Low cost secure ID card and system

• US 7,536,721 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, John K., Verge, Christopher W., August, Jason, Truong, Kenneth, Waterhouse, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US11/566,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713184-186, 726/20, 726 27- 30, 726/17, 726/21, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 340 51- 52, 340/5.21, 340/5.23, 340/5.3, 340/5.31, 340/5.33, 340/5.51, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

The invention provides a method for controlling the operating state of a lock characterized by a locked state and an unlocked state. The method comprises: entering secret information on an electronic input device (e.g. keypad) located on a radio frequency identity card, then electronically comparing the secret information against an authorized code to determine whether the secret information is authorized, then transmitting by radio frequency an unlocking signal to a radio frequency reader located at the lock for opening the lock in the event that the secret information is authorized.

In a related use of such RF identity cards, the invention also provides a system and method of tracking movements of individuals within a secure area. The method comprises the steps of: using a loop antenna operable to transmit and receive RF signals from at least one radio frequency (RF) identity card carried by an individual; transmitting RF signals at a frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz from a reader through the loop antenna to the aforesaid RF card to request a secret code; entering this secret code on an electronic input device (e.g. keypad) device located on the RF card, transmitting this secret code to the reader through a transceiver disposed on the RF card; and using a data processor/CPU located at the reader to determine whether the secret code corresponds to the aforesaid authorization.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operating state of a lock comprising:

a) a lock for controlling physical access to a secure area characterized by a locked state and an unlocked state;

b) a radio frequency reader, said radio frequency reader being in operative communication with the lock to control the state thereof;

c) a radio frequency identity card comprising;

i) an electronic input device located on said radio frequency identity card for entry of secret information by an individual;

ii) an electronic encoding means for facilitating conversion of said secret information into encoded secret information, said encoded secret information being determinative of authorization of said individual;

iii) a wireless transmitter operable to transmit information to said radio frequency reader; and

d) a data processor operable to determine whether said secret information corresponds to said authorization.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, said radio frequency identity card further comprising an energy storage device operable to energize said wireless transmitter, said radio frequency reader and said wireless transmitter being operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, said data processor being disposed within said card and operable to convert said encoded secret information into an unlocking signal and provide said unlocking signal to said wireless transmitter.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, said radio frequency reader and said data processor /cpu being disposed at said lock, said data processor being operable to convert said encoded secret information into an unlocking signal and provide said unlocking signal to said radio frequency reader to unlock said lock.

5. A system of tracking movements of individuals within a secure area, said system comprising:

a) a loop antenna operable to transmit and receive RF signals from at least one radio frequency identity card;

b) a reader comprising a radio frequency transceiver operatively connected to said loop antenna;

c) at least one radio frequency identity card which can be located within communication range of said loop antenna, said radio frequency identity card comprising;

i) an electronic input device located on said radio frequency identity card for entry of secret information by an individual;

ii) an electronic encoding means for facilitating conversion of said secret information into encoded secret information, said encoded secret information being determinative of authorization of said individual;

iii) a wireless transmitter operable to transmit information to said reader; and

d) a data processor operable to determine whether said secret information corresponds to said authorization, wherein said loop antenna is disposed to transmit RF signals to and receive RF signals from a location within the secure area, whereby the movement of an individual carrying the radio frequency identity card within the secure area can be tracked.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5, said data processor being disposed within said card and operable to convert said encoded secret information into an authorization code.

7. The system as set forth in claim 5, said data processor being disposed at said reader and operable to convert said encoded secret information into an authorization code.

8. The system as set forth in claim 5, said radio frequency identity card further comprising an energy storage device operable to energize said wireless transmitter, said radio frequency reader and said wireless transmitter being operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

9. An electronic identity card comprising:

a) an electronic input device located on a card for entry of secret information by an individual;

b) a first display for displaying public information for observation, said public information having a relationship to said secret information;

c) an electronic encoding means for facilitating conversion of said secret information into encoded secret information, wherein the encoded secret information is the same as the pubic information when the secret information is entered is the correct information for the electronic identity card, and

d) a second display for displaying the encoded secret information, whereby said encoded secret information can be compared for correspondence between said encoded secret information and said public information to confirm the identity of said individual.

10. The identity card as set forth in claim 9, said first display comprising a permanent ID label attached to said card, said label containing public identity information relating to said individual.

