Secure physical documents, and methods and apparatus for publishing and reading them

• US 7,309,017 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Zaba, Stefek Malkowski, Harrison, Keith Alexander, Waters, John Deryk, McDonnell, James Thomas Edward, Lawrence, Richard Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/697,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/384, 235/385, 235379-382, 235/493, 235/487, 711/163, 340/5.86, 340/572.1, 340/5.74, 340/5.8, 340/10.1, 283/72, 283/74, 283/82, 283/83, 283/85, 713/194, 726/26, 726/29, 358/498, 358/1.14
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0086 Sheets combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/46 with electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/30 Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

A security document, comprises a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred. Methods of publishing and of reading such security documents are described.

Claims

1. A security document, comprising:

a printed document; and

one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly and attached to or incorporated within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document,

wherein data in each of the one or more memory circuits is protected from access by an unauthorized reader,

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, and

wherein physical isolation of each of the one or more memory circuits employs one or more tamper-evident strips, and

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.

2. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is inductively powered.

3. A security document as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits receives and transmits data wirelessly at radio frequency.

4. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering.

5. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the security document is configured to identify an authorized bearer of the security document.

6. A security document as claimed in claim 5, wherein the security document includes means to allow access to a specified asset or assets by the authorized bearer.

7. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more tamper-evident strips provide a visual indication as to whether or not the one or more memory circuits has been physically tampered with.

8. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more tamper-evident strips correspond to at least one cut on the printed document provided adjacent to the one or more memory circuits.

9. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.

10. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more memory circuits are provided on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.

11. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory circuit includes tamper resistance means for resisting tampering of the memory circuit.

12. A security document as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.

13. A method of publishing a security document, comprising:

a. determining first information for printing in a printed document, and second information for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; and

e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits so as to inhibit physical tampering or configuring the one or more memory circuits to indicate when physical tampering has occurred,

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.

15. A method of reading a security document comprising a printed document and one or more memory circuits attached to or incorporated within the printed document, comprising:

a. electronically obtaining authorization information enabling the security document to be electronically read;

b. reading first information printed on the printed document

c. wirelessly powering at least one memory circuit and wirelessly reading protected second information stored in said memory circuit;

d. reading, by a document reader device, the second information by using the authorization information; and

using the second information together with the first information to assess the validity of the security document.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising comparing the second information to one or more characteristics of a bearer of the security document.

17. A security document, comprising:

a printed document; and

one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document,

wherein data in each of the one or more memory circuits is protected from access by an unauthorized reader,

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, and

wherein both printed data and data in each of the one or more memory circuits is configured to identify a bearer of the security document,

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.

18. A security document as claimed in claim 17, wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.

19. A security document as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one or more memory circuits are provided on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.

20. A method of publishing a security document for a bearer, comprising:

a. determining first information concerning the bearer for printing in a printed document, and second information concerning the bearer for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document; and

e. physically isolating each of the one or more memory circuits in the printed document so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred,

wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individuals provided.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

providing the one or more memory circuits on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.

23. A security document as claimed in claim 20, wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.

24. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.

25. A security document, comprising:

a printed document; and

one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly and attached to or incorporated within the printed document,

wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorized reader,

wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred,

wherein physical isolation of the memory circuit employs one or more tamper-evident strips

wherein the memory circuit includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering, and

wherein the memory circuit includes means for detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna, wherein the memory circuit includes means for disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.

26. A method of publishing a security document, comprising:

a. determining first information for printing in a printed document, and second information for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits so as to inhibit physical tampering or configuring the one or more memory circuits to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein the one or more memory circuits including an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering;

f. detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna; and

g. disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.

27. A security document, comprising:

a printed document; and

one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document,

wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorized reader,

wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred,

wherein both printed data and data in the memory circuit is configured to identify a bearer of the security document,

wherein the memory circuit includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering, and

wherein the memory circuit includes means for detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna, wherein the memory circuit includes means for disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.

28. A method of publishing a security document for a bearer, comprising:

a. determining first information concerning the bearer for printing in a printed document, and second information concerning the bearer for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading;

c. printing the first information in the printed document;

d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document;

e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits in the printed document so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein the one or more memory circuits including an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering,

the method further comprising;

f. detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna; and

g. disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.