PERSONAL AUTHENTICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS SENSING USER VICINITY
A security device restricting access to various machines, places or data, using a security device that is kept in close proximity to a portion of the body of a person and is activated by an activation station to provide access to those machines, places or data to that person only when that person is confirmed to be an authorized person, and which is automatically deactivated when it ceases to be in close proximity to that person's body.
This application is a Continuation Application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/262,040 (attorney Docket 42P14638), entitled “Personal Authentication Method And Apparatus Sensing User Vicinity,” filed on Sep. 30, 2002, by Christoph E. Scheurich, assigned to a common assignee, the entire subject matter which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONA method and an apparatus for authenticating persons for security purposes (i.e., restricting access by persons to various machines, places or data) is disclosed.
ART BACKGROUNDA need has long existed to restrict access by persons to machines such as automated teller machines (ATMs) or computers, places such as workplace office buildings or laboratories, and data such as personal bank accounts or corporate intellectual property. Over time, a number of techniques have been devised to answer this need.
Passwords or PINs (personal identification numbers) have long been used in restricting access to computers, ATMs, rooms in buildings, various types of accounts on internet websites or personal data, such as credit card or bank account information over a telephone or by way of a computer. Passwords can be effective when they are chosen carefully and carefully maintained in secret. However, it is all too common for passwords to be chosen that are all too easy for others to guess or to crack with software to be chosen, such as the name of one's pet or a nickname for a family member. It is also all too common for passwords to be shared with trusted friends or coworkers, or to be written someplace where they can be easily found, such as on a sheet of paper inside a desk drawer.
Security tokens carrying some form of unique identifier, such as badge reader cards with a magnetic stripe or other devices using radio frequency emissions have long been used, especially in restricting access to places such as workplaces or rooms within workplaces where information or equipment of high value is maintained. However, such security tokens can be lost by or stolen from the persons for whom they were intended, and until such a loss or theft is reported so that the security token may be deactivated, it is possible that the security token may be used to provide access to someone who is not meant to have it. It is also possible that the person to whom a security token has been provided may voluntarily give it to someone else, such as a coworker to let them gain access to something or some place as a favor.
More recently, technology has made possible the identification of specific persons by way of biometric readings such as finger print, palm print or retinal scans. Although such biometric-based techniques go far in ensuring the provision of access to only designated persons, the use of such technology is often too prohibitively expensive to provide each machine, door, etc., with a biometric reading device.
The objects, features, and advantages of the invention as hereinafter claimed will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description in which:
Although numerous details are set forth for purposes of explanation and to provide a thorough understanding in the following description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the claimed invention as hereinafter described.
A method and apparatus for restricting access by persons to places, machines and/or data using a security device that is selectively activated and that stays activated only while in close proximity to a designated person is disclosed. Specifically, a security device for a designated person is activated at a point where the identity of the designated person can be verified and the security device is in close proximity to the body of the designated person, and the security device automatically deactivates itself if it ceases to be in close proximity to the body of the designated person. Although the discussion is largely centered on security devices that are worn in contact with the skin of a designated person, upon reading the description herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention as hereinafter claimed is applicable to other forms of security devices that need only remain within close proximity to a designated person to an extent that allows a characteristic of the body to be monitored to confirm proximity within a predetermined range or degree. Such a monitored characteristic could be electromagnetic, heat or other emissions generated by the body of the designated person to be sensed. Alternatively, mechanisms such as the receipt of signals reflected from the body could also be used, as in the case of receiving ultrasound, radar, magnetism, lightwaves, etc., reflected by the body of the designated person.
