Patent Description:
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 (IoT) 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. For example, a biometrically enabled smartcard may typically have no user interface integrated in the smartcard.

For a contactless smartcard, <CIT> proposes to power and communicate with the smartcard during enrollment using the user's mobile device. To aid the user in correctly positioning the smartcard in relation to the mobile device, <CIT> discloses that a visual marker is displayed on the screen of the mobile device to guide the user to correctly arrange the smartcard on the backside of the mobile device during the enrollment procedure.

It appears to be potentially cumbersome for the user to press the smartcard against the backside of the mobile device, while attempting to enroll one or more fingers, and at the same time follow instructions and guidance provided on the display on the frontside of the mobile device.

It would therefore be desirable to provide for more user-friendly enrollment in a biometrically enabled contactless smartcard.

<CIT> relates to the recharging of microcircuit cards (smartcards) equipped with a rechargeable battery and with a near field communication antenna. <CIT> discloses a case with a flap for a portable phone, including, in the case; at least one housing intended to receive a microcircuit card; and at least one first contactless communication antenna, the first antenna being electrically connected to a second antenna placed in a base of the case.

<CIT> relates to smartcards (SC) having a metal layer (ML) or metal card body (MCB) and a module opening (MO) for a transponder chip module (TCM). A slit (S) or notch (N) in the metal card body may extend from a peripheral edge of a metal layer or card body, without extending to the module opening. A flexible circuit (FC) with one or two patch antennae (PA) or sense coils (SeC) connected to a coupling loop structure (CLS) with an antenna structure (AS) on the same substrate may be incorporated into the card body (CB). A fingerprint sensing module comprising an electrically-conductive metal bezel housed in the card may be electrically isolated from the metal layer or metal card body by the application of coatings (DLC) or anodizing (oxidizing) the respective metal surfaces. The cards may be contactless only, contact only, or dual-interface (contact and contactless).

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

According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is therefore provided an enrollment assistance device as defined by claim <NUM>.

It should be noted that the conductor spiral provides for wireless coupling with both the mobile phone and the contactless smartcard, and that this may be achieved without any conductor crossing in the enrollment assistance device.

The present invention is based upon the realization that enrollment in a biometrically enabled contactless smartcard can be improved by utilizing wireless power transfer from a mobile phone and facilitating arrangement of the contactless smartcard in relation to the mobile phone, so that the user is not required to actively hold the smartcard in relation to the mobile phone during the enrollment procedure.

The present inventors have further realized that this can be achieved by providing an enrollment assistance device having a carrier and a conductor spiral supported by the carrier and being configured to form a first wireless power transfer link with a wireless power transfer arrangement of the mobile phone when the mobile phone is arranged on a first surface portion of the carrier, and a second wireless power transfer link with a wireless power transfer arrangement of the contactless smartcard when the contactless smartcard is arranged on a second surface portion of the carrier. Hereby, power can be transferred from the mobile phone to the contactless smartcard via the conductor spiral supported by the carrier.

Embodiments of the present invention allow the contactless smartcard and the mobile phone to be arranged so that the user has easy access to a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint sensor, on the smartcard during the entire enrollment procedure. The user can also be guided during the enrollment, using the GUI of the mobile phone. This may provide for a shorter and more convenient enrollment procedure, and may also result in a higher quality of the enrolled biometric template.

Furthermore, the configuration with a carrier and a an electrical conductor supported by the carrier and forming a conductor spiral having an innermost revolution starting at a first conductor end and an outermost revolution ending at a second conductor end, provides the desired wireless power transfer without the need for any crossing conductors in the enrollment assistance device.

This in turn provides for the production of enrollment assistance devices which are relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly, since there is no need for a battery or conventional cabling etc., and since there is no need for conductive connections between layers. In embodiments, the enrollment assistance device according to the present invention can be made as a single layer device, including a single conductor layer.

The enrollment assistance device according to embodiments of the present invention can be distributed to users together with, or separate from, a contactless smartcard with a biometric arrangement, with reduced cost and environmental impact.

In embodiments, the enrollment assistance device may be provided in the form of a sheet having the electrical conductor forming the conductor spiral provided on, or embedded in, the sheet. The sheet may at least partly be made of paper.

The enrollment assistance device may, furthermore, be included in a biometric system, further comprising a contactless smartcard including a biometric arrangement and a wireless power transfer arrangement, wherein the contactless smartcard is arranged on the second surface portion of the carrier of the enrollment assistance device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method defined by claim <NUM>.

