Method of detecting authorised biometric information sensor

Abstract

In the past, a contact imaging device was physically secured to prevent tampering. When used with network computer systems or communications systems, securing a contact imager is difficult. According to the invention, a method is proposed for securing a contact imaging device from tampering and for ensuring a contact imaging device is an authorised contact imaging device for use with a personal computer, a network application, or a communications application.

1. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor comprising:
 providing biometric information to the biometric information sensor;  
 within the biometric information sensor, digitising at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data within the biometric information sensor;  
 within the biometric information sensor, encoding a value within the digital data, the encoded value related to the digital data and determined in accordance with a known method unique to biometric information sensors approved by a same source of the biometric information sensor and indicative of the same source; and,  
 providing the digital data with the encoded value therein from the biometric information sensor to a computer, the digital data absent the encoded value sufficient for determining the encoded value therefrom, wherein a comparison between the encoded value and another value determined according to the known method is suitable for identifying the biometric information sensor as approved by the same source.  
 
     
     
       2. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the encoded value is shared between the biometric information sensor and the computer to identify the biometric information sensor to the computer. 
     
     
       3. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving a signal comprising data at the biometric information sensor from the computer, and  
 wherein the step of encoding a value is performed in dependence upon the received data.  
 
     
     
       4. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein the encoded value is related to the digital data in a deterministic fashion based on the received data. 
     
     
       5. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the encoded value is independent of any encoded data for determining data integrity. 
     
     
       6. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the encoded value relates the biometric sensor and the digital data to an identifiable biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       7. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital data comprises a single image data frame. 
     
     
       8. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital data comprises a plurality of different image frames. 
     
     
       9. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving the digital data at the computer;  
 decoding the digital data to determine biometric data and an encoded value;  
 using the determined biometric data, determining at Least  least another value related to the biometric data and according to the known method;  
 comparing the at least another value to the encoded value to provide a comparison result; and,  
 when the comparison result is indicative of a match, authorising the data as originating from an approved biometric information sensor.  
 
     
     
       10. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving a unique ID from the biometric information sensor at a processor of a smart card interfaced therewith;  
 comparecomparing the received unique ID with data indicative of the unique ID stored in memory of the smart card in order to produce a comparison result;  
 if the comparison result is indicative of a match, providing a certifying signal certifying the unique ID of the biometric information sensor to the computer.  
 
     
     
       11. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , comprising receiving a unique number from a card interfaced with the biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       12. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 11 , wherein the value is determined using the unique number. 
     
     
       13. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 12 , wherein the value is encoded wing  using the unique number. 
     
     
       14. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the determination of the value is performed using a processor of a smart card interfaced with the biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       15. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the encoding of the value is performed using a processor of a smart card interfaced with the biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       16. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein encoding a value is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       17. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital data is indicative of an identification of the biometric sensor beyond mere approval by the same source. 
     
     
       18. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor comprising:
 providing biometric information to the biometric information sensor;  
 within the biometric information sensor, digitising at least some biometric information to provide digital data;  
 providing data from a computer to the biometric information sensor relating to a method of determining and encoding a value;  
 within the biometric information sensor, determining a value indicative of a unique source of the biometric information sensor according to the method of determining a value;  
 within the biometric information sensor, encoding the value indicative of the biometric information sensor according to the method of encoding a value;  
 providing the digital data comprising the encoded value from the biometric information sensor to the computer, the digital data absent the encoded value sufficient for determining the encoded value therefrom, wherein a comparison between the encoded value and another value determined according to the known method is suitable for authenticating the biometric data as originating from an approved source.  
 
     
     
       19. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 18 , comprising:
 receiving the digital data comprising the encoded value from the biometric input sensor at the computer;  
 decoding the digital data comprising the encoded value according to a method substantially the reverse of the method of encoding a value, the step of decoding to decode a value;  
 determining a second value according to the method of determining a value; and,  
 comparing the decoded value and the second value to determine whether the biometric information sensor is an authorised biometric information sensor.  
 
     
     
       20. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined an  in  claim 18 , wherein the data provided from the computer to the biometric information sensor is a synchronisation signal comprising one of a number, a dale  date, and a time. 
     
     
       21. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the method of determining a value is one of a plurality of predetermined deterministic methods of determining a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       22. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the method of encoding a value is one of a plurality of predetermined methods of encoding a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       23. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein providing the digital data comprising the encoded value to the computer is performed by providing a signal comprising a frame pulse and the digital data comprising the encoded value disposed within an image data frame. 
     
     
       24. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 23 , wherein encoding of the value is performed by inserting the value at a predetermined location within the image data frame. 
     
     
       25. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 23 , wherein encoding of the value is performed by replacing a portion less than the whole of the digital data with a portion of the value. 
     
