Security printing and unlocking mechanism for high security printers

• US 6,650,430 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
• Original Assignee: Fargo Electronics Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Ibs, Jon J., Dunham, Matthew K., Klinefelter, Gary M., Francis, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/025,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/1.11, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 382/101, 382/139, 382/140, 382/231, 382/317, 707/408, 707/409, 707/410
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A printer is provided with a smart card encoding device that is externally accessible. The smart card is a key with an integrated circuit including a memory that will retain a discrete password and other digital information. The password on the smart card key must be compared to a password stored in the printer memory before printing operations will be permitted. The digital information in the smart card key memory can include marks or graphics that would indicate that the cards being printed by the printer are secured cards and authorized cards. The information will be printed from the smart card key memory only when the passwords match so that the discrete information on the smart card key can be used for driving the printer for printing this information. The printer is made into a high security printer by permitting the overriding of the password only upon the generating of identical numbers from separated algorithms, one in the printer memory and one at a secure location. An algorithm input is a dynamically changing parameter of the printer, such as the number of print head passes, or the number of cards printed so the algorithmically generated numbers are unique.

Claims

1. The process of providing unique printing information keyed to a removable memory device key including providing an identification card printer having memory capabilities and an encoding device coupled to the printer memory for encoding from an integrated circuit on a removable memory device key, using a host computer to input digital information forming a security code onto the removable memory device key only to provide commands to the printer to print the security code onto an identification card, providing a password in the printer memory and on the removable memory device key, and printing the digital information security code from the removable memory device key only when the password on the removable memory device key and in the printer memory match.

2. A selected number of identification card printers each having a memory therein and being operable in response to an unlocking code contained in the printer memory comprising a password, an encoder in each printer coupled to the respective printer memory and having a portion that is externally accessible, and a removable memory key card for associating with the accessible portion of the encoding device of each of the selected number of printers, said removable memory key card carrying a programmable memory for receiving the password and subsequently for controlling printer operation of any one of the selected number of printers to print only when the removable memory key card is accessed to the respective encoder and the password in the respective printer memory is matched to the password in the memory of the removable memory key card.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein the printer has an access slot, and the removable memory key card accesses the encoder by insertion into the slot.

4. A method of securely printing an image on a card comprising:

providing an identification card printer having a memory containing a first password;

providing a removable card key including a memory containing a second password and a digital image;

reading the first and second passwords;

comparing the first and second passwords; and

allowing the digital image stored in the memory of the removable card key to be printed on a card using the identification card printer only when the first and second passwords match.

5. A method of securely printing an image on a card comprising:

providing an identification card printer having a memory containing a first password and a first printer serial number that uniquely identifies the printer;

providing a removable card key including a memory containing a second password, a digital image, and a second printer serial number;

comparing the first and second printer serial numbers;

comparing the first and second passwords; and

allowing the printing of the digital image stored in the memory of the removable card key on a card by the identification card printer only when the first and second printer serial numbers match and the first and second passwords match.

6. A method of controlling operation of an identification card printer comprising:

providing an identification card printer having a memory containing a first password and a first serial number that uniquely identifies the printer;

providing a removable card key including a memory containing a second password and a second serial number;

comparing the first and second printer serial numbers;

comparing the first and second passwords; and

allowing operation of the identification card printer only when the first and second printer serial numbers match and the first and second passwords match.

7. A system for secure identification card printing comprising:

an identification card printer including a memory containing a first password and a first printer serial number that uniquely identifies the printer;

a removable card key including a memory containing a second password and a second printer serial number; and

a card reader configured to access and read the memory of the removable card key;

wherein the printer is configured to access the memory of the removable card key through the card reader, compare the first and second printer serial numbers, compare the first and second passwords, and lock the identification card printer from performing print operations when either the first and second printer serial numbers or the first and second passwords do not match.