Mobile, portable apparatus for authenticating a security article and method of operating the portable authentication apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10713347-B2
Application number	US-201615569688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A mobile, portable apparatus for authenticating, verification and certification of a security article, the apparatus comprising an enclosure securely housing components of the apparatus; an authentication device operable to authenticate the security article; a power source, preferably of solar type, different type of batteries, uninterruptable power supply, different type of charging facilities and/or any source of energy; an imaging device for simultaneously imaging in opposing and/or multiple directions; a programmable and configurable control panel; an information processing unit; and a printing device for printing and/or special marking on the security article, wherein the imaging device is portably coupled to the authentication device; and wherein the control panel is arranged as an interface command and control center connected to the information processing unit and the other components of the apparatus. The method involves determining whether a registered operator of the portable authentication apparatus is verified; and permitting access to an authentication device of the portable authentication apparatus if the registered operator is verified. The system includes the portable authentication apparatus; and a remote server operable to communicate with the portable authentication apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile, portable apparatus for authenticating, verification and certification of a security article, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an enclosure securely housing components of the apparatus;
(b) an authentication device operable to authenticate the security article;
(c) a power source;
(d) an imaging device set comprising at least two imaging devices for simultaneously imaging in opposing directions for facilitating monitoring and collection of a visual record of an interaction between an operator of the apparatus and a security article user;
(e) a programmable and configurable control panel;
(f) an information processing unit; and
(g) a printing device for printing and/or making a special marking on the security article,
wherein the imaging device set is coupled to the authentication device and is operable to capture images of the use of the authentication device and of the operator using the authentication device; and
wherein the control panel is arranged as an interface command and control center connected to the information processing unit and the other components of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises a processing circuit and a memory circuit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing unit is a computing device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is configurable into a closed and an opened configuration.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further comprises a handle, one or several wheels and/or a lock.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an imaging support member, wherein the imaging support member is positionable to permit the imaging device set to capture images of the operator of the apparatus and an individual located at another position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a biometric device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a communications module for communication with remote infrastructure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a light source.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises one or more accumulators.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises solar panels.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a tamper sensor.

13. A method of operating a mobile, portable apparatus for authenticating, verification and certification of a security article, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an enclosure securely housing components of the apparatus;
(b) an authentication device operable to authenticate the security article;
(c) a power source;
(d) an imaging device set comprising at least two imaging devices for simultaneously imaging in opposing directions for facilitating monitoring and collection of a visual record of an interaction between an operator of the apparatus and a security article user;
(e) a programmable and configurable control panel;
(f) an information processing unit; and
(g) a printing device for printing and/or making a special marking on the security article,
wherein the imaging device set is coupled to the authentication device and is operable to capture images of the use of the authentication device and of the operator using the authentication device; and
wherein the control panel is arranged as an interface command and control center connected to the information processing unit and the other components of the apparatus,
the method comprising:
(a) determining, in an opened configuration of an enclosure of the apparatus, whether an image of a registered operator of the apparatus captured by the imaging device set is verified and/or the registered operator is in proximity; and
(b) permitting and/or maintaining access to an authentication device of the portable authentication apparatus if the image of the registered operator is verified and/or the registered operator is in proximity, and
wherein instances of tampering are detected by a motion sensor and/or electrically powered wires.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein verification of the proximity of the operator occurs by proximity sensor.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein in case of detection of tampering, a control panel is deactivated.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein upon detection of tampering, software, solutions, codes and/or stored data is transmitted and/or deleted and/or components of the device are inactivated.

17. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the imaging support member is positionable to permit the imaging device set to simultaneously capture images of the operator of the apparatus and the individual located at another position, wherein the position is substantially on the opposite side.

18. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is a UV-light and/or visible light, external of the passport reader.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the tamper sensor includes a motion sensor and/or electrically powered wires.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein in step (a), the step of determining is performed reiteratively.

Assignees

• Sicpa Holding Sa

Inventors

• Talwerdi Mehdi
• Fisher Winfield

Classifications

• G07C9/00 Primary

  Individual registration on entry or exit · CPC title

• Y04S40/20

  Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security · CPC title

• G07C9/257

  electronically (G07C9/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F2221/2143

  Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen · CPC title

• G06F2221/2111

  Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS · CPC title