Abstract:
A method, program, and system for creating and validating an electronic identification document are provided. The invention comprises providing an electronic document to a user, wherein the electronic document contains input fields for personal identification information, and receiving the user&#39;s personal identification information in the input fields of the electronic document. Next an electronic signature is received from the user and attached to the electronic document. An electronic certificate is added to the document, and the entire document is encrypted. The electronic document is then downloaded to a pervasive computing device, such as a PDA, palm pilot, or mobile phone. The electronic document acts as a legally valid form of identification, such as a passport. To validate the document, the document is uploaded from the pervasive computing device to an authorizing machine which decrypts the document. The digital certificate and electronic signature attached to the document are then verified for authenticity. After validation, the document is re-encrypted and downloaded back to the pervasive computing device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to encrypted electronic documents, and more specifically to identification documents.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    As modern society makes the transition toward a paperless design, it is important to support secure, paperless versions of forms and documents, using electronic representation mechanisms. In addition, pervasive computing devices such as cell phones, smart phones, palm pilots and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are becoming more commonplace. As these devices proliferate, functional attributes of these devices will begin to replace the actions accompanying traditional paper versions of identifications such as passports. Their built-in ability to allow fast, secure digital verification, validation, authentication, and authorization makes them ideal platforms for introducing secure, electronic identification documents.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method for providing secure electronic identification documents, which are functionally and legally equivalent to traditional paper documents (e.g. passports), and can be downloaded to pervasive computing devices such as cell phones and PDAs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides a method, program, and system for creating and validating an electronic identification document. The invention comprises providing an electronic document to a user, wherein the electronic document contains input fields for personal identification information, and receiving the user&#39;s personal identification information in the input fields of the electronic document. Next an electronic signature is received from the user and attached to the electronic document. An electronic certificate is added to the document, and the entire document is encrypted. The electronic document is then downloaded to a pervasive computing device, such as a PDA, palm pilot, or mobile phone. The electronic document acts as a legally valid form of identification, such as a passport.  
           [0007]    To validate the document, the document is uploaded from the pervasive computing device to an authorizing machine which decrypts the document. The digital certificate and electronic signature attached to the document are then verified for authenticity. After validation, the document is re-encrypted and downloaded back to the pervasive computing device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram illustrating a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4A depicts a diagram illustrating a mobile phone in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4B depicts a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a mobile phone in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5A depicts a diagram of a client in the form of a personal digital assistant (PDA) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5B depicts a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a PDA in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart illustrating the process of issuing an electronic identification document in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 depicts a pictorial diagram illustrating an ePassport with an authorization seal in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 depicts a pictorial diagram illustrating the identification data content of an ePassport in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 depicts a pictorial diagram illustrating the itinerary data content of an ePassport in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart illustrating the process of verifying and updating an ePassport in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart illustrating the process of validating the user of an ePassport in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  contains a network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.  
         [0023]    In the depicted example, a server  104  is connected to network  102  along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  also are connected to network  102 . These clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server  104  provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  108 - 112 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  are clients to server  104 . Network data processing system  100  also includes printers  114 ,  116 , and  118 . Network data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown.  
         [0024]    In the depicted example, network data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the present invention.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in FIG. 1, is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors  202  and  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted.  
         [0026]    Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to PCI local bus  216 . A number of modems may be connected to PCI bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers  108 - 112  in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards.  
         [0027]    Additional PCI bus bridges  222  and  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI buses  226  and  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention.  
         [0028]    The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, an eServer pSeries system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.  
         [0029]    With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating a data processing system is depicted in which the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system  300  is an example of a client computer. Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  308 . PCI bridge  308  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . Small computer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , CD-ROM drive  330 , and DVD drive  332 . Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.  
         [0030]    An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in FIG. 3. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as Windows 2000, which is available from Microsoft Corporation. An object oriented programming system such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 .  
         [0031]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system.  
         [0032]    As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data.  
         [0033]    The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  300  also may be a notebook computer or hand held computer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system  300  also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance.  
         [0034]    With reference now to FIG. 4A, a diagram illustrating a mobile phone is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Mobile phone  400  includes a display  406  for presenting textual and graphical information. Display  406  may be a known display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.  
         [0035]    Mobile phone  400  may also include keypad  408 , speaker  414 , and microphone  416 . The keypad may be used to enter, for example, telephone numbers, user identification information, and commands for interacting with the interface. Audio feedback may be presented via speaker  414 . In addition to normal voice conversation, feedback may include other information, for example, location. And microphone  416  can be used not only for voice conversation, but for entering specific voice commands for voice actuated functions.  
