Personal identification devices and access control systems

• US 5,608,387 A
• Filed: 05/26/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visage Developments Ltd.
• Original Assignee: John H.E. Davies
• Inventors: Davies, John H. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/244,346
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 235/382, 235/382.5, 382/2, 382/10
• US Class Current: 340/5.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually

Abstract

A lock (19) which by physical or logical means controls human access to an objective (29) such as a restricted area or a computer system is controlled by a data processing system (10) which has access to a store of authorised users (14) and a store of complex images (15), specifically images of human faces. Each authorised user knows certain ones of the complex images, and these key images are linked to an identity statement unique to that user. On receipt of an identity statement signifying an authorised user, a matrix of images including the key images is presented to the user on a display (12), and by means of a suitable input device (20) the user must identify which images are his key images in order to confirm authorisation and be permitted access. The user and image stores (18) may be carried in credit card form as a section of an optical disk. The high security of the system results from the inability of a person to communicate adequately to another the ability to recognise a third person or other complex image.

Claims

1. A personal identification device comprising a store of personal identity statements and a store of complex images including key complex images linked with personal identity statements and false complex images not associated with personal identity statements, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

2. A personal identification device according to claim 1 including an optical disk having a section on which both stores are encoded.

3. A personal identification device according to claim 1 including a digital storage device in which both stores are encoded.

24. A personal identification device according to claim 1, wherein the complex images are images of human faces.

4. Personal identification apparatus comprising a personal identification device comprising a store of personal identity statements and a store of complex images including key complex images linked with specific personal identity statements and false complex images not associated with personal identity statements, in combination with data processing apparatus provided with means for receiving a personal identity statement, means for reading the personal identification device, and means for displaying from the personal identification device at least one key complex image that is linked with the personal identity statement received, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means for displaying a plurality of false complex images from the device in addition to the said key complex image, means for receiving an image statement, and means for determining whether or not a received image statement corresponds to a key complex image.

6. A method of controlling access by a human user to a controlled objective requiring the user to enter an identity statement into data processing apparatus, retrieving with said apparatus a key complex image linked with that identity statement from a store of complex images, displaying that key image, requiring the user to correctly identify that key image, designating the user an authorised user only if that identification is correct, and permitting an authorised user access to the objective, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the key complex image is displayed as part of a displayed set of stored complex images, and the user is required to identify the key complex image by selecting it correctly from the set.

8. A method according to claim 7 including the steps of retrieving a plurality of key complex images linked with the identity statement and a plurality of false complex images from the stored complex images;

displaying an array of assorted retrieved key and false images to the user for a limited time;

accepting image statements identifying images selected from the array by the user;

determining whether the image statements match the displayed key complex images linked with the identity statement; and

if so, permitting access.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the array is a matrix of images of which only some are displayed initially, and others are progressively added until the matrix is complete;

and the display is terminated before the image statements are accepted from the user.

10. A method according to claim 6 wherein the key image is an image of an authorised user, and the user is required to correctly identify that image by offering his own real time image for matching with the key image.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the real time image is derived from a video camera and is both stored and displayed adjacent the key image for visual matching.

12. A method according to claim 6 wherein access is permitted by setting a lock to an open state.

13. A method of controlling access by a human user to a controlled objective according to claim 6 wherein the complex images are images of human faces.

14. A lock capable of a closed state in which one of physical and logical means denies human access to an objective and an open state in which such access is permitted, and provided with control means adapted to receive a request for access, to determine whether access is to be permitted;

and to control the state of the lock accordingly;

wherein the control means comprises;

a) a store of authorized users;

b) a store of complex images including key complex images linked with authorized users;

a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description,

c) means for receiving a personal identity statement and determining whether it relates to an authorized user from the user store;

d) means for displaying a set of complex images, including a key complex image set uniquely linked with the authorized user identified by means (c);

e) means for receiving an image statement;

f) means for comparing the image statement with the unique set of images in the displayed set; and

g) means for setting the state of the lock to open only when the image statement matches the unique set.

15. A method of controlling human access to an objective which comprises:

a) storing a list of authorized users;

b) storing a plurality of sets of complex images;

a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description,

c) linking a set of complex images with each authorized user;

d) detecting a request for access associated with a user identity statement;

e) determining whether the identity statement corresponds to an authorized user on the stored list;

f) displaying a set of complex images including at least one key complex image from the set linked with that authorized user and at least one similar complex image, when the identity statement corresponds to an authorized user on the stored list;

g) determining whether all the displayed key complex images, and only those complex images, are selected;

h) permitting access to the objective when all the displayed key complex images, and only those complex images, are selected; and

i) otherwise, denying access.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein steps (f) and (g) are repeated sequentially whereby to increase the probability that a successful request for access is not due to a chance result.

17. A method of operating a lock comprising operatively connecting the lock to data processing apparatus, whereby the lock is switchable from a closed state to an open state by a signal receivable from the said apparatus, and transmitting said signal to the lock upon actuation of the apparatus by an authorized user, including the step of determining whether a user is authorized;

wherein the said step comprises the sub-steps of requiring the user to enter an identity statement into data processing apparatus, retrieving with said apparatus a key complex image linked with that identity statement from a store of complex images, displaying that key complex image, requiring the user to correctly identify that key complex image, designating the user an authorized user only when that identification is correct, and permitting an authorized user access to the objective, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

18. An identification system comprising a store of identity statements for identifying respective users and a store of complex images, at least some of which are key complex images which are associated, respectively, with predetermined different ones of the identity statements and are for selection by respective users to verify their respective identities, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

19. A payment card comprising a personal identification device comprising an optical disk having a section in which both a store of personal identity statements and a store of complex images including key complex images linked with specific personal identity statements and false complex images not associated with personal identity statements are encoded, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

20. A payment card according to claim 19 wherein the complex images are images of human faces.

21. Personal identification apparatus, according to claim 19 wherein the complex images are images of human faces.

22. A lock capable of a closed state and an open state and having control means for controlling the state of the lock, wherein the control means comprises means for receiving an identity statement from a user, means for displaying a key complex image linked with that identity statement, and means for setting the state of the lock to open in response to correct identification of the key complex image by the user, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.

23. A lock according to claim 22 wherein the complex images are images of human faces.

25. Personal identification apparatus comprising a payment card having a personal identification device comprising an optical disk having a section in which both a store of personal identity statements a store of complex images including key complex images linked with specific personal identity statements and false complex images not associated with personal identity statements are encoded, in combination with data processing apparatus provided with means for receiving a personal identity statement, means for reading the personal identification device, and means for displaying at least one key complex image from the personal identification device that is linked with the identity statement received, a complex image being an image that is recognizable when already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom it is not known so that when a particular complex image is included in a set of similar but not identical complex images, the particular complex image is distinguishable from other complex images in the set, by the human senses of a person familiar with the particular complex image, within a predetermined time interval when the whole set is displayed, but it is not readily possible to describe the particular complex image in terms which are sufficiently precise that another human being unfamiliar with the particular complex image can subsequently identify it among other complex images of the set using normal unaided human senses to discern the particular image, and within a time interval similar to the predetermined time interval, and provided that reference to and comparison with other complex images of the displayed set is not permitted as part of a description.