Personal authentication system

• US 7,375,615 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Satoyama, Motoaki, Kitagawa, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang; Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/147,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.81, 340/5.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 340/5.74, 340/5.61, 726/3, 726/17, 726/18, 726/19, 726/20, 713/168, 713/182
• US Class Current: 340/5.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for reducing the vexatious complication of personal authentication when using an information technology device or a card. A combination of RFID tags worn by a user is stored when personal authentication is carried out. The RFID tags are detected again In a situation where personal authentication is required. The continuous use of the previous personal authentication is permitted depending on the extent of coincidence between pieces of RFID information thus detected and the combination of stored RFID information, so that further authentication operations can be omitted. In addition, reference is made to a past archive when an RFID list is created. A weighted coefficient is then calculated based on the put-on frequency (put-on archive) in terms of a user'"'"'s single article or a combination of such articles. The utilization of the weighted coefficient provides personal authentication with a high level of reliability.

Claims

1. A person authentication apparatus having a memory unit, a processing unit and a login function. said apparatus comprising:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound;

wherein;

said processing unit checks up information from a plurality of radio tags detected by said reader unit with a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings acquired at the time of login,

said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification,

a login state is adapted to be held in the case where an extent of check-up coincidence meets a predetermined reference value, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said weighted coefficient.

5. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a location information acquisition unit, wherein when location information acquired by said location information acquisition unit coincides with location information registered in advance or is contained in a range of the location information registered in advance, said reader unit acquires radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound and creates said list, based on corresponding information acquired.

11. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein person authentication establishment time is also recorded in a user surrounding RFID list and invalidated due to a lapse of a predetermined time.

13. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a dynamic weighted coefficient showing an extent of frequency at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification; and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

17. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a weighted coefficient based on the number of times at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging ID, and the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

2. A person authentication apparatus having a memory unit, a processing unit and a login function, said apparatus comprising:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound;

wherein;

said processing unit checks up information from a plurality of radio tags detected by said reader unit with a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings acquired at the time of login,

said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification,

the person authentication is determined to be successful in the case where an extent of check-up coincidence meets a predetermined reference value, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said weighted coefficient.

6. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a location information acquisition unit, wherein when location information acquired by said location information acquisition unit coincides with location information registered in advance or is contained in a range of the location information registered in advance, said reader unit acquires radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound and creates said list, based on corresponding information acquired.

12. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein person authentication establishment time is also recorded in a user surrounding RFID list and invalidated due to a lapse of a predetermined time.

14. The person authentication system according to claim 2, wherein;

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a dynamic weighted coefficient showing an extent of frequency at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

18. The person authentication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a weighted coefficient based on the number of times at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging ID, and the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

3. A portable information device having a memory unit, a processing unit, and a login function, said device comprising:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound;

wherein;

said processing unit checks up information from a plurality of radio tags detected by said reader unit with a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings acquired at the time of login,

said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification,

a login state is adapted to be held in the case where an extent of check-up coincidence meets a predetermined reference value, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said weighted coefficient.

7. The portable information device according to claim 3, further comprising a location information acquisition unit, wherein when location information acquired by said location information acquisition unit coincides with location information registered in advance or is contained in a range of the location information registered in advance, said reader unit acquires radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound and creates said list, based on corresponding information acquired.

15. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a dynamic weighted coefficient showing an extent of frequency at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

19. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a weighted coefficient based on the number of times at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging ID, and the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

4. A portable information device having a memory unit, a processing unit, and a login function, said device comprising:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound;

wherein;

said processing unit checks up information from a plurality of radio tags detected by said reader unit with a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings acquired at the time of login,

said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification,

the person authentication is determined to be successful in the case where an extent of check-up coincidence meets a predetermined reference value, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said weighted coefficient.

8. The portable information device according to claim 4, further comprising a location information acquisition unit, wherein when location information acquired by said location information acquisition unit coincides with location information registered in advance or is contained in a range of the location information registered in advance, said reader unit acquires radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound and creates said list, based on corresponding information acquired.

16. The portable information device according to claim 4, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a dynamic weighted coefficient showing an extent of frequency at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification, and

the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

20. The portable information device according to claim 4, wherein:

said weighted coefficient is static;

said list has a weighted coefficient based on the number of times at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging ID, and the calculation of said extent of check-up coincidence is performed by means of an operation using said two classifications of said weighted coefficients.

9. A person authentication system having a login function and an ID card reader unit, said system comprising:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound when said ID card reader unit detects an ID card;

a communication unit connectable via a network to an authentication management server having a memory unit;

a function for transmitting information from a plurality of radio tags read by said reader unit from said communication unit to said authentication management server;

a function for receiving a person authentication result by checking up a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings held in said memory unit of said authentication management server and managed for each ID number of an ID card with said plurality pieces of radio tag information; and

a function for holding a login state or determining that person authentication is successful when an extent of check-up coincidence in said person authentication result meets a predetermined reference value;

wherein said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification.

10. A person authentication system having a person authentication apparatus having a login function and an ID card reader unit connected via a network to an authentication management server having a memory unit, wherein said person authentication apparatus comprises:

a reader unit for reading radio tag information on a radio tag that is present therearound when said ID card reader unit detects an ID card; and

a communication unit connectable via a network to said authentication management server; and

said authentication management server comprises;

said memory unit for storing a list concerning radio tag information on personal belongings managed for each ID number of an ID card,

a function for transmitting information from a plurality of radio tag information read by said reader unit from said communication unit to said authentication management server; and

a function for checking said plurality of pieces of radio tags with said list by said authentication management server and holding a login state or determining that person authentication is successful when an extent of check-up coincidence meets a predetermined reference value;

wherein said list has a weighted coefficient showing an extent of time length at which an RFID tag is mounted for each personal belonging classification.