METHOD USING SAID ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an enrollment assistance device, for facilitating biometric enrollment of a user of a smartcard including a biometric arrangement, and to a method of enrolling the user.

Technical Background

Biometric arrangements are widely used as means for increasing the convenience and security of personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones etc. Fingerprint sensing arrangements, in particular, are now included in a large proportion of all newly released personal communication devices, such as mobile phones.

Lately, efforts have also been made to introduce biometric arrangements, such as fingerprint sensing arrangements, in other devices that may have less computing power and/or available energy. Examples of such other devices are so-called smartcards, door locks, and devices in the so-called internet of things (loT) category etc.

It is, however, challenging to provide for secure, reliable, and convenient biometric enrollment of a user of such biometric arrangements.

For instance, it may be desirable to guide the user during the enrollment, which is complicated by the fact that some devices with biometric arrangements may lack a user interface or may have only rudimentary means for interacting with the user. Furthermore, the above described devices do not contain an inherent electric power source for providing power to the biometric arrangement. Therefore, the biometric enrollment of a user requires an additional power source, such as a separately provided battery, for enabling enrollment of the user. It would therefore be desirable to provide for a device that does not require the use of an additional battery for the biometric enrollment.

Summary

In view of the above-mentioned and other drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide for improved, in particular more environmentally friendly, enrollment in a biometrically enabled smartcard.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an enrollment assistance device, for facilitating initial biometric enrollment of a user of a smartcard including a biometric arrangement, a first power supply pad and a second power supply pad for receiving electric power to be transmitted to the biometric arrangement, the enrollment assistance device comprising a smartcard connector comprising a first connector arranged to be in conductive connection with the first power supply pad when the smartcard is arranged on the smartcard connector, and a second connector arranged to be in conductive connection with the second power supply pad when the smartcard is arranged on the smartcard connector; and an inactive cell comprising a first electrode connected to the first connector, a second electrode connected to the second connector, the first and the second electrodes being spaced apart from each other and made of different metallic materials, and an electrolyte carrier arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the cell is configured to be activated in response to a liquid fluid being applied to the electrolyte carrier, wherein the applied liquid fluid is configured to cause the electrolyte carrier to carry, in fluid contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, a liquid electrolyte including positive and negative ions and to allow transport of the positive ions through the electrolyte carrier to the first electrode and transport of the negative ions through the electrolyte carrier to the second electrode.

The inactive cell should be construed as a cell which is latent until the liquid fluid is applied to the electrolyte carrier. In other words, before the liquid fluid is applied to the electrolyte carrier, the cell is incomplete and unable to generate electric power for the initial biometric enrollment of the user. Further, the liquid fluid may itself contain an electrolyte, whereby the first and second electrodes are soaked in the electrolyte fluid. As an alternative, and as will be described below, the electrolyte carrier may contain a substance which, when soaked by the liquid fluid, forms the electrolyte. In this example, the liquid fluid may be a liquid electrolyte, or may be a non electrolyte liquid. In the latter case, the non-electrolyte liquid becomes electrolytic when reacting with the substance in the electrolyte carrier.

The present invention is based upon the realization that the enrollment process in a biometrically enabled smartcard is a rather quick and rapid procedure, and requires a relatively low electric power level. Therefore, the biometric arrangement can unexpectedly be powered by means of an electrolytic process, where the electrolysis provides power to the first and second connectors.

An advantage is thus that a separate, additional battery is superfluous and does not need to be delivered to the enrollment kit. Since the initial biometric enrollment is a one-time procedure, such additional battery will merely be wasted after the biometric enrollment is completed. As such, the invention presents a more environmentally friendly biometric enrollment in comparison to the use of a one-time battery which is disposed after usage, thus reducing the environmental footprint.

According to an example embodiment, the electrolyte carrier may comprise a fluid absorbent material, the first electrode and the second electrode being arranged in the fluid absorbent material. Hereby, the fluid absorbent material absorbs the liquid fluid which thereby soaks the first and second electrodes. Using a fluid absorbent material is beneficial since it is assured that the liquid electrolyte will transport the positive and negative ions through the electrolyte carrier to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively.