In embodiments, the method may further comprise the steps of performing a user authentication using the mobile phone; and allowing completion of the biometric enrollment only if the user authentication is successful.

The user authentication using the mobile phone may, for example, involve inputting a password, a PIN, or an OTP to the mobile phone, or performing biometric authentication using the mobile phone. Following a successful authentication, the biometric enrollment functionality of the contactless smartcard may be unlocked by a signal provided by the mobile phone to the contactless smartcard. Such a procedure is, per se, well-known to the person skilled in the relevant art.

Alternatively, enrollment in the contactless smartcard may be performed before the above-mentioned user authentication is carried out, and the contactless smartcard may be locked or the enrolled biometric information may be erased if the subsequent user authentication fails or is not performed.

The method according to embodiments of the present invention may advantageously, at least partly, be carried out by a computer program (such as an app) that is run on the mobile phone. Such a computer program may, for example, be provided to the user by the party issuing the contactless smartcard. The contactless smartcard may, for example, be a dual interface smartcard.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an exemplary contactless smartcard <NUM> including a biometric arrangement <NUM>, here in the form of a fingerprint sensor module. The contactless smartcard <NUM> 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>. Of course, a payment card such as that shown in <FIG> is not the only kind of biometrically enabled contactless smartcard for which embodiments of the present invention may be useful. Examples of other kinds of biometrically enabled contactless smartcards may include access cards, storage cards, identity cards, etc..

As is schematically shown in <FIG>, the smartcard <NUM> additionally comprises a wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM>, and, in this particular embodiment, a secure element <NUM>. The wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM> may be used for harvesting electrical power from a time-varying electrical field, and for wirelessly communicating with a remote device, such as a card reader (not shown), typically through load modulation. The secure element <NUM> may, for example, contain information for authorizing a transaction, and is connected to the biometric arrangement <NUM>. When the user is authenticated by the biometric arrangement <NUM> (or by the biometric arrangement <NUM> in cooperation with the secure element <NUM>), the information contained in the secure element <NUM> may be unlocked and allowed to be wirelessly communicated to the remote device via the wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a biometric system <NUM>, including an enrollment assistance device <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present invention, and the contactless smartcard <NUM> in <FIG> arranged on, such as fixed on, a predefined second surface portion of the enrollment assistance device <NUM>. In appearance, the biometric system <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the letter sent by an issuer of a smartcard to a user, but the enrollment assistance device <NUM> taking the place of an ordinary sheet of paper in such a letter can assist the user to effortlessly perform a biometric enrollment using the biometric arrangement <NUM> of the contactless smartcard <NUM>. The contactless smartcard <NUM> may, for example, be fixed by a suitable adhesive, may be inserted in a sleeve comprised in the enrollment assistance device <NUM>, or may be loosely arranged on the predefined second surface portion.

In <FIG>, a mobile phone <NUM> is indicated as being placed on a predefined location on the enrollment assistance device <NUM>, for wirelessly powering the contactless smartcard <NUM> during the above-mentioned biometric enrollment.

<FIG> schematically shows the enrollment assistance device according to the first example embodiment of the invention, without the mobile phone and the contactless smartcard. The enrollment assistance device <NUM> comprises a carrier <NUM> having a first surface portion <NUM> and a second surface portion <NUM> spaced apart from the first surface portion <NUM>. The first surface portion <NUM> is for arrangement of a mobile phone <NUM>, and the second surface portion <NUM> is for arrangement of a contactless smartcard <NUM>. With continued reference to <FIG>, the enrollment assistance device <NUM> further comprises an electrical conductor supported by the carrier <NUM> and forming a conductor spiral <NUM>. The conductor spiral <NUM> has an innermost revolution starting at a first conductor end <NUM> and an outermost revolution ending at a second conductor end <NUM>. Referring to the enlarged portion of <FIG>, the number of revolutions of the conductor spiral <NUM> between the first conductor end <NUM> and the last conductor end <NUM>, may advantageously be <NUM> to <NUM>, and the spacing w between adjacent conductors in the conductor spiral <NUM> may be in the range <NUM> to <NUM>.