     
       26. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 18 , wherein the data provided from the computer is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       27. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor comprising:
 receiving biometric information provided to the biometric information sensor;  
 within the biometric information sensor, digitising at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data;  
 providing a portion of the digital data from the biometric information sensor to a computer;  
 identifying the biometric information sensor to the computer as an authorised biometric information sensor, the information derived in accordance with a verifiable method wherein verification of the method is indicative of the biometric information sensor being an authorised biometric information sensor; and,  
 in dependence upon the shared information, identifying the biometric information sensor to the computer as an authorised biometric information sensor.  
 
     
     
       28. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor, comprising:
   a biometric information sensor that receives biometric information and digitizes at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data, said biometric information sensor including a component that encodes a value within the digital data, the encoded value related to the digital data and determined in accordance with a known method associated with a source of the biometric information sensor; and        a computer that receives the digital data with the encoded value therein from the biometric information sensor, wherein the computer is programmed to determine the encoded value from the digital data by comparing the encoded value and another value determined according to the known method for identifying the biometric information sensor as being associated with the source.     
     
     
       29. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the encoded value is shared between the biometric information sensor and the computer to identify the biometric information sensor to the computer. 
     
     
       30. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein data at predetermined locations within the biometric information is used by said biometric information sensor to generate said value encoded within the digital data in accordance with said known method associated with said source. 
     
     
       31. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 30 , wherein the biometric information sensor receives a signal comprising data from the computer, and wherein the biometric information sensor encodes the value in dependence upon the received data. 
     
     
       32. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 31 , wherein the data from the computer indicates a first location within the biometric information for use in generating said value. 
     
     
       33. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 31 , wherein the data from the computer includes a plurality of parameters that indicate locations within the biometric information for use in generating said value. 
     
     
       34. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 31 , wherein the encoded value is related to the digital data in a deterministic fashion based on the received data. 
     
     
       35. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the encoded value is independent of any encoded data for determining data integrity. 
     
     
       36. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the encoded value relates the biometric information sensor and the digital data to an identifiable biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       37. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the digital data comprises a single image data frame. 
     
     
       38. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the digital data comprises a plurality of different image frames. 
     
     
       39. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the computer is programmed to decode the digital data to determine biometric data and an encoded value and, using the determined biometric data, to determine at least another value related to the biometric data and according to the known method, to compare the at least another value to the encoded value to provide a comparison result and, when the comparison result is indicative of a match, to authorize the data as originating from an approved biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       40. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , further comprising a smart card having a processor and a memory, said processor of said smart card receiving a unique ID from the biometric information sensor and comparing the received unique ID with data indicative of the unique ID stored in said memory of the smart card in order to produce a comparison result, wherein if the comparison result is indicative of a match, said smart card provides a certifying signal certifying the unique ID of the biometric information sensor to the computer. 
     
     
       41. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , further comprising a card interfaced with the biometric information sensor that provides a unique number to the biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       42. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 41 , wherein the value is determined using the unique number. 
     
     
       43. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 42 , wherein the value is encoded using the unique number. 
     
     
       44. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , further comprising a smart card having a processor interfaced with the biometric information sensor, said smart card performing at least a portion of the determination of the value using said processor. 
     
     
       45. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 44 , wherein said processor of said smart card performs at least a portion of the encoding of the value. 
     
     
       46. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein encoding said value by said component of said biometric information sensor is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       47. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the digital data is indicative of an identification of the biometric sensor in addition to approval by the source. 
     
     
       48. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 28 , wherein the computer provides data to the biometric information sensor relating to a method of determining and encoding the value, and wherein said biometric information sensor determines the value according to the method of determining the value and said component encodes the value according to the method of encoding the value. 
     
     
       49. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein computer is programmed to receive the digital data comprising the encoded value from the biometric input sensor, to decode the digital data comprising the encoded value according to a method substantially the reverse of the method of encoding a value in order to decode a value, to determine the another value according to the method of determining a value, and to compare the decoded value and the another value to determine whether the biometric information sensor is an authorized biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       50. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the data provided from the computer to the biometric information sensor is a synchronization signal comprising one of a number, a date, and a time. 
     
     
       51. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the method of determining a value is one of a plurality of predetermined deterministic methods of determining a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       52. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the method of encoding a value is one of a plurality of predetermined methods of encoding a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       53. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the digital data comprising the encoded value is provided to the computer by the biometric information sensor by providing a signal comprising a frame pulse and the digital data comprising the encoded value disposed within an image data frame. 
     
     
       54. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 53 , wherein the component encodes the value by inserting the value at a predetermined location within the image data frame. 
     
     
       55. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 53 , wherein the component encodes the value by replacing a portion less than the whole of the digital data with a portion of the value. 
     
