System for identifying an individual in an electronic transaction

• US 20070145119A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Axalto S A
• Inventors: Rhelimi, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass

Abstract

A system for identifying an individual in an electronic transaction The system comprises a terminal (10, 12), an independent portable device (20) including a data processing means, and a wireless coupling means (RF COMMUNICATION) for exchanging individual-identification data between said terminal and said portable device. A body-medium communication means (OSC COMMUNICATION) including a transmitter in the terminal and a receiver in the portable device is provided to transmit from the terminal to the portable device a connection code (CONNECTION CODE) at the onset of a transaction upon physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the portable device. A control means in the portable device checks said connection code received and conditionally issues to the terminal through said wireless coupling means (RF COMMUNICATION) a signal for enabling further execution of said transaction in response to said connection code complying with predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A system for identifying an individual in an electronic transaction, said system comprising:

a terminal,

an independent portable device including a data processing means, and

a wireless coupling means for exchanging individual-identification data between said terminal and said portable device;

a body-medium communication means including a transmitter in the terminal and a receiver in the portable device, said body-medium communication means being adapted to transmit from the terminal to the portable device a connection code at the onset of a transaction upon physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the independent portable device, and

a control means in the independent portable device adapted to check said connection code received and conditionally issue to the terminal through said wireless coupling means a signal for enabling further execution of said transaction in response to said connection code complying with predetermined criteria.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said control means is further adapted to conditionally issue a signal for enabling the operation of said wireless coupling means before further execution of said transaction.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said checking means in the independent portable device includes a biometric sensor for checking biometric data of the individual upon physical contact established by the individual.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said biometric sensor is one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint sensor, a voiceprint sensor and a subcutaneous ultrasonic sensor.

5. The system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a means for detecting an interruption of said physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the independent portable device.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein said body-medium communication means includes Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum means.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said body-medium communication means is a one-way communication means.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said body-medium communication means is a non-secure communication means.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein:

said connection code transmitted to the independent portable device includes terminal-type identification data,

said control means is further adapted to check said terminal-type identification data received by the independent portable device with respect to corresponding data stored in the independent portable device, and

said control means is further adapted to conditionally issue said signal for enabling further execution of the transaction in response to said terminal-type identification data complying with corresponding data stored in the independent portable device.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein:

said connection code transmitted to the independent portable device includes first random data,

said control means is further adapted to re-transmit said first random data to the terminal through said wireless coupling means, and the terminal is adapted to check said re-transmitted first random data with respect to said first data transmitted in the connection code.

11. The system as in claim 1, wherein:

said connection code transmitted to the independent portable device includes second random data,

said control means is further adapted to store said second random data received,

the terminal is further adapted to issue a re-transmission request to the independent portable device through said wireless coupling means,

said control means is further adapted to re-transmit to the terminal said stored second random data upon reception of said re-transmission request, and

the terminal is further adapted to check said re-transmitted second random data with respect to the initially transmitted second random data.

12. An independent portable device configured to identify an individual in an electronic transaction, the independent portable device comprising:

a data processing means, and a wireless coupling means for exchanging individual-identification data with a terminal;

a body-medium communication receiver adapted to receive from the terminal a connection code at the onset of a transaction upon physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the independent portable device, and

a control means adapted to check said connection code received and conditionally issue a signal for enabling further execution of said transaction in response to said connection criteria complying with predetermined criteria.

13. A terminal configured to identify an individual in an electronic transaction, comprising:

a wireless coupling means for exchanging individual identification data with an independent portable device,

a body-medium communication transmitter adapted to transmit to the independent portable device a connection code at the onset of a transaction upon physical contact established by the individual between the terminal and the independent portable device, and

a means for receiving through said wireless coupling means a signal issued by the independent portable device for enabling further execution of said transaction in response to said connection code complying with predetermined criteria.