The conductor spiral <NUM> is configured to form a first wireless power transfer link with the wireless power transfer arrangement (not shown) of the mobile phone <NUM> when the mobile phone is arranged on the first surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>, and a second wireless power transfer link with the wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM> (in <FIG>) of the contactless smartcard <NUM> when the contactless smartcard is arranged on the second surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>.

The outermost revolution of the conductor spiral <NUM> - the revolution ending at the second conductor end <NUM> - circumscribes a third surface portion <NUM> of the carrier, which may at least partly overlap with the first surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> and the second surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. For satisfactory coupling efficiency between the wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM> of the contactless smartcard <NUM> and the conductor spiral <NUM>, the present inventors have found that it may be beneficial to arrange the conductor spiral <NUM> and the second surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> in such a way that at least <NUM>% of the second surface portion <NUM> overlaps with the third surface portion <NUM>. Concerning the coupling with the wireless power transfer arrangement of the mobile phone <NUM>, the conductor spiral <NUM> may advantageously be configured such that the wireless power transfer arrangement of the mobile phone <NUM> completely overlaps with (fits within) the third surface portion <NUM>, when the mobile phone <NUM> is optimally arranged within the second surface portion of the carrier <NUM>.

Although the conductor spiral <NUM> is schematically indicated in <FIG> as being generally rectangular, it should be noted that this need not be the case, and that the conductor spiral may have a different outline, such as elliptical, etc. The carrier <NUM> may advantageously be cellulose-based, for minimum environmental impact, but could alternatively, or in combination, be made of a plastic material, which may be recycled and/or manufactured without the use of fossil material.

The conductor spiral <NUM> may be printed using conductive ink or paste using per se known techniques. Alternatively, the conductor spiral <NUM> may be pre-formed on a sticker, which may be attached to the carrier <NUM>. The conductor spiral <NUM> may be covered by a dielectric layer, such as a thin plastic layer.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a biometric system <NUM>, including an enrollment assistance device <NUM> according to a second example embodiment of the present invention, with a mobile phone <NUM> and the contactless smartcard <NUM> in <FIG> arranged thereon. In <FIG>, the mobile phone <NUM> and the contactless smartcard <NUM> are arranged next to each other and with different orientations. As will be explained further below, the reason for this is to simplify for the user to align the wireless power transfer arrangement of the mobile phone <NUM> (the exact location of which is typically unknown to the user) with the conductor spiral comprised in the enrollment assistance device <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows the enrollment assistance device <NUM> according to the second example embodiment of the invention, without the mobile phone and the contactless smartcard. As is indicated in <FIG>, the third surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>, circumscribed by the outermost revolution of the conductor spiral <NUM>, has a first elongated sub-portion 29a with a first width W<NUM> and a first length L<NUM>, and a second elongated sub-portion 29b with a second width W<NUM> and a second length L<NUM>. The second width W<NUM> is greater than the first width W<NUM>. The second elongated sub-portion 29b is optimized for a contactless smartcard <NUM> with standardized dimensions and specifications of the wireless power transfer arrangement <NUM> (in <FIG>). In the present second example configuration of the enrollment assistance device <NUM>, the length L<NUM> of the first elongated sub-portion 29a is greater than the widths of the mobile phones <NUM> for which the enrollment service is supported.

It may be challenging to achieve correct arrangement of the mobile phone <NUM> in relation to the conductor spiral <NUM>, since different mobile phones <NUM> may have wireless power transfer arrangements with different configurations (size and/or shape) and arrangement in the mobile phone <NUM>. To accommodate as many different mobile phones <NUM> as possible with minimum effort to the user, the first conductor spiral <NUM> may be dimensioned to simplify optimal arrangement of the mobile phone <NUM>. In the illustrative example in <FIG> and <FIG>, the configuration of the first elongated sub-portion 29a allows the user to find the optimal arrangement by movement of the mobile phone <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the enrollment assistance device <NUM>.

Alternatively, or in combination, to facilitate correct placement of the mobile phone <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> may therefore be provided with at least one indicium for guiding the user to correctly arrange the mobile phone <NUM> on the first portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>, in relation to the first conductor spiral <NUM>. The at least one indicium may, for instance, comprise a number of outlines corresponding to the physical outlines of the most common mobile phones <NUM>.

