Personal date/time notary device

• US 6,865,678 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Addison M. Fischer
• Original Assignee: Addison M. Fischer
• Inventors: Fischer, Addison M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US10/140,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 713/159, 713/172, 713/176, 713/178, 713/200, 713/202, 380/259, 705/65, 705/73, 705/75, 705/76
• US Class Current: 713/176
• 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: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• 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 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/125 Offline card verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

A personal data/time notary device is embodied in a token device such as a “smart card”. The portable notary device includes an input/output (I/O) port, which is coupled to a single integrated circuit chip. The I/O port may be coupled to a conventional smart card reading device which in turn is coupled to a PC, lap-top computer or the like. A tamper resistant secret private key storage is embodied on the chip. The private key storage is coupled to the processor which, in turn, is coupled to a permanent memory that stores the program executed by the processor. At least one clock is embodied on the card. A second clock 14 and a random value generator 10 are also preferably coupled to the processor. The device combines digital time notarization into a digital signature operation to ensure that a time stamp is always automatically present. The user does not need to be involved in any additional decision making as to whether time stamping is necessary.

Claims

1. An intelligent media reader system for coupling a user'"'"'s intelligent media to a computer comprising:

a media interface port for receiving a digital value from said media;

a source providing digital information indicative of at least one of date and time;

a storage device for storing a private key, wherein said private key is used in performing digital signature operations;

a communication port operatively coupled in use to transfer information to a computer; and

an intelligent reader processing device coupled to said media interface port, said communication port, and said source providing digital information, for receiving said digital value and said information indicative of at least one of date and time and for performing at least one digital signature operation with said private key for output to said communication port.

2. An intelligent media reader according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent media includes a processor for performing at least digital signature operations, and a secure storage device for storing a user'"'"'s private key, and wherein said digital value received by said intelligent media interface port is an intelligent media based digital signature.

3. An intelligent media reader according to claim 2, wherein said intelligent media reader processing device operable to digitally sign said intelligent media based digital signature using an intelligent media reader private key and to transfer a time notarized digital signature to the user'"'"'s computer.

4. An intelligent media according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent media reader processing device is operable to transfer said digital signature to said intelligent media.

5. An intelligent media reader according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent media reader includes a memory having locations for storing data indicative of a digital certificate associated with said intelligent media reader.

6. An intelligent media reader according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent media reader processing device is operable to validate a user'"'"'s personal identification password (PIN) as a prerequisite to providing the digital signature.

7. An intelligent media reader according to claim 1, wherein said source providing digital information indicative of at least one of date and time is a clock embodied in said reader.