         [0036]    Mobile phone  400  also includes antenna  418 , which is necessary for establishing wireless communication links with remote transmitting towers.  
         [0037]    Turning now to FIG. 4B, a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of mobile phone  400  is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B illustrates the increasing sophistication of modern mobile phone designs.  
         [0038]    Mobile phone  400  employs bus architecture. Processor  422  and main memory  424  are connected to bus  430 . Display adapter  426 , keypad adapter  428 , storage  432 , and audio adapter  434  are also connected to bus  430 . Mobile phone  400  also includes wireless link  436  connected to bus  430 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 4B may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 4B.  
         [0039]    Mobile phone  400  might rely on Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) for facilitating communications. WAP is a standard for providing wireless phones, pagers and other handheld devices with secure access to e-mail and text-based Web pages. WAP provides a complete environment for wireless applications that includes a wireless counterpart of TCP/IP and a framework for telephony integration such as call control and phone book access. WAP features the Wireless Markup Language (WML), which was derived from Phone.com&#39;s HDML and is a streamlined version of HTML for small screen displays. It also uses WMLScript, a compact JavaScript-like language that runs in limited memory. WAP also supports handheld input methods such as a keypad and voice recognition. Independent of the air interface, WAP runs over all the major wireless networks in place. It is also device independent, requiring only a minimum functionality in the unit so that it can be used with a myriad of phones and handheld devices.  
         [0040]    The depicted example in FIG. 4B and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations.  
         [0041]    With reference now to FIG. 5A, a diagram of a client in the form of a personal digital assistant (PDA) is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. PDA  500  includes a display  502  for presenting textual and graphical information. Display  502  may be a known display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The display may be used to present a map or directions, calendar information, a telephone directory, or an electronic mail message. In these examples, screen  502  may receive user input using an input device such as, for example, stylus  510 .  
         [0042]    PDA  500  may also include keypad  504 , speaker  506 , and antenna  508 . Keypad  504  may be used to receive user input in addition to using screen  502 . Speaker  506  provides a mechanism for audio output, such as presentation of an audio file. Antenna  508  provides a mechanism used in establishing a wireless communications link between PDA  500  and a network, such as network  100  in FIG. 1.  
         [0043]    PDA  500  also preferably includes a graphical user interface that may be implemented by means of systems software residing in computer readable media in operation within PDA  500 .  
         [0044]    Turning now to FIG. 5B, a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of PDA  500  is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. PDA  500  is an example of a PDA in which code or instructions implementing the processes of the present invention may be located. PDA  500  includes a bus  522  to which processor  524  and main memory  526  are connected. Display adapter  528 , keypad adapter  530 , storage  532 , and audio adapter  534  also are connected to bus  522 . Cradle link  536  provides a mechanism to connect PDA  500  to a cradle used in synchronizing data in PDA  500  with another data processing system. Further, display adapter  528  also includes a mechanism to receive user input from a stylus when a touch screen display is employed.  
         [0045]    An operating system runs on processor  524  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within PDA  500  in FIG. 5B. The operating system may be, for example, a commercially available operating system such as Windows CE, which is available from Microsoft Corporation. Instructions for the operating system and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as storage  532 , and may be loaded into main memory  526  for execution by processor  524 .  
         [0046]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 5B may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 5B.  
         [0047]    Mobile phone  400  and PDA  500  are simply examples of pervasive computing devices which may be used with the present invention. Other pervasive computing devices which are capable of downloading, storing, and uploading information may be used to implement the present invention.  
         [0048]    The present invention provides a secure, digital format for electronic passports (ePassports), electronic visas (eVisas), and other electronic identification documents such as driver&#39;s license. These electronic documents can be used in place of traditional paper passports and visas. The electronic documents can be downloaded through pervasive computing devices and used with authentication and validation mechanisms.  
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrating the process of issuing an electronic identification document is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The person seeking an electronic identification document, e.g. ePassport, first obtains an original electronic form from the issuing authority (step  601 ). The form will have a unique serial number from the issuing authority and a digital watermark to detect forgeries. A digital watermark is a pattern of bits embedded into a file, which is used to identify the source of illegal copies. For example, if a digital watermark is placed into an ePassport, then all copies of that document are uniquely identified. The digital watermark provides a trace for the issuing and certifying authorities.  
         [0050]    The user then enters all relevant information into the electronic form (step  602 ). The information will likely be the similar to that used for paper passports: name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, as well as other identifying information. After the personal information is entered, the user electronically signs the form (step  603 ). An electronic signature ensures that the ePassport originated with the proper party and that the document has not been tampered with. An electronic signature is equivalent of a handwritten signature. Electronic signature software binds the user&#39;s signature, or other mark, to the electronic document. Electronic signature software can also detect the alteration of an electronically-signed file any time in the future.  
