System, method and apparatus for electronic ticketing

• US 20050001711A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation Connection Corporation
• Original Assignee: Innovation Connection Corporation
• Inventors: Gilliom, Robert M., Doughty, Ralph O., Antaki, Patrick R., Palmer, Glennard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.740
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for securely granting access to an event. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, such as an electronic card, ticket or information carrier, contains biometric data about a user. When the “ticket” is purchased or authenticated, event access information is stored on the electronic card or ticket by an entity authorized by the event provider. The user is allowed access to the event when the biometric data stored on the electronic card or ticket matches the user'"'"'s biometric data and the event access information is validated. The user'"'"'s biometric data is authenticated via a biometric sensor on the electronic card or ticket. The user'"'"'s biometric data can also be authenticated by the entity granting access to the event.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a communications interface disposed within the substrate;

a biometric sensor mounted on the substrate;

a memory disposed within the substrate;

event access information stored in the memory;

a processor disposed within the substrate and communicably coupled to the communications interface, the biometric sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is operable to process biometric information received from the biometric sensor to verify that a user is authorized to use the apparatus and transmit the event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus via the communications interface when the user is verified; and

a power source disposed within the substrate and electrically connected to the communications interface, the biometric sensor and the processor.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the communications interface is a contactless interface.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the contactless interface is a wireless transceiver, an optical transmitter or a magnetic field generator that is normally inactive.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generator creates a time-varying magnetic signal for emulating data obtained from swiping a magnetic stripe card through a magnetic card reader.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a programmable magnetic stripe.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the programmable magnetic stripe comprises:

a magnetic stripe either mounted on the substrate or disposed within the substrate;

one or more induction coils disposed within the substrate underneath the magnetic stripe; and

a controller disposed within the substrate that is connected to the one or more induction coils and operable to generate a spatially varying or time-varying magnetic signal via the one or more induction coils and the magnetic stripe.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the magnetic stripe contains three-tracks and each track contains a set of magnetic data cells.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the communications interface is a physical interface mounted on the substrate.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the physical interface is a magnetic stripe, a programmable magnetic stripe, a smart card interface or a communications port.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a smart card processor and an ASIC chip.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source is controlled by a power management unit.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a piezoelectric generator, a solar panel, an electromagnetic energy converter;

a kinetic energy converter and combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source comprises:

a battery;

a power generator;

a converter electrically connected to the power generator and operable to convert power received from the power generator into power usable by the apparatus or to charge the battery;

a battery management unit connected to the battery; and

a power multiplexer connected to the battery management unit and the converter and operable to determine whether to draw power from the battery management unit, from the converter, or from both.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint sensor, retina sensor, iris sensor or voice sensor.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor comprises a matrix of points operable to detect high and low points corresponding to ridges and valleys of a fingerprint.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor comprises an emitter and a detector wherein light projected by the emitter is reflected from a user'"'"'s finger onto the detector.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface mounted on the substrate that is communicably coupled to the processor and electrically connected to the power source.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the user interface is selected from the group consisting of a touch pad, one or more buttons, a display and a voice sensor.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is semi-flexible.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is integrated into a card selected from the group consisting of an access card, a credit card, a debit card, an identification card, a mini-card, a security card, a stored value card and a vendor-specific card.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is integrated into a travel credential selected from the group consisting of a passport, an immigration card and a visa.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is integrated into a personal communication device selected from a group consisting of a personal data assistant, a telecommunications device, a pager, a computer and an electronic mail transceiver.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is integrated into a personal device/belonging selected from a group consisting of a watch, a jewelry, a key ring, a tag and eye glasses.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor and the memory are integrated into a single integrated circuit.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory contains a biometric analog of a user.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor provides binary data to the magnetic field generator after a user has been authenticated using the biometric sensor.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor deactivates the magnetic field generator after the magnetic field generator has been active for a specified period of time.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor deactivates the magnetic field generator when the biometric sensor no longer detects the authorized user.