What is meant by the term “close proximity” to the body of a designated person may vary depending on the form of security device and the technology used by a proximity sensor within the security device. Upon reading the description herein, those skilled in the art will understand that a proximity sensor may employ any of a wide number of available technologies to sense the proximity of a security device to a person's body or to a portion of a person's body. As will be discussed, in some embodiments, “close proximity” may mean that a security device is in contact with the skin of a portion of the body portion of a designated person. In such embodiments, a proximity sensor may, as an example, sense body temperature, pulse or nerve impulses to determine if a security device is in contact with the skin, or a proximity sensor may use miniaturized Doppler radar to detect the presence or absence of blood flow through capillaries. Alternatively, in other embodiments, “close proximity” may mean a security device is carried on or near the body a designated person, but not necessarily in direct contact with that person's skin. Specifically, “close proximity” may mean keeping a security device within a predetermined distance to some portion of a designated person's body, or alternatively, close enough such that the level of some chemical or electromagnetic emission emanating from or reflected by a designated person's body does not fall below a predetermined level. A proximity sensor of such embodiments may use, for example, body temperature, nerve impulses, biochemical detection or miniaturized radar.
As part of activating security device 110, security device 110 is brought into close proximity with the body of a designated person, as shown in
As another part of activating security device 110, the designated person extends body portion 120 into activation station 130, allowing a biometric reading to be made of body portion 120 by biometric reader 132, and allowing transceiver 118 to interact with transmitter 138, as shown in
The exact sequence of events required to activate security device 110 may vary between embodiments. In one embodiment, bringing security device 110 into close proximity to body portion 120 must be done before body portion 120 is extended into activation station 130, otherwise, security device 110 cannot be activated. It may be that security device 110 is configured to refuse to be activated by activation station 130 unless security device 110 is already in close proximity to body portion 120. Alternatively, it may be that activation station 130 cooperates with security device 110 to check whether or not security device 110 is already in close proximity to body portion 120, and that activation station 130 is configured to refrain from activating security device 110 until security device 110 is first in close proximity to body portion 120. However, in an alternate embodiment, security device 110 may be activated by activation station 130 before security device 110 is brought into close proximity to body portion 120, however, security device 110 is configured to remain active for only a relatively short period of time (perhaps, a few seconds) to permit security device 110 to be brought into close proximity to the designated person after being activated.
Although biometric reader 132 is depicted as taking a biometric reading from a hand in
Transceiver 118 and transmitter 138 may employ any of a number of technologies to enable interaction between transceiver 118 and transmitter 138 to at least enable transmitter 138 transmitting a signal, code or other form of security key to transceiver 118 to at least activate security device 110. Also, depending on the nature of the security key used and/or the degree of security desired, transmitter 138 may actually be a two-way transceiver of some type, as opposed to a one-way transmitter. In some possible embodiments, interaction between transceiver 118 and transmitter 138 makes use of a technology requiring line-of-sign transmission and reception, such as infrared or directional radio frequency signals. In other possible embodiments, interaction between transceiver 118 and transmitter 138 makes use of technology not requiring line-of-sight conditions, such as radio frequency, magnetic or sound signals.
Specifically, activating security device 110 may simply entail transmitter 138 transmitting some form of security key to transceiver 118 so that such a security key may be stored for use by the designated person, as will subsequently be discussed. In such an embodiment, transmitter 138 may truly be only a transmitter of a signal to security device 110. Alternatively, activating security device 110 may entail activation station 130 receiving a signal from security device 110, such as an identification code that either uniquely identifies security device 110, or some aspect of compatibility or other feature of security device 110. In such an embodiment, transmitter 138 may, in fact, be a two-way transceiver.
Upon reading the description herein, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that where non-directional signals or signals not requiring line-of-sight are used, it may be desirable for one or more signals transmitted between security device 110 and activation station 130 to be encrypted to try to prevent the interception of such signals from providing a way to defeat the security meant to be provided through the use of security device 110.
Also, although activation station 130 is depicted in
Also depicted as part of security device 110 in both
There is also interface circuitry within chassis 252 to couple the processor and memory within chassis 252 to receiver 248, and the processor and memory within chassis 252 execute and store software that causes computer system 250 to use a receiver 248, such as a receiver 248a in
In
In
The use of such non-directional signal technology could provide greater convenience for a designated person in that there would be no need to take deliberate action to gain access to computer system 250, such as extending body portion 220 to bring security device 210 into a line of sight with receiver 248. In effect, the use of non-directional signal technology would essentially allow a designated person to be automatically provided with access to computer system 250 by simply approaching computer system 250. However, such convenience may cause undesired results, such as the unwanted granting of access to many different machines or other objects to which access is being restricted at the same time in situations where receivers for multiple machines and/or objects are positioned closely together. The use of line-of-sight signal technology would provide a designated person with an opportunity to choose to gain access only to the machines and/or objects that the designated person wishes to have access.
