Identity card, information carrier and housing designed for its application

Abstract

An identity card comprises an easy-to-use, more specifically card-shaped, information carrier provided with an electronically readable memory capable of digitally storing personal user data, including data concerning the user's physical features. The information carrier is installed in and can be removed from an input unit of a housing of comfortable dimensions. The housing has been provided with reading equipment which is capable of reading the personal data stored in the memory of the information carrier. Moreover, the housing has been provided with a screen for representing the data read.

1. An identity system comprising:
 a card-shaped information carrier having an electronically readable memory capable of storing a user's personal data in digital form including data concerning physical characteristics of the user; 
 a housing having (a) an input unit for receiving the information carrier, (b) reading means capable of reading the personal data stored in the memory of the information carrier and (c) representation means for representing the data read; and 
 a second information carrier having a sheet attached, both information carriers jointly accommodated in the input unit of the housing, and a unique encrypted code stored in both carriers in an electronically readable memory, and means available to establish code correspondence of both information carriers and to signal the difference by means of a representation installation. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the card-shaped information carrier in addition to an electronically readable memory, also comprises a central processing unit and that the second information carrier only contains an electronically readable memory. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the personal data comprise the user's external characteristics in parameters. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the personal data have been protected by means of a unique access code. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the card-shaped information carrier further comprises further comprises one or more authenticity features. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the card-shaped information carrier comprises a central processing unit having means for electric data transfer with a terminal unit of an identification system, and in that the central processing unit, activated by means of an adequate program code from the memory, is capable of comparing the user's external features as stored in the memory to the user's external features recorded on site. 
     
     
       7. The identity system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is approximately the same size as the card-shaped information carrier. 
     
     
       8. A method for identification of a user, comprising:
 obtaining personal characteristics data from the user;   communicating data related to the obtained personal characteristics data to an integrated circuit (IC) card;   comparing obtained personal characteristics parameter data, which is derived from the obtained personal characteristics data, with stored personal characteristics parameter data within the IC card; and   providing a result that indicates if the stored personal characteristics parameter data matches the obtained personal characteristics parameter data,   wherein personal characteristics parameter data is derived from personal characteristics data utilizing knowledge of a type of characteristic depicted in the personal characteristics data.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a result includes providing a user detectable indication or a machine readable indication if the stored personal characteristics parameter data matches the obtained personal characteristics parameter data. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
 encrypting at least one of the obtained personal characteristics parameter data and stored personal characteristics parameter data.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein stored encrypted personal characteristics parameter data is maintained within in the IC card and cannot be read out of the IC card. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10, wherein the stored encrypted personal parameter characteristics data can be read out from the IC card with an access key or code. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating the data related to the obtained personal characteristics data includes communicating the data to the IC card through a wired or wireless medium. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a result further includes providing a user detectable indication or a machine readable indication if the obtained personal characteristics parameter data matches stored personal characteristics parameter data. 
     
     
       15. A method for identification of a user, comprising the steps of
 storing personal user data, including personal characteristics parameter data, in a memory of an integrated circuit card;   deriving personal characteristics parameter data from externally generated personal characteristics data obtained from the user;   communicating the personal characteristics parameter data to the integrated circuit card;   comparing the personal characteristics parameter data with the stored personal characteristics parameter data in the integrated circuit card; and   providing a result that indicates if the stored personal characteristic parameter data matches the personal characteristics parameter data.   
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 15, wherein providing said result includes providing a user detectable indication or a machine readable indication if the stored personal characteristic parameter data matches the personal characteristic parameter data. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the stored personal characteristic parameter data is read out from the integrated circuit card by applying an appropriate access key or code. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 15, wherein communicating the personal characteristic parameter data includes communicating the derived personal characteristic parameter data to the integrated circuit card through a wireless medium. 
     
     
       19. A method for identification of a traveling user, comprising the steps of
 storing personal user data, including personal characteristic parameter data, in a memory of an integrated circuit card,   printing personal user data on a sheet, which is permanently attached to said integrated circuit card, identifying the user, and   optionally, either
 deriving personal characteristics parameter data from personal characteristic data obtained from the user, communicating personal characteristics parameter data to the integrated circuit card, and comparing the obtained personal characteristics parameter data with the stored personal characteristics parameter data; or 
 providing a result that indicates if the stored personal characteristic parameter data matches the obtained personal characteristic parameter data or observing the personal user data which is printed on said sheet. 
   
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing said result includes providing a user detectable indication or a machine readable indication if the stored personal characteristics data matches the obtained personal characteristics data. 
     
     
       21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the stored personal characteristics parameter data is read out from the integrated circuit card by applying an appropriate access key or code. 
     
     
       22. The method according to claim 19, wherein communicating the obtained personal characteristics parameter data includes communicating the obtained personal characteristics parameter data to the integrated circuit card through a wireless medium.