Registers – Records – Conductive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2002-01-22
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Conductive
C235S380000, C235S382000, C705S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340116
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is that of electronic security systems, particularly those in which the user carries a credential device, usually in the form of a card, bearing identification data. The system is secure because only the authorized bearer of the card is allowed admission. More particularly, the method of card identification in the field of this invention is that known as proximity, meaning that the user need only hold the identification card near to a reader and identification is accomplished. The card need not be removed from the wallet or handbag to accomplish this identification function, provided the necessary personal identification number has been entered into the card. This invention is also in the category of security in which steps are taken to be certain that the proper person has control of the identification card, by requiring a PIN entry by the user, in which PIN stands for “personal identification number”. The PIN number is known only to the authorized bearer of the card or credential device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A shortcoming of security systems which use a card or similar device for identification of the bearer, is that the wrong person may gain control of the card. To guard against this risk, the proper bearer is assigned a personal PIN code which must be included with the card for proper use. The phrase “PIN code” refers to a Personal Identification Number. This number is typically known only to one or a very few people. The PIN code is analogous to the personal code used to operate an Automatic Teller Machine. The PIN code is typically entered through a key pad mounted on or near the door frame.
Other inventions have introduced the concept of requiring a PIN code entry at the time of use. Some of these efforts require a keyboard mounted at the entry, thus spoiling the architecturally desirable feature of proximity systems, namely having no unwanted elements on the entry portal. These efforts are in part covered by patents listed in the second group, References
6
through
11
below. This group has the disadvantage of not being proximity and thus requiring mechanical reading equipment for accomplishing the intended use.
Reference #1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,068, has a keyboard on the card and has the convenience of proximity, but does not include the PIN feature. References 1 to 5 cover proximity but do not have the PIN code concept included. References 1 to 5 refer to multiple earlier patents on proximity systems, which are by now well established and known in the art. The references 1 to 5 provide ample proximity knowledge. References 6 through 11 provide patent background information on card and credential systems in which a PIN code is introduced.
REFERENCES AND PRIOR ART
Personal Identification and Signaling System Reference #1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,830. Shows a card with buttons and various means for modulating and demodulating identifying data, and coupling this data to a Reader and hence to a computer or communication system. This patent fails, however, to show entry of a PIN number to enable the card.
FIG. 1
of Reference Patent #1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,830 shows the card with an included antenna, battery, crystal, and display.
Number
Abbreviated Descriptive Title
Reference 1.
4223830
Identification System with Dual Data
Frequencies.
Reference 2
4236068
Personal Identification with Multiple Data
Frequencies and Emergency Bits
Reference 3
4384288
Pulse Position Modulation
Reference 4
4459474
Direction, Differential.
Reference 5
4473825
Power I/O, Plus
The group of patents covered by Reference 1 to Reference 5 show various methods of coupling data from the card, via antennas on both the card and the Reader, to the Reader, and hence to computer and communication systems. This is established art and provides several means for the subject invention to accomplish the identification data transfer through the proximity coupling function. The first five have the inventor Charles Walton.
Number
Abbreviated Descriptive Title
Reference 6
5559507
Single Transmission and Tag Reading for
Inductive Reader
Reference 7
5883603
Implantable Biosensing Transponder
Reference 8
5874896
Electronic Anti Shop Lifting System with
RFID Tag
Reference 9
5847662
Radio Card Communication Apparatus
References 6 through 9 are other examples of proximity identification art by other inventors, but none have the added security of requiring entry of a PIN code before use, so that any unauthorized person gaining control of the card could achieve unauthorized entry.
Number
Abbreviated Descriptive Title
Reference 10.
4614861
Unitary Self Contained Card Verification and
Validation
Reference 11.
4853522
Access to Data Field with Multiple Services
Reference 12.
4965568
Multilevel Security with Personal Key
Reference 13.
5561706
Managing Access with a Billing Code
Reference 14.
5627355
Transaction Device Protecting Account
Numbers
Reference 15.
5694471
Counterfeit-Proof Identification Card
The patents Reference 10 through 15 show means of introducing a pin code into a hand held object such as a card, but fail to incorporate the proximity sensing feature. These patents do not solve the problem of both being easy to use, through proximity, and being secure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
There is first a proximity reader and card, using known proximity data coupling techniques. That is, the reader stimulates the card, causing the card to cycle through its data functions, and the data stored in the card is transferred to the reader. This invention adds to the card a keyboard, or data entry means, from which a sub group of digits can be entered into the card. Within the card this sub group, also called a Personal Identification Number, or PIN, is compared to a previously stored internal reference PIN number. If the two PIN numbers agree, normal proximity data transfer is allowed to occur, and the bearer of the card is properly identified. If the internal reference PIN number and the entered PIN numbers do not agree, normal identification is denied. In other words, the bearer must have prior knowledge which establishes that he is the proper bearer of the card. The system can also be mounted in a hand held or lap top computer and the computer keyboard used to enter the PIN number. The system can also be mounted in a cell phone, and use the cell phone keyboard for entry of the PIN number, and have the proximity loop antenna built into the phone.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4800225 (1989-01-01), Imran
patent: 5146068 (1992-09-01), Ugawa et al.
patent: 5949680 (1999-09-01), Kettelkamp
patent: 6021951 (2000-02-01), Nishikawa
patent: 6036090 (2000-03-01), Rahman et al.
patent: 6044349 (2000-03-01), Tolopka et al.
patent: 6079621 (2000-06-01), Vardaniyan et al.
patent: 6126077 (2000-10-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 6164532 (2000-12-01), Suga et al.
patent: 19648767 (1997-06-01), None
Cecil Kenneth B.
Walton Charles A.
Cyr Daniel St.
Hoffman Wasson & Gitler
Lee Michael G.
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