Security device 310 is in the form of a ring that may be worn on a finger of body portion 320 of a designated person. In a manner largely corresponding to security devices 110 and 210 of
Security device 410 is in the form of a necklace or pendant with strap 416 that may be used by a designated person to wear around the neck of the body of the designated person. In a manner largely corresponding to security devices 110 and 210 of
As an alternative to strap 416, security device 410 may be worn by a designated person by way of attaching security device 410 to the clothing of the designated person with either a spring-loaded clip or pin (neither shown). In embodiments where it is likely that security device 410 will be worn attached to the clothing of a designated person such that it is likely to be visible, then if such embodiments are shaped to provide a sufficiently large flat surface such as flat face 414 shown in
In a manner corresponding to the earlier discussion of activating security device 110 of
Once activation has occurred processor 562 is caused to monitor input from proximity sensor 580 to determine if security device 510 is still in close proximity to the body of the designated person. If security device 510 is determined to no longer be in close proximity to the body of the designated person, then processor 562 deactivates security 510 by erasing or otherwise disabling at least a portion of security data 574. In one embodiment, the erasing or disabling of security data 574 may be carried out by way of processor 562 overwriting at least a portion of memory 570 where security data 574 resides. In another embodiment, at least a portion of security data 574 is erased by processor 562 disconnecting memory 570 from battery 590.
In a manner corresponding to the earlier discussion of using security key 210 of
In a manner corresponding to the earlier discussion of activating security device 110 of
As previously discussed, the security data transmitted through transmitter 686 may be a simple security key, possibly including a value or character string, or may be something of greater complexity. Furthermore, as previously discussed with reference to possible embodiments of activation station 130 of
Referring variously to embodiments of security devices depicted in all of the figures, although the above discussion has focused on embodiments of security devices supporting a single piece of security data possibly providing only a single security key, upon reading the description herein, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that an embodiment of a security device could support multiple pieces of security data and/or multiple security keys. It may be that within a place of business or within an organization, different designated persons are meant to be granted access to different things, people or parts of a location, and so each of these individual items to which access could be granted requires a different piece of security data and/or different security key. In other words, each designated person may be provided with a different set of pieces of security data and/or security keys, depending on what people, places or things each particular designated person is to be permitted to access. Alternatively, it may be that multiple unrelated businesses and/or organizations make use of security systems in which a security device could be shared across those businesses and/or organizations. In other words, a designated person could have one security device capable of working with multiple pieces of security data and/or security keys used by entirely unrelated entities, such as the designated person's bank ATM and the designated person's workplace such that the same security device could be used to provide access to both.
The invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment. Numerous alternatives, modifications, variations and uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Upon reading the description herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention as hereinafter claimed may be practiced in support of a wide variety of security regimes and/or to restrict access to any of a wide variety of possible places, things or other persons. Also, although the discussion of providing security has centered entirely around having security devices carried in close proximity to the body of a designated person, it will be appreciated that the invention as hereinafter claimed may also be practiced in the context of security devices carried in close proximity to objects such as vehicles or organisms other than people such as plants and/or animals.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- sensing whether or not a security device is in close proximity to a portion of an authorized person's body, the security device when activated to enable the authorized person access to a place, machine or information, and when deactivated results in a denial of access to a person using the security device;
- receiving security data from an activation station separate from the security device, wherein the activation station is also separate from the place, machine or information to be accessed;
- activating or deactivating the security device based on the security data received from the activation station and whether the security device is in close proximity to the authorized person's body; and
- automatically deactivating the security device if the security device ceases to be in close proximity to the authorized person's body.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein activating the security device is permitted when the person using the security device is identified as authorized to use the security device and when the authorized person is put within close proximity to the security device within a predetermined time limit.
