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  Portable device having biometrics-based authentication capabilitiesUSPTO Application #: 20080052528Title: Portable device having biometrics-based authentication capabilities Abstract: Apparatus and method for implementing biometrics-based access control to a restricted resource. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is realized using a portable device. Specifically, in one embodiment, the portable device includes a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory coupled thereto, and a biometrics-based authentication module controlled by the microprocessor. Preferably, the biometrics technology used is fingerprint authentication technology. The authentication module is capable of registering a fingerprint upon first use of the portable device, storing an encoded version of the fingerprint in the non-volatile memory. Subsequently, the authentication module can read a person's fingerprint and reliably determine whether the fingerprint matches the registered fingerprint stored in the non-volatile memory. If a match is found, access to the restricted resource is granted to that person; otherwise, access is denied. Embodiments of the present invention thus provide a highly convenient, secured and reliable method and system for user authentication and access control which was not achievable in prior art password-based authentication approaches. (end of abstract) Agent: White & Case LLP Patent Department - New York, NY, US Inventors: Teng Pin Poo, Lay Chuan Lim USPTO Applicaton #: 20080052528 - Class: 713186000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Support, System Access Control Based On User Identification By Cryptography, Using Record Or Token, Biometric Acquisition The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080052528. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a portable device, and in particular, a portable data storage and access control device having biometrics-based authentication capabilities. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART [0002] Portable data storage devices have become a class of indispensable peripherals that are widely utilized in business, educational and home computing. These devices are generally not permanently fitted to a particular host platform, such as a personal computer (PC). Rather, they can be conveniently removed from and attached to any computer having the appropriate connection port (e.g., a serial bus port like a USB port, an IEEE 1394 ("Firewire") port). Thus, these portable data storage devices enable a user to transfer data among different computers that are not otherwise connected. A popular type of portable storage device utilizes a non-volatile solid-state memory (e.g., flash memory) as the storage medium and so does not require moving parts or a mechanical drive mechanism for accessing the data. The absence of a drive mechanism enables these portable solid-state memory devices to be more compact than surface storage devices such as magnetic disks and CD-ROMs. [0003] As portable storage devices become more widely used in various institutional and personal computing environments, preventing unauthorized users from accessing information stored on a portable or designated storage media is one of the most significant challenges in information technology today. For example, to secure confidential business information, personal information like medical and financial or other types of sensitive data, it is essential to have a reliable security measure that is simple to use, convenient and provides a level of protection appropriate for the type of information to be secured. [0004] To date, most portable storage devices have resorted to user passwords as a security measure for protecting against unauthorized data access. While the use of passwords as an authentication mechanism provides some level of protection against unauthorized access, it is often regarded by users as cumbersome and inconvenient due to the need to remember the password and to key it in every time the user requests access. In many systems, a user is also required to periodically change his/her password as an added level of security. This further adds to the inconvenience. Moreover, since a typical user generally needs access to several computer systems and/or networks requiring access control, the user may have to memorize numerous different passwords because they are not necessarily identical on the different systems. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a reliable authentication mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to information stored on a portable or designated storage media that is not cumbersome or inconvenient for the user. [0005] In addition, passwords are not unique among different users and are also subject to hacking by many skilled hackers. Once a password has been compromised, whether by inadvertent disclosure by a bona fide user to an unauthorized party or by malicious hacking, confidential data that is supposed to be password-protected are no longer guarded. Indeed, unauthorized access to such information may go unnoticed for extended periods of time. Ongoing intrusions usually remains undeterred until the victimized user finally realizes that the data has been accessed and/or destroyed, or until the system administrator detects a pattern of suspicious activities. Therefore, it would also be advantageous to provide a secured access control mechanism for protection against unauthorized access to data stored in portable storage media and various computer systems which is not easily compromised by hacking and preferably provides a unique "access key" for each individual user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and system which delivers a highly reliable and user-friendly authentication mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to information stored on a portable or designated storage media. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention also provide a highly secure access control mechanism for protection against unauthorized access to stored data and computer resources as well as guarding against unauthorized entry to premises. Aspects of the present invention, which utilizes a unique biometrics marker as a basis for identity authentication and as an "access key" for each individual user, are described in detail herein. [0007] Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a portable device which includes a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory coupled thereto, and a biometrics-based authentication module controlled by the microprocessor. Preferably, the biometrics technology used is fingerprint authentication technology, and flash memory is used as the non-volatile memory. In this embodiment, the fingerprint authentication module automatically prompts the user to register his/her fingerprint with the portable device upon its first use. In a currently preferred embodiment, a compact and encrypted version of the fingerprint is stored in the portable device's flash memory when the registration process is completed. Upon a subsequent use, the fingerprint authentication module reads the user's fingerprint, compares it with the registered fingerprint stored in the flash memory and reliably determines whether there is a match between the two. If a match is identified, authentication of the user's identity is successful, and the authenticated user is granted access to the restricted resource, the access to which is being safeguarded using the present access control system. On the other hand, if a match cannot be found between the user's fingerprint and the registered fingerprint, access to the restricted resource is denied. As such, this embodiment of the present invention delivers a highly convenient, secured and reliable system for user authentication and access control which is superior to password-based authentication approaches in prior art. The present invention appreciates that fingerprints, being unique signatures for an individual, have been legally and universally accepted for verifying identity for over a century, that they cannot be forgotten by a user, as passwords could, and further that they are almost impossible to alter, duplicate, or crack by hacking. As such, fingerprints and other biometrics-based techniques are well-suited for use as an authentication and/or access control solution, as embodied in the present invention. [0008] Advantages of the invention will be set forth, in part, in the description that follows and, in part, will be understood by those skilled in the art from the description herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. [0010] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating functional blocks of one embodiment of the portable device of the present invention and an illustrative operational configuration thereof. [0011] FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating functional blocks of another embodiment of the portable device of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a portable device with an integrated fingerprint module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0014] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the portable device with an integrated; fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0015] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0016] FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0017] FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0018] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0019] FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of the portable device with an integrated fingerprint module as shown in FIG. 2. [0020] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of a user registration/authentication process using a portable device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... 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