Authentication device

• US 20050273598A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/20 Manipulating the length of blocks of bits, e.g. padding or block truncation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A sensing device for authenticating an object. The device includes a sensor for sensing coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object. The coded data encodes an identity and, at least one part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The sensed coded data is then used by a processor, to determine a sensed identity and at least one sensed signature part, which are then in turn used to authenticate the object. The processor may form part of the sensing device, or be connected to the sensing device via a communications system.

Claims

1. A device for authenticating an object, the device including:

a sensor for sensing coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object, the coded data encoding;

an identity; and

,

at least one part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity;

a processor for;

determining, from the sensed coded data, a sensed identity and at least one sensed signature part;

causing authentication of the object using the determined identity and the at least one sensed signature part.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes, an indicator for indicating success or failure of the authentication.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is for:

determining, using the sensed identity, at least a determined signature part;

comparing the determined signature part to the sensed signature part; and

,

authenticating the object using the results of the comparison.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is for:

determining, using the sensed identity and a key, at least a determined signature part;

comparing the determined signature part to the sensed signature part; and

,

authenticating the object using the results of the comparison.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is for:

determining, from the sensed coded data, a plurality of sensed signature parts;

determining, using the sensed signature parts, a determined signature

determining, using the determined signature and a key, a determined identity;

comparing the sensed identity to the determined identity; and

,

authenticating the object using the results of the comparison.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a data store, and wherein the processor:

using the sensed identity, retrieves stored data indicative of the digital signature, the stored data including at least one of;

padding associated with the signature;

a private key;

a public key;

one or more digital signature parts; and

,

the digital signature;

authenticates the object using the stored data.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the data store is a remote database.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is for determining, from the sensed coded data, a plurality of signature parts representing the entire signature.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is printed on the surface using at least one of an invisible ink and an infrared-absorptive ink, and wherein the sensor is at least one of:

an infrared detector; and

,

a laser scanner.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of:

a document scanner;

a cash register;

a netpage pen;

a currency scanner;

a hand-held scanner;

a Mobile Phone with Inbuilt scanner;

an automatic telling machine; and

,

a vending machine.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the digital signature includes at least one of:

a random number associated with the identity;

a keyed hash of at least the identity;

a keyed hash of at least the identity produced using a private key, and verifiable using a corresponding public key;

cipher-text produced by encrypting at least the identity;

cipher-text produced by encrypting at least the identity and a random number;

cipher-text produced using a private key, and verifiable using a corresponding public key; and

,

cipher-text produced using RSA encryption.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the identity includes at least one of:

an identity of at least one of;

the object;

the surface; and

,

a region of the surface; and

,

an Electronic Product Code (EPC);

a National Drug Code (NDC) number;

a serial number of a pharmaceutical item;

a currency note attribute including at least one of;

currency;

issue country;

denomination;

note side;

printing works; and

serial number;

a check attribute including at least one of;

currency;

issuing institution;

account number;

serial number;

expiry date;

check value; and

limit; and

a card attribute including at least one of;

card type;

issuing institution;

account number;

issue date;

expiry date; and

limit.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is arranged in accordance with at least one layout having n-fold rotational symmetry, where n is at least two, the layout including n identical sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about a centre of rotation, at least one sub-layout including rotation-indicating data that distinguishes that sub-layout from each other sub-layout.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is arranged in accordance with at least one layout having n-fold rotational symmetry, where n is at least two, the layout encoding orientation-indicating data comprising a sequence of an integer multiple m of n symbols, where m is one or more, each encoded symbol being distributed at n locations about a centre of rotational symmetry of the layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the orientation-indicating data, each representation comprising a different cyclic shift of the orientation-indicating data and being indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor:

generates indicating data indicative of the sensed identity and the at least one sensed signature part; and

,

transfers the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to;

determine, using the indicating data, a determined identity and a determined signature part; and

,

authenticate the object using the determined identity and the determined signature part.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes a number of coded data portions, and wherein each coded data portion is at least partially indicative of at least one of:

at least part of the identity;

at least part of the signature; and

,

a position of the coded data portion on the surface.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein each coded data portion encodes the entire signature.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the entire signature is formed from a plurality of signature parts, and wherein each coded data portion encodes a respective signature part.

19. A device for authenticating an object, the device including:

a sensor for sensing coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object, the coded data encoding;

an identity; and

,

at least part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity;

a processor for determining, from the sensed coded data, indicating data indicative of;

the identity;

at least one signature part;

a communications system for transferring the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to authenticate the object.

20. A computer system for authenticating an object, the computer system being for:

receiving from a device, indicating data, the indicating data being determined in response to sensing of coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object, the indicating data being indicative of;

an identity of the object;

at least part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity;

determining, from the indicating data, a received identity and at least one received signature part;

authenticating the object using the received identity and the at least one received signature part.