3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein identification as an authorized person further comprises:
- reading biometric data from the person who is using the security device by a biometric reader coupled to the activation station;
- verifying that the biometric data read from the person matches biometric data of an authorized person in a database coupled to the activation station; and
- identifying the person as the authorized person matching the biometric data.
4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein once activated, the security device remains activated when the authorized person remains in close proximity of the security device.
5. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
- periodically checking, by a proximity sensor coupled to the security device, whether the authorized person is in close proximity to the security device.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the security data comprises information to multiple levels of access and identifies at least one of a plurality of places, machines or information to which the authorized person is to be granted access, wherein the security data also optionally identifies at least one of a plurality of places, machines or information to which the authorized person is to be denied access.
7. A security device comprising:
- a proximity sensor to sense a proximity of the security device to at least a portion of a person's body;
- a transceiver to transmit and receive security data, the transceiver to communicate with an activation station separate from the security device, wherein the transceiver is to receive security data to activate the security device based on authorization from the activation station, wherein activation enables the person to gain access to a place, machine or information corresponding to the authorization from the activation station, the place, machine or information being separate and separable from both the security device and the activation station, and wherein failure to receive authorization from the activation station results in the security device remaining in a deactivated state; and
- a circuit to automatically deactivate the security device if at least one condition occurs, the condition selected from the group of conditions consisting of a first condition that the security device fails to be put into close proximity to the at least a portion of the person's body within a predetermined time period, and a second condition that the security device ceases to be in close proximity to the portion of the designated person's body after the predetermined time period expires,
- wherein deactivation results in a denial of service to the person using the security device, and wherein when the security device is activated, the security device to send a signal to a receiver communicatively coupled to the place, machine or information to be accessed to provide authorization information.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the signal sent by the security device to the receiver is a line-of-sight signal.
9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein authorization from the activation station is granted to the security device based on information read from at least a portion of the person's body by a biometric reader at the activation station, the read biometric data to be compared to biometric data corresponding to a plurality of authorized persons stored in a database coupled to the activation station.
10. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that when executed on a security device, cause the security device to:
- sense whether or not the security device is in close proximity to a portion of an authorized person's body, the security device when activated to enable the authorized person access to a place, machine or information, and when deactivated results in a denial of access to a person using the security device;
- receive security data from an activation station separate from the security device, wherein the activation station is also separate from the place, machine or information to be accessed;
- activate or deactivate the security device based on the security data received from the activation station and whether the security device is in close proximity to the authorized person's body; and
- automatically deactivate the security device if the security device ceases to be in close proximity to the authorized person's body.
12. The medium as recited in claim 10, wherein activating the security device is permitted when the person using the security device is identified as authorized to use the security device and when the authorized person is put within close proximity to the security device within a predetermined time limit.
13. The medium as recited in claim 12, wherein identification as an authorized person further comprises instructions to be executed at an activation station, wherein the instructions executed on a machine at an activation station cause the machine to:
- read biometric data from the person who is using the security device by a biometric reader coupled to the activation station;
- verify that the biometric data read from the person matches biometric data of an authorized person in a database coupled to the activation station; and
- identify the person as the authorized person matching the biometric data.
14. The medium as recited in claim 13, wherein once activated, the security device remains activated when the authorized person remains in close proximity of the security device.
15. The medium as recited in claim 13, further comprising instructions to:
- periodically check, by a proximity sensor coupled to the security device, whether the authorized person is in close proximity to the security device.
16. The medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the security data comprises information to multiple levels of access and identifies at least one of a plurality of places, machines or information to which the authorized person is to be granted access, wherein the security data also optionally identifies at least one of a plurality of places, machines or information to which the authorized person is to be denied access.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Inventor: CHRISTOPH E. SCHEURICH (Santa Cruz, CA)
Application Number: 12/031,311
International Classification: G06F 7/04 (20060101);