IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

• US 20090121833A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: FALCK, Thomas, MAASS, Henning
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.640
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00555 comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

An identification system according to the invention which is not prone to manin-the-middle attacks and is capable of intra-body communication comprises at least one wearable electronic key (1) having an intra-body communication interface (IBCI) and storage means (DB) wherein user identification data (ID) are stored, and at least one reader (2) having an intra-body communication interface (IBCI), wherein the identification system further comprises means (AS) for verification of a user'"'"'s fingerprint. The invention broadens the scope of application of wearable electronic keys to areas with high security demands.

Claims

1. An identification system capable of intra-body communication, comprising at least one wearable electronic key having an intra-body communication interface and storage means wherein user'"'"'s identification data are stored, and at least one reader having an intra-body communication interface, wherein the identification system comprises means % for verification of a user'"'"'s fingerprint.

2. The identification system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one reader comprises a fingerprint sensor for a detection of the fingerprint template of a user and wherein fingerprint templates of an authorized user are stored in the storage means of the at least one wearable electronic key.

3. The identification system according to claim 1 or which provides means for encrypting intra-body communication data.

4. The identification system according to claim 1 wherein the wearable electronic key is capable to distinguish between the fingers of a user for verification of the detected user fingerprint and thus authorization of different actions associated with each finger.

5. A wearable electronic key for use in an identification system capable of intra-body communication, comprising an intra-body communication interface, storage means and verification means for a user'"'"'s fingerprint detected and transmitted by a reader of the identification system.

6. A reader for use in an identification system capable of intra-body communication, comprising an intra-body communication interface and a fingerprint sensor for detection of a fingerprint of a user having a wearable electronic key.

7. A method of operating an identification system capable of intra-body communication consisting of at least one wearable electronic key and at least one reader, which method comprises the following steps:

a) detecting a fingerprint template of the user using a fingerprint sensor of the reader;

b) transmitting the detected fingerprint template from the reader to a wearable electronic key of the user via intra-body communication;

c) verifying the transmitted fingerprint template within the wearable electronic key;

d) transmitting identification data of the user from the wearable electronic key to the reader via intra-body communication upon a successful verification of the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

8. The method of operating an identification system according to claim 7 wherein intra-body communication data are encrypted.

9. The method of operating an identification system according to claim 7 wherein, in step c), it is further determined which finger of the user has been detected and wherein, in step d), additional data associated with each finger of the user are transmitted.

10. A method of providing authorized information comprising:

storing a fingerprint template on a wearable electronic key;

detecting a fingerprint with a reader;

transmitting the detected fingerprint to the electronic key via intra-body communication;

verifying the fingerprint detected is the same as the stored fingerprint template; and

transmitting authorized information to the reader via intra-body communication upon successful verification.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is encrypted.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining which finger has been detected.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting different information depending on which finger was detected.