According to an example embodiment, the fluid absorbent material may comprise a fibrous member. According to another example embodiment, the fluid absorbent material may comprise a cellulose member.

According to an example embodiment, the electrolyte carrier may comprise an electrolytic generating material configured to form the liquid electrolyte in response to the liquid being applied to the electrolyte carrier. As indicated above, the liquid fluid applied to the electrolyte carrier does hereby not need to be formed by an electrolytic substance, but can, as a non-limiting example merely be water. According to an example embodiment, the fluid absorbent material may be impregnated with the electrolytic generating material. As a further example embodiment, the electrolyte carrier may include a salt.

According to an example embodiment, the electrolyte carrier may form an integral part of the enrollment assistance device. Hereby, the user receives the enrollment assistance device and merely adds the liquid fluid to the cell during the initial biometric enrollment process.

According to an example embodiment, the inactive cell may comprise a plurality of electrolyte carriers, a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodes, wherein each one of the electrolyte carriers is arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode. According to an example embodiment, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes may be connected in series. Hereby, the electric power level transmitted to the biometric arrangement of the smartcard can be increased.

According to an example embodiment, the electrolyte carriers of the plurality of electrolyte carriers may be electrically isolated from each other. An advantage is that there is a reduced risk of short circuit between the plurality of electrolyte carriers.

According to an example embodiment, the enrollment assistance device may further comprise an inactive backup cell spaced apart from the inactive cell, the inactive backup cell comprising a first additional electrode connected to the first connector, a second additional electrode connected to the second connector, the first and the second additional electrodes being spaced apart from each other and made of different metallic materials, and an additional electrolyte carrier arranged between the first additional electrode and the second additional electrode, wherein the backup cell is configured to be activated in response to a liquid being applied to the additional electrolyte carrier, wherein the applied liquid is configured to cause the additional electrolyte carrier to carry, in fluid contact with the first additional electrode and the second additional electrode, a liquid electrolyte including positive and negative ions and to allow transport of the positive ions through the additional electrolyte carrier to the first additional electrode and transport of the negative ions through the additional electrolyte carrier to the second additional electrode.

Hereby, in case the user fails to complete the initial enrollment, a backup cell is provided for a second biometric enrollment attempt.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a biometric system comprising the enrollment assistance device according to any one of the embodiments described above in relation to the first aspect; and a smartcard including a biometric arrangement, a first power supply pad and a second power supply pad, wherein the first power supply pad is conductively connected to the first connector of the smartcard connector, and the second power supply pad is conductively connected to the second connector of the smartcard connector.

Effects and features of the second aspect are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of enrolling a user having a biometric system according to the second aspect, the method comprising the steps of applying a liquid fluid to the electrolyte carrier to generate electric power to the biometric arrangement, transmitting, by the enrollment assistance device, a signal encoding an instruction to the smartcard to start to perform biometric enrollment, and receiving, from the enrollment assistance device, after the biometric enrollment has been completed, a signal indicative thereof.

The method according to embodiments of the present invention may advantageously, at least partly, be carried out by control circuitry arranged and run on the enrollment assistance device. Such a computer program may, for example, be provided to the user by the party issuing the smartcard.

Effects and features of the third aspect are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided an enrollment assistance device kit, for facilitating initial biometric enrollment of a user of a smartcard including a biometric arrangement, a first power supply pad and a second power supply pad for receiving electric power to be transmitted to the biometric arrangement, the enrollment assistance device kit comprising an enrollment assistance device according to any one of the embodiments described above in relation to the first aspect, and a fluid container comprising a liquid fluid, wherein the cell is configured to be activated in response to the liquid fluid from the fluid container being applied to the electrolyte carrier, wherein the applied liquid fluid from the fluid container is configured to cause the electrolyte carrier to carry, in fluid contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, a liquid electrolyte including positive and negative ions and to allow transport of the positive ions through the electrolyte carrier to the first electrode and transport of the negative ions through the electrolyte carrier to the second electrode.

Effects and features of the fourth aspect are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first aspect.

