Identity verification badge and security system

• US 8,390,428 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Thomas Guthrie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): OTT, FREDERICK R
• Application Number:
  US12/120,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20090284347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.81, 341/20, 341/23
• US Class Current: 340/5.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification

Abstract

An identification and verification security badge is disclosed. The badge includes a keypad that allows the entry of user information that is monitored and verified by a processor within the badge. The processor compares an inputted personal identification number with one that is stored within a memory within the badge. When a match is found, an access code is transmitted that includes at least a badge identification code that uniquely identifies the badge. The badge also includes an on-body sensor that determines the status of the badge with respect to a user. When the sensor determines that the badge is not in close proximately to the user, then transmission from the badge is inhibited. In another aspect, when a transition from one state of the badge sensor to another state is determined, the personal identification number is required to be entered.

Claims

1. An identity verification badge comprising:

a sensor configured to determine and output a status of said badge;

a keypad assembly having a faceplate including a plurality of data entry keys, said keys allowing for entry of at least one numeral value;

a processor in communication with said sensor, said keypad and a memory, said memory including an identification code of said badge and a personal identification number associated with a user;

said processor being configured to;

receive an input value comprising at least one value from said keypad;

determine whether the received input value corresponds to said personal identification number;

retain an indication of matching said personal identification number; and

a transmitter/receiver in communication with said processor,

the processor being configured to output an access signal upon receipt of a command action through the transmitter/receiver, wherein the access signal is maintained for a shift, to lock out the badge if the sensor indicates that the badge has been removed from the user, the access signal including at least said badge identification code when the received input value corresponds to said personal identification number and the output status of the badge is determined to be in a validated state and to output the access signal when the output status of the badge transitions from an invalidated state to the validated state within a predetermined time period without receiving any additional numerical input value from the keypad.

2. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein said access signal is encrypted.

3. The badge as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to inhibit transmission of said access signal when the output status of the badge is determined to be in an invalidated state.

4. The badge as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine when the output status of the badge transitions from the invalidated state to the validated state; and

request through the transmitter/receiver the input value from the user upon said determination.

5. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor outputs said access signal in response to a received external signal.

6. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor outputs said access signal periodically.

7. The badge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter/receiver is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

ultrasonic, RF, optical, electric field, magnetic field and infrared.

8. The badge as recited in claim 1 including a body detector coupled to the sensor, the body detector including at least one of a clip, a tilt switch, and a capacitance measurement device.

9. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor requests entry of the input value from the user after a predetermined time period expires.

10. The badge as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator for providing an indication of a receipt of an external logon signal.

11. The badge as recited in claim 10, wherein said indication includes at least one of an audio indication and a visual indication.

12. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to generate an indication of the badge being in the validated state at predetermined intervals.

13. The badge as recited in claim 1, wherein said faceplate keys are dual-entry keys for entering numerical data and command data.

14. The badge as recited in claim 13, wherein said numerical data is determined when a key depression occurs for a time less than a predetermined time.

15. The badge as recited in claims 13, wherein said command data is determined when at least two depressions of the same key occur within a predetermined time.

16. A system for managing a logon security protocol to a computer system transmitting a discovery signal, said system comprising:

an identification badge;

a body detector coupled to the identification badge and configured to detect the identification badge'"'"'s being worn by a user, the identification badge including;

a keypad configured to receive at least one numerical input value;

a transmitter/receiver configured to detect the discovery signal;

a processor in communication with a memory and with the transmitter/receiver;

said processor being configured to;

receive a badge status indication;

receive the at least one numerical input value from the keypad;

compare the at least one numerical input value with a personal identification number stored in said memory;

determine whether the at least one numerical input value matches said personal identification number;

provide a user identification signal from the transmitter/receiver to the computer system, wherein the user identification signal indicates a valid logon status to a computer in communication with the computer system;

lock out the user if the discovery signal is not received within a predetermined time period; and

allow the user to access the computer system without receiving any additional numerical input value from the keypad if the discovery signal is again received within another predetermined time period.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the processor requests entry of the numerical input value by the user when the identification badge transitions from the valid logon status to an invalid logon status.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to inhibit transmission of the user identification signal when the identification badge transitions from the valid logon status to an invalid logon status.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the valid logon status indicates detection of the identification badge'"'"'s being worn by the user.

20. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the transmission of the discovery signal occurs periodically.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said transmitter/receiver is of a type selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic, RF, optical, electric field, magnetic field and infrared.

22. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said body detector includes at least one of a clip and a capacitance measurement device.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the discovery signal is sent periodically and the badge status indication is sent in response to each detected discover signal.

24. A method for managing a validation badge logon security protocol comprising:

receiving a status indication of a body detector;

receiving a numerical input value;

comparing said numerical input value with a prestored identification value that uniquely identifies a user;

transmitting a user identification signal that uniquely identifies said validation badge when said numerical input value corresponds to said prestored identification value;

validating a login to a computer using the logon security protocol based on the user identification signals uniquely identifying said validation badge and based on the status indication being determined as valid;

determining that said validation badge has moved outside a distance such that the computer does not receive the user identification signal from said validation badge;

determining that said validation badge has returned within a distance such that the computer may receive the user identification signal from said validation badge, that the validation badge was previously logged-on to the computer, and that said validation badge is currently locked out of the computer; and

validating a login to the computer using based on the status indication'"'"'s being determined as valid without receiving another numerical input value.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, including requesting input of the numerical input value when the status indication is determined as invalid.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, including inhibiting transmission of the user identification signal when the status indication is determined as being invalid.