Portable Access Device

• US 20090273442A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP)
• Original Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP)
• Inventors: Ozolins, Helmars E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.820
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

Portable devices, methods, and systems for controlling access to computers and other secure systems such as systems protecting secure premises, by processing data supplied by the individual seeking access to the system and data supplied by the system to which the prospective user seeks access, to determine whether access by the individual is to be authorized or enabled. In one embodiment the invention provides a device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer or security system. The device comprises an output device and at least one processor. The processor processes data representing a biometric characteristic of a prospective user of the system and a signal provided by the system, and, depending upon a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that may be used to access the system.

Claims

1. A device for providing a code that can be used to access a system, the device comprising:

an output device;

at least one processor that processes, using application programming, information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system and information provided by the system, and, depending on a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that can be used to access the system;

rewritable, non-volatile memory that stores at least a portion of the application programming;

a sensor that senses the biometric characteristic of the person and provides the information representing the biometric characteristic of the person used by the at least one processor;

a first input device by which the information provided by the system can be input to the device; and

a second input device by which at least some of the application programming, or changes thereto, or both can be input to the device for storage in the memory.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor conditions providing the code to the output device upon a correlation between the information representing the biometric characteristic and stored biometric information.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor determines correlation or not between the information representing the biometric characteristic and the stored biometric information.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the memory stores the stored biometric information.

18. The device of claim 1, comprising an input/output device which includes the second input device and which outputs information relating to operation of or information processed by the device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the input/output device comprises a transceiver.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the transceiver comprises an optical transceiver.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the optical transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input device comprises a wireless input device.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input device comprises an optical input device.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input device comprises a photosensor.

5. A portable device for providing a code that may be used to access a system, the device comprising:

at least one sensor by which (i) application programming, or changes thereto, or both, and (ii) information provided by the system, can be wirelessly input to the device

a biometric sensor for acquiring biometric information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system;

an output device;

at least one processor that processes, using the application programming, the biometric information and the information received from the system and, depending on a result of the processing, provides to the output device an access code; and

rewritable, non-volatile memory that stores at least a portion of the application programming.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a photosensor.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of photosensors, at least one of the photosensors being an infrared sensor and at least one other of the photosensors being a visible-spectrum sensor.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the output device is a display.

9. A portable device for providing a code that can be used to access a system, the device comprising:

a first sensor by which information provided by the system, and a second sensor by which at least one application program, or changes thereto, or both, can be wirelessly input to the device;

a biometric sensor for acquiring biometric information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system;

at least one processor for processing information received from the first sensor and the biometric sensor, and, depending upon a result of the processing, providing the code; and

a common housing supporting the first and second sensors, the biometric sensor, and the processor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises at least one surface with which is associated a means for identifying the person.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the means comprises at least one of a human readable device and a photograph.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the means comprises machine-readable coding.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the means comprises an electronic device.

14. A method of providing a code for use in accessing a system, the method performed by an access device and comprising:

using application programming to process biometric information received from a biometric sensor associated with the access device to establish a correlation between the received biometric information and stored biometric information;

if the correlation satisfies a correlation criteria, using the application programming t provide to an output device of the portable access device an access code that can be used to access the system, the access code determined using information provided by the system,

otherwise not providing to the output device a code that can be used to access the system;

storing in rewritable, non-volatile memory associated with the access device at least some of the application programming;

receiving at a first input device the information provided by the system; and

receiving at a second input device the at least some of the application programming, or changes thereto, or both.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the access code is session-specific.

16. A method of providing a code for use in accessing a system, the method performed by an access device comprising a processor, a signal sensor, and a biometric sensor, the method comprising:

processing a signal received by the signal sensor from a signal generator associated with the system to be accessed to determine whether the system has received information indicating that a person seeking access to the system is attempting to access the system using a primary entry station;

if it is determined that the person is attempting to access the system using a primary entry station, providing to an output device of the access device an access code that can be used to access the system regardless of any biometric information received from a biometric sensor of the access device;

otherwise providing to the output device an access code that can be used to access the system only upon determination that a correlation criteria is satisfied by biometric information received from the biometric sensor and stored biometric information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the access code is session-specific.

25. A device for providing a code that may be used to access a system, the device comprising:

an output device;

at least one processor that processes, using application programming, information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system and information provided by the system, and, depending on a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that can be used to access the system;

a sensor that senses the biometric characteristic of the person and provides the information representing the biometric characteristic of the person that is used by the application programming; and

an optical input device for receiving a modulated visible light signal provided by the system;

the processor decoding a signal provided by optical input device from the modulated light signal to provide the information provided by the system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the visible light is modulated in accordance with a Manchester code and the processor decodes the Manchester code.

27. A method of selectively providing a code for use in accessing a system such as a computer system, the method performed by an access device comprising an output device, a processor, a signal sensor, and a biometric sensor, the method comprising:

in response to an attempt to access the system using an authorization function associated with the system from a primary entry station, granting access to the system;

otherwise, in response to the attempt,

receiving by the signal sensor a signal from a signal generator associated with the system to be accessed, and

generating the access code based on the received signal; and

providing the access code to the output device only upon determination of a correlation criteria between biometric information received by the biometric sensor from a person attempting to access the system and stored biometric information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the authorization function comprises a system log-in comprising a user name, a password, or both.