         [0051]    After the user signs the ePassport, the issuing authority adds a secure digital certificate to the document (step  604 ). The digital certificate verifies that the document was indeed issued by the proper issuing authority. The issuing authority then encrypts the entire ePassport (step  605 ).  
         [0052]    The user is now able to download the ePassport (step  606 ). The ePassport may be stored and carried in any pervasive computing device. Examples of pervasive computing devices include PDAs, such as PDA  500 , cellular phones, smart phones, and palm pilots. The ePassport may also be stored in a secret user account on a server or personal computer, and then downloaded to pervasive computing devices as needed.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIG. 7, a pictorial diagram illustrating an ePassport with an authorization seal is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The view in FIG. 7 is one of several that a verifying authority may choose, depending on what type of information in which the authority is interested. In FIG. 7, a view of the authorization seal  701  from the issuing authority is displayed along with a user ID field  702  and a password field  703 . This data can be used to verify the authenticity of the ePassport and validate the user of the ePassport, as explained below.  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 8, a pictorial diagram illustrating the identification data content of an ePassport is depicted in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 8 presents another view of ePassport  700 , displaying personal identification information including name  801 , address  802 , citizenship  810 , and identifying photograph  811 , similar to a paper passport.  
         [0055]    Referring to FIG. 9, a pictorial diagram illustrating the itinerary data content of an ePassport is depicted in accordance with the present invention. As with FIGS. 7 and 8, FIG. 9 depicts another view of ePassport  700  which authorities might choose. The itinerary information might be used by authorities when attaching eVisas to ePassport  700 , rather than for authentication.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 10, a flowchart illustrating the process of verifying and updating an ePassport is depicted in accordance with the present invention. When the user is required to show his or her passport at appropriate checkpoints, for example when passing through customs, the user uploads the ePassport from the computing device in which it is stored (e.g. PDA) to the authorities&#39; verification mechanism (step  1001 ). The upload may be accomplished by means of Bluetooth or similar protocol. Bluetooth is an open protocol for short-range transmission of digital data between mobile devices (e.g. PDA and mobile phones) and desktop devices, such as those used by checkpoint authorities. Bluetooth supports both point-to-point and multipoint applications.  
         [0057]    The authorities use their private keys to decrypt the ePassport (step  1002 ), and verify the authenticity of the ePassport by means of the user&#39;s electronic signature and the digital certificate attached to the ePassport (step  1003 ). This process is explained in more detail in FIG. 11.  
         [0058]    The authorities may then make necessary changes to the ePassport (step  1004 ). An obvious change is the addition of entry and exit information (i.e. eVisas). Such information can be attached directly to the ePassport. After the necessary changes and additions have been made, the authorities generate an updated version of the ePassport which incorporates these changes (step  1005 ). A new digital certificate may also be added to the updated ePassport (step  1006 ). The updated ePassport is then encrypted (step  1007 ) and downloaded back to the users computing device (step  1008 ).  
         [0059]    Referring now to FIG. 11, a flowchart illustrating the process of validating the user of an ePassport is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The user begins by entering a passenger (user) ID and password, which are verified by the ePassport itself (step  1101 ). For example, the ID and password might be entered into ID field  702  and password field  703  depicted in FIG. 7. If the ID and password login is not correct, the user is invalidated (step  1105 ). If the login is correct, the user may then upload the ePassport from the pervasive computing device to the authorities (step  1102 ).  
         [0060]    Once the ePassport has been uploaded, the authorities may then validate the uploaded ePassport by decrypting it and determining if the uploaded ePassport matches a non-encrypted version of the ePassport residing on the authorities&#39; repository (step  1103 ). If the authority validating the ePassport is also the issuing authority, the original non-encrypted version of the ePassport, with the proper electronic signature and digital certificate, will be stored in the authorities&#39; repository. In the case of a foreign customs authority, the original non-encrypted version of the ePassport will have to be obtained by contacting a server of the issuing authority. Of course, the ability to access the foreign server depends upon the degree of reciprocity existing between the respective certifying authorities.  
         [0061]    If the ePassports do not match, then the user is invalidated (step  1105 ). If the ePassports do match, the user is validated (step  1104 ). In this way, the process illustrated in FIG. 11 provides two levels of verification: first, when the user logs in to access the ePassport, and second, when the authorities verify the encryption keys, after the ePassport is uploaded.  
         [0062]    The present invention also makes it easier for users to renew documents such as passports. Users may automatically renew their ePassports electronically at set time intervals, rather than physically going to a passport office to renew the passport.  
         [0063]    It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms, such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readable media may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular data processing system.  
         [0064]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.