Batteryless contact fingerprint-enabled smartcard that enables contactless capability

• US 20060113381A1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biometric Associates LP
• Original Assignee: Biometric Associates LP
• Inventors: Hochstein, John, Kozlay, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/998,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113381A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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

Abstract

Biometrically-enabled smartcards containing fingerprint sensors, template storage, and authentication processing require electrical power. At current state-of-the-art, biometric electronics are incompatible with radio-frequency-powered cards operating at low power levels. It'"'"'s been a problem combining these technologies into one thin smartcard without adding batteries and/or recharging regimens. Disclosed is a batteryless, “contact/contactless” smartcard with built-in biometric fingerprint sensor, template storage and processor to authenticate users. The card'"'"'s biometric authentication processing circuitry obtains its'"'"' initial power from contact smartcard readers, while performing authentication during card insertion. In one embodiment, the card enables contactless functions upon user entry into controlled facilities, and disables contactless functions upon egress. An external facility access control system is also disclosed, adapted for enabling/disabling “contactless” functions upon ingress/egress, and/or timing/location of card use. In high security applications, it'"'"'s an option to use both contactless function enabling methods to provide additional security.

Claims

1. A smartcard apparatus having contact and contactless functions, comprising:

a card body;

a biometric sensor mounted to said card body for biometrically authenticating a user;

electrical contacts mounted to said card body; and

a wireless communications subsystem disposed within said card body, wherein said wireless communications subsystem and said contactless functions are operable only after said user has successfully biometrically authenticated to said biometric sensor with an ingress card reader.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor further comprises a biometric fingerprint sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications subsystem further comprises at least one transponder and at least one antenna for providing said contactless functions, and wherein said wireless communications subsystem further includes a rectifier circuit for deriving electrical power from a wireless RF signal source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor further includes a biometric processor for processing biometric data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said biometric processor is connected to a circuit switch interface for actuating and enabling said contactless functions.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said biometric processor is connected to an antenna switch interface for actuating and enabling contactless functions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said contactless functions are only operable while said user is within a controlled facility.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said contactless functions are only available while said user is within areas of said controlled facility for which said user has access privileges.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said contactless functions are only available while said user is working within authorized time periods allowed by said controlled facility.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said contactless functions are only available while said user is accessing computer-based applications for which said user has access privileges.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said contactless functions are only available while said user is accessing at least one of physical resources for which said user has physical access privileges and logical resources for which said user has logical access privileges.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smartcard is operational only for a predetermined period of time after each successful biometric authentication of said user.

13. A method for operating a biometrically authenticating contact/contactless smartcard, comprising steps of:

enrolling into said smartcard at least one fingerprint of an enrolled user authorized to use said smartcard and issuing said smartcard to said user;

requiring said enrolled user to present said at least one enrolled fingerprint to authenticate their identity with said smartcard prior to accessing a controlled facility and additionally requiring said enrolled user and said smartcard to simultaneously authenticate with a contact ingress smartcard reader;

permitting said enrolled user to access contactless functions of said smartcard only after said reader has enabled said contactless functions of said smartcard and only while said user and said smartcard are within the perimeter of said controlled facility; and

terminating contactless functions of said smartcard upon egress of said authorized user from said perimeter of said controlled facility.

14. An access control system for monitoring, controlling, and enabling contactless functions of at least one smartcard, comprising:

a contact/contactless smartcard adapted for operating as at least one of a contact and a contactless smartcard;

an enrolled biometrically-authenticated user;

a contact ingress smartcard reader for providing electrical power to said smartcard;

a security control panel;

at least one of wireless communications and wired communications between said contact ingress smartcard reader and said security control panel; and

a verifying message sent from said contact ingress smartcard reader to said security control panel for verifying that said user has successfully biometrically authenticated to said fingerprint-enabled smartcard.