11. The identity card as set forth in claim 9, said second display comprising a LCD display on the ID card to display said encoded secret information.

12. The identity card as set forth in claim 9, said identity card further comprising:

a low frequency wireless communication device operable at a frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz to transmit said encoded secret information to a reader spaced away from said identity card; and

said identity card further comprising an energy storage device operable to energize said wireless transmitter.

13. The identity card as set forth in claim 12, said low frequency wireless communication device comprising a receiver for receiving a command signal from said reader and for displaying said public information on said display in response to said command signal.

14. The identity card as set forth in claim 12, said card comprising an indicator device, said low frequency wireless communication device comprising a receiver for receiving a command signal from said reader and for activating said indicator device in response to said command signal.

15. An electronic identity card comprising:

a) an electronic input device located on card for entry of secret information by an individual;

b) an electronic encoding means for facilitating conversion of said secret information into encoded secret information, said encoded secret information being determinative of authorization of said individual; and

c) a wireless communication device operable to transmit said encoded secret information to a reader, said reader being in operative communication with a physical lock disposed to control physical access to secure area to control a locked state thereof.

16. The electronic identity card as set forth in claim 15, said identity card further comprising an energy storage device operable to energize said wireless communication device, said wireless communication device being operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

17. The electronic identity card as set forth in claim 15, said electronic encoding means comprising a data processor/CPU and a data storage device operable to store a lookup table/database of instances of secret information and corresponding instances of encoded secret information.

18. The electronic identity card as set forth in claim 15, said electronic encoding means comprising a data processor/CPU operable to algorithmically convert said secret information into said encoded secret information.

19. The electronic identity card as set forth in claim 18, said wireless communication device being operable to transmit both said secret information and said encoded secret information to a reader, said reader being in operative communication with a lock to control a locked state thereof.

20. The electronic identity card as set forth in claim 15, said card comprising an indicator device said communication device comprising a receiver for receiving a command signal from said reader and for activating said indicator device in response to said command signal.

21. A method for controlling the operating state of a physical lock for controlling physical access to a secure area characterized by a locked state and an unlocked state;

said method comprising;

a) entering secret information on an electronic input device located on a radio frequency identity card,

b) electronically comparing said secret information against an authorized code to determine whether said secret information is authorized, and

c) transmitting by radio frequency an unlocking signal to a radio frequency reader located at said physical lock for opening said lock in the event that the secret information is authorized and thereby allowing physical access to the secure area.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, said radio frequency being a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

23. The method as set forth in claim 21, said comparing step (b) being carried out by a data processor disposed within said card and operable to convert said secret information into an unlocking signal and provide said unlocking signal to a wireless communication device.

24. The method as set forth in claim 21,said comparing step (b) being carried out by a data processor disposed at said reader, said data processor being operable to convert said encoded secret information into an unlocking signal and provide said unlocking signal to said reader to unlock said lock.

25. A method of tracking movements of individuals within a secure area, said method comprising:

a) using a loop antenna operable to transmit and receive RF signals from at least one radio frequency (RF) identity card at a location within the secure area;

b) transmitting RF signals from a reader through said loop antenna to said RF identity card to request a secret code, and thereby generating at the RF identity card a request for entry of said secret code if the card is at a location where the signal is received,

c) entering said secret code on an electronic input device device located on said RF identity card,

d) transmitting said secret code to said reader through a transceiver disposed on said RF identity card; and

e) using a data processor located at said reader, determining whether said secret code corresponds to said authorization, thereby tracking the tracking the movements of individuals carrying the RF identity card within the secure area.

26. A method of tracking movements of individuals within a secure area, said method comprising:

a) using a loop antenna operable to transmit and receive RF signals from at least one radio frequency (RF) identity card at a location within the secure area;

b) transmitting RF signals from a reader through said loop antenna to said RF identity card to request a secret code, and thereby generating at the RF identity card a request for entry of said secret code if the card is at a location where the signal is received;

c) entering said secret code on an electronic input device located on said RF identity card,

d) using a data processor located on said RF card, determining whether the entered secret code corresponds to said authorization; and

e) transmitting an authorization code to said reader through a transceiver disposed on said RF card, thereby tracking the movements of individuals carrying the RF identity card within the secure area.

27. A method as set forth in claim 26, said radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.