RFID tag and method of user verification

• US 20040256452A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Original Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Inventors: Knutsen, Bernhard P., Schloemer, David E., Coughlin, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US10/869,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040256452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An identification tag (100) facilitates use of a secure computer system (300). The tag (100) is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist and includes an identification and registration circuit (102) that includes an identification component (106), an affiliation component (110), and a light-emitting diode (112). The computer system includes an RF identification tag registration device (302) operable to acquire user physical information and communicate the physical information to a computer (202), wherein the computer verifies that a valid user is wearing the tag (100). The identification and registration device (302) ensures that the physical information communicated to the computer pertains to the user wearing the tag by comparing pulse signals acquired from the user'"'"'s hand and wrist as the device (302) is acquiring physical information. The computer (202) uses the identification information and the affiliation information to log the user into and out of the system (300), and to associate the identification information with a particular user.

Claims

1. A tag for communicating identification information to a computer, the tag comprising:

an identification component for storing and communicating identification information;

an affiliation component for detecting when the tag is secured to a user and for communicating affiliation information; and

an attachment component for securing the tag to the user.

2. The tag as set forth in claim 1, the identification component including a passive RF circuit for communicating the identification information to the computer in a radio signal in response to an interrogation signal sent by the computer.

3. The tag as set forth in claim 2, wherein the identification information includes the user'"'"'s name.

4. The tag as set forth in claim 2, wherein the identification information includes an identification number.

5. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the affiliation information indicates whether the tag is secured to the user.

6. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to the user by measuring a capacitance between two points of a surface of the tag that is in contact with the user'"'"'s skin.

7. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to the user by measuring a pressure exerted on a surface of the tag.

8. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to the user by measuring a temperature of a surface of the tag.

9. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to the user by sensing light incident to a surface of the tag.

10. The tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment component secures the tag to the user'"'"'s wrist.

11. The tag as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a confirmation signal source for communicating a tag confirmation signal.

12. The tag as set forth in claim 11, wherein the confirmation signal source is a light-emitting diode.

13. The tag as set forth in claim 12, wherein the light-emitting diode emits an infrared signal.

14. The tag as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a battery for storing energy and communicating the energy to another component of the tag.

15. The tag as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a battery charger, wherein the charger stores energy in the battery by receiving energy from an antenna and delivering the energy to the battery.

16. A wrist tag for communicating identification information to a computer, the wrist tag comprising:

a passive RF identification component for storing a user identification number and communicating the number in a radio signal in response to an interrogation signal;

an affiliation component for detecting when the wrist tag is secured to a user'"'"'s wrist by measuring a capacitance between two points of a surface of the tag that is in contact with the user'"'"'s skin, and for communicating affiliation information in a radio signal wherein the affiliation information indicates whether the wrist tag is secured to the user'"'"'s wrist;

a light-emitting diode for communicating an infrared tag confirmation signal; and

an attachment component for containing and securing the identification component, the affiliation component, and the diode to the user'"'"'s wrist, the attachment component including a flexible strap adapted to encircle the user'"'"'s wrist.

17. The tag as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a battery for storing energy and communicating the energy to another component of the tag.

18. The tag as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a battery charger, wherein the charger stores energy in the battery by receiving energy from an antenna and delivering the energy to the battery.

19. A screen pointer for permitting a user to interact with a touch screen, the screen pointer comprising:

a stylus;

an identification component for storing and communicating identification information; and

an attachment component for securing the stylus and the identification component to the user.

20. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the stylus is formed of plastic and is substantially triangle-shaped.

21. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the identification component is a passive RF identification tag.

22. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the identification component is embedded in the stylus.

23. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the attachment component secures the stylus and the identification component to a fingernail of the user.

24. The pointer as set forth in claim 23, wherein the attachment component secures the stylus to the fingernail so that a tip of the stylus extends over an edge of the fingernail with minimal overhang.

25. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the attachment component leaves exposed a fingerprintable portion of the user'"'"'s fingertip.

26. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the attachment component is a ring.

27. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the attachment component secures the stylus to the user'"'"'s wrist.

28. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, further comprising an affiliation component, wherein the attachment component removably secures the affiliation component to the user.

29. The pointer as set forth in claim 28, wherein the affiliation component detects if the pointer is secured to the user and communicates affiliation information indicating whether the pointer is secured to the user.

30. The pointer as set forth in claim 29, wherein the affiliation component detects when the stylus is secured to the user'"'"'s finger by measuring a capacitance.

31. The pointer as set forth in claim 29, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to the user by measuring a temperature of a surface of the tag.

32. The pointer as set forth in claim 29, wherein the affiliation component detects when the tag is secured to a user by sensing light incident to a surface of the tag.

33. The pointer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the attachment component includes first and second portions, wherein the first portion is for removably securing the stylus to a first area of the user, and the second portion is for removably securing the identification component to a second area of the user.

34. A screen pointer for permitting a user to interact with a touch screen, the screen pointer comprising:

a triangle-shaped stylus formed to fit over the user'"'"'s fingernail;

a passive RF identification tag embedded in the stylus for storing and communicating identification information; and

an attachment component for removably securing the stylus to the user'"'"'s fingernail so that a point of the stylus extends over a tip of the fingernail with minimal overhang, the attachment component including a flexible strap adapted to encircle the user'"'"'s finger while leaving exposed a fingerprintable portion of the user'"'"'s fingertip.

35. The pointer as set forth in claim 34, further comprising an affiliation component connected to the stylus for detecting when the stylus is secured to the user'"'"'s finger and for communicating affiliation information indicating whether the stylus is secured to the user.