A method according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flow-chart in <FIG>, and with additional reference to other figures as indicated. When the method is carried out, the user has a biometric system <NUM> such as that described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The biometric system <NUM>, including the enrollment assistance device <NUM> and the contactless smartcard <NUM> arranged on the second surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may have been sent to the user by mail from the issuer of the card, such as a financial institution or the like. The user is also in possession of a mobile phone <NUM>, including a wireless power transfer arrangement arranged to provide an electric field for power transfer adjacent to a backside of the mobile phone, and a display arranged on a frontside of the mobile phone <NUM>.

In a first step <NUM>, the user is instructed to arrange the mobile phone <NUM> on the first surface portion <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> of the enrollment assistance device <NUM> comprised in the biometric system <NUM>, with the backside of the mobile phone <NUM> facing the first surface portion <NUM>. The instructing step may include providing guidance to the user. Such guidance may, for example, be included in the biometric system <NUM> that is provided to the user. For instance, written and/or graphical guidance may be printed on the carrier <NUM>. As was mentioned above, such graphical guidance may include outlines of popular mobile phones, etc..

Alternatively, the user may be guided by controlling the mobile phone <NUM> to provide an alignment pattern on the display of the mobile phone <NUM>. The alignment pattern on the display may be aligned with the at least one indicium on the carrier <NUM>.

In the subsequent step <NUM>, the mobile phone <NUM> transmits, to the contactless smartcard <NUM> a signal encoding an instruction to the contactless smartcard <NUM> to start to perform biometric enrollment. The signal is transmitted wirelessly to the contactless smartcard <NUM>, and may be transmitted, using per se known techniques for near field communication (NFC), transmitted via the conductor spiral <NUM> comprised in the enrollment assistance device <NUM>. Alternatively, this signal may be wirelessly transmitted using another wireless communication link, such as using low-power radio transmission.

During the enrollment procedure, the user may be guided by instructions and/or illustrations provided on the display of the mobile phone <NUM>. Such instructions and/or illustrations may be based on information provided wirelessly from the contactless smartcard <NUM> to the mobile phone <NUM>. For instance, the user may be instructed 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 <NUM> of the contactless smartcard <NUM>, the mobile phone <NUM> receives, in step <NUM>, a signal indicating that the enrollment has been completed. The signal indicating that the enrollment has been completed may be received via the conductor spiral <NUM> comprised in the enrollment assistance device <NUM>.

In embodiments, the ability to successfully finalize the enrollment and enable use of the biometric capabilities of the contactless smartcard <NUM> may be conditional on a user authentication performed using the mobile phone <NUM>. This may particularly be the case for a so-called initial enrollment, where no biometric template is stored on the smartcard. In such embodiments, the mobile phone <NUM> may locally carry out the user authentication, for example using a fingerprint sensor or other biometric arrangement comprised in the mobile phone <NUM>. Alternatively, the mobile phone <NUM> may be used as an input device for input of a code, such as a password, PIN or OTP, for transmission to a remote server for authentication there.

In embodiments, the signal encoding a (correct) instruction to the contactless smartcard <NUM> to start to perform the enrollment may only be sent if a successful user authentication has first been performed. In other embodiments, the enrollment may be carried out, but the generated biometric template may be discarded, or the biometric capabilities of the smartcard <NUM> may be locked unless a successful user authentication is performed.

Claim 1:
An enrollment assistance device (<NUM>), for facilitating biometric enrollment of a user of a contactless smartcard (<NUM>) including a biometric arrangement (<NUM>) and a wireless power transfer arrangement (<NUM>), the enrollment assistance device (<NUM>) comprising:
a carrier (<NUM>) having a first surface portion (<NUM>) for arrangement of a mobile phone (<NUM>) including a wireless power transfer arrangement, and a second surface portion (<NUM>), spaced apart from the first surface portion (<NUM>), for arrangement of the contactless smartcard (<NUM>); and characterized by
an electrical conductor supported by the carrier (<NUM>) and forming a conductor spiral (<NUM>) having an innermost revolution starting at a first conductor end (<NUM>) arranged inside the conductor spiral (<NUM>) and an outermost revolution ending at a second conductor end (<NUM>),
the conductor spiral (<NUM>) being configured to form a first wireless power transfer link with the wireless power transfer arrangement of the mobile phone (<NUM>) when the mobile phone is arranged on the first surface portion (<NUM>) of the carrier, and a second wireless power transfer link with the wireless power transfer arrangement (<NUM>) of the contactless smartcard (<NUM>) when the contactless smartcard (<NUM>) is arranged on the second surface portion (<NUM>) of the carrier (<NUM>).