Method for checking the authorization of users

• US 7,084,736 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Ritter, Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/998,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.6, 340/5.8, 340/5.2, 340/5.3, 340/5.5, 235/462, 235/375, 235/384, 380/51, 713/182, 713/187
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• 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: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip

Abstract

A device and method for checking authorization of users, for example, of a public transportation system, in which individual authorization data, containing user-specific data, are stored in personal chip cards and contactlessly transmitted to a portable identification device and visually reproduced by a Virtual Retinal Display.

Claims

1. A method for checking access permission of a traveler using public transportation, comprising the steps of:

storing of authorization data in a portable personal identification module of the traveler,

storing of identification data which comprises biometric parameters of the traveler that are specific to the traveler'"'"'s outer appearance in said personal identification module,

contactless transmission of said identification and authorization data to a contactless interface in a portable authorization-checking device,

visual reproduction of said identification and authorization data with a Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) device to a user of said authorization-checking device,

verifying the traveler'"'"'s identity by the user comparing the visual reproduction of said biometric parameters by the VRD to the traveler'"'"'s outer appearance,

checking the traveler'"'"'s authorization by the user viewing the visual reproduction of said authorization data by the VRD, and

allowing or denying the traveler access to the public transportation after said verifying and checking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorization-checking device has controls with which the user of the authorization-checking device can select which data he wishes to check.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said controls are controlled with the eye of the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a terminal comprises said personal identification module and a Radio frequency identification (RFID) element for performing said contactless transmission.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein data from a central data processing means can be transmitted over said contactless interface to said terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least certain of said data transmitted over an additional radio receiver comprise blocking data for blocking said identification module.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein data from an external sender can be transmitted over an additional radio receiver in the terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said data are transmitted over a Bluetooth interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data are transmitted over a HomeRF interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said biometric parameters comprise an image of said traveler.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein data and programs can be downloaded over an additional radio receiver in said identification module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein blocking data can be downloaded over said radio receiver.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein timetables can be downloaded over said radio receiver.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein certain data of a plurality of travelers are transmitted in a first step over said contactless interface, wherein these data are reproduced with said authorization-checking device, wherein a specific traveler is selected and wherein additional data of this selected traveler are transmitted over said contactless interface and reproduced.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein data from central data processing means can be transmitted over said contactless interface to said authorization-checking device.

16. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the user controlling a function of said authorization-checking device through a motion of an eye.

17. A method of checking the tickets of a customer desiring access to an access controlled location, said method comprising the steps of:

storing of authorization data in a portable personal identification module of the customer, said personal identification module comprising a contactless communication interface,

transmission of said authorization data to a portable authorization-checking device by means of said contactless communication interface, said authorization checking device comprising a virtual retinal display,

visual reproduction of said authorization data by said virtual retinal display to a user of said authorization-checking device; and

authorizing or denying the customer entry to the access controlled location by utilizing said visual reproduction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said contactless communication interface is a radio interface.

19. The method of claim 17, further including the step of the user controlling a function of said authorization-checking device through a motion of an eye.

20. A method for checking access permission of a traveler using public transportation, said method comprising the steps of:

storing of authorization data in a portable personal identification module of the traveler,

storing of biometric identification data of the traveler in said personal identification module,

contactless transmission of said identification and authorization data in a portable authorization-checking device, and

visual reproduction of said identification and authorization data using a Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) device to a user of said device, wherein said user can control the data displayed on said device through motions of the user'"'"'s eye.

21. A system for checking access permission of a customer desiring access to an access controlled location, comprising:

means for storing authorization data in a portable personal identification module of the customer,

means for storing of biometric identification data that are specific to the customer'"'"'s identity in said personal identification module,

means for contactless transmission of said identification and authorization data in a portable authorization-checking device, and

means for visual reproduction of said identification and authorization data with a Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) device for allowing a user of said authorization-checking device to verify the customer'"'"'s identity and to authorize or deny the customer entry to the access controlled location by utilizing said visual reproduction.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said biometric identification data includes information about the user'"'"'s outer appearance.

23. The system according to claim 21, further comprising:

an energy supply for the supply of energy to the device.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said portable authorization-checking device includes glasses for presenting said authorization data.

25. The system according to claim 21, further comprising input means.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said input means can be controlled with the eye of the controller.

27. The portable authorization-checking device of claim 21, wherein said contactless interface comprises a RFID element.

28. The portable authorization-checking device of claim 21, wherein said contactless interface is a Bluetooth interface.

29. The portable authorization-checking device of claim 21, wherein said contactless interface is a HomeRE interface.

30. A system for checking the tickets of a customer desiring access to an access controlled location, said system comprising:

means for storing of authorization data in a portable personal identification module of the customer, said personal identification module comprising a contactless communication interface;

means for the transmission of said authorization data to a portable authorization-checking device by means of said contactless communication interface, said authorization checking device comprising a virtual retinal display;

means for visual reproduction of said authorization data by said virtual retinal display to a user of said authorization-checking device; and

means for authorizing or denying the customer entry to the access controlled location by utilizing said visual reproduction.