Authenticator card and system
First Claim
1. An authenticator system for authenticating the identity of a user having possession of an authenticator card, said system comprisingmeans for generating a pseudorandom, time varying code;
- means responsive to said code generating means for converting said time varying code to a bar code;
means for displaying said bar code on an LCD display on said authenticator card; and
means for scanning said bar code at the time said authenticator card is used by said user to authenticate the identity of said user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An authenticator card includes a liquid crystal display arranged to exhibit a dynamically changeable bar code pattern that represents an account number and, optionally, a PIN and/or expiration date. The card includes circuitry for periodically changing the bar code in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. When the card is presented by a user to a merchant to authenticate the identity of the user in connection with a business transaction, the bar code is scanned by a conventional bar code reader. The code is convened to electronic form and transmitted to a verification processor to be authenticated. During authentication, a corresponding algorithm is used to validate information from the received signal, enabling a database query to determine validity of the card. Advantageously, the card can be mass produced at low cost, and a readily available bar code scanner provides a simple interface when the card is presented for authentication.
243 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An authenticator system for authenticating the identity of a user having possession of an authenticator card, said system comprising
means for generating a pseudorandom, time varying code; -
means responsive to said code generating means for converting said time varying code to a bar code; means for displaying said bar code on an LCD display on said authenticator card; and means for scanning said bar code at the time said authenticator card is used by said user to authenticate the identity of said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for authenticating the identity of a user, comprising
an authenticator card arranged to display a dynamically changing bar code that varies in accordance with a pseudorandom code; -
means for scanning said bar code at the time said authenticator card is used by said user; means for applying information derived from said scanned bar code and information generated in accordance with said pseudorandom code to a processor to obtain a unique user ID for said authenticator card; and means for comparing said unique user ID with stored information to authenticate the identity of said user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for authenticating the identity of a user through possession of an authenticator card, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a pseudorandom, time varying code; converting said time varying code to a bar code; displaying said bar code on an LCD display contained on said authenticator card; and scanning said bar code at the time said authenticator card is used by said user to authenticate the identity of said user.
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9. A method for authenticating the identity of a user, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a dynamically changing bar code that varies in accordance with a pseudorandom code on an authenticator card of said user; scanning said bar code at the time said authenticator card is used by said user; applying information derived from said scanned bar code and information generated in accordance with said pseudorandom code to a processor to obtain a unique user ID for said authenticator card; and comparing said unique user ID with stored information to authenticate the identity of said user.
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Specification