Electronic ink for identity card

• US 20080296367A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Parkinson, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an identity card with improved security features. The identity card can have a programmable display. The display can be used to display sensitive data under defined circumstances. The card may have an interactive interface to receive input from a user. The card may also have a input/output interface to allow the exchange of data from the card to an external device. These elements can be used together to give a holder of a card control over the access to the data in the card and thwart counterfeiting and identity theft.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an authentication request by a security card;

performing an authentication operation by the security card;

displaying secure information through an electronic ink display of the security card in response to the authentication operation being successful.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying an image of a card holder.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying bank account information of a card holder.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying video of a card holder.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing display of secure information by the security card, in response to the authentication operation being unsuccessful.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein display of secure information occurs through the electronic ink display without an active power source for the security card.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data about a card holder in the card.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the security card has a form factor of a credit card.

9. A device comprising:

a housing;

an electronic ink display coupled to the housing to provide a static display of information; and

a processor coupled to the electronic ink display to drive the electronic ink display in response to an authentication operation being successful.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory to store security data related to a holder of the device.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

an input-output interface coupled to the processor, the input-output interface to transmit data to and receive data from a source external to the housing.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a power source in the housing, the power source to enable operation of the processor.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the power source is any one of a battery or a photo-voltaic cell.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing has a card form factor.

15. A machine readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a machine to perform a set of instructions comprising:

receiving an authentication request by a security card;

performing an authentication operation by the security card;

displaying secure information through an electronic ink display of the security card in response to the authentication operation being successful.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying an image of a card holder.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying bank account information of a card holder.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the secure information further comprises:

displaying video of a card holder.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause the machine to perform a further set of instructions comprising:

preventing display of secure information by the security card, in response to the authentication operation being unsuccessful.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein display of secure information occurs through the electronic ink display without an active power source for the security card.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause the machine to perform a further set of instructions comprising:

storing data about the card holder in the card.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the security card has a form factor of a credit card.