Method and apparatus for improved fingerprinting and authenticating various magnetic media

• US 5,740,244 A
• Filed: 05/07/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Original Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Inventors: Hege, Alan Lee, Engel, George Lawrence, Indeck, Ronald Scott, Muller, Marcel Wettstein
• Primary Examiner(s): Cain, David C.
• Application Number:
  US08/646,001
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/23, 380/25
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/101 by binding digital rights to specific entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/125 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/12 the marking being sensed by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0813 Specific details related to card security
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/125 Offline card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00094 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00123 the record carrier being identified by recognising some of its unique characteristics, e.g. a unique defect pattern serving as a physical signature of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/281 by changing the physical properties of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/283 Security features, e.g. digital codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/284 on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00 : Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor G11B11/00 and G11B13/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the remanent noise in a magnetic medium by, for example, DC saturation of a region thereof and measurement of the remaining DC magnetization. A conventional magnetic recording transducer may be used to determine the remanent noise. Upon determination, the remanent noise may then be digitized and recorded on the same magnetic medium to thereby "fingerprint" the magnetic medium. This "fingerprint" may then be later used to verify and authenticate the magnetic medium as being an original. The magnetic medium may be of a type adapted to record information magnetically or, even more broadly, any magnetic surface or substance that can be sensed through its magnetic field. In such manner, any magnetic medium, or any object having an associated magnetic medium, may be "fingerprinted" including credit cards, computer program diskettes, magneto-optic discs, videotapes, cassette tapes, bank checks, stock certificates, etc.

Claims

1. A card-like device for interacting with a database and having its fingerprint recorded for the later verification of its identity, said card-like device including:

an on-board electronic memory for coupling with said database; and

a magnetic medium portion disposed separate from said memory, said fingerprint comprising a remanent noise for said magnetic medium portion.

2. A card-like device according to claim 1 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said electronic memory.

3. A card-like device according to claim 1 wherein said fingerprint is recorded on said magnetic medium portion.

4. A card-like device according to claim 1 wherein said remanent noise is encrypted with a trap door function.

5. A card-like device according to claim 1 and further including an on-board microprocessor connected to said on-board electronic memory and coupled to said database.

6. A card-like device according to claim 5 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said database.

7. A card-like device for interacting with a database and having its fingerprint recorded for the later verification of its identity, said card-like device including:

an on-board microprocessor coupled to said database; and

a magnetic medium portion disposed separate from said microprocessor, said fingerprint comprising a remanent noise for said magnetic medium portion.

8. A card-like device according to claim 7 wherein said fingerprint is recorded on said magnetic medium portion.

9. A card-like device according to claim 7 wherein said remanent noise is encrypted with a trap door function.

10. A card-like device according to claim 7 and further including an on-board electronic memory connected to said on-board microprocessor and coupled to said database.

11. A card-like device according to claim 10 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said electronic memory.

12. A card-like device according to claim 10 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said database.

13. A Smartcard having its fingerprint recorded for the later verification of its identity, said Smartcard including:

an on-board microprocessor coupled to a database;

an on-board electronic memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a magnetic stripe disposed separate from said memory and microprocessor, said fingerprint comprising a remanent noise for said magnetic stripe.

14. A Smartcard according to claim 13 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said memory.

15. A Smartcard according to claim 14 wherein said fingerprint is recorded on said magnetic stripe.

16. A Smartcard according to claim 14 wherein said fingerprint is recorded in said database.