Further features of, and advantages will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person will realize that different features may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings showing example embodiments of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 A is an illustration of an exemplary biometrically enabled smartcard connected to an enrollment assistance device;

Fig 1 B is a schematic view of the smartcard in Fig 1 A, when delaminated to reveal functional parts of the smartcard;

Fig. 2 is a top view schematically illustrates the enrollment assistance device in Fig. 1 A according to an example embodiment; Fig. 3A is a cut-out front view of the enrollment assistance device in Fig. 2 to reveal functional parts of the enrollment assistance device according to an example embodiment;

Fig. 3B is a cut-out front view of the enrollment assistance device in Fig. 2 to reveal functional parts of the enrollment assistance device according to another example embodiment; and

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an enrollment method according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

Fig 1A schematically illustrates an exemplary smartcard 1 including a biometric arrangement 3, here in the form of a fingerprint sensor module. The smartcard 1 may, for example, be a biometrically enabled payment card, and payments may be authorized by biometrically authenticating the user, as is schematically indicated in Fig 1 A. Of course, a payment card such as that shown in Fig 1 A is not the only kind of biometrically enabled smartcard for which embodiments of the present invention may be useful. Examples of other kinds of biometrically enabled smartcards may include access cards, storage cards, identity cards, etc.

Fig. 1 A further illustrates an enrollment assistance device 100 in which the smartcard is inserted for facilitating initial biometric enrollment of the user of the smartcard 1. The enrollment assistance device 100 will be described in further detail below with reference to Figs. 2 - 3B, while the smartcard will hereinafter be described with reference to Fig. 1 B. The smartcard 1 and the enrollment assistance device 100 thus forms a biometric system 10. As is illustrated in Fig. 1 B, the smartcard 1 comprises the above described biometric arrangement 3. The smartcard 1 also comprises a power transfer arrangement 12. The power transfer arrangement 12 comprises a first power supply pad 14 and a second power supply pad 16. The first 14 and second 16 power supply pads are connected to the biometric arrangement 3 by means of electric circuitry 18. Thus, electric power is transmitted from the first 14 and second 16 power supply pads to the biometric arrangement 3. Hereby, the biometric arrangement 3 is powered for e.g. facilitating initial biometric enrollment of the user as will be described in further detail below.

In order to describe the enrollment assistance device 100 in further detail, reference is made to Fig. 2 which is a top view schematically illustrating the enrollment assistance device 100 according to an example embodiment. As can be seen, the enrollment assistance device 100 comprises a slot 102 (illustrated in further detail in Figs. 3A and 3B) in which the smartcard 1 is inserted when the user intends to perform the enrollment process. The enrollment assistance device 100 further comprises a first 104 and a second 106 indicator. The first indicator 104 can, for example, be a light emitting diode arranged to flash a red light indication, and the second indicator 106 can, for example, be a light emitting diode arranged to flash a green light indication. During the initial enrollment process, the first indicator 104 is configured to emit a light signal informing the user that the biometric enrollment process is not yet finished, i.e. the enrollment process is still ongoing. The second light indication 106 is on the other hand configured to inform the user that the biometric enrollment process is successfully finished.

Furthermore, the enrollment assistance device 100 comprises a smartcard connector 110 at which the smartcard 1 is connected. The smartcard connector 110 comprises a first connector 112 and a second connector 114. When the smartcard 1 is inserted through the slot 102, the first connector 112 is arranged in conductive connection with the first power supply pad 14 of the smartcard 1. In a similar vein, the second connector 114 is arranged in conductive connection with the second supply pad of the smartcard 1 when the smartcard 1 is inserted through the slot 102 of the enrollment assistance device 100. As is further depicted in Fig. 2, the enrollment assistance device 100 comprises an inactive cell 120. The inactive cell 120 comprises an electrolyte carrier 122 which is, as will be described further below with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B, arranged to carry a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte carrier 122 is preferably, and as depicted in Fig. 2, forming an integral part of the enrollment assistance device 100.

