Portable personal authentication apparatus and electronic system to which access is permitted by the same

• US 6,931,538 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takashi Sawaguchi, Zerosoft Corp.
• Original Assignee: Takashi Sawaguchi, Tatuji Mizobe
• Inventors: Sawaguchi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Darrow, Justin T.
• Application Number:
  US09/668,741
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 705/41, 705/44, 705/65, 705/77, 705/64, 705/66, 705/67, 713/186, 713/172, 713/182, 713/185, 713/201, 713/202, 455/406, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 235/380, 340/426.18
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• 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
• 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 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable personal authentication apparatus which can perform personal authentication, being essential in a future society, anywhere and be used for all purposes and an electronic system to which access is permitted by the apparatus. A mobile device, such as a cellular telephone or a PDA, is used with a portable personal authentication apparatus as a portable communication terminal device 51 and at least one of biological features including a man'"'"'s fingerprint, voiceprint, and irisprint is used as a medium for authenticating a person as, for example, the user himself/herself. That is to say, biometric authentication is performed. In addition, functions like an electronic purse a conventional IC card etc. had are included in the portable communication terminal device (portable personal authentication apparatus) and the portable communication terminal device is connected to ATM equipment etc. This enables the portable communication terminal device to be managed unitarily as an electronic purse. Furthermore, a portable communication terminal device (portable personal authentication apparatus) is used for authenticating a person as, for example, the driver himself/herself in the case of canceling urgent notification in a notifying system. This will increase the reliability of notification.

Claims

1. A portable personal authentication apparatus configured so as to be portable, the apparatus comprising:

built-in communication means for wirelessly connecting to a public network; and

reading means for reading at least one of a human'"'"'s biological features, wherein

personal authentication is performed on the basis of data read by the reading means as authentication data,

the portable personal authentication apparatus is used for personal authentication in an electronic system which can be accessed by a user on the basis of personal authentication,

a user who intends to use the electronic system is permitted to access the electronic system on the basis of the authentication data read,

the electronic system is a notifying system for giving urgent notification to a competent center in the case of an emergency having occurred,

the portable personal authentication apparatus is used at least for notification of cancel given in the case of canceling the urgent notification, and

authentication data read by the portable personal authentication apparatus is sent to the competent center by the communication means in the case of giving the notification of cancel.

2. The portable personal authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further including a PC-card slot, wherein one of the biological features is a fingerprint, further wherein user authentication is performed by inserting a PC card equipped with reading means for reading the fingerprint into the PC-card slot.

3. An electronic system to which access is permitted by the portable personal authentication apparatus according to claim 1.

4. A portable personal authentication apparatus configured so as to be portable, the apparatus comprising:

a built-in communication arrangement for wirelessly connecting to a public network;

reading means for reading at least one of a human'"'"'s biological features, personal authentication being performed on the basis of data read by the reading means as authentication data;

information storage;

registering means for registering in the information storage at least one of a human'"'"'s biological features read by the reading means; and

comparing means for comparing the registered authentication data with authentication data currently read by the reading means in accordance with a predetermined criteria,

wherein the built-in communication means comprises a cellular device; and

wherein the built-in communication means is connectable to a network of cellular devices as the public network,

wherein the portable personal authentication apparatus is an electronic system which can be accessed by a user on the basis of personal authentication,

wherein a user who intends to use the electronic system is permitted to access the electronic system on the basis of the authentication data,

wherein the electronic system is accessed by the user through the built-in communication means and the public network,

wherein the electronic system is a notifying system for providing notification to a competent center in the case of an emergency having occurred,

wherein the portable personal authentication apparatus is used at least for notification of cancel given in the case of canceling the urgent notification, and

wherein authentication data read by the portable personal authentication apparatus is sent to the competent center by the communication means when providing a cancel notification.