Smart card with random temporary account number generation

• US 20080201265A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Hewton
• Original Assignee: Alfred Hewton
• Inventors: Hewton, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The smart card with random temporary account number generation provides an authenticating system coupled with an access or transaction card, such as a credit card. The card includes first and second memory storage media, with the first memory medium containing a plurality of temporary account or authentication numbers. The card also has a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint scanner, and the second memory stores the biometric parameters of the authorized user. A processor compares the biometric parameters with the measured biometric readings to enable the card. The processor has a random number generator, allowing for the randomized selection of one of the account numbers stored in the first memory, thus providing a temporary account number for the transaction. A remote site includes an identical random number generator and set of account numbers, allowing the temporary account number to be verified and then discarded, following the transaction.

Claims

1. A smart card with random temporary account number generation, comprising:

a card having opposed upper and lower surfaces;

a first memory storage medium attached to the card, the first memory storage medium having a plurality of temporary account numbers stored thereon;

a biometric sensor mounted on the upper surface of the card;

a second memory storage medium attached to the card, the second memory storage medium having biometric parameters specific to an authorized user of the smart card stored thereon;

a processor electrically connected to the first memory storage medium, the second memory storage medium, and the biometric sensor, the processor selectively comparing biometric measurement signals generated by the biometric sensor with the biometric parameters specific to the authorized user of the smart card stored in the second memory storage medium, the processor further having a random number generator for randomly selecting one of the plurality of temporary account numbers stored in the first memory storage medium; and

means for communicating the randomly selected temporary account number generated by the processor to a remote authorization system for comparison with a corresponding temporary account number generated by the remote authorization system.

2. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display mounted on the upper surface of said card, the display being adapted for displaying the randomly selected temporary account number.

3. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for communicating the randomly selected temporary account number comprises:

a card reader having an optical scanner for reading the randomly selected temporary account number from the display; and

a transponder in communication with the card reader for transmitting and receiving authorization signals.

4. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating the randomly selected temporary account number comprises:

a programmable magnetic stripe mounted to the lower surface of said card, the programmable magnetic stripe being in communication with said processor, the programmable magnetic stripe being adapted for coding with the randomly selected temporary account number;

a card reader having a magnetic stripe reader for reading the randomly selected temporary account number from the programmable magnetic stripe; and

a transponder in communication with the card reader for transmitting and receiving authorization signals.

5. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery mounted to said card, the battery being in electrical communication with said processor and said biometric sensor for providing power thereto.

6. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one solar cell attached to said card for charging the battery.

7. The smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 1, wherein said biometric scanner is a fingerprint scanner.

8. A method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation, comprising the steps of:

providing a smart card having a first memory storage medium, a second memory storage medium, a biometric sensor, and a processor having a random number generator;

storing a plurality of temporary account numbers in the first memory storage medium;

storing biometric parameters specific to an authorized user of the smart card in the second memory storage medium;

sending biometric measurement signals associated with a user generated by the biometric sensor to the processor;

comparing the biometric measurement signals with the biometric parameters specific to the authorized user of the smart card stored in the second memory storage medium;

generating an authentication signal activating the smart card for use when the biometric measurement signals match the stored biometric parameters;

deactivating the smart card when the biometric measurement signals do not match the stored biometric parameters;

assigning a selection number to each of the plurality of temporary account numbers stored in the first memory storage medium;

generating a random number via the random number generator;

selecting one of the plurality of temporary account numbers associated with the generated random number;

communicating the selected temporary account number to a remote authorization site;

storing a set of temporary account numbers at the remote authorization site identical to the plurality of temporary account numbers stored in the first memory storage medium, the temporary account numbers at the remote authorization site having corresponding index numbers;

generating a remote random number at the remote authorization site with a remote random number generator identical to the random number generator on the smart card;

comparing the remote random number with the corresponding index numbers to select a remote site temporary account number;

comparing the selected temporary account number to the remote site temporary account number; and

generating an authorization signal when the selected temporary account number matches the remote site temporary account number.

9. The method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

following the generation of the authorization signal, erasing the selected temporary account number from the first memory storage medium; and

erasing the remote site temporary account number from the remote authorization site.

10. The method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying the selected temporary account number on a display attached to the smart card.

11. The method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

providing a card reader having an optical scanner; and

reading the displayed selected temporary account number with the optical scanner for communication thereof to the remote authorization site.

12. The method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of coding the selected temporary account number onto a programmable magnetic stripe on the smart card.

13. The method of using a smart card with random temporary account number generation as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a card reader having a magnetic stripe reader; and

reading the coded selected temporary account number with the magnetic stripe reader for communication thereof to the remote authorization site.