Security device for controlling the access to a personal computer or to a computer terminal

• US 5,952,641 A
• Filed: 11/21/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C-SAM Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C-SAM Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Korshun, Yvan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Douglas X.
• Application Number:
  US08/752,575
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/380, 235/375, 402/3, 402/4, 402/5, 402/26
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The mouse of the computer is equipped with a reader of an access code located in one or a set of chipcards for users. The reader is connected to an antenna equipping the mouse so that the user has only to present his card to the mouse inside the influence zone of the antenna for obtaining that the access code is transmitted to the computer and that the security device rendering the computer inoperant is unlocked.

Claims

1. A security device for controlling access to a computer or to a network terminal, the security device including means to permit its use only with an access code, said device comprising, a portable support in which said access code is located, an access code reader connected to said computer or network terminal for cooperation with said portable support to enable the access code to be presented to the reader, said access code not necessarily known to the authorized user of the portable support, said reader being carried by a mouse which is distinct from the computer or the network terminal.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the portable support includes reading or detection means of some biometric characteristics of the authorized user.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the access code is contained in the memory of a chipcard constituting the support of the portable code.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the reader of the access code is carried by a keyboard connected to the computer or to the network terminal.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the reader of the access code is mounted on the computer or the network terminal itself.

6. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the access code reader is equipped with an antenna so that the reading can be effected without a material contact between the support of the access code and the said reader is necessary.

7. A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the reader of the access code and the support of this code are both provided with contact areas so that the reading can take place only when the respective contact areas are in contact with each other.