Further, the inactive cell 120 comprises a first electrode 124 connected to the first connector 112, and a second electrode 126 connected to the second connector 114. The first electrode 124, which can be arranged as a cathode, and the second electrode 126, which can be arranged as an anode, are arranged in the electrolyte carrier 122. Flereby, when the electrolyte carrier 122 carries the liquid electrolyte, the first 124 and second 126 electrodes are in fluid contact with the liquid electrolyte. The first 124 and second 126 electrodes are also made of different metallic materials. The anode should preferably be formed by a metallic material having an efficient reducing agent with good conductivity, while the cathode should preferably be formed by a metallic material having an efficient oxidizing agent which is stable when being in fluid contact with the liquid electrolyte. As a non-limiting example, the first and/or second electrodes can be made of materials like Copper, Zink, steel, Lithium, etc.

According to the example embodiment depicted in Fig. 2, the inactive cell 120 comprises a plurality of electrolyte carriers 122’, 122”, 122’”. The inactive cell 120 also comprises a plurality of first electrodes 124 and a plurality of second electrodes 126. Thus, each of the plurality of electrolyte carrier comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, where each of the electrolyte carriers is arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode. As is also depicted in Fig. 2, the plurality of first electrodes 124 and the plurality of second electrodes 126 are connected in series.

In order to avoid short circuit between the plurality of electrolyte carriers 122, 122”, 122”’, the electrolyte carriers are electrically isolated from each other, which in Fig. 2 is depicted with a dashed line numbered 128. The electrical isolation can be formed by e.g. a wall portion between the electrolyte carriers such that a liquid fluid applies to one of the electrolyte carriers is not able reach another one of the electrolyte carriers. The electrical isolation may of course be formed by other means than the wall portion.

Fig. 2 further schematically depicts an inactive backup cell 142 spaced apart from the inactive cell 120. Although not illustrated in detail, the inactive backup cell 142 comprises, in the same manner as the inactive cell 120, a first additional electrode connected to the first connector 112, and a second additional electrode connected to the second connector 114. The first and the second additional electrodes are spaced apart from each other and made of different metallic materials. The inactive backup cell comprises an additional electrolyte carrier in a similar manner at the electrolyte carrier 122 of the above described inactive cell 120. The backup cell is configured to be activated in the same way as will be described below regarding the activation of the cell 120.

In order to describe the functionality of the enrollment assistance device 100 in further detail, reference is now made to Fig. 3A. Fig. 3A is a cut out front view of the enrollment assistance device in Fig. 2 depicted for revealing functional parts of the enrollment assistance device 100 according to an example embodiment.

According to the exemplified embodiment of Fig. 3A, the inactive cell 120 comprises the above described first 124 and second 126 electrodes, and the electrolyte carrier 122 arranged between the first 124 and second 126 electrodes. The smartcard 1 is inserted in the slot 102 such that the first connector of the smartcard 1 is in conductive connection with the first power supply pad 112 and the second connector is arranged in conductive connection with the second power supply pad 114.

As has been indicated above, the cell 120 is configured to be activated when a liquid fluid 202 is applied to the electrolyte carrier 122. In the exemplified embodiment of Fig. 3A, the liquid fluid 202 is initially provided in a fluid container 204, illustrated in the form of a pipette container, where the user is dripping the liquid fluid 202 onto the electrolyte carrier 122. The electrolyte carrier 122 further comprises a fluid absorbent material 210, wherein the first 124 and second 126 electrodes are arranged in the fluid absorbent material 210. The fluid absorbent material 210 thus absorbs the liquid fluid supplied from the fluid container 204. Accordingly, the fluid absorbent material 210 is preferably soaked in liquid fluid 202 when the fluid container 204 is emptied. The fluid absorbent material 210 may comprise a fibrous member, a cellulose member, etc.

Furthermore, the liquid fluid 202 may contain an aqueous solution, such as e.g. dissolved salts, acids, an alkaline, etc. As an alternative, the electrolyte carrier 202, and preferably the fluid absorbent material 210, may comprise an electrolytic generating material. Hence, the electrolyte carrier 202 is prepared with the electrolytic generating material when delivered to the user before the initial biometric enrollment is performed. The electrolytic generating material is thus configured to, when the liquid fluid 202 is applied to the electrolyte carrier 202, form the liquid electrolyte 220. Accordingly, when the electrolyte carrier is prepared with the electrolytic generating material, the liquid fluid 202 can be provided in the form of e.g. water, where the electrolyte is formed by the reaction of water and the electrolytic generating material. The fluid absorbent material may preferably be impregnated with the electrolytic generating material, and the electrolytic generating material may include a salt, such as e.g. an acid salt. According to a non-limiting example, such acid salt may have an acid dissociation constant in the range between 2.5 - 7.

