearer.

8. A method of publishing a security document, comprising:

a. determining first information for printing in a printed document, and second information for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorised reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; and

e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred.

9. A method of reading a security document comprising a printed document and one or more memory circuits attached to or incorporated within the printed documents, comprising:

a. obtaining authorisation information to read the security document;

b. reading first information printed in the printed document;

c. wirelessly powering at least one memory circuit and wirelessly reading protected second information stored in said memory circuit;

d. reading the second information by using the authorisation information; and

e. using the second information with the first information to assess the security document.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising comparing the second information to one or more characteristics of a bearer of the security document.

11. A security document, comprising a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, and wherein both printed data and data in the memory circuit is adapted to identify a bearer of the security document.

12. A method of publishing a security document for a bearer, comprising:

a. determining first information concerning the bearer for printing in a printed document, and second information concerning the bearer for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorised reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; and

e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits in the printed document so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred.