Authorization verification method and devices suited therefor

• US 7,658,328 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Lagadec, Roger, Cantini, Renato, Messmer, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/576,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/385, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

The invention relates to an authorization verification method and devices suited therefor, which play back authorization data via a user interface (11) of an electronic playback device (1). During the playback of authorization data via the user interface (11) of a first playback device (1), the playback attributes are modified. The playback of authorization data via the user interface (11) of the first playback device (1) is compared with the playback of reference data via a user interface (21) of a second electronic playback device (2). Authorization is granted in the event the playback of authorization data via the user interface (11) of the first playback device (1) matches the playback of reference data via the user interface (21) of the second playback device (2), and modifications of the playback attributes are, in essence, time-synchronized. The dynamic modification of the playback attributes during the playback of authorization data and playback of the reference data render practically impossible the unauthorized copying of image contents or audio contents for falsifying an authorization. In addition, a simultaneous playback of authorization data and reference data render unnecessary inquiries made to an authorization center (3).

Claims

1. An authorization verification method, comprising:

reproduction of authorization data using a user interface of a first electronic reproduction device;

comparison of the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device with the reproduction of reference data using a user interface of a second electronic reproduction device;

alteration of reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device, so that the reproduction of the authorization data changes dynamically; and

granting of the authorization when there is a match between the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device and the reproduction of the reference data using the user interface of the second reproduction device, where the match between the reproduction of the authorization data and the reproduction of the reference data is at least in the reproduction attributes, and alterations in the reproduction attributes are time-synchronized.

2. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authorization data are stored in a data store of the first reproduction device, the reference data are stored in a data store of the second reproduction device, and the alteration of reproduction attributes is made based on details regarding the alteration of reproduction attributes.

3. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device is based on a first synchronization signal, the reproduction of the reference data using the user interface of the second reproduction device is based on a second synchronization signal, the first synchronization signal is produced in the first reproduction device, and the second synchronization signal is produced in the second reproduction device.

4. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device is based on a first synchronization signal, the reproduction of the reference data using the user interface of the second reproduction device is based on a second synchronization signal, and the first synchronization signal is produced in the first reproduction device based on a signal that has been received in the first reproduction device from the second reproduction device, or the second synchronization signal is produced in the second reproduction device based on a signal that has been received in the second reproduction device from the first reproduction device.

5. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reproduction of the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device is based on a first synchronization signal, the reproduction of the reference data using the user interface of the second reproduction device is based on a second synchronization signal, and the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal are produced in the first reproduction device and in the second reproduction device, respectively, based on a signal received from a computer-based authorization center.

6. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authorization data are stored in a data store of a computer-based authorization center, and the authorization data and the reference data are transmitted from the authorization center essentially in time sync via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device and to the second reproduction device, respectively.

7. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alteration of reproduction attributes in the reproduction of the authorization data and in the reproduction of the reference data is made based on relevant data in the authorization data and in the reference data, respectively.

8. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alteration of reproduction attributes in the reproduction of the authorization data and in the reproduction of the reference data is made based on relevant data transmitted from an authorization center via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device and to the second reproduction device, respectively.

9. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authorization data are transmitted from an authorization center via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device, the alteration of reproduction attributes in the reproduction of the authorization data is made based on reproduction control data transmitted from a reproduction control center via the telecommunication network to the first reproduction device, the reference data are transmitted from the reproduction control center via the telecommunication network to the second reproduction device, and the alteration of reproduction attributes in the reproduction of the reference data is made based on data transmitted from the reproduction control center via the telecommunication network to the second reproduction device.

10. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a display is used as a user interface on which the authorization data and the reference data can be shown, and reproduction attributes are used that include visual attributes, orientation details, details relating to the determination of a picture section, or position details.

11. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein authorization data and reference data are used that include service descriptors, and reproduction attributes are used that include details about fonts.

12. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein authorization data are used that include user identification data, and the reproduction of the user identification data is determined by the reproduction attributes.

13. The authorization verification method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is used as a user interface that can be used to reproduce the authorization data and the reference data, and reproduction attributes are used that include audio attributes of details about volume, pitch, or tone length.

14. A system for authorization verification, comprising:

a first electronic reproduction device including a user interface for reproducing authorization data;

a second electronic reproduction device including a user interface for reproducing reference data;

means for reproducing the authorization data using the user interface of the first reproduction device and for altering reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data in time sync with the reproduction of the reference data using the user interface of the second reproduction device, and with alterations of reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the reference data, respectively, so that the reproduction of the authorization data changes dynamically.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first reproduction device includes a data store that stores the authorization data, the second reproduction device includes a data store that stores the reference data, and the means for altering reproduction attributes are set up to make the alteration of the reproduction attributes based on details regarding the alteration in the reproduction attributes.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first reproduction device is set up to reproduce the authorization data based on a first synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, the second reproduction device is set up to reproduce the reference data based on a second synchronization signal using the user interface of the second reproduction device, the first reproduction device is set up to produce the first synchronization signal, and the second reproduction device is set up to produce the second synchronization signal.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first reproduction device is set up to reproduce the authorization data based on a first synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, the second reproduction device is set up to reproduce the reference data based on a second synchronization signal using the user interface of the second reproduction device, and the first reproduction device is set up to receive a signal from the second reproduction device and to produce the first synchronization signal based on the received signal, or the second reproduction device is set up to receive a signal from the first reproduction device and to produce the second synchronization signal based on the received signal.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first reproduction device is set up to reproduce the authorization data based on a first synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, the second reproduction device is set up to reproduce the reference data based on a second synchronization signal using the user interface of the second reproduction device, the first reproduction device and the second reproduction device are set up to receive a signal from a computer-based authorization center, and the first reproduction device and the second reproduction device are set up to produce the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal, respectively, based on the received signal.

19. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a computer-based authorization center including a data store that stores the authorization data, and the authorization center is set up to transmit the authorization data and the reference data essentially in time sync via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device and to the second reproduction device, respectively.

20. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for altering the reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data are set up to make the alteration of the reproduction attributes based on relevant data in the authorization data.

21. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a computer-based authorization center that is set up to transmit attribute data via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device and to the second reproduction device, and the means for altering the reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data are set up to make the alteration in the reproduction attributes based on relevant attribute data that have been received from the authorization center.

22. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a computer-based authorization center including a data store that stores the authorization data, wherein the authorization center is set up to transmit the authorization data via a telecommunication network to the first reproduction device;

a computer-based reproduction control center that is set up to transmit reproduction control data via the telecommunication network to the first reproduction device, and to transmit the reference data via the telecommunication network to the second reproduction device; and

wherein the means for altering the reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data are set up to make the alteration in the reproduction attributes based on the reproduction control data.

23. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the user interfaces each include a display for showing the authorization data and reference data, respectively, and the reproduction attributes include visual attributes of color details, orientation details, details relating to the determination of a picture section, position details, or details about fonts.

24. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the user interfaces each include an electroacoustic transducer for reproducing the authorization data and reference data, respectively, and the reproduction attributes include audio attributes of details about volume, pitch, or tone length.

25. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first reproduction device is in a form of a mobile communication terminal.

26. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first reproduction device is in the form of a chip card.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code means for controlling one or more processors in a first electronic reproduction device that can be used in an authorization verification method such that,

the first reproduction device reproduces authorization data using a user interface of the first reproduction device and alters reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data, so that the reproduction of the authorization data changes dynamically, where the authorization data are reproduced and the reproduction attributes are altered during the reproduction of the authorization data in time sync with reproduction of reference data using a user interface of a second electronic reproduction device and with alterations of reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the reference data, respectively.

28. The computer program product as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the authorization data are stored in a data store of the first reproduction device, and wherein the reproduction attributes are altered based on details regarding the alteration of reproduction attributes.

29. The computer program product as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the first reproduction device reproduces the authorization data based on a synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, and the first reproduction device produces the synchronization signal.

30. The computer program product as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the first reproduction device reproduces the authorization data based on a synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, and the first reproduction device produces the synchronization signal based on a signal that the first reproduction device receives from the second reproduction device, or the first reproduction device transmits a signal to the second reproduction device for producing a synchronization signal in the second reproduction device.

31. The computer program product as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the first reproduction device reproduces the authorization data based on a synchronization signal using the user interface of the first reproduction device, the first reproduction device receives a signal from a computer-based authorization center via a telecommunication network, and the first reproduction device produces the synchronization signal based on the received signal.

32. The computer program product as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the first reproduction device receives the authorization data via a telecommunication network from a computer-based authorization center.

33. The computer program product as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

computer program code means that controls the processors in the first reproduction device such that the first reproduction device receives the authorization data via a telecommunication network from a computer-based authorization center, the first reproduction device receives reproduction control data via the telecommunication network from a computer-based reproduction control center, and the first reproduction device alters the reproduction attributes during the reproduction of the authorization data based on the reproduction control data.