     
       56. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor according to  claim 48 , wherein the data provided from the computer is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       57. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 48 , wherein the data received from the computer is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       58. A biometric information sensor, comprising:
   a sensing component that receives biometric information and digitizes at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data;        an encoding device that encodes a value within the digital data, the encoded value related to the digital data and determined in accordance with a known method associated with a source of the biometric information sensor; and        a transmitter that transmits the digital data with the encoded value therein from the biometric information sensor to a computer for a determination of the encoded value from the digital data to identify the biometric information sensor as associated with the source.     
     
     
       59. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the encoded value is shared with the computer by the transmitter to identify the biometric information sensor to the computer. 
     
     
       60. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein data at predetermined locations within the biometric information is used by said encoding device to generate said value encoded within the digital data in accordance with said known method associated with said source. 
     
     
       61. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 60 , further comprising a receiver that receives a signal comprising data from the computer, and wherein the encoding device encodes the value in dependence upon the received data. 
     
     
       62. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 61 , wherein the data received from the computer indicates a first location within the biometric information for use in generating said value. 
     
     
       63. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 61 , wherein the data received from the computer includes a plurality of parameters that indicate locations within the biometric information for use in generating said value. 
     
     
       64. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 61 , wherein the encoded value is related to the digital data in a deterministic fashion based on the received data. 
     
     
       65. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the encoded value is independent of any encoded data for determining data integrity. 
     
     
       66. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the encoded value relates the biometric information sensor and the digital data to an identifiable biometric information sensor. 
     
     
       67. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital data comprises a single image data frame. 
     
     
       68. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital data comprises a plurality of different image frames. 
     
     
       69. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , further comprising an interface that interfaces with a smart card having a processor and a memory, said interface providing a unique ID to the processor of said smart card for comparison with data indicative of the unique ID stored in said memory of the smart card in order to produce a comparison result, wherein if the comparison result is indicative of a match, said smart card provides a certifying signal certifying the unique ID of the biometric information sensor to the computer. 
     
     
       70. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 69 , wherein said interface interfaces with said processor so as to allow said processor to perform at least a portion of the determination of the value. 
     
     
       71. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 70 , wherein said interface interfaces with said processor so as to allow said processor to perform at least a portion of the encoding of the value. 
     
     
       72. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , further comprising an interface that interfaces with a card that provides a unique number to the interface. 
     
     
       73. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 72 , wherein the value is determined using the unique number. 
     
     
       74. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 73 , wherein the value is encoded using the unique number. 
     
     
       75. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein encoding said value by said component is varied at intervals. 
     
     
       76. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital data is indicative of an identification of the biometric sensor in addition to approval by the source. 
     
     
       77. A biometric information sensor according to  claim 58 , further comprising a receiver that receives from the computer data relating to a method of determining and encoding the value, further comprising a second component that determines the value according to the method of determining the value and said component encodes the value according to the method of encoding the value. 
     
     
       78. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 77 , wherein the data received from the computer is a synchronization signal comprising one of a number, a date, and a time. 
     
     
       79. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 77 , wherein the method of determining a value is one of a plurality of predetermined deterministic methods of determining a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       80. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 77 , wherein the method of encoding a value is one of a plurality of predetermined methods of encoding a value each identified by a numeric identifier. 
     
     
       81. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 77 , wherein the digital data comprising the encoded value is provided to the computer by said transmitter by providing a signal comprising a frame pulse and the digital data comprising the encoded value disposed within an image data frame. 
     
     
       82. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 81 , wherein the component encodes the value by inserting the value at a predetermined location within the image data frame. 
     
     
       83. A biometric information sensor as defined in  claim 81 , wherein the component encodes the value by replacing a portion less than the whole of the digital data with a portion of the value. 
     
     
       84. A method of identifying a biometric information sensor, comprising:
   receiving biometric information at the biometric information sensor;        digitizing at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data,        providing a portion of the digital data from the biometric information sensor to a computer; and        identifying the biometric information sensor to the computer as an authorized biometric information sensor using information derived in accordance with a verifiable method wherein verification of the method is indicative of the biometric information sensor being an authorized biometric information sensor.     
     
     
       85. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor, comprising:
   a biometric information sensor that receives biometric information and digitizes at least some of the biometric information to provide digital data, said biometric information sensor configured to provide a portion of the digital data for processing; and        a computer that receives the digital data and that receives information derived in accordance with a verifiable method wherein verification of the method is indicative of the biometric information sensor being an authorized biometric information sensor, said computer configured to identify the biometric information sensor as an authorized biometric information sensor using said information.     
     
     
       86. A system for identifying a biometric information sensor, comprising:
   means for digitizing at least some of biometric information provided to the biometric information sensor to provide digital data;        means for providing a portion of the digital data for processing;        means for receiving the digital data and information derived in accordance with a verifiable method wherein verification of the method is indicative of the biometric information sensor being an authorized biometric information sensor; and        means for identifying the biometric information sensor as an authorized biometric information sensor using said information.