Tamper-free and forgery-proof passport and methods for providing same

Abstract

A smart passport comprising a smart inlay that includes a core substrate operative to store and exchange information contactlessly with an external reader, at least one physical security component coupled to the core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay and thereby the passport tamper-proof, and a logical security component incorporated in the core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay and thereby the passport forgery-proof. The physical security component is preferably selected from the group at least one tear line and at least one patterned adhesive, both operative to cause irreversible damage to the information storage and communication capabilities of the passport in case of tampering.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to tamper-free and forgery-proof identification documents, and in particular to smart passports. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Security, particularly at major airports has become a significant concern. No printable identification is currently available to positively identify a passenger with high reliability. No means is currently available to transmit such information securely and to associate that information with user specific permissions [0003] All passengers entering the USA have been required to bring a Machine Readable Travel Document (MTRD), i.e. a machine-readable passport since October 2003. Starting October 2004, the passport is required to contain biometric data that uniquely identifies its bearer. This turns the passport into a “smart” passport, which comprises a contactless chip that stores the personal biometric information as digital information. The chip is accessed contactlessly by a reader that retri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method and system for creating secure, tamper-free, and forgery-proof smart documents, particularly passports. The invention includes a smart inlay that can be inserted into a standard passport, turning it into a smart passport. The inlay has physical security components that make it tamper-proof and a logical security component that makes it forgery-proof. The inlay can accommodate a variety of chips and meets various standards for global interoperability, technical reliability, practicality, and durability. The smart passport also includes an antenna for contactless communication with a reader. The invention also provides a method for preventing tampering in a smart passport by using physical security components to disconnect the chip from the antenna."

Problems solved by technology

No printable identification is currently available to positively identify a passenger with high reliability.

No means is currently available to transmit such information securely and to associate that information with user specific permissions

However, there is no encryption of the biometric information involved.

Since the carrier foil is only laminated in between the two paper webs, however, there is the danger that the layers can be separated from each other relatively easily so that the plastic inlay provided with the chip can be used for possible forgeries.

Further, this security element is a strictly machine-checkable security element that can only be checked by means of special detectors.

Since these processes and steps differ from each other, there is no “standardized” manufacturing of a smart passport.

No prior art solution is known to be a full solution that allows a regular passport to be transformed into a smart passport without requiring major production system changes and / or major fabrication step changes.

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