METHOD FOR AUTHORISING A COMMUNICATION WITH A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, SUCH AS ACCESS TO A MEMORY ZONE, CORRESPONDING ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20100263034A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales DIS France SA
• Original Assignee: Thales DIS France SA
• Inventors: Banchelin, Xavier
• Granted Patent: US 11,151,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for authorizing a communication with a portable electronic device, such as access to at least one memory area. The portable electronic device has a display for presenting an item of information visible to the outside and an interface for communication with the outside of the portable electronic device. The item of information is at least in part taken into account by the portable electronic device in order to authorize the communication. The method includes a step of optical reading of the item of information outside the portable electronic device. The method is distinguished in that it also includes a step of varying the item of information, the step of varying causing the item of information, termed the variable item of information, to vary at least in part. The invention also relates to the portable electronic device, and the system comprising the portable electronic device and an electronic communication or reading device.

Claims

1. Process for authorising a communication with a portable electronic device, such as access to at least one memory zone, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means for presenting an item of information visible to the outside and means for communicating with the outside of the portable electronic device, and the item of information is at least in part taken into account by the portable electronic device in order to authorise the communication, wherein the method comprises an optical reading step of the item of information outside the portable electronic device,

wherein the process further comprises a step of varying the item of information, wherein the variation step causes the item of information, termed the variable item of information, to vary at least in part.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the process comprises a step in which the portable electronic device supplies the variable item of information.

3. Process according to claim 2, wherein the process comprises a comparison step in relation to an item of information based at least in part on the variable item of information.

4. Process according to claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device performs the comparison step in relation to an item of information based at least in part on the variable item of information.

5. Process according to claim 2, wherein the step for supplying the variable item of information is preceded by a step for starting the supply of a variable item of information.

6. Process according to claim 5, wherein the step for starting the supply of a variable item of information comprises the reception from the outside, through the portable electronic device, of at least one item of information representative of the successful comparison pertaining to a previous reading of a variable item of information.

7. Process according to claim 5, wherein the step for starting the supply of a variable item of information comprises the reception from the outside, through the portable electronic device, of a pre-determined number of ratifications relative to a previous reading of a variable item of information.

8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the optical reading step allows access to at least one application supported by the portable electronic device.

9. Process according to claim 8, wherein the application is included within the following list:

an identification application of a bearer;

an interlocutor authentication application of the portable electronic device;

a bearer'"'"'s loyalty application;

an access control application to a restricted access zone or to a transportation service;

an electronic payment application; and

/or

a subscriber identification application.

10. Application of the process according to claim 1 for identifying the bearer of the portable electronic device, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

optical reading of the variable item of information by an electronic reading device;

determination of the first authentication value by the electronic reading device according to a pre-determined authentication algorithm and variable item of information;

receiving the first authentication value through the portable electronic device by way of a radio frequency link from the electronic reading device;

comparison of the first authentication value with a second authentication value by the portable electronic device, wherein the second authentication value is a function of the variable item of information;

if the first and second authentication values match, granting access authorisation by the portable electronic device to the memory zone.

11. Portable electronic device comprising at least one memory zone, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means to present an item of information visible to the outside, means of communication with the outside and means of acknowledging, at least in part, items of information to authorise communication such as an access from the outside to the memory zone,

wherein the portable electronic device comprises information variation means, wherein the variation means vary the information, at least in part, of the item of information.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means for supplying a variable item of information.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means for starting the supply of variable item of information.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the means of starting the supply of variable item of information comprise means for detecting the entry of the portable electronic device within an electrical, electromagnetic, light and/or sound field.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the means of starting the supply of variable item of information comprise at least a key that can be activated from the outside of the portable electronic device.

16. Device according to claim 12, wherein the means of supplying the variable item of information comprise means for generating a random or variable number.

17. Device according to claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means of communication with the outside of a contact type and/or contactless type.

18. Device according to claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device comprises power supply means that may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.

19. Device according to claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is a chip card of the type included within the list comprising:

electronic identification of an object an/or a person;

electronic passport;

health card;

electronic payment;

electronic ticket; and

/or

subscriber identification module having radio frequency means of communication outside the chip card.

20. System for authorising communication, such as an access to at least one memory zone of a portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device comprises means to present visible information to the outside, means of communication with the outside of the portable electronic device, and means for acknowledging, at least in part, the item of information to authorise communication, such as access to the memory zone, wherein, the system comprises the portable electronic device and an electronic communication device,

wherein the portable electronic device comprises information variation means wherein the variation means vary the information, at least in part, of the item of information,

and wherein the electronic communication device is suited to read or retrieve a variable item of information and communicate an item of information to the portable electronic device based at least in part on the variable item of information.