29. A method for requesting access to an event by a user of an apparatus containing communications interface, a biometric sensor, a memory and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving event access information from an external source via the communications interface and storing the event access information in the memory;

receiving authentication data from the biometric sensor;

determining whether the authentication data is valid for the user; and

requesting access to the event by transmitting the event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus via the communications interface whenever the authentication data is valid.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the event comprises a vehicle, a restricted area, a club, a concert, an entertainment venue or a sporting event.

31. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the event access information is encrypted.

32. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the event access information comprises boarding pass information, ticket information or a security clearance.

33. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the step of transmitting an indication that the user is not authorized to use the apparatus via the communications interface whenever the authentication data is invalid.

34. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the step of receiving one or more activation parameters.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the one or more activation parameters includes detecting data from the biometric sensor, detecting an external signal or receiving data from a user interface.

36. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the step of determining whether the authentication data is valid comprises comparing the authentication data to one or more biometric templates stored on the apparatus.

37. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the step of selecting the information to enable access to the event.

38. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the step of providing personal identification information to verify the identity of the user prior to receiving the event access information.

39. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

receiving power from an external power source in a contactless manner; and

converting the power received from the external power source into power compatible with the apparatus.

40. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium for requesting access to an event by a user of an apparatus containing communications interface, a biometric sensor, a memory and a processor, the computer program comprising:

a code segment for receiving event access information from an external source via the communications interface and storing the event access information in the memory;

a code segment for receiving authentication data from the biometric sensor;

a code segment for determining whether the authentication data is valid for the user; and

a code segment for requesting access to the event by transmitting the event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus via the communications interface whenever the authentication data is valid.

41. A method for granting access to an event for a user of an apparatus containing communications interface, a biometric sensor, a memory and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus from the communications interface, wherein the user is authorized to use the apparatus whenever the apparatus determines that authentication data received from the biometric sensor is valid for the user;

determining whether the event access information indicates that access rights to the event are associated with the apparatus; and

granting access to the event whenever the event access information indicates that access rights to the event are associated with the apparatus.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the event access information is encrypted and further comprising the step of decrypting the event access information.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the apparatus is not authorized to decrypt the event access information.

44. The method as recited in claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

determining the identity and access rights of a user to the event;

creating the event access information; and

transmitting the event access information to the communications interface of the apparatus for storage in the memory of the apparatus.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising the step of encrypting the event access information.

46. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium for granting access to an event for a user of an apparatus containing communications interface, a biometric sensor, a memory and a processor, the computer program comprising:

a code segment for receiving event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus from the communications interface, wherein the user is authorized to use the apparatus whenever the apparatus determines that authentication data received from the biometric sensor is valid for the user;

a code segment for determining whether the event access information indicates that access rights to the event are associated with the apparatus; and

a code segment for granting access to the event whenever the event access information indicates that access rights to the event are associated with the apparatus.

47. A system comprising:

one or more user devices, each user device comprising

a substrate,

a communications interface disposed within the substrate,

a biometric sensor mounted on the substrate,

a memory disposed within the substrate,

a device processor disposed within the substrate and communicably coupled to the communications interface, the biometric sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is operable to process biometric information received from the biometric sensor to verify that a user is authorized to use the apparatus and the event access information and an indication that the user is authorized to use the apparatus via the communications interface when the user is verified, and

a power source disposed within the substrate and electrically connected to the communications interface, the biometric sensor and the device processor;

one or more system interfaces operable to communicate with the user device; and

a system processor communicably coupled to the one or more system interfaces.

48. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the one or more system interfaces includes an optical interface, a smart card interface, a wireless communication interface, a magnetic reader, an initialization interface or a recharger.

49. The system as recited in claim 47, further comprising a database communicably coupled to the system processor.

50. The system as recited in claim 47, further comprising one or more remote computers communicably coupled to the system processor via a network.