When the liquid fluid 202 is applied to the electrolyte carrier 122, the liquid electrolyte 220 is formed. The liquid electrolyte 220 hereby includes positive and negative ions, whereby the liquid electrolyte 220 transports the positive ions through the electrolyte carrier 122 to the first electrode 124, and transports the negative ions through the electrolyte carrier 122 to the second electrode 126. Electric power is hereby generated and transmitted, through the conductive connection between the connectors 112, 114 and the supply pads 14, 16, to the biometric arrangement 3 for facilitating the initial biometric enrollment process.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3B which is a cut-out front view of the enrollment assistance device in Fig. 2 according to another example embodiment. In Fig. 3B, the fluid container 204 is integrated in the inactive cell 120 as an encapsulated fluid container. When the user applies a force, using e.g. a finger applying a pressure force on the encapsulated container, the encapsulated container cracks, and the liquid fluid 202 flows out in the electrolyte carrier 122 to the first 124 and second 126 electrodes. The embodiment depicted in Fig. 3B may, in a similar vein as the Fig. 3A embodiment, comprise an electrolytic generating material, etc. The embodiment depicted in Fig. 3B does hence not require an additional liquid container.

The embodiments depicted in Figs. 3A and 3B thus form enrollment assistance device kit comprising the enrollment assistance device and the fluid container.

A method according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flow-chart in Fig 4, and with additional reference to other figures as indicated. When the method is carried out, the user has a biometric system 10 such as that described above with reference to Fig 1. The biometric system 1 , including the enrollment assistance device 100 and the smartcard 1 may have been sent to the user by mail from the issuer of the card, such as a financial institution or the like. Initially, the user inserts the smartcard 1 in the slot 102 of the enrollment assistance device 100. The second light indicator 106 can generate a green light signal when the smartcard is sufficiently inserted, i.e. when the power supply pads 14, 16 of the smartcard 1 are in conductive connection with the connectors 112, 114.

Thereafter, and in a first step, the user is applying S1 the liquid fluid to the electrolyte carrier 122. Flereby, electric power is generated as described above in relation to e.g. the description of Fig. 3A. At the same time, the user presses the finger to enroll on the biometric arrangement 3, such as a fingerprint sensor. At this stage, the first indicator 104 may provide a red light indication informing the user that the biometric enrollment is not finished, and the finger should not be removed from the biometric arrangement 3. The enrollment assistance device 100 thereafter transmits S2 a signal encoding an instruction to the smartcard 1 to start to perform biometric enrollment. The signal is sent through the electric circuitry 18 to the biometric arrangement.

The biometric arrangement 100 preferably comprises processing circuitry which may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device. The processing circuitry may also, or instead, include an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array or programmable array logic, a programmable logic device, or a digital signal processor. Where the processing circuitry includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor, microcontroller or programmable digital signal processor mentioned above, the processor may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device.

The user may be guided/instructed in a pre-described manner by the light indicators 104, 106 in respect of finger placement and/or receive information about the status of the enrollment procedure.

When the enrollment procedure has been completed, as determined by the biometric arrangement 3 of the smartcard 1 , the biometric enrollment assistance device 100 receives S3 a signal indicating that the enrollment has been completed. The signal may, for example, be received in the form of a light blinking indication from the second light indicator 106.

Although the above description of the present invention has been relating to an enrollment assistance device comprising a slot for insertion of the smartcard, it should be readily understood that other types of enrollment assistance devices are also conceivable. For example, the enrollment assistance device 100 may be formed by a paper sheet including an inactive cell as described above. The paper sheet may include a dedicated position for placement of the smartcard 1 such that the power supply pads of the smartcard are conductively connected to connectors integrated in the paper sheet.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.